Leverbot toenemend probleem

In de specifieke leverbotgebieden (door nattere perioden en peilverhoging nemen die toe) kan ernstige leverbotbesmetting voorkomen. Voor het behandelen van melkvee tegen leverbot zijn in Nederland alleen middelen geregistreerd voor niet-melkgevende koeie

Effect of cleaning /disinfection strategies on helminth infections in finishing pigs

Ascaris suum is the most prevalent helminth on organic pig farms (Carstensen et al., 2002) and is transmitted mainly via the faeces. The use of anthelmintics does not fit in the organic principles and preventive measures are promoted. This project focused on assessing the efficacy of a cleaning protocol for the dunging area of pens on Ascaris s. transmission to pigs. In 4 batches with 8 identical pens for 15 pigs each (n=480 pigs) 6 pigs per pen were orally infected with Ascaris s. The other pigs can be earliest infected at 10 weeks and half of the pens were thoroughly cleaned at that time. Affected livers and egg counts in the manure had to show if this cleaning protocol keeps the non infected animals free of Ascaris s. The results show no effect of the cleaning protocol on the non infected pigs. These pigs had 57% damaged livers in both treatment and 50% had positive egg counts in the manure. The conclusion is that pen hygiene does not contribute to a reduction of Ascaris s. infections

Effect of rooting area and drinker in the outdoor run on behaviour and Ascaris infection of organic pigs

Hygiene is often a problem on the outdoor runs of growing organic pigs. Manure and urine are mainly excreted outside, but spread all over the run. Reduc-ing the dirty surface may improve well being, reduce ammonia emission, improve hygiene and reduce labour and parasite infections. The presence of a rooting area and of a drinker on the outdoor run were tested in a 2x2 factorial design. The pens with the rooting areas had a higher number of pigs on the outdoor run than the pens without a rooting area (1.6 vs 1.2 pigs). This was caused by more pigs in area 2 and 3. At higher temperatures there were more pigs outside, except in the root-ing area: this was popular at all temperatures. A rooting area resulted in a cleaner outdoor area, however in some cases the root-ing area became a dunging area. An extra outdoor drinker leads to a cleaner area around the drinker, but to a dirtier indoor area. No difference in Ascaris infection was found between the four treatment combinations

Effect of some herbs as alternative for conventional treatment of Ascaris suum in pigs

The current study describes the effects of three individual herbs for the prevention and control of a mild infection of Ascaris suum in growing and finishing pigs. In our study, feed (a commercial organic starter diet) was supplemented with 1% of one of the three herbs (Papaya, Boldo leaf and Artemisia). Comparatively, a negative control group (no treatment) was included. Based on the results of the experiment the researchers do not advise to use the tested herbs as appropriate alternatives for conventional treatment of Ascaris suum in pigs. A combination of thoroughly cleaning the pig house and regularly deworming with a conventional drug seems to be the most effective strategy to prevent infections of Ascaris suum in pig

Sturen mestgedrag voorkomt spoelworminfectie niet

Het mestgedrag van biologische vleesvarkens blijkt in een groot hok goed te sturen met de juiste plaatsing van lignest, voerbak, drinkbak en buitenuitloop. Maar ook met het verminderen van het contact met de mest en het schoonspuiten van de uitloop vermindert het aantal spoelworminfecties niet

In vivo testing of alternatives for conventional treatment of Ascaris suum in pigs

Summary The percentage of disapproved livers of growing and finishing pigs has been increased significantly during the last years. In organic pig farms, this percentage is often higher than in conventional pig farms. In most cases, disapproved livers are the result of an infection with Ascaris suum. Usually, an infection of Ascaris suum is treated or controlled by using conventional synthetic drugs belonging to the benzimidazoles, levamisole and macrocyclic lactones. Organic farmers, however, prefer a non-pharmaceutical approach of worm control. Therefore, phytotherapy could be an perspective alternative. The objective of this study was to test herb alternatives for the prevention and control of a mild infection of Ascaris suum in growing and finishing pigs. Two different herb mixtures were tested. Feed was supplemented with 3% of a herb mixture, thereby adding 1% Thymus vulgaris, 1% Melissa officinalis and 1% Echinacea purpurea to the diet, or with 4% of a herb mixture, thereby adding the mentioned herbs plus 1% Camellia sinensis (black tea) to the diet. Pigs were infected by 1000 worm eggs each. Comparatively, a negative control group (no treatment) and a positive control group (treatment with conventional synthetic drug Flubendazole) were included. An experiment was conducted with 32 young boars (average starter weight was 24 kg) purchased from a SPF-pig farm. The pigs were monitored during 67 days in the period December 2006 until February 2007. In this study, four experimental treatments were compared: 1. negative control: no treatment was applied to prevent or control an infection with Ascaris suum; 2. positive control: pigs were treated with a conventional anthelmintic (Flubendazole) one week before slaughter; 3. herb mixture: pigs were fed a diet supplemented with a herb mixture; 4. herb mixture + tea: pigs were fed a diet supplemented with a herb mixture (as treatment 3) plus black tea. From this experiment it was concluded that a diet with a herb mixture containing 1% Thymus vulgaris, 1% Melissa officinalis and 1% Echinacea purpurea for growing and finishing pigs did not decrease the number of pigs which are infected with Ascaris suum, but did reduce the average number of worms in the gastro intestinal tract. The addition of 1% black tea to this herb mixture did not result in a lower number of infected pigs and also did not reduce the average number of worms in pigs. Flubendazole appeared to be an effective deworming product. On organic farms with a low worm infection probably a combination of a conventional synthetic drug and a diet with herb mixture containing 1% Thymus vulgaris, 1% Melissa officinalis and 1% Echinacea purpurea is an option. It depends on the level of worm infection whether it is an opportunity to deworm sows, weaners and/or growing finishing pigs with a diet containing the herb mixture to keep the level of Ascaris suum at an acceptable low level. Examination of faeces of sows, weaners and growing and finishing pigs regularly, and also the percentage of disapproved livers of growing and finishing pigs, can support to monitor the level of worm infection on the farm. Based on this monitoring probably a strategy of varying deworming with a synthetic drug and a diet with herb mixture can be developed for the different categories of pigs. Further research on this method, and also the suitable period to supply this herb mixture to sows related to stage of pregnancy and weaners related to age and feed intake, is desirable

Ixodes ricinus ticks are reservoir hosts for Rickettsia helvetica and potentially carry flea-borne Rickettsia species

Rickettsia specie

Kruiden effectief bij bestrijding wormen

Op het Praktijkcentrum Raalte is de werking van een kruidenmengsel getest bij vleesvarkens die kunstmatig besmet waren met infectieuze eieren van de varkens-spoelworm, Ascaris suum. Een deel van de varkens kreeg 1 % of 5 % kruiden in het voer. Het bleek dat de varkens die 5 % kruiden kregen na besmetting geen wormeieren uitscheidden en er werden bij de slacht geen wormen in de darm aangetroffen. Deze groep had tevens een betere groei dan varkens die geen of minder kruiden krege

Association between CYP19 gene SNP rs2414096 Polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies have reported the association of the SNP rs2414096 in the CYP19 gene with hyperandrogenism, which is one of the clinical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). These studies suggest that SNP rs2414096 may be involved in the etiopathogenisis of PCOS. To investigate whetherthe CYP19 gene SNP rs2414096 polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to PCOS, we designed a case-controlled association study including 684 individuals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A case-controlled association study including 684 individuals (386 PCOS patients and 298 controls) was performed to assess the association of SNP rs2414096 with PCOS. Genotyping of SNP rs2414096 was conducted by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method that was performed on genomic DNA isolated from blood leucocytes. Results were analyzed in respect to clinical test results.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The genotypic distributions of rs2414096 (GG, AG, AA) in the CYP19 gene (GG, AG, AA) in women with PCOS (0.363, 0.474, 0.163, respectively) were significantly different from that in controls (0.242, 0.500, 0.258, respectively) (<it>P </it>= 0.001). E2/T was different between the AA and GG genotypes. Age at menarche (AAM) and FSH were also significantly different among the GG, AG, and AA genotypes in women with PCOS (P = 0.0391 and 0.0118, respectively). No differences were observed in body mass index (BMI) and other serum hormone concentrations among the three genotypes, either in the PCOS patients or controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data suggest that SNP rs2414096 in the CYP19 gene is associated with susceptibility to PCOS.</p

Functional genetic polymorphisms and female reproductive disorders: Part I: polycystic ovary syndrome and ovarian response

BACKGROUNDThe identification of polymorphisms associated with a disease can help to elucidate its pathogenesis, and this knowledge can be used to improve prognosis for women with a particular disorder, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Since an altered response to ovarian stimulation is also a characteristic of the disease, further knowledge about its aetiology could help in defining the parameters that determine the response of an individual to ovarian stimulation.METHODSPubMed and EMBASE databases were systematically searched for gene association studies published until the end of August 2007, using search criteria relevant to PCOS and ovarian response to stimulation. Data from additional papers identified through hand searches were also included; 139 publications were reviewed.RESULTSSeveral genes involved in ovarian function and metabolism are associated with increased susceptibility to PCOS, but none is strong enough to correlate alone with susceptibility to the disease, or response to therapy. A single-nucleotide polymorphism in exon 10 of the FSH receptor (FSHR) gene, FSHR p.N680S, was consistently identified as having a significant association with ovarian response to FSH.CONCLUSIONSNo consistent association between gene polymorphism and PCOS could be identified. The FSHR gene may play a significant role in the success of ovarian stimulation, and can be used as a marker to predict differences in FSHR function and ovarian response to FSH. Genotyping the FSHR p.N680S polymorphism may provide a means of identifying a population of poor responders before in vitro fertilization procedures are initiated