scholarly journals Australian Veterinarians’ Perceptions Regarding the Zoonotic Potential of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal R. Acharya ◽  
Karren M. Plain ◽  
Richard J. Whittington ◽  
Navneet K. Dhand
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Avium ◽  
Causative Agent ◽  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
The Precautionary Principle

Public concerns over exposure to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) or MAP components via foods of animal origin could have negative trade consequences, despite the absence of conclusive scientific evidence of a causal association between Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and Crohn’s disease (CD). This study was conducted among Australian veterinarians to understand (a) their perceptions regarding the role of MAP in the causation of CD (an ordinal outcome), and (b) their consideration of the adoption of the precautionary principle against Johne’s disease (JD; a binary outcome). Ordinal and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of explanatory variables with the above outcomes, respectively. Almost one-third of the respondents (32.2%) considered that MAP was likely to be involved in the causation of CD whereas more than two-thirds (69.8%) agreed with the adoption of the precautionary principle against JD. Veterinarians who were concerned about exposure to and/or getting infected with MAP were more likely to consider MAP as a causative agent of CD (odds ratio: 7.63; 95% CI: 1.55, 37.63) and favor the adoption of the precautionary principle against JD (odds ratio: 6.20; 95% CI: 1.90, 20.25). Those perceiving MAP as a causative agent of CD were also more likely to favor the adoption of the precautionary principle against JD (odds ratio: 13.2; 95% CI: 1.26, 138.90). The results suggest that Australian veterinarians, particularly those who consider MAP as a causative agent of CD are concerned about exposure to MAP and favor the adoption of the precautionary principle against JD. These findings can be useful for animal health authorities for designing JD control programs and policies.

Late lessons from early warnings: towards precaution and realism in research and policy

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Gee ◽  
M.P. Krayer von Krauss
Keyword(s):  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
False Positives ◽  
False Negatives ◽  
Strength Of Evidence ◽  
The Precautionary Principle ◽  
Value Judgements ◽  
Bradford Hill Criteria ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Early Warnings

This paper focuses on the evidentiary aspects of the precautionary principle. Three points are highlighted: (i) the difference between association and causation; (ii) how the strength of scientific evidence can be considered; and (iii) the reasons why regulatory regimes tend to err in the direction of false negatives rather than false positives. The point is made that because obtaining evidence of causation can take many decades of research, the precautionary principle can be invoked to justify action when evidence of causation is not available, but there is good scientific evidence of an association between exposures and impacts. It is argued that the appropriate level of proof is context dependent, as “appropriateness” is based on value judgements about the acceptability of the costs, about the distribution of the costs, and about the consequences of being wrong. A complementary approach to evaluating the strength of scientific evidence is to focus on the level of uncertainty. If decision makers are made aware of the limitations of the knowledge base, they can compensate by adopting measures aimed at providing early warnings of un-anticipated effects and mitigating their impacts. The point is made that it is often disregarded that the Bradford Hill criteria for evaluating evidence are asymmetrical, in that the applicability of a criterion increases the strength of evidence on the presence of an effect, but the inapplicability of a criterion does not increase the strength of evidence on the absence of an effect. The paper discusses the reason why there are so many examples of regulatory “false negatives” as opposed to “false positives”. Two main reasons are put forward: (i) the methodological bias within the health and environmental sciences; and (ii) the dominance within decision-making of short term economic and political interests. Sixteen features of methods and culture in the environmental and health sciences are presented. Of these, only three features tend to generate “false positives”. It is concluded that although the different features of scientific methods and culture produce robust science, they can lead to poor regulatory decisions on hazard prevention.

Precautionary Principle in the Court Settlement of Civil Environmental Cases

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Cecep Aminudin ◽  
Efa Laela Fakhriah ◽  
Ida Nurlinda ◽  
Isis Ikhwansyah
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
Weak Version ◽  
Court Cases ◽  
The Precautionary Principle ◽  
Environmental Decision Making ◽  
Legal Decision Making ◽  
Civil Courts

In recent years, the precautionary principle has begun to enter legal decision-making in Indonesian civil courts. This introduction is in line with environmental cases that often involve much scientific evidence. This article aims to describe theoretical elaboration and, to a certain extent, legal developments in the application of the precautionary principle in the settlement of civil environmental cases in Indonesia. The precautionary principle provides a framework for environmental decision-making in the event of scientific uncertainty. The theoretical elaboration shows a wide dimension of influence of the precautionary principle on the system of liability and proof. In comparison, the court cases also show the application of the precautionary principle in the liability system and proof despite still in its weak version.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Dairy Cattle in Khartoum State, Sudan

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Wisal A. Elmagzoub ◽  
Nabawia M. Adam ◽  
Sanaa M. Idris ◽  
Mohamed E. Mukhtar ◽  
Sanaa A. Abdelaziz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Avium ◽  
Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Apparent Prevalence ◽  
World Organization

Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic wasting disease mainly of domestic and wild ruminants. It occurs worldwide, causing significant economic losses through decreased productivity, low fertility, increased cull rates and mortality. It is listed by the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) as a disease of concern to trade in animals. Prevalence of this disease can be studied by detecting anti-MAP antibodies by Enzyme linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The aim of this study was to investigate the current prevalence of MAP infection in cattle in Khartoum State. The overall apparent prevalence of MAP infection was found to be 6.3% and 18.9% at animal and herd levels, respectively. All seropositive animals were cross-bred females of good body condition; most of them (>90%) were >3 years old and >50% were from medium-sized herds in Omdurman. No significant association (p > 0.05) was found between seropositivity and animal herd size. The prevalence of MAP infection in Khartoum State is still low to medium compared to other parts of the world, but it is comparable to those reported from other African countries. Further studies with the view of designing nationwide surveys in domestic ruminants and camels in other states of the country are needed for establishing control programmes.

Differing perspectives on the use of scientific evidence and the precautionary principle

2003 ◽  
Vol 75 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 2543-2545 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Burger
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
European Community ◽  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Weight Of Evidence ◽  
Uncertainty Factors ◽  
The Precautionary Principle

Different governments and agencies are approaching the use of scientific evidence, weight of evidence, and the precautionary principle in different ways. The European community has used the precautionary principle in situations where the consequences are great, data are unavailable or will be costly (in terms of money and time) to obtain, or data are difficult or impossible to obtain. Other countries, such as the United States, have a risk assessment process that has built-in safety or uncertainty factors which are themselves precautionary. Risk management decisions can be made on the basis of adequate studies, risk assessment, weight-of-evidence approaches, and the application of the precautionary principle. While weight of evidence has been used in the United States for increased research funding and regulator action with respect to some chemicals that are hormonally active, the European community has applied the precautionary principle.

UNDERSTANDING THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE AND ITS THREAT TO HUMAN WELFARE

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 378-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sterling Burnett
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Environmental Policy ◽  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
The Precautionary Principle ◽  
The Past ◽  
Novel Technology

Over the past three decades, the Precautionary Principle (PP) has become popular in discussions of public policy, especially in relation to health and environmental policy. Though there are a number of different versions of the principle, the genesis of the idea is that it is better to be safe than sorry. In terms of public policy, proponents of the PP argue that being safe means that, if there is a possibility of harm from a new activity or novel technology, even if the scientific evidence concerning the harm is absent or uncertain, precautionary actions should be taken. In one version or another, the PP has been incorporated into a number of laws and treaties. Yet arguments for the PP are unconvincing, the PP itself is vague and when enacted in law, results in arbitrary regulations that pose a threat to human welfare. As a result, the PP should be rejected as a basis for public policy.

scholarly journals Communities of practice in the management of an Arctic environment: monitoring knowledge as complementary to scientific knowledge and the precautionary principle?

Polar Record ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torill Nyseth ◽  
Arvid Viken
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Environment Monitoring ◽  
Summer Period ◽  
The Precautionary Principle ◽  
Management Platform ◽  
Cruise Tourism ◽  
Over Time

ABSTRACTThis article addresses knowledge management in governing vulnerable polar areas and tourism. Since the 1870s, Svalbard has been a cruise tourism destination. Due to less ice during the summer period, the number of tourists visiting the remote northeast corner of the archipelago has increased significantly, and the potential negative impact on this vulnerable natural environment has become an issue. The standard modes of managing these areas have either been to apply the precautionary principle or measures based on scientific evidence. As management models, however, both principles are contested for a number of reasons. This paper argues for a third model that is partly based on a form of monitoring knowledge that has circulated in ‘communities of practice’ and that has been developed over time. This form of knowledge constitutes viable expertise for the governing and management of the environment-tourism nexus in the area, but it needs to be acknowledged as a complementary management platform. This article demonstrates how such monitoring can be done, and it suggests some principles for the development of monitoring knowledge for administrative and management purposes.

scholarly journals Аналіз результтів лабораторних досліджень щодо бактеріозів у Харківській області

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (78) ◽  
pp. 74-80
Author(s):  
A.V. Ushkalov
Keyword(s):  
Causative Agent ◽  
Biological Material ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Bacteriological Method ◽  
Livestock Products

In the structure of gross agricultural output, livestock production is more than 38%. One of the main tasks of Veterinary Medicine is the implementation of the state veterinary and sanitary control and supervision over the observance of sanitary legislation, animal health and welfare, security and individual indicators of quality of food, non-food products of animal origin, reproductive material, etc. One of the most important links in the maintenance of epizootic well-being, animal health and indirectly people is the timely diagnosis of infectious animal diseases in order to prevent economic losses and disease outbreaks among consumers of livestock products. The article presents data on the results of laboratory studies of biological material from different species, and data on the pathogens of bacterial diseases in the territory of the Kharkiv region. The attention is focused on substantially reducing the amount of biological material coming for diagnostic studies, which correlates with the negative dynamics of the number of productive animals. Most of the isolated biological material Escherichia coli (colibacillosis exciter and swine edema disease) – 61.7% of cases, Salmonella spp. (The causative agent of salmonellosis and pulloroza birds) – 23.3% of cases, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pathogen diplokokoza / streptococcosis) – 5.1% of the cases, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (the causative agent psedomonoza) – 3.4% of cases. Furthermore, by bacteriological method was diagnosed: swine erysipelas, infectious epididymitis sheep, pasteurellosis, leptospirosis, campylobacteriosis manufacturers bulls stafilokokkoz, аmerican foulbrood bees, bees еuropean foulbrood listeriosis, braxy, malignant edema, tuberculosis poultry, fish and аeromonas, anthrax.

scholarly journals Healthcare risk management during the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic in the European Union: The guaranteed access to medicines

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Silvia Enríquez-Fernández ◽  
Carlos del Castillo-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Access To Medicines ◽  
The Novel ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Efficient Treatment ◽  
The Precautionary Principle ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

BACKGROUND: The disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly spread escalating the situation to an international pandemic. The absence of a vaccine or an efficient treatment with enough scientific evidence against the virus has generated a healthcare crisis of great magnitude. The precautionary principle justifies the selection of the recommended medicines, whose demand has increased dramatically. METHODS: we carried out an analysis of the healthcare risk management and the main measures taken by the state healthcare authorities to a possible shortage of medicines in the most affected countries of the European Union: Spain, France, Italy and Germany. RESULTS: the healthcare risk management in the European Union countries is carried out based on the precautionary principle, as we do not have enough scientific evidence to recommend a specific treatment against the new virus. Some measures aimed to guarantee the access to medicines for the population has been adopted in the most affected countries by the novel coronavirus. CONCLUSIONS: in Spain, Italy and Germany, some rules based on the precautionary principle were pronounced in order to guarantee the supply of medicines, while in France, besides that, the competences of pharmacists in pharmacy offices have been extended to guarantee the access to medicines for the population.

scholarly journals Electromagnetic fields, 5G and health: what about the precautionary principle?

2021 ◽  
pp. jech-2019-213595
Author(s):  
John William Frank
Keyword(s):  
Precautionary Principle ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
The Precautionary Principle ◽  
5G Systems ◽  
Roll Out

New fifth generation (5G) telecommunications systems, now being rolled out globally, have become the subject of a fierce controversy. Some health protection agencies and their scientific advisory committees have concluded that there is no conclusive scientific evidence of harm. Several recent reviews by independent scientists, however, suggest that there is significant uncertainty on this question, with rapidly emerging evidence of potentially harmful biological effects from radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures, at the levels 5G roll-out will entail. This essay identifies four relevant sources of scientific uncertainty and concern: (1) lack of clarity about precisely what technology is included in 5G; (2) a rapidly accumulating body of laboratory studies documenting disruptive in vitro and in vivo effects of RF-EMFs—but one with many gaps in it; (3) an almost total lack (as yet) of high-quality epidemiological studies of adverse human health effects from 5G EMF exposure specifically, but rapidly emerging epidemiological evidence of such effects from past generations of RF-EMF exposure; (4) persistent allegations that some national telecommunications regulatory authorities do not base their RF-EMF safety policies on the latest science, related to unmanaged conflicts of interest. The author, an experienced epidemiologist, concludes that one cannot dismiss the growing health concerns about RF-EMFs, especially in an era when higher population levels of exposure are occurring widely, due to the spatially dense transmitters which 5G systems require. Based on the precautionary principle, the author echoes the calls of others for a moratorium on the further roll-out of 5G systems globally, pending more conclusive research on their safety.

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