Sheep Losses Research Articles

Mandibular bone loss in ewe induced by hypothalamic–pituitary disconnection

It is supposed that the demographic change will lead to an increase in patients with impaired alveolar bone conditions. Large animal models are of particular interest in this context as they are suitable for developing and testing new dental implants. Recently, we demonstrated that surgical hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection (HPD) causes a pronounced low-turnover situation leading to cortical and trabecular bone loss in sheep. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of the HPD procedure on the alveolar bone. Ten adult Merino ewes were randomly assigned to two groups: Control and HPD. After 6months, we analysed the cortical and trabecular bone of all mandibles by histomorphometry and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). HPD ewes showed a significant decrease in cortical thickness by ~20%, a significant increase in cortical porosity by ~20% and a significant decrease in bone volume by ~30% in comparison with Control ewes. Our results underline the importance of central regulatory mechanisms of bone turnover. However, further studies are needed to understand these central regulatory elements of bone turnover in detail and to judge the value of the HPD sheep for dental research.

Respiratory heat loss in Morada Nova sheep in Brazilian semi-arid regions

This study aimed to evaluate the respiratory heat loss in sheep from the equations developed for this species and its relations with meteorological variables in semi-arid regions. The respiratory heat loss (sensible and latent) was estimated through the equations in the literature for four 12-month-old male Morada Nova sheep, kept in an installation with shading of ceramic tiles and a 3-meter-high ceiling.

Characterization of Zulu sheep production system: Implications for conservation and improvement

Understanding the production environment under which Zulu sheep are raised is essential in strategizing the breed’s conservation and improvement programme. Ninety-six farmers across 11 rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were interviewed using structured questionnaires to describe traditional Zulu sheep production system, evaluate its sustainability and identify some constraints limiting production. Sheep were the least owned livestock species amongst interviewed farmers after cattle and goats. Farmers began sheep production with sample stock of fewer than four animals, either bought from other farmers or inherited through patrilineality. Sheep flock sizes were 39.8±7.5 (±SD) on average, with each flock constituting of 3.12±0.31 rams, 21.81±5.61 ewes, 4.98±0.87 yearlings and 9.92±2.05 lambs. About 43.7% of the flocks interacted with 2 or fewer neighbouring flocks during grazing time. Rate of flock size decrease was estimated at 7.4% in the past 5 years. Drought and diseases were identified as leading causes of sheep loss. Methods to controlling external and gastro-intestinal parasites were only practised when sheep showed a need. Zulu sheep were used mainly as a source of meat, income and manure and were preferred over their exotic counterparts because they were regarded tolerant to diseases and drought and for their tasty meat. The information obtained in this study is crucial in planning suitable conservation, improvement and extension programs for the breed. Key words: Production environment, animal genetic resources, socio-economic, production systems.

A mucin-like peptide induces protection against Fasciola hepatica infection

Event Abstract Back to Event A mucin-like peptide induces protection against Fasciola hepatica infection Teresa Freire1*, Veronica Noya1, Natalie Brossard1, Ernesto Rodriguez1, Daniel Mazal2, Patricia Berasaín3 and Carlos Carmona3 1 Facultad de Medicina, Inmunobiología, Uruguay 2 Hospital Pereyra Rossell, Anatomía Patológica, Uruguay 3 Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Higiene, Unidad de Biología Parasitaria, Uruguay Fasciola hepatica is a worldwide distributed helminth pathogen that causes great economic losses in sheep and cattle. The appearance of F. hepatica populations that are resistant to common flukicidal drugs, along with the fact that these drugs do not avoid the hepatic damage in animals, means that new methods of treatment are required. The future prospect for the development of anti-liver fluke vaccines is optimistic and given their consumer acceptability and environmental friendliness, offer the best way forward. Our group has recently identified a putative mucin-like protein, Fhmuc, expressed in the invasive newly excysted juvenile (NEJ). Mucins are highly O-Glycosylated proteins that are associated with evasion of immune response and adhesion of parasite and hence important for parasite survival in harmful host environment. Thus, this mucin might be a good vaccine candidate against fasciolosis In this work we present data regarding the immune response induced by the mucin-like peptide Fhmuc. We observed that Fhmuc has pro-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo, leading to the production of high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When tested in a model of fasciolosis in mice, Fhmuc has proven to protect from infection, especially when administrated together with dendritic cells. These results open new horizons in the development of vaccines against Fasciola hepatica infection. Acknowledgements Funded by Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación, Uruguay Keywords: Vaccine, mucin, dendritic cell, Fasciola hepatica, fasciolosis Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Translational immunology and immune intervention Citation: Freire T, Noya V, Brossard N, Rodriguez E, Mazal D, Berasaín P and Carmona C (2013). A mucin-like peptide induces protection against Fasciola hepatica infection. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00734 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 13 Jun 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Dr. Teresa Freire, Facultad de Medicina, Inmunobiología, Montevideo, 11800, Uruguay, tfreire@fmed.edu.uy Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Teresa Freire Veronica Noya Natalie Brossard Ernesto Rodriguez Daniel Mazal Patricia Berasaín Carlos Carmona Google Teresa Freire Veronica Noya Natalie Brossard Ernesto Rodriguez Daniel Mazal Patricia Berasaín Carlos Carmona Google Scholar Teresa Freire Veronica Noya Natalie Brossard Ernesto Rodriguez Daniel Mazal Patricia Berasaín Carlos Carmona PubMed Teresa Freire Veronica Noya Natalie Brossard Ernesto Rodriguez Daniel Mazal Patricia Berasaín Carlos Carmona Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

The role of cortisol in chronic binge alcohol-induced cerebellar injury: Ovine model

Women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are at high risk of giving birth to children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Previous reports from our laboratory have shown that third trimester equivalent binge alcohol exposure at a dose of 1.75 g/kg/day results in significant fetal cerebellar Purkinje cell loss in fetal sheep and that both maternal and fetal adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol levels are elevated in response to alcohol treatment. In this study, we hypothesized that repeated elevations in cortisol from chronic binge alcohol are responsible at least in part for fetal neuronal deficits. Animals were divided into four treatment groups: normal control, pair-fed saline control, alcohol and cortisol. The magnitude of elevation in cortisol in response to alcohol was mimicked in the cortisol group by infusing pregnant ewes with hydrocortisone for 6 h on each day of the experiment, and administering saline during the first hour in lieu of alcohol. The experiment was conducted on three consecutive days followed by four days without treatment beginning on gestational day (GD) 109 until GD 132. Peak maternal blood alcohol concentration in the alcohol group was 239 ± 7 mg/dl. The fetal brains were collected and processed for stereological cell counting on GD 133. The estimated total number of fetal cerebellar Purkinje cells, the reference volume and the Purkinje cell density were not altered in response to glucocorticoid infusion in the absence of alcohol. These results suggest that glucocorticoids independently during the third trimester equivalent may not produce fetal cerebellar Purkinje cell loss. However, the elevations in cortisol along with other changes induced by alcohol could together lead to brain injury seen in the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Naturally occurring infections of cattle with Theileria lestoquardi and sheep with Theileria annulata in the Sudan

Theileria annulata is endemic in northern Sudan, hindering all efforts at upgrading cattle for milk production. T. lestoquardi clinical cases occur throughout the year and causes annual outbreaks that result in substantial losses in sheep. In the northern Sudan both cattle and small ruminants are frequently raised together and/or share common grazing grounds at river banks. In an attempt to evaluate field cross infectivity of Theileria lestoquardi and T. annulata in cattle and sheep respectively, a PCR analysis was carried out on samples collected from closely reared sheep and cattle using both T. annulata and T. lestoquardi specific primers. A total of 19 sheep out of 51 (37.3%) were positive for T. lestoquardi while four sheep (7.8%) showed T. annulata specific amplicons. A total of 38 out of 52 (73.1%) surveyed cattle were PCR positive for T. annulata and only two (3.8%) showed T. lestoquardi specific bands. These findings indicate complex epidemiology of both infections in areas where both parasites are transmitted by the same vector and call for further investigations of this phenomenon.

Embryo losses in sheep during short-term nutritional supplementation

To test whether a nutritional supplement fed from 6 days before until 15 days after insemination reduces progesterone concentrations and increases embryo losses, Merino ewes were artificially inseminated (Day 0). Control ewes (n = 116) were not supplemented whereas Lupin6 ewes (n = 112) were supplemented with 500 g lupin grain daily for 6 days before insemination, and Lupin6+15 ewes (n = 122) from 6 days before until 15 days after insemination. There were no major differences between treatment groups in progesterone concentrations over the first 17 days of pregnancy. Embryo losses over Days 10-17 were lower in the Lupin6+15 than in the Control and Lupin6 groups, but the opposite occurred from Day 17-30. The concentrations of insulin and IGF-I were higher in Lupin6+15 ewes on Days 5, 12 and 17, compared with Lupin6 and Control ewes, while leptin concentrations decreased by Day 17 in the Lupin6+15 group. We conclude that feeding ewes for 15 days after mating improved embryo survival, which was associated with an increase in the concentrations of metabolic hormones and lower progesterone concentrations. However, the decrease in leptin concentrations promoted by the interruption of supplementation seems be linked to increased embryo mortality up to Day 30.

Pinealectomy affects bone mineral density and structure - an experimental study in sheep

BackgroundOsteoporosis and associated fractures are a major public health burden and there is great need for a large animal model. Melatonin, the hormone of the pineal gland, has been shown to influence bone metabolism. This study aims to evaluate whether absence of melatonin due to pinealectomy affects the bone mass, structure and remodeling in an ovine animal model.MethodsFemale sheep were arranged into four groups: Control, surgically ovariectomized (Ovx), surgically pinealectomized (Px) and Ovx+Px. Before and 6 months after surgery, iliac crest biopsies were harvested and structural parameters were measured using μCT. Markers of bone formation and resorption were determined. To evaluate long term changes after pinealectomy, bone mineral density (BMD) was analyzed at the distal radius at 0, 3, 9, 18 and 30 months.ResultsCancellous bone volume (BV/TV) declined after 6 months by -13.3% Px and -21.5% OvxPx. The bone loss was due to increased trabecular separation as well as decreased thickness. The histomorphometric quantification and determination of collagen degradation products showed increased bone resorption following pinealectomy. Ovariectomy alone results in a transient bone loss at the distal radius followed by continuous increase to baseline levels. The bone resorption activity after pinealectomy causes a bone loss which was not transient, since a continuous decrease in BMD was observed until 30 months.ConclusionsThe changes after pinealectomy in sheep are indicative of bone loss. Overall, these findings suggest that the pineal gland may influence bone metabolism and that pinealectomy can be used to induce bone loss in sheep.

SCOPS and COWS—‘Worming it out of UK farmers’

Infections with gastrointestinal roundworms are an important cause of production losses in sheep and cattle. Worm control is a vital part of health and production management in sheep flocks and cattle herds in the UK, and good control is highly dependent on effective anthelmintics. Unfortunately, a direct and unavoidable consequence of using anthelmintics to control worm populations is selection for individuals that are resistant to the chemicals used.If left unchecked, anthelmintic resistance (AR) could prove to be one of the biggest challenges to sheep and cattle production and animal welfare within the UK. As a consequence of increasing reports of AR in sheep, a working group, “SCOPS” (sustainable control of parasites in sheep) was formed in 2003 with representatives from the UK sheep industry to promote practical guidelines for sheep farmers and their advisors. This led to the production of guidelines for ‘sustainable worm control strategies for sheep’ intended for veterinarians and sheep advisors, plus ongoing promotional literature aimed at farmers.Whilst there is some evidence of emerging resistance in roundworms of cattle, it appears to still be at a very low level in the UK. However the potential presence of such AR in cattle worms has been seen as a timely warning, which if ignored, could lead to a not dissimilar AR situation to that seen in sheep, and in other cattle areas around the world. Reports of AR in UK cattle nematodes have generally been limited to a small number of anecdotal reports of treatment failure with some macrocyclic lactone (ML) products, especially those formulated as pour-on preparations, and invariably involving the dose-limiting species, Cooperia oncophora. As a consequence of these observations, guidelines have been produced similar to those for sheep, for sustainable worm control strategies for cattle “COWS” (control of worms sustainably), and were launched in May 2010. Uptake and effectiveness of SCOPS recommendations are currently being monitored in collaboration with the UK animal health industry, and similar proposals are being considered for uptake of COWS guidelines following the launch this year.

Molecular detection of pestiviruses in aborted foetuses from provinces in northern Turkey

All pestiviruses are important veterinary pathogens causing economic losses in cattle, sheep and pigs. Besides the important economical losses, pestiviruses may compromise the normal immune response to other pathogens and increase the severity of other infections in sheep. In this study, aborted foetuses (cattle and sheep) in either coastal or inland Black Sea region of Turkey were surveyed for the presence of RNA from pestiviruses (bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), border disease virus (BDV)). The presence of BVDV RNA was found in 6 of 21 aborted calves (28.57%), although BDV RNA was detected in 14 of 21 aborted lambs (66.66%) by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. This study also investigates the distribution of viral RNA within the brain, liver and lung of aborted foetuses. The viral RNA positivity rates for the organs varied and were as follows: brain 40.47% and liver and lung 38.09%. The results revealed that pestiviruses are important abort pathogen in the provinces of northern Turkey.

A serological investigation of pestiviruses in sheep in eastern border of Turkey

All pestiviruses are important veterinary pathogens causing economic losses in cattle, sheep, and pigs. In this study, blood samples randomly collected from 465 sheep were analysed for the presence of antibodies to pestiviruses (bovine viral diarrhea virus, border disease virus) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the province of Van and their towns. The seroprevalance were estimated as 75.9% and 60.0-82.5% in the sampled animals and sampled towns, respectively. The results revealed that pestiviruses are important abort pathogens in the province of Van and their towns.

Subsidized Fencing of Livestock as a Means of Increasing Tolerance for Wolves

Studies of how proactive measures to reduce livestock depredation by carnivores affect human tolerance toward carnivores are extremely rare. Nevertheless, substantial amounts of money are spent each year on proactive measures to facilitate large carnivore conservation. The objective of this study was to assess how subsidies for proactive measures to reduce sheep losses to wolves are associated with public attitudes toward wolves. The respondents were 445 people living inside wolf territories in Sweden. Our data set is unique because we combine wolf territory level information regarding proactive subsidies and wolf attacks on dogs and sheep with geographical information of respondents. Consequently, respondents can be assigned to a specific wolf territory. The number of wolf attacks on sheep and dogs in respective territories as well as number of years that wolf territory had existed did not affect human attitudes toward wolves. Subsidies for proactive measures to reduce wolf predation on sheep significantly increased positive attitudes toward wolf presence on local scale. The magnitude of effect of subsidies for proactive measures was comparable to effect of other variables well known to affect human attitudes toward wolves such as age or education. Our data show that subsidies not only made already positive more positive, but also made people with negative attitudes to wolf presence locally, less negative. Our conclusion is, therefore, that subsidies for proactive measures are an effective tool when working with the human dimension of conservation biology.

Replication of a 1970s Study on Domestic Sheep Losses to Predators on Utah's Summer Rangelands

Lamb losses to predation have historically ranged from 4% to 8% in the western United States but most data are over 30 yr old. We repeated a sheep depredation study conducted from 1972 through 1975 on Cedar Mountain, Utah, to determine how predation rates have changed in the last three decades. Pastures and herd sizes were similar (1 730 lambs) between our study (2006 and 2007) and the prior one. Additionally, 40% of the ranchers in our study also participated in the prior study. During 2006 and 2007, 5.8% of all lambs on Cedar Mountain were lost to all causes compared to 9.5% during the 1970s. Predators were responsible for 87% of all verified lamb losses during our study versus 83% during the 1970s. We estimated that 4.9% of all lambs on Cedar Mountain were killed by predators during our study compared to 7.9% during the 1970s. During our study, coyotes (Canis latrans Say) were responsible for 67% of the depredated lambs, cougars (Felis concolor Linnaeus) for 31%, and black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas) for 2%. During the 1970s, coyotes killed 98% of all depredated lambs, cougars killed 2%, and bears killed 0%. In addition to the increase in cougar kills, the other change on Cedar Mountain since the 1970s is that California condors (Gymnogyps californianus Shaw) have begun scavenging lamb carcasses. Our results indicate that increasing populations of cougars, black bears, and condors have complicated the task of protecting lambs from predators.

The gastrointestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis down-regulates immune gene expression in migratory cells in afferent lymph

BackgroundGastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections are the predominant cause of economic losses in sheep. Infections are controlled almost exclusively by the use of anthelmintics which has lead to the selection of drug resistant nematode strains. An alternative control approach would be the induction of protective immunity to these parasites. This study exploits an ovine microarray biased towards immune genes, an artificially induced immunity model and the use of pseudo-afferent lymphatic cannulation to sample immune cells draining from the intestine, to investigate possible mechanisms involved in the development of immunity.ResultsDuring the development of immunity to, and a subsequent challenge infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis, the transcript levels of 2603 genes of cells trafficking in afferent intestinal lymph were significantly modulated (P < 0.05). Of these, 188 genes were modulated more than 1.3-fold and involved in immune function. Overall, there was a clear trend for down-regulation of many genes involved in immune functions including antigen presentation, caveolar-mediated endocytosis and protein ubiquitination. The transcript levels of TNF receptor associated factor 5 (TRAF5), hemopexin (HPX), cysteine dioxygenase (CDO1), the major histocompatability complex Class II protein (HLA-DMA), interleukin-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), ephrin A1 (EFNA1) and selenoprotein S (SELS) were modulated to the greatest degree.ConclusionsThis report describes gene expression profiles of afferent lymph cells in sheep developing immunity to nematode infection. Results presented show a global down-regulation of the expression of immune genes which may be reflective of the natural temporal response to nematode infections in livestock.

Monitoring clinical outcomes, pathological changes and shedding of Chlamydophila abortus following experimental challenge of periparturient ewes utilizing the natural route of infection

Enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) caused by Chlamydophila abortus is an important disease resulting in significant lamb loss in most sheep producing countries. Ewes are considered to be naturally infected with C. abortus via the oral–nasal route and may become persistent carriers, shedding during subsequent oestrous cycles and at lambing. The aim of this study was to monitor the clinical outcomes, pathological changes and shedding of C. abortus in 18 periparturient orally infected sheep for two breeding seasons. In the first season, C. abortus was detected by real-time PCR (rt-PCR) in 13/18 conjunctival swabs at oestrus. Three out of the 15 pregnant ewes gave birth to 1 live and 1 dead lamb, and 2 of them aborted. Following parturition/abortion, C. abortus was detected in 12/15 vaginal swabs and in all the collected foetal membranes. However, only those membranes containing high copy numbers of the bacterium displayed the EAE typical lesions. In the second season, none of the 13 pregnant ewes aborted, and 5 of them gave birth to dead or weak lambs. C. abortus was not detected in conjunctival or vaginal swabs at oestrus or parturition. The bacterium was detected at low levels in 36% of the foetal membranes, but with no evidence of histopathological lesions. These results indicate that C. abortus can be detected in a large proportion of animals during the first pregnancy after oral infection. However, this proportion is reduced at the subsequent breeding season, confirming the occurrence of a chronic low level persistent infection in post-abortion/lambing ewes.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO BIOQUÍMICA E PERFIL DE SENSIBILIDADE AOS ANTIMICROBIANOS DE AGENTES BACTERIANOS ISOLADOS DE MASTITE SUBCLÍNICA OVINA NA REGIÃO OESTE DE SANTA CATARINA

Ovine mastitis is an infectious disease associated to economic losses in dairy and meat sheep. The present study aims to determine the antimicrobial drug patterns of the most frequent etiologic agents of ovine mastitis. We analyzed 163 milk samples using Whiteside test, besides the bacteriological culture in ovine blood agar 5% (AS). From 163 analyzed samples 23.31% and 14.72% were positive and strongly positive, according to the Whiteside test. The most frequent etiologic agents of ovine mastitis isolated in the present study were: Staphylococcus spp. (31.39%), Acinetobacter spp. (10.50%), Enterobacter aerogenes (10.50%), Escherichia coli (8.20%) and Aeromonas spp. (6.70%). The sensitivity patterns to antimicrobial drugs showed high variation. The small sensitivity was observed to novobiocin (10.46%). The higher sensitivity was detected to lyncomicin + streptomicin association (86.02%). In our study we conclude that Staphylococcus spp. are the most frequent bacterial agents envolved in subclinical mastitis in sheep. The association of lyncomicin + streptomicin and josamicin + thrimetoprin were more efficient in vitro sensitivity tests.KEY WORDS: Mastitis, microrganisms, antimicrobial resistance, Whiteside test.

The effects of monensin on amino acid catabolizing bacteria isolated from the Boer goat rumen

When ruminants consume feed, as much as half of the amino acid nitrogen can be lost due to microbial degradation in the rumen. Hyper ammonia-producing bacteria (HAB) are primarily responsible for amino acid loss in sheep and cattle, and ionophores (e.g. monensin) are used to inhibit the HAB. Ionophores are sometimes included in the diets of meat goats, but the effects on caprine HAB have not been investigated. Five amino acid catabolizing bacteria were isolated from the rumina of Boer goats, which were consuming a supplement that contained monensin. Two of the isolates were most closely related to the bovine HAB, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, but the other three were more closely related to Peptoniphilus indolicus. When the isolates were exposed to monensin, intracellular potassium was lost, and ammonia production was inhibited. However, the P. indolicus-like isolates demonstrated a greater capacity to overcome this inhibition in growth experiments. These results indicate that the monensin sensitivity of these bacteria can be variable, even when previous exposure to monensin occurred in the rumen environment.

Koyun ve Sığır Örneklerinden Arcanobacterium pyogenes İzolasyonu ve Polimeraz Zincir Reaksiyonu ile İdentifikasyonu

Summary The aims of this study were to isolate Arcanobaterium pyogenes (A. pyogenes) from cattle and sheep, to identify the isolates by conventional methods, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and to determine antimicrobial susceptibilities. In this study, a total 716 samples was collected from sheep and cattle (liver, milk, broncho alveoler lavage, lung, suppurative tissue, and fluid of joint). All samples were cultured onto blood agar base containing 5% defibrinated sheep blood and plates were incubated at 37oC for 48 h. Total 51 A. pyogenes strains isolated from samples were identified in according to properties of biochemical. Then, PCR analyses were made using specific primers for A. pyogenes. All isolates were also confirmed by PCR. In addition, antimicrobial activities were determined to 16 antimicrobial agents, some of which were used in veterinary medicine. There is emphasized that this bacterium may cause a variety of infections with economically losses in sheep and cattle.

Acute fasciolosis causes losses across England and Wales

Widespread acute fasciolosis causing losses in sheep and camelids Outbreaks of suspected winter dysentery in cattle Mycobacterium bovis infection causing respiratory distress in a calf Increase in cases of ruminal acidosis in lambs caused by poor feed management Salmonellosis in pigs caused by Salmonella Typhimurium PT193 and PT208 These are among matters discussed in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency's (VLA's) disease surveillance report for England and Wales for November 2008

Fluke diseases of UK ruminant livestock Part 1: Life cycles, economic consequences and diagnosis

Parasitic trematodes are well-recognised, worldwide causes of production loss in cattle and sheep. Fasciola hepatica is the most important trematode parasite of UK livestock, although Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Paramphistomum cervi also occur. Over the past decade definite changes have been recorded in the regional prevalence, seasonality and severity of disease caused by fluke infections of UK livestock. In the case of fascioliasis, surveillance data show a particularly high national disease prevalence between 2000 and 2003, and again during the first quarter of 2008, with concurrent spread from traditional fluke areas in western UK to normally drier and fluke-free eastern districts. Fascioliasis is now considered to be endemic throughout the UK. These epidemiological changes have been related to increased rainfall, or localised flooding, prompting debate about deleterious effects of climate change. As a consequence effective management of fluke diseases has become problematic in traditional fluke areas, leading to serious production loss in sheep and cattle, while in eastern districts, disease outbreaks have been unexpected, also resulting in production loss and welfare concern.