Risk assessment of marking and tracing methods with regards to the welfare of farmed salmonids. Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

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Biofilm formation by Mycobacterium avium isolates originating from humans, swine and birds

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mycobacterium avium </it>includes the subspecies <it>avium</it>, <it>silvaticum</it>, <it>paratuberculosis </it>and <it>hominissuis</it>, and <it>M. avium </it>subspecies has been isolated from various environments all over the world including from biofilms in water distribution systems. The aim of this study was to examine isolates of <it>M. avium </it>subsp. <it>avium </it>and <it>M. avium </it>subsp. <it>hominissuis </it>of different origin for biofilm formation and to look for correlations between biofilm formation and RFLP-types, and to standardise the method to test for biofilm formation. In order to determine the best screening method, a panel of 14 isolates of <it>M. avium </it>subsp. <it>avium </it>and <it>M. avium </it>subsp. <it>hominissuis</it>, were tested for their ability to form biofilm in microtiter plates under different conditions. Subsequently, 83 additional isolates from humans, swine and birds were tested for biofilm formation. The isolates were tested for the presence of selected genes involved in the synthesis of glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) in the cell wall of <it>M. avium</it>, which is believed to be important for biofilm formation. Colony morphology and <it>hsp65 </it>sequvar were also determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Nine isolates from swine produced biofilm. There was a significant higher frequency of porcine isolates forming biofilm compared to human isolates. All isolates were previously characterised by IS<it>1311</it>- and IS<it>1245</it>-RFLP typing. The ability to form biofilm did not correlate with the RFLP-type, <it>hsp65 </it>sequevar, colony morphology or the presence of gene sequences related to GPL synthesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The observed differences in biofilm forming abilities between porcine and human isolates raises questions regarding the importance of biofilm formation for infectious potential. The optimised method worked well for screening of multiple isolates.</p

Investigation of an outbreak of mycobacteriosis in pigs

Background: A high proportion of pigs imported to Serbia from a Lithuanian breeding herd reacted positively against avian and/or bovine tuberculin. The pigs were euthanized and lesions characteristic for mycobacterial infection were detected. An investigation of potential mycobacteriosis in the pigs imported to Serbia and the possible source of infection in the Lithuanian herd were therefore initialised. Results: Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded lymph nodes from tuberculin positive animals were examined by real-time PCR for IS1245 and IS6110. IS1245 was detected in 55% and IS6110 in 11% of the samples. Seven of the ten IS6110 positive samples were positive for IS1245. Eleven lymph nodes from 10 pigs and 15 environmental samples were collected from the Lithuanian breeding herd and cultured for mycobacteria. M. avium subsp. hominissuis was detected in all lymph nodes and from eight samples of peat and sawdust. Isolates with identical and related IS1245- and IS1311 RFLP profiles were detected from swine and peat. Conclusions: This study demonstrated cross reactions between avian and bovine tuberculin in pigs. Real-time PCR indicated infection with M. avium in the Serbian pigs. However, as a small proportion of the lymph nodes were positive for IS6110, infection with bacteria in the M. tuberculosis complex could not be ruled out. Analyses confirmed the presence of M. avium subsp. hominissuis in porcine and environmental samples from the Lithuanian breeding herd. The results indicate peat as a source of M. avium subsp. hominissuis infection in these pigs, and that the pigs imported to Serbia were infected with M. avium subsp. hominissuis

The use of light, restrictive feeding, fibrous feed and stocking density and the consequences for animal welfare for poultry species kept in Norway - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

Source at https://vkm.no/</a

The use of light, restrictive feeding, fibrous feed and stocking density and the consequences for animal welfare for poultry species kept in Norway - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment

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Risk assessment on welfare in turkeys. Opinion of the Panel of Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

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Risk assessment of marking and tracing methods with regards to the welfare of farmed salmonids. Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

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Risk assessment of marking and tracing methods with regards to the welfare of farmed salmonids. Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

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Risk assessment on import of Australian redclaw crayfish to Norway. Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety

Source at https://vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/assessmentofriskstoanimalhealthandbiodiversityfromimportandfarmingofaustralianredclawcrayfish.4.2375207615dac0245aee2789.html.Main message: It seems unlikely that the Australian red claw clayfish will establish reproductive populations under Norwegian climate conditions, but hitchhiker organisms and infectious agents could potentially follow the import, and unless managed, may pose risks to biodiversity and aquatic animal health. This is the conclusion in a risk assessment from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM)