Ergebnisse der Einführung eines Tiergesundheitsplanes auf ökologisch wirtschaftenden Ferkelerzeugerbetrieben in Deutschland

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of measures as part of an animal health plan on 17 organic sow farms in Germany. A weak-point analysis was performed using a modified critical control point concept for on-farm assessment and detailed status quo analysis. Optimisation strategies were set up in form of farmcustomized health plans based on the status quo assessment. Farms were attended continuously to ensure guidance along the animal health plan implementation. The results of the status quo analysis confirmed the deficits in animal health management from previous studies. Results showed that only 10 farms met the demands of the EC-Regulation with respect to housing conditions. Only 12 farms performed a comprehensive livestock data acquisition. Quality and intervals of cleaning and disinfection measures varied considerably between farms. After one year, half of the participating farms implemented about half of the short term measures recommended as part of their health plans. Animal health plans have proven to support identifying problem areas, to set up improvement strategies and to enforce the cooperation between the involved actors. However, many farms have not been able to meet the basic requirements necessary for improving animal health status

Gebäudekosten und Arbeitszeitbedarf für die ökologische Legehennenhaltung

Production systems for organically managed laying hens are continually being further developed with the result that a large number of production-optimised systems are now available. In order to compare the economic efficiency of these systems, performances under commercial conditions were recorded to assess investment and labour requirements as well as other key figures. Comparing production costs per sold egg, aviary systems performed better than on-floor barn systems from 3000 bird places upwards

Vergleichende Querschnittsuntersuchungen zum Vorkommen von MRSA (Methicillin-resistente Staphylococcus aureus) in ökologisch wirtschaftenden und konventionell wirtschaftenden Schweinebetrieben in Deutschland

Occurrence of MRSA was assessed on 42 organic and 88 conventional pig herds in different regions of Germany by taking dust samples and nasal swabs. The number of nasal swabs was adapted to the herd size so that a MRSA-prevalence of 5 % could be detected. All samples were selectively enriched and cultured on MRSA-selective chromagar. All cultured isolates were confirmed by PCR. In addition, the spa-types were identified. The results of this cross-sectional study showed that 11 of the 42 (26%) examined organic pig herds were identified as MRSA-positive, whereas 92 % of the conventional pig herds were identified as MRSA-positive. In both husbandry systems, similar spa-types (t011, t034) were identified, which are associated with the MRSA ST398. To find out the specific risk factors for the occurrence of MRSA in pig herds questionnaires were used in both husbandry systems and will be evaluated in the second part of this ongoing study

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

Plasma lipid profiles discriminate bacterial from viral infection in febrile children

Fever is the most common reason that children present to Emergency Departments. Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of bacterial infection ar

Comparison of homeopathic and chemotherapeutic treatment strategies in the case of bovine clinical mastitis

The EU-Regulation (2092/91) postulates that homeopathic and phytotherapeutic remedies shall be used in preference to allopathic products chemically synthesised, provided that their therapeutic effect is proven. However, only few scientific data with promising results are available. The objective of this clinical control trial was to examine the effectiveness of the classical homeopathic treatment in comparison to the chemotherapeutic treatment and to a control group given a placebo in the case of bovine clinical mastitis. Only cases of mild or moderate acute clinical mastitis caused by environmental associated pathogens and cases with negative bacteriological result in the milk sample were enclosed in the trial. A number of 147 quarters affected with acute clinical mastitis were treated. 56 days after beginning of treatment, 36,2% of the cows given homeopathic treatment were cured in contrast to 16,3% in the placebo-group. The chemotherapeutic treatment resulted in 23,9% cured cases. The differences in healing between the homeopathic and the placebo group were significant (p<0,05), while the difference between the homeopathic and chemotherapeutic therapy regime was not