Antibiotic residues in commercial layer hens in Khartoum State, Sudan, 2007-2008

The prevalence of antimicrobial residues in table eggs produced in Khartoum State, Sudan was estimated and determined. All available producing layer farms in the state were sampled in April, June and August 2008. For each layer house three egg samples were randomly collected to increase the sensitivity of antimicrobial residue screening test detectability. In total, 933 egg samples were analyzed, collected from 175 layer farms (335 layer houses) in three periods of collection. An in-house residue detection test using Geobacillus stearothermophillus var calidolactis was the analytical procedure used for the analysis. Data were analysed using Survey Toolbox to calculate the true prevalence and confidence intervals. The proportion of layer farms with antimicrobial residues in April, June and August was 61.1%, 60.2% and 68.7% respectively. The proportion of layer houses affected in April, June and August were 56.0%, 54.1% and 57.1% respectively. The results showed insignificant variation among the three periods of the surveillance (p = 0.57). A census covering all three localities of the state (Khartoum, Bahry and Omdurman) was carried out in late 2007 and early 2008. Data were recorded on areas where farms occur, number of houses per farm, total capacity of birds and farming systems. The census showed that there were 252 layer farms in the state distributed in 31 different areas with a total population of 2 221 800 birds. A structured questionnaire survey was carried out in April 2008 in the state, to assess and collect data on risk factors associated with the presence of antimicrobial residues in table eggs. The questionnaire investigated antibiotic usage patterns for each layer farm as well as the basic knowledge and understanding of farmers about public health concerns associated with antibiotic use in food producing animals. Questions were closed ended and data was obtained through direct interviews with farm owners and managers. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out on the information captured; calculating frequencies, graphs and measures of association, using the EpiInfo™ statistical package. Ninety two farms were surveyed 98% of which comprised open-sided houses. It was found that 48.9% of the farms surveyed were on antibiotic treatment when the survey was conducted, while 58.7% of the farms had used antibiotics within the last three months. There was a significant association between having disease on the farm and using antibiotics (P<0.001). The study showed that there is a serious lack of knowledge about the dangers of using antibiotics in animals and their potential impact on human health. In addition, Sudan lacks any type of formal control of veterinary drugs in terms of legislated residue limits or monitoring and surveillance programmes. This leads the authors to the conclusion that all Sudanese consumers are at risk for ARs in eggs.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Production Animal Studiesunrestricte

Spatial distribution of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in South Africa (2005–2016)

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a transboundary animal disease that has negative socioeconomic consequences including impacts on food security. In South Africa, FMD outbreaks in communal farming communities cause major livestock and human livelihood concerns; they raise apprehensions about the effectiveness of FMD control measures within the FMD protection areas. This study aimed to identify high-risk areas for FMD outbreaks at the human/domestic animal/wildlife interface of South Africa. Cuzick-Edwards tests and Kulldorff scan statistics were used to detect spatial autocorrelation and spatial–temporal clusters of FMD outbreaks for the years 2005–2016. Four high-risk clusters were identified and the spatial distribution of outbreaks in cattle were closer to game reserve fences and consistent with wildlife contacts as a main contributor of FMD occurrence. Strategic allocation of resources, focused control measures, and cooperation between the affected provinces are recommended to reduce future outbreaks. Further research is necessary to design cost-effective control strategies for FMD.The South African National Research Foundation (NRF)http://link.springer.com/journal/11250hj2022Production Animal Studie

Optimization of a foot-and-mouth disease virus Southern African Territories–specific solid-phase competitive ELISA for small ruminant serum samples

We optimized and verified a single-spot solid-phase competitive ELISA (ss-SPCE) to detect antibodies against structural proteins of Southern African Territories (SAT) serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in small ruminants. Sera from goats vaccinated and experimentally challenged with a SAT1 FMDV pool were tested in duplicate at 4 dilutions (1:10, 1:15, 1:22.5, 1:33.8) to optimize the assay. To assess the performance of the assay in naturally infected animals, we evaluated 316 goat and sheep field sera collected during active SAT2 outbreaks. Relative to results of the virus neutralization test, the optimal serum dilution and cutoff percentage inhibition (PI) were 1:15 and 50%, respectively. At these values, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient was 0.85 (p < 0.001), and the sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) were 80.3% (72.6, 87.2) and 91.1% (84.1, 95.9), respectively. Relative to the liquid-phase blocking ELISA and the nonstructural protein ELISA, the ss-SPCE exhibited divergent performance characteristics between the goat and sheep field sera. Repeatability was better for goats, but the correlation and agreement among all 3 assays were better for the sheep sera. The prevalence of SAT2 FMDV infection in the sampled sheep was 23.6%; sampled goats were seemingly FMDV-free. The ss-SPCE is an appropriate FMDV detection tool to investigate the role of small ruminants in the epidemiology of FMD in Africa.The Red Meat Research Development (RMRD) of South Africa.https://journals.sagepub.com/home/VDIhj2024Production Animal StudiesSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein

A comparison of risk factor investigation and experts’ opinion elicitation analysis for identifying foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) high-risk areas within the FMD protection zone of South Africa (2007–2016)

Foot-and-mouth disease is a controlled disease in accordance with the South African Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984). The country was classified by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as having a FMD free zone without vaccination in 1996. However, this status was suspended in 2019 due to a FMD outbreak outside the controlled zones. FMD control in South Africa includes animal movement restrictions placed on cloven-hoofed species and products, prophylactic vaccination of cattle, clinical surveillance of susceptible species, and disease control fencing to separate livestock from wildlife reservoirs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate differences in identifying high-risk areas for FMD using risk factor and expert opinion elicitation analysis. Differences in risk between FMD introduction and FMD spread within the FMD protection zone with vaccination (PZV) of South Africa (2007–2016) were also investigated. The study was conducted in the communal farming area of the FMD PZV, which is adjacent to wildlife reserves and characterised by individual faming units. Eleven risk factors that were considered important for FMD occurrence and spread were used to build a weighted linear combination (WLC) score based on risk factor data and expert opinion elicitation. A multivariable conditional logistic regression model was also used to calculate predicted probabilities of a FMD outbreak for all dip-tanks within the study area. Smoothed Bayesian kriged maps were generated for 11 individual risk factors, overall WLC scores for FMD occurrence and spread and for predicted probabilities of a FMD outbreak based on the conditional logistic regression model. Descriptively, vaccine matching was believed to have a great influence on both FMD occurrence and spread. Expert opinion suggested that FMD occurrence was influenced predominantly by proximity to game reserves and cattle density. Cattle populations and vaccination practices were considered most important for FMD spread. Highly effective cattle inspections were observed within areas that previously reported FMD outbreaks, indicating the importance of cattle inspection (surveillance) as a necessary element of FMD outbreak detection. The multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis, which was consistent with expert opinion elicitation; identified three factors including cattle population density (OR 3.87, 95% CI 1.47–10.21) and proximities to game reserve fences (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73–0.92) and rivers (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.07) as significant factors for reported FMD outbreaks. Regaining and maintaining an FMD-free status without vaccination requires frequent monitoring of high-risk areas and designing targeted surveillance.The National Research Foundation of South Africa.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/prevetmedhj2024Production Animal StudiesSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-beingSDG-15:Life on lan

Improving foot-and-mouth disease control through the evaluation of goat movement patterns within the FMD protection zone of South Africa

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a transboundary animal disease that has a major impact on livestock production, regional and international trade and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in endemic settings. Many livestock diseases are transmitted through direct contact between animals, and thus between herds and flocks through animal movements. In this study, we described the pattern of goat movements among smallholder farmers within a communal farming area in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 116 respondents, and separate 13 focus group discussions employing participatory mapping and semi-structured interviews were conducted among smallholder farmers. Overall, 22% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16 – 31) of questionnaire respondents indicated moving new animals into their holdings during the previous 12 months while 56% (95% CI: 47 – 65) reported moving animals out of the holdings during the same timeframe. A total of 134 participants attended the focus group discussions with 68% (91/134) being male and 32% (43/134) female. Data from the study reported 37 nodes and 78 ties with an overall network density of 0.059 (SD 0.2) across the study area. Four locations within the (former) FMD-free zone of the country had connections with movement of goats from the study area. Furthermore, 60% (95% CI: 51 – 69) of farmers were ignorant of the need to obtain official veterinary movement permits for goats. These animal movements put the country at risk of future FMD outbreaks within the free zone. We recommend that the relevant authorities implement risk-based control measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/smallrumres2022-06-05hj2021Mammal Research InstituteProduction Animal Studie

Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions associated with antimicrobial stewardship among veterinary students : a multi-country survey from Nigeria, South Africa, and Sudan

In African countries, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) issue remains pertinent. Despite this, little efforts have been made to assess the future veterinary prescribers on their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to antimicrobial usage. This multi-country survey attempts to explore the KAP of future veterinarians on stewardship of antimicrobial and identify knowledge gaps. Eight veterinary schools participated from Nigeria, Sudan and South Africa. Data regarding perceptions and knowledge were analyzed using Chi-square χ² test, Spearman’s (Rho) Rank order correlation and factor analysis using principal component factoring extraction method. Fifty-two percent of the study participants were final year veterinary students, respectively, and majority (77.2%) had no previous knowledge of biomedical sciences. Majority age were 22–27 years (24.7 ± 2.8) 79% and multiple career fields post-graduation were preferred. Overall, poor perceptions and knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship were observed with variations among countries and only 36.3% (n = 123) of the students were confident in their ability to choose the ideal antimicrobial agents for a specific patient/group of animals. The majority of the final year students were confident of their knowledge regarding AMR (68%), making of Gram staining (69.2%) and in choosing the most ideal route for administering a specific antimicrobial (74.7%). The final year students had significantly (p < 0.05) higher confidence level for knowledge compared with the pre-final year students. Tetracyclines, penicillins, and sulphonamides represent the three most abused veterinary antimicrobials with similar ranking across countries. South African (69.7 ± 20.5) and Sudanese (68.1 ± 15.4) had significantly (p < 0.0001) higher mean scores compared to the Nigerian students (44.3 ± 6.8) in the student’s ability to correctly match some specific antimicrobials against their classes but Nigerian students performed better in ranking antimicrobials. This survey revealed poor to average knowledge of antimicrobial stewardship among veterinary students with significant knowledge gaps across the countries. It is recommended that the relevant regulatory and standardization authorities should make concerted efforts and interventions to regularly review curricula to ensure the delivery of targeted formative and normative training, and improved lectures on antimicrobial usage and stewardship in order to improve the awareness and behaviors of future prescribers. The identified knowledge gaps of veterinary medical students on antimicrobial stewardship must be bridge to safeguard the future.The Peer Enhanced Scholarship of Teaching and Learning under the Vice-Principal, Research and Postgraduate Education, University of Pretoria; Education Innovation Project under the Department of Education Innovation, University of Pretoria; Department of Higher Education and Training, Cost Centre: UP-A0W589.http://frontiersin.org/Public_Healthpm2021Nursing ScienceParaclinical SciencesProduction Animal StudiesVeterinary Tropical Disease

X-Ray Study of Transformation-Induced Defects in Cobalt - Nickel Single Crystals

158 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1969.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

The improvement of solidwaste management in Cibodas Botanical Garden through environmental economic valuation using the travel cost method

Cibodas Botanical Garden (CBG) is believed to have high environmental value for its function as conservation area and beautiful scenery. However, prior to this research, there is lack of economic valuation to determine the total value of CBG, including its environment. The local government, on the other hand, needs such environmental economic valuation to execute better decisions related to the CBG. This study aims at providing the mostly-needed economic valuation through the application of Travel Cost Method. The Travel Cost Method (TCM) is a method to calculate the economic value of products or services that do not own market value. This method utilises total cost of consumers who travel to certain places, preferably tourist destinations. The cost spent by consumers are considered as their willingness to pay (WTP) for the visited destination(s). In this study, TCM is used by preparing questionnaires for Cibodas visitors, analysing the results of the questionnaires, calculating the total economic value (TEV) of Cibodas, determining the consumer surplus, and proposing environmental programs at CBG. At the end, it was calculated that the TEV of Cibodas Botanical Garden is IDR113,072,532,700 with average WTP of the visitors IDR202,484 per visitor and the consumer surplus of IDR32,344 per visitor. Also, this study reveals that solid waste management improvement at CBG can be funded by potential income from the consumer surplus