Irish Veterinary Journal最新文献

{"title":"Effects of season, age and parasite management practices on gastro - intestinal parasites in pigs kept outdoors in Ireland.","authors":"Nipuna Sahan Senanayake, Laura Boyle, Keelin O'Driscoll, Ophélie Menant, Fidelma Butler","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00297-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-025-00297-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Outdoor farming offers pigs considerable behavioural freedom and better consumer acceptance than intensive, indoor systems. However, gastro - intestinal (GI) parasites pose a significant health and welfare challenge for pigs reared outdoors. The aim of this study was to ascertain effects of management, season and animal factors such as age, on a range of different GI parasites in Irish pigs farmed outdoors. Sixty-five pig faecal samples (a mix from at least 2-4 animals per paddock) were collected from 65 paddocks across 20 outdoor pig farms, over two visits (1^st visit - February/May-December 2023, n = 37, 2^nd visit- July/October 2023, n = 28). Samples were collected and mixed thoroughly to achieve a paddock level sample. Data were also collected related to pig characteristics (grower/fatteners or sows and boars), anthelmintic usage (Yes/No) and paddock rotation (Yes/No) and categorized at paddock level. Samples were analysed using the McMaster floatation method, faecal egg count (FEC) was calculated, and GI parasites were identified by morphology. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyse the effect of season, age, anthelmintic usage and paddock rotation on FEC. Four parasite taxa were identified (Eimeria/Isospora spp., strongyles, Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis). Infection rates were > 80% for Eimeria/Isospora spp. and strongyles, 31% for A. suum and 9% for T. suis for both visits. Eimeria/Isospora spp. FEC was higher at the 2^nd visit (P < 0.001) and strongyles FEC was higher at the 1^st visit (P < 0.05). Fattener pigs had higher FEC for Eimeria/Isospora spp. (P < 0.01) and sows/boars had higher strongyle counts (P < 0.05). Strongyle count was lower with anthelmintic use (P < 0.05) and Eimeria/Isospora spp. count was lower (P = 0.05) with paddock rotation when anthelmintics were used. Lower winter temperatures may have influenced the seasonal variation in strongyle FEC. This study provides a comprehensive picture of GI parasites in outdoor pig farms in Ireland in terms of the taxa, their prevalence and risk factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12051329/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144022871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene expression and evaluation of immunological, antioxidant, and pathological parameters associated with bacterial pneumonia in Barki sheep.","authors":"Ahmed El Sayed, Amani Hafez, Ahmed Ateya, Asmaa Darwish, Amin Tahoun","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00296-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-025-00296-1","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;In sheep, pneumonia is a major concern because of its high morbidity, mortality, and economic impact. It results from various infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and environmental stressors, that weaken the immune system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;The objective of this study was to monitor nucleotide sequence variations, gene expression, and serum biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in sheep with pneumonia. Additionally, this study aimed to identify various bacterial strains and virulent gene combinations in pneumonic sheep, as confirmed by PCR.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methodology: &lt;/strong&gt;The enrolled animals were categorized as follows: 50 apparently healthy ewes, considered the control group, and 150 infected ewes with pneumonia. The infected ewes included 100 sporadic cases from the Center for Sustainable Development of Matrouh Resources, Desert Research Center, Matrouh, Egypt, and 50 ewes from the slaughterhouse, all exhibiting respiratory symptoms such as coughing, serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge, fever, and abnormal lung sounds. Blood samples were collected to assess various biochemical parameters, detect SNPs, and analyse the expression of specific immunological and antioxidant-related genes. Nasopharyngeal and lung swabs were taken from the affected ewes for bacteriological analysis, and lung samples were collected for histological examination.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Phenotypic characterization and identification revealed the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pseudomonas spp., Mycoplasma, Streptococcus, and Escherichia coli, with frequencies of 40%, 28.6%, 34%, 18%, 44%, 29.3%, and 20%, respectively. Additionally, virulence genes for Klebsiella pneumoniae, iutA and fimH, were detected at rates of 39% and 68%, respectively, whereas the toxA gene for Pseudomonas spp. was present in 59.2% of the cases. Nucleotide sequence variations in immunity- and antioxidant-related genes were observed between healthy and pneumonic ewes. The genes encoding IL-1α, IL1B, IL6, TNF-α, LFA-1, CR2, IL17, IL13, DEFB123, SCART1, ICAM1, NOS, and HMOX1 were significantly upregulated in pneumonia-affected ewes compared with resistant ewes. Conversely, the genes encoding IL10, SOD1, CAT, GPX1, and NQO1 were downregulated. Further analysis of the serum profile revealed a significant (P &lt; 0.05) increase in IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, NO and MDA along with a significant (P &lt; 0.05) decrease in the serum levels of C3, C4, CAT, GPx, GR and IL-10 in diseased ewes compared with healthy ewes. Histopathological examination revealed that the infected sheep exhibited broncho-interstitial pneumonia and purulent to fibrino-purulent bronchopneumonia.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;This study revealed the significant presence of various pathogens and virulence factors in infected sheep, along with distinct immunological and antioxidant gene expression patterns.","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11992743/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144027032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reduction of microRNA-221 in BVDV infection enhances viral replication by targeting the ATG7-mediated autophagy pathway.","authors":"Zihan Chen, Jingyu Wang, Baochun Lu, Wenxin Meng, Yufan Zhu, Qifeng Jiang, Duo Gao, Zihang Ma, Huijuan Zeng, Jinping Chen, Shizhe Liu, Zhen Wang, Kun Jia","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00286-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13620-025-00286-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), a condition triggered by bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), is recognized globally as a prevalent pathogen among ruminants and markedly affects the economics of animal husbandry. MicroRNAs, a class of small noncoding RNAs, play pivotal roles in regulating a myriad of biological processes.The ATG7-LC3 pathway, a canonical autophagy mechanism, is integral in defending against pathogenic invasion and maintaining cellular homeostasis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, we observed significant downregulation of bta-miR-221 in cells infected with BVDV. We further established that overexpression of bta-miR-221 markedly attenuated BVDV replication in Madin‒Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. Through bioinformatics prediction analysis, we identified ATG7, an autophagy-related gene, as a direct downstream target of bta-miR-221. However, the intricate relationships among bta-miR-221, the ATG7-LC3 pathway, and BVDV infection remained unclear. Our study revealed that ATG7 expression was significantly elevated in BVDV-infected cells, whereas bta-miR-221 mimics repressed both endogenous and exogenous ATG7 expression. Following BVDV infection, we noted a decrease in LC3I expression, its conversion to LC3II, a significant increase in ATG7 expression, and a notable decrease in SQSTM1/p62 expression. By employing laser confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation assays, we elucidated the regulation of the ATG7-LC3 pathway by bta-miR-221 in MDBK cells. Our findings recealed that BVDV infection enhanced the ATG7-LC3 interaction, inducing autophagy through the suppression of bta-miR-221 in MDBK cells. Consequently, bta-miR-221 emerged as a potent inhibitor of BVDV, impacting its proliferation and replication within the host.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This research sheds light on novel aspects of virus-host interactions and lays a foundation for the development of antiviral therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11963565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143775018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A survey of Irish red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to establish the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis.","authors":"Denise Murphy, William FitzGerald, Guy McGrath, Catherine Swan, Kevin Kenny","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00295-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13620-025-00295-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Between October 2018 and December 2020, an opportunistic collection of tissues from 218 foxes was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) in this species. A pooled sample of lymph nodes, lung and other tissues from each fox, was cultured for the presence of M. bovis. The organism was not isolated from any fox samples, but non-tuberculous mycobacteria were recovered from 20 foxes. These results suggest that it is unlikely that foxes represent a significant wildlife source of M. bovis in Ireland.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11924848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in haematological and serum biochemical parameter concentrations from the day of calving to ketosis onset in Holstein dairy cows during the postpartum period.","authors":"Seungmin Ha, Seogjin Kang, Mooyoung Jung, Sang Bum Kim, Seongsoo Hwang, Jihwan Lee, Donghyeon Kim, Ki Choon Choi, Jinho Park","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00293-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13620-025-00293-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dairy cows commonly experience a negative energy balance (NEB) during early lactation as energy demands for maintenance and milk production exceed intake. Although most cows metabolically adapt to NEB and avoid ketosis, those that fail to adapt develop ketosis, which disrupts metabolism and reduces productivity. Haematological and serum biochemical parameters are crucial for understanding these metabolic disruptions. However, limited research has examined how these parameters change from calving to ketosis onset. This study aimed to investigate these changes, identify parameters associated with ketosis classification, and evaluate their implications for dairy cow health. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of Holstein cows and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) was tested once every three days during the postpartum period (8 times in 21 days).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cows were categorised into three groups based on their highest BHBA concentration: non-ketosis (NK; BHBA < 1.2 mmol/L; n = 75), subclinical ketosis (SCK; BHBA ≥ 1.2 mmol/L and < 3.0 mmol/L; n = 46), and clinical ketosis (CK; BHBA ≥ 3.0 mmol/L; n = 35). The NK group had the highest red blood cell and monocyte counts, red cell distribution width, and alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations. However, this group had the lowest mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), and total bilirubin concentrations on the day of calving and at ketosis onset, followed by the SCK and CK groups (p < 0.05). In the NK group, counts of neutrophils, monocytes, and eosinophils, along with NEFA and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations, decreased from the day of calving to ketosis onset. Conversely, ALT, aspartate transaminase (AST), and magnesium concentrations increased in the SCK and CK groups (p < 0.05). The NK group had the most pronounced changes in glucose, triglyceride, and magnesium and the lowest BHBA, LDH, and AST concentrations, followed by the SCK and CK groups (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study identified key haematological and serum biochemical changes associated with ketosis classification in dairy cows, highlighting metabolic adaptations in the NK group that mitigate ketosis risk and metabolic dysfunctions in the SCK and CK groups that develop ketosis. These findings provide practical markers for early detection and management of ketosis, supporting improved dairy cow health and productivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11921612/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143665398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary supplementation of new-born foals with free nucleotides positively affects neonatal diarrhoea management.","authors":"Livio Penazzi, Eleonora Pagliara, Tiziana Nervo, Ugo Ala, Andrea Bertuglia, Giovanna Romano, Jasmine Hattab, Pietro Giorgio Tiscar, Stefania Bergagna, Giulia Pagliasso, Sara Antoniazzi, Laura Cavallarin, Emanuela Valle, Liviana Prola","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00294-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13620-025-00294-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Foals commonly experience diarrhoea in the first weeks of life. Although this condition is rarely life-threatening, it can have significant health consequences. This study investigated whether new-born foals can benefit from a dietary supplement of nucleotides, as already demonstrated in other species. Dietary nucleotides have positive effects on rapidly proliferating tissues and are considered \"semi-essential nutrients\" since cells have only a limited capacity to synthesize these compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate whether providing foals with a dietary nucleotide supplementation, in the form of an oral paste, was able to affect diarrhoea incidence, systemic immunity, intestinal microbiota and volatile fatty acid production. Thirty new-born standardbred foals, from 3 different premises within the same area, were equally distributed between two groups: one group received an oral paste containing dietary nucleotides (NUCL group), while the other received a placebo paste (CTRL group). Faecal and blood samples were collected on days 1 and 35 after birth. No statistical differences in cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12) or faecal calprotectin levels were found between the two groups, suggesting that the level of nucleotide supplementation used in this study did not have significant effects on the systemic immune system and on the levels of faecal calprotectin. However, the NUCL group showed a lower relative frequency of number of days with diarrhoea (6.12% vs 13.33%; p < 0.001) and greater weight gain compared with the CTRL group (50.3 ± 5.65 kg vs 44.0 ± 8.65 kg; p < 0.05). Total volatile fatty acids, branched volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, succinic acid and iso-butyric acids in faecal samples were all higher in the NUCL group compared with the CTRL group. This outcome may explain an earlier establishment of a gut microbiota in the foals of the NUCL group that was closer to that typical of an adult horse, characterised by predominant fibrolytic populations. Volatile fatty acid production (especially butyric acid) has also been shown to correlate with the intestinal well-being of the horse, supporting the use of dietary nucleotide supplements for improved health and well-being in new-born foals. Although we noted no clear differences in the faecal microbial communities between the two groups, dietary nucleotide supplementation did appear to have a positive clinical outcome, reducing the number of days of diarrhoea and increasing the levels of volatile fatty acids.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871744/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143538183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Canine circovirus: an emerging virus of dogs and wild canids.","authors":"Farzad Beikpour, Arash Letafati, Zahra Ahmadi Fakhr, Nicoal Decaro, Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00290-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13620-025-00290-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Canine Circovirus (CanineCV) is an emerging viral pathogen affecting dogs and wild canids worldwide. Belonging to the Circoviridae family, CanineCV exhibits genetic variability and has been associated with various clinical manifestations, including gastroenteritis, respiratory symptoms, and neurological disorders. While its prevalence is notable, gaps persist in understanding its pathogenicity and evolutionary origins. CanineCV often co-infects with other canine viruses, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Prevention strategies are hindered by the lack of targeted vaccines and the virus's resilience in the environment. This review paper summarizes the current knowledge on CanineCV and discusses the virus's genetic features and taxonomy, epidemiology in both domestic and wild populations, clinical manifestations, diagnosis methods, and prevention strategies. Additionally, the article highlights gaps in knowledge regarding CanineCV's pathogenicity, evolutionary aspects, and potential zoonotic transmission risks. Overall, it underscores the importance of further research to better understand and mitigate the impact of CanineCV on canine health and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"5"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11806592/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143371267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of anesthetic effects of xylazine combined with alfaxalone or ketamine and maintained with isoflurane in captive Formosan Reeve's Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus).","authors":"Li-Jen Chang, Zixuan Wang, Chen-Yeh Lien, Amanda H C Wen","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00291-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13620-025-00291-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Formosan Reeve's muntjac is a Cervidae species endemic to Southeast China and Taiwan. However, research on different anesthetic protocols, their effects, and their safety in Formosan Reeve's muntjac is limited. This study evaluated the effects of ketamine-xylazine (KX) and alfaxalone-xylazine (AX) administered via blow darts to nine muntjacs. Induction and recovery times as well as the quality were assessed by a blinded observer. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were recorded for at least 30 min. Tolazoline (4 mg/kg) was used post-procedure to reverse xylazine's effects. The mean doses were 4.68 ± 2.18 mg/kg for ketamine and 3.22 ± 1.33 mg/kg for xylazine in the KX group. In the AX group, the mean doses were 4.38 ± 0.31 mg/kg for alfaxalone and 1.19 ± 0.26 mg/kg for xylazine. The median induction times were 339.5 s (range 180.0-375.0) for KX and 125.0 s (range 71.0-334.0) for AX, with both groups scoring 3.0 for induction quality. The recovery times were 507.5 s (range 266.0-1081.0) for KX and 243.0 s (range 92.0-480.0) for AX, with recovery scores of 2.3 and 3.0, respectively, showing no significant difference. Hypoxemia (SpO₂ < 90%) was more severe in the KX group when compared to the AX group (SpO₂ > 92%), and rectal temperatures were higher in the former during the first 15 min. Heart and respiratory rates showed no significant differences between groups. Our findings demonstrate that both anesthetic combinations achieve reliable induction and satisfactory recovery in Formosan Reeve's muntjac, with the ketamine-xylazine combination causing a more profound hypoxemia post-induction compared to the alfaxalone-xylazine combination.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"6"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11806801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143371268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal trends in biosecurity in Irish pig herds using a standardized scoring system.","authors":"Carla Correia-Gomes, Bárbara Terezo, David Graham","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00289-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13620-025-00289-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Biosecurity measures are crucial to the introduction and spread of pathogens both within and between farms. External biosecurity focuses on preventing pathogens from entering or leaving the farm, while internal biosecurity aims to limit or stop the spread of pathogens within the farm. Implementing biosecurity measures not only protects animals from disease but also has positive effects on productivity, welfare and farm profitability. By reducing the need for antimicrobials, biosecurity measures also contribute to combating antimicrobial resistance. To assess and improve biosecurity, tools like Biocheck.UGent have been developed. In Ireland, the Biocheck.UGent tool has been widely used in pig farms since 2018. The aims of this study were firstly to assess temporal trends on biosecurity scores in Irish pig farms from 2018 to 2023 using the Biocheck.UGent tool and secondly to identify areas for improvement.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There was an increase in the number of annual assessments over the study period, with the majority of farms being assessed multiple times. Overall, external biosecurity scores were higher than internal scores. Improvements in the scores were observed over time for most of the subcategories for external and internal biosecurity and across the different farm types. Analysis of the subcategories within the scoring system revealed areas with lower scores, including disease management, cleaning and disinfection, and measures between compartments. Weaner-to-finisher farms tended to have lower scores compared to other farm types.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While external biosecurity in Irish pig farms is generally high, there is room for improvement in internal biosecurity. This study highlights the importance of continuous efforts to improve biosecurity. The data obtained will aid in estimating the cost-benefit of implementing biosecurity measures, crucial for decision-making and better returns on investments.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"4"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11780990/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143069640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-platform diagnostic strategy and biosecurity as basis of contagious agalactia control programs in endemic areas.","authors":"Christian De la Fe, Ana Grau, Olga Minguez, Antonio Sánchez, Rosario Esquivel, Juan C Corrales","doi":"10.1186/s13620-025-00288-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13620-025-00288-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Control strategies against contagious agalactia (CA), considered one of the most important diseases affecting small ruminants in countries surrounding the Mediterranean, are mainly based on traditional strategies considered suboptimal such as the use of inactivated vaccines and antibiotics. This manuscript analysed the efficacy of an alternative non-mandatory official control programme based on a multi-platform diagnostic panel and biosecurity developed and started in 185 herds placed in a contagious agalactia endemic area of Spain, using the data of 74,080 samples collected and analysed during a 4 years-period (2018-2021).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Globally, the combined analyses of bulk tank milk (BTM), ear or nasal swabs (in goats or sheep, respectively) and the serology to detect Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma), allowed the detection of 40.54% of positive farms (n = 75), with Ma the species always detected in sheep (100%) and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri (Mmc, 68,8%), Ma (29,3%) or both of them (1,9%) in goats. Taking into account productive aptitude and vaccination against CA, the use of BTM, ear or nasal swabs, and serology for herd classification demonstrated either a lack of concordance or only weak concordance. In herds that did not vaccinate, the classification of positives by male serology or swab detection showed moderate concordance. Vaccination against AC proved to be a protective factor against the occurrence of herds with bucks or rams testing positive.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Since the different diagnostic techniques are not interchangeable, it is necessary to apply a multi-platform diagnostic panel for the accurate classification of herds. Based on official classification, strict biosecurity standards, including the prohibition of the entry of animals with unknown health status, allowed the completion of the CA control program.</p>","PeriodicalId":54916,"journal":{"name":"Irish Veterinary Journal","volume":"78 1","pages":"3"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11742499/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143016733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}