Training needs assessment of veterinary practitioners in Ethiopia

Pastoral and agro-pastoral farming are extensively practised in Ethiopia, and the main livestock kept are cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, and camels. The livestock sector is faced with complex challenges including limited availability of well-trained and skilled animal health professionals. The objective of this study was to identify and prioritise areas for training with the goal of providing evidence to guide strategies to improve the skills, delivery, and governance of veterinary services across Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was developed and administered electronically to veterinary professionals in Ethiopia using the Qualtrics platform. Data were collected on select parameters including demographics, diseases of economic significance, diagnosis, disease prevention, biosecurity, disease control, treatment, epidemiology, One Health, disease reporting, and the participants’ opinions about training. The survey data was downloaded in Microsoft Excel and descriptive statistics performed. A total of 234 veterinary professionals completed the survey. Most participants were male (89.7%) and aged between 26 and 35 years (81.2%). Of the total respondents, 56.4% worked in government and 8.5% in private practice. Most participants perceived training on laboratory diagnostic testing, disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic sensitivity testing, basic epidemiology, and clinical procedures, as most beneficial. In addition, most respondents would like to receive training on diseases affecting cattle, poultry, and small ruminants. The findings from this study provide baseline information on priority training areas for veterinary professionals and could potentially contribute to national efforts to develop and implement a continuing professional development programme in the veterinary domain, in view of improving veterinary service delivery. © 2022, The Author(s)

Baseline assessment of poultry production, pharmaceutical product use, and related challenges on commercial poultry flocks in Kano and Oyo states of Nigeria

Poultry production is a major component of the livestock sector in Nigeria and continues to expand rapidly; however, it is still constrained by low productivity. A farm survey was conducted to provide a baseline assessment of poultry production (products generated, farm costs, and revenue), pharmaceutical use, and related challenges faced by farmers on 44 commercial poultry farms in Oyo and Kano states of Nigeria. Live spent layers, eggs, and used beddings were the most frequently sold products for revenue. Antibiotic products were widely used, the most reported were Doxygen, Tylosin, and Conflox. Overall, 40% of farms used feed additives (including toxin binders, minerals, and vitamins) and 12% used coccidiostats. Access to pharmaceutical products was a key challenge and appeared to disproportionally affect farmers in the northern part (Kano) of Nigeria. Other challenges included perceived antibiotic ineffectiveness, high cost of drugs, and long distances to pharmaceutical suppliers. Challenges related to vaccine use were unavailability, distance to the supplier, and health issues interfering with the vaccination schedule. Study findings highlight the need for improved access to veterinary pharmaceuticals, particularly in the northern states. Further investigations into the causes of antibiotic ineffectiveness and strategies for distribution of high-quality, effective pharmaceuticals are also necessary. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Continuing Education of Animal Health Professionals in Uganda: A Training Needs Assessment

In Uganda, delivery of veterinary services is vital to animal health and productivity, and is heavily dependent on well-trained and skilled animal health professionals. The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize areas for refresher training and continuous professional development of animal health professionals (veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals), with the overarching aim of improving veterinary service delivery in Uganda. A survey was administered electronically to 311 animal health professionals during the period November 14–30, 2019. Data were collected on relevant parameters including demographics, knowledge on preventive medicine, diagnostics, disease control and treatment, epidemiology, and One Health, as well as participants’ opinions on training priorities, challenges faced, and constraints to veterinary service delivery. Most respondents were veterinarians 26–35 years old, were male, and worked in clinical practice. Lowest perceived knowledge was reported on subjects relating to laboratory diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and nutrition. Training topics considered to be of most benefit to respondents included laboratory diagnostics, treatment of common livestock diseases, AMR, and practical clinical skills in reproductive and preventive medicine. Participants preferred to receive training in the form of practical workshops, in-practice training, and external training. This study highlights the need to prioritize training in practical clinical skills, laboratory diagnostics, and AMR. Wet labs and hands-on practical clinical and laboratory skills should be incorporated to enhance training. Provision of targeted and successful trainings will be dependent on the allocation of adequate resources and support by relevant public and private stakeholders across the veterinary sector

Evaluating Disease Threats to Sustainable Poultry Production in Africa: Newcastle Disease, Infectious Bursal Disease, and Avian Infectious Bronchitis in Commercial Poultry Flocks in Kano and Oyo States, Nigeria

The growth of the poultry industry in Nigeria is constrained by major poultry diseases, despite the implementation of vaccination programs. This study aimed to assess the level of protection against Newcastle disease (ND), infectious bursal disease (IBD), and avian infectious bronchitis (IB) afforded by current vaccination schedules and characterize the circulating virus strains in commercial poultry flocks in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 44 commercial poultry farms in Oyo and Kano states of Nigeria. Serum and tissue samples and data on flock, clinical and vaccination records were collected on each farm. Farms were classified as being protected or not protected against ND, IBD and IB based on a defined criterion. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing was performed for each target virus on tissue samples and positive samples were sequenced. A total of 15/44 (34.1%), 35/44 (79.5%), and 1/44 (2.3%) farms were considered to be protected against ND, IBD, and IB, respectively, at the time of sampling. NDV RNA was detected on 7/44 (15.9%) farms and sequences obtained from 3/7 farms were characterized as the lentogenic strain. Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) RNA was detected on 16/44 (36.4%) farms tested; very virulent (vv) IBDV and non-virulent (nv) IBDV strains were both detected in 3/16 (18.8%) positive samples. Sequences of IBDV isolates were either clustered with a group of genotype 3 virulent IBDV strains or were related to vaccine strains MB and D78 strains. IBV RNA was detected on 36/44 (81.8%) farms, with variant02, Massachusetts, 4/91, and Q1 variants detected. Sequences of IBV isolates were either clustered with the vaccines strains Massachusetts M41 and H120 or were most closely related to the D274-like strains or a clade of sequences reported in Nigeria and Niger in 2006 and 2007. This study revealed that most study farms in Oyo and Kano states did not have adequate protective antibody titers against IBV and NDV and were therefore at risk of field challenge. Infectious bursal disease virus and IBV RNA were detected on farms with a history of vaccination suggesting potential vaccination failure, or that the vaccine strains used mismatch with the circulating strains and are therefore not protective. © Copyright © 2021 Ekiri, Armson, Adebowale, Endacott, Galipo, Alafiatayo, Horton, Ogwuche, Bankole, Galal, Maikai, Dineva, Wakawa, Mijten, Varga and Cook

Irragionevolezza delle norme o opacit\ue0 dell'interpretazione? La tutela dell'embrione alla luce della distinzione aristotelica fra atto e potenza

A commento delle censure di costituzionalit\ue0 avanzate dal TAR Lazio, Roma, Sez. III-quater, sent. 398/2008, si critica la fondatezza del presupposto da cui muove la pronuncia: quello della tutela \u201caffievolita\u201d che la legge 40/2004 appresterebbe nei riguardi dell\u2019embrione. Il Giudice romano si espone invero alla critica di non aver saputo cogliere le dissimili sfumature di significato che il termine \u201cembrione\u201d assume nel corpo della legge 40, a seconda che l\u2019oggetto concreto su cui ricadono le diverse prescrizioni coincida con l\u2019ovocita gi\ue0 fecondato (quindi con il concepito) ovvero si riferisca ai gameti maschile e femminile, congiuntamente considerati per la loro potenzialit\ue0 di unirsi (naturalmente o artificialmente) nel fatto fecondativo. Si tratta cio\ue8 \u2013 volendo ricorrere alla distinzione aristotelica \u2013 di discernere tra \u201cembrione in atto\u201d e \u201cembrione in potenza\u201d, individuando nel momento fecondativo il punto d\u2019attualizzazione. \uc8 una distinzione che emerge ripetutamente nelle pieghe della legge 40 e che si riscontra altres\uec nelle norme impugnate. L\u2019analisi del testo normativo mette chiaramente in evidenza come lo statuto giuridico dell\u2019embrione vari notevolmente a seconda che lo si consideri \u201cin atto\u201d ovvero \u201cin potenza\u201d. Soltanto nella prima ipotesi viene in rilievo la direttiva contenuta nell\u2019art. 1 della legge, che impone la tutela dei diritti del concepito. Il fatto \ue8 che i gameti maschili e femminili, quand\u2019anche congiuntamente considerati alla stregua di embrione in potenza, non sono affatto assunti dal Legislatore quali soggetti di diritti: costituiscono piuttosto meri oggetti, di cui pu\uf2 liberamente disporsi nei limiti prescritti dall\u2019ordinamento. E tutte le volte in cui il Legislatore impone limitazioni e cautele a chi ne ha la disponibilit\ue0, lo fa non certo per tutelare \u2013 in modo \u201caffievolito\u201d \u2013 loro presunti diritti, quanto piuttosto per salvaguardare \uabi diritti di tutti i soggetti coinvolti, compreso il concepito\ubb. Al contrario, l\u2019embrione in atto \ue8 \u2013 sin da quando esso pu\uf2 riconoscersi come tale, cio\ue8 sin dal momento della fecondazione \u2013 sottratto alla disponibilit\ue0 degli altri individui, proprio per il rispetto dovuto nei riguardi della sua dignit\ue0 di soggetto che la legge 40 espressamente riconosce. Posta questa fondamentale distinzione, \ue8 facile verificare come la tutela che la legge 40 appresta nei riguardi del concepito sia assoluta \u2013 non certo \u201caffievolita\u201d \u2013 nel senso che il Legislatore assicura il pi\uf9 elevato livello di tutela concretamente configurabile. Pare corretto affermare che, in una lettura sistemica della legge 40, l\u2019unico legittimo trattamento dell\u2019embrione (in atto) consista nel suo trasferimento in utero. Nell\u2019utero, poi, l\u2019embrione potr\ue0 \u2013 secondo natura \u2013 attecchire (e svilupparsi) o non attecchire; ma questa possibilit\ue0 di sopravvivenza e naturale sviluppo non pu\uf2 legittimamente essergli tolta. \uc8 un suo diritto, che il Legislatore riconosce e tutela