The Atlantic Johne's Disease Initiative (AJDI) aims to control Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection by using veterinary-administered risk assessments to identify high-risk management practices and prompt changes in management behavior. Objectives for this study were to measure producer satisfaction with the veterinary-administered risk assessment and management plan (RAMP) process in a voluntary Johne's disease (JD) control program, compare RAMP-specific satisfaction results based on herd JD status, and measure knowledge transfer from certified veterinarians to producers during the RAMP. A satisfaction questionnaire was adapted to the RAMP process in the AJDI to measure producer satisfaction. The questionnaire included 9 RAMP-specific producer satisfaction items, 1 global RAMP satisfaction item, and 16 questions to assess producer knowledge and knowledge translation about JD, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), and bovine leukosis virus (BLV) during the RAMP (BVD and BLV used for comparison purposes). A total of 133 dairy producers in the AJDI (79.6% response rate) completed the questionnaire by telephone. The RAMP-specific satisfaction was high among the AJDI producers surveyed, and these results were not found to differ based on herd JD status. The lowest satisfaction scores and the highest number of "unable to assess" responses were for the item relating to cost. Factors that contributed to RAMP-specific producer satisfaction were not identified from the demographic and herd information available in this study. The knowledge scores indicated moderate knowledge about JD and fair knowledge about BVD and BLV. Evidence of knowledge translation from the RAMP was mixed in this study. Bovine viral diarrhea knowledge scores were not found to differ based on whether or not the certified veterinarian discussed BVD during the preceding RAMP, but BLV knowledge scores were higher among dairy producers that discussed BLV during the preceding RAMP. Strengths and gaps in producer knowledge about these 3 infectious diseases were identified. By using this producer questionnaire, interventions aimed at improving the content, delivery, and satisfaction of RAMP in JD control programs, such as the AJDI, can be developed.

In food animal production medicine (FAPM), the success of control programs for infectious diseases that have serious animal health and economic consequences frequently rely on the veterinarian's effective communication and producer adherence to veterinary recommendations. However, little research has been conducted on communication skills of practicing FAPM veterinarians. During this study, we developed a communication training workshop intervention to support the Atlantic Johne's Disease Initiative. Seventeen FAPM veterinarians across 10 clinics practicing within Maritime Canada participated in a pre-post intervention study design. Communication skills were evaluated utilizing 3 assessment tools; an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE), standardized client feedback, and an instrument designed for veterinary participants to assess their self-efficacy. Study results showed that before training, communication skills of participating veterinarians had limitations, including skill deficits in communication tasks strongly associated with increased adherence to veterinary recommendations. Based on the 3 assessment tools, communication skills of participating veterinarians improved with the training provided. Significant increases were detected in pre-to postintervention self-efficacy percentage scores, OSCE percentage and global scores from expert raters, and OSCE percentage and global scores from standardized client feedback. These improvements emphasize the importance of communication skills training specific to FAPM.

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A number of environmental and contagious factors have been associated with subclinical mastitis (SCM), which is a common and costly problem for smallholder dairy farmers (SDF). We conducted a cross-sectional study on 118 cows in their first two months post-calving on 109 SDF in Kenya. The study objective was to investigate the relationships among various cow and farm management parameters and SCM specific to SDF. The stall floor comfort level was assessed through knee impact and wetness tests, and cleanliness on the leg and udder were also scored. Various mastitis prevention measures were also assessed (e.g., milking protocols, and use of teat dip and dry cow therapy). Individual quarter SCM was assessed on each cow using California Mastitis Test (CMT). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fit to determine management factors associated with cow-level SCM. Farm-level, cow-level and quarter-level prevalence of SCM was 45.9% (50/109), 43.2% (51/118) and 21.9 % (103/471), respectively. The proportion of stalls scored as dirty was 33.1% while 49.1% of cows had dirty legs. Only 10.1% of farms were using either disinfectant teat dip or dry cow therapy (or both) to prevent mastitis. Low parity and poor stall hygiene were significantly associated with occurrence of SCM. At high daily milk yield, the probability of having SCM was higher in cows housed in a shed with a dirty versus clean alleyway, with no significant difference at low daily milk yield. From the study findings, we concluded that certain cow characteristics and comfort measures were associated with SCM and need to be incorporated in education plans for farmers in SDF.

Background and Aim: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and classical swine fever virus (CSFV) are important pathogens of cattle and pigs, respectively, and belong to the genus Pestivirus. As CSFV has been shown to infect cattle, it can create diagnostic challenges of BVDV results through possible cross-reactivity where cattle could be exposed to pigs and CSFV. This study aimed to determine the possible cross-reactivity of BVDV and CSFV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results for antigen (Ag) and antibody (Ab) among smallholder dairy cattle in Kenya. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on a single visit to farms to collect serum samples and other descriptive farm-level and animal-level information. Testing for BVDV Ag and Ab was conducted on serum samples from 320 dairy cows and heifers, with CSFV Ag and Ab testing conducted on a subset of 133 and 74 serum samples, respectively. CSFV testing was based on BVDV test results and the availability of enough sample volume from farms that kept pigs. The Ag and Ab tests utilized IDEXX ELISA for both BVDV and CSFV. Results: For the 74 samples with Ab tests for both viruses, 40 (54.0%) were BVDV Ab positive, while 63 (85.1%) were CSFV Ab positive. Of the 40 BVDV Ab positive samples, 36 cattle (90.0%) tested positive for CSFV Ab. However, of the 34 BVDV Ab negative samples, 27 (79.4%) were CSFV Ab test-positive. For the 133 samples with Ag tests for both viruses, 125 (94.0%) were BVDV Ag positive, while 2 (1.5%) samples were CSFV Ag positive. None of the eight BVDV Ag negative samples was positive for CSFV Ag and only two (1.6%) of the 125 BVDV Ag positive samples were positive for CSFV Ag. Conclusion: The results indicate either substantial cross-reactivity of the two Ab ELISA tests, or reactivity with some other protein in the samples that led to the positive Ab test results. There was only limited evidence for cross-reactivity of the two Ag ELISA tests. We recommend that Pestivirus genus cross-reactivity be considered when interpreting BVDV ELISA results in cattle, more for Ab than Ag tests. Further research is needed to clarify the levels of cross-reactivity between BVDV and other Pestivirus Ag and Ab tests from animals on mixed-species farms.