Seroprevalence of antibodies for bovine viral diarrhoea virus, Brucella abortus and Neospora caninum, and their roles in the incidence of abortion/foetal loss in dairy cattle herds in Nakuru District, Kenya

Little is known of the risk factors associated with occurrence of Neospora caninum and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) infection in Kenya. This cross-sectional study hypothesized that there are significant biosecurity measures associated with N. caninum and BVDV infections on smallholder dairy farms in Kenya that could be adopted to reduce seroprevalence and impacts. From 158 randomly selected farms in Meru County, Kenya, 470 serum samples were collected from dairy cattle (over six months of age and unvaccinated for these two pathogens). Sera were analyzed for antibodies to N. caninum and antibodies and antigens to BVDV. Data on risk factors were obtained through face-to-face interviews with the farmers. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify significant risk factors associated with seropositivity for the pathogens. The apparent seroprevalence of N. caninum, BVDV antibody, BVDV antigen, and co-infection with N. caninum and BVDV antibody and/or antigen were 35.1%, 47.1%, 36.2% and 18.5%, respectively. Risk factors associated with N. caninum antibody included: introducing milking cows into the farm, lending of cattle between farms, farm dogs having access to bovine aborted fetuses, and dogs whelping in the farm compound, with an interaction between the last two variables. BVDV antigen was associated with cattle having contact with pigs, and an interaction between cattle age and whether farms introduced new calves onto farms, and cattle age and whether visiting dairy farmers have access to the cow shed. Cows had higher odds of having BVDV antibodies compared to heifers. Factors associated with co-infection included cow parity, direct contact between dairy cattle, dogs and goats, and introducing new milking cows into the farms. Antibody and antigen results may be partly a function of classical swine fever virus or border disease virus interactions. Farmer education on these biosecurity measures is recommended, along with introduction of BVDV vaccination.

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Reproductive disorders in relation to Neospora caninum, Brucella spp. and bovine viral diarrhoea virus serostatus in breeding and dairy farms of central and southern Ethiopia

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268812002191 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 141 (8) ◽

pp. 1772-1780 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

K. ASMARE ◽

F. REGASSA ◽

L. J. ROBERTSON ◽

A. D. MARTIN ◽

E. SKJERVE

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Infectious Agents ◽

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea ◽

Reproductive Disorders ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Diarrhoea Virus

SUMMARYAbortion and stillbirth are important reproductive disorders in the dairy industry and are often caused by infectious agents. This study investigated whether bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), Brucella spp., and Neospora caninum are associated with abortion and/or stillbirth in dairy cattle in Ethiopia. Dairy cattle from 99 farms were categorized as cases (n = 134) or controls (n = 268) according to reproductive data. Blood samples were screened for antibodies for these infectious agents. The overall proportion of cattle that were seropositive for BVDV, Brucella spp., and N. caninum was 11·7%, 3·2%, and 17·2%, respectively. Seropositivity for BVDV and Brucella spp. was similar for cases and controls, but significantly more cases were seropositive for N. caninum (29·8%) than controls (10·8%). This is the first report demonstrating N. caninum is common in dairy cattle in Ethiopia, and is probably a greater impediment to reproductive success in Ethiopian dairy farms than either BVDV or Brucella spp.

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Bovine viral diarrhoea virus in beef cattle herds of Yucatan, Mexico: Seroprevalence and risk factors

Preventive Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.prevetmed.2005.06.004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 72 (3-4) ◽

pp. 253-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

J.J. Solis-Calderon ◽

V.M. Segura-Correa ◽

J.C. Segura-Correa

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea ◽

Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Cattle Herds

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Co-infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus and Anaplasma marginale in a dairy cattle herd may lead to acute bovine anaplasmosis

Veterinární Medicína ◽

10.17221/252/2015-vetmed ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 61 (No. 9) ◽

pp. 504-515

Author(s):

A. Szabara ◽

J. Majer ◽

L. Ozsvari ◽

C. Jakab ◽

W. Baumgartner

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Age Groups ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Anaplasma Marginale ◽

Cattle Herd ◽

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Dairy Cattle Herd

This report describes an acute exacerbation of subclinical anaplasmosis manifesting itself in clinical signs in a large number of animals after infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). The simultaneous transmission of BVDV and Anaplasma was unintended and most likely the result of a vaccination operation in a large Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle herd in Hungary. From Day 35 after the first vaccination, a total of 33 cows developed fever, depression, general weakness, lack of appetite, a sudden drop of milk production, anaemia, icterus, and tachypnoea on exercise. In addition, a total of seven abortions and three stillbirths occurred. Between Days 30 and 35 after the second vaccination four cows showed clinical signs typical of anaplasmosis, and two stillbirths occurred. The presence of Anaplasma marginale infection was demonstrated by haematological, biochemical, PCR and haemocytological examinations of blood samples collected from animals showing clinical signs as well as by necropsy. To assess the prevalence of infection in the herd, a specified number of animals belonging to different age groups were subjected to serological tests. The rate of seropositive animals was substantially higher (50%) in the older (3- to 4-year-old and more than 4-year-old) age groups than in the younger cows (10–30%). This study has demonstrated for the first time that if bovine animals susceptible to both A. marginale and BVDV are infected by the two pathogens roughly at the same time, the immunosuppressive effect of BVDV will support the progression of A. marginale infection and manifestation of the disease resulting in acute clinical signs.

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