Biochemical polymorphisms in Spanish Avileña-Negra Iberica cattle

SUMMARY: Thirteen biochemical blood polymorphisms were analysed in a population of 149 Spanish Avile?a-Negra Ibérica cattle. The study revealed variation at the following nine loci: HBB, CA, NP, CP, AMY1, ALB, GC, TF and PTF2. The following systems were monomorphic: CAT, DIA1, MDH1 and ME1. Using polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, a slow, migrating pair of bands was found in the GC protein system. This pattern is probably controlled by the GC(C) allele, described in only a few cases in cattle. Furthermore, starch-gel electrophoresis allowed the detection of a variant with intermediate mobility between the ALB(A) and the ALB(B) alleles at the albumin locus. A variant with a similar electrophoretic pattern has occasionally been reported in cattle. However, utilizing IEF under denaturing conditions, such a variant could not be differentiated from the ALB(A) allele and thus its significance is not clear. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Biochemischer Polymorphismus in spanischen Avile?a-Negra Iberica Rindern Insgesamt 13 biochemische Systeme wurden in einer Population von 149 spanischen Avilena-Negra-Iberika-Rindern hinsichtlich Polymorphismus analysiert. Es zeigten sich Varianten bei folgenden Loci: HBB, CA, NP, CP, AMY1, ANB, GC, TF und BTF2, w?hrend CAT, DEA, MDH1 und ME1 monomorph sind. Bei st?rke Gel-Elektrophorese wurde im Albumin-Locus eine Variante mit intermedi?rer Mobilit?t zwischen ALB(A) und ?LB(B) Allel entdeckt. Eine solche Variante wurde bisher nur sehr selten bei Rindern beobachtet. Darüber hinaus wurde bei Polyacrylamid-Gel-Elektrophorese ein langsam wanderndes Paar von B?ndern im GC-Proteinsystem gefunden. Dieses Muster ist wahrscheinlich von dem selten vorkommenden GC(C) -Allel verursacht. RESUMEN: Se analizaron trece polimorfismos bioquímicos sanguíneos en una población de 149 animales de la raza Avile?a-Negra Ibérica de ganado vacuno. El estudio reveló la existencia de variación en los nueve loci siguientes: HBB, CA, NP, CP, AMY1, ALB, GC, TF y PTF2. Fueron monomórficos los sistemas siguientes: CAT, DIA1, MDH1 y ME1. Utilizando eletroforesis en gel de poliacrilamida se encontró un par de bandas de migración lenta en el sistema de la proteína GC. Este patrón probablemente está controlado por el infrecuente alelo GC(C) , descrito en unos pocos casos en el ganado vacuno. Además, la electroforesis en gel de almidón permitió detectar en el locus de la albúmina una banda con movilidad intermedia entre los alelos ALB(A) y ALB(B) . Una variante con un patrón electroforético similar ha sido descrita en muy pocas ocasiones en el ganado vacuno. Sin embargo, la utilización de IEF en condiciones desnaturalizantes no permitió diferenciar esta variante del alelo ALB(A) y, por lo tanto, el significado de la misma no está claro.     

High prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in Asturiana de la Montaña beef cattle kept in extensive conditions in Northern Spain

Bovine trichomonosis (BT) and bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) are sexually transmitted diseases that can be important infectious causes of reproductive failure in extensively managed beef cattle where natural mating is a common practice. However, their prevalence in Europe was thought to be insignificant or very low. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with BT and BCG in a representative beef cattle breed, Asturiana de la Monta?a (AM), which is usually managed extensively in the mountain areas of Northern Spain and putative risk factors associated with the two diseases are present on most farms holding AM cattle. Preputial smegma samples were collected from 103 bulls belonging to 65 herds. Pathogen detection was undertaken using culture and PCR. Two scraping methods for sample collection (AI pipette and plastic scraper), as well as different culture media and DNA extraction methods were evaluated on field samples. Campylobacter fetus veneralis infection was not detected in any animal in any herd. However, Tritrichomonas foetus infection was demonstrated in 32% (33/103) and 41.5% (27/65) of bulls and herds tested, respectively. AM bulls older than 3 years (39.7%) were more likely to be infected than young bulls (16%) (OR=3.45, CI=1.07-11.19). An increase in repeat breeder cows was reported in herds from which T. foetus was detected (OR=5.2, CI=1.5-17.18). These findings highlight the re-emergence of this disease in extensively managed beef cattle in Spain. For routine diagnosis, the use of a culture technique and PCR in combination is advisable for testing smegma samples under field conditions.     

A note on the structure and iron‐binding properties of egg‐shell membranes

1. When a solution of ferric ammonium sulphate was added to shell membranes of the domestic fowl, iron infiltrated the mantle (cortex) surrounding the cores of the individual fibres of the membranes.

2. Contraction of warm eggs in ice‐cold colloidal iron caused flooding of pore canals and contamination of the underlying shell membranes with this element.

3. Appreciable contamination of the inner shell membrane with iron persisted for 25 d in infertile eggs stored at 37.5 °C.     

Intestinal parasitism in the animals of the zoological garden "Peña Escrita" (Almuñecar, Spain)

Gastrointestinal parasites cause serious diarrhoea in captive animals. Therefore, we have undertaken this study to establish programmes to prevent, control, and treat intestinal parasitism in the animals of the zoological garden "Pe?a Escrita" of Almu?ecar (Granada). An annual survey was conduced to estimate the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites and the seasonality of this parasitism. Between June 2006 and May 2007, 432 samples were collected from primates, carnivores, perissoodactyla, artiodactyla, rodentia, diprotodontia, galliformes, anseriformes and struthioniformes. One or more intestinal parasites were identified in 72.5% of the animals. The most frequent pathogenic endoparasites were Eimeria spp. (17.3%), Trichuris spp. (5.1%), Strongyloides spp. (4.5%), Cyclospora spp. (4.5%), Cryptosporidium spp. (3.2%) and Isospora spp. (2.6%). Iodamoeba butschlii, Parascaris equorum and Trichuris spp. did not vary with season and Cryptosporidium spp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Metastrongylus spp. and Cylicospirura spp. appeared exclusively in Artiodactyla. Multiple parasitic infections were common, 70% of animals presented with at least two parasites (maximum=6). The most frequent cases of multiple parasitism were Eimeria spp. plus Blastocystis spp. and Eimeria spp. plus Nematodirus spp., in the last case the animals presented explosive diarrhoea. In accord with our results, after each sampling, some of the affected animals were treated and the corresponding programmes of prevention and control were designed.     

Multispecies and multiple anthelmintic resistance on cattle nematodes in a farm in Argentina: the beginning of high resistance?

There are very few resistance records on cattle nematodes. South American successive records have been increasing rapidly since the year 2000. In Argentina, increasing dissatisfaction based on the exclusive use of macrocyclic lactones has prompted the use of benzimidazoles in the Pampean region. The studied farm is located in the Argentina humid Pampas and had apparently poor results after anthelmintic treatments. Evaluation of resistance was firstly based on faecal egg reduction after treatment in November 2001 and June 2002 and was complemented with worm counts obtained by necropsy in June 2002. The study reports that the reduction of faecal egg excretion after benzimidazole (reduction 31-79%) or ivermectin treatments (76-97%) in November 2001 was insufficient and these poor results were confirmed in June 2002 (benzimidazoles (65-89%) and ivermectin (47-77%)). Several methods for evaluating faecal egg count reduction were performed and yielded different results. A new method based on the estimated faecal egg counts (corrected from the initial faecal egg counts and animal type using a general linear model) was used and gave higher flexibility in the interpretation of putative resistance to anthelmintics. From necropsy results, it could be concluded that Cooperia oncophora was resistant to avermectins and benzimidazoles and that Cooperia punctata, Ostertagia ostertagi and Haemonchus placei were resistant to benzimidazoles. This case of multispecies and multidrug resistance is probably not unique and could reflect the emergence of resistances in Argentina. This emergence is probably due to the intensive use of anthelmintics, the absence of refugia, and the frequent circulation of infected cattle.     

Muturu cattle breed management in the smallholder farming area of the Ouémé district in the south of Benin: rearing practices,objectives, and constraints

Tropical Animal Health and Production - An exploratory survey was conducted to understand breeding practices and breeding objectives as well as the constraints as a first step towards developing...     

Some observations on the use of the morantel sustained‐release bolus in first season‐grazing calves on a Belgian dairy cattle farm

Summary

The efficacy of the morantel sustained‐release bolus (MSRB) in controlling gastrointestinal parasites in first‐season grazing calves was evaluated on a dairy cattle farm in Belgium. The calves grazed a pasture which had been used by bolus‐treated animals in the three previous years. The effect of bolus administration was determined with respect to live weight gain, faecal egg shedding, herbage larval counts, serum pepsinogen levels and ELISA antibody titres.

In spite of an incomplete reduction of faecal egg shedding during the first months of the grazing season, bolus administration resulted in the prevention of parasitic gastro‐enteritis in the calves. A weight gain advantage of 35,2 kg of the bolus‐treated animals over the controls was noted already at two months after turnout. This weight gain advantage was maintained until housing.

The usefulness of serum pepsinogen values and ELISA antibody titres as parameters in prevention experiments is stressed. Both serological parameters gave more information concerning infection level than did the faecal egg output and the herbage larval counts.     

An outbreak of East Coast Fever on the Comoros: A consequence of the import of immunised cattle from Tanzania?

In 2003 and 2004, a severe epidemic decimated the cattle population on Grand Comore, the largest island of the Union of Comoros. Fatalities started soon after the import of cattle from Tanzania. Theileria parva and its vector, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, could be identified as the main culprits of the epidemic. Characterisation by multilocus genotyping revealed that the T. parva parasites isolated on the Comoros were identical to the components of the Muguga cocktail vaccine used in Tanzania to immunise cattle. Therefore, it is believed that East Coast Fever reached the Comoros while some of the imported livestock got infected in Tanzania by ticks of which the immature stadia fed on Muguga cocktail vaccinated animals. Since the Comorian government neither has the financial means nor the competent staff to pursue an adequate epidemiosurveillance, the danger exists that without external assistance and in a context of continuing globalisation more transboundary diseases will affect the Comorian livestock sector in the future.     

Persistence and molecular evolution of Mycobacterium bovis population from cattle and wildlife in Doñana National Park revealed by genotype variation

The role of wildlife in tuberculosis epidemiology is being widely studied since it can affect the effectiveness of eradication campaigns in cattle. The health problem is enhanced when it concerns also wildlife welfare and biodiversity conservation. This study was performed to understand the epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis population affecting livestock and wild animals in the Do?ana National Park using bacteriology and molecular characterisation techniques. Tuberculosis research was performed on 1209 cattle and wild animals (artiodactyla and carnivore) collected over 6 years in the Park. One hundred and sixty-three animals were found to be infected with M. bovis, comprising 7.96% of the cattle and 20.53% of the wild animals tested. Spoligotyping revealed nine patterns, being SB1232 and SB1230 the most prevalent (77.30% and 15.34% of infected animals, respectively). MIRU-VNTR analysis of a selected panel of 92 isolates showed eight different profiles, including several spoligotypes within the same MIRU-VNTR profile. The discriminatory capacity of both techniques in this panel was similar. The results obtained by combination of both techniques corroborate that wildlife species are infected with the M. bovis strains which are more prevalent in cattle and reveal their persistence. Genotype variation between isolates strongly suggests micro-evolutionary events in the M. bovis population in the same area. This study in the Do?ana National Park exposes the risk of introduction of domestic animals into wildlife areas when there is not a warranty of disease freedom, appropriate diagnostic techniques and control measures.     

A suspected case of Addison’s disease in cattle

A 4.75-year old Simmental cow was presented with symptoms of colic and ileus. The clinical signs and blood analysis resulted in the diagnosis of suspected primary hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease). Although Addison’s disease has been frequently described in other domestic mammals, to our knowledge, this disease has not previously been reported in cattle.     

Importance of claw quality in cattle: Review and recommendations to achieve genetic improvement. Report of the E.A.A.P. working group on “claw quality in cattle”

The objective of this report is to review results of research and to discuss recommendations to achieve genetic improvement of claw quality. High claw quality is defined as a low susceptibility for claw disorders and a low need for footcare. The economic importance of claw problems is considerable, with about 25% of dairy cows treated per year. Direct effects are costs of trimming, veterinary costs and forced culling (2–3%). Indirect costs are decreased milk production or daily gain, lower fertility, decrease of herd life, and lower salvage value.Lameness problems are mainly localized in the claws and can have a traumatic, systemic or infectious origin. The claw quality is a product of claw shape, characteristics of the horn and anatomy of the inner structure of the claw. Environmental factors like housing systems, management and nutrition give considerable herd effects. Improvement of claw quality in the short term can be achieved by managemental procedures that will reduce foot and leg problems in confinement.Genetic improvement can give a contribution in the long term. Genetic variation in claw traits and claw disorders are recorded between and within breeds. Heritabilities and additive genetic variation for claw shape measurements (e.g. claw length, claw angle) are high enough to obtain genetic change in these traits. Claw measurements are partly symptoms but also predisposition factors for claw disorders like sole ulcers. Shorter and steeper hind leg claws are favourable predispositions.Veterinary records on claw and leg disorders after treatment yield very low heritabilities. Claw judgements should be replaced by more effective measurements because of low h² and low correlation to claw disorders.Implementation of genetic improvement based on measurements of claw shape (angle, length) may start with a progeny test of 30–50 daughters in first lactation of the most promising A.I. bulls in milk production. Relationships of claw characteristics of young bulls with those of their parents and daughters is recommended for further analysis.     

Milk yield estimation of Ogaden cattle breed based on methods of weigh–suckle–weigh and calves’ growth

Daily milk yield of Ogaden cattle was estimated from milk suckled by 269 calves born and maintained between 1994 and 2004 at Haramaya University Beef Farm, Ethiopia. The weigh–suckle–weigh method and the growth of calves were used to estimate the yield. Mean predicted daily milk yield of the breed based on the weigh–suckle–weigh method was 4.39 ± 0.03 kg day⁻¹. Daily milk yield estimated from the growth of calves up to 3 months of age was 4.59 ± 1.43 kg day⁻¹. The milk yield was significantly affected by seasons of calving (p < 0.001), parities of the dams (p < 0.05), weeks of lactation (p < 0.001) and birth weights of calves (p < 0.05). A relatively higher milk yield was observed from cows calved during the long rain season. A higher milk yield was produced by cows in fifth parity. Heavier calves at birth suckled more milk than lighter calves. Daily milk yield was significantly higher in 3–6 weeks of lactation. The result of this study indicated that the milk yield produced by Ogaden breed was relatively higher than the yield of some Zebu breed measured by partial suckling system in Ethiopia and was comparable to the yield from Zebu cattle in the tropics estimated by the same method.     

A note on the shelf‐life and spoilage of commercially‐processed chicken giblets

1. When chicken giblet tissues wrapped individually in polythene were stored at 1 °C, “ off” odours were detected in 11 to 14 d with necks (mean 12.3 d) tending to spoil before gizzards, hearts and livers (means 13.0 to 13.7 d).

2. In all cases, the predominant organisms at spoilage were Pseudo‐monas spp. with lower numbers of Acinetobacter spp.

3. Chlorination of process water at about 50 mg total residual chlorine/1 (including 0.1 to 0.9 mg free chlorine/1) extended the shelf‐life of giblets held at 1 °C by up to 3 d, and prior freezing of these tissues gave an extension of 1 to 2 d but combining the two treatments did not have an additive effect.

4. Immersing giblets for 1 min in a solution containing 100 g potassium sorbate/1 (pH 8.0) doubled the shelf‐life of each type of tissue by retarding growth of the normal spoilage microflora.     

Postpartum reproductive failure in cattle: is the examination of gene expression in the endometrium a key to success?

High reproductive performance is required for successful management of dairy farms. After calving, especially endometritis is one of the main reasons for reproductive failure. However, subclinical endometritis remains undetected in many cases and causes a high financial loss. To elucidate the cellular processes in the endometrium, the acquisition of the gene expression will provide helpful information. In the literature, numerous cytokines and enzymes were discussed to play important roles in preparing the endometrium for implantation. This review gives an overview about our present understanding of the functions of cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 (COX-1/COX-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), haptoglobin as well as the interleukins 1 and 6 (IL-1/IL-6). Their role is not only to regulate certain physiological processes in the bovine reproductive tract, but to act also as inflammatory mediators in infectious diseases. A better understanding of cellular processes may help to improve identification and treatment of postpartum reproductive failure.     

Effects of breed type and age at first calving on length of productive life in a cow–calf system in Southeastern Mexico

The effect of age at first calving (AFC) and breed type (BG) on cow length of productive life in the herd (LPL) and cumulative kilograms of calves weaned per cow (KWC) was studied. Data on 313 Brahman, 183 Nellore, and 269 crossbred cows (undefined crosses of European × Zebu cattle) born from 1986 to 2002 were used. Three hundred and ninety-one out of the 765 cows had non-censored data. LPL curves by BG and AFC (<2.5, 2.5 to <3, 3 to <3.5, and ≥3.5 years of age) were obtained using life table procedures. The magnitude of the effect of AFC and BG on LPL was determined using Cox proportional hazard regression procedures. KWC data (n = 359) were analyzed by a linear model that included the effects of period of birth of the cow (in years), BG, and AFC. There was no difference in the survival curves between BG (p > 0.05), but there was for the hazard ratio of culling (p < 0.05). Brahman and Nellore cows produced more kilograms of calves (p < 0.05) than crossbred cows. AFC influenced LPL (p = 0.014) and KWC (p = 0.012). Cows with AFC <3 years of age stayed longer in the herd and weaned more KWC than those with a higher AFC (p < 0.05).     

Trichostrongyle worm infection in cattle: Ostertagiasis—Effect of a field outbreak on production,with a review of the disease syndromes,problems of diagnosis and treatment

Extract

The problem of parasitism in cattle in New Zealand has been largely neglected, except in acute disease outbreaks. Losses, apparently due to chronic or subclinical parasitic gastro-enteritis, have been either undiagnosed or ignored, or the measures required to prevent these losses have been considered uneconomic or impractical. This latter view can perhaps be attributed to the low efficacy of anthelmintics previously available. Now, at a time when greatly improved standards of prophylaxis and treatment are offered by the new broad-spectrum anthelmintics, new difficulties in control have become apparent.