Young camelids in 'pets corners'.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R S Windsor.
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Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony (M. mycoides) has been endemic in many parts of Africa for the greater part of this century. Because of an international vaccination campaign the disease was almost eliminated from the continent. With the deteriorating economic situation of many countries, vaccination programs have been allowed to slip; drought conditions have resulted in great movements of livestock and the disease has spread rapidly to the east and south. For Government Veterinary Departments, the implications of this resurgence of CBPP, are serious. The costs threaten to overwhelm completely under-funded government, services. Where cost-recovery measures are introduced, the charging for vaccines may damage rapport with communities and erode the credibility of the government services. Farmers may find the loss of cattle and the costs of vaccine severe burdens which threaten their livelihoods and social well-being (Zambia) and even, in extreme cases, their survival (Botswana). Controlling the disease today presents new possibilities which include increased cross-border collaboration (Malawi/Tanzania), increased emphasis on monitoring (N. Zambia) and the greater involvement of communities in disease control (W. Zambia).
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Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is one of the major threats to cattle health and production in Africa. This article reviews the clinical manifestations, lesions and epidemiology of the disease. The clinical manifestations and lesions are typical and are no different in Africa from those seen in other countries. CBPP is a respiratory disease characterised by pneumonia and serofibrinous pleurisy. The usual form of this disease is acute but chronic forms are frequent, particularly in endemic regions. Hyperacute forms, with a high mortality rate, can be seen at the beginning of outbreaks in newly infected regions. The epidemiology of the disease in Africa is dominated by four factors, namely: cattle are the only species affected, there is no reservoir in wild animals, clinical cases or chronic carriers are the usual sources of infection, through direct contact, and cattle movements play a very important role in the maintenance and extension of the disease. CBPP is widespread in Africa and, according to the Office International des Epizooties and to various reports in 1995, the disease is present in 24 countries of tropical Africa. In western Africa, CBPP is mainly enzootic or sporadic but in some countries the incidence is increasing. The situation in Central Africa is not very alarming. However, in eastern and south-eastern Africa, CBPP has become a major issue, placing southern Africa under direct threat. An evaluation of economic losses due to the disease and the cost-benefit ratio of control programmes is indispensable, since such economic assessments are needed before policy-makers decide on programmes of control or eradication. This is an area which needs to be addressed immediately, as the launching of new campaigns, particularly in eastern and southern Africa, is urgently needed.
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A trial was carried out in alpacas (Lama pacos) and llamas (Lama glama) to determine the economic benefits of controlling both external and internal parasites by the use of ivermectin ("Ivomec," Merck Sharp & Dohme). After four months the treated male alpacas gained on average 3.1 kg more than the untreated males, and their fleece weighed 0.36 kg more. The treated female alpacas gained 1.9 kg more than the controls, but their fleece weighed 0.03 kg less. This treatment gave a net financial benefit to the farmer of U.S. $3.54 for each of his male alpacas and U.S. $1.36 for each of his female alpacas. The results for the llamas were not significant because there was great variation in the weight gains (and losses). Because the value of llama fleece is less, the economic benefits were also less.
A trial was carried out in alpacas (Lama pacos) to determine the economic benefit of controlling both external and internal parasites using ivermectin (Ivomec, Merck, Sharpe and Dohme). After four months the treated male alpacas had gained on average 3.1 kg more than the untreated males and their fleece weighed 0.36 kg more. Treated females gained 1.9 kg more than the controls but their fleece weighed 0.03 kg less. This resulted in a net financial benefit to the farmer of US$3.54 for each male alpaca and US$1.36 for each female.
An outbreak of abortions, stillbirths, mummified piglets and neonatal deaths in a pig herd in Arequipa, Peru is described. A total of 31 of 240 sows aborted between May and September 1988. When sera were examined 12 of 14 had very high titres of antibody to canicola PC125 and canicola Hond Utrecht, but there were also high titres of antibody to other leptospiral serovars. A detailed investigation was made and serovar canicola PC125 was isolated from the urine of four sows which had aborted and the kidney of one slaughter pig. Antibodies to various serovars of Leptospira were demonstrated in 11 of 17 sows which had aborted, two of six sows which had normal litters, nine of 18 boars, four of 39 slaughter pigs and four of 14 workers on the farm. The outbreak was brought under control by treatment and vaccination coupled with a thorough cleaning of the farm and control of the wild animal population. It is suggested that the infection was brought onto the farm by wild animals and that the disease is more common in Arequipa than was previously supposed.
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Lymphadenitis of pigs caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare is widely recognised in continental Europe but this is the first report of it in England. No disease was seen on the farm but condemnations of tissues and organs at the slaughterhouse were often than 100 a week and in one week were in excess of 200. The loss was greater to the slaughterhouse than to the farmer because of the constant disruption to the production line. There was no evidence that diseased pigs performed less well than healthy pigs. M intracellulare types 4 and 6 and M xenopi were isolated from diseased pigs. The source of the infection was traced to the sawdust bedding supplied by a local sawmill set in the middle of a forest. Changing the bedding to straw halted the outbreak. From the sawdust M avium types 1 and 4, M fortuitum and M intracellulare type 4 were isolated. The wildlife round the sawmill was investigated as a source of infection. Although M intracellulare type 4 and M avium were isolated from moles and a hedgehog, it was concluded that the wildlife was not involved. There was no evidence of pig to pig transmission.
An outbreak of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium avium type 2 is described which resulted in the total condemnation of 26 carcasses and partial condemnation of tissues and organs of a further 200 animals. Circumstantial evidence is presented that hens running in the farmyard were the source of the infection. Examinations of the carcasses and organs of the diseased pigs suggested that the accepted pathogenesis of the disease is incorrect and a new hypothesis is presented. The problems for the meat inspector in differentiating tuberculosis from 'milk-spot liver' are discussed and recommendations made. The findings of the study are discussed in the light of 'The Meat Inspection Regulations 1963' and it is recommended that where tuberculosis is suspected there is no longer any necessity to split the carcasses. The public health implications of this study are discussed.