Dr. Andrea Pitkin recently joined PIC as a Health Assurance Veterinarian. She will be responsible for the implementation and communication of the PIC Health Assurance Program, which protects the PIC supply chain and customersâ herds. She will also provide services and solutions to key customers. Dr. Pitkin is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she studied animal science. Concurrently, while attending the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, she received her Master of Science degree in Infectious Disease in 2009, with a focus on PRRS biosecurity intervention strategies, followed by her DVM degree in 2011. Dr. Pitkin was previously employed by Fairmont Veterinary Clinic and will be relocating to the Hendersonville, Tennessee area in the near future. In the meantime, her current contact details are available at www.aasv.org/members/only/directory.php. Are you on the move? If so, let us know at aasv@aasv.org.
Monthly Archives: November 2016
ICPR Accepting Abstracts for 2017 Conference
Organizers of the 10th International Conference on Pig Reproduction are accepting abstracts from industry scientists for presentations and poster sessions. Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to present a poster or deliver a talk at the conference, June 11-14, 2017, on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, Mo.
Investors Take Action to Manage Antibiotic Overuse Risk in Farming
To mark World Antibiotic Awareness Week a new investor briefing has been released highlighting the risks to global investors from the systematic overuse of antibiotics in livestock farming. [Source: ThePigSite, November 17, 2016]
K-State Animal Science Department Launches KSUAntibiotics.org
Antibiotics are critical tools for control of diseases in livestock. Antibiotic resistance threatens the use of antibiotics in livestock for two important reasons. If resistance develops, the antibiotic may not be effective in treating the disease. Increased antibiotic resistance could lead to policies limiting access to antibiotics for use in livestock. [K-State Research and Extension, November 14, 2016]
U.S. Agricultural R&D in an Era of Falling Public Funding
Unlike in many other parts of the U.S. economy, the public sector rather than the private sector has historically been the dominant player in the conduct of research and development (R&D) directly used by agriculture. The U.S. public sector has also been the largest performer of agricultural R&D worldwide. [Source: USDA ERS Amber Waves, by Matthew Clancy, Keith Fuglie, and Paul Heisey, November 10, 2016]
OIE Strategy tackles the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Animals
Veterinary Services play a key role in combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and encouraging the prudent use and management of antimicrobial products in animals, according to the OIE Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy released today by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The OIE, the international reference organization for standards related to animal health and zoonotic diseases, works with its 180 Member Countries to fight antimicrobial resistance in particular through the development of a broad range of dedicated international Standards. [Source: OIE, November 17, 2016]
Evaluating Food Safety Risk of Toxoplasma gondii in Meat Products Consumed in the United States — Dissertation
Toxoplasma gondii is one of the leading foodborne pathogens in the United States. The main modes of T. gondii transmission are ingestion of food, soil or water contaminated with oocysts, or eating raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts. A substantial portion of human T. gondii infections is acquired through consumption of meats. The overall goal of this dissertation was to collect and summarize current knowledge and information of T. gondii infection, and estimate the risk of human T. gondii infection due to consumption of meat products that are potentially infected with T. gondii in the United States. A resource document was developed to collect relevant data of T. gondii prevalence in meat animals worldwide, and to identify risk factors associated with T. gondii prevalence. Furthermore, a quality-effects systematic meta-analysis was conducted to estimate T. gondii prevalence in meat animals raised in the United States. These results were used to define the risk level of meat category in a farm-to-retail qualitative assessment. Effects of meat processing on the survival of T. gondii were assessed, and critical steps for inactivating T. gondii were identified. An exponential and a beta-Poisson dose-response models were developed to estimate human infection by using scaling factors. Mouse-derived models were validated against data for the dose-infection relationship in rats. Two risk models were developed to quantitatively predict the risk of T. gondii infection in the United States due to consumption of fresh pork and domestically-produced lamb, respectively. The mean probability of infection per serving of fresh pork ranges from 3.2×10^-7 to 9.5×10^-6, corresponding to 94,606 and 957 new infections annually in the U.S. population and the pregnant women, respectively. The sensitivity analysis suggested that cooking is the most important parameter impacting human health risk. The mean probability of infection of lamb was estimated to be 1.5 cases per 100,000 servings, corresponding to approximately 6,300 new infections per year in the U.S. population. This project systematically evaluated food safety risk of T. gondii through meat consumption, and provided scientific evidence for risk managers that attention to T. gondii infection through meatborne routes is warranted. Guo, Miao; Evaluating Food Safety Risk of Toxoplasma gondii in Meat Products Consumed in the United States – Dissertation; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; 2015
Passion for Pigs Coming to Columbia, MO on Dec 6
Passion for Pigs is excited to announce the 8th annual “Passion for Pigs” Seminar & Trade Show in Columbia, Missouri. The event, which focuses on motivation, inspiration, and education for swine producers and veterinarians, will be held December 6, 2016 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri. To register, or for more information, contact Julie Lolli, 660-651-0570, julie.nevets@nevetsrv.com. or visit our website at www.passionforpigs.com.
Homeland Security Summer Internships
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Office of University Programs (OUP) is now accepting applications for summer internships in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for 2017. Interested applicants may apply until December 7.
It’s Time to Renew Your AASV Membership for 2017
The 2017 AASV membership renewal notices have been mailed. Membership may be renewed by mail or online at http://ecom.aasv.org/membership. In exchange for the annual dues of $235, swine veterinarians receive access to the many membership benefits described at www.aasv.org/aasv/membership.html. Full-time graduate students and members who have retired (and who belonged to AASV for at least ten consecutive years) qualify for reduced dues rates. Please contact the AASV if you have any questions regarding your membership status or the renewal materials: aasv@aasv.org or 515-465-5255.