Heck cattle in the Oostvaardersplassen: risk for infectious diseases or not?

This article discusses risk analysis of infectious diseases in a cattle population. Heck cattle living in nature reserve 'De Oostvaardersplassen' were studied as an example of the risk analysis approach. Twenty-five adult cattle were tested for every infectious disease agent that the risk analysis indicated might be prevalent. All sampled cattle tested positive for Bovine Herpesvirus 1, whereas the prevalence of antibodies against other infectious disease agents was below the level that was assumed to be the threshold for spread of the disease to cattle in the surrounding areas. Risk management of infectious diseases was expressed in a so-called 'low-risk profile'. The risk of introduction or spread of infectious diseases was estimated to be very low as long as the population was kept strictly enclosed.     

Reptile adenoviruses in cattle?

This paper describes a hypothesis on the origin of the members of the recently established adenovirus genus, Atadenovirus, invading cattle, sheep, deer, duck and poultry. Comparison of the phylogenetic trees of adenoviruses and their hosts suggests a very ancient but common origin for the atadenoviruses. The surprisingly large difference between these virus types and other adenoviruses infecting the same host can be easily understood by assuming their separate evolution in different hosts (e.g., in reptiles versus a coevolution with mammals and birds, respectively) followed by a later host switch.     

Is the gamma interferon assay in cattle influenced by multiple tuberculin injections?

Along with other developed countries, Canada is interested in adopting the gamma interferon (IFN-γ) assay to test for bovine tuberculosis (TB). This study compared results of using the IFN-γ assay in a large number of field-tested cattle in Manitoba, some previously tested with a caudal fold test (CFT) only, and others injected with tuberculins for both a CFT and a comparative cervical test (CCT). Parallel testing further compared the IFN-γ assay and CCT results with the confirmed TB status of the animal (culture, histopathologic examination, polymerase chain reaction). Results from IFN-γ assays did not differ following the CFT versus CFT and CCT injections. Parallel testing demonstrated an apparent higher prevalence of tuberculosis for the IFN-γ assay versus CCT, which will assist in earlier removal of exposed animals and, ultimately, prevent populations from becoming infected.     

Genome-wide scan for runs of homozygosity in the composite Montana Tropical® beef cattle

The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of runs of homozygosity (ROH) and autozygosity islands in the composite Montana Tropical^® beef cattle to explore hotspot regions which could better characterize the different biological types within the composite breed. Montana animals (n = 1,436) were genotyped with the GGP-LD BeadChip (~30,000 markers). ROH was identified in every individual using the plink v1.90 software. Medium and long ROH prevailed in the genome, which accounted for approximately 74% of all ROH detected. On an average, 2.0% of the genome was within ROH, agreeing with the pedigree-based inbreeding coefficient. The Montana cattle with a higher proportion of productive breed types showed the highest number of autozygosity islands (n = 17), followed by those with a higher proportion of breeds adapted to tropical environments (n = 15). Enriched terms (p < .05) associated with the immune and inflammatory response, homeostasis, reproduction, mineral absorption, and lipid metabolism were described within the autozygosity islands. In this regard, over-represented GO terms and KEGG pathways described in this population may play a key role in providing information to explore the genetic and biological mechanisms together with the genomic regions underlying each biological type that favoured their optimal performance ability in tropical and subtropical regions.     

Validation of the Italian version of the UNESP–Botucatu unidimensional composite pain scale for the assessment of postoperative pain in cattle

Objective

The aim of this study was to validate the Italian version of the UNESP–Botucatu Unidimensional Composite Pain Scale (UCPS-IV) for assessing postoperative pain in cattle.

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.     

Inherited diseases of cattle — A perspective

Extract

Genetic variation, whether due to the fortuitous recombination of genes at meiosis and fertilization, or to mutation, is the means of evolution and the tool of the animal breeder. Along with favourable variations of the genome, there may be unfavourable variations, some so unfavourable as to result in clinically apparent disease. Therefore, it is biologically normal for genetically induced diseases to occur in all species, races or breeds. Such disease may be caused by structural or functional defects of many kinds and it is important to differentiate these from similar diseases induced by environmental agents. Although the cost of inherited diseases to the national economy may be lower than that caused by diseases of infectious or nutritional origin, inherited diseases may be economically important, particularly to individual breeders. Certain genetically caused diseases may spread insidiously through a breed until they are difficult to control economically. It is therefore highly desirable that diseases with a genetic basis be recognized at an early stage and control measures instigated. Apart from the economic aspects of inherited diseases, they may be important as experimental models for the study of similar diseases in man.     

Congenital tremor in Holstein Friesian‐cattle

Summary

In a female family line of Holstein‐Friesian cattle a series of trembling calves was born within a period of ten years. All trembling animals were male; female calves appeared normal At necropsy of one calf severe degenerative lesions of spinal cord and brain white matter were observed Both myelin and axons were lost and some macrophages occurred within digestion chambers. Obviously degenerated neurones were not found The lesion was interpreted as a single recessive sex‐linked hereditary trait.     

An evaluation of the copper sequestrated during clotting in cattle: is it just caeruloplasmin?

In cattle, sequestration of copper (Cu) occurs during the clotting process so that serum Cu concentrations are markedly lower than plasma Cu. It has been suggested that all of the Cu lost during clotting is caeruloplasmin (CP). This study used paired samples from 125 cattle to assess whether this assumption was correct. The regression equations for plasma CP activity against plasma Cu concentration and serum CP against serum Cu had significantly different intercepts suggesting that at zero CP activity the amount of Cu remaining was dependent on sample type. Furthermore, the difference between serum and plasma Cu was unrelated to Cu status, whereas the difference between serum and plasma CP was related to Cu status. The regression equation for the loss of CP activity against change in Cu concentration had an intercept that was different from zero, indicating that a reduction in Cu concentration could occur even if CP activity was unaffected by clotting.     

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.     

Phenotypic–genotypic resistance in Salmonella spp. isolated from cattle carcasses from the north central zone of the State of Mexico

Salmonella is a public and animal health problem due to the generation of strains multiresistant to antimicrobial products. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence and antimicrobial phenotypic and genotypic resistance of Salmonella spp. isolated from beef cattle carcasses killed in slaughterhouses of the north central zone of the State of Mexico. Sampling was carried out according to the European Directive 2001/471/EC; isolation and identification of the strain was carried out according to the Mexican Official Standard NOM-114-SSA1-1994; resistance was established by CMI according to the National Committees for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCLS) and multiplex PCR according to Ahmed et al. (Journal of Applied Microbiology 106:402–409, 2009) with PSE-1, tetG, qnrS, FloR, STR, and sul1 oligonucleotides. Twenty-seven strains of Salmonella spp. were obtained from 327 samples (prevalence of 0.083); 19 strains (70 %) were resistant to 10 μg/ml of ampicillin, 15 of these (79 %) had the PSE-1 gene; 22 strains (84 %) were resistant to 30 μg/ml streptomycin, 14 of these (63.6 %) had the STR gene. Genes PSE-1 and STR were factors in the presence of resistance, the rest of the genes (tetG, qnrS, FloR, and sul1) were not factors of resistance in the studied strains.     

Cooperia punctata: effect on cattle productivity?

Cooperia spp. have become the most prevalent parasites in United States cow/calf operations as observed in the USDA NAHMS (National Animal Health Monitoring System) Beef Cow/Calf survey in 2008. This is at least in part due to the widespread use of macrocyclic lactones that have recently been shown to have a reduced activity against these parasites. The effects of Cooperia spp. on cattle productivity are largely unknown. This study was conducted to assess their effect upon cattle housed under conditions found in American feedlots. Two hundred yearling calves (average weight 460 lb/209 kg) were acquired from northwestern Arkansas and northeastern Oklahoma and were vaccinated and dewormed upon arrival at the feedlot. Animals were comingled and preconditioned for approximately one month, and were fed a standard growing ration throughout the study. Calves were randomly divided into two groups (n=80, infected and control) and each group was further divided into two replicate pens (n=40). Calves from the two infected pens were orally inoculated with a gavage of 1 × 10(5) and 0.825 × 10(5) infective larvae of a recent isolate of Cooperia punctata on day 0 and 14, respectively, with the two control pens receiving a similar volume of tap water. Data collected included biweekly fecal egg counts, daily individual feed consumption and weight gain over the 60-day test period. The presence of C. punctata (>99% of recovered worms) was confirmed by necropsy and recovery from the small intestine on days 35 and 60 post infection (PI) in a subset of animals. Egg counts were positive by day 14 PI and remained at numbers similar to values seen in field studies. The control group gained weight 7.5% more rapidly (p=0.02) than infected animals (3.24 lb/1.47 kg per day vs. 3.0 lb/1.36 kg per day, respectively). The Cooperia-infected calves also consumed 1.5 lb (0.68 kg) less dry feed per day than the control animals (p=0.02). These data suggest that C. punctata has a deleterious effect on both appetite and nutrient uptake or utilization. At necropsy (days 35 and 60), the draining mesenteric lymph nodes of infected animals were increased in size and the small intestinal mucosa was thickened and covered with a thick layer of mucus in the infected animals. The most prominent histological changes in the Cooperia- infected animals included a moderate increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and globule leukocytes, as well as aggregates of eosinophils within the lower lamina propria. The only significant difference was an increase in the goblet cell density at day 60. Anthelmintic sensitivity/resistance of the Cooperia isolate used was determined by treatment of one pen of infected calves with a macrocyclic lactone and the other pen with a benzimidazole at the completion of the study. The macrocyclic lactone treatment (n=40) did not remove the parasites (FECRT=8.8%), while treatment with a benzimidazole was very effective (FECRT=98.1%). This study demonstrated that C. punctata has a significant effect on cattle productivity, both reduced weight gain and decreased feed intake compared to controls.     

Expressed gene sequence of the IFNγ-response chemokine CXCL9 of cattle, horses, and swine

This report describes the cloning and characterization of expressed gene sequences of bovine, equine, and swine CXCL9 from RNA obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and other tissues. The bovine coding region was 378 nucleotides in length, while the equine and swine coding regions were 381 nucleotides. Mapping showed that all three sequences were coded for in four exons in the genome, as are the human and mouse genes. The bovine, equine, and swine coding regions shared 83%, 86%, and 84% homology with human CXCL9, respectively, and all three were 74% homologous with mouse CXCL9. Cladogram comparison of the nucleotide sequences of CXCL9 showed that the bovine, equine and swine sequences were more closely related to one another than to either the human or the mouse sequences. However, the human sequence was more closely related to them than it was to the mouse sequence. These relationships were preserved when the deduced amino acid sequences were evaluated and all sequences showed conservation of the characteristic four cysteines. This work sets the stage for further work with these molecules; an integral goal of the U.S. Veterinary Immune Reagent Network is to develop reagents for investigating diseases in livestock species, poultry, and fish.     

The quality of herbage ingested by cattle in rotationally grazed semi‐arid grassveld of the eastern Cape

Oesophageal fistulated steers were used to sample herbage daily during periods of occupation on veld in good and moderate condition. Forage quality was assessed in terms of in vitro dry matter digestibility and digestible crude protein. The quality of herbage ingested remained fairly constant as forage availability declined during periods of occupation, even when swards were grazed very severely. Digestibility declined somewhat from spring through to winter, but digestible crude protein content in the diet was unaffected by time of year. The quality of forage ingested during winter was nevertheless still high, even after a full growing season's rest. It was sufficient for growing steers to gain 0,75 kg livemass per day. Trends were similar on both veld condition types. It was concluded that, in semi‐arid grassveld of the eastern Cape, forage availability is likely to have a greater influence on animal performance than forage quality.     

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.