Sheep Faecal Samples Research Articles

First Detection of Hepatitis E Virus RNA in Ovine Raw Milk from Herds in Central Italy.

HEV mainly enters animal and human hosts through the orofecal route, which presents a critical health concern alongside the associated environmental variable. Among products of animal origin, milk (both ovine and bovine) can harbor HEV RNA, which can potentially be transmitted to consumers. In this study, a total of 220 raw ovine milk samples were collected from Apennine breed subjects farmed (transhumance method) in three different Italian provinces, L'Aquila, Pescara, and Teramo, located in the Abruzzo region (Central Italy). All the specimens were screened using one-step real-time RT-qPCR and nested RT-PCR assays. Among them, 5/220 or 2.27% harbored HEV RNA fragments belonging to the ORF1 and ORF2 codifying regions of the genotype 3c. The average viral amount discovered was 102 GE/mL. These subjects represented 2/57 or 3.51% of the Pescara herd, and 3/105 or 2.86% of the Teramo herd. Although HEV RNA was discovered in sheep fecal samples, the original data obtained in the present study represent the first HEV RNA detection in ovine raw milk from Italy.

Anticipating the potential distribution of Fasciola spp. in Gilan province of Iran: Insights from MaxEnt and climate change scenarios

Fasciolosis, a parasitic disease affecting humans and animals, is uniquely influenced by climatic and environmental factors. Gilan province in northern Iran is recognized as a high-endemic area for this parasite. This study aims to assess the prevalence of fasciolosis in Gilan province during the current period and forecast the distribution pattern of the parasite in future periods by analyzing climatic variables and identifying the most critical factors impacting Fasciola. To evaluate the present status of fasciolosis in Gilan, we collected 189 sheep fecal samples from different parts of the province and quantified eggs per gram of feces in each sample. Meteorological and environmental data were obtained and clipped to the study area. A total of 19 presence points were used to model the habitat suitability of Fasciola spp. through the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm, with jackknife analysis to determine variable importance. To project the potential distribution of Fasciola spp. in Gilan province under future scenarios, we employed MaxEnt using current (1970–2000) and projected climatic data based on three representative concentration pathway scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5) to predict habitat suitability in 2030, 2050, and 2070.The results of this study indicate the proportion of Fasciola spp. infection was highest in Talesh (46.37 %) and Langarud (45.7 %), while Rudsar (0 %) and Shaft (16.25 %) exhibited the lowest infection rates in Gilan province. MaxEnt modeling highlighted the significance of bioclimatic variables, particularly those associated with vegetation and temperature, such as temperature seasonality (Bio4) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The ecological niche modeling illustrated that the highest potential distribution for Fasciola in Gilan province is concentrated in the north-western and central regions, exhibiting an 80–100 % potential. However, projections for the future indicate a decrease to less than 20 % suitability for most of the province under all three scenarios until 2070. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between climatic variables and Fasciola distribution, enabling better preparedness and control strategies for this trematode in Gilan province and other regions with similar climates.

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.

Investigation of the Infection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Sheep and Goats in Jiangsu, China.

In order to investigate the infection status and genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) in sheep and goats in Jiangsu Province, a total of 786 fresh fecal samples from 18 farms across five regions in Jiangsu were collected and examined for the presence of E. bieneusi, and the genotype of E. bieneusi was examined using nested-PCR and sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer. The results showed that E. bieneusi was detected in the fecal samples of sheep and goats in all regions, with infection rates ranging from 23.65% to 42.81%. The overall infection rate was 36.51% (287/786). The infection rate of E. bieneusi showed no significant difference between sheep and goats, as well as among different ages of animals (p > 0.05), but showed a significant difference in sheep and goats with different health conditions (p < 0.05). The positive products were amplified and cloned and subjected to sequenced analysis. Six genotypes, BEB6, CHG2, CHG3, CHC8, CHG14, and COS-I, were found. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the six genotypes belonged to Group 2, which had previously been described as a non-zoonotic group.

Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Blastocystis in Sheep and Pigs in Shanxi Province, North China: From a Public Health Perspective.

Blastocystis is a common zoonotic intestinal protozoan and causes a series of gastrointestinal symptoms in humans and animals via the fecal-oral route, causing economic losses and posing public health problems. At present, the prevalence and genetic structure of Blastocystis in sheep and pigs in Shanxi province remains unknown. Thus, the present study collected 492 sheep fecal samples and 362 pig fecal samples from three representative counties in northern, central and southern Shanxi province for the detection of Blastocystis based on its SSU rRNA gene. The results showed that the overall prevalence of Blastocystis in the examined sheep and pigs were 16.26% and 14.09%, respectively. Sequences analyses showed that four known subtypes (ST5, ST10, ST14 and ST30) in sheep and two subtypes (ST1 and ST5) in pigs were detected in this study, with ST5 being the predominate subtype among the study areas. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the same subtypes were clustered into the same branch. This study reveals that sheep and pigs in Shanxi province are hosts for multiple Blastocystis subtypes, including the zoonotic subtypes (ST1 and ST5), posing a risk to public health. Baseline epidemiological data are provided that help in improving our understanding of the role of zoonotic subtypes in Blastocystis transmission.

Rapid, automated quantification of Haemonchus contortus ova in sheep faecal samples

Haemonchus contortus is one of the most pathogenic nematodes affecting small ruminants globally and is responsible for large economic losses in the sheep and goat industry. Anthelmintic resistance is rampant in this parasite and thus parasite control programs must account for drug efficacy on individual farms and, sometimes, whether H. contortus is the most prevalent trichostrongylid. Historically, coproculture has been the main way to determine the prevalence of H. contortus in faecal samples due to the inability to morphologically differentiate between trichostrongylid egg types, but this process requires a skilled technician and takes multiple days to complete. Fluoresceinated peanut agglutinin (PNA) has been shown to specifically bind H. contortus and thus differentiate eggs based on whether they fluoresce, but this method has not been widely adopted. The ParasightTM System (PS) fluorescently stains helminth eggs in order to identify and quantify them, and the H. contortus PNA staining method was therefore adapted to this platform using methodology requiring only 20 min to obtain results. In this study, 74 fecal samples were collected from sheep and analyzed for PNA-stained H. contortus, using both PS and manual fluorescence microscopy. The percentage of H. contortus was determined based on standard total strongylid counts with PS or brightfield microscopy. Additionally, 15 samples were processed for coproculture with larval identification, and analyzed with both manual and automated PNA methods. All methods were compared using the coefficient of determination (R2) and the Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (ρc). ParasightTM and manual PNA percent H. contortus results were highly correlated with R2 = 0.8436 and ρc = 0.9100 for all 74 fecal samples. Coproculture versus PS percent H. contortus were also highly correlated with R2 = 0.8245 and ρc = 0.8605. Overall, this system provides a rapid and convenient method for determining the percentage of H. contortus in sheep and goat fecal samples without requiring specialized training.

Differences of Escherichia coli isolated from different organs of the individual sheep: molecular typing, antibiotics resistance, and biofilm formation.

Despite numerous studies on Escherichia coli (E. coli) from sheep, there have been few reports on the characterization of E. coli isolates from various organs of individual sheep until now. The present study conducted molecular typing, antibiotics resistance, biofilm formation, and virulence genes on E. coli isolated from 57 freshly slaughtered apparently healthy sheep carcasses, gallbladders, fecal samples, and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). The results demonstrated that the detection rate of R1 LPS core type in E. coli isolated from fecal samples (70.83%) was higher than that from other organs, but the detection rate of antibiotic resistance genes was lower (P < 0.05). The predominant phylogenetic group of E. coli isolated from the carcasses was group B1 (93.33%), and the detection rate of multidrug-resistance phenotype (80%) and the resistance rate of E. coli was higher than that from other organs (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the intensity of biofilm formation of E. coli isolated from MLNs was higher than that from other organs (P < 0.05). However, except for ibeB, the detection rates of virulence genes did not differ in E.coli isolated from different organs. In conclusion, differences were noted in these parameters of E. coli isolated from different organs of individual sheep. Therefore, the data may contain considerable mistakes concerning the actual situation in the host if we only analyze the data of E. coli isolated from feces or carcasses.

Infecções por parasitas gastrintestinais em caprinos e ovinos de acordo com a variação sazonal no município de São Luís, estado do Maranhão, Brasil

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze the seasonal variation of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in goats and sheep in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Fecal samples were collected directly from the rectal ampulla of the animals to count the eggs per gram in the feces at 30-day intervals over the 12-month study period. This study included 40 small ruminants, comprising 22 goats (14 sows, 6 kids, and 2 sires) and 18 sheep (13 sows, 4 lambs, and 1 sire). The study assessed the variation in the excretion of gastrointestinal nematode eggs during the dry and rainy seasons. Coproculture was performed to identify third-stage larvae. In the 12 months of research and monthly sample collections, 95.9% and 82.3% of the eggs detected were endoparasites in the fecal samples of the goats and sheep, respectively. Eimeria spp. oocysts were present in 50.6% and 30.4% of the goat and sheep fecal samples, respectively. The results indicated that the mean number of eggs per gram of feces was higher in the rainy season than in the dry season in both goats and sheep. The genera of gastrointestinal nematodes identified via monthly coproculture tests were Haemonchus sp., Trichostrongylus sp., and Oesophagostomum sp. Thus, gastrointestinal nematode parasitism was higher in goats and sheep during the rainy season than in the dry season, and the genera Haemonchus sp. and Trichostrongylus sp. were the most prevalent.

Metagenomic Studies for the Detection of Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei, Ostertagia leptospicularis and Eimeria ahsata in Northern Cyprus Sheep for the First Time

Background: Gastrointestinal parasitism is considered one of the major health problems of ruminants in developing and undeveloped countries in the world. Despite the universal knowledge of these parasites, little is known about their prevalence and distribution in Northern Cyprus. This study is aimed at the microscopic and metagenomic study of gastrointestinal parasites across Cyprus sheep farms. Methods: A total of 200 sheep faecal samples were randomly collected across sheep farms in suburban regions of Northern Cyprus during 2021-22. Samples were analyzed using the centrifugal floatation technique. Data were subjected to chi-square test analysis on SPSS to determine the relationship between age, sex of animals and prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes. Samples were randomly selected to extract DNA and subjected to metagenomic analysis after which DNA has been extracted from the samples. Result: Our investigations in the Northern Cyprus sheep farms allowed us to identify three species of gastrointestinal parasites namely Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei, Ostertagia leptospicularis and Eimeria ahsata which are new to this region. The GINs recovered are Haemonchus, Moniezia and Toxocara among others. A high prevalence (85%) of gastrointestinal parasites was recorded. Results showed a considerable significant relationship (P less than 0.05) between the age of animals and parasite prevalence.

Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria hsp65 in Relation to Bovine Subclinical Mastitis and IL6 Concentration in Cow's Milk.

Mastitis is a condition in which the mammary tissue becomes inflamed. Changes in color and the appearance of clots, as well as increases in cell counts in the milk, are all indicators of inflammation. Mastitis is a common occurrence in cows as a result of inframammary infections. The present study aimed to find out how often nontuberculous mycobacteria(NTM) mastitis occurs and how hp65 affects Interleukin (IL) 6 concentrations. The findings of the Modified Whiteside Test (MWT) on the milk samples from 70 cows, 50 sheep, and 30 goats revealed that 82.9%, 76.7%, and 46.7% of milk samples from cows, sheep, and goats were positive, respectively. This test demonstrated a range of positive milk sample MWT reactions, and the difference among the current positivity score results was statistically significant (P<0.05). The presence of NTM in analyzed milk samples from cows and sheep was confirmed by hsp65-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene sequencing, with significant differences (P<0.05) in 71.4% and 20% of milk samples from cows and sheep, respectively. The PCR detection of the NTM hsp65 gene in fecal samples from cows, sheep, and goats indicated that cows (80%) had the highest proportion of NTM hsp65 gene amplification, followed by goats (70%), while sheep fecal samples had the lowest amount (22%). The difference among the positive NTM hsp65-based PCR was statistically significant (P<0.05). The phylogenetic tree and sequence analysis of the hsp65 gene revealed two novel variant NTM hsp65 genes that were deposited in Gene Bank (GenBank acc. LC636294 and LC636295). The current examined NTM Hsp65 Mycobacterium sequences which were included in the Mycobacterium avium clade in the currently produced tree ELISA detection of IL6 concentration in cow's milk revealed that IL-6 concentration in mastitis milk was varied. The mean of IL-6 concentration in cow's mastitis milk with MWT scores (+++ve) and mean of IL6 concentration in each MWT scores (++ve), MWT scores (+ve), and -ve MWT cow's milk had a highly significant difference (P<0.001).

PREVALENCE OF Blastocystis sp. IN CATTLE, GOAT AND SHEEP REARED BY DIFFERENT FARM MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN PAHANG, MALAYSIA

Blastocystis sp. is a familiar parasite in the gastrointestinal tract causing infection in humans and animals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Blastocystis sp. prevalence in three sorts of livestock; cattle, goats, and sheep in Pahang, Malaysia, which are reared under two management systems; intensive and semi-intensive farm management system. About 92, 96, and 65 cattle, goat, and sheep fecal samples respectively were collected from different farms around Kuantan, Bera, and Pekan. The fecal samples were cultured in Jones’ medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated horse serum and incubated at 37 ºC for 2 weeks, then observed under light microscopy daily. The total prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was 29.34% in cattle (27/92), 29.16% in goats (28/96), and 43.07% in sheep (28/65). Supported the results of this study, Blastocystis sp. prevalence was higher in sheep and livestock reared by a semi-intensive farm management system (44.38%). However, further study could be done for Blastocystis sp. subtypes identification to determine its genetic diversity. Notwithstanding, this study has provided additional knowledge on the prevalence of each livestock reared in farms around Pahang that serve as important information in understanding host-parasite relationships, besides determining the best farm management system to be applied by farmers.

Incidence and molecular characterization of ESBL-producing and colistin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates recovered from healthy food-producing animals in Pakistan

To investigate the occurrence and molecular features of ESBL-producing and colistin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates recovered from healthy food-producing animals in Pakistan. A total of 153 E. coli isolates were recovered from 250 faecal samples collected from livestock and poultry. The antibiotic susceptibility, resistant determinants and mobile genetic elements were determined for all the isolates. The clonal relatedness was analysed by MLST. Plasmids harbouring, localization and transferability of mcr-1 gene were carried out by Southern hybridization, S1-PFGE and transconjugation. Out of 153 E. coli strains, 49.01% isolates were ESBLs producers, whereas 18.95% were resistant to colistin and 84.31% of the isolates. Multidrug resistance was found in 84% of the isolates. The ESBL-producing E. coli in buffaloes, cattle, sheep, goat and broilers faecal samples were 60%, 74%, 54%, 50% and 68%, respectively. Among the ESBLs genes, blaCTX-M was the most prevalent group detected in 98.66%, while only mcr-1 of the colistin-resistant genes could be PCR amplified in 29 isolates. The common MGEs found were ISECP1 (35.13%), ISCR1 (33.78%), ISApl1 (20.27%) and Inti1 (58.10%). The most predominant Inc. types found were IncFIB 46.66%, followed by IncFIA 30.66%, IncFIC 26.66%, IncFrepB 26.66%, IncHI2 26.66%, IncP 22.66% and IncX4 21.33%. The most frequent sequence type detected was ST58. Southern blot and S1-PFGE confirmed the plasmid harbouring of mcr-1 gene. The co-occurrence of mcr-1 and ESBLs-encoding genes, along with MGEs in E. coli from healthy food animals in Pakistan, is a major concern. Antimicrobial resistance can be transferred from animals to humans by direct contact or via the food chain and environment. The prevalence and co-occurrence of ESBL and colistin resistance genes from food-producing animals is rare in Pakistan. To our knowledge, this is the first report to find ESBLs and mcr-1-harbouring E. coli from the faecal samples of the healthy food-producing animals in Pakistan. The presence of ARGs in association with MGEs, co-harbouring the virulence factors, as determined in the current study, is a severe threat to livestock and the human community as it has horizontally and food web transferability.

Dry Season Eimeria Infection in Dairy Cattle and Sheep in and Around Adama and Bishoftu Towns, Oromia, Ethiopia.

IntroductionEimeria infection is one of the protozoal diseases of animals caused by various species of Eimeria (intracellular parasite) and causes reduced productivity and mortality in ruminants, especially in young ones. Despite the fact that the disease is one of the leading causes of economic losses, there is little information in Ethiopia on the occurrence of the infection in cattle and sheep.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to April 2022 in and around Adama and Bishoftu towns with the objectives to estimate the prevalence of Eimeria infection; identify circulating Eimeria oocysts, the intensity/burden of infection and associated risk factors of Eimeria infection in cattle and sheep. A total of 384 randomly selected (265 cattle and 119 sheep) fecal samples were collected from the rectum and examined by flotation technique using sheather’s sugar solution to detect the oocysts of Eimeria. A 2.5% potassium dichromate solution was added to the positive fecal samples for sporulation of the oocysts.Results and discussionThe overall prevalence of 48.95% Eimeria infection was recorded during the study. 45.0% and 58% prevalence of the infection was registered in cattle and sheep, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference (P ˂ 0.05) in Eimeria infection between the study animal species, age of the animals, breed, farm hygiene and management system. However, there was no significant difference in Eimeria infection (P > 0.05) in sex, body condition of the animals and fecal consistency. The maximum oocysts per gram of feces was found to be 10,000. Eimeria infection is of great importance to livestock producers and requires serious control and prevention initiatives.

Moxidectin use in Scottish sheep flocks suggests a need for clearer product labelling and communication of updated SCOPS guidelines.

Guidelines for sustainable use of moxidectin were established in 2020. This study aimed to identify how Scottish sheep farmers are using this key endectocide and estimate its effectiveness against gastrointestinal nematodes. Questionnaires were distributed to sheep farmers across Scotland, and analysis focused on moxidectin use in relation to Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) guidelines. Farmers using moxidectin in their flock volunteered to submit post-treatment sheep faecal samples, which were analysed for the presence of gastrointestinal nematodes using faecal egg counts with polymerase chain reaction to determine species. Despite 70% of farmers using moxidectin in 2020, knowledge levels varied: 24% of farmers included other anthelmintics when asked about moxidectin use. Moxidectin was used for a wide variety of reasons, and most farmers did not consistently follow SCOPS guidelines. Despite only 2 of 76 farmers reporting failure of moxidectin treatment, gastrointestinal nematodes were found following moxidectin treatment on five out of six farms tested and included Teladorsagia circumcincta, Cooperia curticei, Haemonchus contortus and Nematodirus sp. Findings from this project indicate the need for improved anthelmintic product labelling and farmer support to encourage sustainable use. The presence of nematodes in treated animals is suggestive of anthelmintic resistance.

Prevalence of ovine fasciolosis and its associated risk factors: The case of in and around Bedele Town, Bunno Bedele Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Background: Ethiopia is rich in sheep and goats, accounting for 63% of the income from financial production and 23% of the cost of food. However, this immense wealth potential has not been well exploited for the support of farmers and their contribution to the economy as a whole due to various factors such as diseases. Among these, fascioliasis is one of the most economically important parasitic diseases of farm animals, especially in sheep. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with ovine fasciolosis in the study area. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with ovine fasciolosis in four randomly selected peasant associations in and around Bedele town by using standard fecal sedimentation techniques. Results: Out of a total of 384 sheep faecal samples processed and examined, 85 (22.1%) were positive for fasciolosis. Risk factors such as origin, age, sex, and body condition were also assessed for the occurrence of the disease. Accordingly; Shebe (26.4%) had a higher sheep fasciolosis, followed by Yabella (22.5%), Dabena Daru (20.8%), and Bedele 02 (17.5%) with no significant differences in peasant associations (p &gt; 0.05). The prevalence rate under different body condition scores was recorded as poor (38.6%) compared to medium (22.3%), followed by good (16.3%). Similarly, infection was found to be among female (23%) and male (21%) sex groups; but had a statistically significant association (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion and Recommendations: Current research suggests that fasciolosis affecting sheep was a common parasitic disease in the study area, so control strategies should be developed to reduce the spread of infection.

Detection of Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Pathogens in Dairy Sheep and Goats by Using FilmArray® Multiplex-PCR Technology.

The objectives of this study were (a) to detect gastrointestinal pathogens in faecal samples of sheep and goats using the FilmArray® GI Panel and (b) to evaluate factors that were associated with their presence. Faecal samples from ewes or does in 70 sheep flocks and 24 goat herds in Greece were tested for the presence of 22 gastrointestinal pathogens by means of the BioFire® FilmArray® Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel. The most frequently detected pathogens were Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli stx1/stx2 (94.7% of farms), Giardia lamblia (59.6%), and Campylobacter spp. (50.0% of farms). Other pathogens detected were Cryptosporidium spp., Salmonella spp., enterotoxigenic E. coli lt/st, Yersinia enterocolitica, E. coli O157, Rotavirus A, Shigella/enteroinvasive E. coli, and Plesiomonas shigelloides. There was a difference in the prevalence of detection of pathogens between sheep and goat farms only for Salmonella spp.: 18.3% versus 0.0%, respectively. Mixed infections were detected in 76 farms (80.9% of farms), specifically 57 sheep flocks and 19 goat herds, with on average, 2.5 ± 0.1 pathogens detected per farm. The body condition score of ewes in farms, in which only one pathogen was detected in faecal samples, was significantly higher than that of ewes in farms, in which at least two pathogens were detected: 2.55 ± 0.11 versus 2.31 ± 0.04. In sheep flocks, the number of pathogens in faecal samples was significantly higher in farms with semi-extensive management. In goat herds, the number of pathogens in faecal samples was positively correlated with average precipitation and inversely correlated with temperature range in the respective locations.

Multi-drug resistance profile of extended spectrum β-Lactamases producing Escherichia coli isolated from sheep in Mosul city

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) Escherichia coli have become a major threat due to their ability to overcome different types of antibiotics. However, Extended Spectrum β-lactamase E. coli (ESBLE) imposes an additional threat due to their ability to resist the 3rd generation cephalosporins. Accordingly, our study aimed to investigate the antibiogram profile of ESBLE isolates obtained from sheep. A Total of 40 ESBLE isolates were included in this study which represents sheep fecal and milk samples. Twelve antibiotics were selected to perform antibiotic sensitivity tests following standard microbiological methods. The results of the study showed that the highest resistance percentages were recorded for tetracycline 97.5%, ciprofloxacin 80%, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 65%, and streptomycin 57.5%. While other antibiotics recorded lesser values. On the other hand, all isolates were susceptible to gentamycin and tobramycin each at 92.5%, followed by chloramphenicol and levofloxacin each at 82.5% and nitrofurantoin 72.5%. While fewer values of sensitivity were recorded for streptomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, azithromycin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin and, tetracycline. The study concluded that ESBLE of sheep origin that have additional resistance features to other antibiotics could be a major threat for spreading resistance and contaminating the environment and finally impose negative impact for response to antibiotic treatment in humans.

Cross-sectional study and genotyping of rotavirus-A infections in ruminants in Kuwait

BackgroundGroup A rotaviruses (RVA) are zoonotic pathogens responsible for acute enteritis in human and neonatal ruminants. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of RVA in ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goats) and investigate the circulating RVA genotypes in these animals in Kuwait. We conducted a cross-sectional study to detect RVA in ruminants, using an immunochromatography test (IC), direct sandwich ELISA test, and real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) assay using fecal samples.ResultsA total of 400 cattle, 334 sheep, and 222 goats were examined. The prevalence of RVA was 5.3, 1.2, and 2.3%, respectively, using IC. The ELISA test detected RVA from 4.3% of cattle, 0.9% of sheep, and 1.8% of goats. There was a significant association between the occurrence of diarrhea and the presence of RVA in bovine fecal samples (p-value = 0.0022), while no statistical association between diarrhea and the presence of RVA in fecal samples of sheep and goats was observed (p-value = 0.7250; p-value = 0.4499, respectively). Twenty-three of the IC-positive samples (17 from cattle, two from sheep, and four from goats) were tested using a RT-qPCR RVA detection assay targeting the NSP3 gene. The results showed that 21 of 23 IC-positive samples tested positive by RT-qPCR. Detection of RVA genotypes revealed that G10P[11] was the predominant strain in cattle (58.8%), followed by G8P[1] (11.7%). One sheep sample was genotyped as G8P[1]. In addition, G6P[1] and G6P[14] were detected in goat samples.ConclusionThe present study revealed that the IC was more sensitive in detecting RVA antigen in fecal samples than the ELISA test. A higher occurrence of RVA infection was observed in cattle than in sheep and goats. This study suggests that RVA might be a risk factor of diarrhea in bovine calves less than 2 weeks old. This research also demonstrates the circulation of RVA in sheep and goat populations in Kuwait. Finally, the G10P[11] RVA genotype was the most prevalent genotype identified from cattle samples.

A Comparative Study of Cattle and Sheep Amoebiasis in Selected Regions of Baghdad City

This study was performed to microscopically detect the prevalence of amoebiasis in cattle and sheep fecal samples. One hundred fecal samples were collected from cattle and sheep from 3 completely different area in Baghdad city (Al-Tarmiyah, Al-Fudhaliyah, AbuGhraib). Our data recorded a total amoebiasis infection rate of 54% in cattle and 50% in sheep, without any significant differences between them. Males showed higher infection rates than females in cattle and sheep (62.5%) and (57.14) respectively. The difference between age groups with significant difference (P&lt;0.01) were obtained in ages &lt;1 year (72.7%) and (68.75%) in cattle and sheep respectively. This study has demonstrated the widespread of Entamoeba parasite in cattle and sheep in Baghdad city.

An epidemiological study of gastrointestinal nematode and Eimeria coccidia infections in different populations of Kazakh sheep.

This is an epidemiological study on the gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) and Eimeria coccidia infections in Kazakh sheep and the F1 and F2 generations of Kazakh × Texel sheep crosses. A total of 7599 sheep fecal samples were collected from the Zhaosu County and Nilka County in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in the four seasons-spring, summer, autumn, and winter of 2019. The parasite causing the infection was identified by the saturated saline floating method, and the infection intensity was calculated by the modified McMaster method. SPSS19.0 was used to evaluate the differences in the fecal egg count (FEC) of for GIN and the fecal oocyst count (FOC) value of for coccidia per sample. The results showed that there were nine types of sheep GIN infections and Eimeria coccidia in these two counties of Ililocations, with the dominant parasite species of Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., and Ostertagia spp as the predominant parasites in the sheep. Most of the GIN and coccidia infections in these two regions were mild and moderate. The mean log (FEC) of GIN infection in the Zhaosu area was significantly higher than that in the Nilka area, whereas the mean log (FOC) of coccidia infection in Zhaosu was significantly lower than that of Nilka. The mean log (FEC) of GIN infection in the four seasons was the highest in spring, followed by in summer, then in autumn, and the lowest in winter. The mean log (FOC) of coccidia infection was the highest in spring, followed by in autumn, and was the lowest in summer and winter. The mean log (FEC) of GIN infection and log (FOC) of coccidia infection of Kazakh sheep was significantly higher than the F1 generation, which was then significantly higher than the F2 generation of summer. A positive correlation was found between the EPG and OPG levels in the sheep. These results showed that the GIN and coccidia infection intensities of the F1 generation sheep of Kazakh ×Texel crosses were significantly lower than that of Kazakh sheep paving the way for marker-based resistance selection.