Laboratory diagnosis of ruminant abortion in Europe

Abortion in ruminants is a major cause of economic loss worldwide, and the management and control of outbreaks is important in limiting their spread, and in preventing zoonotic infections. Given that rapid and accurate laboratory diagnosis is central to controlling abortion outbreaks, the submission of tissue samples to laboratories offering the most appropriate tests is essential. Direct antigen and/or DNA detection methods are the currently preferred methods of reaching an aetiological diagnosis, and ideally these results are confirmed by the demonstration of corresponding macroscopic and/or histopathological lesions in the fetus and/or the placenta. However, the costs of laboratory examinations may be considerable and, even under optimal conditions, the percentage of aetiological diagnoses reached can be relatively low. This review focuses on the most commonly occurring and important abortifacient pathogens of ruminant species in Europe highlighting their epizootic and zoonotic potential. The performance characteristics of the various diagnostic methods used, including their specific advantages and limitations, are discussed

Utz Wachil: Findings from an International Study of Indigenous Perspectives on Health and Environment

This article reports previously unpublished results of a collaborative study undertaken in 2003 by health workers of the UK-based organisation Health Unlimited, and by researchers of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. This study marked the first of a series of collaborative activities aimed at highlighting the situation of Indigenous peoples, some in the most isolated ecosystems of the planet. While many researchers focus on quantitative analysis of the health and environmental conditions of Indigenous peoples, our 2003 study aimed at exploring the views of Indigenous peoples in isolated communities in five countries on their environment and their health. In this article we look closely at the web of knowledge and belief that underpins Indigenous peoples' concepts of health and well-being, and their relationship to land and the environment. Although many Indigenous people have been forced off their traditional lands and live in rural settlements, towns, and cities, there are still a large number of people living in very small Indigenous communities in remote areas. This article focuses on 20 such communities in six countries. We explore traditional knowledge and practice and its relationship to Western medicine and services. The research findings highlight the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems for the emerging ecohealth community and suggest that we have much to learn from Indigenous peoples in our pursuit of a more holistic science