Poultry Welfare in the Industry

 

The poultry industry has a significant role in global food production. However, with the increasing demand for poultry products, there have been growing concerns about the welfare of the birds raised within these industrial systems. Improving poultry welfare is not just a matter of ethical responsibility but also a crucial step towards more sustainable and humane agricultural practices. 

Industrial poultry farming often prioritizes efficiency and productivity. Sometimes, to achieve this goal, poultry welfare seems to be compromised. Birds are typically kept in overcrowded and confined conditions, which severely restrict their movement and prevent them from engaging in natural behaviors. This environment can lead to significant stress and aggressive interactions among the birds. Moreover, inappropriate housing condition, use of fast growing strains, and improper management constitute to overall poor health. Selective breeding practices aimed at rapid growth and high yield have further exacerbate welfare issues, particularly in broiler chickens, which often suffer from physical deformities and mobility issues. The handling and transport of birds can also be rough and stressful, leading to poor quality of life. Additionally, inconsistencies in the enforcement of slaughter regulations can result in inhumane practices, causing unnecessary suffering to the birds.

There are several challenges to improving poultry welfare in the industry. Economic pressures are significant, as producers often operate with tight margins in highly competitive markets. This can lead to cost-cutting measures that compromise animal welfare. While consumer interest in ethical food production is growing, many people are still unaware of the welfare issues or are unwilling to pay higher prices for products produced under higher welfare standards. Implementing welfare improvements, such as better housing systems and management practices, can be technically challenging and require substantial investment, which poses another hurdle.

To address these challenges, several strategies can be adopted. Governments and industry bodies should establish and enforce comprehensive welfare standards that go beyond minimum legal requirements, ensuring humane treatment of birds throughout their lives. Investing in research and innovation is very important to reduce the gap of knowledge. Developing new technologies and practices that enhance poultry welfare can lead to significant advancements in the industry. Educating consumers about poultry welfare issues and the benefits of humane practices can shift consumer preferences towards higher welfare products, incentivizing producers to adopt better practices. Collaboration among stakeholders across the supply chain, including farmers, retailers, policymakers, and animal welfare organizations, is essential to creating a unified approach to improving poultry welfare.

Improving poultry welfare in the industry requires a balanced approach that integrates ethical considerations with practical solutions. By prioritizing the well-being of birds, the industry can improve the quality of life for millions of birds and ensure a more sustainable and humane future for poultry farming. As consumers, producers, and policymakers, it is our collective responsibility to advocate for and implement changes that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of these animals.

Veterinarian and food safety

Role of veterinarians in the poultry industry

Poultry industry is a crucial component of the agriculture sector, providing a significant source of protein and nutrition for human consumption. So, it is important to regulate the health and welfare status of birds, as well as promote the sustainability and profitability of the poultry industry.

Poultry veterinarians work to ensure the production of high-quality meat and eggs. They have a vital role in disease prevention and control, including monitoring the health status of flocks, conducting diagnostic tests, and implementing biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of diseases. They also advise farmers on vaccination protocols and treatments for common infectious diseases. They spread awareness to the public and concerned authorities about diseases like avian influenza and salmonellosis which have zoonotic significance.

The development and implementation of animal welfare standards should be maintained throughout their lives. For this, proper monitoring of housing conditions, ventilation, lighting, and temperature, as well as ensuring access to food, water, and space is necessary. Some poultry veterinarians work closely with farmers to optimize production, minimize disease
outbreaks, and reduce production costs. They provide advice on nutrition, breeding, and management practices to maximize the efficiency of production systems.

Poultry veterinarians also provide guidance on humane methods of euthanasia and assist with the development of animal welfare policies and guidelines. They also assist with the implementation of environmental management practices, including waste management and nutrient management to reduce the impact of the industry on the environment. They conduct research and development activities to improve the health and productivity of birds. They collaborate with other scientists, including microbiologists and epidemiologists to identify emerging diseases and develop strategies to control and prevent their spread.

In conclusion, the role of poultry veterinarians is critical to the health, welfare, sustainability, and profitability of the poultry industry. Their contributions are essential to ensure the production of high-quality and safe food products, protect animal welfare, promote sustainable practices, and enhance the productivity of the sector.

Pyometra in Bitch

 

  Introduction

Pyometra is a hormonally mediated diestrual disorder in bitches which can induce high mortality if not treated on time and is usually prevalent in those countries where routine spaying of young bitches is not in practice (Jena et al., 2013).  Pyometra is reported primarily in older bitches (>5 yr old), 4–6 wk after estrus (MSD, 11^th ed.). There are two types of pyometra: open and closed type. Open type is characterized by dilated cervix with discharge of fowl smelling pus like contents and closed type is characterized by closed cervix, dilated abdomen, depression, vomiting and increased thirst.

  Etiopathogenesis

E. coli is the predominant pathogen isolated from pyometra uteri, but other species may also occur (Hagman, 2018). Other bacteria commonly isolated from uteri in cases of canine pyometra include Klebsiella spp., Streptococcus spp., Enterobacter spp., Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp. and Citrobacter spp. (Chotimanukul and Sirivaidyapong, 2010). The pathogenesis of pyometra in the bitch involves estrogen stimulation of the uterus, followed by prolonged intervals of progesterone dominance (Smith, 2006).

Hematology and Biochemical Tests

The hematolgical report shows leucocytosis with neutrophils on left shift and in biochemistry report, total protein is normally seen elevated (Jena et al., 2013).

Diagnosis

It can be done on the basis of history, clinical signs, blood report, biochemistry report and x-ray/ ultrasonography (USG) report.

  Differential diagnoses

Mucometra

Hydrometra

Hemometra

Vulvar discharge

These disease may have similar clinical presentation, so for diagnosis proper observation of USG report is necessary (Jitpean et al., 2017).

 Treatment

OVH is treatment of choice. Fluids (IV) and broad-spectrum, bactericidal antibiotics should be administered. Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances should be corrected as quickly as possible, before ovariohysterectomy is performed. The bacterial infection is responsible for the illness and will not resolve until the uterine exudate is removed. Oral antibiotics (based on the results of the culture and sensitivity) should be continued for 7–10 days after surgery (Aiello, 2016). Patients presenting with pyometra should be stabilized, and the decision whether to pursue medical management or surgical management of the uterine disease should discussed with the dog's owner. Medical management of pyometra is best performed in patients of appropriate breeding age that are reproductively valuable and free of life-threatening illnesses, including septicemia, endotoxemia, and organ dysfunction (Dennis and Ham,2012)

References

·         Boel A. Fransson, & Ragle, C. A. (2018). Pyometra in Small Animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice, 48(4), 639–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2018.03.001

·         Chotimanukul. S, Sirivaidyapong. S (2010). The relationship of canine vaginal and uterine bacterial species in closedcervix and opened-cervix pyometra. Proceedings of 13th Association of Institutions for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand. 184–186.

·         Dennis.J, Hamm,L. (2012).Surgical and medical treatment of pyometra. Retreived at http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/ at 20 September 2018.

·         Jena, B., Sadasiva Rao, K., Reddy, K. C. S., & Raghavender, K. B. P. (2013). Physiological and haematological parameters of bitches affected with pyometra. Veterinary World, 6(7), 409–412. https://doi.org/10.5455/vetworld.2013.409-412

·         Jitpean, S., Ambrosen, A., Emanuelson, U., & Hagman, R. (2017). Closed cervix is associated with more severe illness in dogs with pyometra. BMC Veterinary Research, 13(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-016-0924-0

·         Smith, F. O. (2006). Canine pyometra. Theriogenology, 66(3 SPEC. ISS.), 610–612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.04.023

·         Aiello, S. E. (2016). The Merck veterinary manual. Kenilworth (NJ: Merck. Retrieved from https://www.msdvetmanual.com/reproductive-system/reproductive-diseases-of-the-female-small-animal/pyometra-in-small-animals at 20 September 2018.

CRISPR/Cas9 mechanism: Gene editing technology

 

Background information

The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna who discovered one of sharpest tools in gene editing: the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors. The two female Nobel laureates explained the potentiality of genetic scissors to edit the genes selectively which means this mechanism has enabled geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome by removing, adding or altering sections of the  DNA sequence. After Emmanuelle Charpentier discovered tracrRNA, a part of the bacterias ancient immune system, CRISPR/Cas 9 on her study of Streptococcus pyogenes, that disarms viruses by cleaving their DNA, she initiated a collaboration with Jennifer Doudna and later their collaborative work succeeded in recreating the bacterias genetic scissors in a test tube (Fernholm & Barnes, 2020). Since its discovery on 2012, it has brought a revolutionary breakthrough on the life sciences and is thought to contribute on curing inherited diseases.

Introduction

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Crisper associated protein 9, commonly known as CRISPR/Cas9 works like a pair of scissors capable of cutting the genome precisely. The technology consists of a complex composed of a small RNA called guide RNA and the nuclease “Cas9” that binds to a specific DNA sequence complementary to the guide RNA which is then followed by a double strand cut of the DNA by Cas9 (DNA Binding and Cleavage, 2016). DNA repair mechanisms can subsequently be used to introduce precise mutations. In this way, researchers can manipulate DNA to suppress the function of a gene or replace it with a modified gene.

How CRISPER/Cas 9 system works?

In nature CRISPR-Cas9 system is a part of microbial immunity. When a virus infects bacterial cell, the bacteria capture the snippets of viral DNA and use them to create DNA segments known as CRISPR arrays (Genome editing and CRISPR, 2020).  The Cas 9 nuclease is directed to its target sequence by gRNA to chop off a piece of viral DNA. The snipped DNA fragment are stored between palindromic CRISPR sequences to retain a genetic memory (Kick et al., 2017) This disables the future infection in defending bacteria from same type of viral attack. After understanding the CRISPR system mechanism in bacteria scientists figured out the ways to reprogram this tool in other species.

CRISPR-Cas 9 system acts in a sequence-specific manner by recognizing and cleaving foreign DNA or RNA. To be functional, this system first requires a CRISPR locus/array containing the hypervariable spacers that the defending host acquires from phages or plasmids, and is located in the host genome in addition to the diverse group of Cas genes that are located in the nearby CRISPR locus which encodes the Cas proteins for the multistep defense against foreign DNA.(Hille & Charpentier, 2016)

The foreign DNA is recognized and it is captured and subsequently integrated as spacers/protospacers derived from phage or plasmid, between the two contiguous repeat sequences located in the CRISPR locus (Singh et al., 2017). Protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) are small nucleotides present near the protospacer which is an important component of this system. The RNA processing transcribes CRISPR locus thereby producing a pre CRISPR RNA (pre-crRNA) and endonucleases cleave the pre-crRNAs into active CRISPR RNAs (crRNAS) or tracrRNA. The crRNA and tracrRNA form a multiprotein complex through the base pairing and with great specificity with the regions of incoming foreign DNA (or RNA). Cas9 enzyme binds DNA in the direction of its corresponding gRNA to PAM sequence (Deveau et al., 2010). The scaffolding ability of tracrRNA along with crRNA specificity can be combined into a single synthetic gRNA (sgRNA) which simplifies guiding of gene alterations to a one component system to increase efficiencies (Guide RNA, 2020). Recognition of the PAM by the Cas9 nuclease is thought to destabilize the adjacent sequence, allowing interrogation of the sequence by the crRNA, and resulting in RNA-DNA pairing when a matching sequence is present. (PAM sequence for Crisper, n.d.)

Usefulness of CRISPR/Cas 9 technology

Genome engineering: CRISPR/Cas9 tool can be applied directly in embryo which reduces the time required to modify target genes compared to gene targeting technologies based on the use of embryonic stem cells. This system helps to identify the most appropriate sequences to design guide RNAs and enables very robust procedures which guarantee successful introduction of the desired mutation.

Tissue regeneration: CRISPR/Cas 9 technology has been used to derive a variety of cells for transplantation such as muscle cells for muscular dystrophy and haemopoietic stem cell for sickle cell anemia.

Live imagining of DNA/RNA:  CRISPR/Cas9 technology offer the advantage of tracking dynamic cellular processes of DNA/RNA. Fluorophores can be tagged for proper visualization.

Cancer immunotherapy: New studies have shown that knocking out certain genes causing cancer using CRISPR/Cas 9 tool will be a promising approach for cancer treatment.

Epigenetic editing: This technology can be used without genetically modifying DNA sequence to re-establish normal chromatin structure and correct gene expression. 

HIV and Viral diseases: CRISPR/Cas9 can be used in disrupting CCR5 and CXCR4 expression which are potential targets for HIV-1/AIDS gene therapy (Xiao et al., 2019). This technology has been used to inactivate DNA and subsequently RNA viruses in various in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo model systems.

Disease resistant cultivar: CRISPR/Cas9 technology is a highly promising tool for gene editing in crops because of its desirable features like precise specificity, multi gene editing, minimal off-target effects, higher efficiency and simplicity there by degrading the invading pathogenic genes to obtain disease resistant cultivar.

References:

Deveau, H., Garneau, J. E., & Moineau, S. (2010). CRISPR/Cas system and its role in phage-bacteria interactions. Annual Review of Microbiology, 64, 475–493. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.micro.112408.134123

DNA Binding and Cleavage. (2016). Tufts. https://sites.tufts.edu/crispr/

Fernholm, A., & Barnes, C. (2020). THE NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY 2020 Genetic scissors : a tool for rewriting the code of life. The Nobel Prize, 8. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2020/popular-information/

Genome editing and CRISPR. (2020). Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/genomicresearch/genomeediting/#:~:text=CRISPR-Cas9 was adapted from,(or closely related ones).

Guide RNA. (2020). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_RNA#:~:text=Guide RNAs (a.k.a. gRNA%2C sgRNA,process known as RNA editing.&text=For this prokaryotic DNA-editing,to the CRISPR-Cas9 system.

Hille, F., & Charpentier, E. (2016). CRISPR-cas: Biology, mechanisms and relevance. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 371(1707). https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0496

Kick, L., Kirchner, M., & Schneider, S. (2017). CRISPR-Cas9: From a bacterial immune system to genome-edited human cells in clinical trials. Bioengineered, 8(3), 280–286. https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2017.1299834

PAM sequence for Crisper. (n.d.). Integrated DNA Technologies. https://www.idtdna.com/pages/support/faqs/what-is-a-pam-sequence-and-where-is-it-located

Singh, V., Braddick, D., & Dhar, P. K. (2017). Exploring the potential of genome editing CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Gene, 599, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2016.11.008

Xiao, Q., Guo, D., & Chen, S. (2019). Application of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing in HIV-1/AIDS therapy. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 9(MAR), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00069

फेवरेट टोपी - द ह्याट

ह्याट लाउने रहर पहिले देखि।

रहर हुँदाहुँदै नि किन्न सकिरा थिइन! लगाउन अप्ठ्यारो मानेर वा लगाउने ठाउँ नभएर, त्यो चाहि थाहा छैन। जे होस् मन अति नै थियो शिरमा ह्याट ढल्काएर हिड्ने।

छैटौँ सेमेस्टर सकिएपछि इस्टर्न टुर फिक्स भो। पुर्व तिर घुम्न जाने। घुम्न जाने अर्थात ह्याट लगाउने सुइटेबल टाइम ।

जाने बेलासम्म किन्नै बिर्सिएछ। ल बर्बाद। यसपटक घुम्दा नि ह्याट नहुने भो मसंग। म बेखुश भए।

नेपालको पूर्वी भाग घुमेपछि हामी सिक्किम गयौ। दुई रात सिक्किममा बिताएपछि हामी दार्जिलिङ गयौ। दार्जिलिङमा घुम्दा एक पसलमा एउटा खैरो खैरो रङको ह्याट भेटाए। बाहिरबाट बेरिएको एउटा फुर्काले ह्याटलै झनै मनमोहक बनाएको  थियो।

९० आइसी तिरेर मैले त्ह्याट किने।

किनेपछि त्यो ह्याट मैले छोड्दै छोडिन। जति बेला नि लगाइराखे। मानौ एकछिन कतै छोडे भने त्यो ह्याट टाढिन्छ जस्तो लाग्थ्यो मलाई ।

दार्जिलिङ पछि हामी नेपाल फर्कियौ। टुरको अन्तिम दिन पहिले कोशी ब्यारेज गयौ।

ब्यारेजमा जादा हावा चलिराखेको थियो, सरर...

निकै मनमोहक वातावरण थियो। त्यत्तिकैमा सर आउनुभयो।

 "हेरौ त भाइ बहिनी कति रोमान्चक दृश्य छ।" -सरले भन्नुभयो।

यत्तिकैमा हावा जोडले चल्यो। "ओहो ह्याट उडाउछ क्या " म डराउदै ह्याट हातमा लिए।

"यस्तो राम्रो ठाउँमा आएर त्याग गर्न सकिहालिन्छ नि" सरले सटाएर हान्नुभयो।

"ह्याट चाही सकिन्न सर" मैले सटाएरको बिरोधमा बोले।

"माया प्रेम सब दिनका लागि त हो नि" सर हास्दै फोटो खिचाउन तिर लाग्नुभो।

"माया दिने हो सर ह्याट त होइन" म नि ब्यारेजबाट कोशी अवलोकन गर्न तर्फ  लागे।

यो क्रममा साथि अजिताको क्याप हावाले उडाएर कोशीमा बगायो। यसपछि सबैजना सतर्क भए। म पनि ह्याट टाइट्ली पकडिरहे।

हातमा पकडदा झन् खस्छ कि भन्ने डरले मैले ह्याट लगाउन खोजे।

ह्याट लगाउदै गर्दा कसैको हातले मलाई धक्कायो। मेरो हातको ह्याट पकडने ग्रीप कमजोर भयो अनि हावाको झोकले ह्याट उडाएर कोशीमा बगायो।

एकै छिन त म हेर्या हेर्यै भए । थाह नै पाइन। केही समय  मुटु नै रोकिए जस्तो भान भयो। कोशी नदितिर नजर घुमाए। अजिताको क्याप  तैरिरा रै'छ। मेरो त सिधै डुवाएछ। अन्तिम पटक अवलोकन गर्नु नि पाइन।

साँच्ची साह्रै मनपर्ने कुरो गुमाउनै पर्दो रैछ। मैले त्यो दिन बुझे। मैरो मन पर्ने ह्याट  कोशीलाई दान भयो। यस्तै कतै जिन्दगीमा पनि एकदम मनपर्ने कुरो कतै अरूलाई सुम्पिनु पर्ने त हैन?

यो प्रश्नले झस्किन्छु म घरि घरि।

तर फेरि सम्झिन्छु, जुन कुरा तिम्रो हो , त्यो जसरी नि तिमी सामु आइपुग्छ। टाढा जाने कुरा तिम्रो थिएन भनेर चित्त बुझाउछु।

सम्झनामा अस्मिता

हरिया ती डाँडाकाँडाको बीचमा, थ्यो मेरो सहर जहा म जन्मे हुर्के र यहाँ सम्म आइपुगे।
लाग्छन् मिठा ती यादहरु जसले मेरो बाल्यकाललाई अमुल्य बनाइदिए।

मिठा मिठा ती पलहरू म बिर्सु पनि कसरी? 
सम्झनामा बल्झिरहेका तिम्रा तस्वीरहरु म मेटाउ पनि कसरी?
भो! अब सम्झिन्न।
भो अब सम्झिन्न, भन्दा भन्दै पनि मन मस्तिष्कमा छाउँछ्यौ तिमी।
के खास छ तिमीमा, बुझ्न सक्दिन म।
तै पनि हरपल हरदिन यादहरूमा घुमिरहन्छ्यौ तिमी।

भन त अस्मिता। के खास छ तिमीमा? के छ तिमीमा जस्को कारणले यो राजन  तिम्रै बारेमा सोचिरहन बाध्य हुन्छ?

के यो तिमीले मलाई सधार्नु प्रतिको श्रद्धा हो?
के यो  एउटा अमुल्य साथी प्रतिको भावना हो?
कि कतै  तिमी प्रतिको माया त हैन?

किन किन म बुझ्न सकिरहेको छैन।

ए अस्मिता! तिमी साह्रै प्यारी छौ।  तिमीसँग दिनरात फेसबुक भाइवरमा कुरा नगरेपनि मनसंग सधै तिम्रै बारेमा कुरा गर्छु।
कहिले कहिले त मटु पनि दिक्क मान्छ र भन्छ-"ए राजन, त प्रेममा परिस्। जा गएर भन। "

तर मुटुलाई म मनमानि गर्न दिन्न र थर्काउछु" ए मुटु तेरो काम ब्लड पम्प गर्ने हो, त्यही गरिराख्, धेरै जान्नी हुनु पर्याछैन"

तर मुटु पनि के कम, मान्दैन मेरो कुरा! झन्झन् दुखिदिन्छ। पिडामा पिडा थपिदिन्छ अनि मलम लगाइदिन्छन् तिम्रा ती सोसल साइटका तस्वीरहरूले।

फेसबुकको सर्च बक्समामा टाइप गर्छु "अस्मिता"।
फेसबुकले मेरो मनको कुरा बुझेर फस्टमै तिम्रो नाम देखाइदिन्छ।
हतार हतार फोटोजमा तिम्रा नया पुराना सबै तस्बिर हेर्छु।
नया तस्विरले मलम लगाइदिन्छन् पुराना तस्वीरले यादहरू ताजा गराइदिन्छन्।

तिमी म्याथ सिक्न आउँदा अरु सब्जेक्ट सिकाइदिने कुरा, मलाई पढाएको व्यर्थ नलागोस्  तिमीलाई भनेर खुरूखुरू पढ्ने कुरा, मेरो पढाइ सुध्रिएको कुरा, फेमिली एक्सपेक्टेसन बढेको कुरा  र त्यही स्वरुप आज एम्बी.बी.बी.एस्'मा नाम निकाली पढ्न लागेको कुरा सम्झिदा लाग्छ तिमी एन्जल बनेर आयौ मेरो जिन्दगीमा।

कति सजिलै भन्छन् केटाहरू-"केटीले गर्दा मेरो पढाइ बिग्रियो।"
उनीहरूको कुरा सुनेर मनमनै भन्छु-'ए मूर्ख केटा हो! सबै केटीले गर्दा कहा पढाइ बिग्रिन्छ र? मलाई हेर्औ न! म छु त तिमीहरूकै अगाडि एउटा जलन्त उदाहरण। जसलाई तिमीहरू राजन भनेर साथी मान्छौ त्यो यसै यहा सम्म आइपुगेको थिएन। एउटा एन्जलको ठूलो हात छ उसलाई यहा सम्म पुर्याउने, जो एक नारी हो-मेरी अस्मिता!"

यस्तै कल्पनामा डुब्डा डुब्दै मेरो रूम पार्टनर आयो। उसले गीत बजाइरहेको थियो-"आहै! मिठो तिम्रो मुस्कानैमा, माया तिम्रो मुहारैमै, मन मेरो उड्यो है कहा कहा......"

अनि म पनि आफ्नो सुरबाट निस्केर अस्मितालाई मनमा राखी उसको गीतमा रमाउन थाले।