Genetic Adaptation and Welfare

Beilharz says: The evolutionary processes, if they are not obstructed or misdirected, must lead to such a degree of adaptation that welfare will have to be taken for granted, just as we can do no better than to take for granted the welfare of any wild animal in its natural habitat. From this statement, one might conclude all we have to do is wait, and the animals will eventually adapt to intensive systems. Concerning animals put into new kinds of environments, he states that, if individuals do not have the capacity to adjust phenotypically, adaptation of the population will require a rapid genetic response to prevent dying out of the population. This comment may suggest that one does not have to wait very long for the animals to adapt successfully to intensive systems. He also notes that it is likely that a rapid genetic response is accompanied by much suffering. From this, one might conclude that suffering during such a process is only natural, and is therefore justified. Beilharz writes further that the procedure of adaptation may have to be approached in stages, if the environmental conditions aimed at are radically different from those to which the animals are now adapted. Because he fails to tell us whether intensive husbandry systems belong in this last category of environmental conditions, one might conclude that it is not necessary to adapt animals in stages if they are to be kept under intensive conditions. Therefore, because these statements of Beilharz could be misused to defend the practice of keeping animals under the stress of intensive conditions, under the rationalization that this is part of a long-term rational plan, I want to discuss each of these statements in the following comment

Genetic Adaptation and Welfare

Van Rooijen comments on Beilharz’s suggestion (IJSAP 3(2), 117) that it may be possible to adapt domestic animals to existing husbandry systems rather than adapt the systems to the animals. For example, Beilharz cites Tschanz, who has written that the best measurement of adaptation to an environment is reproduction. Van Rooijen provides an example of two bulls – one living freely with a group of cows and one used as a sperm donor, where welfare and reproductive success are not necessarily in harmony. He concludes that the evolutionary fitness and welfare of farm animals do not necessarily coincid

Genetic Adaptation and Welfare

Beilharz says: The evolutionary processes, if they are not obstructed or misdirected, must lead to such a degree of adaptation that welfare will have to be taken for granted, just as we can do no better than to take for granted the welfare of any wild animal in its natural habitat. From this statement, one might conclude all we have to do is wait, and the animals will eventually adapt to intensive systems. Concerning animals put into new kinds of environments, he states that, if individuals do not have the capacity to adjust phenotypically, adaptation of the population will require a rapid genetic response to prevent dying out of the population. This comment may suggest that one does not have to wait very long for the animals to adapt successfully to intensive systems. He also notes that it is likely that a rapid genetic response is accompanied by much suffering. From this, one might conclude that suffering during such a process is only natural, and is therefore justified. Beilharz writes further that the procedure of adaptation may have to be approached in stages, if the environmental conditions aimed at are radically different from those to which the animals are now adapted. Because he fails to tell us whether intensive husbandry systems belong in this last category of environmental conditions, one might conclude that it is not necessary to adapt animals in stages if they are to be kept under intensive conditions. Therefore, because these statements of Beilharz could be misused to defend the practice of keeping animals under the stress of intensive conditions, under the rationalization that this is part of a long-term rational plan, I want to discuss each of these statements in the following comment

The trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi induces thrombocytopenia during acute Chagas' disease by reducing the platelet sialic acid contents

Strong thrombocytopenia is observed during acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasitic protozoan agent of American trypanosomiasis or Chagas' disease. The parasite sheds trans-sialidase, an enzyme able to mobilize the sialyl residues on cell surfaces, which is distributed in blood and is a virulence factor. Since the sialic acid content on the platelet surface is crucial for determining the half-life of platelets in blood, we examined the possible involvement of the parasite-derived enzyme in thrombocytopenia induction. We found that a single intravenous injection of trans-sialidase into naïve mice reduced the platelet count by 50%, a transient effect that lasted as long as the enzyme remained in the blood. CD43(−/−) mice were affected to a similar extent. When green fluorescent protein-expressing platelets were treated in vitro with trans-sialidase, their sialic acid content was reduced together with their life span, as determined after transfusion into naïve animals. No apparent deleterious effect on the bone marrow was observed. A central role for Kupffer cells in the clearance of trans-sialidase-altered platelets was revealed after phagocyte depletion by administration of clodronate-containing liposomes and splenectomy. Consistent with this, parasite strains known to exhibit more trans-sialidase activity induced heavier thrombocytopenia. Finally, the passive transfer of a trans-sialidase-neutralizing monoclonal antibody to infected animals prevented the clearance of transfused platelets. Results reported here strongly support the hypothesis that the trans-sialidase is the virulence factor that, after depleting the sialic acid content of platelets, induces the accelerated clearance of the platelets that leads to the thrombocytopenia observed during acute Chagas' disease

Water and sanitation in Eastern and Southern Africa: a regional perspective

The countries located in Eastern and Southern Africa are immensely diverse in geography, culture and standards of living. Despite these diversities, many countries share the prospect of likely not reaching the MDG target for water and/or sanitation, set for 2015. This paper analyses available data on WASH, such as time-to-collect, gender, hand-washing and water quality. Sub-national disparities across regions and between the urban and rural population will be examined. Some reflections on UNICEF’s country-level initiatives in urban areas will also be given. The analysis is considered useful for practitioners, researchers and policy makers whom are active in the WASH sector

Kwaliteit van het stofbaden van leghennen, in de strooiselbak van de welzijnskooi

Het stofbaden van bruine leghennen (Isabrown) in de strooiselbak van de welzijnskooi is onderzocht. Een welzijnskooi is een grote kooi voor ongeveer 40 leghennen met een legnest, zitstokken en een strooiselbak om in te stofbaden. Welzijnskooien wordenontwikkeld om het welzijn van leghennen te verbeteren

Urban sanitation and wastewater treatment in Addis Ababa in the Awash Basin, Ethiopia

Improvement of sanitation facilities and subsequent practices is considered to contribute to overall human development with far reaching benefits for the welfare of people. It can reduce wastewater flows when treatment capacities are upgraded, but it can also create a higher load of wastewater flowing into the environment downstream. Additional sanitary water requirements in a water scarce city may be difficult to meet. In this paper we explore the scale of impact of improving sanitation in Addis Ababa in terms of water quality and quantity of water flows in and out of the city. Conventional approaches to sanitary improvement at the city level, like extension of the sewage coverage and upgrading of wastewater treatment capacities will require additional water in a city that is already water scarce. Also, it will change the characteristics of irrigation water that is used by farmers in and around the city

Stofbaden in welzijnskooien

In het onderzoek naar alternatieve huisvesting voor leghennen (project 1030) worden o.a. welzijnskooien met strooiselbak onderzocht. Doel van het gedragsonderzoek binnen dit project is om te vast te stellen in hoeverre deze strooiselbakken voldoen

Exploring implications of urban growth scenarios and investments for water supply, sanitation, wastewater generation and use in Accra, Ghana

Large cities in developing countries are challenged to meet steeply water demands and to dispose of wastewater safely in a context of urbanisation and poor water management and planning capacities. Urban water management has direct implications for water availability and sewage disposal in terms of quality and quantity. Studying the future implications and assessing the scale of impact of these processes starts with an understanding of the various water flows, supply and sewage infrastructure and uses of the water that is supplied to the city. It is argued that changes in water infrastructure and household water use and sanitation facilities at the city level has implications for upstream supply and demand management and downstream wastewater management. This paper explores this research area with a focus on Accra in Ghana. It is argued that the current situation in Accra shows a need and potential for improvement of water supply and wastewater treatment, however, through ways that do not require more concrete pipes