77 research outputs found
Developing parasite control strategies in organic systems
This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. Organic farmers have taken a lead in attempting to reduce dependence on pharmaceutical control of parasites in farmed livestock. Focussing on management and nutrition, the objective of this research is to further develop control strategies, which can support and increase the flexibility of clean grazing systems for sheep and cattle. The approach has been to combine on-farm epidemiological studies, with replicated experiments, in order to develop and demonstrate better systems of control applicable to UK organic farms. Preliminary data from the first years' epidemiological studies are presented in this paper
The effect of Cichorium intybus and Lotus corniculatus on nematode burdens and production in grazed lambs
This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. The study was designed to examine the hypothesis that chicory (Cichorium intybus) and Lotus sp. (Lotus corniculatus) have the potential to affect the naturally acquired nematode burden in grazed lambs. Organic male castrate lambs (48) with a naturally acquired parasite burden grazed replicate combination plots (0.6 ha) of chicory, Lotus corniculatus, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens). Lamb performance was determined by weekly weight gain and condition score assessments. Nematode burden was assessed by individual lamb faecal egg count (FEC) before and after drenching (levamisole). The range of parasitic helminths present was assessed by faecal culture and by total worm counts performed on a proportion of the lambs at slaughter. Weekly pasture larval counts (PLCs) were conducted on the trial plots. A concurrent small plot study (6 x 1m2 replicates) of each of the forages used in the grazing trial was run to assess the potential effect of forage type on the development and survival of Teladorsagia circumcincta assessed by weekly PLCs. Preliminary data suggest that lambs grazing chicory or a combination of lotus and chicory had lower FECs than those grazing PRG/WC, however there was no significant difference in the total worm counts
Induction of innate immune response following infectious bronchitis corona virus infection in the respiratory tract of chickens
AbstractInfectious bronchitis virus (IBV) replicates in the epithelial cells of trachea and lungs of chicken, however the mechanism of generation of innate immune response against IBV infection in these tissues has not been fully characterized. Our objective was to study innate responses induced early following IBV infection in chickens. Initiation of the transcription of selected innate immune genes such as TLR3, TLR7, MyD88, IL-1ÎČ and IFN-ÎČ, as well as recruitment of macrophages, were evident following an initial down regulation of some of the observed genes (TLR3, IL-1ÎČ, and IFN-Îł) in trachea and lung. This initial down-regulation followed by the induction of innate immune response to IBV infection appears to be inadequate for the control of IBV genome accumulation and consequent histopathological changes in these tissues. Potential induction of innate immunity before infection occurs may be necessary to reduce the consequences since vaccine induced immunity is slow to develop
Chapitre 25 - One Health dans lâĂ©laboration des politiques : une approche intĂ©grĂ©e pour traduire la science en politique
Introduction Lâapplication du concept One Health Ă lâĂ©laboration et Ă la mise en Ćuvre de politiques fondĂ©es sur la science nâest pas nouvelle, mais elle a Ă©tĂ© relancĂ©e au cours de la derniĂšre dĂ©cennie avec une prise de conscience croissante de la nĂ©cessitĂ© dâengager des Ă©quipes transdisciplinaires pour rĂ©soudre des problĂšmes complexes. La composition de ces Ă©quipes dĂ©pend dans une large mesure de la ou des questions Ă traiter, ..
Geology of drill hole UE25p#1; a test hole into pre-Tertiary rocks near Yucca Mountain, southern Nevada
Yucca Mountain in southern Nye County, Nevada, has been proposed as a
potential site for the underground disposal of high-level nuclear waste. An
exploratory drill hole designated UE25p#1 was drilled 3 km east of the proposed
repository site to investigate the geology and hydrology of the rocks
that underlie the Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rock sequence forming
Yucca Mountain. Silurian dolomite assigned to the Roberts Mountain and Lone
Mountain Formations was intersected below the Tertiary section between a depth
of approximately 1244 m (4080 ft) and the bottom of the drill hole at 1807 m
(5923 ft). These formations are part of an important regional carbonate aquifer
in the deep ground-water system.
Tertiary units deeper than 1139 m (3733 ft) in drill hole UE25p#1 are
stratigraphically older than any units previously penetrated by drill holes at
Yucca Mountain. These units are, in ascending order, the tuff of Yucca
Flat(?), an unnamed calcified ash-flow tuff, and a sequence of clastic deposits.
The upper part of the Tertiary sequence in drill hole UE25p#1 is similar
to that found in other drill holes at Yucca Mountain.
The Tertiary sequence is in fault contact with the Silurian rocks. This
fault between Tertiary and Paleozoic rocks may correlate with the Fran Ridge
fault, a steeply westward-dipping fault exposed approximately 0.5 km east of
the drill hole. Another fault intersects UE25p#1 at 873 m (2863 ft), but its
surface trace is concealed beneath the valley west of the Fran Ridge fault.
The Paintbrush Canyon fault, the trace of which passes less than 100 m
(330 ft) east of the drilling site, intersects drill hole UE25p#1 at a depth
of approximately 78 m (255 ft). The drill hole apparently intersected the
west flank of a structural high of pre-Tertiary rocks, near the eastern edge
of the Crater Flat structural depression
Partnering to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening: Perspectives of Community Advisory Board Members
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) defines engagement in research as the meaningful involvement of patients, caregivers, clinicians, insurers, and others throughout the entire research process â from planning, to conducting the study, to disseminating study results. The purposes of this paper are to: 1) describe methods used to engage community members across the various phases of a PCORI-funded comparative effectiveness trial to increase colorectal cancer screening; and 2) report results of qualitative and quantitative evaluations of community advisory board membersâ experiences on this project. Decisions to join and stay engaged with the study included feeling valued and appreciated, being compensated, the opportunity to contribute to research based on their skills and expertise, and being committed to colon cancer prevention efforts. Challenges identified by advisory board members included the significant time commitment, transportation, and meeting location. Lessons learned and guidance for researchers committed to patient and community engagement are described
Comparative pathogenicity of infectious bronchitis virus Massachusetts and Delmarva (DMV/1639) genotypes in laying hens
Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious and acute viral disease of chicken caused by the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) of the family Coronaviridae. Even with extensive vaccination against IB by the poultry industry, the occurrence of new IBV genotypes is a continuous challenge encountered by the global poultry industry. This experiment was designed to compare the pathogenicity of two IBV strains belonging to Massachusetts (Mass) and Delmarva DMV/1639 genotypes. Specific pathogen-free laying hens were challenged during the peak of production (30âweeks), keeping a mock-infected control group. During 21âdays of observation following infection, a significant drop in egg production with miss-shaped and soft shells was observed in the DMV/1639 IBV-infected hens only. The DMV/1639 IBV infected group showed prolonged and higher cloacal viral shedding compared with the Mass IBV-infected group. At the end of the study (21âdays post-infection), the viral genome loads in the respiratory, urogenital, and immune tissues were significantly higher in the DMV/1639 IBV-infected group compared with the Mass IBV-infected group. Macroscopic lesions such as distorted ova leading to egg peritonitis were observed only in the DMV/1639 IBV-infected group. Moreover, microscopic lesion scores were significantly higher in the lung, kidney, cecal tonsils, and oviduct of the DMV/1639 IBV-infected group compared with the Mass IBV-infected group. Finally, the apoptosis index in the kidney, ovary, magnum, isthmus, and shell gland was significantly higher in the DMV/1639 IBV-infected group compared with the control and Mass-infected groups. This study examined the pathogenicity of two IBV genotypes that are impacting the layer industry in North America
Emollients for preventing atopic eczema: Costâeffectiveness analysis of the BEEP trial
BackgroundRecent discoveries have led to the suggestion that enhancing skin barrier from birth might prevent eczema and food allergy. ObjectiveTo determine the costâeffectiveness of daily allâoverâbody application of emollient during the first year of life for preventing atopic eczema in highârisk children at 2 years from a health service perspective. We also considered a 5âyear time horizon as a sensitivity analysis. MethodsA withinâtrial economic evaluation using data on health resource use and quality of life captured as part of the BEEP trial alongside the trial data. Parents/carers of 1394 infants born to families at high risk of atopic disease were randomised 1:1 to the emollient group, which were advised to apply emollient (Doublebase Gel or Diprobase Cream) to their child at least once daily to the whole body during the first year of life or usual care. Both groups received advice on general skin care. The main economic outcomes were incremental costâeffectiveness ratio (ICER), defined as incremental cost per percentage decrease in risk of eczema in the primary costâeffectiveness analysis. Secondary analysis, undertaken as a costâutility analysis, reports incremental cost per QualityâAdjusted Life Year (QALY) where child utility was elicited using the proxy CHUâ9D at 2 years. ResultsAt 2 years, the adjusted incremental cost was ÂŁ87.45 (95% CI â54.31, 229.27) per participant, whilst the adjusted proportion without eczema was 0.0164 (95% CI â0.0329, 0.0656). The ICER was ÂŁ5337 per percentage decrease in risk of eczema. Adjusted incremental QALYs were very slightly improved in the emollient group, 0.0010 (95% CI â0.0069, 0.0089). At 5 years, adjusted incremental costs were lower for the emollient group, âÂŁ106.89 (95% CI â354.66, 140.88) and the proportion without eczema was â0.0329 (95% CI â0.0659, 0.0002). The 5âyear ICER was ÂŁ3201 per percentage decrease in risk of eczema. However, when inpatient costs due to wheezing were excluded, incremental costs were lower and incremental effects greater in the usual care group. ConclusionsIn line with effectiveness endpoints, advice given in the BEEP trial to apply daily emollient during infancy for eczema prevention in highârisk children does not appear costâeffective
One health, une seule santé
One Health, « Une seule santĂ© », est une stratĂ©gie mondiale visant Ă dĂ©velopper les collaborations interdisciplinaires pour la santĂ© humaine, animale et environnementale. Elle promeut une approche intĂ©grĂ©e, systĂ©mique et unifiĂ©e de la santĂ© aux Ă©chelles locale, nationale et mondiale, afin de mieux affronter les maladies Ă©mergentes Ă risque pandĂ©mique, mais aussi s'adapter aux impacts environnementaux prĂ©sents et futurs. Bien que ce mouvement sâĂ©tende, la littĂ©rature en français reste rare. Traduit de lâanglais, coordonnĂ© par dâĂ©minents Ă©pidĂ©miologistes et s'appuyant sur un large panel d' approches scientifiques rarement rĂ©unies autour de la santĂ©, cet ouvrage retrace les origines du concept et prĂ©sente un contenu pratique sur les outils mĂ©thodologiques, la collecte de donnĂ©es, les techniques de surveillance et les plans dâĂ©tude. Il combine recherche et pratique en un seul volume et constitue un ouvrage de rĂ©fĂ©rence unique pour la santĂ© mondiale
Mapping age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence in adults in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2018
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still among the leading causes of disease burden and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and the world is not on track to meet targets set for ending the epidemic by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Precise HIV burden information is critical for effective geographic and epidemiological targeting of prevention and treatment interventions. Age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence estimates are widely available at the national level, and region-wide local estimates were recently published for adults overall. We add further dimensionality to previous analyses by estimating HIV prevalence at local scales, stratified into sex-specific 5-year age groups for adults ages 15-59 years across SSA. METHODS: We analyzed data from 91 seroprevalence surveys and sentinel surveillance among antenatal care clinic (ANC) attendees using model-based geostatistical methods to produce estimates of HIV prevalence across 43 countries in SSA, from years 2000 to 2018, at a 5âĂâ5-km resolution and presented among second administrative level (typically districts or counties) units. RESULTS: We found substantial variation in HIV prevalence across localities, ages, and sexes that have been masked in earlier analyses. Within-country variation in prevalence in 2018 was a median 3.5 times greater across ages and sexes, compared to for all adults combined. We note large within-district prevalence differences between age groups: for men, 50% of districts displayed at least a 14-fold difference between age groups with the highest and lowest prevalence, and at least a 9-fold difference for women. Prevalence trends also varied over time; between 2000 and 2018, 70% of all districts saw a reduction in prevalence greater than five percentage points in at least one sex and age group. Meanwhile, over 30% of all districts saw at least a five percentage point prevalence increase in one or more sex and age group. CONCLUSIONS: As the HIV epidemic persists and evolves in SSA, geographic and demographic shifts in prevention and treatment efforts are necessary. These estimates offer epidemiologically informative detail to better guide more targeted interventions, vital for combating HIV in SSA
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