Complete genome sequences of three African foot-and-mouth disease viruses from clinical samples isolated in 2009 and 2010

&lt;p&gt;The complete genome sequences of three foot-and-mouth disease viruses (one virus of each serotype SAT1, SAT2 and O) were directly sequenced from RNA extracted from clinical bovine samples, demonstrating the feasibility of full-genome sequencing from strong positive samples taken from symptomatic animals. &lt;/p&gt;</p

Using participatory rural appraisal to investigate food production, nutrition and safety in the Tanzanian dairy value chain

Identifying and implementing interventions that create co-benefits in terms of food and nutrition security as well as food safety requires an interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach. This study was part of a larger project that applied an integrated framework for combined nutritional, food safety and value chain analysis to assess the dairy value chain in two regions of Tanzania, namely Morogoro and Tanga. Here, we report on the use of participatory rural appraisals (PRAs) with producers and consumers to investigate seasonality, constraints and opportunities in cow milk production and consumption in ten villages in Tanzania and describe attitudes and practices surrounding milk quality and safety. The PRAs allowed identifying strong seasonal milk production and consumption practices reflecting rainfall patterns and a dependence on the natural environment. A wide range of production constraints were described by producers including insufficient technical know-how, poor quality breeds, cattle diseases, lack of capital, feed, water and reliable markets. While milk availability had a strong influence on milk consumption, findings showed that there are a range of other factors such as the consistency of milk, purchasing power and the availability of other foods which also influence consumer choice. A dependence on sensory milk quality attributes in the absence of other systems of certification was described. Both producers and consumers showed little concern regarding potentially contaminated milk despite an awareness of the existence of milkborne disease risks. The results indicate great potential for upscaling dairy production and at the same time highlight that any such interventions should carefully consider mitigation measures for food safety risks

Application of the Nagoya Protocol to veterinary pathogens: concerns for the control of foot-and-mouth disease

The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement adopted in 2010 (and entered into force in 2014) which governs access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their utilisation. The agreement aims to prevent misappropriation of genetic resources and, through benefit sharing, create incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. While the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources is a widely accepted concept, the way in which the provisions of the Nagoya Protocol are currently being implemented through national access and benefit-sharing legislation places significant logistical challenges on the control of transboundary livestock diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Delays to access FMD virus isolates from the field disrupt the production of new FMD vaccines and other tailored tools for research, surveillance and outbreak control. These concerns were raised within the FMD Reference Laboratory Network and were explored at a recent multistakeholder meeting hosted by the European Commission for the Control of FMD. The aim of this paper is to promote wider awareness of the Nagoya Protocol, and to highlight its impacts on the regular exchange and utilisation of biological materials collected from clinical cases which underpin FMD research activities, and work to develop new epidemiologically relevant vaccines and other diagnostic tools to control the disease

A novel multiplex qPCR‑HRM assay for the simultaneous detection of four abortive zoonotic agents in cattle, sheep, and goats

Abstract Abortifacient pathogens induce substantial economic losses in the livestock industry worldwide, and many of these pathogens are zoonotic, impacting human health. As Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira spp., and Listeria monocytogenes cause abortion, rapid differential molecular diagnostic tests are needed to facilitate early and accurate detection of abortion to establish effective control measures. However, the available molecular methods are laborious, time-consuming, or costly. Therefore, we developed and validated a novel multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method based on high-resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis to simultaneously detect and differentiate four zoonotic abortifacient agents in cattle, goats, and sheep. Our HRM assay generated four well-separated melting peaks allowing the differentiation between the four zoonotic abortifacients. Out of 216 DNA samples tested, Brucella spp. was detected in 45 samples, Coxiella burnetii in 57 samples, Leptospira spp. in 12 samples, and Listeria monocytogenes in 19 samples, co-infection with Brucella spp. and Coxiella burnetii in 41 samples, and 42 samples were negative. This assay demonstrated good analytical sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. This is a valuable rapid, cost-saving, and reliable diagnostic tool for detecting individual and co-infections for zoonotic abortifacient agents in ruminants

Quality of milk obtained in informal channels in Tanzania as revealed by integrated assessments

There is increasing concern regarding the quality and safety of milk collected and consumed in Tanzania. The majority of milk is obtained in informal distribution channels where animals have unknown health status and good milking and handling practices are often not observed. These factors may contribute to the contamination with milk-borne diseases and milk quality loss. Investigations of the dairy value chain in Tanzania included surveys, key informant interviews, participatory rural appraisals, and laboratory analyses. Our results show a dynamic informal milk sector with rural-rural as well as rural-urban value chains with a diversity of consumers who appreciate milk for its nutritional value and show little concern for milk- borne hazards. Milk samples showed high bacteria and coliform counts exceeding standard levels in the East African Community, e.g. total bacterial count of 1.0 × 107 colony forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml) and total coliform counts of 1.1 × 107 cfu/ml. Ten bacteria species were isolated from milk samples, andfive of these, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria innocua, Listeria ivanovii, and Klebsiella spp. are rarely reported in Tanzania. Furthermore, adulteration and residues of tetracycline and sulfonamide, were detected. It is recommended to work towards solutions that take an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach to promote a product of nutritional value that is safe to consume

The first detection of a serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus in Namibia

This report describes the molecular characterization of a serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) recovered from a field outbreak in the Zambezi region, Namibia during July 2021. Sequence analysis demonstrates that this FMDV belongs to the O/EA-2 topotype sharing closest nucleotide identity (99.5%) to FMD viruses collected since 2018 in Zambia. This is the first detection of serotype O in Namibia, and together with the cases that have been recently detected in southern Zambia, represent the first time that this serotype has been detected in the Southern African FMD endemic pool since 2000, when a virus of Asian origin (O/ME-SA/PanAsia) caused an outbreak in South Africa. This incursion poses a new threat for the region and the potential onward spread of O/EA-2 will now need to be closely monitored since serotype O vaccines are not widely used in Namibia, nor in neighbouring countries.Work in Zambia was funded by the Government of Zambia and the Directorate of Veterinary Services at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Work at WRLFMD was funded by the UK Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra SE2944) and the European Union. The Pirbright Institute receives grant-aided support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the United Kingdom.https://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/tbedam2023Veterinary Tropical Disease