Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 2nd September 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

E coli O157 prevalence to be investigated
cows
Survey findings will inform the development of measures to reduce public health risk.
New survey aims to determine how widespread shedding is on British farms

Scientists have undertaken a survey to find out how widespread E coli O157 is among finishing cattle. It is hoped their findings will help with developing measures to reduce the risk of human infection.

Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 can be passed from cattle to humans through contaminated food or contact with cattle or their environment. In addition, it can remain infective in soil for months.

The new survey, beginning this month, will run until December 2015. It is part of a project by the Roslin Institute to find out why some cattle shed large amounts of O157 in their faeces, and to come up with strategies to reduce the human health risk.

Writing in the Veterinary Record (Vol 175, No 8), Madeleine Henry, Sue Tongue and George Gunn from Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), say they aim to find out the number of British farms with finishing cattle on which at least one animal is shedding O157.

Staff from SRUC and ADAS will visit a random selection of farms in England, Scotland and Wales to collect faecal pat samples. A farm management questionnaire will also be completed.

The Scottish E. coli Reference Laboratory will identify the more common phage types among cattle isolates, and more these to isolates from human cases to assess the role of cattle in human infection. Findings will inform the development of measures to reduce public health risk.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and confidentially will be maintained.

For further information, see the Veterinary Record, August 30, 2014, Vol 175 No 8, or contact Madeleine Henry at vetepidemiology@sruc.ac.uk or 01463 246072.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.