Livestock movement patterns in the main livestock production provinces of Lao PDR

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly infectious transboundary disease that is endemic and affects the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). Knowledge about livestock movement patterns is important for preventing the spread of FMD between villages. This study describes the livestock movement patterns in Champasak, Savannakhet and Xiangkhouang provinces of Lao PDR. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with randomly selected villagers (n = 195) and traders (n = 169) in 115 villages between February and March 2019. Livestock owners commonly purchased (mainly breeding) animals from other smallholders (81%) and sold (mainly slaughter) animals to traders (76%) or other smallholders (16%), typically within the same district and province. The median inter-village trade distance was 20-30 km, with an average frequency of 4 trades per village per month. Traders purchased animals from smallholders (71%) and middlemen (25%) located within their district. It was common for many traders (74%) to retain animals at their property before selling, typically a median of 4 beef cattle per trader. Local trades within the district were far more common (72%) than distant trades. The movements of grazing/fattening large ruminants between villages were reported in 30% of the villages in all three provinces and occurred mostly within the same district or province in short distance (6 km). Social Network Analysis has identified animal movement hubs in the three provinces which could be targeted for FMD control and surveillance. Movements of animals for further use (fattening/ reproduction), long-distance movements and frequent local movements described in this area have important implications for FMD circulation. The findings from the study will inform FMD spread simulation models for Lao PDR. The knowledge gained from these data will also help the Lao PDR authorities understand the patterns of animal movements associated with disease spread.

Biosecurity in endemic foot and mouth disease settings: a case study of foot and mouth disease vaccination in South-East Asia

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection affecting cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs. The disease is endemic in several parts of Asia, as well as most of Africa and the Middle East. In 1997, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) established the South-East Asia Foot and Mouth Disease Campaign with the aim of increasing livestock sector productivity and economic output through the control and eradication of FMD in South-East Asia. Large-scale vaccination of livestock against FMD has in the past led to the successful eradication (or control) of the disease, for example in the Philippines. However, despite the benefit associated with large-scale vaccination, biosecurity risks can be created by vaccination teams moving between locations. It is therefore recommended that biosecurity measures are used by vaccination teams to prevent inadvertent disease spread. The majority of existing guidelines are focused on high-risk situations such as exotic animal disease outbreaks in developed countries, or agents posing a risk to human health. This paper describes the development of novel biosecurity guidelines for vaccination teams in South-East Asia. To achieve this, available literature was scanned followed by in-country workshops and field-testing of draft materials. Entry and exit procedures are laid out within the context of five core rules that follow the biosecurity principles of situational awareness, segregation, cleaning and disinfection. Guidelines and accompanying fact sheets were translated into local languages and included in a comprehensive vaccination training programme for all vaccination teams undertaking cattle FMD vaccination programmes in the New Zealand OIE FMD control project target countries (Myanmar and Laos). The material developed has wide practical relevance to veterinarians, traditional healers and village or community animal health workers, who all pose a heightened risk of spreading infectious agents.

Use of image guided radiation therapy techniques and imaging dose measurement at Indian hospitals: A survey

A national survey was conducted to obtain information about the use of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) techniques and IGRT dose measurement methods being followed at Indian radiotherapy centers. A questionnaire containing parameters relevant to use of IGRT was prepared to collect the information pertaining to (i) availability and type of IGRT delivery system, (ii) frequency of image acquisition protocol and utilization of these images for different purpose, and (iii) imaging dose measurement. The questionnaire was circulated to 75 hospitals in the country having IGRT facility, and responses of 51 centers were received. Survey results showed that among surveyed hospitals, 86% centers have IGRT facility, 78% centers have kilo voltage three-dimensional volumetric imaging. 75% of hospitals in our study do not perform computed tomography dose index measurements and 89% of centers do not perform patient dose measurements. Moreover, only 29% physicists believe IGRT dose is additional radiation burden to patient. This study has brought into focus the need to design a national protocol for IGRT dose measurement and development of indigenous tools to perform IGRT dose measurements.