Remarks on the prevalence of some viral respiratory diseases in cattle

Serological screening using the ELISA blocking test on 114 serum samples taken from cattle that haven’t been vaccinated had positive results for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVD-MD) at a percentage of 43% and for rhino-tracheitis virus (IBR-IPV), the percentage was of 68.42%. The positive results can be explained by the presence of the virus in herds, where the diseases have a subclinical evolution. The serologic investigation using the ELISA blocking test has established the serological prevalence of infections with BVD-MD and IBR-IPV in three farms from Moldavia, the highest prevalence being registered in the case of rhinotracheitis virus (IBR-IPV). The presence of positive reactions, corroborated with the lack of clinical signs in herd can be explained by the presence of latent infections. A wide variety of stimuli such as stress, transport and treatment with corticosteroids may lead to the reactivation of the disease from latency. The obtained results suggest that an extension of serologic investigations in more farms was necessary for finding the animals with subclinical forms

Screening eligibility criteria in canine whole blood transfusion

Whole blood contains all the elements that are necessary for oxygen delivery and hemostasis, in nearly physiologic ratios and concentrations. Transfusion therapy is a major resource that can improve the patient's capability to overcome the underlying disease. As veterinary critical care becomes more frequently used, the advantages of a basic knowledge of transfusion therapy and blood banking increased. The most cogent argument supporting component therapy is that blood is a precious resource considering its therapeutic potential and the logistics and costs required in obtaining and delivering blood products. The objective of this article is to discuss and offer current knowledge on blood transfusion and its allied practices in dogs including blood donor screening, blood typing, storing blood and crossmatching tests. The article discuses new developments, standard practices and protocols for conventional blood product collection in a private veterinary clinic

Serological detection of antibodies to Ehrlichia canis and Borrelia burgdorferi S.L. in urban household dogs from Iași

Canine tick-borne diseases are an emerging problem within Romania and also throughout the European Countries. This threat comes not just from Lyme disease which is endemic in our country, but also from other tick-borne diseases as well as ehrlichiosis. The present study consisted in screening of IgG class antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia canis on 92 urban household dogs (48 females and 44 males) from Iași. The sampling took place during March to June 2021, in three veterinary clinics. The results of the serological testing revealed four positive dogs: one for IgG anti-E. canis and three for IgG anti-Borrelia burgdoferi s.l. Although the proportion of the sampled dog sex was almost equal, all positive animals were adult females. Our results highlight the silent circulation of the two pathogens in the studied area. These tick-borne pathogens are a significant medical concern to canine health. Changing tick distributions, pet travel and nonspecific clinical signs can make identifying infected pets challenging, so is very important to keep all dogs on appropriate, effective tick prevention year-round

Molecular detection of hepatitis E virus in wild boars from Botoșani County

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections occur in both humans and animals worldwide. The domestic swine and wild boars (Sus scrofa) are known as important reservoirs of HEV, zoonotic hepatitis E infections of foodborne origin being linked to consumption of pig, wild boar and deer raw or undercooked meat or undercooked products. The aim of the study was to highlight the presence of HEV in wild boars using molecular biology methods. During hunting season 2015-2016 were collected blood and faecal samples from 22 wild boars from Suharău hunting fund in Botoșani County. Using degenerate primers, HEV RNA was detected by nested reverse transcriptase PCR in all wild boar faecal samples. The blood (EDTA whole blood) samples tested were negative for hepatitis E virus RNA. Our results indicate that wild boars are a possible source of infection for pigs and human population in Botoșani County

Pestivirus spillover effect: molecular detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus in domestic and feral pigs

Pestivirus infections are important in the livestock industries, with infection occurring in cattle, sheep and pigs. The Pestivirus genus of the family Flaviviridae, includes four recognized species: bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 (BVDV-1), bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 (BVDV-2), border disease virus (BDV), and classical swine fever virus (CSFV). All pestivirus species can infect pigs, therefore accurate and specific pestivirus detection and differentiation is of great importance to assure control measures in swine populations. The aim of the study was the molecular detection of different pestiviruses in domestic and feral pigs. A total of 527 samples (92 pigs and 435 wild boars) were tested for pestiviruses detection using molecular assays. Eleven positive samples (6 wild boars and 5 domestic pigs) were identified using panpestivirus primers targeting the 5’- UTR region of the pestivirus RNA genome. Further all the positive samples were sequentially tested for detection of CSFV, BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 using specific primers. All RNAs were identified as positives for BVDV-1 and no amplification signals were obtained from BVDV-2 and CSFV. The current detection of BVDV-1 in clinical swine specimens highlights the important risk factor of swine population as reservoir and consequently carrier for BVDV

Echinococcus granulosus infection in domestic pig – a case study

Hydatid disease is a serious human health concern, caused by cysts of the tapeworm parasite Echinococcus granulosus. The tapeworm occurs in dogs, with the intermediate life cycle stage (the ‘hydatid cyst’) forming in many warm-blooded animals as well as in humans. This case study consists in post slaughter examination of a sow raised in a sheep small farm. The sow was slaughtered because of progressive weakening. The results of necropsy and histology exams revealed the Echinococcus granulosus infection. In the 2-year-old sow carcass, multiple vesicular, whitish, variable-sized lesions, between 2 and 4 cm in diameter, were seen in the liver parenchyma. The definitive host of Echinococcus gransulosus is the dog, who has the taenia in its small intestine and excretes embryonated eggs in its scat. The intermediate hosts can be various, usually sheep, but we can also find it in pigs, among others, as well as people, as it is a zoonosis. Obtained data are relevant in designing regional control strategies to suppress the occurrence of disease in livestock and risk for humans to be infected

Preliminary investigations on prevalence of ESBL-production Escherichia coli strains in swine from Botoșani County

Administration of antimicrobials to food-producing animals increases the risk of higher antimicrobial resistance in normal intestinal flora. The present preliminary study was conducted to investigate the presence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli strains in healthy swine from Botoșani County. During 2016-2018, a total of 87 samples of luminal contents of gut sections (cecal) were collected and tested. Fifty-one (51,72%) E. coli isolates were identified as ESBL-producing strains. These preliminary results reflect the selective pressure, caused by intense and less prudent use of the antimicrobials in swine production in our country. Moreover, commensal E. coli can be a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance genes, which can be transferred to pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, resistance genes transferring from farm to fork represent a public health emerging danger by the potential of producing difficultto- treat pathogens

Detection of BHV-1 antibodies in bovine raised in rural households from Iași County

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis / infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV) is a significant disease among domestic and wild cattle. IBR/IPV is caused by Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) that is capable of attacking many different tissues in the body leading to a variety of clinical diseases. The virus can persist in clinically recovered animals for years, remaining inactive until the animal is placed under stress. Investigations were undertaken during 2015-2016 on bovine raised in rural households in Miroslovești and Ciohorăni commune from Iași County. Individual serum samples from 305 cattle were tested for detection of BHV-1 antibodies using an ELISA commercial kit (IDEXX IBR Ab). The results showed that overall seroprevalence of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) was 63.6% in tested cattle. These data underline the fact that in household reared cattle are several animals with BHV-1 lifelong latent infection