Animation helps fight against pathogen

The Moredun Research Institute has produced an animation which outlines the management tools available to help control cryptosporidium.

The pathogen can be spread between animals and humans causing disease, and is one of the most frequently diagnosed diarrhoeacausing pathogens in young calves in the UK.

A recent study at Moredun has shown that calves suffering from cryptosporidiosis in the first few weeks of life are lighter than their healthy herd mates at six months old, at which point the average weight difference was shown to be 34kg, representing a production loss of around £130 per infected calf.

Dr Beth Wells, knowledge exchange specialist at the Moredun, said: “This disease requires particular management practices to control it, which the animation explores alongside outlining the benefits of a One Health approach.

“This interaction of veterinary, public and environmental health ensures that we are all working together for the health of our animal and human population, as well as maintaining a safer environment.”

The animation, which was funded by the Moredun Foundation and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, can be viewed at moredun.org. uk/foundation/outreach/ animation-series