Prevalence of trypanosomiasis in cattle in South-West Zambia

Summary A trypanosomiasis survey was conducted in South-West Zambia. From a total of 3,346 cattle sampled 342 cattle showed a positive trypanosomiasis parasitaemia. During the survey trypanosome species and PCV values were also recorded. With simple statistical analysis populations with higher and lower prevalence rates were differentiated. The results indicated that the Kwando River Basin Tsetse Fly Belt and the Kafue River Basin Tsetse Fly Belt infested a larger area than originally assumed and that a link-up between both belts occurred or will occur in the near future.

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Prevalencia De Tripanosomiasis En Ganado En El Sudoccidente De Zambia

Resumen Se llevó a cabo una encuesta sobre la prevalencia de tripanosomiasis en el Sudoccidente de Zambia. De 3.346 animales examinados, 342 mostraron parasitémia. Durante le encuesta, se diferenciaron las especies de tripanosomas encontrados y se estimaron los hematocritos. Se diferenciaron también, mediante análisis estadísticos sensillos, las poblaciones de gando con tasas de prevalencia mayores y menores. Los resultados indican, que la cuenca del río Kwando y la del río Kafue, en donde existe la mosca tsetse, tienen una influencia mayor sobre la prevalencia de la enfermedad, que lo que originalmente se pensó y que la unión de las dos hoyas se producirá en un futuro cercano.

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Prevalence De La Trypanosomose Bovine En Zambie Du Sud-Ouest

Résumé Une enquête sur la trypanosomose a été conduite dans le sud-ouest de la zambie. Sur un total de 3346 bovins examinés, 342 ont montré une parasitémie à trypanosomes. Au cours de cette enquête, on a noté les espèces de trypanosomes et les valeurs de l'hématocrite. On a pu différencier, par une méthode statistique simple, les populations à haute et basse prévalence. Les résultats indiquent que les ceintures glossiniennes des bassins, des rivières Kwando et Kafue étaient plus étendues qu'on ne le pensait antérieurement, et qu'une liaison entre les deux ceintures se produisait ou se produirait dans le futur proche.

     

Epidemic and endemic characteristics of trypanosomiasis in cattle: A simulation model

A simulation model was utilized to analyze the infection characteristics of trypanosomiasis in Ethiopian cattle. Epidemic and endemic conditions, the threshold phenomenon, proportional distribution of single, multiple and super infections were examined. The results indicate that at the endemic level the prevalence of trypanosomiasis was 0.27 and the incidence varied from 0.007 to 0.01. A large proportion of the infections were of the single type; multiple and surper infections were rare. The importance of such information lies in its usefulness in evaluating control alternatives.     

Identification of mechanisms of natural resistance to African trypanosomiasis in cattle

Natural resistance to African trypanosomiasis in certain Bos taurus cattle in West Africa, called trypanotolerance, may hold solutions for control of this economically crippling disease. Comparison of immune responses between trypanotolerant and trypanosusceptible cattle have shown some differences in antibody response, complement level and cytokine expression, but it is not known whether these differences are the cause of resistance.Two experiments were carried out to assess the contribution of the immune and haemopoietic systems to trypanotolerance. The production of haemopoietic chimaeras from trypanotolerant and susceptible twin calves and comparison of their responses after infection with singleton calves, allowed an assessment of the role of the haemopoietic system in trypanotolerance. An in vivo depletion of CD4 cells in the two breeds allowed an appraisal of the role of T and B lymphocytes in trypanotolerance. The results of the two experiments suggest that natural resistance comprises at least two mechanisms, an innate mechanism that controls parasite growth, and another, involving the haemopoietic system, that is able to limit anaemia. This supports the hypothesis that innate mechanisms in trypanotolerant cattle are more efficient in controlling disease, making them less reliant on antibody responses.     

Antibodies against equine herpesvirus 1 in the cerebrospinal fluid in the horse

Neutralizing antibodies against equine herpesvirus 1 were measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 16 horses and ponies from a closed herd both before and after vaccination with modified live equine herpesvirus 1. These titers were also measured in 22 neurologically normal and 15 neurologically abnormal horses at a teaching hospital. Animals from the closed herd had prevaccination serum titers up to 1:8 and postvaccination serum titers up to 1:128. Horses from the teaching hospital had serum titers up to 1:64. Cerebrospinal fluid titers were not detected in the vaccinated horses or the neurologically normal horses but a low titer (1:8) was noted in one neurologically abnormal horse. This titer probably resulted from hemorrhage into the cerebrospinal fluid following trauma.     

The development of equine immunity: Current knowledge on immunology in the young horse

The development of equine immunity from the fetus to adulthood is complex. The foal's immune response and the immune mechanisms that they are equipped with, along with changes over the first months of life until the immune system becomes adult‐like, are only partially understood. While several innate immune responses seem to be fully functional from birth, the onset of adaptive immune response is delayed. For some adaptive immune parameters, such as immunoglobin (Ig)G1, IgG3, IgG5 and IgA antibodies, the immune response starts before or at birth and matures within 3 months of life. Other antibody responses, such as IgG4, IgG7 and IgE production, slowly develop within the first year of life until they reach adult levels. Similar differences have been observed for adaptive T cell responses. Interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) production by T helper 1 (Th1)‐cells and cytotoxic T cells starts shortly after birth with low level production that gradually increases during the first year of life. In contrast, interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) produced by Th2‐cells is almost undetectable in the first 3 months of life. These findings offer some explanation for the increased susceptibility of foals to certain pathogens such as Rhodococcus equi. The delay in Th‐cell development and in particular Th2 immunity during the first months of life also provides an explanation for the reduced responsiveness of young horses to most traditional vaccines. In summary, all immune components of adult horses seem to exist in foals but the orchestrating and regulation of the immune response in immature horses is strikingly different. Young foals are fully competent and can perform certain immune responses but many mechanisms have yet to mature. Additional work is needed to improve our understanding of immunity and immune regulation in young horses, to identify the preferred immune pathways that they are using and ultimately provide new preventive strategies to protect against infectious disease.     

Serological evidence of Neospora caninum in dual-purpose cattle herds in Venezuela

Bovine neosporosis is a parasitic disease produced by Neospora caninum that induces abortion in cows, and consequently has a negative impact on the herd's reproductive efficiency. The main objective of this research was to determine the serological evidence of N. caninum in cattle herds from Venezuela using an indirect antibody capture ELISA test. Four hundred and fifty-nine (459) serum samples from crossbred adult cows were collected to be tested for Neospora antibodies. The sampled cows came from 15 large farms located in eight important cattle states that have predominant dual-purpose production systems (cattle from these farms are used for both milk and meat production). Fifty-two cows (11.3%) were seropositive to N. Caninum. Thirteen (86.7%) of 15 studied herds had cows seropositive to N. caninum. The average within-herd seroprevalence was 11.5% (range 3.8-36.7%). Cows that aborted in some of these farms had 2.71 (P: 0.009) greater odds to be seropositive when compared to cows that did not abort. Each one of the eight states represented in our study had seropositive animals. These results are the first evidence of exposure to N. caninum in Venezuelan cattle herds, indicating the possible circulation of this pathogen in the country. Further epidemiological studies should be granted to determine the spread of the disease in the Venezuelan cattle industry and its associated risk factors.     

Chemoprevention of bovine trypanosomiasis in N'Dama cattle imported from the Senegambia and Zaire to Gabon

A programme of chemoprophylaxis against trypanosomiasis has been work out for the protection of newly imported N'Dama cattle from the Gambia, the Senegal and Zaire into Gabon. The transfer induced a deficiency in their trypanotolerance. Isometamidium chloride and diminazen aceturate were used.     

A propagating epizootic of equine infectious anemia on a horse farm

An epizootic of equine infectious anemia (EIA) involved 35 horses on a farm in south Georgia. During a 126-day period, 21 of these horses became seropositive for EIA. After the initial diagnosis in July, the horses were tested every 7 to 10 days. At least one additional horse was found to be seropositive on each testing day. As soon as they were determined to be seropositive, the horses were removed from the herd and sent to slaughter. The removal of the seropositive horses, however, did not stop the epizootic. We believe the initial infection was from a 7-year-old stallion that recently had been purchased or from 1 of 2 mares that were seropositive for EIA on the first test. None of the horses had been tested for EIA at the time of purchase or within 60 days before the epizootic.