94 research outputs found
A pilot study for the isolation of Eimeria spp. oocysts from environmental straw samples in comparison with individual faecal examination of fattening calves
The diagnosis of eimeriosis in calves mainly relies on the presence of diarrhoea and the excretion of Eimeria oocysts in the faeces. Restraining the animals to collect rectal samples for diagnostic purposes is stressful and time-consuming. The aim of this study was to evaluate a method for the quantification of oocysts in environmental barn straw samples. To investigate the recovery rate of the method, straw and Eimeria negative faeces were spiked with Eimeria oocysts in plastic bags and mixed with water and 0.05% Tween 20 (v/v); the liquids were filtered twice through sieves (mesh size 300 and 52Â ÎŒm), centrifuged and the number of oocysts in the sediment determined using a McMaster counting chamber. A recovery rate of 52.4% (95% confidence interval: 48.2â56.5%) was obtained. In the following, field straw (nâ=â156) and individual faecal samples (nâ=â195, also analysed by McMaster counting chambers) were collected on four different farms. Eimeria oocysts were present on all farms in faecal (84/195, 43.1%) and straw samples (119/156, 76.3%). In 37 (23.7%) straw samples, sporulated oocysts were observed, with a sporulation rate ranging from 0 to 40%. Despite high variability between farms and examination days, mean numbers of oocysts in the straw positively correlated with mean numbers of oocysts excreted in the faeces (Ïâ=â0.60). The examination of environmental straw samples may represent an easy-to-perform, non-invasive, inexpensive preliminary diagnostic approach for surveillance of eimeriosis at group level, having the potential to assess the infection pressure
Effects of an oral Echinacea purpurea alcoholic spissum extract in calves. A placebo-controlled, randomized, double blinded study
Background
Antimicrobial resistance resulted in international accordance to strengthen the research to investigate novel treatment options including medicinal plants. To investigate the effect of two dosages of an orally hydro-ethanolic Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH spissum extract (EP) on performance, clinical health, antibody production, red and white blood cell count and expression of immunological parameters in calves, a double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial has been performed
Eingriffe und Behandlungen von NutzÂtieren durch Nicht-TierĂ€rzte: quo vadis?
English
Interventions and treatments of farm animals by non-veterinarians: quo vadis?
The increasing professionalization and the cost pressure on farms combined with a decreasing availability of veterinary expertise procures the demand for treatments and interventions performed by non-veterinarians. A current survey resulting in 56 responses of food animal practitioners showed that a majority delivered pour-on anthelmintics, drugs for oral application and ointments after respective instruction to farmers. Udder injectors, antimicrobials and vaccines were handled more restrictively, but even hormones were committed by more than half of the veterinarians to livestock owners. In respect to interventions, most practitioners supported that farmers perform functional foot trimming, administration of boli, inseminations, dehorning and castrations of calves. By contrast, many veterinarians refused that farmers apply intravenous injections, insert a trocar or treat sole ulcers. In respect to the future development, implications of non-veterinarian interventions on animal welfare, consumer protection and drug safety have to be considered. Indispensable are qualification and skills of the person performing interventions which can be acquired by certificated training courses. Moreover, a basic conception and taking responsibility in particular for application of veterinary drugs is mandatory â in this respect, at present marked deficits exist among many farmers. Based on the current legal situation, several interventions can be delegated to non-veterinarians, but the technical responsibility for the proper implementation is due to the veterinarian. This includes an evaluation of interventions and treatments on a regular basis together with the farmer. On this basis, the assessment of clinical symptoms as well as the initial treatment can be useful and appropriate to ensure a rapid therapy especially in animals suffering from factorial diseases. Having in mind profound differences in respect to the competence of non-veterinarians, general procedures to deliver drugs and to delegate interventions have to be rejected. Advanced diagnostic procedures and the prescription of veterinary drugs remain an exclusive mission of the veterinarian.
Keywords: Animal welfare, consumer protection, drug safety, interventions by non-veterinarians, livestock production
Deutsch
Eingriffe und Behandlungen von NutzÂtieren durch Nicht-TierĂ€rzte: quo vadis?
Die fortschreitende Professionalisierung und der Kostendruck auf landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben fĂŒhren in Verbindung mit einer zumindest regional abnehmenden VerfĂŒgbarkeit tierĂ€rztlicher Expertise zu der Forderung, dass Behandlungen und Eingriffe bei Nutztieren vermehrt auch durch Nicht-TierĂ€rzte* vorgenommen werden dĂŒrfen. Eine aktuelle Umfrage mit RĂŒckmeldungen von 56 Nutztierpraxen ergab, dass die Mehrheit Pour-on-Anthelmintika, oral zu verabreichende PrĂ€parate und Wundsalben an Tierhalter abgibt. Mit Euterinjektoren, Antibiotika und Impfstoffen wird restriktiver umgegangen, doch selbst Hormone werden nach Einweisung von mehr als der HĂ€lfte der TierĂ€rzte an Landwirte abgegeben. Hinsichtlich von Eingriffen befĂŒrwortete die Mehrzahl der Praktiker die DurchfĂŒhrung der funktionellen Klauenpflege, die Eingabe von Boli, das Enthornen von KĂ€lbern, das Kastrieren sowie die Besamung durch Nicht-TierĂ€rzte. Hingegen sprachen sich die meisten Praktiker dafĂŒr aus, dass intravenöse Injektionen, das Einsetzen eines Trokars sowie das Ausschneiden eines KlauengeschwĂŒrs ausschliesslich durch TierĂ€rzte durchgefĂŒhrt werden. Im Hinblick auf die zukĂŒnftige Entwicklung gilt es, die Implikationen fĂŒr Tierschutz, Konsumentenschutz und Arzneimittelsicherheit zu berĂŒcksichtigen. Unabdingbar sind stets die FĂ€higkeit und Fertigkeit des DurchfĂŒhrenden, die an den Nachweis der Sachkunde gebunden sind. Zudem sind ein fachliches GrundverstĂ€ndnis und die Ăbernahme von Verantwortung insbesondere im Hinblick auf den Einsatz von Tierarzneimitteln notwendig. Zwar kann der Bestandestierarzt aufgrund der aktuellen Gesetzeslage durchaus Massnahmen delegieren, ĂŒbernimmt dann jedoch die fachliche Verantwortung fĂŒr die QualitĂ€t der jeweiligen Interventionen. Zudem erfordert das Delegieren zwingend die regelmĂ€ssige retrospektive Auswertung der Art und Anzahl von Behandlungen, sowie gemĂ€ss Tierarzneimittelverordnung die Ăberwachung des korrekten Tierarzneimitteleinsatzes. Unter dieser PrĂ€misse kann die Befunderhebung in einem klar definierten Rahmen unter Einhaltung der gesetzlichen Vorgaben mit anschliessender Erstbehandlung durch den Landwirt in der Praxis insbesondere bei Faktorenkrankheiten sinnvoll sein, um die schnellstmögliche Versorgung erkrankter Tiere sicherzustellen. Angesichts der erheblichen Unterschiede bzgl. der fachlichen Kompetenz unter Nicht-TierĂ€rzten sind pauschale Regelungen abzulehnen. Die weiterfĂŒhrende Diagnostik sowie die Verschreibung von Tierarzneimitteln mĂŒssen grundsĂ€tzlich eine exklusive Aufgabe des Bestandestierarztes bleiben.
SchlĂŒsselwörter: Arzneimittelsicherheit, Behandlung durch Laien, Konsumentenschutz, Nutztierhaltung, Tierschutz
Français
Interventions et traitements des animaux de rente par les non-vétérinaires: quo vadis?
La professionnalisation progressive et la pression des coĂ»ts sur les exploitations agricoles, combinĂ©es Ă une disponibilitĂ© dâexpertise vĂ©tĂ©rinaire dĂ©croissante au moins au niveau rĂ©gional, font que de plus en plus de traitements et dâinterventions sur le bĂ©tail peuvent ĂȘtre effectuĂ©s par des non-vĂ©tĂ©rinaires. Une enquĂȘte rĂ©cente portant sur les rĂ©ponses de 56 cabinets pour animaux de rente a rĂ©vĂ©lĂ© que la plupart dâentre eux remettent des anthelminthiques pour-on, des mĂ©dicaments Ă administrer par voie orale et des onguents aux propriĂ©taires dâanimaux. On est plus restrictif avec les injecteurs intra-mammaires, les antibiotiques et les vaccins, mais mĂȘme des hormones sont remises aux agriculteurs aprĂšs instruction par plus de la moitiĂ© des vĂ©tĂ©rinaires. En termes dâinterventions, la majoritĂ© des praticiens soutiennent la rĂ©alisation de soins fonctionnels des onglons, lâadministration de boli, lâĂ©cornage des veaux, la castration et lâinsĂ©mination par des non-vĂ©tĂ©rinaires. En revanche, la plupart des praticiens considĂšrent que les injections intraveineuses, la mise en place dâun trocart et le traitement dâun ulcĂšre de la sole doivent ĂȘtre effectuĂ©s par des vĂ©tĂ©rinaires. En ce qui concerne lâĂ©volution future, il est important de prendre en compte les implications pour le bien-ĂȘtre des animaux, la protection des consommateurs et la sĂ©curitĂ© en matiĂšre de mĂ©dicaments. Il est essentiel que lâexĂ©cutant ait la compĂ©tence nĂ©cessaire ainsi que la capacitĂ© de prouver quâil possĂšde une expertise. En outre, une comprĂ©hension de base du sujet et la prise de responsabilitĂ©, notamment en ce qui concerne lâutilisation de mĂ©dicaments vĂ©tĂ©rinaires, sont nĂ©cessaires. Bien que le vĂ©tĂ©rinaire puisse dĂ©lĂ©guer des actes en raison de la situation juridique actuelle, il assume ensuite la responsabilitĂ© professionnelle de la qualitĂ© des interventions rĂ©alisĂ©es. En outre la dĂ©lĂ©gation nĂ©cessite impĂ©rativement une Ă©valuation rĂ©trospective rĂ©guliĂšre du type et du nombre des traitements ainsi quâun contrĂŽle du bon usage des mĂ©dicaments vĂ©tĂ©rinaires conformĂ©ment Ă lâOrdonnance sur les mĂ©dicaments vĂ©tĂ©rinaires. Sous cette prĂ©misse, le recueil des commĂ©moratifs dans un cadre clairement dĂ©fini et conformĂ©ment aux exigences lĂ©gales avec un traitement initial par lâagriculteur peut ĂȘtre, dans la pratique, judicieux, en particulier dans les maladies factorielles pour assurer le traitement le plus rapide possible des animaux malades. Compte tenu des diffĂ©rences considĂ©rables en termes de compĂ©tence professionnelle parmi les non-vĂ©tĂ©rinaires, des rĂ©glementations forfaitaires devraient ĂȘtre rejetĂ©es. Les diagnostics plus approfondis et la prescription de mĂ©dicaments vĂ©tĂ©rinaires doivent en principe rester une tĂąche exclusive du vĂ©tĂ©rinaire.
Mots-clés: sécurité des médicaments, traitement par des profanes, protection des consommateurs, élevage, protection des animaux.
Italiano
Interventi e trattamenti eseguiti da non-veterinari sugli animali da reddito: quo vadis?
La crescente professionalizzazione e la pressione sui costi nelle aziende agricole abbinate a una diminuzione, per ora regionale, di competenze veterinarie sfociano in una domanda di trattamenti e interventi veterinari sugli animali da reddito prodigati da non-veterinari. Un recente sondaggio con risposte ricevute da 56 prassi veterinarie per animali da reddito ha rilevato che la maggior parte degli intervistati procuravano ai detentori degli animali formulazioni pour-on di prodotti antielmintici, di preparati per via orale e di unguenti per le ferite. Un uso piĂč restrittivo si trova negli iniettori della mammella, negli antibiotici e nei vaccini e anche gli ormoni vengono procurati agli allevatori, dietro istruzioni, da piĂč della metĂ dei veterinari. Per quel che concerne gli interventi come la cura degli zoccoli, somministrazione di boli, inseminazioni, decornazioni e castrazioni di vitelli, la maggior parte dei professionisti si schiera dalla parte dei non-veterinari. Per contro molti veterinari hanno rifiutato che gli allevatori effettuino iniezioni endovenose, inserimenti di trocar e rimozioni di ulcere dello zoccolo. In previsione degli sviluppi futuri bisogna tener presente le implicazioni degli interventi prodigati da non-veterinari sulla protezione degli animali, sulla protezione dei consumatori e sulla sicurezza dei medicamenti. Indispensabili sono delle qualifiche e delle competenze che la persona che esegue gli interventi deve dimostrare. Inoltre sono indispensabili conoscenze professionali e lâassunzione delle responsabilitĂ in particolare per quel che riguarda lâuso di medicamenti veterinari. Anche se il veterinario Ăš autorizzato legalmente a delegare certi interventi a non-veterinari, egli deve sempre assumerne la responsabilitĂ professionale per la qualitĂ di tutti i trattamenti. Questa delega richiede inoltre obbligatoriamente una valutazione periodica retrospettiva del tipo e della quantitĂ di trattamenti e, in conformitĂ allâOrdinanza sui medicamenti veterinari, il controllo di un uso corretto dei medicamenti veterinari. In tale ottica, puĂČ avere senso di effettuare una valutazione dei sintomi in un quadro chiaramente definito, e nel rispetto dei requisiti di legge, con un trattamento iniziale da parte dellâallevatore, in particolare nel caso di malattie multifattoriali, al fine di garantire una rapida cura degli animali. Considerando le differenze in competenze tecniche tra i non-veterinari Ăš necessario respingere le regolamentazioni generali. In ogni caso la diagnosi definitiva e la prescrizione dei medicamenti veterinari devono essere di competenza esclusiva dei veterinari.
Parole chiavi: sicurezza dei medicamenti, trattamenti da parte di non-veterinari, protezione dei consumatori, allevamento di animali da reddito, protezione degli animal
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Relative effects of sensory modalities and importance of fatty acid sensitivity on fat perception in a real food model
Fat can be perceived through mouthfeel, odour and taste, but the influence of these modalities on fat perception remains undefined. Fatty acids are stimuli. Individualâs sensitivity to fatty acids varies. Studies show association between fatty acid sensitivity, dietary intake and BMI, but results are conflicting. Therefore, this study examined this association, and the effects of modalities on fat perception.
Two sub-studies conducted. In Study 1 (n=46), fat intensity was assessed by milk/cream mixtures varying by five fat levels. Fat intensity was rated under four conditions: mouthfeel-odour masked, mouthfeel masked, odour masking and no masking. Mouthfeel masking was achieved using thickener and paraffin, odour masking using nose-clips. Fatty acid sensitivity was measured by 3-AFC-staircase method using milk containing oleic acid (0.31-31.4mM). In Study 2 (n=51), more fat levels were added in fat intensity rating. A 2-AFC discrimination test was used to confirm whether fat levels could be distinguished. In the sensitivity test, a wider range of oleic acid was included.
Fat intensity was rated higher without nose-clips (p<0.0001), implying that odour increased fat perception. Samples with mouthfeel-masked were rated higher, showing that increased viscosity and lubricity enhanced fat perception (p<0.0001). Participants could distinguish fat levels based on âtasteâ in rating tests and 2-AFC-tests.
Participants were divided into high/medium/low-sensitivity groups. No significant difference found in fat intensity between groups, however, high-sensitivity group discriminated more fat levels. No association between sensitivity groups, nutrient intake or BMI found
Impact of nutritional programming on the growth, health, and sexual development of bull calves
The growth, health, and reproductive performance of bull calves are important prerequisites for a successful cattle breeding program. Therefore, several attempts have been made to improve these parameters via nutritional programming. Although an increase in energy uptake during the postweaning period (7-8 mo of age) of the calves leads to a faster growing rate, it has no positive effects on sexual development. In contrast, a high-nutrition diet during the prepubertal period (8-20 wk of age) reduced the age at puberty of the bulls and increased the size and/or weight of the testis and the epididymal sperm reserves. This faster sexual development is associated with an increased transient LH peak, which seems to be mediated by an increase in serum IGF-I concentrations. However, the exact mechanisms responsible for the interaction between nutrition and the subsequent development of the calves are not clear. The sexual development of bull calves depends not only on the nutrition of the calves after birth but also on the feed intake of their mothers during pregnancy. In contrast to the effects of the feed intake of the bull calves, a high-nutrition diet fed to the mother during the first trimester has negative effects on the reproductive performance of their offspring. In conclusion, it has been clearly demonstrated that growth, health, and reproductive performance can be improved by nutritional programming, but further studies are necessary to obtain a better understanding about the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon
Dynamics of protozoal excretion in the faeces of calves during the first 28 days after arrival at the fattening farmâŻindicate infection before regrouping and show poor temporal correlation with diarrhoea
Abstract Background Calves in dairy cattle production in Switzerland are transported to a fattening farm at the age of 3â5Â weeks, and frequently suffer from diarrhoea within the first 14Â days after arrival. To characterise the role of intestinal protozoa in this, we investigated the excretion dynamics of Eimeria, Cryptosporidium and Giardia during the first 28Â days after the arrival and regrouping of calves at fattening farms. Methods A total of 610 faecal samples from 122 calves (mean age 37.3Â days; mean body weight 79.8Â kg) were collected on seven different fattening farms during the first 28Â days after the arrival and regrouping of the animals. The farms were visited between January and April (cold season; nâ=â4) and between June and August (warm season; nâ=â3). The samples were collected rectally on days 1, 4, 7, 14 and 28, assessed for consistency, and analysed using the McMaster method for quantitative determination of the number of Eimeria oocysts per gram of faeces (OPG), flotation for morphological differentiation of the unsporulated Eimeria oocysts, a concentration method for the semi-quantitative determination of Giardia cysts, and modified ZiehlâNeelsen staining for semi-quantitative determination of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Results Overall, 50.8% (62/122) of the animals had diarrhoea during the study period. However, the faecal excretion of protozoal pathogens was neither associated with diarrhoea nor with body weight gain of the animals. Altogether, 90.2% (110/122) of the calves were Eimeria positive. Eimeria zuernii was excreted by 51 (41.8%) and Eimeria bovis by 68 (55.7%) animals. In the warm season more animals tested positive for Eimeria and OPGs were higher than in the cold season. There was no correlation between the age of the calves and the OPG values. Overall, 64.8% (79/122) of the calves excreted Eimeria oocysts within the first 7Â days, indicating that they had been infected with the parasite on the dairy farm of origin. Eighty-nine calves (73.0%) excreted Giardia cysts, with more positive animals in the cold (80.3%) compared with the warm season (64.3%). Only Giardia duodenalis assemblage E was identified. Cryptosporidium oocysts were microscopically detected in 14 animals (11.5%) on five farms. Cryptosporidium spp. were present in a total of 12 animals, i.e. Cryptosporidium parvum in nine, Cryptosporidium ryanae in two, and Cryptosporidium bovis in one animal. Conclusions A better understanding of the temporal dynamics of protozoal infections in calves is helpful for the implementation of appropriate measures to protect the health of these animals at a critical phase in their lives. Our results indicate that factors other than those examined in the present study contributed to the onset of diarrhoea in the calves. Graphical abstrac
Sucking and drinking behaviour in preweaned dairy calves in the first five weeks of life
Background: Nursing and sucking are essential for adequate nourishment of preweaned calves and the relationship between sucking indices has not been studied. The goal of this study was to investigate the number of sucks per litre of milk and per minute of drinking and the amount of milk ingested per suck in healthy preweaned calves. Correlation coefficients were calculated for the relationships between these variables. Eighteen healthy calves were used from birth to 5 weeks of age, and five measurements were made at the end of weeks 1 to 5. The calves were randomly divided into three groups and offered milk twice daily in a bucket with a rubber nipple. The amount of milk offered per day was equal to 12% of body weight in group A and 16% of body weight in group B. Calves in group C were offered as much milk as they wanted during each feeding period. The duration of drinking was determined with a stopwatch, and the number of sucks was counted with a handheld tally counter. The variables drinking duration, total amount consumed and the number of sucks required were used to calculate the number of sucks/min, the number of sucks/L, the amount ingested per suck and drinking speed.
Results: The number of sucks/min ranged from 113 to 133 and increased significantly during the study period. The mean number of sucks/L decreased from 204 in week 1 to 141 in week 5 and drinking speed increased from 0.6 to 1.0âL/min. There were significant correlations between the number of sucks/L of milk and the amount of milk ingested per suck, drinking duration, total amount consumed and drinking speed. Drinking speed was positively correlated with the amount of milk ingested per suck and the total amount of milk consumed, and negatively correlated with drinking duration.
Conclusion: These findings show that drinking variables of calves offered different amounts of milk vary little and significant changes occur during the same period with respect to the number of sucks/L of milk and the amount of milk ingested per suck. Several drinking variables are significantly correlated with other variables
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