The Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster resulted in environmental contamination by released fission products broadly in eastern Japan, as well as arising much interest and anxiety on the health risks of low dose-rate and low dose radiation exposures due to radioactivity present in their residential environments. This paper describes a concept on the risk of radiation carcinogenesis, together with its uncertainties, and annual dose-limits as a guideline of radiation protection for radiation workers and publics under normal or emergency conditions. Finally, estimates of cancer risks due to long-term low dose-rate and low dose radiation exposures less than 100 mSv or 100 mGy are provided by using experimental data actually obtained both from long-term external exposure of mice to low dose-rate gamma-rays, and from persistent internal exposure of rats and mice to alpha-particles emitted from plutonium compounds.

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Regarding radioactive contamination of food associated with the accident at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ) conducted "risk assessment of radioactive nuclides in foods".
Epidemiological data have various limitations, by fully recognizing those limitations, FSCJ conducted its own investigation based on available publications.
The publications were classified from various viewpoints such as the validity of study design and study subject population, existence or non-existence of statistically significant difference, appropriateness of estimated exposure amount, the influence of the confounding factors, and the presence of uncertainty referred by the author in order to identify its applicability for this assessment.
Based on researches, in regards to the assessment of the effect of food on health, FSCJ concludes that more than around 100 mSv of the extra cumulative effective doses:cumulative effective doses of radiation during lifetime, could increase the risk of effect on health. The amount does not include radiation from natural environment and medical exposure.
During childhood people are considerably more susceptible to radiation than adults, posing a possibility to develop thyroid cancer and leukemia.
Some epidemiological researches indicate the health effects from radiation doses at below 100 mSv, however data reliability of those researches remains uncertain.
There is an undeniable possibility that health effect from low radiation doses has not been validated by epidemiological research considering various factors. Therefore, health effects from the extra cumulative exposure below 100 mSv are difficult to be verified based on the current available knowledge.

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After one year of the accident of nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japanese government decided to set new standard for radioactive materials in foods.
Cesium 134 and 137 are the target radioactive materials for standards. According to the Codex commission recommendation, intervention level of maximum radiation is 1 milli Sievert per year. 100 becquerel (Bq)/kg is the maximum limit for all foods except for drinking water including green tea, milk, and baby foods. This maximum limit is calculated from the basic consideration that 100% of domestic foods are contaminated from radioactive materials and 50% of all foods are imported. Maximum limit of drinking water is 10 Bq/kg and that of milk and baby foods are 50 Bq/kg.

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On March 11^th 2011, Tsunami caused by massive magnitude 9.0 earthquakes occurred at Sanriku offshore attacked Tohoku and North Kanto shores. As in February 2012, the total number of deaths and missing by this East Japan disaster was 19,139 and Ishinomaki was especially heavily affected; the number of death and missing 3,833 accounted for 20% of the total number in Japan. Rakuno Gakuen University sent 73 volunteers including 6 teaching and administrative staffs since April 2011 and its researchers started environmental risk assessment since July jointly with Ishinomaki City Council.
Stratified random sampling of the Chonai-Kai administrative units with two strata, the extremely damaged areas by Tsunami located within two kilometers from the sea shore and 11kms along coast were divided into eastern and western strata from Old Kitakami River, was performed and 20 out of 87 units were selected (the sampling fraction 24.4%). Sampling of sludge, water, flies, mosquitoes and rodents were conducted and the samples were served for microbiological, bio-chemical and chemical analyses.
Before Tsunami, livestock feed factories were located on the western seashore from Old Kitakami River and fish processing factories and freezer storages on the eastern. These feeds and fish were scattered on the Tsunami affected areas and these areas smelled very bad. Plenty of Musca and Spaerocerdae species flies that favor carbonates occurred on the western seashore and plenty of Phomiaregina flies that favor proteins on the eastern in June and July. City Council, volunteers and Self Defense Force removed fish and feeds and conducted spraying pesticides and eventually the smell and flies were controlled by August.
From the sludge and water samples, enterococcal bacteria and non-highly pathogenic Vibrio were isolated. Heavy metals were found but not in the alarming dose. Rodents seemed to die off other than one western area with canal.
From these results, risk was not so high but continuous monitoring is recommended. Sociological studies needs to be carried out to understand people’s intention of living in the areas again in order to present the overall risks.

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The purpose of this study is to reveal the factors by which they hesitate to restart farming activities suffering after Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Miyazaki 2010. Data were collected through interviews with 442 individuals in farming households in Miyazaki city and Shintomi and Kawaminami towns from August to November 2011 by Miyazaki Prefecture Mental Health and Welfare Center.
In univariate analysis, associations between restarting of farming and agricultural, socio-economic, health and FMD related factors were examined. In multivariate analysis, generalized linear models were carried out. Response variable was selected as restarting of farming. As explanatory variables, the factors with p-value below 0.2 in the univariate analysis and the interaction terms with the correlation coefficients above 0.4 which might be logically associated with the factors were selected. Since there were several explanatory variables, two models: health associated and FMD associated models were developed. Health associated model was developed with factors related with health of farmers and their families for pig and cattle farms, respectively. FMD associated model was constructed with factors related with livestock and FMD control for vaccinated, infected and all farms, respectively. Stepwise model simplification was then employed. In the cattle farms, being elderly (OR 0.07, p=0.006) and K6 positive (OR 0.07, p=0.02) were preventive factors from restarting farming. On the contrary, being large scale farms (OR 1.01, p=0.009) and family-owned farms (OR 17.4, p=0.05) were encouraging factors. In pig farms, being large scale farms was an encouraging factor (OR 1.004, p=0.012). Among all farms, farmers who restarted were more dissatisfied with officially provided information on FMD (OR 0.6, p<0.001) while they were more satisfied with the current public support (OR1.3, p=0.03). Additionally, K6 positive was a preventive factor of restarting. Among farmers in infected farms, farmers which helped other farmers in culling tended to restart (OR 3.8, p=0.09). In conclusion, continuous mental health and psychosocial supports are warranted as the present study demonstrated that their suffering still persists. Furthermore, such psychosocial aspect should be a part of support in future animal infectious disease related disasters.

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Based on the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease in 2010, the Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Law was revised for the purpose of strengthening the prevention against these infectious diseases on April 4, 2011. However, the revision of the listed diseases of the honeybee was not performed.
In honeybees, a phenomenon called colony collapse disorder (CCD) has been observed in the worldwide from 2006. CCD has been partly considered to be caused by infectious diseases. In Japan, foulbrood diseases with Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius, varroatosis with Varroa jacobsoni, chalkbrood disease with Ascosphaera apis, tracheal acariosis with Acarapis woodi and nosemosis with Nosema apis in honeybees were listed under the law for the prevention.
Since 1998, there were frequently outbreaks of foulbrood disease, varroatosis and chalkbrood disease according to the database of surveillance of Japan. Nosemosis also has sporadically occurred at nationwide. In 2010, tracheal acariosis and Israel acute paralysis virus (IAPV) disease were reported at the first time in Japan.
Previous investigation was carried out to detect varroatosis, tracheal acariosis and nosemosis in the dead honeybees collected in Okayama Prefecture in the autumn of 2009 (due to Yamada Research Grants of the honeybee in 2009). In results of this investigation, Varroa destructor and Nosema ceranae were detected at a high rate in honeybees. These two pathogens were not the species of pathogens listed under the law. In addition, tracheal acariosis was not detected in this study.
The purpose of the Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Law is to prevent the epidemics in honeybees for the promotion of animal husbandry. Therefore, these suggested which new pathogens such as IAPV, V. destructor and N. ceranae also must be specified under the law and the epidemiological surveillances of epidemics at nationwide must be carried out in honeybees.

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Mastitis is a very important disease in dairy farming. In Okhotsk, Japan, Staphylococcus aureus (SA) mastitis incidence increased after the introduction of anonymous post-dipping Iodine-based product A. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the product A and the disease increased.
The dairy cows monitoring data for 5 farms using product A and 4 farms using another anonymous Iodine-based product B in the dairy farms which belong to Okhotsk Farmers’ Association and encountered with SA mastitis incidence were used for this analysis. In univariate analyses, farming style (tie or free stall), pre-milking teat disinfectant (2 products) and post-dipping products were selected as explanatory variables and the incidence of SA mastitis on each teat between 2005 April and 2007 March was selected as a response variable. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) with Poisson errors were employed for these analyses. In multivariable analysis, as the incidence of SA mastitis on each teat could be affected by the intra-class correlation at two levels:animal and farm levels, robust variance using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) was performed in statistical software R version 2.13.1. The explanatory variables with the p-values less than 0.2 in the univariate analyses were selected for GEE and step-wise model simplification was performed.
In univariate analysis, there was no significant difference in mean SA mastitis annual incidence per teat between tie (0.025) and free stall (0.028, p=0.53) or between two pre-milking disinfectant products (0.022 and 0.029, p=0.08). However, the mean annual incidence was significantly higher in teats which post-dipping product A was used (0.035) than those which product B was used (0.015, p<0.001). In multivariable analysis, only the use of post-dipping product A was significantly associated with the annual incidence (p<0.001).
In the present study, only the post-dipping product was associated with the SA mastitis incidence among farming style, pre-milking disinfectant and post dipping products. Change of post-dipping product and economic evaluation after the intervention would be recommended to the farms with increased incidence.

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Benchmarking systems are used for improvement of management in companies. In livestock production fields, the benchmarking is used for pig production management. We reported in the 29^th this conference that a trial study was to make benchmarks for herd health management of the dairy farm in eastern Hokkaido. The present study investigated the relationships among the benchmark indices and the management condition of the farm and made the list with benchmark for dairy farms in the area. Data of 170 dairy farms were obtained from the local agricultural cooperative association from 2008 to 2010. The data were included illness records of individual cattle, milk production records and management status of the farm. In the farm information in the area, the averages of milk yield in a year, of the number of cow, and of the number of parity were 513 +/- 299 t (average +/- SD), 73 +/- 36 and 3.15 +/- 0.55, respectively. We set total 29 benchmark indices in each year that included 8 for health, 6 for reproduction, 7 for milk production, 5 for management and 3 for farm condition. The benchmark values were analyzed with consideration for feeding system (tie stall, free stall), grazing (+, -), local area (seaside, middle, hill) and excellent farm (management rank in the top 25 %) in the farm. The benchmarks as representative value were decided medians after analyzing distribution of each index. The relationship between the each index and the management condition was decided with correlation analysis and the information was reflected in the benchmark list. In addition, we made reports to an individual farm that could understand own position of each index in the area, and gave out them to the farmers. The benchmark indices that correlate with farm management were 3 health indices, 1 reproduction index and 1 milk production index in consideration of the results for 3 years. The reports for individual farm were gave good responses from farmers and became a trigger to communicate with others and within community association. These results show that the benchmark for dairy herd based on production area will be useful for farmers to confirm own current status objectively and to find out the points to improve their management.

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The purpose of this study was to detect and quantify bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) quasispecies in field endemic BVDV strains, and to analyze a co-relation between quantity of these quasispieces and variety of clinical sign on bovine viral diarrhea virus infections.
Forty five of BVDV isolates in Hokkaido prefecture were analyzed by the exaltation of Newcastle disease virus (END) method, the reverse plaque formation (RPF) method using vesicular stomatitis virus, and observation of cytopathic effect (CPE). As a result, these isolates investigated were divided into five groups. The first group is 10 isolates from which END phenomenon positive (E⁺) virus was only detected. The second is 25 isolates which consisted of E⁺ virus as major and END phenomenon negative (E^-) virus as minor. The third is 7 isolates in which each virus was detected with same titer. The fourth is 2 isolates which showed only E^- virus-positive. The fifth is 1 isolate which contained cp virus. In the quantitative analysis, it was shown that the ratio of E^- virus against E⁺ virus in the strain that contained each virus varied from 2 times to 435 times. These results suggest that BVDV field isolates not only consist of E⁺ virus as major virus but also contain several quantity of E^- virus as minor virus, and that E^- virus exists frequently in the field. Moreover, it is interesting that the strains with E^- virus as major are in the field, which will be a first report. On the other hand, any co-relations between quantity of E^- virus in the field strain and epidemiological dynamism such as animal age, clinical symptoms of BVD-MD, or BVDV genotype, were not found unfortunately. However, there is the possibility of exerting an impact on symptom, because every isolates couldn’t detect E^-virus have been derived from asymptomatic infected cows.

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Use of fostering technique is common in commercial breeding herds. Using fostering technique makes it possible to be a higher number of pigs weaned by a sow (PW) than the pigs born alive to that sow at farrowing (PBA). The objective of the present study was to compare the relationship between reproductive performance of sows and sow groups based on the difference between PBA and PW (PBA-minus-PW) by parity and herd groups that were performing differently.
The present study included 164,407 parity records of 61,135 sows farrowed during 2007 and 2008 in 113 Japanese commercial herds. Sows were classified into two PW groups on the basis of PBA-minus-PW:namely Increased-PW (PBA<PW) and Decreased-PW (PBAPW) groups. Herds were classified into three groups on the basis of upper and lower 25th percentiles of pigs weaned per mated female per year:high-, intermediate- and low-performing herds. Two-level analysis was applied using a herd at level 2 and an individual record at level 1. Parity 1 and parity 2 or higher sows were separately analyzed.
Of 164,407 parity records, 24.8% had more PW at weaning than PBA at farrowing. Means (±SEM) of PBA-minus-PW in Increased-PW sows in parity 1 and parity 2 or higher were -2.8±0.02 and -2.7±0.05 pigs, respectively. High-performing herds had more Increased-PW sows than low-performing herds (24.9 vs. 20.1%; P < 0.05).
Increased-PW sows had fewer PBA at farrowing and higher PBA-minus-PW than Decreased-PW sows in any parity groups (P<0.05). Increased-PW sows had heavier adjusted 21-day litter weight than Decreased-PW sows (P<0.05). Increased-PW sows in parity 1 had 0.5 days longer WMI than those in the Decreased-PW group (P<0.05), but there was no such difference in parity 2 or higher sows (P=0.62). Additionally, Increased-PW sows had lower farrowing percentage and fewer subsequent PBA in any parity sows (P<0.05).
In summary, Increased-PW sows had heavier adjusted 21-day litter weight than Decreased-PW group. However, Increased-PW sows in parity 1 appear to have longer WMI, lower farrowing percentage and fewer subsequent PBA than Decreased-PW sows.

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The objective of this study was to quantify the associations between summer climate data and reproductive performance of sows in lactation by herd productivity groups and by parity in Japanese commercial herds. This study was conducted by using 56,779 parity records of 45,506 sows farrowed between June and September in 2007 and 2008 in 113 herds. The climate data included records of daily maximum temperatures and daily relative humidity reported in 21 weather stations of Japan Meteorological Agency. Average values of the maximum temperatures (maximum temperatures) and relative humidity (relative humidity) for 21 days from the farrowing for individual sows were coordinated with reproductive data of the sows. The 113 herds were classified into high-, intermediate- and low-performing herds on the basis of pigs weaned per mated female per year. Parity records of sows at farrowing were classified into two groups:1 and 2 or higher. Two-level analysis was applied using a herd at level 2 and an individual record at level 1. Means (±SEM) of maximum temperatures and relative humidity during summer from 2007 to 2008 were 28.1±0.01°C and 74.2±0.02%, respectively. Increased maximum temperatures during summer were associated with prolonged weaning-to-first-mating interval (WMI), lower farrowing percentage and fewer subsequent pigs born alive (subsequent PBA; P<0.05). Increased relative humidity were associated with prolonged WMI (P<0.05), but not with farrowing percentage and subsequent PBA (P0.05). There were two two-way interactions between maximum temperatures and herd productivity groups or parity for WMI (P<0.05). As maximum temperatures increased by 1°C, WMI of sows in high-performing herds increased by 0.08 days, whereas those in low-performing herds increased by 0.21 days. As maximum temperatures increased by 1°C, WMI in parity 1 and 2 or higher sows increased by 0.16 days and 0.10 days, respectively. A two-way interaction between relative humidity and parity was found (P<0.05). In parity 1 sows, WMI increased by 0.10 days as relative humidity increased by 1%, whereas WMI in parity 2 or higher sows did not increase. A two-way interaction between the maximum temperatures and parity was found for farrowing percentage (P<0.05). A parity 1 sow lactating at 30°C of the maximum temperatures was 0.95 times as likely to farrow as a sow lactating at 25°C. Meanwhile, a parity 2 or higher sow lactating at 30°C was 0.98 times as likely to farrow as a sow lactating at 25°C. There was a two-way interaction between maximum temperatures and herd productivity groups for subsequent PBA (P<0.05). As maximum temperatures increased by 1°C, subsequent PBA of sows in high-performing herds decreased by 0.06 pigs, whereas subsequent PBA of sows in low-performing herds decreased by 0.09 pigs. In conclusion, this study indicates that negative effects of high temperatures during lactation on WMI and subsequent PBA are different between herd productivity groups. Additionally, it is harder in parity 1 sows than parity 2 or higher sows that negative effects of high temperatures or relative humidity during lactation on WMI and farrowing percentage.

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Respiratory syndromes and diarrhea among weaned pigs decrease number of marketed pigs and reduce growth performance. This clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of environmental improvements and probiotic supplement on mortality, body weight gain and saliva cortisol levels among weaned pigs reared in a farm, which known to have adversed sanitary conditions. In October 2010, 140 pigs weaned in this month were classified into 4 body weight groups (heavy, medium, light, extreme light) (n=35 each). Each group was further randomly allocated into 4 groups such as reared in; A) cleaned room with probiotics (Lactobachillus casei I-5 (1%)), B) cleaned room without probiotics, C) uncleaned room with probiotics, D) uncleaned room without probiotics. Therefore, 16 pens (8-10 animals each) were allocated into 4 treatment groups (A to D) and 4 blocks by their weights. Body weights of the targeted animals were measured weekly until 9 weeks and saliva obtained at 0, 1, 4 and 8 weeks post weaning were used for cortisol measurement. In extreme light weight group, pigs in cleaned room and those with probiotics had significantly higher body weight gain compared to other groups. In the same weight group, pigs without probiotics had higher mortality compared to other group and this was more evident among castrated male group. At 4 weeks post weaning, cortisol concentration in saliva remained highest levels among castrated male in extreme light weight group without probiotics compared to other groups. From this study, cleaning process and probiotic supplementation were effective on body weight gain and improvement of mortality only for pigs which were lowest body weight group at weaning. In additions, cortisol concentration in saliva could be a good indicator for the pigs which had deteriorated growth performance.

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The eradication program of Aujeszkey’s Disease (AD) has been in operation since 1991 by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, however, infected farms still exist in Kanto and Kyusyu regions to date in Japan. In the present study, a cross-sectional study was conducted in order to determine the risk factors associated with the farm-level AD infection in pig farms. Data were obtained through a postal survey in Kanto region using a prepared questionnaire that included results of AD testings and its vaccination program, and herd management practice As a result, 329 out of 960 requested farms agreed with the cooperation and sent back the questionnaire.
Defining the infected farm as a farm with one or more ELISA positive pigs, the farm-level prevalence was 41.5%. After the multivariate logistic regression analysis, introduction of purchased pigs without any AD testings (odds ratio=2.2, p<0.05) and no prohibition practice for the vehicles and visitors entering farms (odds ratio=2.5, p<0.05) were determined as the significant risk factors to be the infected farm. These results imply that negative confirmation for AD to the purchased animals prior to the introduction and control of the vehicles and persons at farm entrance were the crucial point to prevent the AD introduction into the farms. In addition, AD vaccination to all pigs was performed in more than 80% of both infected and uninfected farms, which seemed to be the preferable situation for the region-wide control measures. On the other hand, less than 40% of both infected and uninfected farms conducted the disinfection of vehicles on their farm entrance. For the efficient AD control measures, improvement of basic farm bio-security was also thought to be important.

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The purpose of this study was multivariate analysis of relationship between use of antimicrobial agents and distribution of antimicrobial resistance in pig farms using the data of Japanese Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (JVARM). The antimicrobial resistance and husbandry data of 364 Escherichia coli isolates recovered from 251 pigs (one pig was sampled at each farm) between 2004 and 2007 were used in this study. In univariate analysis, the association between selection of antimicrobial resistance and the use of antibiotics and husbandry factors were tested. In multivariate analysis, Generalized Estimating Equations were used, choosing each antimicrobial resistance as response variable. As explanatory variables, the use of antibiotics, husbandry factors and interaction terms between them with a p-value less than 0.2 in univariate analysis were selected.
Ampicillin resistance was associated with the use of macrolides (MLS) (n=26, OR=2.7, p=0.002). Kanamycin resistance was associated with the use of MLS (n=14, OR=2.5, p=0.005), colistin (n=5, CL, OR=7.5, p=0.002) and polypeptide-based feed additives (n=20, OR=2.5, p=0.005). Oxytetracycline (OTC) resistance was associated with the use of aminoglycoside (n=25, OR=2.7, p=0.02), tetracycline (n=55, TC, OR=30.3, p=0.004) and MLS (n=45, OR=11.3, p=0.003), especially at younger age (TC (slope of logit=-0.49, p=0.05) and MLS (slope=-0.40, p=0.007)). Dihydrostreptomycin resistance was associated with the use of MLS (n=37, OR=2.4, p=0.003). Chloramphenicol resistance was associated with the use of TC (n=22, OR=2.4, p=0.007). Enrofloxacin (ER) resistance was associated with the use of fluoroquinolone (n=1, FQ, OR=17.1, p=0.02) and CL (n=1, OR=12.3, p=0.04). Nalidixic acid (NA) resistance was associated with the use of FQ (n=2, OR=8.3, p=0.03).
Cross-resistance was suggestive for OTC resistance due to the use of TC and ER and for NA resistance due to the use of FQ. Co-resistance was suggestive for several structurally-unrelated antimicrobials; however further analyses are required to estimate the casual relationships between use of drugs and resistance selection.

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Worldwide, thermophilic Campylobacter, especially C. jejuni and C. coli is one of the most important causes of food borne illness. In the present study, a risk for campylobacteriosis due to consumption of ready-to-eat beef in Arusha, Tanzania was assessed. Between January and March 2010, 18 beer bars serving ready to eat beef were surveyed:45 roast beef (nyamachoma in Swahili language) and 42 skewer beef (mishikaki) were collected and served for isolation of C. jejuni and C. coli. The number of customers and average sales per day were also assessed. The second survey was conducted in September 2010 to obtain the most probable number (MPN) of C. jejuni and C. coli. Forty beer bars were surveyed:30 roast beef and 10 roast chicken samples were collected and examined. A risk model was developed based on public and survey data. Dose-response relationship was modeled using medical records obtained from a separate study and literatures. Monte Carlo simulation was run for 5,000 iterations and sensitivity analysis was run for 500 iterations.
Bayesian inference from two surveys showed that the contamination rates of naymachoma and mishikaki were 7.7% (90%CI:4.3%-11.8%) and 34.7% (90%CI:21.3%-49.1%) respectively. The MPN was 0.37/g (90%CI:0.03-1.2). Every day, 1.4% (90% CI:0.8-2.3%) of customers consuming either nyamachoma or mishikaki in pubs in Arusha was estimated to develop campylobacteriosis. The annual incidence was 248 (95%CI:127-406) per 1000 people among whole population of Arusha Municipality and one fourth of people was estimated to become sick once a year. The most sensitive factors were contamination rate of ready-to-eat beef and the cfu per gram. From observation, beef was well roasted and the high prevalence could be due to post-roast contamination. Hygiene training focused on such contamination would reduce the incidence greatly.

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Overseas, the surveillance on companion animals have been reported by "NASPHV (National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians)", "CCWHC (Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre)", "ECDC-EFSA (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control - European Food Safety Authority)", "CSVID (Chilean Society of Veterinary Infectious Diseases)". According to pet boom in Japan, the disease surveillance of pets utilized IT (information technology) becomes available by spreading of "insurance-for-pets" and Electric Health Record in animal hospitals. We report challenges and results of new pet-surveillance by using of clinical data in animal hospitals. Clinical data of companion animals were analyzed by using cloud computing and electrical patient records without personal identifiers. Analyzed history, profile and clinical information of cases were rapidly feedback to veterinary surgeons in automated fashion from the system. The surveillance is designed with intention to answer some questions of the transmission routes of zoonotic diseases. Cloud computing combined with electrical patient records provided environment for easy daily operation with automated real-time feedback of data collation and limited descriptive analysis as additional advantage. Public and animal health epidemiologist may be able to provide further time trend, statistical, and geo-spatial analysis using with whole or subsets of this readily available database. Together the surveillance will improve understanding of pet animal health in the community and transmission of zoonosis in between human and animal.

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Veterinary clinicians often encounter with foreign body ingestion in domestic dogs. Accumulation of treatment information and epidemiological data about these cases could lead development of methods for prevention and enlightenment for dog owners. So far, these incidents are regarded as carelessness by dog owners, and veterinary clinicians did not show concrete directions for prevention of these incidents for owners. In this study, we analyzed animal health insurance claims data of these incidents in dogs and collected preventive findings about the cases from clinicians and owners using the internet research.
Insurance claims data were used for analysis of the prevalence of these incidents in dogs. Total of 252,414 dogs which contracted Anicom animal health insurance from April 1 2009 to March 31 2010 were used as source data for analysis. 5,708 dogs cases were claimed as incidents caused by foreign body ingestion (total claims were 8,296 cases). Difference of prevalence of these incidents between ages is significant. 4.4% (2,728 dogs/61,448 dogs) for puppies under one year of age, 2.5% (736/29,215) for 1 year old, 1.8% (620/34,616) and under 1.5% for 3-10 years old. The average of prevalence for total dogs was 1.7%. Especially in puppies under one year of age, among top 17 breeds of insured dog, the prevalence of foreign body ingestion was 7.1% for French Bulldogs, 6.8% for Golden Retrievers, 6.0% for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, 5.5% for Papillons, Labrador Retrievers, and 4.5% Toy Poodle. These breeds showed higher prevalence than the average (4.4%) for all breeds. For these breeds with higher prevalence materials/objects (substances) causing these incidents should be removed. The internet research with clinician prevailed that possible substances causing incidents (plural answer available) were some kinds of strings, seeds of fruit and plum pickles, medical supplies, pebble, grains of sand, some kinds of cloth like socks, towel and dust-cloth. Over 84% (145/172) clinicians reported that they encountered these incidents caused by above mentioned objects. Even 27 death cases were reported by strings, 16 cases by medical supplies and 13 cases by kinds of cloth. These objects/materials should be removed from dogs particularly. Death cases by accidental ingestions were also reported in dogs by poisoning of ornamental lily (12 cases), chocolate (9 cases) and onion (4 cases). The internet reserch for pet owners showed that over 90% of owners knew toxicity with chocolate and onion but only 29% of owners knew risk of poisoning with lily.
Incidents caused by foreign body ingestion is very dangerous behavior inducing death in dogs, and careful monitoring of these incidents should be carried on with all concerned veterinary medicine.

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The objective of the present study were to determine the number of parities that a sow must remain in the herd for before lifetime net income becomes positive, in typical farrow-to-finish operations in Japan. A further objective was to evaluate the sensitivity of lifetime net income to feed price, price for marketed pigs, feed conversion ratio, and number of pigs weaned. The reproductive data were collected from records of 53,996 sows born between 2001 and 2004 in 101 commercial herds. The economic models for lifetime net income by parity were constructed using reproductive data and economic assumptions. The economic assumptions were based on data obtained from previous studies and multiple producer groups. Lifetime net income in each parity was calculated as the sum of net income in each litter, including salvaged values for sows, minus gilt costs. The net income in each litter was calculated as the revenue obtained by sales of marketed pigs from each litter minus production costs. The costs included feed costs for growing pigs and sows, depreciations for replacement gilts, and the other costs for facility, breeding, veterinary treatment and vaccines, transportation and slaughter fees, utility and labor. Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate how changes in feed price, the price for marketed pigs, feed conversion ratio, or the number of pigs weaned would affect economic returns. Lifetime net income increased from $-272.8 to $1,944.9 as the parity increased from 1 to 8. A sow reached a positive value of lifetime net income at parity 3. The net income from each litter of a sow increased from $145.8 to $390.2 as the parity increased from 1 to 5. Sensitivity analysis showed that if the feed price increased from $0.40/kg to $0.45/kg, the lifetime net income became negative in parities 1 to 4. Furthermore, if the feed price increased from $0.40/ kg to $0.50/kg, lifetime net income was negative in all parity groups. If the price for marketed pigs declined to $4.25/kg kg or lower, the lifetime net income in all parity groups was negative. However, decreasing feed conversion ratio or increasing the number of pigs weaned increased lifetime net income. In conclusion, increased sow longevity results in increased lifetime net income of sows in commercial herds. Lower feed costs, decreased feed conversion ratio and increasing the number of pigs weaned also increased lifetime profitability of sows.

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The objective of the present study was to characterize culling patterns of low lifetime efficiency sows (LE sows), by comparing between high-performing and ordinary herds for relative frequencies of parity at culling and culling reasons, and by-parity reproductive performance. The present study analyzed 30,914 sows entered to the herds from 2001 to 2003 in 101 commercial herds. Sows were categorized into two groups on the basis of the lower percentile of the annualized lifetime pigs born alive, namely LE or ordinary lifetime efficiency sows. Additionally, two herd groups were formed on the basis of the upper 25th percentiles of pigs weaned per mated female per year, averaged over six years : high-performing herds and ordinary herds. A Chi-squared test was performed to compare relative frequencies (%) of parity at culling and culling reasons between the herd groups. Mixed-effects models were performed for comparisons in statistical analyses. More LE sows in the high-performing herds were culled due to "reproductive failure" in parity 1 (54.0 vs. 41.5%) and parity 2 (61.2 vs. 42.2%) than those in ordinary herds (P< 0.05). No difference between the herd groups was found for pigs born alive in LE sows culled due to "reproductive failure" in any parity group. In summary, high-performing herds were more active in culling potential LE sows due to "reproductive failure" in low-parity than ordinary herds.

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In this study, the risk ranking of the facility and food sources of Campylobacter food poisoning was established based on the mean number of outbreaks and patients, the coefficient of variation, and the size of the 95^th percentile value. Also, the facility and food sources were divided into four groups based on the result of the scatter diagram of the mean and the coefficient of variation.
The facilities with frequent health hazard occurrence such as restaurants, inns and hotels, and cooking class facilities, for example, school and community centers, and household, in this order, should be prioritized in risk management. Restaurants formed the most frequent group.
The facility sources providing meals to places such as schools and nurseries, caterers and lunch venders, inns and hotels, in this order, formed the group with the largest scale of health hazards.
The food sources such as chicken (raw food), meat (raw food), chicken (cooked processed products), and meat (cooked processed products), in this order, formed the group with the highest frequency of health hazards.
The food sources such as usable water, chopped fish, shellfish, vegetables with sauce salad, boxed lunch, and combined cooked products formed the group with the largest scale of health hazards.
The food sources in restaurant with the highest frequency of health hazards were chicken (raw food), meat (raw food), meat (cooked processed products), and chicken (cooked processed products), in this order. Chicken and meat (raw food) formed 73.5% of the causes.
These results would contribute to establish the priorities in risk management of Campylobacter food poisoning and specify which facilities and food groups should take steps toward establishing risk management.

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Key measures taken by the UK and the EU for the control of BSE were reviewed with emphasis on the measures taken for meat and bone meals (MBM) and surveillance of BSE prior to the appearance of BSE in Japan.
Since 2001 Japan has reported 36 cases of BSE including 3 atypical cases of BSE. The first exposure occurred between 1995 and 1996, and 13 cases of BSE were detected by rapid tests. The second exposure occurred in Hokkaido, the northern most island, where contaminated MBM was manufactured and distributed. In total, 18 cases have been reported. There were 5 other cases including atypical cases.
The majority of consumers in Japan still believe that rapid test for BSE is the key measures to assure the safety of beef, and this needs to be corrected in due course. Country status of BSE of infected countries, the number of vCJD found in the world and the problems of atypical BSE cases are briefly summarized.

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Anicom, the leading pet insurer in Japan started its operation 12 years ago, and currently holds almost 400,000 pet insurance policies in force. Insurance claim data could provide epidemiological information. We tried to investigate the prevalence of disease with analysis of the above data. All insurance claim data of 217,150 dogs (male 115,192 and female101,958) contracted with Anicom pet insurance from April 1 2008 to March 31 2009 were used for the research. The high incidence of insured dogs in Japan is 20.9% in Ear Diseases, 19.7% in Dermatologic Diseases, and 15.6%in Gastrointestinal Diseases. The incidence of foreign body ingestion was significantly different; 3.7% in puppies under one year of age, 2.2% in 1 year old, and under 1.4% in 3-10 years old. It is considered that the pet insurance data would provide the tendency of disease in dogs. Further, it will be required to develop effective sampling methods for more valuable data to research on the better treatments and prevention of animal diseases.

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