Development of a Set of Preventive Measures for Associative Infections of Newborn Calves

Представлены результаты исследования этиологической структуры инфекционных болезней молодняка в ранний период в одном из предприятий Владимирской области. Возникновению данных заболеваний способствуют скученное содержание, несоблюдение ветеринарно-санитарных требований, недоброкачественные корма и неудовлетворительное кормление коров-матерей, несвоевременное выпаивание молозива телятам, выпаивание молозива с низким содержанием иммуноглобулинов, невыполнение своевременных вакцинаций, что отрицательно сказывается на формировании иммунитета и сохранности молодняка. Авторами разработана и апробирована эффективная схема профилактических мероприятий против ассоциативных инфекций новорождённых телят в этом хозяйстве. Она охватывает период от момента осеменения коров до их содержания в сухостойный период и достижения телятами трёхнедельного возраста и включает: вакцинацию коров Кэтлмастер Голд FP5 L5 двукратно за 5 и 2 недели до осеменения для профилактики инфекционного ринотрахеита, вирусной диареи, парагриппа-3, респираторно-синтициальной инфекции и лептоспироза крупного рогатого скота; вакцинацию глубокостельных коров в сухостойный период инактивированной эмульгированной вакциной «Ротавек Корона» против ротавирусной, коронавирусной инфекции и эшерихиоза крупного рогатого скота; создание «банка молозива» от здоровых коров 3-й и более лактаций; контрольные исследования сыворотки крови телят суточного возраста для определения количества иммуноглобулинов крови, с целью коррекции уровня колострального иммунитета с помощью специфических препаратов; контроль за рождением молодняка, организация профилактических мероприятий новорождённых животных против инфекционных заболеваний; контроль качества ветеринарно-санитарной обработки и дезинфекции сосковых поилок, посуды, инвентаря, клеток для содержания телят и индивидуальных домиков. С помощью предложенной схемы удалось снизить падёж телят в хозяйстве в 2,66 раза. The results of the research of the etiological structure of infectious diseases of young animals in the early period in one of the enterprises of the Vladimir region are presented. The rapid emergence of these diseases is facilitated by stocking density, nonobservance with veterinary and sanitary requirements, low grade feed and poor feeding of mother cows, untimely calf rearing with colostrum, feeding colostrum with a low content of immunoglobulins, failure to fulfil timely vaccinations which negatively affects the formation of immunity and livability of young stock. The authors have developed and tested an effective scheme of preventive measures against associative infections of newborn calves on this farm. It covers the period from the moment of insemination of cows to their management in the dry period and reaching calves of three weeks of age and includes: vaccination of cattle CattleMaster Gold FP5 L5 twice for 5 and 2 weeks before insemination for the prevention of infectious rhinotracheitis, virus diarrhoea, parainfluenza-3, respiratory syncytial cattle infections and leptospirosis; vaccination of down calver cows during the dry period with the inactivate emulsified vaccine "Rotavek Korona" against rotavirus, coronavirus infection and colibacillosis of cattle; creation of a "colostrum bank" from healthy cows of the 3rd and more lactations; control studies of the blood serum of daily calves to determine the number of blood immunoglobulins, with the aim of correcting the level of colostral immunity using specific drugs; birth control of young animals, organization of preventive measures for newborn animals against infectious diseases; quality control of veterinary and sanitary processing and disinfection of feeding bottle, dishes, stock, cages for keeping calves and individual houses. Using the proposed scheme, it was possible to reduce the calf mortality rate on the farm by 2.66 times.

Insights into the Host Range, Genetic Diversity, and Geographical Distribution of Jingmenviruses

ABSTRACT Jingmenvirus is a recently identified group of segmented RNA viruses phylogenetically linked with unsegmented Flaviviridae viruses. Primarily identified in various tick genera originating in China, Jingmenvirus geographical distribution has rapidly expanded to cover Africa, South America, Caribbean, and Europe. The identification of Jingmen-related viruses in various mammals, including febrile humans, opens the possibility that Jingmenviruses may be novel tick-borne arboviruses. In this study, we aimed at increasing knowledge of the host range, genetic diversity, and geographical distribution of Jingmenviruses by reporting for the first time the identification of Jingmenviruses associated with Rhipicephalus microplus ticks originating in the French Antilles (Guadeloupe and Martinique islands), with Amblyomma testudinarium ticks in Lao PDR, and with Ixodes ricinus ticks in metropolitan France, and from urine of Pteropus lylei bats in Cambodia. Analyses of the relationships between the different Jingmenvirus genomes resulted in the identification of three main phylogenic subclades, each of them containing both tick-borne and mammal-borne strains, reinforcing the idea that Jingmenviruses may be considered as tick-borne arboviruses. Finally, we estimated the prevalence of Jingmenvirus-like infection using luciferase immunoprecipitation assay screening (LIPS) of asymptomatic humans and cattle highly exposed to tick bites. Among 70 French human, 153 Laotian human, and 200 Caribbean cattle sera tested, only one French human serum was found (slightly) positive, suggesting that the prevalence of Jingmenvirus human and cattle infections in these areas is probably low. IMPORTANCE Several arboviruses emerging as new pathogens for humans and domestic animals have recently raised public health concern and increased interest in the study of their host range and in detection of spillover events. Recently, a new group of segmented Flaviviridae-related viruses, the Jingmenviruses, has been identified worldwide in many invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, pointing out the issue of whether they belong to the arbovirus group. The study presented here combined whole-genome sequencing of three tick-borne Jingmenviruses and one bat-borne Jingmenvirus with comprehensive phylogenetic analyses and high-throughput serological screening of human and cattle populations exposed to these viruses to contribute to the knowledge of Jingmenvirus host range, geographical distribution, and mammalian exposure.

Immunomodulator, Mycobacterium cell wall fraction, an aid in control of persistent Mycoplasma bovis infection in dairy cows

Mycoplasma bovis is pathogen known to cause respiratory disease, otitis media, arthritis and a variety of additional diseases in cattle. Infections caused by this pathogen have significant impact on the health, welfare and productivity of dairy and beef cattle resulting in substantial economic losses. Current preventive and treatment strategies rely on the use of antimicrobials and vaccines; however, their efficacy is limited due to difficult diagnosis and inconsistent disease expression. Here, we report results on the use of Mycobacterium cell wall fraction (MCWF), an immunomodulator, in dairy cows persistently infected with M. bovis during the period 2011-2015. Application of MCWF aided in reducing M. bovis-associated clinical signs, such as pneumonia, arthritis and mastitis, and improving overall reproductive performance and days in lactation of infected dairy cows. These results were compared to historical information on the health status and farm performance for period 2011-2015, and suggest that MCWF immunomodulator could be introduced as an aid in treatment protocols for persistent infections with M. bovis in dairy cows.

Phagocyte-specific S100 proteins in the local response to theEchinococcus granulosuslarva

SUMMARYInfection by larvalEchinococcus granulosusis usually characterized by tight inflammatory control. However, various degrees of chronic granulomatous inflammation are also observed, reaching a high point in infection of cattle by the most prevalent parasite strain worldwide, which is not well adapted to this host species. In this context, epithelioid and multinucleated giant macrophages surround the parasite, and the secreted products of these cells often associate with the larval wall. The phagocyte-specific S100 proteins, S100A8, S100A9 and S100A12, are important non-conventionally secreted amplifiers of inflammatory responses. We have analysed by proteomics and immunohistochemistry the presence of these proteins at theE. granulosuslarva-host interface. We found that, in the context of inflammatory control as observed in human infections, the S100 proteins are not abundant, but S100A9 and S100A8 can be expressed by eosinophils distal to the parasite. In the granulomatous inflammation context as observed in cattle infections, we found that S100A12 is one of the most abundant host-derived, parasite-associated proteins, while S100A9 and S100A8 are not present at similarly high levels. As expected, S100A12 derives mostly from the epithelioid and multinucleated giant cells. S100A12, as well as cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinase-9, also expressed byE. granulosus-elicited epithelioid cells, are connected to the Th17 arm of immunity, which may therefore be involved in this granulomatous response.

Diagnóstico y caracterización molecular de infecciones naturales por Trypanosoma spp. en bovinos de la Orinoquía Colombiana

<p>Debido a las limitaciones que tienen los métodos directos para el diagnóstico de tripanosomas en bajas cantidades, los métodos moleculares permiten la identificación de la especie con una pequeña cantidad del ADN del parásito. Se realizó un estudio en la Estación Experimental Carimagua ubicada en la altillanura plana de la Orinoquía Colombiana, con una población de 500 bovinos de cría de las razas Cebú y Sanmartinero nacidos en la zona, se seleccionaron de manera aleatoria 70 animales clínicamente sanos, con el fin de establecer la presencia de Trypanosoma spp. y realizar un diagnóstico diferencial entre especies. Se tomaron muestras de sangre en las cuales, se separaron glóbulos blancos mediante la técnica de Buffy Coat, y se realizó PCR semi-anidado sobre la región 18S del rDNA. Sobre los productos obtenidos se realizó el RFLPS y su comparación con estándares internacionales. Cinco muestras por PCR fueron positivas a Trypanosoma spp., de las cuales una correspondió a T. vivax y 4 a T. theileri. Los resultados obtenidos permiten estimar sobre la población analizada, una prevalencia del Trypanosoma spp. de 7,14 % en animales aparentemente sanos, no diagnosticables por pruebas de detección directa usadas tradicionalmente, lo que constituye un potencial problema para la ganadería bovina de la zona, dada la posibilidad de desarrollar cuadros clínicos de la enfermedad y de su potencial transmisibilidad a animales susceptibles. Contar con métodos que determinen especies del Trypanosoma spp., permitirá igualmente un mejor manejo y comprensión del problema de campo. Las metodologías descritas, son la primera aproximación molecular de Trypanosoma spp. realizada en ganaderías de la Orinoquía Colombiana y ponen de manifiesto su importancia en el diagnóstico de la enfermedad.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Diagnosis and molecular characterization of natural cattle infections produced by Trypanosoma spp. in the Colombian Orinoco region</strong>.</p><p>Because of the limitations of direct methods for the diagnosis of trypanosomes in small quantities, molecular methods which allow identification of the species with a small amount of parasite DNA were analyzed. A study was conducted at the Carimagua Experimental Station, located in the flat high plains of Orinoco Colombia. From 500 'Sanmartinero' and 'Zebú' breeding cattle, native to the area, 70 clinically healthy animals were randomly selected, to establish the presence of Trypanosoma spp. and to perform differential diagnosis between species. Blood samples were taken and linfocites were separated by the Buffy Coat technique. Seminested PCR was performed on the 18S rDNA region. RFLP was run on the obtained products and a comparison with international standards was made. Five samples were positive for Trypanosoma spp. by PCR. One of them corresponded to T. vivax and four to T. theileri. The results obtained estimate a prevalence of 7.14% in apparently healthy animals, otherwise not detected by traditional direct tests currently in use. This poses a potential problem for cattle in the area, given the chance of developing clinical symptoms of the disease and the likelihood of transmission to susceptible animals. Having methods to detect presence of the species Trypanosoma spp., also permits better management and understanding of the field problem. The methods described are the first molecular approach to study Trypanosoma spp. in cattle in the Colombian Orinoco region and highlight the importance of diagnosis of the disease.</p><p> </p>

Prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis in Central Mozambique from 2002 to 2005

The study is the result of analyzing 16 895 blood smears of cattle collected at 180 sites in the provinces of Manica, Sofala, Zambézia and Tete in Mozambique. Of the blood smears 73.9 % were from Manica, 11.8 % from Tete, 8.5 % from Sofala and 5.8 % from Zambézia; 75.6 % of these were collected from smallholder cattle. Infections with trypanosomes were highest in smallholder cattle from Sofala Province with 36.8 % of the 872 blood smears examined positive for trypanosomes, and lowest in cattle of commercial farmers in Manica Province with only 6.2 % of 2 252 blood smears being positive. Trypanosoma congolense was the predominant species, followed by Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma brucei sensu lato. Trypanosoma brucei, which also infects humans, was more frequent in the districts of Buzi, Mutarara and Morrumbala with 15.1 %, 10.5 % and 9.8 % of all examined cattle in 2005 being infected with it, respectively. The results show a significant increase in the infection rate with trypanosomes compared with results obtained in previous years by the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Manica Province and by the Regional Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Control Programme in Zambézia, Tete and Sofala provinces.