Quantification,risk factors,and health impact of natural congenital infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus in dairy calves

OBJECTIVES: To estimate risk and identify risk factors for congenital infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) not resulting in persistent infection and examine effect of congenital infection on health of dairy calves. ANIMALS: 466 calves. PROCEDURES: Calves from 2 intensively managed drylot dairies with different vaccination programs and endemic BVDV infection were sampled before ingesting colostrum and tested with their dams for BVDV and BVDV serum-neutralizing antibodies. Records of treatments and death up to 10 months of age were obtained from calf ranch or dairy personnel. Risk factors for congenital infection, including dam parity and BVDV titer, were examined by use of logistic regression analysis. Effect of congenital infection on morbidity and mortality rates was examined by use of survival analysis methods. RESULTS: Fetal infection was identified in 10.1% of calves, of which 0.5% had persistent infection and 9.6% had congenital infection. Although dependent on herd, congenital infection was associated with high BVDV type 2 titers in dams at calving and with multiparous dams. Calves with congenital infection had 2-fold higher risk of a severe illness, compared with calves without congenital infection. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The unexpectedly high proportion of apparently healthy calves found to be congenitally infected provided an estimate of the amount of fetal infection via exposure of dams and thus virus transmission in the herds. Findings indicate that congenital infection with BVDV may have a negative impact on calf health, with subsequent impact on herd health.     

Economic implications of bovine leukemia virus infection in mid-Atlantic dairy herds

OBJECTIVE: To determine the baseline costs of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection, including costs of clinical disease and subclinical infection, in a dairy herd representative of the mid-Atlantic region and compare these costs with the cost of a test-and-manage BLV control program. DESIGN: Stochastic spreadsheet model. SAMPLE POPULATION: A commercial Holstein dairy herd with 100 milking cows. PROCEDURES: A spreadsheet model was developed. The overall cost of infection included the cost of clinical disease (ie, lymphosarcoma [LS]) and the effects of subclinical infection on milk production and premature culling. Model input values and distributions were designed to reflect economic conditions in the mid-Atlantic region. Relative costs of infection and control were calculated for infection prevalences of 20, 50, and 80%. RESULTS: Estimated mean cost to the producer per case of LS was 412 dollars; for a herd with a 50% prevalence of BLV infection, annual incidence of LS was 0.66. Mean annual cost of subclinical infection at a 50% prevalence of infection was 6,406 dollars. Mean annual cost of a test-and-manage control program was 1,765 dollars. The cost of clinical disease and subclinical infection varied substantially with the prevalence of infection, whereas the cost of control varied with herd size. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that a basic BLV control program may be economically beneficial in herds in which the prevalence of BLV infection is > or = 12.5%. Farm-specific considerations may factor prominently when weighing the costs and benefits of an individual BLV control program.     

Effect of lymphocytes and broncho-alveolar washing cells on the replication of bovine herpesvirus type 1 in tracheal organ cultures

The daily addition of lymphocytes collected from a calf between 7 and 11 days after experimental infection with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) to bovine fetal tracheal organ cultures after infection with BHV-1 did not inhibit virus replication. The daily addition of normal lymphocytes, together with a low concentration of serum antibody against BHV-1, had a slight viral inhibitory effect which was believed to be due to antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The addition of broncho-alveolar washing (BAW) cells, collected before infection or 30 days after infection of a calf with BHV-1, together with lymphocyte culture supernatant, to tracheal organ cultures immediately after infection with BHV-1 produced some inhibition of virus replication. Virus replication was markedly inhibited when BAW cells collected from the calf 18 days after infection were used in a similar manner.     

A study of outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease in cattle. II. Further investigations on the routes of infection.

The probable routes of infection in 29 outbreaks of Aujeszky’s disease in cattle are discussed in the light of virological and epidemiological data, given in a preceding paper, and of histories of the individual outbreaks given in the present paper. The view was substantiated that anterior pruritus is mostly associated with infection by the respiratory route. In outbreaks with posterior pruritus the route of infection appeared to be a question of a more complex nature. With reference to cases examined later, it is concluded that perineal pruritus is often associated with vaginal infection. In a few cases there was evidence of virus transmission by man. Three cases with pruritus on a hind leg were suggestive of an alimentary infection. In many outbreaks with posterior pruritus, the route of infection remained obscure.     

Characterization of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis disseminated infection in dairy cattle and its association with antemortem test results

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) disseminated infection in dairy cattle affects animal health and productivity and is also a potential public health concern. The study objectives were to characterize MAP disseminated infection in dairy cattle and to determine the role of antemortem tests in detecting cattle with disseminated infection. Forty culled dairy cows representing a variety of serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results and body conditions were selected for the study. The physical condition of the cows was assessed via clinical examination prior to euthanasia and blood and feces were collected and tested by serum ELISA and fecal culture, respectively. Fifteen tissues were aseptically collected from each cow during necropsy and cultured for isolation of MAP. Disseminated infection was diagnosed when MAP was isolated in tissues other than the intestines or their associated lymph nodes (LNs) and was distinguished from infection found only in the gastrointestinal tissues and from absence of infection. Of the 40 cows in the study, 21 had MAP disseminated infection. Results showed that 57% (12/21) of cows with disseminated infection had average to heavy body condition and no diarrhea. Cows with disseminated infection had no to minimal gross pathologic evidence of infection in 37% (8/21) of cases. Only 76% (16/21) of cows with disseminated infection had positive historical ELISA results and only 62% (13/21) had a positive ELISA at slaughter. Thus, antemortem evidence of MAP infection was lacking in a high proportion of cows where MAP disseminated infection was confirmed.     

Clinical usefulness of antibodies against Babesia gibsoni detected by ELISA with recombinant P50

The clinical usefulness of antibodies against Babesia gibsoni detected by ELISA with recombinant P50 was examined in dogs in an area where B. gibsoni infection was endemic. Only 8 among 14 dogs with acute type B. gibsoni infection without a previous history of infection were positive. This high percentage of false-negative results is thought to be a weak point of ELISA as a diagnostic tool. However, 14 other anemic dogs with a confirmed history of B. gibsoni infection were all positive, thus confirming the higher sensitivity of ELISA in detecting a history of infection.     

Protection against and establishment of Dictyocaulus viviparus following primary infection at different dose levels

In two experiments, calves were primary infected with 1 of 12 (Experiment 1) or 6 (Experiment 2) different dose levels of Dictyocaulus viviparus infective larvae (L3), ranging from 5 to 2000 L3. To study the level of protection induced by the primary infection a challenge infection with 2000 L3 was given on day 10 (Experiment 1) or day 35 (Experiment 2). In both experiments, challenge control calves were included. Eleven days later, the challenge calves were necropsied for worm counts. Results were compared with predictions from a simulation model. Establishment of the primary infection was dose independent, lying on average in the range of 20-30%. The ratio female:male worms in the counts from the primary or from the challenge infection was consistently close to 1:1 irrespective of primary infection dose level or protection having developed in some of the calves. Level of early protection (10 days after a primary infection-Experiment 1) against establishment of the challenge infection depended significantly on primary infection dose level (P<0.01). At 10 days, after a primary infection, low dose levels did not result in protection against a challenge infection. In contrast, similarly low dose levels did result in partial protection, 35 days after the primary infection. Results confirmed that our provisional simulation model satisfactorily predicts primary infection outcomes, but that it does not accurately predict levels of protection and immunity against re-infections.     

Onchocerca gutturosa and Onchocerca lienalis in cattle: effect of age, sex, and origin on prevalence of onchocerciasis in subtropical and temperate regions of Florida and Georgia

Evaluation of 845 cattle from Florida and Georgia for onchocerciasis indicated a significantly higher prevalence of infection with Onchocerca gutturosa and a significantly lower prevalence of infection with Onchocerca lienalis in the southern portion of Florida (subtropical region) than in the northern portion of Florida or in Georgia (temperature region). In all regions, prevalence of infection with O gutturosa was significantly higher than infection with O lienalis. In the temperate region, bulls were infected more often with O lienalis than were cows. Other sex-related differences in infection with either filariid was not found. Prevalence of infection with O lienalis was similar between age groups in all regions. Rates of infection with O gutturosa differed between age groups within and between subtropical and temperate regions. Examination of cervical and umbilical skin specimens for microfilariae detected an additional 6.6% of infected animals that had not been found by examination for adult worms. However, microfilariae were not found in 21.4% of animals that were positive for adult worms.     

Susceptibility of Bos indicus and Bos taurus to Anaplasma marginale and Babesia bigemina infections

The reaction of Bos taurus and pure-bred Bos indicus heifers to infection with the intraerythrocytic parasites Anaplasma marginale and Babesia bigemina was studied. B. bigemina infection at 18 months and A. marginale infection at 13 or 24 months resulted in slightly less severe reactions in pure-bred Bos indicus cattle than in Bos taurus. In both breeds, the reaction to A. marginale infection was more severe in older cattle. The severity of B. bigemina infection was not affected by a previous infection with A. marginale.     

The effect of dexamethasone-induced immunosuppression on the development of faecal antibody and recovery from and resistance to rotavirus infection.

Rotavirus-naive and rotavirus-immune gnotobiotic calves were treated with high doses of dexamethasone (DX) to suppress the immune system. Calves were then infected with a virulent rotavirus inoculum, J-160, to investigate the role of immune responses both in recovery from primary rotavirus infection and in resistance to secondary rotavirus infection. Treatment of calves with DX markedly suppressed in vitro responsiveness of peripheral blood lymphocytes to mitogens within 48 h of the start of DX treatment. Suppression was similar in rotavirus-naive and rotavirus-immune calves. In contrast, the effect of DX treatment on specific antibody responses differed depending on when DX treatment started in relation to rotavirus infection. When DX treatment commenced prior to primary rotavirus infection both systemic and local specific antibody responses were inhibited. These calves, in which mitogen and antibody responses were suppressed, exhibited greater clinical signs than did control calves after infection with virulent rotavirus, but virus excretion was affected in only one of the two calves. When DX treatment was started after primary rotavirus infection but before secondary infection, systemic and local antibody responses to the primary infection and to the challenge infection were not affected. These calves resisted challenge with virulent virus as did DX-untreated rotavirus-immune calves, even though mitogen responses were suppressed. We conclude that in a primary rotavirus infection, virus excretion ceased when both antibody and mitogen responses were suppressed. Resistance to secondary rotavirus infection occurred when mitogen responsiveness was suppressed, but when antibody levels were normal. Thus, no evidence was obtained that fully functional cell-mediated immune mechanisms are essential for resistance to rotavirus infection. Evidence was provided for the ability of parenteral treatment with DX to suppress mucosal as well as systemic antibody responses.     

Pathogenic interactions between Chlamydophila psittaci and avian pneumovirus infections in turkeys

Both Chlamydophila psittaci and avian pneumovirus (APV) are highly prevalent in Belgian turkeys and might contribute to the respiratory disease complex observed in turkeys. Initial outbreaks of chlamydiosis occur mostly at the age of 4-8 weeks, often accompanied by an APV infection in APV non-vaccinated farms. Regardless APV vaccination, breakthroughs of APV infection from 8 weeks on do occur, a period when also a second C. psittaci infection appears. Therefore, this study examined the pathogenicity of an APV superinfection in C. psittaci predisposed turkeys. Turkeys were infected with C. psittaci, APV or with C. psittaci followed by APV. Simulating the impact of an APV infection during the acute phase or latent phase of a C. psittaci infection, turkeys have been infected with APV at 1 and 5 weeks post C. psittaci infection, respectively. APV infection during the acute phase of a C. psittaci infection aggravates the severity of clinical signs, macroscopic lesions, pharyngeal APV excretion and histological tracheae lesions. In contrast, no clear interaction could be established after APV infection in latently C. psittaci infected specific pathogen-free (SPF) turkeys. This study clearly demonstrates the exacerbating role of APV during acute C. psittaci infection, which can play an important role in the respiratory disease complex of turkeys.     

Characteristics of inapparent Aleutian disease virus infection in mink.

Inapparent of nonprogressive Aleutian disease virus (ADV) infection is a subclinical but persistent virus infection of mink. Mink with the inapparent type of ADV infection when subjected to stress did not develop the progessive form of the disease. However, when challenged with a large dose of the virus, these mink did develop progressive Aleutian disease indicating that they were not highly resistant to the virus. Sera of mink with either the progressive of the inapparent type of ADV infection did not neutralise the virus. The anti-ADV antibody activity in mink with inapparent type of ADV infection was in the IgG fraction of the serum the same as in mink with progressive Aleutian disease. These data indicate that the resistance of the mink with inapparent infection as compared to mink with progressive Aleutian disease was not due to a difference in the class of immunoglobulin response to the virus. However, mink with progressive Aleutian disease showed a greatly increased immunoglobulin response.     

Experimental vesicular stomatitis virus infection of swine: Extent of infection and immunological response

Swine, a natural host species for infection by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), were infected with VSV-New Jersey (VSV-NJ) serotype virus obtained from a recent field isolate. Tissues collected from the infected pigs were examined for the presence of infective virus, for viral antigens, and/or for viral nucleic acid. Infective virus could be recovered from tissues near the site of infection for as long as 6 days after the primary infection with VSV. However, no infective virus was recovered following hypothermia induced 11 weeks after infection, or following a secondary challenge with virus 22 weeks after initial infection. Immunofluorescence tests for viral antigens and nucleic acid hybridization assays failed to detect viral antigens or nucleic acids in tissues from which no infective virus could be recovered. Titers of serum-neutralizing antibody peaked 3–5 weeks after infection and then fell slightly until the secondary infection which caused a rapid anamnestic response. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) tested 3, 5, 8 or 18 weeks after primary infection all produced readily detectable antigen-specific proliferative responses when cultured with VSV. Thus, although direct tests failed to demonstrate persistence of virus after infection, the humoral and cellular immune response remained elevated for months. Infective VSV was not required to stimulate the proliferative response since UV-inactivated VSV was immunogenic in these in vitro tests. Following primary infection, antigen-specific proliferative responses could be stimulated by several strains of VSV-NJ, but not by VSV-Indiana (VSV-Ind) serotype virus. Secondary infection had relatively little effect on the proliferative response to VSV-NJ strains, but it did cause the PBM to gain responsiveness to VSV-Ind.     

The intensity of resistance by mature Merino ewes against Haemonchus contortus and Tichostrongylus colubriformis in single-species and combined-species infection

Three-year-old, non-lactating and non-pregnant Merino ewes, raised on pasture under a program of strategic treatment with anthelmintic and found to be extremely resistant to "trickle" infection with Haemonchus contortus, were given single-dose infections with either H. contortus or Trichostrongylus colubriformis or both species together. The purpose was to ascertain the intensity of protective immunity against the 2 parasites in sheep with immunity acquired from a presumably slight exposure to infection. To provide a criterion, some infected ewes were immunosuppressed with corticosteroid, dexamethasone. Untreated ewes were extremely resistant to challenge infection with either 15,000 or 150,000 H. contortus or 15,000 T. colubriformis. Surprisingly, when mixed infection was given, egg counts for H. contortus were significantly elevated compared with infection by that species alone. Antibody to antigens from infective larval and adult H. contortus was measured in serum by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during the course of infection. Serum titres against larval antigens were significantly depressed when infections with either H. contortus or T. colubriformis were permitted by immunosuppression with dexamethasone, whereas those against adult antigen were depressed when infection with T. colubriformis was permitted.     

Comparison of dairy cows with low or high rate of udder infection

Summary

Within farms, animals with low and high rate of udder infection were selected from data of a mastitis‐prevention field experiment during 3.5 years. Differences between the groups in udder conformation and milkability appeared to be small but were consistently to the disadvantage of the high infection rate group. In the course of at least three preceding lactations the percentage of quarters infected at any time was 53 per cent in the low and 91 percent in the high infection rate group. The number of infections per quarter infected was 1.53 for the low infection rate group and 2.53 for the high infection rate group. As compared with infection‐free quarters it was shown that the duration of infections with udder pathogens was significantly shortened if a quarter was already infected with secondary, i.e. less or non‐pathogenic, bacteria.

It was not possible to demonstrate differences in cell count or immunoglobulin levels in infection‐free quarters between the low and high infection rate groups.     

Observations on natural and experimental infections with Giardia isolated from cats.

The course of infection with Giardia was studied in (a) naturally infected cats and (b) experimentally infected Mongolian gerbils using Giardia cysts isolated from cats. Natural infection was characterized by: (a) a latent period of 11 to 13 days, (b) the pattern of cyst release which was either continuous or intermittent during the acute phase of infection and (c) elimination of the infection in four to five weeks after exposure. Mongolian gerbils were found to be susceptible to infection with Giardia isolated from cats. The course of infection in gerbils was characterized by intermittent cyst release and elimination of the infection in about three weeks. The pattern of cyst release in gerbils infected with Giardia isolated from cats was similar to the previously reported pattern of cyst release in gerbils infected with Giardia isolated from humans. The possible role of pets in the zoonotic transmission of giardiasis is discussed.     

Demographic and environmental risk factors for infection by Theileria equi in 590 horses in Israel

The prevalence of Theileria equi infection as well as the environmental and demographic risk factors for infection was studied in 590 healthy horses from 46 farms in Israel. The prevalence of T. equi DNA was assessed using a polymerase chain reaction for a segment of the Theileria 18S rRNA gene. The overall prevalence was 26.4% (156/590). There was a significant geographical variation in the prevalence of T. equi infection, ranging from 9.3% (25/270) in the central lowlands to 81.7% (49/60) in the Golan Heights. The prevalence of T. equi infection was found to be significantly associated with management types with more horses with access to pasture being positive. Breed was identified as a risk factor for T. equi infection in a univariate analysis with relatively high infection rates in the Quarter horse and local breeds (41.1% and 36.3% respectively), while ponies and Arabian horses had a relatively low prevalence (10% and 9.1%, respectively). However, since a correlation between geographic location and breed was found, it is difficult to draw definite conclusions regarding this risk factor. Age and gender were not found as risk factors for T. equi infection in this study. The environmental variables that were significantly associated with positivity were relative humidity and minimum land surface temperature at day which both showed negative correlation with T. equi prevalence. In conclusion, Israel was found to be enzootic for T. equi infection, as indicated by the high sub-clinical infection rate, which differed between geographical areas.     

Intratracheal inoculation as an efficient route of experimental infection with maedi-visna virus

Maedi-visna virus (MVV) spreads horizontally via the respiratory route. In order to establish an experimental mucosal infection route, we compared intranasal and intratracheal inoculation using the infectious MVV molecular clone KV1772-kv72/67. For intranasal infection 0.5 x 10(3)-0.5 x 10(7) TCID50 of virus was sprayed into the nostrils of the sheep. For the intratracheal infection 10(0)-10(6) TCID50 of virus was injected into the trachea. Successful infection was indicated by development of MVV specific antibodies and virus isolation over a period of 6 months. In the intranasal infection, only the sheep receiving the highest dose i.e., 0.5 x 10(7) TCID50, became infected, suggesting that intranasal application was not an efficient mode of infection. In the intratracheal infection, the sheep infectious dose 50% was 10(1) TCID50 and virus could be isolated from the central nervous system 4 months post infection with 10(4) TCID50. Therefore it is concluded that intratracheal infection is a very efficient route for experimental inoculation with MVV.     

The effect of T. vivax infection in west African dwarf goats on energy and nitrogen metabolism.

To investigate how T. vivax affects metabolism in dwarf goats, nine wethers (infection group) given alfalfa pellets ad libitum were infected intravenously and food intake was recorded up to 49 days after infection in the infection group and in the control group (n = 9). Controls received the same diet, ad libitum before infection and in restricted amounts after infection in order to obtain similar intakes in the two groups. Digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and nitrogen balance (NB) were determined during four balance trials. All animals were bled regularly to measure parasitaemia, packed cell volume (PCV) and a number of serum metabolites. All infected animals showed symptoms typical for T. vivax infection as judged by parasitaemia, PCV and rectal temperature. Infection had a non-uniform negative effect on food intake. Compared with controls at equal DOMI, NB was lower in infected animals, the difference being significant 4 weeks after infection. This was caused by a gradual increase in NB at equal DOMI of the control group. The NB of the ad libitum fed infected animals 2 and 4 weeks after infection was comparable to values normally found in healthy ad libitum fed dwarf goats with an equal DOMI. NEFA values in serum were significantly elevated after infection. Except for two infected animals with an extremely low food intake towards the end of the experiment, no rise in serum ketone bodies was evident. After infection, serum protein increased, differences with controls being significant 4 and 7 weeks after infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The interaction of Trypanosoma congolense and Haemonchus contortus infections in trypanotolerant N'Dama cattle.

The interactions between Trypanosoma congolense and Haemonchus contortus infections were studied in N'Dama calves. A total of 38 N'Dama bulls was divided into four groups and each group infected either with H. contortus 1 week after infection with T. congolense or with T. congolense 4 weeks after infection with H. contortus, or with either infection singly. Parasitological (faecal egg counts, parasitaemia), haematological (packed cell volume, white blood cell counts, albumin) and clinical parameters (body weight change, mortality rate) were compared among the various groups. The results showed a reduced prepatent period and a markedly increased pathogenicity of H. contortus infections in animals with a concurrent T. congolense infection. The most harmful combination was a H. contortus infection 1 week after the T. congolense infection which resulted in a progressive and severe anaemia, accompanied by hypoalbuminaemia, increased weight loss and high mortality. The anaemia induced by dual infections showed a low responsiveness to chemotherapy and in several cases supportive treatment did not help recovery. The results also showed that animals with a concurrent T. congolense and H. contortus infection ran a higher risk of succumbing during the infection, and also during 10 weeks following treatment. Although infections with T. congolense alone produced no clinical signs, they were found to significantly reduce the ability of infected animals to mount a normal response to a subsequent H. contortus infection. It was concluded that the increased H. contortus egg excretion observed in animals infected with both parasites might significantly increase the risk of nematode infections and that the reduced prepatent period might necessitate more frequent anthelmintic treatments. These interactions should, therefore, be considered wherever attempts are made to control these two diseases.