Tijdschr Diergeneesk
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Tijdschr Diergeneesk · Jan 2002
Review[Biotechnology for the benefit of vaccination against viral diseases: a review].
This review deals briefly with some key developments in veterinary viral vaccinology, lists the types of vaccines that are used for vaccinations commonly performed in food animals as well as in companion animals, and indicates that the practising veterinarian can select the best vaccine by comparing the results of efficacy studies. Diva (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals; also termed marker) vaccines and companion diagnostic tests have been developed that can be used for progam aimed to control or eradicate virus infections. Vaccine-induced herd immunity, which can be measured relatively easily when diva vaccines are used, is a crucial issue in such programmes. ⋯ The lack of (in vitro) correlates of vaccine protection markedly hampers progress in vaccine research. Various characteristics of an 'ideal' vaccine are listed, such as multivalency and the induction of lifelong immunity after one non-invasive administration in animals with maternal immunity. Future research should he aimed at developing vaccines that approach the ideal as closely as possible and which are directed against diseases not yet controlled by vaccination and against newly emerging diseases.
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Tijdschr Diergeneesk · Sep 2001
Review[Human health aspects of antibiotic use in food animals: a review].
Antibiotic use not only selects for resistance in pathogenic bacteria, but also in the commensal flora of exposed individuals. Veterinary surgeons regularly prescribe antibiotics for food animals to treat bacterial infections just as doctors do for human patients. In addition, however, animal feeds contain added antibiotics not for therapy but for economic reasons: to enhance the growth rate of these animals. ⋯ As a result of this high exposure to antibiotics, the prevalence of resistant bacteria in the faecal flora of these animals is high. These resistant bacteria can be directly and indirectly, via foods of animal origin, transferred to humans and either colonize the human intestinal tract or exchange their resistance genes with commensal bacteria of humans. As the intestinal flora functions as a reservoir of resistance genes for pathogenic bacteria and because many bacterial species of the intestinal flora are potential pathogens, the efficacy of antibiotic therapy in human medicine may be jeopardized.
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Tijdschr Diergeneesk · Feb 2001
Case Reports[Acute poisoning of pigs with hydrogen sulfide as a result of acidification of slurry on a pig farm].
On a fattening pig farm all 582 animals died of peracute intoxication with hydrogen sulphide (H2S). The accident took place after 6000 litres of lactic acid (41.5 mass %) was dumped in the slurry pit. ⋯ This resulted in sudden spreading by high pressure of a lethal concentration of hydrogen sulphide to all compartments of the pig house. Analysis of the situation indicated that the level of hydrogen sulphide was 7870 ppm.