Tenacity of Animal Disease Viruses on Wood Surfaces Relevant to Animal Husbandry.

The aim of this study was to analyse the hygienic suitability of wood often used in animal husbandry. To this end, the inactivation of viruses (Enterovirus E as a surrogate for non-enveloped viruses and Newcastle disease virus as a surrogate for enveloped viruses) on germ carriers consisting of various types of wood was studied over an extended period to assess the biosafety of wood as an agricultural building material. The study was designed to assess the intrinsic biocidal activity of the wood itself, without the use of a disinfectant.

Efficiency of Virucidal Disinfectants on Wood Surfaces in Animal Husbandry.

The aim of this study was to test the inactivation of viruses on germ carriers of different types of wood using a disinfectant in order to assess the biosafety of wood as a building material in animal husbandry. The laboratory disinfectant efficacy tests were based on German testing guidelines and current European standards. Five different types of wood germ carriers, i.

Dog ecology and rabies knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in the Northern Communal Areas of Namibia.

In 2021, a comprehensive dog demographic questionnaire combined with a KAP survey were conducted in the northern communal areas (NCAs) of Namibia with the aim of gaining a better understanding of dog populations, owner behaviour, and knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to rabies. The survey of 3,726 households across the eight regions of the NCAs provided insights that will inform interventions in order to improve human rabies prevention and Namibia's dog rabies control strategy. The results showed a relatively low average human/dog ratio (HDR) of 5.

Do Seropositive Wild Boars Pose a Risk for the Spread of African Swine Fever? Analysis of Field Data from Latvia and Lithuania.

In 2020, ASF occurred in wild boars throughout Latvia and Lithuania, and more than 21,500 animals were hunted and tested for the presence of the virus genome and antibodies in the framework of routine disease surveillance. The aim of our study was to re-examine hunted wild boars that tested positive for the antibodies and negative for the virus genome in the blood (n = 244) and to see if the virus genome can still be found in the bone marrow, as an indicator of virus persistence in the animal. Via this approach, we intended to answer the question of whether seropositive animals play a role in the spread of the disease.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Clinical Signs in Cats and Dogs from Confirmed Positive Households in Germany.

On a global scale, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a serious threat to the health of the human population. Not only humans can be infected, but also their companion animals. The antibody status of 115 cats and 170 dogs, originating from 177 German households known to have been SARS-CoV-2 positive, was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the results were combined with information gathered from a questionnaire that was completed by the owner(s) of the animals.

Identification of Risk Factors for African Swine Fever: A Systematic Review.

African swine fever (ASF) is an internationally-spreading viral pig disease that severely damages agricultural pork production and trade economy as well as social welfare in disease-affected regions. A comprehensive understanding of ASF risk factors is imperative for efficient disease control. As the absence of effective ASF vaccines limits disease management options, the identification and minimisation of ASF-associated risk factors is critical to preventing ASF outbreaks.

Does having a cat in your house increase your risk of catching COVID-19?

Due to the zoonotic origin of SARS-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the potential for its transmission from humans back to animals and the possibility that it might establish ongoing infection pathways in other animal species has been discussed. Cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and were shown experimentally to transmit the virus to other cats. Infection of cats has been widely reported.

Testing Different Deterrents as Candidates for Short-Term Reduction in Wild Boar Contacts-A Pilot Study.

African swine fever (ASF) is a viral infection of pigs and represents a major threat to animal health and trade. Due to the high tenacity of the causative virus in carcasses of wild boar, contacts of wild boar with infectious carcasses are regarded an important driver of the so-called habitat cycle. The latter is believed to play a major role in maintaining the present ASF situation in wild boar in Europe.

Monitoring of Pseudorabies in Wild Boar of Germany-A Spatiotemporal Analysis.

To evaluate recent developments regarding the epidemiological situation of pseudorabies virus (PRV) infections in wild boar populations in Germany, nationwide serological monitoring was conducted between 2010 and 2015. During this period, a total of 108,748 sera from wild boars were tested for the presence of PRV-specific antibodies using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The overall PRV seroprevalence was estimated at 12.

Ecology and epidemiology of rabies in humans, domestic animals and wildlife in Namibia, 2011-2017.

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease that causes a heavy burden on societies. Namibia, a country in southern Africa, is aiming at controlling the disease in its main reservoir, the domestic dog. To facilitate the implementation comprehensive information on the ecology and epidemiology of the disease and surveillance is of utmost importance.

[Modeling of the financial reserves required by the livestock disease compensation fund of Lower Saxony for rebates in the course of disease outbreaks incorporating spatial restriction zones].

One of the tasks of the livestock disease compensation funds of the federal states in Germany is the financial compensation of livestock holders for livestock losses and costs incurred for disease control measures due to certain diseases. Usually, one half of these services are financed through financial reserves built up with the contributions paid by the owners of the respective animal species. The other half is covered by the federal state itself.

[Estimation of the financial reserves required by livestock disease compensation funds for rebates in the course of disease outbreaks using the example of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany)].

With certain restrictions, the federal states of Germany are obligated to financially compensate livestock owners for animal losses due to livestock diseases. If livestock disease compensation funds demand contributions from livestock owners for certain species in order to pay compensations, the federal states have to pay only one half of the rebate. The remaining 50% has to be financed through reserves of the respective compensation fund built up with the contributions.

Spatio-temporal analysis of the progression of Aujeszky's disease virus infection in wild boar of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Aujeszky's disease (AD, pseudorabies) is a notifiable disease caused by Suid herpesvirus 1 (SuHV-1), also named pseudorabies virus (PrV). The study aimed at determining the occurrence and spatio-temporal trend of specific antibodies to AD virus (ADV) among wild boar of Saxony-Anhalt, a landlocked federal state situated in the western part of eastern Germany. To this end, a total of 7,209 blood samples were collected and tested from 2000 to 2011.

[Occurrence and geographical distribution of antibodies to hepatitis E virus in wild boars of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany (2011)].

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) may cause acute hepatitis in humans. In industrialised countries, acute hepatitis E generally occurs only sporadically. However, in recent years an increase in the number of reported cases has been observed.

[Spatiotemporal analysis of the infection of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) with Echinococcus multilocularis in Saxony-Anhalt].

A total of 2757 Red Foxes from 952 locations were examined parasitologically for Echinococcus multilocularis between the years 1998 and 2007 at the State Office of Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt. This examination was carried out in parallel to rabies monitoring. A period-prevalence of 17.

[Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes in Saxony-Anhalt: identification of areas of increased risk of infestation and association of the infestation probability with the average annual maximum temperature].

Between 1998 and 2004 1341 Red Foxes from 611 locations were examined parasitologically for Echinococcus multilocularis at the State Office of Consumer Protection Saxony-Anhalt. Examination was carried out in parallel to rabies monitoring. A period-prevalence of 9.

[Evaluation of the performance to date of the BHV-1 eradication campaign in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany)].

The present article is attempting to evaluate the to date performance of the BHV-1 eradication campaign currently run in Saxony-Anhalt. Special emphasis is put on the modelling of missing data and an optimum performance--for comparison with the observed progress of eradication. The eradication campaign turned out to have performed almost optimally so far, but problems might arise in its final phase due to insular management deficiencies and violation of laws, as well.

Serosurvey for antibodies against Salmonella species in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) from Norway.

An indirect ELISA was developed as a tool for surveillance of antibodies against Salmonella sp. in free-ranging moose (Alces alces) in Norway. Serum samples from 303 clinically healthy moose sampled between 1993-2000 were examined.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Salmonella spp in semidomesticated reindeer in Norway, determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

An indirect ELISA was developed as a possible tool to detect the seroprevalence of antibodies to Salmonella spp in semidomesticated reindeer. To cover a broad spectrum of serogroups a lipopolysaccharide mix of S. typhimurium and S.