Frequency of BCoV detection by a semi-nested PCR assay in faeces of calves from Brazilian cattle herds

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is one of the main causes of neonatal calf diarrhoea. Several diagnostic assays have been employed to detect the presence of the virus in stool samples from calves. Despite this, the frequency of BCoV infection among Brazilian and even South American cattle herds has yet to be well characterised. This study describes the occurrence of BCoV infection among calves from dairy and beef herds in four Brazilian states. A total of 282 stool samples from 1 to 60-day-old calves were evaluated for the presence of BCoV by a semi-nested (SN) PCR assay. The animals were from herds (n = 23) located in three geographical regions in Brazil (south, southeast, and center-west). The specific BCoV amplicon was detected in 15.6% (44/282) of the faecal specimens examined, of which 95.4% (42/44) were from diarrhoeic and 4.6% (2/44) from asymptomatic calves. The specificity of the SN-PCR amplicons was evaluated by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The results show that the BCoV is widespread, mainly among calves from 16 to 30-days-old (p = 0.0023), and verify the association between BCoV infection and clinical signs of diarrhoea (p = 0.005). These findings emphasise the importance of this virus in enteric infections of Brazilian cattle herds.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus uberis</Emphasis>-specific T cells are present in mammary gland secretions of cows and can be activated to kill <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. uberis</Emphasis>

The presence, phenotype and function of Streptococcus uberis-specific T cells in the mammary gland secretion (MGS) and blood of cows exposed to S. uberis were assessed. MGS T cells in the udder were purified and incubated with autologous blood monocytes as antigen-presenting cells (APC). Most cows, irrespective of prior S. uberis infection status and lactation status, were shown to have S. uberis-specific T cells both in MGS and in the blood. When cells from a subgroup of cows were studied, it was found that the S. uberis-specific T cells produced high levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), but low levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10). A high percentage of responding T cells were of the CD8 ⁺ memory (CD45RO) subset. T cells from the MGS specific for S. uberis were propagated from animals during the drying off period and expanded in vitro using interleukin-2 (IL-2) and S. uberis antigens. This led to the accumulation of T cells of the CD8 ⁺ subset bearing memory cell markers (CD45A ⁻ , CD45RO ⁺ ), which released high levels of IFN-γ. Four of the five T cell lines derived from the MGS of three animals had substantial direct killing activity towards S. uberis in vitro. It is concluded that there is an emergence of S. uberis-specific bactericidal T cells in the MGS of cows after infection or environmental exposure to S. uberis. Vaccines aimed at activating and expanding this T cell population in the mammary glands of cattle may offer an avenue for the prevention of mastitis caused by S. uberis.     

Proventricular dilatation disease associated with avian bornavirus infection in a Citron-crested Cockatoo that was born and hand-reared in Japan

A 5-month-old female Citron-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata) that was born and hand-reared in Japan died with suspected proventricular dilatation disease (PDD). Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the bird revealed characteristic features of PDD, i.e., distention of the proventriculus and infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells in ganglia of various organs and in central and peripheral nerves. A linkage of this PDD case to infection with avian bornavirus (ABV) was documented by RT-PCR amplification of the virus genomes from the affected bird. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the ABV identified in this study clustered into the genotype 2, which is one of the dominant ABV genotypes worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a natural case of PDD associated with ABV infection in Japan.     

Intake and digestibility in sheep and chemical composition during different seasons of some West African browse species

Foliage of Afzelia africana, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Khaya senegalensis, from 10 trees per species, was collected every two weeks during the late dry, rainy and cool season to determine the seasonal effects on chemical composition. Fifteen rams of the Djallonké breed, weighing on average 20.0 kg, were used to evaluate the voluntary intake and digestibility of hay of A. gayanus, foliage of A. africana (as a sole feed), and A. africana, P. erinaceus and K. senegalensis offered with 30% of the diet as A. gayanus hay. The crude protein (CP) content of A. africana, and P. erinaceus decreased significantly from the late dry season to the cool season when that of K. senegalensis tended to increase. The mean CP of A. africana, P. erinaceus and K. senegalensis differed significantly (173 g, 139 g and 114 g/kg DM, respectively). The DM intake of A. africana offered with hay (571 g/d) or as a sole feed (598 g/d) were not significantly different, but was higher than that of P. erinaceus (428 g/d) and K. senegalensis (298 g/d). The digestibility calculated by difference of DM and CP of A. africana (582 g/kg DM and 795 g/kg CP, respectively) did not differ significantly from A. africana as a sole feed, but were higher than for the other species. The nutritive value of A. africana seems to justify the high preference of herders for this species.     

First report of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neospora caninum</Emphasis> infection in cattle in Sudan

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Sudan to determine sero-prevalence and risk factors associated with Neospora caninum infection in non-vaccinated dairy herds and to assess importance of the disease. Blood samples were collected from a total of 262 animals from 25 herds. Sera were tested for antibodies against N. caninum using ELISA test. The prevalence rates of N. caninum antibodies in cattle were high both at herd level (44%) and at individual animal level (10.7%). Herd level infection rates were similar in Khartoum State (43.7%) and at Gazira States (44.4%). The overall prevalence rates were higher (16.1%) in Gazira State than in Khartoum State (9%) but with no significant variation. The sero-prevalence at individual animal level was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in animals with history of abortion (12.8%) than in apparently healthy animal (11.3%), animal with history of infertility (8.1%), or neonatal death of calves (4.3%). In addition, significantly higher (P < 0.05) sero-prevalence was observed in samples collected during the rainy season (6.87%) than winter (3.05%) or summer (0.76%). However, no significant differences in sero-prevalence due to locality, animal breed, sex, and age were observed (p > 0.05). This preliminary study reveals for the first time the existence of natural N. caninum infection in Sudan. Also, the findings of the present study indicated that this disease is highly prevalent in two major areas of dairy production in the country, and this calls for control strategy to be implemented.     

Effect of source and dose of probiotics and exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) on intake,feed efficiency,and growth of male buffalo (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>) calves

Probiotics of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Aspergillus niger and three commercial exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) were tested in vitro to select best source and optimum dose followed by in vivo studies on male buffalo calves. Bacterial (P < 0.001) and protozoal population were increased significantly (P < 0.001) with probiotics and EFE. In vitro dry matter digestibility was more (P < 0.001) on L. acidophilus and then on S. cerevisiae. Dose required for L. acidophilus and S. cerevisiae probiotics was 1 × 10⁹ and 3 × 10⁹ cfu/flask, respectively. Cellulase and xylanase were effective at 4,000 and 12,500 IU/kg DM. In vitro cell wall digestibility was increased (P < 0.001) when probiotics and EFE were used together. Best source and optimum dose of probiotics and EFE were fed to 18 male buffalo calves with concentrate supplement (CS). Calves were randomly divided into three groups either without probiotics and EFE (CG) or with probiotics (EG₁) or probiotics combined with EFE (EG₂) on wheat straw diet. Organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility was improved significantly. Average daily weight gain (ADG) and feed efficiency were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in EG₂ than EG₁ or CG. Final body weight was 4% and 12% and feed efficiency was 2.6% or 1.6% more (P < 0.001) in EG₂ compared to CG or EG₁, respectively. Fortification of CS with probiotics and EFE together had more impact on FE and ADG in buffalo calves.     

Drivers,challenges and opportunities of forage technology adoption by smallholder cattle households in Cambodia

Forage technology has been successfully introduced into smallholder cattle systems in Cambodia as an alternative feed source to the traditional rice straw and native pastures, improving animal nutrition and reducing labour requirements of feeding cattle. Previous research has highlighted the positive impacts of forage technology including improved growth rates of cattle and household time savings. However, further research is required to understand the drivers, challenges and opportunities of forage technology for smallholder cattle households in Cambodia to facilitate widespread adoption and identify areas for further improvement. A survey of forage-growing households (n = 40) in July–September 2016 examined forage technology adoption experiences, including reasons for forage establishment, use of inputs and labour requirements of forage plot maintenance and use of forages (feeding, fattening, sale of grass or seedlings and silage). Time savings was reported as the main driver of forage adoption with household members spending approximately 1 h per day maintaining forages and feeding it to cattle. Water availability was reported as the main challenge to this activity. A small number of households also reported lack of labour, lack of fencing, competition from natural grasses, cost of irrigation and lack of experience as challenges to forage growing. Cattle fattening and sale of cut forage grass and seedlings was not found to be a widespread activity by interviewed households, with 25 and 10% of households reporting use of forages for these activities, respectively. Currently, opportunities exist for these households to better utilise forages through expansion of forage plots and cattle activities, although assistance is required to support these households in addressing current constraints, particularly availability of water, if the sustainability of this feed technology for smallholder cattle household is to be established in Cambodia.     

Ectoparasites are the major causes of various types of skin lesions in small ruminants in Ethiopia

Ectoparasites are the major causes of skin lesions in animals. Clinical, skin scraping examination, and histopathological studies were conducted to identify and characterize skin lesions in small ruminants caused by ectoparasites. Mange mites, lice, sheep keds, and ticks were collected from the skin of affected animals for species identification. Skin biopsies were collected from affected part of the skin and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathology. Of 1,000 sheep and 600 goats examined, 815 (81.50%) sheep and 327 (54.5%) goats were infested with one or more types of ectoparasites. Sarcoptes scabiei var ovis, Demodex ovis, Psoroptes ovis, Bovicola ovis, Melophagus ovinus, and Amblyomma variegatum and other tick species were identified from sheep. S. scabiei var caprae, Demodex caprae, Linognathus stenopsis, and A. variegatum and other tick species were identified from goats. Gross skin lesions or defects observed on the skin include stained and ragged wool, loss of wool/hair, nodules, crusts, lichenification, and fissuring. Microscopic evaluation of H and E stained skin sections revealed lesions in the epidermal layer such as hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and melanin inconsistency on the basal cells of the epidermis. Follicular keratosis, perifolliculitis, frunculosis, perivasculitis, and aggregates of inflammatory cells (of acute and chronic type) with fibrosis were experiential in the dermal layer of the skin. Most of the skin lesions caused by ectoparasites are overlapping. Thus, ectoparasites control program should be executed to reduce skin lesions as skins are the major export commodity of the country.     

Comparison of the pathogensis of two isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Besnoitia caprae</Emphasis> in inbred BALB/c mice

This study was performed to evaluate the infectivity of bradyzoites of two Besnoitia caprae isolates, BC-1 and BC-2, to inbred BALB/c mice. Each group of inbred BALB/c mice was inoculated intraperitoneally with 1 × 10³, 1 × 10⁴, 1 × 10⁵, 5 × 10⁵ and 1 × 10⁶ of one of the two isolates of B. caprae bradyzoites. The mice were monitored daily for a period of 40 days for survival. After death of each mice, several passages from its peritoneal washing and tissues were analyzed using ribosomal DNA-specific PCR assay. Marked differences in pathogenicity between the isolates were seen. All the inbred BALB/c mice infected with BC-2 survived but all the mice that were administered with 1 × 0⁵, 5 × 10⁵ and 1 × 10⁶ BC-1 bradyzoites were died within 4–9 days post-infection (DPI). Histopathological examination of the tissues of the dead mice revealed hyperemia and necrosis with presence of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration in myocardium, spleen and intestines together with interstitial pneumonia and peritonitis. All inbred BALB/c mice in the 1 × 10³ and 1 × 10⁴ groups of BC-1 inoculated mice survived and they were euthanized after 40 DPI. Chronic inflammation with infiltration of mononuclear cells was evident in myocardium, spleen, alveolar septa of the lungs of most of the examined tissues with hemorrhagic enteritis in the mice infected with 1x10⁶ bradyzoites. The mice infected with different doses of BC-2 were euthanized after 40 DPI and no lesion was seen in histopathological sections of their organs. All peritoneal washings and examined tissues were PCR positive in BC-1 group. This experiment is the first report to show inbred BALB/c mice as a relevant model for B. caprae and demonstrates that this strain of inbred BALB/c mice is a suitable animal model for biological studies and examination of pathogenesis for this species of Besnoitia. The present findings also provide evidence for significant differences between the two isolates of B. caprae.