A competitive ELISA using anti-N monoclonal antibodies for specific detection of rinderpest antibodies in cattle and small ruminants.

A competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which bind to the nucleo-protein (NP) of rinderpest virus (RPV) for detection of RPV antibodies in cattle and small ruminant sera is described. Unlike virus neutralisation test (VNT), this test using mAb IVB2-4, can detect specific RPV antibodies without showing a cross-reaction with antibodies to peste-des-petits ruminants-virus (PPRV); by contrast, when mAb VE4-1 is used the test detects both RPV and PPRV antibodies, including low levels of antibodies that can be found in sera containing maternal antibodies. Although antibodies to the PPRV 75-1 strain are also detected with mAb 51-5-6, the test is suitable for assessing the immune status of cattle against the Rinderpest Old Kabete (RBOK) strain. The results from a panel of sera with a known status of vaccination provide evidence for a highly significant correlation between C-ELISA and VNT. This test may be a useful tool for a standardized and accurate determination of the immunity status of both cattle and small ruminants.     

Outbreaks of rinderpest in wild and domestic animals in Nigeria

Rinderpest, although eradicated from Nigeria in 1974 after the JP15 campaign, was reintroduced into Sokoto state in 1980 and again into Borno state in 1983. The latter outbreak spread rapidly throughout Nigeria and severely reduced the cattle population. An estimated one million cattle were lost. An outbreak occurred at the Maiduguri zoo, in Borno state, in January 1983 and killed 15 elands and six sitatungas. In March 1983, rinderpest appeared in Yankari game reserve in adjoining Bauchi state and caused mortality in several species of wildlife. A total of 207 buffalo, 20 warthog, eight waterbuck and two bushbuck carcases were recovered. Rinderpest did not occur in wildlife in Nigeria after it was eradicated from cattle. In the Nigerian situation, the rinderpest appears to have been transmitted from cattle to wildlife. Vaccination of zoo animals and valuable animals in game reserves, preferably with a killed vaccine, and ring vaccination of livestock around game reserves can help to protect wildlife from rinderpest.     

Dutch paratuberculosis programme history, principles and development

Organised disease control started in the Netherlands in the 18th century with governmental attempts to eradicate cattle plague. At the beginning of the 20th century, the dairy industry and cattle breeding organisations initiated a programme to control infectious diseases by means of a complex system of rewards and penalties. This was also the reason for establishing the Animal Health Service in Friesland in 1919. The history of programmes to control paratuberculosis in sheep, goats, and cattle in various countries is described. The vaccination of young animals seems to be an effective measure in the prevention of clinical paratuberculosis, although changes in management and hygiene practices are also important. A control programme for infectious cattle diseases has a number of phases (a lifecycle) and different components. Two components are essential for success, namely: open and regular communication with farmers, veterinary practitioners, and other people involved and a good registration and identification system for cattle, herds, and veterinary practitioners. The Dutch paratuberculosis programme has 10 herd status levels: 5-10 for non-suspect herds and 1-4 for infected herds or herds of unknown status. The higher the status, the greater the chance that a herd is free of paratuberculosis. An outline is given of the Dutch paratuberculosis programme including its objectives, basic principles for eradication, communication plan, legal action, logistic considerations, and complementary research programme.     

牛肺疫临床症状及综合防治

牛肺疫又被称为牛传染性胸膜肺炎,是由肺炎支原体感染引发的急慢性呼吸道疾病,临床上主要表现为呼吸急促,呼吸困难,从鼻腔中流出脓性分泌物,主要对患病牛的肺脏、胸膜和淋巴结造成危害,典型的临床特征是肺小叶浆液性肺炎和肺实质纤维素性肺炎,被国际兽医局划归为A类动物疫病,我国将其划归为一类重大动物疫病,发生流行后,需要执行严格的扑杀、无害化处理制度,逐渐净化牛群,避免疫情进一步扩展蔓延到造成更为严重的经济损失。该文主要论述牛肺疫的临床症状和综合防治措施。     

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus infections and its control. A review

Infections with bovine viral diarrhoea virus continue to plague the cattle industry worldwide. The wish to control the negative effects of the virus has lead to the development of numerous vaccines, but also of eradication schemes. In this paper, a comprehensive overview on BVDV is given: the virus and its clinical manifestations, its occurrence and economic impact, the different routes of transmission, as well as diagnostic methods and objectives. Furthermore, the two major options for BVDV control--eradication and vaccination--are discussed as well as the risk for reintroduction of BVDV after eradication.     

A recent outbreak of rinderpest in East Africa

Rinderpest was brought under control in Kenya in 1976 but in April 1986 an outbreak of the disease occurred in cattle in Western Kenya, five kilometres from the Kenya-Uganda border. This was the first confirmed field outbreak of the disease in Kenya after a lull of over 10 years. Clinical disease was confined to unvaccinated zebu calves aged six to eight months from which rinderpest virus was isolated. High titres of antibodies to rinderpest virus were demonstrated in sera collected from sheep and goats that were grazing together with the affected cattle herds; there was, however, no evidence of clinical disease in these small ruminants and wildlife species in the affected area. The disease outbreak was rapidly stamped out by quarantine and vaccination.     

Rinderpest vaccination responses among calves and adult cattle in Uganda monitored using ELISA assay

Responses to the Plowright Rinderpest vaccine by 43 calves and 70 adult cattle in Uganda in 1990, through the production of IgG antibodies, were monitored for 4 weeks using the ELISA assay. 80% of the calves were seronegative before vaccination of which 32% remained seronegative and 68% subsequently seroconverted at 2 weeks postvaccination. 20% of the calves were seropositive before vaccination but registered a decline during the 2nd and 4th weeks postvaccination. 50% of adult Ankole cattle seroconverted after 3 weeks postvaccination, while the other 50% of them, which were seropositive before vaccination, showed a decline in seronegative levels during the first 2 weeks postvaccination, but increased again at the 4th week. 90% of Friesian adult cattle were seronegative before vaccination; however, they all seroconverted within the 2nd week of postvaccination. The other 10% remained seropositive, with a slight decline of antibody levels during the 4 weeks after vaccination.     

蓝舌病病毒甘肃分离株的定型研究

继利用蚀斑抑制中和试验对蓝舌病病毒山东分离株（L001）进行血清型鉴定后，又对蓝舌病病毒甘肃分离株进行了血清型鉴定，证实甘肃分离株为蓝舌病病毒11型。     

Theileria orientalis: a review

Theileria orientalis (also known historically as T. sergenti and T. buffeli) is responsible for benign or non-transforming theileriosis, and exerts its major effect through erythrocyte destruction. The life cycle of T. orientalis is essentially similar to that of other Theileria species, except that the schizonts do not induce transformation and fatal lymphoproliferation. The pathogenesis of anaemia as a result of infection is not clearly established and may be multifaceted. Clinical signs of weakness, reluctance to walk and abortion are early but non-specific indications of disease, particularly if accompanied by a history of cattle being moved. Physical examination may reveal pallor (pale eyes, vaginal mucosa), pyrexia, and elevated heart and respiratory rates. T. orientalis is an economically important parasite of cattle in New Zealand, Australia and Japan, especially where naïve animals are introduced into an endemic area or in animals under stress. Increased awareness of the risks posed by the parasite is required to enable management practices to be implemented to minimise its impact.     

Plague reservoir species throughout the world

Plague has been known since ancient times as a re-emerging infectious disease, causing considerable socioeconomic burden in regional hotspots. To better understand the epidemiological cycle of the causative agent of the plague, its potential occurrence, and possible future dispersion, one must carefully consider the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological requirements of reservoir-species in relation either to natural or human-driven changes (e.g. climate change or urbanization). In recent years, the depth of knowledge on species taxonomy and species composition in different landscapes has undergone a dramatic expansion, driven by modern taxonomic methods such as synthetic surveys that take into consideration morphology, genetics, and the ecological setting of captured animals to establish their species identities. Here, we consider the recent taxonomic changes of the rodent species in known plague reservoirs and detail their distribution across the world, with a particular focus on those rodents considered to be keystone host species. A complete checklist of all known plague-infectable vertebrates living in plague foci is provided as a Supporting Information table.     

Relationships between the turnover before slaughter, welfare and the occurrence of defective DFD type meat in cattle

In this article we have presented genetic predispositions and the influence of numerous factors that occur during cattle fattening, transport and holding in slaughter plants, on their welfare and subsequently on the occurrence of defective meat, known in the literature as DFD (Dark, Firm, Dry) meat. Such meat is unwillingly bought by contemporary consumers because of its consistency and processing plants cannot intend it for production of durable processed meat due to its compliance to decay. To a great extent the occurrence of this meat defect is caused by people as a result of ignorance and incompliance of cattle welfare. It should also be remarked that there is a rising number of consumers interested in the place of origin of cattle and the way it was treated.     

Performance and fitness traits versus phenotypic appearance in the African Ankole Longhorn cattle: A novel approach to identify selection criteria for indigenous breeds

Ankole cattle are well known for their massive white horns and red coat colour. These characteristics are attributed to centuries of cultural breeding practices. Two experiments with traditional cattle keepers were carried out at a governmental Ankole nucleus farm in south-western Uganda to identify phenotypic characteristics as well as production and fitness traits which are important indigenous selection criteria. Forty one body measurements each were taken from 15 bulls and 35 cows and phenotypic characteristics were described in detail. In the first experiment 12 groups of 6 to 8 cattle keepers were invited to rank several groups of 4–5 animals according to their preference for a breeding bull or cow based on phenotype alone. In the second experiment the ranking was based on phenotype and a hypothetical life history that was randomly assigned to each animal on each day of experiment. The history included milk yield (on own performance for cows and that of the dam for bulls), fertility of the animal and its sire as well as events of East Coast Fever. For analysis, Generalized Multinomial Logit Models were fitted. To compare different models the likelihood-based pseudo R square measure was used. The results indicate that, in the selection of cows, performance and fitness traits are emphasized by the cattle keepers while in the selection of bulls, the phenotypic appearance of the animal plays an important role. Individual fertility followed by milk performance are the main criteria for selecting cows, resistance to East Coast Fever was of highest importance in bulls. In both sexes a dark red coat colour was highly rated. The study indicates that the methodology of preference ranking combining phenotype and a hypothetical life history may provide insight into indigenous selection criteria of stock owners elsewhere.     

Adaptive strategies of Yersinia pestis to persist during inter-epizootic and epizootic periods

Plague is a flea-borne zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Yersinia pestis. It has caused three historical pandemics, including the Black Death which killed nearly a third of Europe's population in the 14th century. In modern times, plague epizootics can extirpate entire susceptible wildlife populations and then disappear for long time periods. Understanding how Y. pestis is maintained during inter-epizootic periods and the factors responsible for transitioning to epizootics is important for preventing and controlling pathogen transmission and ultimately reducing the burden of human disease. In this review, we focus primarily on plague in North American foci and discuss the potential adaptive strategies Y. pestis might employ to ensure not only its survival during inter-epizootic periods but also the rapid epizootic spread and invasion of new territories that are so characteristic of plague and have resulted in major pandemics and establishment of plague foci throughout much of the world.     

Freeze-dried vaccine against Rinderpest: Stability and activity study

A freeze-dried vaccine against Rinderpest was prepared from modified virus multiplied in calf kidney cell cutlure. Characteristics of the vaccine are as follows:

• —high titre after freeze-drying (10⁴ CCID₅₀/dose),

• —well-adapted freeze-drying stabiliser which ensures maintenance of the infective titre of the vaccinal virus, even under severe conditions (3.5 days at +45°C),

• —use of an appropriate solvent: magnesium sulphate molar solution or more simply physiological saline (for stability after reconstitution even at high temperatures—up to 4 h at +45°C).

The activity of the vaccine, tested in cattle by antibody titration and resistance to specific challenge perfectly satisfies requirements set by the WHO and OIE.     

The Use of Antigen-capture Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the Diagnosis of Rinderpest and Peste des Petits Ruminants in Ethiopia

Rinderpest had been reported in most parts of Ethiopia when the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC) was launched. As a result of intensive disease investigation and strategic vaccination, most parts of the country are now considered provisionally free, and widespread vaccination has been replaced by clinical and serological surveillance. Details of any episodes of disease are recorded and followed up after laboratory confirmation of suspected cass using antigen-capture ELISA. This paper is based on observations on the performance of the antigen detection ELISA compared to the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test, which also differentiates rinderpest from peste des petits ruminants (PPR). The stability of the specific viral antigen was monitored for 4 days, and rinderpest and PPR antigens were still detected, depending on the type of specimen. Antigen capture ELISA is more rapid, sensitive and virus specific than the AGID. Even if the cold chain of the specimen is compromised for a day or two during sample collection and submission, the specimen may still be suitable for testing by ELISA.     

Prevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in local and imported cattle breeds in the Kars province of Turkey

This study investigates the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in cattle in the province of Kars in north-eastern Turkey. A total of 301 serum samples, 228 from local breeds of cows with a history of recent abortion and the remaining 73 collected at random from Simmental cows imported from Germany or their offspring, were tested for anti-Neospora antibodies by ELISA. All the serum samples from local breeds were negative for N. caninum antibodies, apart from one which tested inconclusive. In contrast six of the samples (8.2% with 95%CI: 2-14.5%) from Simmental cows tested positive. There was a significant difference (P<0.001) in the seroprevalence of N. caninum between local and Simmental breeds, even if the inconclusive test was considered positive, and the odds ratio of its occurrence in the Simmental breed was 20.3. In conclusion, it is unlikely that N. caninum contributes to abortion in local cattle breeds and our results also suggest that N. caninum was introduced to the region by the importation of Simmental cattle and that the vertical transmission of the parasite in cattle is important in the region.     

中国肉牛业现状和发展对策

本文介绍了中国肉牛业的现状，分析了中国肉牛业生产中存在的3个方面的问题，提出了中国肉牛业发展的5个对策，即继续开展肉牛改良，加快肉牛良种培育和扩繁；提高肉牛饲养管理水平，促进优质肉牛生产；提高牛肉产品质量；实现产业化生产；实施牛肉品牌战略。     

中华牛文化的起源、兴盛与时代变迁

中华牛文化源远流长,内涵丰富,这与汉民族早期的农耕生活、文化传统和认知心理有密切联系。但是,随着农耕文化的衰落,传统的牛文化也在迅速发生着时代变迁。本文简述了中国牛文化的起源 丰富多彩的中华牛文化与时代变迁。     

Immunity to Ostertagia ostertagi

Control of ostertagiasis is a major economic problem in the temperate areas of the world. An immunological control scheme for cattle is an important aspect of integrated control and its achievement is dependent on our understanding of how immunity is acquired. Also, host mechanisms regulated by Ostertagia need to be understood in order to address immunological questions. Little is known about acquired immunity to Ostertagia infection in cattle. The degree of immunity is incomplete and its development slow. Evidence is accumulating for impairment of antibody and cellular immune responses by Ostertagia which is responsible for the survival of the parasite in the young host. Other experimental work suggests that local factors, such as eosinophil accumulation, mucosal mast cell kinetics and other cellular and humoral immune responses, may play a role in pathogenesis and immunity. At the present time these areas are also totally unexplored in the study of Ostertagia infection.