Ticks and hemoparasitoses of livestock in Senegal. III. The Northern Sudan area

The authors describe the results of a study on ticks and hemoparasitoses of cattle and small ruminants in the Senegalese north-sudanian area. For 15 months, 40 bovine, 40 sheep and 40 goats received a routine dipping treatment, aimed at the determination of the tick population dynamics together with an accurate localization of the preferential sites for the different species. The following parasites were collected from the animals: Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, H. truncatum, Rhipicephalus lunulatus, Rh. e. evertsi, Rh. sulcatus, Rh. senegalensis, Boophilus decoloratus. Joint studies were conducted on the hemoparasites using blood smear and splenectomy. Among bovine, Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia bovis, Theileria mutans, Th. velifera, Trypanosoma congolense, T. brucei and microfilariae from Setaria labiatopapillosa were observed. Babesia bigemina was observed after a splenectomy. In small ruminants, the detected infections are brought about by A. ovis, Th. ovis and T. vivax. Hematocrite value of apparently healthy animals are studied as well as the seasonal variation of this hematological factor.     

Participatory analysis of seasonal incidences of diseases of cattle, disease vectors and rainfall in southern Sudan

During an investigation into a chronic wasting disease in southern Sudanese cattle, a participatory appraisal method called a ‘seasonal calendar’ was used to understand local perceptions of seasonal variations in cattle diseases, disease vectors, intermediate hosts and rainfall. Repetition of a standardized seasonal calendar with Dinka informants demonstrated good reproducibility of the method. Comparison of rainfall data produced by seasonal calendars and objective measures of rainfall demonstrated good validity of the seasonal calendar method. Subjective assessment of seasonal calendar scoring patterns by veterinarians indicated that herders’ perceptions of seasonal populations of biting flies, ticks and snails were similar to modern veterinary knowledge. The uses of seasonal calendars in veterinary epidemiology are discussed.     

Ticks and tick-borne disease in Guatemalan cattle and horses

Blood samples and ticks were collected from 48 cattle and 74 horses from seven sites in the Peten region of Guatemala. Data on body condition, mucous membrane capillary refill time and tick infestation levels were recorded for each animal in the study. Horses had significantly higher levels of tick infestation than cattle, as well as poorer body condition scores. Seroprevalence of Babesia spp. was 95.8% for B. bovis in cattle, 89.6% for B. bigemina in cattle, and 92.7% for B. equi in horses. Seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale in cattle was 87.5%, similar to reports in animals from other regions of Central America. This is the first time that A. phagocytophilum has been reported in animals from this region, with overall PCR-prevalence of 27.6% in cattle and horses, and seroprevalence of 28.4% (52% in cattle and 13% in horses). An agent was identified with serological cross-reactivity and close genetic relatedness to Ehrlichia ruminantium, but further testing confirmed that the agent in Guatemalan cows was not the agent of heartwater. Ticks were identified to species with the predominant species identified on cattle as Boophilus microplus and Amblyomma cajennense, while Anocentor nitens and A. cajennense were most commonly found on horses. Prevalence of infection, tick infestation levels, host factors and environmental data were analyzed for association; A. nitens was significantly associated with A. phagocytophilum prevalence by village.     

Vaccines against hemoparasitic diseases in Israel with special reference to quality assurance

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Four vaccines against hemoparasitic diseases (anaplasmosis, babesiosis and theileriosis) and a vaccine against besnoitiosis are currently used in Israel....     

An epidemiological and genetic study on registered diseases in Finnish Ayrshire cattle. IV. Clinical mastitis

The epidemiology and genetic variability of clinical mastitis were examined. The data consisted of 70,775 Finnish Ayrshire cows. All cows were from milk recorded herds and calved during 1983. Each cow was under observation from the date of calving for 305 days. Only clinical mastitis diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian during the farm visits were taken into account. The lactation incidence rate of clinical mastitis (LIR) was 5.4 %. The cows calving in April-May had the highest LIR, but the seasonal variation was relatively small. The LIR increased with parity from the first to sixth parity. The cows treated for parturient paresis, infertility or ketosis had a higher risk of clinical mastitis than cows not treated for these diseases. The LIR was higher in herds with a high milk production level. The highest odds ratio estimated from parameters of the logit model was 14.8. The heritability estimates for clinical mastitis on the binomial scale were 3.2 % in parity 1, 1.6 % in parity 2, 0.6 % in parity 3 and 4, and 0.8 % in all parities (corresponding to 19.7 %, 8.3 %, 2.6 % and 3.8 % on the normal scale). These estimates indicate sufficient assurance for progeny testing of bulls and some possibilities of genetic selection against clinical mastitis. Genetic correlations between clinical mastitis and 305-days milk yield were 0.39 in parity 1, 0.51 in parity 2, 0.18 in parity 3–4 and 0.58 in all parities. This means that the best sires for milk yield had daughters with a higher LIR for clinical mastitis than the other sires.     

Bartonella bovis and Candidatus Bartonella davousti in cattle from Senegal

In Senegal, domestic ruminants play a vital role in the economy and agriculture and as a food source for people. Bartonellosis in animals is a neglected disease in the tropical regions, and little information is available about the occurrence of this disease in African ruminants. Human bartonellosis due to Bartonella quintana has been previously reported in Senegal. In this study, 199 domestic ruminants, including 104 cattle, 43 sheep, and 52 goats were sampled in villages from the Senegalese regions of Sine Saloum and Casamance. We isolated 29 Bartonella strains, all exclusively from cattle. Molecular and genetic characterization of isolated strains identified 27 strains as Bartonella bovis and two strains as potentially new species. The strains described here represent the first Bartonella strains isolated from domestic ruminants in Senegal and the first putative new Bartonella sp. isolated from cattle in Africa.     

Nonrespiratory diseases of stocker cattle.

Bovine respiratory disease is the most common health issue affecting stocker cattle. There are several nonrespiratory diseases that affect stockers. The more common diseases include rumen tympany, infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, coccidiosis, photosensitization, and foot rot. Accurate diagnosis, early treatment, and incorporating appropriate preventive measures can assist cattle production.     

Clinical zinc and copper deficiencies in cattle of western Sudan

Clinical cases of both Zn and Cu deficiencies are reported in a cattle farm in Kordofan Region of the Sudan after drought. The animals showed general weakness, stunted growth, infertility, parakeratosis and achromotrichia. There was macrocytic hypochromic anaemia and low Cu and Zn concentrations in sera. The condition was more prevalent in zebu-Friesian crosses than the local breeds. Drought and marginal or low Cu and Zn content in pasture may be the predisposing factors.     

Biochemical and serological studies on Pasteurella multocida isolated from cattle in the Sudan.

Of 42 strains of Pasteurella meltocida isolated from different outbreaks of hemorrhagic septicaemia and from healthy cattle in various parts of the Suden, 38 belonged to Carters' type B and four to type E. The strain used for vaccine production was type E. With respect to somatic antigen determination, there was some correlation between the results of the gel diffusion and the agglutination tests as most strains reacted with 0 groups 6 antisera in both tests. However, some antigens cross-reacted with antisera of different 0 groups in the gel diffusion test. No correlation was observed between the pattern of biochemical reactions and the serological types.