Salmonella on Belgian breeding and rearing farms

On 49 breeding and 9 rearing farms bacteriological examination for Salmonella was performed monthly during 6 months. On each sampling round 2 pair of hand swabs and overshoes were taken in the farrowing-, insemination- and gestation units. In the fattening unit only 2 pairs of hand swabs were taken. In the rearing farms, samples were taken spread over the different compartments. In the last sampling round, only overshoes were taken. The association between serology and bacteriology was studied in the fattening unit. Therefore serological results of blood samples from the Belgian Salmonella Action Plan were taken into consideration. On each herd a questionnaire about biosecurity (Biocheck) was completed and the standard use of antibiotics and acids was registered

Quantitative analysis of transmission parameters for bluetongue virus serotype 8 in Western Europe in 2006

The recent bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) epidemic in Western Europe struck hard. Controlling the infection was difficult and a good and safe vaccine was not available until the spring of 2008. Little was known regarding BTV transmission in Western Europe or the efficacy of control measures. Quantitative details on transmission are essential to assess the potential and efficacy of such measures

A pan-European epidemiological study reveals honey bee colony survival depends on beekeeper education and disease control

Reports of honey bee population decline has spurred many national efforts to understand the extent of the problem and to identify causative or associated factors. However, our collective understanding of the factors has been hampered by a lack of joined up trans-national effort. Moreover, the impacts of beekeeper knowledge and beekeeping management practices have often been overlooked, despite honey bees being a managed pollinator. Here, we established a standardised active monitoring network for 5 798 apiaries over two consecutive years to quantify honey bee colony mortality across 17 European countries. Our data demonstrate that overwinter losses ranged between 2% and 32%, and that high summer losses were likely to follow high winter losses. Multivariate Poisson regression models revealed that hobbyist beekeepers with small apiaries and little experience in beekeeping had double the winter mortality rate when compared to professional beekeepers. Furthermore, honey bees kept by professional beekeepers never showed signs of disease, unlike apiaries from hobbyist beekeepers that had symptoms of bacterial infection and heavy Varroa infestation. Our data highlight beekeeper background and apicultural practices as major drivers of honey bee colony losses. The benefits of conducting trans-national monitoring schemes and improving beekeeper training are discussed

Les Gueules cassées d'Albéric Pont et de Raphaël Freida

LYON1-BU Santé (693882101) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Salmonella on Belgian breeding and rearing farms

On 49 breeding and 9 rearing farms bacteriological examination for Salmonella was performed monthly during 6 months. On each sampling round 2 pair of hand swabs and overshoes were taken in the farrowing-, insemination- and gestation units. In the fattening unit only 2 pairs of hand swabs were taken. In the rearing farms, samples were taken spread over the different compartments. In the last sampling round, only overshoes were taken. The association between serology and bacteriology was studied in the fattening unit. Therefore serological results of blood samples from the Belgian Salmonella Action Plan were taken into consideration. On each herd a questionnaire about biosecurity (Biocheck) was completed and the standard use of antibiotics and acids was registered.</p