A serological survey of bovine herpesvirus-1 infection in selected dairy herds in northern and central Italy

Serum samples from a total of 6979 dairy cattle from 55 herds in northern Italy (51 herds) and central Italy (4 herds), were examined by the serum neutralization test for the presence of antibody to bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1). It was found that 84.31% of the farms selected in northern Italy and all the farms from central Italy had seropositive animals at titers of 1:4 or higher. The prevalence of infection was essentially the same among the cattle populations of the two selected areas of the country, being of 34.99% in the north and of 38.65% in central regions. A comparison of the data from the present study with those obtained in a serological survey conducted in Italy in 1966, shows that the rate of seropositive cattle to BHV-1 has increased by about 5.0% in the last 30 years.     

Clinical and serological evidence of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis in St. Lucia

One hundred fifty-nine Holstein calves were imported into St. Lucia from the U.S.A. An outbreak of babesiosis occurred 17 days post-arrival, and an outbreak of anaplasmosis occurred 5 months after importation. Sera obtained 3, 6 and 12 months post-importation revealed a high prevalence of IFA titres to Babesia bovis and B. bigemina 3 months after arrival and an increase in titres to Anaplasma marginale 6 months after arrival. Sera obtained arrives from native cattle from several places on the island indicated infection rates of 80, 65 and 64% with A. marginale, B. bigemina and B. bovis, respectively. The rapid card test only indicated a 25% prevalence of infection of native cattle by A. marginale. This low prevalence was probably due to deterioration of serological activity during shipment.     

A survey of feline babesiosis in South Africa

South Africa appears to be the only country where feline babesiosis is a significant clinical entity in domestic cats. Little is known about its epidemiology or the clinical challenges facing practitioners. A questionnaire posted to 1760 South African veterinarians was returned by 16%, representing approximately 40% of practices. Just over half reported seeing feline babesiosis, with most cases occurring in the coastal areas of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces. Overall incidence is highest in summer, but seasonality is less pronounced in non-seasonal and winter rainfall areas. No age, breed or sex predisposition was identified. Weight loss, weakness, anaemia, fever and icterus are common clinical findings. Complications include hepatopathy, renal failure, pulmonary oedema, cerebral signs, immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia and concurrent infections. The antibabesial drug of choice is primaquine phosphate. Response to therapy is generally good, but recurrence and chronic infections were identified as problems. The average mortality rate was 15%. Approximately 3000 cases are seen annually by the respondents, at an estimated cost of R750 000 to the owners. Feline babesiosis is a significant problem in South Africa, and further investigations of taxonomic status, concurrent infections, chemotherapy, complications and management of refractory cases are warranted.     

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in northern tanzania,culture confirmation and serological studies

Summary After an absence of about 25 years contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) appeared again in 1990 in Tanzania. It was preceded by a spread in Kenya to an area bordering Tanzania. Due to the frequent cattle movements across the border it was soon introduced into Loliondo in northern Tanzania. One month after the first cases, CBPP was suspected in a total of 9 herds comprising 1,500 cattle. However, few animals showed clear clinical signs and frequent antibiotic treatment at an early stage further obscured the clinical picture. In one herd with acute cases, the diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy andMycoplasma mycoides subsp.mycoides, SC type, was isolated. From this herd several serum samples were positive in the complement fixation test and gave high absorbance values in an ELISA withM. mycoides subsp.mycoides antigen. From 5 other herds with suspected cases blood samples were negative by the complement fixation test but in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at least one in each herd was positive.

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Pleuroneumonia Contagiosa Bovina En Tanzania Septentrional, Confirmacion Mediante Cultivo Y Estudios Serologicos

Resumen Después de un período de 25 años sin ningún brote, la pleuroneumonía contagiosa bovina apareció de nuevo en Tanzania en 1990, después de que la enfermedad se extendiera a una zona de Kenya fronteriza con Tanzania. Debido a los frecuentes movimientos de ganado vacuno a través de la frontera, la enfermedad se declaró pronto en Loliondo, en el norte de Tanzania. Un mes después de los primeros casos, 9 rebaños, que contabilizaban en total 1500 animales, eran sospechosos de estar infectados. Sin embargo, pocos animales mostraron síntomas clínicos claros y et tratamiento precoz con antibióticos contribuyó a disminuir la intensidad de las manifestaciones clinicas. En un rebaño en el que hubo casos agudos el diagnóstico se confirmó mediante necropsia y se aislóMycoplasma mycoides subsp.mycodies del tipo SC. Varias muestras de sangre de este rebaño dieron resultado positivo en el test de fijación del complemento y dieron valores de absorbancia altos en un test de ELISA conM. mycoides subsp.mycoides. Las muestras de sangre provenientes de otros 5 rebaños en los que se sospechó la existencia de la enfermedad dieron resultado negativo en el test de fijación de complemento mientras que al menos un animal de cada rebaño dio resultado positivo en el test ELISA.

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Peripneumonie Contagieuse Bovine Dans Le Nord De La Tanzanie, Confirmation Par Culture Et Etudes Serologiques

Résumé Après une absence d'environ 25 ans la péripneumonie contagieuse bovine est de nouveau apparue en 1990 en Tanzanie. Elle a été prècedée d'une progression au Kenya vers une zone bordant la Tanzanie. Par suite de mouvements frontaliers fréquents du bétail, elle a été beintôt introduite dans la région de Loliondo, dans le nord de la Tanzanie. Un mois après les premiers cas, 9 troupeaux totalisant 1500 têtes ont été supectés. Cependant, peu d'animaux ont présenté des signes cliniques nets et, de surcroît, les traitements antibiotiques entrepris en début de maladie obscurissent le tableau clinique. Le diagnostic a été confirmé à l'autopsie dans un troupeau présentant des cas cliniques etMycoplasma mycoides subsp.mycoides, type SC, a été isolé. Plusieurs échantillons de sérum de ce troupeau ont été positifs en fixation du complément et ont donné de grandes valeurs d'absorption dans un test ELISA avec un antigèneM. mycoides subsp.mycoides. Pour 5 autres troupeax avec des cas suspects, les échantillons de sang ont été négatifs en fixation du complément mais un au moins pour chaque troupeaux a été positif dans un test ELISA.

     

An epidemiological survey on bovine and ovine babesiosis in Kurdistan Province, western Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the Babesia infection in domestic animals in Kurdistan Province of Iran for the first time. In this survey, 9,111 domestic livestock, including cattle and sheep, were randomly sampled and examined from 500 flocks in Kurdistan Province from July 2007 to September 2009. Thin peripheral blood smears were taken and then stained by Giemsa staining method. From a total of 9,111 collected samples, 2,642 were sheep and 6,469 were cattle. Babesia spp. is detected in 1,359 (51.4%) out of sheep samples and 136 (2.1%) out of cattle samples by direct examination of blood smear. Altogether, the prevalence rate of Babesia infection was 16.4% (n = 1,495) in both animal groups. Babesia ovis and Babesia bigemina were the most prevalent species found in sheep and cattle, respectively. The relatively high prevalence of Babesia infection in livestock indicates the epizootic stability status of babesiosis in the western part of Iran.     

A serological survey for pathogens in old fancy chicken breeds in central and eastern part of The Netherlands

To get an impression of the presence of pathogens in multi-aged flocks of old fancy chicken breeds in the Netherlands, plasma samples originating from 24 flocks were examined for antibodies against 17 chicken pathogens. These flocks were housed mainly in the centre and east of the Netherlands, regions with a high poultry density. The owners of the tested flocks showed their chicken at national and international poultry exhibitions. Antibodies against Avian Influenza, Egg Drop Syndrome '76 virus, Pox virus, Salmonella pullorum/gallinarum, Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium were not detected. However, antibodies against other Salmonella species, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, infectious bursal disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus, avian encephalomyelitis virus, chicken anaemia virus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, and avian leukosis virus, subgroups A and B, and subgroup J were detected in a varying proportion of the flocks. This study shows that antibodies against many chicken pathogens are present among the flocks of old fancy chicken breeds that are exhibited at international poultry exhibitions.     

Epidemiology of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis in Zambia

The serological prevalence of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis in the traditional farming sector of six provinces of Zambia was determined using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for babesiosis and the card agglutination test (CAT) for anaplasmosis. Antibodies to Babesia bigemina occurred throughout the country whereas the prevalence of B. bovis followed the distribution of its tick vector Boophilus microplus which is limited to the north-eastern part of the country. Low numbers of B. bovis serologically positive cattle were demonstrated in central and southern Province. Anaplasma spp. occurred throughout Zambia but the overall percentages of positive sera were low ranging between 14.7% and 38.6% using the CAT. Two hundred sera were retested for anaplasmosis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sero-prevalence rates were 1.5 to 2.3-fold greater with the ELISA than with the card agglutination test.     

Seroepidemiology of bovine anaplasmosis and babesiosis in Venezuela

Summary The serological prevalence of bovine anaplasmosis and babesiosis in the Centro-Occidental region of Venezuela was determined using the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and latex agglutination (LAT) tests.Anaplasma marginale IFA and LAT prevalence rates were 57·7 and 48·6% respectively for cattle of all ages and breeds. The respective prevalence of IFA activity toB. bigemina andB. bovis was 78·2 and 38·8%. The LAT test specific only forBabesia spp. revealed that 61·4% of the animals tested were serologically positive forBabesia parasites.Anaplasma marginale andB. bigemina organisms were detected in peripheral blood smears of 21·1 and 7·5% respectively of cattle surveyed. A longitudinal survey of antibody activity and incidence of parasitaemia forAnaplasma andBabesia infections was conducted in two groups of calves from their birth to seven months of age. The animals generally experienced infections between three and four months of age the period subsequent to decline in colostral antibody levels. Seroepidemiological data are considered in the formulation of proposed vaccination regimens for anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

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Resumen Se determinó la prevalencia serológica de anaplasmosis y babesiosis bovina, en la región central occidental de Venezuela, utilizando la prueba de immunofluorescencia indirecta PIFI) y la aglutinación del latex (PAL). Las ratas de prevalencia PIFI y PAL paraAnaplasma marginale fueron 57·7% y 48·6% respectivamente, en ganado de todas las edades y razas. Las respectivas prevalencias de la actividad de PIFI, pa paraBabesia bigemina yB. bovis fue 78·2% y 38·8%. La prueba PAL, ú únicamente especifica paraBabesia spp. reveló que el 61·4% de los animales analizados fueron serológicamente positivos paraBabesia. Se detectóAnaplasma marginale yB. bigemina en la sangre periférica de 21·1% y 7·5% respectivamente, del ganado analizado. Se llevó a cabo, un reconocimiento longitudinal, de la actividad de los anticuerpos e incidencia de parasitémia, paraAnaplasma yBabesia, en dos grupos de terneros, desde el nacimiento hasta los siete meses de vida. Los animales experimentaron las primeras infecciones, entre los tres y cuatro meses de vida, el periodo con posterioridad a la pérdida de inmunidad materna.

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Résumé La prévalence sérologique de l'ánaplasmose et de la babésiose bovines dans la région centre-ouest du Vénézuela a été déterminée par les méthodes indirectes de l'immunofluorescence (IF) et de l'agglutination au latex (AL). Les taux de prévalence d'Anaplasma marginale d'après les tests IF et AL sont respectivement de 57, 7 p. 100 et de 48,6 p. 100 chez les bovines, quel que soit l'age ou la race. La prévalence respective du test IF vis-à-vis deB. bigemina et deB. bovis est de 78,2 p. 100 et de 38,8 p. 100. Le test de l'agglutination au latex dont la spécificité est limitée au genreBabesia spp a montré que 61,4 p. 100 des animaux testés avaient une sérologie positive vis-à-vis des parasitesBabesia. Anaplasma marginale etB. bigemina ont été décelés dans des frottis de sang périphérique chez 21,1 p. 100 et 7,5 p. 100 respectivement des bovins testés. Un suivi dans le temps de l'activité des anticorps et de l'incidence de la parasitémie vis-à-vis des infections àAnaplasma etBabesia a été pratiqué dans deux groupes de veaux depuis leur naissance jusqu'à l'age de 7 mois. Les animaux contractent généralement l'infection entre l'age de 3 et 4 mois, période qui succède au déclin des taux d'anticorps colostraux. Ces données de séroépidémiologie sont prises en compte dans l'établissement de campagne de vaccination contre l'anaplasmose et la babesiose.

     

Serological prevalence of bovine babesiosis in Mali

Summary A serological survey of cattle in Mali was carried out to determine the prevalence of antibody activity toBabesia bovis andB. bigemina. It was found that the level ofB. bovis infection as indicated by antibody activities was too low to be of immediate concern. However, the serological prevalence ofB. bigemina was high and this may indicate a potential disease problem. It was also found that when zebu and N'Dama cattle grazed together the N'Dama were twice as likely to have positive titres toBabesia as were the zebus.

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Prevalencia Serologica De Babesiosis Bovina En Mali

Resumen Se llevó a cabo un análisis serológico en Malí, para detectar la prevalencia deBabesia bovis yBabesia bigemina. Se encontró, que la prevalencia serológica deB. bovis es baja para considerar la enfermedad una amenaza inmediata. Sinembargo, la prevalencia deB. bigemina fué alta, un problema potencial. Tambien se encontró, que cuando el ganado Cebu y N'Dama pastorea junto, el N'Dama presenta el doble de títulos serológicos deB. bigemina.

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Frequence Serologique De La Babesiose Bovine Au Mali

Résumé Une enquête sérologique sur le bétail au Mali a été effectuée pour déterminer la fréquence de l'activité des anticorps àBabesia bovis etB. bigemina. On a trouvé que le degré d'infection àB. bovis tel qu'indiqué par les réactions anticorps était trop faible pour constituer un souci immédiat. Cependant la fréquence sérologique deB. bigemina était élevée, ce qui peut indiquer un problème pathologique potentiel. On a aussi noté que lorsque les zébus et les N'Dama broûtaient ensemble, les N'Dama avaient deux fois plus de chance d'avoir des titres positifs àBabesia que ne l'avaient les zébus.

     

A serological survey for infectious bursal disease virus antibodies in free-range village chickens in northern Tanzania

A study of infectious bursal disease (IBD) or 'Gumboro disease' seroprevalence rates in healthy, non-vaccinated indigenous scavenging chickens in northern Tanzania was conducted in November and December 2009 on 362 chickens raised in a traditional management system. Individual bird and flock-level information was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, and serum samples were screened for IBD virus (IBDV) antibodies using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study revealed high rates of IBDV antibodies, yielding an overall seropositive rate of 58.8 % and with at least one positive bird detected in 82.8 % (74/90) of flocks. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that seropositivity to IBDV varied significantly (chi2 = 16.1, P < 0.001) between the study sites. The flock seroprevalence was found to vary from 37.5 % to 91 % between districts and from 75 % to 90 % between regions. The results of this study showed that IBD is an endemic and widely distributed disease in northern Tanzania.     

Changing incidence of bovine babesiosis in Ireland

Background

In Ireland bovine babesiosis is caused by the tick-borne blood parasite, Babesia divergens. A survey of veterinary practitioners and farmers in the 1980’s revealed an annual incidence of 1.7% associated with considerable economic losses. However, two subsequent surveys in the 1990’s indicated a decline in clinical babesiosis. Recent evidence from continental Europe suggests that, probably due to climate change, the distribution of the tick vector of B. divergens, Ixodes ricinus is extending to more northerly regions and higher altitudes. In addition, milder winters are thought to widen the window of tick activity.In order to determine whether any such changes have affected the incidence of bovine babesiosis in Ireland, a questionnaire survey of farmers and veterinarians was carried out and compared with data from previous surveys.

Results

Our survey indicates that while the incidence of clinical disease has continued to decline, cases can occur at any time of year. In contrast to previous surveys, affected farms were the same size as unaffected ones. There was no correlation between disease risk and the presence of deer on the land. Disease severity and mortality rates were increased because many infections were advanced by the time they were detected and treated.

Conclusion

While the precise reasons for the decline in the incidence of redwater are unknown, changes in agricultural practice are likely to be of importance. A reversal of the trend could be devastating, as vigilance among farmers and veterinarians is flagging and the national herd is losing its protective immunity to disease.     

Serological prevalence of bovine babesiosis in Guyana

Summary The serological prevalence of bovine babesiosis in Guyana was determined utilising the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and the complement fixation (CF) tests.Babesia bigemina IFA and CF antibody activity was detected in 80%and 40% respectively of the sera from native cattle while IFA and CF antibody activity toBabesia bovis was observed in 61% and 16% of the seraThe prevalence of antibody was compared between calves less than 6 months of age and mature cattle. There was little difference between the CF and IFA tests forB. bigemina in the calves but the prevalence of IFA antibody activity toB. bovis in calves and toB. bovis andB. bigemina was greater in adult cattle.Examination of sequential serum samples from imported calves revealed that CF antibody activity appeared earlier but by day 51 following exposure to natural infection the prevalence of antibody as determined by both tests was the same.

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Prevalencia Serologica De Babesiosis Bovina En Guyana

Resumen Se determinó la prevalencia serológica de babesiosis bovina en Guyana, mediante la prueba indirecta de anticuerpos fluorescentes (AFI) y la fijación de complemento (FC). Anticuerpos AFI y FC contraBabesia bigemina se detectaron en el suero de un 80% y 40% respectivamente de ganado nativo, mientras que la actividad de anticuerpos AFI y FC contraBabesia bovis se observó en 61% y 16% de los sueros colectados.Se comparó la prevalencia de anticuerpos entre terneros menores de 6 meses de edad y ganado adulto. Hubo una pequeña diferencia entre las pruebas de FC y AFI paraBabesia bigemina en terneros, pero la prevalencia de anticuerpos IFA contraBabesia bovis en terneros y contraB. bovis y B. bigemina fué mayor en ganado adulto.El examen posterior de muestras de suero de ganado importado, revelaron que la actividad de anticuerpos FC aparece temprano, pero despues de 51 dias y despues de la exposición natural, la prevalencia de anticuerpos determinada por ambas pruebas fué igual. El examen de las muestras de suero fué seriado.

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Preuve Serologique De La Babesiose Bovine En Guyana

Résumé L'existence de la babesiose bovine en Guyana a été mise en évidence par deux tests: immunofluorescence indirecte (IFA) et fixation du complément (CF).Avec l'antigèneBabesia bigemina, les deux tests ont donné des résultats positifs dans des proportions respectives de 80 et 40 p. 100 chez le bétail autochtone, tandis qu'avecB. bovis ces taux étaient de 61 et 16 p. 100.Les titres d'anticorps furent comparés chez deux catégories d'animaux: veaux de moins de six mois et bétail adulte.PourB. bigemina, il y avait chez les veaux peu de différence entre les résultats des deux tests: mais avecB. bovis, l'immunofluorescence fournissait des titres supérieurs. Chez les adultes, aussi bien avecbigemina qu'avecbovis, l'immunofluorescence détectait le maximum de positifs.L'examen de sérums prélevés en série chez des veaux importés a montré que les anticorps fixant le complément apparaissaient les premiers, mais qu'à partir du 51 e jour après la contamination naturelle les deux tests donnaient des résultats identiques.