Prevalence of Cysticercus bovis in Australian cattle

Objective The first national abattoir survey of Cysticercus bovis (‘beef measles’) in cattle was conducted in February 2008. Methods During the data collection period, 493,316 cattle were subjected to standard postmortem procedures, including incision of the masseter and heart muscles. On-site veterinarians were asked to record the location of any C. bovis cysts, as well as the National Livestock Identification System ear tag numbers of infected animals. Veterinarians were asked to submit samples for laboratory confirmation by histology and polymerase chain reaction testing. Results Of the 23 samples submitted, none was positive for C. bovis by either diagnostic method. Conclusions Occasional, isolated diagnoses of beef measles are still made in most states of Australia, but since the last regional surveys were conducted 30 years ago, when the estimated prevalence was 50 to 200 per 100,000 cattle slaughtered, the parasite has become extremely rare.     

Cysticercus bovis in New Zealand

Abstract

Extract

Cysticercus bovis, the intermediate stage of the human tapeworm Taenia saginata, has been reported once in New Zealand (Gilruth, 1908 Gilruth, J. A. 1908. Report of the Department of Agriculture, 201–201. Veterinary Division.  [Google Scholar]). This report referred to the occurrence of the condition in the muscular tissue of the heart of a bullock killed at the Invercargill Abattoir. There are no further reports of its having been found again in beef in this country. A number of segments from adult parasites from humans have been seen from time to time by the parasitology section of the Wallaceville Animal Research Centre (Whitten, pers. comm.). These human cases have occurred in immigrants to this country.     

Distribution of Cysticercus bovis in lightly infected young cattle.

Sixty-seven young cattle grazed on a sewage farm since birth were slaughtered and the carcases finely dissected in search of Cysticercus bovis. Forty-seven (70%) were infected, but only 49% of infected cattle had cysts in tissues considered to be sites of predilection and only 19.8% of all cysts found were located in these sites. Most of the remaining cysts were distributed randomly throughout the masculature.     

Skin diseases of cattle and horses in New South Wales

Extract

A wide variety of skin lesions occurs in bovines and equines, and it is not within the scope of this paper to cover systematically the entire field of veterinary dermatology.     

Observations on Cysticercus bovis in slaughter cattle in the Matabeleland province of Zimbabwe

Cysticercus bovis was detected at meat inspection in 2.16 per cent of 102,087 carcases of cattle from Matabeleland Province, slaughtered in Bulawayo during a period of 11 months. Lightly infested (detained) carcases accounted for 95 per cent of those with cysticercosis. The head was the only site affected in 58.4 per cent of the detained carcases, the shoulder in 20.1 per cent and the heart in 7.9 per cent. In more heavily infested (condemned) carcases 81.1 per cent had at least three sites affected. The incidence of cysts was highest in older male animals but in younger animals it was highest in cows. In the detained carcases an average of 1.5 cysts were found, of which 76 per cent were live and 24 per cent dead. Condemned carcases had more than 58 cysts on average, of which 98 per cent were live and 2 per cent dead. Live cysts were more common in older cattle and dead cysts were more common in younger animals. The incidence of C bovis in carcases of cattle originating from communal areas was 3.2 per cent compared with 1.6 per cent in those originating from commercial farms.     

An acute case of Pimelea elongata toxicity in cattle in western New South Wales

In May 2019, 96 cattle died from Pimelea toxicity in a period of 19 days after potential exposure, with the first deaths occurring within 5 days. After examining the circumstances, we suspect that several factors contributed to the deaths. These included that recently purchased stock and transported had access to flooded land containing Pimelea elongata. This weed species contains simplexin and 18 other compounds. Roots, flowers and seeds are significantly more toxic than the stem, branches and leaves. We suspect that thirsty and hungry stock consumed seed and roots from flooded pastures and consumed lethal doses of simplexin. Blood tests were not good indicators of the conditions. Management strategies are suggested.