Ruminant Population Research Articles

Prediction of Bioethanol from Production of Lignocellulosic Biomass Waste from Agriculture and Livestock Using Regression Analysis Model

Background Every year, the food supply must need to increase to accommodate population growth and food consumption increases. It causes the production of lignocellulosic biomass waste (LBW) in Indonesia from sector of agriculture and livestock also increase. Contrast to energy supply, energy demand increases but energy supply from fossil fuel become limit. More than 80% of LBW is dumped or burned, whereas the LBW has the potential as raw material of sustainable bioenergy, especially bioethanol to replace or mix with fossil fuel. This study aimed to predict the bioethanol production from potential of LBW to optimize its utilization. Potential of LBW production is estimated based on production of LBW lignocellulose component (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). The novelty of this study is obtained predicted values for bioethanol production based on LBW production using a regression analysis model. Methods The data of LBW production is calculated based on converting waste of the crops production (for agriculture sector) and animal unit (AU) (for livestock sector). The data of LBW consist of rice straw, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, cassava peel, paunch content, and feces. This study use linear regression analysis model to predict bioethanol production from LBW. Results Estimation average LBW lignocellulose production in Indonesia is around 104.47 million tons, and can produce around 59.98 billion gallons (227.01 billion liters) of bioethanol. The regression model based on lignocellulose production (R2) was 0.9925 (cellulose), 0.9848 (hemicellulose), and 0.9294 (lignin). Production of LBW in Indonesia is highest in Southeast Asia and has increased 2.07% per year because crops production, ruminant population, and ruminants slaughtered increase. This value will continue to increase, same with bioethanol production from LBW production. Conclusions Overall, Indonesia has potential to produce bioethanol from LBW. Using the entire the LBW for bioethanol make it possible to meet domestic energy demands in a sustainable.

Prediction of the Potential Host of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus by the Least Common Amino Acid Pattern in SLAM Receptor

Peste-des-Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV) causes a highly contagious and severe infectious disease known as Peste-des-Petits Ruminants (PPR), resulting in significant mortality in both domestic and wild ruminants. An in-depth understanding of the molecular relationship between PPRV and susceptible hosts is essential for the prevention of PPR. The signaling lymphocytic-activation molecule (SLAM) acts as a key receptor in susceptible host species, mediating interactions with PPRV and triggering PPR in ruminants. This study offers an in-depth analysis of PPRV-susceptible host species as well as the identified SLAM amino acid sequences to date. Investigation reveals that nine families—Bovidae, Camelidae, Cervidae, Elephantidae, Suidae, Felidae, Canidae, Muridae, and Ceratopogonidae—have been affected by PPRV infection. Furthermore, a bioinformatics-based approach was proposed to screen the least common amino acid patterns (LCAP) in important SLAM receptor regions of known PPRV-susceptible species. Research findings reveal that 14 least common amino acid sites (LCAS) in SLAM amino acid sequences (I61, I63, S60, S70, K76, K78, I79, S81, L82, E123, N125, S127, V128, and F131) exhibit a prevalent similarity to LCAP across all known susceptible species. Comparative analysis of these 14 LCAP with SLAM nucleotide sequences from unknown susceptible ruminants to identify species at heightened risk of PPRV. In the result, 48 species from 20 different families across six orders were at potential risk of being infected with PPRV. This exploration suggests the feasibility of assessing potential hosts at high risk of PPRV infection through the LCAS screening technique. Moreover, it offers a means to anticipate and issue warnings regarding the likelihood of interspecies transmission. In conclusion, this study integrates molecular biology and bioinformatics, shedding light on PPRV infection dynamics and paving the way for predictive strategies to prevent the spread of this devastating disease among ruminant populations.

Emergence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in red deer (Cervus elaphus), Spain, 2022

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) virus serotype 8 (EHDV-8) emerged in Spain in autumn 2022. In this study, we aimed to (1) characterize the clinical and lesional presentation of EHDV infection in European red deer (Cervus elaphus), and (2) study the spatial spread of the virus in wild ruminants in Spain after its introduction, in 2022/2023. We confirmed EHDV infection in two clinically compatible sick red deer by PCR and detection of anti-EHDV specific antibodies. EHDV infection occurred in red deer with hyperacute to acute clinical signs and lesions associated to vascular changes leading to death of the animals. Partial sequences of variable segment 2 (VP2) and segment 5 (NS1) genes of the detected viruses had >99% nucleotide identity with EHDV-8 sequences from Tunisia and Italy. In a cross-sectional serological study of EHDV in 592 wild ruminants, mainly red deer (n=578), in southwestern Spain, we detected anti-EHDV antibodies in 37 of 592 samples (6.3%; 95% confidence interval: 4.3–8.2), all from red deer and from the localities where clinical cases of EHD were confirmed in red deer. We conclude that EHDV-8 infection causes severe EHD in European red deer. The serosurvey revealed a limited spread of EHDV-8 in Spanish wild ruminant populations in the first year of virus detection in Spain.

Post-Vaccination Sero-Monitoring of Peste des Petits Ruminants in Sheep and Goats in Karnataka: Progress towards PPR Eradication in India.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) presents economic challenges in enzootic countries impacting small ruminant productivity. The state of Karnataka, India, implemented a mass vaccination campaign in alignment with the PPR-Global Eradication Programme (GEP) and the National Strategic Plan for PPR eradication. This study was conducted from January to March 2023 to assess seroconversion in post-vaccinated goats and sheep at the epidemiological unit (epi-unit) level, aligning with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines in the PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy (GCES). Before vaccination, 3466 random serum samples were collected from small ruminants of three age groups (6-12 months, 1-2 years, and >2 years) across 116 epi-units, spanning 82 taluks in 28 districts. Post-vaccination sero-monitoring included 1102 serum samples collected from small ruminants of the 6-12-month age group only, across 111 epi-units covering 64 taluks in 23 districts. The PPRV antibody status was determined using an indigenous hemagglutinin (H) protein monoclonal antibody-based competitive ELISA kit. Pre-vaccination, the PPR seropositivity rates were 55%, 62%, and 66% in the age groups of 6-12 months, 1-2 years, and >2 years, respectively, with a 61% PPRV antibody prevalence across all the age groups. Notably, 41% of the epi-units exhibited antibody prevalence rates of ≥70%, indicating a substantial population immunity, possibly attributed to the previous vaccination program in the state since 2011. In contrast, only 17% of the epi-units had below 30% seroprevalence rates, emphasizing the need for intensified vaccination. Statistical analysis of the data revealed significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the presence of PPRV antibodies and host factors such as species, breed, and sex. Post-vaccination seroprevalence in the 6-12 months age group was found to be 73.4%, indicating the use of an efficacious vaccine. On the evaluation of vaccination immunity in the 6-12 months age group, it was revealed that over 69% of the epi-units achieved a response surpassing ≥70%, indicating a significant improvement from 42% of the epi-units in pre-vaccination. For active PPR eradication, a mass vaccination campaign (>95% coverage) targeting small ruminant populations aged >4 months is advocated, aiming to achieve the desired herd immunity of >80%. This study offers crucial insights into PPR baseline seroprevalence/immunity status and vaccine efficacy, guiding national strategies towards a PPR-free India and further supporting the global eradication initiative.

Prediction of Bioethanol from Production of Lignocellulosic Biomass Waste from Agriculture and Livestock Using Regression Analysis Model

Background Every year, the food supply must need to increase to accommodate population growth and food consumption increases. It causes the production of lignocellulosic biomass waste (LBW) in Indonesia from sector of agriculture and livestock also increase. Contrast to energy supply, energy demand increases but energy supply from fossil fuel become limit. More than 80% of LBW is dumped or burned, whereas the LBW has the potential as raw material of sustainable bioenergy, especially bioethanol to replace or mix with fossil fuel. This study aimed to predict the bioethanol production from potential of LBW to optimize its utilization. Potential of LBW production is estimated based on production of LBW lignocellulose component (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). The novelty of this study is obtained predicted values for bioethanol production based on LBW production using a regression analysis model. Methods The data of LBW production is calculated based on converting waste of the crops production (for agriculture sector) and animal unit (AU) (for livestock sector). The data of LBW consist of rice straw, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, cassava peel, paunch content, and feces. This study use linear regression analysis model to predict bioethanol production from LBW. Results Estimation average LBW lignocellulose production in Indonesia is around 104.47 million tons, and can produce around 59.98 billion gallons (227.01 billion liters) of bioethanol. The regression model based on lignocellulose production (R2) was 0.9925 (cellulose), 0.9848 (hemicellulose), and 0.9294 (lignin). Production of LBW in Indonesia is highest in Southeast Asia and has increased 2.07% per year because crops production, ruminant population, and ruminants slaughtered increase. This value will continue to increase, same with bioethanol production from LBW production. Conclusions Overall, Indonesia has potential to produce bioethanol from LBW. Using the entire the LBW for bioethanol make it possible to meet domestic energy demands in a sustainable.

Equine brucellosis in Iran: serological, bacteriological and molecular analysis.

Equine brucellosis significantly impacts the health and functionality of horses, leading to complications such as bursitis infection, septic tenosynovitis, septic arthritis, and non-specific lameness resulting from joint infections. In the present study, we used the Rose Bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT), serum agglutination test (SAT), and the 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) assays to find equine brucellosis. From June 2018 to September 2022, 876 blood samples were randomly taken from apparently healthy racing horses in certain parts of Iran, such as Kerman, Isfahan, Tehran, Qom, and Kurdistan. DNA extraction was carried out directly on all 63 serum samples identified as seropositive through RBPT. An additional 30 seronegative serum samples were also randomly chosen for study. Bacterial culture was also done on milk, blood, and vaginal swabs taken from seropositive horses.The bacteria that were found in the samples were then put through Bruce-ladder PCR. Our results indicated that 63 (7.1%), 21 (2.3%), and 2 (0.2%) of horses were seropositive using RBPT, SAT, and 2-ME, respectively. Also, none of the 30 DNA-extracted serum samples from seronegative horses tested positive for Brucella DNA, while 44.5% (28/63) of the DNA samples from seropositive horses yielded positive results for Brucella DNA. Out of the seropositive samples, 26 had DNA from Brucella abortus and 2 had DNA from Brucella melitensis. Also, B. melitensis biovar 1 was found in two milk samples from mares in the provinces of Kerman and Isfahan. It was identified using classical biotyping, and molecular assays. It was seen that some of healthy racing horses in some parts of Iran had antibodies against Brucella. The bacteriology and PCR methodologies provide a more comprehensive and reliable means of identifying Brucella spp. infections in horse, especially when the RBPT test came back positive. This underscores the imperative for employing molecular, bacterial, and serological methods in the diagnosis and monitoring of this zoonotic infection. Additionally, this finding suggests that Brucella is being transmitted to equine hosts as a result of its presence in ruminants. The mechanism of transmission may involve interactions between infected ruminants and susceptible equines. This discovery is significant as it underscores the potential cross-species transmission of Brucella and highlights the importance of understanding and managing the spread of the pathogen in both ruminant and equine populations.

Survey of antibodies to Peste des petits ruminants virus in small ruminants in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a viral disease affecting sheep and goats caused by peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) has a serious economic impact due to the restrictions on animal trade and animal movements and high mortality rates in small ruminant populations. The common clinical sings of the PPR are fever, muco-purulent nasal discharge, diarrhoea and abortion. Seroepidemiological studies of PPRV infection in sheep and goats in Turkey are scant. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of PPR in small ruminants in Turkey. Ovine blood samples were collected by random sampling method from sheep (n = 77) and goats (n = 61) from unvaccinated flocks (n = 40) in the Antalya Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) kit was used to detect antibodies against PPRV in sera samples. Out of 138 sera samples analysed, eighteen sera samples (13%, 95% CI: 7.4 - 18.7) were PPRV seropositive, of which 18.2% (95% CI: 9.6 - 26.8; 14/77) were from sheep, whereas 6.6% (95% CI: 0.3 - 12.8; 4/61) were from goats. Although PPRV seropositivity rate was higher in sheep than goats, it was not statistically significant (P = 0.07). PPRV seropositivity was higher in small ruminants older than 24 months (19.4%) compared with less than or equal to 24 months (7%) (P = 0.04). Although, there was no statistically significant difference between sexes, PPRV seropositivity rate was higher (14.5%) in females than males (10.9%) (P = 0.61). The flock-level seroprevalence was 30% (12/40). The result of the present study showed that seroprevalence of PPRV infection is high in sheep and goats in the Antalya Province. However, results of the study are not enough to determine the regional and country-based profile of the PPRV infection in Turkey. Further epidemiological studies are required to get more epidemiology data on PPR in Turkey.

Study on organic goat production as a tool for sustainability of nomadic pastoralism in north-western Himalayan region, India

Migratory Gaddi sheep and goat constitutes approximately 70% of the total population of small ruminants in Himachal Pradesh, which is in north-western Himalayan region of India. The present investigation was carried out on 32 Gaddi migratory flocks consisting of around 5000 animals (sheep and goat) through structured pre-validated questionnaire to find out scope of nomadic pastoralism for organic goat production. Through cross-sectional surveys, it was found that 100% of breeds reared by the nomads are indigenous in origin, which is well adapted for grazing and browsing in different hilly terrains and topographies. Tethering was not at all practiced among the nomadic flocks of goats. The flocks were herd in corrals during night to prevent predatory loss. The main source of nutrition for goats was rangeland, natural pastures and common property resources. The nomadic goat production system does not substantially compromise the welfare of the animals. Natural suckling and freedom of social behaviour in nomadic flocks are the ethological advantages same as that are required for standards of organic production. Natural breeding is commonly practiced in this nomadic goat production system whereas artificial insemination, embryo transfer and estrus synchronization is unpopular. Ethno-veterinary practices of Gaddi farmers give them an edge over other countries in organic goat production; it can be effective substitute for allopathic medicines but needs to be validated on efficacy and dosage. Exploring and supporting nomadic pastoralism for organic production will help in improving its traceability, meeting consumer satisfaction and sustaining the dwindling nomadic pastoralism.

Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in goats Placenta in Northeastern Algeria

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasitic zoonosis of crucial medical and veterinary importance. It is diagnosed mainly by serological methods, which are insufficiently sensitive. It is therefore necessary to rely on the direct detection of the parasite. The present study aimed at the direct detection of T. gondii DNA in placenta fragments by PCR targeting the B1 gene of the parasite. In addition, we identified possible risk factors for infection. The study was carried out on 25 goat farms between 2019 and 2020 in four regions of the Tebessa province in northeastern Algeria and involved 503 goats that had aborted. T. gondii DNA was detected in 30.41% of goat placenta samples (CI: [27.12-41.53]). The on-farm molecular prevalence was 60% (CI: [53.32-72.53]). The molecular prevalence of toxoplasmosis was higher for primiparous females (53.2%) than it was for multiparous ones (15.2%) (p = 0.0001). Likewise, the level of contamination was high in farms with a sedentary management system (36.4%); this system tended to increase the prevalence of toxoplasmosis (P = 0.008). In addition, it appears that the stage of gestation, history of abortion, and season had a significant effect (p &lt; 0.05) on the prevalence of the disease. To conclude, this study revealed that goats included in this experiment were heavily infected with T. gondii, which represents a major risk for consumers in the Tebessa region. Further research is needed to improve our knowledge of the different genotypes of T. gondii infecting populations of small ruminants.

Late Holocene human population change revealed by fecal stanol records and its response to environmental evolution at Xiada Co on the western Tibetan Plateau

An in-depth understanding of the relationship between anthropogenic activity and climate change under extreme climate conditions could provide a scientific basis and historical reference for coping with future climate change properly. This understanding is also crucial for ensuring the sustainable development of ecology, environment, economy, and society. Here, fecal stanols in the Xiada Co sediment core on the western Tibetan Plateau (TP) were used to reconstruct local human and ruminant populations over the past 4700 years. Climate data based on brGDGTs and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data in the same sediment core, along with relevant documentary and archaeological evidence from the TP, were also compiled to investigate the relationship between human activity and climate change in the western TP during the late Holocene. Our analysis suggests that the change in human and ruminant populations in the Xiada Co basin was likely influenced by regional climate change, fluctuations in the lake level, and social factors. From 4700 to 2900 cal yr BP, the populations were relatively high due to the warm and humid climate compared to the period of 2300–0 cal yr BP. During 3400–2900 cal yr BP, the basin experienced the highest population density. This could be attributed to the combination of a relatively warm and humid climate, the introduction of cold and dry-tolerant crops like barley, and the introduction of livestock such as sheep/goat and cattle into the western TP. Between 2900 and 2450 cal yr BP, the increased lake levels and frequent level changes likely caused significant population declines. From ∼1000 to 300 cal yr BP, temperature appeared to have a stronger influence on human and ruminant population change compared to lake level and precipitation. Notably, around 300 cal yr BP, the basin experienced the smallest human and ruminant populations due to the extremely cold and dry climate, as well as frequent conflicts between Guge and Ladakh. From 0 cal yr BP onward, there was a notable increase in both human and ruminant populations in the Xiada Co basin, which aligns with the data on populations in Rutog county, Nagri prefecture. Furthermore, the significant rise in the levels of ruminant fecal stanols suggests a shift in the primary domesticated ruminant species after ∼1250 cal yr BP, with sheep/goat becoming the dominant livestock. This is supported by absolute concentration of fecal stanols in local contemporary animal feces and relevant archaeological evidence from the western TP. This study confirms the use of fecal stanols as a valuable tool for reconstructing ancient human activities on the western TP.

Bottlenecks analysis using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) throughout the value chain of small ruminants in India

Bottlenecks are the obstacles that impede the accomplishment of an intended purpose and consequently, endure a dampening effect on the chain's effectiveness and profitability. This study was aimed to explore the bottlenecks confronted by small ruminant farmers in the value chain in India. A total of 385 small ruminant farmers from 11 districts of Punjab were selected purposively, proportionate to the population of small ruminants using the snow ball sampling technique. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to identify and rank the criteria and factors of the constraints. The study revealed that among overall constraints, “processing and transportation constraints” (Priority weight: 0.278) were the major bottlenecks encountered by the respondents. Pertaining to input supply constraints, “lack of access to credit, subsidy, and insurance support” was perceived as the utmost substantial challenge by the respondents (Global priority score: 0.097). High cost of concentrate feed (Global priority score: 0.071) and non-uniform methods of selling animals (Global priority score: 0.069), were topmost waivers in context of production constraints and marketing constraints, respectively. Among processing and transportation constraints, inadequate slaughtering facilities at village level (Global priority score: 0.105) was ranked first by the respondents. Low dressing percentage of local breeds of sheep and goats (Global priority score: 0.033) was perceived as the strongest constraint among miscellaneous constraints. The study concluded that the efficiency and profitability of small ruminant’s value chain is impaired by several kinds of bottlenecks. Collaboration among various stakeholders, including government, research institutions, private sector entities, and farmer organizations, is necessary to overcome these bottlenecks and unlock the potential of the small ruminant’s value chain in India.

Pestiviruses in sheep and goats in Austria: Options for integration into the bovine viral diarrhea (BVDV) monitoring program

After the successful eradication of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in cattle in Austria, the risk of infections with the border disease virus (BDV) remains. Both viruses belong to the pestivirus genus. BDV infections lead to false-positive results in BVDV surveillance. This can be attributed to the contact to small ruminant populations. In particular, keeping cattle together with sheep or goats on a farm or alpine pasture are significant risk factors. Between 2015 and 2022, BDV type 3 was detected in 15 cattles in Austria. These animals were almost exclusively persistently infected calves. However, a positive antibody result for pestiviruses can lead to an extremely time-consuming and costly, and not always successful search for the source of the infection if no active virus excretor is found. This study documents how small ruminants can be integrated into pestivirus monitoring with a manageable amount of work and costs. 23 406 sheep and goat samples from two brucellosis surveillance programs in small ruminants were analyzed retrospectively. Blood samples were examined using pestivirus real-time pool RT-PCR (qPCR). Direct virus detection of BDV-3 was achieved in 40 sheep from five different federal states. Over the entire investigation period a further 37 detections of BDV-3 were found in cattle, sheep and goats outside of this study throughout Austria. This study accounts for 52 % of all border disease detections from 2015 to 2022. By including small ruminants in pestivirus monitoring, the disruptive factor BDV and the risk of its introduction into cattle herds can be significantly minimized in the future.

Diversity of Viruses in Ixodes ricinus in Europe including Novel and Potential Arboviruses

Tick-borne pathogens are responsible for many vector-borne diseases in Europe, causing important problems for human and animal health. The composition of viral communities in ticks and their interactions with pathogens is little understood, especially in Eastern Europe, an area that represents a major hub for animal-arthropod vectors exchanges. In this study, we used metatranscriptomics to characterize the virome of 2,753 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from France and Romania, focusing on viruses that could potentially have implications for human or animal health. Among the great viral diversity of viruses identified, we reported a novel strain of Tribec virus, an important human pathogen that was found in Romanian ticks. We detected viruses belonging to the Phenuiviridae and Nairoviridae families close to human and animal pathogens, suggesting that these viruses could constitute novel arboviruses. We used luciferase immunoprecipitation system targeting external viral proteins of viruses identified among the Sedoreoviridae, Phenuiviridae, and Nairoviridae families to screen serum samples from small ruminants’ exposed to tick bites. The results suggest that part (approximately 12%, 95% CI 9.1–16.2) of the small ruminant population from Danube Delta, was exposed to viruses related to bi- or tri-segmented nairoviruses, but cross-reactive viruses could not be confirmed with certainly. The strategy developed in this study serves as a key step in predicting potential new disease outbreaks and can be readily adapted to study other reservoirs, vectors, and interfaces involving susceptible hosts.

A REVIEW ON EFFICIENCY OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION IN CATTLE BREEDING IN ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has large cattle population in Africa. The output of decades of crossbreeding programme in Ethiopia through AI service was quite insignificant because the exotic breeds and their crossbreds of the country accounted for about 1.44%. The objective of this review is to present the efficiency of Artificial Insemination (AI) service in cattle breeding in Ethiopia. The optimum recommended mean number of services per conception (NSC) for profitable dairy cow is about 1.4. However, conventional cattle AI breeding indicated that the mean NSC of different studies ranged from 1.14 in local cows up to 2.47 in different genotypes of cows kept under different management systems and conception rate at first insemination (CR1) ranged from 7.14% to 75.5% in different genotypes of dairy cows kept under extensive and intensive management systems. Estrus synchronization followed AI breeding indicated that CR1 ranged from 24.69% to 70.6% in Zebu cows kept under semi-intensive management system. Calving rate (CR) is the most appropriate measure of fertility of dairy cows which is defined as the number of calves born per 100 services. The poor efficiency of the country cattle AI service is a huge biological economic loss in cattle production and managerial monetary losses. Strategic interventions on cattle AI service efficiency improvement options should be identified and practiced considering breed type, production system and agro-ecology.

Gastrointestinal Nematodes and Protozoa in Small and Large Ruminants from Rural Agro-Climatic Regions of Northern India

Gastrointestinal nematode parasites and gastrointestinal protozoan parasites are considered detrimental to the livestock population and manifest production-limiting effects. Small and large ruminants (cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep) are important components of the rural economy of northern India. However, the epidemiology of gastrointestinal parasites in this agro-climatic region has not been studied extensively. In this study, the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was determined in 163 animals, including cattle (n = 86), buffalo (n = 11), goats (n = 48), and sheep (n = 18) from 26 sampling sites by copro-parasitological analysis. The prevalence values of 94.47% and 66.87% were recorded for the nematodes and protozoa, respectively. The group-wise prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode parasites was 95.3%, 90.9%, 93.7%, and 94.4% in cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep, respectively, whereas for gastrointestinal protozoan parasites, the respective values were 70.9%, 54.5%, 60.4%, and 72.2%. Copromicroscopy revealed ten genera of nematodes—Ascaris, Capillaria, Cooperia, Haemonchus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Ostertagia, Strongyloides, Trichostrongylus, Trichuris, and one protozoan genus—Eimeria. The prevalence of Trichostrongylus spp. was highest in buffaloes, whereas in cattle, Ascaris spp. were predominant. In both goats and sheep, Haemonchus contortus was found to be predominant. The highest prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was recorded in the rainy season. These findings indicate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in the ruminant population in this region and necessitate the implementation of preventive and control strategies for effective animal health management.

Genetic parameters for milk production and type traits in North American and European Alpine and Saanen dairy goat populations

The development of an across-country genomic evaluation scheme is a promising alternative for enlarging reference populations and successfully implementing genomic selection in small ruminant populations. However, the feasibility of such evaluations depends on the genetic similarity among the populations, and therefore, high connectedness and high genetic correlations between the traits recorded in different countries or populations are needed. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of performing an across-country genomic evaluation for milk production and type traits in Alpine and Saanen goats from Canada, France, Italy, and Switzerland. Variance components and genetic parameters, including genetic correlations between traits recorded in different countries, were calculated using combined phenotypes, genotypes, and pedigree datasets. The (co)variance component analyses were performed within breed, either based only on pedigree information or also incorporating genomic information. Across-country genetic parameters were calculated for 3 representative traits (i.e., milk yield, fat content, and rear udder attachment). The heritability estimates ranged from 0.10 to 0.50, which are consistent with previous estimates reported in the literature. The genetic correlations for rear udder attachment ranged from 0.75 (between France and Italy, for the Alpine breed without genomic information) to 0.95 (between Canada and France, for the Saanen breed with genomic information), whereas for fat content, between France and Italy, they ranged from 0.75 in the Alpine breed without genomic information to 0.78 in the Alpine breed with genomic information. However, genetic correlations for milk yield were only estimable between France and Italy, with a moderate value of 0.45 for the Alpine breed with or without genomic information, and of 0.22 and 0.26 in the Saanen breed with and without genomic information, respectively. These low genetic correlations for milk yield could be due to several factors, including the trait definition in each country and genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE). The high genetic correlations found for fat content and rear udder attachment indicate that these traits might be more standardized across countries and less affected by GxE effects. Thus, an international genomic evaluation for these traits might be feasible. Further studies should be performed to understand the surprisingly lower genetic correlations between milk yield across countries. Furthermore, additional efforts should be made to increase the genetic connection among the Alpine and Saanen goat populations in the 4 countries included in the analyses.

Circular replication-associated protein-encoding single-stranded DNA virus with risk of spillover is widely prevalent in domestic animals in China

Circular replication-associated protein (Rep)-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses are highly diverse and have a broad range of hosts. In this study, we report the detection of Bo-Circo-like virus AH20-1 in the feces of diarrheal cattle. The virus has a circular genome of 3,912 nucleotides, three major putative open reading frames, and encodes a Rep gene of 310 amino acids. We found that the virus is closely related to the Bo-Circo-like virus CH strain, which belongs to the novel Kirkoviridae family. Furthermore, we conducted a nationwide surveillance program and found that the virus is prevalent in China (23.6%, 205/868), with the BCLa subtype being the predominant strain. Our findings suggest that the virus can infect sheep, highlighting the potential for cross-species transmission. Our pressure analysis indicates that the CRESS-DNA Kirkoviridae family has broad host adaptation, and that selection pressure played an important role in the evolution of its Rep genes. Our study underscores the need for continued epidemiological surveillance of this virus due to its widespread prevalence in our ruminant population and potential for cross-species transmission.

Modelling flock heterogeneity in the transmission of peste des petits ruminants virus and its impact on the effectiveness of vaccination for eradication

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute infectious disease of small ruminants targeted for global eradication by 2030. The Global Strategy for Control and Eradication (GSCE) recommends mass vaccination targeting 70% coverage of small ruminant populations in PPR-endemic regions. These small ruminant populations are diverse with heterogeneous mixing patterns that may influence PPR virus (PPRV) transmission dynamics. This paper evaluates the impact of heterogeneous mixing on (i) PPRV transmission and (ii) the likelihood of different vaccination strategies achieving PPRV elimination, including the GSCE recommended strategy. We develop models simulating heterogeneous transmission between hosts, including a metapopulation model of PPRV transmission between villages in lowland Ethiopia fitted to serological data. Our results demonstrate that although heterogeneous mixing of small ruminant populations increases the instability of PPRV transmission—increasing the chance of fadeout in the absence of intervention—a vaccination coverage of 70% may be insufficient to achieve elimination if high-risk populations are not targeted. Transmission may persist despite very high vaccination coverage (>90% small ruminants) if vaccination is biased towards more accessible but lower-risk populations such as sedentary small ruminant flocks. These results highlight the importance of characterizing small ruminant mobility patterns and identifying high-risk populations for vaccination and support a move towards targeted, risk-based vaccination programmes in the next phase of the PPRV eradication programme. Our modelling approach also illustrates a general framework for incorporating heterogeneous mixing patterns into models of directly transmitted infectious diseases where detailed contact data are limited. This study improves understanding of PPRV transmission and elimination in heterogeneous small ruminant populations and should be used to inform and optimize the design of PPRV vaccination programmes.

A ten-year retrospective study of Peste des petits Ruminantis (PPR) cases presented to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau State, Nigeria

Peste des petits ruminantis (PPR) is a severe, highly contagious disease of small ruminants, primarily sheep and goats caused by Peste des petits ruminant’s virus (PPRV). It is an important animal disease which now endangers the large populations of small ruminants in Africa, the Middle and Near East, Southwest and Central Asia. PPR is an important transboundary disease of small ruminants throughout Nigeria, it plays an important role in agricultural food production and in sustainable employment. This vaccine strain currently used for the control of PPR in Nigeria is revealed to be indeed the suitable one for use in Nigeria. A retrospective study was carried out to determine the epidemiology and distribution of PPR across Nigeria by looking at the seasonal trend of the disease between 2013-2022. All data on animal carcasses, blood/serum, and tissue samples suspected of PPR from 2013 to 2022 were retrieved from the archival records of the Central Diagnostic Division of NVRI, Vom, Nigeria. The date, location, species, sex, age, flock size, animals affected, mortality and test result were extracted and entered in an Excel file to generate frequency tables. From the year 2013 to 2022, a total of 600 PPR suspected cases were reported to NVRI Vom, out of which 206(34%) tested positive for PPRV. The result shows that the highest occurrence of PPR 55 (26.7) was recorded in the year 2022 and the least occurrence of 4(1.9) was recorded in the year 2018. The number of small ruminants affected within the period under review is around 15,623 while the mortality is around 3574 (22.9%). About 51.4% (109) was reported in Ovine while the remaining 48.6% (103) was in Caprine. A prevalence rate of 34% was reported in this study. This study further confirms the devastating effect of PPR disease, affecting sheep and goats, males and females of all ages. The results highlight the need to monitor the occurrence of PPR and to adopt a strategic vaccination campaign against PPR.

Assessment of Fasciola and Paramphistomes co-infection in large ruminants through faecal egg counts around Taiping, Malaysia.

Emerging cases of Fasciola and Paramphistomes co-infection have been reported, especially in tropical regions. Thisis due to Fasciola and Paramphistomes sharing biological factors which influence the pattern of transmission, especially in faecal egg shedding due to interaction and competition in the definitive host. Most reports surveyed the occurrence of fasciolosis in ruminants with a lack of observation of faecal egg distribution. Therefore, present study is aimed to assess the distribution of Fasciola and Paramphistomes faecal egg count (fec) in co-infected large ruminants in Larut, Matang, and Selama areas (Taiping). A total of 371 faecal samples were collected at random from 23 ruminant herds. Flukefinder® sedimentation was used to quantify the Fasciola and Paramphistomes eggs. Descriptive analyses were performed to determine the prevalence of co-infections, and Spearman correlation analysis was used to correlate the fec. Overall, the prevalence of Fasciola and Paramphistomes co-infection was 23.7% (n=89/371) in Taiping. Prevalence of paramphistomosis was always higher than fasciolosis in overall and single infection, with 46.9% (n=174/371) and 22.9% (n=85/371) compared to 36.9% (n=137/371) and 12.9% (n=48/371) respectively. Egg per gram (epg) of both parasites were positively skewed with a median of 1.5 epg in fasciolosis and 10.5 epg in paramphistomosis. Spearman correlation analysis of the epg in co-infected bovine was found to have a moderately positive correlation with rs=0.39 (p-value<0.01). The recent study observed a moderate prevalence of Fasciola and Paramphistomes coinfection in a large ruminant population from Taiping, with the prevalence of paramphistomosis being higher than fasciolosis. Hence, this suggests that infection with one of these parasites increases the chance of infection with another. There is a need to integrate fec in parasite surveillance to monitor the trend of parasite transmission. Findings in the present study could tailor control strategies, especially for fasciolosis to limit the economic loss and prevent zoonotic transmission.