Ann Albihn

Non-native and native organisms moving into high elevation and high latitude ecosystems in an era of climate change: new challenges for ecology and conservation

Abstract Cold environments at high elevation and high latitude are often viewed as resistant to biological invasions. However, climate warming, land use change and associated increased connectivity all increase the risk of biological invasions in these environments. Here we present a summary of the key discussions of the workshop ‘Biosecurity in Mountains and Northern Ecosystems: Current Status and Future Challenges’ (Flen, Sweden, 1–3 June 2015). The aims of the workshop were to (1) increase awareness about the growing importance of species expansion—both non-native and native—at high elevation and high latitude with climate change, (2) review existing knowledge about invasion risks in these areas, and (3) encourage more research on how species will move and interact in cold environments, the consequences for biodiversity, and animal and human health and wellbeing. The diversity of potential and actual invaders reported at the workshop and the likely interactions between them create major challenges for managers of cold environments. However, since these cold environments have experienced fewer invasions when compared with many warmer, more populated environments, prevention has a real chance of success, especially if it is coupled with prioritisation schemes for targeting invaders likely to have greatest impact. Communication and co-operation between cold environment regions will facilitate rapid response, and maximise the use of limited research and management resources.

Maternal influence on the early development of asynchronously transferred bovine embryos

Abstract Pairs of Day-7 bovine embryos ( n = 48) were non-surgically transferred to recipient heifers either synchronized (R ± 0) or 3 days out of phase, i.e. on Day 4 (R − 3) or Day 10 (R + 3) of the oestrous cycle. The heifers were slaughtered 8 days after embryo transfer. Embryos recovered from R + 3 group were significantly advanced, while embryos recovered from the R − 3 group were significantly retarded in their development compared with that of control embryos recovered from the R ± 0 group. Light microscopy and electron microscopy showed that the retarded embryos were conspicuously degenerated, while those in synchronous animals had normal morphology. The enlarged embryos collected from the R+3 group showed a trophoblast with normal morphology, although the embryonic disc showed clear signs of degeneration. It is concluded that the early development (between Days 7 and 15) of transferred bovine embryos is negatively influenced by an asynchronous uterine environment.

Embryonic ability to prolong the interoestrous interval in virgin and repeat breeder heifers

Abstract Fourteen virgin heifers (VH) and eight repeat breeder heifers (RBH) were used for repeated non-surgical embryo collections. The heifers were flushed on a total of 61 occasions, 14 or 17 days after ovulation. The two categories of heifers were compared for degree of embryonic development, the ability of these embryos to prolong the interoestrous interval, the plasma progesterone levels after insemination, and the light and electron microscopical morphological appearance of the embryos. The RBH gave fewer and smaller embryos than the VH. Moreover, RBH embryos presented a higher incidence of morphological deviations than VH embryos. Day 17 RBH embryos were less successful in prolonging the interoestrous interval than the VH embryos, in particular, those 17-day-olcl RBH embryos which did not prolong the interoestrous interval showed a clearly deviated morphology of the embryonic disc. Plasma progesterone levels were positively correlated with pregnancy before maternal recognition of pregnancy. In the VH group, plasma progesterone levels at Days 6–11 were positively correlated with the length of 17-day-old embryos. Despite the strict control of oestrus and ovulation and the use of additional artificial insemination (Al) when necessary in this study, differences in pregnancy results between the RBH and VH still remained. It is concluded that the uterine environment in RBH does not provide proper support for embryo development up to the time when maternal recognition of pregnancy occurs.

Morphology of day 7 bovine demi-embryos during in vitro reorganization.

Non-surgically collected day 7 bovine embryos were microsurgically cleaved and reinserted into surrogate zonae pellucidae. The demi-embryos were fixed immediately after splitting and at various intervals of in vitro incubation at 35 degrees C in modified Dulbeccos medium. At the light-microscopical level, the demi-embryos were found to have restored their prebisection morphology within 30 min after splitting. The electron microscopy confirmed these findings, by the presence of mitosis, cell polarization, neoformation and reaggregation of mitochondria, increased pinocytosis and cell-to-cell contact between trophoblastic and/or inner cell mass cells. The present observations therefore suggest that day 7 bovine demi-embryos intended for transfer should be cultured for 30 min before being morphologically evaluated.

Urban and peri-urban family-based pig-keeping in Cambodia: Characteristics, management and perceived benefits and constraints

Keeping pigs in urban and peri-urban areas may not only provide many benefits for the urban households, but may also be challenging and a potential health hazard. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe household characteristics and to evaluate perceived benefits and constraints among pig-keepers in the urban and peri-urban areas of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The study included 204 households and a structured questionnaire was used to interview the household member responsible for taking care of the pigs. Descriptive analyses showed that most households kept between 5 and 15 pigs and that all households kept their pigs in confinement. About 97% of the households owned the pigs themselves and the pigs were generally managed by female household members (43%). Pigs were mainly kept for commercial purposes and more than 60% of the households stated that income from pig-keeping was the main or one of the main sources of revenue for the household. More than 82% reported that they had experienced disease outbreaks among their pigs during the past three years and disease outbreaks were more commonly reported in households with lower socio-economic position (P = 0.025). Disease outbreaks were considered one of the main constraints, along with expensive feed and low payment prices for the slaughter pigs, but few households considered sanitary or other public health issues problematic. Thus, pig-keeping makes an important contribution to the livelihoods of urban and peri-urban households, but many households face external constraints on their production, such as diseases and low revenues, which may have a negative impact on their livelihoods.

Antimicrobials in small-scale urban pig farming in a lower middle-income country - arbitrary use and high resistance levels

BackgroundAdministration of antimicrobials to food-producing animals is regarded as a major contributor to the overall emergence of resistance in bacteria worldwide. However, few data are available on global antimicrobial use and resistance (AMR) in livestock, especially from low- and middle-income countries.MethodsWe conducted a structured survey of 91 small-scale pig farms in the urban and peri-urban areas of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to assess the farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to antimicrobial use in their pig production. Commensal Escherichia coli was isolated from three healthy pigs from each farm (n = 261) and susceptibility testing was performed against 14 antimicrobials, using broth microdilution. Univariable logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate potential associations between farm characteristics, management factors and resistance to different types of antimicrobials.ResultsWe found a widespread and arbitrary use of antimicrobials, often based on the farmer’s own judgment. Around 66% of the farmers reported frequently self-adjusting treatment duration and dosage, and 45% had not heard about the term ‘antimicrobial resistance’. The antimicrobials most commonly mentioned or kept by the farmers were amoxicillin, tylosin, gentamicin and colistin. Around 37% used a feed concentrate that contained antimicrobials, while antimicrobials for humans were used as a last-line treatment by 10% of the farmers. Commensal E. coli exhibited high prevalence of resistance to several antimicrobials considered to be of critical importance for human medicine, including ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and colistin, and multidrug-resistance was found in 79% of the samples. Higher prevalence of resistance was observed on farms that administered prophylactic antimicrobials and on farms that treated the entire group or herd in the event of disease.ConclusionThe widespread and arbitrary use of antimicrobials in pig farming in Cambodia is highly worrisome. Overall, farmers had a low awareness of the risks and consequences related to antimicrobial use and AMR. The results presented in this study confirm the hypothesis that non-rational use of antimicrobials results in higher prevalence of AMR and highlight the need for professional animal health systems that involve medically rational use of antimicrobials in emerging economies such as Cambodia.

High seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever phlebovirus in domestic ruminants and African Buffaloes in Mozambique shows need for intensified surveillance

ABSTRACT Introduction: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an arthropod-borne disease that affects both animals and humans. RVF phlebovirus (RVFPV) is widespread in Africa and Arabian Peninsula. In Mozambique, outbreaks were reported in South; seroprevalence studies performed in livestock and water buffaloes were limited to central and south regions. We evaluated the seroprevalence of RVFPV among domestic ruminants and African buffaloes from 7 of 10 provinces of Mozambique, to understand the distribution of RVFPV and provide data for further RVF control programs. Materials and methods: A total of 1581 blood samples were collected in cattle, 1117 in goats, 85 in sheep and 69 in African buffaloes, between 2013 and 2014, and the obtained sera were analyzed by ELISA. Results and discussion: The overall seroprevalence of RVFPV domestic ruminants and African buffaloes was 25.6%. The highest was observed in cattle (37.3%) and African buffaloes (30.4%), which were higher than in previous studies within Mozambique. In south and central regions, the overall seroprevalences were higher (14.9%–62.4%) than in the north. Conclusion: This study showed the presence of anti-RVFPV antibodies in animals from all sampled provinces, suggesting that RVFPV is actively circulating among domestic ruminants and African buffaloes in Mozambique, therefore surveillance should be intensified.

Manure management and public health : Sanitary and socio-economic aspects among urban livestock-keepers in Cambodia

Livestock manure is a valuable source of nutrients for crop production, but can also pose a public health hazard and have negative environmental impacts. This study investigated manure management practices among urban and peri-urban livestock keepers in Cambodia, to identify risk behaviours and socio-economic aspects associated with the handling of manure. A survey including 204 households was conducted, using a structured questionnaire with questions on demographics, socio-economic characteristics and household practices related to manure management. Faecal samples were obtained from pig pens and pig manure storage units for analysis of the potential zoonotic pathogens Salmonella enterica (Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)), Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis (McMaster flotation technique). The survey revealed a difference in management between cattle and pig manure. Cattle manure was most commonly used as fertiliser for crop production (66%) (p<0.001), whereas pig manure was most commonly dumped in the environment (46%) (p<0.001). Logistic regression models showed that households with a lower socio-economic position were more likely to dump pig manure (p<0.001), with scarcity of agricultural land (p<0.001) and lack of carts for transportation of manure (p<0.01) being identified as contributing factors. Salmonella enterica was detected in 9.7% of manure samples, while Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis were detected in 1.6% and 2.4% of the samples, respectively. The results presented in this study indicate that manure management by urban and peri-urban households may pose a public health threat and an environmental hazard. There is evidently a need for further knowledge support to the livestock keepers to promote good management practices.