Apparent Prevalence Research Articles

Mycoplasma haemofelis infection and its correlation with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in cats in Southern Brazil

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 274 cats in Southern Brazil to estimate the prevalence of Mycoplasma haemofelis PCR, associated factors, and its correlation with ELISA for FeLV and FIV. The apparent prevalence of M. haemofelis was 6.6% (18/274) (95% CI: 3.6–9.5%), of which 33.3% (6/18) had co-infection with FeLV, 5.6% (1/18) with FIV, and 5.6% (1/18) with both. Male cats were more likely to be positive for M. haemofelis [OR: 7.07 (1.97–25.34)]. Only three M. haemofelis-positive cats showed related clinical changes, such as mucosal pallor. A statistically significant difference was observed between M. haemofelis-positive cats and the negative control group for age, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and rod neutrophil counts. Mycoplasma haemofelis is prevalent in southern Brazil, with a higher risk in male cats. Most cats could be classified as asymptomatic carriers since they were healthy.

Molecular and serological survey of paratuberculosis in cattle in selected districts of Western Uganda

Knowledge of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) herd infection status is important to plan appropriate control and prevention strategies for Paratuberculosis (PTB); however, in Uganda MAP infection status of most herds is unknown. This study aimed at determining the MAP infection status of cattle herds and the associated risk factors for MAP infection in six western districts of Uganda. The survey covered a total of 93 herds where faecal and blood samples were collected from 1814 cattle. A Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) and an antibody-based (ELISA) assays were used to test for the presence of MAP DNA in faeces and MAP antibodies in serum, respectively. The apparent cow-level prevalence of MAP infection was 3.2 and 2.7% using ELISA and RPA respectively and the true cow-level prevalence using ELISA and RPA was 4.9 and 3% respectively. A herd-level prevalence of 43% (ELISA) and 40.8% (RPA) and a within-herd prevalence of 3.8 ± 2.1% based on ELISA were obtained. Among the risk factors investigated, long dry spells were significantly associated with high MAP infection (p < 0.05). These results indicate that MAP is actively present in most areas where surveillance was carried out. This poses a serious threat to the livestock industry and potentially to public health as MAP is highly suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of several diseases in humans. Other areas of the country are to be surveyed as well in order to establish full data on MAP infection status to enable interventions for the control and prevention of the disease.

Genetic epidemiology of rare diseases in San Luis Province, Argentine

Objectives: Genetic epidemiologic studies in populations of the world are scarce and this medical information is of special value for clinical geneticists. The purpose of this work was to know and to implicate the geographical environments with the genetic diseases found in patients attending a genetic consulter, according to the type of work, place of residence, or environment characteristic in the province of San Luis, Argentine. Material and Methods: Clinical genetics consultations during 2014–January 2019 were analyzed for all patients derived to the primary consultation center, and nearby hospitals in San Luis. A total of 448 patients were registered and examined once a week at the Central Hospital of San Luis. The reasons of the derivate medical consultations were divided into major malformations (MMal), neurodevelopment diseases, and genetic counseling. In addition, possible environmental risk factors such as urban or rural origin, the working activity of parents in manufacturing houses or mines, and drug consumption during pregnancy were also considered. The prevalence of genetic diseases was calculated for all eight province departments and compared with the province’s apparent prevalence. Results: In the whole sample (n = 448), the major proportion of patients came from the city. Patients with MMals were the most abundant and significantly higher than the other categories. The prevalence of MMals distributed approximately similarly in all departments of the province, with exception of two of them. No association was found between types of work or drug abuse with MMals in this sample. Conclusion: Of all types of genetic diseases, the most prevalent was the MMals. Regarding its prevalence, except for two departments, each department’s prevalence had a similar distribution. Most of the affected patients with this type of genetic condition were found in the city and not in other regions of supposed risk.

Apparent prevalence and risk factors for udder skin diseases and udder edema in Bavarian dairy herds.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors for teat warts, udder edema, udder thigh dermatitis, and udder cleft dermatitis on Bavarian dairy farms. Udder health and hygiene scores of lactating cows were recorded on 152 farms in Bavaria, Germany. Management practices (e.g., housing, milking systems, and feeding regimens) were assessed with a comprehensive questionnaire. Adjusted prevalence estimates were determined using regression analysis with herd as the random effect. Mann-Whitney U or Fisher's exact on herd level and regression analyses on cow level were performed to determine risk factors. Of the 6,208 cows examined, 4.0% had teat warts, 1.1% udder edema, 0.2% udder thigh dermatitis, and 0.3% udder cleft dermatitis. The apparent median within-herd prevalence was less than 4% for all 4 diseases. Herd-level factors that were associated with the presence of teat warts on a farm were the proportion of cows with poor teat ends as well as conventional milking systems compared with milking robots. At a cow level, teat warts were associated with high somatic cell counts. Herds with poor depth (<5 cm) of bedding material and cows with days in milk less than 60 d had increased odds for udder edema. First-lactating cows had higher odds for udder thigh dermatitis. Freestall housing and comfort rubber mats were identified as risk factors for udder cleft dermatitis on a herd level. In conclusion, although most nonmastitis udder diseases were rarely observed in this study, some herd management practices and cow factors were associated with their presence on a farm or cow level. Future studies are needed to further investigate risk factors for each disease in more detail.

Acquisition of antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax antigens in pregnant women living in a low malaria transmission area of Brazil

BackgroundPregnant women have increased susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum malaria and acquire protective antibodies over successive pregnancies. Most studies that investigated malaria antibody responses in pregnant women are from high transmission areas in sub-Saharan Africa, while reports from Latin America are scarce and inconsistent. The present study sought to explore the development of antibodies against P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax antigens in pregnant women living in a low transmission area in the Brazilian Amazon.MethodsIn a prospective cohort study, plasma samples from 408 pregnant women (of whom 111 were infected with P. falciparum, 96 had infections with P. falciparum and P. vivax, and 201 had no Plasmodium infection) were used to measure antibody levels. Levels of IgG and opsonizing antibody to pregnancy-specific variant surface antigens (VSAs) on infected erythrocytes (IEs), 10 recombinant VAR2CSA Duffy binding like (DBL domains), 10 non-pregnancy-specific P. falciparum merozoite antigens, and 10 P. vivax antigens were measured by flow cytometry, ELISA, and multiplex assays. Antibody levels and seropositivity among the groups were compared.ResultsAntibodies to VSAs on P. falciparum IEs were generally low but were higher in currently infected women and women with multiple P. falciparum episodes over pregnancy. Many women (21%-69%) had antibodies against each individual VAR2CSA DBL domain, and antibodies to DBLs correlated with each other (r ≥ 0.55, p < 0.0001), but not with antibody to VSA or history of infection. Infection with either malaria species was associated with higher seropositivity rate for antibodies against P. vivax proteins, adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) ranged from 5.6 (3.2, 9.7), p < 0.0001 for PVDBPII-Sal1 to 15.7 (8.3, 29.7), p < 0.0001 for PvTRAg_2.ConclusionsPregnant Brazilian women had low levels of antibodies to pregnancy-specific VSAs that increased with exposure. They frequently recognized both VAR2CSA DBL domains and P. vivax antigens, but only the latter varied with infection. Apparent antibody prevalence is highly dependent on the assay platform used.

Apparent prevalence of brucellosis, Q-fever and toxoplasmosis in aborted goat’s at North Shoa, Ethiopia

Abortion imposes great economical loss in productivity and by product of small ruminants. The present study was conducted to determine the rate of abortion and apparent prevalence of Brucellosis, Toxoplasmosis and Q-fever in aborted goats from June 2015 to August 2019 in North Shoa, Ethiopia. During consecutive years of clinical case study 503 does were entered to mating, of which100 (19.5 %) animals aborted. There were significant differences (p=0.013) in abortion among parities. A total of 35 serum samples were collected from aborted does within six months periods. All samples were screened initially with Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) for Brucellosis. All RBPT positive were further tested by i-ELISA. Also, serums were tasted to screen specific antibody against Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis using i-ELISA. Of total tested 64.7 % and 8.6 % of them were positive for Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis, respectively, but neither of them was positive for Brucellosis. The present clinical study revealed that abortion was the cause of kids’ loss and serological investigation of antibody against Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis showed that the agents were the major causes of abortion. Even though there was no positive reactor does to brucellosis, the result must be interpreted with care since absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Beside of this, some samples collected from active cases were sero-negative for neither of tested antibodies; it indicated there was other cause/s of abortion in the study site. These interesting findings deserve further detail study by using more sensitive diagnostic test in order to examine the full extent of the problem in small ruminant populations. Also, an awareness-raising campaign should be launched to educate farm workers and professionals about proper preventive and control measures for such zoonotic diseases

Evaluating noninvasive methods for estimating cestode prevalence in a wild carnivore population.

Helminth infections are cryptic and can be difficult to study in wildlife species. Helminth research in wildlife hosts has historically required invasive animal handling and necropsy, while results from noninvasive parasite research, like scat analysis, may not be possible at the helminth species or individual host levels. To increase the utility of noninvasive sampling, individual hosts can be identified by applying molecular methods. This allows for longitudinal sampling of known hosts and can be paired with individual-level covariates. Here we evaluate a combination of methods and existing long-term monitoring data to identify patterns of cestode infections in gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Our goals were: (1) Identify the species and apparent prevalence of cestodes infecting Yellowstone wolves; (2) Assess the relationships between wolf biological and social characteristics and cestode infections; (3) Examine how wolf samples were affected by environmental conditions with respect to the success of individual genotyping. We collected over 200 wolf scats from 2018-2020 and conducted laboratory analyses including individual wolf genotyping, sex identification, cestode identification, and fecal glucocorticoid measurements. Wolf genotyping success rate was 45%, which was higher in the winter but decreased with higher precipitation and as more time elapsed between scat deposit and collection. One cestode species was detected in 28% of all fecal samples, and 38% of known individuals. The most common infection was Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (primarily E. canadensis). Adult wolves had 4x greater odds of having a cestode infection than pups, as well as wolves sampled in the winter. Our methods provide an alternative approach to estimate cestode prevalence and to linking parasites to known individuals in a wild host system, but may be most useful when employed in existing study systems and when field collections are designed to minimize the time between fecal deposition and collection.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus infection in the Gulf Cooperation Council: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public-health problem. Since the introduction of an effective vaccine, the epidemiology of HBV infection is changing. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of HBV infection in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and delineate any variation in member-countries, special sub-groups, and over time.MethodsThis is a systematic review and meta-analysis to review studies of HBV prevalence in the GCC region. Databases were searched and all studies from inception to July 31st, 2021, were considered for inclusion. The pooled HBV prevalence was analyzed using the random-effect model after assessment for heterogeneity. True prevalence was adjusted using the Rogan-Gladen estimator. Pre-defined subgroup analysis was performed, and publication bias was assessed.ResultsOverall, 99 studies (n = 1,944,200 participants) met the inclusion criteria. The overall HBV apparent prevalence was 3.05% (95% CI 2.60, 3.52) and the true prevalence was 1.67% (95% CI 1.66, 1.68). The apparent prevalence varied between subgroups. Over time, the apparent prevalence of HBV infection has declined from 9.38% (95% CI 7.26, 11.74) before 1990 to 1.56% (95% CI 1.07, 2.12) during the period 2010 to 2020.ConclusionOver the last four decades the overall prevalence of HBV infection in the GCC region has decreased from high- to low-endemicity level. However, due to poor methodology of the included studies, further high-quality community-based studies are needed to obtain more precise estimate of HBV infection in this region.

Efficacy of neomycin dosing regimens for treating enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-related post-weaning diarrhoea in a Danish nursery pig herd not using medicinal zinc oxide

Neomycin is a concentration-dependant aminoglycoside antimicrobial used to treat enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-related post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) in pigs. The objective was to compare the efficacy of neomycin administered in a single high dose (50,000 IU/kg) and a standard dose and frequency (25,000 IU/kg daily for 3 consecutive days) in reducing the number of pigs with clinical PWD. We also aimed to evaluate the development of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli following neomycin treatment. The study was performed in a Danish herd not using medicinal zinc oxide and experiencing outbreaks of PWD caused by ETEC in the first week after weaning. Pigs from six batches with perianal faecal staining on days 4–6 after weaning and a faecal score of 3–4 were ear tagged and treated with neomycin. Pens were randomly assigned to a treatment group before inclusion. A total of 772 pigs (471 in the control group and 301 in the experimental group) were included and treated orally. The apparent prevalence of diarrhoea on the first day of inclusion across six batches (n = 1,875) was 27%. The efficacy of the neomycin treatment strategy was 86% for the control group and 91% for the single high-dose group (p = 0.043), and the mean percentage (standard deviation (sd)) of haemolytic E. coli-like colonies was 12% (26) and 26% (37) (p < 0.001), respectively. Neomycin resistance did not differ between groups. Before treatment, all analysed isolates were identified as ETEC (n = 142), while after treatment, 91% were identified as ETEC (n = 69) and 9% (n = 7) as non-ETEC E. coli (without fimbria or toxins). A higher cure rate in the single high-dose group suggests that ETEC-related PWD can be treated with a single high dose of 50,000 IU/kg of neomycin, thereby reducing antimicrobial use by 33% compared to the standard treatment of 25,000 IU/kg for 3 consecutive days. The study indicated a higher number of haemolytic E. coli in the single high-dose group after treatment, but no evidence of increased neomycin resistance in coliforms was observed compared to the standard treatment.

Apparent prevalence and risk factors for bovine tuberculosis in the state of Paraná, Brazil: an assessment after 18 years since the beginning of the Brazilian program

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) impacts considerably animal production and one health worldwide. To describe the prevalence, risk factors, and spatial pattern of the disease in the state of Paraná, Brazil, a cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019. The area was divided into seven regions. Within each region, farms were randomly selected, and a predetermined number of cows was selected and tested by a comparative cervical tuberculin test. 17,210 animals were tested across 1757 farms. Herd prevalence of bTB-infected herds in Paraná was 2.5% [1.87–3.00%]. It has varied from 0.8 to 3.98% among seven regions, with clustering being detected in the west, central, and northeast areas. Animal prevalence was 0.35% [0.21–0.59%] and has varied from 0.08 to 0.6% among the pre-set regions. No major shifts in the prevalence of bTB were detected since 2007. Large-sized herds, dairy production, and feeding with whey were detected to be correlated with the presence of bTB. Exclusively among dairy herds, veterinary assistance from cooperatives, possession of self-owned equipment to cool milk, and feeding with whey were correlated with the disease. Considering these results, it is recommended that the state of Paraná seek to implement a surveillance system for the detection of bTB-infected herds transforming them into free ones, if possible, incorporating elements of risk-based surveillance. Health education is also recommended to inform farmers about the risks of introducing animals without testing and of feeding raw whey to calves.

The SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Students in the University of Porto: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: We aimed to quantify SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies' seroprevalence among university students in Porto. Methods: A rapid point of care testing for SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies was performed, and a questionnaire was applied to 6512 voluntary students from September to December 2020. We computed the apparent IgM, IgG, and IgM or IgG prevalence, and the true prevalence and 95% credible intervals (95% CI) using Bayesian inference. Results: We found an apparent prevalence (IgM or IgG) of 9.7%, the true prevalence being 7.9% (95% CI 4.9-11.1). Prevalence was significantly higher among males (10.9% vs. 9.2%), international students (18.1% vs. 10.4% local vs. 8.8% nationally displaced), and increased with age. Those with a known risk contact, that experienced quarantine, had symptoms, or a previous negative molecular test had a higher seroprevalence. Of the 91 (1.4%) students who reported a molecular diagnosis, 86.8% were reactive for IgM or IgG. Conclusion: Based on immunological evidence infection was 5.6-fold the reported molecular diagnosis. The higher seroprevalence among male, older, and international students emphasizes the importance of identifying particular groups.

Determining the prevalence of antibodies to Salmonella Dublin in dairy herds in Great Britain by quarterly bulk tank testing

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Dublin has been the most common Salmonella serovar isolated from cattle in Great Britain for the previous 22 years. It can cause a wide variety of clinical presentations and result in significant welfare and productivity concerns in infected herds. Bulk tank antibody testing undertaken every three or four months forms the basis of eradication and monitoring programmes in Denmark and the Netherlands and has been shown to be a sensitive, specific and cost-effective way of establishing seroprevalence and monitoring infection at a herd level. A prevalence estimate based on quarterly bulk tank testing has not been previously carried out in Great Britain. This study recruited 410 herds across Great Britain, who submitted milk samples on a quarterly basis for screening by an ELISA for Salmonella Dublin antibody. Classifying herds according to the Danish eradication scheme classification gave an apparent prevalence of 38% (95% confidence intervals 34–43%) and an estimated true prevalence of 40% (95% confidence intervals 35–45%), taking into account the test sensitivity and specificity. Of the 401 herds which completed the quarterly bulk tank testing, 45% had one or more positive bulk tank results.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Staphylococcus aureus in Ethiopia

Staphylococcus aureus was the first bacteria against which drug/penicillin/ was discovered and what has become that has been challenging for its drugresistant property throughout the world. Monitoring the status of S. aureus both its susceptible and drug-resistant properties is pretty important to develop optional preventive methods timely. Even though fragmented studies on the apparent prevalence of S. aureus in milk and meat have been conducted in Ethiopia, a well-organized national review on this pathogen remained scarce. A systematic review and meta-analysis of S. aureus was conducted to overview the pooled apparent prevalence in Ethiopia in a ten-year period from 2011 to 2020. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were used to search for research articles published in reputable journals. Lastly, twenty-nine research articles were selected for systematic review and meta-analysis. The forest plot pooled the apparent prevalence of S. aureus with a 95% CI. The overall pooled apparent prevalence of any detection using the random effect model was 23% (95% CI: 19–28%, p&lt;0.001). The pooled apparent prevalence of S. aureus was highest in SNNP 39% (95% CI; 15– 63%), followed by Oromia 28% (95% CI; 18–38%). The minimal effect size was observed in Amhara regional states at 5% (95% CI; 3–7%). This review indicated that the apparent prevalence of S. aureus more or less decreased from 27.8% in 2012 to 11.4% in 2020. In conclusion, high variation and decreasing trend of the apparent prevalence across different regions was observed.

Bovine tuberculosis control in Fiji: Retrospective study findings for 2015 to 2020.

Control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a priority for animal health, biosecurity, and human health authorities in Fiji as evident from the long-term funding of the Bovine Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication and Control program (BTEC) and notable improvements to the program described in this paper. To evaluate the performance of the Fiji BTEC program from 2015 to 2020, all available bTB data for cattle were analyzed. Data sources included BTEC bTB testing records, abattoir records and laboratory records. We integrated all information to quantify the bTB tests applied, bTB positive farms and animals, meat inspection and laboratory findings. Test coverage was highest among dairy cattle in Central Division (~73%), where bTB was highly prevalent with 7.8% of dairy cattle and 61.7% of dairy farms found to be positive between 2015 and 2020. There was no visible downward trend in the apparent prevalence of bTB over the 6-year period. During 2019 and 2020, only 21.3% (51/239) of the tested dairy farms maintained their clear status, another 8.4% (20/239) reverted to infected status after 1 year or more of being bTB clear, and most farms remained infected during these 2 years. Factors observed to be contributing to this situation were persistent infections, related in part to the significant number of untested animals, uncontrolled animal movements, and larger farm size. Similar to other developing countries, bTB remains a serious concern and further strengthening of the program targeting the main contributors to bTB persistence, along with maintenance of a comprehensive reporting and traceability system, industry awareness and government support are needed. Control of bTB in Fiji is a long-term objective that must have multiple stakeholder engagement and regular review to measure success.

Seroprevalence and its associated risk factors of Bovine Neosporosis and Bovine Viral Diarrhea in cattle of Tilottama municipality, Rupandehi, Nepal

Background: Bovine Neosporosis (BN) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) are economically significant livestock disease that causes reproductive and respiratory problems in cattle and buffalo caused by protozoan parasite Neospora caninum and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) respectively. The burden of production and economic loss due to infectious reproductive diseases are still unknown in the various location of Nepal. Objectives: To overview the prevalence of bovine neosporosis and bovine viral diarrhea infection in a commercially important livestock herd from Tilottama Municipality, Rupandehi, Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional purposive study was conducted through a questionnaire survey to collect demographic and farm characteristics information. In total 92 serum samples from jugular veins were collected from a different herd of Tilottama Municipality of Rupandehi, Nepal. The antibody against BVDV was tested using the competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA). Results: The individual animal-wise apparent prevalence was 9.78% with a true prevalence of 9.70% (5.09 - 17.57) and 3.26% with a true prevalence of 3.10%; CI (0.93 - 9.06) for BN and BVD respectively. The risk factor history of abortion was associated significantly with BN and BVD seropositivity (p &lt; 0.05). Animals in the mixed farming system and contact with dogs were associated significantly with the occurrence of bovine viral diarrhea and bovine neosporosis respectively at (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion and recommendation: The stuy indicated the circulation of Neospora caninum and bovine viral diarrhea in dairy herds of the study area. It is suggested that the stakeholders in the study area should be sensitized to the impact of Neospora caninum and bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in dairy herds and include both diseases in the regional and national surveillance system.

Field evaluation of the tuberculin skin test for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection in communal goats (Capra hircus) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

In South Africa, animal tuberculosis (TB) control programs predominantly focus on domestic cattle and African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) despite increasing global reports of tuberculosis in goats (Capra hircus). Left undetected, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infected goats may hinder TB eradication efforts in cattle and increase zoonotic risk to humans. Since the publication of animal TB testing guidelines in 2018, prescribing the use of the tuberculin skin test (TST) for goats in South Africa by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD), there have been no published reports of any field application of the prescribed test criteria in goat herds. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of these DALRRD guidelines using the single intradermal cervical tuberculin test (SICT) and the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test (SICCT). Between October and December 2020, 495 goats from communal pastures of Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), where M. bovis infection has been identified in cattle and where cattle and goats cohabitate, were tested using the SICT and SICCT (M. bovis-exposed group). Additionally, 277 goats from a commercial Saanen dairy herd, with no history of M. bovis, were also tested (M. bovis-unexposed group). Estimated apparent prevalence of TST positive goats was determined based on published test interpretation criteria as described by DALRRD. When proportions of test-positive goats were compared between different DALRRD criteria, the ≥ 4 mm cut-off criterion for the SICCT resulted in the lowest proportion of positive results in the presumably uninfected group (1/277 positive in the unexposed group). The apparent prevalence of TB in the exposed group was estimated at 3.0% (95% CI: 1.7–4.9%), which is similar to previous reports of M. bovis prevalence in cattle from this area (6%). The detection of a significantly greater proportion of SICCT positive goats in the M. bovis-exposed group compared to the unexposed group suggests that MTBC infection is present in this population. Further investigations should be undertaken, in conjunction with confirmatory molecular tests, mycobacterial culture, and advanced pathogen sequencing to establish whether MTBC infection in domestic goats is a true under-recognized threat to the eradication of animal TB in South Africa.

Prevalence of major digestive and respiratory helminths in dogs and cats in France: results of a multicenter study

BackgroundThe local distribution of helminths in dogs and cats and the evaluation of risk of contamination represent an important challenge for veterinarians due to their effects on animal health and their potential zoonotic risk. The overall goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of the digestive and respiratory helminths infecting client-owned dogs and cats in France.MethodsFaecal samples were collected from 414 pet dogs and 425 pet cats at 20 study sites during 2017–2018 and analysed by coproscopy. The samples included specimens collected from animals of both genders and various breeds and ages from a variety of living environments, and with different lifestyles and feeding regimes. Associations between parasitic infection and qualitative factors were explored.ResultsOverall, 125 (14.9%) samples (15.2% in dogs and 14.6% in cats) were positive for at least one of the species of helminths identified. Infection rates were highest for Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati (8.5% and 11.3%, respectively), while Toxascaris leonina was found only in one cat (0.2%). The apparent prevalence of Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala in dogs was 1.7% and 4.3%, respectively. No hookworms were found in cats. Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) were identified in 2.7% of the dogs. Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum and Taeniidae) were rarely found (< 1% in dogs and < 3% in cats). The prevalence of Angiostrongylus vasorum Crenosoma vulpis, and Strongyloides stercoralis in dogs, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in cats and Eucoleus spp. / Capillaria spp. in both dogs and cats was < 1%. Significantly higher fecal parasite emission rates were identified in young individuals, in animals with outdoor access, in animals living in the countryside and in intact animals (especially in cats). In addition, cats not fed exclusively with commercial diets and living with other animals (dogs and/or cats) were at higher risk for parasites. For dogs, hunting/herding and walking off-leash were found to be additional risk factors. Furthermore, pets with no reported history of deworming or dewormed > 1 year before the study were positive for parasites significantly more often than pets dewormed < 1 year before study participation.ConclusionsThe overall prevalence of helminths (some of which are zoonotic), the risk factors and the reportedly low deworming frequencies identified in this study (20.5% animals having never been dewormed and only 26.4% dewormed ≥ 3 times/year) illustrate the need for improving pet owners’ adherence to anthelmintic guidelines in France.Graphical

Herd-level prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis in Swedish dairy herds determined by antibody ELISA and PCR on bulk tank milk and herd characteristics associated with seropositivity.

Mycoplasma bovis is an important pathogen causing pneumonia, mastitis, and arthritis in cattle, leading to reduced animal welfare and economic losses worldwide. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence of M. bovis in bulk tank milk (BTM) and herd characteristics associated with a positive antibody test result in Swedish dairy herds. Bulk tank milk samples from all Swedish dairy herds (n = 3,144) were collected and analyzed with ID Screen antibody ELISA and PCR. Information on herd characteristics was collected from the national Dairy Herd Improvement database. To identify herd characteristics associated with the presence of antibodies in BTM, logistic regression was used in 4 different models. The apparent herd-level prevalence of M. bovis infection based on antibodies in BTM was 4.8%, with large regional differences ranging from 0 to 20%. None of the BTM samples was positive by PCR. All the antibody-positive herds were situated in the south of Sweden. The logistic regression model showed that larger herds had higher odds of detectable antibodies in BTM (herd size >120 cows, odds ratio = 8.8). An association was also found between antibodies in BTM and both a higher late calf mortality (2-6 mo) and a higher young stock mortality (6-15 mo). This study showed a clear regional difference in the apparent prevalence of M. bovis infection based on antibodies. The relatively low prevalence of M. bovis in Sweden is a strong motivator for the cattle industry to take steps to prevent further spread of the infection. It is essential that the M. bovis status of free herds be known, and the regional differences shown in this study suggest that testing is highly recommended when live cattle from high-prevalence areas are being introduced into herds. We do not recommend using PCR on BTM to detect infected herds, owing to the low detection frequency in this study.

The prevalence of Francisella tularensis in horse herds in Turkey

Tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis can exist in nature over a long period of time. The disease can be transmitted by ticks, biting flies, water exposure, food, and aerosols. F. tularensis infections occur especially in the North America, Europe, and Asia. Tularemia is often water-associated and effects humans and an array of animals including domestic animals, wild small mammals, and fish. In horses, there is almost no information about tularemia. However, fever, dyspnea, incoordination and depression have been described. This study aimed to estimate prevalence of F. tularensis among horse herds in Turkey. Totally 109 horses aged 36 months and older were randomly sampled from different regions of Turkey. Blood serum samples were investigated by Microagglutination Test (MAT) in terms of F. tularensis antibody. Prevalence changes were estimated via the diagnostic values (51% for sensitivity and 99% for specificity) reported for the MAT. The animal, within-herd and between-herd apparent prevalences were calculated 40.4% (95% CI = 31.6 to 49.8%), 41.1% (95 CI = 32.3 to 50.6%) and 81.8% (95% CI = 52.3 to 94.9%), respectively. True prevalences were calculated by conversion of the apparent prevalences via the Rogan-Gladen estimator. True animal, within-herd, and between-herd prevalences were calculated as 78.7% (95% CI = 61.3 to 97.5%), 80.2% (95 CI = 62.5 to 99.2%) and 161.6% (95 CI = 103 to 187.7%), respectively. The results provide useful information regarding the prevalence of tularemia in horse herds in Turkey and will hopefully attract the special attention of veterinarians and promote the establishment of an efficient control programme.

Comprehensive Map of Canine Angiostrongylosis in Dogs in Spain.

Simple SummaryAngiostrongylus vasorum (A. vasorum) is the causal agent of canine angiostrongylosis, an emerging disease in Europe. In Spain, A. vasorum mainly affects wild animals (red foxes and wolves), although studies in domestic dogs are scarce but show evidence of an expansion of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of A. vasorum in domestic dogs throughout Spain, taking into account that there were still provinces where this canine infection has not been studied. Blood samples from 5544 domestic dogs were collected from January 2020 to March 2022. These samples were tested for the presence of circulating A. vasorum antigens. The overall prevalence of canine angiostrongylosis in Spain was 1.39%. No significant differences were found for sex and age, but significant differences were found for habitat. Infected domestic dogs were reported in most Spanish provinces, with lower prevalence observed for inland provinces and higher prevalence observed for provinces along the coast, where climatic factors seem to be determinant in the establishment of the parasite.Canine angiostrongylosis is an emerging disease caused by Angiostrongylus vasorum, mainly affecting wild carnivores and dogs. In Spain, there are studies reporting infections in foxes, wolves, and badgers in different regions of the country. However, there are hardly any publications on its prevalence in dogs. The aim of this study was to complete and update the epidemiologic map of A. vasorum in dogs in Spain. A total of 5619 canine blood samples from all autonomous cities and provinces of Spain were collected and tested for the presence of circulating A. vasorum antigens. The overall apparent prevalence of canine A. vasorum infection in Spain was 1.39%. No significant differences were found for sex or age, but significant differences between outdoor and indoor/outdoor dogs were found. A high prevalence was also observed in the northern third of the country, where an oceanic climate prevails, being humid and rainy and where abundant vegetation can be found, thus favoring the proliferation of intermediate hosts. The results suggest that A. vasorum canine infections are heterogeneously present in a large part of the territory, demonstrating its expansion throughout the country, and therefore, awareness and prevention campaigns for this disease should be promoted.