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J C Gibbens

Publications and source records attributed to J C Gibbens.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

National survey for Salmonella in pigs, cattle and sheep at slaughter in Great Britain (1999-2000).

AIMS: The objective of these surveys was to estimate the prevalence of faecal carriage of Salmonella in healthy pigs, cattle and sheep at slaughter, and of pig carcase contamination with Salmonella. These data can be used as a baseline against which future change in Salmonella prevalence in these species at slaughter can be monitored. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this first randomized National Survey for faecal carriage of Salmonella in slaughter pigs, cattle and sheep in Great Britain, 2509 pigs, 891 cattle and 973 sheep were sampled in 34 pig abattoirs and 117 red meat abattoirs in England, Scotland and Wales. Carriage of Salmonella in 25 g caecal contents was identified in 578 (23.0% pigs) but in only 134 (5.3%) of carcase swabs. The predominant Salmonella serovars found in both types of sample were S. Typhimurium (11.1% caeca, 2.1% carcases) and S. Derby (6.3% caeca, 1.6% carcases). The main definitive phage types (DT) of S. Typhimurium found were DT104 (21.9% of caecal S. Typhimurium isolates), DT193 (18.7%), untypable strains (17.6%), DT208 (13.3%) and U302 (13.3%). Three isolates of S. Enteritidis (PTs 13A and 4) and one enrofloxacin-resistant S. Choleraesuis were also isolated. A positive 'meat-juice ELISA' was obtained from 15.2% of pigs at 40% optical density (O.D.) cut-off level and 35.7% at 10% cut-off. There was poor correlation between positive ELISA results or carcase contamination and the caecal carriage of Salmonella. The ratio of carcase contamination to caecal carriage rates was highest in abattoirs from the midland region of England and in smaller abattoirs. In cattle and sheep 1 g samples of rectal faeces were tested. Two isolates (i.e. 0.2%) were recovered from cattle, one each of S. Typhimurium, DT193 and DT12. One sheep sample (0.1%) contained a Salmonella, S. Typhimurium DT41. In a small subsidiary validation exercise using 25 g of rectal faeces from 174 cattle samples, three (1.7%) isolates of Salmonella (S. Typhimurium DT104, S. Agama, S. Derby) were found. CONCLUSIONS: The carriage rate of Salmonella in prime slaughter cattle and sheep in Great Britain was very low compared with pigs. This suggests that future control measures should be focused on reduction of Salmonella infection on pig farms and minimizing contamination of carcases at slaughter. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work has set baseline figures for Salmonella carriage in these species slaughtered for human consumption in Great Britain. These figures were collected in a representative way, which enables them to be used for monitoring trends and setting control targets.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2002

Temporal and geographical distribution of cases of foot-and-mouth disease during the early weeks of the 2001 epidemic in Great Britain.

Estimates of the likely dates of infection of the early cases of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic indicate that at least 57 premises in 16 counties in Great Britain were infected before the first case was disclosed. Nationwide animal movement controls were imposed within three days of the first case being confirmed on February 20, when FMD was only known to be in two counties, and these controls limited its geographical spread. After the first few cases were confirmed, new cases were rapidly discovered, and the epidemic curve for the daily number of confirmed cases peaked five weeks later, 11 days later than the peak of the curve based on the estimated dates of infection. In the peak week, both curves showed an average daily number of 43 new cases. The estimated dates of infection are believed to be relatively unbiased for the early cases, for which they were derived from a known contact with infection. However, for the later cases they were estimated mainly from the age of the clinical signs of the disease, and were biased by species and other factors, a bias which would probably have made the estimated dates later than was in fact the case.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Faecal carriage of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 in cattle and sheep at slaughter in Great Britain.

A 12-month abattoir survey was conducted between January 1999 and January 2000, to determine the prevalence of faecal carriage of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) in cattle and sheep slaughtered for human consumption in Great Britain. Samples of rectum containing faeces were collected from 3939 cattle and 4171 sheep at 118 abattoirs, in numbers proportional to the throughput of the premises. The annual prevalence of faecal carriage of VTEC O157 was 4.7 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 4.1 to 5.4) for cattle and 1.7 per cent (1.3 to 2.1) for sheep, values which were statistically significantly different from each other (P < 0.001). The organisms were recovered from both cattle and sheep slaughtered throughout the year and at abattoirs in all regions of the country, but the highest prevalence was in the summer. The most frequency recovered VTEC O157 isolates were phage types 2, 8 and 21/28 in cattle and 4 and 32 in sheep, the five most frequently isolated phage types associated with illness in people in Great Britain during the same period.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2001

Descriptive epidemiology of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in Great Britain: the first five months.

In February 2001, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in Great Britain. A major epidemic developed, which peaked around 50 cases a day in late March, declining to under 10 a day by May. By mid-July, 1849 cases had been detected. The main control measures employed were livestock movement restrictions and the rapid slaughter of infected and exposed livestock. The first detected case was in south-east England; infection was traced to a farm in north-east England to which all other cases were linked. The epidemic was large as a result of a combination of events, including a delay in the diagnosis of the index case, the movement of infected sheep to market before FMD was first diagnosed, and the time of year. Virus was introduced at a time when there were many sheep movements around the country and weather conditions supported survival of the virus. The consequence was multiple, effectively primary, introductions of FMD virus into major sheep-keeping areas. Subsequent local spread from these introductions accounted for the majority of cases. The largest local epidemics were in areas with dense sheep populations and livestock dealers who were active during the key period. Most affected farms kept both sheep and cattle. At the time of writing the epidemic was still ongoing; however, this paper provides a basis for scientific discussion of the first five months.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A trial of biosecurity as a means to control Campylobacter infection of broiler chickens.

We ran a controlled intervention trial to assess whether the risk of a broiler flock becoming infected with Campylobacter could be reduced by biosecurity measures. These were a standard method of cleansing and disinfecting the poultry house prior to stocking, and a standard hygiene protocol followed by all personnel who entered the study house during the flock's life. Thirty-nine flocks were allocated to intervention or control groups in a ratio of 1:2. Intervention flocks were asked to follow the specified biosecurity measures; all flocks were monitored weekly for Campylobacter infection. Analysis of infection at 42 days of age and over the life of the flock showed that the risk of thermophilic Campylobacter infection of broilers was reduced by over 50% in intervention flocks. Parts of the intervention identified as significant in the univariable analysis included twice weekly replenishment of boot dip disinfectant; potential independent risk factors identified included the location of ventilation fans and daily sanitisation of the water supply. The non-random allocation of 10 flocks to the control group may have introduced some study bias (the effect of which is discussed in the paper).

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1989

An abattoir survey of the prevalence of gastro-intestinal helminths and Stephanurus dentatus in pigs in Belize.

In an abattoir survey in Belize 137 pigs were examined for gastro-intestinal helminths and Stephanurus dentatus. Hyostrongylus rubidus, Physocephalus sexalatus, Globocephalus species and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were recorded for the first time. Ascarops strongylina, Ascaris suum, Macracanthorynchus hirudinaceus, Strongyloides ransomi, Trichuris suis, Oesophagostomum species and S. dentatus were also found. Oesophagostomum species (45%) and S. dentatus (42%) were the most prevalent. The prevalence of infection with different species was compared between pigs of different origin, breed and management. Differences were apparently due to management; most species were more common in poorly managed pigs. M. hirudinaceus and S. dentatus were used as "markers" to indicate poor management. The usual methods of faecal egg counting were found to be unreliable for the diagnosis of M. hirudinaceus infection.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1986

Immunoglobulin class responses to Taenia taeniaeformis in susceptible and resistant mice.

The immunoglobulin class response of two inbred strains of mice, C57BL/6 and C3H/He, to infection and challenge with Taenia taeniaeformis larvae was compared using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and gel electrophoresis followed by immunoelectrotransfer blot (Western blotting) techniques. The C57BL/6 mice, which are relatively resistant to infection, had a more restricted humoral response than the more susceptible, C3H/He mice. C3H/He mice produced a wider range of immunoglobulin classes, in particular IgA and IgG3, to those antigens recognized by both strains of mice. In addition they produced antibodies to a wider range of antigens. The production of these additional antibodies by the susceptible strain raises the possibility that some of the antibodies may have specificities which interfere, or block the action of potentially protective antibodies. Antibodies, mainly of the IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b classes, to antigens of approximately less than 21,000, 21,000-23,000, 30,000 and 60,000 mol. wt, present both in the oncosphere and the metacestode extracts, were found in serum from previously infected and resistant mice of both strains. These antigens may be important in stimulating protective concomitant immunity.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease in the United Kingdom.

In April 1992, an investigation of sudden, increased mortality among adult rabbits on two premises in the south of England revealed clinical and pathological findings consistent with rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Virus particles morphologically resembling caliciviruses were detected in the livers of affected rabbits, and further studies confirmed the first recorded cases of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in the United Kingdom.

Animals↗