Seroprevalence of infectious diseases in saiga antelope (Saiga tataricatatarica) in Kazakhstan 2012–2014

286 serum samples were collected from three sub-populations of saiga in Kazakhstan (Betpakdala, Ustyurt and Volga-Ural) between 2012 and 2014, and were tested for the presence of antibodies to Brucella spp., bluetongue virus, peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus, Akabane virus, Schmallenberg virus, Chlamydophila, Toxoplasma, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever). Seropositives to Coxiella burnetii of saiga were detected and the adjusted seroprevalence of Q Fever antibodies was 0.07 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.10). Seropositives to Akabane virus were detected in all three populations and the adjusted seroprevalence values for this virus were very high (all were>0.13). Lower adjusted seroprevalence values were estimated for PPR Virus and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (0.005 and 0.006). No seropositives for bluetongue, Toxoplasma, Brucella or Schmallenberg were detected

Policies and Livestock Systems Driving Brucellosis Re-emergence in Kazakhstan.

Brucellosis is a considerable public health and economic burden in many areas of the world including sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and former USSR countries. The collapse of the USSR has been cited as a driver for re-emergence of diseases including brucellosis, and human incidence rates in the former Soviet republics have been estimated as high as 88 per 100,000 per year. The aim of this paper is to examine the historical trends in brucellosis in Kazakhstan and to explore how livestock systems, veterinary services and control policies may have influenced them. In conclusion, a brucellosis epidemic most likely began before the collapse of the USSR and high livestock densities may have played an important role. Changes to the livestock systems in Kazakhstan, as well as other factors, are likely to have an impact on the success of brucellosis policies in the future. Incentives and practicalities of different policies in smallholder settings should be considered. However, the lack of reliable estimates of brucellosis prevalence and difficulties in understanding exactly how policy is being applied in Kazakhstan, which is a vast country with low population density, prevent firm conclusions from being drawn

A stochastic compartmental model to simulate intra- and inter-species influenza transmission in an indoor swine farm.

Common in swine production worldwide, influenza causes significant clinical disease and potential transmission to the workforce. Swine vaccines are not universally used in swine production, due to their limited efficacy because of continuously evolving influenza viruses. We evaluated the effects of vaccination, isolation of infected pigs, and changes to workforce routine (ensuring workers moved from younger pig batches to older pig batches). A Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered model was used to simulate stochastic influenza transmission during a single production cycle on an indoor hog growing unit containing 4000 pigs and two workers. The absence of control practices resulted in 3,957 pigs [0-3971] being infected and a 0.61 probability of workforce infection. Assuming incoming pigs had maternal-derived antibodies (MDAs), but no control measures were applied, the total number of infected pigs reduced to 1 [0-3958] and the probability of workforce infection was 0.25. Mass vaccination (40% efficacious) of incoming pigs also reduced the total number of infected pigs to 2362 [0-2374] or 0 [0-2364] in pigs assumed to not have MDAs and have MDAs, respectively. Changing the worker routine by starting with younger to older pig batches, reduced the number of infected pigs to 996 [0-1977] and the probability of workforce infection (0.22) in pigs without MDAs. In pigs with MDAs the total number of infected pigs was reduced to 0 [0-994] and the probability of workforce infection was 0.06. All other control practices alone, showed little improvement in reducing total infected pigs and the probability of workforce infection. Combining all control strategies reduced the total number of infected pigs to 0 or 1 with a minimal probability of workforce infection (<0.0002-0.01). These findings suggest that non-pharmaceutical interventions can reduce the impact of influenza on swine production and workers when efficacious vaccines are unavailable

Correction: Behavior-change interventions to improve antimicrobial stewardship in human health, animal health, and livestock agriculture: A systematic review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001526.]

Inactivation of Salmonella and Escherichia coli in surface agricultural water using a commercial UV processing unit

Treatment of agricultural water aids in the prevention of foodborne disease outbreaks linked to contaminated fresh produce. UV light is a suitable alternative for treating drinking water but is not always effective for surface irrigation water due to interference caused by turbidity and high microbial loads. The effectiveness of UV treatment for reducing Escherichia coli and Salmonella in surface water used in agriculture was evaluated. Six pond water samples were collected on each of 16 sampling dates over a 3-year period. On each corresponding testing date, three samples were inoculated with Salmonella enterica serovars Hartford, Montevideo, and Gaminara and the other three samples were inoculated with E. coli ATCC 25922, targeting a concentration of 7 log CFU/mL. Inoculated water was UV treated with a commercially available juice processing UV device at a constant UV dose of 14.2 mJ/cm2 and a turbulent flow regime. The effects of date, initial bacterial counts, and water pH and turbidity on log reductions of both microorganisms were determined. Initial bacterial counts and test date significantly predicted microbial reduction (multivariate P 0.05). UV treatment reduced both Salmonella and E. coli by a mean of >6 log CFU/mL.Universidad de Costa Rica/[735-B6-777]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Centro Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (CITA

The effectiveness of treating irrigation water using ultraviolet radiation or sulphuric acid fertilizer for reducing generic Escherichia coli on fresh produce—a controlled intervention trial

Aims The aims of this study were to: (i) estimate the effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation (UV) and sulphuric acid-based fertilizer (SA), at reducing levels of generic Escherichia coli in surface irrigation water and on produce and surface soil in open produce fields; and (ii) describe the population dynamics of generic E. coli in produce fields. Methods and Results Spinach and cantaloupe plots were randomly assigned to control, UV or SA treatment groups. Irrigation water was inoculated with Rifampicin-resistant E. coli prior to treatment. More than 75% of UV- and SA-treated tank water samples had counts below the detection limit, compared to a mean count of 3·3 Log10 CFU per ml before treatment. Levels of Rifampicin-resistant E. coli in soil and produce both increased and decreased over 10–15 days after irrigation, depending on the plot and time-period. Conclusions UV and SA treatments effectively reduce the levels of E. coli in surface irrigation water. Their effectiveness at reducing contamination on produce was dependent on environmental conditions. Applying wait-times after irrigation and prior to harvest is not a reliable means of mitigating against contaminated produce. Significance and Impact of the Study The results are of timely importance for the agricultural industry as new FSMA guidelines require producers to demonstrate a low microbial load in irrigation water or allow producers to apply a wait-time to mitigate the risk of contaminated produce.Universidad de Costa Rica/[735-B6-777]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Centro Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (CITA

The change in the proportion of cattle fecal pats positive for <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i> O157:H7 over time.

<p>(A) The proportion of fecal pats positive for <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i> O157:H7 by control and intervention groups, pre- and post-intervention. Bars indicate 95% confidence interval after adjusting the standard errors for clustering within pens. (Number of fecal samples = 2719) (B) Box-plots of the (unadjusted) change in within-pen prevalence of positive fecal pats within each pen (post- minus pre-intervention prevalence). (Number of fecal samples = 2719).</p

Results of mixed effect logistic regression models to assess the association between weather variables and the log odds of <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i> O157:H7 presence in fecal pats, after adjusting for pen and date as random effects.

<p>Results of mixed effect logistic regression models to assess the association between weather variables and the log odds of <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i> O157:H7 presence in fecal pats, after adjusting for pen and date as random effects.</p

Proportion of fecal pats positive for <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i> O157:H7 by pen, and pen-level variables.

<p>Data shown from pre-intervention time-point only (number of fecal samples = 1400). Light gray indicates year 1 (2014). Dark gray indicates year 2 (2015). Bars indicate 95% confidence intervals. Note: clustering of pens by sampling date is not shown.</p