An argument for pandemic risk management using a multidisciplinary One Health approach to governance: an Australian case study

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant global impact. However, COVID-19 is just one of several high-impact infectious diseases that emerged from wildlife and are linked to the human relationship with nature. The rate of emergence of new zoonoses (diseases of animal origin) is increasing, driven by human-induced environmental changes that threaten biodiversity on a global scale. This increase is directly linked to environmental drivers including biodiversity loss, climate change and unsustainable resource extraction. Australia is a biodiversity hotspot and is subject to sustained and significant environmental change, increasing the risk of it being a location for pandemic origin. Moreover, the global integration of markets means that consumption trends in Australia contributes to the risk of disease spill-over in our regional neighbours in Asia-Pacific, and beyond. Despite the clear causal link between anthropogenic pressures on the environment and increasing pandemic risks, Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, like most of the world, has centred largely on public health strategies, with a clear focus on reactive management. Yet, the span of expertise and evidence relevant to the governance of pandemic risk management is much wider than public health and epidemiology. It involves animal/wildlife health, biosecurity, conservation sciences, social sciences, behavioural psychology, law, policy and economic analyses to name just a few. The authors are a team of multidisciplinary practitioners and researchers who have worked together to analyse, synthesise, and harmonise the links between pandemic risk management approaches and issues in different disciplines to provide a holistic overview of current practice, and conclude the need for reform in Australia. We discuss the adoption of a comprehensive and interdisciplinary ‘One Health’ approach to pandemic risk management in Australia. A key goal of the One Health approach is to be proactive in countering threats of emerging infectious diseases and zoonoses through a recognition of the interdependence between human, animal, and environmental health. Developing ways to implement a One Health approach to pandemic prevention would not only reduce the risk of future pandemics emerging in or entering Australia, but also provide a model for prevention strategies around the world

Cognitive Impairment and Psychological State in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: A prospective descriptive study at Cardiac Rehabilitation Entry, Completion and Follow-up

Background: Cognitive impairments (CI) may limit uptake of secondary prevention in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients but is poorly understood, including in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants. Aim: To explore CI in relation to psychological state in ACS patients over the course of CR and follow-up. Methods: ACS patients without diagnosed dementia were assessed on verbal learning, processing speed, executive function and visual attention, at CR entry, completion and follow up and scores adjusted using normative data. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale measured psychological state.Results: Participants (n=40) had an average age of 66.2 (±8.22) years and were 70% male. Mild CI occurred at CR entry in single 62.5% and multiple domains 22.5% but was significantly less prevalent by CR completion (52.5% and 15.0%) and follow-up (32.5% and 7.0%). Domains most often impaired were verbal learning (52.5%) and processing speed (25.6%), again decreasing significantly with time (verbal learning CR completion 42.5%, follow-up 22.5%; processing speed CR completion 15.0%, follow-up 15.0%). A small group of patients had persistent multiple domain CI. At CR entry patients with CI in processing speed, a single domain or multiple domains had more depression, and patients with CI in executive function had more depression and anxiety. Conclusions: At CR entry, mild CI is very common in post-ACS patients and worse in patients who have depression or anxiety symptoms. CI decreases significantly by CR follow-up. A small proportion of patients have persistent, multiple domain CI flagging potential long-term changes and the need for further investigations and cognitive rehabilitation

Sheep Updates 2006 - part 2

This session covers six papers from different authors: GENETICS 1. Novel selection traits - what are the possible side effects?, Darryl Smith, Kathryn Kemper, South Australian Research and Development Institute, David Rutley, University of Adelaide. 2. Genetic Changes in the Australian Merino since 1900, Sheep Genetics Australia Technical Committee, R.R. Woolaston Pullenvale, Queensland, D.J. Brown, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit*, University of New England, K.D. Atkins, A.E. Casey, NSW Department of Primary Industries, A.J. Ball, Meat and Livestock Australia, University of New England 3. Influence of Sire Growth Estimated Breeding Value (EBV0 on Progeny Growth, David Hopkins, David Stanley, Leonie Martin, NSW Department Primary Industries, Centre for Sheep Meat Development, Arthur Gilmour, Remy van de Ven, NSW Department Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute FINISHING 4. Predicting Input Sensitivity on Lamb Feedlot Profitability by Using Feedlot Calculator, David Stanley, NSW Department Primary Industries, Centre for Sheep Meat Development, Geoff Duddy, NSW Department Primary Industries, Yanco Agricultural Institute, Steve Semple, NSW Department Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, David Hopkins, NSW Department Primary Industries, Centre for Sheep Meat Development 5. Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) in WA - 2006, David Kessell, Meat & Livestock Australia ARGT Project, Northam, WA 6. Poor ewe nutrition during pregnancy increases fatness of their progeny, Andrew Thompson, Department of Primary Industries, Victori

Identification of novel loci associated with gastrointestinal parasite resistance in a Red Maasai x Dorper backcross population

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infection is the main health constraint for small ruminant production, causing loss of weight and/or death. Red Maasai sheep have adapted to a tropical environment where extreme parasite exposure is a constant, especially with highly pathogenic Haemonchus contortus. This breed has been reported to be resistant to gastrointestinal parasite infection, hence it is considered an invaluable resource to study associations between host genetics and resistance. The aim of this study was to identify polymorphisms strongly associated with host resistance in a double backcross population derived from Red Maasai and Dorper sheep using a SNP-based GWAS analysis. The animals that were genotyped represented the most resistant and susceptible individuals based on the tails of phenotypic distribution (10% each) for average faecal egg counts (AVFEC). AVFEC, packed cell volume (AVPCV), and live weight (AVLWT) were adjusted for fixed effects and co-variables, and an association analysis was run using EMMAX. Revised significance levels were calculated using 100,000 permutation tests. The top five significant SNP markers with - log10 p-values >3.794 were observed on five different chromosomes for AVFEC, and BLUPPf90/PostGSf90 results confirmed EMMAX significant regions for this trait. One of these regions included a cluster of significant SNP on chromosome (Chr) 6 not in linkage disequilibrium to each other. This genomic location contains annotated genes involved in cytokine signalling, haemostasis and mucus biosynthesis. Only one association detected on Chr 7 was significant for both AVPCV and AVLWT. The results generated here reveal candidate immune variants for genes involved in differential response to infection and provide additional SNP marker information that has potential to aid selection of resistance to gastrointestinal parasites in sheep of a similar genetic background to the double backcross population

Why do Australia’s Environmental Laws Fail to Save our Species from Extinction?

Transformative change is needed in Australia to deal with its extinction record, which is being further exacerbated by large resource extraction approvals and increased urbanization. Legal opportunities are procedurally and jurisdictionally complex and imaginative changes that can drive recovery efforts for ecosystems are urgently needed