Losses In Livestock Production Research Articles

In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic effect of essential oil obtained from Thymus capitatus flowers against Haemonchus contortus and Heligmosomoides polygyrus

Sheep haemonchosis is a disease that causes serious losses in livestock production, particularly with the increase of cases of anthelmintic resistance around the world. This justifies the urgent need of alternative solutions. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical profile, in vitro, and, in vivo, anthelmintic properties of Thymus capitatus essential oil. To evaluate the, in vitro, anthelmintic activity of the T. capitatus EO on Haemonchus contortus, two tests were used: egg hatch assay (EHA) and adult worm motility (AWM) assay. The nematicidal effect of this oil was evaluated, in vivo, in mice infected artificially with Heligmosomoides polygyrus using faecal egg count reduction (FECR) and total worm count reduction (TWCR). Chromatographic characterization of T.capitatus composition using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) demonstrated the presence of carvacrol (81.16%), as the major constituents. The IC50 values obtained was 1.9 mg/mL in the EHT. In the AWM assay; T. capitatus essential oil achieved 70.8% inhibition at 1 mg/mL after 8 h incubation. The in vivo, evaluation on H. polygyrus revealed a significant nematicidal effect 7 days post-treatment by inducing 49.5% FECR and 64.5% TWCR, using the highest dose (1600 mg/kg). The results of present study, demonstrate that T.capitatus EO possess a significant anthelmintic properties. Furthermore, it could be an alternative source of anthelmintic agents against gastrointestinal infections caused by H. contortus.

Resistance to natural tick infestation varies with age and coat and hair traits in a tropically adapted beef cattle breed

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus causes considerable livestock production losses. Knowledge of the traits that influence tick resistance contributes to the development of breeding strategies designed to improve herd productivity. Within this context, this study evaluated the resistance of Caracu, a tropically adapted cattle breed, to R. microplus. Tick count, hair length, coat thickness, and coat color were evaluated in 202 naturally tick-infested females (cows and heifers) over a period of 18 months. Blood samples were collected from all animals during the winter season for hematological analysis. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations, generalized linear models, and principal component analysis. Correlation coefficients of tick count with coat color, coat thickness, and hair length were estimated within each season. Hematological parameters were only included in the winter season analysis and were analyzed by the restricted maximum likelihood method using log-transformed data. No differences in blood parameters were observed between animals with and without ticks. However, tick count was negatively correlated with erythrocytes (−0.29) and hematocrit (−0.24) and positively correlated with mean corpuscular hemoglobin (0.21) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (0.25). These findings suggest that higher tick counts lead to a decrease in erythrocytes but also to an increase in the amount of hemoglobin per erythrocyte, which could reduce the damage caused by low erythrocyte levels due to tick hematophagy, delaying or preventing anemia. Although tick infestation on pasture was demonstrated by the infestation of all staff members during herd management, none of the animals exhibited high tick counts, providing evidence of resistance of Caracu animals to R. microplus. Tick infestation was influenced by age class (cows > heifers), season (spring and summer > fall and winter), coat thickness (>1.5 mm > <1.5 mm), and hair length (>6 mm > <6 mm). Three components were extracted by principal component analysis, which accounted for 69.46% of data variance. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of efficient strategies aimed at reducing economic losses due to tick infestation and could be applied in animal breeding to select for tick resistance traits, reducing chemical control strategies and consequently improving sustainable livestock production.

Current perspectives and difficulties in the design of acaricides and repellents from plant-derived compounds for tick control.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their impact on public health and significant losses in livestock production. The use of synthetic compounds for tick control is becoming problematic, mainly due to the resistance to commercially available products as well as their toxicity. Therefore, new alternative control methods are required. For this purpose, plant-derived extracts may be considered as effective repellents and/or acaricides. The present literature review focuses on studies evaluating the acaricidal and repellent activity of plant-derived extracts and plant secondary metabolites. We also noted recent advances in protein-ligand-docking simulation to examine the possible toxic effect of natural chemical compounds on ticks. In conclusion, plant-derived repellents/acaricides can be effective against ticks, especially in rural areas and livestock farms.

In vitro Acaricidal Effect of Jatropha curcas Methanol Extract on ‎Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus larvae

Tick infestation is considered a major problem because ticks cause widespread nuisance and losses and vectors of disease-causing agents, resulting in economic losses in livestock production. The use of chemical agents is the main stay in tick-control though current research into viable plant extracts as alternatives are on the increase. This study evaluated the larvicidal effect of crude methanolic extract of Jatropha curcas seed oil extract on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratusticks. Various concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/ml were prepared from a stock (100 mg/ml) solution of the sample; control using 1% tween 80 and standard acaricide; Amitraz (positive control) were used. The mortalities were observed at time intervals of 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 hours. The experiment was performed in triplicate. The extract had an LC50 and LC90 of 2.88mg/ml and 6.76mg/ml respectively after 48h. Carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, steroids, terpenes, alkaloids and flavonoids were detected as phytoconstituents, and the extract exhibited significant mean percentage mortality from the control across all the concentrations after 24h. The result confirms that J. curcas is a good alternative to be used as a larvicidal agent in the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus.

Degree-days and off-host longevity of cattle fever ticks, Boophilus spp. (Acari: Ixodidae) in south Texas pastures.

Cattle fever ticks, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) and Boophilus annulatus (Say), are native to Eurasia and have invaded the New World as vectors of bovine Babesiosis. Due to severe losses in livestock production, an eradication program by the USDA was established. Premises infested with Boophilus ticks are subject to regulatory oversight that includes acaricide treatment and quarantine. The quarantine duration varies between summer through winter and is based on the available information on the persistence of the off-host stages in pastures far from south Texas. The objective of this study was to assess the specific effect of thermal stress measured in degree-days on the longevity of B. annulatus and B. microplus off-host stages in south Texas pastures. Our results demonstrate that the longest off-host persistence for B. annulatus was 142 days under canopied habitat in the winter and 130 days in the summer. On the other hand, B. microplus off-host persistence was 113 days under canopy and 103 days in exposed habitat, both in winter. The results indicate that temperature was a key variable that prolonged the survival of B. annulatus but not B. microplus. In areas such as south Texas at the northernmost extent of B. microplus range, where mild winters prevail, we found a maximum persistence of less than 4 months (113 days), very close to the previous published record of 116 days. A reduction in the Texas pasture quarantine period from 9 months to 6 months would be justified for this species.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic integration of amphenmulin: a novel pleuromutilin derivative against Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Amphenmulin is a novel pleuromutilin derivative with great anti-mycoplasma potential. The present study evaluated the action characteristics of amphenmulin against Mycoplasma gallisepticum using pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling approaches. Following intravenous administration, amphenmulin exhibited an elimination half-life of 2.13 h and an apparent volume of distribution of 3.64 L/kg in healthy broiler chickens, demonstrating PK profiles of extensive distribution and rapid elimination. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amphenmulin against M. gallisepticum was determined to be 0.0039 µg/mL using the broth microdilution method, and the analysis of the static time-kill curves through the sigmoid Emax model showed a highly correlated relationship (R ≥ 0.9649) between the kill rate and drug concentrations (1-64 MIC). A one-compartment open model with first-order elimination was implemented to simulate the in vivo anti-mycoplasma effect of amphenmulin, and it was found that bactericidal levels were reached with continuous administration for 3 days at doses exceeding 0.8 µg/mL. Furthermore, the area under the concentration-time curve divided by MIC (AUC/MIC) correlated well with the anti-mycoplasma effect of amphenmulin within 24 h after each administration, with a target value of 904.05 h for predicting a reduction of M. gallisepticum by 1 Log10CFU/mL. These investigations broadened the antibacterial spectrum of amphenmulin and revealed its characteristics of action against M. gallisepticum, providing a theoretical basis for further clinical development.IMPORTANCEMycoplasma has long been recognized as a significant pathogen causing global livestock production losses and public health concerns, and the use of antimicrobial agents is currently one of the mainstream strategies for its prevention and control. Amphenmulin is a promising candidate pleuromutilin derivative that was designed, synthesized, and screened by our laboratory in previous studies. Moreover, this study further confirms the excellent antibacterial activity of amphenmulin against Mycoplasma gallisepticum and reveals its action characteristics and model targets on M. gallisepticum by establishing an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic synchronization model. These findings can further broaden the pharmacological theoretical basis of amphenmulin and serve as data support for its clinical development, which is of great significance for the discovery of new antimicrobial drugs and the control of bacterial diseases in humans and animals.

Catharanthus roseus extract attenuates E. coli toxin-induced short circuit current in isolated jejunal epithelium of goat and buffalo

Enterotoxigenic E. coli-derived heat-stable enterotoxin not only alters intestinal barrier functions and produces secretory diarrhea but also causes production losses in livestock. This study aimed to elucidate the ameliorative effect of Catharanthus roseus extract on Cl- secretion in an in vitro model. Isolated jejunal epithelia from goats (N=10) and buffaloes (N=4) were divided into four groups: A) control; B) 1.5% C. roseus extract; C) 10% E. coli toxin, and D) 10% E. coli toxin and 1.5% C. roseus extract. The jejunal epithelia were mounted on Ussing chambers with an exposed surface area of 0.95 cm2 and treated with E. coli toxin on the mucosal side to invoke Cl- channels. Transepithelial potential difference (Pdt), tissue conductance (Gt), and short circuit current (Isc) were determined under voltage-clamped conditions. E. coli toxin produced a significant increase in the Pdt, Gt, and Isc for both goat and buffalo jejunal epithelia, whereas C. roseus extract on the mucosal side alone or followed by the E. coli toxin decreased these parameters, which were comparable with the control. The change in Isc was more pronounced in goats than buffaloes (ΔIscgoat &gt; ΔIscbuff). In experiments with the goat jejunal epithelia, replacement of Cl- from the mucosal buffer decreased Isc, similar to a decrease observed for the C. roseus extract groups. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that C. roseus extract has a potential to attenuate E. coli-induced Cl- secretion in isolated jejunal epithelia of goats and buffaloes.&#x0D; Keywords: Catharanthus roseus extract; Electrophysiology; Secretory diarrhea; Small intestine, Ruminants

Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin‐resistant S. aureus from yak

AbstractStaphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is an important zoonotic pathogen which not only causes significant economic loss in livestock production but also emerges as a potential threat to public health. Compared with bovines, the information on the colonization of S. aureus and MRSA in yaks, the only bovine species providing meat and other necessities for Tibetans living at high altitude, is very limited. Therefore, in the current study, S. aureus and MRSA prevalence, virulence genes, and antibiotic and antiseptic resistance properties in yaks from 18 counties of Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan province, China were investigated. The results revealed that the overall prevalence of S. aureus during yak breeding was 7.10% among 1281 samples (91/1281), containing 9.44% from nasal (62/657) and 4.65% from anus (29/624). Nearly all of the S. aureus isolates carried at least one staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) gene and the predominant enterotoxin gene was selx (51.65%). In addition, virulence genes (hlα, hlβ, pvl, and tsst‐1), antiseptic resistance genes (qacA/B, qacC, and qacG), and heavy metal resistance genes (copA, arsB, cadD, and arsA) were also found. Furthermore, 24 MRSA strains were identified. SCCmec, spa, and multilocus sequence typing typing revealed that the predominant types of MRSA were ST59‐IVa‐t437 and ST59‐III‐t437. It was noteworthy that all these methicillin‐resistant strains were resistant to two or more antibiotics and possessed virulence genes. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of antiseptic peroxyacetic acid, sodium hypochlorite, and benzalkonium bromide against these MRSA strains were measured and the MIC values of benzalkonium bromide (1.22–9.77 μg/mL) were relatively low. Furthermore, the challenge with 1/4 MIC of oxacillin sodium or ofloxacin or benzalkonium bromide for 216 h increased the resistance of the MRSA strain YB786 to these antibiotics but decreased the MIC value of benzalkonium bromide. The results provide an indication of the health risks associated with these S. aureus strains, especially methicillin‐resistant strains from yaks and new approaches are needed to treat these strains.

Sero-prevalence and factors associated with anti-Brucella antibodies in slaughter livestock in Uganda.

Brucellosis is endemic in Uganda and is a major cause of production losses in livestock. Early detection and quantification of the disease is vital for its control and eradication. The aim of this study was to assess the sero-prevalence and factors associated with anti-Brucella antibodies in slaughtered livestock. Sera from 886 cattle, 925 small ruminants, and 900 pigs were collected from regional abattoirs in Northern, Eastern and Central Uganda. To estimate sero-prevalence, sera were serially tested using a combination of the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and Native Hapten (NH) immunoprecipitation test. True sero-prevalence was estimated using the Rogan-Gladden estimator considering the sensitivity and specificity of the NH immunoprecipitation test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with seropositivity for anti-Brucella antibodies. Small ruminants showed the highest seroprevalence (6.7%, 95% CI = 4.2-7.1) followed by cattle (3.8%, 95% CI = 2.4-4.9) and pigs (2.8%, 95% CI = 1.1-2.9). Seropositivity for anti-Brucella antibodies was associated with region of origin (OR = 4.6,95%CI=1.49-17.75, p = 0.013) for cattle; sex (OR = 2.90, 95% C = 1.5-6.34, p = 0.004), age (OR=4.04, 95% CI = 1.07-8.52, p = 0.006) and species (OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.08-6.98, p = 0.048) for small ruminants; and finally sex for pigs (OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.07-8.52, p = 0.041). Progressive control interventions must include both cattle and small ruminants since they play a bigger role in the maintenance and dissemination of Brucella. The interventions should adopt a risk-based approach with regions at higher risk being given top priority. Bacteriological and molecular studies should be undertaken to clarify the role of pigs and the goat-cattle cross infections in the epidemiological cycle of brucellosis in Uganda.

A Forty-Year Analysis of the Literature on Babesia Infection (1982-2022): A Systematic Bibliometric Approach.

Babesia infection is a tick-borne protozoan disease associated with significant veterinary, economic, and medical importance. This infection affects many hosts, ranging from wild to domestic animals and including man. All vertebrates serve as potential carriers due to the huge diversity of the species. Babesiosis has been associated with severe economic loss in livestock production, especially in cattle farming, and is also a major public health concern in man, which could be fatal. The infection is usually opportunistic, ranging from asymptomatic to symptomatic, usually in immunocompromised subjects or under conditions of stressful management. This study was designed to uncover trends in relation to publication growth and further explore research output regarding babesiosis from data indexed in the WoS. The WoS is the only platform used to map publications on Babesia infection. The search term "babesiosis" or "Babesia infection" was used to extract articles published across the study period from 1982 to 2022. The inclusion criteria were restricted to only articles for the analysis. The results from the search query showed that a total of 3763 articles were published during the study period with an average of 91.70 ± 43.87 articles annually and an average total citation (n = 1874.8). An annual growth rate of 2.5% was recorded during the study period. The year 2021 had the highest number of published articles (n = 193, 5.1%) and citations (n = 7039). The analysis of the most relevant keywords and titles showed that infection (n = 606, 16.1%), babesiosis (n = 444, 11.7%), and Babesia (n = 1302, 16%) were the most relevant keyword plus (ID), author keyword (DE), and title, respectively. The common conceptual framework analysis through K-means clustering showed two clusters comprising 4 and 41 elements, respectively. The United States of America is the top-performing country in terms of article production (n = 707, 20.8%) and the leading funder for babesiosis research, with two of its agencies ranked at the top. These are the Department of Health and Human Services (n = 254, 6.7%) and the National Institute of Health (n= 238,6.3%). Igarashi I. is the top-performing author (n = 231, 6.1%), while Veterinary Parasitology is ranked the top journal (n = 393, 10.4%) in terms of babesiosis publications. Overall, an increase in publications was observed in the study period, with significant output from developed nations.

Investigating volatile semiochemical production from Bos taurus and Bos indicus as a novel phenotype for breeding host resistance to ixodid ticks

Ticks and tick-borne diseases cause significant loss in livestock production with about 80% world's cattle at risk. The cost of chemical control is high and there is an ever-increasing tick resistance to chemical acaricides. Genetic selection as alternative long-term control strategy is constrained by laborious phenotyping using tick counts or scores. This study explored the use of host volatile semiochemicals that may be attractants or repellents to ticks as a phenotype for new tick resistance, with potential to be used as a proxy in selection programmes. Approximately 100 young cattle composed of Bos indicus and Bos taurus were artificially infested with 2,500 African blue tick, Rhipicephalus decoloratus larvae, with daily female tick (4.5 mm) counts taken from day 20 post-infestation. Volatile organic compounds were sampled from cattle before and after tick infestation by dynamic headspace collection, analysed by high-resolution gas chromatography (GC) and subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. Using 6-day repeated measure analysis, three pre-infestation GC peaks (BI938 - unknown, BI966 - 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and BI995 – hexyl acetate) and one post-infestation GC peak (AI933 – benzaldehyde / (E)-2-heptenal) were associated with tick resistance (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). The high correlation coefficients (r = 0.66) between repeated records with all volatile compounds support the potential predictive value for volatile compounds in selective breeding programmes for tick resistance in cattle.

Molecular Characterization of Avitellina lahorea Woodland, 1927 (Class Cestoda; Family Anoplocephalidae) Infecting Sheep and Goats Raised in India.

Tapeworms of Avitellina spp. are among those gastrointestinal parasitic helminths which infect wild and domestic ruminants worldwide leading to various clinical manifestations in the ruminant hosts, thereby causing considerable economic losses in livestock production. While these worms are among the major constraints in ruminant livestock raising, there is very meagre molecular information available making their identity error-prone. This study aimed to provide insights into the genetic characterization of these economically important tapeworms. In the present study, we examined 480 guts of slaughtered goats (n = 413) and sheep (n = 67) of which 74 guts were found infected with anoplocephalid cestodes (sheep gut:18; goat gut:56). A total of 27 Avitellina lahorea worms (19 from goat and 8 from sheep) were isolated, fixed, relaxed and stained using Gower's carmine stain. For molecular analyses, the genomic DNA was extracted and fragments of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, internal transcribed spacer1-5.8S ribosomal RNA (ITS1-5.8S rRNA) gene, and small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene were amplified and sequenced. Based on snail-shaped paruterine organs and other morphological and morphometric features, the worms were identified as Avitellina lahorea. The phylogenetic analyses, based on our original cox1 gene sequence and those available from NCBI GenBank, showed Avitellina tapeworms as a sister lineage of Thysaniezia with 14 to 17% genetic divergence. Molecular analyses of 18S rRNA gene sequences depicted the present isolate as one of the species of the genus Avitellina clustering with A. centripunctata as a separate species in the phylogenetic tree with 92% homogeneity in sequences. In conjunction with existing data of internal transcribed spacer1-5.8S rRNA (ITS1-5.8S rRNA) gene, the phylogenetic analysis placed the present isolate among the anoplocephalids as one of the species. The present study is the first molecular report on A. lahorea isolated from sheep and goats with the simultaneous use of a morphological approach, and certainly contributes to bridging the existing gaps in the understanding of these economically important parasites.

Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria Additives on Fatty Acids, Amino Acids and Antioxidant Capacity of Leymus chinensis Silage during Aerobic Exposure

During aerobic exposure of silage, the fatty acid and amino acid composition may alter the quality and palatability, resulting in economic losses in livestock production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Lenti Lentilactobacillus buchneri (LB), and a mixture of LP and LB (PB) on the fatty acids, amino acids, and antioxidant capacity of Leymus chinensis silage during aerobic exposure. The lactic acid bacteria were added at 1 × 106 CFU/g. The silage treatments were opened after 60 days of fermentation, and sampled on days 0, 4, and 8 of aerobic exposure. The LB group had higher total fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid content, and less decrease in amino acid content and antioxidant capacity, while the LP group had a higher monounsaturated fatty acid content but a larger decrease in all indicators after exposure. Correlation analysis showed that Lactobacillus, Cryptococcus, Penicillium, and Thermoascus were more correlated with fatty acid changes, and that Lactobacillus, Actinomyces, Clostridium, and Penicillium were more correlated with amino acid changes. In conclusion, Lentilactobacillus buchneri could effectively improve the antioxidant capacity and fatty acid and amino acid contents of Leymus chinensis silage during aerobic exposure, while Lactiplantibacillus plantarum could effectively improve the content of each index of Leymus chinensis silage at opening, but deterioration was faster during aerobic exposure.

Role of Molecular diagnostic technique , improving management and hygiene in Control of Subclinical Mastitis in diary Cattles

Sub clinical mastitis is a common disease caused by lack of good management and biosecurity of dairy cattle which cause expensive losses due to decrease milk production effect on the quality efficiency of milk losses in livestock production. the study designed to review the researcher's study to detect important strategies controlling of subclinical mastitis resulting from environmental &amp; contagious pathogens such as E.coli, k.pneumonia, proteus spp.,Enterobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus agalactia and mycoplasma pyogenes, also other microorganism in dairy cow. A wide range of genetic diagnostic methods can be using for investigation of mastitis such as RT-PCR and MPCR methods.Further accurate improving hygiene and improve management considerable for controlling of the disease in dairy cattle they are commitment of hygiene procedure as milking, animal condition and floor that incorporated management strategies. Regard to dry period of cattle the usage of antibiotic treatment , supplements foods ,optimization of animal body condition ,scientific management of milk procedure and ventilation are considered important factor to control of bovine mastitis. on the other hand,this review provides the role using advance diagnostic technologies of this disease. and can provide safeguard of dairy animals as well as improving hygiene as a good controlling of mastitis pathogens..

Prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis in Côte d'Ivoire: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bovine trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoans of the genusTrypanosoma. The disease cause economic losses in livestock production. In order to determine the status of research on this disease in Côte d'Ivoire, we used the systematic review method and meta-analysis. Three electronics databases, namely Google Scholar, PubMed and CrossRef were used to search for publications on trypanosomiasis prevalence that met our inclusion criteria. Twenty five articles were identified, 11 of which met the inclusion criteria. Bovine trypanosomiasis prevalence of 2.99% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.96% - 3.01%) to 25.28% (95% CI: 25.17% - 25.38%) were recorded between 1960 and 2021. The analyses showed that the most infected regions were the Bagoue 11.26% (95% CI: 11.25% - 11.27%), Bounkani 14.94% (95% CI: 14.93% - 14.95%), Gbeke 10.34% (95% CI: 10.33% - 10.35%), Marahoue 13.79% (95% CI: 13.78% - 13.80%), Poro 8.50% (95% CI: 8.49% - 8.51%), and Tchologo 11.83% (95% CI: 11.82% - 11.84%).The most sensitive diagnostic method used was the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The species of trypanosomes diagnosed wereTypanosoma vivax4.99% (95% CI: 4.97% - 5.01%),T. congolense1.51% (95% CI: 1.49% - 1.52%), andT. brucei0.61% (95% CI: 0.59% - 0.62%). Despite some variation, the prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis in Côte d'Ivoire caused mainly byT. vivaxhas increased in the years between 1977 and 2017. Efforts to control tsetse and other mechanical vectors should also be put in place to minimize its transmission.Contribution:The authors studied the prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis using the systematic review method and MA in order to determine the status of research on this disease in Côte d'Ivoire.

Recent advances in diagnostic approaches for orf virus.

Orf virus (ORFV), the prototype species of the Parapoxvirus genus, is an important zoonotic virus, causing great economic losses in livestock production. At present, there are no effective drugs for orf treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to develop accurate and rapid diagnostic approaches for ORFV. Over decades, various diagnostic methods have been established, including conventional methods such as virus isolation and electron microscopy; serological methods such as virus neutralization test (VNT), immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay, immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); and molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), and recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay. This review provides an overview of currently available diagnostic approaches for ORFV and discusses their advantages and limitations and future perspectives, which would be significantly helpful for ORFV early diagnosis and surveillance to prevent outbreak of orf. KEY POINTS: • Orf virus emerged and reemerged in past years • Rapid and efficient diagnostic approaches are needed and critical for ORFV detection • Novel and sensitive diagnostic methods are required for ORFV detection.

Mathematical Model of Foot and Mouth Disease Considering Vaccination Disinfection And Early Quarantine

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease that can infect all cloven hoofed animals. FMD is one of the most important infectious viral diseases in the world. This disease is responsible for international losses in livestock production and trade. In this article, we formulate a mathematical model for the spread of FMD in goat farms that considers early quarantine, vaccination, and disinfection interventions. The model constructed is expressed as a system of ordinary differential equations consisting of eight state variables. We determine the basic reproduction number using the next-generation matrix method. Our numerical simulation results show that vaccination has a very crucial role in controlling the spread of FMD and reducing the basic reproduction number. In addition, quarantine interventions for latent and infectious goats are also effective in controlling the spread of FMD. The basic reproduction number can also be suppressed by disinfection and quarantine interventions. Therefore, we recommend implementing routine vaccination, screening and disinfection programs. In addition, farmer should be given education so that they have the ability to identify goats exposed to FMDV so that quarantine can be carried out early.

Effect of Adding an Organic Binder on Health of Cows Fed with Mycotoxins Contaminated Diet

Mycotoxins contamination occurring in dairy cow's diet is responsible for devastating effects on livestock health. Among different strategies, using organic adsorbents is a promising approach to reduce the toxicity of mycotoxins. This study investigated the effects of an organic adsorbent containing Lactobacillus brevis TD4, Lactobacillus paracasei TD3, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall on milk production, somatic cell count, blood parameters (white blood cell [WBC], lymphocyte [LYM], neutrophil, basophil, monocyte, eosinophil, red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin) and liver function (alanine transaminase [ALT], gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT], aspartate transaminase [AST], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], urea, total protein, albumin) in dairy cows fed a naturally contaminated diet with Zearalenone and Deoxynivalenol. The amounts of mycotoxins Zearalenone (ZEA) and Deoxynivalenol (DON) in feed ingredients were measured using the HPLC method. Ten Holstein dairy cows received organic adsorbents daily in their diets for four weeks. Milk and blood samples were taken from cows before the start of feeding adsorbent (CTRL), during the feeding period (FP), and one week after removal of adsorbent from the diet (RP). Totally, the amount of measured ZEA and DON toxins in the diet were 389 and 1254.6 ppb, respectively. Feeding of organic adsorbent significantly increased milk production, total serum protein, and albumin compared to CTRL (P&lt;0.01). Also, numerically lower somatic cell count in their milk and a significant decrease (P&lt;0.01) in serum urea were resulted. Among examined blood parameters, the number of WBC and LYM significantly decreased (P&lt;0.01) after feeding with the organic binder in comparison to the control period. Furthermore, except for a significant increase in the level of AST (P&lt;0.05), the other liver function examined parameters were not affected. The consumption of feed containing low-cost organic adsorbent including Lactobacillus bacteria and yeast cell wall can improve the physical condition and health of dairy cows and reduce economic losses in livestock production.

ADAPTATION OF BUSINESS MODELS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINIAN AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

Purpose. The aim of the article is to analyse the state of the agro-industrial complex and substantiate the directions for the adaptation of business models for the development of agrarian enterprises in Ukraine during the military challenges. Methodology of research. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the scientific works of leading scientists and businessmen-practitioners in the agricultural sector of Ukraine. In the research process, the following general scientific methods were used: comparison method – for the study of business models of the development of subjects of the agro-industrial complex; analysis and synthesis – to analyse the state of development of agro-industrial complex enterprises; abstract and logical method – for expressing one's own assumptions and formulating conclusions, graphic method – for visual illustration of the dynamics of the development, losses and damages of the agricultural sector. Findings. It was concluded that the formation of an adaptive business model should take into account both the internal and external factors of the functioning of an agricultural enterprise in conditions of Russia's military aggression in Ukraine. The indicators of the development of the field of crop production, as one of the structural factors in the country's economy, as well as direct losses and indirect losses in crop production and livestock production caused by the war, were analysed. It was found that a feature of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine is the presence of a significant share of agricultural holdings and farms and personal farms in it. It was emphasized on the fact that the war had caused additional negative aspects of the functioning of the agroholding model of the Ukrainian agricultural industry, in particular, the breakdown of logistics chains, environmental disasters at the livestock complexes of agroholdings, the blocking of sales markets showed the low adaptability and inability of such enterprises to respond in time to the challenges of wartime. Originality. The features of business models adaptation for the development of agrarian enterprises, taking into account both direct and indirect losses due to Russian aggression, have gained further development. The comparison of the modern models of the functioning of the agro-industrial complex in Ukraine made it possible to identify the disadvantages of the agricultural holding model and to propose the directions for state support for the development of the farming business model in conditions of modern challenges. Practical value. The results of the study can be used for the analysis and adaptation of business models of agricultural enterprises in the war and post-war period. Key words: agro-industrial complex, plant breeding, livestock breeding, business model, adaptation, farms, agricultural holdings.

A Nested-PCR assay for detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle in Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

Cryptosporidium spp. is a protozoan parasite that cause cryptosporidiosis, a gastroenteric disease in wide range of animals and humans. Cryptosporidiosis affects significant economic loss in livestock production due to poor management practices, leading to faecal contamination. The parasite can be transmitted by ingestion of oocysts which have high survival ability in various type of environment and resistant to water chlorination treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in various faecal samples of cattle (n=24, aged 1-2 years old) obtained from several farms in Sulawesi. Following faecal DNA extraction, we performed a nested-PCR assay using validated-Cryptosporidium 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) primers, resulting a size of amplified DNA approximately 770 bps. A total four samples (16.7%) were regarded as positive for Cryptosporidium spp., including samples obtained from farms in South Sulawesi (n=2), Central Sulawesi (n=1) and Gorontalo (n=1). This result confirms the risk of cryptosporidiosis not only among cattle in Sulawesi but also potential transfer of this parasite to humans especially from contaminated water and food. Therefore, early detection of the spread of oocysts is also crucial for monitoring animal health including cattle as production animals, human health, and environment.