Enhanced outbreak prediction and control and increased knowledge on RVF epidemiology would benefit from additional field data, continued development, and refinement of modeling techniques for exploring plausible disease transmission mechanisms and the impact of intervention strategies.
Although seasonality is recognised as an important part of agricultural-based livelihoods, limited literature is available on the subject area, and it is often only alluded to in discussion of other aspects of rural livelihoods. A 2-year longitudinal study to examine the influences of seasonal changes on livestock keeping in a smallholder crop-livestock production system was carried out in Busia District, western Kenya. The study aimed to obtain a picture of yearly variations in household activities and resources, as a means of understanding decisions made by households regarding animal health management, and household times of vulnerability in terms of losing animals. Data collection coincided with the three main seasons in the study area. Information on (inter alia) seasonal livelihood activities, animal health care expenses, numbers of disease episodes and livestock movements into and out of households was collected using questionnaires and participatory rural appraisal methodologies. Farmers suggested clear and consistent seasonal changes and events, but data analyses did not show the patterns expected in relation to livestock keeping. Important observations were made in relation to livestock disease episodes and the use of veterinary services; livestock disease episodes were higher during the long rains than in the dry season, but more money was spent during the dry season when numbers of disease episodes were low, and more households also used professional veterinary services during this season (chi(2) = 81.47, P < 0.001). In both study years, a higher proportion of households treated animals themselves during the rainy seasons (z = -2.4, P = 0.02; z = -5.03, P < 0.001).
Background: The hormones insulin and adiponectin are commonly measured in equids because of their involvement in endocrinopathic laminitis. These are currently measured in serum/plasma, although jugular venipuncture can cause stress in some animals and may be impossible in needle-shy individuals. However, both hormones can be measured in saliva in other species.Objectives: To determine whether [insulin] and [total adiponectin] are detectable in equine saliva using automated assays and whether saliva collection is associated with changes in stress indicators. Additionally, the correlation between serum and salivary[insulin] was investigated. Study design: In vivo experiment.Methods: Paired blood and saliva samples were collected from eight adult ponies at multiple time-points (n = 45 paired samples). [Insulin] and [total adiponectin] were measured using automated assays validated for equine serum/plasma. Blink rates and heart rates were determined, using video recordings and a wearable heart rate monitor respectively, to assess the effects of sample collection on stress indicators compared with a control situation without a stressful stimulus.Results: [Total adiponectin] was undetectable in saliva. However, salivary [insulin] was measurable with acceptable inter-assay (1.3 ± 0.9%) and intra-assay (1.1 ± 0.6%) variability. Blink and heart rates during saliva collection did not differ significantly from those in the control setting. Serum and salivary [insulin] were not significantly correlated.Main limitations: Small sample size comprising native UK ponies; potential sampling bias as animals were recruited to the study partly based on their behaviour during blood sampling; saliva collected from unfasted animals.Conclusions: Insulin is measurable in equine saliva using an automated assay currently available in the UK, but further validation and the determination of specific diagnostic thresholds are required. Saliva collection was not associated with changes in stress indicators. Further research is therefore needed to determine the potential of equine saliva as a non-invasive alternative to blood for insulin determination.
This paper explores how Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars who continue working during their studies apply the knowledge and skills that they acquire from their distance learning courses in their workplaces and demonstrates the impact of distance learning for students who continue to work, both on themselves and their workplaces. It draws upon data that has been collected though an annual survey of Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars from the second year of their studies onwards, as well as a bespoke survey that was sent to Employers of current Scholars in 2021 to collect their views on how the Scholarship has affected both their employee’s own work, and their workplace more broadly. It demonstrates that these Scholars not only realise significant changes to their knowledge and skills, but that they also apply this knowledge and skills in their workplaces. This is done both through their own work but also by passing their learning on to others and making changes to their workplaces.
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