Animal Site

Veterinary industry marks World Rabies Day

2009-09-25T22:39:00.002+07:00

In support of World Rabies Day efforts, two manufacturers of veterinary rabies vaccines are raising awareness of the disease and working to combat its spread in Africa.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has announced that it will again sponsor rabies vaccine donations to the Afya Serengeti project. In recognition of the urgent need for global rabies control, veterinarians in the United States can participate in canine rabies vaccination and donation program to save lives in the Serengeti region of Africa.
Each day, approximately 100 children die from rabies. In Africa alone, around 25,000 people die from this horrible and preventable disease each year. Kept as both pets and working animals, domestic dogs are an essential part of everyday life in the Serengeti, yet they account for 84.2% of rabies cases. Controlling the disease in domestic dogs means reducing deaths from rabies in children.
For every dose of select dog and cat vaccines purchased by US veterinarians between September 1 and December 31, 2009, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health will donate a dose of canine rabies vaccine to Afya Serengeti, which means “Health for Serengeti” in Swahili. By vaccinating and keeping pets healthy here in the United States, veterinarians and pet owners can extend help to Africa to control this devastating disease.
Afya Serengeti is a rabies control project that works to control rabies in this region of Tanzania by vaccinating domestic dogs. These dogs are responsible for more than 8 of 10 cases of the deadly disease. Pet owners become part of this important cause when their pets are vaccinated with a Continuum canine or feline vaccine, Nobivac Lyme or Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has committed up to 250,000 doses worldwide to the project this year, of which 150,000 will come from the United States. To date, the support of veterinarians throughout the world has enabled the global animal health company to donate more than 900,000 doses as well as subsidize the purchase of a vehicle for the delivery of vaccines to a larger geographic area.
Veterinarians can visit www.afya.org to make a donation, learn more about the issue, and view videos about the impact of the project on the Serengeti region.
In other news, the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) chapters competed to raise funds for rabies prevention and education programs. This year's winner, Kansas State University (K-State), earned an on-site rabies symposium sponsored by Merial, held on Sept. 19.
"Rabies awareness and education is critical to public health and safety in the United States and around the world," said Ralph Richardson, DVM, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State. "Kansas State University is committed to efforts that help prevent rabies and is excited to be the host of the Merial Rabies Symposium."
With the recent passing of George Baer, DVM, MPH, the "father of oral rabies vaccination," this year's event had a special meaning. Baer was regarded as an international wildlife rabies expert and was credited with developing one of the first oral vaccines that eliminated red fox rabies from several countries in Western Europe. In recognition of his efforts, the 2009 rabies symposium was dedicated to him.
In addition to the symposium, Merial supports other rabies awareness and educational efforts, including the sponsorship of nine rabies training seminars for Noah's Wish, an international nonprofit organization that rescues and cares for endangered animals during natural disasters.

Issue Date: Veterinary Forum
September 2009
(Vol 26, No 9)

South Korea on alert over residues in duck meat

2009-06-14T10:26:00.004+07:00

26 May, 2009

Korea banned the import of Chinese heat-processed duck meat after discovering an antimicrobial: cloramfenicol in duck meat. Korea has prohibited the use on animals since 1991.
The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) said it found 1.0 parts per billion of Chloramphenicol in a 3.8 tonne-shipment of meat from a Chinese meat exporter.
The ban will be imposed until Henan Huangchuan Huaying Poultry Corporation-Meat Products Co. can determine the exact cause of the contamination and ensure that tainted meat is not shipped to South Korea in the future.
Source: Poultry Med

What does swine flu do to piglets?

2009-05-26T06:00:00.001+07:00

Issue Date: Veterinary Forum
May 2009
(Vol 26, No 5)

What does swine flu do to piglets?

BANGKOK, Thailand — Researchers studying the effects of H1N1 influenza in a group of piglets have found that all infected animals showed flu-like signs 1 to 4 days after infection and were shedding virus 2 days after infection, according to Virology Journal.

Roongroje Thanawongnuwech, DVM, PhD, led a team of researchers from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, who infected piglets 3 weeks of age with both the H1N1 strain of swine flu and the less dangerous H3N2 subtype.

“The results demonstrated that both swine flu subtypes were able to induce flu-like signs and lung lesions in weanling pigs,” Thanawongnuwech said. “However, the severity of the disease with regard to both gross and microscopic lung lesions was greater in the H1N1-infected pigs.”

All infected pigs developed respiratory signs, such as nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing and conjunctivitis. On pathologic examination, lung lesions large enough to be seen without a microscope were observed. According to Thanawongnuwech, “these lesions were characterized by dark, plum-colored, consolidated areas on lung lobes and were most severe 2 days after infection, especially in the H1N1-infected pigs, where approximately one-third of the lung was covered.” The course of infection was limited to 1 week or less. None of the animals died.

Veterinary Forum

Choosing a dog breeder.

2009-05-24T06:00:00.000+07:00

Most people are very interested in animals, especially dogs, wanted to have an apartment or house. Dog breeder is a person, you can contact if you want a pure-bred dog. But the problems that dog the breeder reputation and you should make sure that the person who, after the animals are healthy and they are. Easy to see ads in local newspapers, but it is recommended to ensure that breeders of dogs selected by the Board. How to select the dog breeder?

The aim of this paper is to propose some ways to tell if a person responsible and trustworthy or not.

Search Reference

In general, a dog breeder is responsible and professional and very careful with the reference: if it can be extended, the characteristics of each person, a professional who is interested. A good dog breeder to provide information about the past and the dog gets a phone number or a contact. You can see the effect. You can always contact breeder dog, which has contributed to some of your friends because you can say you are responsible for it.

You will be asked a series of questions

A good dog breeder may be that animals and humans have many more questions for you. They wanted to ensure that the animals are in the right environment, people in the law because it is very important. They have information about your life and the economy, or if you have children or not, the size of houses and gardens and other issues to ensure that the dog is the right place with the right family. If the dog breeder does not ask all these questions with regard to money and you can not see the dog well.

Risks and Insurance

A professional dog breeder has all the dogs and puppies for sale through medical tests mereka.Yet, there are some problems that can be observed after several months or years. Golden Retriever, for example, can be a problem, it is dysphasia, genetic errors in the hip joints of animals that can not be seen until the animal is several months. In this case, a good dog breeder will not trouble to give the money back, or what circumstances. genetics of this problem can be avoided by selective breeding, but there are many chicken because hereditary disease, while some of them as hereditary effects.

Another way a dog breeder

Internet and local newspapers, but some places where you can a dog breeder. You can also try to pet stores and veterinarians, and exhibition of dogs. This means that if a dog breeder is reliable for success and love for dogs and performance that you did.

"Alternative" Medicine on your pets

2009-05-22T06:00:00.000+07:00

Field of alternative medical treatment animals is to analyze and consider the various things that have a direct impact on the life of your pet. Including the practices that use a combination of conventional and alternative methods to find the best answers to solve problems in your pet.

Many veterinarians who understand the alternative treatment of dog and cat, to provide a comprehensive evaluation that includes the behavior, nutrition, environment, emotional stress and other factors on your pet. Veterinarians recognize that this practice will provide a variety of additional services beyond the standard physical examination continued.

You can now create a revitalized with alternative healing gem necklace on your pets. The question is why I must have with this?. Yes necklace can now be offered on alternative your pets. On the internet offered a lot of sales of accessories for your dogs and cats online.

Aromatherapy is also an effective complementary therapy in the psychological treatment, the condition of restlessness, stress, and depression. Could not be denied a relationship between the baud memory. The term refers to the use of aromatherapy perfume or essential oil. This oil is a concentrated perfume (essences) are taken from plant sources such as wood, flowers, fruit, root-akaran, leaves and resins.Do you know breathe with the calm that is a matter of psychological activate positive emotional responses of the brain that control memory and emotion?

Do not you want your pet healthy and stylish? For that use an alternative method such as aromatherapy and the necklace can make the dog and cat you become more healthy and stylish.

Fish and Humans May Share Pain Reactions

2009-05-19T06:00:00.002+07:00

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fish don't make noises or contort their faces to show pain when hooks are removed from their mouths, but a Purdue University researcher believes they feel that pain all the same.

Joseph Garner, DPhil, an assistant professor of animal sciences at Purdue, helped develop a test that showed goldfish can feel pain and that their reactions to it are much like that of humans. "There has been an effort by some to argue that a fish's response to noxious stimuli is merely a reflexive action and that the fish didn't really feel pain," Garner said. "We wanted to see if fish responded to potentially painful stimuli in a reflexive way or a more clever way."

Garner and Janicke Nordgreen, a doctoral student at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, attached small foil heaters to the goldfish and slowly increased the temperature. To prevent any physical damage to tissue, the heaters were designed with sensors and safeguards that turned the heaters off at certain temperatures.

For the test, half of the fish were injected with morphine and the others received saline. The researchers believed that those receiving morphine would be able to withstand higher temperatures before reacting if they actually felt the pain. However, both groups of fish showed a response at about the same temperature.

Because both groups of fish wriggled at about the same temperature, the researchers thought the responses might be more like a reflex than a cognitive reaction. The reflexive response is similar to people involuntarily moving their hand off a hot stove.

However, subsequent observation of the goldfish in their home tanks found that each group exhibited different behaviors.

"The fish given the morphine acted like they always had: swimming and being fish," Garner said. "The fish that had received saline — even though they responded the same in the test — later acted differently. They showed defensive behaviors that indicated wariness, fear or anxiety."

Nordgreen said those behavioral differences demonstrated that fish can feel both reflexive and cognitive pain.

"The experiment shows that fish not only respond to painful stimuli with reflexes but also change their behavior after the event," Nordgreen said. "Together with what we know from experiments carried out by other groups, this indicates that the fish consciously perceive the test situation as painful and switch to behaviors indicative of having been through an aversive experience."

Garner believes that the morphine blocked the experience of pain, but not behavioral responses to the heat stimulus itself.

"If you have a headache and take a painkiller, the pain may go away, but you can still feel the presence or discomfort of the headache," Garner said. "The goldfish that did not get morphine experienced a painful, stressful event. Then 2 hours later, they turned that pain into fear," Garner said. "To me, it sounds a lot like how we experience pain."

The findings could raise questions about slaughter methods and how fish are handled in research. Garner said standards of care could be revisited to ensure fish are being treated humanely.

A paper detailing the finding was published in an online version of Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

source : http://www.vettechjournal.com

Great advice to start training your rabbit

2009-05-08T06:00:00.000+07:00

Mini Loop rabbits, all kinds of rabbits are very intelligent animals that are capable of waste trained, making it a total of more easy to assess as domestic servants. Although the formation of waste or rabbit type animal, for that matter, the first thing to note is that you need lots of patience, with positive reinforcement, which consists of praise and good health, kind treatment.

Here are some tips and trips to monitor the bed for your mini-LOP rabbits with the base, you should immediately:
- Cage: Even if your mini-LOP is a house and the animals must be free of the house, while the time needed to verify that everything is "Bunny-proofed," Most rabbits are all still a cage, and Above However, the waste to form a much simpler procedure.

To begin to teach your rabbit, the recovery of its waste box close to the field inside the cage in the corner, who chose as his name "Bad area. Once the idea that the area where he had to go, and you can read a little out of the house near the cage.

- Articles for cleaning up: some of the key you want on hand for cleaning after mini-cutting and the inevitable accidents, they also have white vinegar, which is excellent for cleaning urine stains, bleach to disinfect water at regular intervals, and is a hand vacuum or whiskbroom man and to clean.

The urine of a rabbit certainly very strong, strong smell, they go to the stain and remove it as soon as possible.

- Roll-top box: Although you can have a mini-LOP, with more than one area is generally recommended, as rabbits tend to spend much time on their waste.

- Launch: The type of bed is largely dependent on your rabbit and their own habits. It is, hands away from certain types of waste, not suitable for rabbits, as the nature, too dusty, which allows you to your pet is difficult, more and more popular or pieces that cat litter, which are introduced into the digestive tract and intestinal tract.

Your rabbit is necessarily nibble on waste so you want to make sure that what you have in the area will not be hurt in the process.

Some rabbits of the owner of the election of hay, in which each type of cats, and even newspapers, you save the urine, but no odor control. One way to check the newspaper box from the bottom of the waste and then, a handful of hay or straw, for the urine of rabbits in your body and feet.

Remember that, despite their best efforts in training, its mini-LOP yet Pills Drop waste scattered around the outside of your house to mark the territory as their own. This does not mean that your rabbit does not give lessons, or are unable to provide training, but it is a presentation of normal rabbits.

2009-05-06T06:00:00.001+07:00

First on the case Diarrhea

Diarrhea often occurs in young dogs & cats. However, Dogs & Cats diarrhea can also fell ill. If this is left, then the condition of animals will be tearing down due to dehydration (lack of fluids). Next result is fatal because it can threaten animal life who we loves

At the time of diarrhea, body fluids are involved exit through the back. Frequency defecation very often can be compared in normal circumstances. When our pet animals in healthy conditions, the activity of defecation between 1 - 2 times a day. Consistency faeces solid form until quite soft. Now in diarrhea, the consistency faeses be very weak until the liquid is sometimes accompanied by blood and or mucus. Frequency of defecation also become more frequent. The more often the more dangerous if left without adequate help.

Main issues need to be done is to seek re-entry of fluid into the body of a dog / cat who fell ill diarrhea. How to give fluids oralit a little bit, but often. Should not use oralit usually due to human oralit page contains fruit taste, such as citrus. Pain is not very liked cats. Mix sugar spoon with a little salt in a glass of warm water. Forced feeding solution oralit with the spoon, or spuit (without needle). This is a bit forced animals to drink. But be careful not to do so hiccup.

Do not give food (fasting) for 24 hours when the animals are mature age. However, when still (kitten / puppy) just 12 hours only. Give food that is not neutral & can iritation of digestion, such as boiled chicken meat or tuna fish stew that choping. Can also be yellow chicken stew. Food is so specific to this condition is also available.

Place the animal at that clean, dry and warm. Anti-diarrhea medication can also be given as Kaopectat, Nifural, etc. Newdiatabs. Note the well-dose.

If in 24 hours condition does not improve, take it to your veterinarian. Infus action may be required to return the liquid that has been out.

Quit Biting Puppy

2009-05-04T06:00:00.000+07:00

Learning to stop for a dog bite may seems, is impossible, but there is really a series of techniques you can use to bite dogs. If you stay in your training, you will be surprised how fast you can a dog is good.

Biting dogs are just doing that, of course, but when it starts to hurt or are in the process of destroying the furniture, it is time to act. This is achieved in several ways, but one of the best ways to stop dog sew is the use of their sense of taste to be.
If your dog is biting, while your hands are slightly worse taste your dog on your hands. You can find May, garlic or chili works best. A little experience and find something that your dog really did not like the taste. Once your dog is when you bite the hand that is very unpleasant taste, it will soon stop their evil deeds.

This technique can also be used in the furniture industry. Apply in small amounts in the fields of furniture, the next attack puppies bite. Soon it will turn its attention elsewhere. That fail to learn sewing Puppies May seem impossible, but with the tips that you bite the dog will soon be under control. You should always remember that you hold the course again, for your young dog to learn what the bite. Learn to stop biting dog is a matter of frequency and use the best technical training.

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

2009-05-03T01:00:00.001+07:00

Center of Dieasese Control and Prevention (CDC), continues to take measures for the incident caused by the expansion of H1N1 (swine flu). CDC answers goal is to reduce the transmission and severity of disease, and information for providers of health services to health and the public to cope with this emergency.

CDC continues to publish and update the daily life as a response to a rapidly changing situations. In the early morning, the guidelines of the CDC, the closure of schools. Supply to the CDC in the Department bearing the Country Strategy Paper (NHS) for all 50 states and territories of the United States to respond to the epidemic. Moreover, the federal government and manufacturers have the process of developing a vaccine against the new virus.

Answer forceful measures, but may vary from country to country and the communities that the local situation. Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and all the people who take measures to curb the spread of the epidemic. Those for the patient at home to work or school and any contact with other people, unless medical care. This action may prevent a further spread of the disease.

Source: www.cdc.gov/swineflu
H1N1 Flu website last updated May 1, 2009, 8:45 PM ET

STRATEGIC DEWORMING OF CATS AND DOGS

2009-03-22T18:27:00.000+07:00

Strategic deworming is a practice recommended by the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists (AAVP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The plan consists of treating your pet for worms at regular intervals that are specifically designed to prevent parasite disease and the shedding of parasite eggs in your yard and home which can then re-infest your pet or family members. Almost all puppies and kittens are born with intestinal parasites. Therefore, it is recommended that your pet be treated every two weeks until three months of age, then monthly until six months of age. The interval should be adjusted based on the prepatent period of any parasites seen in a fecal sample.

We recommend that adult dogs and outside cats have fecal samples tested twice a year; adult indoor cats have fecal samples tested annually; and deworming be done twice a year on pets belonging to immunocompromised individuals.

Adults and children can be accidentally infected with roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm, which are common parasites of dogs and cats. It is estimated that 10,000 children in the United States are infected annually with roundworm. People are exposed when they work or play in contaminated soil (garden or sandbox) and then accidentally put dirty hands in their mouth. Sometimes fruits and vegetables that grow close to the ground are contaminated.

Besides deworming your pet regularly, and washing your hands often, there are other measures you can take to decrease exposure to intestinal parasites:

* Clean up after your dog! Don’t leave feces in our parks or parkways, or in your yard. Daily maintenance is best!
* Control fleas! Fleas spread tapeworm.
* Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.
* Do not allow children to go barefoot or sit on playgrounds or beaches where they are exposed to pet feces. Hookworm larvae can penetrate the skin and cause serious inflammation.
* Clean cat boxes daily and wash hands afterward.

If you or your child experience symptoms including fever, malaise, cough, rash, wheezing, appetite loss, or weight loss, consult your doctor immediately. The majority of intestinal parasite cases in humans are asymptomatic; however they can also affect the eye, skin, or nervous system.

Source : Family Pet Animal Hospital

Clinical Update for Feline

2009-03-22T18:23:00.000+07:00

UPDATE: November 2003

For the past five years during all feline annual examinations, we have discussed the Vaccination Associated Sarcomas and our attempts to reduce their incidence. We are concerned that many of our cat owners may not have made it in for their yearly physical examination and we are dedicated to getting this information out to everyone. Important changes are happening in veterinary medicine. Due to the emergence of Vaccination Associated Sarcomas, vaccination recommendations will be changing for all patients, including dogs.

The facts:

1. One in 5,000 feline patients receiving a vaccine, usually the Rabies or Feline Leukemia containing an adjuvant, will develop a malignant tumor called a fibrosarcoma right at the injection site. It starts as a small lump, called a granuloma. Depending on the cat’s immune system, the lump may disappear within three to four weeks, or it may continue to increase in size, transforming into a malignant fibrosarcoma. Once the tumor forms, it is extremely aggressive locally and very difficult to completely surgically remove. Multiple types of chemotherapy, as well as radiation therapy, have been tried post-surgically to prevent recurrence with variable success.

2. IT IS REQUIRED BY LAW as well as an important preventative measure to continue to vaccinate against the Rabies virus. Not only is Rabies fatal for cats, it is fatal for people and readily contagious through exposure to infected saliva. Multiple occurrences of bats getting into people’s homes and high-rise apartments are reported yearly in Chicago. The state of Illinois may elect to quarantine an unvaccinated cat for up to six months if exposed to a bat.

3. Keeping the above information in mind, we feel uncomfortable discontinuing any Rabies inoculation, even in strictly indoor cats. We had been giving a three-year vaccine, thereby reducing a cat’s exposure to the vaccine by one-third. Since May 11, 1999, Family Pet Animal Hospital has been using the new Purevax Rabies Vaccine made by Merial exclusively for cats. It is the only rabies vaccine made that does NOT have adjuvants or liquid fillers, so it virtually eliminates injection site inflammation that could lead to a vaccine sarcoma. The company has sold two million doses with only a few reported reactions. It is still licensed for a one year duration; the company is about two years away from completing the research required by the FDA for three year approval. Researchers on the Vaccine Sarcoma Task Force have proven this to be the safest Rabies vaccine available. While we wait for further studies to reveal whether it will have longer immune stimulation than one year, we must continue to vaccinate cats annually.

4. All Feline Leukemia vaccines should be discontinued unless there is absolute concern that your cat may be exposed to another cat, especially a stray. This includes indoor-outdoor cats, as well as cats that live in garden apartments and spend time in ground-floor windows with screens that may allow saliva from a stray cat to pass through. When this vaccine is necessary, it is a yearly vaccine after the initial two boosters.

5. The once annual FVRCP vaccine, protecting against Distemper and other upper respiratory viruses, has now been changed to a three-year vaccine as recommended by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. This has been our recommendation since their announcement in January of 1998 even though the vaccine company is still labeling the vaccine as necessary yearly.

6. The Rabies vaccine should be injected subcutaneously as low as possible in the right hindlimb and Leukemia, when absolutely necessary, should be given similarly but in the left hindlimb. The FVRCP should be placed as low as possible on the right shoulder. The thought behind this protocol is that if a tumor should develop it will be easier to treat surgically when located on a limb than on the shoulder area. In addition, we have changed all our vaccines to single-dose vials instead of ten-dose tanks to eliminate the risk of adjuvant settling to the bottom of the vial and having a higher concentration in the last two to three doses.

7. To monitor your cat, run your hands over the area(s) where the vaccine(s) were given. Check weekly for lumps (a hard, knot-like structure) in or just under the skin. Generally lumps are firm and not easily missed. They will usually be nonpainful and be about the size of a marble when first discovered. A lump may form up to THREE YEARS after vaccination. Any lump found should be examined ASAP and we are more than willing to do this at no charge.

8. We are extremely concerned about the emergence of this problem. We have dedicated ourselves to preventing suffering and promoting health and quality of life. Due to vaccinations, we rarely see Feline Panleukopenia or Rabies and have seen a great reduction in cats with Feline Leukemia Virus. We never imagined something so terrible could come from vaccines we were taught were innocuous.

9. A vaccination titer refers to a blood test that measures antibody protection produced in response to the last vaccine given. In other words, does your pet still have protection from the last vaccination given? Does he or she really need this vaccine? These titers are easy to get and reasonably priced. Currently we are recommending taking blood to measure vaccine titers instead of vaccinating any patient with a chronic illness or immune disorder as well as in geriatric patients. Furthermore, it is wise to screen titers from patients of any age each year the FVRCP vaccine is not due, in case the patient’s immunity has decreased. If the titer comes back “protective”, then the patient does not need the vaccine this year and the titer should be rechecked in one year. If the titer is not “protective”, giving the vaccine may be recommended. The exception to this is the Rabies vaccine; this shot is regulated by law in our state and the choice whether or not to give it is out of our hands.

10. Be assured that the doctors at Family Pet Animal Hospital will keep apprised of all changes in vaccinations and Vaccine Associated Sarcoma treatment based on ongoing research by our universities. Our mission at Family Pet Animal Hospital has always been and will always be your pet’s health. We have worked hard to update our facility annually to provide state of the art diagnostics and treatment modalities. Yet, there is nothing that replaces a physical examination for early detection of problems prior to our pets displaying signs of illness. We strongly encourage all of our clients to continue to make a yearly examination appointment; a time to check all systems and educate you on the most current thoughts in our field that may be life-saving for your pet. Please call our office if you have any questions concerning this information.

Source : Family Pet Animal Hospital

LEPTOSPIROSIS

2009-03-22T18:18:00.001+07:00

Recent outbreaks of Leptospirosis, a disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira, have prompted manufacturers to update canine vaccines. Leptospirosis is a leading cause of acute kidney failure in dogs and can also damage the liver. Severe Leptospira infections lead to shock and are usually fatal. It can be transmitted directly between animals, including humans, when the bacteria penetrate the lining of the mouth. More frequently, indirect transmission occurs when the bacteria shed in the affected animal’s urine and contaminate the environment, especially stagnant or slow-moving water.

There are ten serovars (strains) of Leptospira. Previously the annual DHLPP (Distemper) vaccine contained two serovars that are no longer the leading cause of the disease. The NEW DHLPP VACCINE contains Grippotyphosa and Pomona serovars that are responsible for the recent outbreaks. Recovery from the infection with Leptospirosis is dependent upon the amount of specific antibody within the animal’s system. PROTECT YOUR PET!!

Remember that Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans. PROTECT YOURSELF!! Allow Family Pet Animal Hospital to vaccinate your dog and in turn protect our community.

source: Family Pet Animal Hospital

Mechanism of Vaccination

2009-03-19T11:10:00.000+07:00

HOW DO VACCINATIONS PROTECT YOUR BIRDS?
________________________________________
All chicks are vaccinated at the hatchery, and some chicks receive "booster" vaccinations after they have been in the grow-out house for several days. Have you ever wondered, "How do these vaccinations protect my chicks?"
________________________________________
The purpose of all vaccinations is to cause the birds to develop immunity to pathogens. Pathogens are things like bacteria and/or viruses. Marek's, Newcastle, Infectious Bronchitis, and Gumboro are diseases caused by viral pathogens that we normally vaccinate chicks against.
Vaccines against viruses consist of attenuated viruses that are either in cells or freed from cells. Attenuation means to reduce the ability of the virus to cause disease, that is, decrease its virulence. This is done by putting the virus through several replication cycles in embryonic cells. Then the virus is either freed from the embryonic cells or the vaccine is prepared using viruses still in the cells.
For purposes of illustration, we will assume that our chicks are vaccinated with a Marek's disease vaccine. Within minutes after the vaccine enters the body of the chick, it will be "eaten" by phagocytes. These are large cells that occur everywhere in the body. Their function is to remove foreign materials from the body. After the phagocyte has removed the Marek's virus that was in the vaccine, it will then pass a message to certain lymphocytes (white blood cells), it has encountered a foreign pathogen. The lymphocytes that receive the message originated either in the bursa of Fabricius (bursa) or in the thymus.
The bursa is a small gland located in the tail region of the bird. It looks like a flesh-colored fig. The bursa provides an environment in which certain lymphocytes, called B-cells, develop that can produce antibodies. The thymus has a series of six to seven lobes of tissue located on each side of the throat adjacent to the esophagus. Like the bursa, it provides an environment for maturation of lymphocytes, called T-cells, that produce chemicals called cytokines. These are protein-like molecules that have many functions. For instance, they kill unwanted cells that may enter the body, reject foreign tissues, kill viruses, or kill malignant cells.
The message passed from the phagocyte to the appropriate B- and T-cells will be, "B-cells make antibodies, and T-cells make cytokines against Marek's disease virus!" The next question is, "How does the phagocyte know how to do this?" This is still a mystery of science.
As soon as the B- and T-cells receive the "go" message from the phagocyte, they enter the spleen and attach to "nurse" cells. The B- and T-cells, under the constant care of the nurse cells, swell and soon divide each into two daughter cells. The two daughter cells will divide, and their daughters will divide, and so on. It takes only about 9 minutes for a division to occur. So, in a short time, we have two clones of B-cells formed as well as two clones of T-cells. The first clone of cells is called primary responders, and the second clone of cells is called memory cells.
The first clone of B-cells immediately start producing antibodies against Marek's disease virus and the first clone of T-cells produce cytokines against Marek's virus. The second clone of both B- and T-cells simply continue to divide. These memory cells do not respond during primary responses.
Figure 1 shows antibody levels in the blood that are a direct result of the action of the first clone.

NOTE SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT THESE ANTIBODY LEVELS:
• No antibodies are present until about 2 days after vaccination.
• Peak antibody level occurs at about Day 8.
• The peak lasts only a short time, and antibody levels then begin to decrease.
• By Day 14, all the antibody in the blood is gone. This is a typical primary humoral immune response. The T-cells react like the B-cells and produce what is termed a primary cell-mediated immune response.
"Would primary humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to a viral pathogen such as Marek's protect the chicks?" The answer is "No." If this were all of the protection the body can give, the chicks would have the disease.
Let's assume that when the vaccinated chicks are 14 days old, an unwanted rat enters the house and leaves behind feces loaded with live and highly virulent Marek's disease virus. Within 12 hours, the virus challenges every chicken in the house. The second clone of daughter cells (both B- and T-cells), called memory cells that did not respond during the primary responses, now responds dramatically.
We do not know what the signals for memory responses are, but the reaction, as shown in Figure 2, is immediate production of large amounts of antibody and cytokines. These memory responses destroy the invading Marek's virus and prevent the chicks from becoming ill. This is termed a secondary or memory immune response.

THESE ARE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS RESPONSE:
• Rapid production and release of antibodies into the bloodstream so that by 2 days after challenge, antibody levels peak.
• Peak antibody levels are normally at least twice as high as levels during the primary response.
• Antibody levels remain high indefinitely. Cytokine production during a memory response has the same characteristics as a secondary response. Cytokine levels rise to high levels very quickly and remain elevated until the virus is cleared from the body.
"Will these memory responses protect the birds against Marek's disease?" The answer is a definite "YES!" This is immunity, and it is correctly defined as the ability to remember a pathogenic challenge and then to respond in a protective way whenever this pathogen is encountered again.

Sanitation in Poultry Farm

2009-03-19T11:03:00.001+07:00

Water Sanitation

During routine use, material build up and contamination of a water system can and will occur. As lime and scale deposits, rust, dirt and algae collect in the water lines, the functioning of the system will be affected. The build up of these substances, on the inner surface of the system can and will provide a place for microorganisms to take hold. The organic material can supply nutrients for growth and multiplication of microbes such as E.coli. Every time the bird consumes water it will be exposed to an increased microbial load through the drinking water which could result in poor feed conversions, down grading of carcasses, increased mortality and possibly increased condemnation.
The build up of this organic material could also have a negative effect on medication and vaccines delivered through the drinking water. To keep the watering system in proper working order, a routine monitoring, cleaning and sanitizing program should be developed and applied.
The environmental protection agency of the U.S.D.A allows 5,000 coliforms per 100 ml of potable water. However, resources from major poultry officials consider any number to be unacceptable. (Good 1985, Lacy 1994, Koelkbeck 1989).
The following information is to inform the reader of the choices available for water line sanitation and disinfection. One must continue to strive for water quality, as this ingredient is a key component towards poultry health.

Cleaning and sanitizing of water lines

I) Cleaning between flocks (shocking the line)
Probably the most critical time period for the cleaning of a water line system. Cleaning water lines should be a part of the routine barn cleaning and disinfection program.
1)Flush the lines with high-pressure water to dislodge heavy organic matter.
2)Fill the lines with the cleaning solution and leave it in the lines for 3 to 6 hours.
3)Clean the proportioner and change filters.
4)Flush the water lines with clean water.
5)All plasons, cups and other open drinkers must be cleaned as well.

* Do not use these concentrations when birds are in the barn

II) Cleaning With Birds Present
The objective is to keep the water lines clean while birds are in the house. This helps to remove and prevent organic build up in the water lines:
1)Medicate or dilute the indicated concentrations to provide the level needed for cleaning (Table 2).
2)Cleaning should be stopped 2 days prior to vaccination and water medication.
3)When starting this program, monitor the birds behavior to make sure they are drinking water.

III) Sanitizing Water Lines
The objective of water sanitizing is to decrease the number of microorganisms (bacteria and viruses) in the water lines. The addition of a sanitizer to the watering system not only helps to reduce the microbial load but also aids in minimizing the algae growth, mineral deposits and slime build up. The addition of chlorine also helps to reduce oxidation of iron, which helps control rust deposits in the water lines. Keep in mind that a sanitizer should not be used 48 hours prior to and 24 hours after vaccination.

Points to consider when cleaning and sanitizing water lines
1) Some cleaners in combination with medications can enhance delivery and activity.
i) Ammonia, at low levels helps to increase the solubility of sulfa drugs.
ii) Citric acid helps keep tetracycline in solution.
iii) Citric acid as a carrier for vitamins and minerals, rather than sugar, helps reduce slime build up.
2) Some products and combinations warrant some caution.
i) Hydrogen peroxide at full concentrations can be corrosive and tissue damaging.
ii) Iodine is corrosive to galvanized steel, rubber and latex.
iii) Citric acid is corrosive to galvanized steel.
iv) Chlorine at high levels can be corrosive to all metals including stainless steel.
v) Chlorine, ammonia and commercial cleaning agents should not be mixed together since some combinations can react producing dangerous gases.

Conclusion
Since poultry consume about twice as much water as they do feed, it is logical that water quality and content should be considered as one of the most important nutritional elements in production. Therefore, following a water quality assurance program based on monitoring, cleaning and sanitizing should be the most important protocol to implement. With these measures in place, there is no doubt that production parameters will be maintained and optimized.

Acknowledgements
Michael Leslie
Canadian Poultry Consultants Ltd.

Decorating a Birdhouse

2009-03-17T22:08:00.000+07:00

Decorating a Birdhouse

Submitted by jamespatt

Having a craft project to work on as a family is a great way to pass the time. It allows for something to be accomplished together and becomes a point of pride for all involved. This is especially important during the summer months when the kids are out of school and may be stir crazy for something to do.

Building and decorating a bird house is something that parents and kids can do together. It is relatively cheap and can provide hours of entertainment even after the project is completed. If your child is anything like me, they will love anything that can fly and by building a bird house it will help them to watch birds and may even challenge them to find out even more about the types of birds that frequent your backyard.

Building Your Birdhouse

Three are many different ways that you can go about building your bird house. If you want your kids to have some input, it is important for the design to remain simple. However, if building the bird house is simply for your own craft, there are many complicated and fascinating designs that can be followed. It all depends on what you are looking for from your birdhouse. Looking to impress the neighbors? There are designs that will make your own home look like a shack!

If you want your kids to be a part of the process it is very easy to make your birdhouse very simple. It is quite possible to use four or five pieces of wood and construct one with very little in the way of tools. This will allow your kids to claim ownership over the birdhouse from start to finish.

Painting Your Birdhouse

This is where your kids will have a blast! If you approached correctly, your kids will realize that this is actually a house for birds and they need to decorate it as they would their own house. Again, this will be a great exercise for kids to visualize and might spark a greater interest in birds and other animals. Although there are many ways to go about painting your birdhouse, one the best ways to go about doing this is to use a sponge brush. This will give you enough control to do what you want. Sponge brushes are also great for kids. They don’t hold too much paint, but are still able to get the job done.

One thing to keep in mind is that the paint you use should not contain any chemicals that will have potential harm to the bird who will be visiting. Please take careful notice of the type of paint you are using. Not only could this be fatal to the birds, but it could also be traumatic to your kids.

Another thing to consider is to leave the inside of the birdhouse free of any paint. It should be completely natural and free of chemicals so that the birds can freely make a home inside.

How Bright Should My Birdhouse Be Painted?

Although it might be fun to paint your birdhouse a loud color that will stand out in your yard, and this might be your kid’s color of choice, it is important to recognize that bright colors will not necessarily attract more birds. In the wild, female birds are a more subdued color for protection. This will often translate into where birds attempt to find shelter. If your birdhouse is too bright, it might not attract birds.

About the Author
James has been in the bird world for over 10 years, spending most of it breeding exotic birds.He has also written many articles for his local bird club's newsletter.Site: http://www.birdflights.com/beak.pl/cedar/how/butterfly-audubon.html

Source: ArticleTrader.com

The Basics of Feeding Wild Baby Birds

2009-03-17T21:52:00.000+07:00

The Basics of Feeding Wild Baby Birds
Submitted by webrunner
Mon, 25 Aug 2008

Have you found yourself in the position of baby bird caregiver?

In feeding wild baby birds, you have a few different options available. To aid you in feeding these birds in need, you can use a variety of tools to deliver the food. Tools to consider that are easily available include: tweezers, syringes, eyedroppers, small paint brushes, popsicle sticks, blunt toothpicks, your fingers and pipettes.

Depending on what food or formula you're giving, pick the most suitable tool or a combination. The thickness of the food formula is usually dependant on the age of the bird so if you're feeding a group use a combination of tools that are most effective.Young birds will readily reach out for food until they are full. Avoid over-feeding baby birds but remember they need frequent small feedings. If they are slow to take food, they may be full or too dehydrated to eat. Also if a baby bird doesn't take food, it may be sick, nervous, or unaware that your gesture is a feeding attempt. In these cases, try taping the side of the nest or whistle lightly so as to mimic a parent birds arrival home.

Baby birds in the wild are naturally fed throughout the day. You'll want to do the same as the bird's caregiver. Generally hatchings should be fed every 20 minutes. Young birds who are not babies can be fed every two hours. Try to give baby birds the same food they would naturally eat in the wild. You may need to research what that particular bird species normally eats. You may also call a local animal center to inquire about what food is appropriate or if a formula recipe is suitable for your particular bird. When feeding ensure that any food is cleaned up and not left to dry on the bird's feathers as this can cause skin problems or feather to fall off.

The goal of you as the caregiver of a baby bird, is to provide temporary care until the bird is well enough to survive in it's natural environment on it's own. Avoid interacting with bird other than at feeding and cleaning times. Also ensure that the bird is kept away from domestic animals including pet birds.

I hope this helps you rehabilitate and feed the wild baby birds you find in need.
About the Author
Eve Duncan is a freelance writer, researcher and web publisher from Canada. To get other tips about birds and squirrel problems, visit Squirrelproofer.com where you can also learn squirrel proof bird feeders.

Source: ArticleTrader.com

Parasites That Love Your Dog

2009-03-03T15:27:00.003+07:00

Parasites That Love Your Dog
By: Lee Dobbins

Your dog might not love them, but there are many common parasites that love your dog. If your dog is not properly cared for he can become infested with any of these pests and develop illness or life threatening disease.

Luckily, there are many ways to ward off and get rid of parasites which are as simple as taking pills or using drops. With proper care and prevention, your dog will be generally free and safe from parasites and diseases but if you do notice your dog acting strangly, not eating or scratching too much, it's best to get him to the vet right away.

Some common parasites that can take up residence on your dog include:

Ticks
We all know fido gets fleas and ticks in the summer, but ticks can pose more serious problems than due to diseases like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme disease. You should check your dog for ticks religiously especially if he spends a lot of time outdoors. Tweezers can be used to remove ticks one by one. If you do not know how to remove ticks properly and carefully, ask your vet first. If you do know how, put them in a can with soap and water after removal.

Fleas
These are the most common external parasites and can cause the dog to continuously scratch various parts of the body. It may get so bad that your dog loses fur in the infested areas. Ask your veterinarian to put your pet on a good flea-control program and be aware that fleas could become resistant to some products over time.

Lice
Lice is less common than fleas but can affect dogs. Your vet will have several treatments that can easily get rid of lice in dogs.

Heartworm
Caused by mosquito bites, heartworm resides in your dogs heart and blood vessels. A dog infected by heartworms looks dull and may even have a chronic cough. There are many heartworm medications that can prevent your dog from developing this disease - ask your vet which one is best for your pet.

Hookworm
Hookworms can cause anemia an loss of appetite and can be given by the mother dog to a puppy during the nursing period or even before birth.

Tapeworm
A dog can get tapeworm from swallowing larvae-laden fleas. There are not many symptoms with tapeworm but you might see rice-like pieces in your dogs stools. This is one good reason to always bring a stool sample to your vet when you bring your pet in for a yearly checkup.

Roundworm
Roundworms cause pneumonia, diarrhea, dehydration, stunted growth, and vomiting. A dog with roundworm may have a pot belly.

Whipworm
A dog infected with whipworms may have diarrhea and other ailments like, stool mucus, and serious bowel inflammation. Extreme weight loss is also a symptom caused by whipworms.

Although our dog can attract any of these parasites, most of them can be easily taken care of. Proper care and maintenance and routine visits to the vet will help keep your dog happy, healthy and parasite free.

Author Bio
Lee Dobbins writes for Epet Pet Center where you can find more on how to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

Recovery and Preservation of Goat Follicular Oocytes

2008-11-20T09:00:00.002+07:00

Introduction

Embryo-transfer has become the fastest method of genetic improvement of farm animals. In vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) of follicular oocytes are the recent advances of embryo transfer, these are the important tools to study gamete physiology. From these techniques embryos can be obtained in abundant quantity, production of transgenic animal, embryo sexing, embryo splitting and multiplication of embryos in vitro on lines of superior offspring is possible by these methods.

The oocytes can be obtained from living animals as well as from slaughtered animals also. If those are collected from immature living animals and from immature slaughtered animals, in vitro matured, in vitro fertilized and transferred to the recipient the generation interval can be reduced. If the oocytes collected from varies of slaughtered animal the utility of that animal even after slaughter is improved. This also formulate low cost supply of follicular oocytes which can be matured, cultured and fertilized in vitro.

Material and Methods

Thirty three pairs of goat ovaries were obtained from, local slaughter house Parbhani immediately after slaughter: Paired ovaries were brought to the laboratory in a thermos flask containing 0.9 per cent normal saline at a room temperature: Normal saline is supplemented with Inj-Benzyl penicillin - 400 IU per m1' of saline: Inj-Streptomycin 200 mg/ml and 0.25 mg Nystatin. The pair of ovaries in various stages of oestrous cycle were classified as per (Zemjanis, 1970) into early luteal stage, luteal state and follicular stage. After recovery of oocytes, the good quality oocytes were selected and 65 oocytes were preserved in Ham’s F-10 medium with 10 per cent and 73 oocytes were preserved in 15 percent serum level at 5°C temperature for 24 hours. The ovaries were wahsed with normal saline and placed in a sterile petridish containing medium. The follicles measuring above 3mm in diameter were punctured with. The help of needle (19 guage) and contents were allowed to flow freely into the medium. The whole pertridish containing culture medium was observed under streoscopic microscope at 25 x in order to locate occytes.

Result and Discussion

The average numbers of follicles between 3-5 mm size in early luteal, luteal, and follicular stages were 4.30 + 0.37, 6.00 + 0.57 and 5.20 + 0.40; 3.00 + 1.00, 4.00 + 0.40 and 5.50 ± 0.22 respectively for 10 percent serum level and 15 percent serum level present findings are in agreement with those of Parkale (1987) an d Giri (1992) who reported them as 4.70, 4.95 and 4.32, 3.28, 4.33 and 4.02 respectively for corresponding stages of oestrous cycle in buffaloes. The present findings for early luteal and luteal stages are lower and for follicular stage in agreement with those. of Thakre (1993) who reported them as 5.60+ 0.35, 5.52 + 0.40 and 5.24 + 0.28 the corresponding stages of *estrous cycle in goat.
The overall average number of follicles per pair of ovaries irrespective of oestrous, stages and follicular sizes were 6,00+1.07 and 5.27+0.83 respectively, which are in agreement with those reported by Thakre (1993). These findings are higher than those reported by Parkale (1987) and Giri (1992) as 4.65 and 4.04 respectively.
Differences in the number of follicles may be due to differences in species, breeds, climatic conditions and endocrine profile etc of animals studied by different workers.
The average recovery rate follicular oocytes in early luteal, luteal and follicular stage for 10 per cent and 15 per cent serum levels was 73.33, 63.18 and 72.42] 66.66, 72.22 and 78.84 per cent respectively which are found to be higher than observations made by Giri (1992) and are in agreement with Thakare (1993) who reported them as 47.83, 58.24 and 47.20 and 76.84 per cent respectively which is in accordance with Lambert (1983) who reported 72-79 per cent by laproscopy method. The present findings are significantly higher than that reported by Leibfred and First (1979), Parkale (1987) and Giri (1992) who reported lower recovery rate of follicular oocytes as 50.00, 50.00 and 50.92 per cent respectively.
In the present study in Ham’s F-10 medium 65 medium 65 oocytes for 10 per cent serum level and 73 oocytes for 15 per cent serum level were preserved at 5oC for 24 hours, it was observed that there was no significant change recorded in the morphology of oocytes.

References

1. Giri, C.G. (1992): Characterisation and morphological in vitro maturation of bulffalo follicular oocytes in different culture media. M.V.Sc. Thesis, Kokan Krishi Vidapith,Dapoli.
2. Lambert R.D. : Sirad, M.A. Benard, C; Beland, R.; Riouz J.E. Lecierc, P : Manard D.P. and Bedoya M. (1986): In vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes matured in vitro and collected at laproscopy. Heriogenology 25 (1): 117.
3. Leidfired, L. and First, N.L. (1979): Characterization of bovine follicular oocytes and their ability to mature in vitro J. Anim Sci. 48 (1): 76-86.
4. Parkale, D.D. (1987): Studies on buffalo (bos bubalis) avaries, follicles and follicular oocytes with special references to culture of oocytes in vitro M.V.Sc. Thesis, Kokan Krishi Vidyapith Dapoli.
5. Thakare N.V. (1993): Studies on recovery, characterization and morphological in vitro maturation of goat follicular oocytes in different culture media. M.V. Sc. Thesis, M.A.U. Parbhani.

by : Khillare, K.P.
from : http://www.veterinaryworld.org

Study on Pathogenicity of the Aspergillus species in experimentally immunosuppressed mice

2008-11-20T08:53:00.002+07:00

Introduction

Recent years have witnessed dramatic changes in man’s environment and his immune defenses. Increasing incidence of secondary infections due to opportunistic fungi such as Aspergillus has been noted. Members of the genus Aspergillus are ubiquitous in nature and can survive under various conditions. Aspergillus, a conidia bearing fungus cause multiple diseases in human. These diseases include invasive aspergillosis, aspergilloma, different forms of hypersensitivity diseases, etc. The rising incidence of these infections in patients has been attributed to the widespread use of multiple antibacterial antibiotics, corticosteroids, irradiation, cytotoxic and other immunosuppressive drugs in clinical practice, increased incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), autoimmune diseases and diabetes, coupled with stressful life styles. The literature abounds with reports of pathogenic potential of the Aspergillus species and the role of various predisposing factors on the susceptibility of host to these opportunistic fungal infections, demonstrated in experimental animals (Sidransky et al., 1965, Ford and Friedman, 1967, Sandhu et al., 1970, White, 1977, Thurston et al., 1979, Hassan and Selim, 1983, Chattopadhyay et al., 1994, Atasever et al., 2004, etc.). But todate not much work has been done on the pathogenic potential of Aspergillus isolated from processed and ready to eat milk product. This study was undertaken to study the pathogenicity of a strain of Aspergillus isolated from khoa and to observe that whether cortisone would alter the susceptibility of mice to the pathogen after the intraperitoneal administration of spores of Aspergillus spp.

Material and Methods

Aspergillus spp. was isolated from a khoa sample procured from a retail shop in Mhow. The fungus was tested for its pathogenicity in the immunocompromised host. Spore suspension for inoculation was prepared by growing the organism on Potato dextrose agar medium at 22oC until profuse sporulation had occurred, usually in 4 to 6 days. The spores were harvested by addition of sterile normal saline with 0.1% of Tween 80 and shaking with glass beads. Tween 80 was added to spore suspension to avoid their clumping. Large particles were allowed to sediment under gravity and the supernatant spore suspension was decanted. After counting in a hematocytometer chamber a definite number of spores were used for inoculation.

Swiss albino mice weighing about 18-20g, bred in the small animal house of Institute of animal health and biological products, Mhow, were purchased for the study. Treated mice received 5 mg hydrocortisone, subcutaneously for 2 days before the spores were injected. 5 x 106 number of spores were injected in mice via intraperitoneal route. Untreated control mice were injected with same number of spores via same route at the same time as the cortisone treated mice.

Mice with and without treatment by cortisone were also inoculated with spores previously heated at 103oC for 24 hours. Their non-viability was confirmed by failure to grow on potato dextrose agar medium.

The rooms and cages used for housing the animals were thoroughly cleaned time to time. The animals were reared under strict hygienic conditions during and before infecting them. All the animals were adjudged to be healthy. The animals were provided with food and water ad libitum. The animals were observed daily for any morbidity or mortality. The mice died were necropsied within a short time.

Result

On intraperitoneal inoculation of spores of Aspergillus spp. in mice, the mortality was found in mice pretreated with hydrocortisone. Deaths occurred between three to ten days after exposure to spores of Aspergillus spp. Untreated or non - immunosuppressed mice were resistant to infection. On necropsy, lesions of visceral aspergillosis were observed. The parietal and serosal peritoneum appeared moist. Adhesions between visceral organs were found. Yellowish grey colour granulomas or abscesses were found in liver and kidneys. Heat killed spores produced no evident lesions in control or experimental mice.

Discussion

Mice are normally resistant to infection with Aspergillus and other saprophytic fungi. Hence, they are suitable animals for testing the possible role of cortisone drug in reducing resistance (Sidransky and Friedman,1959).In choosing the immunosuppressive regimen, corticosteroids were selected because of their profound effect on macrophage function, immobilization of phagocytes, stabilizing their lysosomes, diminished phagocytosis, low antibody production or impairment of antigen-antibody interaction in accordance with Louria and Brown (1960), Weissmann (1964) and Spreadbury et al. (1989).

The result of this study, which reveal that the administration of cortisone enhances the susceptibility of mice to the spores of Aspergillus spp. Being injected intraperitoneally, are consistent with earlier reports of Sidransky et al. (1972). Also, in conformity with his observations on Aspergillus sp., the fungal infection in the cortisone treated mice was found confined to the liver and kidney. Cortisone treatment would seem to impair the defenses, which prevent conidial germination, and also presumably those defenses that remove the conidia, which germinate. It therefore appears that host defenses exist in these organs and are inhibited by the cortisone treatment.

References

1. Atasever, A., Uyanik, F., Cam, Y. and Gumussoy, K.S. (2004): Indian Vet. J., 81: 979.
2. Chattopadhyay, S.K., Vanamayya, P.R., Sharma, A.K., Meur, S.K., Sikdar, A. and Parihar, N.S. (1994): Indian Journal of Veterinary Pathology, 18: 125.
3. Ford, S. and friedman, L. (1967): Journal of Bacteriology, 94: 928.
4. Hassan, M.N. and Selim, S.A. (1983): Arch. Exper. Vet. Med., 5: S. 687.
5. Louria, D.B. and Browne, H.G. (1960): Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 89: 39.
6. Sandhu, D.K., Sandhu, R.S., Demodaran,V.N. and Randhawa, H.S. (1970): Sabouraudia, 8: 32.
7. Sidransky, H. and Friedman, L. (1959): Amer. J. Path., 35: 169.
8. Sidransky, H., Verney, E., and Pittsburgh, H.B.A. (1965): Arch. Path., 79: 299.
9. Sidransky, H., Epstein, S.M., Verney, E. and Horowitz, C. (1972): American Journal of Pathology, 69: 55.
10. Spreadbury, C.L., Krausz, T., Pervez, S. and Cohen, J. (1989): Journal of Medical and Veterinary Mycology, 27: 5.
11. Thurston, J.R., Cysewski, S.J., Richard, J.L. (1979): Am. J. Vet. Res., 40: 1443.
12. Weissmann, G. (1964): Lysosomes, 24: 594.

by : Chhabra, D.1 and Dhakad, N.K.2
From : http://www.veterinaryworld.org

Avian Influenza infection in Human

2008-11-20T08:43:00.002+07:00

Avian Influenza (“Flu”)

Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The devastating form of influenza in chickens was recognized as a distinct disease entity as early as 1878 in Italy. The isolation of an avian influenza virus in 1901 preceded the discovery of mammalian and human influenza viruses, but it was not until 1955 that it was recognized that avian and mammalian influenza viruses are closely related.

Avian influenza A viruses - subtypes

Avian species can be infected by each of the 15 HA (Haemagglutinin) and nine NA (Neura-minidase) subtypes of influenza A viruses recognized up to now, in apparently any possible combinations. To date all outbreaks of the highly pathogenic form have been caused by influenza A viruses of subtypes H5 and H7. Highly pathogenic viruses possess a tell-tale genetic “trade mark” or signature - a distinctive set of basic amino acids in the cleavage site of the HA - that distinguishes them from all other avian influenza viruses and is associated with their exceptional virulence.

Natural Host and Reservoir

The reservoir of influenza A virus is in aquatic birds, especially ducks, shorebirds and gulls. Influenza A viruses appear well adapted to wild aquatic birds that are considered to be their natural hosts, and in which disease signs rarely appear. Considerable circumstantial evidence has long suggested that wild waterfowl introduce avian influenza viruses, in their low pathogenic form, to poultry flocks, but do not carry or directly spread highly pathogenic viruses. This role may, however, have changed very recently. The die-off of more than 6000 migratory birds, infected with the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus that began at the Qinghai Lake nature reserve in central China in late April 2005, was highly unusual and probably unprecedented. Prior to that event, wild bird deaths from highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses were rare, usually occurring as isolated cases found within the flight distance of a poultry outbreak.

Susceptible Host

The host range of influenza virus is generally unpredictable. Domestic poultry including chickens and turkeys are particularly susceptible to epidemics of rapidly fatal influenza. Influenza A viruses have been isolated from humans and from several other mammalian species. Domestic swine and Humans are now considered as mixing vessel since they are susceptible to infection with both avian and mammalian viruses, thus resulting in emergence of novel subtype.

Transmission among birds

Large amounts of virus are secreted in bird droppings, contaminating dust and soil. Airborne virus can spread the disease from bird to bird causing infection when the virus is inhaled. Contaminated equipments, vehicles, feed, cages or clothing-especially shoes can carry the virus from farm to farm. The virus can also be carried on the feets and bodies of animals, such as rodents, which act as “mechanical vectors” for spreading the disease. Direct or indirect contact of domestic flocks with wild migratory waterfowl has been implicated as a frequent cause of epidemics. Live bird markets have also played an important role in the spread of epidemics.

Disease in Birds

Infection causes a wide spectrum of symptoms in birds, ranging from mild illness to a highly contagious and rapidly fatal disease resulting in severe epidemics. The later is known as “highly pathogenic avian influenza” (HPAI). This form is characterized by sudden onset, severe illness and rapid death, with a mortality that can approach 100 percent. If the birds survive for more than 48 hrs, there is cessation of egg laying, respiratory distress, lacrimation, sinusitis, diarrhea, edema of the head, face and neck and cyanosis of unfeathered skin, particularly the comb and wattles. To date, all outbreaks of the highly pathogenic form of avian influenza have been caused by viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes. Recent research has shown that H5 and H7 viruses of low pathogenicity can, after circulation for sometimes short periods in a poultry population, mutate into highly pathogenic viruses. Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses cause only mild disease or asymptomatic infection.

Flu and its significance to Humans

Influenza viruses are normally highly species-specific, meaning that viruses that infect an individual species (humans, certain species of birds, pigs, horses, and seals) stay “true” to that species, and only rarely spill over to cause infection in other species. Of the hundreds of strains of Avian influenza A viruses, only four are known to have caused human infections: H5N1, H7N3, H7N7, and H9N2. In general, human infection with these viruses has resulted in mild symptoms and very little severe illness, with one notable exception: the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.

Scenario Before 1997

Despite the warnings to the poultry industry about these viruses, only influenza A H1N1, H2N2, H3N2 viruses have caused widespread respiratory illness in humans in the 20th century including pandemics in 1918, 1957 and 1968 heralding the emergence of each human subtype respectively.

The pandemics had its first recognizable wave in the spring of 1918, with descriptions of outbreaks in the United States, Europe and Asia by the end of April. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the completed 1918 gene segments suggest that the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase gene segments were derived from an avian influenza source but not directly. The HA and NA gene segments of the 1918 virus have acquired a number of changes from the avian consensus that suggests to us that the precursor to the pandemic strain spent some period of time, perhaps 5 to 10 year, adapting and evolving in a mammalian host.

In 1957, the Asian pandemic virus (H2N2) had acquired the HA, NA and PB1 gene from an avian virus, while in 1968, the Hong Kong pandemic strain (H3N2) had acquired the HA and PB1 gene from an avian source, retaining the NA from the preceding H2N2 subtype. The mechanism of emergence of subtypes in 1957 and 1968 (Reassortment of genes with avian influenza virus) is different from its first pandemic 1918.

Thus pandemic strains possessing novel HA derived from avian or animal influenza viruses, with or without other accompanying avian virus genes, sporadically emerge in humans and have the potential to cause a pandemic of influenza if the virus is capable of transmitting among a human population that lacks immunity to the novel HA. Indeed, reassortment viruses, harbouring a combination of avian and human viral genomes have been responsible for major pandemics of human influenza.

Mixing vessel

Swine have long been considered a likely mixing vessel in which avian and human viruses may reassort, since these animals possess respiratory epithelium that bear cell surface sialyloligosacharides that are preferentially recognized by avian (sialic acid (SA) a 2,3 galactose) and human influenza viruses (SA a 2, 6 galactose). Largely because of these differences in receptor specificity, avian influenza viruses were not considered to be able to directly infect humans and cause influenza like respiratory illness.

Scenario after 1997

However in the late 1990’s two subtypes of avian influenza emerged that caused respiratory infections in humans. In 1997, a high pathogenicity avian H5N1 influenza virus circulated among poultry on farms and in retail markets in Hong Kong. The H5N1 viruses were transmitted to humans, causing 18 documented cases of respiratory disease, including six deaths. In 1998-99, a second influenza A virus subtype, H9N2, was isolated from humans with respiratory disease.

This event established for the first time that these avian influenza viruses were to be considered a risk to public health. The relatively high rates of H5 and H9 antibody seroprevalence among Hong Kong poultry workers highlight the potential for avian viruses to transmit to humans, particularly those with occupational exposure. Such transmission increases the likelihood of reassortment between a currently circulating human virus and an avian virus and thus the creation of a strain with pandemic potential. All human cases have coincided with outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in poultry.

All evidence to date indicates that close contact with dead or sick birds is the principal source of human infection with the H5N1 virus. Especially risky behaviours identified include the slaughtering, defeathering, butchering and preparation for consumption of infected birds. In a few cases, exposure to chicken faeces when children played in an area frequented by free-ranging poultry is thought to have been the source of infection. Faeces from infected ducks may have contaminated swimming in water bodies where the carcasses of dead infected birds have been discarded or which or other birds might be another source of exposure. In some cases, investigations have been unable to identify a plausible exposure source, suggesting that some as yet unknown environmental factor, involving contamination with the virus, may be implicated in a small number of cases.

Situation in India

The first outbreak of Avian Influenza occurred in domestic poultry on 18th February 2006 in Navalpur village in Maharashtra. Over 1.5 lakh birds were killed in Maharashtra and the loss was estimated at Rs.20 crore. The strain reported was H5N1.The reported outbreaks continued through April 2006.On 25th July 2007; an outbreak occurred in backyard poultry, the first report since April 2006 in Chingmeirong village, East Imphal District of Manipur. Samples tested at the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal and the National Institute of Virology in Pune confirm that the samples are positive for H5N1 strain of Avian Influenza.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed WHO that no human cases of H5N1 infection have been detected to date. Tests conducted on samples taken from persons under investigation and their close contacts have yielded no positive results as of today.

In India, as in all countries experiencing their first outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, WHO strongly recommends that patient samples be sent to WHO collaborating laboratory for diagnostic confirmation. Certainty about the status of human cases in a newly affected country is important for accurate risk assessment.

In addition, analyses conducted by WHO approved laboratories can yield information about the possible evolution of the virus and clues about how the virus may have arrived in the country. Genetic and antigenic studies of circulating viruses also help ensure that work on the development of a pandemic vaccine strays on track.

Conclusion

Outbreaks caused by the H5N1 strain are presently of the greatest concern for human health. In assessing risks to human health, it is important to know exactly which avian virus strains are causing the outbreaks in birds. All available evidence points to an increased risk of transmission to humans when outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza are widespread in poultry. There is mounting evidence that this strain has a unique capacity to jump the species barrier and cause severe disease, with high mortality, in humans. There is no evidence, to date that efficient human to human transmission of H5N1 strain has occurred and very often. Efficient transmission among humans is a key property of pandemic strains and a property that the avian H5N1 and H9N2 viruses apparently lacked. The biological and molecular basis for effective aerosol transmission among humans is not known. The virus can improve its transmissibility among humans via two principal mechanisms. The first is a “reassortment” event, in which genetic material is exchanged between human and avian viruses during co-infection of a human or pig. Reassortment could result in a fully transmissible pandemic virus, announced by a sudden surge of cases with explosive spread.

The second mechanism is a more gradual process of adaptive mutation, whereby the capability of the virus to bind to human cells increases during subsequent infections of humans. Adaptive mutation, expressed initially as small clusters of human cases with some evidence of human-to-human transmission, would probably give the world some time to take defensive action, if detected sufficiently early.

As the number of human infections grows, the risk increases that a new virus subtype could emerge, triggering an influenza pandemic. Humans as well as swine must now be considered a potential mixing vessel for the generation of such a virus. This link between widespread infection in poultry and increased risk of human infection is being demonstrated right now in Asia.

However, urgent control of all outbreaks of avian influenza in birds - even when caused by a strain of low pathogenicity - is of utmost importance. Research has shown that certain, avian influenza virus strains, usually of low pathogenicity can rapidly mutate (within 6 to 9 months) into a highly pathogenic strain if allowed to circulate in poultry populations. Altogether, more than half of the laboratory-confirmed cases have been fatal. H5N1 avian influenza in humans is still a rare disease, but a severe one that must be closely watched and studied, particularly because of the potential of this virus to evolve in ways that could start a pandemic. The challenge for all of us is to gain an under-standing of how just 10 or 11 proteins of these viruses to replicate and be transmitted not only bet-ween hosts of one species but also between species.

References

1. Katz, J.M., (2003):Avian Diseases 47: 914-920.
2. Kawaoka, Krauss, S., and Webster, R.G., (1989):Journal of Virology 63: 4603- 4608.
3. Li, K.S., et.al.(2003): Journal of Virology77(12): 6988- 6994.
4. Murphy, F.A., Gibbs, E.P.J., Horzinek, M.C., and Studdert, M.J., Veterinary Virology, 3rd Edition, Academic Press, New York: 466- 468.
5. Taubenberger, J.K., (2003): Avian Diseases 47:789-791.
6. Toshihiro Ito, J. et.al.(1998): Jour. of Virology 72(9): 7367- 7373.

by : Mohan. M1, Trevor Francis Fernandez2 and Feroz Mohammed.M.S.3
from : http://www.veterinaryworld.org

Use of PVC sheet for Repair of fracture in Eagle

2008-11-20T08:29:00.001+07:00

Introduction

The fracture of wing is not so common condition in free-range birds. This may sometime occur because of trauma or accidents as wing bones are thin and brittle with large medullary canal (Bennett and Kuzma, 1992). It is very difficult to put bandage over such bones as it increases weight of the wings that disturbs the normal posture and balance of bird. The present paper deals with the efforts to decrease weight of bandage, at the same time given full rigidity and toughness using PVC sheet as plastering material.

History and Observation

An adult male eagle was presented at Pet clinic and care centre, Akola, with the history of trauma due to unknown cause and was unable to fly. Bird was restless and trying to fly but was not able to fly. After clinical observation, the case was diagnosed as a compound fracture of humerus bone of left wing. There was swelling of area due to blood clot. The skin was opened and piece of sharp ends of fractured bone could be seen. Hence it was decided to operate the bird using some new technique other than described elsewhere (Martin and Ritchie, 1994).

Surgical Treatment:

The feathers around the fractured area were plugged out. Local anaethesia at about 3-5 ml (2% procaine HCl) was infiltrated locally around the growth (Hoque, 2001). The area was washed and cleaned with normal saline and was painted with antiseptic. The fractured ends then aligned properly and kept in opposition. After putting cotton bandage, 2mm thick PVC sheet of size 4"×1" was made pliable by putting it in the hot water for2-4 min. for allowing proper fitting over bone. These two plates were tied over using sutured nylon (by passing through skin) and a knot was applied as three pairs. Then the wing was bandaged to restrict the movement of wing . Before applying bandage, the wound was powdered with antibiotic, ampicillin. On third day, the bandage was opened and the site was dressed with antiseptic and 50 % hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the powder was dusted around the stitches for next 10 gays. On removal of plates on 25th day, complete healing of the area was revealed and bird was able to fly.

References

1. Bennett, R.A. and Kuzma, A.B. (1992): Joul. Zoo wildl Med 23 (1): 5-23.
2. Hoque, M., Maith, S.K. Singh G. R. Arora, B. M. and Pratap, K.(2001): Intas Polivet. 2 (11): 266-267.
3. Martin, H. D. and Ritchie B.W. (1994). Orthopedic surgical techniques. In Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison (eds.) Avian Medicine: Principles and application. Wingers Publishing, Inc. Lake Worth, FL pp1137-1169.

by : G. P. Manjulkar1, P. R. Zade2 and V. P. Pathak3
From : http://www.veterinaryworld.org

A case report of Pigeon Pox-Histopathologic Diagnosis

2008-11-20T08:23:00.002+07:00

Avian pox is a well-known disease in chickens, turkeys, pigeons, and canaries, and it has been identified in more than 60 wild bird species (Tripathy, 1991). Avian pox is a transmissible disease that is spread by several kinds of vectors: biting arthropods such as mosquitoes and mites, and aerosols generated from infected birds, or the ingestion of contaminated food or water. The disease has two forms: cutaneous and diphtheritic. Pigeon pox is a slowly developing disease resulting in morbidity and mortality among all age groups and sexes. The disease may be complicated with parasitism or poor condition of the flock. A case of cutaneous form of pigeon pox is presented.

Case History and Discussion

During March 2006, two local breed of pigeons were brought by local people to the dispensary with the history that they were found dead and lying along the roadside. On examination, they were found to be dehydrated and emaciated in nature. Several 0.5-1 cm diameter coalescing, round, yellowish, rough and firm masses were found at the eyelids, beak, and the mouth, and some were superficially ulcerated. Diphtheritic lesions were not found in birds. Histologic sections of skin containing the nodular lesions had cords and large clusters of markedly hypertrophic and hyperplastic epidermal stratified squamous epithelium, surrounded by dense fibroblastic stroma. Lesions consisted of swollen and pale keratinocytes with a foamy, vacuolated cytoplasm and single, round, dense eosinophilic intracytoplasmic viral inclusions (identified as Bollinger bodies). Inclusions distended the cell cytoplasm, producing cell necrosis. Some of them had clear, unstained, central rounded spaces. The superficial epidermis of the lesions was ulcerated with eosinophilic, amorphous keratinaceous crusts and necrosis.

On the basis of necropsy results, histopathologic features, and the presence of viral intracytoplasmic inclusions in epidermal cells, a diagnosis of poxvirus infection was made. In some cases, the diagnosis of a pox virus infection can be suspected by external clinical examination and gross lesions (Heuschele, 1986), but it is necessary to confirm the disease in the cutaneous form by the presence of characteristic Bollinger bodies in epithelial cells of epidermis observed in histopathologic analysis, by electron microscopy for viral particles in epidermal cells, or by virus isolation (Heuschele, 1986 and Randall and Reece, 1996). In this bird, gross lesions were compatible with an avian pox diagnosis, and this fact was confirmed by the histopathologic analysis performed on bird. An outbreak of pigeon pox involving eight local golla breed of pigeons in rural areas of Bareilly district was reported. Deaths in a few cases was recorded which might have been aided by heavy parasite load (Rajendra Singh et al., 1990).

Mortality and morbidity due to poxvirus infection may be very high in pigeons (Tripathy, 1991). Nevertheless, Pox virus is not fatal in all infected individuals, but it can reduce viability and predispose affected birds to predation, secondary infection, and accident (Reece, 1989). Thus Pox virus infection was an important, if not the direct, cause of death in bird.

by : M. Mohan and Trevor Francis Fernandez
From : http://www.veterinaryworld.org

A new Polyherbal formulation to control bacterial enteritis in poultry: a case study in Salmonella enteritidis induced experimental model

2008-11-20T08:06:00.001+07:00

by: K.K.Baishya, Shivi Maini and K.Ravikanth

1) Veterinary Officer, Kashipur, Uttaranchal, India.
2) Scientist, Ayurvet Limited, Vill. Katha, P.O.Baddi, Dist. Solan (H.P.), India.

Abstract

An experiemental study was conducted in day old 150 VenCobb chicks to evaluate efficacy of polyherbal formulation in induced bacterial enteritis with Salmonella enteritidis.
Birds were randomly divided into three groups: negative control, infected and untreated control & prophylactically treated group with AV/ADC/16 (14th-28th days). Salmonella infection was induced on day 21st. A significant decrease in overall growth, productivity, feed conversion and mortality was evident in untreated infected group in addition to severity of clinical signs. However, prophylactic administration of herbal formulation reduced mortality and clinical symptoms were mild to negligible. No negative effect on growth & performance was observed in treated group III.

Keywords: enteritis, polyherbal, antidiarrhoeal, performance.

from : http://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.1%20No.11%20Abstracts

Epidemiological studies (parasitological, serological and molecular techniques) of Trypanosoma evansi infection in camels

2008-11-20T08:00:00.001+07:00

Epidemiological studies (parasitological, serological and molecular techniques) of Trypanosoma evansi infection in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Egypt

Ahmed Abdel-Rady

Department of Animal Medicine, Infectious diseases,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

Trypanosomosis in camel caused by Trypanosoma evansi is still a serious problem in camel husbandry causes considerable economic losses in many camel-rearing regions of the world. In the present study 193 camels clinically suspected for surra were examined parasitologically by Giemsa stained blood smear (GSBS) and haematocrit centrifugation technique, serologically for detection of anti-trypanosomal antibodies by card agglutination test for trypanosomes (CATT), and for DNA amplification, by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with primers yielding a 177 bp PCR product for the specific detection of Trypanozoon parasites. Out of 193, eight camels were positive by GSBS (4.1%) while 12 were positive with haematocrit centrifugation technique (6.2%). Detection of anti-trypanosomal antibodies with CATT yielded 84 positive samples (43.5%). Using PCR 110 out of 193 were positive (56.9 %). PCR technique is accurate, more sensitive and specific method for diagnosis of trypanosome infected camels than parasitological techniques; it overcomes the problem of specificity and can detect low parasitemic camels in chronic cases. The PCR proved to be the best test used for detection of camel trypanosomosis in Egypt.

Keywords: Camels, Trypanosomosis, Stained Blood smear, Haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT), Card agglutination test (CATT), Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

from: http://www.veterinaryworld.org

Studies on potential fowl cholera vaccine

2008-11-03T20:51:00.001+07:00

The avian disease fowl cholera has consistently plagued the poultry industry for many years and has led to excessive monetary losses. Although better management of layer birds and use of inactivated and live vaccines have been in place, fowl cholera remains an inadequately controlled problem. In fact, the use of some of the current vaccines has resulted in fowl cholera outbreaks within the flock. Thus, the poultry industry has a need for a safe, rationally attenuated vaccine against fowl cholera. Therefore a study was initiated with the main objective, in the short-term, to further the development of a rationally attenuated live vaccine against fowl cholera using the P. multocida X-73 mutant in which the genes pnhA and pnhB have been inactivated.
Preliminary studies suggest that X-73 mutant was attenuated for virulence. The recombinant pnhA protein from P. multocida (strain X-73) was successfully isolated and purified. Biochemical and enzymatic studies of the purified pnhA confirmed that this protein was a Nudix hydrolase, more specifically, classified as a dinucleoside oligophosphate pyrophosphatase.
pnhA has properties very similar to other dinucleoside oligophosphate pyrophosphatase, and the preferred substrate target for the enzyme is diadenosine pentaphosphate.
Further studies of the complemented X-73 mutant using the chicken embryo-lethatlity assay showed an incomplete restoration of virulence. The complemented X-73 mutant contains a functional pnhA gene, but an inactivated pnhB gene. From our studies it was assumed that a functional pnhB gene was necessary to restore virulence within the mutant and that the function of pnhA in pathogenesis requires a functional pnhB protein.
Due to unforeseen problems with the stability of the X-73 mutant, bird trials and thus vaccine assessment was not performed in this study.
The pnhA protein is the first Nudix hydrolase identified within the Pasteurellaceae family. Nudix hydrolases have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of other bacterial pathogens. The X-73 mutant has potential as a trial vaccine, which may control fowl cholera, but further work beyond the extent of this project is needed to further develop the X-73 mutant.
Vaccine development for this disease is important because the disease has been controlled by the use of antibiotics which are costly and P. multocida has the potential to become resistant to the antibiotics in use.

Source: Carmel Ruffolo, Ph.D., Department of Biological Science, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI, USA.

Melamine milk crisis

2008-10-07T10:07:00.001+07:00

Countries to ensure safe feeding for infants and increase vigilance

Geneva/Rome, 26 September 2008 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are urging affected countries to
ensure safe feeding of millions of infants following the ongoing melamine
milk crisis in China. The two agencies also called on countries to be alert
to the possible spread of melamine contaminated dairy products.

Safe feeding

"While breastfeeding is the ideal way of providing infants with the
nutrients they need for healthy growth and development - it is also critical
to ensure that there is an adequate supply of safe powdered infant formula
to meet the needs of infants who are not breastfed," said Jørgen Schlundt,
Director of the WHO Food Safety Department.

Replacing powdered infant formula with other products such as condensed
milk, honey mixed with milk, or fresh milk is inappropriate as such products
would put at risk the safety and nutritional status of this vulnerable
population group, the two agencies advised.

"Restoring consumer confidence is critical. Melamine-contaminat ed products
should be removed from the food chain in order to prevent further exposure.
The safe supply of dairy products needs to be restored immediately,” said
Ezzeddine Boutrif, Director of the FAO Nutrition and Consumer Protection
Division.

WHO recommends that all infants should be fed exclusively with breast milk
for the first six months of life. No other liquid or food, not even water,
is needed during this period. Thereafter, infants should receive adequate
and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues up to two years
of age and beyond.

Increased vigilance

Countries should closely monitor their markets, following reports of
findings of imported melamine-contaminat ed products in several countries
over the last two weeks.

The two agencies highlighted that melamine-contaminat ed products could reach
markets in other countries through both formal and informal trade. Getting
information about the origin of the product, up to date recall information
or in some cases testing for melamine contamination might be considered. If
found contaminated, appropriate actions such as product recall and safe
disposal should be taken, based on an assessment of the risk to human
health.

Food safety is not the sole responsibility of public authorities. The food
industry is also responsible for ensuring a safe supply of food to the
consumer.

“It is critical that the industry strongly invests in food safety and adopts
a food safety culture covering the food chain from raw materials through to
the final product,” Boutrif said. Incidents such as this not only impact
food safety and human health but also put the livelihoods of hundreds of
millions of dairy farmers at risk. "There is a need for countries to do
major investment in strengthening their food control and food-borne disease
surveillance systems as it could minimise the potential occurrence of food
safety incidents like this one," Schlundt said.

The melamine-contaminat ed dairy products event first came to the attention
of the international organizations on 11 September. Both WHO and FAO have
used the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) to inform
and update national food safety authorities on this food safety crisis, one
of the largest in recent years.

Over 54,000 children have sought medical treatment in China related to the
consumption of melamine-contaminat ed infant formula. Almost 12,900 are
currently hospitalized.

Melamine is commonly used in food contact materials (e.g. containers,
labels, etc.) and can also be used in agriculture production such as
fertilizer. Whether this has a potential for carry over into food at low
concentrations (usually in the range of microgram per kilogram) and further
impact on human health may need further evaluation. Melamine alone is of low
toxicity, however animal studies have suggested that kidney problems occur
when melamine is present in combination with cyanuric acid, a potential
impurity of melamine. The level of melamine found in the contaminated infant
formula has been as high as 2,560 miligram per kilogram ready to eat
product, while the level of cyanuric acid is unknown.

From: www.fao.org

WELCOME

2008-08-09T23:04:00.012+07:00

to ANIMAL SITE

this Website is contain articles with 2 topics

1. Poultry

2. Cattle
(see ANIMAL SITE MAP on the right side)

Articles inside Animal Site are :

1. Sanitation for Poultry Farm, During routine use, material build up and contamination of a water system can and will occur. As lime and scale deposits, rust, dirt and algae collect in the water lines, the functioning of the system will be affected. The build up of these substances, on the inner surface of the system can and will provide a place for microorganisms to take hold
2. Mechanism of Vaccination, All chicks are vaccinated at the hatchery, and some chicks receive "booster" vaccinations after they have been in the grow-out house for several days. Have you ever wondered, "How do these vaccinations protect my chicks?"
3. External Parasites, Poultry mites cause retarded growth, reduced egg production, lowered vitality, damaged plumage and even death. Much of the injury, consisting of constant irritation and loss of blood, is not apparent without careful examination.
4. Internal Parasites, infected birds may show droopiness, emaciation and diarrhea. The primary damage is reduced efficiency of feed utilization, but death has been observed in severe infections.
5. Definition of Poultry, Poultry is the category of domesticated birds kept for meat, eggs, and feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae (fowl), especially the order Galliformes (which includes chickens and turkeys) and the family Anatidae
6. Research of Simmental, PERFORMANCE OF SIMMENTAL CROSSBRED AND ONGOLE CROSSBRED COWS IN PREPARTUM TO POSTPARTUM PERIOD IN BAMBANGLIPURO DISTRICT BANTUL SUB-PROVINCE By: Wisnu Tri Husodo Michael Christoffor. This research aim to know: 1. Performance of Simmental crossbred and Ongole crossbred cow in pregnant period seven months to pregnant again in ranch of people. 2. Performance of calves before weaning from Simmental crossbred and Ongole crossbred dams. 3. Feed intake on prepartum and postpartum period. This research was carried out in Bambanglipuro district, Bantul sub-province from June 2003 to June 2004 with 18 Simmental crossbred and
7. Reasearch of Harvesting, THE EFFECT OF HARVESTING TIME AND INOCULANT ADDITION ON PEANUT (Arachis hypogaea L.) PRODUCTIVITY, by : Brígida Antónia Correia. The study was carried out on plastic house in Farm belong to the Laboratory of Forage and Pasture of the Animal Sciences Faculty, University Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. This research was intended to get the data about the effects of harvesting time and inoculant addition on peanut productivity. Twenty four polybags (plastic bags) were used and each containing 15 kg of soil. The soiltype was of kind of Alfisol (Mediteran) from Gunung Kidul district.
8. Definition of Cattle

Definition of Animal

2008-08-06T15:42:00.001+07:00

The word "animal" comes from the Latin word animale, neuter of animalis, and is derived from anima, meaning vital breath or soul. In everyday colloquial usage, the word usually refers to non-human animals. The biological definition of the word refers to all members of the Kingdom Animalia. Therefore, when the word "animal" is used in a biological context, humans are included. Animals have several characteristics that set them apart from other living things. Animals are eukaryotic and usually multicellular (although see Myxozoa), which separates them from bacteria and most protists. They are heterotrophic, generally digesting food in an internal chamber, which separates them from plants and algae. They are also distinguished from plants, algae, and fungi by lacking cell walls. All animals are motile, if only at certain life stages. In most animals, embryos pass through a blastula stage, which is a characteristic exclusive to animals.

Source: Wikipedia