New gene test to save dogs.

Veterinarians have struggled for years to understand why a common heartworm medicine causes some dogs to fall into a coma and die,though they knew it primarily affects herding dogs, such as collies and Australian shepherds – breeds known for their furry white feet. A Washington State University(WSU) professor, Dr. Katrina Mealey, solved that puzzle in 2001 by pinpointing a mutation that makes the drug react differently in some dogs and cats. She also invented a simple genetic test to detect the mutation, likely preventing thousands of pet owners from poisoning their furry friends. Mealey grew up with pet collies and went on to earn doctorates in pharmacology and veterinary medicine. The mutation has been observed in about a dozen dog breeds. A certain gene produces a protein that pumps drugs and other toxins out of the brain. With the mutation, however, the gene doesn’t produce enough of the protein, allowing certain drugs to accumulate in the brain. The results can be devastating. Mealey pointed to one case in 2009 involving a miniature Australian shepherd named Cash. When Cash was a puppy, his owner took him to visit some horse stables in Montana. It’s there, veterinarians suspect, that Cash ate some of the heartworm medicine ivermectin. Soon Cash began staggering and lapsed into a coma. After visiting a veterinary emergency room in Bozeman, he was flown by chartered plane to WSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Cash was hospitalized for 26 days, eight of which he was comatose and needed a ventilator to breathe. Nursed back to health, he walked out of the hospital two days before Thanksgiving. Pet owners can submit for testing a vial of a pet’s blood or a swab of its mouth as owners are advised that unless it’s a pedigreed purebred testing is necessary.more

Campylobacter and Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Campylobacter and Guillain-Barré Syndrome, this seems strange and fictitious but its true and causing havoc. The truth is many people cannot link eating food or drinking milk with possibility of paralysis. Campylobacter jejuni is in a genus of bacteria that is among the most common causes of bacterial infections in humans worldwide and commonly found in animal feces.It is the major cause of gastroenteritis in man and has been linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare condition in which a person immune system attacks the nerves, leading to muscle weakness and even paralysis.This cause of this condition is unknown, but it’s typically triggered by an infectious illness, such as the stomach flu or a lung infection. The signs of C.jejuni infection include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and malaise and diarrhea can vary in severity from loose to bloody stools. Campylobacter jejuni is commonly associated with poultry as it naturally colonizes the digestive tract of many bird species hence contamination of carcass during processing is a major route of infection in man. C. jejuni has also been identified in cattle gastrointestinal tract,the major form of distribution is drinking contaminated water or unpasteurized milk. Contaminated food is a major source of infections, where poorly prepared meat and poultry are the primary source of the bacteria. Surveys show that 20 to 100% of retail chickens are contaminated, this is not a surprise as many healthy chickens carry these bacteria in their intestinal tracts. Raw milk is also a source of infections, the bacteria are often carried by healthy cattle and by flies on farms. Unchlorinated water may also be another source of infections but properly cooking chicken, pasteurizing milk, and chlorinating drinking water kill the bacteria. This is one of the reason to stop drinking raw milk , stop eating poorly cooked chicken or meat and using contaminated water. This is a story of how a healthy nurse became a quadriplegic because of c. jejuni read

Studies reaffirm international campylobacter concerns

Studies reaffirm international campylobacter concerns: Fears over campylobacter levels in chicken in New Zealand have been reignited, thanks to recent research.

Broiler diseases pose no further threat to food safety

Broiler diseases pose no further threat to food safety: Degenerative breast diseases in broiler chickens have been proven to present no risk to food safety, nor are they associated with infectious or pathogenic agents.

Bangladeshis must boost protein intake to fight stunted growth, says UN expert

Bangladeshis must boost protein intake to fight stunted growth, says UN expert: As Bangladesh grapples with the problem of stunted growth in children, a United Nations expert has called for a boost in animal protein consumption within the south Asian country to tackle the crisis.

What bumps on the road should the meat supply chain watch out for in 2017?

What bumps on the road should the meat supply chain watch out for in 2017?: Power shifts, margin squeezes, the potential of alternative proteins in food and feed, value added meat products, uncertainty around currency movements and trade talks will likely be the dominant themes of the animal protein supply chain in 2017, finds a Rabobank report.

Brazil’s billion-dollar meat industry faces price and health pressures

Brazil’s billion-dollar meat industry faces price and health pressures: Brazil’s giant meat industry could become the world’s top protein exporter next decade, but analysts warn it needs to understand consumer demands are changing.