Abstract
To implement appropriate and effective disease control programs at the national level, up-to-date and unbiased information on disease frequency is needed. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of selected endemic infectious diseases in the population of dairy herds in Great Britain. Bulk milk tank (BMT) samples from 225 randomly selected dairy farms, stratified by region and herd size, were tested for antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine herpesvirus type 1, Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis, Leptospira Hardjo, Salmonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Fasciola hepatica, Neospora caninum, and Ostertagia ostertagi. Furthermore, the presence of BVDV, C. burnetii, and Chlamydia-like organisms was determined by PCR. The apparent herd prevalence was estimated as a weighted proportion of positive herds. The true prevalence was calculated when a test was used with known test characteristics for the cut-off value used. Among unvaccinated herds, the true prevalence of BMT antibodies against BVDV was estimated at 66% [95% confidence interval (CI): 56-77%], M. avium ssp. paratuberculosis 68% (95% CI: 59-77%), bovine herpesvirus type 1 62% (95% CI: 52-73%), Leptospira Hardjo 47% (95% CI: 34-60%), and Salmonella spp. 48% (95% CI: 39-56%). The apparent prevalence of BMT antibodies against C. burnetii was 80% (95% CI: 75-85%), F. hepatica 55% (95% CI: 48-62%), N. caninum 46% (95% CI: 38-54%), and O. ostertagi 95% (95% CI: 91-98%). The BVDV, C. burnetii, and Chlamydia-like antigens were detected in 5 (95% CI: 2-9%), 29 (95% CI: 21-36%), and 31% (95% CI: 24-38%) of herds, respectively. Our results show that dairy cows across GB are frequently exposed to the studied pathogens, which are endemic at high levels with some geographical variations. These prevalence estimates provide a much-needed basis to assess whether nationwide control programs for the studied pathogens are justified by their potential economic, environmental, and public health implications. Should surveillance and control programs be initiated, the estimates presented here are a baseline against which progress can be assessed.
Highlights
Several infectious diseases of dairy cows such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), Johne’s disease caused by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, and liver fluke are generally regarded as being widespread and endemic in the United Kingdom (Carslake et al, 2011; Sekiya et al, 2013)
The need to control endemic infectious disease can be overlooked by farmers, as it can be difficult to associate their presence with visible losses
During the whole study period, the true prevalence of herds testing positive at least once to BVDV antigen or antibodies against MAP was 19 and 89%, respectively; the apparent period prevalence of F. hepatica was 67%
Summary
Several infectious diseases of dairy cows such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), Johne’s disease caused by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, and liver fluke are generally regarded as being widespread and endemic in the United Kingdom (Carslake et al, 2011; Sekiya et al, 2013). Paratuberculosis (MAP), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, and liver fluke are generally regarded as being widespread and endemic in the United Kingdom (Carslake et al, 2011; Sekiya et al, 2013). These diseases are known to have a significant effect on dairy production due to their effects on fertility (Fray et al, 2000; Lanyon et al, 2014; Walz et al, 2015), milk production (Tiwari et al, 2007; McAloon et al, 2016), and, subsequently, culling (Murphy et al, 2006; Smith et al, 2010).
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