Informative Value of an Indirect Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the Detection of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) Antibodies in Milk

Bulk and individual milk samples from 117 herds located in Brittany (west France) were used to assess: (i) the performance characteristics of an indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) applied to individual milk for the detection of antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV); and (ii) the relationship between the bulk milk result obtained from this test and the within‐herd prevalence of antibody‐positive lactating cows. This ELISA test was based on a monoclonal antibody directed against non‐structural protein NS2‐3 of pestiviruses. At the individual level, based on 1113 matched milk/serum samples, the sensitivity and specificity of this test applied to milk, compared with the virus neutralization test on serum, were 95.0 and 97.7%, respectively. At the herd level, the relationship between the optical density percentage (OD%) of bulk milk and the within‐herd prevalence of antibody‐positive lactating cows was assessed using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Classes of OD% of bulk milk were determined so that they were associated with minimum intraclass and maximum between‐class variances of within‐herd prevalence of antibody‐positive cows. The ROC analysis resulted in two classes of bulk milk results corresponding to different expected levels of within‐herd prevalence. Herds with an OD% of bulk milk <75% and ≥75% had a mean observed prevalence of antibody‐positive cows of 8.9 and 60.6%, respectively. Herds with a bulk milk result <75% were expected to be BVDV free, whereas large variations in prevalence of antibody‐positive cows existed in the herds with OD% ≥75%. The test described in this study is suitable to identify herds likely to have a low prevalence of BVDV antibody‐positive cows.     

Prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in dairy herds in England and Wales measured with an ELISA applied to bulk-tank milk

An ELISA developed to diagnose Fasciola hepatica infection in cattle by detecting serum antibodies was adapted and validated for use with samples of bulk-tank milk. The prevalence of the infection in 61 dairy herds was established by using serum antibody levels or faecal egg counts measured in a proportion of the cows in each herd. The correlation between the results of the ELISA and the herd seroprevalence was 0.83. Using a cut-off value of 27 per cent positive, the bulk-tank ELISA identified herds in which more than 25 per cent of the cows were infected with a diagnostic sensitivity of 96 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 89 to 100 per cent) and a diagnostic specificity of 80 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 66 to 94 per cent). By applying the ELISA to 623 herds in England and 445 herds in Wales, the prevalence of F hepatica infection in England was estimated to be 48 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 46 to 54 per cent), and in Wales 86 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 84 to 90 per cent).     

Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using milk samples as a potential screening test of bovine tuberculosis of dairy cows in Korea

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using bulk tank milk samples was evaluated as a screening test for bovine tuberculosis (TB), a contagious chronic disease of cattle. An ELISA with MPB70, a major antigen of Mycobacterium bovis was performed using paired sets of milk and sera samples from 33 tuberculin-positive and 43 tuberculin-negative cattle. Anti-MPB70 antibodies were detected in milk samples and there was a significant correlation between seroreactivities of milk and sera samples (R² = 0.83). Using the tuberculin skin test as the reference test, the sensitivities of ELISA using milk and sera samples were 87.8% and 81.8%, respectively, and the specificities were 97.7% and 100%, respectively.In the screening test using bulk tank milk samples from 931 dairy herds in Whasung, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, the positive rate for anti-MPB70 antibody was 4.5% (42/931) and the tuberculin-positive rate was 2.8% (26/931). Individual milk samples (n = 253) were collected from randomly selected 8 problematic and 3 negative herds (positive and negative in the screening test by MPB70 ELISA using bulk tank milk samples, respectively) and tested by MPB70 milk ELISA. In the problematic herds, positive rates were 10.5% (20/190) for anti-MPB70 antibodies in milk ELISA and 2.1% (4/190) in the tuberculin skin test. More than one dairy cows were positive by milk ELISA among the problematic herds, and all tuberculin-positive dairy cows were positive in the milk ELISA. Further, no positive cows were detected in negative herds both by milk ELISA and tuberculin skin test. These results suggest that an ELISA, using bulk tank milk samples, might be a potential efficient screening test for bovine TB of dairy cows.     

Use of bulk milk for detection of Neospora caninum infection in dairy herds in Thailand

The relationship between the level of Neospora caninum antibodies in bulk milk and the seroprevalence in lactating cows was investigated. Bulk milk was also used to estimate the prevalence of N. caninum infection in dairy herds in the northeast and north Thailand. Bulk milk and individual serum from all lactating cows in 11 herds as well as 220 bulk milk samples from nine milk collection centres were analysed for presence of N. caninum antibodies using an iscom ELISA. In the 11 herds the bulk milk absorbances ranged between 0.04 and 0.89 and the seroprevalences varied between 0 and 46%. Five herds had milk absorbances below 0.20, among those were the two herds housing only seronegative lactating cows. In the remaining three herds with such low bulk milk absorbances one or two cows (5-14%) were seropositive. Six of the investigated herds had bulk milk absorbances above 0.20. In the two herds with the highest bulk milk absorbances more than 30% of the cows were seropositive. Using an absorbance of 0.20 to discriminate between negative and positive herds, 102 (46%) of 220 bulk milk samples were judged positive. There was no significant difference in mean bulk milk absorbance between the milk collection centres within each region. However, the proportion of herds with bulk milk absorbances > or =0.50 in the north was statistically (P < 0.01) higher than that in the northeast. It was concluded that bulk milk antibody testing can be used to identify N. caninum-infected herds and that N. caninum is a common infection in dairy herds in Thailand.     

Validation of a bulk tank milk antibody ELISA to detect dairy herds likely infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus in New Zealand

AIMS: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of a bulk tank milk (BTM) antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect likely infection of a dairy herd with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). The ELISA was subsequently used to estimate the prevalence of likely infected herds in parts of the North Island of New Zealand. METHODS: BTM samples from 724 randomly selected dairy herds in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland regions of New Zealand were tested for BVDV antibodies. From this group, 20 herds were again randomly selected from each of the quartiles of the ELISA percentage inhibition (%INH) result. From each participant herd, serum from 15 randomly selected calves aged 6-18 months and 15 cows was collected and tested using an indirect blocking ELISA for BVDV antibodies. RESULTS: Among serum results from calves from 50 herds available for analysis, 34 (68%) herds were classified as likely non-infected (0-3 seropositive among 15 calves) and 16 (32%) as likely infected (5-15 seropositive among 15 calves). Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis identified an optimal cut-off for BTM of 80%INH associated with 81% sensitivity and 91% specificity for likely herd infection. The prevalence of BVDV antibodies in cows within herds and %INH for BVDV in bulk milk were positively correlated (p<0.01). The association between bulk milk %INH and the prevalence of BVDV antibodies in calves was stronger than the same association in cows. Based on the threshold of 80%INH, the 95% confidence interval (CI) for prevalence of likely infection in the 724 herds in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland regions of New Zealand was 12-17%. Vaccination against BVDV was not significantly associated with the likely infection status of the herd based on prevalence of BVDV antibodies among calves. CONCLUSION: An ELISA test result for BVDV antibodies in BTM >/=80%INH can be used as a threshold to indicate the presence of likely infection with BVDV in dairy herds in New Zealand, with 81% sensitivity and 91% specificity.     

Bulk milk-estimated seroprevalence of Fasciola hepatica in dairy herds and collecting of risk factor data in East Frisia, northern Germany

The liver fluke Fasciola (F) hepatica is one of the most important trematodes in cattle farming worldwide. Fasciolosis in dairy cows is leading to production losses due to decreased milk yield, liver condemnation and impaired reproduction. The treatment of dairy cows is unsatisfactory, because available drugs are either effective against adult flukes only or have long withdrawal times or in some countries may not be used at all. In the present study the prevalence of F. hepatica in dairy farms located in East Frisia, which is part of the federal state Lower Saxony, was investigated. East Frisia is considered a high risk area for Fasciola hepatica infections, because of its coastal location, high precipitation and moist pastures. About 750 bulk milk samples were collected in January and November 2006 and analysed for F. hepatica antibodies using the Pourquier ELISA. In addition, questionnaires, which were answered by 260 of the participating farmers, were evaluated to analyse management-related factors associated with fasciolosis. In January and November, 52.1% and 53.6% of the bulk milk samples, respectively, showed positive results. Thereby, 88.1% of the examined farms showed an unchanged infection status, whereas 6.2% of the farms became seropositive during the grazing season and 5.8% of the dairy herds turned seronegative. Statistical analysis revealed a significant negative association between average annual milk production and the frequency of infections with F. hepatica.     

Increasing prevalence of Coxiella burnetii seropositive Danish dairy cattle herds

A study based on bulk tank milk samples from 120 randomly selected dairy cattle herds was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii seropositive dairy herds, to describe the geographical distribution, and to identify risk factors. Using the CHEKIT Q-fever Antibody ELISA Test Kit (IDEXX), the study revealed a prevalence of 79.2% seropositive herds, 18.3% seronegative herds, and 2.5% serointermediate herds based on the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Multifactorial logistic regression showed statistically significant associations (P < 0.01) between C. burnetii seropositivity and increasing herd size (OR = 1.02 per cow increment) and increasing regional average number of cattle per dairy herd (OR = 1.02 per animal increment). Herds >150 cows had 17.9 times higher odds of testing positive compared to herds <80 cows. The regional average number of cattle herds per square kilometer was borderline significantly related to the occurrence of seropositive dairy herds (P = 0.06). The results indicate an increased prevalence of seropositive dairy herds since the previous survey in 2008 and an adverse impact of increasing herd size and cattle density on the risk of seropositivity.     

Validation of a bulk tank milk antibody ELISA to detect dairy herds likely infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus in New Zealand

AIMS: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of a bulk tank milk (BTM) antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect likely infection of a dairy herd with bovine vi- ral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). The ELISA was subsequently used to estimate the prevalence of likely infected herds in parts of the North Island of New Zealand.

METHODS: BTM samples from 724 randomly selected dairy herds in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland regions of New Zealand were tested for BVDV antibodies. From this group, 20 herds were again randomly selected from each of the quartiles of the ELISA percentage inhibition (%INH) result. From each participant herd, serum from 15 randomly selected calves aged 6–18 months and 15 cows was collected and tested using an indirect blocking ELISA for BVDV antibodies.

RESULTS: Among serum results from calves from 50 herds available for analysis, 34 (68%) herds were classified as likely non-infected (0-3 seropositive among 15 calves) and 16 (32%) as likely infected (5–15 seropositive among 15 calves). Receiver- operator characteristic (ROC) analysis identified an optimal cut-off for BTM of 80%INH associated with 81% sensitivity and 91% specificity for likely herd infection. The prevalence of BVDV antibodies in cows within herds and %INH for BVDV in bulk milk were positively correlated (p<0.01). The association between bulk milk %INH and the prevalence of BVDV antibodies in calves was stronger than the same association in cows. Based on the threshold of 80%INH, the 95% confidence interval (CI) for prevalence of likely infection in the 724 herds in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland regions of New Zealand was 12–17%. Vaccination against BVDV was not significantly associated with the likely infection status of the herd based on prevalence of BVDV antibodies among calves.

CONCLUSION: An ELISA test result for BVDV antibodies in BTM ≥80%INH can be used as a threshold to indicate the presence of likely infection with BVDV in dairy herds in New Zealand, with 81% sensitivity and 91% specificity.     

Paratuberculosis sero-status and milk production,SCC and calving interval in Irish dairy herds

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of paratuberculosis sero-status on milk yield, fat, protein, somatic cell count and calving interval in Irish dairy herds. Serum from all animals over 12 months of age (n = 2,602) in 34 dairy herds was tested for antibodies to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis using an ELISA. Herds were categorised by sero-status into positive, non-negative and negative, where a positive herd contained two or more positive cows, a non-negative herd contained only one positive cow and a negative herd contained no positive cows. Data at animal, parity and herd-level were analysed by multiple regression using general linear models. Positive herds (mean herd size = 129 cows) and non-negative herds (81 cows) were larger than negative herds (72 cows) (P < 0.01). Negative herds had the highest economic breeding index (EBI), while positive herds had the highest estimated breeding value (EBV) for milk yield. There was no significant effect of paratuberculosis sero-status at animal, parity or herd-level on milk yield, milk fat or protein production, somatic cell count score (SCCS) or calving interval. Negative herds tended to have a lower SCCS than positive and nonnegative herds (P = 0.087). This study only examined the effects of paratuberculosis sero-status but did not examine the clinical effects of Johne's disease at the farm or dairy industry levels.     

Evaluation of an O antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for screening of milk samples for Salmonella dublin infection in dairy herds.

Levels of antibodies to the O antigens (O:1,9,12) of Salmonella dublin were tested in 1355 serum, 1143 cow milk and 160 bulk milk samples from dairy herds using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to define the background reaction, milk samples from all lactating cows and serum samples from 9 animals were collected in each of 20 salmonellosis-free herds located on the island of Bornholm, where cattle salmonellosis has not been reported. Similar samples were collected from all stalled animals in 10 herds with recent (< 6 months) outbreaks of salmonellosis located in Jutland, where salmonella infection is enzootic. Using herd history of salmonellosis, herd location and clinical status of the herds as criteria, the optimal cutoff in the milk ELISA was determined as being at least 5% of the samples having optical density > 0.5, resulting in herd sensitivity of 1.0 and herd specificity of 0.95. While none of the sera in the herds from Bornholm was ELISA positive, 2 herds had a few reactors in the milk ELISA. Using the same cutoff, all but 1 bulk milk sample from 150 herds on Bornholm was ELISA-negative, and all 10 salmonellosis-positive herds from Jutland were ELISA-positive. A significant correlation was found between ELISA reactions in milk and in serum of cows (34% and 32% respectively, rs = 0.69, P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to Fasciola hepatica in milk

Antibodies against Fasciola hepatica were detected in serum and individual milk samples of dairy cattle using an ELISA. Percentage positivity (PP) values in milk samples were related to serum PP values and were not influenced by days into lactation. The correlation coefficient between serum and individual milk samples was highly significant (r=0.84, P<0.005). The correlation coefficient between herd seroprevalence and herd milk antibody prevalence was 0.96. The correlation coefficient between prevalence measured by faecal egg count and both seroprevalence and milk antibody prevalence within the herd was 0.87. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for milk were 92% (95% CI=89-96) and 88% (95% CI=85-91), respectively, when the serum test was considered as a gold standard. In conclusion, the level of antibody to F. hepatica in milk is significantly correlated with the antibody level in serum and this ELISA is suitable as a means of routine veterinary diagnosis of exposure to F. hepatica in cattle and an alternative to testing sera.     

Comparison of milk and serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in dairy cattle.

Milk and serum samples from 35 dairy herds in 17 states were evaluated for cow- and herd-level Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) antibody test agreement. Evaluation of 6,349 samples suggested moderate agreement between milk and serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results, with a kappa value of 0.50. Cow-level sensitivity (Se) for 18 dairy operations with 1,921 animals was evaluated relative to fecal culture results. At the cow level, the milk ELISA relative Se was not significantly different from that of the serum ELISA (21.2 and 23.5%, respectively). Logistic regression models revealed a positive association between lactation number and milk ELISA status. Non-Holstein cows were more likely to test milk ELISA positive than Holstein cows. Cows in the first 2 weeks of lactation and after week 45 of lactation were more likely to test milk ELISA positive than cows between 3 and 12 weeks of lactation. Milk production > 80% of herd average was negatively associated with testing milk ELISA positive. Animals in the West and Midwest regions were less likely than animals in the Southeast region to test ELISA positive by either test. Estimates for herd-level sensitivity for the milk and serum ELISA, relative to fecal culture results, ranged from 56 to 83%. At the cow and herd levels, milk ELISA performed equivalent to serum ELISA using fecal culture as a reference for MAP infection and has the advantage of decreased labor costs on farms that use Dairy Herd Improvement Association testing.     

Associations between dairy herd management factors and bulk tank milk antibody levels against Ostertagia ostertagi

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed on dairy herds in Flanders (Belgium) to detect management factors that are associated with an increased gastrointestinal parasite infection level of adult dairy cows. At the end of the grazing season, information concerning general herd factors, pasture management and anthelmintic treatment strategy was obtained from 956 herds. A bulk tank milk sample was obtained from 779 out of the 956 herds and the antibody levels (ODR) against Ostertagia ostertagi were determined. The associations between ODR and herd management factors were studied by two linear regression models. The first model evaluated the effect of general herd factors and the level of the cows' exposure to pasture. Large sized herds had significantly lower ODRs as compared to medium (P=0.001) or small sized herds (P=0.03). Herds with only dairy cows had lower ODRs than herds with both dairy and beef cows (P=0.02). An increased exposure to pasture of the cows was associated with higher ODRs (P<0.001). The second model was built to evaluate the effect of pasture management factors and anthelmintic treatment strategy. Later turn-out on pasture (P<0.001) and mowing (P=0.002) were both significantly associated with lower ODRs. Cows that had a restricted grazing time per day tended to have lower ODR than cows that grazed 24 h per day (P=0.07). An increased exposure to pasture of the heifers was significantly associated with higher ODRs (P=0.001). No associations were found between ODR and calf related management factors, anthelmintic treatment strategy, time of turn-in, rotational grazing type or stocking rate. Later turn-out on pasture, mowing and restricting the grazing time per day are factors that can be applied immediately on dairy farms to reduce economical losses due to gastrointestinal nematodes.     

Anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in milk in relation to production losses in dairy cattle

A comprehensive field study was carried out with the following objectives: (a) to assess the usefulness of individual and bulk tank milk analysis for determining Neospora caninum serostatus in individual cows and herds, and (b) to study the associations between N. caninum infection status (based on milk testing), and several productive and reproductive parameters in the animals. Antibodies were detected with a commercially available ELISA test (Bio K 192/5). Analysis of paired serum and milk samples from 1134 lactating cows on 38 farms revealed that 97.6% of the ELISA results were coincident, irrespective of whether serum or milk samples were used. Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that 86.0% of the variations in ELISA values in milk were due to variations in the serum. The measurement of antibodies in bulk tank milk was a good estimator of the herd level status of N. caninum infection, and enabled detection of infection in 94.7% herds with ≥10.0% seropositive cows and/or in all herds with >4% highly seropositive cows. The odds ratio for abortion in seropositive animals was 9.1 times higher than in seronegative animals. The infection serostatus was also a significant risk factor, as the odds ratio for abortion was even higher (12.0 times) in cows categorized as highly seropositive. ELISA values for the bulk milk from 387 randomly selected herds were negatively associated with average milk production. Moreover, milk production losses mainly occurred on farms categorized as highly positive (i.e. herds with ≥20.0% seropositive cows).     

Challenges for bovine viral diarrhoea virus antibody detection in bulk milk by antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays due to changes in milk production levels

Background

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is considered eradicated from Denmark. Currently, very few (if any) Danish cattle herds could be infected with BVD virus (BVDV). The Danish antibody blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been successfully used during the Danish BVD eradication program, initiated in 1994. During the last decade, the cattle herd size has increased while the prevalence of BVDV has decreased. In this study, we investigated how these changes could affect the performance of the Danish blocking ELISA and of the SVANOVIR^®BVDV-Ab indirect ELISA. The latter has successfully been used to eradicate BVD in Sweden.Data (2003–2010) on changes in median herd size and milk production levels, occurrence of viremic animals and bulk milk surveillance were analysed. Additionally, the Danish blocking ELISA and the SVANOVIR ELISA were compared analyzing milk and serum samples. The prevalence of antibody positive milking cows that could be detected by each test was estimated, by diluting positive individual milk samples and making artificial milk pools.

Results

During the study period, the median herd size increased from 74 (2003) to 127 cows (2010), while the prevalence of BVDV infected herds decreased from 0.51 to 0.02 %. The daily milk yield contribution of a single seropositive cow to the entire daily bulk milk was reduced from 1.61 % in 2003 to 0.95 % in 2010 due to the increased herd size. It was observed that antibody levels in bulk milk decreased at national level. Moreover, we found that when testing bulk milk, the SVANOVIR^®BVDV-Ab can detect a lower prevalence of seropositive lactating cows, compared to the Danish blocking ELISA (0.78 % vs. 50 %). Values in the SVANOVIR^®BVDV-Ab better relate to low concentrations of antibody positive milk (R² = 94-98 %), than values in the blocking ELISA (R² = 23–75 %). For sera, the two ELISAs performed equally well.

Conclusions

The SVANOVIR ELISA is recommended for analysis of bulk milk samples in the current Danish situation, since infected dairy herds e.g. due to import of infected cattle can be detected shortly after BVDV introduction, when only few lactating cows have seroconverted. In sera, the two ELISAs can be used interchangeably.     

Bulk milk urea concentrations and their relationship with cow fertility in grazing dairy herds in southern Chile

Milk urea determination is being used as a broad indicator of protein/energy imbalance in dairy herds. The main purpose of this study was to compare blood and bulk milk urea values in grazing herds, to evaluate their seasonal variation under South Chilean conditions, and to examine their potential relationships with herd fertility. The association between herd blood urea concentration (mean of seven lactating cows) and bulk milk urea concentration (tank containing milk from the previous 24 h) was determined in 21 diary herds. Reference values, seasonal and herd variance, and the frequency of herds with values outside a range of 2.5 to 7.3 mmol/l were determined in bulk milk samples obtained monthly for a period of one year from 82 suppliers at two creameries located in southern Chile. Finally, bulk milk urea was measured every two weeks in samples from 24 herds, and the first service conception rate (FSCR) from 2153 dairy cows was determined. Mean bulk urea concentration was highly correlated with mean herd blood urea concentration (r = 0.95; p < 0.01). Mean urea concentration in the bulk milk samples obtained during one year from 82 herds was 4.9 +/- 1.2 mmol/l, with a range of 1.5 to 11.6 mmol/l. The highest values were found during spring and the lowest values during the summer. There was a high seasonal variation (CV = 13-47%) and between-herd variation (CV = 20-31%). Out of a total of 984 samples, 5.4% had urea values > 7.3 mmol/l and 3.8% had values < 2.5 mmol/l. Of the 82 herds, 27% had values outside the reference interval (2.5-7.3 mmol/l) on two or more occasions. FSCR was lower in herds when the bulk milk urea was > 7.3 mmol/l (50.7%) than in cows, where the urea concentration was < 5.0 mmol/l (73.8%) at the time of insemination. The study concluded that bulk milk urea concentrations provided information similar to herd blood urea concentrations in local grazing dairy herds. There was a high frequency of herds with abnormal values, with large variations between herds and between seasons. Increased milk urea concentrations during spring were associated with lower conception rates.     

Fertility of dairy cows in Northern Ireland

A comprehensive database was established on the milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows in 19 selected herds in Northern Ireland, varying in size, management system and genetic merit. Data were obtained for 2471 cows, 1775 of which calved in a second year, and 693 were culled from the herd for specific reasons. The estimated mean rate of heat detection (assessed by the interheat interval during the main breeding season) in all the herds was 71 per cent, with a range from 53 to 92 per cent The average conception rate to first insemination was 37.1 per cent (range 21 to 66 per cent). The average calving interval for the retained cows was 407.2 days (range 359 to 448 days). Twenty-eight per cent of the cows that calved were culled, with infertility being the largest single reason (26.8 per cent of the cows culled). There were major differences in reproductive performance between the herds, but heat detection rate, conception rate and calving interval did not appear to be affeded by a herd's genetic merit. The herds with shorter calving intervals were characterised by better heat detection efficiency (83 v 61 per cent, P<0.01), a shorter interval from calving to first insemination (74 v 97 days; P<0.05), a higher conception rate to first insemination (45 v 34 per cent, P>0.10) and a lower removal rate (23 v 37 per cent, P<0.01). Furthermore, the cows in these herds had lower body condition scores (BCS) in the dry period (3.0 v 3.3; P<0.05) but lost less body condition in early lactation (0.3 v 0.6 BCS units, P<0.05). These results show that dairy herd fertility in Northern Ireland is generally low and similar to that previously reported for England and the USA, but that in some herds changes in herd management practices improved the cows' fertility.     

Vaccination using phase I vaccine is effective to control Coxiella burnetii shedding in infected dairy cattle herds

The effectiveness of the vaccination of dairy cows combined or not with antibiotics (i.e. oxytetracycline) to control Coxiella burnetii (Cb) shedding at herd level was investigated in 77 Q fever clinically affected herds. In addition to nulliparous heifers’ vaccination, one out of the four following medical strategies was randomly assigned to dairy cows in each herd: vaccination (using a phase I vaccine) alone, vaccination combined with oxytetracycline, oxytetracycline alone or nothing. Their effectiveness to reduce Cb load in quarterly samples of bulk tank milk (BTM) and of pooled milk of primiparous (MP) was assessed through logistic hierarchical models. A significant reduction in Cb load was observed in herds where the vaccination of ≥80% of dairy cows was implemented; whereas the use of antibiotics was uneffective. Our findings support the interest of a whole vaccination strategy and provide evidence for decreasing the use of antibiotics in dairy cattle herds.     

Sensitivity of test strategies used in the Voluntary Johne's Disease Herd Status Program for detection of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection in dairy cattle herds

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sensitivities at the herd level of test strategies used in the Voluntary Johne's Disease Herd Status Program (VJDHSP) and alternative test strategies for detecting dairy cattle herds infected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. DESIGN: Nonrandom cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 64 dairy herds from Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Fifty-six herds had at least 1 cow shedding M. paratuberculosis in feces; the other 8 herds were free from paratuberculosis. PROCEDURE: For all adult cows in each herd, serum samples were tested for antibodies to M. paratuberculosis with an ELISA, and fecal samples were submitted for bacterial culture for M. paratuberculosis. Sensitivities at the herd level (probability of detecting infected herd) of various testing strategies were then evaluated. RESULTS: Sensitivity at the herd level of the testing strategy used in level 1 of the VJDHSP (use of the ELISA to test samples from 30 cows followed by confirmatory bacterial culture of feces from cows with positive ELISA result) ranged from 33 to 84% for infected herds, depending on percentage of cows in the herd with positive bacterial culture results. If follow-up bacterial culture was not used to confirm positive ELISA results, sensitivity ranged from 70 to 93%, but probability of identifying uninfected herds as infected was 89%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the testing strategy used in the VJDHSP will fail to identify as infected most dairy herds with a low prevalence of paratuberculosis. A higher percentage of infected herds was detected if follow-up bacterial culture was not used, but this test strategy was associated with a high probability of misclassifying uninfected herds.     

Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Three Dairy Herds in Southwest Germany

The objective of this study was to analyse the occurrence of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in three dairy herds in the southwest of Germany that had experienced individual cases of clinical and subclinical mastitis associated with MRSA. The herds were identified by the detection of MRSA during routine resistance testing of mastitis pathogens. All quarters of all cows in the herds that were positive on California Mastitis Test were sampled for bacteriological analysis on two occasions. Bulk tank milk samples were also tested. Furthermore, nasal swabs were collected from people working on the farms and from cattle. Environmental samples were collected from associated pig holdings. Isolates were characterized using spa‐typing and testing for antimicrobial resistance. Our results revealed a substantial spread of MRSA in the three dairy herds. In the first of the two investigations carried out on all cows in the three herds, milk samples of 5.1–16.7% of dairy cows were found positive for MRSA. The respective proportions in the second herd level investigation were 1.4–10.0%. Quarters harbouring MRSA had higher somatic cell counts than quarters that were negative on culture. Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus were also detected in nasal swabs of staff (7/9), cows (7/15) and calves (4/7), bulk tank milk samples (3/3) and environmental samples from pig premises (4/5) on the farm. Herds B and C had no contact to herd A. However, in all three herds MRSA of spa‐type t011 were detected in milk samples. Results show that MRSA of spa‐type t011 is a problem in dairy farms that needs urgent attention.