Donkeys (Equus asinus) face a global crisis. The health, welfare, and even survival of donkeys are being compromised as the demand for their skins increases. It is driven by the production of ejiao, a traditional Chinese remedy believed by some to have medicinal properties. It is estimated that the ejiao industry currently requires approximately 4.8 million donkey skins per year. Since there is no productive chain for donkey skin production outside of China, the activity is extractive and has resulted in the decimation of donkeys. Gestation is 12 months in donkeys, increasing the risk of extinction if such practices are not controlled. In this scenario, the donkeys are collected (purchased for low prices, stolen, and collected from the side of the roads) and are then often transported for long distances, usually without water, food, or rest. The trade, in Brazil, poses significant biosecurity risks, particularly because examinations are rarely conducted and therefore infectious diseases, such as glanders and infectious anemia, remain undetected. Furthermore, in chronic stress situations, the immune system is suppressed, increasing the biosecurity risk, especially because donkeys are a silent carrier of diseases. Rarely there is traceability with animals from different origins being put together in “fake farms”, before being delivered to slaughterhouses. The opportunistic strategy of collecting animals, or buying for low prices, keeping them without access to food and veterinary assistance, is what makes this trade profitable. Our experience in donkey welfare and the global skin trade suggest that it will be enormously challenging and cost-prohibitive to run a trade at the standards required to be considered humane, sustainable, and safe. Although donkeys are being blamed for the involvement in road accidents, it is not an ethical solution to maintain this trade as an alternative. Moreover, the ecological role of donkeys in native ecosystems has not been elucidated, and some studies indicate they could even have a positive effect. Regardless of the future the donkeys will have; we must guarantee a life with the least dignity to the animals under our responsibility.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between biosecurity as scored on the Italian National Animal Welfare Reference Centre (Centro di Referenza Nazionale per il Benessere Animale – CReNBA) checklist and the prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, Chlamydophila abortus and Neospora caninum on dairy farms located in Ragusa, Italy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the newly arrived pure breed sheep considering antibody against some diseases and immunization of the animal against endemic diseases of hosting area according to species. Materials and methods: A total of 42 pure exotic breed of sheep, originated from Australia namely Parendale (n=14), Suffolk (n=13) and Dorper (n=15), imported by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) were used in this study. Before shifting the animals to sheep farm, 1-month quarantine was done in an isolated shed by following step by step technique; first week was used for close observation, second week for immunization of animal against endemic diseases, third week for monitoring and observation against immunization, and the fourth week was used for determination of animal health status and immunity level. On day 1 and 2, the sheep remained at full rest along with supplied habituated feed, saline and drinking water. On day 3, fecal sample was collected from all animals to measure parasitic load. On day 4, blood and oculo-nasal discharge samples were collected to detect blood protozoa, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), foot and mouth disease (FMD) and other infectious zoonotic diseases like anthrax, brucellosis and tuberculosis. In the second week, immunization was done against PPR, FMD and hemorrhagic septisemia (HS) at two days interval. Farm biosecurity and biosafety for the workers and officers was maintained according to standard guideline. In the third week, the animals continued to be under close observation. On day 29, the antibody level produced due to vaccination was measured.Results: Parasitic load was found to be very low, and blood protozoa, PPR, FMD, anthrax, brucellosis and tuberculosis were negative. The antibody titer was detected at the acceptable level in sheep on day 29. The quarantine committee decided that the sheep were ready to transfer to the farm along with some recommendations. After completion of 1-month quarantine period, all sheep could not transmit any diseases in Bangladesh.Conclusion: Quarantine is mandatory for entering any new animal in a new area that gives the outline of different new diseases. It also acts as radar of exotic disease in a country. So, this quarantine technique serves the purpose for livestock owners effectively. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(1.000): 67-72]

Objective: Avian influenza is a zoonotic disease with a pandemic potential that can infect avian and mammalian species, including humans. Studies aimed at investigating avian influenza virus (AIV) status in asymptomatic chickens and their shedding are uncommon in Bangladesh. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the distribution of AIV subtypes in asymptomatic commercial chicken flocks and to identify the possible risk factors associated with this infection in two selected sub-districts of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A total of 582 oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 23 chicken farms during 2019 and evaluated for the presence of AIV and its subtypes by real-time reverse transcription PCR assays. Risk factors associated with AIV infection were analyzed from questionnaire data. Results: Overall, AIV prevalence was 7.73% (n = 45) with 7.39% and 7.92% in Dhamrai and Gazipur Sadar sub-districts, respectively. In AIV-positive samples, the prevalence of A/H5N1, A/H5N2, A/ H9N1, and A/H9N2 was 31.11%, 28.89%, 6.67%, and 8.89%, respectively. None of the samples were positive for N6 and N8. The odds ratio (OR) of AIV infection was 1.15 in broiler versus layer and 2 in Sonali versus layer chickens. The OR was 1.95 for medium versus small, 2.6 for large versus small flock size, 1.5 for moderate versus good biosecurity, and 2.92 for poor versus good biosecurity practicing farms. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that A/H5N1, A/H5N2, A/H9N1, and A/H9N2 are circu¬lating in asymptomatic chickens of selected areas. Strict farm biosecurity practices and avoiding higher flock density are recommended to prevent AIV spread in the study. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(1.000): 51-57]

A crucial first step in preventing the introduction and spread of harmful microorganisms in poultry farms is biosecurity. The objectives of this investigation were to assess biosecurity measures and the prevalence of different E. coli species in commercial chicken farms in Sharkia province, Egypt. Sensitivity of E. coli strains was identified, and their susceptibility to antibiotics and disinfection was evaluated as well. Four farms provided 21 samples each, for a total of 84 samples. Three samples of each were collected for water, feed, litter, cloaca, wall, hand, and foot boots. All the studied farms obtained a "poor biosecurity" grade, meaning that their overall biosecurity score, which is comprised of 40% external and 36.54% internal biosecurity, was less than 50%. Escherichia coli species were found in 79.76% of the samples. It was isolated from water, feed, litter, cloaca, walls, hands, and foot boots with percentages of 91.6; 83.3; 91.6; 100; 58.3; 58.3 and 75%, respectively. Biosecurity level had significant negative correlations with the isolated E. coil species. Escherichia coli O119 was the most common serotype in litter and the cloaca, while E. coli O1 was the most prevalent serotype in walls and hands. Additionally, serotypes for E. coli O26, O159, O128 and O78 were included. According to the patterns of antibiotic sensitivity, amikacin, nitrofurantoin, gentamycin, and levofloxacin showed intermediate sensitivity, whereas E. coli O119 bacteria were highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin. In the absence and presence of organic matter, Virocid, Cid 2000 and finally Virkon S were the most efficient against E. coli O119. According to this study, there were differences in the investigated farms' biosecurity levels in relation to the occurrence of Escherichia coli. To reduce the introduction and persistence of E. coli in poultry farms, several biosecurity practices and management, including stringent cleaning and disinfection measures should be applied.

Biosecurity is a set of practices applied to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases in animal farms. Mastitis is one of the most important diseases affecting dairy cows worldwide.This work aimed to evaluate the impact of biosecurity practices, environmental hygiene, and sanitation on milk quality, quantity, and prevalence of subclinical mastitis in some Egyptian dairy cattle farms. Along six months, Daily milk yield (DMY) was recorded and the total average milk production (TAMP) was calculated for six randomly selected cows of each of three farms (in Giza, Ismailia, and Alexandria Governorates, Egypt). A detailed questionnaire was also designed and filled out to detect the different biosecurity practices and hygienic levels. Milk, water, feed, and bedding samples were collected. In addition, swabs from workers' hands, cows' teats (before and after sanitation with Iodine 1% solution), equipment, and milking parlour surfaces were collected to assess the milk quality and environmental hygiene. Total bacterial count (TBC) and total coliform count (TCC) were determined. Subclinical mastitis (SCM) was detected using the White Side Test (WST). The obtained data revealed variable biosecurity practices in the investigated farms with different levels of environmental hygiene. A negative correlation was detected between the produced quantity and microbial quality of produced milk, besides the prevalence of SCM. Data reflected the negative impact of poor environmental hygiene on milk production and highlighted the role of following proper sanitary measures and biosecurity practices for improving milk production in dairy farms.