Prevalence and molecular detection of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in cattle from Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

A study was conducted in 2008 to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma and Babesia infections in cattle in the Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica. Blood samples were taken from a total of 449 cattle during the month of March at 30 farms in the region of Espiritu Santu, Costa Rica. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to determine presence of antibodies to Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale, and real-time PCR was used to determine the presence of DNA from the disease-causing organisms. The ELISA results indicated that 87.5% of the cattle sampled were positive for antibodies to A. marginale, while 59.1% were positive for antibodies to B. bigemina. The real-time PCR results showed that 235 cattle were carrying A. marginale DNA (56.9%), 6 with B. bigemina DNA (1.34%), and 2 with B. bovis DNA (0.45%).     

Prevalence of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina and B. bovis in Nigerian cattle using serological methods

Serum samples collected randomly from 500 cattle from the 10 northern states of Nigeria were tested for antibodies against Anaplasma marginale by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), card agglutination (CT) and capillary tube-agglutination (CA) tests. The serum samples were also examined for antibodies to Babesia bigemina and B. bovis by the IFA test only. Of the serum samples tested, 79.4% had antibodies against A. marginale by the IFA test, 40 and 25% in the CT and CA tests, respectively. The IFA test results for B. bigemina and B. bovis were 29.4 and 14.1%, respectively.     

Comparative Histology of the Kidney of Bos taurus and Bos indicus Cattle

Twenty-six kidneys of 2–4 years old Bos indicus (zebu cattle) and twenty kidneys of 4-year old Bos taurus were examined under the light microscope. The renal tubular epithelial heights and diameters were smaller in zebu than in Bos taurus. The Bos indicus kidney had fewer vascular bundles in the outer medullary zone and a smaller number of capillaries per vascular bundle, hence a lower renal blood flow than in Bos taurus. The Bos indicus proximal tubules had broader brush borders than those of Bos taurus. The smaller renal corpuscles with smaller glomerular filtration surface and low renal blood flow are responsible for low glomerular filtration rate and urinary flow, enabling their kidneys to retain more water than those of Bos taurus.     

Comparative Thickness of the Medulla of Bos taurus and Bos indicus Kidneys

Twenty kidneys of 4 years old Bos taurus cattle and 26 kidneys of 2—4 years old Bos indicus (Zebu cattle) of East African Shorthorn breen were examined lobe by lobe after fixation. The cortex and medulla with subunits were measured and compared in the two sub-species. The width of the cortex was about the same in both. The outer and inner stripes of the outer medullary zone were significantly broader in Bos taurus whereas outer inner zone was significantly broader in Bos indicus. The width of the entire medulla was greater in Bos taurus.     

Differential Bos taurus cattle response to Babesia bovis infection

Bovine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by Babesia spp. haemoprotozoans. The disease is of great importance at tick enzootic unstable areas and hampers cattle production in several developing countries. The available immunisation alternatives are pre-immunition and attenuated vaccines. Despite being efficient and protective, they are unsafe as they use cattle blood cells as inoculum and may potentially spread other diseases. Another alternative to help in babesiosis control would be the identification of genetically resistant cattle to Babesia bovis infection. The objective of this work was to phenotype cattle based on primary response against B. bovis infection. Two-hundred and forty half-sib Hereford and Aberdeen Angus heifers (120 animals from each breed), 12-18-month-old na?ve cattle, originated from a tick-free area in Southern Brazil, were used in the experiment. Animals were monitored following an inoculation with 1x10(7)B. bovis parasitised erythrocytes. Results showed three different phenotypes: 1-'susceptible', animals with babesiosis clinical signs that received treatment to avoid death; 2-'intermediate', animals with clinical signs: parasitaemia, >or=21.5% reduction in packed cell volume (PCV) and increase in body temperature when compared to their pre-challenge physiological parameters, no specific treatment was needed as animals self recovered from the disease, and 3-'resistant', animals without clinical signs that showed B. bovis presence in blood smears, <21.5% PCV reductions, with little or no increase in body temperature and no need for babesiosis treatment. The frequencies of each phenotype were: 45.4, 26.7, and 27.9%, respectively, demonstrating the existence of phenotypic variation for B. bovis in Bos taurus cattle.     

Life span of beef-type Bos taurus and Bos indicus x Bos taurus females in a dry, temperate climate

Females representing Hereford, Red Poll, F1 Hereford x Red Poll, F1 Red Poll x Hereford, F1 Angus x Hereford, F1 Angus x Charolais, F1 Brahman x Hereford, and F1 Brahman x Angus breed types were evaluated from birth until 10 yr of age. Of 308 females born alive, 35.7% died or were culled because of injury, serious illness, or reproductive failure. Breed types differed (P less than .01) in total number of mating seasons per cow and total number of progeny born and weaned. Values for lifetime total number of calves weaned were as follows: Hereford, 4.54; Red Poll, 5.45; Hereford x Red Poll, 4.45; Red Poll x Hereford, 5.49; Angus x Hereford, 5.98; Angus x Charolais, 5.57; Brahman x Hereford, 6.96; and Brahman x Angus, 6.22. Brahman crosses (P less than .01) and Angus x Charolais (P less than .10) exceeded Hereford dams in lifetime total number of calves weaned but did not differ from Angus x Herefords. Analysis of the Hereford-Red Poll diallel showed no evidence of heterosis in life span traits. Results indicate that breed type was a major source of variation in reproductive life span of beef-type females. F1 Bos indicus crosses and Angus x Herefords were outstanding in longevity.     

Circumocular pigmentation and incidence of ocular squamous cell tumors in Bos taurus and Bos indicus X Bos taurus cattle

Amount of circumocular pigmentation and incidence of ocular squamous cell tumors were evaluated in dams representing diverse cattle breed types. Each dam was examined twice annually during a specific stage in the life cycle (3.5 to 9.5 years old). Overall, 28.3% of dams in the herd developed at least 1 ocular squamous cell tumor. Breed groups differed (P less than 0.01) in amount of circumocular pigmentation and incidence of tumors. Results indicate that losses from ocular squamous cell tumors in beef herds can be sharply reduced by judicious choice of breed types.     

Preweaning efficiency for mature cows of breed crosses from tropically adapted Bos indicus and Bos taurus and unadapted Bos taurus breeds

Production data were collected on mature cows produced by mating Angus and Hereford (pooled AH), Brahman (Bh) and Boran (Br), and Tuli, a tropically adapted Bos taurus, sires by AI or natural service to Angus and Hereford cows. These cows were mated to Charolais bulls for the purpose of this study. Within each sire breed of cow, cows were assigned randomly to one of three feeding rates, 49 or 76 g of DMI/ BW0.75 or ad libitum (10 to 12 cows/feeding rate group), with weekly individual animal feed consumption recorded. Lactation yields were recorded via the weigh-suckle-weigh protocol at approximately 14, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 168, and 196 d postpartum for each cow/calf pair. Means for milk yield at peak lactation, total milk yields, calf birth weight, age-adjusted weaning weights, preweaning daily gain, and feed efficiency were estimated. Peak yield (kg/d) for Bh (10.3 +/- 0.36) was greater (P < 0.05) than for Tuli (9.0 +/- 0.31). Total yield (kg, 212 d) for Bh (1802 +/- 68) was greater (P < 0.05) than for Tuli (1532 +/- 59). Birth weight of AH (44 +/- 0.9) was heavier than for Bh and Br (P < 0.05). Preweaning daily calf gain (g/d) and adjusted weaning weight (kg) of Bh (813 +/- 28, 212 +/- 6.1) and Br (766 +/- 24, 202 +/- 5.1) differed (P < 0.05) from AH (589 +/- 24, 169 +/- 5.2) and Tuli (634 +/- 24, 176 +/- 5.3). Efficiency estimates (grams of adjusted weaning weight/kilograms DMI of the cow) for Bh (88 +/- 2.5) and Br (85 +/- 2.1) exceeded (P < 0.05) those for Tuli (74 +/- 2.1) and AH (73 +/- 2.1). Bos indicus breed crosses exhibited greater peak and total yield, lower birth weight, greater daily gain and adjusted weaning weight, and higher feed efficiency than did Bos taurus breed crosses (P < 0.05). Total yield, daily gain, adjusted weaning weight, and feed efficiency were higher (P < 0.05) for cows sired by bulls from tropically adapted breeds, and the peak yield was less (P < 0.10). Tuli exhibited lower total yield and birth weight than did Angus/Hereford (P < 0.05). The efficiency of crossbred Tuli cows did not differ from Angus/Hereford F1 females, but neither equaled the efficiency of crossbred cows produced using Bos indicus breeds.     

The Effect of Management Factors on the Seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale in Bos indicus cattle in the Mexican Tropics

A cross-sectional study with a two-stage design and proportional distribution was carried out to determine the effect of management factors on the seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale in Bos indicus cattle in the Mexican tropics. Serum was obtained from 384 cattle aged 1-2 years on 92 farms. The number of samples was proportionally distributed according to the number of farms in eastern Yucatan. Antibody activity against A. marginale was assessed using the card agglutination test. A primary screening using a 2 x K contingency table of the exposed variables with the outcomes was performed. All variables for which p < 0.20 were included in a fixed-effects log regression. The seroprevalence in the cattle was 69.75% (SE +/- 0.02). Sixty-four per cent of the farms had a seroprevalence > or = 75%. The risks related to managemental factors were stocking density ( > or = 1 animal/ha, OR = 10.94), type of acaricide (pyrethroids, OR = 3.8), dipping interval ( > 60 days, OR = 0.13) and type of veterinary instruments used (needles, scalpels, ear tattoos, and dehorners, OR = 0.17).     

Metabolizable energy for maintenance of beef-type Bos taurus and Bos indicus x Bos taurus cows in a dry, temperate climate

Metabolizable energy for maintenance (MEm) was estimated using 123 mature cows of eight diverse breed groups. Cows in each breed group were allotted at random 1) to limit-feeding to approximate maintenance or 2) to ad libitum access to feed. The MEm values were calculated by regression of change in body energy on ME intake. The MEm values for mature Hereford, Red Poll, Hereford x Red Poll, Red Poll x Hereford, Angus x Hereford, Angus x Charolais, Brahman x Hereford, and Brahman x Angus breed types were as follows: 145, 169, 148, 149, 144, 152, 139, and 143 kcal.kg-.75.d-1, respectively. Bos indicus-cross cows ranked lowest for MEm/kg.75. Angus x Hereford cows averaged highest in terms of grams of calf weaned per mature female exposed divided by yearly MEm requirement. Hereford x Red Poll reciprocal crosses on average required 640 kcal less total daily MEm per animal than Hereford and Red Poll straightbreds.     

Cow/calf preweaning efficiency of Nellore and Bos taurus x Bos indicus crosses

The objectives of this study were to determine if percentage Bos taurus (0 or 50%) of the cow had an effect on ME requirements and milk production, and to compare cow/calf efficiency among 3 mating systems. Metabolizable energy requirements were estimated during a feeding trial that encompassed a gestation and lactation feeding trial for each of 2 groups of cows. Cows were 0 or 50% Bos taurus (100 or 50% Nellore) breed type: Nellore cows (NL; n = 10) mated to Nellore bulls, NL cows (n = 9) mated to Angus bulls, Angus x Nellore (ANL; n = 10) and Simmental x Nellore (SNL; n = 10) cows mated to Canchim (5/8 Charolais 3/8 Zebu) bulls. Cows were individually fed a total mixed diet that contained 11.3% CP and 2.23 Mcal of ME/kg of DM. At 14-d intervals, cows and calves were weighed and the amount of DM was adjusted to keep shrunk BW and BCS of cows constant. Beginning at 38 d of age, corn silage was available to calves ad libitum. Milk production at 42, 98, 126, and 180 d postpartum was measured using the weigh-suckle-weigh technique. At 190 d of age, calves were slaughtered and body composition estimated using 9-10-11th-rib section to obtain energy deposition. Regression of BW change on daily ME intake (MEI) was used to estimate MEI at zero BW change. Increase in percentage Bos taurus had a significant effect on daily ME requirements (Mcal/d) during pregnancy (P < 0.01) and lactation (P < 0.01). Percentage Bos taurus had a positive linear effect on maintenance requirements of pregnant (P = 0.07) and lactating (P < 0.01) cows; during pregnancy, the ME requirements were 91 and 86% of those in lactation (131 +/- 3.5 vs. 145 +/- 3.4 Mcal x kg(-0.75) x d(-1)) for the 0 and 50% B. taurus groups, respectively. The 50% B. taurus cows, ANL and SNL, suckling crossbred calves had greater total MEI (4,319 +/- 61 Mcal; P < 0.01) than 0% B. taurus cows suckling NL (3,484 +/- 86 Mcal) or ANL calves (3,600 +/- 91 Mcal). The 0% B. taurus cows suckling ANL calves were more efficient (45.3 +/- 1.6 g/Mcal; P = 0.03) than straightbred NL (35.1 +/- 1.5 g/Mcal) and ANL or SNL pairs (41.0 +/- 1.0 g/Mcal). Under the conditions of this study, crossbreeding improved cow/ calf efficiency and showed an advantage for cows that have lower energy requirements.     

Tropical theileriosis in Bos taurus and Bos taurus cross Bos indicus calves: response to infection with graded doses of sporozoites of Theileria annulata.

This work extends basic knowledge of tropical theileriosis in taurine and crossbred cattle. Infection of Bos taurus and Bos taurus cross Bos indicus (Sahiwal) calves with graded doses of sporozoites of Theileria annulata (Hissar), an Indian stock of the parasite, showed the following to be dose dependent in both cattle types: the time to appearance and population size of macroschizonts, microschizonts and piroplasms, time and severity of pyrexia, anaemia manifested by erythrocyte counts and haematocrit. All infections were accompanied by a prompt and severe panleucopenia. This effect was dose related in both the taurine and the Sahiwal crossbred calves. Lymphocyte counts returned to preinfection levels in the blood of animals which recovered, but death from theileriosis was characteristically accompanied by a persistent and severe lymphocytopenia. Flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies to bovine mononuclear cells was used to identify the lymphocyte subsets involved in lymphocytopenia. The outcome of infection was dose dependent in the crossbred calves but not in taurine calves. Although the results obtained did not differ qualitatively between the two cattle types, they provided some preliminary evidence for resistance to tropical theileriosis in Sahiwal crossbred calves.     

Spermatogenesis in Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) and hybrids with Bos indicus and Bos taurus

Semen quality, testis size and efficiency of sperm production in Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) and hybrids with Bos indicus and Bos taurus were determined. Mean (+/- SEM) daily sperm production per gram of testis parenchyma (DSPG) in six purebred Bali bulls was 12.2 +/- 0.7 x 10(6). F1 B sondaicus cross B taurus bulls and F1 B sondaicus cross B indicus bulls were sterile. Spermatogenesis was arrested at the late primary spermatocyte stage. In 11 B sondaicus cross B indicus crosses, mean DSPG was lower than in the purebred B sondaicus, although four (one 1/4 B sondaicus, one 3/4 B sondaicus, one 5/8 B sondaicus inter se and one 3/8 B sondaicus inter se) exhibited DSPG levels similar to the foundation stock. Semen from those crossbreeds which exhibited complete spermatogenesis was more variable in terms of spermatozoal concentration, percentage of spermatozoa exhibiting progressive motility and levels of spermatozoal abnormalities. In crossbreeds where sperm production was reduced or absent, there was seminiferous epithelial dysfunction, manifested as an increased frequency of degenerative late pachytene and diplotene primary spermatocytes and germinal cells occurring later in the cycle, or in extreme cases, as complete arrest of spermatogenesis at the late primary spermatocyte stage.     

Characterization of breeds of Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle for maternal and individual traits

Angus, Boran and Red Poll sires were mated to Ankole, Boran and small East African Zebu (Zebu) females to produce the cows characterized in this study, which produced calves by Friesian, Brown Swiss, Simmental, Boran and Red Poll sires. Individual traits included cow parturition weight, cow weight at weaning, cow mean weight and cow weight change from parturition to weaning; maternal traits included calf crop born percentage, preweaning viability percentage, overall viability percentage, birth weight, weaning weight, weight at 12, 18 and 24 mo and calf weight weaned per cow exposed to breeding (productivity index). Cows by Angus and Red Poll sires significantly exceeded cows by Boran sires (all cows in this comparison had Ankole and Zebu dams) in weaning weight of progeny and in cow weight at parturition and at weaning. Cows by Red Poll sires significantly exceeded cows by Boran sires in birth weight of progeny. Progeny of cows by Boran sires significantly exceeded progeny of cows by Angus and Red Poll sires in 24-mo weight. Cows by Angus and Red Poll sires did not differ (P greater than .05) in any of the traits analyzed. Cows with Ankole and Boran dams significantly exceeded cows with Zebu dams (all cows in this comparison had Angus and Red Poll sires) in progeny weight at birth, 18 mo and 24 mo and in cow weight at parturition and at weaning. Cows with Boran dams significantly exceeded cows with Zebu dams in weaning and 12-mo weight of progeny and significantly exceeded cows with Ankole dams in weaning weight of progeny. The significantly heavier weaning weight and significantly lighter 24-mo weight of the 3/4 Bos taurus progeny of cows with Angus and Red Poll sires relative to the 1/2 Bos taurus progeny of cows with Boran sires suggest that cattle that are 1/2 Bos taurus breed composition have greater general adaptation than cattle with 3/4 Bos taurus breed composition in the postweaning nutritive and climatic environment under which this experiment was conducted. Significantly heavier weights of Angus and Red Poll crossbred cows relative to Boran crossbred cows (all breeds crossed on Ankole and Zebu cows) indicate that the two Bos taurus breeds exceed the Boran (Bos indicus) breed in additive direct genetic effects for size when they have general adaptation to the environment.     

In vivo comparison of susceptibility between Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle types to Theileria parva infection

The objective of this study was to determine whether Bos taurus cattle differ form Bos indicus in their susceptibility to infection with the Muguga stabilate of Theileria parva and in their resistance to the resultant disease. Ten Friesians (B. taurus), ten improved Borans (B. indicus), ten unimproved Borans (B. indicus) and ten Zebus (B. indicus) born to dams from an East Coast fever (ECF) endemic area were inoculated with an infective dose50 dilution of T. parva Muguga stabilate 147. All the animals except one Friesian and one Zebu developed schizont parasitosis. All the improved Borans, nine of the Friesians, eight of the unimproved Borans and six of the Zebus developed a febrile response. Four of the improved Borans, four of the Friesians and three of the unimproved Borans died of theileriosis. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in the prepatent period occurred between the groups, but the Zebus had a significantly shorter duration of schizont parasitosis (P > 0.05) and took a significantly shorter time to recover (P > 0.05) than the other three groups. There was no significant difference in the two parameters between the other three groups. The study showed that three B. indicus breds and a B. taurus breed are equally susceptible to T. parva infection. However, Zebus born to dams from an ECF endemic area showed a better ability to control the course of disease than cattle from ECF free areas.     

Meta-analysis to predict sweating and respiration rates for Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and their crossbreds

The overall objective of this work was to develop empirical equations from a meta-analysis study to be used to implement initial values in a mechanistic heat balance model. The meta-analysis was conducted to 1) develop prediction equations for sweating and respiration rate (SR, g·m(-2)·h(-1) and RR, breaths·min(-1), respectively) based on skin and body temperature (T(s) and T(b), °C, respectively) for different breed types: Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and their crossbreds, and 2) evaluate the fit of existing SR equations and the SR and RR equations (from objective 1) against independent data sets. Fourteen studies were collected for the SR analysis, 12 for fitting and 2 for evaluation. The fitted SR equations (Thompson model) for the 3 breeds types were B. indicus, SR = 0.085e(0.22·T(s)); B. taurus, SR = 0.75e(0.15·T(s)); and crossbreds, SR = 0.015e(0.25·T(s)). Twenty-three studies were collected for the RR analysis, 20 for fitting and 3 for evaluation. The fitted RR equations for the 3 breed types were B. indicus, RR = -1,660 + 43.8·T(b); B. taurus, RR = -1,385 + 37·T(b); and crossbreds, RR = -2,226 + 59·T(b). Three SR equations (Maia, McArthur, and Gatenby models) from the literature were evaluated against the Thompson model using the 14 studies. The McArthur model predicted SR within the correct range, but with an increased slope bias because the equation was linear and not the correct shape. The Maia model overpredicted SR for all breed types with the greatest overprediction being for crossbreds. The Gatenby model overpredicted SR for B. taurus (root mean square error of prediction = 506 g·m(-2)·h(-1)), but was the best predictor for B. indicus. The Thompson model overpredicted SR for B. indicus (root mean square error of prediction ranged from 134 to 265 g·m(-2)·h(-1)), but was the best predictor for B. taurus and crossbreds. The Thompson model was a good predictor for RR across all breed types. The meta-analysis showed that the Thompson model outperformed previous models for both RR and SR with the exception of the SR of B. indicus, which was best predicted by the Gatenby model.     

Allele frequencies of gene polymorphisms related to economic traits in Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle breeds

Allele frequencies of 10 representative polymorphisms for beef and milk traits were investigated for a total of 240 animals from Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds, including two Japanese groups (Japanese Black and Japanese Brown), two East Asian groups (Korean and Mongolian), three European groups (Holstein, Angus and Hereford) and a Bos indicus group in South Asia (Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia). The Japanese Black revealed unique genetic construction in GH, FASN and SREBP‐1 and the other Asian populations show intermediate frequencies between European and Japanese populations. The Bos indicus group showed low favorable allele frequencies in most of the genes. The study showed the variability and distribution of 10 genes affecting economic traits among world representative cattle breeds. The genetic information would contribute to elucidating the genetic background for worldwide cattle breeds and the possibility of improvement using the markers.