Preventive Veterinary Medicine

IntroductionOccupational injuries are prevalent within the veterinary sector, though their true extent is unknown as evidence indicates widespread under-reporting of injuries. This study aimed to: assess injury under-reporting across roles in UK veterinary practices; and audit the type, frequency, and outcomes of workplace injuries within a large veterinary organisation. MethodsA retrospective audit was conducted on a large veterinary organisations accident reporting system in 2022. Under-reporting was estimated using a modified capture-recapture method, comparing audit records with self-reported injury data from a cross-sectional staff survey stratified by role and employment figures. Audit data were descriptively analysed and compared with survey data. ResultsThe overall injury under-reporting rate was 68.9%; for every 100 workplaces injuries, 69 went un-reported. Levels of under-reporting were higher in companion animal practices (70.0%) than large animal practices (56.4%). Common causes of injury of companion animal staff included; clinical examination (28.2%); falls, slips and trips (11.2%); drug administration (10.4%), and needlesticks and surgical sharps injuries (6.1%). LimitationsSurvey responses could not be directly linked to audit records due to anonymity, and survey-based prevalence estimates assumed only one injury per person per year, likely underestimating true injury rates. ConclusionsOccupational injury under-reporting is widespread in UK veterinary practices, particularly companion animal practices. Without improving reporting, it will be challenging to establish the true incidence and context of occupational injuries in the veterinary workforce. Strengthening reporting, training, leadership engagement, and visible responses to incidents are key to strengthening safety culture and injury reporting. HighlightsO_LIFor every 100 veterinary workplace injuries, 69 will go unreported C_LIO_LIIn clinical roles, companion animal vets had the highest rate of underreporting,78% C_LIO_LINeedlesticks and hazardous exposures more common than expected C_LIO_LIMany preventable injuries occur to practice visitors C_LIO_LIReporting can improve with training, leadership, and visible incident responses C_LI

Salmonella Dublin infections in heifer-raising operations (HROs) cause animal health and economic losses for these operations and represent a pathogen source for dairy farms obtaining replacement heifers from HROs. To improve control of S. Dublin, we (i) developed a mathematical model of S. Dublin transmission on a HRO, (ii) evaluated the vaccine effectiveness and cleaning improvements for controlling the infection, and (iii) evaluated the influence of infection and control strategies on the HROs operating income. We developed a modified Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible model of S. Dublin spread in a batch-stocking HRO post-introduction of an index case, with stochasticity introduced through Monte Carlo simulations. Epidemiological outcomes (S. Dublin-induced deaths and abortions during raising and S. Dublin carriers and asymptomatic infections among raised replacement heifers) and operating income per 100-head raised on a HRO over a 2-year simulation were compared between control scenarios. We validated our model against S. Dublin infection data in cattle. Partial rank correlation coefficient and classification trees were used to determine parameter influence on model outcomes. Our model predicts a median of 37 carriers and 92 asymptomatic infections among raised replacement heifers out of 2,330 heifers that departed the operation by the end of the 2-year simulation period, highlighting the critical role of HROs in spreading S. Dublin. Increasing barn floor cleaning frequency (to a maximum of 12x per day) meaningfully reduced the S. Dublin epidemiological outcomes and improved the HROs operating income. Depending on the cost of cleaning, the median operating income increased between 1.2% to 10.6% in the first year when cleaning 12x per day compared to baseline (cleaning 1x per week). In most cost scenarios, predictions do not support the use of vaccination, even when paired with stringent cleaning measures. The developed model is expected to aid efforts to control S. Dublin in HROs.

Since 2015, French poultry production is threatened almost every year by a reintroduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses. The duck sector was the most concerned by this crisis but other sectors such as broiler, layer and turkey were also affected by outbreaks. The objective of this work was to assess the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 virus transmission from one farm to another within the French broiler and layer production network. This study used the WOAH risk assessment framework. After drawing up a scenario tree of virus transmission from one farm to another, data were collected through a literature review or through experts elicitation. Three questionnaires were developed according to the experts field of expertise: avian influenza, broiler and layer sectors. The experts estimates were combined using a beta distribution weighted by their confidence level. A Monte Carlo iteration process was used to combine the different probabilities of the scenario tree and to assess the transmission risk. In the broiler sector, the highest transmission probabilities were observed if the exposed farm was an indoor broiler farm and the source a broiler farm (indoor or free-range). The high transmission probability between broiler farms integrated within the same association suggests that integration is an important risk factor. Person movement, transport of feed and manure management were the pathways with the highest transmission probabilities between two integrated indoor broiler farms with good biosecurity levels. In the layer sector, the highest transmission probabilities were observed if the source farm was a free-range farm and the exposed farm a production farm (indoor or free-range). The pathways with the highest transmission probabilities were egg transport and person movement. The sensitivity analysis showed that the exposed farms biosecurity had a significant impact on the transmission probability. Our results provide an insight on the role of each type of farms in the virus spread within the French broiler and layer production sectors and will be useful for the implementation of control measures such as movement restriction or vaccination.

Attention to biosecurity has been highlighted as the most important measure to reduce and prevent the introduction of diseases to farms. There is little published information about the biosecurity of dairy cattle in Spain. We therefore aimed to assess and characterize the current application of biosecurity measures on dairy cattle farms in Spain, and relate these to bovine viral diarrhea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis. From July 2017 to April 2018, data on biosecurity measures for 124 dairy herds were collected using a questionnaire. We also assessed the sanitary status of these farms (efficacy of measures implemented against both diseases using antibody ELISA. Data were analyzed descriptively, and using multiple correspondence analysis and a two-step cluster analysis. Measures to prevent disease introduction were often poorly implemented. Three main clusters of farms were identified: Clusters 1 and 2 included herds of small and intermediate sizes, respectively. These, particularly cluster 1, showed the most deficiencies in the control of vehicles and visitors. However, individual purchases usually involved low numbers of animals, especially in cluster 2, and animals were tested for bovine viral diarrhea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis at their places of origin or on arrival at farms. Farms in clusters 1 and 2 were frequently under voluntary control programs. Cluster 3 had the largest herd sizes, with somewhat better biosecurity control of vehicles and visitors. However, farms in this cluster also purchased the most animals, sometimes without testing, and hired external workers most often. Farms in cluster 1 showed the best sanitary level, followed by clusters 2 and 3. Collecting data such as these is an important first step to identification of biosecurity shortcomings, and to structuring of adequate follow-up to ensure that measures are implemented correctly on farms in Spain.

The emergence and growth of highly pathogenic avian influenza(HPAI) A(H5N1) in dairy cows poses a growing threat for both the food supply and onward zoonosis to humans. Despite ongoing surveillance and control measures recommended by animal and public health authorities to limit viral spread, new herds continue to report infections. We show here that the continued spread between farms could be explained by the rapid pace of pathogen spread reported within farms, which greatly limits the potential effectiveness of these recommendations. Under reasonable surveillance strategies, we show that the time farms have to mobilize interventions is extremely limited, as few as a couple days and typically less than a week. Our findings suggest that passive surveillance measures, such as detection of H5N1 via weekly bulk milk testing, comes too late such that most infections have already occurred. For current interventions to be valuable, more sensitive and extensive surveillance is needed and an emphasis should be placed on biosecurity practices rather than reactive practices.

BackgroundBrucella species and Coxiella burnetii have been detected in livestock populations in Togo. Populations exposed to livestock ruminants through occupation may be at increased risk of infection. Methods/Principal FindingsA cross-sectional serosurvey was conducted in 108 abattoir and 81 dairy farm workers (from 52 dairy farms) in peri-urban Lome, Togo in 2019-2020. Sera were tested using the Rose Bengal plate agglutination test (RBT) and the indirect Brucella IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Brucella, and the IgG ELISA for Coxiella burnetii in Phase 1 and in Phase 2. Fresh bulk milk from farms were tested using an indirect milk ELISA for Brucella IgG. Eighteen workers (9.5%, 95% CI 5.5-16.0) were Brucella seropositive. Twenty-eight percent (95% CI 22.5-34.3) of workers were seropositive for C. burnetii. Twenty of fifty-one farms which gave milk samples tested positive for Brucella (39.2%, 95% CI 26.6 - 53.4%). Farmworkers had nearly twice the odds of being Brucella seropositive compared to abattoir workers (OR 1.93, 95% CI: 0.94-3.93, p=0.07). In farmworkers, working on farms with animal ill health, a positive milk test, participating in small animal husbandry and assisting with cattle abortion were all associated with increased odds of seropositivity. Workers who consumed unboiled milk at least every month were more likely to be seropositive (OR 3.79, 95% CI: 2.34-6.13, p<0.001) while participants who consumed fermented milk and cheese had greater odds of being seropositive for C.burnetii (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.26-2.00, p<0.001 and OR 1.70, 95% CI: 0.97-2.98, p=0.07 respectively). ConclusionsLivestock workers in peri-urban Lome have been exposed to both Brucella and Coxiella burnetiid bacteria. The widespread consumption of unboiled dairy products and lack of PPE use is of concern as both dairy consumption and participation in animal husbandry activities have been seen to increase odds of seropositivity for both pathogens. Author summaryHuman and animal health are inextricably linked, particularly for those who live and work closely with animals. Brucellosis and Q fever are two zoonotic diseases transmitted through animal contact and dairy product consumption, which cause non-specific fevers and for which diagnostic tests are lacking in many LMIC contexts. Previous studies have shown that both bacteria circulate in livestock in Togo. We undertook a survey in dairy farm and abattoir workers in peri-urban Lome, Togo, and found that 9.5% and 28% of workers were seropositive for Brucella and C.burnetii respectively. We found that risk factors included animal husbandry practices and consumption of dairy products. Mitigating practices such as the use of PPE and boiling milk are simple ways that livestock workers could protect themselves from these and other zoonotic disease.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected workers in certain industries and occupations, and the workplace can be a high risk setting for SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In this study, we measured SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence and identified work-related risk factors in a population primarily working at industrial livestock operations. MethodsWe used a multiplex salivary SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay to determine infection-induced antibody prevalence among 236 adult ([&ge;]18 years) North Carolina residents between February 2021 and August 2022. We used the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System (NIOCCS) to classify employed participants industry and compared infection-induced IgG prevalence by participant industry and with the North Carolina general population. We also combined antibody results with reported SARS-CoV-2 molecular test positivity and vaccination history to identify evidence of prior infection. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios of prior infection by potential work-related risk factors, adjusting for industry and date. ResultsMost participants (55%) were infection-induced IgG positive, including 71% of animal slaughtering and processing industry workers, which is 1.5 to 4.3 times higher compared to the North Carolina general population, as well as higher than molecularly-confirmed cases and the only other serology study we identified of animal slaughtering and processing workers. Considering questionnaire results in addition to antibodies, the proportion of participants with evidence of prior infection increased slightly, to 61%, including 75% of animal slaughtering and processing workers. Participants with more than 1000 compared to 10 or fewer coworkers at their jobsite had higher odds of prior infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 21.0). ConclusionsThis study contributes evidence of the severe and disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on animal processing and essential workers and workers in large congregate settings. We also demonstrate the utility of combining non-invasive biomarker and questionnaire data for the study of workplace exposures. Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Whats important about this paperHigh numbers of COVID-19 outbreaks, cases, and deaths have been reported among livestock industry workers, including Black and Hispanic workers, in the United States. Little is known about SARS-CoV-2 infection as measured by antibody prevalence in this setting. Antibody-based estimates of SARS-CoV-2 infection can capture cases missed by SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing, which is important given limitations in worker access to molecular diagnostic testing. We observed high SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced IgG prevalence in animal slaughtering and processing industry workers (71%) between February 2021 and August 2022, which is 1.5 to 4.3 times higher compared to the North Carolina general population, as well as higher than molecularly-confirmed cases and the only serology study we identified of animal slaughtering and processing workers. We also found higher odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection among participants at worksites with larger compared to smaller numbers of employees.

Human salmonellosis cases are often caused by Salmonella serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium and a large percentage of Salmonella outbreaks is associated with the consumption of eggs and egg products. For this reason, many countries implemented general surveillance programmes for the detection and control of Salmonella on pullet and layer farms. The infection risk however varies between farms and the identification of risk factors for Salmonella infection may be used to improve the performance of these surveillance programmes. The aims of this study are therefore to determine 1) whether local farm density is a risk factor for the infection of pullet and layer farms by Salmonella Enteritidis and Typhimurium and 2) whether the sampling effort of surveillance programmes can be reduced by accounting for this risk factor, while still providing sufficient control of target serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium. To assess the importance of local farm density as a risk factor, we fitted different transmission kernels to Israeli surveillance data during the period from June 2017 to April 2019. The analysis showed that the distance to infected farms significantly increases the infection risk by serovar Enteritidis within an approximately 4 km radius and by Typhimurium within an approximately 0.3 km radius. We subsequently used these kernels to derive a model for the between-farm R0 and used it to optimise a surveillance programme that subdivided layer farms into groups at low and at high risk of between-farm transmission based on the local farm density and allowed the sampling frequency to vary between these groups. In this design, the pullet farms were always sampled one week prior to pullet distribution. Our analysis showed that the risk-based surveillance programme was able to keep the between-farm R0 of serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium below 1 for all pullet and layer farms, using a sampling effort that was reduced by 32% compared to the currently implemented surveillance programme in Israel. The results of our study therefore indicate that local farm density is an important risk factor for infection of pullet and layer farms by Salmonella Enteritridis and Typhimurium and can be used to improve the performance of surveillance programmes.

Direct and indirect interactions between livestock and free-ranging wildlife creates important risks to animal health and agricultural productivity. The interface between newly established and rapidly spreading invasive wild pigs and the 2,549 domestic pig farms on the Prairie Provinces of western Canada has created important but poorly understood disease transmission risks. We mapped the spatial overlap of wild and domestic pigs to identify the areas of highest risk and associated distribution of diseases of concern using databases of wild pig occurrences and domestic pig farm locations. We also examined spatial and temporal overlap at the individual farm scale using GPS collared invasive wild pigs. Across the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, spatial overlap of invasive wild pigs with all combined, large-scale domestic pig farms, small-scale domestic pig farms, and domestic wild boar farms was 21%, 21%, 21%, and 53%. Invasive wild pig locations were significantly closer to domestic pig farms and domestic wild boar farms compared to random points on the landscape. The number of wild pig occurrences was greatest within 20 km of domestic pig farms and decreased linearly as distance increased. The Canadian distribution of wild pigs had considerable spatial overlap with recent areas detected with bovine tuberculosis (6,002 km2) in livestock and wildlife and Chronic Wasting Disease (156,159 km2) in wildlife, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, and moose. The single best predictor of invasive wild pig occurrences across the landscape was close proximity to current or recently past existing domestic wild boar farms. The distance of GPS- collared wild pigs was significant for sex, farm type, month, and season and in southeastern Saskatchewan, average distance to domestic pig farms was 5.3 km. The weighted sum of cover type proportions, wild pig distance to domestic pig and wild boar farms, farm type, and farm density identified the relative risk of wild pig presence associated to each domestic pig farm occupied watershed. Risk was highest for small-scale domestic pig farms and lowest for large- scale domestic pig farms. Our findings highlight important potential routes for disease transmission at the invasive wild pig-domestic pig interface and identify areas where biosecurity improvements are urgently needed. While complete eradication of invasive wild pigs in Canada is no longer achievable, improved passive and active monitoring and removal of wild pigs is critical, especially where risks to domestic pig herds is highest.

IntroductionAntimicrobial Resistance (AMR) presents a critical public health challenge, particularly in smallholder broiler farming, where antibiotics are often used preventively in the absence of effective biosecurity measures. ObjectiveThis study investigates the adoption of biosecurity practices as a sustainable alternative to antibiotics through Participatory Systems Mapping and Experimental Games. MethodsA participatory mixed-methods study was conducted in southern Bangladesh (September 2024-June 2025). Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) were co-created with farmers, dealers, and veterinary officers. Ten broiler farmers from single village were selected via purposive and snowball sampling. Experimental games simulated four production cycles where farmers chose Option A (biosecurity, adopters) or Option B (antibiotics, non-adopters) after several interactive trainings. Key metrics including biosecurity compliance (0-12 scale), mortality, FCR, antibiotic use, outbreak history, and economic outcomes were recorded. ResultsCLD analysis revealed a reinforcing loop of increased antibiotic reliance driven by fear of mortality, and balancing loops involving training, biosecurity practices, and consumer incentives to reduce use. Five farmers chose Option A, and both groups remained stable until Round 4. Adopters had flock sizes of 800-2000 birds (non-adopters, 600-1000; mean for both = 1000), were younger, and more educated compared to non-adopters. At baseline, both groups had similar biosecurity scores (0). Adopters had higher mean outbreaks (2 vs. 1.4), mortality (5.6 vs. 4.2), antibiotic use (3.6 vs. 3), and FCR (1.8 vs. 1.6) compared to non-adopters. By Round 4, adopters improved biosecurity scores by 125%, eliminated outbreaks, reduced mortality by 52.6%, stopped antibiotic use, improved FCR by 13.3%, and gained 71.72% profit per bird compared to non-adopters. Non-adopters, influenced by adopters, increased biosecurity scores by 25%, reducing outbreaks, mortality, antibiotic use, and FCR. Adopters also increased direct sales to consumers, yielding a 10%-16% profit gain per bird each round. ConclusionThis study highlights the successful adoption of biosecurity practices by farmers, replacing antibiotics and improving production outcomes. Farmer-driven adoption of these practices fosters long-term sustainability and supports a healthier planet within the One Health framework.

Disease prevention and control tactics rely on identifying and restricting animal movement to attenuate the between-premises spread of disease in livestock systems. Therefore, it is essential to uncover between-premises movement dynamics, including shipment distances and network-based control strategies. Here, we analyzed three years of between-premises pig movements, which include 197,022 unique animal shipments, 3,973 premises, and 391,625,374 pigs shipped across 20 U.S. states. We constructed unweighted, directed, temporal networks at 180-day intervals to calculate premises-to-premises movement distances, the size of connected components, network loyalty, and degree distributions, and, based on the out-going contact chains, identified network-based control actions. Our results show that the median distance between premises pig movements was 74.37 km, with median intrastate and interstate movements of 52.71 km and 328.76 km, respectively. On average, 2,842 premises were connected via 6,705 edges, resulting in a weak giant connected component that included 91% of the premises. The premises-level network exhibited loyalty, with a median of 0.65 (IQR: 0.45 - 0.77). Results highlight the effectiveness of node targeting and disease spread; we demonstrated that targeting 25% of farms with the highest degree or betweenness limited spread to 1.23% and 1.7% of premises, respectively. While there is no complete shipment data for the entire U.S., our multi-state movement analysis demonstrated the value and the needs of such data for enhancing the design and implementation of proactive-disease control tactics.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has been infecting dairy herds in the U.S. since its initial incursion into cows in early 2024. Although national strategies have aimed to detect affected herds, the best way to surveil herds for the H5N1 virus has not been formally studied and we also do not understand herd-level patterns of infection. To understand infection patterns of H5N1 in dairy herds over time, we conducted early surveillance of non-affected farms in California in the Fall of 2024 in an observational study. Daily bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were submitted from each herd and tested for influenza A (IAV) via rRt-PCR. In a subset of herds, IAV testing of multiple excretion types from cattle of different classes and pen-level daily milk was also completed soon after BTM detection. Daily detections of IAV occurred in BTM for a minimum of 33 days, with some herds continuing to have detection beyond a 75-day window. BTM Ct nadirs were seen between 1-3 weeks of detection. In herds that were tested, virus was detected in the milk from all pens of cattle within a very short time frame after BTM detection, or prior to the initiation of pen level sampling. A very low percentage (2.8%) of individual cow samples tested positive for IAV when collected soon after BTM detection, and although the virus was found in all excretion types, a majority of positive samples were from milk. This suggests that BTM may be the best early indicator of herd infection, and that movement of the virus to all lactating pens of cattle after herd incursion is relatively quick. These results also suggest that surveillance strategies with a long interval between BTM testing days may miss herds with short infection windows. Because most herds experienced test days where some submitted BTM samples had virus detected while others did not, and virus was detected in pen level milk samples when the BTM from the herd had become test negative, this work also highlights the necessity of studying the test sensitivity of IAV rRt-PCR detection in aggregate milk samples. Interpretive summaryThis study characterized daily bulk tank and pen-level milk detections of H5N1 virus on affected dairies. Viral loads in bulk tank samples peaked within three weeks and declined by two months, though some herds showed prolonged detection. Individual cow testing revealed that bulk tank milk testing is more sensitive for H5N1 early outbreak detection, and also identified the likely presence of non-clinically affected cows shedding virus. Pen-level sampling revealed rapid herd-level spread, emphasizing the need for frequent and comprehensive milk sampling to improve detection sensitivity and support effective outbreak management for H5N1 on dairy operations.

BackgroundCampylobacter is a leading foodborne pathogen posing a significant One Health challenge due to its broad animal reservoirs and serious antibiotic resistance issues. Despite frequent human-animal-environment interactions in Ethiopia, One Health studies on the occurrence and transmission of Campylobacter are crucial but lacking. Methodology/Principal FindingsA cross-sectional study from March 2021 to March 2022 in and around Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, examined Campylobacter occurrence, resistance, and risk factors in poultry and humans using a One Health approach. A total of 366 samples from 122 poultry farms were collected, including cloacal swabs, human stools, and poultry house floor sock samples. Epidemiological data on risk factors and respondents awareness were gathered through face-to-face interviews. Campylobacter spp. were isolated following ISO 10272 and confirmed with multiplex PCR, with antimicrobial susceptibility tested by disc diffusion according EUCAST guidelines. Campylobacter spp. were found in 12.5% of samples, highest in poultry (19.6%), followed by human stools (13.1%) and floor socks (4.9%). Campylobacter jejuni was the dominant species (80.4%), followed by C. coli (19.6%). In poultry, mixed farming with cattle increased Campylobacter colonization odds (adjusted odds ratio; AOR=9.5), while all-in/all-out management decreased it (AOR=8.4). In humans, Campylobacter infection was linked to raw milk consumption (AOR=5.5), poultry access to living areas (AOR=6.3), not using personal protective equipment working with poultry (AOR=8.3) and not washing hands after handling poultry and cleaning barn (AOR=5.6). Farm workers had a significant knowledge gap on zoonotic risks, including Campylobacter and One Health. High antibiotic resistance was observed, especially to erythromycin (63.0%), ciprofloxacin (69.5%), tetracycline (89.1%), and oxytetracycline (73.9%), with 69.5% of isolates showing multi-drug resistance. Conclusions/SignificanceThe study revealed widespread occurrence of resistant Campylobacter spp. in poultry, workers, and the environment, highlighting the need for One Health interventions, including better biosecurity, hygiene, education, and stricter antimicrobial use to safeguard animal and human health. Author summaryA study conducted in and around Debre Berhan, central Ethiopia, analyzed samples from poultry farms for Campylobacter spp. and their antimicrobial resistance. The highest prevalence of Campylobacter was found in poultry, followed by human and poultry house floor samples. Poor farm biosecurity and management practices were linked to Campylobacter in poultry, while human infections were associated with raw milk consumption and inadequate hygiene practices in poultry farm. The study emphasizes the zoonotic risks of Campylobacter and the need for a One Health approach to address its spread. Campylobacter isolates showed high resistance to common antimicrobials, with many classified as multidrug-resistant. Co-occurrence of C. jejuni in poultry, farm workers, and the environment, all with similar multidrug-resistant patterns, suggests possible transmission between them. These findings underline the widespread antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter from poultry farms and the urgent need for responsible antibiotic use to control resistant strains. Given the serious implications of antimicrobial resistance, the zoonotic importance of Campylobacter, and the frequent human-animal-environment interactions in Ethiopia, it is crucial to implement a national plan for surveillance, prevention, and control, and along with promoting rational antimicrobial use through a One Health approach

Streptococcus suis is a major cause of respiratory and systemic diseases in post-weaned pigs, leading to significant production losses and animal welfare concerns. This study provides the first long-term national level analysis of Streptococcus suis-associated disease (SSAD) in the Republic of Ireland. We examined the pig diagnostic submissions, characterised serotype distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, and co-infection patterns from 2010 to 2024. The findings confirm that serotypes 9 and 2 or 1/2 were most frequently associated with disease. We observed a significant shift in recent years where serotype 9 has surpassed serotype 2 or 1/2 in number of occurrences. S. suis was frequently co-detected with viral pathogens including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type 2, and swine influenza virus (SIV), as well as bacterial pathogens such as Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia and Pasteurella multocida, typically from pneumonic lungs. While resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin was high (44.4% to 65.8%), isolates remained susceptible to first-line beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin (7.9% resistance), ampicillin (5.5% resistance) and amoxycillin/clavulanate (0% resistance). The observed heterogeneity between and within herds challenges successful implementation of vaccination and highlights the need for ongoing disease monitoring. These findings provide the first in-depth assessment of SSAD in Irelands pig population which will offer valuable insights for future surveillance efforts, including genomic studies and supporting evidence-based strategies and vaccine selection for controlling S. suis in Irish pig sector.

Poultry industry in Nepal has experienced remarkable growth in the last decade, but farm biosafety and biosecurity measures are often overlooked by farmers due to lack of knowledge or to save cost. As a result, farms often suffer from sporadic and regular outbreaks of many zoonotic diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), impacting production and creating public health challenges. Poor farm management practices, including overuse of antibiotics for prophylaxis and therapeutics, can complicate the spread of poultry diseases by creating and enhancing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that is threating to both, poultry, and human health. We assessed biosafety, biosecurity risks and AMR stewardship in sixteen poultry farms located in four districts (Ramechhap, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, and Kavre) surrounding densely populated Kathmandu valley. Risk assessment and AMR stewardship evaluation questionnaire were administered to formulate biosafety and biosecurity compliance matrix (BBCM). Risk assessment checklist assessed facility operations, personnel and standard operating procedures, water supply, cleaning and maintenance, rodent/pest control and farm record keeping. Oral and cloacal samples from the poultry were collected, pooled, and screened for eight poultry pathogens using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. Based on BBCM, we identified one of the farms in Sindhupalchowk (Farm 4) having the most (BBCM score= 67%) and a farm in Kavre (Farm 3) to having the least (BBCM score= 12%) biosafety and biosecurity compliance. Although most of the farms (61.6%) followed general poultry farming practices, only half had clean and well-maintained farms. Personal safety standard procedure compliance (BBCM score = 42.4%) and rodent control (BBCM score = 3.1%) were the biggest gaps. At least one of either bacterial or viral pathogen was detected in all farms. Mycoplasma gallisepticum was the most common disease detected in all but one farm, followed by Mycoplasma synoviae. Although more than half of the farmers considered AMR a threat, over 26% of them used antibiotics as a preventive measure and 81% did not consider withdrawal period for antibiotics prior to processing of their meat products. Additionally, antibiotics classified as Watch and Restrict by the WHO were frequently used by the farmers to treat bacterial infections in their farms. Lack of awareness and inadequate enforcement of regulations have exacerbated the risk of disease transmission in farms and compromised antimicrobial stewardship.

The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 in dairy cattle raises many questions related to animal health and changes to the risk of an epidemic in humans. We synthesized information currently published to fit a compartment model of H5N1 transmission within a dairy herd. An accompanying web application allows users to run simulations for specific outbreak scenarios. We estimated R0 near 1.2 with a short duration of infectiousness and fast time course of an epidemic within a farm, which we discuss in the context of possible on-farm control strategies. The web application allows users to simulate consequences of an epidemic using herd-specific information, a tool we propose will help inform stakeholders about potential consequences of uncontrolled H5N1 spread. Our modeling work has identified several key information gaps that would strengthen our understanding and control of this emerging infectious disease.

BackgroundFor a successful control of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) epidemics in poultry, early detection is key and it is mostly dependent on the farmers prompt identification of disease and reporting suspicions. The latter could be further improved by providing references to farmers for triggering suspicions. MethodsHere we report observations on clinical signs of HPAIV H5N1 and H5N8 infected broiler farms in the Netherlands and analyze their daily mortality and feed and water intake data in order to identify thresholds for reporting suspicions. In addition, mortality data was used to characterize the transmissibility of these viruses, which could help estimate how fast infection spreads within the flock and when infection was likely introduced. ResultsThe most frequently observed clinical signs in affected flocks were sudden increase in mortality, cyanosis of wattles comb and/or legs and hemorrhagic conjunctiva. Analysis of mortality data indicate that daily mortality higher than 0.17% is an effective threshold for reporting a HPAIV-suspicion. Reliable thresholds for food or water intake could not be stablished. The estimated within-flock transmission rates ranged from 1.1 to 2.0 infections caused by one infectious broiler chicken per day. ConclusionsWe identified effective mortality thresholds for reporting suspicions of HPAIV infections. The estimated transmission rates appear to indicate a slow progression of a H5 HPAIV outbreak in affected broiler flocks. The information here provided can be used to improve syndromic surveillance and guide outbreak response.

Southern Indiana has intensive livestock production, yet species-resolved fecal pathogen profiles are limited. At 10 sites in southern Indiana (April-June 2024), we collected 128 fecal specimens from 10 hosts: pigs (n=12), horses (12), cats (12), chickens (12), dogs (22), white-tailed deer (12), sheep (12), goats (12), cows (12), and humans (10). We extracted and assayed total nucleic acids using a custom 43-target TaqMan Array Card (RT-qPCR). Flotation microscopy was performed on pig and dog stools for helminth ova. In-silico specificity checks were conducted for selected targets due to potential for cross reactivity between pathogen species. Most samples (59.5%, 75/126) were positive for [&ge;]1 target, including enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (eae) 15.9% and shiga toxin genes (stx1 10.3%, stx2 6.3%). Higher prevalence of specific pathogens in specific animals was common, including E. coli O157:H7 in pigs (41.7%) and sheep (8.3%); Campylobacter coli in chickens (36.4%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae in humans (60%) and dogs (9.1%). We found the protozoa Giardia in 15.1% of samples (notably dogs 31.8%, cows 33.3%) and Cryptosporidium in 13.5% (cats 54.5%, cattle 25.0%, chickens 27.3%). Most (54.5%) chicken samples were positive for Plasmodium, which aligned with evidence of locally circulating avian haemosporidians. The Ascaris lumbricoides assay was positive only in pigs (16.7%), and we identified Ascaris eggs in 91.7% of pig samples via microscopy, suggesting our Ascaris lumbricoides assay cross reacted with Ascaris suum supporting detection of the swine lineage (A. suum). We detected integrase gene class 1 (intI1) in 42.9% of stools, concentrated in chickens, pigs, and horses. These findings suggest animal feces poses a public health hazard in Southern Indiana and indicate the need for targeted One Health studies to better understand the public health risks of specific exposures and animal feces management practices (e.g., farm storage capacity, land application timing, soil incorporation/injection, tile-drain proximity).

Structured SummaryO_ST_ABSObjectivesC_ST_ABSTo examine the prevalence and types of work-related injuries in companion animal practices, explore the context of their occurrence, and the behaviours of injured persons. MethodsA mixed-methods analysis of a cross-sectional online survey of UK employees of a consolidated group of veterinary practices. ResultsOf 647 respondents, 77.6% experienced a work-related injury during their career. In the previous year, 60.2% of veterinary nurses and 58.3% of veterinarians were injured, most frequently in consultation rooms, prep areas, kennels, and reception. Animal-related injuries were the most prevalent injury type. Injuries frequently occurred during cat restraint, anaesthetic recovery, and clinical examinations. Needlestick injuries made up 15.8% of veterinary injuries. 16.3% of injured nurses and 19.4% of injured vets attended hospital. 34.3% of nurses, and 25.1% of vets, needed more than a week to recover from their injuries. Fewer than 10% took time off work, often due to a sense of duty, the ability to manage a reduced workload, or simply wanting to "get on with it." Most injuries to vets went unreported, due to perceived time pressures or the belief that the injury was minor. Around half adjusted their behaviour post-injury, becoming more cautious or changing handling techniques. Clinical significanceThis study reveals a high rate of work-related injuries in companion animal practices. A culture of presenteeism and blame often downplays these risks, hindering safety. To reduce injuries, a shift towards shared responsibility and reflective learning is needed, driven by strong leadership and open communication.

With high risk of sustained transmission and substantial associated morbidity, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) of cattle presents a major emerging threat to bovine herds worldwide, and has the potential to cause huge losses for farmers, producers, and the wider bovine and dairy trade industries. The epidemic which started in June 2025 in France illustrates this threat, as the government-imposed mass culling strategy has led to protests by farmers and social unrest throughout the country. Here, we developed an infectious disease modelling framework for evaluating different intervention strategies in an effort to critically evaluate the evidence behind the drastic measures being taken. By simulating epidemics under different response settings, we found that control strategies employing targeted culling were essentially as effective as those requiring mass culling, and did not require significantly more vaccination. These results question the response strategy currently imposed by the French government, and suggest avenues for alternative response strategies which could gain better support from the affected communities. Our results are entirely reproducible using a new free, open-source simulation tool which can be used for further evaluation of public health interventions against LSD epidemics.