Use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals in Switzerland and in the European Union (EU)

The intensive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in both medicine and agriculture has selected for antibiotic resistant bacteria that cause severe problems in antibiotic therapy. In animal husbandry, antibiotics are used for therapeutic and preventive treatments of infectious diseases and as growth promoters. In Europe, many antibiotics used as growth promoters were of the same classes as important antibiotics used in human medicine. The European Union withdrew the authorization for the use of the major antimicrobial growth promoters between 1996 and 1999. In 1999 Switzerland decided to ban the use of all antimicrobials as growthpromoting feed additives. The regulations concerning antibiotic use in animal husbandry and the chronological reasons for the ban of antimicrobial growth promoters are described. This ban led to a decrease of the antibiotic volume deployed in agriculture. This measure helps to reduce the amount of antibiotic resistant bacteria in food-producing animals. However, the use of medicated feed is still a common practice to prevent and to remedy bacterial infections and thus still leads to resistant pathogens. Surveillance programs, single animal treatment, good manufacturing practices and vaccinations are additional measures to be taken to keep the level of resistances in bacteria low.

DNA-based diagnosis of rare diseases in veterinary medicine: a 4.4 kb deletion of ITGB4 is associated with epidermolysis bullosa in Charolais cattle.

BACKGROUND Rare diseases in livestock animals are traditionally poorly diagnosed. Other than clinical description and pathological examination, the underlying causes have, for the most part, remained unknown. A single case of congenital skin fragility in cattle was observed, necropsy, histological and ultrastructural examinations were carried out and whole genome sequencing was utilized to identify the causative mutation. RESULTS A single purebred female Charolais calf with severe skin lesions was delivered full-term and died spontaneously after birth. The clinical and pathological findings exactly matched the gross description given by previous reports on epitheliogenesis imperfecta and epidermolysis bullosa (EB) in cattle. Histological and ultrastructural changes were consistent with EB junctionalis (EBJ). Genetic analysis revealed a previously unpublished ITGB4 loss-of-function mutation; the affected calf was homozygous for a 4.4 kb deletion involving exons 17 to 22, and the dam carried a single copy of the deletion indicating recessive inheritance. The homozygous mutant genotype did not occur in healthy controls of various breeds but some heterozygous carriers were found among Charolais cattle belonging to the affected herd. The mutant allele was absent in a representative sample of unrelated sires of the German Charolais population. CONCLUSION This is the first time in which a recessively inherited ITGB4 associated EBJ has been reported in cattle. The identification of heterozygous carriers is of importance in avoiding the transmission of this defect in future. Current DNA sequencing methods offer a powerful tool for understanding the genetic background of rare diseases in domestic animals having a reference genome sequence available.

Principal parasites of domestic animals in the United States : biological and diagnostic information /

Mode of access: Internet.

Compendium of measures to prevent disease associated with animals in public settings, 2005 /

"March 25, 2005."

Laws of the state of Minnesota relating to the State live stock sanitary board and local boards of health and their duties and powers in dealing with animals and animal diseases. Comp. August 1, 1929.

Mode of access: Internet.

A companion to Greek studies;

Tozer, H.F. Geography.--Tristram, H.B. Fauna.--Tristram, H.B. Flora.--History: 1. Hicks,R.D. Chronology. 2. Chronological Tables.--Jebb, Sir R. Literature.--Philosophy: 1. Jackson, H. Schools to Aristotle. 2. Hicks, R.D. Later Schools.--Gow, J. Science.--Art: 1. Penrose, F.C. Architecture. 2. Waldstein, C. Prehistoric art. 3. Waldstein, C. Sculpture. 4. Earp, F.R. Painting. 5. Smith, A.H. Vase Painting. 6. Smith, A.H. Terracottas. 7. Ridgeway, W. Engraved gems. 8. Hind, R.D. Archer--Music.--Gardner, E.A. Mythology and religion.--Public antiquities: 1. Whibley, L. Constitutions. 2. Wyse, W. Law. 3. Wyse, W. Finance. 4. Mayor, R.J.G. Population. 5. Mayor, R.J.G. Slaves and slavery. 6. Edwards, H.J. Colonies. 7. Edwards, H.J. Commerce and industry. 8. Ridgeway, W. Measures and weights. 9. Ridgeway, W. Money. 10. Oman, C.W.C. War. 11. Cook, A.B. Ships. 12. Gow, J. The calendar.--Private antiquities: 1. Gow, J. A table of the relationships of a man. 2. Harrison, Miss J. Ritual of birth, marriage, and death. 3. Wilkins, A.S. Education. 4. James, M.R. Books and writing. 5. Cornish, F.W. The position of women. 6. Evans, Lady Dress. 7. Gardner, E.A. Daily life, its surroundings, employments and amusements. 8. Gardner, E.A. House and furniture. 9. Allbutt, T.C. Medicine.--Criticism and Interpretation: 1. Neil, R.A. Dialects. 2. Roberts, E.S. Epigraphy. 3. Harris, J.R. Palaeography. 4. Jebb, Sir R. Textual criticism. 5. Verrall, A.W. Metre. 6. Sandys, J.E. History of scholarship.--Indices.

A treatise on the parasites and parasitic diseases of the domesticated animals,

Mode of access: Internet.

Chronic diseases in animals, their significance for public health.

Mode of access: Internet.

Foreign Animal Disease Symposium : April 5-6, 1977 at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York ... /

Cover title.

Pharmacological activity and clinical use of sulfanilamide, sulfathiazole and sulfapyridine in veterinary medicine.

Mode of access: Internet.

An outline of the infectious diseases of domestic animals.

Includes bibliographies.

A study of fatty degeneratiion in the parenchymatous organs of domestic animals.

Typewritten.

Q fever in animals and man in Iowa.

Includes bibliography.

Pharmacological activity and clinical use of sulfanilamide, sulfathiazole and sulfapyradine in veterinary medicine.

Bibliography: p. 19-21.