Economic impacts of Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 infection in Brazil: Meta-analysis based on epidemiological indicators

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to estimate the economic impact of Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV1) infection in Brazil using epidemiological indicators through a meta-analysis. Specific descriptors were used to retrieve studies from the Scopus, PubMed, Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações, and Catálogo de Teses e Dissertações da Capes databases, selecting those that met the inclusion criteria established between the years 2000 and 2020. The selected studies were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis using prevalence data as the primary outcome with a 95% confidence interval (CI) with a meta-analysis of random effects and measures of heterogeneity, significance, magnitude of the effect, and measurement of publication bias. Abortion costs and estimates were calculated based on the prevalence of BoAHV1 infection in Brazil and the characteristics of the agent as viral subtypes that cause abortion, period of occurrence, average pregnancy rate, and morbidity applied to susceptible animals and animal replacement values. The results were obtained from 49 studies included for meta-analysis where a prevalence of BoAHV1 infection of 54.12% (95% CI: 49.07% - 59.26%) in the bovine population and 88.53% (95% CI: 82.97%–92.43%) was present. From the structured formula, it is estimated that 258,779 bovine abortions occur, which causes a total loss, based only on the occurrence of abortion, of US $ 48,402,244.00 to the country. It is noteworthy that because of the losses caused, strict control and eradication measures need to be implemented based on the elaboration of normative instruction that includes health education measures, vaccination, tests for traffic, and animal trade so that BoAHV1 infections do not continue to negatively impact national producers economically, productively, and socially.

Effect of vaccination on the apparent prevalence of bovine brucellosis in the state of Tocantins, Brazil

A cross-sectional study on the epidemiological situation of bovine brucellosis was carried out in the state of Tocantins to evaluate the effectiveness of its vaccination program. The state was divided into five regions, and a predetermined number of farms was randomly selected in each one. Females aged 24 months or older were randomly selected in each farm and diagnosed with brucellosis by serial serology (AAT and 2-ME). A total of 6,846 animals from 756 farms were examined. The prevalence of seropositive herds in the state was 6.42% [CI95%: 4.76-8.62], and the prevalence of seropositive animals was 2.21% [CI95%: 1.05-4.01]. The prevalence of seropositive herds was homogeneously distributed among regions. The 2002/2003 study estimated the prevalence of seropositive herds in the state to be 21.22% [CI95%: 19.33-23.11]. In conclusion, the vaccination program implemented in Tocantins, reaching vaccination coverage above 70% as of 2010, significantly reduced the prevalence of seropositive herds. Thus, continuing the vaccination program in the state is recommended, preferably increasing the quality of the processes involved, from commercialization to inoculation in animals, since immunization remains the most effective means to reduce the prevalence of brucellosis. In addition, animal replacement remains a major risk factor for bovine brucellosis in Tocantins since 20022003; therefore, the state must implement a strong health education program explaining to farmers the importance of testing animals for brucellosis before introducing them into their herds.

2018 Lush Science Prize

The Lush Prize supports animal-free testing by awarding money prizes of up to £350,000 per year to the most effective projects and individuals who have been working towards the goal of replacing animals in product or ingredient safety testing. Since its inception in 2012, the Lush Prize has distributed almost £2 million. Prizes are awarded for developments in five strategic areas: Science; Lobbying; Training; Public Awareness; and Young Researchers. In 2015, the judges also awarded a Black Box prize for the development of the skin sensitisation Adverse Outcome Pathway and its associated in vitro assays. The Science Prize is awarded to researchers whose work the judging panel believe to have made the most significant contribution, in the preceding year, to the replacement of animal testing. This 2018 Science Background paper outlines the research projects that were presented to the Prize judges as potential candidates for the 2018 Lush Science Prize award. To obtain an overview of developments in the field of animal replacement in toxicity research, recent work by the relevant scientific institutions and projects in this area, including the OECD, CAAT, ECVAM, UK NC3Rs, US Tox21 Programme, the ToxCast programme and EU-ToxRisk, was reviewed. Recent developments in toxicity testing research were investigated by searching the relevant literature. Abstracts from conferences focusing on animal replacement in toxicity testing that were held in the preceding 12 months, were also analysed, including those from the 2017 10th World Congress on Alternatives and Animals in the Life Sciences and the 2018 Society of Toxicology annual conference.

2017 Lush Science Prize

Now in its sixth year, the Lush Prize supports animal-free testing by awarding money prizes of up to £350,000 to the most effective projects and individuals who have been working towards the goal of replacing animals in product or ingredient safety testing. Prizes are awarded for developments in five strategic areas: Science; Lobbying; Training; Public Awareness; and Young Researchers. In the event of a major breakthrough leading to the replacement of animal tests in the area of 21st Century Toxicology, a Black Box Prize (equivalent to the entire annual fund) is awarded. The Science Prize is awarded to the researchers whose work the judging panel believe has made the most significant contribution to the replacement of animal testing in the preceding year. This Background Paper outlines the research projects that were shortlisted and presented to the judging panel as potential candidates for the 2017 Lush Science Prize. This process involved reviewing recent work of the relevant scientific institutions and projects in this area, such as the OECD, Human Toxome Project, UK NC3Rs, US Tox21 programme, ToxCast programme and the Human Toxicology Project Consortium. Recent developments in toxicity testing research were also identified by searching for relevant published papers in the literature, and analysing abstracts from conferences focusing on animal replacement in toxicity testing that had been held in the preceding 12 months — for example, the 2016 EUSAAT-Linz conference and the 2017 Society of Toxicology annual conference.

First detection and characterization ofSalmonellaspp. in poultry and swine raised in backyard production systems in central Chile

SUMMARYLittle is known aboutSalmonellaserovars circulating in backyard poultry and swine populations worldwide. Backyard production systems (BPS) that raise swine and/or poultry are distributed across Chile, but are more heavily concentrated in central Chile, where industrialized systems are in close contact with BPS. This study aims to detect and identify circulatingSalmonellaserovars in poultry and swine raised in BPS. BacteriologicalSalmonellaisolation was carried out for 1744 samples collected from 329 BPS in central Chile. Faecal samples were taken from swine, poultry, geese, ducks, turkeys and peacocks, as well as environmental faecal samples. Confirmation ofSalmonellaspp. was performed usinginvA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Identification of serovars was carried out using a molecular serotyping approach, where serogroups were confirmed by a multiplex PCR ofSalmonellaserogroup genes for fiveSalmonellaO antigens (i.e., D, B, C1, C2-C3, and E1), along with two PCR amplifications, followed by sequencing offliCandfljBgenes. A total of 25 samples (1·4% of total samples) from 15 BPS (4·6 % of total sampled BPS) were found positive forSalmonella. Positive samples were found in poultry (chickens and ducks), swine and environmental sources. Molecular prediction of serovars onSalmonellaisolated showed 52·0% ofS.Typhimurium, 16·0% ofS.Infantis, 16·0%S.Enteritidis, 8·0%S.Hadar, 4·0%S.Tennessee and 4·0%S.Kentucky. Poor biosecurity measures were found on sampled BPS, where a high percentage of mixed confinement systems (72·8%); and almost half of the sampled BPS with improper management of infected mortalities (e.g. selling the carcasses of infected animals for consumption). Number of birds other than chickens (P= 0·014; OR = 1·04; IC (95%) = 1·01–1·07), mixed productive objective (P= 0·030; OR = 5·35; IC (95%) = 1·24–27·59) and mixed animal replacement origin (P= 0017; OR = 5·19; IC (95%) = 1·35–20·47) were detected as risk factors for BPS positivity toSalmonellaspp. This is the first evidence of serovars ofSalmonellaspp. circulating in BPS from central Chile. Detected serovars have been linked to human and animal clinical outbreaks worldwide and in Chile, highlighting the importance of BPS on the control and dissemination ofSalmonellaserovars potentially hazardous to public health.

PENAMPILAN TINGKAH LAKU SEKSUAL SAPI PEJANTAN LIMOUSIN DAN SIMMENTAL DI BALAI INSEMINASI BUATAN LEMBANG

ABSTRACT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF LIMOUSIN AND SIMMENTAL BULL BREEDSAT THE LEMBANG ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION CENTER. In order to provide the prominent bulls, the management process of animal selection was required for animal replacement stock. Animal selection was including the inspection of animal physical and sexual behavior. Based on this criterion, study was conducted to observe the sexual behavior of Limousin and Simmental breed bulls at the artificial insemination center in Lembang, Bandung. The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristic of sexual behavior of the Limousin and Simmental breed bulls. The amount of 80 bulls consisted of 40 Limousin and 40 Simmental bulls at the age of 6 to 9 years old were used in this study. Data collections were conducted by focal animal sampling. Sexual behavior was observed during ten days at the time from 07.00 to 11.00 West Indonesian Time. Data collection were started at the period of bull was introduced into teaser.Based on t-test on sexual behavior of Limousin and Simmental bulls, the results showed that (1) The time need for courtship with teaser of Limousin bull was significantly shorter (P<0,01) compared with Simmental bull; (2) Time period use for the first time to start flehmen of Limousin bull was shorter significantly (P<0,01) compared with Simmental bull; (3) Flehmen frequency of Limousin and Simmental was non significantly.Based on the observation of sexual behavior, the Limousin bull need time of the 2,22 seconds to start courthip with teaser, while Simmental bull need time of 2,77 seconds to start courtship with teaser. The Limousin bull need time of 222 seconds to start flehmen, while Simmental bull need time of 239 seconds to start flehmen. The time periods used for the first time to mount teaser by Limousin bull were 214,87 seconds, while those by Simmental bull were 302,02 seconds. The flehmen frequency of Limousin dan Simmental bulls was similar of only one time during sexual behavior.Key Words :Limousin, Simmental, Sexual behavior, Lembang Artificial Insemination Center

Métodos substitutivos no ensino prático de fisiologia

Physiology teaching has been always associated to the use of laboratory animals. Since the current discussion about the real need of laboratory animals in research and education, and the strong local and international recommendation for animal use reduction, physiology teachers are facing the challenge of rethinking the physiology lab lessons. The aim of this work is to report the animal replacement approaches taking place at Universidade Feevale, as well as the point of view of those involved.

Social amoeba and dementia: Dictyostelium as an animal replacement model for research into Alzheimer's disease

Getting older usually means becoming increasingly forgetful, but for some of us it will mean much more than simple absent-mindedness. For millions of older people worldwide, advancing age can also mean the beginning of a steady decline in mental faculties that is characteristic of the devastating neurodegenerative deterioration in Alzheimer's disease. This form of senile dementia is a burden not only for the patient, because of the debilitation that the condition causes, but also for the families of sufferers, who must dedicate increasing time and resources to caring for their affected loved ones. The cost to society is also staggering, currently about £23 billion in Britain annually, and projected to rise to £50 billion by 20381. Thus understanding what causes the neurodegeneration and how to treat it is a major priority for biomedical researchers. This research is dominated by the use of animals to study changes in the brain during development of the disease.