One Health

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https://hdl.handle.net/10388/14357

Health for all species is inextricably linked to challenges such as emerging diseases, water and food safety, and environmental degradation. We are working to develop scientific, public health and policy approaches that integrate human, animal and ecosystem health.

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Rearing pigs with play opportunities: the effects on disease resilience in pigs experimentally inoculated with PRRSV
(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2024-09) Steinerová, Karolína; Harding, John C. S.; Parker, Sarah E.; Wilson, Heather L.; Finatto, Arthur Nery; Seddon, Yolande M.
Positive emotions can reduce disease susceptibility during infectious challenges in humans, and emerging evidence suggests similar effects in farm animals. Because play behaviour may support a positive emotional state in pigs, this study investigates whether rearing pigs with regular intermittent play opportunities enhances disease resilience when challenged with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Litters were assigned to either play (PLY; n = 5 L) or control (CON; n = 4 L) treatments at birth. In PLY, play was promoted with extra space and enrichment items for three hours daily from five days of age (doa). At weaning (25 ± 2 doa; mean ± SD), 28 pigs (14/treatment) were selected for a disease challenge, based on weight, sex, and sow. The pigs were transported to a disease containment facility and at 43 ± 2 doa (day 0 post-inoculation, DPI) inoculated with PRRSV. Skin lesions, blood, rectal temperature, clinical signs, body weight, and behaviour were collected pre- and post-inoculation. Play opportunities for PLY continued every other day until euthanasia of all pigs at 65 ± 2 doa (22 DPI). PLY pigs exhibited fewer skin lesions following transport and throughout the infection compared to CON. Although the viral load did not differ between treatments, PLY pigs had a lower probability of experiencing moderate and severe respiratory distress, with a shorter duration. PLY also performed better throughout the infection, showing higher ADG and greater feed efficiency. The immune response differed as well. PLY pigs had fewer monocytes on 8 DPI than CON, with levels returning to baseline by 21 DPI, whereas CON levels exceeded baseline. Regardless of day of infection, lymphocyte counts tended to be lower in PLY than in CON, and white blood cells and neutrophils were also lower, but only in slow-growing pigs. PLY pigs continued to play during the infection, demonstrating less sickness behaviour and emphasizing the rewarding properties of play. Results suggest that PLY pigs were less affected by PRRSV and developed increased resilience to PRRSV compared to CON. This study demonstrates that rearing pigs in an environment supporting positive experiences through provision of play opportunities can enhance resilience against common modern production challenges, underscoring the value of positive welfare in intensive pig farming.
Exploring the effect of play on heart rate variability as a measure of positive emotional states in pigs
(Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2025-01) Steinerová, Karolína; Krause, Annika; Parker, Sarah E; Seddon, Yolande Maria
Play behaviour has been suggested to be inherently rewarding for animals, inducing positive emotional states. The psychophysiological effect of emotions can be assessed through heart rate variability (HRV), serving as a proxy measure of sympathovagal balance. This study investigated how the performance of play influences heart rate (HR) and HRV parameters (RMSSD, SDNN) in pigs. It was hypothesized that HRV would increase during and immediately after play due to predominant vagal activation compared to baseline, indicating a positive emotional state. Gilts (n = 32, 18 and 19 weeks of age), housed in standard partly-slatted pens, were selected from two pen-level play treatments: Novelty (NOV) and Play Pen (PLP). Play treatment pigs were reared with intermittent play promotion (3x/week) from 10 weeks of age. For HRV recordings, play was promoted for 15-min in pairs of gilts within treatment, with destructible novel objects given either in the home pen (NOV, 1 m2/pig), or in an enclosed ‘playpen’ area providing extra space (PLP, 2.9 m2/ pig). HRV was measured during a play session in three consecutive periods: (i) baseline (before play bout, no play occurring), (ii) play bout (play expression), and (iii) after-play (immediately after play bout). Twenty-six gilts played at least once. Play bouts lasted between 10 and 30 s (10 s: n = 60, 20 s: n = 18, 30 s: n = 6). In 10-s bouts, compared to baseline, RMSSD was higher during play (p = 0.027) and after-play (p = 0.015), while SDNN increased during play (p ≤ 0.001) and after-play (p = 0.008) only with ambulation (pig moving forward: walking or running). HR did not differ across periods but was higher at ambulation (p = 0.003). Twenty-sec bouts followed the same relationship with only numerical differences, while HRV in 30-s bouts did not differ. Treatments did not influence HRV. Results suggest that engaging in play increases HRV, with this effect persisting into the period immediately after play. This indicates that play contributes to positive emotional states in pigs. Physical activity involved in play influences HRV. More dynamic and energetic play involving ambulation might be more rewarding for pigs. This study provides evidence for assessing positive emotions in pigs and underscores the importance of incorporating rewarding experiences into conventional farming practices.
Broadening the spectrum of conflict and coexistence: A case study example of human-wolf interactions in British Columbia, Canada
(PLoS One, 2025-02) Doney, Ethan; Frank, Beatrice; Clark, Douglas A
Coexistence has seen an explosive rise within conservation social science scholarship. While this represents an exciting shift in the field, many academics are still skeptical. Some scholars have expressed concerns around the omission of “conflict”, naïveté, and impracticality associated with coexistence literature. In this paper, we aim to demonstrate that critiques of coexistence often stem from reductionism and decontextualization, process inefficiencies and/or inequities, failure to address and prioritize human well-being as a goal, and a lack of tools to foster open, collaborative dialogue. We draw on a case study of human-wolf interactions in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Region, British Columbia, Canada, to illustrate how coexistence efforts can, and should, prioritize “conflict”, be attentive to the real challenges of sharing spaces with wildlife, and encourage collaborative, inclusive processes that work toward tangible, actionable outcomes. We conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with residents from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience with wolves in the region. From these interviews, we articulated novel, co-developed, contextual definitions of human-wolf conflict and coexistence in the region. We then developed a collaborative tool for visualizing behavioral and cognitive elements of human-wildlife interactions through open and inclusive dialogue, using real examples from these research interviews. The research findings highlight three main principles: (1) that conflict and coexistence are contextual and should be understood as such, (2) that coexistence requires collaborative processes that pay attention to equity and inclusivity, and (3) that there are frameworks or tools that can help facilitate discussions toward practical outcomes of coexistence projects. We believe that this paper helps to disambiguate coexistence and reinforce that coexistence requires focused attention to the well-being of people as much as wildlife.
Targeted syndromic next-generation sequencing panel for simultaneous detection of pathogens associated with bovine reproductive failure
(Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2025-01) Periyasamy, Dhinesh; Huang, Yanyun; Hill, Janet
Bovine reproductive failure, which includes infertility, abortion, and stillbirth in cattle, leads to significant economic losses for beef and milk producers. Diagnosing the infectious causes of bovine reproductive failure is challenging as there are multiple pathogens associated with it. The traditional stepwise approach to diagnostic testing is time-consuming and can cause significant delays. In this study, we have developed a syndromic next-generation sequencing panel (BovReproSeq) for the simultaneous detection of 17 pathogens (bacteria, virus, and protozoa) associated with bovine reproductive failure. This targeted approach involves amplifying multiple pathogen-specific targets using ultra-multiplex PCR, followed by sequencing with the Oxford Nanopore platform and subsequent analysis of the data using a custom bioinformatic pipeline to determine the presence or absence of pathogens. We tested 116 clinical samples and found that BovReproSeq results matched with current diagnostic methods for 93% of the samples, and most of the disagreements occurring in samples with very low pathogen loads (Ct >35). At the optimal read-count threshold of 10 reads (minimum number of reads to classify the sample as positive), the clinical sensitivity of the assay was approximately 82%, while clinical specificity was 100%. The overall accuracy of the assay was 98.8%. Matthews correlation coefficient (correlation coefficient of binary classification) was approximately 0.90 and F1 score (harmonic mean of precision and recall) was 0.90, indicating excellent overall performance. Our study presents a significant advancement in detecting the infectious agents associated with bovine reproductive failure and the BovReproSeq panel’s ability to detect 17 pathogens makes it a promising tool for veterinary diagnostics.
Environment consistently impact on aquaculture: The predominant source of residual pollutants in cultured Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) across China
(Elsevier, 2024-06-04) Fang, Longxiang; Chen, Xi; Fan, Limin; Hu, gengdong; Qiu, Liping; Song, Chao; Xie, Yuwei; Giesy, John; Wang, Changbo; shunlong, meng
Advancements in monitoring and operation of aquaculture environments has minimized the concentrations of some residual pollutants in cultured aquatic products. However, currently most aquatic products are “farmed”, and relationships among residual pollutants in tissues of crabs were still unclear. In this study, 64 typical pollutants, including 25 antibiotics, 15 metal, 23 organochlorine pesticides, and one dioxin-like compound inducing hydrocarbon-receptor (AHR) activity were measured in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir Sinensis) risks of consumption assessed and ranked. The superposition of properties including severity and relative potency of effects and parameters describing persistence and exposure along with rates of usage and identification of groups most likely to be exposed were assessed in combination to rank likelihood of dietary exposure and probabilities of adverse effects for each contaminant. The results indicated that the total scores per pollutants found that Cadmium (Cd), Heptachlor epoxide (HEPE), dioxin TEQ exhibited the greatest scores and explained the severity of dietary risk, while source analysis.
Frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical bovine mastitis cases in British Columbia, Canada
(Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2024-12-26) Leon, Melissa; Rubin, Joseph; Raverty, Stephen; Ghosh, Kazal
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important bacteria responsible for clinical bovine mastitis globally, leading to significant economic losses in the dairy industry. Antimicrobials used to treat and prevent mastitis can lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in S. aureus. We retrospectively evaluated AMR of S. aureus isolates from clinical bovine mastitis cases submitted to the Animal Health Centre in British Columbia from 2013 to May 2024. S. aureus was isolated from 15.0% of submitted bovine milk samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done on 611 of 1,347 S. aureus isolates. No methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were detected based on cefoxitin susceptibility test results, which is encouraging. The highest frequencies of resistance were found for penicillin (46.6%) and ampicillin (42.1%). The lowest frequencies of resistance were to ceftiofur and sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim (0.2% each) and cephalothin (0.3%). AMR trends over our study period were generally stable, except for penicillin and ampicillin; penicillin resistance increased from 15.2% to 71.1%, and ampicillin resistance increased from 18.2% to 70.1%. The information in our study could help guide clinicians when choosing antimicrobial treatments to treat mastitis caused by S. aureus, particularly in the province of British Columbia. Because S. aureus has a broad host range and is of importance to both human and veterinary medicine, continued monitoring to detect the emergence of resistance is warranted.
Principles, barriers, and challenges of Indigenous water governance around the world
(Elsevier, 2025-01-02) Bharadwaj, Lalita; Bataebo, Sonia; Schuster Wallace, Corinne
Globally, Indigenous Nations are disproportionately faced with water challenges. This is partly because current approaches to water governance continue to systematically exclude Indigenous peoples and their worldviews from contemporary water governance structures. Given the need to reform current water governance systems to redress injustices and secure water resources for Indigenous peoples, this paper presents the findings of a scoping review designed to identify the principles, values, challenges/problems, and existing models of Indigenous water governance around the globe. Findings indicate that “water is life” is a fundamental principle of Indigenous water governance frameworks, as is “water as an interconnected whole” that forms a greater part of a community’s life and identity. The “Living Water, First Law” model and the Kistihtamahwin framework are examples of Indigenous water governance models identified. Colonization and the relegation of Indigenous knowledge remain a critical challenge to effective implementation of existing models of Indigenous water governance systems. This requires reform of contemporary water governance structures or formation of new systems that unsettle colonial legacies and privilege Indigenous worldviews and governance frameworks. These must focus on the overall health of the rivers, lakes, or freshwater entity and the holistic health of communities and be preceded by genuine nation-to-nation relationships.
Avulsion of the lateral origin of the gastrocnemius muscle mimicking cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in a dog
(Vet Record Case Reports, 2023-12) Zadeh, Abedin Shaban; Boston, Sarah Elizabeth
Avulsion of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius is an uncommon diagnosis. Nonetheless, it is a possible cause of lameness in dogs, and it could be misdiagnosed as a cranial cruciate ligament injury if a systematic approach to clinical case management is not followed. The treatment of choice for avulsion of the gastrocnemius is surgical stabilisation. The proximity to the peroneal nerve and scarcity of bone for purchase for stabilisation are surgical challenges. However, the stabilisation by a spiked washer and screw can yield an excellent outcome for return to function.
Dioctophyme renale (giant kidney worm) in a dog: A review of a parasitic disease requiring surgical treatment
(Vet Record Case Reports, 2025-01) Zadeh, Abedin Shaban; Carr, Anthony P; Jenkins, Emily J
Infection with the nematode Dioctophyme renale (giant kidney worm) in dogs and other mammals occurs following the ingestion of an aquatic host containing the infective larvae. This parasitic disease has no known effective pharmaceutical treatment. This case report describes a 7-month-old, entire, female Husky with a 2-month history of haematuria and intermittent vomiting. An abdominal ultrasound examination and microscopic finding of eggs of D. renale in urine sediment helped to establish the diagnosis. The affected right kidney and retroperitoneal worms were removed by exploratory celiotomy. The sonographic features of the worms and a comprehensive review of the latest literature, suggesting future research topics on early serological diagnosis, medical treatment options and the most recent nephron-sparing nephrotomy techniques (via nephroscopy or laparoscopy), are discussed.
Surgical treatment of dysphagia due to salivary mucocele (sialocele) in a cat
(Vet Record Case Report, 2024-12) Zadeh, Abedin Shaban; Snead, Elisabeth
This case report describes a 10-year-old, male, neutered, indoor–outdoor, domestic shorthair cat presented for hyporexia and dysphagia of 1-month duration tentatively attributed to a recent diet modification. The cat was ultimately referred for a second opinion. Examination under sedation confirmed a small, soft, fluctuating mass in the ventral intermandibular space. A fine-needle aspirate of the mass revealed its contents to be of the salivary gland origin. The sublingual–mandibular salivary gland on the left side was surgically resected, and the left sublingual mucocele (ranula) was marsupialised. Histopathology confirmed a sublingual sialocele of the resected gland. The cat recovered completely, and there has been no recurrence with an 18-month follow-up. A sublingual sialocoele is uncommonly seen in cats, but it should be on the differential diagnosis list for dysphagia in cats, especially when a sublingual mass is present.
A 350 14C yr discrepancy between bone and tooth dates from the same grave at the Early Neolithic cemetery of Shamanka II, Lake Baikal, southern Siberia: reservoir effects or a misplaced mandible?
(Radiocarbon, 2025-01) Schulting, Rick; Scharlotta, Ian; Lieverse, Angela; Jessup, Erin; Bronk Ramsey, Christopher; Bazaliiskii, Vladimir I; Weber, Andrzej
A 350 14C yr discrepancy was found between dates on postcranial remains and mandibular teeth on what was thought to be the same individual from the Early Neolithic cemetery of Shamanka II, Lake Baikal. Stable nitrogen isotope results suggested a major shift in diet between childhood (when the teeth formed) and adulthood (represented by the postcrania), which could have resulted in different 14C ages through a freshwater reservoir effect. Subsequent additional dating on the mandible and postcranial elements, however, indicated that the mandible actually belonged to a different individual. More subtle reservoir effects can be seen on the sequentially forming teeth and mandible. The practice by prehistoric hunter-gatherers of Lake Baikal of re-opening graves and removing cranial elements has long been known, but this is the first evidence for the inclusion of a mandible from a separate individual, though whether it was intentional or incidental is uncertain. As well as providing new insights into mid-Holocene mortuary practices in the region, our findings raise a cautionary note for the examination of disturbed graves.
Witnessing Self-Affirming Moments in Persons with Dementia While Interacting with Therapy Dogs: A Case Report
(MDPI, 2024-12-15) Brooks, Carolyn; Dell, Colleen; Chalmers, Darlene; Carey, Ben D. B.
Individuals, families, and communities are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias worldwide. In Canada and elsewhere, family members commonly see loved ones living with dementia experience difficult moments, including anxiety, stress, and fear. Struggling health care systems strive to apply the latest evidence-based interventions. In this case report, we explore how individuals who care for people with dementia can help redirect difficult personal and interpersonal moments towards hopeful moments in the presence of therapy dogs. The cases of four individuals diagnosed with dementia and interacting with therapy dog intervention in one of three environments—at a family home, in a hospital awaiting placement to a long-term care facility, and in a psychiatric centre—are reviewed from the perspectives of two attending therapy dog handlers. In addition to being researchers in the therapy dog field and authors on this case report, both handlers were guided in a 110 min focused conversational method by a third author, from which self-affirmation theory surfaced as a guiding framework for explaining their observations and experiences. Therapy dog visiting appears to facilitate positive social interactions that can help redirect difficult moments to moments defined by self-affirmation or experiencing a positive sense of self. This is an under-recognized association in the dementia literature. Self-affirmation is demonstrated through four themes during therapy dog visits: (a) physical movement, (b) psychological shift, (c) a transition in the experience of time, and (d) connective interactions. Therapy dogs are identified here as a promising self-affirming psychosocial intervention for individuals with dementia and their caregivers worthy of further research and practice attention.
Editorial: The shadowlands of (geo)science communication in academia – definitions, problems, and possible solutions
(Geoscience Communication, 2024-11) Gani, Shahzad; Arnal, Louise; Beattie, Lucy; Hillier, John; Illingworth, Samuel; Lanza, Tiziana; Mohadjer, Solmaz; Pulkkinen, Karoliina; Roop, Heidi; Stewart, Iain; von Elverfeldt, Kirsten; Zihms, Stephanie Gabriele
Science communication is an important part of research, including in the geosciences, as it can (1) benefit both society and science and (2) make science more publicly accountable. However, much of this work takes place in “shadowlands” that are neither fully seen nor understood. These shadowlands are spaces, aspects, and practices of science communication that are not clearly defined and may be harmful with respect to the science being communicated or for the science communicators themselves. With the increasing expectation in academia that researchers should participate in science communication, there is a need to address some of the major issues that lurk in these shadowlands. Here, the editorial team of Geoscience Communication seeks to shine a light on the shadowlands of geoscience communication by geoscientists in academia and suggest some solutions and examples of effective practice. The issues broadly fall under three categories: (1) harmful or unclear objectives, (2) poor quality and lack of rigor, and (3) exploitation of science communicators working within academia. Ameliorating these problems will require the following action: (1) clarifying objectives and audiences, (2) adequately training science communicators, and (3) giving science communication equivalent recognition to other professional activities. In this editorial, our aim is to cultivate a more transparent and responsible landscape for geoscience communication – a transformation that will ultimately benefit the progress of science; the welfare of scientists; and, more broadly, society at large.
The distribution of Babesia odocoilei in Ixodes species ticks in Canada: Implications for one health surveillance
(Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2024-11) Guillot, Camille; Pelletier, Jerome; Aenishaenslin, Cécile; Coatsworth, Heather; Dibernardo, Antonia; Koffi, Jules K.; Kulkarni, Manisha; Rocheleau, Jean-Philippe; Wilson, Christy; Russell, Curtis; Nelder, Mark; Badcock, Jacqueline; Carr, Justin; Checkley, Sylvia; Clow, Katie M; Cooper, Stephanie; Cork, Susan; Dumas, Ariane; Dergousoff, Shaun; Faraone, Nicoletta; Fraser, Erin; Graham-Derham, Scott; irace cima, alejandra; Iwasawa, Stefan; Jenkins, Emily; Leighton, Patrick; McKay, Roman; Morshed, Muhammad; Pelletier, Roxane; Ripoche, Marion; Rochon, Kateryn; Thivierge, Karine; Voordouw, Maarten; Ogden, Nicholas H; Bouchard, Catherine
Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus are vectors of a range of pathogens of public health significance in North America. These ticks transmit pathogens to and from wild animal reservoir host species, but also bite humans and expose them to the pathogens. We describe the geographical and temporal distribution of the pathogen Babesia odocoilei, the causative agent of cervid babesiosis. Ixodes spp. ticks collected through active and passive surveillance were submitted to the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada for analysis of the presence of B. odocoilei from 2018 to 2021. Generalized linear models were constructed to evaluate the temporal change of B. odocoilei prevalence across Canada. Babesia odocoilei-positive I. scapularis are widespread across south-central and eastern regions of Canada, with an overall prevalence of 12.0 % in both nymphs (CI 95 % : 11.4–12.6) and adults (CI 95 % : 11.9–12.1) collected in passive surveillance and 13.2 % (CI 95 % : 12.9–13.5) and 10.0 % (CI 95 % : 9.8–10.2) in nymphs and adult, respectively, collected in active surveillance. A single I. pacificus tick tested positive in active surveillance out of 29 ticks collected in British Columbia, while no B odocoilei-positive I. scapularis were found in passive surveillance among the 11 adult ticks tested. Although B. odocoilei infection prevalence of adult I. scapularis was significantly higher in 2019 (14.1 %) than in 2018 (7.4 %), it remained stable from 2019 to 2021, suggesting that this pathogen may already be well established in endemic tick populations. The results provided in this article represent, to date, the most comprehensive picture of B. odocoilei distribution and prevalence in ticks in Canada and highlight the interest of maintaining One Health surveillance approaches to give added insight into disease transmission cycles for less well-characterized microorganisms.

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