MRSA, Superbugs and time to say Goodbye

August 8 marks the fifteenth anniversary of the discovery of Classical Swine Fever in 2000 on a farm near here, with Foot and Mouth following in the February. Britain was also awaiting the results of an enquiry into the origins of Mad Cow (BSE) at that time.

Appalled at what was going on around us, the writer started campaigning almost immediately. First with “Pigging It”, then devoting the existing Self-Sufficiency in Style website to the issue, followed by  regular posts to newsgroup uk.business.agriculture and finally also a blog: Animal-Epidemics.

The writer is tired and needs a break, having worked almost every day since, including Christmas Day, except when actually in hospital.  Posting was often done when on the move - from the USA, Germany, France, Holland, Cyprus, all over the British Isles and even from sea.

The decision to cease campaigning was made a few days ago, following the realisation that the writer was no longer a lonely voice in the wilderness. 

Now, the WWW is full of animal health, related human and zoonotic issues. The consequences of veterinary drug dealing creating a worldwide antibiotic resistant disaster are widely understood. 

Hundreds of campaign groups, formal and informal, are investigating the catastrophe and posting far and wide.

News, new science, complaints, criticism and comments are pouring out in every language. The veterinarians can no longer work unchallenged.

In recent weeks, there have been some amazing changes in attitude from high in Britain's corrupt veterinary establishment, its many wealthy charities and front organisations. 

Maybe it is conscience, maybe fear. They must realise that the analysis of DNA in stored samples will expose the crimes against humanity and the vicious cover-ups.

We can’t put the genie of superbugs back in the bottle, but disaster and reform are bedfellows, and it is right and proper to stand back and allow the forces of institutional reform in Britain space to operate.

It only remains for me to thank so many for the kindness and support over so many years.

And wish the reformers every success.

There will be time to get on with writing that abandoned book and maybe even finish it this time.

--

Regards

Pat Gardiner

Release and independently audit the results of testing British pigs

for MRSA, C.Diff and Hepatitis E now!

http://animal-epidemics.blogspot.com/

Superbugs - Klebsiella pneumoniae may be entering our hospitals from meat.

Just when we thought it could not get any worse.

Maryn McKenna writing in the National Geographic today on current research results in Texas.

We have just picked out the main points, you can read the whole and review the science via this link.

A Common Hospital Infection May be Coming To Us From Food

by Maryn McKenna

One of the most common and troubling infections that occur in healthcare may come from an unexpected source, according to a new paper: from food...

...The infection is Klebsiella pneumoniae, a stubborn gut-dwelling organism that can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections and meningitis. The finding that it is present in food—and in some cases, practically genetically identical in food and in hospitals—comes from a multi-institute project that for several years has been closely analyzing pathogens found on supermarket meat and in hospital patients in Flagstaff, Ariz... 

... Klebsiella increasingly is also highly drug resistant, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rank the most resistant form as an “urgent” health threat requiring immediate national action.

But just where Klebsiella comes from, in order to make it into patients in the first place, has been a bit of a mystery...

...And that establishes that what created the resistance patterns in the bacteria—originating on the farm, crossing to humans and then passing to hospital patients—is the routine use of farm antibiotics that in the past year has become an urgent public policy issue. “This is just more evidence,” he said, “that antibiotic use in food animals poses a significant threat to public health.”

Britain - MRSA - Questions in Parliament - Reform will follow.

Things have been lively in both the House of Commons and and the House of Lords recently with a string of absurd State Veterinary double somersaults on antics antibiotic and matters mrsa.

You could call it a veterinary Indian rope trick. The questions are sensible, the answers ridiculous.

You can read it all for yourselves, and if you get the impression that you are not getting the truth, you would, of course, be right.

Britain, it seems, now admits using more antibiotics in livestock than superbug-ridden Denmark, but miraculously escapes getting much in the way of  MRSA.

The old people, the pregnant, the children and the cancer sufferers are, of course, the victims of the crime of the century.

Of course, the culprits and drug dealers will be called to account, their bank accounts confiscated and their massive institutional assets removed. Reform will follow.

Latest first.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2Clords&keywords=genetically%2Cmodified%2Canimals

A question Asked by Kerry McCarthy
(Bristol East)
[N]
Asked on: 09 July 2015
and the answer on the

Answered by: George Eustice
Answered on: 16 July 2015


http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=100

Then in the Lords

Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Asked on: 29 June 2015
Department of Health
MRSA
and the answer

Answered by: Lord Prior of Brampton
Answered on: 13 July 2015

Back to the Commons

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=3&max=100

Asked by Kerry McCarthy
(Bristol East)
[N]
Asked on: 07 July 2015
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Livestock: MRSA

Answered by: George Eustice
Answered on: 13 July 2015

MRSA found in English pork in English supermarkets?

Following the Guardian articles and video this morning, reports are now appearing in the trade media that MRSA st398 has been found in British pork in English supermarkets.

Note that this is not the same as English pork in English supermarkets.

The wording is not clear enough to be actually certain and it is probably devious Defra, agricultural ministry and master manipulators of news, trying to sneak the news out.

Anyway, assuming that it is English pork in English supermarkets, it has taken more than ten years to drag the confession out of them.

DNA tests on old samples will provide the necessary proof of state veterinary deception in due time.

You can catch up on the Guardian articles here.

The accompanying video is quite compelling and may force a long, long overdue confession of MRSA in Scottish pigs from the Scottish government in Edinburgh.

You can watch the video here.

Whilst writing the Israelis have found MRSA in horses "presumed introduced by a veterinarian" and Hepatitis E has been found in British dogs.

Busy days dealing with dark deeds.

The superbug scandal unravelling in Europe

The superbug scandal, and in particular the responsibility of livestock farming for creating the problem continues, to grow.

MRSA, although merely one of many antibiotic resistant infections shared with animals, continues to take centre stage. The volume of media reports coming in daily, worldwide, ever increases.

The veterinary industry continues to pour out misleading propaganda, but with far less confidence.

The veterinarians, not least in Britain, have at last realised that they are going to be called to account, and not by some veterinary regulatory body, with kindly words and a slapped wrist from fellow veterinarians.

They are going to be in the world courts facing charges of crimes against humanity, stripped of public sympathy and shorn of their public relation's machine.

Defra, Britain's ridiculous agricultural ministry and their attendant politicians and cronies, will be too busy trying to cover-up their own devious protection racketeering to offer any help.

It is not just happening in Britain. The endless rows in Denmark are taking their toll.
This caught our eye today: http://gylle.dk/dyrlaegeformand-taler-atter-usandt-om-svinemrsa/

Veterinarians seeking to defend their wild reckless exploitation of antibiotics are going to have to watch their words very carefully. The world is listening.

Finding solutions to reinvent new healthy pig and poultry industries is not proving to be easy.

Norway, the leaders in the race, is finding more farms with MRSA cc398, temporarily stopping them as a possible MRSA free source for breeding stock. But there has been a benefit: all the latest victim farms took weaners from a single source, helping prove the case for segregating the new high health pig farms on islands, such as Bornholm and Islay, from pigs and pig people, except under highly controlled environments. Strict science is needed at the top of the pyramid: good science to defeat bad science.

Sad to see that all the small farmers and smallholders, in many countries, that had isolated pigs able to provide the clean stock have long been driven out of livestock farming by corrupt government, megalomaniac veterinarians and their industrial cronies.

Things could have been so different had the rule of law been properly applied. Magna Carta was forgotten in the greedy rush to make fortunes, whatever the consequences.

Denmark & UK? - Almost every third box of pork is MRSA-infected

A doubtful machine translation, with much of the source material in Danish behind password protection, is causing a stir in Denmark.

The Danes seem to be admitting that British supermarkets are full of MRSA contaminated Danish pork.

From other prior sources, we are pretty certain that is right. They probably do not want to broadcast the fact in English and prefer an ambiguous publication. It has happened often before and is part of the price of allowing PR fanatics to take control of animal health.

And, we understand, that the Scottish Government has just given the Danes a contract to manage Scotland's only pig slaughterhouse, which in turn has received a substantial taxpayer subsidy.

If we had any reliable figures from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, which we do not, we would probably find MRSA contamination in local pork just as bad, possibly even worse.

Scotland has not yet admitted any MRSA in their pigs or pork. That has to come soon.

Read the Politiken report in full here.

19 MAY. 2015 KL. 6.19

Almost every third box of pork is MRSA-infected

Eight out of 25 parcels pork containing the resistant bacterium MRSA, the study by the Consumer Council.

   
A. Two. Three - MRSA.

There should not be counted very many packages in British supermarkets with pork chops, pork tenderloin, pork sliced and rib roast for that statistically has identified a package where the resistant bacteria MRSA hiding.

For eight out of 25 parcels pork is the multi-resistant MRSA bacterium CC398 secret guest, according to a new study by the Consumer Council Think, writes BT.

Consumer Council has studied the 25 packages of meat in the laboratory and found the particular type of staphylococci in eight of them.

"Our tests confirm that MRSA is widespread and moves from sties and completely in supermarkets, and we as a society are facing a huge challenge to fight the multi-resistant bacteria resurfacing," says Anja Philip, president of the Consumer Council Think to BT...

...Even though MRSA is not immediately dangerous to healthy people, it can be fatal for elderly or frail people to put teeth in MRSA-infested meat.

According to Hans Jorgen Kolmos, a professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Southern Denmark, the spread of MRSA "have far-reaching consequences," wrote BT...

Superbugs "Sooner or later, somebody is going to be gunning for these guys."

Jim O'Neill, now Lord O'Neill as of the last few days, on Antibiotic Resistance in BBC 1 flagship Panorama last night:

"Sooner or later, somebody is going to be gunning for these guys."

They already are.

In fairness, there has been a massive change in attitude by some of Britain's most senior veterinarians in the last few days.  They obviously know 'the game is up' and are trying to manage damage limitation.

Incidentally, the uk.business.agriculture archives are now being plundered in a systematic way, obviously for evidence. Investigators and journalists will find plenty of interest dating back years, often from sources prematurely removed.

This really was, and is, the scandal of the century.

On the political side, it will impact on both Scottish independence and Britain's membership of the EU.

Breaking - Hepatitis E confirmed in Irish Pigs

No surprise here then: a similar situation to Britain, finally admitted.

What is disgraceful is how long the scandal took to be reported - and the health implications for pig farmers and staff, and, not least, veterinarians. The writer has been complaining about a cover-up both sides of the Irish Sea for years.

The row over pig health and the impact on human health in both Britain and Ireland is going to be amazing, with the veterinary profession in both countries in the dock.

By the way, the abstract is dated 8th May, but available today on The Irish Veterinary Journal, here.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus infection in the Irish pig population

Michael O'Connor*, Sarah-Jayne Roche and Dónal Sammin
" *Corresponding author: Michael O'Connor 
Author Affiliations

For all author emails, please log on.
Irish Veterinary Journal 2015, 68:8  doi:10.1186/s13620-015-0036-3

Published: 8 May 2015

Abstract (provisional)

Background 

Hepatitis E is an acute viral disease of humans, occurring in explosive outbreaks in the developing world and as sporadic cases in returning travellers. Increasing recognition of indigenous transmission in Western countries suggests a zoonotic source of infection, most likely pigs. To determine if hepatitis E virus is present in Irish pigs, sera from 330 animals were examined for antibodies using a commercially available ELISA. Findings Antibodies were detected in 89 pigs (27%) in 13 herds (81%). 

Conclusions

Hepatitis E virus is present in most Irish pig herds and in many animals within these herds.

The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.

USA and Britain - Pigs, Pork & Diabetes

This is a massively important report from the ever reliable Tara Smith and associates.

It illustrates yet again the dangers from livestock related superbugs and how fast the USA is now drawing ahead of Defra dominated Britain with its constant denials and cover-ups of veterinary incompetence and bullying.

The shocking part for Britain is that there no surprises here for some of us.

Defra and its veterinarians have known about the dangers for years, and done nothing to help protect the farmers, public health and the hospitals.

You can be sure that the various diabetes' charities and organisations will be hot on devious Defra's tail. Many diabetic Britons will have a personal interest in getting this aired and those responsible for the problem investigated and removed from positions of authority.

On a personal note - The writer was campaigning on this long before becoming a type one diabetic. His diabetes was the consequence of an infection following pancreatic cancer and intensive care, so keeping diabetics clear of infections is well understood.

You should read the report in full here:

Study finds swine farming is a risk factor for drug-resistant staph infections

by Debra Venzke

A new Univ. of Iowa study reports swine farmers are six times more likely to have staph bacteria than others. Credit: Lynn Betts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Swine farmers are more likely to carry multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus or "staph") than people without current swine exposure, according to a study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Iowa, Kent State University, and the National Cancer Institute.

The study, published online in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, is the largest prospective examination of S. aureus infection in a group of livestock workers worldwide, and the first such study in the United States...

...The study authors note the research helps keep farmers safe by raising awareness about a potential health issue in swine operations. S. aureus does not present an economic concern for swine farmers since pigs generally are unaffected by staph infections.

"S. aureus does not typically make pigs sick, but they can act as carriers and transmit the bacterium to farmers," says Tara Smith, corresponding author on the study. "While carriage of S. aureus isn't itself harmful, individuals who harbor the bacterium in their nose, throat, or on their skin are at risk of developing an active staph infection, and they can also pass the bacterium to other family or community members. Individuals who may be immunocompromised, or have existing conditions such as diabetes, are especially at risk from staph infections."...

..."Current swine workers were six times more likely to carry multidrug-resistant S. aureus than those study participants without current swine exposure," says Smith. The study is based on research that Smith, currently an associate professor at Kent State University, conducted while she was a faculty member at the UI College of Public Health.

"Swine workers are also at risk of becoming infected with these organisms," Smith adds. "One hundred and three potential S. aureus infections were reported, and included infections with livestock-associated strains of this bacterium."

There currently is no method to prevent or eliminate carriage of S. aureus in animals or their human caretakers, meaning constant re-exposure and possibly transmission can occur between livestock and farm workers. Those workers can then pass staph to their family or community members.

"Iowa ranks third nationally in overall livestock production and first in swine production," notes Smith. "Transmission of staph between pigs and farmers and into the broader community could complicate efforts to control S. aureus transmission statewide, and have effects nationally due to the travel of pigs and people carrying these bacteria."

Journal reference: Clinical Infectious Diseases
Provided by University of Iowa

Chinese Inspectors Visit Northern Ireland Pork Processors

This story troubled the writer. He knew why, but had no solutions, but a good night's sleep put that right.

The problem: There is no better way to spread diseases all over the world than to allow globe-trotting veterinarians and inspectors to tramp from farm to farm.

China to Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland to China. Either direction, it is a massive risk. Boots and breath can both spread disease.

But the Chinese need to be sure that the product they are buying is clear of disease in a pig disease ridden world and Northern Ireland needs the exports.

We know that veterinary certificates of health are completely unreliable and often recklessly issued or faked. Buyer Beware!

So the buyer insists on dangerous self-defeating inspections. They have no option.

Catch 22.

But it isn't.

Once all British trade certificates and documentation were the gold standard of international trade. The writer knows, he made his living on the front line. Britain's reputation was the tops.

Since, veterinary rot and corruption set in - including Northern Ireland where some years ago a large number of veterinarians were very gently tapped on the wrist for faking it up.

They are still there, those that have not retired to the sun, doubtless  still as unreliable, pompous, determined and corrupt. We should not be surprised that we have a huge series of international scandals from superbugs to horsemeat.

The Solution: Crack down on veterinary corruption, by bringing the culprits before the courts - make British, Irish, Chinese - anyone who wants to trade in animals and animal products proud to use veterinary certification that is clean, reliable and safe.

Strike off any veterinarian recklessly issuing certification - put them out of business for good. If they did it deliberately, put them behind bars for fraud. They damage their country and their country's customers by sabotaging their trading reputation.

Make sure that the world, its people, have access to safe guaranteed meat. Clean up the veterinary industry. We want Britain to be in the lead, being the best, so that young veterinarians are so proud of their integrity, that they would be sure to stand behind what they sign.

Be sure to read the report, in full, here:

Chinese Inspectors Visit Northern Ireland Pork Processors

28 April 2015
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK

...The Chinese Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) are visiting Northern Ireland this week to assess pork processing premises to export...

Overweight? It could be livestock antibiotics.

A very good article from the USA covering an aspect of antibiotic misuse on livestock that is rarely mentioned, and lies in the shadow of the apparently much more serious superbug crisis: the meat also makes you fat.

There is also a good explanation why merely banning antibiotics to increase weight in animals won't work in the USA, any more than it has in Europe.

Just a few quotes to whet your appetite.

Be sure to read the whole here:

Antibiotic Overload: Experts Blame Livestock Use for Human Resistance, Even Obesity

By Stacy Finz


...“I’ve been surprised that this has been allowed to persist,” said panelist Michael Pollan, a UC Berkeley journalism professor and food activist. “It’s a public health threat.”

And that’ s not all. Panelist Dr. Lee Riley, a UC Berkeley professor of infectious diseases who has studied the issue, said he believes that antibiotic use in food animals could be contributing to the country’s obesity epidemic...

...“If it’s a growth promoter in livestock, what do you think it is in humans?” he asked...

... Maryn McKenna, a science journalist at work on a book chronicling the history of antibiotic use in livestock production...

...The livestock industry has said that it’s not opposed to reducing its use of human antibiotics, but wants the option to continue to use antimicrobials as a prophylactic. (It’s common practice for large livestock producers to put antibiotics in feed and water as a preventative measure against disease.) Some producers say their stock would die without it...

...Holland actually saw an increase after its ban because farmers used the prophylactic reason as a loophole, McKenna said. American politicians have repeatedly tried to pass strict legislation both federally and statewide that would ban any kind of use other than to treat a sick animal, but to no avail.

“Big ag and big pharm are powerful industries,” Pollan said...

... “What needs to be changed is animal husbandry.”...

Posted on April 22, 2015 - 11:58am

Mad Cow Disease In Texas Man Has Mysterious Origin

Many times, over the years we commented that the impact of Britain's epidemic of Mad Cow -  vCJD on the rest of the world had been badly under-reported in Britain.

It was played down at home, but made a much bigger impact than most Brits realised abroad.

Apparently a NPR (National Public Radio) report is now "trending" in the USA.

Britain still suffers from a total lack of integrity in Defra, originally the agricultural ministry Maff. Their appalling behaviour in the past comes back to haunt us years later in the USA.

The Phillips Enquiry, reporting just after FMD 2001, despite censuring some politicians, hardly inspired confidence. The government veterinarians had amnesia when testifying. They were not under oath.

The whitewash may well be coming back to haunt Britain's veterinary establishment.  Animal feed and, this time the antibiotics added and under what authority, is coming to the fore again in the superbug crisis.

Here is Texas, be sure to read the whole article, here.

Mad Cow Disease In Texas Man Has Mysterious Origin

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Michaeleen Doucleff / NPR

...How did a rare disease linked to contaminated beef in the U.K. more
than a decade ago get to a Texas man?...

... And from 1980 to 1996, the U.K. continued to export contaminated
beef around the world. More than 200 people in 12 countries died from
mad cow disease...

... And the U.S. didn't import contaminated beef from the U.K...

China - Porcine Circovirus and Hepatitis E as co-infections in Pigs

More confirmation of the consequences of co-infections involving these particular viruses.

The writer has long claimed Porcine Circovirus (PCV2) as the grand-daddy of most of the constant problems in pig health spreading serious disease to people.

We do, of course, have both Circovirus and HEV (Hepatitis E) in the UK, in both pigs and people, and this blog has been commenting on both for many years. You can find hundreds of posts. here and thousands elsewhere.

Hepatitis E is, of course, a very real human risk and has been both reported in pig farmers in Cornwall and known to be carried by some veterinarians, for many years.

We continue to be amazed that the veterinarians are so relaxed about carrying a disease that is especially dangerous to pregnant women and children: the power of self-deception, and constant self-promoting public relations, we suppose. Public relations is a more powerful drug on those benefiting, than those targeted.

The TV programme "All Creatures Great and Small," and dozens of similar programmes lauding veterinarians have a lot to answer for, in a world sinking into a morass of zoonotic disease stalking humanity, homes and hospitals.

Anyway, the Chinese are picking up on the connections between two different viruses in pigs, be sure to read the full Pig333 report here.

Fatal disease associated with Swine Hepatitis E virus and Porcine circovirus 2 co-infection in four weaned pigs in China

17-Apr-2015 

Yifei Yang, et al. Fatal disease associated with Swine Hepatitis E virus and Porcine circovirus 2 co-infection in four weaned pigs in China. BMC Veterinary Research 2015, 11:77 doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0375-z

In recent decades, Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) infection has been recognized as the causative agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome, and has become a threat to the swine industry. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is another high prevalent pathogen in swine in many regions of the world. PCV2 and HEV are both highly prevalent in pig
farms in China...

...HEV and PCV2 co-infection in piglets was detected in four out of seven dead pigs from two pig farms in Hebei, China, producing severe pathological changes. The natural co-infection of HEV and PCV2 in pigs in China has rarely been reported. We speculate that co-infection with PCV2 and HEV may bring some negative effect on pig production and recommend that more attention should be paid to this phenomenon.

British Election & MRSA in pigs

For the first time, MRSA is being seriously aired in the UK General Election Campaign by Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party - UKIP at the debate on TV last night.

It was not a particularly interesting or incisive comment, and aimed against the Labour Party, but it is an issue that could explode, especially if Farage takes a more serious interest.

We all know that some of the central issues for this election include the NHS, UK membership of the EU, and Scotland leaving the UK.

Farage stands directly opposite the Scottish National Party on pretty well all issues, with both leaders undeniably personally popular and both likely to be influential whatever the exact result.

Scotland is one of the very few countries in the world supposed to be free of MRSA in its pigs.

Nobody believes them. If they were free of MRSA, they would be shouting it from the rooftops as a triumph for Scottish science. That is undeniable. They also have a very poor record on other zoonotic public health issues.

If UKIP decide to raise the issue, and the implications for the rest of the UK, it is going to be very hard for the Scottish Nationalists to handle.

They won't be able to say with any credibility "We haven't found any MRSA in our pigs." and be taken seriously after the election.

Watch this space.

USA - Whole-Genome Sequencing - Consequences for Cover-Ups

On Monday we were writing about the extraordinary story of finding and identifying the body of King Richard lll, the repercussion of modern testing techniques, and also praising the Italians on similar work on Porcine Circovirus.

We developed the implications for the covered-up epidemic of Circovirus in pigs (PCV2) in England before 2000, and, in turn, its significance to the CSF and FMD epidemics that followed and also to the superbug crisis currently plaguing the world.

Now the USA leaps into the picture, in their own way, developing similar implications in  a paper published yesterday by the American Society for Microbiology.

Leaving aside the potential for bio-terrorism, bio-corruption, deception and incompetence can also be traced to source using exactly the same tools - and are being so deployed.

The days of hiding up animal disease epidemics dangerous to humans are not only over, but past sources will be revealed, and culprits exposed.

The net is closing about some very uneasy consciences.

Extract from the abstract and access to the full paper here.

Whole-Genome Sequencing in Outbreak Analysis

Published 15 April 2015


...Utilization of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in outbreak analysis
facilitates the rapid and accurate identification of virulence factors
of the pathogen and can be used to identify the path of disease
transmission within a population and provide information on the
probable source. Molecular tools such as WGS are being refined and
advanced at a rapid pace to provide robust and higher-resolution
methods for identifying, comparing, and classifying pathogenic
organisms. If these methods of pathogen characterization are properly
applied, they will enable an improved public health response whether a
disease outbreak was initiated by natural events or by accidental or
deliberate human activity. The current application of next-generation
sequencing (NGS) technology to microbial WGS and microbial forensics
is reviewed...

• Citation Gilchrist CA, Turner SD, Riley MF, Petri WA, Jr, Hewlett EL. 15 April 2015. Whole-genome sequencing in outbreak analysis. Clin Microbiol Rev doi:10.1128/CMR.00075-13.

Richard lll, DNA, Cold Cases and Circovirus

A strange heading for a strange situation.

Zoonotic disease, that's an animal disease spreading to humans, has largely been an international blame game, with all nations and their often nationalistic farming communities seeking to escape blame and responsibility, by claiming it is all a "foreign" disease, illegally crossing their borders.

So the game was: hide up your own disease and headline everyone else's problems  - blame someone else, preferably a competitor and innocent.

This not very edifying blame game is now yesterday's fraud. Developments in England mark the way.

Few if us could ever expect that the body of King Richard lll, the last King of England to be killed in battle over 500 years ago, would be found and then identified by DNA analysis. We now know he was indeed crippled and the nature of his illness, something we could never have expected to know.

Many other mysteries are being solved.  A well in a new shopping mall, was excavated not far from the writer in Norwich, and the gathered scientists were moved to tears, when the announcement was made to an expectant group on TV. Their worst fears were realised. All the bodies, adult and children, had Jewish DNA - evidence of a medieval pogrom in England's green and pleasant land.

New science is daily unravelling mysteries and scandals their perpetrators thought hidden for ever.

We know that Porcine Circovirus was in Britain immediately before the disastrous Classical Swine Fever, and Foot and Mouth epidemics of 2000 and 2001. It was not called Porcine Circovirus then, and it has had many changes of names, usually for public relation's purposes, since.

Its creation and spread became a problem that the veterinary industry probably thought safely buried, even though the repercussions batter animal and human health ever since, not least the Superbug Crisis.

Antibiotics are needed to deal with the constant co-infections.

But now the bodies of forgotten deceptions are being exhumed.

The Italians are rushing to plug the gaps.

The source at PubFacts can be found here.


INT INTERNATIONAL TRADES, LOCAL SPREAD AND VIRAL EVOLUTION: THE CASE
OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS TYPE 2 (PCV2) STRAINS HETEROGENEITY IN ITALY.
2015Apr

International trades, local spread and viral evolution: the case of
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) strains heterogeneity in Italy.
Infect. Genet. Evol.
Infect Genet Evol 2015 Apr 6. Epub 2015 Apr 6.
Franzo Giovanni, Tucciarone Claudia M, Dotto Giorgia, Gigli
Alessandra, Ceglie Letizia, Drigo Michele
"

Porcine circovirus type 2 is one of the most widespread and economically relevant infections of swine. Four genotypes have been recognized, but currently, only three (PCV2a, PCV2b and PCV2d) are effectively circulating. The widespread livestock trade and rapid viral evolution have contributed to determining the high heterogeneity of PCV2 and the dispersal of potentially more virulent strains.
Italian swine farming and the related processing industry are relevant in the national economy.

Despite the noteworthy losses associated with direct and control measure costs, no data are currently available on the molecular epidemiology of PCV2 in Italy. Our study, which was intended to fill this gap, considered 75 completed genome PCV2 sequences, which were obtained from samples collected from the highly densely populated area of Northern Italy between 2007 and 2014.
Phylogenetic analysis and comparison with reference sequences demonstrated the co-circulation, with different prevalences, of PCV2a, PCV2b and PCV2d within the national borders, with PCV2b being the most  prevalent. Recombination between different genotypes was also proven to be frequent. Phylogeographic analysis demonstrated that the marked variability of Italian PCV2 strains can be attributable to multiple introduction events. The comparison of the phylogenetic analysis results, the location of different haplotypes and the international commercial routs of live pigs allow the speculation of several links as well as the role of Italy as both an importer and exporter of PCV2
haplotypes, mainly from and to European and Asian countries. A similarly intricate contact network was demonstrated within national borders, with different haplotypes being detected in the same province and different provinces harbouring the same haplotype.

Overall, this paper represents the first description of PCV2 in Italy and demonstrates that the high variability of circulating Italian strains is due to multiple introduction events, wide circulation within
national boundaries and rapid viral evolution.

Affiliation
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.NATIONAL TRADES, LOCAL SPREAD AND VIRAE

Pigs - It was Porcine Circovirus!

If you scroll down the sidebar on the left of this page, you will see the following:

"He is the originator of the "GARDINER HYPOTHESIS" which states:

 

Mutated Circovirus in pigs, the consequences treated with heavy use of antibiotics, is followed by MRSA in pigs and then MRSA and C.Diff epidemics in humans."

For many years, the writer repeatedly drew the world's attention to the secret circovirus outbreak that preceded the disastrous British epidemics of Classical Swine Fever and Foot and Mouth Disease in 2000 and 2001. The pigs were very sick with circovirus before the major epidemics hit.

The mighty prestigious British veterinary establishment got it wrong by covering up the disease, and a retired shipbroker, a scientific illiterate, despite being kicked about by crooks, stalked, threatened, lied about and fighting off multiple illnesses got it right, even giving evidence to Parliament and OLAF, the serious fraud squad of the EU. He even drove across the USA in 2005 in the aftermath of Katrina trying to alert America to the danger to the Prairies.

It is not even complicated. So simple, so obvious and so shame making for Britain's corrupt veterinary establishment. Now, we have the results of their mistakes and cover-ups killing children and old people in ever increasing numbers with superbugs, not least porcine MRSA, entering our homes and hospitals.

Their day is over. They are finished. The worst face charges of crimes against humanity, with their closest cronies giving evidence against them. The rump face external supervision and the rule of law.

Be sure to read the Farmers Weekly report in full here.

Stress makes pigs more susceptible to costly disease

Rhian Price
Friday 10 April 2015 14:57

...CVAD is a complex group of pig diseases - formerly known as post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome - which cause diarrhoea, wasting, respiratory disease and death...

...However, for the first time, researchers at RVC have shown environmental stress from higher temperatures, crowding, or both, can induce symptoms attributed to PCVAD without any secondary infection. PCV2-infected pigs kept in temperatures above the comfort temperatures, or kept in pens smaller than current minimum guidelines, were more likely to show reduced weight gain and had higher viral loads than those kept in cooler temperatures or larger pens, the study showed...

Denmark - Human Carriers of MRSA cc398 Increase Sharply.

Human carriers of MRSA cc398 rise sharply in Denmark, especially in the most pig dense regions.

Britain continues to do absolutely nothing to protect its people.

We don't even know the extent of MRSA in the pigs. Scotland, incredibly, still claims to be MRSA free, despite importing breeding stock from Denmark.

But, there are now some signs of discontent and tension, in British farming and veterinary organisations, and dirty Defra, Britain's useless, devious and corrupt farming ministry.

As always, read in the Danish TV report in full here.

NUMBER OF CONTAMINATED WITH pig MRSA RISES DRAMATICALLY

Tuesday at 07-04-15. 18.27 - Charlotte Sølvsten

Especially in Southern Jutland, where the world's largest concentration of pigs per. capita exist, infection exploded and is the province where most are infected with porcine MRSA.

Last year, a total of 290 persons were registered with the infection alone here in South Jutland. This is an increase of 75 percent compared to last year here in our part of the country. 

Some South and Schleswigers already bearing infection in themselves, and they can not get rid of it again...

The development of the number of infected Danes with pig MRSA:
* In 2012, 233 Danes were infected with the pig-MRSA
* In 2013 it was increased to 648
* In 2014, the number has doubled to 1,271 Danes regsitreret with pig
MRSA. The 290 alone in South Jutland.

British superbug outbreak 'could kill 80,000'

The "Daily Telegraph" celebrated Easter Sunday with the above headline, published in the evening as the lead on the front page for Easter Monday morning.

The "Telegraph" is an important right of centre, business orientated,  national daily paper.

Britain is in an election campaign, the most important for generations. It is an election that may herald the break-up of Britain, with Scotland leaving the United Kingdom and Britain leaving the European Union.

So, this alarming report could not have come at a more significant time. The BBC News is also now carrying the story, and also on its website here.

Britain's corrupt veterinarians, Defra her agricultural ministry and their drug-dealer pals, will be sweating today.

The world is now on their tail and it is going to get much worse: much worse - crimes against humanity with all that that entails.

This is history on the making. Total reform of the British veterinary industry is now quite inevitable - royal charters removed and many of the leaders, past and present, investigated.

The writer has suffered constant stalking and threats, since 2000 for giving evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on the Classical Swine Fever scandal.

A system that cannot even protect witnesses to their own national legislature is in serious trouble and has to be totally reformed.

Not that OLAF, the serious Fraud Squad of the EU, were any better, although in fairness, they did try.

Make sure you follow the link to the "Daily Telegraph" here.

British superbug outbreak 'could kill 80,000'

A Government report warns that tens of thousands could die because of
new strains of bacteria and viruses resistant to drugs

By Matthew Holehouse, Political Correspondent

9:47PM BST 05 Apr 2015

MRSA in Pigs: Britain sabre rattling at Denmark

A very important article from the Ingineer this morning summarising the current MRSA situation in Denmark, with a look at Norway's efforts to eradicate the problem and a comment on the important British market.

The mechanical translation is a bit rough, the picture painted really accurate and depressing, but they miss the point in their very last sentence: that there is an immensely profitable premium market waiting development.  The Norwegians are lining up to take it, with my parallel ideas for the Scottish island of Islay, following the same potential course, albeit slowly. Even Denmark is trying to start something similar on Bornholm.

It is good to be constructive in bad times.

The "saber rattling" from the UK is a fabrication to help cover-up  a massive scandal founded on veterinary drug dealing. The scandal will unravel taking much of the current British veterinary establishment with it.

There is no reason to think that British pigs are any healthier than Danish pigs. The cogenesi all know that: their marketing stance betrays them. They are keen on marketing, more keen than is healthy, and they certainly would not miss the opportunity.

If British pigs really were free of MRSA, Defra, Britain's corrupt agricultural ministry and their cronies would be yelling it from the rooftops, increasing production and, demanding and getting premium prices for MRSA free pork. That is simple common sense. They would not miss the chance.

But "good money" can drive out bad, premium prices can create the expensive production that shows that MRSA free pigs are possible.

Then it is just politics, economics and tending the graves of the victims of the scandal of the century.

Be sure to read the Ingineer article in full, here. It is interesting, reliable and important.

MRSA: therefore being so little, even if you hear so much

Analysis: An Action Plan will not seriously dampen the occurrence of resistant bacteria pig - but there is no inexpensive ways to get rid of it.

By Magnus Bredsdorff March 29, 2015 at. 12:00

How can a bacteria like MRSA that gets so much attention in the public debate, still allowed to spread between pigs and humans?
The question remains, after the Food Minister Dan Jørgensen (S) last week presented an action plan to curb the infection. For the problem with the plan is that it does not do much to actually reduce infection.

It sounds totally illogical, and for an explanation, we need to turn the clock back one year. When initiated engineer as first a long series of articles, which documented that the infection was more or less out of control... 

...It will, however, according to the researchers not the action plan, which reduces MRSA infection significantly.

In the short term it can only happen if agriculture itself sees an interest in it. It could, for instance. be if overseas customers start demanding MRSA-free pork. Supermarket chains in both the UK and Sweden have rattled the saber, but so far it has been empty threats. For it will be impossible to obtain MRSA-free meat in large quantities from anywhere in the world.

MRSA in Pigs - Facts and figures from Denmark

We reference the usual capable report from Kjeld Hansen.

Elsewhere, as well, we are getting information of the high incidence of MRSA in German pig herds. From what we have, it does not look any better than Denmark.

Britain, in theory, remains a mystery. There are few reliable facts and figures: deliberately, no doubt.

However, some of the Scottish pig producers, worried about MRSA,  are complaining about the wisdom of the big international genetics companies in moving live breeding stock and semen from Denmark to Scotland. We have heard this complaint before.

We may be seeing the final days of the current pig production and distribution systems in Europe and elsewhere.

Change is inevitable: in provision of clean starter stock, reduced movement of pig genetics between countries, and, indeed, the actual husbandry.

The first, clean starter stock, will be associated with new high health pig production in remote locations - top science bringing prosperity to islands such as Islay and Bornholm .

The second, free movement of genetics and live animals between countries has to be curtailed and the reduced volume allowed must be closely controlled - a clean health certificate has been shown to be inadequate in preventing the export and import of disease.

Finally, the husbandry will have to be antibiotic free and with fewer pigs in more locations. The pigs and the larger number of small premises, in future perhaps, owned by the actual farmers. External visitors will be discouraged to reduce footfall though the farms. Pork will be more expensive: farming safer and more secure.

Anyway, here is Kjeld Hansen giving a view from Denmark with lots of figures. Be sure to read in full, here.


MRSA epidemic and cut pigtails hitting exports of Danish pork to Sweden

Published March 26, 2015 | By Kjeld Hansen

The highly critical mention of Danish pork in Sweden now appears clearly in Danish exports to the neighboring country. Sales of Danish meat cuts have dived sharply... 

...The publication of a number MRSACC398-related deaths in Germany will undoubtedly attract critical attention in terms of exports of live pigs to Germany. From Denmark alone sent 11 million. pigs to Germany each year, and probably at least two out of three (68
percent.) carriers of MRSACC398...

Britain - Hepatitis E and Norovirus in food under investigation

As regular readers know, we have been campaigning over the risks to human health from pigs infected with Hepatitis E for many years. The risks are not just in food.

Norovirus is also getting a long overdue airing in Britain.

One of Bill Marler's blogs in the USA was the first to tell us what was going on.

It is interesting to see just how much attention Britain is getting in zoonotic and food health circles abroad.

All these zoonotic diseases are an international issue in an increasingly interconnected world,

This story is not going to go away.

You can also find much of the history of these diseases in Britain and elsewhere on the British newsgroup uk.business.agriculture ( use google group's search ) and on this blog (use the searchbox at the head)  'Hepatitis' or  'Norovirus' will bring up dozens of articles and sources.

Be sure to read Marler's Food Safety Blog  in full here.

UK Foodborne Virus Reports Identify Areas Needing More Research

BY NEWS DESK | MARCH 26, 2015

...two reports published Wednesday on the status of viruses in the UK food chain.

The first, a report by Food Standards Agency (FSA) Chief Scientific Advisor Guy Poppy, explores what viruses in food are, how they cause disease, how FSA is working with others to use science to understand them, and some of the challenges around reducing the risks.

Two issues the report says the agency is working on are ways of detecting whether norovirus or Hepatitis E found in food is infectious and commissioning research on the heat stability of Hepatitis E due to uncertainty about how effective conventional cooking practices are in eliminating it from contaminated meat...

Denmark - We need antibiotics completely out of the pig sties.

Pretty important stuff, common-sense too, from Denmark and the respected Ingineer.

Now they just have to pluck up the courage to do it, in Denmark and in silent secretive Britain.

At least Denmark has the guts to admit they have a pig health problem and many of their top scientists have the courage to speak out against government inaction.

How unlike like Britain where her scientists are scared stiff of corrupt Defra, Britain's bullying agricultural ministry, its veterinarians and its cronies.

Still, the day will come when they will all be called to account. The rush to give Queen's Evidence will be breathtaking.

Be sure to read in full here -

Resistance researchers: We need antibiotics completely out of sties

A decrease of 15 percent in the consumption of antibiotics for pigs is too little. If only pigs are allowed to die anymore, it is possible to almost eliminate drugs in the stables.

By Magnus Bredsdorff March 19, 2015 at. 11:33

Antibiotics should be virtually eliminated in the Danish pig farms, and it can easily be done.

So says two of Denmark's leading researchers in resistant bacteria. The hoses both out after the action plan , as food minister Dan Jørgensen (S) on Wednesday presented and Minister sold to the media in that would cut 15 percent of antibiotic use in 2018...

"In my ideal world must antibiotics completely away from the stables. If we three years can halve consumption, then it is a beginning, "says Professor and Consultant Westh looking Knowledge Centre for MRSA at Hvidovre Hospital...

Spain - HEV, HIV and pigs

We have long been writing about Hepatitis E (HEV)  moving from pigs into the general population. A typical article dealing with HEV in Irish blood transfusions last year is here.

Now we hear from Spain about additional risks to people infected with HIV.

The pigs have to be made healthy again.You can see the case for genuine 'high tech' high health pig farms in remoter locations, as is proposed for Scotland on Islay, and Denmark on Bornholm, strengthening by the day. The healthy pigs bred away from sick herds can be used to repopulate a failing industry nationally re-organised in less risky ways.

Currently, the pigs are sick and a danger to human health. The problems have to be tackled: they won't go away without effort.

The need will provide the motivation and the finance. The many high status jobs and the more humble will be welcome and a good counter to areas of depopulation.

Anyway, you can read about the latest news about Hepatitis E  dangers to HIV infected people here on ProMed.


Published Date: 2015-03-14 22:52:03

Subject: PRO/EDR> Hepatitis E - Spain: HIV infected individuals 

Archive Number: 20150314.3230174

Norway and Britain - MRSA in pigs

England and Scotland do not have MRSA in their pigs according to the Britsh government.

Maybe Norway has to learn from Britain’s corrupt veterinarians – how to lie, cheat, fake and endanger human health over many years.

It is tough for Britain’s veterinary establishment: they now face prosecution for crimes against humanity at the Hague.

This is Denmark writing about events in Norway here.

15 farms affected by MRSA in Norway

SWINETuesday, 10 March 2015 14:36​​Print Written by Nikolaj Nielsen Babis

Half of the 30 pig farms in Norway, which was feared to be affected by MRSA have tested positive for the bacteria, but the Swedish Mattillsynet (the Norwegian was on DVFA) does not expect the emergence of more infected herds up.

For only a few months ago, the Norwegian authorities say that they have managed to fight MRSA bacteria in Norwegian pig herds, but rather after the danger had blown over, there has been new discoveries of bacteria, writes Swedish atl.nu .

Mattillsynet have now got the test results back from the 30 farms that were thought to carry the infection, and they showed that bakteriene was present in 15 pig farms in the country. Five were weaners and the last 10 were herds of pigs.

Britain and MRSA LA-MRSA - latest

Don't know anything, don't want to know anything, never will know anything. 

It adequately covers this British government report.

Britain's veterinary industry obviously know how they are going to get caught hiding up MRSA st398.

Britain's competitors have long ago become curious about how Britain should have achieved the apparent miracle of avoiding LA- MRSA for so many years.

One can well imagine that freezers all over the developed world are stuffed with samples of British pork awaiting the day of judgement

..."There was discussion on the role whole genome sequencing might play in revealing the direction of travel of MRSA."...

You would laugh at this next quote were it not so serious. Yes, 15 years to consider a report and then they are more curious about everyone else's situation rather than Britain's.

..."The group commented on this proposal, and suggested that such a
review should follow on from the 1999 ACMSF report and in particular
should incorporate recent findings from countries outside the UK."...

Then we get a ridiculous dismissal of the Jim O'Neill report on the cost in human deaths and money of antibiotic resistance.

..."The Jim O'Neill led group is approaching the issues surrounding AMR
from an economic perspective and as such their work is aimed at a
different audience."...

What audience is this group supposed to be addressing?

Anyway you can read the whole sad story here.

Antimicrobial Resistance Working Group meeting 17 December 2014

Last updated:  9 March 2015
Summary of the 6th meeting of the group

Update on MRSA in the food chain

Pig MRSA and Zinc Oxide - Dangers for Humans

We do not know the situation in Britain. The increasing problem of zoonotic diseases on British farms and in British livestock and food has been covered-up and lied about for many years.

So we look to 'free speech' Denmark for information.

Denmark is far from perfect, they even arrest journalists covering the story, but at least discussion and publication is allowed on most aspects of the problem, despite the horrific economic and employment implications for a country living off the hog's back.

Politiken publishes a major article today dealing with the risks associated with feeding zinc oxide to pigs. The article in full is here.

MRSA thrives on popular zinc-drug for pigs

Medical zinc is more popular than ever, but increases the risk tohumans.

Simon Reenberg SIMON REENBERG Journalist
Jacob Friberg Nielsen JACOB FRIBERG Journalist

And zinc is popular among pig farmers. The consumption of the drug Zinc oxide has more than tripled since DVFA records began in 2005. In 2014, consumption rose to unprecedented heights with 412.4 tonnes of zinc.

It shows a new report from the Food Authority, which Politiken's possession.

But the increasing zinc consumption is not safe for people. In fact, bacteria fight even better conditions for the antibiotic-resistant bacterial pig-MRSA, which is also resistant to zinc...

..."When the zinc inhibits the growth of other bacteria, it makes room for the MRSA bacteria thrive," explains Westh, professor at MRSA Knowledge Center.

And it is an overlooked problem, says professor of microbiology at the University of Southern Denmark, Hans Jørn Kolmos:

"Zinc consumption for pigs is a major problem for people because it cultivates MRSA in pigs, which are transferred to the people and give
diseases'...

You can find a similar story here: also published today and with a startling graph and worrying statistics.

Sweden Highly Critical of Danish Pig Production

This is Denmark's oldest newspaper, rescued by a consortium including one of the world's great shipowners, sold to the Norwegians and all now under British ownership. So, the journalists know their subject.

The report, in full, explains in disturbing detail the background to some of the strange statistics coming from the pig industry in Denmark, Britain and elsewhere.

This is the last subject Britain's hypocritical veterinary establishment wanted explored.

That's tough, it is going to get an airing.

This is part of the scandal of the century - sick pigs spreading disease, including MRSA, into the hospitals.

Be sure to read in full here



POLICY   02/24/15, KL. 09:50

EL thunders against Danish pig producers: Stop the mass killing Unity votes in the Swedish chorus that is highly critical of the Danish pig production. There must be an end to masseaflivningen in
Danish stables, it said.

By: Michael Alsen Lauridsen, Berlingske News

There is a need to do away with the idea of ??quantity in the Danish pig farms. Instead, the focus is to breed quality pork under proper conditions...

...The debate is based, among other things, that the Danish pig producers have made calculations showing that it is not viable to keep piglets weighing less than two pounds at birth alive. Critics of our neighbor, neither is it particularly humanely when pig killing piglets by beating piglet heads on concrete floors in barns...

Pig MRSA - The Secret Pig Factories - Denmark & Scotland

In the midst of yet another superbug crisis in Californian hospitals, the American press reference the British government report:

"A British report in December found that, in the U.S. and Europe alone, more than 50,000 lives are claimed annually from infections such as MRSA and CRE, the bacteria associated with the UCLA crisis. (The acronym stands for “carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.”) By 2050, the report warned, such infections will kill 10 million people worldwide each year unless we address antibiotic resistance."

Britain needs to live up to its words.

You can read more on CRE in California here.

Denmark's Kjeld Hansen is also reporting on MRSA cc398 in an article entitled "The Secret Pig Factories." You can read Hansen's report in full here.

In the midst of a, doubtless justified, complaint about secrecy, he illuminates a potential solution to the problem of MRSA in pigs and how secrecy impedes the process

"Eastern High Court has ruled that the Ministry's list of MRSACC398 Pigs infected plants must remain secret...

...These producers have a legitimate claim to be able to guard against infection when purchasing weaners and breeding stock trades. With the strategy of secrecy fails L & F these members, and there are already Zealand pig farmers who are considering downloading clean piglets in Sweden to ensure their MRSA-free status..."

Mr Hanson is right, the rush is now on to locate "clean" pigs to re-populate a new re-organised improved pig farming.

Although also impeded by secrecy, Scotland is still ahead of the game in one way, with detailed proposals for an Islay High Health Pig Farm outlined on the newsgroup uk.business.agriculture in a number of posts over many months.

The island should be working to claim their share and Scotland must also press ahead with the parallel reforms to the industry across Scotland. We will elaborate on the nature of these later.

In the meantime, England has, at least, owned up to MRSA st398 in its pigs, although not the scale or duration. However, reform of the industry is clearly under way in some bitter trench warfare.

Almost alone in the world, Scotland has still not yet admitted MRSA in its pigs, let alone the scale or duration of the crisis, and its bloated pompous veterinary industry still needs to be dragged into the
process of reform.

The pieces of the jigsaw of porcine MRSA solutions are falling into place with the Scottish island of Islay taking pride of place with a very real prospect of leading the pack.

You can find the ideas behind the Islay High Health Pig Farm outlined in a series of posts on uk.business.agriculture: use the search function, we suggest "Islay" will  bring all the relevant posts to hand.

Obviously, if the project gathers pace, much more detailed reports and proposals will be necessary, and we wait developments - especially Scotland's admission of the problem and, eventually the location of some clean starter stock. Mr Hansen's pig farming contacts think Sweden. The writer thinks Norway: either is possible as are other locations that escaped the worst features of intensification and globalisation of pig farming.