PSV-19 Pasture history and supplementation affects parasite status of naïve lambs in grazing systems

Abstract Developing alternative parasite management strategies is critical as anthelmintic resistance continues to be a global concern in small ruminant grazing operations. Converting cropland to pastureland may serve as one strategy to develop parasite free pasture, thus reducing the need for anthelmintic treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pasture contamination with gastrointestinal parasites and protein supplementation on the mitigation of parasitic infection in grazing lambs. We hypothesized that lambs grazing on newly established pasture (clean) without supplementation would perform similarly to those lambs grazing on permanent sheep pasture (infected) provided supplementation. A total of 96, 60-day old lambs (30 kg ± 4.0 kg), were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: 1) clean pasture without supplementation (CN); 2) clean pasture with supplementation (CS); 3) infected pasture without supplementation (IN); and 4) infected pasture with supplementation (IS). Packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg counts (FEC) were monitored biweekly. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS. Based upon fecal egg fluorescence, 66% of the fluoresced eggs in the mixed infection population were Haemonchus contortus. There was a pasture × supplementation × day effect for PCV in that CN lambs had a greater PCV than IS lambs on days 28, 42, 56, and 70 (P < 0.0001). However, on days 98 and 112, IS lambs had a greater PCV than CN lambs (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a pasture × supplementation × day effect for FEC such that IS lambs demonstrated a greater FEC over time from day 28 to day 112 compared to CN lambs (P < 0.001). Offering supplemental protein to lambs grazing pastures contaminated with gastrointestinal parasites may help lambs cope with a heavy parasite burden. Therefore, developing additional management strategies will be key in reducing the future use of anthelmintics.

Download Full-text

The effects of protein supplementation and pasture maintenance on the growth, parasite burden, and economic return of pasture-raised lambs

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txab113 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Braden J Campbell ◽

Antoinette E Marsh ◽

Elizabeth M Parker ◽

Jefferson S McCutcheon ◽

Francis L Fluharty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽

Protein Supplementation ◽

Gross Margin ◽

Protein Rich ◽

The Impact

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of protein supplementation and pasture contamination with gastrointestinal nematodes on the mitigation of parasitic infection in grazing lambs. We hypothesized that there would be no difference between protein supplementation and newly sown pasture in evaluating lamb growth and health parameters associated with parasitism. Furthermore, we questioned if there would be an interaction between protein supplementation and pasture type. A total of 192, 60-day old lambs (28.3 ± 5.1 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: 1.) new pasture without supplementation (NN); 2.) new pasture with supplementation (NS); 3.) established pasture without supplementation (EN); and 4.) established pasture with supplementation (ES) and grazed for 112 days. Lambs were supplemented at a rate of 1% body weight/day. Supplemented lambs had greater body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) when compared with non-supplemented lambs (P < 0.04). Additionally, lambs on newly sown pasture demonstrated greater BW and ADG when compared with lambs grazing on established pasture (P < 0.05). For lamb health, lambs in the EN treatment group had the greatest FAMACHA © eye scores and lowest packed cell volume (PCV) over the course of the 112-day grazing period (P < 0.05). Moreover, NS and ES treatment lambs demonstrated similar FAMACHA © eye scores when compared with NN treatment lambs; however, NN treatment lambs showed lower PCV when compared with NS and ES treatment lambs (P < 0.05). In evaluating fecal egg counts (FEC), lambs on new pasture or given supplement demonstrated lesser FEC when compared with those lambs on established pasture or not given supplement (P < 0.05). Sixty-four lambs were harvested to evaluate total abomasum nematode counts which demonstrated that H. contortus represented approximately 80% of total nematodes. Furthermore, based upon gross margin analysis, lambs given a protein rich supplement on pasture had a 9.3 kg increase in lamb BW whereas newly sown pasture had a 1.3 kg increase in lamb BW. A protein rich supplement given to lambs grazing pastures contaminated primarily with H. contortus or placing lambs on newly sown pasture increases lamb BW and improves parasite resiliency. Selection of parasite management strategies may be influenced by cost of production and market opportunities.

Download Full-text

Quantifying the impact of disease on threatened species

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc940107 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 107 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Hamish McCallum

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Experimental Manipulation ◽

Major Effect ◽

Host Population ◽

Bacterial Disease ◽

Substantial Impact ◽

High Prevalence ◽

The Impact

Determining whether a disease or parasite is having a substantial impact on a population of a threatened species is not straightforward. Highly pathogenic parasites are not those which have the greatest influence on hosts, and diseases present at high prevalence are not likely to have a major effect on the host population. I develop simple mathematical models which show that a microparasitic disease such as a viral or bacterial disease will have the greatest impact on its host if it prevents host reproduction, but does not affect host mortality. If infected hosts can still reproduce, intermediate levels of pathogenicity have the greatest impact on hosts. Macroparasites such as helminths likewise have maximum impact on hosts at intermediate pathogenicity. The impact of a helminth on its host population is, however, determined by a complex interplay between pathogenicity per parasite and the nature of the host response to infection. For example, in the absence of density-dependent constraints on parasites within individual hosts, the smaller the impact per parasite on the host, the greater the impact of the parasitic infection on the overall population. Several recommendations can be made to wildlife managers who detect a disease or parasite and wish to determine its impact on a population of a threatened species. There is no entirely satisfactory alternative to experimental manipulation. Treating part of a population and comparing suvivorship or fecundity with controls is the only way to confirm the impact of a disease on a free-ranging population. Such an approach is impractical with every potential pathogen in a population. Some idea as to which pathogens may be of significance to the population can be gained from comparison of disease prevalence or parasite burden between dead and dying hosts and the overall population. Overall high prevalence or high pathogenicity are not good indicators on their own.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle and sheep in three municipalities in the Colombian Northeastern Mountain

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2019.48-54 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 48-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Juan Carlos Pinilla Leon ◽

Nelson Uribe Delgado ◽

Angel Alberto Florez

Keyword(s):

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

Age Group ◽

Statistical Association ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Eimeria Spp ◽

The Difference ◽

The Impact ◽

Cattle And Sheep

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in cattle and sheep from three municipalities in the Colombian Northeastern Mountain. Materials and Methods: Overall, 200 fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum in cattle and sheep. The presence of helminths eggs and coccidial oocysts in fecal samples was detected using McMaster and Dennis techniques. Identification of eggs or oocysts was done on the basis of morphology and size of the eggs or oocysts. Results: The global prevalence of GI parasites was 56.3%. Regarding the prevalence by municipalities, there was no statistical association (p>0.05), indicating that the prevalence was similar in the three municipalities. The prevalence of parasitic infection was higher in sheep (63%) as compared to that of cattle (50.5%), but the difference was nonsignificant (p>0.05). The most prevalent parasites were Eimeria spp., Fasciola hepatica, and Strongylida order. Regarding the results for Eimeria spp., different degrees of positivity were observed, but there was no statistical association (p>0.05) with respect to the age group. Likewise, there was no statistical association (p>0.05) between the prevalence for Strongylida order and F. hepatica with respect to the age group. Conclusion: Cattle and sheep in Colombian Northeastern Mountain were infected with helminths and coccidia. The prevalence values of GI parasites were moderate in both species warranting treatment. The presence of F. hepatica represents a risk factor to health public. Future studies are required to evaluate the parasitic dynamics throughout the year and the impact on animal production.

Download Full-text

Impact of Protein Supplementation and Presumptive Treatment for Enteric Pathogens on Infant Growth from 6–12 Months of Age: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa053_085 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 880-880

Author(s):

Amanda Palmer ◽

Hasmot Ali ◽

Md Iqbal Hossain ◽

Monica Pasqualino ◽

Kaniz Ayesha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutrition Education ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Infant Growth ◽

Protein Supplementation ◽

Enteric Pathogens ◽

Presumptive Treatment ◽

Anthropometric Indices ◽

Cluster Randomized ◽

Supplemental Protein ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objectives Intake of high-quality protein may be insufficient to support growth in the context of high enteric pathogen carriage and environmental enteric dysfunction. Our objective was to test whether supplemental protein, with or without presumptive treatment for enteric pathogens, would improve infant growth from 6–12 months of age. Methods We conducted a 2 × 4 factorial cluster-randomized trial in rural Bangladesh. The first factor was azithromycin treatment (10 mg/kg * 3 days) or placebo at 6 & 9 months of age. The second factor, delivered from 6–12 months of age, consisted of: supplemental protein as daily porridge (125 kcal/d, with 10 g protein/day as egg white powder) or a daily egg; an isocaloric daily porridge; or nutrition education alone. The present aim tested the impact of the protein-rich porridge, with or without azithromycin treatment. All infants born in the study area over a 9-mo period were eligible and consented at ∼3 mo of age. Trained field workers measured infant size at 6, 9, and 12 mo of age using standardized protocols. We used linear regression with generalized estimating equations to test the interventions’ impact on anthropometric indices, respectively, at 12 mo of age, controlling for baseline measures. Analysis was intention-to-treat. Results Overall, 2205 infants were enrolled from 282 clusters and exposed to both nutrition (1074 in protein arm from 140 clusters; 1074 in the isocaloric arm from 142 clusters) and presumptive treatment interventions. At baseline, 18.7%, 16.9%, and 6.4% of infants were stunted, underweight, and wasted, respectively. There was no statistical interaction between protein supplementation and azithromycin treatment for any of the anthropometric indices, so groups were combined. In the analysis of main effects, added protein had no impact on mean length-for-age (β = 0.01; 95% CI: −0.06, 0.08), weight-for-age (β = −0.002; 95% CI: −0.06, 0.05), or weight-for-length (β = −0.04; 95% CI: −0.12, 0.05) Z-scores at 12 mo of age. Conclusions Supplemental protein from 6–12 mo of age had no effect on mean linear or ponderal growth measured at 12 mo of age, irrespective of presumptive treatment for enteric pathogens with azithromycin. Funding Sources The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Download Full-text

Effect of deworming on milk production in dairy cattle and buffaloes infected with gastrointestinal parasites in the Kavrepalanchowk district of central Nepal

Veterinary Record Open ◽

10.1136/vetreco-2019-000380 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. e000380 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Upendra Thapa Shrestha ◽

Nabaraj Adhikari ◽

Samarpan Kafle ◽

Nabaraj Shrestha ◽

Megha Raj Banjara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

Infected Cattle ◽

Protein Percentage ◽

Toxocara Vitulorum ◽

Positive Effects ◽

The Impact

BackgroundIn Nepal, knowledge of proper handling, management and causes of cattle diseases is still limited. The main objective of this study was to explore the impact of deworming on milk production and its effect on milk qualities.MethodsA total of 200 faecal samples (100 buffaloes and 100 cows) were collected and analysed for parasitic burden. Half of the infected cattle (buffaloes, Bos bubalis; cow native, B indicus; European, B taurus) were then dewormed with Levamisole Hydrochloride-Oxyclozanide bolus, and the remaining 50 per cent were left untreated. The milk yield from both infected and dewormed cattle was recorded for 30 days and the qualities of milk were analysed.ResultsThe prevalence of parasitic infection was found to be 22.0 per cent. Fasciola hepatica was the predominant parasite (81.8 per cent), followed by Toxocara vitulorum (34.1 per cent), Strongyloidespapillosus (6.8 per cent) and Bunostomum phlebotomum (4.5 per cent). The average milk yield (litre/day/cow) significantly increased, which was 1.22 litres per day for treated cows and 1.06 litres for treated buffaloes. The intervention effect of deworming among cows was 0.79 (14.06 per cent increment) and for buffaloes was 0.42 (8.32 per cent increment). After deworming the infected cattle, the protein percentage was significantly improved in cows (P=0.035), whereas the lactose percentage and solid percentage had increased significantly in buffaloes (P=0.002 and P=0.028).ConclusionAntiparasitic treatment in cattle had positive effects on milk qualities such as solid non-fat, lactose, solid percentage and total protein percentage.

Download Full-text

Immunization Strategies for Funding Multiple Inflation-Linked Retirement Income Benefits

Risks ◽

10.3390/risks9040060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 60

Author(s):

Cláudia Simões ◽

Luís Oliveira ◽

Jorge M. Bravo

Keyword(s):

Interest Rate ◽

Yield Curve ◽

Risk Measure ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Interest Rate Risk ◽

Insurance Companies ◽

Retirement Income ◽

Investment Strategies ◽

Immunization Strategies ◽

The Impact

Protecting against unexpected yield curve, inflation, and longevity shifts are some of the most critical issues institutional and private investors must solve when managing post-retirement income benefits. This paper empirically investigates the performance of alternative immunization strategies for funding targeted multiple liabilities that are fixed in timing but random in size (inflation-linked), i.e., that change stochastically according to consumer price or wage level indexes. The immunization procedure is based on a targeted minimax strategy considering the M-Absolute as the interest rate risk measure. We investigate to what extent the inflation-hedging properties of ILBs in asset liability management strategies targeted to immunize multiple liabilities of random size are superior to that of nominal bonds. We use two alternative datasets comprising daily closing prices for U.S. Treasuries and U.S. inflation-linked bonds from 2000 to 2018. The immunization performance is tested over 3-year and 5-year investment horizons, uses real and not simulated bond data and takes into consideration the impact of transaction costs in the performance of immunization strategies and in the selection of optimal investment strategies. The results show that the multiple liability immunization strategy using inflation-linked bonds outperforms the equivalent strategy using nominal bonds and is robust even in a nearly zero interest rate scenario. These results have important implications in the design and structuring of ALM liability-driven investment strategies, particularly for retirement income providers such as pension schemes or life insurance companies.

Download Full-text

Understanding the Impact of Different Landscape-Level Fuel Management Strategies on Wildfire Hazard in Central Portugal

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050522 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 522

Author(s):

Akli Benali ◽

Ana C. L. Sá ◽

João Pinho ◽

Paulo M. Fernandes ◽

José M. C. Pereira

Keyword(s):

Management Strategies ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Fire Season ◽

Burned Area ◽

Treatment Area ◽

Fuel Treatment ◽

The North ◽

Wildfire Hazard ◽

Central Portugal ◽

The Impact

The extreme 2017 fire season in Portugal led to widespread recognition of the need for a paradigm shift in forest and wildfire management. We focused our study on Alvares, a parish in central Portugal located in a fire-prone area, which had 60% of its area burned in 2017. We evaluated how different fuel treatment strategies may reduce wildfire hazard in Alvares through (i) a fuel break network with different extents corresponding to different levels of priority and (ii) random fuel treatments resulting from a potential increase in stand-level management intensity. To assess this, we developed a stochastic wildfire simulation system (FUNC-SIM) that integrates uncertainties in fuel distribution over the landscape. If the landscape remains unchanged, Alvares will have large burn probabilities in the north, northeast and center-east areas of the parish that are very often associated with high fireline intensities. The different fuel treatment scenarios decreased burned area between 12.1–31.2%, resulting from 1–4.6% increases in the annual treatment area and reduced the likelihood of wildfires larger than 5000 ha by 10–40%. On average, simulated burned area decreased 0.22% per each ha treated, and cost-effectiveness decreased with increasing area treated. Overall, both fuel treatment strategies effectively reduced wildfire hazard and should be part of a larger, holistic and integrated plan to reduce the vulnerability of the Alvares parish to wildfires.

Download Full-text

The impact of supply chain network structure on relationship management strategies: An empirical investigation of sustainability practices in retailers

Sustainable Production and Consumption ◽

10.1016/j.spc.2021.04.016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 281-299

Author(s):

Hadi Rezaei Vandchali ◽

Stephen Cahoon ◽

Shu-Ling Chen

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Network Structure ◽

Empirical Investigation ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Relationship Management ◽

Supply Chain Network ◽

Sustainability Practices ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Rural Roads Are Paving the Way for Land-Use Intensification in the Uplands of Laos

Land ◽

10.3390/land10030330 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 330

Author(s):

Jean-Christophe Castella ◽

Sonnasack Phaipasith

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Rural Roads ◽

External Resources ◽

Hybrid Maize ◽

The Impact

Road expansion has played a prominent role in the agrarian transition that marked the integration of swidden-based farming systems into the market economy in Southeast Asia. Rural roads deeply altered the landscape and livelihood structures by allowing the penetration of boom crops such as hybrid maize in remote territories. In this article, we investigate the impact of rural road developments on livelihoods in northern Laos through a longitudinal study conducted over a period of 15 years in a forest frontier. We studied adaptive management strategies of local stakeholders through the combination of individual surveys, focus group discussions, participatory mapping and remote-sensing approaches. The study revealed the short-term benefits of the maize feeder roads on poverty alleviation and rural development, but also the negative long-term effects on agroecosystem health and agricultural productivity related to unsustainable land use. Lessons learnt about the mechanisms of agricultural intensification helped understanding the constraints faced by external interventions promoting sustainable land management practices. When negotiated by local communities for their own interest, roads may provide livelihood-enhancing opportunities through access to external resources, rather than undermining them.

Download Full-text

A sand fly salivary protein acts as a neutrophil chemoattractant

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-23002-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anderson B. Guimaraes-Costa ◽

John P. Shannon ◽

Ingrid Waclawiak ◽

Jullyanna Oliveira ◽

Claudio Meneses ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Calcium Influx ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Salivary Protein ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Human Neutrophils ◽

Chemotactic Protein ◽

The Impact

AbstractApart from bacterial formyl peptides or viral chemokine mimicry, a non-vertebrate or insect protein that directly attracts mammalian innate cells such as neutrophils has not been molecularly characterized. Here, we show that members of sand fly yellow salivary proteins induce in vitro chemotaxis of mouse, canine and human neutrophils in transwell migration or EZ-TAXIScan assays. We demonstrate murine neutrophil recruitment in vivo using flow cytometry and two-photon intravital microscopy in Lysozyme-M-eGFP transgenic mice. We establish that the structure of this ~ 45 kDa neutrophil chemotactic protein does not resemble that of known chemokines. This chemoattractant acts through a G-protein-coupled receptor and is dependent on calcium influx. Of significance, this chemoattractant protein enhances lesion pathology (P < 0.0001) and increases parasite burden (P < 0.001) in mice upon co-injection with Leishmania parasites, underlining the impact of the sand fly salivary yellow proteins on disease outcome. These findings show that some arthropod vector-derived factors, such as this chemotactic salivary protein, activate rather than inhibit the host innate immune response, and that pathogens take advantage of these inflammatory responses to establish in the host.

Download Full-text