Cattle Samples Research Articles

Assessing Antiparasitic Compounds Persistence in Cattle Hair by DART-MS.

This study introduces an alternative strategy for evaluating antiparasitic persistence compounds in cattle hair by Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS). The developed DART-MS method aimed to determine fenthion, chlorpyrifos, and cypermethrin in cattle hair samples. DART-MS analyses were performed in positive ion mode, and parameters related to the DART source were evaluated. The analytical performance demonstrated the efficiency of the optimized DART-MS method for fenthion, chlorpyrifos, and cypermethrin quantification in the evaluated samples, meeting criteria for precision, accuracy and limits of detection. Overall, the DART-MS method provided a fast and efficient analysis for determination of antiparasitic agents in cattle hair, which contributes to the evaluation of drug administration protocols and dosage intervals, and aids the safety and advancement of the livestock sector.

Cattle, sheep, and goat humoral immune responses against SARS-CoV-2

Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019, several species of domestic and wild animals have been found to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection through experimental inoculation and animal surveillance activities. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in animals is an important surveillance tool since viral shedding in animals can only be detected for a short period of time. In this study, convenience serum samples were collected from 691 cattle, 698 sheep, and 707 goats from several regions in the United States, between 2019 to 2022. The samples were evaluated for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies using two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA); one based on the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (sVNT) and the other based on the nucleocapsid protein (N-ELISA) of SARS-CoV-2. Positive samples from the sVNT were additionally evaluated using a conventional virus neutralization test (VNT) employing the Wuhan-like SARS-CoV-2 USA/WA1/2020 isolate. Our results indicate that ∼1% (6/691) of cattle, ∼2% (13/698) of sheep, and ∼2.5% (18/707) of goat serum samples were positive when using the sVNT, whereas ∼4% of cattle (25/691) and sheep (27/698), and 2.5% (18/707) of goat serum samples tested positive with the N-ELISA. None of the sVNT positive cattle, sheep, or goat serum samples had detectable neutralizing antibody activity (<1:8) against the SARS-CoV-2 USA/WA1/2020 isolate by the VNT. Our results indicate low seropositivity in cattle, sheep, and goats in the U.S., indicating the importance to continue monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in animal species that are in close contact with humans.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Cattle in Southern Egypt: Do Milk and Serum Samples Tell the Same Story?

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite of veterinary and public health importance. Infection may lead to abortion in susceptible pregnant animals and women, and potentially fatal health complications in immunocompromised individuals. In this study, we aimed to provide an update on the seroprevalence of, and risk factors for, T. gondii antibodies in cattle from Qena, southern Egypt. Additionally, we investigated if raw milk and serum samples from the same animals reacted similarly in a commercial ELISA, thus potentially reducing the invasiveness of future serosurveillance studies. Cattle serum samples (n = 362) from three locations in the Qena governorate (Qena, Qus, and Al Waqf cities), of both sexes and different ages were collected. From most dairy cows, a corresponding milk sample (n = 154) was additionally obtained. We found that the overall seroprevalence in serum samples was 9.1% (33/362). Increasing age was the sole risk factor identified in our study among all tested parameters (location, age, sex, lactating yes or no). Thus, older cattle (more than 3 years old) exhibited significantly higher rates of T. gondii antibodies (11.7%; p = 0.033, odd ratio = 4.3) in comparison to animals younger than 1 year (2.9%). In the corresponding serum and milk samples, the prevalence was 12.3% (19/154) in serum samples, and 9.7% (15/154) in milk samples, respectively. A high correlation was observed between the two sample types with a concordance of 97.4%, a kappa value of 0.87, and a Pearson r correlation coefficient of 0.85. When the serum ELISA was taken as the gold standard, the milk ELISA had the following characteristics: sensitivity (78.9%), specificity (100%), positive predictive value (100%), negative predictive value (97.1%), and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.6, p = 0.0011). In this study, we confirmed the frequent occurrence of T. gondii antibodies in cattle in southern Egypt and demonstrated that non-invasive milk samples may be used instead of serum samples for seroprevalence studies in dairy cows.

Epidemiological and Genetic Insights of the Circulating Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotypes in Egypt

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) remains a major threat to livestock in Egypt, with ongoing outbreaks involving serotypes A, O, and SAT2. This study aimed to improve the understanding of these circulating FMDV strains to improve control measures. Between 2022 and 2023, 134 cattle samples from across Egypt were analyzed, revealing a 67.9% positivity rate for Pan FMDV. Of these positive samples, 64 were identified as serotype A and 27 as serotype O. Genetic analysis indicated that serotype O strains clustered within the EA-3 topotype, suggesting endemic persistence and potential vaccine evasion, while serotype A strains were associated with the African topotype and linked to regions such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan. Notable amino acid mutations in the VP1 protein of both serotypes highlighted potential challenges to vaccine effectiveness. These findings underscore the need for enhanced surveillance, timely vaccine updates, and regional cooperation to effectively manage FMD outbreaks in Egypt and neighboring countries.

An estimation of vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in dairy cattle, in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Neospora caninum is an important agent of abortion and reproductive loss in dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of vertical transmission of N.caninum in dairy cattle, KorasanRazavi province, Iran. Two dairy farms with history of Neospora abortion were selected and two hundred -eighty blood samples of dairy cattle in the third trimester of gestation were collected from January 2018 to April 2019. The serum samples of each dairy cattle were examined by an indirect ELISA. At the calving, the colostrum samples of seropositive dams with blood samples of their precolostral calves were collected and again examined by the ELISA method. The seroprevalence of Neospora infection was determined by 16.59% (41/247) in dairy farm 1 and 12.12% (4/33) in dairy farm 2 (P&gt;0.05). In the present study, 100% of precolostral calves born of seropositive dairy cattle had antibodies against Neospora caninum before colostrum ingestion. Based on the seroprevalence of dam and daughter, the vertical transmission was estimated at the highest rate (100%). In conclusion, the results are shown the importance of vertical transmission to remain and contribute to N.caninum infection in two dairy farms.

Performance of 5 commercial ELISA kits for the detection of antibody to bovine leukemia virus.

To prevent significant economic losses, some countries have successfully eradicated enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL), which is caused by bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection. In Serbia, efforts to eliminate EBL commenced in the late 1990s. Recognizing the disparities in test selection among laboratories and variations in quality, we evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of commercial ELISAs using field samples in Serbia. Using 5 commercial ELISA kits, we tested 138 cattle serum samples, submitted for confirmatory testing between 2020 and 2023, along with 100 serum samples from BLV-negative herds. We found 100% agreement of the ID Screen BLV Competition (IDvet), Svanovir BLV gp51-Ab (Svanova), and INgezim BLV Compac 2.0 (Ingenasa) ELISAs. We observed 93% agreement comparing these 3 kits to the Bovine Leukemia Virus Antibody test kit (VMRD). Agreements of 92% and 88.4% were determined between Idexx and IDvet, Svanova, and Ingenasa kits, and between Idexx and VMRD kits, respectively.

Investigation of Leptospirosis Agents in Cattle and Humans.

Leptospirosis, a global zoonotic disease, causes serious morbidity and mortality generally in low-income societies. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Leptospira serovars in cattle and high-risk human populations. This study investigated the presence of pathogenic Leptospira serogroups in the blood and kidney samples of cattle arriving at the Erzurum Meat and Milk Institution for slaughter between April and July, and between September and December 2022, and in the serum samples of humans. Kidney and serum samples from 289 cattle and serum samples from 100 individuals from at-risk occupational groups (58 farmers, 25 veterinarians and 17 butchers) were collected. As a control, 100 human blood samples were collected from civil servants who had no contact with animals. Microagglutination testing was used to investigate Leptospira serogroups in bovine sera, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Leptospira DNA in kidney samples, and microagglutination testing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for Leptospira antibodies in human blood serum samples. Microagglutination test in 4.5% of cattle; Leptospira DNA was positive in 0.7%. Six strains of Leptospira interrogans, two of Bratislava, one of Pomana and one of Icterohaemorrhagiae were found in cattle, as well as one strain of Leptospira kirschneri Dadas. In humans, two Icterohaemorrhagiae, one Hebdomadis and one Dadas serovar were detected in both the risk group and the control group. Using ELISA, antibody positivity was found to be 14.0% in the risk group and 11.0% in the control group. The seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in cattle in Erzurum, Türkiye, is relatively high. In this region, the risk of encountering Leptospira in the normal population is as high as in the risk group.

Влияние малых доз ионизирующего излучения при облучении in vitro на показатели крови

Abstract. The purpose is the determination of the degree of influence of small absorbed doses of ionizing radiation on biochemical and hematological parameters during irradiation of peripheral blood samples of cattle in vitro. For the work, blood samples were taken from lactating cows kept under the influence of the background absorbed dose in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, followed by in vitro irradiation at doses of 5, 50, 500 mGy. Methods. Peripheral blood was taken from blood vessels from the tail vein into vacuum tubes with a coagulation activator, in vitro irradiation of samples was carried out on an installation equipped with a Cs-137 source, biochemical studies of blood serum were carried out using a PE-5400UF spectrophotometer. Hematological blood parameters were determined according to generally accepted methods. Results. Ionizing radiation in vitro in doses of 5 mGy, 50 mGy and 500 mGy of peripheral blood samples of cattle affects hematological parameters in different directions, which is characterized by wave-like fluctuations in hemoglobin values, a decrease in the content of erythrocytes and a decrease in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It was found that a single irradiation of peripheral blood samples of cows at a dose of 5 mGy reduced the concentration of beta-globulins and creatinine and did not affect the content of total protein and protein fractions. When exposed to ionizing radiation at a dose of 50 mGy, the content of total protein, the level of beta-globulins, creatinine decreased in blood samples, and the content of albumins and alpha-, gamma-globulins did not change. When irradiated at a dose of 500 mGy, the relative content of alpha-globulins, the concentration of ALT and AST decreased, the content of creatinine, total protein, albumins and beta-, gamma-globulins did not change. The stability of alkaline phosphatase, albumins and gamma globulins to ionizing effects at doses of 5 mGy, 50 mGy and 500 mGy has been established. Scientific novelty. The linear dependence of the concentration of alpha-globulins, AST and ALT on the absorbed dose was revealed, the numerical values of the approximation coefficients describing the decrease in concentration and biochemical parameters were determined. The inverse direct linear relationship between creatinine stability and absorbed dose has been established. Practical significance is the established digital values of the approximation coefficients of alpha globulins, AST and ALT can be used in the reconstruction of radiation dose values in the range of 5–50 mGy.

Genotyping of Hydatid Cyst Isolated from Human and Domestic Animal in Babylon Province

The study involved 200 feces samples of cattle and sheep, in Babylon Governorate in Iraq. Used for diagnosis of hydatid cyst, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using specific primers and the method was the conventional PCR. Cattle and sheep was classified into subgroups according to age, area and sex in this study association of these risk factors with rate of infection. The diagnosis of hydatid cyst in cattle and sheep was determined by (pcr). study which are collected from human, sheep, cattle The prevalence of Hydatid Cysts infections was highest in Al-Qassim and western hamza districts which were 36.36b % (40) of cattle, 22.5a% (9) of sheep and 17.5a % (7) of cattle , 22.72b% (25) of sheep respectively , while the prevalence of Hydatid Cysts in Al-Hilla District was 18.18ab% (20) of cattle, 37.5c% (15) of sheep and the lower prevalence of was in Al-Musayyab and Al-mahaweel district which was 9.09a % (10) of cattle, 12.5ab % (5) of sheep and 13.63ab % (15) of cattle , 10b % (4) of sheep respectively. The results of present study were exhibited on high prevalence of in cattle and sheep of some districts in Babylon province. The statistical analysis recorded that there was Significant difference (at P&lt;0.05) difference in the prevalence of parasite among geographical areas. In the present study the incidence of hydatid cysts was different according to age of the host. In sheep the incidence of hydatid cysts has a positive proportion to age of sheep; a high prevalence rate (45b%) was observed in age of sheep (1-2 years); while less prevalence rate observed in (&gt;3) years ages (10a%),In cattle a higher rate (58.18b%) was recorded at ages (2-5 years) while a lower rate (3.63a%) was recorded in (&gt;8) years with Highly significant difference at P&lt;0.05 difference in the prevalence of parasite between age intervals. The result of infection with hydatidosis according to sex revealed that Females were exposed to infection more than males, with no significant difference at P&lt;0.05 in sheep and cattle.

ОЦЕНКА КОРОВ-ПЕРВОТЁЛОК ЧЁРНО-ПЁСТРОЙ ПОРОДЫ ПО ДНК-МАРКЕРАМ, АССОЦИИРОВАННЫХ С ХОЗЯЙСТВЕННО-ПОЛЕЗНЫМИ ПРИЗНАКАМИ

At present time are widely used genetic markers as means in the selection of highly productive animals. Since the genes: CSN3 (kappa-casein), PIT-1 (pituitary-specific transcription factor), PRL (prolactin), GH (somatotropin) are polymorphic and encode various proteins, the study of their influence on the productive traits of cattle is relevant. In this regard, the goal of the work is to determine the influence of complex genotypes of the studied genes on the milk productivity of first-calf cows of the Black-and-White breed bred in the collective farm-breeding plant «Kazminsky» in the Kochubeevsky district of the Stavropol Territory. The place of research is the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, VNIIOK, a branch of the North Caucasian Federal National Research Center. This article presents the results of DNA genotyping of allelic polymorphism for the CSN3, PIT-1, PRL, GH genes using PCR-RFLP methods in first-calf cows of the Black-and-White breed. It was established that these genes in the studied sample are polymorphic. The frequency of occurrence of the desired CSN3B allele in the studied sample was 0.23. The presence of alleles PIT-1A and PIT-1B of the pituitary-specific transcription factor gene was noted with a frequency of occurrence of 0.52 and 0.48. A feature of the PRL gene polymorphism was the fairly high frequency of occurrence of the PRLA allele (0.60). In this study sample of dairy cattle, the frequency of occurrence of the desired GHL allele of the somatotropin gene was 0.62. All variants of complex genotypes were also identified and their relationship with milk productivity in black-and-white cows was noted. The study sample was dominated by animals carrying complex desirable genotypes, consisting of four and three marker alleles of three and two genes (CSN3AB/PIT-1BB/GHLV; CSN3AB/PIT1AB/GHLL or PIT-1AB/PRLAB/GHLV; PIT-1AA/GHLL ) - 46.7 %. Milk yield per lactation between groups of black-and-white first-calf cows with different complex genotypes ranged from 5839.14 to 8611.33 kg. The mass fraction of fat in milk ranged from 3.93 to 4.04 %, and protein from 2.99 to 3.14 %.

Gut Microbiota Diversity of Local Egyptian Cattle Managed in Different Ecosystems.

The animal gastrointestinal tract contains a complex microbiome whose composition ultimately reflects the co-evolution of microorganisms with their animal host and their host's environment. This study aimed to gain insights into the adaptation of the microbiota of local Egyptian cattle to three different ecosystems (Upper Egypt, Middle Egypt, and Lower Egypt) distributed across 11 governorates (with an average of 12 animals per governorate) using amplicon sequencing. We analyzed the microbiota from 136 fecal samples of local Egyptian cattle through a 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach to better understand the fecal microbial diversity of this breed which developed under different ecosystems. An alpha diversity analysis showed that the fecal microbiota of the Egyptian cattle was not significantly diverse across areas, seasons, sexes, or farm types. Meanwhile, microbiota data revealed significant differences in richness among age groups (p = 0.0018). The microbial community differed significantly in the distribution of its relative abundance rather than in richness across different ecosystems. The taxonomic analysis of the reads identified Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota as the dominant phyla, accounting for over 93% of the total bacterial community in Egyptian cattle. Middle Egypt exhibited a different microbial community composition compared to Upper and Lower Egypt, with a significantly higher abundance of Firmicutes and Euryarchaeota and a lower abundance of Actinobacteriota in this region than the other two ecosystems. Additionally, Middle Egypt had a significantly higher relative abundance of the Methanobacteriaceae family and the Methanobrevibacter genera than Lower and Upper Egypt. These results suggest a difference in the adaptation of the fecal microbial communities of Egyptian cattle raised in Middle Egypt. At the genus level, eleven genera were significantly different among the three ecosystems including Bacillus, DNF00809, Kandleria, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, Methanobrevibacter, Mogibacterium, Olsenella, Paeniclostridium, Romboutsia, Turicibacter, and UCG-005. These significant differences in microbiota composition may impact the animal's adaptation to varied environments.

Bacterial Communities of House Flies from Dairy Farms Highlight Their Role as Reservoirs, Disseminators, and Sentinels of Microbial Threats to Human and Animal Health.

Adult house flies (Musca domestica L.) inhabiting dairy farms not only are nuisance pests but also harbor and disseminate bacteria. We examined the bacterial community composition, diversity, environmental sources, and prevalence in individual adult female house flies and cattle manure samples collected monthly from Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee dairy farms between May and August 2021. Individual house flies carried diverse bacterial communities, encompassing all bacterial taxa (100%) identified across manure samples, and additional species likely acquired from the animals. Bacterial community assemblage in house flies and manure samples within farms varied by month. Some taxa were differentially associated with either house flies (Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, and Staphylococcus) or manure samples (Treponema, Succinivibrio, and Clostridia). House fly bacterial communities mostly contained specialist species originating from manure, with several taxa (Escherichia, Corynebacterium, Turicibacter) being potential pathogens of livestock and humans. These findings further support the role of house flies as carriers of cattle-associated bacteria, including pathogens, and their potential for disseminating these microbes among cattle and to neighboring environments. Since their bacterial communities provide a snapshot of their surrounding environment, house flies also serve as effective sentinels in xenosurveillance strategies.

A comprehensive molecular survey of vector-borne blood parasites in cattle in Kyrgyzstan with a note of the first molecular detection of Anaplasma bovis and Candidatus Anaplasma Camelii.

Vector-borne pathogens continue to increase their impact on the livestock industry worldwide. To protect animals against these pathogens, it is very important to identify the species that cause the disease and understand their prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the presence and prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in apparently healthy cattle in different parts of Kyrgyzstan using molecular diagnostic techniques. For this purpose, 531 blood samples were collected from the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken oblasts of Kyrgyzstan. The blood samples were investigated for vector-borne pathogens using PCR, RLB, and RFLP. Moreover, DNA sequence analyses were used to confirm the results of molecular techniques and phylogenetic analyses of these pathogens. 359 (67.61%) out of 531 samples were found to be infected with at least one pathogen, whereas 172 (32.39%) were detected to be negative. Thirteen vector-borne pathogens were detected in cattle blood samples, and the prevalence of these pathogens was as follows: Theileria orientalis (47.83%), T. annulata (25.61%), Babesia major (0.19%), B. occultans (0.38%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum-like 1 (3.20%), A. capra (3.01%), A. centrale (2.82%), A. bovis (1.13%), (A) ovis (0.19%), Candidatus Anaplasma camelii (0.94%), Trypanosoma theileri (19.21%), Mycoplasma wenyonii (6.03%), and Ca. Mycoplasma haemobos (2.64%). Among the positive samples, one pathogen was identified in 189 cattle (35.59%), and co-infections (two or more pathogens) were determined in 170 (32.01%) animals. Theileria parva, T. mutans, (B) bigemina, B. bovis, B. divergens, and A. marginale could not be detected in the study. Anaplasma bovis and Ca. Anaplasma camelii were detected for the first time in the country. This molecular survey provides important epidemiological and genetic data for the vector-borne pathogens in cattle. The results of the study showed that vector-borne pathogens have a significant spread and distribution in cattle in Kyrgyzstan.

Development and validation of a 5K low-density SNP chip for Hainan cattle

BackgroundThis study aimed to design and develop a 5K low-density liquid chip for Hainan cattle utilizing targeted capture sequencing technology. The chip incorporates a substantial number of functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci derived from public literature, including SNP loci significantly associated with immunity, heat stress, meat quality, reproduction, and other traits. Additionally, SNPs located in the coding regions of immune-related genes from the Bovine Genome Variation Database (BGVD) and Hainan cattle-specific SNP loci were included.ResultsA total of 5,293 SNPs were selected, resulting in 9,837 DNA probes with a coverage rate of 85.69%, thereby creating a Hainan cattle-specific 5K Genotyping by Target Sequencing (GBTS) liquid chip. Evaluation with 152 cattle samples demonstrated excellent clustering performance and a detection rate ranging from 96.60 to 99.07%, with 94.5% of SNP sites exhibiting polymorphism. The chip achieved 100% gender coverage and displayed a heterozygosity rate between 14.20% and 29.65%, with a repeatability rate of 99.65–99.85%. Analyses using Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed the potential regulatory roles of exonic SNPs in immune response pathways.ConclusionThe development and validation of the 5K GBTS liquid chip for Hainan cattle represent a valuable tool for genome analysis and genetic diversity assessment. Furthermore, it facilitates breed identification, gender determination, and kinship analysis, providing a foundation for the efficient utilization and development of local cattle genetic resources.

Acinetobacter species Isolated from Different Cattle Samples in Ibadan, Nigeria is a Reservoir of Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Acinetobacter species Isolated from Different Cattle Samples in Ibadan, Nigeria is a Reservoir of Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Metagenomic insights into resistome, mobilome and virulome in different fecal waste

Fecal waste is a significant source of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pollution and provides valuable insights into the AMR development in animal and human populations within the “One health” framework. Various genetic elements, including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), biocide and metal resistance genes (BMGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and virulence factor genes (VFGs), are crucial AMR risk determinants (ARDs). However, few studies focused on compositional characteristics of ARDs in different feces. Here, we analyzed 753 public metagenomes from human, pig, chicken, and cattle feces, revealing significant differences in ARD richness and abundance across fecal types, notably lowest in cattle samples. Tetracycline, multi-metal, and -biocide resistance genes were dominant resistome. A few core genes contributed to 25.6%–91.1% of gene abundance, and their correlations were stronger in cattle samples. Procrustes analysis showed that microbial composition had higher correlations with ARGs (M2 = 0.579) and BMGs (M2 = 0.519). Gammaproteobacteria was identified as major ARD-hosts especially in human and pig feces, and they mainly carried multi-resistance genes. MGEs exhibited direct positive effects on ARGs and BMGs, indirectly impacting VFGs. Utilizing random forest methods, we identified 42 indicator genes for tracking AMR pollution originating from fecal sources in the environments. This study offers new insights into understanding and controlling the AMR pollution of fecal waste from human and food animals.

Sero-Prevalence of Hemorrhagic Septicaemia in Cattle and Buffalo Population of Indian States Karnataka and Gujarat.

Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is a highly contagious and fatal disease of cattle and buffaloes caused by P. multocida. Both conventional and molecular methods are applied in parallel for rapid diagnosis of HS outbreaks and the periodical surveillance strategy to identify risk areas for HS is ignored. The current cross-sectional study aimed to estimate sero-prevalence and associated risk factors for HS in cattle and buffaloes in non-vaccinated regions of two Indian states. HS surveillance was carried out through the multi-stage random sampling technique at different strata. The study employed a questionnaire incorporating host factors (species, breed, sex, age, and lactation) and demographic parameters (state, district, block/cluster and village/epiunits, and household). First, two Indian states known for high milk production were selected followed by two districts within each state, subsequently four clusters within each district, finally 5-10 epiunits within clusters and 5-8 households within clusters were randomly selected to collect cattle and buffalo samples. The chi-square/p values and maps were prepared to represent disease prevalence and to correlate disease risk factors at different strata. A total of 692 cattle and buffalo serum samples were sourced from two states of the country (Karnataka-285 and Gujarat-407). In the first strata, antibodies to P. multocida were high in Gujarat (14.49%, CI: 11.22-18.30) compared to Karnataka (3.85%, CI: 1.94-6.80) with significant (p < 0.0001) association between the states. In the second strata, one of the four districts investigated revealed the highest sero-prevalence (18.61%, CI: 13.81-24.24) with statistical significance (p = 0.01) between the districts. Among clusters, one out of eight clusters showed the highest sero-prevalence (23.02%, CI: 16.59-30.54) with statistical significance (p = 0.03) between the clusters in the third strata. At epiunit level (fourth strata), 9 out of 27 epiunits (33.33%) visited in Karnataka and 24 out of 29 epiunits sampled in Gujarat were sero-positive (82.75%) in iELISA. At the household level, out of 306 HH visited, 40 HH had at least one positive animal (13.07%) and the p value between HH in the two states was highly significant (p = 0.0002). Chi-square analysis did not find any association of HS sero-prevalence to species, age, and lactation. However, significantly higher (p < 0.05) sero-prevalence was recorded in indigenous cattle breeds (16.56%) compared to crossbreeds (6.59%). Various immunoprophylactics and antibiotic therapies are effective against HS, but inappropriate disease reporting and failure to implement adequate vaccination control measures are the gaps identified. The present study highlights the current scenario of HS sero-prevalence in two of the high milk-producing states of India, which will be useful for stakeholders for undertaking the implementation of surveillance and control strategies for the regions.

In vitro characterization of probiotic potential of Lactobacillus plantarum CM49 against selected cattle mastitogens

BackgroundBovine mastitis results in significant economic losses for the dairy industry globally due to milk production losses and decreased herd efficiency. This research aimed to isolate, select, and characterize indigenous lactobacilli with probiotic properties. A total of 40 lactobacilli were isolated from healthy milk samples of cattle and identified at the species level through 16S rDNA sequencing. All isolates were initially screened for antimicrobial activity, and selected isolates underwent in vitro assessment of probiotic properties.ResultsAmong the lactobacilli isolates, varying levels of activity (9 to 19 mm) against cattle mastitogens; Stapylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (Strep. dysgalactiae) were observed in the well diffusion assay. These isolates demonstrated auto-aggregation (ranging from 14.29 ± 0.96% to 62.11 ± 1.09%) and co-aggregate (ranging from 9.21 ± 0.14% to 55.74 ± 0.74%) with mastitogens after 2 h. Lactobacillus (Lb.) plantarum CM49 showed sensitivity to most antibiotics tested and exhibited strong inhibitory effects, with mean log10 reductions of 3.46 for Staph. aureus, 2.82 for E. coli, and 1.45 for Strep. dysgalactiae in co-culture experiments. Furthermore, Lb. plantarum CM49 significantly decreased the adhesion rate of mastitogens on the bovine mammary cell line and mouse model, demonstrating its potential effectiveness in preventing mastitis.ConclusionIt is concluded that Lb. plantarum CM49 has remarkable probiotic potential with activity against cattle mastitogens in the laboratory and cell culture and competitively excludes mastitogens from bovine mammary cells and ameliorates Staph. aureus-induced mastitis in mice.

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis in Cattle of Rupandehi District, Nepal

Brucellosis is a contagious zoonotic disease affecting both cattle and humans, with notable economic and public health implications in Nepal. Despite previous studies indicating varying prevalence rates in different regions of the country, there is limited recent data on the status of Brucellosis in Rupandehi district. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Rupandehi district, Nepal, from 1st July to 30th September 2023. A total of 141 cattle blood samples from 92 farms were collected and tested using ID Screen® Brucellosis Indirect ELISA kits. Epidemiological survey was also conducted to gather information on risk factors associated with Brucellosis. All 141 blood samples were tested negative for Brucellosis, resulting in a seroprevalence rate of 0%. This study provides valuable data indicating a zero prevalence of Brucellosis in cattle of Rupandehi district, Nepal. This research doesn’t show any association for the prevalence of Brucellosis regarding the risk factor.

Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Escherichia coli Isolated from Food Animals for Antimicrobial Resistance

Background: The use of antimicrobials in food animals significantly contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance in nature. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat fecal samples. Methods: In this study out of 2025 healthy animals from 10 different farms, fecal samples were randomly collected by rectal swabs from 200 animals (50 each from cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat). E. coli was isolated and further studied for AMR and ESBL production by phenotypic assays and PCR targeting ESBL genes. Result: The overall prevalence of E. coli was 81.50% with the highest isolation rate from cattle and goat samples. Out of 163 isolates, 45.39% were ESBL-producers. Genes encoding beta-lactam resistance viz. blaSHV, blaTEM, blaCTX-M and blaOXA were detected in 44.59% ESBL-positive isolates. The blaSHV was present in only cattle isolates, while blaCTX-M was present in E. coli isolated from all animals. The prevalence of beta-lactam genes was found as blaSHV (2.70%), blaTEM (12.16%), blaCTX-M (22.97%) and blaOXA (6.75%). A high degree of resistance to multiple antimicrobials was observed. Maximum susceptibility of E. coli was observed for trimethoprim, imipenem and chloramphenicol. This study demonstrated that food animals could be the source of ESBL-producing multidrug-resistant E. coli. The present findings are significant in the context of AMR monitoring in India.