Publications by authors named "D A Abernethy"
Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is the most important animal health concern in Wales. Annual testing across all cattle herds in Wales commenced in 2010. In 2017, a new geographic division of Wales was conceived, with bespoke cattle controls and eradication milestones reflecting the geographical heterogeneity of bTB distribution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe African penguin is currently experiencing a significant decline, with just over 10,000 breeding pairs left. A substantial body of research reflects the impacts of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the marine environment, with wastewater treatment plants reported as one of the main sources of CEC release. In South Africa, CECs were identified contaminating the marine environment and bioaccumulating in several marine species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLow serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and low sunlight exposure are known risk factors for the development of multiple sclerosis. Add-on vitamin D supplementation trials in established multiple sclerosis have been inconclusive. The effects of vitamin D supplementation to prevent multiple sclerosis is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: High-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) has become a conservation threat to wild birds. Therefore, suitable vaccine technology and practical application methods require investigation.
Methods: Twenty-four African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) were vaccinated with either a conventional inactivated clade 2.
Article Synopsis
- The host range of circoviruses is expanding due to improved diagnostic methods, with a new circovirus called penguin circovirus (PenCV) recently identified in penguins from Antarctica.
- A survey was conducted on African penguins near Namibia to see if PenCV was also present, using developed molecular biology assays.
- Out of 151 blood samples from African penguins, none tested positive for PenCV, suggesting reasons like geographical separation and possible species-specific susceptibility could play a role, indicating the need for further research.