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S C Bishop

Publications and source records attributed to S C Bishop.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Using genetic markers for disease resistance to improve production under constant infection pressure.

Animals will show reduced production when exposed to a constant infection pressure unless they are fully resistant, the size of the reduction depending on the degree of resistance and the severity of infection. In this article, the use of QTL for disease resistance for improving productivity under constant infection pressure is investigated using stochastic simulation. A previously published model was used with two thresholds for resistance: a threshold below which production is not possible and a threshold above which production is not affected by the infection. Between thresholds, observed production under constant infection is a multiplicative function of underlying potential production and level of resistance. Some simplifications of reality were adopted in the model, such as no genetic correlation between potential production and resistance, the absence of influence of lack of resistance on reproductive capacity, and the availability of phenotypes in both sexes. Marker-assisted selection was incorporated by assuming a proportion of the genetic variance to be explained by the QTL, which thus is defined as a continuous trait. Phenotypes were available for production, not for resistance. The infection pressure may vary across time. Results were compared to mass selection on production under constant as well as intermittent infection pressure, where the infection pressure varied between but not within years. Selection started in a population with a very poor level of resistance. Incorporation of QTL information is valuable (i.e., the increase in observed production relative to mass selection) when a large proportion of the additive genetic variance is explained by the QTL (50% genetic variance explained) and when the heritability for resistance is low (h2R = 0.1). Under constant infection pressure, incorporating QTL information does not increase selection responses in observed production when the QTL effect explains less than 25% of the genetic variance. Under intermittent selection pressure, the use of QTL information gives a slightly greater increase in observed production in early generations, relative to mass selection on observed production, but still only when the QTL effect is large or the heritability for resistance is low. The additional advantage of incorporating QTL information is that use of (preventive) medical treatment is possible, or animals may be evaluated in uninfected environments.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Fructosamine concentration and resistance to natural, predominantly Teladorsagia circumcincta infection.

Fructosamine concentrations reflect protein status and because infection with Teladorsagia circumcincta can induce a relative protein deficiency, we examined the usefulness of fructosamine concentrations as markers of the intensity of infection in naturally infected lambs. Fructosamine concentration was a heritable trait and variation in fructosamine concerntrations was associated with differences in body weight, and a variety of parasitological variables; animals with increased fructosamine concentrations grew more quickly, had increased faecal egg counts in one of the three study years, had decreased pepsinogen concentrations and decreased IgA activity against 4th-stage larvae of T. circumcincta. Fructosamine concentrations were also associated with variation in the subsequent acquisition of nematodes and in the length of adult female T. circumcincta; lambs with increased fructosamine concentrations had fewer nematodes but the mean length of adult female T. circumcincta was longer. Therefore fructosamine concentrations are potentially useful indicators of the severity of nematode infection and may predict magnitude of subsequent infection.

Abomasum↗
PubMed2001

The sustainability, feasibility and desirability of breeding livestock for disease resistance.

Selective breeding for disease resistance utilises proven animal breeding methods to improve animal health, welfare and productivity. Unsurprisingly, it is receiving more and more attention from livestock breeders. However, there are a number of largely theoretical arguments that have been raised as potential problems in selection for disease resistance. These can be classified under sustainability, feasibility and desirability. This review considers each of these areas in turn. Several examples show that enhanced resistance to disease is stable under natural selection and therefore deliberate selection for disease resistance should also be stable and sustainable. The feasibility of selective breeding depends in part upon the heritability of the trait or traits used to measure disease resistance, as well as the amount of variation among animals. The heritability of traits associated with resistance to many important diseases is often high and considerable variation among animals exists. Consequently, selective breeding for enhanced disease resistance is certainly feasible. The desirability of breeding for disease resistance depends upon whether there are trade-offs with other economically important traits. By and large these remain to be defined. However, even if unfavourable associations exist, breeders can create selection indices that include traits with unfavourable associations and maximise the desired responses while attempting to minimise undesirable effects. In conclusion, so long as one or more diseases exert a significant influence on livestock production, selective breeding will be a useful tool to assist in disease control.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Developing stochastic epidemiological models to quantify the dynamics of infectious diseases in domestic livestock.

A stochastic model describing disease transmission dynamics for a microparasitic infection in a structured domestic animal population is developed and applied to hypothetical epidemics on a pig farm. Rational decision making regarding appropriate control strategies for infectious diseases in domestic livestock requires an understanding of the disease dynamics and risk profiles for different groups of animals. This is best achieved by means of stochastic epidemic models. Methodologies are presented for 1) estimating the probability of an epidemic, given the presence of an infected animal, whether this epidemic is major (requires intervention) or minor (dies out without intervention), and how the location of the infected animal on the farm influences the epidemic probabilities; 2) estimating the basic reproductive ratio, R0 (i.e., the expected number of secondary cases on the introduction of a single infected animal) and the variability of the estimate of this parameter; and 3) estimating the total proportion of animals infected during an epidemic and the total proportion infected at any point in time. The model can be used for assessing impact of altering farm structure on disease dynamics, as well as disease control strategies, including altering farm structure, vaccination, culling, and genetic selection.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Utilizing stochastic genetic epidemiological models to quantify the impact of selection for resistance to infectious diseases in domestic livestock.

This paper demonstrates the use of stochastic genetic epidemiological models for quantifying the consequences of selecting animals for resistance to a microparasitic infectious disease. The model is relevant for many classes of infectious diseases where sporadic epidemics occur, and it is a powerful tool for investigating the costs, benefits, and risks associated with breeding for resistance to specific diseases. The model is parameterized for transmissible gastroenteritis, a viral disease affecting pigs, and selection for resistance to this disease on a structured pig farm is simulated. Two genetic models are used, both of which involve selection of sires. The first involves selection with the assumption of continuous genetic variation (the continuous selection model). The second involves selection with the assumption of introgression of a major recessive gene that confers resistance (the gene introgression model). In the base population, the basic reproductive ratio, R0 (i.e., the expected number of secondary cases after the introduction of a single infected animal) was 2.24, in agreement with previous studies. The probabilities of no epidemic, a minor epidemic (one that dies out without intervention), and a major epidemic were 0.55, 0.20, and 0.25, respectively. Selection for resistance, under both genetic models, resulted in a nonlinear decline in the probability of a major epidemic and a decrease in the severity of the epidemic, should it occur, until R0 was less than 1.0, at which point the probability of a major epidemic was zero. For minor epidemics, the probability and severity of the epidemic increased until R0 reached 1.0, at which point the probabilities also fell to zero. The epidemic probabilities were critically dependent on the location on the farm where infected animals were situated, and the relative risks of different groups of animals changed with selection. The main difference between the two genetic models was in the time scale; the introgression results simply depended on how quickly the resistance allele could be introgressed into the population. For the introgression model, the probability of a major epidemic declined to zero when 0.6 of the animals were homozygous for the resistance allele.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2000

The influence of age on the variation among sheep in susceptibility to natural nematode infection.

A longitudinal study of faecal nematode egg counts was made in naturally infected Scottish Blackface sheep over two grazing seasons to 75 weeks of age. Although egg counts were lower in the second grazing season the variation among animals was greater. Egg counts were repeatable from 3 months of age. The repeatability of faecal egg counts within and between grazing seasons was about 0.3. Animals with lower than average egg counts in the first grazing season tended to have lower than average egg counts in the second grazing season. Therefore lambs with relatively low faecal egg counts after 3 months of age are likely to retain their advantage in the following year.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

The use of a gamma-type function to assess the relationship between the number of adult Teladorsagia circumcincta and total egg output.

The relationship between faecal nematode egg count and the number of adult Teladorsagia circumcincta was examined in 508 naturally infected lambs at 6-7 months of age. The relationship was found to be convex and was empirically described by a gamma-type function of the form y = an(b) e(-cn), where n is the number of adult nematodes present and y is the number of nematode eggs per gramme (epg) of faeces. This equation predicted that the peak expected egg count (277 epg) would occur at a worm burden of 2,167 adult worm is consistent with the existence of severe density-dependent constraints on the fecundity of T. circumcincta.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Inheritance of bone characteristics affecting osteoporosis in laying hens.

1. Heritabilities of a range of morphometric, radiological and strength characteristics were measured in the bones of end-of-lay hens. 2. Tibial strength (TSTR), humeral strength (HSTR) and keel radiographic density (KRD) were moderately to strongly inherited and were combined in a Bone Index which was used as a basis for selection. Data are available on 6 generations/cohorts of hens (n=1306), the last 3 of which are the progeny of divergently selected birds. 3. All bone characteristics used in the Bone Index responded rapidly to divergent selection and were strongly correlated with each other. In the last generation, the lines differed by 25% for TSTR, 13% for HSTR and 19% for KRD. The heritability of the index was 0.40. 4. There were no apparent genotype by environment interactions between birds housed at 2 different locations. 5. The incidence of bone fractures was significantly decreased in the line selected for high bone strength compared to the line selected for low bone strength. Humerus fracture incidence differed by a factor of 6 between the lines in the last generation. There was a strong quadratic relationship between tibia strength and overall fracture incidence (r2=0.92, P<0.01). 6. The results imply that selection for enhanced bone strength can be used as a long-term strategy for alleviating the problems of osteoporosis in laying hens.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2000

Modeling selection for production traits under constant infection pressure.

This article presents a model describing the relationship between level of disease resistance and production under constant infection pressure. The model assumes that given a certain infection pressure, there is a threshold for resistance below which animals will stop producing, and that there is also a threshold for resistance above which animals produce at production potential. In between both thresholds animals will show a decrease in production, the size of decrease depending on the severity of infection and the level of resistance. The dynamic relationship between production and resistance when level of resistance changes, such as due to infection, is modeled both stochastically and deterministically. Selection started in a population with very poor level of resistance introduced in an environment with constant infection pressure. Mass selection on observed production was applied, which resulted in a nonlinear selection response for all three traits considered. When resistance is poor, selection for observed production results in increased level of resistance. With increasing level of resistance, selection response shifts to production potential and eventually selection for observed production is equivalent to selection for production potential. The rate at which resistance is improved depends on its heritability, the difference between both thresholds, and selection intensity. The model also revealed that when a zero correlation between resistance and production potential is assumed, the phenotypic correlation between resistance and observed production level increases for low levels of resistance and subsequently asymptotes to zero, whereas the phenotypic correlation between production potential and observed production asymptotes to 1.0. For most breeding schemes investigated, the deterministic model performed well in relation to the stochastic simulation results. Experimental results reported in literature support the model predictions.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1999

How lambs control infection with Ostertagia circumcincta.

Two of the most important questions for immunologists studying nematode infections are what effect does the host response have on the parasite and which components of the host response are responsible for these effects. The number of nematodes and the mean length of adult female Ostertagia circumcincta was measured in over 500 6-7 month old lambs of the Scottish Blackface breed. Quantitative genetic analyses indicated that there was substantial genetic variation among lambs in faecal egg counts and in worm length but the analyses provided no evidence for genetic variation in worm numbers. Separate analyses have shown a strong relationship between decreased worm length and decreased worm fecundity. Therefore, genetic resistance in lambs appears to be due to control of worm growth and not to control of worm numbers. The only immune response that is consistently associated with reduced worm length is the IgA response to fourth-stage larvae. The association is remarkably strong. After allowing for the influence of worm number on worm length (density-dependence) essentially all of the variation among deliberately infected lambs in worm length can be accounted for, in a statistical sense, by variation in the strength and specificity of the local IgA response. Therefore, the IgA mediated suppression of worm growth and fecundity appears to be the major mechanism of resistance to O. circumcincta in lambs.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Mechanisms underlying resistance to nematode infection.

Lambs show considerable genetic variation in faecal egg count following natural, predominantly Ostertagia circumcinta infection. This genetic variation is acquired and not innate. Worm length is positively associated with worm fecundity. The genetic variation in faecal egg count is a consequence of genetic variation in worm length and hence worm fecundity, and not of genetic variation in worm burdens. In contrast to lambs, mature sheep may be able to regulate both fecundity and worm numbers. In lambs, three factors account for the majority of the variation in worm length: the strength of the local IgA response against fourth-stage larvae, the specificity of this response against four molecules in particular, and the density-dependent influence of worm number.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The curvilinear relationship between worm length and fecundity of Teladorsagia circumcincta.

The variation among sheep in fecundity of Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta was estimated by dividing the faecal egg count by the worm number following deliberate infection of mature Scottish Blackface lambs. Fecundity was skewed and ranged from 0 to 350 eggs per worm per day. Most animals had relatively low worm fecundities, but a small number of individuals had relatively high worm fecundities. However, as fecundity is a ratio of two imprecise estimates, extreme values may be statistical artefacts. Following both deliberate and natural infection, differences in worm fecundity were associated with differences in adult female worm length. In both infections, fecundity varied with worm length to the power 0.4. This relationship should assist the measurement of fecundity in studies of host immunity, in epidemiological modelling and in estimating the influence of density-dependent relationships.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The relationship between the number and size of nematodes in the abomasum and the concentration of pepsinogen in ovine plasma.

Six-month-old lambs that had been naturally infected with predominantly Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) circumcincta were tested for plasma pepsinogen concentrations because pepsinogen concentrations may reflect the extent of damage to the abomasum. The distribution of pepsinogen concentrations among these lambs was positively skewed with most individuals having relatively low concentrations. Pepsinogen concentrations were more strongly associated with variation in the mean length of the adult female worms than with variation in the number of nematodes present. Previous trials have suggested that genetic variation in the growth of lambs is strongly influenced by genetic variation in worm length. Together these results imply that variation among lambs in the pathogenic effects of T. circumcincta depends upon the mean size of the worms as well as the number of worms present.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1998

The processes influencing the distribution of parasitic nematodes among naturally infected lambs.

The impact of mixed, nematode infection upon a group of animals will depend upon the number of nematodes present, how they are distributed among hosts and whether individuals that are heavily parasitized with one species are more likely to be heavily parasitized with other species. A survey of over 500 six-month-old, Scottish Blackface lambs from a single farm in Southwest Strathclyde identified 7 different categories of nematodes in the abomasum and small intestine. There were considerable differences among years and among nematodes in the prevalence and mean intensity of infection. Ostertagia circumcincta was present in nearly all lambs and judged by prevalence and intensity is one of the most successful of all parasitic nematodes. Each category of nematodes had a skewed distribution; most animals had relatively few worms but a small proportion had many worms. The variance of the number of nematodes in each category were approximately equal to the square of the mean. The counts of adult O. circumcincta followed a negative binomial distribution, but the negative binomial distribution did not provide a good description of the observed values for the other species. These other species had a lower prevalence and possibly some sheep were not exposed to infection. There was no significant genetic variation among lambs in the number of nematodes present and therefore the differences among these lambs were unlikely to be a consequence of genetic differences in host susceptibility. Lambs with increased numbers of one species were more likely to be have increased numbers of the other species, but the correlations were weak and may reflect covariation in exposure to different parasites.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1997

The genetic basis of resistance to Ostertagia circumcincta in lambs.

The relationship between Ostertagia (Teladorsagia) circumcincta and sheep is one of the best understood host-parasite relationships in any species. The key components of resistance have been quantified, the extent of genetic control has been established for lambs, and methods now exist to breed lambs which will be both more resistant to worms and more productive than unselected lambs. A major gene for resistance has been identified within or around the major histocompatibility complex, and this gene appears to be the strongest yet identified for resistance to any parasite species. The most important mechanisms of resistance are local IgA responses which regulate worm fecundity and immediate hypersensitivity responses which regulate worm burdens. IgA responses develop before effective immediate hypersensitivity responses. Good simulation models now exist to predict, for example, outbreaks of disease and the response of sheep to selection. The challenge now is to use our improved understanding of the population biology to develop even better simulation models and to produce expert systems based on these models which can be used by veterinarians and others to determine optimal procedures for individual farms to control disease and reduce sub-clinical economic losses.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Prospects for plant anthelmintics in tropical veterinary medicine.

The current use of anthelmintic plants in tropical veterinary medicine is reviewed and attention is drawn to the lack of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of many now in use. The case for anthelmintic plants as a means of overcoming some of the serious limitations of manufactured anthelmintics is outlined. Reasons why anthelmintic plants are not generally used in veterinary medicine, in contrast to their greater acceptance in human medicine, are considered. Strategies for their development and use are discussed, in particular the need for in vivo trials to identify those plants which are effective and suitable for general use: attention is drawn to possible candidates, including pyrethrum and papaya latex. Those helminths of most economic importance should be targeted first. Anthelmintic plants offer a traditional alternative to manufactured anthelmintics that is both sustainable and environmentally acceptable. Such plants could have a more important role in the future control of helminth infections in the tropics.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Egg Drop syndrome '76 in Bolivia.

Four outbreaks of Egg Drop Syndrome '76 (EDS '76) were diagnosed between April 1993 and July 1993 in the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia, around the department capital Santa Cruz. Three outbreaks involved commercial laying birds and the fourth a broiler breeder unit. Clinical signs were typical of EDS '76 with decreases in egg production of up to 55% being recorded as well as the production of thin shelled and shell-less eggs. A total of 183 serum samples from the 4 farms were tested for the presence of antibodies to the EDS '76 virus using a haemagglutination inhibition test, with titres of 16 or above being considered as a positive result. Of 63 samples from groups of birds showing signs of EDS '76, 58 (92.1%) had positive titres, and 88 out of 90 samples (97.8%) from unaffected groups of birds had negative titres. Out of 30 samples from birds not yet in lay from the affected farms 28 (93.3%) had tires below 16. EDS '76 had not been reported in Bolivia prior to these outbreaks and vaccination was not practised. The most probable source of virus was from day old chicks imported from South American countries which had recorded outbreaks of EDS '76 before April 1993. The source of the virus, its spread and the control measures implemented in the Santa Cruz area are discussed.

Adenoviridae Infections↗