Feeding either a highly digestible, moderate-carbohydrate diet or a highly digestible, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet resulted in significant (P < .05) improvements in fecal scores in 71% of cats with chronic, nonspecific diarrhea. Approximately 58% of the cats improved on either diet, with no significant differences between the two diets regarding the percentage of cats responding or the degree of response. These results suggest that dietary management may be helpful in cats with chronic diarrhea. If cats do not respond within 1 month, an alternative diet should be considered. 相似文献
AIM: To determine the impact of ingestion of soil on the iodine (I), selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co; vitamin B12) status of young sheep. METHODS: Twenty young sheep were divided into two groups; one group was fed lucerne pellets, while the other group was fed lucerne pellets plus 100 g soil, for 63 days. At the end of the study the animals were blood-sampled, slaughtered, and the liver removed, and concentrations of I, Cu, vitamin B12 and Se were determined. RESULTS: The ingestion of soil significantly increased concentrations of I and vitamin B12 in serum, but had no effect on concentrations of Cu and Se in serum/blood and liver, and vitamin B12 in liver. CONCLUSION: Ingested soil can be a significant source of I and Co (vitamin B12) for grazing sheep. 相似文献
AIM: To determine the effect of increasing doses of long-acting injectable vitamin B12 plus selenium (Se) given pre-mating on the vitamin B12 and Se status of ewes and their lambs from birth to weaning. METHODS: Four groups of 24 Poll Dorset ewes each were injected 4 weeks pre-mating with different doses of a long-acting vitamin B12 + Se product, containing 3 mg vitamin B12 and 12 mg Se per ml. The treatment groups received 5 ml (15 mg vitamin B12 + 60 mg Se), 4 ml (12 mg vitamin B12 + 48 mg Se), 3 ml (9 mg vitamin B12 + 36 mg Se), or no vitamin B12 or Se (control). Twelve of the twin-bearing ewes per group were selected for the study. Efficacy of the product was evaluated from changes in the concentrations of vitamin B12 in serum and liver, and of Se in blood, liver and milk in the ewes during gestation and lactation, and in their lambs from birth to weaning. Pasture samples in paddocks grazed by the ewes and lambs were collected at about 2-monthly intervals from 200-m transects. RESULTS: The flock was Se-deficient, as the mean initial concentration of Se in the blood of ewes was 182 (SE 20.3) nmol/L. Compared with untreated controls, all doses significantly (p < 0.01) increased concentrations of Se in the blood of ewes for at least 300 days. Selenium concentrations in milk were likewise increased throughout lactation, as were those in the blood and liver of lambs. The mean concentration of vitamin B12 in the serum of ewes was initially > 1,000 pmol/L, but this decreased within 28 days to < 460 pmol/L. Treatment with the 5-ml and 4-ml doses raised serum vitamin B12 concentrations of ewes for at least 176 days (p < 0.01), while their lambs had significantly greater concentrations of vitamin B12 in serum and liver for less than 37 days after birth. Tissue concentrations and duration of elevation of both vitamin B12 and Se were proportional to the dose administered. The mean concentrations of Se and cobalt (Co) in the pastures were 32 and 74 microg/kg dry matter (DM), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Injecting ewes from a Se-deficient flock 4 weeks prior to mating with 48 or 60 mg Se and 12 or 15 mg vitamin B12 increased and maintained the Se status of ewes for at least 300 days, and of their lambs from birth to weaning. The vitamin B12 status of ewes was increased for at least 176 days and that of their lambs for less than 37 days. Due to the proportional nature of the response to increasing dosage, the dose rate of the formulation tested can be adjusted according to the severity of Se and Co deficiency in a flock. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A single subcutaneous injection of vitamin B12 + Se administered pre-mating to Se-deficient flocks is likely to prevent Se deficiency in ewes and their lambs until weaning, as well as increase the vitamin B12 status of ewes and their lambs until 5 weeks after lambing. 相似文献
During the past century, reductions in animal diseases have resulted in a safer, more uniform, and more economical food supply. In the United States, the passage of the 1906 Federal Meat Inspection Act mandated better sanitary conditions for slaughter and processing, as well as inspection of live animals and their processed products. Following World War II, Congress passed the Poultry Products Inspection Act. Both acts are regulated by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for regulations governing the health of live animals prior to slaughter. This article is a brief overview of the ways in which the current predominance of zoonotics among emerging diseases underscores the importance of veterinary health professionals and the need for continued coordination between animal-health and public-health officials. Examples of intersections between animal- and public-health concerns include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and Johne's disease, as well as extending beyond food safety to diseases such as avian influenza (AI). In the United States, we have in place an extensive public and private infrastructure to address animal-health issues, including the necessary expertise and resources to address animal-health emergencies. However, many challenges remain, including a critical shortage of food-animal veterinarians. These challenges can be met by recruiting and training a cadre of additional food-supply veterinarians, pursuing new technologies, collaborating with public-health officials to create solutions, and sending a clear and consistent message to the public about important animal-health issues. 相似文献
1. Surrogates aim to predict species diversity and to minimize sampling effort. Here the value of surrogates for marine macroalgae is tested.
2. Higher taxonomic levels and dominant taxa were evaluated as surrogates for detecting patterns in macroalgal species diversity (derived from species‐level biomass data) in the Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia.
3. Data were stratified by two island groups (inshore and offshore), three depth intervals (<10 m, 10–20 m, >20 m), and two exposures to wave energy. Correlations between similarity matrices from surrogate and species diversity data matrices were analysed using a modified Spearman rank correlation (rs). The ability of surrogates to detect differences between exposures to wave energy was also investigated using analysis of similarity. Species diversity data were aggregated to higher taxonomic levels and were either fourth‐root or presence/absence (richness) transformed.
4. Species richness was the most consistent surrogate (rs‐values>0.69, P=0.001). Genus‐level richness was also strongly correlated to species diversity in the Recherche Archipelago, except in depths <10 m where patterns in diversity were characterized by species turnover.
5. At offshore islands in depths 10–20 m and >20 m, family‐ and order‐level biomass data were suitable surrogates owing to the abundance of Alariaceae (Order Laminariales) represented by a single genus and species. Surrogates using biomass data from the orders Laminariales, Ceramiales, Dictyotales and Fucales were also successful at offshore islands in middle to deeper depths.
6. At inshore islands in depths 10–20 m and >20 m, genera from the orders Gigartinales, Fucales and Ceramiales were strongly correlated to species biomass data.
7. Surrogates, like species richness, that were strongly correlated to species biomass data were also able to distinguish between exposures to wave energy, based on analysis of similarity tests.
8. Sampling effort would be reduced if collecting richness data in species‐rich macroalgal assemblages such as those found in temperate Australia.
We describe a study to assess the bacteriological quality and safety of meat in Bodija market in Ibadan and to investigate the influence of gender and group membership on food safety. Mixed methods were used to gather information on meat safety and related socioeconomic factors. These methods included a participatory urban appraisal, focus group discussions with eight butchers' associations, in depth discussions with six key informants, a questionnaire study of 269 meat sellers and a cross-sectional survey of meat quality (200 samples from ten associations). We found that slaughter, processing and sale of beef meat take place under unhygienic conditions. The activities involve both men and women, with some task differentiation by gender. Meat sold by association members is of unacceptable quality. However, some groups have consistently better quality meat and this is positively correlated with the proportion of women members. Women also have significantly better food safety practice than men, though there was no significant difference in their knowledge of and attitude towards food safety. Most meat sellers (85?%) reported being ill in the last 2?weeks and 47?% reported experiencing gastrointestinal illness. Eating beef, eating chicken, eating offal, consuming one's own products and belonging to a group with poor quality of meat were all strong and significant predictors of self-reported gastrointestinal illness. We include that gender and group membership influence meat quality and self-reported gastrointestinal illness and that butchers' associations are promising entry points for interventions to improve food safety. 相似文献
Individual interviews were conducted in 137 households using semi-structured questionnaires to determine the influence of socioeconomic factors on production constraints faced by indigenous chicken producers in the rural areas of South Africa. The major constraints to village chicken production were mortality (95 % of the households) followed by feed shortage (85 %) and low chicken sales (72 %). The logistic regression model showed that households that owned imported/crossbred chickens practiced extensive production system without housing structures and did not have vaccines were more likely to experience high levels of chicken mortality. Poor and youth-headed households with no supplements and vaccines had high probability of Newcastle disease. The probability of a household to experience chicken feed shortage was lower in households that owned indigenous chickens than those that owned imported/crossbred chickens (odds ratio, 11.68; 95 % confidence interval, 1.19–27.44). Youth-headed households that had small flocks and no access to veterinary services were not likely to sell chickens. It was concluded that gender, age, wealth status, production system, chicken flock size, type of chicken breed owned, accessibility of veterinary services, availability of supplements, vaccines and shelter influence village chicken farmer’s production constraints such as feed availability, chicken mortality, prevalence of diseases and chicken sales. 相似文献
We evaluated a group-based, participatory training intervention to improve food safety among meat processors and retailers in Bodija Market, Ibadan, Nigeria. An interactive training workshop was held for Butchers Associations’ representatives who were selected to pass on information and training to their group. Meat hygiene knowledge, attitude and practice was assessed before attending the workshop and afterwards (n = 63). It was also assessed for those who did not attend the workshop (n = 68) but were intended recipients of training through their association. Microbiological quality of meat was assessed before and after the workshop (n = 400 samples). After the workshop, participants significantly improved knowledge, attitude and practice in key food safety aspects; specifically, understanding sources of contamination and food-borne diseases, use of bleach and disinfectant and hand washing. Participants also shared information with an average of 18 other group members and improvements were seen in group members who did not attend the workshop but received training through their Butchers Association. Microbiological quality of meat sold also significantly improved after the intervention. In conclusion, participatory, group-based methods targeted at meat processors and retailers can improve meat hygiene knowledge, attitude and practice as well as the microbiological quality and hence safety of meat.