Pan African strategy for the progressive control of peste des petits ruminants (Pan African ppr strategy)

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a major constraint to the livelihoods and food security of small scale farmers. The epidemiology and biology of PPR virus has much in common with rinderpest virus (RP), an agent that has been globally eradicated. This document presents a strategy for the progressive control of PPR that builds upon the lessons learnt from rinderpest eradication. Progressive control relies upon a modular approach that consists of a series of self-sufficient phases each with its own set of sustainable results. Key intermediate results will be proven business models for sustainable PPR control service delivery and enhanced capacity of animal health institutions to target control services to critical control points. The program will foster an adaptive management approach that integrates learning approaches to drive animal health institutional innovation. The coordinated drive towards long term animal health goals will add value to on-going investments in infectious disease control

Genetic and physical map of broad host range cosmid pRG930cm

We hereby present the complete sequence and annotation of pRG930cm, a spectinomycin/ streptomycin/chloramphenicol-resistant cosmid vector. pRG930cm (17,256 bp; GenBank Accession No.: FM174471) has a broad host range, and is stably maintained by a number of Gram-negative bacteri

Prevention And Control Of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Africa

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a zoonotic trans-boundary disease. Its occurrence in a country constitutes a major constraint to profitable livestock operations and poses a high public health risk at regional and global levels. Since February 2006, HPAI has infected eleven African countries (Nigeria, Egypt, Niger, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Côte d\'Ivoire, Sudan, Djibouti, Ghana, Togo and Benin). The rest of Africa remains at high risk due to the persistence of the virus in Egypt and Nigeria. African Union/Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU/IBAR), which has the continental mandate for control of animal diseases, together with other international institutions, including the African Livestock (ALIVE) Platform partners, have coordinated and assisted the continent in managing the risks posed by HPAI, such as assessment of continental gaps and needs, preparation of national Emergency Plans (EP) and subsequent Action Plans. The EP & Action Plans have not been entirely successful in managing the disease and lessons learnt from the HPAI crisis should therefore shape the way forward both in terms of sustainable immediate and longer term needs.La Grippe aviaire hautement pathogène (GAHP) est une maladie oonotique transfrontalière. Son apparition dans un pays représente un obstacle majeur aux activités d\'élevage et constitue un grave danger pour la santé publique au niveau régional et mondial. Depuis février 2006, la GAHP a infecté onze pays africains (le Nigeria, l\'Egypte, le Niger, le Cameroun, le Burkina Faso, la Côte d\'Ivoire, le Soudan, Djibouti, le Ghana, le Togo et le Bénin). Le reste de l\'Afrique est menacé à cause de la persistance du virus en Egypte et au Nigeria. Le Bureau Interafricain des Ressources Animales de l\'Union Africaine (UA/BIRA) qui a pour mandat de lutter contre les maladies animales au niveau continental, en coopération avec d\'autres institutions internationales telles que les partenaires de la Plate-forme ALIVE, a coordonné et aidé le continent dans la gestion des risques de GAHP à travers: l\'évaluation des lacunes à combler et des besoins du continent ; et l\'élaboration de Plans d\'urgence nationaux (PUN) et de Plans d\'action. Les PUN et les Plans d\'action n\'ont, toutefois, pas complètement réussi à gérer la maladie et les leçons tirées de la crise de GAHP devraient donc tracer la voie pour ce qui est des besoins immédiats et à long terme.Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 56 (1) 2008: pp. 5-1

Genetic and physical map of broad host range cosmid pRG930cm

We hereby present the complete sequence and annotation of pRG930cm, a spectinomycin/ streptomycin/chloramphenicol-resistant cosmid vector. pRG930cm (17,256 bp; GenBank Accession No.: FM174471) has a broad host range, and is stably maintained by a number of Gram-negative bacteri

Integration of participatory approaches into surveillance systems

Animal health surveillance is essential for protecting public health, enhancing access to international markets for animals and their products, and improving animal health, production and welfare. It is of vital importance for protecting and improving the livelihoods of diverse groups of livestock keepers and stakeholders in livestock value chains. Surveillance systems consist of sets of complementary components which generate information to inform risk assessment, decision-making and policy formulation for both national programmes and international trade. Participatory approaches have the potential to add value to surveillance systems by enhancing their performance, especially their sensitivity and timeliness, and encouraging the inclusion of marginalised groups. This paper summarises key considerations in the assessment and design of animal health surveillance and discusses how participatory approaches can be integrated into comprehensive surveillance systems, leading to a more effective overall outcome for both domestic and international purposes

Chromosomal DNA deletion confers phage resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacteria develop a broad range of phage resistance mechanisms, such as prevention of phage adsorption and CRISPR/Cas system, to survive phage predation. In this study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1 strain was infected with lytic phage PaP1, and phage-resistant mutants were selected. A high percentage (~30%) of these mutants displayed red pigmentation phenotype (Red mutant). Through comparative genomic analysis, one Red mutant PA1r was found to have a 219.6 kb genomic fragment deletion, which contains two key genes hmgA and galU related to the observed phenotypes. Deletion of hmgA resulted in the accumulation of a red compound homogentisic acid; while A galU mutant is devoid of O-antigen, which is required for phage adsorption. Intriguingly, while the loss of galU conferred phage resistance, it significantly attenuated PA1r in a mouse infection experiment. Our study revealed a novel phage resistance mechanism via chromosomal DNA deletion in P. aeruginosa