The Council Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 requires slaughterhouse managers to implement specific standard operating procedures for all pre-slaughter stages considered at risk, aimed at achieving adequate levels of animal welfare. This survey was aimed at testing the applicability to an abattoir for heavy pigs of an assessment system of animal welfare through animal-based measures. In the monitoring of handling operations, the number of animals fallen/slipped and prodded, and that of vocalising pigs were recorded. In the monitoring of the immobilisation stage, carried out on the same pigs, vocalisations were recorded at the entrance to the box and falls/slips occurring inside it. Animal welfare assessment during the stunning-sticking-bleeding steps, was carried out by recording the head-only electrical stunning basic parameters set by legislation, vocalisations resulting from hot wanding, and clinical signs of consciousness, sensibility and certain death. Except for immobilisation, the percentage of occurrence of these events above acceptability limits was detected in all other pre-slaughter steps. The most critical stages were: handling in the unloading area and along the single-file chute, stunning and especially bleeding, where 84.13% of animals showed one or more signs of consciousness and/or sensibility recovery. Wrong placement of electrodes observed in 53.98% of the animals, insufficient voltage and low amperage may explain why a high percentage of pigs recovered consciousness and/or sensibility before death. Some simple restructuring of unloading area, slowdown of slaughter line speed, increase of personnel involved in pre-slaughter management and regular calibration of the electrical stunning device could be effectively corrective measures aimed at raising the animal welfare level at the slaughterhouse under study.

Background In free-ranging reptile populations, bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic pathogens may affect hosts through impairment in movements, thermoregulation, reproduction, survival, and population dynamics. The speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius [Homopus] signatus) is a threatened species that is mostly restricted to the Succulent Karoo biome in South Africa, and little information on pathogens of this species is available yet. We derived baseline parameters for five males and five females that were captured to genetically enhance a conservation breeding program in Europe. Upon collection of the tortoises, ticks were removed and identified. Immediately upon arrival in Europe, ocular, nasal, oral and cloacal swabs were taken for viral, bacteriological and mycological examinations. Fecal samples were collected before and 1 month after fenbendazole treatment, and analyzed for parasites. A panel of PCR, aiming to detect herpesviruses, adenoviruses and iridoviruses, was carried out. Results Samples were negative for viruses, while bacteriological examination yielded detectable growth in 82.5% of the swabs with a mean load of 16 × 107 ± 61 × 108 colony forming units (CFU) per swab, representing 34 bacterial species. Cloacal and oral swabs yielded higher detectable growth loads than nasal and ocular swabs, but no differences between sexes were observed. Fungi and yeasts (mean load 5 × 103 ± 13 × 103 CFU/swab) were detected in 25% of the swabs. All pre-treatment fecal samples were positive for oxyurid eggs, ranging from 200 to 2400 eggs per gram of feces, whereas after the treatment a significantly reduced egg count (90–100% reduction) was found in seven out of 10 individuals. One remaining individual showed 29% reduction, and two others had increased egg counts. In five tortoises, Nycthocterus spp. and coccidian oocysts were also identified. Soft ticks were identified as Ornithodoros savignyi. Conclusions Our baseline data from clinically healthy individuals will help future studies to interpret prevalences of microorganisms in speckled dwarf tortoise populations. The study population did not appear immediately threatened by current parasite presence.

In Italy, the National Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance (PNCAR 2017-2020) involves both human and veterinary sectors. The last one was requested to reduce colistin consumption, a first choice antibiotic for human health. Indeed, the Plan defines specific limits to reach within 2020. In Marche region, there is a project from 2017, consisting in monitoring antibiotic consumption in livestock, with particular reference to Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIAs), like colistin. The project represents an AMR stewardship, which involves regional Veterinary Services, veterinary professionals and the IZS Umbria e Marche, developing a specific training and education path ad hoc. In this work, we have considered data coming from swine and poultry prescriptions of Marche region in the 2017-2019 period, using these for the calculation of ADDD (Animal Defined Daily Doses), a method already used in human. In practice, we have first established DDDvet values, as suggested by ESVAC, obtained from the Italian drugs containing colistin made for the considered species. Colistin prescription in swine reduced of 97% (from 20.60 in 2017 to 0.69 DDD/1000 animals-die in 2019). In poultry, a reduction of 69% was obtained (from 5.07 in 2017 to 1.56 DDD/1000 animals-die in 2019). Then, there was an evidence of reduction more than 70% in colistin consumption, demonstrating the importance of the education and awareness program sponsored by Competent Authorities and the other stakeholders involved. The used method of calculation (ESVAC) is different from the currently applied one, as it consists of standardized unity of measures, using prescription data rather than sales ones. Monitoring antibiotic consumption both in human and veterinary sector is essential to understand AMR, as well is important the possibility to compare the data to each other. The present work demonstrate that, also in veterinary, is possible to apply the DDD-method to evaluate antibiotic consumption, like colistin. Key messages Colistin consumption has reduced in swine and poultry sectors in the 2017-2019 period. A standardized method of calculation of antibiotic consumption in animals is strongly needed.