Regulatory issues and good veterinary practice in antimicrobial therapy in horses

Antimicrobials are essential and widely used in veterinary practice. Their use undergoes numerous national and European regulations, but should also meet the criteria of recommendations and statements of veterinary associations and other professional structures. Currently, multidrug resistance is recognized as one of the largest threats to both human and animal health, widely discussed internationally. Horses are unique domestic animal species, due to their dual role as either food- or non-food-producing animals and this fact further complicates the everyday equine veterinary practice. The aim of this study is to introduce the problem of antimicrobial therapy in horses in the context of the legislation and the general principles of good veterinary practice

African swine fever (ASF) - social, economic and organizing aspects

In this article, we present the current social, economic and organizing aspects of African swine fever (ASF). ASF became endemic in wild boar populations in several European countries and continues to expand its range in Europe, causing very serious concerns in pig industry. The first case of ASF was noted in the Eastern Poland at the mid of 2014, and then it has moved to the Western Poland. Until 18th August 2020, 8811 cases of ASF in wild boar and 313 outbreaks of ASF in pig populations were noticed in Poland. ASF causes economic, social and also political problems. Controlling this disease in our country, one of the largest pork producers, is a very challenging task for the veterinary service, given complexity of disease epidemiology, lack of previous experience and vaccines, unprecedented geographical scope of the problem and its transboundary and multi-sectoral nature. All costs related to disease control and animals elimination, are covered by the state budget

Analysis of African swine fever epizootics in western Poland

African swine fever (ASF), remains serious epidemiologic and economic concern in pig industry in Europe and Asia. The true rates of ASF spread in the individual countries, affected by this disease, are different from the theoretical scenarios. The most unpredictable factor, which is also crucial in the new episodes of ASF in wild boar observed in the areas thus far free from this disease, is human activity. These areas could be located several to even hundred kilometers from the current region of ASF occurrence in wild boar. An example may be represented by the occurrence of ASF cases in wild boar around Warsaw area in 2017, as well as in western Poland in autumn 2019. Therefore ASF may spread in wild boar population not only in a low, “natural” way, at a rate of 1–2 km per month, but also by human-mediated transfer of the virus at a rate of dozens or hundreds of kilometers. The administrative measures introduced by the Chief Veterinary Officer and the representatives of Veterinary Inspection in Poland, aimed at limiting further ASF expansion in wild boar to northern, western and southern regions. Further scenario for ASF spreading in wild boar and pig population will depend on joint, consistent and effective actions and collaboration between the Veterinary Inspection, hunters and pig producers in Poland

Legal Obstacles in the Eradication of Bovine Tuberculosis in European bison (Bison bonasus)—A Threat to an Effective Reintroduction Strategy

In Poland, bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is most often detected in cattle, although some cases have also been reported in pigs and in other non-domestic species. BTB is believed to be mainly present in the Bieszczady region, in the south-eastern part of the country. The present study analyses the practical applications of the law regarding the eradication of tuberculosis among European bison in Poland, as well as the influence of legal rules in species conservation effects. Its aim is to present and evaluate the effectiveness of legal provisions in selected cases of BTB detected in European bison. The analysis highlights key “critical points” in the management of cases of BTB in European bison, which resulted from the problematic interpretation and application of the existing legal provisions. Findings indicate that before the Animal Health Law, the eradication of BTB in European bison in Poland was not regulated clearly enough by the applicable laws in force prior to 2021. This posed a threat to an effective reintroduction strategy for bison based on creating larger metapopulations and maintaining small, isolated reservoir herds (breading centers) for fallback in the case of infectious disease. It should be emphasized that in the current legal system, there is no doubt that a District Veterinary Officer has the competence to prevent and control tuberculosis in European bison

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 in Poland in 2019–2020

Repeated incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5 subtype of Gs/GD lineage pose a serious threat to poultry worldwide. We provide a detailed analysis of the spatio-temporal spread and genetic characteristics of HPAIV Gs/GD H5N8 from the 2019/20 epidemic in Poland

Animal coronaviruses in the light of COVID-19

Coronaviruses are extremely susceptible to genetic changes due to the characteristic features of the genome structure, life cycle and environmental pressure. Their remarkable variability means that they can infect many different species of animals and cause different disease symptoms. Moreover, in some situations, coronaviruses might be transmitted across species. Although they are commonly found in farm, companion and wild animals, causing clinical and sometimes serious signs resulting in significant economic losses, not all of them have been classified by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as hazardous and included on the list of notifiable diseases. Currently, only three diseases caused by coronaviruses are on the OIE list of notifiable terrestrial and aquatic animal diseases. However, none of these three entails any administrative measures. The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 infections that have caused the COVID-19 pandemic in humans has proved that the occurrence and variability of coronaviruses is highly underestimated in the animal reservoir and reminded us of the critical importance of the One Health approach. Therefore, domestic and wild animals should be intensively monitored, both to broaden our knowledge of the viruses circulating among them and to understand the mechanisms of the emergence of viruses of relevance to animal and human health

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boars, red deer and roe deer in Poland

Little is known about the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild life, particularly game animals in Poland. Meat juice collected during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 hunting seasons from 552 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 367 wild boars (Sus scrofa) and 92 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) was tested for T. gondii antibodies using the multi-species ID Screen Toxoplasmosis Indirect kit (IDvet, Montpellier, France). Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 24.1% of red deer (95% CI: 20.7%, 27.8%), 37.6% of wild boar (95% CI: 32.8%, 42.7%) and 30.4% of roe deer (95% CI: 22.0%, 40.5%). To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first epidemiological report of T. gondii prevalence in red deer, roe deer and wild boars in Poland. T. gondii is present in wildlife animal tissues and consumption of the game may be a potential source of infection for humans

Seroprevalence of

Little is known about the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild life, particularly game animals in Poland. Meat juice collected during the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 hunting seasons from 552 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 367 wild boars (Sus scrofa) and 92 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) was tested for T. gondii antibodies using the multi-species ID Screen Toxoplasmosis Indirect kit (IDvet, Montpellier, France). Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 24.1% of red deer (95% CI: 20.7%, 27.8%), 37.6% of wild boar (95% CI: 32.8%, 42.7%) and 30.4% of roe deer (95% CI: 22.0%, 40.5%). To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first epidemiological report of T. gondii prevalence in red deer, roe deer and wild boars in Poland. T. gondii is present in wildlife animal tissues and consumption of the game may be a potential source of infection for humans