Improvement in Smallholder Farmer Knowledge of Cattle Production,Health and Biosecurity in Southern Cambodia between 2008 and 2010

Farmer knowledge surveys were conducted in 2008 and 2010 in Cambodia to evaluate the impact of a research project studying interventions that can improve cattle production and health, including biosecurity and practices relating to risks of transmission of transboundary diseases. The project hypothesis is that by increasing the value of smallholder‐owned large ruminants through nutritional interventions and improved marketing, knowledge‐based interventions including risk management for infectious diseases such as foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) can be implemented into a more sustainable pathway for rural development. Between 2008 and 2010, significant improvements in farmer knowledge and attitudes were recorded in three villages in three provinces of southern Cambodia. This was achieved through participatory ‘applied field research’, ‘on the job’ training plus ‘formal’ training programmes. No cases of FMD were recorded during the study period in the ‘high‐intervention’ (HI) villages despite the common occurrence of the disease in a nearby ‘low‐intervention’ and many other villages in the three provinces. Whilst it is likely that protection of these villages from FMD infection was from increasing the herd immunity by vaccination, it could also have been partly because of a decrease in risk behaviours by farmers as a result of their increasing knowledge of biosecurity. The research indicates that smallholder farmers are motivated by nutritional interventions that improve the value of their cattle ‘bank’ and offer better marketing opportunities. This provides a more receptive environment for introduction of disease risk management for infectious and other production limiting diseases, best implemented for smallholder farmers in Cambodia by intensive training programmes. In lieu of a widespread public awareness programme to deliver mass education of smallholder farmers in disease prevention and biosecurity, livestock development projects in South‐East Asia should be encouraged to include training in disease risk management as an important intervention if the current momentum for trade in large ruminant livestock and large ruminant meat is to continue to progress and contribute to addressing global food security concerns.     

Assessment of Financial Impact of Foot and Mouth Disease on Smallholder Cattle Farmers in Southern Cambodia

The financial impact of an outbreak of FMD in 2010 on 62 smallholder cattle farmers in four villages in southern Cambodia was investigated by a financial impact survey questionnaire. Financial losses associated with FMD infection were severe with variation depending on whether the animal survived or died or was used for draft. The average post‐FMD loss varied from USD 216.32, a 54% reduction from the pre‐FMD value because of weight loss and treatment costs, to USD 370.54, a 92% reduction from pre‐FMD values if the animal was treated, died and a rental draft replacement was required. Partial budget analysis identified a strongly positive incentive for cattle to be vaccinated biannually for FMD, providing USD 31.48 per animal for each animal owned. However low vaccination rates suggest that farmers are mostly unaware of the need or averse to the practice of vaccinating their cattle for FMD. This may be due to poor understanding of preventative disease strategies such as vaccination, unavailable disposable income for purchase of vaccines, and failure to recognize the full costs that are incurred when the disease occurs. Enhancing smallholder cattle productivity through the introduction of forage growing systems has been suggested as a pathway for alleviating rural poverty in the Mekong region. As our financial analysis identified a net benefit of vaccination for smallholder farmer enterprises in an endemic FMD area in Cambodia, it is considered important that farmer education strategies aimed at improving cattle productivity, also include both access to vaccine and training in preventative disease risk management and biosecurity practices in Cambodia.     

Financial Impact of Foot and Mouth Disease on Large Ruminant Smallholder Farmers in the Greater Mekong Subregion

A retrospective investigation of financial losses incurred by large ruminant smallholder farmers due to outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in 2010–12 in northern Laos was conducted in 2012. The aim was to support recommendations on sustainable transboundary animal disease control strategies in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Large ruminant smallholders in the three northern provinces of Luang Prabang (LPB), Xiengkhoung (XK) and Xayyabouli (XYL) were interviewed (n = 310). Financial losses were determined, including direct losses due to mortality (100% of pre‐FMD sale value) and morbidity (difference between the expected sale price pre‐FMD and 1 month following onset of FMD), and indirect losses due to costs of treatments. The losses due to FMD per household varied between provinces (P < 0.001) and were USD 1124, USD 862 and USD 381 in LPB, XK and XYL, respectively, being 60, 40 and 16% of annual household income. Comparison of the costs of FMD with annual household income from sales of large ruminants indicated losses of 213, 181 and 60% of the income in LPB, XK and XYL, respectively. The variation in losses between provinces was due to differences in levels of morbidity with highest in LPB, treatment methods with antibiotic use common in LPB, age of animals sold and sale prices with higher prices in XK. Partial budget analysis of biannual FMD vaccination indicated an average net benefit of USD 22 and USD 33 for cattle and buffalo, respectively. However, vaccination alone is unlikely to control FMD in the region. Promotion of multiple large ruminant health and production intervention programmes to stimulate interest in biosecurity in addition to vaccination is recommended, providing a more sustainable pathway for poverty reduction through the current expansion of livestock investments in the GMS.     

A Case–control Study of Haemorrhagic Septicaemia in Buffaloes and Cattle in Karachi,Pakistan, in 2012

A retrospective epidemiological case–control study was performed in Karachi, Pakistan, from January to April 2013. The owners of 217 dairy cattle and buffalo farms from six different locations in Karachi were interviewed. The aim of the study was to identify risk factors associated with the presence of haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS). Farms with a history of at least one instance of sudden death in a dairy animal during 2012 and a positive clinical HS diagnosis (made by local veterinarians) were defined as cases. Farms having no history of sudden deaths in 2012 were defined as controls. Univariable analyses were initially conducted, and factors with P ≤ 0.25 were offered to a multivariable logistic regression model to identify putative risk factors. The final multivariable logistic model contained five factors. Vaccination was found to be a protective factor (OR = 0.22) along with the length of time cattle were kept on farm (months). For every extra month cattle were kept, the odds of HS disease were reduced by a factor of 0.9. In contrast, for every extra animal in a herd, the risk of infection increased by a factor of 1.01. Supplying underground water and the presence of foot and mouth disease on the farm increased the risk by 2.90 and 2.37, respectively. To understand the epidemiology of HS in Karachi dairy herds, more in‐depth research is required to study the risk and protective factors identified in this survey and to evaluate risk mitigation strategies, where possible.     

Benefit‐Cost Analysis of Foot and Mouth Disease Control in Large Ruminants in Cambodia

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Cambodia and throughout the Greater Mekong Subregion and causes significant losses to rural smallholders owning the majority of the national large ruminant population. However, due to underreporting, paucity of knowledge of FMD impacts, limited veterinary capacity and deficits of data available for analysis, the quantifiable benefits of a national FMD control programme are unknown. To address this deficit, existing literature and research data from the ‘Best practice health and husbandry of cattle, Cambodia' project conducted between 2007 and 2012, were used to develop a three‐phase analysis framework to: assess the impacts of the recent widespread FMD epizootic in Cambodia in 2010, conduct a value chain analysis of the large ruminant market and estimate the costs and benefits for a national large ruminant biannual FMD vaccination programme. A trader survey conducted in 2010–2011 provided cattle and buffalo value chain information and was matched to village herd structure data to calculate a total large ruminant farm‐gate value of USD 1.271 billion in 2010. Monte Carlo simulation modelling that implemented a 5‐year biannual vaccination programme at a cost of USD 6.3 an animal per year identified a benefit‐cost ratio of 1.40 (95% CI 0.96–2.20) when accounting for recent prices of cattle and buffalo in Cambodia and based on an expected annual incidence of 0.2 (assuming one major epizootic in the 5‐year vaccination programme). Given that the majority of the large ruminants are owned by rural smallholders, and mostly the poor are involved in agricultural employment, the successful implementation of an FMD control programme in Cambodia would be expected to avoid estimated losses of USD 135 million; equivalent to 10.6% of the 2010 farm‐gate value and contributing to important reductions in rural poverty and food insecurity.     

Assessment of Farmer Knowledge of Large Ruminant Health and Production in Developing Village‐Level Biosecurity in Northern Lao PDR

The purpose of this study was to determine baseline knowledge and identify knowledge gaps of farmers on biosecurity, risk of transmission of transboundary diseases and large ruminant health and production in three provinces of northern Laos, Hua Phan (HP), Luang Prabang (LPB) and Xieng Khoung (XK). The survey was conducted in six villages that are project sites for an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project, with two villages located in each of the three provinces. A census survey was conducted by interview with all 238 farmers participating in the ACIAR project, using a structured questionnaire. The interviews were conducted in Lao language and took 1–2 h per farmer. The answers were recorded in Lao and the survey data were translated into English and transcribed into Microsoft Excel, and a linear mixed model in the Genstat statistical analysis package was used to compare quantitative traits between the target provinces. The results showed that the prediction mean of farmer knowledge scores on parasitic disorders, infectious disease, reproduction and nutrition management were significantly different between the target provinces. The prediction mean of farmer knowledge scores on infectious disease questions ranged between 5.11 in HP to 8.54 in XK of 24 marks (P < 0.001). The prediction mean of total knowledge scores was 13.48 in LPB and 19.29 in XK of 42 marks (P < 0.001). The results indicate both the need for and scope required to attain improvements in farmer knowledge of large ruminant health and production. It was concluded that a participatory research and extension programme to address village‐level biosecurity and reduce disease risks, plus enhance large ruminant production capabilities of smallholder producers, is a valid and potentially important strategy to address transboundary disease risk and rural poverty in northern Laos.     

Limiting the Impacts of Foot and Mouth Disease in Large Ruminants in Northern Lao People’s Democratic Republic by Vaccination: A Case Study

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is the most important global transboundary livestock disease and is endemic in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) with outbreaks occurring regularly. Lao PDR shares borders with five countries and as a major thoroughfare for transboundary livestock movement, is vulnerable to the social and economic impacts of FMD. The FMD outbreak occurred in January 2009 in the Pek District, located in the north‐eastern Lao PDR province of Xieng Khuang and involved all 111 villages in that district. In March 2009, we conducted a case study on the impacts of FMD in four villages in Pek District. In two villages cattle and buffalo were vaccinated for FMD recently and prior to the outbreak as part of an ongoing research project. In one of these villages, all cattle and buffalo were vaccinated and just over half the large ruminant population was vaccinated in the other village. The other two villages involved in the case study were located nearby but not part of the ongoing research project and no animals had been vaccinated. Data were collected from the four villages by interviewing the village animal health worker in each village using a standard questionnaire. Morbidity rates for the fully vaccinated village were 1% and 7.9% for the partially vaccinated village and were much lower compared with the two adjacent, unvaccinated villages where morbidity rates were 61% and 74.3% respectively. Estimates of the financial losses incurred were USD 1.7–1.9 per cow or buffalo for the fully vaccinated village, USD 6.9–8.1 for the partly vaccinated village and 52.4–70.8 USD in the unvaccinated villages, providing evidence that a large opportunity cost is incurred by failing to vaccinate in areas where the risk of FMD incursions is high.     

近十年我国护理学动物实验研究计量实证分析

目的了解我国护理学科动物实验的研究状况和发展趋势,为进一步开展护理学动物实验研究提供参考。方法通过万方数据库、中国知网对《中华护理杂志》、《护理学杂志》等8种期刊2004~2013年十年护理学动物实验研究进行文献检索,并采用文献计量法、内容分析法对资料进行整理分析。结果共检出文献272篇,其中论著99篇;合著率高达98.16%;72.79%为基金论文;总被引频次达1 240次;涉及22个地域,发文量最多的地区是广东省。研究动物有兔、鼠、犬、猪、羊;共涉及8个研究类别、5种实验干预方式、6种实验设计方法。结论动物实验是护理学的重要研究方法 ,但近十年来我国护理学动物实验研究呈总体下降趋势。应加大力度开展护理学动物实验研究,提高护理动物学基金项目资助率,扩大研究领域,规范实验设计方法 ,提升研究整体质量,提高研究结果的临床推广价值。     

黄芪散对肥胖模型大鼠胫骨骨结构的研究

目的观察黄芪散对肥胖模型大鼠胫骨上段松质骨和中段皮质骨的影响。方法 180～200 g雄性SD大鼠,实验分为正常组、高脂模型组、立普妥组(2 mg/kg)、黄芪散低剂量组(1.2 g/kg,10 mL/kg)、黄芪散高剂量组(2.4 g/kg,10 mL/kg);通过高脂饲料喂养诱导肥胖模型7周,造模成功后开始给药,持续给药15周,处死大鼠,对胫骨松质骨和皮质骨进行骨组织形态计量学考察。结果与正常对照组相比,模型组胫骨松质骨骨小梁面积百分数(Tb.Ar%)、骨小梁宽度(Tb.Th)显著减少;胫骨中段皮质骨面积百分数(Ct.Ar%)明显增加,骨髓腔面积百分数(Ma.Ar%)明显减小,骨外膜面骨形成率(P-BFR/BS)降低。与模型组相比,黄芪散使胫骨上段的Tb.Ar%、Tb.Th、Tb.N均增加;新骨年形成率(BFR/BV)和中段骨Ma.Ar%明显减少,P-BFR/BS显著增加。结论肥胖可致模型大鼠胫骨松质骨结构发生明显变化,呈现骨质疏松状态;皮质骨骨量增加。黄芪散可抑制肥胖引起大鼠胫骨松质骨的骨丢失,可维持肥胖引起大鼠胫骨皮质骨的促生长作用。其机制可能与抑制骨吸收有关。黄芪散对皮质骨无明显作用。     

同种异体移植大鼠骨髓基质干细胞对肝损伤的修复作用及示踪研究

目的研究同种异体移植菲立磁（Feridex）标记的大鼠骨髓基质干细胞（BMSCs）在急性化学性肝损伤大鼠肝脏的定居、迁移及其对肝功能的修复作用。方法采用四氯化碳制作sD大鼠急性化学性肝损伤模型,将Feridex标记的大鼠BMSCs注入此模型肝脏。分别于注射前6h,注射后6h、1周、5周行大鼠肝脏磁共振成像（MRI）扫描,血清谷氨酸转氨酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、血清铁（Fe^3＋）测定和肝组织病理学检测。结果肝损伤组,镜下可见肝内出现弥漫性分布的点片状坏死,肝血窦充血明显,弥散性炎性细胞浸润。普鲁士蓝染色证实Feridex标记BMSCs阳性率〉90％;透射电镜见铁颗粒位于BMSCs胞质中;MRI扫描SE-T2WI序列成像显示：Feridex标记BMSCs注射组注射后6h与注射前比较,在局部注入区域可见明显的低信号改变,注射后1周、5周低信号改变区域逐渐扩大,与对照组比较,肝损伤组在各时间点的MRI低信号改变范围更大。各组病理学改变均随时间延长逐渐好转,血清ALT与AST水平降低,BMSCs肝脏注射组更为明显;Feridex标记BMSCs注射组与未标记细胞注射组在各时间点的肝组织病理学改变类似,血清ALT、AST及Fe^3＋水平的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论同种异体移植的BMSCs可促进大鼠肝脏急性化学性肝损伤功能恢复;MRI可追踪到Feridex标记的BMSCs在肝损伤大鼠肝脏实质内弥散。     

下肢动脉旁路转流术后阻塞再手术的初步体会

目的总结下肢动脉旁路转流术后阻塞再手术的临床经验。方法回顾性分析1996年5月至2004年2月间19例（20条）下肢动脉旁路转流术后阻塞共31次再手术患者的治疗效果。结果18次单纯转流血管取栓术后通畅时间1d至3年，通畅率为27．7％（5／18），再阻塞率为72．3％（13／18）；13次取栓加流入或流出道旁路重建术后通畅时间4d至11个月，通畅率为61．5％（8／13），再阻塞率为38．5％（5／13）。全组再手术总通畅率41．9％（13／31），平均通畅时间8．1个月（3—29个月）；手术死亡率5．3％（1／19），肢体存活率73．7％（14／19），截肢率25％（5／20）。结论术后晚期发生转流血管再阻塞的最主要原因是内膜增生和病变进展；取栓加流人或流出道重建旁路术的效果优于单纯取栓术；加强术后彩超随访，及时修正增生性病变，将有助于提高转流血管通畅率。     

药物治疗对外周动脉硬化闭塞症支架术后再狭窄的影响

目的 研究沙格雷酯在预防外周动脉支架术后支架内再狭窄( in-stent restenosis,ISR)中的治疗效果.方法 对因外周血管狭窄或闭塞行首次支架术治疗的患者68例分为2组,沙格雷酯组:口服沙格雷酯+阿司匹林;双抗组:口服氯吡格雷+阿司匹林.术后即开始分组治疗,6个月后复查血管彩超,比较2组患者支架内再狭窄的发生情况.结果 试验共完成随访62例患者.沙格雷酯组和双抗组各病变部位的狭窄率分别为7.0％比18.1％ (P =0.036),平均峰值流速比(peaksystolic velocity ratio,PSVR)分别为1.34比2.08(P=0.010),ISR发生例数为1比10 (P =0.005),差异均有统计学意义.所有随访患者均未观察到严重不良事件.结论 沙格雷酯与阿司匹林联用,安全有效.沙格雷酯+阿司匹林与双抗治疗相比,可以显著降低外周动脉支架术后的再狭窄发生率,同时显著减少支架内内膜增殖.     

The Effect of Calcium Dobesilate on Liver Damage in Experimental Obstructive Jaundice

Purpose/Aim of the study: Inflammation and oxidative stress are two significant factors affecting the degree of liver damage in obstructive jaundice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium dobesilate (CaDob), an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug, on damage to liver caused by experimental obstructive jaundice. Materials and Methods: 30 rats in total were randomly placed into three groups, each group consisting of 10 rats. The sham group (Group 1) only received solely laparotomy. In the control group (Group 2), ligation was applied to the biliary tract and no treatment was implemented. In the CaDob group (Group 3), following ligation of the biliary tract, 100 mg/kg/day CaDob was implemented via an orogastric tube for a 10–day period. Liver tissue and blood samples were taken for histopathological and biochemical examination. Results: The CaDob group had significantly lower test values for serum liver functions when compared to the control group. Statistically lower levels of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and fluorescent oxidation products (FOP) were detected in the CaDob group, and the CaDob group had significantly higher levels of sulfydryl (SH) than the control group. Histopathological scores in the CaDob group were found out to be statistically less than the scores the control group received (p < 0.05). Conclusions: CaDob treatment repaired the histpatological changes induced by bile duct ligation. The hepatoprotective effects of CaDob can be associated with its antioxidant properties of the drug.     

疏肝理气活血法对肝郁气滞大鼠阴茎海绵体NOS活性影响的实验研究

目的 探求肝郁气滞男性阴茎海绵体组织中NOS活性及疏肝理气活血中药对其影响。方法 采用与人类精神性应激十分相似的非损伤性应激刺激法,制造肝郁气滞型大鼠动物模型,以免疫组化与计算机图象分析技术测定海绵体组织中NOS活性。结果 证明肝郁气滞动物模型组阴茎海绵体组织中nNOS活性与空白对照组有显著性差异(P<0.01),疏肝理气活血中药高剂量组阴茎海绵体组织中nNOS活性与模型组有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论 肝郁气滞可导致阴茎海绵体组织中nNOS活性下降,而疏肝理气活血中药有增强阴茎海绵体组织中nNOS活性的作用。 这可能是形成心因性ED病理基础的一个重要环节。     

The effect of long‐term hormonal treatment on voiding patterns during filling cystometry and on urethral histology in a postpartum,ovariectomized female rat

OBJECTIVE

To study whether long‐term treatment with oestrogen (E₂), selective E₂ receptor modulators (SERMs), or growth hormone (GH) can prevent the development of abnormal voiding patterns during filling cystometry (CMG) in a postpartum, ovariectomized (Ovx) female rat.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Immediately after spontaneous delivery, 60 primiparous Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into six equal groups. One group served as uninjured sham controls and five groups underwent intravaginal balloon dilatation. On day seven, previously dilated rats underwent bilateral Ovx and implantation of a subcutaneous hormone‐delivery pump. The five treatment groups received normal saline (control), E₂, raloxifene, levormeloxifene, or GH for 7 weeks. Conscious CMG was performed 7 weeks after Ovx. Urethral sphincter tissue was harvested for elastin immunohistochemistry and real‐time polymerase chain reaction of α_1A‐adrenoceptor mRNA.

RESULTS

No abnormal voiding patterns were detected in the group treated with GH. The E₂, raloxifene and levormeloxifene groups had greater detrusor overactivity and urethral relaxation incontinence than control rats. The raloxifene group had a significantly lower baseline bladder pressure and opening pressure. GH‐treated rats had higher elastin content in the urethra. Urethral α_1A‐adrenoceptor mRNA concentration was significantly lower in the SERM‐treated rats compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

GH prevents the development of abnormal voiding patterns during filling CMG in a rat model of parturition‐induced incontinence; E₂ and SERMs may worsen voiding patterns.     

坚肾合剂对慢性肾衰竭血尿钙磷影响的实验研究

目的:探讨慢性肾衰竭(CRF)时大鼠体内钙磷代谢变化的规律及坚肾合剂改善CRF低钙高磷病理状态的部分机制。方法:以腺嘌呤灌胃造成CRF大鼠模型后,以坚肾合剂治疗并与尿毒清对比。结果:CRF大鼠血钙、PTH降低,血磷、CT升高,与正常组比有显著差异(P<0.05～0.01);治疗后坚肾合剂使血CT降低、尿钙减少、尿磷增加、PTH升高而接近正常组;坚肾合剂在降低血磷及血CT方面,优于尿毒清(P<0.05～0.01)。结论:坚肾合剂可使肾小管重吸收钙增加,肾小球滤过磷增加,它可能通过升高PTH,降低CT而达到纠正CRF大鼠低钙高磷状态,升高CT作用优于尿毒清。     

脊柱退行性疾病对腰椎前后位骨密度的影响分析

双能X线骨密度仪检测骨密度是诊断骨质疏松症的"金标准",学者推荐50岁以上人群采用腰椎前后位进行测量。然而骨质疏松症发病率较高的老年人群,常常合并罹患多种脊柱退行性疾病,例如腰椎间盘突出、退行性侧凸、骨赘增生等,这些病理改变可导致腰椎前后位骨密度值准确性降低。因此,提高腰椎骨密度测量准确性,对于骨质疏松症的诊断和治疗具有重要意义。本文就常见的脊柱退行性疾病对腰椎前后位骨密度的影响作一综述,以期帮助临床医生全面评估和诊断骨质疏松症。     

The effects of pineal gland transplantation on the production of spinal deformity and serum melatonin level following pinealectomy in the chicken

Pinealectomy frequently produces spinal deformity in some animal models, but the precise biological mechanism of this phenomenon remains obscure. The current study investigated the effects of an autograft pineal body on the development of spinal deformity and serum melatonin (MLT) concentration after pinealectomy in the chicken. Thirty-six chickens (2 days of age) were divided into three equal groups. While the removal of the pineal gland was performed in groups B and C, a pineal body autograft was surgically implanted into the body wall musculature only in the pineal transplantation group (group C). Chickens in which no surgical intervention was performed served as intact controls (group A). Posteroanterior radiographs of the spines of the chickens were taken at the age of 8 weeks. These were used to determine Cobb angles and to measure the rib-vertebra angles (RVA) on the concave and convex sides of the curves, from which data the difference between the convex and concave RVA (the RVAD) was calculated. At the end of the study, serum MLT levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and histopathological examination of specimens from all the groups was performed. The results were compared using one-way analysis of variance followed by Duncan's test for pairwise comparisons or by the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Mann-Whitney U tests for comparisons between two groups. In this study, the serum MLT levels in groups B and C were significantly lower than those in group A ( P<0.05). However, scoliosis developed in only 7 of 12 (58%) in group B and 6 of 12 (50%) in group C. The average Cobb angle and RVAD in groups B and C were significantly larger than those found in group A ( P=0.000 and P=0.001, respectively). Interestingly, there were no significant differences in either serum MLT levels or development of scoliosis between groups B and C. From the results of the current study, it is evident that the intramuscular pineal gland transplantation following pinealectomy in young Hybro Broiler chickens has no significant effect on the development of spinal deformity and serum MLT level. In the light of this result, the role of MLT in the development of spinal deformity in chickens after pinealectomy remains controversial, and further investigations are warranted.