scholarly journals Taenia multiceps coenurosis in Tanzania: a major and under-recognised livestock disease problem in pastoral communities

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (6) ◽  
pp. 191-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen C Hughes ◽  
Tito K Kibona ◽  
William A de Glanville ◽  
Felix Lankester ◽  
Alicia Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Taenia Multiceps ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Pastoral Communities ◽  
Associated Risk Factors ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Spinal Cord Cysts

AbstractA neurological syndrome of small ruminants, known locally as ‘ormilo’, has been reported among pastoralist livestock keepers in Tanzania. This study was carried out in four affected pastoral communities to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors, characterise the clinical signs and investigate the aetiology of the syndrome. Questionnaires were administered at all households (n=480) within four study villages. Overall, 94 per cent of households reported at least one case in the previous 12 months. By village, the individual-level 12-month period prevalence ranged from 11 per cent to 34 per cent, equivalent to about 10,000 small ruminants across the four villages. Thirty-eight households were randomly selected for further investigation. Proprioceptive deficits and weakness were the most commonly observed clinical signs in affected animals. Brain and spinal cord cysts consistent with Taenia multiceps infection were detected in 32 (82 per cent) of 39 affected animals selected for postmortem examination. Feeding small ruminant brains to dogs was identified as an important risk factor for the syndrome, even in households that did not own dogs. This study confirms cerebral coenurosis as a major cause of small ruminant neurological disease in northern Tanzania and highlights the urgent need for further investigation to quantify the disease burden and to identify and implement control measures.

scholarly journals Mycoplasma agalactiae in Dairy Goat Flocks Bred in State of Ceará in Association with Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Renato Mesquita Peixoto ◽  
Alice Andrioli ◽  
Raymundo Rizaldo Pinheiro ◽  
Francisco Selmo Fernandes Alves ◽  
Vanderlan Warlington Souza Dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
The State ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Dairy Goat ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Mycoplasma Agalactiae

Background: Contagious agalactia is an infectious disease caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae (M. agalactiae) that occurs in small ruminants leading to productive and economic losses. Due to the similarity of clinical signs presented in Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), which is a viral disease, a differential diagnosis is important. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of anti-Mycoplasma agalactiae antibodies in dairy goat flocks in Ceará State and possible correlation with CAE.Materials, Methods & Results: The research was performed in four mesoregions in Ceará State (Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza-MRF; Northeast Ceará - NeC; North Ceará - NC; Sertões in Ceará - SC), from which 16 productions located in 10 cities with the highest representativeness for goat milk production within the State or mesoregion were sampled. A total of 417 females and 69 males (486 animals) of breeds with dairy production aptitude, pure or crossbreed, maintained in semi-intensive or intensive systems, were tested. Blood serum was obtained by venipuncture of the jugular vein with vacuum pressure syringe followed by centrifugation at 1,500 g for 10min. Antibodies against the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) were detected with micro technique of agarose gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and Western Blot (WB). The anti-Mycoplasma agalactiae antibodies were detected with commercial kit of enzymatic immunoassay (IDEXX Laboratories™). Seroprevalence of M. agalactiae in dairy goat flocks in Ceará State was 0.62% (3/486). From the total of 16 visited productions, 18.75% (3/16) had seropositive animals for M. agalactiae located in MRF, NC and SC mesoregions. CAE was diagnosed in 56.25% (9/16) of productions with AGID and in 81.25% (13/16) with WB. In addition, 5.2% (25/486) of animals were seropositive for CAE with AGID and 16.6% (80/486) with WB. Animals that reacted positive for M. agalactiae were all females of pure breed with milk production aptitude in distinct mesoregions submitted to intensive rearing system. None of these animals was positive in neither test (AGID or WB) for CAE. Therefore, no correlation of results obtained in diagnosis of M. agalactiae by ELISA and CAEV by AGID or WB (P < 0.05) was identified. However, two out of three productions that were positive for M. agalactiae presented positive results for CAEV with frequencies of 10% and 20%.Discussion: Seroprevalence of M. agalactiae in Ceará State was low in comparison with other Brazilian states and even other countries. However, the presence of the pathogen in more than one mesoregion indicates that the disease occurs in different locations within the State. Therefore, flocks in Ceará are susceptible to the infection, which may be favored by uncontrolled commerce that occurs with deficient surveillance, associated with the importation of animals to improve flock genetic quality. The presence of the pathogen in dairy goats may contribute to significant losses in the local production. On the other hand, CAE was diagnosedin nearly all productions proving the dissemination of this lentivirus infection among dairy goat flocks in Ceará State. Although an association between these diseases was not identified, the presence of a retrovirus in the organism may favor co-infection with another micro-organism, promoting the deficiency in the immune system of the host. In conclusion, M. agalactiae is present in different mesoregions of the Ceará State and control measures should be adopted in short term to prevent pathogen dissemination and, consequently reduce economic and productive losses in the local dairy goat production. No correlation was identified between the prevalence of infection by CAEV and M. agalactiae in this study.Keywords: correlation, diagnosis, caprine lentivirus, mycoplasmosis.

scholarly journals Camelids and Cattle Are Dead-End Hosts for Peste-des-Petits-Ruminants Virus

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Schulz ◽  
Christine Fast ◽  
Ulrich Wernery ◽  
Jörg Kinne ◽  
Sunitha Joseph ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Tissue Tropism ◽  
Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽  
Dromedary Camels ◽  
Dead End ◽  
Recent Transmission ◽  
Lineage Iv

Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a severe respiratory disease in small ruminants. The possible impact of different atypical host species in the spread and planed worldwide eradication of PPRV remains to be clarified. Recent transmission trials with the virulent PPRV lineage IV (LIV)-strain Kurdistan/2011 revealed that pigs and wild boar are possible sources of PPRV-infection. We therefore investigated the role of cattle, llamas, alpacas, and dromedary camels in transmission trials using the Kurdistan/2011 strain for intranasal infection and integrated a literature review for a proper evaluation of their host traits and role in PPRV-transmission. Cattle and camelids developed no clinical signs, no viremia, shed no or only low PPRV-RNA loads in swab samples and did not transmit any PPRV to the contact animals. The distribution of PPRV-RNA or antigen in lymphoid organs was similar in cattle and camelids although generally lower compared to suids and small ruminants. In the typical small ruminant hosts, the tissue tropism, pathogenesis and disease expression after PPRV-infection is associated with infection of immune and epithelial cells via SLAM and nectin-4 receptors, respectively. We therefore suggest a different pathogenesis in cattle and camelids and both as dead-end hosts for PPRV.

scholarly journals Short-Term Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Spanish Small Ruminant Flocks

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Vidaurreta ◽  
Christian de la Fe ◽  
Juan Orengo ◽  
Ángel Gómez-Martín ◽  
Bernardino Benito
Keyword(s):  
Economic Impact ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Dairy Goat ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Meat Market

The human pandemic COVID-19 caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) started in China in 2019 and has rapidly spread around the world, leading to extreme control measures such as population confinement and industry activity closure. Although small ruminants are not sanitary affected by this virus, the short-term economic impact derived by COVID-19 on Spanish flocks is estimated in this study, using data provided by producers and two major slaughterhouses. Milk prices of dairy goat flocks suffered a substantial drop in April 2020, close to 4.5 cts EUR/liter compared to the previous month. In contrast, the monthly milk prices in sheep remained almost stable during this period, and even increases of more than EUR 6 cts were reported in comparison with the previous year. Nevertheless, economical differences are reported by areas where producers could receive a higher income, close to EUR 0.3 per liter of milk. Global data provided by feedlots affecting 2750 Spanish flocks evidenced a lamb price drop ranging from 16.8% to 26.9% after the pandemic arrival; in line with the data directly reported by a limited sample of producers (ranging from 11.0% to 23.7%). The goat kid meat market also suffered a reduction in prices per kg, near 12.5%; although, for some flocks, losses reached up to 40%. In the same line, 2 slaughterhouses reported a sudden sacrifice drop around 27% for lambs and goat kids sacrifices in April, in contrast with the usual sacrifice figures from the beginning of 2020. Moreover, our study showed a temporary and unexpected retention of lambs and goat kids at farms due to a reduction in animals slaughtered during this period. In conclusion, data evidenced a considerable negative economic impact on Spanish small ruminant flocks, throughout the first 60 days after COVID-19’s pandemic declaration. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term economic consequences, in order to establish contingency plans and avoid the collapse of small ruminant industries when a crisis of these characteristics occurs.

scholarly journals An epidemiological investigation of gastrointestinal parasites of small ruminants in Tangail, Bangladesh

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Atikur Rahman ◽  
Sharmin Shahid Labony ◽  
Anita Rani Dey ◽  
Mohammad Zahangir Alam
Keyword(s):  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Eimeria Spp ◽  
Stool Samples ◽  
Fasciola Spp

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism is anegregious problem in small ruminant production system due to is impact on growth and associated cost of control measures. An epidemiological study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of small ruminants from different areas of Madhupur, Tangail. The stool samples were collected from a total of 426 goats and sheep from study areas. Specimens were subjected to Stoll’s ova counting technique and the overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection was found 63.4%. Overall prevalence of nematodes, cestodes, trematodes and protozoa was 52.11%, 2.11%, 36.62% and 10.33%, respectively. The prevalence of parasites were variable with Fasciola spp. (8.45%), Paramphistomum spp. (28.17%), Monieziaspp. (2.11%), Haemonchus spp. (31.22%), Trichurisspp. (1.17%), Oesophagostomum spp. (10.80%), Strongyloides spp. (4.93%), Trichostrongylus spp. (2.35%), Bunostomum spp. (1.64%), Eimeria spp. (24%) and Balantidium spp. (6.34%). Parasitic ova counts in male and female exhibited no significant variations (p>0.05) between them. The infection was significantly higher (65.11%) in adult than in young (58.09%). No significant (p>0.05) variation was observed in infection rates between goats (64.09%) and sheep (60.67%). Seasonal variation was found significant between rainy (72.44%), winter (56.72%) and summer (61.82%) seasons. Animals with poor body conditions (74.67%) were mostly affected compared to those with moderate (62.38%) and good (39.00%) body conditions. Further attempt is necessary for a structured surveillance and monitoring of GI parasites to formulate effective control measures.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 15(2): 255-259, December 2017

scholarly journals Anaplasma spp. in dairy ruminants in Jordan: high individual and herd-level seroprevalence and association with abortions

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 481-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad M. Obaidat ◽  
Alaa E. Bani Salman
Keyword(s):  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
High Seroprevalence ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Sheep And Goats ◽  
Associated Risk Factors ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Apparently Healthy

We estimated the seroprevalence of, and associated risk factors for, anaplasmosis in dairy cows, sheep, and goats in all regions of Jordan. Apparently healthy animals from 135 farms (31 cow, 68 sheep, and 36 goat farms) were tested for Anaplasma spp. antibodies by a competitive ELISA. At the farm level, 36%, 94%, and 94% of cow, sheep, and goat farms, respectively, were seropositive for Anaplasma spp. At the individual animal level, 22%, 89%, and 82% of the tested cows, sheep, and goats, respectively, were seropositive, which demonstrates widespread and high seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in dairy farms in Jordan. Seroprevalence did not vary between regions. Using the Fisher exact test, there was a significant association between high seroprevalence and recent abortion in small ruminants. There is an urgent need for further investigation of this disease, and the potential role of Anaplasma spp. in abortions, on dairy farms in Jordan.

Mycoplasma agalactiae in Dairy Goat Flocks Bred in State of Ceará in Association with Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Mesquita Peixoto ◽  
Alice Andrioli ◽  
Raymundo Rizaldo Pinheiro ◽  
Francisco Selmo Fernandes Alves ◽  
Vanderlan Warlington Souza Dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
The State ◽  
Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Dairy Goat ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Mycoplasma Agalactiae

Background: Contagious agalactia is an infectious disease caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae (M. agalactiae) that occurs in small ruminants leading to productive and economic losses. Due to the similarity of clinical signs presented in Caprine Arthritis Encepha­litis (CAE), which is a viral disease, a differential diagnosis is important. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of anti-Mycoplasma agalactiae antibodies in dairy goat flocks in Ceará State and possible correlation with CAE.Materials, Methods & Results: The research was performed in four mesoregions in Ceará State (Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza- MRF; Northeast Ceará - NeC; North Ceará - NC; Sertões in Ceará - SC), from which 16 productions located in 10 cities with the highest representativeness for goat milk production within the State or mesoregion were sampled. A total of 417 females and 69 males (486 animals) of breeds with dairy production aptitude, pure or crossbreed, maintained in semi-intensive or intensive systems, were tested. Blood serum was obtained by venipuncture of the jugular vein with vacuum pressure syringe followed by centrifugation at 1,500 g for 10min. Antibodies against the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) were detected with micro technique of agarose gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and Western Blot (WB). The anti-Mycoplasma agalactiae antibodies were detected with commercial kit of enzymatic immunoassay (IDEXX Laboratories™). Seroprevalence of M. agalactiae in dairy goat flocks in Ceará State was 0.62% (3/486). From the total of 16 visited productions, 18.75% (3/16) had seropositive animals for M. agalactiae located in MRF, NC and SC mesoregions. CAE was diagnosed in 56.25% (9/16) of productions with AGID and in 81.25% (13/16) with WB. In addition, 5.2% (25/486) of animals were seropositive for CAE with AGID and 16.6% (80/486) with WB. Animals that reacted positive for M. agalactiae were all females of pure breed with milk production aptitude in distinct mesoregions submitted to intensive rearing system. None of these animals was positive in neither test (AGID or WB) for CAE. Therefore, no correlation of results obtained in diagnosis of M. agalactiae by ELISA and CAEV by AGID or WB (P < 0.05) was identified. However, two out of three productions that were positive for M. agalactiae presented positive results for CAEV with frequencies of 10% and 20%.Discussion: Seroprevalence of M. agalactiae in Ceará State was low in comparison with other Brazilian states and even other countries. However, the presence of the pathogen in more than one mesoregion indicates that the disease occurs in different loca­tions within the State. Therefore, flocks in Ceará are susceptible to the infection, which may be favored by uncontrolled commerce that occurs with deficient surveillance, associated with the importation of animals to improve flock genetic quality. The presence of the pathogen in dairy goats may contribute to significant losses in the local production. On the other hand, CAE was diagnosed in nearly all productions proving the dissemination of this lentivirus infection among dairy goat flocks in Ceará State. Although an association between these diseases was not identified, the presence of a retrovirus in the organism may favor co-infection with another micro-organism, promoting the deficiency in the immune system of the host. In conclusion, M. agalactiae is present in different mesoregions of the Ceará State and control measures should be adopted in short term to prevent pathogen dissemination and, consequently reduce economic and productive losses in the local dairy goat production. No correlation was identified between the prevalence of infection by CAEV and M. agalactiae in this study.Keywords: correlation, diagnosis, caprine lentivirus, mycoplasmosis.

scholarly journals Characterizing superspreading events and age-specific infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Georgia, USA

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (36) ◽  
pp. 22430-22435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max S. Y. Lau ◽  
Bryan Grenfell ◽  
Michael Thomas ◽  
Michael Bryan ◽  
Kristin Nelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Reproductive Number ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Mobility Data ◽  
Multiple Data ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

It is imperative to advance our understanding of heterogeneities in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 such as age-specific infectiousness and superspreading. To this end, it is important to exploit multiple data streams that are becoming abundantly available during the pandemic. In this paper, we formulate an individual-level spatiotemporal mechanistic framework to integrate individual surveillance data with geolocation data and aggregate mobility data, enabling a more granular understanding of the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2. We analyze reported cases, between March and early May 2020, in five (urban and rural) counties in the state of Georgia. First, our results show that the reproductive number reduced to below one in about 2 wk after the shelter-in-place order. Superspreading appears to be widespread across space and time, and it may have a particularly important role in driving the outbreak in rural areas and an increasing importance toward later stages of outbreaks in both urban and rural settings. Overall, about 2% of cases were directly responsible for 20% of all infections. We estimate that the infected nonelderly cases (<60 y) may be 2.78 [2.10, 4.22] times more infectious than the elderly, and the former tend to be the main driver of superspreading. Our results improve our understanding of the natural history and transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2. More importantly, we reveal the roles of age-specific infectiousness and characterize systematic variations and associated risk factors of superspreading. These have important implications for the planning of relaxing social distancing and, more generally, designing optimal control measures.

scholarly journals Rabies Virus Infection in Livestock

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelmalik I. Khalafalla ◽  
Yahia H. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Modes Of Transmission ◽  
Dead End ◽  
Rabies Virus Infection ◽  
Prevention And Control Measures ◽  
And Control

Rabies is a lethal zoonotic encephalomyelitis and a major challenge to public and animal health. Livestock are affected by rabies mostly through bites of rapid dogs or wildlife carnivore\'s species. They are considered as ‘dead-end’ hosts that do not transmit the virus. Rabies in livestock has been endemic in many developing countries for many years and diagnosed through clinical signs and dog-biting history. An introduction on rabies situation in farm animals will be given then subchapters including `rabies in bovines, rabies in small ruminants, rabies in swine and rabies in camelids. In each subchapter we shall discuss, epidemiology, modes of transmission, diagnosis and prevention and control measures.

scholarly journals Concept of an Active Surveillance System for Q Fever in German Small Ruminants—Conflicts Between Best Practices and Feasibility

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fenja Winter ◽  
Clara Schoneberg ◽  
Annika Wolf ◽  
Benjamin U. Bauer ◽  
T. Louise Prüfer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Residential Areas

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Inhalation of contaminated dust particles or aerosols originating from animals (esp. small ruminants) is the main source of human infection. Hence, an active early warning system for Q fever in German small ruminant livestock was conceptualized to prevent human infections. First, we describe the best practice for establishing this system before evaluating its feasibility, as the combination of both evokes conflicts. Vaginal swabs from all husbandry systems with a focus on reproductive females should pooled and investigated by PCR to detect C. burnetii-shedding animals. Multistage risk-based sampling shall be carried out at the flock level and within-flock level. At the flock level, all flocks that are at risk to transmit the pathogen to the public must be sampled. At the within-flock level, all primi- and multiparous females after lambing must be tested in order to increase the probability of identifying a positive herd. Sampling should be performed during the main lambing period and before migration in residential areas. Furthermore, individual animals should be tested before migration or exhibition to ensure a negative status. If a flock tests positive in at least one individual sample, then flock-specific preventive measures should be implemented. This approach implies huge financial costs (sample testing, action/control measures). Hence, taking the step to develop more feasible and affordable preventive measures, e.g., vaccinating small ruminant flocks, should replace testing wherever justifiable.

scholarly journals Foot and mouth disease and F.M.D. outbreak in Evros Prefecture in 2000

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 335 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. DADOUSIS (Κ. ΔΑΔΟΥΣΗΣ)
Keyword(s):  
Virus Type ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Foot And Mouth Disease ◽  
Mouth Disease ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
High Susceptibility ◽  
Unique Case ◽  
Foot And Mouth

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is an extremely, highly contagious, acute disease of all cloven-footed animal species. From 1994 to 2000 three FMD outbreaks occurred in Evros Prefecture and caused serious economical losses to the livestock of Evros. Particularly, in 1994 22 catde and 375 small ruminants were destroyed. In 1996, 6.250 catde, 24.261 small ruminants and 647 pigs were destroyed. Finally, in 2000, 5.383 catde, 4.405 small ruminants and 359 pigs were destroyed. All outbreaks, which occurred in Evros in 1994, in 1996 and 2000, were controlled by stamping-out of infected herds and flocks and pre-emptive culling on neighbouring and contact farms. FMD virus type Ο was isolated in 1994 and in 1996 and virus type ASIAl5 in 2000. In 2000 outbreak virus predominantly affected the catde population. All infected cattle showed clinical signs and high susceptibility in this strain of type ASIAj. Sheep, goats and pigs showed registans against this type ASIAj virus and clinical signs were found in only two flocks of sheep and in one of goats and pigs. In 2000, occurred the first and unique case of ASIAj in pings. Control measures lasted 5 months. In this review, all the symptomatology of FMD and the control measures, based on the experience of all these years, are given. Also, statistics and photo images are included.

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