Aspects of bovine caesarean section associated with calf mortality, dam survival and subsequent fertility.

Bovine caesarean section is a common surgery performed by cattle practitioners yet evidence for justifying many aspects of the surgical procedure is lacking. Between 2001 and 2007, questionnaires were used to gather information on 103 cases of caesarean section performed in one, predominantly dairy, veterinary practice. The results showed that the 14-day cow survival rate was 80.6%, and of those surviving beyond this period, 55.4% carried another calf to term, 27.7% were culled due to infertility and 16.9% were culled due to other reasons. Variables associated with reduced 14-day dam mortality included exteriorising the uterus during surgery (odds ratio [OR] 0.018, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0019-0.17, P<0.001), dystocia where fetomaternal disproportion was present (OR 0.090, 95% CI 0.097-0.83, P=0.033), a female calf (OR 0.036, 95% CI 0.0019-0.69, P=0.027), no retained fetal membranes at the first post-operative revisit (OR 0.095, 95% CI 0.013-0.69, P=0.020) and removing abdominal blood clots during surgery (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.011-0.93, P=0.043). Using a Utrecht suture pattern on the uterus was associated with reduced culling due to infertility (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.020-0.67, P=0.016). Incision infection was noted in 25.9% of cases where incision status was recorded but this was not associated with the type of local anaesthesia used. Overall calf survival up to the first post-operative visit (24-48 h) was 59.4%, and was associated with shorter duration of surgery, and dystocia due to fetomaternal disproportion. These results offer some evidence-based guidelines to optimise outcomes for this common surgery performed under field conditions

Impact of foot-and-mouth disease on mastitis and culling on a large-scale dairy farm in Kenya

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly transmissible viral infection of cloven hooved animals associated with severe economic losses when introduced into FMD-free countries. Information on the impact of the disease in FMDV-endemic countries is poorly characterised yet essential for the prioritisation of scarce resources for disease control programmes. A FMD (virus serotype SAT2) outbreak on a large-scale dairy farm in Nakuru County, Kenya provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact of FMD on clinical mastitis and culling rate. A cohort approach followed animals over a 12-month period after the commencement of the outbreak. For culling, all animals were included; for mastitis, those over 18 months of age. FMD was recorded in 400/644 cattle over a 29-day period. During the follow-up period 76 animals were culled or died whilst in the over 18 month old cohort 63 developed clinical mastitis. Hazard ratios (HR) were generated using Cox regression accounting for non-proportional hazards by inclusion of time-varying effects. Univariable analysis showed FMD cases were culled sooner but there was no effect on clinical mastitis. After adjusting for possible confounders and inclusion of time-varying effects there was weak evidence to support an effect of FMD on culling (HR = 1.7, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.88-3.1, P = 0.12). For mastitis, there was stronger evidence of an increased rate in the first month after the onset of the outbreak (HR = 2.9, 95%CI 0.97-8.9, P = 0.057)

Animal production food safety: priority pathogens for standard setting by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

In this short study, expert opinion and a literature review were used to identify the pathogens that should be prioritised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for the development of future standards for animal production food safety. Prioritisation was based on a pathogen's impact on human health and amenability to control using on-farm measures. As the OIE mandate includes alleviation of global poverty, the study focused on developing countries and those with 'in-transition' economies. The regions considered were Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Salmonella (from species other than poultry) and pathogenic Escherichia coli were considered to be top priorities. Brucella spp., Echinococcus granulosus and Staphylococcus aureus were also mentioned by experts. As Salmonella, and to a lesser extent pathogenic E. coli, can be controlled by on-farm measures, these pathogens should be considered for prioritisation in future standard setting. On-farm control measures for Brucella spp. will be addressed in 2010-2011 in a review of the OLE Terrestrial Animal/Health Code chapter on brucellosis. In Africa, E. granulosus, the causative agent of hydatidosis, was estimated to have the greatest impact of all pathogens that could potentially be transmitted by food (i.e. via contamination). It was also listed for the Middle East and thought to be of importance by both South American experts consulted. Taenia saginata was thought to be of importance in South America and Africa and by one expert in the Middle East