A wide variety of control and surveillance programmes that are designed and implemented based on country-specific conditions exists for infectious cattle diseases that are not regulated. This heterogeneity renders difficult the comparison of probabilities of freedom from infection estimated from collected surveillance data. The objectives of this review were to outline the methodological and epidemiological considerations for the estimation of probabilities of freedom from infection from surveillance information and review state-of-the-art methods estimating the probabilities of freedom from infection from heterogeneous surveillance data. Substantiating freedom from infection consists in quantifying the evidence of absence from the absence of evidence. The quantification usually consists in estimating the probability of observing no positive test result, in a given sample, assuming that the infection is present at a chosen (low) prevalence, called the design prevalence. The usual surveillance outputs are the sensitivity of surveillance and the probability of freedom from infection. A variety of factors influencing the choice of a method are presented; disease prevalence context, performance of the tests used, risk factors of infection, structure of the surveillance programme and frequency of testing. The existing methods for estimating the probability of freedom from infection are scenario trees, Bayesian belief networks, simulation methods, Bayesian prevalence estimation methods and the STOC free model. Scenario trees analysis is the current reference method for proving freedom from infection and is widely used in countries that claim freedom. Bayesian belief networks and simulation methods are considered extensions of scenario trees. They can be applied to more complex surveillance schemes and represent complex infection dynamics. Bayesian prevalence estimation methods and the STOC free model allow freedom from infection estimation at the herd-level from longitudinal surveillance data, considering risk factor information and the structure of the population. Comparison of surveillance outputs from heterogeneous surveillance programmes for estimating the probability of freedom from infection is a difficult task. This paper is a ‘guide towards substantiating freedom from infection’ that describes both all assumptions-limitations and available methods that can be applied in different settings.

Minerals are essential substances with an important function in livestock, and their disbalance negatively affects the health and production, especially of ruminants. The addition of fat to the rations of dairy cows impacts the overall and mineral metabolism, and thus on health and production. The aim of the research was to examine the correlative relationships between balanced production meals and the mineral status of lactating cows with different ration compositions with or without the presence of vegetable oil. The research was conducted on 30 dairy cows of the Holstein breed at the Butmir farm, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Three groups of 10 animals were formed based on productivity (A, 13-15 kg of milk/day, B, 19-21 kg of milk/day and C, 25-27 kg of milk/day). Samples of feed, blood plasma and milk of animals were collected on three occasions a 3-week intervals. According to the feed analysis results, the rations were standardized for each group, given for three weeks without oil,and then for three weeks with the addition of sunflower oil in the amount of 2.5% of the ration dry matter. After determining the content of basic nutrients, dry matter and ash in the rations, the concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na and K were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry,while the colorimetric method was used to analyse P according to Woy and Eggertz-Finkener. Analysis of blood mineral parameters was performed spectrophotometrically. The content of fat, proteins, lactose, and non-fat dry matter in milk samples was determined by infrared spectrometry using an automatic analyser. Based on the results, we observed a similarity in changes of values and the statistical significance of the differences in plasma Ca, P and Mg between the study groups and at sampling intervals. Milk production was positively correlated with the concentration of Mg and Ca with addition of the sunflower oil to the meal, while no correlation coefficient was established for P in any of the samplings. Balanced meals with and without the addition of oil did not significantly affect the content of Ca, P or Mg in the blood plasma of the tested animals, nor were significant differences found between the groups. However, by determining the correlations between milk parameters and blood biochemical parameters, a significant positive correlation was established between the amount of milk and Ca and Mg levels with a diet supplemented by oil. Given that the addition of sunflower oil in the amount of 2.5% of dry matter of the balanced rations for cows had no negative effects on the mineral profile and the parameters of the tested animals, we conclude that the introduction of this oil could be useful both from the economic point and improving nutritional composition of milk as an animal food present in the daily human diet.

Introduction The veterinary profession is facing various challenges in the 21st century, such as livestock production intensification, shifting distribution of infectious diseases, growing focus on food safety alongside growing demand for companion animals’ veterinary services. Information technologies and digitalization trends had driven changes in many business sectors, including providing veterinary services thus opening new avenues to overcome the existing challenges this profession is facing. Methods A study was conducted among 244 veterinary practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The gathered information related to subjects involving digital presence, the utilization of information technologies, and the business performance. To obtain this information, a personalized questionnaire was utilized as the means for collecting data. Results The study revealed that only 10.2% had a business-associated website, and 54.9% were present on at least one social media platform. The study suggests that a positive impact on annual profit can be achieved through the implementation of effective digital marketing strategies such as web presence, search engine optimization, Google business account existence, website Google advertisement, continuous administration of social media, and social media advertisement. The statistical analysis indicates that Google advertisements, website search engine optimization, and social media advertisements greatly affect annual profit. Discussion Improving digital presence of veterinary businesses with professionally managed websites, use of social media platforms, investment in online marketing strategies, and adopting telehealth services and online access to patient records positively affects business performance and better fits the growing needs of clients and society.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.688078.].

The International Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), from the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, promoted One Health in global and national responses. The OIE accentuated the role of the veterinary profession due to testing capacity of animal health laboratories and expertise. Veterinary Faculty Sarajevo through its Veterinary Institute participates in the national veterinary service with diagnostic and advisory roles. It has proactively enhanced the scope and quality of laboratories, including strengthening the interdisciplinarity and internationality. Development achieved through earlier pandemic threats resulted in having laboratory and technical facilities for molecular SARS-CoV-2 detection in the wake of the unveiling COVID-19 pandemic (early 2020). From confirmation of the first COVID-19 cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), our staff participated in crisis response teams and, so far, held over sixty media addresses promoting public awareness and science based information. Our laboratories were included in the official detection system and were the first to sequence SARS-CoV-2, then to establish the Alpha COVID-19 variant in BiH human samples and to substantiate one-way virus transmission from humans to pets. The aim of this paper is to describe our activities as a participant in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside faced challenges and gained experiences.

Many wild animal populations are considered endangered due to anthropogenic activities. Wildlife and nature habitat preservation requires holistic and science based approaches supported by adequate regulations. One of the means for wildlife preservation is undoubtedly heath monitoring and investigation of infectious diseases of the wild animal populations, particularly if spillover effects are considered. Even though the theoretical background is well researched, implementation of disease prevention and control measures in wildlife populations entails more challenges than in domestic animal populations. Immediate signs of health disorders in wildlife often become evident when the infectious agent is well established in an area. Additionally, due to unrestricted and often long-range movement of wildlife, diseases are easily spread across borders. Brown bears, indigenous in Europe, are classified by EU regulations as endangered, almost extinct and rare. The wild bear population in Bosnia and Herzegovina shares a genetic lineage with bear populations of neighbouring Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and is one of the few remaining fragments of bear populations in Europe. The aim of this paper is to describe implemented activities for health and telemetric monitoring of wild bears in the Nature Park Skakavac, Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This research aimed to study the influence of differences in the composition and storage length of mechanically deboned poultry meat (MDPM) on the sensory properties of frankfurters. Three variants of frankfurters were produced from three respective alternatives of MDPM that differed solely in proportions of meat from broiler backs and necks. Similarly, a commercially available and freshly produced MDPM of unknown composition was used as the control. All the four variants of MDPM were stored at -18 °C for 1, 45 and 90 days. Sensory profiling of the frankfurters was performed by 8 panellists using a quantitative-descriptive analysis (QDA). Two-factorial ANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA) of the sensory evaluation results revealed significant (p < 0.05) effects of the storage time of the MDPM variants on sensory characteristics of the frankfurters, regardless of their composition.

The COST action “Standardising output-based surveillance to control non-regulated diseases of cattle in the European Union (SOUND control),” aims to harmonise the results of surveillance and control programmes (CPs) for non-EU regulated cattle diseases to facilitate safe trade and improve overall control of cattle infectious diseases. In this paper we aimed to provide an overview on the diversity of control for these diseases in Europe. A non-EU regulated cattle disease was defined as an infectious disease of cattle with no or limited control at EU level, which is not included in the European Union Animal health law Categories A or B under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002. A CP was defined as surveillance and/or intervention strategies designed to lower the incidence, prevalence, mortality or prove freedom from a specific disease in a region or country. Passive surveillance, and active surveillance of breeding bulls under Council Directive 88/407/EEC were not considered as CPs. A questionnaire was designed to obtain country-specific information about CPs for each disease. Animal health experts from 33 European countries completed the questionnaire. Overall, there are 23 diseases for which a CP exists in one or more of the countries studied. The diseases for which CPs exist in the highest number of countries are enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhoea and anthrax (CPs reported by between 16 and 31 countries). Every participating country has on average, 6 CPs (min–max: 1–13) in place. Most programmes are implemented at a national level (86%) and are applied to both dairy and non-dairy cattle (75%). Approximately one-third of the CPs are voluntary, and the funding structure is divided between government and private resources. Countries that have eradicated diseases like enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhoea have implemented CPs for other diseases to further improve the health status of cattle in their country. The control of non-EU regulated cattle diseases is very heterogenous in Europe. Therefore, the standardising of the outputs of these programmes to enable comparison represents a challenge.

Abstract More than 30 dog parasite species have been identified in Bosnia and Herzegovina so far, and half of these are zoonotic. The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence of parasitic infections in dogs from Bosnian-podrinje canton with a focus on zoonotic parasites. The study included 212 dogs (107 owned and 105 stray). One or more of the twenty parasite species were found in 82.55% of tested samples. Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Class Trematoda) was found in 0.94% of dogs. Dipylidium caninum and Mesocestoides lineatus (Class Cestoda) were found in 7.55% and 0.94% of dogs, respectively. Taenia spp. and Echinococcus spp. (Family Taeniidae) were found in 0.47% and 0.94% of samples, respectively. In the family of Nematoda, the following parasite species were identified with corresponding percent among tested dogs: Toxocara canis (25.94%), Toxascaris leonine (8.96%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.47%), Ancylostoma caninum (3.77%), Uncinaria stenocephala (52.36%), Trichuris vulpis (22.17%), Eucoleus aerophilus (1.42%), Dirofilaria immitis (1.89%) and Dirofilaria repens (1.42%). In the kingdom of Protozoa, the following parasite species were identified with corresponding percent among tested dogs: Cystoisospora canis (8.49%), C. ohioensis (2.36%), Cryptosporidium spp. (4.72%), Sarcocystis spp. (0.47%), Babesia spp. (5.19%), and Giardia duodenalis (15.57%). Leishmania infantum was not identified in tested samples. The results showed a high level of parasitic infestation in the dog population in the Bosnian-Podrinje canton, with a high occurrence of zoonotic parasites. Significant differences were found between owned and stray dogs for all classes of detected parasites with exception of the class Trematoda, disregarding specific parasite species.

A 12-point checklist in the design and practical application of active surveillance of diseases in aquatic organisms (farmed and wild) has been developed to serve as a methodological approach and guidance for a multidisciplinary team particularly in countries where surveillance expertise is limited. The checklist is based on a review of available main aquatic surveillance references and scientific literature and was further developed based on the outcomes of several aquaculture biosecurity project-related workshops hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The checklist includes the following: (1) scenario setting; (2) defining surveillance objective; (3) defining the populations; (4) disease clustering; (5) case definition; (6) diagnostic testing; (7) study design and sampling; (8) data collection and management; (9) data analysis; (10) validation and quality assurance; (11) human and financial resources and logistics requirements; and (12) surveillance in the bigger picture. For a multidisciplinary approach to disease control, knowledge of fish biology, aquaculture systems and many aspects of aquaculture health management are required. Surveillance needs significant financial investment and must be supported by adequate diagnostic capability, information system management, legal framework and communication networks, with transparent reporting mechanisms to allow rapid disease response for serious diseases of aquatic organisms. It is a stepwise and pragmatic approach that offers a good starting point for addressing disease issues especially in developing countries. It can be used as a model to build targeted surveillance competency and a basic reference when implementing a surveillance programme or improving existing programmes.

that the air sacs. The morphology of the air sacs system has been described in many domestic and wild bird Abstract | The research was conducted with the aim to investigate the morphology of air sacs system in Crimson Rosella ( Platycercus elegans ) parrots. Five adult birds, two males and three females were used in this study. The lungs and air sac system were injected via trachea with 26% solution of Vinylite mass. The obtained cast showed that these parrots have nine air sacs. The clavicular air sac was the only unpaired, while the cervical, cranial thoracic, caudal thoracic and abdominal air sacs were paired. The morphology of the air sacs was generally similar to that reported in other bird species, however, some specific features were identified. As most prominent among them were a partial fusion of the cervical air sacs, communication between the left and right subpectoral and perirenal diverticula and connection between the claviclar and cranial thoracic air sacs. The present investigation provided detailed and comprehensive data about the morphology of air sacs system in these parrot species and these findings will be very useful for future clinical examination and treatment of this birds.

Mastitis is frequent and costly disease in dairy farming, while antimicrobial resistance is an important public health threat. Increasing resistance among zoonotic pathogens led to more investigation among animal pathogens. Study, conducted on dairy farms in Canton Sarajevo, aimed to establish mastitis prevalence in dairy cows, causative bacteria and investigate antimicrobial resistance. Lactating animals (n=1214) were tested using the California Mastitis Test during November 2017. Milk from positive animals was microbiologically cultivated. The overall prevalence of mastitis was 9.9 %, while 19 out of 180 dairy farms had at least one mastitis case. In 49.2% of samples, we identified S. aureus, 2.5% contained E. coli, 0.8% contained Enterobacteriaceae, 13.3 % had mixed infection and 34.2% samples had no growth. Using disk diffusion test highest resistances were observed to bacitracin (E. coli), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Enterobacteriaceae) and penicillin (S. aureus). Since oversight on antimicrobial use in farm animals is sporadic in the country, additional investigations of antimicrobial usage and trends in antimicrobial resistance causing agents are needed. Reducing mastitis rates on farms requires compliance with preventive measures alongside early detection, isolation of cases, culling of repeated cases, microbiological monitoring and testing for antimicrobial resistance before treatment.

The paper reviews the current role of information and communication technologies in veterinary medicine, management of animal health, animal production and food safety worldwide and discusses the shift from recognising the digital revolution as a novelty to accepting it as a norm. Due to the diversity in veterinary medicine, it is unlikely that information and communication technologies will fully substitute the need for field veterinarians in direct contact with animals, farms, diseases, food production and food products. However, information and communication technology has a growing role in our work and provides opportunities to exploit new technologies for professional and societal affirmation. Consumers, trade and regulations drive demands on veterinary medicine, reflected in our increased focus on prevention and early recognition of animal diseases and food safety issues through output-based and integrated monitoring systems and shared responsibility between public and private sectors. Simultaneously, information and communication technology has been incorporated within these demands and so now has roles in: veterinary clinical practice, heard health management, animal health databases, traceability of animals and their products, trade and veterinary certification, animal disease data analysis, tools for veterinary education and animal health diagnostics. The symbiosis of bio- and information technologies has opened a new era in health and food production, providing a novel chance for veterinarians to make a significant leap in their professional development, achievable only through strategic and active participation as leaders and collaborators.

This review focuses on the historical and current status of the disease in the 23 countries with coastlines along the Mediterranean. This work is mainly based on information collected and provided by local authorities, governmental bodies and National Reference Laboratories for Brucellosis, as well as national experts in each country. Expected in September 2019. Preface: Brucellosis is an endemic disease in the Mediterranean Basin but accurate epidemiological data are not available for most of the area’s countries, despite several national and international surveys. This is the first publication to compiles and describe the historical and current status of brucellosis in all Mediterranean countries. Thirty-five national experts from 22 institutes have contributed to summarising the past and present situations in relation to the disease as well as the perspectives of the 23 countries (on the Mediterranean coastline). The information in this book is based on national and international studies and data published for each country, and focuses on the key elements of successful control programmes and their ongoing challenges and the reasons for persistent epidemics. Based on this information, it is apparent that brucellosis still poses a significant threat in the Mediterranean. The consumption of unpasteurised milk and milk products being the main risk factor for human infection. Brucella melitensis bv 3 and B. abortus bv 1 are the Brucella spp. most frequently recovered from humans and livestock. While B. suis bv 2 is predominantly found in those European countries surrounding the Mediterranean, and B. suis is scarce in Afro–Asian countries due to religious and social preferences. Further biovars have been sporadically isolated in Croatia and Turkey. B. canis has been detected by serological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays in sporadic cases among the dog populations of Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Turkey. While B. melitensis is able to cross species barriers and has established permanent reservoirs in cattle and bovines in Albania, Egypt, France, Israel, Italy and Turkey. Marine Brucella species have only been found in Croatia, France, Italy and Spain. B. ovis, moreover, has been detected in Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain and should therefore be included in future surveillance programmes in the Mediterranean region. A test-and-slaughter strategy accompanied by vaccination with B. abortus RB51 and S19 for cattle and buffaloes and ‘reduced doses’ of B. melitensis Rev.1 for small ruminants succeeded in reducing brucellosis prevalence in regions of Spain and France with previously high prevalence. With the exception of a few European countries, the part of the budget dedicated to veterinary medicine that is allocated to the control and eradication of brucellosis is small. Biosafety and biosecurity measures are negligible, control of the trans-border movement of diseased animals is insufficient and there is still significant room for improvement in the collaboration between human and veterinary medicines