The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts weekly surveillance of slaughter condemnation rates to provide early warning for emerging diseases and to monitor health trends in swine. Swine deaths in-transit are an animal welfare concern and represent lost revenue for the swine industry. This retrospective observational study used ambient temperature and humidity data from weather stations near United States slaughter plants collected from 2010 to 2015 to predict the incidence and risk of death among swine in-transit and just prior to slaughter. The risk of death for market swine at a heat index (HI), which combines the effects of temperature and humidity, indicating moderately hot weather conditions between 85 and 92°F was 1.37 times greater than that of the baseline temperature range of 54–79°F. The risk of death for cull sows at an HI between 85 and 92°F was 1.93 times greater than that of average temperatures ranging from 54 to 79°F. Roaster swine (weigh < 220 lbs and often used for whole carcass roasting), however, had 0.80 times the risk when the HI was 85–92°F compared to a baseline temperature of 54–79°F. The risk of death for roaster swine at a minimum temperature between 40 and 50°F was 1.21 times greater than that of average temperatures ranging from 54 to 79°F. The risk of death for market swine at a minimum temperature range of 40–50°F was 0.97 times that of average temperatures ranging from 54 to 79°F. And for cull sows, the risk of death at a minimum temperature range of 40–50°F was 0.81 times the risk at the average temperature ranging from 54 to 79°F. Across the study period, cumulative foregone revenue, or revenue not realized due to swine condemnations, for all swine was $18.6 million and $4.3 million for cold temperatures and high HI ranges above the baseline, respectively. Marginal foregone revenue per hog in hotter months is higher due to seasonal peaks in swine prices. As a result of this study, the USDA-APHIS swine condemnation surveillance can incorporate weekly estimated HI values and ambient temperature data for slaughter establishments to provide additional information for analysts investigating signals (noteworthy increases above baseline) for “dead” condemnations. This study suggests that current mitigation measures are often not sufficient to prevent swine deaths due to ambient temperature extremes.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between exposure to selected organochlorine pesticides (OCP) (p,p'-DDT, p',p'-DDE, dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane [beta-HCH], oxychlordane, trans' nonachlor) and age at natural menopause in a sample of 219 menopausal women participating in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1982-1984. Information on age at menopause, reproductive history, demographic variables, and potential confounding variables was collected via interview. Analysis of variance was employed to compare adjusted mean age at natural menopause among women by category of serum OCP level. Serum levels of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, beta-HCH, and trans-nonachlor were associated with a younger age at menopause. In particular, women with exposure levels in the highest exposure categories (serum p,p'-DDT > or = 6ppb, beta-HCH > or = 4ppb, or trans-nonachlor > or = 2ppb) had an adjusted mean age at menopause on average 5.7, 3.4, and 5.2 yr earlier, respectively, than women with serum levels of these pesticides below the detection limit. Women with serum p,p'-DDE levels greater than 23.6 ppb (highest quintile) had an adjusted mean age at menopause 1.7 yr earlier than women with serump,p'-DDE levels less than 5.5 ppb (lowest quintile). However, no consistent dose-response effect was apparent across low, medium, and high exposure categories. Interactions were detected for p,p'-DDT in combination with beta-HCH, trans-nonachlor, or oxychlordane, as well as beta-HCH in combination with oxychlordane.

A critical question surrounding emergence of novel strains of avian influenza viruses (AIV) is the ability for wild migratory birds to translocate a complete (unreassorted whole genome) AIV intercontinentally. Virus translocation via migratory birds is suspected in outbreaks of highly pathogenic strain A(H5N1) in Asia, Africa and Europe. As a result, the potential intercontinental translocation of newly emerging AIV such as A(H7N9) from Eurasia to North America via migratory movements of birds remains a concern. An estimated 2.91 million aquatic birds move annually between Eurasia and North America with an estimated AIV prevalence as high as 32.2%. Here, we present a rapid assessment to address the likelihood of whole (unreassorted)-genome translocation of Eurasian strain AIV into North America. The scope of this assessment was limited specifically to assess the weight of evidence to support the movement of an unreassorted AIV intercontinentally by migratory aquatic birds. We developed a rapid assessment framework to assess the potential for intercontinental movement of avian influenzas by aquatic birds. This framework was iteratively reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of scientific experts until a consensus was established. Our assessment framework identified four factors that may contribute to the potential for introduction of any AIV intercontinentally into North America by wild aquatic birds. These factors, in aggregate, provide a framework for evaluating the likelihood of new forms of AIV from Eurasia to be introduced by aquatic birds into North America. Based on our assessment, we determined that the potential for introduction of A(H7N9) into North America through aquatic migratory birds is possible, but the likelihood ranges from extremely low to low.