Pathology of Bovine Tuberculosis in Three Breeds of Dairy Cattle and Spoligotyping of the Causative Mycobacteria in Ethiopia

Different breeds of cattle were observed to have a variable degree of susceptibility to bovine tuberculosis (bTB). The screening of bTB was conducted on 720 dairy cattle consisting of three breeds using the single intradermal cervical comparative tuberculin (SICCT) test. Besides this, 43 SICCT test-positive cattle were used to compare the severity of the pathology of bTB among the three breeds and to identify the causative mycobacteria using spoligotyping. The overall SICCT test positivity was 17.92% (129/720) by pooling all animals in the three farms. There was a significant difference in SICCT test positivity among the three breeds (χ2 = 71.06; p < 0.001); the highest (25.34%) was recorded in the crossbreed followed by the Boran breed (10.08%), while the least (3.14%) was recorded in the Jersey breed. On other hand, the highest median pathology score (10.0, interquartile range, IQR = 6.0–17.0) was recorded in Boran followed by cross (5.0, IQR = 3.5–7.5), while the least (3.0, IQR = 2.25–3.0) was recorded in Jersey. Thus, the difference in the median pathology scores was significant [Kruskal Wallis χ(2)2 = 18.78, p < 0.001] among the three breeds. Furthermore, multivariate analysis using ordinal logistic regression by considering age, sex, breed, reproductive status, and location of the farms also showed a significant [χ(2)2 = 11.97, p < 0.01] difference in pathology scores among the three breeds of cattle. Even at a single-herd level at Holeta, the difference in severity of pathology between the Boran and crossbreeds was significant (U = 33.5; p < 0.01). Culture positivity was 39% in 108 suspicious tissues. Fourteen Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) and two Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) were isolated from the lesions. All the 14 M. bovis isolates belonged to SB0912, while the two M. tuberculosis belonged to SIT54. In conclusion, although the frequency of the SICCT test positivity was high in the crossbreed, a more severe pathology was observed on the Boran (zebu) breed. In addition M. tuberculosis was isolated from TB lesions of dairy cattle, demonstrating the role of M. tuberculosis in causing TB in cattle.

The Indian zebu in Brazilian lands

In this article we will examine the history of Brazilian cattle breeding in the early twentieth century, focusing on the transitional period of intensification of production, when the racial standardization of cattle began to be considered key to industrializing breeding practices. To this end, we consider the initiatives of a group of farmers from the far east of Minas Gerais (Mineiro Triangle), who travelled to Northern India between 1913 and 1917 to acquire bulls and cows of the zebu breed. Retracing the routes of their voyages to India thanks to the diaries and letters between these farmers in Brazil and India, we attempt to understand the role that Indian bovine cattle played in Brazil. The first farmers to make this trip moved in the sphere of the influential elites of the oligarchic Republic that was established in Brazil in 1889. This article argues that these farmers were driven by diverse factors, which could not be reduced to the single issue of an increase in economic productivity. In truth, there were political interests mainly related to the strengthening of personal prestige and the construction of a class character as “innovative cattle farmers” in a context of intra-oligarchic disputes over exerting influence in the Republican state.

130 ANTRAL FOLLICLE COUNTS, VULVA WIDTH, AND SERUM ANTI-MULLERIAN HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN BOVINE FEMALES OF THE TABAPUÃ BREED

Bovine genetic selection for fertility is difficult in part due to the low heritability of fertility traits and to the extension of the calving interval and the productive life length inherent to this species, which makes it harder to identify superior individuals from their records. In this regard, it is feasible to try to identify characteristics that are easy to detect and may be linked to superior reproductive efficiency as early as possible in females. The objective was to evaluate the possible relationships between vulva width, antral follicle counts (AFC), and the serum concentrations of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). Tabapuã (a Brazilian Zebu breed) heifers (n = 155) and cows (n = 422) from 4 herds were used in the study in which all antral follicles ≥3 mm were counted directly with an ultrasound unit. Follicle counts were classified into 2 classes, based on the methodology proposed by Burns et al. (2005) in dairy cattle, such that the low and intermediate AFC classes were merged into one class (low; n = 245) and the high and very high into another (high; n = 332). The vulva width was determined by measuring the distance between the lateral borders of the vulva with a digital caliper placed at a 90-degree angle from the half point of the rima vulvae. Single blood samples were collected from a subgroup of animals (n = 220) and the serum frozen (–20°C) after centrifugation for the AMH analysis, which was performed by specific bovine ELISA (Ansh Laboratories, Webster, TX, USA) test. All statistical analyses were performed with SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Data was submitted for analyses of variance using the PROCGENMOD procedure. Vulva width was larger (P = 0.02) in the class of animals of the high AFC (8.73 ± 0.11 cm) in comparison with those of the low AFC (8.39 ± 0.09 cm), considering the larger sample (n = 591). In the subsample (n = 220) the concentration of AMH was higher (P < 0.0001) in the high AFC class females (1.15 ± 0.07 ng mL–1; n = 95) in comparison with the low AFC class (0.50 ± 0.06 ng mL–1; n = 125). Vulva width, AFC, and AMH serum concentrations were interrelated and likely fertility indicative phenotypes under the present experimental conditions and should be further evaluated in larger samples in order to be considered in bovine genetic selection.

Variabilidad genética en subpoblaciones comerciales de la raza criolla colombiana Romosinuano

<p>La variabilidad genética es de gran importancia cuando se analiza la conservación de los recursos genéticos, además se constituye en la base para los procesos de selección y mejoramiento genético. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue determinar la variabilidad genética de la raza Romosinuano existente en Colombia por medio de técnicas moleculares. En este estudio se utilizaron 12 marcadores tipo microsatélites para determinar la diversidad genética y estructura poblacional en un total de 119 individuos de la raza Romosinuano y 42 de la raza Cebú, distribuidos en diferentes zonas geográficas del país. El valor más alto del número promedio de alelos (NPA) fue para la subpoblación de Universidad del Tolima (UT: 7,92) y el menor valor en la subpoblación Bonanza (BO: 4,08). El contenido de información polimórfica (PIC), para todos los marcadores estudiados fueron informativos, encontrándose rangos entre 0,47 (BM 1818) y 0,71 (BM 2113), con un promedio en la población de 0,64. Los índices de fijación <em>FIS </em>(-0,20), <em>FIT </em>(0,37) y <em>FST </em>(0,14), indicaron un déficit de heterocigotos. Se construyó el árbol filogenético, empleando la metodología de Nei, la menor distancia genética se presentó entre las subpoblaciones de Guillermo Soto (GS) y el Edem (ED), mientras que la mayor medida se presentó entre las subpoblaciones. El Brillante (BR), universidad del Tolima (UT) y Fabio Torres (FT). Existe una alta variabilidad genética entre las poblaciones, pero valores moderados de homocigosidad dentro de ellas, por lo que es necesario dar más relevancia al manejo de este flujo genético para reducir la consanguinidad. Estos resultados son una base importante para definir nuevos planes de apareamiento y selección asistida. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Genetic variability in commercial subpopulations of creole colombian breed Romosinuano</strong></p><p>Genetic variability is of great importance when analyzing the conservation of genetic resources and also constitutes the basis for the process of genetic selection and improvement. The main objective of this study was to determine the genetic variability of the Colombian breed Romosinuano through molecular techniques. This study used 12 microsatellite markers to determine the genetic diversity and population structure in a total of 119 individuals of the Romosinuano breed and 42 of the Zebu breed, distributed in different geographical areas of the country. The highest average number of alleles (ANA) was in the subpopulation Universidad del Tolima (UT : 7.92) and the lowest value was in the subpopulation Bonanza (BO: 4.08). The polymorphic information content (PIC) for all studied markers was informative, finding ranges between 0.47 (BM 1818) and 0.71 (BM 2113), with an average in population of 0.64. The fixation indices <em>FIS </em>(-0.20), <em>FIT </em>(0.37) and <em>FST </em>(0.14) showed a deficit of heterozygotes. A phylogenetic tree was made using the Nei method, the lowest genetic distance was between subpopulations Guillermo Soto (GS) and Edem (ED), while the highest occurred between subpopulations El Brillante (BR), Universidad del Tolima (UT) and Fabio Torres (FT). There is high genetic variability among the populations, but moderate values of homozygosity within them, so it is necessary to give more importance to the management of this gene flow to reduce inbreeding. These results are an important basis for defining new plans for assisted selection and breeding. </p>

173 A COMBINED RECOMBINANT BOVINE SOMATOTROPIN/EQUINE CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN PROTOCOL IN THE ZEBU BREED TABAPUA AND HOLSTEIN HEIFERS SUBMITTED TO OVUM PICKUP

The aim of this study was to enhance ovarian follicular development and subsequent oocyte retrieval by the use of a combined equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) protocol, as well as to compare its efficiency between the Brazilian zebu breed Tabapua (TAB) and Holstein (HOL) nulliparous heifers. In a changeover design, TAB (n = 16) and HOL (n = 12) were allocated to 1 of 2 protocols in 2 distinct periods. Two days before initiation of the protocols (D2), dominant follicles were ablated by transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration: Group 1: on day 0 (D0) a subcutaneous injection of 500 mg of rbST (Boostin®, Intervet, SP) and on D2 an intramuscular injection of 500 IU of eCG (Novormon®, Schering-Plough-Intervet, SP); and control: vehicle only. Two days later (D4), ovum pickup (OPU) was performed and the ovarian follicle population was evaluated by ultrasound. Twenty days after the first OPU session, heifers were switched over across treatments and were aspirated a second time, so that a total of 28 sessions were performed for each treatment. Main effects of period, breed, and protocol and their interactions on follicle numbers and oocyte yield were analysed through the GENMOD procedure of SAS (SAS®, Cary, NC, USA) using the Poisson distribution option. Means were compared by orthogonal contrasts, and the probability value set at 0.05 for significance unless otherwise specified. There was an interaction effect between hormonal stimulation and breed (P < 0.05) on the number of aspirated follicles (2 to 10 mm in diameter) such that they were higher in TAB treated (41.4 ± 2.6) compared with control (29.9 ± 2.6) heifers and did not differ between the HOL heifers (15.5 ± 2.6 v. 14.4 ± 2.6 in treated and control heifers, respectively). Overall, follicle numbers were higher (P < 0.0001) in TAB (35.6 ± 1.84) than in HOL (15.0 ± 2.1) heifers and in treated (28.4 ± 2.0) v. control (22.1 ± 2.0) heifers (P < 0.001). There was no effect (P = 0.77) of treatment on total viable oocytes (grades 1 to 3) between treated (3.5 ± 1.2) and control (3.9 ± 1.1) heifers. Tabapuã heifers had more (P < 0.05) viable oocytes than HOL (5.9 ± 0.9 v. 1.6 ± 1.4). In conclusion, the proposed protocol may improve OPU results but viable oocyte yield was not associated to the higher number of follicles available for aspiration. It may be necessary to modify this protocol to improve results perhaps by increasing the time window between rbST and eCG injections as well as by increasing the rbST dosage for heifers. The present protocol may be cost saving, compared with follicle stimulating hormone, for initial OPU sessions in the case of Tabapuã heifers because it is expected that responses decrease after a sequence of eCG injections. It is also interesting to notice that it is possible that HOL heifers already have higher endogenous growth hormone concentrations, which could help to explain the interactive effect observed in the ovarian response. Further studies are necessary to improve this protocol especially in HOL heifers. CNPQ, CAPES, Schering-Plough-Intervet.

Preliminary survey of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle in Central Equatoria State, Southern Sudan

In a preliminary survey conducted in 2005, the species composition and seasonality of ticks infesting cattle in Central Equatoria State, Southern Sudan was determined. Three locations were selected (Gumbo, Khor Rumla and Nyaing) and surveyed every 3 months. Two cattle herds in each of the three locations were visited four times during the study period. Total body collections of ticks were made from each of five cattle (Nilotic Zebu breed) kept in six different herds. Four tick genera and ten species were identified. The tick species identified were Amblyomma lepidum, Amblyomma variegatum, Boophilus annulatus, Boophilus decoloratus, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus praetextatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus group. The highest number of ticks was collected in October during the rainy season. A finding of great significance was that R. appendiculatus, vector of East Coast fever, has now firmly established itself throughout the year with possible implications for cattle production in Central Equatoria State.

Variabilidad y estado genético de siete subpoblaciones de la raza criolla colombiana Casanareño

<p>A fin de conocer su estado genético se estimó la variabilidad y grado de pureza racial de individuos pertenecientes a siete subpoblaciones de la raza bovina criolla colombiana Casanareño. Se encontró un número promedio de alelos por locus de 5,56, inferior al valor hallado en la raza Cebú usada como control (7,13), lo que indica una variabilidad genética moderada en las subpoblaciones analizadas. La heterocigosidad observada promedio en todas las subpoblaciones de la raza fue de 0,63. La estructura de las poblaciones mostró dos agrupaciones; a efectos de conservación, la más importante consolida el 51% de la población en el grupo 2 que presenta un perfil genético típico de <em>Bos taurus </em>y no incluye ningún animal de la raza Cebú, lo que permite afirmar que se trata de una población con un nivel bajo de introgresión genética. Este grupo incluye el 100% de los individuos de la subpoblación ‘Cumay’, el 76% en la subpoblación ‘Bubuy’ y el 50% de ‘Albania’. Se concluye que un amplio porcentaje de la población muestreada corresponde a individuos con alto grado de características taurinas o criollas, mientras los restantes animales presentan grados variables de introgresión genética, evidentes en los valores de distancias genéticas subpoblacionales e individuales y en la estructura de la población.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Variability and genetic status of seven subpopulations of the native Colombian breed Casanareño</strong></p><p>To determine the genetic status of the Casanareño, a bovine Colombian native breed, the variability and racial purity of individuals of seven subpopulation was determined. The mean number of alleles per locus (5.56) was inferior to that of Zebu breeds used as control (7.13), which indicates a moderate genetic variability in the subpopulations analyzed. Mean observed heterozygocity of all populations was 0.63. Population structure consisted of two groups. For conservation effects, 51% belongs to group 2, with a genetic profile characteristic of Bos taurus and does not include animals of the Zebu breed, a population with a low level of genetic introgression. This group includes 100% of the individuals of the ‘Cumay’ subpopulation, 76% ‘Bubuy’ subpopulation and 50% of ‘Albania’. A wide percentage of sampled population belongs to individuals with a high degree of Bos taurus characters, while the remaining animals showed variable degrees of genetic introgression as evidenced by individual and subpopulation genetic distance values and the population structure.</p>