Pastoralism Research Articles

Cattle Ranching and Farmer-Herder Conflict in Ghana: Views of Nomadic Herders

Cattle Ranching and Farmer-Herder Conflict in Ghana: Views of Nomadic Herders

Prevalence and occupational exposure to zoonotic diseases in high-risk populations in the Free State Province, South Africa.

Zoonotic diseases are responsible for 2.5 billion human cases globally and approximately 2.7 million deaths annually. Surveillance of animal handlers and livestock for zoonotic pathogens contributes to understanding the true disease burden and risk factors within a community. This study investigated the prevalence of selected zoonoses in cattle, farm workers and occupational exposure to endemic zoonotic diseases and their associated risk factors. Sputum samples from farmworkers were screened for Mycobacterium bovis. Blood specimens from farmworkers and archived sera were tested for serological evidence of Brucella sp., hantaviruses, and Leptospira sp. Communal and commercial cattle herds were tested for bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis. Mycobacterium bovis was not isolated from human samples. A total of 327 human sera were screened, and 35/327 (10.7%) were Brucella sp. IgG positive, 17/327 (5.2%) Leptospira sp. IgM positive, and 38/327 (11.6%) hantavirus IgG positive (95% CI). A higher proportion of Brucella sp. IgG-positive samples were detected among veterinarians (value of p = 0.0006). Additionally, two cattle from a commercial dairy farm were bovine tuberculosis (bTB) positive using the bTB skin test and confirmatory interferon-gamma assay. A higher percentage of confirmed brucellosis-positive animals were from communal herds (8.7%) compared to commercial herds (1.1%). These findings highlight the brucellosis and M. bovis prevalence in commercial and communal herds, the zoonotic disease risk in commercial and subsistence farming in developing countries, and the occupational and rural exposure risk to zoonotic pathogens.

An optimal approach for supply and demand management with the consideration of cattle herd structure management: A case study of medium-size dairy cooperative in Thailand

Thailand is one of the countries with the economy depends primarily on an agriculture sector. As a result of the government campaign, the country's milk consumption has been continually increasing. Cow milk is produced by farmers of private organizations and dairy cooperatives. A medium-sized dairy cooperative with only a pasteurization plant is in the interest of this study, with the majority of farmer members being smallholders. According to the preliminary study, one of the primary issues is a lack of systematic management of the total cattle herd structure, which results in either an overabundance or a shortage of milk. This research proposes a novel way to supply management that is responsive to the demand for products at any given time, as well as a simplified herd structure management, by resolving the problem in a medium-sized dairy cooperative in Thailand using Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP). Based on historical cooperative data and secondary technical farming data, the experimental results of Lingo19 demonstrated that a focused dairy cooperative can increase its total profit and improve the systematic relationship between supply and demand by maintaining the optimal cooperative herd structure.

Herd and animal level seroprevalence and associated risk factors of bovine brucellosis in different agro-ecologies of southwest Ethiopia

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection that commonly affects cattle in Ethiopia, causing significant negative economic impact. A cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2020 and November 2021 in southwest Ethiopia to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis and its associated risk factors in cattle herds. Blood samples were taken from 461 randomly selected cattle to test for the presence of Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate test, with positive serum confirmed through the complement fixation test. A multivariable random effect logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential risk factors for Brucella seropositivity. The study found 7.14% (95% CI: 4.44–9.01) seroprevalence at the animal level and 12.23% (95% CI: 6.52–16.05) at the herd level based on the complement fixation test. Age (OR = 6.9, 95%CI: 1.83–15.97), herd size (OR = 3.66, 95%CI: 1.39–9.61), introducing new animals (OR = 2.72, 95%CI: 1.17–6.29), management system (OR = 12.2, 95%CI: 1.53–26.80), species composition (OR = 4.24, 95%CI: 1.51–11.91), and abortion (OR = 7.1, 95%CI: 1.93–15.39) were found to be associated with Brucella seropositivity. The analysis also revealed two risk factors for Brucella infection at the herd level, including herd size (OR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.05–10.68) and species composition (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.20–7.88). The presence of Brucella antibodies in cattle highlights the need for increased awareness and measures to mitigate the identified risk factors of the disease to prevent its spread. Furthermore, further studies are necessary to investigate the zoonotic transmission of brucellosis to humans and its role in cattle reproduction disorders in the study area.

Development of cattle breeding in crisis conditions

The article examines the current state and development trends of the cattle breeding industry in crisis conditions. The importance of the livestock industry, both for ensuring the food security of the country and for the development of rural areas from the point of view of ensuring the employment of the rural population and obtaining basic food products and income, is substantiated. However, during the period of market transformations, in the conditions of COVID-19 and the full-scale war started by russia, the livestock industry of Ukraine has undergone significant changes and lost a significant part of its resource potential. The dynamics of the cattle population, the volumes of milk and beef and veal production were analyzed. Significant structural changes in cattle herds were revealed depending on the categories of commodity producers. It has been proven that the main producers of livestock products have become households, which provide about 70 % of production volumes. The global COVID-19 pandemic also had a negative impact on the functioning of the livestock industry. The main participants in the supply chain of milk, beef and veal, primarily small producers and processors, faced many problems that limited their work. In particular, difficulties with the movement of milk and livestock in supply chains, lower prices for milk, beef and veal, a shortage of workers, increased production costs due to the introduction of safety measures. It has been established that a full-scale war of a terrorist country causes critical consequences both for Ukraine and for the livestock industry. Devastation, destruction, occupation of farms and cattle, destruction of fodder, fodder stocks and damage to logistics have reduced the supply of milk and beef in the country. It is substantiated that the further functioning of the industry and its efficiency directly depend on the government's policy and the motivational mechanism. In the conditions of a full-scale war, which has already been going on for over a year, the lion's share of financial resources is directed to military needs, therefore it econommeneg.btsau.edu.ua is not advisable to count on known state support. However, the Government of the country, within the limits of available resources and attracting foreign investments, continues active work to support dairy producers. It is argued that the concentration of production, including on the basis of cooperation of producers; improvement of fodder base and breeding; modernization of material and technical support; investment support from both state and international institutions. It is substantiated that the solution of existing problems in the industry will be facilitated by interaction and coordination of the interests of producers, processing enterprises and the state. Key words: cattle breeding, milk production, beef and veal, market transformations, COVID-19, fullscale war.

Advancements in Dairy Cattle Disease Prevention and Herd Health Management .

Advancements in Dairy Cattle Disease Prevention and Herd Health Management .

Multibreed genomic prediction using summary statistics and a breed-origin-of-alleles approach

Because of an increasing interest in crossbreeding between dairy breeds in dairy cattle herds, farmers are requesting breeding values for crossbred animals. However, genomically enhanced breeding values are difficult to predict in crossbred populations because the genetic make-up of crossbred individuals is unlikely to follow the same pattern as for purebreds. Furthermore, sharing genotype and phenotype information between breed populations are not always possible, which means that genetic merit (GM) for crossbred animals may be predicted without the information needed from some pure breeds, resulting in low prediction accuracy. This simulation study investigated the consequences of using summary statistics from single-breed genomic predictions for some or all pure breeds in two- and three-breed rotational crosses, rather than their raw data. A genomic prediction model taking into account the breed-origin of alleles (BOA) was considered. Because of a high genomic correlation between the breeds simulated (0.62–0.87), the prediction accuracies using the BOA approach were similar to a joint model, assuming homogeneous SNP effects for these breeds. Having a reference population with summary statistics available from all pure breeds and full phenotype and genotype information from crossbreds yielded almost as high prediction accuracies (0.720–0.768) as having a reference population with full information from all pure breeds and crossbreds (0.753–0.789). Lacking information from the pure breeds yielded much lower prediction accuracies (0.590–0.676). Furthermore, including crossbred animals in a combined reference population also benefitted prediction accuracies in the purebred animals, especially for the smallest breed population.

The Unnamed Plateau (Western Desert of Egypt). New geological and geoarchaeological data from an exploration in a remote area

The Unnamed Plateau is a low plateau in the Western Desert of Egypt close to the Libyan border, about halfway between the Gilf Kebir to the north and Jebel Uweinat to the south. It is little known and seldom visited. In the past, we have conducted three field surveys in order to assess its geomorphic features and the human presence in the Holocene. During our explorations we have found a Paleozoic fossil plant, which allows to ascribe the sedimentary cover to the late Paleozoic (as in the Geologic Map of Egypt, 1981), not Mesozoic, as indicated in the 1987 Geologic Map. We could retrace and walk an ancient mountain path connecting the two slopes of the Plateau and leading to a fossil lake. The area was visited by hunters-gatherers and perhaps the first nomadic herders moving north-south, until the mid-IV Millennium BC, when the final desiccation of the Eastern Sahara pushed them out definitely.

Relationship between ambient temperature at sampling and the interferon gamma test result for bovine tuberculosis in cattle

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a disease of significant economic and zoonotic importance, therefore, optimising tests for the identification of Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle is essential. The Interferon Gamma (IFN-γ) Release Assay (IGRA) can diagnose M. bovis infected cattle at an early stage, is easy to perform and can be used alongside skin tests for confirmatory purposes or to increase diagnostic sensitivity. It is known that IGRA performance is sensitive to environmental conditions under which samples are taken and transported. In this study, the association between the ambient temperature on the day of bleeding and the subsequent IGRA result for bTB was quantified using field samples from Northern Ireland (NI). Results of 106,434 IGRA results (2013–2018) were associated with temperature data extracted from weather stations near tested cattle herds. Model dependent variables were the levels of IFN-γ triggered by avian purified protein derivative (PPDa), M. bovis PPD (PPDb), their difference (PPD(b-a)) as well as the final binary outcome (positive or negative for M. bovis infection). IFN-γ levels after both PPDa and PPDb stimulation were lowest at the extremes of the temperature distribution for NI. The highest IGRA positive probability (above 6%) was found on days with moderate maximum temperatures (6–16 °C) or moderate minimum temperatures (4–7 °C). Adjustment for covariates did not lead to major changes in the model estimates. These data suggest that IGRA performance can be affected when samples are taken at high or low temperatures. Whilst it is difficult to exclude physiological factors, the data nonetheless supports the temperature control of samples from bleeding through to laboratory to help mitigate post-collection confounders.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis in Different Environmental Samples from a Dairy Goat Barn-Implications for Sampling Strategies for Paratuberculosis Diagnostic and Prevention.

Environmental samples are often used to classify the paratuberculosis status of cattle herds. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), predominantly through oral ingestion during infancy. In this explorative study, the presence of MAP was determined in the barn environment of a paratuberculosis-infected vaccinated dairy goat herd. A total of 256 bedding, dust, feed, and water samples were collected at eight time points and examined using culture and qPCR. Detection rates of both methods were compared, and factors determining MAP confirmation were identified. MAP was cultured from 28 bedding and one dust sample, while MAP DNA was detected in all materials (117/256). Samples from high animal traffic areas and those collected during the indoor season were more likely to yield positive culture and qPCR results. Cultivation of MAP from kidding pens indicated this area as a possible infection site. Dust proved to be the most suitable material for detecting MAP DNA, as bedding was for MAP culture. Environmental sampling was demonstrated to be an effective way to detect MAP in a dairy goat herd. qPCR results could confirm herd infection, while culture results provided insight into crucial areas for MAP transmission. These findings should be considered when designing farm-specific paratuberculosis control plans.

Сучасне аерозольне обладнання для захисту великої рогатої худоби від гнусу та кліщів

Goal. To test modern aerosol equipment for individual and group treatment of cattle with insect-acaricides in the grazing period, and to analyze its technical characteristics. Methods. Information-bibliographic, parasitological, field, analytical. Results. Among the devices and instruments for individual treatment of cattle, mechanical hand-operated sprayers such as the “Rosynka” and its analog “Kvazar” with a capacity of 0.5 and 1 l had proved themselves well. This category also included hand-operated sprayers of “Dezinfal” type with a capacity of 2-3 liters, such as “Flo” and “Marolex”. For treatment of small groups of animals (about 50) during the grazing period, it is advisable to use mechanical shoulder sprayers of “Automax” type with a capacity of 5–2 liters, in particular, “Quartz Profi”, “Orion”, “Gardena”, and backpack ones of type “Tremas” with a capacity of 12-6 liters — “Lemira”, “Neptun Spray”, “Aqua Spray”. A larger number of animals (over 100) should be treated with electric sprayers of the battery type, for example, “Solo”, “Hyundai”, “Gerard”. The most suitable for treating a large grazing herd (more than 200) are motorized backpack sprayers of “Micronizer” type with a capacity of 12-14 liters - “Shtil”, “Solo Master”, “Oleo-Mak”. The lack of widespread use on pastures of aerosol generators with a capacity of 5–9 liters, in particular, “Longray”, “Stiff”, “Vectorfog”, “Pulsfog”, is caused by several technical difficulties. Conclusions. For individual treatment of cattle with insect-acaricides, it is recommended to use mechanical hand-operated sprayers of “Rosynka” and “Dezinfal” types. For the treatment of small groups of animals during the grazing period, it is advisable to use mechanical shoulder sprayers of “Avtomax” type and backpack ones of “Tremas” type, allowing them to pump without removing it from the shoulders. It is convenient to treat a larger number of animals with battery-type electric sprayers, which, unlike mechanical models, do not require much effort during operation. Motor backpack sprayers of “Micronizer” type, distinguished by lightness, compactness, and high productivity, are considered to be the most suitable for treating a large herd of cattle on pasture. Aerosol generators did not prove themselves to be promising for wide use on pastures.

Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Bovine Kobuvirus (BKV) in Diarrhoeic Calves in a Central Italy Herd

Bovine kobuvirus (BKV) is an infectious agent associated with neonatal calf diarrhoea (NCD), causing important economic losses to dairy and beef cattle herds worldwide. Here, we present the detection rate and characterize the genome of BKV isolated from diarrhoeic calves from a Central Italy herd. From January to December 2021, we collected blood samples and nasal and rectal swabs from 66 calves with severe NCD between 3 and 20 days of age. After virological (bovine coronavirus, bovine viral diarrhoea virus, and bovine rotavirus), bacteriological (Escherichia coli spp. and Salmonella spp.), and parasitological (Cryptosporidium spp., Eimeria spp., and Giardia duodenalis) investigations, we detected BKV using the metagenomic analysis. This result was confirmed using a specific polymerase chain reaction assay that revealed the number of BKV-positive nasal (24.2%) and rectal swabs (31.8%). The prevalence of BKV was higher than that of BCoV. Coinfection with BKV and BCoV was detected in 7.5% of the rectal swabs, highlighting the involvement of another infectious agent in NCD. Using next generation sequencing (NGS) approach, it was possible to obtain the complete sequence of the BKV genome from other two rectal swabs previously analysed by real-time PCR. This is the first report describing the whole genome sequence (WGS) of BKV from Italy. The Italian BKV genomes showed the highest nucleotide sequence identity with BKV KY407744.1, identified in Egypt in 2014. The sequence encoding VP1 best matched that of BKV KY024562, identified in Scotland in 2013. Considering the small number of BKV WGSs available in public databases, further studies are urgently required to assess the whole genome constellation of circulating BKV strains. Furthermore, pathogenicity studies should be conducted by inoculating calves with either only BKV or a combination with other enteric pathogens for understanding the probable role of BKV in NCD.

Animal Husbandry in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park: An Economic-Structural Analysis for the Protection and Enhancement of the Territory and Local Resources

This research seeks to deepen the current economic and structural aspects of the livestock farms in the rural territory “Casacastra” (Cilento area), to identify critical issues and development opportunities with the intention to enhance and protect the territory under study also through strengthening forms of local economy. Information about the consistency and the typology of livestock farms present in the study area, and the trend in the last twelve years, were acquired thought the consultation of the national livestock register of the Italian Ministry of Health. Subsequently, a questionnaire was submitted to a sample of farmers to better know the characteristics of the breeders and of the husbandries. The results showed that in the study area, there are 4% of the cattle and sheep herds of the Campania Region, and 7% of those with goats. The most representative farm size is the class with less than 20 animals per breeding type, and between 2010 and 2022, there has been a reduction in the number of all types of analyzed husbandries. The most represented productive orientation is that for meat, while the specialization in the production of milk in sheep and goat breeding is completely absent. The interviews revealed that the breeders are almost all over 40 years of age, with middle and high school qualifications and consolidated experience. The workforce involved in the farms is mainly the family one and often breeders are people engaged in other non-agricultural activities. Despite the permanence in some cases of archaic husbandry methods, the breeders play a key role in the study area for the protection of the territory, and the conservation and enhancement of local animal and plant genetic resources are at risk of extinction. Moreover, the survival of this rural context is linked to the development of new forms of local economy, such as the definition of an experiential rural tourist offer, in which the presence of institutions plays a fundamental role.

Helminth Control as a Part of Animal Welfare Measure Protocol in Grazing Cattle in Slovenia

The national regulation on animal welfare measure under the Rural Development Programme 2014–2022 identified grazing and helminth control as important measures to improve the welfare of cattle in Slovenia. The aim of the study was to evaluate these measures in terms of improving animal welfare and helminth control. Compositional fecal samples for coprological analysis were collected in the region of central Slovenia. Samples were qualitatively analysed for the presence of endoparasites using the flotation and sedimentation methods. During a seven-year period, 4480 compositional fecal samples were collected from cattle herds in the central Slovenia. In all seven years, the most prevalent helminths at the cattle herd level were Strongylida (ranging from 45.49% to 74.22%) and Paramphistomum sp. (ranging from 21.12% to 28.46%). After the treatments against helminths in grazing cattle, the prevalence of positive herds decreased from 83.63% to 63.64%. The calculated cross-correlation values showed significant positive association of the percentage of helminth-positive cattle herds with the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica (0.975), Nematodirus sp. (0.859), Strongylida (0.986), Strongyloides sp. (0.879) and Trichuris sp. (0.835). Hence, the efficient helminth control and improved animal welfare, as well as financial support of 53.40 EUR per livestock unit, contributed to a positive outcome of the programme.

Cattle fetal sex determination using cell-free fetal DNA from maternal blood in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) from fetal calves was isolated in the bovine maternal plasma in the fifth week of pregnancy, accounting for around 10% of the total. Recently, cffDNA has been used as a non-invasive prenatal screening technique for aneuploidy, genetic disorders in humans, early pregnancy diagnosis, and animal fetal sex determination. This study's objective was to identify the presence of cffDNA in the blood of 13 dairy cows (11 pregnant, 2 non-pregnant, and 1 unmarred) gathered from farms in Can Tho, the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Plasma / Serum cfc-DNA Purification Midi Kit (Product # 55600) was used to separate cffDNA. Two PCR-designed primers named SRY-137 and GAPDH-109 were employed to amplify the Y-chromosome-specific sequences SRY and the housekeeping gene GAPDH, respectively. The fetal sex was indicated by PCR data corresponding to the calf's sex at birth in 11 cases. The study's findings first proved the existence of cell-free fetal DNA circulating in the plasma of a pregnant cow in Vietnam and established the calf's sex using simple, high-precision procedures. The use of cffDNA for sex screening brings up the possibility of quickly determining the gender and screening for genetic diseases in a big herd of cattle and animals with long gestation periods.

Do husbandry practices reduce depredation of free-ranging livestock? A case study with wolves in Greece

Livestock depredation is the primary driver of wolf-human conflict worldwide, threatening wolf conservation and impacting human livelihoods. Most countries implement relevant compensation programs, which are however rarely accompanied by proactive husbandry practices vetted with scientific research. We investigated the influence of husbandry practices on wolf depredation losses for 70 sheep/goat and 68 cattle herds with quantitative modeling of data from semi-structured interviews of livestock farmers along a livestock damage gradient in NW Greece. Sheep/goat herds were better protected than cattle herds in seven preventive measures and annual losses of sheep/goat livestock units were three times lower than losses of cattle livestock units in our study area. Furthermore, according to national compensation data from Greece, costs paid for cattle have doubled in recent years, whereas they have been cut in half for sheep/goats. Our modeling identified three core preventive measures that significantly reduced wolf depredation risk for both herd types, namely increased shepherd surveillance, systematic night confinement, and an adequate number of livestock guardian dogs (optimal ratio was 3 Greek guardian dogs per 100 sheep/goats and 7 guardian dogs per 100 cattle). Keeping young livestock in enclosures and not abandoning livestock carcasses in pastures were additional effective preventive measures for cattle herds. Our study provides evidence to inform the subsidizing policy put forth in the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. It can also serve to inform or revise wildlife-livestock conflict mitigation policy in countries challenged with the competing goals of conserving large carnivores while maintaining traditional grazing regimes.

Case report on an outbreak of theileriosis in a dairy herd: Could it be a co-infection of a virulent strain of Theileria mutans with Theileria parva?

This case report aimed to alert veterinarians of the possibility of simultaneous infections with more than one Theileria species in cattle herds in Zimbabwe. Cows (N=7) and a postmortem specimen from a dairy farm located in Chivhu, Mashonaland East province, Zimbabwe were presented for clinical and postmortem examination, respectively. On history taking, the herd had a decrease in milk yield and high cow mortalities. The presented live animals had a heavy tick burden and were febrile and lethargic. Post-mortem findings revealed strong evidence suggestive of theileriosis. Theileria schizonts and piroplasms were identified in stained lymph node aspirate, impression, and blood smears. The herd was managed using tetracyclines and buparvaquone together with an intensive dipping protocol until deaths had stopped. Both the clinical and postmortem findings were strongly suggestive of the possibility of a simultaneous infection with more than one Theileria species in this herd. Thus, these finding highlight the need to characterise the Theileria species profile in Zimbabwe.

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of lameness and digital dermatitis in dairy cattle herds in Egypt

BackgroundLameness is a significant problem for the dairy industry worldwide. No previous studies have evaluated the prevalence of lameness or digital dermatitis (DD) in dairy cattle herds in Egypt. A total of 16,098 dairy cows from 55 dairy herds in 11 Egyptian governorates underwent visual locomotion scoring using a 4-point scoring system. Cows that had a lameness score ≥ 2 were considered clinically lame. Following manure removal with water and using a flashlight, the cows’ hind feet were examined in the milking parlour to identify DD lesions and classify with M-score. Furthermore, each cow was assigned a hock score (a 3-point scale) and a hygiene score (a 4-point scale). The cow-, within-and between-herd prevalence of lameness and DD and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The prevalence of hock lesions and poor cow hygiene was also calculated.ResultsOf the examined cows, 6,883 were found to be clinically lame (42.8%, 95% CI = 42.0–43.5%). The average within-herd prevalence of lameness was 43.1% (95% CI = 35.9–50.3%). None of the dairy herds recruited into the study were found to be free from clinical lameness. The average within-herd prevalence of DD was 6.4% (95% CI = 4.9–8.0%). The herd-level prevalence of DD was 92.7% (95% CI = 85.9–99.6%). Active DD lesions (M1, M2, M4.1) were identified in 464 cows (2.9%) while inactive lesions (M3, M4) were identified in 559 cows (3.5%). The within-herd prevalence of hock lesions (score 2 or 3) was 12.6% (95% CI = 4.03–21.1%) while a severe hock lesion had within-herd prevalence of 0.31% (95% CI = 0.12–0.51%). Cow-level prevalence of hock lesions was 6.2% (n = 847, 95% CI = 5.8–6.2%). The majority of examined cows had a hygiene score of 4 (n = 10,814, prevalence = 70.3%, 95% CI = 69.5–71%).ConclusionsThe prevalence of lameness was higher than prevalence estimates reported for other countries which could be due to differing management and/or environmental factors. DD was identified at lower prevalence in most herds but with high herd-level prevalence. Poor cow hygiene was notable in most herds. Measures to reduce the prevalence of lameness and to improve cow hygiene in dairy cattle herds in Egypt are therefore needed.

4 Survey of Mycoplasma Wenyonii Infection in a Texas Beef Cattle Herd

Abstract Mycoplasma wenyonii is hemotrophic bacteria known to cause mild anemia, localized edema, and pyrexia in infected cattle. It has been previously detected in cattle herds across the world, including United States beef herd. Mode of transmission, prevalence, and a full profile of symptoms associated with this species of bacteria have not been established. This case study aimed to elucidate the percentage of infected cattle in a local Erath County beef herd and determine which groups of cattle may have the greatest infection rates. Groups were determined based on sex and age, bull, cow, or unsexed calf. Blood was collected from 4 bulls, 61 cows, and 55 calves from the same producer on the same day. A blood extraction kit that utilized spin column-based nucleic acid purification was used to extract DNA from blood samples. Primers were constructed to be highly specific to the m. wenyonii sequence to avoid confusion with other common mycoplasma species. Extracted m. weyonii DNA was quantified using qPCR. Melt curve analysis was performed to verify the amplicon product size. Standard deviation of the melting point was calculated and selection was made within 2 standard deviations of the control. Animals with any detectable amount of m. wenyonii DNA present in their blood were considered positive for infection for the purposes of this case study. This survey yielded positive results for 2 of the 4 bulls, 19 of the 61 cows, and 0 calves. The lack of positive samples in the calf population suggests that the placenta functions as a barrier to infection. This study provides perspective on the prevalence of this microorganism in Texas cattle populations and serves as a basis for future studies. More investigation is needed to better understand the impact of this bacterial infection on Texas beef cattle producers.

106 Serial Evaluation ofA. Marginale Positivity Rate Within a Single Herd of Mature Beef Cows

Abstract Anaplasmosis is an economically devastating disease in cattle that is caused by the rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma marginale. Infected cattle can serve as biological reservoirs for the organism, thus enabling further transmission of the disease to naive individuals via ticks, biting flies and contaminated needles. It is estimated that this disease causes over $300 million in expenses for the U.S. cattle industry annually. As a result, a better understanding of this disease and its prevalence is needed. As part of an ongoing collaborative effort between the University of Arkansas and the Kansas State University (KSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, general surveillance testing of beef cattle herds in Washington county, Arkansas previously indicated a possible 30% positivity rate for A. marginale in 2019. The objective of this study was to utilize both quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) tests to determine the whole-herd prevalence of A. marginale within the University of Arkansas Washington county research herd. In the fall of 2020, the entire fall-calving herd (168, apparently healthy, mature beef cows) was sampled and tested. Both whole blood and serum samples were collected from each animal. qPCR testing was completed on each whole blood sample submitted at the KSU College of Veterinary Medicine, while cELISA testing was completed on each serum sample by the University of Arkansas. Of the68 cows tested, 20 cows tested seropositive, with a % Inhibition of 30 or above (mean = 45%). Confirmatory qPCR testing on all seropositive samples, however, indicated that all cows were negative for active infection with A. marginale. Subsequently, in the spring of 2022, all available cows that had previously tested seropositive for A. marginale were retested using the same protocol as previously described, except that all qPCR testing was completed by University of Arkansas Veterinary Entomology Lab. Of the 17 mature cows still in inventory, that had previously tested seropositive for A. marginale, only 7 were still seropositive with a % inhibition of 30 or above (mean = 39%). However, confirmatory qPCR testing on all 7 seropositive samples indicated that all cows were negative for active infections with A. marginale. Because of its lower cost, compared with qPCR testing, ELISA testing is commonly recommended to and utilized by producers and veterinarians as a first-line diagnostic for individual and herd health evaluation and management. Information gathered by this study indicates that cELISA testing alone may not provide an accurate depiction of actual infection rates within a herd, and that further investigation into possible causes of false positivity are required. As part of this study, additional assays investigating the specificity of the commercial Anaplasmosis cELISA and possible cross-reaction with other endemic rickettsial pathogens will be performed.