Mastitis pattern analysis: epidemiology into practice

Recently, work published at University of Nottingham has used machine learning to improve the original mastitis pattern analysis tool and has refined the algorithms used (Hyde et al, 2020). The...

Figure 4. Clostridium perfringens colonies culture on blood agar.

The role of Clostridium perfringens in neonatal diarrhoea and the importance of effective control

C. perfringens is a Gram-positive rod-shaped anaerobic bacteria that is classified into 5 types (A-E) based on the toxins it secretes, including the four main toxins alpha (CPA), beta (CPB), elipson...

Figure 3. Correct milking machine settings and parlour routine play an important role in the control of contagious mastitis. Animals should be milked in relative risk order, with younger animals milked first, and older, known infected animals last, after which the clusters should be disinfected. Post-milking teat dipping will also aid in control of spread of contagious mastitis.

Control of mastitis in dairy sheep and goats

The annual incidence of clinical mastitis in dairy sheep and goats is estimated to be around 5% (Contreras et al, 2007). This is much lower than the 13–40% incidence of dairy cattle (Jamali et al,...

Figure 1. Many farmers feel helpless in the face of a tuberculosis outbreak — the new BVA policy on TB draws on the social science of behavioural changes as well as the best available evidence.

The veterinary surgeon and the farmer — controlling TB farm by farm

In updating our position, we recognised a number of things. First, that as a representative body for veterinary surgeons throughout the UK, we wanted to be able to consider how TB in cattle affected...

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae: a review of an economically important pathogen

A. pleuropneumoniae is a Gram-negative encapsulated coccobacillus bacterium which produces fine fimbriae, capsules and secretes toxins. The bacterium is classified based on its requirement for...

Figure 5. Demonstration, in a goat kid, of the technique for examining the conjunctival surface of the lower eyelid, the basis of FAMACHA© scoring.

Haemonchosis: dealing with the increasing threat of the barber's pole worm

Although the lifecycle of H. contortus is superficially similar to that of many other GIN, it has a significantly different epidemiology to the other GIN species commonly dealt with in UK livestock....

Figure 4. Nervous signs (lateral position, paddling limbs) in a pig with oedema disease.

Oedema disease: a review of the disease and control and preventative measures

E. coli is a bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of animals. Non-pathogenic, intestinal E. coli (commensal E. coli) support the physiological intestinal balance of the host,...