Internal teat sealants alone or in combination with antibiotics at dry-off – the effect on udder health in dairy cows in five commercial herds

peer-reviewedIn the dairy industry, the dry period has been identified as an area for potential reduction in antibiotic use, as part of a one health approach to preserve antibiotic medicines for human health. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of dry cow treatment on somatic cell count (SCC), intramammary infection (IMI) and milk yield on five commercial Irish dairy herds. A total of 842 cows across five spring calving dairy herds with a monthly bulk tank SCC of < 200 000 cells/mL were recruited for this study. At dry-off, cows which had not exceeded 200 000 cells/mL in the previous lactation were assigned one of two dry-off treatments: internal teat seal (ITS) alone (Lo_TS) or antibiotic plus ITS (Lo_AB + TS). Cows which exceeded 200 000 cells/mL in the previous lactation were treated with antibiotic plus ITS and included in the analysis as a separate group (Hi_AB + TS). Test-day SCC and lactation milk yield records were provided by the herd owners. Quarter milk samples were collected at dry-off, after calving and at mid-lactation for bacteriological culture and quarter SCC analysis. Cow level SCC was available for 789 cows and was log-transformed for the purpose of analysis. Overall, the log SCC of the cows in the Lo_TS group was significantly higher than the cows in Lo_AB + TS group and not statistically different to the cows in the Hi_AB + TS group in the subsequent lactation. However, the response to treatment differed according to the herd studied; the log SCC of the cows in the Lo_TS group in Herds 3, 4 and 5 was not statistically different to the cows in Lo_AB + TS group, whereas in the other two herds, the log SCC was significantly higher in the Lo_TS when compared to the Lo_AB + TS group. There was a significant interaction between dry-off group and herds on SCC and odds of infection in the subsequent lactation. The results of this study suggest that the herd prevalence of IMI may be useful in decision-making regarding the treatment of cows with ITS alone at dry-off to mitigate its impact on udder health

MUTYH-Associated Polyposis: The Irish Experience>.

MUTYH is involved in DNA damage repair. Bi-allelic MUTYH mutations predispose to polyposis and gastrointestinal malignancies, distinct genetically from autosomal dominant familial adenomatous polyposis coli. Two common European MUTYH mutations account for 90% of MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP). We aimed to examine the incidence of MAP in Ireland. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken. Patients undergoing MUTYH testing from 2003-2016 were identified by searching electronic databases using terms "MUTYH" and "MYH". Phenotypic and genotypic details were obtained by chart review. Bi-allelic mutations were confirmed in 26 individuals (17 families), of whom 16 (62%) developed colorectal malignancies, and 22(85%) polyposis. Eleven families had bi-allelic status for one/both common European mutations. Regional variation was noted, with over-representation of bi-allelic mutation carriers in the South-west of Ireland. MAP is under-diagnosed in Ireland. Increased awareness is required to facilitate appropriate identification and surveillance of bi-allelic mutation carriers for colorectal pathology

Longitudinal Assessment of Growth in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Results From the Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial

Background: We sought to characterize growth between birth and age 3 years in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who underwent the Norwood procedure. Methods and Results: We performed a secondary analysis using the Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial database after excluding patients 2 SD below normal). Failure to find consistent risk factors supports the strategy of tailoring nutritional therapies to patient‐ and stage‐specific targets. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT00115934

Detection of aeromonas salmonicida in wild atlantic salmon using a specific dna probe test

The presence of Aeromonas salmonicida, the etiological agent of furunculosis, was examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA probe methodology in wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar taken from 3 Irish river systems. Blood samples from 61 individual fish were examined and the presence of pathogen was determined in 87 % of the fish examined. However, the level of pathogen was extremely low, calculated at less than 100 A. salmonicida genome equivalents per fish. These data imply a widespread low level infection of A. salmonicida amongst wild salmon in Irish rivers

Detection of aeromonas salmonicida in wild atlantic salmon using a specific dna probe test

The presence of Aeromonas salmonicida, the etiological agent of furunculosis, was examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA probe methodology in wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar taken from 3 Irish river systems. Blood samples from 61 individual fish were examined and the presence of pathogen was determined in 87 % of the fish examined. However, the level of pathogen was extremely low, calculated at less than 100 A. salmonicida genome equivalents per fish. These data imply a widespread low level infection of A. salmonicida amongst wild salmon in Irish rivers

Protein and microsatellite single locus variability in salmo salar l. (atlantic salmon)

We describe genetic variation at three microsatellite single loci and six allozyme loci of seven natural Atlantic salmon populations from Ireland and Spain. A comparison of genetic variability detected at both types of loci is performed. Also, the relative value of microsatellite single locus variability with regard to the identification of individual salmon populations is assessed. Microsatellite loci are shown to display higher levels of variation than allozyme loci. Mean number of alleles (6+/-1.53) and heterozygosity (0.46+/-0.04) at microsatellite loci are greater than those found for allozymes (1.85+/-0.05 and 0.21+/-0.03, respectively), and some microsatellite alleles appear to be specific for a location or geographical area. Allozyme and microsatellite variation show the same pattern of differentiation between populations with Irish and Spanish populations grouped into different clusters. However, greater values of genetic distance were found among microsatellite (D=0.0747+/-0.011) rather than among allozyme loci (D=0.0449+/-0.008). These results provide evidence that microsatellite-based analysis of genetic variation will be useful in the identification of individual populations of Atlantic salmon

Internal teat sealants alone or in combination with antibiotics at dry-off – the effect on udder health in dairy cows in five commercial herd

In the dairy industry, the dry period has been identified as an area for potential reduction in antibiotic use, as part of a one health approach to preserve antibiotic medicines for human health. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of dry cow treatment on somatic cell count (SCC), intramammary infection (IMI) and milk yield on five commercial Irish dairy herds. A total of 842 cows across five spring calving dairy herds with a monthly bulk tank SCC of < 200 000 cells/mL were recruited for this study. At dry-off, cows which had not exceeded 200 000 cells/mL in the previous lactation were assigned one of two dry-off treatments: internal teat seal (ITS) alone (Lo_TS) or antibiotic plus ITS (Lo_AB + TS). Cows which exceeded 200 000 cells/mL in the previous lactation were treated with antibiotic plus ITS and included in the analysis as a separate group (Hi_AB + TS). Test-day SCC and lactation milk yield records were provided by the herd owners. Quarter milk samples were collected at dry-off, after calving and at mid-lactation for bacteriological culture and quarter SCC analysis. Cow level SCC was available for 789 cows and was log-transformed for the purpose of analysis. Overall, the log SCC of the cows in the Lo_TS group was significantly higher than the cows in Lo_AB + TS group and not statistically different to the cows in the Hi_AB + TS group in the subsequent lactation. However, the response to treatment dif fered according to the herd studied; the log SCC of the cows in the Lo_TS group in Herds 3, 4 and 5 was not statistically different to the cows in Lo_AB + TS group, whereas in the other two herds, the log SCC was significantly higher in the Lo_TS when compared to the Lo_AB + TS group. There was a significant interaction between dry-off group and herds on SCC and odds of infection in the subsequent lactation. The results of this study suggest that the herd prevalence of IMI may be useful in decision-making regarding the treatment of cows with ITS alone at dry-off to mitigate its impact on udder health