Brain Tissue Fragments in Jugular Vein Blood of Cattle Stunned by Use of Penetrating or Nonpenetrating Captive Bolt Guns

2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 882-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. COORE ◽  
S. LOVE ◽  
J. L. McKINSTRY ◽  
H. R. WEAVER ◽  
A. PHILIPS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Jugular Vein ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Captive Bolt Gun ◽  
Carcass Contamination

Although the incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle continues to decline in the United Kingdom, it remains important to maintain vigilance of all potential routes of transmission of infection to humans. Initial studies have demonstrated a potential risk of carcass contamination with brain tissue following the use of captive bolt gun stunning in cattle. The objective of this study was to further explore these initial findings particularly in regard to captive bolt guns currently in use in the United Kingdom. Brain tissue fragments or elevated levels of a marker protein for brain tissue were detected in venous blood samples from 4% (95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 9.8%) of cattle stunned by penetrating captive bolt gun and from 2% (95% confidence interval, 0.6 to 7%) of those stunned by nonpenetrating captive bolt gun.

scholarly journals Unusual type of scrapie detected in sheep in the United Kingdom

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Unusual Type

Brain tissue samples from a sheep carcass in the United Kingdom (UK) have undergone tests which have detected a type of scrapie (a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) found in sheep and goats) that has not been previously detected

scholarly journals Molecular Tracking, through Processing, of Campylobacter Strains Colonizing Broiler Flocks

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (16) ◽  
pp. 5722-5729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen T. Elvers ◽  
Victoria K. Morris ◽  
Diane G. Newell ◽  
Vivien M. Allen
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Oligonucleotide Probe ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Processing Line ◽  
Poultry Processing ◽  
Commercial Poultry ◽  
Molecular Tracking ◽  
Carcass Contamination

ABSTRACTMany of the poultry flocks produced in the United Kingdom are colonized withCampylobacter, and the intensive nature of poultry processing usually results in contaminated carcasses. In this study, a previously reported molecular oligonucleotide probe method was used to track a specific flock-colonizing strain(s) on broiler carcasses during processing in two United Kingdom commercial poultry processing plants. FiveCampylobacter-positive flocks were sampled at four points along the processing line, postbleed, postpluck, prechill, and postchill, and twoCampylobacter-negative flocks processed immediately after positive flocks were sampled prechill.flaAwas sequenced fromCampylobacterstrains isolated from these flocks, and strain-specific probes were synthesized. Skin and cecal samples were plated onto selective agar to give individual colonies, which were transferred onto membranes. These were then hybridized with the strain- and genus-specific probes. For all the 5 positive flocks, there was a significant reduction in campylobacters postbleed compared to postpluck but no subsequent fall on sampling pre- and postchill, and the strain(s) predominating on the carcasses throughout processing came from the flock being processed. This indicates that strains from the abattoir environment were not a significant cause of carcass contamination in flocks with well-established campylobacter colonization. However, negative flocks that were preceded by positive flocks were contaminated by strains that did not generally originate from the predominating strains recovered from the ceca of the previous positive flocks. This suggests that the abattoir environment has a significant role in the contamination of carcasses from negative but not fully colonized flocks.

A prevalence study ofSalmonellaspp.,Yersiniaspp.,Toxoplasma gondiiand porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in UK pigs at slaughter

2015 ◽  
Vol 144 (7) ◽  
pp. 1538-1549 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. POWELL ◽  
T. E. A. CHENEY ◽  
S. WILLIAMSON ◽  
E. GUY ◽  
R. P. SMITH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Yersinia Enterocolitica ◽  
Prevalence Study ◽  
Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Caecal Content ◽  
Rectal Swabs ◽  
Pig Carcasses ◽  
Carcass Contamination

SUMMARYAn abattoir-based study was undertaken between January and May 2013 to estimate the prevalence ofSalmonellaspp. andYersiniaspp. carriage and seroprevalence of antibodies toToxoplasma gondii andporcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) in UK pigs at slaughter. In total, 626 pigs were sampled at 14 abattoirs that together process 80% of the annual UK pig slaughter throughput. Sampling was weighted by abattoir throughput and sampling dates and pig carcasses were randomly selected. Rectal swabs, blood samples, carcass swabs and the whole caecum, tonsils, heart and tongue were collected.Salmonellaspp. was isolated from 30·5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 26·5–34·6] of caecal content samples but only 9·6% (95% CI 7·3–11·9) of carcass swabs, which was significantly lower than in a UK survey in 2006–2007.S.Typhimurium andS.4,[5],12:i:- were the most commonly isolated serovars, followed byS.Derby andS.Bovismorbificans. The prevalence ofYersinia enterocoliticacarriage in tonsils was 28·7% (95% CI 24·8–32·7) whereas carcass contamination was much lower at 1·8% (95% CI 0·7–2·8). The seroprevalence of antibodies toToxoplasma gondiiand PRRSv was 7·4% (95% CI 5·3–9·5) and 58·3% (95% CI 53·1–63·4), respectively. This study provides a comparison to previous abattoir-based prevalence surveys forSalmonellaandYersinia, and the first UK-wide seroprevalence estimates for antibodies toToxoplasmaand PRRSv in pigs at slaughter.

scholarly journals Inequity in Access to Transplantation in the United Kingdom

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 830-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rishi Pruthi ◽  
Matthew L. Robb ◽  
Gabriel C. Oniscu ◽  
Charles Tomson ◽  
Andrew Bradley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Practice Patterns ◽  
Universal Health Care ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Universal Health Care System ◽  
Universal Health

Background and objectivesDespite the presence of a universal health care system, it is unclear if there is intercenter variation in access to kidney transplantation in the United Kingdom. This study aims to assess whether equity exists in access to kidney transplantation in the United Kingdom after adjustment for patient-specific factors and center practice patterns.Design, setting, participants, & measurements In this prospective, observational cohort study including all 71 United Kingdom kidney centers, incident RRT patients recruited between November 2011 and March 2013 as part of the Access to Transplantation and Transplant Outcome Measures study were analyzed to assess preemptive listing (n=2676) and listing within 2 years of starting dialysis (n=1970) by center.ResultsSeven hundred and six participants (26%) were listed preemptively, whereas 585 (30%) were listed within 2 years of commencing dialysis. The interquartile range across centers was 6%–33% for preemptive listing and 25%–40% for listing after starting dialysis. Patient factors, including increasing age, most comorbidities, body mass index >35 kg/m2, and lower socioeconomic status, were associated with a lower likelihood of being listed and accounted for 89% and 97% of measured intercenter variation for preemptive listing and listing within 2 years of starting dialysis, respectively. Asian (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.33 to 0.72) and Black (odds ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.71) participants were both associated with reduced access to preemptive listing; however Asian participants were associated with a higher likelihood of being listed after starting dialysis (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.79). As for center factors, being registered at a transplanting center (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.36 to 4.07) and a universal approach to discussing transplantation (odds ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.08 to 1.78) were associated with higher preemptive listing, whereas using a written protocol was associated negatively with listing within 2 years of starting dialysis (odds ratio, 0.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 0.9).ConclusionsPatient case mix accounts for most of the intercenter variation seen in access to transplantation in the United Kingdom, with practice patterns also contributing some variation. Socioeconomic inequity exists despite having a universal health care system.

scholarly journals Salivary diagnosis of rubella: a study of notified cases in the United Kingdom, 1991–4

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. RAMSAY ◽  
R. BRUGHA ◽  
D. W. G. BROWN ◽  
B. J. COHEN ◽  
E. MILLER
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Clinical Diagnosis ◽  
Parvovirus B19 ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Vaccination History ◽  
Feasible Alternative ◽  
Blood Specimens ◽  
Children Under 5

Rubella infections, notified by general practitioners on the basis of a clinical diagnosis, were investigated by testing blood and saliva samples for specific IgM. Overall 52 (29%) of 178 cases with appropriately timed blood specimens were confirmed as recent rubella by IgM serology. Only 2 (3%) of 74 cases in children under 5 years were confirmed compared to 50 (48%) of 104 cases in older children and adults. The confirmation rate was lower (6 %) in those with documented vaccination history than in those without (42%). The specificity of saliva rubella IgM testing compared to testing corresponding blood samples was 99%. The overall sensitivity of saliva rubella IgM testing was 81%. This rose to 90% if results from inappropriately timed specimens and specimens taking more than 1 week to reach the laboratory were excluded. A corresponding saliva rubella IgG test was 98% sensitive and 100% specific. Of 126 rubella IgM negative cases, 25 (20%) were positive for parvovirus B19 IgM. This study confirmed that rubella surveillance based on clinical reports is not specific. It also demonstrated that saliva samples, if taken 7–42 days after onset of illness and transported rapidly to the laboratory, are a feasible alternative to blood samples for rubella surveillance.

scholarly journals Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United Kingdom

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Reid
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Jakob Disease

The Department of Health in the United Kingdom has issued the latest figures on known cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, including cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), the form of the disease linked to bovine spongiform encephalopathy. To 7 January 2002, 104 deaths from vCJD have occurred in the United Kingdom

scholarly journals Avoiding the risk of dissemination of brain particles into the blood and carcass during cattle stunning: alternative method of stunning

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 230
Author(s):  
S. RAMANTANIS (Σ. ΡΑΜΑΝΤΑΝΗΣ)
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Circulation System ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Animal Protection ◽  
Blood Circulation System ◽  
The Uk

During stunning, the entrance of the bolt into the cranial cavity results in massive brain tissue damage. There is a risk of brain tissue particles being transferred via the blood flow in the minor blood circulation system. This can lead to a contamination of blood, lungs and heart with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. Tissues of CNS carry almost all of the infectivity in catde sub-clinically and clinically affected by the BSE. The approved rapid post mortem tests cannot identify BSE infected animals early in the incubation period. Thus, it is not inconceivable that an animal with a negative rapid test result could, if stunned by a method that produced emboli, still have BSE-infected emboli dispersed through the venous blood stream, the lungs and the heart. This danger of contamination has been proved in several scientific studies. The ranking order of stunning methods in terms of decreasing risk for causing contamination is: 1. Pneumatic stunner that injects air. 2. Pneumatic stunner that does not inject air. 3. Captive bolt stunner with pithing. 4. Captive bolt stunner without pithing. Negligible or absent risk can be expected from nonpenetrative stunner and cardiac arrest stunning. For the time being, very few slaughterhouses in the EU implement the electrocution. Since the summer 2001, the first cardiac arrest stunning equipment has been operational in the continental Europe. Two systems for electrical stunning of catde are presented, which are in accordance with the UK and German regulations on the animal protection at slaughter. The replacement of the penetrative stunning method with the cardiac arrest stunning, in regions where the BSE is present, would prevent the risk of dissemination of brain particles into the blood and carcass.

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