Infected Goats Research Articles

THE EFFECT OF CAGE DENSITY ON SEVERAL HEALTH VARIABLES OF ETAWAH CROSSBREDS IN PEMPATAN VILLAGE KARANGASEM REGENCY BALI


 
 
 Cage density, sanitation frequency, and cage type affect on animal wellbeing and cage environment thus the he- alth of goats. However, its benefits on animal’s health have not been well applied by farmers in Bali. This study was conducted from March until July 2021 to observe the effect of cage density on health variables of PE goats reared by farmers in Pempatan Village. A Compare Means T-test research design with two comparisons of 3 and 2.1 m2/ goat cage density with three replications using 90 goats used in this study. Parameters observed were FAMACHA© score, body weight, ADGW, endo-parasite, level of red and white blood cells of goats. Results showed the cage den- sities had significant differences only for Paramphistomum sp.; goats in cage density 3 m2/goat were not infected by, whereas goats in cage density 2.1 m2/goat got infected by 1.11 ± 0.76 EPG. Ostertagia sp., and Haemoncus contortus sp. infected goats in both densities, but were categorized as mild. The cage density 3 and 2.1 m2/goat had ADGW of 81.74 ± 32.01 g and 48.29 ± 25.51 g, respectively. Goats in this study had standard of healthy goats. In summary, goats in cage density 3 m2/goat tended having better health statuses.
 
 

Detection of Coxiella burnetii in the mammary gland of a dairy goat

The zoonotic bacterium Coxiella (C.) burnetii can be excreted by infected goats through birth products and milk. The detection of C. burnetii DNA in the mammary gland tissue of infected dairy goats and intermittent milk shedders has been reported, but confirmation of C. burnetii bacteria in the udder remained pending. The pathogen caused abortions in a 152-head dairy goat herd, resulting in the vaccination against C. burnetii of the entire herd with annual boosters. To monitor the C. burnetii shedding at herd level, monthly bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were analyzed using PCR (IS1111). Despite vaccination, C. burnetii DNA was detected in BTM samples within the first 16 months of the study. Therefore, individual milk samples were tested on four different occasions several months apart to identify potential intermittent milk shedders. Only one goat (#67455) tested positive three times. This goat was necropsied to investigate the presence of C. burnetii in the udder and other organs. PCR detected C. burnetii DNA solely in both mammary glands and the left teat cistern. Immunohistological examination identified C. burnetii antigen in mammary gland tissue, confirmed by the detection of C. burnetii bacteria in the mammary epithelial cells using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The removal of goat #67455 led to negative BTM samples until the end of the study. The findings demonstrate the occurrence of C. burnetii in the mammary gland of a naturally infected and vaccinated goat. The presence possibly contributed to intermittent milk shedding of goat #67455, and the mammary gland tissue may serve as a replicative niche for C. burnetii.

First Report of Benzimidazole Resistance in Field Population of Haemonchus contortus from Sheep, Goats and Cattle in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Haemonchus contortus is a globally significant parasitic nematode in ruminants, with widespread resistance to benzimidazole due to its excessive and prolonged use. Given the extensive use of benzimidazole anthelmintics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we hypothesized that resistance is prevalent. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of anthelmintic resistance to benzimidazole in H. contortus from naturally infected sheep, goats and cattle in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the detection of the Phe/Tyr polymorphism in the amino acid at position 200 of the β-tubulin protein. From 19 locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a total of 83 adult H. contortus were collected from the abomasum of ruminants. Among these, 45 H. contortus specimens were isolated from sheep, 19 from goats and 19 from cattle. Results showed that 77.8% of H. contortus in sheep exhibited homozygous resistant genotypes at position 200 of the β-tubulin gene, with 15.5% being heterozygous. In goats, all tested H. contortus (100%) were homozygous resistant, and no heterozygous resistant or homozygous sensitive genotypes were found. Cattle had 94.7% homozygous resistant H. contortus, with no heterozygous resistant genotypes detected. In H. contortus from sheep and cattle, 6.7% and 5.3%, respectively, displayed homozygous sensitive genotypes. This study, for the first time, highlights the presence of a resistant population of H. contortus in sheep, goats and cattle in Bosnia and Herzegovina, using the rt-qPCR method. The resistance likely spread from sheep or goats to cattle, facilitated by shared pastures and the practice of transhumance, indicating a widespread and growing issue of anthelmintic resistance.

Immunohistochemical Examination of TNF-α and SAA Expressions in Goats Infected with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis

Paratuberculosis (Johne Disease), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and commonly seen in ruminants, is a contagious disease that causes chronic diarrhea and serious economic losses. In this study, the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokine and acute phase protein expressions in lesional tissues of naturally infected goats with MAP was investigated. For this purpose, paratuberculosis suspected goats complaining of chronic diarrhea and excessive weight loss were examined by ELISA method for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection. After sacrificing 20 animals found to be infected with MAP, tissue samples taken from the intestines and lymph nodes were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) for histopathological examination and Ziehl-Nelsen (ZN) to show acid-fast mycobacterium. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the expressions of TNF-α as a pro-inflammatory cytokine and SAA as an acute phase protein. Macroscopic examination revealed in serous fat atrophy, mesenteric lymphadenitis, and granulomatous enteritis in the intestines. Histopathological examination revealed atrophy in villi, degeneration of enterocytes, inflammatory cell infiltration consisting mostly of mononuclear leukocytes in the mucosa, and epithelioid macrophage aggregation. Lymphoid hyperplasia and epithelioid histocyst aggregates were found in the mesenterial lymph nodes. In staining with ZN revealed the presence of bright red acid-fast agents in the intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes. In immunohistochemical examination, TNF-α and SAA expressions were observed in all samples. With this study, for the first time, the expressions of TNF-α, a proinflammatory cytokine, and SAA, an acute phase protein, were shown in the lesional tissues of MAP-infected animals, contributing to the immunopathogenesis of the disease.

Dynamics of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and seroconversion during pregnancy and lactation in naturally infected goats

The objective of this work was to evaluate the dynamics of anti-T. gondii antibodies and seroconversion in naturally infected goats from the last third of pregnancy to 100 days of lactation and relate it to hematological and dehydration parameters. Blood samples were obtained from 56 goats in the different physiological states (pregnancy, kidding and lactation) as in different years (2019, 2021 and 2022). A total of 266 serum samples were obtained and evaluated by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to end titer. The overall T. gondii seropositivity was 80.4% (45/56), with titers ranging from 100 to 25.600. The goats older than 3 years (4967 ± 1329) had significantly higher IFAT titers than the younger goats (2705 ± 681). The highest rate of positive seroconversion 31.1% (14/45) was found between kidding and 70 days of lactation; and of negative seroconversion 28.9% (13/45) between late pregnancy and kidding. The highest proportion of slightly dehydrated animals was found in the last third of pregnancy (14/25) and kidding (9/28). The correlation between seroconversion and T. gondii antibody titers was negative to the established dehydration index. These data suggest that in all physiological states and at different ages of goats, there is seroconversion which is not related to hydration status. Pregnancy, kidding and peak of lactation are stressful physiological periods, facilitating the reactivation of chronic T. gondii infections which are expressed by higher antibodies titers.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of E. coli &Staphylococcus aureus infected goat mammary epithelial cells reveals genes associated with infection

Mastitis, an inflammatory disease of the mammary gland, imposes a significant financial burden on the dairy sector. However, the specific molecular mechanisms underlying their interactions with goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the transcriptomic response of GMECs during infection with E. coli and S. aureus, providing insights into the host-pathogen interactions. Differential expression of gene (DEGs) analysis was done to find genes and pathways dysregulated in the wake of infection. E. coli infection triggered a robust upregulation of immune response genes, including pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines as well as genes involved in tissue repair and remodeling. Conversely, S. aureus infection showed a more complex pattern, involving the activation of immune-related gene as well as those involved in autophagy, apoptosis and tissue remodeling. Furthermore, several key pathways, such as Toll-like receptor signaling and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, were differentially modulated in response to each pathogen. Understanding the specific responses of GMECs to these pathogens will provide a foundation for understanding the complex dynamics of infection and host response, offering potential avenues for the development of novel strategies to prevent and treat bacterial infections in both animals and humans.

Molecular and serological detection of Anaplasma spp. in small ruminants in an area of Cerrado Biome in northeastern Brazil

Anaplasmosis, caused by bacteria of the genus Anaplasma, is an important tick-borne disease that causes economic losses to livestock farms in many countries. Even though Anaplasma spp. have been detected in goats and sheep worldwide, few studies investigate the occurrence and genetic identity of these agents in small ruminants from Brazil. Thus, this work aimed to detect and determine the genetic identity of Anaplasma spp. in small ruminants from the Baixo Parnaíba region, state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 161 animals (91 goats; 70 sheep) from 4 municipalities in the Baixo Parnaíba region. Sheep and goat serum samples were subjected to recombinant membrane surface protein (MSP5)-based iELISA. Whole blood samples were subject to DNA extraction and molecular diagnosis using PCR assays for Anaplasma spp. targeting msp1β, msp1α, 16S rRNA and msp4 genes. Positive samples were sequenced and then subjected to Anaplasma marginale msp1α genetic diversity analysis and phylogenetic inferences based on the 16S rRNA and msp4 genes. The serological survey detected the presence of anti-A. marginale IgG antibodies in 18 animals (11.1%): 2.9% (2/70) sheep and 17.4% (16/91) goats. Anaplasma marginale DNA was detected in 2 goats (1.2%) using qPCR based on the msp1β gene. Two distinct A. marginale msp1α strains, namely α β and α β ΓγΓγΓγΓγ were found in the infected goats, each one found in a different animal, both belonging to the H genotype. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed the sequences positioned in three different clades and grouped with sequences from ‘Candidatus Anaplasma boleense’, A. platys and A. marginale. Phylogenetic inferences based on the msp4 gene positioned the sequence variants in the A. marginale clade. The present work represents the first molecular detection of sequence variants phylogenetic associated to ‘Candidatus Anaplasma boleense’ and A. platys and α β and α β ΓγΓγΓγΓγ in goats from Brazil.

Molecular Diversity of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Four Dairy Goat Herds from Thuringia (Germany).

This study investigated the intra- and inter-herd diversity of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) isolates from four goat herds in Thuringia (Germany) that were affected by paratuberculosis for several years. The main focus was on the characterization and distribution of genotypes among animals and the environment of goat herd 1. This study included 196 isolates from the feces of 121 infected goats, various tissues from 13 clinically diseased goats, 29 environmental samples from herd 1, and additionally, 22 isolates of different origin from herds 2 to 4. The isolates, sampled between 2018 and 2022, were genotyped using short-sequence-repeat (SSR) analysis, mycobacterial-interspersed repetitive units-variable-number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) analysis, and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based assay for phylogenetic grouping. All the isolates belonged to the MAP-C group. In herd 1, one predominant genotype was determined, while two other genotypes were identified very rarely and only in fecal and environmental samples. One of three further genotypes was found in each of herds 2 to 4. The assignment of genotypes to different phylogenetic clades suggested six different infection strains. The results indicated no epidemiological links between the examined herds. Based on the current MAP genotyping data from Germany, possible sources of infection are MAP-contaminated barns previously used by infected cattle and the purchase of sub-clinically infected goats.

Anthelmintic Efficacy of Butea Frondosa and Albendazole in Gastrointestinal Nematode Infected Goats of District Indore-madhya Pradesh, India

A wide variety of secondary metabolites with intriguing biological functions are produced by plants. The active component of Butea frondosa, palasonin, inhibits the uptake of glucose and depletes the content of glycogen; hence, the mechanism of action of this anthelminthic agent may involve the suppression of energy metabolism. These medications frequently disrupt key parasitic targets, including membrane integrity, microtubules, DNA (intercalation and alkylation), and neural signal transduction. The goal of this study was to determine how well methanolic extracts from Butea frondosa seeds and albendazole worked as anthelmintics against gastrointestinal nematodes. The egg hatch assay (EHA) was used to conduct an in vitro study on several gastrointestinal nematode stages. Using the methods of egg per gram of feces and faecal egg count reduction (FECR) in vivo. Methanolic treatment was given to goats. The extract of Butea frondosa @ 150 mg/kg b.w. on day 0, 3 and 7. Eggs per gram of faeces were recorded as 883.30 ± 94.60, 783.30 ± 70.30, 333.30 ± 98.90, 466.70 ± 66.70 and 616.70 ± 87.20 on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28, respectively. The findings of the current study indicated that, the highest efficacy (62.26%) was recorded on day 14, whereas reduced efficacy of 47.10 and 30.18% was recorded on day 21 and 24, respectively.

PSIV-10 Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Fertilized and Unfertilized Sericea Lespedeza Hay on Performance and Plasma Metabolome of Naturally Infected Goats

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of unfertilized (AS) and fertilized (AR) sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) hay on body weight (BW), average daily gain, and plasma metabolome of goats. Thirty-six naturally parasite-infected (>5000 eggs/gram) 9-month-old intact male Spanish goats (23.9 ± 0.15 kg) were randomly allocated (12 goats per treatment) into three dietary treatments: a) Control (bermudagrass hay), b) AS (unfertilized lespedeza), and c) AR (fertilized lespedeza) for a 60-day pen feeding trial. All treatments were supplemented with a commercial concentrate following a 70:30 forage:concentrate ratio. Feed samples, blood samples, and BW were collected and recorded weekly to estimate chemical composition, initial and final BW, and average daily gain (ADG). Metabolome analysis of the plasma samples was performed using a chemical isotope labelling/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based technique. Pathway enrichment analysis and analysis of the differentially abundant metabolites were performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software. All other data were analyzed following the GLIMMIX procedure (repeated measures) of SAS, with the fixed effect of treatment, week, and the random effect of animals. Chemical composition revealed greater (P ≤ 0.05) CP (15.6 vs. 12%) and NDF (50 vs. 40.8%) in AR hay compared with AS hay. Compared with the control, dietary AR increased (P < 0.05) final BW (30.1 vs. 27.3 kg) and ADG (130.2 vs. 84.5 g/d) in parasite-infected goats. Compared with the control, nitrogen metabolism was enriched (P ≤ 0.05) in AR and AS goats. Compared with AR, the lysine degradation pathway was enriched in AS (P = 7.51 x 10-6) animals. Moreover, the relative concentration of β-leucine was greater (P < 0.05) in goats on the AR diet compared with the control. Results from this research suggest that both AS and AR sericea lespedeza increased nitrogen metabolism in parasite-infected goats. However, dietary AR hay reduced lysine degradation or increased plasma β-leucine concentration compared with AS and the control, respectively. In conclusion, dietary AR lespedeza hay improved the growth performance of parasite-infected meat goats by preventing amino acid degradation and increasing leucine availability, which may help promote muscle regeneration.

PSXIII-29 Nutraceutical Effects of Fertilized and Unfertilized Sericea Lespedeza Hay on Gastrointestinal Parasitism and Whole-Plasma Metabolome of Naturally Infected Goats

Abstract The objective of this study was assessing the effect of the dietary inclusion of unfertilized (AS) and fertilized (AR) Sericea lespedeza hay on the parasitic burden, packed cellular volume (PCV), and whole-plasma metabolome of naturally infected goats. Thirty-six naturally parasite-infected (>5,000 eggs/gram) Spanish goats (23.9 ± 0.15 kg) were randomly allocated (12 goats per treatment) into three dietary treatments: a) Control (Bermudagrass hay), AS (Unfertilized lespedeza), and AR (fertilized lespedeza) for 60 days. All treatments were supplemented with a commercial concentrate following a 70:30 forage: concentrate ratio. Feed samples, blood samples, and fecal samples were collected and recorded weekly to estimate chemical composition, fecal egg counts, and PCV. Additionally, whole-plasma metabolomic analysis was performed using chemical isotope labelling/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based technique. Pathway enrichment analysis and analysis of the differentially abundant metabolites were performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software. Data were analyzed with the GLIMMIX procedure (repeated measures) of SAS with the fixed effect of treatment, week, and the random effect of animals. Total condensed tannins and precipitable phenolics were greater (P < 0.05) in AS compared with AR (13.9 vs. 6.5% DM; 95.3 vs.9.5 mg/g). However, both AS and AR reduced (P < 0.01) fecal egg counts compared with the control (1,100, 1,450 vs. 3,500 eggs/gram). Conversely, PCV was greater in AR compared with the control (23.6 vs. 20.6%), but no differences between AR and AS (23.6 vs. 22.5%) were observed. Compared with the control, relative distribution of glutamine and beta-leucine were increased in AS and AR. The pathway enrichment analysis revealed that dietary AS and AR increased glycine, serine, and purine metabolism compared with the control. Collectively, results from this study suggest that dietary AS and AR reduced fecal egg counts by improving anti-oxidative metabolism, muscle regeneration capacity, and immune response in naturally infected goats.

Sero-Prevalence, Epidemiology, and Public Health Significance of Small Ruminant Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a widespread zoonosis mainly transmitted from cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and camels through direct contact with blood, placenta fetuses, or uterine secretion or through consumption of the contaminated raw animal product (especially unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses) in endemic areas. Therefore, the objective of this paper are to explain the Current Epidemiological Aspects of Brucellosis and the Importance of Small ruminant Brucellosis for Public Health and briefly illustrate the Economic Importance of Small ruminant Brucellosis. Sources of infection include aborted fetuses, fetal membranes, vaginal discharges and milk from infected sheep and goat. Brucellosis is caused by facultative, intracellular and Gram- negative bacteria called Brucella. Small ruminant brucellosis is caused by B. ovis (for sheep) and B. melitensis (mainly for goats), the latter one is the most virulent species of the Brucella genus. The disease in naturally infected sheep and goats is characterized by abortion in the last trimester of pregnancy, stillbirth and birth of weak offspring in females, and acute orchitis and epididymitis in males. Brucellosis occurs worldwide in domestic animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels and pigs and creates a high economic problem for both the intensive and extensive livestock production system in the tropics and a threat to public health. Diagnostic tests fall into two categories: those that demonstrate the presence of the organisms and those that detect an immune response to its antigens. As a general rule, treatment of infected livestock is not attempted because of the high treatment failure rate, cost, and potential problems related to maintaining infected animals in the face of ongoing eradication programs. To control the disease in human, prevention of the disease in reservoir host is important, so test and slaughter followed by proper disposal of seropositive animals to decrease the incidence of infection and effective vaccination and hygienic practices would reduce the disease spreading in/from endemic regions and to lessen the economic and zoonotic effects of brucellosis, the government, public health officials, and veterinarians must collaborate.

Caprine arthritis and encephalitis virus infection in goats of Bangladesh: Serological detection and its associated risk factors.

Caprine arthritis and encephalitis (CAE) is a multisystemic persistent viral disease of goat that causes significant economic losses to the farmers and livestock sector. However, no information in this country is available regarding CAE virus (CAEV) infection. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of CAEV infection among the goat population in the selected goat-prone districts in Bangladesh and to identify the associated risk factors of the disease. From July 2021 to June 2022, 446 goat serum samples were randomly collected from the study area. Goat owners were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire to determine the risk factors. A commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to screen blood serum for CAEV antibodies. Logistic regression models were used to analyze risk factors and serological data to identify the potential risk factors. Out of 446 serum samples, 19 samples were seropositive against CAEV. The overall seroprevalence was 4.26% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.58-6.57). The multivariable logistic regression model identified sex (Female; odds ratio [OR]: 3.98; 95% CI: 1.13-13.95), animal age (12-48 months; OR: 4.93, 95% CI: 0.63-38.13), and biosecurity status (Poor biosecurity; OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 0.46-5.92) as potential risk factors for CAEV seropositivity. This study revealed the serological detection of CAEV in Bangladeshi goats where seroprevalence is found to be relatively low. To eradicate the disease, screening and culling of infected goats from the herd might be implemented.

Evaluation of brain injury in goats naturally infected with Coenurus cerebralis; brain specific biomarkers, acute inflammation, and DNA oxidation

This investigate goals are to establish the utility of brain-specific biomarkers (GFAP and S100B) in vivo and to assess the brain damage in C. cerebralis-infected goats using histopathological and immunopathological methods. The animal material of the study consisted of 10 healthy and 20 Coenurus cerebralis infected female hair goats. Serum GFAP and S100B concentrations were measured to determine brain damage. Serum S100B (p < 0.037), GFAP (p < 0.012), urea (p < 0.045), GGT (p < 0.001) and ALT (p < 0.001) concentrations in the C.cerebralis group were significantly higher than the control group. There was no significant difference between the C.cerebralis group and the control group for hsTnI (p > 0.078), creatinine (p > 0.099) and CK-MB (p > 0.725). In the histopathological examination, pressure atrophy and related inflammatory changes were observed due to mechanical damage of the parasite. Immunohistochemical examinations revealed that the parasite stimulated inflammation with the expression of TNF-α and caused DNA damage with the expression of 8-OHdG. As a result, when the data collected for this study are assessed as a whole, it is thought that the use of brainspecific GFAP and S100B biomarkers may be beneficial in determining brain damage in naturally infected hair goats with C.cerebralis. Changes in the levels of brain-specific biomarkers contribute significantly to determining the prognosis of the disease in vivo. Measurement of GFAP and S100B concentrations from serum offers an important alternative to the CSF method.

Perfil das metaloproteínas de matriz extracelular em cabras Toggenburg sadias e infectadas por lentivírus de pequenos ruminantes no Sudeste brasileiro

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are difficult to diagnose due to their escape mechanisms. Therefore, proteomics is an alternative in the search for biomarkers through extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes related to the immune response. In this sense, this study aimed to analyze the profile of MMPs in healthy and infected Toggenburg goats with chronic SRLV infection in Southeast Brazil. Five positive and five negative goats for SRLV were selected using the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) microtechnique, western blot (WB), and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). All animals were submitted to blood collection by puncture of the jugular vein, followed by centrifugation to obtain blood plasma, protein quantification by the Bradford method, one-dimensional electrophoretic separation (1D), and identification of protease activity by zymography and confirmation via reverse zymography in the presence of MMP-2 through the action of tissue inhibitors (TIMP-2). The analysis of protein bands was performed using descriptive statistics and densitometry values for zymography were subjected to the Shapiro-Wilk test to determine normality. Little difference was observed in the occurrence of protein bands between groups. Regarding MMPs, no differences were observed in the expression of proMMP-9, MMP-9, and MMP-2 in animals affected by SRLV. TIMP-2 inhibited proMMP-2 and MMP-2 in all animals. Thus, the profile of protein bands does not change in healthy goats with chronic SRLV infection. The TIMP-2 expression allowed proving the existence of MMP-2 in animals chronically infected by SRLV via reverse zymography.

Evaluation of the application of the Czech Republic to be recognised as having a negligible risk of classical scrapie.

The Czech Republic submitted a request to the European Commission to be recognised as a Member State with negligible risk of classical scrapie. EFSA has been asked to assess if the Czech Republic in its application has demonstrated for a period of at least 7 years (2015-2021) and proposed for the future, that a sufficient number of ovine and caprine animals over 18 months of age, representative of slaughtered, culled or found dead on farm animals, have been and will continue to be tested annually to provide a 95% level of confidence of detecting classical scrapie if it is present in that population at a prevalence rate exceeding 0.1%. A risk-based approach using stochastic scenario-tree modelling accounting for surveillance stream and species was applied. There is still a lack of data on the actual performance of the approved tests under field conditions, especially in sheep. Therefore, alternative scenarios were explored extending the range from the sensitivity provided by the past European Union evaluations of diagnostic screening tests to a sensitivity of 50%, consistent with published data obtained under field conditions in infected goat populations. Using data provided by the Czech Republic for 2015-2022, the estimated parameters of the scenario-tree model, the range of values of diagnostic sensitivity and applying the criterion for the 95% confidence level, it is concluded that the Czech Republic has tested annually a sufficient number of small ruminants to meet the requirement, for all combinations of years and diagnostic sensitivity scenarios except for 60% diagnostic sensitivity in 2021 and 2022, and 50% in 2015, 2016 and 2018-2022. Based on the proposed number of samples to be tested in 2023 and future years, the Czech Republic would test a sufficient number of animals to meet the requirement for all combinations of diagnostic sensitivity, except for the 50% scenario.

Morphological, ultrastructural, genetic characteristics and remarkably low prevalence of macroscopic Sarcocystis species isolated from sheep and goats in Kurdistan region, Iraq.

Sarcocystis is a genus of cyst-forming parasites that infest both humans and livestock. Some parasites cause clinical and subclinical diseases in their hosts, resulting in economic losses. Esophagus, diaphragm, and skeletal muscle from slaughtered sheep and goats were examined macroscopically, microscopically, and ultrastructurally and subjected to DNA analysis. We isolated macrocysts of S. gigantea and of S. caprafelis moulei from naturally infected sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus). The macrocyst wall thickness was 18.9 µm in sheep and 15.3 µm in goats, and consisted of an inner Periodic acid Schiff- (PAS) negative primary wall and an outer glycoconjugates containing i.e. PAS-positive secondary wall. The walls inner surface was compartmentalized and filled with bradyzoites. In S. gigantea the bradyzoites were approximently 12.3 x 2.6 µm in size, while in S. caprafelis moulei they were 13.9 x 4.4 µm. Ultrastructurally, both species have nearly identical morphology: cauliflower-like protrusions with numerous microtubules and often dendritic-like filaments, branching from the primary wall. The 18S rRNA gene in S. gigantea was 85.9% identical to that in S. medusiformis and 80.4% to the S. caprafelis moulei gene. The 28S rRNA gene in S. gigantea was 94.6% identical to that in S. medusiformis and 97.3% to the S. caprafelis moulei. This study is the first to (i) detail the ultrastructure of the macrocyst wall of S. caprafelis moulei, (ii) identify S. medusiformis in Iraqi sheep, and (iii) compare the prevalence of macroscopic Sarcocystis at different time periods within the same region. A positive finding was the reduction of macroscopic sarcocystosis occurrences (0.01% in sheep and 0.02% in goats) compared to our previous data from 1992 (4.1%: sheep, 33.6%: goats).

A study of Caseous lymphadenitis in goats from a smallholder farm in Ukraine

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic infectious disease of a wide range of animal species around the world, which leads to abscesses in lymph nodes and internal organs. The aim of these studies was to characterize the Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolate obtained from infected goat from a smallholder farm in Ukraine. Clinical observation revealed two goats with concurrent external abscesses, fever, anorexia, and weight loss. Blood samples from the suspect animals were tested by ELISA. According to the obtained results, four (18.2%) from 22 sera samples were positive and one sample was questionable. C. pseudotuberculosis was isolated from the lymph nodes, liver, and lungs whereas the spleen, kidney, uterus, and udder did not show any growth. Finally, the obtained isolate was characterized both by biochemical tests and using multiplex PCR based on the detection of 16s rRNA, rpoB, and pld genes of C. pseudotuberculosis. Disease control should include elimination of infected and suspected animals from the herd, carrying out a comprehensive disinfection, and providing constant monitoring of the entire herd. Due to the absence of available data concerning the prevalence of CLA in Ukraine, further surveillance is required and an effective disease control strategy and eradication measures need to be developed

Genomic Characteristics of Emerging Intraerythrocytic Anaplasma capra and High Prevalence in Goats, China.

Anaplasma capra is an emerging tickborne human pathogen initially recognized in China in 2015; it has been reported in ticks and in a wide range of domestic and wild animals worldwide. We describe whole-genome sequences of 2 A. capra strains from metagenomic sequencing of purified erythrocytes from infected goats in China. The genome of A. capra was the smallest among members of the genus Anaplasma. The genomes of the 2 A. capra strains contained comparable G+C content and numbers of pseudogenes with intraerythrocytic Anaplasma species. The 2 A. capra strains had 54 unique genes. The prevalence of A. capra was high among goats in the 2 endemic areas. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the A. capra strains detected in this study were basically classified into 2 subclusters with those previously detected in Asia. Our findings clarify details of the genomic characteristics of A. capra and shed light on its genetic diversity.

Seasonality, epidemiology and phylogeny of Theileria ovis with a note on hematological and biochemical changes in asymptomatic infected goats from Pakistan.

Caprine theileriosis, caused by Theileria ovis is a serious production issue, especially in the areas that depend on goats and sheep for milk, meat, and other economic benefits. Pakistan has a large goat population, but few reports have been documented from this country regarding PCR-based detection of T. ovis. The molecular prevalence of T. ovis, on a seasonal basis, in various goat breeds enrolled from Muzaffar Garh district of Punjab in Pakistan was determined from October 2018 to September 2019. In this study, 1084 goat blood samples were screened for the detection of T. ovis DNA through PCR-based amplification of 18S rRNA gene. Out of 1084 goats, 12 (1.11%) were infected with T. ovis. The parasite prevalence varied with the sampling seasons (Chi square test, P = 0.008), and the parasite prevalence was highest in goat blood samples collected in summer (2.39%) followed by winter (1.88%). DNA sequencing and BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of T. ovis, and the amplified isolates from the 18S rRNA gene of T. ovis were found to be highly conserved during phylogenetic analysis. Young goats (Fischer exact test, P = 0.022) were found more infected with T. ovis during the winter season. Infected goats had elevated white blood cell counts (Two-sample t-test, P = 0.04), blood urea nitrogen to Creatinine ratio (Two-sample t-test, P = 0.02) and decreased serum Creatinine (Two-sample t-test, P = 0.001) as compared to T. ovis negative goats. We report a relatively low molecular prevalence of T. ovis in goats from the Muzaffar Garh district. However, it is recommended that control measures to eradicate T. ovis infection in goats in this area should be taken.