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Harmonisation of regulations in the European Union and the European Economic Area, as of January 1, 2012, has led to an increase in the number of rescue dogs imported to Norway from Eastern European countries, in particular Romania. Today the only requirements for dogs entering Norway are rabies vaccination and prophylactic Echinococcus multilocularis treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibody levels to rabies virus in vaccinated rescue dogs and to examine if the dogs had sufficient antibody response according to the recommended titre ≥0.5 IU/ml by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). A significant proportion (53%, 95% CI (41% to 65%)) of imported rescue dogs from Eastern Europe were found to have inadequate titres after rabies vaccination. Moreover, 41 per cent of the dogs had antibody levels below or equal to 0.2 IU/ml, and among these, 14 dogs had titres ≤0.1 IU/ml, which is considered negative in the fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation assay. This study indicates that the present regulation increases the risk of introducing rabies from member states where rabies is still prevalent to countries considered free from rabies.

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On September 6, 2008, bluetongue was detected for the first time in Sweden. Intensified active surveillance in cattle and vector surveillance, prompted by the situation in northern Europe, preceded the detection. A vaccination campaign and intensive surveillance activities were initiated nationally, but with a focus on the southern part of the country. Measures included both active and passive surveillance by serology and PCR in ruminants, along with vector surveillance. The investigations revealed that the infection occurred over a large area of southern Sweden during September and October 2008, despite comparatively low vector activity, an apparently low viral load and no clinical disease. Transplacental infection was detected in one case.

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In response to a Commission request, EFSA has carried out a quantitative assessment of the risk of rabies introduction into the UK, Ireland, Sweden, and Malta due to the movement of pets incubating rabies at the time of movement. The risk that a pet is incubating rabies at the time of first vaccination is equal to the prevalence of rabies-incubating pets in the population of origin. Following induction of protective immunity by vaccination, animals already incubating rabies will still develop clinical disease as a function of time after vaccination (termed type A risk). A waiting period will reduce this risk. Afew animals may not be protected after single-shot primary vaccination. Such animals may become infected during the waiting period after vaccination. The risk of becoming infected after the first vaccination (termed type B risk) depends on the prevalence and efficiency of vaccination. Serological testing can be used to identify non-immune pets (depending on test specificity) and will therefore reduce this risk accordingly. The type A and B risks were modelled as a function of the waiting period after vaccination and fitted to a non-linear model incorporating vaccination efficiency and test specificity. The model can be used to quantify the risk of moving pets from rabies infected areas and also to investigate the effect of different control measures. In quantitative terms, the type A risk constitutes by far the major risk. Therefore, a waiting period (defined as the time spent between vaccination and pet movement to the destined country) is the major effective measure to mitigate the risk of rabies introduction due to an animal being infected before primo-vaccination. Serological testing will only add significantly to risk reduction when waiting periods exceed 100 days. Within the EU, the rabies prevalence in most countries is so low that the risk can be considered negligible. However, for some countries the risk is non-negligible.

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The genetic diversity of Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) was examined. Sequences obtained from 35 clinical samples were compared with five published sequences. An unusual, high genetic variability was revealed. Three phylogenetic subgroups of AMDV were identified, and the presence of more than one genotype at some farms was detected.

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Forty-three children with 46 lacerations of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon were evaluated at a mean of five and a half years (range three to 10) after tendon repair. Postoperatively, 27 digits were treated with early controlled mobilisation as described by Kleinert and 19 digits were immobilised in plaster. Thirty-one digits were primarily repaired within 24 hours, and in 15 digits repair was delayed. The return of total active motion (TAM) in the interphalangeal joints was evaluated with the Strickland formula, and the mean was 77%. TAM correlated with the age of the child at the time of injury. Variables such as postoperative regimen, concurrent injury to the superficial tendon or digital nerve, delayed tendon repair, localisation of injury in the fibro-osseous canal, and type of trauma, had no significant effect on the final result.

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One hundred and fifty patients were examined 8-10 years after a fracture of the lower limb to evaluate whether the frequency of deep venous insufficiency (DVI) was influenced by the type of fracture. The evaluation included clinical examination, subjective complaints, venous pressure, plethysmography and doppler sonography. Symptoms and signs of DVI were more common in the fractured than in the uninjured limbs, while objectively diagnosed DVI did not differ between the groups. Only minor differences were present in the development of DVI between limbs with various types of fracture (hip fractures were not included in the study). High age and incompetence of the popliteal valves were more important in the development of DVI than the earlier fracture. The frequency of objectively measured DVI in the fractured limbs was 35 per cent and in the uninjured limbs 30 per cent.

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