The incidence of strongyle nematodes in sheep viscera received at animal health laboratories in New Zealand

Extract

Although the economic importance of mixed strongly infections in sheep in New Zealand appears to be generally recognized, little is known of the incidence and geographic distribution of the various constituent species.     

Efficacy of a topical formulation of ivermectin against naturally acquired gastro-intestinal nematodes in weaner cattle

The efficacy of a topical formulation of ivermectin against naturally acquired gastro-intestinal nematodes in weaner cattle was evaluated. At slaughter, 14-15 days after treatment, burdens of Ostertagia spp, Trichostrongylus axei and Oesophagostomum radiatum were significantly lower in the treated calves than in the untreated controls (p<0.01). Efficacies (based on geometric mean worm burdens of treated and control groups) were 99.6%, 95.1% and 100% respectively. The sizes of the Cooperia spp and Trichuris ovis burdens in the treated group did not differ significantly at the 5% level of confidence from those in the control group.     

Efficacy of oral,injectable and pour-on formulations of moxidectin against gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle in New Zealand

The efficacy of moxidectin administered by different routes, against naturally acquired infections of gastrointestinal nematode parasites of cattle, was compared using faecal egg count reduction tests on 14 commercial farms throughout New Zealand. On each farm, groups of 15 calves were sampled for faecal nematode egg count and then treated with ivermectin administered orally, or with moxidectin administered either by the oral, subcutaneous injection or topical (pour-on) route. Samples were again collected 14 days after treatment and efficacy was calculated as the percentage reduction in-group mean egg count between the pre- and post-treatment samples. In addition, efficacy was calculated for individual animals, in order to compare the variability of the different treatments. On four farms untreated control groups were run and five animals from each of the control and all of the moxidectin-treated groups were bled over time to estimate plasma–moxidectin concentrations.Averaged across all tests, the reduction in faecal egg count was significantly greater after treatment with moxidectin oral (91.1%) than following treatment with moxidectin injection (55.5%) or with moxidectin pour-on (51.3%). Low efficacies were invariably against Cooperia oncophora. The oral treatments were significantly less variable in efficacy than the injection and pour-on treatments. Moxidectin concentrations in plasma were highest following subcutaneous injection and lowest following pour-on administration. Plasma levels following oral administration were intermediate, being significantly lower than post-injection and significantly higher than post-pour-on. There was no evidence of transfer of moxidectin to untreated animals through licking. Based on these results, along with those of other studies, it is proposed that oral administration of macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics results in higher concentrations of active reaching the target worms in the gastrointestinal tract than following either administration by injection or by pour-on.     

Neospora abortion in New Zealand cattle

Protozoal abortion in cattle was retrospectively studied by examining material submitted to the Batchelar Animal Health Laboratory in the years 1987-90. Only cases in which foetal brain had been submitted were examined. Histologically, protozoal lesions were seen in the brains of 28% of 320 aborted foetuses. Lesions were also seen in 10% of the hearts and 34% of the placentas examined, but these were not as characteristic as those in the brains. Protozoa, confirmed immunohistochemically as being Neospora caninum-like in two brains, were seen in 5% of aborted foetuses with lesions. No protozoa or associated lesions were seen in 57 late term foetuses or neonatal controls. A farm survey supported the hypothesis that Neospora is an important cause of multiple abortions in cattle. Laboratory and farm data suggested that protozoal abortion was more common in early gestation. No predisposing causes of abortion were found and there was no evidence of point infection of affected herds.     

Genetic and crossbreeding parameters for incidence of recorded clinical lameness in New Zealand dairy cattle

AIM: To estimate genetic and crossbreeding parameters for the incidence of recorded clinical lameness in New Zealand dairy cattle.

METHODS: Herd records from 76,357 cows, collected during the 2005/06 to 2008/09 milking seasons from 155 herds in the Livestock Improvement Corporation young sire progeny test scheme, were used to estimate genetic parameters and breed effects for incidence of recorded clinical lameness in HolsteinFriesian, Jersey and crossbred dairy cattle. Recorded clinical lameness was coded “1” for cows that presented at least one event of clinical lameness at any day during the season and “0” for unaffected cows. Genetic parameters were estimated using an animal model across breeds considering all and then only first lactation records. Heritability and repeatability of recorded clinical lameness were calculated from the variance component estimates both with and without logit transformation.

RESULTS: The mean incidence of recorded clinical lameness per herd was 6.3 (min 2, max 34)%. The incidence of recorded clinical lameness in Holstein Friesian cows (mean 6.8, SE 0.24%) was higher than the incidence of recorded clinical lameness in crossbred (mean 6.1, SE 0.19%) and Jersey cows (mean 6.0, SE 0.28%) (p=0.0002). There was no difference in incidence between crossbred and Jersey cows (p=0.96).

Estimates of the heritability of recorded clinical lameness as an untransformed trait were 0.053 (SE 0.014) for first lactation records and 0.016 (SE 0.003) for all lactation records. As a transformed (logit) trait heritabilities were 0.067 (SE 0.024) and 0.044 (SE 0.016) for first and all lactation records, respectively. The repeatability estimates of recorded clinical lameness were 0.071 (SE 0.005) and 0.107 (SE 0.011) for untransformed and logit transformed lactation records, respectively. Sire estimated breeding values for recorded clinical lameness showed the lowest values in Jersey sires, and ranged between -5 and 8%.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low heritability of recorded clinical lameness, this study provided evidence that there is significant exploitable animal genetic variation. Selection of specific sires across and within breeds could be an option for increasing genetic resistance to lameness in New Zealand dairy cattle.     

Influence of gastro-intestinal nematodes on the productivity of dairy cattle in the wet highlands of Sri Lanka

Summary To study the response and economics of nematode control in cattle, trials with anthelmintics were carried out in the wet season at New Zealand farm in the highlands of Sri Lanka. Three age groups were used: stall fed yearlings, grazing heifers and lactating cows. Groups were treated with ivermectin or febantel and monitored along with control groups for faecal egg counts, growth and milk production.Treatment reduced the trichostrongylid faecal egg counts in yearlings, heifers and cows for six to 10 weeks, for more than 10 weeks and for 140 days respectively. The growth rate of treated yearlings did not increase significantly while treated heifers did grow significantly faster. Treated cows produced an average of 115 kg more milk over 133 days (P<0.05). The economic gains in reducing the age at first service and in terms of milk yield far outweighed the cost of anthelmintics used.

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La Influencia De Nematodos Gastrointestinales Sobre La Productividad De Ganado Lechero En Las Tierras Altas Humedas De Sri Lanka

Resumen Se estudió la respuesta económica del control de nemátodos en ganado, mediante el uso de antihelmínticos durante la estación lluviosa, en una granja de altura en Sri Lanka. Se utilizaron tres grupos de edades: animales de un año estabulados, novillas en pastoreo y vacas lactando. Los grupos fueron tratados con Ivermectina o Febantel, estableciéndose seguidamente un control continuado sobre huevos por gramo de heces, crecimiento y producción de leche. Se establecieron grupos controles. Los tratamientos redujeron los conteos de huevos de estrongiloideos en animales de un año estabulados, novillas y vacas por períodos de seis a 10 semanas, por más de 10 semanas y por 140 días respectivamente. La tasa de crecimiento de los animales de un año no se modificó significativamente, mientras que el crecimiento de las novillas fue significativamente mejor. Las vacas tratadas produjeron un promedio de 115 kg de leche más sobre 133 días (P<0.05). Las ganancias económicas en términos de reducir la edad al primer servicio y producción de leche, compensaron satisfactoriamente el costo de los antihelmínticos utilizados.

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Influence Des Nematodes Gastro-Intestinaux Sur La Productivite Du Betail Laitier Dans Les Hautes Terres Humides De Ski Lanka

Résumé Des essais visant à étudier la réponse et l'économie de la lutte contre les nématodes chez les bovins ont été réalisés en saison humide à la ferme New Zealand dans la région des collines à Sri Lanka. Trois groupes d'âge ont été constitués: éleves de un an nourris à l'auge, génisses au pâturage et vaches en lactation. Les groupes ont été traités à l'ivermectine ou au Febantel et suivis en même temps que le groupe témoin pour ce qui concerne les analyses coprologiques, la croissance et la production laitière. Le traitement a réduit les numérations fécales concernant les trichostrongles chez les élèves, les génisses et les vaches pendant 6 à 10 semaines, pour plus de 10 semaines et pour 140 jours respectivement. Le taux de croissance des élèves traités ne s'est pas accru de manière significative alors que les génisses ont amélioré le leur significativement. Les vaches traitées ont produit en moyenne 115 kg de lait de plus en 133 jours (P<0,05). Le gain économique obtenu par la réduction de l'âge à la première saillie et en terme de rendement laitier contre balançait de loin le coût des anthelminthiques utilisés.

     

Salmonella cholerae-suis from cattle in New Zealand

Abstract

Extract

Salmonella cholerae-suis is considered to be the most common salmonella found in pigs. Following its first isolation by Salmon and Smith (1885 Salmon, E. and Smith, T. 1885. Report on Swine Plague. Rep. U.S. Bur. anim. Ind., : 184–184.  [Google Scholar]), S. cholerae-suis was thought to be the cause of hog cholera. However, hog cholera is now known to be due to a virus, while S. cholerae-suis is a common secondary invader in this disease.     

Host-parasite checklist of nematodes of domestic ruminants in New Zealand

Extract

Nematodes of domestic ruminants are abundant and widespread throughout New Zealand, and, although the economic importance of some of them is well-recognized, the literature regarding the occurrence, incidence, and distribution of individual species is sparse and very incomplete. A partial explanation of this may be that in diagnostic laboratories in this country, as elsewhere, it is usual for the purposes of routine diagnostic worm counts to identify the parasites at the generic level only. Thus, little information is gained regarding the geographical and seasonal distribution of individual species where more than one species of a genus may occur in the same location in any particular host.     

Selenium reference ranges in New Zealand cattle

AIM: To compare serum selenium and liver selenium concentrations with whole blood concentrations in samples taken at the same time from unsupplemented cattle, and to use these comparisons to establish a reference range for use in diagnosing selenium deficiency. METHODS: Selenium was measured in concurrent whole blood, serum and liver samples obtained from cattle in unsupplemented herds in the Manawatu, Waikato and Wairarapa regions of New Zealand. The results were statistically analysed. RESULTS: The revised reference ranges are as follows. [table: see text] CONCLUSION: The serum and liver selenium concentrations used as reference values prior to this study were inaccurate for the detection of selenium deficiency.     

The prevalence of macroscopic sarcocysts in New Zealand cattle at slaughter

A survey carried out to determine the prevalence of visible Sarcocystis spp. infection in 100 slaughtered cattle in a South Island abattoir revealed 64% infected. Although all ages, genders, breeds and export grades were infected, only host age had a statistically significant effect on the infection rate.

Infections were most common in the rectus abdominis and the psoas muscles (47% and 41% respectively). Most infections were light, with less than ten macrocysts seen, though infections of more than 50 macrocysts occurred.

The average macrocyst length was 4.1±0.10 mm (SE) (n = 233), the average cyst wall thickness 5.3 ±0,12 μm (SE) (n = 45).

It is thought that the actual prevalence of infection is higher than that recorded and reasons for this are discussed.     

The prevalence of macroscopic sarcocysts in New Zealand cattle at slaughter

A survey carried out to determine the prevalence of visible Surcocystis spp. infection in 100 slaughtered cattle in a South Island abattoir revealed 64% infected. Although all ages, genders, breeds and export grades were infected, only host age had a statistically significant effect on the infection rate. Infections were most common in the rectus abdominis and the psoas muscles (47% and 41% respectively). Most infections were light, with less than ten macrocysts seen, though infections of more than 50 macrocysts occurred. The average macrocyst length was 4.WO.10 mm (SE) (n = 233), the average cyst wall thickness 5.3 +/- 0.2 microm (SE) (n = 45). It is thought that the actual prevalence of infection is higher than that recorded and reasons for this are discussed.