Neospora caninum seroprevalence in dairy and beef cattle from the northwest region of Spain, Galicia

Herd and individual animal seroprevalence for Neospora caninum (N. caninum) in dairy, beef and mixed cattle were obtained in all populations within the Galician Farmer Sanitary Defence Associations (ADSG) in 2004. All animals ≥1 year of age were examined serologically by indirect ELISA. 1147 dairy herds (37,090 animals), 1464 beef herds (20,206 animals) and 141 mixed herds (2292 animals) were surveyed. True herd seroprevalence was estimated to be 80.6% (87.7% dairy, 76.7% beef and 78.4% mixed herds), true animal seroprevalence was estimated to be 23.2% (21.9% dairy, 25.1% beef and 24.9% animal to mixed herds), and within-herd seroprevalence was estimated to be 25.4% (23.6% dairy, 28.3% beef and 28.6% to mixed herds). Seropositivity was significantly associated with herd type (higher in dairies), herd size (increased when herd size increases), animal type (higher in beef) and age (lineal increase with the age). Results obtained in this study will be used for the development of a N. caninum control programme in the ADSG in Galicia.     

Prevalence of serum antibodies to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in cattle in Galicia (northwest Spain)

Prior to establishing a control and prevention program for Johne's disease in cattle in Galicia (northwest Spain), a survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of the disease. For this survey, 61,069 animals of at least 1-year of age from 2735 randomly selected herds were bled and samples analyzed with a commercial ELISA. The estimated true individual-level prevalences – assuming the manufacturer's reported test sensitivity of 48.5% and specificity of 98.9% – were 3.02% in dairy cattle, 1.03% in beef cattle and 2.83% in animals from farms with both dairy and beef cattle. True herd prevalences (with herds declared positive if one or more animals tested positive) were 10.69% for dairy herds, 0% for beef herds and 2.71% for mixed herds. When herds were declared positive if at least two animals tested positive, true herd prevalences were 14.75% for dairy herds, 1.47% for beef herds and 12.01% for mixed herds. Assuming a higher specificity of 99.4%, true individual-level prevalences increased to 4.03% in dairy herds, 2.07% in beef herds and 3.84% in mixed herds. Herd prevalences were 27.77%/18.79%, 2.78%/2.40% and 5.70%/12.24% (using the one/two-animal cut-offs) in dairy, beef and mixed herds, respectively. In conclusion, these results seem to indicate that a small percentage of cows and a rather high percentage of dairy herds in this region are MAP-seropositive.     

Antioxidant Bioactive Compounds and Spoilage Microorganisms of Wax Apple (Syzygium samarangense) during Room Temperature Storage

Postharvest deterioration of wax apple leads to unacceptable appearances, physical and quality losses that raise serious concerns commercially. Bioactive compounds of wax apple and spoilage microorganisms were studied at room temperature storage (23 ± 1 °C). Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content increased up to a maximum of 1.56 mg AAE/100 g and 88.37 mg GAE/100 g, while prolonged storage resulted in 70.0% and 33.6% loss, respectively. Further, 80% loss in vitamin C content was observed from an initial value of 21.63 mg AAE/100 g during storage. Bacterial isolates of Enterobacter sakazakii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella planticola, Pantoea agglomerans, Chromobacterium violaceum, and Streptomyces roseochromogenus with microbial load of 1.19 * 10⁸ CFU/g fresh weight, and fungal isolates of Penicillium purpurogenum, Mucor hiemalis, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida tropicalis with a total load of 5.64 * 10⁷ CFU/g fresh weight were identified as spoilage organisms. Bacterial isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most prevalent at 47.78%, occurring 21 times, while Penicillium purpurogenum was the most prevalent fungi, occurring 5 times at 38.46%. Results have significant implications on measures to preserve quality of wax apples during storage by adoption of advanced postharvest handling and processing approaches.     

Influenza A viruses: epidemiologic study in fatteners in Spain (1987-89).

2,979 sera were collected from slaughtered swine in two geographic areas of Spain from 1987 to 1989. They were tested for antibodies against an H1N1- and H3N2-influenza virus by haemagglutination-inhibition tests (HI). The percentage of positive sera was higher in area I (78%-69.2%) than in area II (63.1%-60.4%) for both viruses respectively. The coexistence of high titres to both H1N1- and H3N2-influenza virus became apparent in cold months simultaneously in each area, although influenza viruses circulated in the Spanish swine population for two years. Also this study suggests the possible circulation of A/Texas/1/77-like strains in Spain, results which have not been reported before.     

Effects of management, environmental and temporal factors on mortality and feed consumption in integrated swine fattening farms

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of management, environmental and temporal factors of farms and batches on mortality and feed consumed per market hog. Information of management, environmental and temporal factors from 158 all-in all-out finishing batches completed in 27 integrated fattening farms in Galicia (Spain) were collected from 1999 to 2002. Multilevel random effects models were used to determine the factors associated with the mortality and the average amount of feed provided per marketed hog. The level 1 unit was the finishing batch (batch level). At the level 2 the fattening farm where the batch of pigs was developed was introduced as random effects.A bad level of care provided by the farmer to the pigs increased the risk of mortality (P = 0.03). The mortality of the fattening batch was associated with the supplier sow farm (P < 0.01). The level of mortality of the batches of piglets entered the fattening farms both between January and April and October and December was higher than for batches incorporated from May to August (P < 0.01). The year when the piglets entered the farm was significantly associated with mortality (P < 0.01). The introduction of such variables in the multilevel model for mortality reduced the total unexplained variation by 41.06%. The proportion of the variation of the mortality attributable to the fattening farms was small (3.65%). The variability of mortality was higher when the placement of piglets was from September to December (P = 0.01).Higher consumption of feed was recorded when the feed was provided in a non-pellet form (P < 0.01). The introduction of piglets between September and December was associated with a higher consumption of feed (P < 0.01). The average final weight of the hogs was positively associated with the feed consumed per hog of the fattening batch (P < 0.01). The amount of feed provided per hog was statistically different among the years and these effects were modified by the level of mortality recorded in the batch and by the average weight of the marketed hogs. After introducing all the fixed effects in the multilevel model for feed provided per hog the unexplained variation at the farm and batch level was reduced by 47.72% and 85.35%, respectively. A considerable amount of variation of feed provided per hog resided at the fattening farm (32.50%). When the piglets were placed on September–December the variability of feed consumed was higher than in the other two periods of the year (P = 0.02). In conclusion, our study shows that specific factors of the batches are the main contributors to explain mortality. On the other hand, by improving permanent farm characteristics a substantial profit is expected in the long run as a result of lower feed costs.