Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from bovine clinical samples in the Republic of Ireland

Mycoplasma bovis was detected in 134 (18 per cent) of 736 samples of bovine lung tissue collected from fatal pneumonia cases in the Republic of Ireland between April 1995 and December 1998. The cases occurred in 95 herds and recurred in four of them. Other respiratory pathogens were identified in 66 per cent of the M bovis-positive cases, with Pasteurella species, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and parainfluenza 3 virus being most frequently detected. Mastitis and arthritis were less common clinical signs associated with M bovis infection; 22 cases of M bovis mastitis and five cases of M bovis arthritis were diagnosed in five herds.     

鸡霉形体的分离鉴定

从沈阳地区 2个鸡场的 6只病鸡取样 ,进行了霉形体的分离鉴定。通过培养特性、生化特性及血清学特性鉴定 ,分离出鸡败血霉形体 4株 ,分别命名为Sy1 株 ,Sy2 株 ,Sy4 株 ,Sy5株     

Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from bovine clinical mastitis cases in Northern Greece

Mycoplasma bovis was detected in 18/219 (8.2%) quarter milk samples collected from cases of bovine clinical mastitis in Northern Greece between November 1997 and March 1999. The cases occurred in 2/37 (5.4%) of the herds examined. The micro-organism was isolated from bulk milk samples (BTS) from the two positive herds but was not isolated from 111 composite milk samples collected from clinically healthy cows from all 37 herds. Isolates were identified as M. bovis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Other micro-organisms were also isolated from the M. bovis positive samples. The M. bovis-positive cows had all been imported into Greece from other European countries.     

Epidemiology and management of a bovine brucellosis cluster in Northern Ireland

An epidemiological investigation was undertaken of 41 bovine brucellosis outbreaks that occurred within a 10-month period, in a region where eradication measures appeared to be succeeding. The primary outbreak comprised three herds with significant within-herd spread and a high probability of multiple abortions. Direct contact between cattle at pasture was the most likely means of between-herd transmission for most (71%) outbreaks, with an attack rate of 28.1% in herds immediately neighbouring the primary outbreak herds and 11.3% in the next concentric ring of farms. Resolution of the incident was attributed to a rapid response by the veterinary authorities, detailed epidemiological investigations, repeated, prolonged testing of contact herds and employment of parallel testing.     

Epidemiology of bovine brucellosis in Northern Ireland between 1990 and 2000

Between 1990 and 2000, 317 herds of cattle in Northern Ireland were identified as being seropositive to Brucella abortus, and 68 per cent of them were attributed to transmission from neighbouring herds or to local spread. Of particular significance were three primary outbreaks in 1997, which resulted in significant secondary and tertiary spread. Three spatial clusters were identified, corresponding to two of the primary outbreaks, and the herd density and within-herd spread were highest in the largest cluster. Abortions in an infected herd and the disease-risk status of the disclosure test were positively associated with an increased within-herd prevalence.     

Isolation of bovine herpesvirus type 5 from the semen of a healthy bull in Australia

Artificial insemination is widely used in the cattle industry and a major challenge is to ensure that semen is free of infectious agents. A healthy donor bull was tested for freedom from infectious agents. A bovine herpesvirus was isolated in testis cells and identified as bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) by polymerase chain reaction and by direct amplicon sequencing. The amplicon sequence shared 100% similarity with the published sequence of BoHV-5. This is the first report in Australia of BoHV-5 in semen. The implications of this finding are discussed.     

Isolation of mycoplasmas from pneumonic sheep lungs in the Sudan

A cell type with properties similar to those of the brush cell was recognised in the bronchial epithelium of calves. It occurred in small numbers and was not found in airways distal to the small bronchi. The ultrastructural features are described, emphasising the two constant characteristics (i) a dense population of thick apical microvilli and (ii) cytoplasmic filament bundles which extent into the microvilli.     

Isolation in cell cultures and initial characterisation of two novel bocavirus species from swine in Northern Ireland

We report the isolation in cell cultures of two novel bocavirus species in pigs from farms in Northern Ireland with clinical postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). We have designated the isolates as porcine bocavirus-3 (PBoV3) and porcine bocavirus-4 (PBoV4). To date 5082 and 4125 bps of PBoV3 and PBoV4 have been sequenced, respectively. PBoV3 and PBoV4 show nucleotide homology to other known bocaviruses in swine and other organisms. Open reading frame (ORF) analysis has shown that these viruses have a third small ORF, equivalent to the NP1 ORF that distinguishes the bocaviruses from other parvoviruses. A panel of porcine field sera was screened by indirect immunofluorescence against both viruses. Of the 369 samples analysed, 32 (8.7%) and 35 (9.5%) sera were seropositive for PBoV3 and PBoV4 respectively, thus providing serological evidence of the exposure of swine in the field to bocavirus-like viruses. To date, the clinico-pathological significance of these novel swine bocaviruses, as primary pathogens or as immunosuppresive triggers for other infectious agents, is undetermined.