News
Badger culling increases ranging behaviour among survivors
A study led by researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Imperial College London has found that culling drives badgers to roam further afield. They say this helps to explain why the practice, intended to reduce bovine tuberculosis (TB) transmission, can sometimes exacerbate the problem instead. Published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, […]
Model predicts effectiveness of livestock vaccines
Scientists at The Roslin Institute have developed an epidemiological model to investigate the effectiveness of vaccines for preventing, mitigating or eliminating infectious diseases in livestock. When appropriately applied, even imperfect vaccines can prevent, eliminate or largely reduce the prevalence of viruses, the model shows. The goal of effective vaccination is not only to protect individuals […]
PPR risk associated with herd management system in Tanzania
A study published in Epidemiology and Infection provides an updated picture of the prevalence of Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) in northern Tanzania. According to the research team, livestock managed in a system where they are the sole source of an owners’ livelihood are more likely to become infected with PPRV than livestock managed in a system […]
Avian influenza: study identifies high risk poultry trading practices in Vietnam
Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have found that the transmission of avian influenza viruses in Vietnam is influenced by the structure of live poultry trading networks. Their work has identified the groups that are most likely to employ trade practices that impact the risk of infection in chickens, which could better inform vaccination strategies in […]
PRRSV: strains of low and high virulence compared
A research group from the University of Córdoba, led by Professor Librado Carrasco, has been researching Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) for years, with the aim of developing effective vaccines. Although PRRSV was discovered in the 1990s, in recent years more virulent strains have emerged. As each strain behaves differently, developing effective vaccines […]
The Immunological Toolbox launched
The Immunological Toolbox website was launched at the International Veterinary Immunology Symposium in Seattle last week: https://www.immunologicaltoolbox.co.uk/ . It is a repository of antibodies, other reagents and resources to promote research into veterinary immunology. The aim of the Toolbox is to remove barriers to veterinary vaccine development by facilitating information exchange and collaboration within a […]
Almost 5 million pigs lost to Asia’s ASF outbreak
Close to 5 million pigs in Asia have now died or been culled because of the spread of African swine fever (ASF), first detected in China in August 2018. As of August 2019, ASF is present in six Asian countries: Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Lao PDR, Mongolia and Vietnam. The latest data provided by FAO […]
Machine learning to fight antibiotic resistance in farmed chickens
A new research project aims to improve the health of farmed chickens in China and reduce the risk of disease and antibiotic resistance transferring to human populations. The FARMWATCH project will use machine learning to find new ways to identify and pinpoint disease in poultry farms, reducing the need for antibiotic treatment and lowering the […]
Tuberculosis test differentiates infected from vaccinated animals
Skin tests that can distinguish between cattle that are infected with tuberculosis (TB) and those that have been vaccinated against the disease have been created by an international team of scientists. The findings of the study are published in Science Advances. The traditional TB tuberculin skin test shows a positive result for cattle that have […]
New Zoetis-Colorado State University joint laboratory
Zoetis, and Colorado State University (CSU) are establishing a research laboratory to explore the livestock immune system and target new immunotherapies – paving the way for new alternatives to antibiotics in food animals. The new 3,000-square-foot Zoetis Incubator Research Lab will operate at the Research Innovation Center on CSU’s Foothills Campus, Fort Collins, starting in […]