Multi-criteria decision analysis to evaluate foot and mouth disease control strategies with the perspectives of Chief Veterinary Officers in the Asia-Oceania region.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of foot and mouth disease (FMD) control strategies using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The FMD control strategies were evaluated for epidemiological, economic and social-environmental criteria, accounting for the preferences of Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) from the Asia-Oceania region, with the preferences quantified using a questionnaire study. Previously reported simulation results of an FMD epidemic were used to measure the epidemiological effectiveness of FMD control strategies. The simulated FMD epidemic results, such as the number of infected farms, the duration of the epidemic and the outbreak area, were compared for a number of FMD control strategies. Based on previous simulation and economic modelling results and incorporating a literature search to quantify the social and environmental outcomes of an FMD outbreak, MCDA analysis was conducted to evaluate control strategies. According to the overall score in the MCDA results, an FMD control strategy which consisted of a 3-km radius of pre-emptive slaughter, 100 days of movement restriction and vaccinating all FMD-susceptible animals (baseline strategy) was the preferred strategy, with the highest overall score of 62.99. In contrast, the same duration of movement restriction and vaccination strategy with a 0.5-km radius of pre-emptive slaughter was least preferred, with the lowest overall score of 37.05. The evaluation of the FMD control strategies presented here using MCDA has provided scientific evidence for selecting an appropriate baseline FMD control strategy, based on the preferences of CVOs.

Les auteurs présentent les résultats d'une étude qui visait à évaluer l'efficacité d'un certain nombre de stratégies de lutte contre la fièvre aphteuse en recourant à une analyse décisionnelle multicritères (ADMC). Diverses stratégies de lutte contre la fièvre aphteuse ont été évaluées au regard de critères épidémiologiques, économiques et socio-environnementaux, en prenant en compte les préférences exprimées par les chefs des Services vétérinaires de la région Asie-Océanie, recueillies et quantifiées lors d'une étude par questionnaire. L'efficacité des stratégies de lutte contre la fièvre aphteuse au plan épidémiologique a été évaluée à partir des résultats d'une simulation d'épidémie de fièvre aphteuse effectuée au préalable. Les résultats de la simulation, notamment le nombre d'exploitations infectées, la durée de l'épidémie et l'extension de la zone focale, ont été comparés au regard de chacune des stratégies de lutte pouvant être appliquées contre la fièvre aphteuse. Une ADMC a été réalisée pour évaluer les stratégies de lutte en s'appuyant sur les résultats de simulations antérieures et de modélisations économiques, ainsi que sur les données réunies lors d'une recherche documentaire visant à quantifier les répercussions sociales et environnementales d'un foyer de fièvre aphteuse. Il ressort du classement des notes globales attribuées par l'ADMC que la stratégie préférée de lutte contre la fièvre aphteuse (note globale de 62,99) était celle associant l'abattage préventif dans un rayon de 3 km à une restriction des déplacements d'animaux pendant une période de 100 jours et à la vaccination de toutes les espèces sensibles au virus de fièvre aphteuse (stratégie de référence). En revanche, la stratégie associant une restriction des déplacements d'animaux de même durée, la vaccination et l'abattage préventif dans un rayon de 0,5 km recueillait le score le plus bas dans l'ordre de préférence (note globale de 37,05). Les évaluations des stratégies de lutte contre la fièvre aphteuse présentées par les auteurs à partir des résultats de l'ADMC fournissent des éléments scientifiques probants pour choisir une stratégie de référence appropriée afin de lutter contre la fièvre aphteuse, fondée sur les préférences des chefs des Services vétérinaires.

Los autores describen un estudio encaminado a evaluar la eficacia de distintas estrategias de control de la fiebre aftosa, para lo cual se siguió un proceso de análisis de decisiones con empleo de múltiples criterios de tipo epidemiológico, económico y socioambiental que recogían las preferencias de los jefes de los Servicios Veterinarios de la región Asia-Oceanía (preferencias cuantificadas con empleo de un cuestionario). Para medir la eficacia epidemiológica de las estrategias de lucha se utilizaron los resultados previamente descritos de simulaciones de una epidemia de fiebre aftosa. Después se compararon entre sí los resultados (por ejemplo, número de explotaciones infectadas, duración de la epidemia o territorio afectado por el brote) que deparaban distintas estrategias de lucha en una epidemia simulada de fiebre aftosa. A partir de los resultados de simulaciones y modelizaciones económicas anteriores e incorporando una búsqueda bibliográfica para cuantificar los efectos sociales y ambientales de un brote de fiebre aftosa, se procedió a evaluar las estrategias de lucha empleando el análisis de decisiones por criterios múltiples. A tenor de la puntuación global que arrojaban los resultados de este análisis, se determinó que la estrategia preferible de lucha contra la fiebre aftosa era la consistente en sacrificios sanitarios preventivos en un radio de 3 kilómetros, restricciones de desplazamientos durante 100 días y vacunación de todos los animales sensibles a la enfermedad (estrategia básica), pues era la que deparaba la puntuación global más elevada (62,99). La menos eficaz, es decir, la que deparaba la puntuación global más baja (37,05), preveía la aplicación de restricciones de desplazamientos durante el mismo período e idéntica estrategia de vacunación, pero con sacrificios sanitarios preventivos en un radio de solo 0,5 kilómetros. La evaluación de estrategias de lucha mediante un análisis de decisiones por criterios múltiples que aquí se presenta ha aportado sólidos datos científicos con los que seleccionar, partiendo de las preferencias de los jefes de los Servicios Veterinarios, una estrategia básica adecuada para combatir la fiebre aftosa.

Efficiency of inorganic and organic iron sources under iron depleted conditions in broilers.

A total of 240 d-old male Ross chicks (average BW 37·15 ± 0·49 g) were fed on an iron (Fe)-deficient semi-synthetic diet (45 mg Fe/kg) from d 1-7 post hatching. At d 7, all 240 chicks (average BW 140·15 ± 1·4 g) with depleted Fe-stores were randomly assigned to three treatments on the basis of BW to study the efficiency of dietary inorganic and organic iron (Fe) utilisation. Each treatment had 4 replicates with 20 birds in each. Dietary treatments were: maize-soyabean meal-based basal diet, containing 103 to 106 mg Fe/kg (control); and basal diets supplemented with an additional 80 mg/kg Fe either from an inorganic (FeSO4 · H2O, 28% Fe) or organic (ferrous methionine chelate, 10% Fe) source. The starter and finisher diets were fed from d 7 to 21 and d 21 to 35, respectively. Improved body weight gain and FCR during finisher phase and overall study period; and greater DM and CP retention, and excreta Fe excretion, at d 20 to 21 and d 34 to 35; were observed in birds fed on Fe supplemented diets when compared with birds fed on control diet. At d 35, the RBC, Hb, haematocrit, and Fe concentration in plasma, tibia and liver were higher in birds fed on Fe supplemented diets than birds fed on the control diet. Supplementation of Fe in organic form resulted in greater Fe concentration in the tibia and liver and less Fe excretion at d 34 to 35, when compared with birds receiving inorganic Fe. These results indicate the necessity to supplement Fe in the commercial diets of broilers; however, organic and inorganic sources of Fe supplementation at 80 mg/kg were equally effective in improving performance, nutrient retention and haematological indices. In addition, Fe supplementation through an organic source seems to be more efficient in depositing Fe in the haemopoietic organs (liver and tibia) of birds under Fe depleted conditions.

Calcium reuptake related genes as a cardiac biomarker in dogs with chronic mitral valvular insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Gene expression linked to sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium reuptake (SRCR) is altered in humans and animals with heart failure. HYPOTHESIS: The expression of SRCR genes in peripheral blood cells have the potential to be cardiac biomarkers of heart failure in dogs with chronic mitral valvular insufficiency (CMVI). ANIMALS: Client-owned 15 healthy control dogs and 23 small breed dogs with CMVI classified by severity, based on the classification system determined by the international small animal cardiac heart council. METHODS: Prospective, controlled, observational study. The expression levels of SRCR genes (SERCA2alpha, PLN, and HAX-1) were evaluated in peripheral blood of dogs at different stages of CMVI via real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The mRNA expression levels of PLN and HAX-1, but not SERCA2alpha were significantly (P=.08), reduced in dogs with moderate to severe CMVI. The fold change in PLN expression compared with control were 0.38+/-0.07 (in group II) and 0.20+/-0.10 (in group III), while HAX-1 expression were 0.37+/-0.06 (group II) and 0.41+/-0.12 (group III). The expressions of PLN and HAX-1 were significantly reduced in groups II and III (P<.05) but not in group I (P>.05). The reduced PLN and HAX-1 expressions were highly correlated with the severity of heart failure (P<.001), vertebral heart score (P<.05), and left atrium to aortic root ratio (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: PLN and HAX-1 can be potential biomarkers for heart failure caused by CMVI.

Performance estimation of a Venturi scrubber using a computational model for capturing dust particles with liquid spray.

A Venturi scrubber has dispersed three-phase flow of gas, dust, and liquid. Atomization of a liquid jet and interaction between the phases has a large effect on the performance of Venturi scrubbers. In this study, a computational model for the interactive three-phase flow in a Venturi scrubber has been developed to estimate pressure drop and collection efficiency. The Eulerian-Lagrangian method is used to solve the model numerically. Gas flow is solved using the Eulerian approach by using the Navier-Stokes equations, and the motion of dust and liquid droplets, described by the Basset-Boussinesq-Oseen (B-B-O) equation, is solved using the Lagrangian approach. This model includes interaction between gas and droplets, atomization of a liquid jet, droplet deformation, breakup and collision of droplets, and capture of dust by droplets. A circular Pease-Anthony Venturi scrubber was simulated numerically with this new model. The numerical results were compared with earlier experimental data for pressure drop and collection efficiency, and gave good agreements.

Effects of autogenous toxoid-bacterin in lactating cows with Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis.

To evaluate clinical effects of autogenous toxoid-bacterin treatment for Staphylococcus aureus subclinical mastitis in lactating cows, 22 cows which had at least one S. aureus infected quarter were selected from among cows at a S. aureus prevalent dairy farm. Eleven cows were injected with their own autogenous toxoid-bacterin and the others were maintained as non-injected control. In the toxoid-bacterin injected group, 27% of infected quarters were cured during the 12-week trial, compared to 5% in the control group. New intramammary infections with S. aureus were only detected in 3 quarters of the control group. Mean IgG antibody titer against S. aureus somatic antigens and alpha-toxin in serum and milk were significantly increased in the toxoid-bacterin injected group (p<0.05) and remained higher than those of the control group which showed no significant changes (p<0.05). In contrast to the control group, from 3 weeks after the second injection of the toxoid-bacterin injected group, mean S. aureus cfu/ml in milk samples from injected quarters with S. aureus was significantly decreased until the end of the study (p<0.05). In the toxoid-bacterin injected group, significant decreases of mean SCC were detected from milk samples from infected quarters with S. aureus from week 7 to week 10 (p<0.05). These data show that autogenous toxoid-bacterin treatment against S. aureus subclinical mastitis in lactating cows may increase the cure rate of the infections, reduce the severity of the infections and also prevent occurrence of the new infections.

The clinical implication of sodium-potassium ratios in dogs.

Although there have been substantial evidences on the usefulness of electrolytes for the diagnosis of disease, the evidences for a direct link between serum sodium and serum potassium in relation to a specific disease are very limited. This study was performed to investigate an association between diseases and Na:K ratios in dogs. From January 1997 to December 1999, a total of 39 cases with an Na:K ratio less than 27 were retrieved from the medical records of Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul National University. Ten dogs (25.6%) had a renal or urinary disease, and six (15.4%) had a parasitism. Other miscellaneous diseases included deep pyoderma, grade III patellar luxation, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, pancreatitis, and pyometra. The Na:K ratio was significantly lower in dogs with renal failures than those with parasitic diseases (p=0.0735). With the criterion of the Na:K ratio < 27, twenty seven dogs (69.2%) had hyperkalemia, whereas thirteen dogs (33.3%) had hyponatremia. Of 13 dogs with Na:K ratios between 20 and 24, six were diagnosed as a renal or urinary tract disease, two as diabetes, and two as a parasitism. The Na:K ratios of 9 dogs were < 20, being with the most prevalent with the disease of renal failures (55.6%). The serum Na:K ratios were more closely related to serum potassium concentrations ( gamma= -0.8710) than serum sodium concentrations ( gamma=0.4703). Two dogs with diabetes had an electrolyte pattern of hyperkalemia with normonatremia. Further studies are needed to determine the usefulness of Na:K ratio for diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism, and to establish a relationship between patellar luxation and electrolyte unbalance.

Capsular polysaccharide typing of domestic mastitis-causing Staphylococcus aureus strains and its potential exploration of bovine mastitis vaccine development. I. Capsular polysaccharide typing, isolation and purification of the strains.

One hundred seven isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis were investigated for colony morphology in serum-soft agar (SSA), autoagglutination in salt, and capsular serotype. Capsular polysaccharide (CP) was purified and quantified from the extracts of clinical isolates. Overall, 89 isolates (83.2%) were diffuse in the SSA, without any difference in the proportion of diffuse colony between type 5 and type 8 strains. Some strains exhibited compact colonies in the SSA and expressed CP as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indicating that compact morphology does not exclude encapsulation. The majority of the strains (11/12) showed autoagglutination in the salt aggregation test. The serotype 336 accounted for 46.7% of the isolates followed by serotype 5 (12.1%) and serotype 8 (12.1%). Particularly, twenty-six (24.3%) isolates reacted with two serotypes; 7 for type 8/336 and 19 for type 5/336. Five isolates (4.7%) were nontypeable with monoclonal antibodies specific for CP serotype 5, 8, or 336. The CP concentration in culture supernatants varied with the serotypes, and the total amount of CP produced by cells grown in a liquid medium was much less than that produced by cells grown on a solid medium. The Western blotting indicated that the CP bands of S. aureus serotype 5 and 8 were ranged in the molecular mass of 58-84 kilodalton (kDa), with additional bands in the region of approximately >/= 48 or

Characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dogs in Korea.

Twelve strains of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) recovered from hospitalized dogs were analyzed for in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence, and were genetically characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Antibiotic susceptibility test showed that nearly all isolates were resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics tested and all the strains were fully susceptible to glycopeptides. There were no inhibitory activities among the aminoglycosides. The 50% lethal dose (LD50) was determined by intraperitoneal injection of cell suspensions and estimated by the Spearman-Kärber method. The mouse lethality of MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) was not significantly different in both normal and cyclophosphamide-treated mice (p>0.05), indicating that they were equally virulent. There was a great difference in the incidence of toxin production between the MRSA and MSSA group; 83.3% (10 of 12) of the MRSA and 14.3% (1 of 7) of the MSSA were toxin producers. The predominant types produced by MRSA was B. All the MRSA strains were capsular type 5 producers, while of 7 MSSA strains, four were type 5, one for type 8, and two were nontypeable. Based on the PFGE analysis, the 12 MRSA isolates generated 9 to 11 fragments in the size range of <48.5 to 630.5 kb, and yielded 6 different patterns. The results indicated that production of toxin and capsule type do not play a role in the pathogenicity to mouse and PFGE is a valuable tool for the characterization of MRSA. This report is the first such cases in the veterinary literature in Korea and may indicate the frequent emergence of MRSA in veterinary clinic hereafter.

Reemergence of Plasmodium vivax malaria in the republic of Korea.

Plasmodium vivax malaria reemerged in the Republic of Korea in 1993. The number of cases has tripled each year since, with more than 1,600 cases reported in 1997. All 27 cases in U.S. troops resolved uneventfully with chloroquine/primaquine therapy. Disease is localized along the western Demilitarized Zone and presents minimal risk to tourists.