Signs In Cattle Research Articles

Emergence of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3, the Netherlands, September 2023.

Since 1998, notifiable bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes 1-4, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 16 have been reported in Europe. In August 2006, a bluetongue (BT) outbreak caused by BTV serotype 8 began in northwestern Europe. The Netherlands was declared BT-free in February 2012, and annual monitoring continued. On September 3, 2023, typical BT clinical manifestations in sheep were notified to the Netherlands Food and Product Safety Consumer Authority. On September 6, we confirmed BTV infection through laboratory diagnosis; notifications of clinical signs in cattle were also reported. We determined the virus was serotype 3 by whole-genome sequencing. Retrospective analysis did not reveal BTV circulation earlier than September. The virus source and introduction route into the Netherlands remains unknown. Continuous monitoring and molecular diagnostic testing of livestock will be needed to determine virus spread, and new prevention strategies will be required to prevent BTV circulation within the Netherlands and Europe.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on bovine brucellosis among smallholder livestock keepers in Rungwe district, Tanzania

The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of smallholder livestock farmers on brucellosis in Rungwe District, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted among cattle keepers practicing communal grazing in the district using a structured questionnaire. One hundred cattle keepers provided information about their KAP for brucellosis. Out of 100 participants, 12.8% did not know how the disease is transmitted in cattle, 20.5% stated mating, 37.2% stated placenta and 29.5% stated shared grazing area as the main transmission routes of the disease. Some respondents reported abortion (20.5%), bull infertility (25.6%) and weak calves (38.5%) as clinical signs in cattle, while 15.4% did not know the clinical signs. Drinking raw milk (23.1%), assisting delivery or handling placenta (16.7%), slaughtering infected animals (29.5%) and handling abortion cases (21.8%) were reported as means of brucellosis transmission to humans. A total of 11.5% of participants did not know the symptoms of brucellosis in humans, while 16.7%, 47.4% and 24.4% cited fever, headache and flu-like symptoms, respectively, as symptoms of brucellosis in humans. Most respondents had bad attitudes and practices toward brucellosis; for instance, 59.8% of respondents consumed unboiled milk. It is concluded that most livestock farmers in Rungwe district have poor knowledge of brucellosis, and their attitudes and practices put them and susceptible cattle on their farms at risk of contracting the disease. Education campaigns on the disease prevalence, socioeconomic effects, mode of transmission and control measures are recommended to control brucellosis in Rungwe District and the country at large.

Knowledge and practice of bovine tuberculosis among occupational workers in abattoirs in Abuja

Zoonotic tuberculosis particularly those caused by Mycobaterium bovis is increasingly of importance especially since the emergence of HIV/AIDS, posing a serious public health threat to human population. The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and practice of Bovine tuberculosis among occupational workers in abattoir in Abuja. A total of 389 questionnaire were administered to butchers and meat sellers in the randomly selected abattoir in four selected area councils. Data were analysed using Chi-square at a ρ<0.05 level of significant and descriptive statistics such as percentages. Out of 384 of the respondents, 95.1% were males while 4.9% were females; 96.9% were between that of 18-45; 57% had secondary education; 61.2% had 1 to 10 years working experience. Based on knowledge, 67.4% knew bovine tuberculosis to be zoonotic; 20.1% and 36.2% knew transmission could be from infected milk and meat respectively; 53.9% and 49.0% knew emaciation and respiratory distress as signs in cattle respectively; 72.1% and 54.9% of the respondents knew tuberculosis lesions to be of pulmonary and extrapulmonary regions respectively. Based on practice, 34.9% do nothing when they see abnormal lesions while 24.5% call the veterinarian; 31.0% and 9.9% of respondent use boot and mask as protective clothing respectively; 43.2% wash their hands and knife with water and soap while 10.9% use disinfectant. The findings of this study revealed that butchers and meat sellers have acquired knowledge about the nature of tuberculosis lesions through repeated meat inspection carried out by veterinarians in Abuja abattoirs.

Assessment of diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers to assess lung consolidation in calves with induced bacterial pneumonia using receiver operating characteristic curves.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most economically significant disease for cattle producers in the U.S. Cattle with advanced lung lesions at harvest have reduced average daily gain, yield grades, and carcass quality outcomes. The identification of biomarkers and clinical signs that accurately predict lung lesions could benefit livestock producers in determining a BRD prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are graphical plots that illustrate the diagnostic ability of a biomarker or clinical sign. Previously we used the area under the ROC curve (AUC) to identify cortisol, hair cortisol, and infrared thermography imaging as having acceptable (AUC > 0.7) diagnostic accuracy for detecting pain in cattle. Herein, we used ROC curves to assess the sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers and clinical signs associated with lung lesions after experimentally induced BRD. We hypothesized pain biomarkers and clinical signs assessed at specific time points after induction of BRD could be used to predict lung consolidation at necropsy. Lung consolidation of > 10% was retrospectively assigned at necropsy as a true positive indicator of BRD. Calves with a score of < 10% were considered negative for BRD. The biomarkers and clinical signs analyzed were serum cortisol; infrared thermography (IRT); mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT); substance P; kinematic gait analysis; a visual analog scale (VAS); clinical illness score (CIS); computerized lung score (CLS); average activity levels; prostaglandin E2 metabolite (PGEM); serum amyloid A; and rectal temperature. A total of 5,122 biomarkers and clinical signs were collected from 26 calves, of which 18 were inoculated with M. haemolytica. All statistics were performed using JMP Pro 14.0. Results comparing calves with significant lung lesions to those without yielded the best diagnostic accuracy (AUC > 0.75) for right front stride length at 0 h; gait velocity at 32 h; VAS, CIS, average activity and rumination levels, step count, and rectal temperature, all at 48 h; PGEM at 72 h; gait distance at 120 h; cortisol at 168 h; and IRT, right front force and serum amyloid A, all at 192 h. These results show ROC analysis can be a useful indicator of the predictive value of pain biomarkers and clinical signs in cattle with induced bacterial pneumonia. AUC values for VAS score, average activity levels, step count, and rectal temperature seemed to yield good diagnostic accuracy (AUC > 0.75) at multiple time points, while MNT values, substance P concentrations, and CLS did not (all AUC values < 0.75).

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Genetic Markers for Antimicrobial Resistance in Mycoplasma bovis.

ABSTRACTMycoplasma bovis causes many health and welfare problems in cattle. Due to the absence of clear insights regarding transmission dynamics and the lack of a registered vaccine in Europe, control of an outbreak depends mainly on antimicrobial therapy. Unfortunately, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is usually not performed, because it is time-consuming and no standard protocol or clinical breakpoints are available. Fast identification of genetic markers associated with acquired resistance may at least partly resolve former issues. Therefore, the aims of this study were to implement a first genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach to identify genetic markers linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in M. bovis using rapid long-read sequencing and to evaluate different epidemiological cutoff (ECOFF) thresholds. High-quality genomes of 100 M. bovis isolates were generated by Nanopore sequencing, and isolates were categorized as wild-type or non-wild-type isolates based on MIC testing results. Subsequently, a k-mer-based GWAS analysis was performed to link genotypes with phenotypes based on different ECOFF thresholds. This resulted in potential genetic markers for macrolides (gamithromycin and tylosin) (23S rRNA gene and 50S ribosomal unit) and enrofloxacin (GyrA and ParC). Also, for tilmicosin and the tetracyclines, previously described mutations in both 23S rRNA alleles and in one or both 16S rRNA alleles were observed. In addition, two new 16S rRNA mutations were possibly associated with gentamicin resistance. In conclusion, this study shows the potential of quick high-quality Nanopore sequencing and GWAS analysis in the evaluation of phenotypic ECOFF thresholds and the rapid identification of M. bovis strains with acquired resistance.IMPORTANCE Mycoplasma bovis is a leading cause of pneumonia but also causes other clinical signs in cattle. Since no effective vaccine is available, current M. bovis outbreak treatment relies primarily on the use of antimicrobials. However, M. bovis is naturally resistant to different antimicrobials, and acquired resistance against macrolides and fluoroquinolones is frequently described. Therefore, AST is important to provide appropriate and rapid antimicrobial treatment in the framework of AMR and to prevent the disease from spreading and/or becoming chronic. Unfortunately, phenotypic AST is time-consuming and, due to the lack of clinical breakpoints, the interpretation of AST in M. bovis is limited to the use of ECOFF values. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify known and potentially new genetic markers linked to AMR phenotypes of M. bovis isolates, exploiting the power of a GWAS approach. For this, we used high-quality and complete Nanopore-sequenced M. bovis genomes of 100 isolates.

Apoptosis in the late replication phase of Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 in experimentally infected calves.

Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is a pathogen causing respiratory and reproductive clinical signs in cattle. Infected animals may develop rhinotracheitis, vulvovaginitis, balanoposthitis, and abortion. Viral latency is generally established in neuronal ganglia simultaneously to a decrease in both genes or genome expression and viral replication. Under stressful conditions, infection is reactivated leading to viral replication and the manifestation of clinical signs. In this study, we evaluated both viral reactivation and apoptosis in trigeminal ganglia cells as BoHV-1 progressed from the latent to the acute phase of infection after dexamethasone administration in experimentally infected calves. To test ganglia cell death as a consequence of BoHV-1 infection, we stained the BoHV-1 samples with TUNEL after the viral shedding by the calves. RT-qPCR of apoptotic genes was also performed, showing the upregulation of the caspase 8 gene in the trigeminal ganglia from cattle experimentally infected with BoHV-1. These results showed the occurrence of apoptosis in ganglion cells of calves infected by BoHV-1.

Follow-up of dairy cattle naturally infected by Trypanosoma vivax after treatment with isometamidium chloride.

Trypanosoma vivax infections cause nonspecific clinical signs in cattle associated with aparasitemic intervals, making disease diagnosis a challenge. In Brazil, diminazene aceturate and isometamidium chloride (ISM) are available to treat bovine trypanosomosis. The objective of this study was to follow-up, by molecular and serological techniques, dairy cattle naturally infected by T. vivax after ISM treatment. Thirty cattle naturally infected with T. vivax received two applications of ISM, at a dosage of 1.0 mg/kg intramuscularly, on days 0 and 150. For T. vivax diagnosis, EDTA-blood and serum samples were evaluated on 0, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 days after treatment PCR, Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and ELISA. Animals with persistent detection of T. vivax DNA by both PCR and LAMP were found and continuous detection of anti-T. vivax IgG antibodies by ELISA, suggesting the presence of T. vivax resistance to ISM. The combination of LAMP and ELISA tests can prevent misdiagnosis of the parasite clearance in treated cattle, contributing to better disease control. This is the first experiment that demonstrates the persistence infection of T. vivax under ISM treatment in a natural infected herd and evidence of ISM chemotherapy-resistant T. vivax in Brazil.

Epidemiological Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with Bovine Ephemeral Fever Virus Exposure among Sheep and Goats in South Korea

Background: Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) is an arthropod-borne virus classified as a type species of the genus Ephemerovirus, family Rhabdoviridae. BEFV is the causative agent of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF), a non-contagious disease of acute febrile clinical signs in cattle and water buffalo. Some species might act as reservoir hosts, and antibodies to BEFV have also been found in asymptomatic sheep, goats, pigs, and many wild animals. This study aimed to conduct a retrospective cross-sectional serological screening in South Korea to address BEFV seroprevalence and identify risk factors for becoming seropositive for the virus in sheep and goats. Materials, Methods &amp; Results: The apparent prevalence rates were considered to be the animal-level prevalence, defined as the proportion of serum neutralization test (SNT)-positive animals out of the total number of animals tested in the study area, and flock prevalence was defined as the proportion of SNT-positive flocks out of the total number of tested flocks in the area. A flock was classified as positive if at least one animal was SNT-positive. At the national level in 2011, 28 of 177 flocks (15.8%; 95% CI, 11.2−21.9%) and 71 of 498 heads (14.3%, 95% CI: 11.5-17.6%) that were analyzed showed serum neutralizing antibodies against BEFV. Our results revealed that age class, vector control, and geographic location affected seroprevalence to differing extents. In the univariate analysis, older age was a significant risk factor (OR, 2.327; 95% CI, 1.147-4.721; P = 0.017 in adults). The management risk factor attributes showed that preventive measures, such as routine application of insecticides in farms, decreased the odds of seropositivity for BEFV (OR, 0.514; 95% CI, 0.267-0.991; P = 0.044). Vector control was a significant protective factor, while animal species, flock size, and flock structure were not significantly associated. Differences in seroprevalence between variations in the presence of ruminant farms, lakes, or rice paddies within a 1-km radius or type of land use were not statistically significant (P &gt; 0.05). We observed a significant difference in the individual likelihood of being positive in the southern provinces with respect to that in the northern provinces (OR, 2.166; 95% CI, 1.228-3.824; P = 0.007). Differences in seroprevalence between variations in the eastern and western regions were not statistically significant (P &gt; 0.05). The retrospective study results showed that the virus was widely distributed in sheep and goats in South Korea, with seropositive rates ranging from 7.8% to 19.7% between 2003 and 2008.Discussion: This is the first report of circulating antibodies against BEFV in sheep and goats in South Korea. The serological prevalence of BEFV infection in sheep and goats was significantly different between different age cohorts, vector control, and geographical locations: it was higher in the older group and the southern and western regions of South Korea. Determination of seropositivity rates often leads to an understanding of virus circulation dynamics and is useful in the formulation of disease control measures. Our results demonstrated that vector control was a significant protective factor; therefore, the summer control of vectors could be better implemented in provinces with elevated seropositivity rates. The results of this seroprevalence study may serve as a basis for future epidemiological studies on BEFV infection in South Korea.

Bovine piroplasmosis-anaplasmosis and clinical signs of tropical theileriosis in the plains of Djurdjura (north Algeria).

The study was conducted during tick activity season over a period of 5 years in the Djurdjura Plains, Algeria. A total of 299 cattle (Holstein, Montbeliard, Fleckvieh and crossbred animals) with clinical signs were included in this study. A total of 171 animals were found positive for at least one pathogen by Giemsa‐stained blood smears examination Theileria annulata (136/299, 45.5%), Babesia bovis (14/299, 4.7%), B. bigemina (3/299, 1.0%) and Anaplasma marginale (12/299, 4.0%) were identified. Six animals were co‐infected by T. annulata and A. marginale. Although no ticks were collected from diseased animals, clinical signs in cattle were hyperthermia (120/136, 88.3%), gluttony followed by anorexia (113/136, 83.1%), lymph node enlargement (99/136, 72.8%), anaemia (82/136, 60.3%), icterus (58/136, 42.6%) and haemoglobinuria (36/136, 26.5%). Gluttony followed by anorexia was considered highly suggestive of an incubation of tropical theileriosis as shown by a higher receptivity index (IR = 0.89–1). This clinical sign is evident in young Montbeliard and young Holstein males with anaemia (IR = 1) and icterus (IR = 0.78–0.81) which is earlier than haemoglobinuria (IR = 0.51–0.54). The incidence of T. annulata was maximum in July (n = 57), as well as B. bovis (n = 6) and A. marginale (n = 13). These results highlight the preponderance of tropical theileriosis in north‐central Algeria, where gluttony followed by anorexia is probably a prodromal symptom during the incubation period of the disease.

Risk assessment for influenza D in Europe

Recent studies have identified a new genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family, Influenza D virus (IDV). This virus was shown to infect farm animals including swine and cattle, and to efficiently replicate and transmit in ferrets, the animal model of choice for transmission of influenza A virus to humans. This partnering grant on IDV addressed the need for capacity building at EU level to improve the EU's scientific assessment capacity and international competitiveness. We have promoted cross‐disciplinary cooperation between the partner institutes representing six Member States (BE, FR, IT, LU, NL and SE). We have shown that the available antigen and genome test systems allow reliable influenza D diagnostics in partners laboratories, while for a few of the applied antibody testing methods adjustments are recommended. Tools were developed to study virus‐host range, with a gain of knowledge on host and tissue tropism of IDV in farm animals but also in wild life and very preliminary data was generated on human tissues. Serological results in European cattle suggest that influenza D virus is enzootic. Virus diversity is still unfolding: new virus introductions were identified, as well as new reassortants whose differential clinical impact or cross‐protection levels are still poorly understood. Considering drivers of emergence, IDV was in the top five in comparison with 29 other diseases. The main risk factors of IDV in cattle are related to the animal density, presence of respiratory clinical signs in cattle and contact rates between animals. Simplified quantitative IDV risk assessment exposure model indicated a possible infection of human by IDV through aerosols in cattle farms. Further studies are warranted to fully assess the risk of IDV for both animal and Human health in Europe.

Determination of the seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. and the main serovars circulating in cattle in the province of Manabí, Ecuador.

Leptospirosis is a transmissible zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic strains of the genus Leptospira. Clinical signs in cattle are fever, haematuria, haemoglobinuria, meningitis, abortion, birth of weak calves and infertility; in the most severe cases, it can cause death to the animal. The few studies conducted in Ecuador, and in particular the province of Manabí, have revealed varying prevalence rates, ranging from 35.8% to 75%. The objective of this study is to determine the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in cattle and to ascertain the main serovars circulating in the province of Manabí. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted from November 2015 to March 2016, for which seven cantons were selected at random and a total of 854 animals from 67 herds were investigated. The samples were processed in the laboratories of the Animal Diagnostics Directorate of the Ecuadorian Agency for Agriculture Quality Assurance (AGROCALIDAD) in Tumbaco, using the microscopic agglutination test. The sera were analysed to check whether they contained any of the eight serovars of Leptospira interrogans circulating most frequently in the country: Canicola, Hardjo, Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Wolffi, Bratislava and Copenhageni. Overall seroprevalence at herd level was 97.01%, with the most common serovars being Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Bratislava and Canicola. It was concluded that there is high seroprevalence at herd level in the province of Manabí.

An uncommon clinical form of foot-and-mouth disease in beef cattle presented with cornual skin lesions.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a major infectious disease in livestock. The common clinical signs in cattle include epidermal vesicles that are majorly distributed around oronasal cavity, feet and teats. The aim of this report is to document an uncommon clinical form of the disease which comprises the occurrence of classic vesicular lesion in a rarely observed location of the horn vegetative tissue. During Iran's outbreak of FMD in 2013, field investigation, clinical examination and sampling from the affected herds in Qom province were performed. Specimens of mouth epithelium and horn vegetative tissue were collected for virology and histopathologic study. All the samples collected from horns were positive for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in both enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and the strain of the virus was identified as A05. Surprisingly, all the animals with horn lesion came from beef herds, were less than 12 months old and had more severe signs of the systemic disease. Since the same strain of virus did not cause similar lesions in surrounding dairy cows, it was concluded that occurrence of horn lesions may be more associated with host factors rather than virus strain.

Neurologic Clinical Signs in Cattle With Astrovirus-Associated Encephalitis.

BackgroundEvidence of neurotropic astroviruses has been established using novel genetic methods in cattle suffering from viral encephalitis of previously unknown origin.ObjectivesTo describe the clinical signs observed in cattle with astrovirus‐associated encephalitis.AnimalsEight cattle (4 cows, 3 heifers, and 1 bull of 4 different breeds) admitted to the Clinic for Ruminants for neurologic disease and 1 cow investigated in the field.MethodsCases were selected based on neuropathologic diagnosis of nonsuppurative encephalitis, positive in situ hybridization result for astrovirus, and availability of the results of physical and neurologic evaluations. Laboratory results were evaluated if available.ResultsThe most frequently observed clinical signs were decreased awareness of surroundings (7), cranial nerve dysfunction (5), and recumbency (5). The cow seen in the field was the only animal that had severe behavioral changes. Cell counts in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were increased in 4 animals, and protein concentration was increased in 3 of 5 specimens. In 1 case, the presence of astrovirus could be identified in a CSF sample by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Other laboratory abnormalities were nonspecific.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAstrovirus infection may be an important differential diagnosis in cattle with clinical signs of brain disease and should be considered after exclusion of other causes. The clinical and epidemiological relevance of encephalitis associated with astrovirus infection should be further investigated.

Epidemiological situation of Q fever in sheep, goats and cattle in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship between the years 2011 and 2015, based on monitoring studies and cases from clinical practice

The publication presents the results of monitoring Q fever in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship and three outbreaks disclosed as part of a clinical field practice. In five years (2011 – 2015) of examination in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship, 2,431 serological tests were carried out (1,851 in sheep, 343 in goats and 237 in cattle). Antibodies against Coxiella burneti were found three times. The first positive result in 2011 affected herds of goats and cattle and was confirmed in the reference laboratory of the National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy. A specific DNA sequence for Coxiella burneti by real-time PCR method was found. The farm consisted of 1,494 goats and 397 cattle. Serological tests were carried out to give positive results in 15.3% of the cattle and 5.77% of the goats from the whole herd. Breeding selection and the elimination of seropositive animals and double oxytetracycline treatment reduced the proportion of animals with a positive result to 5.53% in cattle and 0.96% in goats. After more than a year the elimination of seropositive animals and probable natural decline in antibody levels has led to the recognition of an outbreak of Q fever to be eliminated. The second positive result of the monitoring of Q fever was found in 2014 in one cow out of seven respondents, but the serological test was not confirmed in the reference, as a specific DNA sequence for Coxiella burneti was not found. The research conducted in sheep in 2015 showed the presence of antibodies against Coxiella burneti in two samples. The results were confirmed by the detection of genetic material of the pathogen by real-time PCR examination in the National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy. Three outbreaks of Q fever revealed in clinical practice related to bovine herds where clinical disturbances were observed in: reproduction, milk production decrease or increase in internal body temperature and symptoms of the respiratory system. The positive ELISA test results were the reason for the elimination of seropositive animals. Moreover, after the disclosure of infection two herds were vaccinated using an inactivated vaccine Coxevac (CEVA), which caused the improvement of production results and relief of clinical symptoms. It is worth mentioning that in two farms along with cattle there were fallow deer supported by staff cowman. Official monitoring tests of Q fever revealed an outbreak of the disease in a herd of goats and cattle, which lead to taking effective action to protect public health because of the zoonotic nature of this infection and epidemiological risk. In the disclosure of these clinical signs in cattle it is advisable to carry out laboratory tests for Q fever.

Effects of vaccination against Q-fever in Lower Saxony dairy cattle farms

Being a notifiable and zoonotic disease, Q-fever is coming under increasing focus of epizootic disease control. Current studies indicate that the disease is more widespread in Germany than the number of notifications suggest. Therefore, since 2013, under certain conditions a hardship allowance is granted by the Animal Diseases Fund of Lower Saxony for the vaccine costs of the basic immunization to support affected farms. Material und methods: All farmers, on whose farms clinical signs of Q-fever and the pathogen Coxiella burnetii had been detected prior to vaccination and who had taken advantage of the hardship allowance during the previous 2years were surveyed to assess the effectiveness of the measure. The survey was conducted by telephone using a previously compiled questionnaire. The topics included the observed clinical signs in cattle before and after the vaccination and the evaluation of the vaccination. Clinical manifestations indicating a Q-fever infection may differ widely and include aborts and fertility disorders and/or frequently occurring inflammations (pneumonia, mastitis, metritis) and/or unspecific symptoms presenting as higher susceptibility to disease, weakness, and fever attacks. Following vaccination, the vast majority of the farmers (84 %) observed a marked health improvement in their cattle and two thirds of the respondents intend to continue with the vaccination even without financial support from the Animal Diseases Fund. Adverse effects beyond general vaccination reactions, including transiently elevated body temperature, physical weakness and fluctuations in milk performance, were rarely observed. The clinical signs for Q-fever were diverse and often unspecific. According to the assessments by the farmers, clinical problems in most cases were considerably reduced following Q-fever vaccination. Vaccination appears to be a valuable tool in the control of this zoonosis.

‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos’: Transplacental transmission in dairy cows (Bos taurus)

‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos’ is a haemotropic mycoplasma that can produce various clinical signs in cattle, but abortive potential of the parasite is unknown, as well as the frequency of transplacental transmission in cattle. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the frequency of detection of ‘C. M. haemobos’ in aborted fetuses and the blood of dairy cows. Blood samples of 22 dairy cows that aborted and pool tissues (brain, lung, heart and liver) of their respective aborted fetuses were tested by conventional PCR. The occurrence of ‘C. M. haemobos’ DNA in adult animals was 40.9% (9/22) and in the fetuses was 18.2% (4/22). Two fetuses that contained ‘C. M. haemobos’ DNA were derived from cows which were PCR negative. When stratifying by breed, it was observed that Jersey cows had a higher proportion of positive animals (8/11; 72.7%) as compared to Holstein (1/9; 11.1% P<0.01). The results of this study suggest that this parasite can be transferred via the placenta, but it is not certain if the abortions were due to ‘C. M. haemobos’.

Epidemiological characteristics and clinicopathological features of bluetongue in sheep and cattle, during the 2014 BTV serotype 4 incursion in Greece.

During 2014, an outbreak of Bluetongue virus (BTV) infections attributed to serotype 4 occurred in Greece and spread to south-eastern Europe. In the present article, the clinical and epidemiological data of 15 sheep flocks and 5 dairy cattle herds affected in Greece are described. In sheep, the most frequent clinical signs observed were fever, hyporexia, and edema of the face. A number of clinically affected sheep had chronic laminitis resulting in chronic lameness. Confirmation of suspect clinical cases was performed using BTV-specific real-time RT-PCR, and serotype 4-specific RT-PCR. The average morbidity of bluetongue in the sheep flocks was estimated to be 15.3% (95% C.I. 6.8-23.8%) and the average mortality and case fatality were 4.5% (95% C.I. 1.5-7.6%) and 32.0% (95% C.I. 18.1-42.9%), respectively. The BTV seroprevalence and the ratio of clinical manifestations-to-infections determined in seven of these flocks, were on average 36.5% (95% C.I. 15.7-57.3%) and 24.6% (95% C.I. 12.8-36.3%). BTV ratio of clinical manifestations-to-infections was higher in the imported western European sheep breeds examined compared to the local ones. In dairy cattle, the average herd prevalence of viremia was 48.8% (95% C.I. 15.3-82.4%) and none had signs associated with bluetongue. The results of this study indicate that the 2014 Greek BTV-4 has significant impact on the health status and the viability of sheep in affected flocks but does not cause clinical signs in cattle, despite the high prevalence of viremia.

Purification, Stability, and Immunogenicity Analyses of Five Bluetongue Virus Proteins for Use in Development of a Subunit Vaccine That Allows Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals

Bluetongue virus (BTV) causes bluetongue disease, a vector-borne disease of ruminants. The recent northerly spread of BTV serotype 8 in Europe resulted in outbreaks characterized by clinical signs in cattle, including unusual teratogenic effects. Vaccination has been shown to be crucial for controlling the spread of vector-borne diseases such as BTV. With the aim of developing a novel subunit vaccine targeting BTV-8 that allows differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals, five His-tagged recombinant proteins, VP2 and VP5 of BTV-8 and NS1, NS2, and NS3 of BTV-2, were expressed in baculovirus or Escherichia coli expression systems for further study. Optimized purification protocols were determined for VP2, NS1, NS2, and NS3, which remained stable for detection for at least 560 to 610 days of storage at +4°C or -80°C, and Western blotting using sera from vaccinated or experimentally infected cattle indicated that VP2 and NS2 were recognized by BTV-specific antibodies. To characterize murine immune responses to the four proteins, mice were subcutaneously immunized twice at a 4-week interval with one of three protein combinations plus immunostimulating complex ISCOM-Matrix adjuvant or with ISCOM-Matrix alone (n = 6 per group). Significantly higher serum IgG antibody titers specific for VP2 and NS2 were detected in immunized mice than were detected in controls. VP2, NS1, and NS2 but not NS3 induced specific lymphocyte proliferative responses upon restimulation of spleen cells from immunized mice. The data suggest that these recombinant purified proteins, VP2, NS1, and NS2, could be an important part of a novel vaccine design against BTV-8.

The effects of fasting on some biochemical factors of liver, serum and clinical signs in cattle

BACKGROUND: Fasting is an alternative method to induce anorexia. OBJECTIVES: The biochemical factors of liver and serum and clinical signs were measured and documented in five non-lactating, non-pregnant cows following eight days of fast- ing. METHODS: Five crossbred, non-lactating, and non-pregnant cattle were used in this study. They were fasted for 8 days_ total food deprivation; however, they had free access to water. Liver biopsies were carried out one day before food deprivation (day 0) and 8 days after food deprivation by ultrasound-guided biopsy. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein before and during fasting. The concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total lipids, glycogen, phospholipids, and total protein in liver and NEFA, BHBA, TG, total cholesterol, glucose, total lipid, APO A1, and APO B in blood serum were measured and compared. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that fasting for 8 days reduces respiratory rate by 52% and heart rate by 12.5% and has no significant effect on rectal temperature. The concentrations of the liver triglyceride (TG) and glycogen significantly increased (p=0.046) and decreased (p=0.007) on day 8, respectively. There were no significant differences in the content of liver phospholipids (p=0.83), total lipids (p=0.29), and total protein (p=0.23). The serum concentrations of NEFA and BHBA increased significantly (p=0.008) at the end of fasting period. No significant differences in the concentrations of serum TG (p=0.057), total cholesterol (p=0.93), glucose (p=0.108), total lipid (p=0.27), APO A1 (p=0.762), and APO B (p=0.92) were noticed on days 0 and 8. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study showed that fasting, like anorexia (as a result of diseases), induces fat mobilization from adipose tissue in response to the induced negative energy balance.

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 6 experimentation on adult cattle

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), an arthropod-borne orbivirus (family Reoviridae), is an emerging pathogen of wild and domestic ruminants closely related to bluetongue virus (BTV). EHDV serotype 6 (EHDV6) has recently caused outbreaks close to Europe in Turkey and Morocco and a recent experimental study performed on calves inoculated with these two EHDV6 strains showed that the young animals have remained clinically unaffected. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity of an EHDV6 strain from La Reunion Island in adult Holstein (18-month-old heifers). This EHDV6 strain has induced clinical signs in cattle in the field.Samples taken throughout the study were tested with commercially available ELISA and real-time RT-PCR kits. Very mild clinical manifestations were observed in cattle during the experiment although high levels of viral RNA and virus were found in their blood. EHDV was isolated from the blood of infected animals at 8dpi. Antibodies against EHDV were first detected by 7dpi and persisted up to the end of the study. Virus was detected in various tissue samples until 35dpi, but was not infectious.In view of the recent circulation of different arboviruses in Europe, this study demonstrates what the EHD induces a strong viraemia in adult Holstein cattle and shows that a spread of EHD on European livestock cattle is possible.