A Five-Year Retrospective Study of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks in Southern Africa, 2014 to 2018

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDv), like other ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome viruses, has a tendency to mutate rapidly. As such, available vaccines may not confer enough cross-protection against incursion of new lineages and sublineages. This paper is a retrospective study to determine the topotypes/lineages that caused previous FMD outbreaks in 6 southern African countries and the efficacy of the current vaccines to protect cattle against them. A total of 453 bovine epithelial tissue samples from 33 FMD outbreaks that occurred in these countries from 2014 to 2018 were investigated for the presence of FMDv. The genetic diversity of the identified Southern African Type (SAT)-FMD viruses was determined by comparing sequences from outbreaks and historical prototype sequences. Of the 453 samples investigated, 176 were positive for four FMDv serotypes. Out of the 176 FMD positive cases there were 105 SAT2 samples, 32 SAT1 samples, 21 SAT3 samples, and 18 serotype O samples. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the SATs VP1 gene sequences into previously observed topotypes in southern Africa. SAT1 viruses were from topotypes I and III, SAT2 viruses belonged to topotypes I, II, III, and IV, and SAT3 viruses were of topotypes I and II. Vaccine matching studies on the field FMDv isolates produced r1-values greater than or equal to 0.3 for the three SAT serotypes. This suggests that there is no significant antigenic difference between current SAT FMD vaccine strains and the circulating SAT serotypes. Therefore, the vaccines are still fit-purpose for the control FMD in the region. The study did not identify incursion of any new lineages/topotypes of FMD into the sampled southern African countries.

Development and Validation of a Novel ELISA for the Specific Detection of Antibodies against Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis Based on a Chimeric Polyprotein

Bovine paratuberculosis (PTB) is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). The optimization of detection tests specific for MAP is crucial to improve PTB control. In this work, we aimed to develop and validate a diagnostic tool based on an ELISA to specifically detect anti-MAP antibodies from bovine serum samples. For that purpose, we designed a recombinant polyprotein containing four specific antigens from MAP and optimized the ELISA. The validation consisted of the assessment of 10 sera from PTB-infected and healthy bovines with different OD values. The diagnostic performance of the polyprotein-ELISA was evaluated by testing 130 bovine serum samples (47 healthy, 48 MAP-infected, and 35 M. bovis-infected bovines). The ELISA using the polyprotein yielded an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.9912 (95% CI, 0.9758–1.007; P < 0.0001). Moreover, for this ELISA, the cut-off selected from the ROC curve based on the point with a sensitivity of 95.56% (95% CI, 0.8485–0.9946) and specificity of 97.92 (95% CI, 0.8893–0.9995) was 0.3328. Similar results were obtained with an ELISA using the commercial Paratuberculosis Protoplasmatic Antigen (PPA). However, the ELISA with the polyprotein antigen showed a better performance against sera from animals infected with Mycobacterium bovis compared to the ELISA with PPA: lower cross-reactivity (2.85% versus 25.71%). These results demonstrate a very low cross-reactivity of the polyprotein with antibodies present in serum samples from animals infected with M. bovis. The designed polyprotein and the validated ELISA could be very useful for the specific identification of MAP-infected animals in herds.

Community Perception on Trypanosomosis, Parasitological, and Entomological Studies in Two Selected Districts of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

Participatory investigation and trypanosomosis prevalence studied during April 2019 and March 2020 in two selected districts of South Omo, Ethiopia. The study site is located in the gridline of 04.90 to 5.60oN and 35.80 to 36.900 E. Twelve community groups are employed. A cross-sectional study design and 288 animals bled and examined a wet film prepared from the buffy coat. Sixty NGU traps baited with acetone and cow urine were deployed for 48 hrs to estimate the apparent density. Data generated from focus group discussion and trypanosomosis prevalence analyzed using an appropriate statistical package. Proportional piling showed that cattle, goats, and sheep were proportionally dominant with a high median score of 32(14–40), 26(12–33), and 21(5–23), respectively; trypanosomosis ranked first with a proportional median score of 24(13–26) followed by contagious bovine/caprine pleuropneumonia with a proportional median score of 23(19–26) among others. Community unanimously agreed that (W = 0.9) trypanosomosis affects their socioeconomic status and was able to describe clinical signs with significant (p < 0.05) agreement. Tsetse fly (Echut and Kusubo) is the main vector with the agreement of W = 0.9(p < 0.05). Perception on human trypanosomosis varies between Benna Tsemay and Gnagatom districts. Therefore, further study supported by laboratory like molecular test is very important to conclude the presence of human trypanosomosis in the suggested area. The overall prevalence of cattle trypanosomosis was 10.1%. The prevalence of trypanosomosis was significantly higher in poor body condition (OR = 2.1, P < 0.05) and in black coat color (OR = 13.5, P < 0.05) animals. T. congolense and T. vivax were circulating in the area. A total of 455 Glossina (385 G. pallidipes, 17 G. tachinoides, and 53 G. fuscipes) were trapped. The overall apparent density of Glossina was 3.79 Flies/Trap/Day. Three species of Glossina, namely G. pallidipes, G. tachinoides, and G. fuscipes, were distributed in the study areas. Therefore, the finding suggests that the problem is significant and the human trypanosomosis is doubtful. Hence regular control measures and molecular diagnosis need to be conducted.

Effect of Allogeneic Oral Mucosa Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Equine Wound Repair

Objective. To assess the clinical value and safety of the application of allogeneic equine oral mucosa mesenchymal stromal cells (OM-MSCs) to wounds. Animals. 8 healthy adult horses without front limb skin lesions or musculoskeletal disease. Procedures. Stem cells were isolated from the oral mucosa of a donor horse. Horses were subjected to the creation of eight full-thickness cutaneous wounds, two on each distal forelimb (FL) and two on both sides of the thorax (TH). Each wound was subjected to one out of four treatments: no medication (T1), hyaluronic acid- (HA-) gel containing OM-MSC (T2), HA-gel containing OM-MSC secretome (T3), and HA-gel alone (T4). Gross macroscopic evaluation and laser digital photographic documentation were regularly performed to allow wound assessment including wound surface area. Full-thickness skin punch biopsy was performed at each site before wound induction (D0, normal skin) and after complete wound healing (D62, repaired skin). Results. All wounds healed without adverse effect at D62. Distal limb wounds are slower to heal than body wounds. OM-MSC and its secretome have a positive impact on TH wound contraction. OM-MSC has a positive impact on the contraction and epithelialization of FL wounds. No significant difference between wound sites before and after treatment was noted at histological examination. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance. Using horse cells harvested from oral mucosa is a feasible technique to produce OM-MSC or its secretome. The gel produced by the combination of these biologic components with HA shows a positive impact when applied during the early stage of wound healing.

Prevalence of Ticks Infesting Dairy Cattle and the Pathogens They Harbour in Smallholder Farms in Peri-Urban Areas of Nairobi, Kenya

This study aimed at determining the tick species infesting dairy cattle in Nairobi, Kenya, and the pathogens they harbour. While ticks are well-known vectors of major bacterial pathogens of both veterinary importance and public health importance, few studies have investigated the range of the tick species and the associated pathogens, especially present in unique dairy production systems, which compromise animal welfare, such as those in peri-urban areas. A cross-sectional study was undertaken involving 314 randomly selected dairy cattle in 109 smallholder farms. Each animal was examined for attached ticks followed by morphological tick identification at the species level. Genomic DNA was extracted from each of the ticks, and 16S rDNA gene was amplified for pathogen identification. Sequencing of the amplicons and subsequent BLASTn analysis, multiple sequence alignment, and phylogenetic reconstruction were performed to confirm the species of the pathogens. Sixty-six (21.0%) of the cattle examined had ticks. A total of 94 adult ticks were found on the cattle, and of these, 63 (67.0%), 18 (19.1%), and 13 (13.8%) were in the genera Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Hyalomma, respectively. Twelve tick species in Rhipicephalus genus and two in Amblyomma and Hyalomma genera were identified. Although Rh. decoloratus was the most prevalent tick (24.5% (23/94)), the emerging Rh. microplus (6.4% (6/94)) was also identified. The DNA of Rickettsia was detected in the ticks, with Rickettsia conorii in H. rufipes and A. variegatum, and Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Rh. microplus and H. rufipes, while Ehrlichia ruminantium and E. canis were in A. variegatum. In conclusion, the study reported a wide range of tick species present in the study area including Rhipicephalus microplus, which is an emerging tick species in parts of Kenya. The ticks harboured DNA of Rickettsia and Ehrlichia, highlighting possible animal and human health concerns. Hence, effective tick control strategies remain paramount to prevent potential diseases associated with the harboured pathogens.

In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Green Tea Polyphenon-60 against Avian Paramyxoviruses

Avian paramyxoviruses (APMVs) have caused an economically significant drop in global domestic poultry production because of their high morbidity and mortality rates. Polyphenols are the major components of green tea that have great antiviral effects. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-APMV activities of polyphenon-60. Twelve APMV-1 strains representing three different pathotypes, two strains of APMV-2, one strain of APMV-3, and one strain of APMV-7 were propagated in chicken embryos. To determine the cytotoxic effect, chicken embryo fibroblasts were treated with the test compound in various concentrations. To assess the antiviral properties, time-dependent, dose-dependent, and virulence-dependent experiments were conducted in both cell and chicken embryo models. A reduction in virus titers was measured by the hemagglutination test. The inhibitory effect on virus adsorption to the chicken red blood cell (RBC) surface was examined by the hemagglutination inhibition test. The results showed that lentogenic and mesogenic APMV-1 strains, APMV-3 strain, and APMV-7 strain were significantly inhibited ( p < 0.05 ) by polyphenon-60 at 50 μg/ml, while the 50% cytotoxic concentration of the compound was 345 μg/ml. Polyphenon-60 also exhibited the inhibitory activity against hemagglutination by NDV. Taken together, the results suggest that polyphenon-60 has shown promise as an antiviral agent that has wide safety margins against APMVs, and challenge studies to evaluate its efficacy in chickens are necessary.

Seroprevalence of Seven Reproductive Diseases in Beef and Dairy Cows from Three Provinces in Indonesia

Bovine reproductive diseases are endemic in Indonesia, but comprehensive information about their infectious causes is not available. Therefore, our aim for this study was to detect several infectious agents that cause reproductive diseases in Indonesian beef and dairy cows. A total of 152 cow serum samples collected by Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Brawijaya University and Veterinary Disease Investigation Centre as a part of the mandatory and regularly surveillance system from three provinces during 2019–2020 were used. The samples were then sent to Indonesian Research Centre for Veterinary Science (IRCVS) for further detection of seven reproductive diseases by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seven reproductive diseases to be tested in parallel are neosporosis, chlamydiosis, brucellosis, Q fever, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), and BHV-4 infection. The dominant reproductive diseases in Indonesian cows were BVD (45.69%), chlamydiosis (31.58%), IBR (20.53%), neosporosis (11.84%), and BHV-4 infection (10.53%). The seroprevalence of IBR, BHV-4 infection, neosporosis, and brucellosis varied significantly P < 0.05 between dairy and beef cattle. The most dominant reproductive diseases in aborted cows were chlamydiosis (45%), BVD (41%), and neosporosis (10%). The conclusion drawn from this study is that the dominant reproductive diseases in Indonesian cows are BVD, chlamydiosis, IBR, neosporosis, and BHV-4 infection. Chlamydiosis, BVD, and neosporosis are common among aborted cow. Chlamydiosis, neosporosis, and BHV-4 infection should be included in the national priority list in Indonesia. Control and preventive measures should be focused on high-risk areas and animals like stray cat and dog.

Changes in the Serum Protein Fractions in Goats after Treatment of Natural Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections in small ruminants belong to major health problems. The regulation of gastrointestinal infections in goats and the responses developed against them appear to be different from those observed in sheep. In the literature, there is a lack of data on the effect of gastrointestinal parasitic infections on the serum protein profile in goats. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal parasites and to compare the changes in the total serum proteins and serum protein fractions (albumin and α1-, α2-, β-, and γ-globulins) obtained after antihelminthic treatment. Eight adult female goats of the white shorthaired breed from a small dairy goat farm at the age ranging between 3 and 5 years with average body weight 35.4 ± 3.2 kg and body condition score (BCS) from 1.5 to 2.5 were used in the study. The serum proteins in goats were separated into five fractions: albumin, α1- and α2-globulins, and β- and γ-globulins. Significant changes after treatment were found in the relative concentrations of albumin ( P < 0.01 ) and α2- ( P < 0.05 ), β- ( P < 0.001 ), and γ-globulins ( P < 0.01 ), as well as albumin/globulin ratio ( P < 0.01 ). The mean concentration of total serum proteins was, after the antiparasitic treatment, significantly higher. Among the globulin fractions, the γ-globulin fraction contributed most significantly to these changes ( P < 0.001 ). The results presented in the study suggest a significant effect of antiparasitic treatment in goats on the synthesis of blood serum proteins and on the changes of the proportion of serum protein fractions.

Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomosis and Its Associated Risk Factor in Hawa Galan District, Kelem Wollega Zone of Ethiopia

An analytical cross-sectional study was performed between November 2015 and April 2016 at Hawa Galan woreda, Kelem Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, to estimate the proportion of cattle with trypanosomosis and to evaluate the elements associated with the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis. A haemoparasitological examination of the Buffy coat method was implemented to determine the proportion of trypanosomosis-positive cattle. A study population of 428 bovines was randomly selected from three peasant associations (PAs) and tested for the presence of the disease. Findings of the laboratory results indicate that among all animals tested at the study time, 26 (6%) animals were positive for the disease. Among the positive results, the proportion of trypanosome species was Trypanosoma congolense 18 (69.3%) and Trypanosoma vivax 8 (30.7%). The prevalence at the selected PAs was 12.5%, 3.8%, and 3% for Lemlem, Madawalkituma, and Ifajiru, respectively. From this finding, the relationship has a statistically significant variation ( P < 0.05) among peasant associations and body condition state, and the proportion was significantly greater ( P < 0.05) in animals categorized under poor body condition score. The relationships between age and sex of cattle show no statistically significant variation among them ( P > 0.05). This study indicates that the proportion of trypanosomosis was greater in anemic (PCV<24%) cattle than nonanemic (PCV≥24%). Therefore, based on this finding, the proportion of bovine trypanosomosis is evident that can cause a major effect on the health of cattle in the study population in the study area. So, effective control methods could be applied to decrease the disease and its related economic loss.

Anthelmintic Potential of Medicinal Plants against Ancylostoma caninum

Ancylostoma caninum is one of the most important hookworms in dogs. A study revealed that the prevalence of ancylostomiasis in Indonesia is relatively high. However, cases of persistent ancylostomiasis in dogs were reported, indicating the possibility of anthelmintic resistance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the anthelmintic potential of plants preclinically against A. caninum based on related research articles. This review retrieved 14 articles from 2001 to 2021 investigating 19 different plants. Momordica charantia, Diospyros anisandra, and Citrus aurantiifolia hold a promising prospect as anthelmintic against A. caninum. This review found aspects of those medicinal plants that need to be investigated deeper to improve our understanding of the matter. In vitro results in this review have not yet been tested in in vivo trials, which are essential in determining the efficacy and safety of the use of these medicinal plants and also to justify its clinical application.