Presence Of Cattle Research Articles

Wild Ungulates and Cattle Have Different Effects on Litter Decomposition as Revealed by Fecal Addition in a Northeast Asian Temperate Forest.

Litter decomposition is critical for maintaining productivity and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. Large herbivores play an essential role in determining the processes of nutrient cycling. Asian temperate forests are becoming degraded and fragmented by the widespread intensification of anthropogenic activities, including excessive livestock grazing. However, the effects of livestock grazing and wild ungulates on forest litter decomposition remain less explored. In this study, we used a litterbag experiment to investigate the effects of the addition of cattle (Bos taurus) and sika deer (Cervus nippon) feces on litter decomposition. The study was conducted in Northeast China from July 2022 to October 2023. We found that the addition of deer feces significantly reduced litter decomposition, but the addition of cattle feces greatly increased litter decomposition. The presence of cattle and deer excrement significantly accelerated the release of C after 1 year of litter decomposition. Compared with the results of the control group (no addition of feces), the addition of cattle and sika deer feces increased C release by 37.45% and 22.69%, respectively. Fecal addition increased the release of N; however, for the three treatment groups, the maximum accumulation of N occurred in the middle of litter decomposition, which may have been due to the initial chemical quality of the leaves and snow melt as well as nutrient limitations at the sites. Compared with the results of the control group, P release in the feces of cattle increased by 4.35%, but P release in the feces of deer decreased by 27.55%. This work highlights that feces deposition by large herbivores (e.g., wild or domestic) in the forest has nonequivalent effects on litter decomposition. Such effects may further alter the nutrient cycling in temperate forest ecosystems, with far-reaching effects on the ecosystem that deserve closer attention. We suggest that conservation managers should seek evidence-based interventions to optimize livestock use of forest habitats shared with wildlife.

Evaluation of <i>Onchocerca volvulus</i> infectivity status of black flies in post-ivermectin regime in Kachia, Kaduna State, Nigeria

The infectivity status of Simulium species is an important factor in assessing the transmission of Onchocerca species. In this study, we determined the biting rate and presence of the larval stage of the parasite to determine the status of onchocerciasis in the post-ivermectin era in the study area. A total of 1.063 black flies were collected in September and October 2023. Dissection was carried out under a microscope to examine the internal organs for the presence of microfilaria and record their condition. The findings indicated that parous flies 311(29.3%) were markedly less prevalent compared to nulliparous flies 752(70.7%). Among the dissected flies, a total of 14 (1.3%) were found to be infected with Onchocerca species. The flies exhibited a bimodal biting pattern, with a peak in the morning occurring between 9 and 10 am and afternoon between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. The monthly biting rates of 5177.0 and 5807.3 in September and October respectively exceeded the World Health Organization's threshold of 1,000 bites per person per month. It is essential to investigate the potential resurgence of onchocerciasis in the study area, which may be attributed to the overlapping presence of cattle, Simulium vectors, and humans.

Predator-specific mortality of sage-grouse nests based on predator DNA on eggshells.

Greater sage-grouse (hereafter sage-grouse; Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have declined across their range. Increased nest predation as a result of anthropogenic land use is one mechanism proposed to explain these declines. However, sage-grouse contend with a diverse suite of nest predators that vary in functional traits (e.g., search tactics or hunting mode) and abundance. Consequently, generalizing about factors influencing nest fate is challenging. Identifying the explicit predator species responsible for nest predation events is, therefore, critical to understanding causal mechanisms linking land use to patterns of sage-grouse nest success. Cattle grazing is often assumed to adversely affect sage-grouse recruitment by reducing grass height (and hence cover), thereby facilitating nest detection by predators. However, recent evidence found little support for the hypothesized effect of grazing on nest fate at the pasture scale. Rather, nest success appears to be similar on pastures grazed at varying intensities. One possible explanation for the lack of observed effect involves a localized response by one or more nest predators. The presence of cattle may cause a temporary reduction in predator density and/or use within a pasture (the cattle avoidance hypothesis). The cattle avoidance hypothesis predicts a decreased probability of at least one sage-grouse nest predator predating sage-grouse nests in pastures with livestock relative to pastures without livestock present during the nesting season. To test the cattle avoidance hypothesis, we collected predator DNA from eggshells from predated nests and used genetic methods to identify the sage-grouse nest predator(s) responsible for the predation event. We evaluated the influence of habitat and grazing on predator-specific nest predation. We evaluated the efficacy of our genetic method by deploying artificial nests with trail cameras and compared the results of our genetic method to the species captured via trail camera. Our molecular methods identified at least one nest predator captured predating artificial nests via trail camera for 33 of 35 (94%) artificial nests. We detected nest predators via our molecular analysis at 76 of 114 (67%) predated sage-grouse nests. The primary predators detected at sage-grouse nests were coyotes (Canis latrans) and corvids (Corvidea). Grazing did not influence the probability of nest predation by either coyotes or corvids. Sagebrush canopy cover was negatively associated with the probability a coyote predated a nest, distance to water was positively associated with the probability a corvid predated a nest, and average minimum temperature was negatively associated with the probability that either a coyote or a corvid predated a nest. Our study provides a framework for implementing an effective, non-invasive method for identifying sage-grouse nest predators that can be used to better understand how management actions at local and regional scales may impact an important component of sage-grouse recruitment.

Behavioural responses to mammalian grazing expose insect herbivores to elevated risk of avian predation.

Large mammalian herbivores (LMH) are important functional components and drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in grasslands. Yet their role in regulating food-web dynamics and trophic cascades remains poorly understood. In the temperate grasslands of northern China, we explored whether and how grazing domestic cattle (Bos taurus) alter the predator-prey interactions between a dominant grasshopper (Euchorthippus unicolor) and its avian predator the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). Using two large manipulative field experiments, we found that in the presence of cattle, grasshoppers increased their jumping frequency threefold, swallows increased foraging visits to these fields sixfold, and grasshopper density was reduced by about 50%. By manipulatively controlling the grasshoppers' ability to jump, we showed that jumping enables grasshoppers to avoid being incidentally consumed or trampled by cattle. However, jumping behaviour increased their consumption rates by swallows 37-fold compared with grasshoppers that were unable to jump. Our findings illustrate how LMH can indirectly alter predator-prey interactions by affecting behaviour of avian predators and herbivorous insects. These non-plant-mediated effects of LMH may influence trophic interactions in other grazing ecosystems and shape community structure and dynamics. We highlight that convoluted multispecies interactions may better explain how LMH control food-web dynamics in grasslands.

Livestock in Riparian Areas: A Neglected Environmental Issue.

The presence of livestock in riparian areas raises several questions about the conservation and sustainable use of water resources and biodiversity in Brazil. Although the Native Vegetation Protection Law (No. 12,651) focuses on riparian vegetation, protected as Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs), it does not exclude the presence of livestock in these fragile areas. Here, we provide an overview of APPs in Brazil and analyze the legal instruments that enable livestock in these areas, gathering the scientific evidence on associated environmental impacts. Currently, cattle in riparian areas represent a direct threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and services, especially because these animals promote trampling, loss of vegetation, soil erosion, siltation, and pollution through urine and feces. To avoid cattle in APPs, legislation should be revised to implement more stringent restrictions; in parallel, alternatives for watering the animals must be sought, such as, for example, the installation of artificial ponds and drinking fountains. It would be appropriate to propose legislation or create incentives to fence livestock in pasture areas to preventing it from accessing APPs. Increasing cattle confinement is an alternative measure to traditional ranching in open pasture. Riparian zones represent a critical environment for biodiversity and society, so the presence of cattle and its associated negative impacts should be seriously considered by authorities.

416 Implementation of virtual fencing in heifers for mountain summer grazing

Abstract A virtual fencing (VF) system is based on a smartphone application that defines an invisible grazing boundary based on global positioning. Animals are tracked via GPS collars. When reaching the virtual boundary, the collar emits an ascending audio tone, followed by a mild electric pulse (0.2 Joule) when crossing it. The technology is particularly promising in rough and extensive mountainous areas where physical fencing is difficult and more time-consuming. Environmental conditions may also affect the functionality of the VF system, with potential impacts on animal behavior. Therefore, the present study tested a VF system on 30 female heifers in a rotational grazing system on Swiss mountain pastures (approximately 1,300 to 1,500 m above sea level). Each heifer was equipped with a VF collar (Nofence AS, Batnfjordsør, Norway) for individual recording of audio tones and electric pulses. After two wk of VF training in the lowlands (approximately 700 m above sea level), during which the heifers learned to interpret the VF signals correctly, they were transported to the mountain pasture. For mountain grazing, the herd was divided into three groups of 10 heifers each, balanced for age (mean ± SD: 11.9 ± 1.6 mo) and breed (Holstein-Friesian, Montbeliarde, crossbreeds). The outer perimeter of the mountain pasture was surrounded by an electric fence. Its inner area was divided into 3 electrically fenced and 6 virtually fenced paddocks. For 83 d, all groups grazed simultaneously in separate paddocks and rotated sequentially through the 9 paddocks. Video cameras were placed along the virtual fences to record animal responses after receiving audio tones or electric pulses. Moreover, grass height was measured using a rising plate meter to estimate forage availability in the currently grazed paddocks. Throughout mountain grazing, each heifer received an average of 4.9 ± 6.9 audio tones and 0.3 ± 0.7 electric pulses per day. Generalized mixed-effects models revealed that the number of audio tones and electric pulses did not change over grazing periods or among days after paddock change. Behavioral responses of the animals were less pronounced once the heifers had learned the VF system. In addition, grazing interruptions after receiving an audio tone or electric pulse were shorter during mountain grazing compared with the training period (P < 0.001). Furthermore, lower grass heights (P < 0.05) as well as the occurrence of (common but) unpredictable events (P < 0.001), such as the presence of wildlife (e.g., lynx, deer) or neighboring cattle, increased the number of audio tones and electric pulses during mountain grazing. The VF system was still effective in keeping the heifers within their assigned paddocks under mountainous conditions. However, a well-considered handling when changing paddocks as well as a careful placement of the virtual fence is essential to avoid negative effects on the animals.

Rethinking livestock encroachment at a protected area boundary

The presence of livestock inside protected areas, or "livestock encroachment," is a global conservation concern because livestock is broadly thought to negatively affect wildlife. The Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), Kenya, exemplifies this tension as livestock is believed to have resulted in the declining wildlife populations, contributing to the strict and sometimes violent exclusion measures targeting Maasai pastoralists. However, research embedded in the real-world setting that draws insights from the social-ecological contexts is lacking. In this study, we conducted 19 mo of ecological monitoring covering 60 sites in MMNR and found that cattle presence inside the reserve did not significantly impact most co-occurring wild herbivores at the current intensity. Using the Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities and Gaussian copula graphic models, we showed that cattle had no direct associations-neither negative nor positive-with nearly all wild herbivores despite frequently sharing the same space. Moreover, we did not detect resource degradation correlated with cattle presence near the MMNR boundary. Given the colonial legacy and land use history of Mara, entering MMNR becomes the only viable option for many herders. These results corroborate the emerging perspective that the ecological impacts of extensively herded livestock on wildlife might be more nuanced than previously thought. To effectively balance the needs of people, livestock, and wildlife, the current rigid livestock exclusion measures need to be reassessed to holistically consider herbivore ecology, local land use history, and modern politics of protected area management.

A case-control study on risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis in West Pokot County, Kenya.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe parasitic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. VL is endemic in West Pokot County, Kenya, where effective strategies to interrupt transmission are impeded by the limited understanding of VL risk factors. Therefore, this case-control study aimed to explore environmental, behavioural and household determinants of VL in West Pokot. From November 2022 to January 2023, a structured questionnaire was administered to 36 symptomatic primary VL cases attending Kacheliba Sub-County Hospital in West Pokot and to 50 healthy controls from local villages. The VL status of all participants was confirmed using an rK39 rapid diagnostic test. Associations between questioned determinants and VL were investigated by means of age-corrected univariate logistic regression analysis. Significant associations were found between VL and housing characteristics, such as window presence and floor type. VL cases more frequently reported the presence of cattle, dogs and sheep in their house yards. VL was also associated with cutting down trees in the house yard and house proximity to several Acacia tree species. Furthermore, outdoor activities, including travelling outside the residence for more than 2 weeks, activities near termite mounds, and forest activities during the rainy season, increased the risk of VL. This work reports a number of previously undescribed risk factors for VL in the understudied West Pokot focus. The results suggest VL transmission occurs both peri-domestically at night and outdoors during the day, particularly when sandfly resting sites are disturbed. Our findings warrant further research into sandfly ecology and potential zoonotic parasite reservoirs in West Pokot.

MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHM FOR RAPID OBJECT DETECTION BASED ON COLOR FEATURES

The identification of objects is of utmost importance in a wide range of computer vision applications, such as surveillance systems, autonomous cars, and environmental monitoring. Accurate and efficient object recognition methods are crucial in pastoral environments, characterized by the prominent presence of cattle and other objects, to provide effective analysis and decision-making processes. The present study paper introduces an innovative methodology for efficient identification of objects in pastoral landscapes through the utilization of a Colour Feature Extreme Learning Machine (CF-ELM). The CF-ELM method integrates color characteristics with the ELM algorithm to attain enhanced object detection accuracy while preserving computational economy. The experimental findings provide empirical evidence supporting the efficacy and efficiency of the suggested approach in the detection of items within pastoral landscapes. In addition to the CF-ELM, an algorithm for desktop-based categorization of items within a pastoral environment is provided, with individual speeds ranging from 0.05 s to 0.17 s for a single image, evaluated in each color space. The algorithm is intended for usage in scenarios with challenging and variable terrain, making it appropriate for application in agricultural or pastoral settings.

Investigation of hereditary cholesterol deficiency (CD) in Holstein Cattle at the state farms in Türkiye

Türkiye is exposed to international animal and semen movements. For this reason, Türkiye is very affected by diseases and hereditary disorders. State Farms is a state organization that raises and distributes breeding cattle. This study was aimed at investigating the presence and distribution of mutant alleles causing cholesterol deficiency (CD) disorder in Holstein cattle on state farms. For this purpose, blood and sperm samples were collected from 466 Holstein cattle. The real-time PCR method was used for genotyping. A total of seven cattle were found to be heterozygous. The frequency of the mutant allele was determined to be 0.75%. The kinship of four cattle carrying the mutant allele with Mauglin Storm, the bull in which this disease was first detected, was determined. The presence of cattle carrying the mutant allele in Türkiye is quite low compared to other countries. The Apolipoprotein-B (APOB) mutant allele was found at low frequencies and detected for the first time at the State Farms in Türkiye. Therefore, it is necessary to develop control programs by screening other Holstein herds.

Exposure of small ruminants to the Schmallenberg arbovirus in Germany from 2017 to 2018 – animal-specific and flock-management-related risk factors

The Schmallenberg virus (SBV), an emerging Orthobunyavirus of mainly ruminant hosts, caused a substantial epidemic in European ruminant populations between 2011 and 2013. The pathogen is transmitted by arthropod vectors (Culicoides spp.) and can cause reproductive disorders and severe malformations of the offspring or stillbirth. The present study aimed to assess SBV seroprevalence among German sheep and goats a few years after the first virus detection in the country (November 2011). In addition, an extensive risk factor analysis including host-specific and husbandry-related factors was implemented. Seroprevalence was determined by examining serum samples from 2759 sheep and 446 goats out of a total of 70 flocks across five German federal states. The samples were withdrawn in the period between 2017 and 2018. Using a commercial competitive ELISA, antibodies against SBV were detected in all 70 investigated flocks. A percentage of 60.1 % (1657/2759) of the sheep and 40.4 % (180/446) of the goat sera contained SBV antibodies. Generalized linear mixed modeling revealed significant effects of host species (sheep > goats), age (old > young) and sex (female > male) on SBV seroprevalence. For both species, also the farming purpose, and for goats, ectoparasite treatment and the presence of cattle on the farm played a role in terms of risk for SBV exposure. The observations from this study still emphasize a wide distribution of the pathogen in Germany. Nevertheless, the observed seroprevalence might not be sufficient to achieve effective herd immunity. Pinpointing risk factors identified susceptible populations for targeted vaccination programs to reduce potential animal losses caused by SBV.

Gene Expression Level and Immunohistochemical Localization of Cannabinoid and Cannabinoid-Related Receptors in The Small Intestine of Holstein Bulls (Bos Taurus Taurus)

Abstract The gastrointestinal tract plays a crucial role in nutrient absorption, secretion, and motility, ensuring proper digestion and overall homeostasis. Regulation of this complex system involves the coordination of various communication pathways, including neural and humoral mechanisms. One such mechanism is the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a signaling network comprising endogenous cannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes involved in the regulation of physiological processes in mammals and non-mammalian species. While extensive research has been conducted on the ECS in monogastric animals, limited information is available on its presence and distribution in cattle. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and localization patterns of cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R) and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) in the bovine small intestine. The study included immunohistochemical analysis of intestinal tissue samples from Polish Holstein-Friesian breed bulls. Gene expression levels of CNR1, CNR2, and TRPV1 genes, encoding CB1R, CB2R, and TRPV1, respectively, were quantified using qPCR analysis. The results showed that all three receptors were expressed in the bovine small intestine, with TRPV1 exhibiting a significant upregulation in the jejunum compared to the duodenum and ileum. Immunoreactivity for CB1R and CB2R was predominantly observed in neurons of the enteric plexuses, while TRPV1 immunolabeling was detected in both enteric neurons and duodenal Brunner’s glands. These findings may establish an anatomical foundation for further investigations, lending support to the potential therapeutic efficacy of cannabinoid receptor agonists in alleviating gastrointestinal motility disorders associated with bovine enteropathies and optimizing milk production in dairy cattle.

Technological frontier in Uruguay's beef cattle production: An analysis of technical efficiency and its main drivers

AbstractGlobally, livestock grazing is a major land occupier and is often criticized for its environmental impact. To address these concerns, enhancing livestock productivity is crucial to mitigate these impacts, boost farm competitiveness, and increase food production. The understanding of production variability is key to this endeavor. This paper assesses the technical efficiency of cow‐calf beef production units in Uruguay, excluding dairy and feedlot operations. Using data from the 2016 National Livestock Survey and Wang's frontier model, we estimate a translog stochastic production frontier, incorporating bovine livestock units, land area, and equivalent working units as key inputs. This model also controls soil productivity, improved grazing areas, productive orientation (beef‐cattle systems or beef cattle‐ovine mixed systems), beef production system (cow‐calf, full cycle, and fattening operation), access to electric power, and agroecological regions. Furthermore, it explores factors affecting technical inefficiency, such as ownership (individual, corporate without contract, and corporate with contract) and land tenure types (owner, tenant, or other types), besides the presence of third‐party owned cattle, technical assistance (including veterinarian and agronomic), and specific beef cattle technologies (such as continuous bull presence, artificial insemination, ovarian activity diagnosis, pregnancy diagnosis, use of scales for classifying females, temporary and early weaning, and cows and heifers grazing together). Findings indicate an average technical efficiency of 71.3%. Notably, factors such as agronomic and veterinary assistance, artificial insemination, weaning practices, third‐party‐owned cattle presence, pregnancy diagnosis, land tenure, and ownership type significantly impact technical efficiency. Our findings suggest that within the specific segment of cow‐calf operations in Uruguay, there is a potential to enhance beef production by 40.2% through improvements in farm management. [EconLit Citations: Q12, D24].

Lactococcus garvieae exerts a critical role in inducing inflammation in dairy mastitis by triggering NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in MAC-T cells.

Lactococcus garvieae (L. garvieae) is a pathogenic bacterium that is Gram-positive and catalase-negative (GPCN), and it is capable of growing in a wide range of environmental conditions. This bacterium is associated with significant mortality and losses in fisheries, and there are concerns regarding its potential as a zoonotic pathogen, given its presence in cattle and dairy products. While we have identified and characterized virulent strains of L. garvieae through phenotyping and molecular typing studies, their impact on mammary tissue remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the pathogenicity of strong and weak virulent strains of L. garvieae using in vivo mouse models. We aim to establish MAC-T cell model to examine potential injury caused by the strong virulent strain LG41 through the TLR2/NLRP3/NF-kB pathway. Furthermore, we assess the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in dairy mastitis by silencing NLRP3. The outcomes of this study will yield crucial theoretical insights into the potential mechanisms involved in mastitis in cows caused by the L. garvieae-induced inflammatory response in MAC-T cells.

The impact of seasonal cattle grazing on ungulate spatiotemporal behavior in a multiuse recreational area in central Alberta.

As grazing lands expand it is important to understand the effect cattle (Bos taurus) may have on native ungulates. Cattle presence in a landscape can cause both spatial and temporal partitioning in wild ungulates. We used remote cameras to investigate the impacts of seasonal rest-rotational cattle grazing on both the temporal and spatial behaviors of moose (Alces alces), elk (Cervus canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemonius), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Park near Edmonton, AB, Canada. We found that all wild ungulates decrease their intensity of use in areas while cattle were grazing, and that this effect remains even after cattle have left, suggesting a degree of spatial partitioning. We also observed species specific changes in ungulate daily activity and nocturnality in response to cattle presence indicative of temporal partitioning. Elk increased their nocturnality while both deer species decreased their nocturnality. Understanding how cattle presence affects wild ungulates is essential for wildlife management, disease transmission, and conservation in the wake of potential increased ungulate-cattle interactions in the future.

Improving Known-Unknown Cattle's Face Recognition for Smart Livestock Farm Management.

Accurate identification of individual cattle is of paramount importance in precision livestock farming, enabling the monitoring of cattle behavior, disease prevention, and enhanced animal welfare. Unlike human faces, the faces of most Hanwoo cattle, a native breed of Korea, exhibit significant similarities and have the same body color, posing a substantial challenge in accurately distinguishing between individual cattle. In this study, we sought to extend the closed-set scope (only including identifying known individuals) to a more-adaptable open-set recognition scenario (identifying both known and unknown individuals) termed Cattle's Face Open-Set Recognition (CFOSR). By integrating open-set techniques to enhance the closed-set accuracy, the proposed method simultaneously addresses the open-set scenario. In CFOSR, the objective is to develop a trained model capable of accurately identifying known individuals, while effectively handling unknown or novel individuals, even in cases where the model has been trained solely on known individuals. To address this challenge, we propose a novel approach that integrates Adversarial Reciprocal Points Learning (ARPL), a state-of-the-art open-set recognition method, with the effectiveness of Additive Margin Softmax loss (AM-Softmax). ARPL was leveraged to mitigate the overlap between spaces of known and unknown or unregistered cattle. At the same time, AM-Softmax was chosen over the conventional Cross-Entropy loss (CE) to classify known individuals. The empirical results obtained from a real-world dataset demonstrated the effectiveness of the ARPL and AM-Softmax techniques in achieving both intra-class compactness and inter-class separability. Notably, the results of the open-set recognition and closed-set recognition validated the superior performance of our proposed method compared to existing algorithms. To be more precise, our method achieved an AUROC of 91.84 and an OSCR of 87.85 in the context of open-set recognition on a complex dataset. Simultaneously, it demonstrated an accuracy of 94.46 for closed-set recognition. We believe that our study provides a novel vision to improve the classification accuracy of the closed set. Simultaneously, it holds the potential to significantly contribute to herd monitoring and inventory management, especially in scenarios involving the presence of unknown or novel cattle.

Effect of non-human hosts on the human biting rate of primary and secondary malaria vectors in Tanzania

BackgroundMalaria vectors vary in feeding preference depending on their innate behaviour, host availability and abundance. Host preference and human biting rate in malaria vectors are key factors in establishing zooprophylaxis and zoopotentiation. This study aimed at assessing the impact of non-human hosts in close proximity to humans on the human biting rate of primary and secondary malaria vectors, with varying host preferences.MethodsThe effect of the presence of non-human hosts in close proximity to the human host on the mean catches per person per night, as a proxy for mosquito biting rate, was measured using mosquito-electrocuting traps (METs), in Sagamaganga, Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. Two experiments were designed: (1) a human versus a calf, each enclosed in a MET, and (2) a human surrounded by three calves versus a human alone, with each human volunteer enclosed individually in a MET spaced 10 m apart. Each experiment was conducted on alternate days and lasted for 36 nights per experiment. During each experiment, the positions of hosts were exchanged daily (except the human in experiment 2). All anopheline mosquitoes caught were assayed for Plasmodium sporozoites using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsA total of 20,574 mosquitoes were captured and identified during the study, of which 3608 were anophelines (84.4% primary and 15.6% secondary malaria vectors) and 17,146 were culicines. In experiment 1, the primary malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis, along with Culex spp. demonstrated a preference for cattle, while the primary vectors, Anopheles funestus, preferred humans. In experiment 2, both primary vectors, An. arabiensis and An. funestus, as well as the secondary vector Anopheles rivolurum, demonstrated behaviours amenable to zooprophylaxis, whereas Culex spp. increased their attraction to humans in the presence of nearby cattle. All anopheline mosquitoes tested negative for sporozoites.ConclusionsThe findings of this study provide support for the zooprophylaxis model for malaria vectors present in the Kilombero Valley, and for the zoopotentiation model, as it pertains to the Culex spp. in the region. However, the factors regulating zooprophylaxis and zoopotentiation are complex, with different species-dependent mechanisms regulating these behaviours, that need to be considered when designing integrated vector management programmes.

The Minimal Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Spatial Activities of Leopard Cats in Xinlong, China.

The habitat plays a crucial role in ensuring the survival of wildlife. However, the increasing disturbances caused by human activities present a substantial threat to habitats, especially for species such as the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), which is a significant small predator. Currently, research on leopard cats predominantly focuses on low-altitude regions within its distribution range, leaving plateau areas understudied. To enhance our understanding of the impact of human disturbances on leopard cat habitats, we undertook a study employing infrared camera trappings to monitor leopard cats' activity in Xinlong of southwestern China between 2015 and 2023. We analyzed the spatial distribution and habitat suitability of the leopard cats by utilizing ensemble species distribution models (ESDMs). Moreover, we employed two-species occupancy models to investigate the spatial interaction between leopard cats and human disturbances. The results indicated that (1) the potential suitable habitat area for leopard cats encompassed approximately 1324.93 km2 (14.3%), primarily located along the banks of Yalong river. (2) The distribution of suitable habitat was predominantly influenced by competitors, specifically the yellow-throated marten (YTM), accounting for 52.4% of the influence, as well as environmental factors such as distance to water (DTW) at 12.0% and terrain roughness index (TRI) at 10.0%. Human interference, including cattle presence (4.6%), distance to road (DTD, 4.9%), and distance to settlement (DTS, 3.5%), had a limited impact on the habitat distribution. (3) Within a 5 km radius, habitat suitability increased with proximity to human settlements. (4) Leopard cats exhibited spatial independence from humans and domestic cattle (species interaction factor (SIF) = 1.00) while avoiding domestic horses (SIF = 0.76 ± 0.03). The relatively minor impact of human disturbances in Xinlong could be attributed to traditional cultural practices safeguarding wildlife and the leopard cat's environmental adaptability. We recommend establishing a novel conservation paradigm based on the living dynamics of wildlife communities in Xinlong, thereby offering a more targeted approach to biodiversity preservation in the future.

Prevalence and risk factor investigation for exposure to Brucella species in surrogate stray cattle population reared in cow shelters in Punjab, India.

Bovine brucellosis is endemic in cattle in India, however not much is known on the prevalence of this disease in stray cattle populations of the country. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors associated with brucellosis in the stray cattle populations reared in cow shelters (gaushalas) of Punjab, India. Blood samples were collected from 587 cattle reared in 23 cow shelters in 23 districts (one per district) of the Punjab and were tested using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT), standard tube agglutination test (STAT) and Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (i-ELISA). Information on the sex and breed of the animal, total cattle population and presence of a separate shed for parturition were collected. An animal was considered exposed to Brucella infection based on a positive RBPT or STAT test and a positive i-ELISA test. Explanatory variables for the animal level disease status outcome variable were sex and breed of the animal and at the shelter level were shelter cattle population size and presence of a separate shed for parturition. Univariable binomial exact logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association of each explanatory variable with the binary outcome variable. Sixty-two animals were seropositive on RBPT, with an apparent seroprevalence of 10.56% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.33%, 13.31%) and the estimated true seroprevalence of 11.48% (95% CI: 8.9%, 14.64%). Sixty three animals were seropositive using STAT [apparent seroprevalence of 10.73% (95% CI: 8.48%, 13.50%) and the estimated true seroprevalence of 10.69% (95% CI: 8.27%, 13.67%)], and 68 using i-ELISA [an apparent seroprevalence of 11.58% (95% CI: 9.24%, 14.43%) and the estimated true seroprevalence of 13.28% (95% CI: 10.50%, 16.66%)]. Cross bred cattle had a lower risk of being test positive (odds ratio 0.16, p=0.04) as compared to indigenous cattle. Due to a ban on cow slaughter in the country, roaming stray cattle infected with brucellosis present a permanent risk of introduction of disease to the dairy farms and other vulnerable populations.

Tick-borne Pathogen Detection and Its Association with Alterations in Packed Cell Volume of Dairy Cattle in Thailand.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) massively impact bovine production. In endemic countries, animals are often subclinically infected, showing no signs of the illness. Anemia is a hallmark of TBDs, but there is inadequate information on its presence in infected Thai cattle. In the present study, 265 cattle from four provinces in Thailand were surveyed to identify tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and to evaluate the changes in the packed cell volume (PCV) values associated with detection. Microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were also compared for TBP detection. Babesia/Theileria/Hepatozoon was detected in 33.58% (89/265) of the cattle samples. Specifically, Babesia bovis (9/265), B. bigemina (12/265), Theileria orientalis (62/265), and Anaplasma marginale (50/265) were identified using species-specific assays. Significant decreases in the mean PCV levels were observed in cattle that were positive for at least one TBP (p < 0.001), Babesia/Theileria/Hepatozoon (p < 0.001), T. orientalis (p < 0.001), and A. marginale (p = 0.049). The results of PCR and microscopy for the detection of TBPs suggested slight and fair agreement between the two detection tools. The present findings contribute to a better understanding of TBDs in the field and shall facilitate the formulation of effective control for TBDs in Thailand.