Bartonella vinsonii sub. arupensis infection in animals of veterinary importance, ticks and biopsy samples

Testing for vector-borne pathogens in livestock is largely reliant upon blood and tissue. The role of biopsy samples remains poorly explored for detecting tick-borne bacteria in animals. In a 2-year survey, animals of veterinary importance from farms throughout the Northern part of Greece were routinely checked for the presence of biopsy samples. Where detected, either a portion or biopsy was collected together with whole blood samples and any ticks at the site of the biopsy sample. Molecular testing was carried out by real-time PCR targeting the ITS gene of Bartonella species. A total 68 samples [28 blood samples, 28 biopsy samples and 12 ticks (9 Rhipicephalus bursa and 3 R. turanicus)] were collected from goats (64 samples) and bovine (4 samples). Eight (11.8%) of the 68 samples were positive for Bartonella species. Of the biopsy sample and whole blood samples, four (14.3%) of each type were positive for Bartonella species. None of the ticks was tested positive for Bartonella species. All pairs of positive biopsy samples/whole blood samples originated from the same animals. Positive samples were identified as B. vinsonii sub. arupensis. Although many more samples from a much wider spectrum of animal species is required before concluding upon the merit of biopsy samples on the study of tick-borne diseases, the significance of our finding warrants further study, both for clinical consequences in small ruminants and for those humans farming infected animals

Ovine and Caprine Brucellosis (Brucella melitensis) in Aborted Animals in Jordanian Sheep and Goat Flocks

Two hundred and fifty five biological samples were collected from 188 animals (81 sheep and 107 goats) during the lambing season from September 2009 to April 2010 from the Mafraq region of Jordan. Sampled animals belonged to 93 sheep and goat flocks that had abortion cases in the region. One hundred and seven (41.9%) biological samples were positive for the omp2 primers that were able to identify all Brucella species in the collected samples which were obtained from 86 aborted animals (86/188 = 45.7%). Using the B. melitensis insertion sequence 711 (IS711) primers on the 107 omp2 positive samples, only 61 confirmed to be positive for B. melitensis. These positive samples were obtained from 28 sheep and 33 goats. The prevalence rate of B. melitensis was 27.1% (51/188) among aborted animals. For differentiation between vaccine strain and field strain infection, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method using PstI endonuclease enzyme was used. Vaccination with Rev-1 in the last year (OR = 2.92, CI: 1.1–7.7) and grazing at common pasture (OR = 2.78, CI: 1.05–7.36) were statistically significant (P ≤ .05) risk factors positively associated with the occurrence of brucellosis in sheep and goat flocks

Virusne infekcije sporog toka malih preživara u Grčkoj

The slow viral infections are from the most important problems of sheep and goat production in Greece. Diseases as enzootic nasal tumor, Maedi-Visna, caprine arthritis-encephalitis, pulmonary adenomatosis and Scrapie can cause significant losses in sheep and goat flocks. They can be transmitted during grazing or with animal sales. Here are described the clinicopathological findings of the aforementioned diseases, as well as their diagnosis and control.Bирусне инфекције спорог тока су врло значајан проблем код оваца и коза у Грчкој. Обољења као што су Maedi-Visna, артритис и енцефалитис код коза (CAEV), аденоматоза и скрепи могу да узрокују значајне губитке у запатима оваца и коза. Могу да се пренесу у току испаше или продајом животиња. У овом раду je описан клиничко-патолошки налаз наведених болести, као и њихова дијагностика и контрола

The Monitoring of Some Anthelmintic Results in Control of Fasciolosis in Extensive System Dairy Sheep in Albania

The infestation from Fasciola hepatica in Albania was prescribed at a very high level in extensive system dairy sheep herd of flat area. To compare the efficacy and results of some anthelmintics-active drugs in F. hepatica control we organized a trial during the year 2012 in a dairy sheep farm in central Albania. We established 5 experimental groups with 50 sheep on each. All faeces from all sheep were controlled on different dates according to the methodology with fast flotation and sedimentation method for fasciola eggs and the PCV level (Hematocrit). Laboratory tests before treatment, reported an average of 115-130 eggs of Fasciola, per gram of faeces, which represented a serious invasion and hemotocrit or PCV was 26,4%-27,1%. The first and second group were treated with 10mg/kg.b.w of Triclabendazol per os (PO), one of the benzimidazolics that were introduced with the delay in Albania. The third group was administered a combination of 10 mg/kg of Triclabendazole + 7.5 mg/kg.b.w PO of Levamisole. The fourth group was administered 10 mg /kg/b.w PO of albendazole. The fifth group was not treated (control group). Three weeks later from the treatment, the trial was repeated under the same methodology. In autumn a coprology control was organized for all groups before and after treatment. The same treatment was repeated as in spring except the first and fifth group which was not treated. The conclusion from the experimental results is that the combined treatment of Triclabendazole + Levamisole, twice a year, in spring and autumn, shows a better effect against F. Hepatica than the treatment with Triclabendazole or Albendazole only.Keywords: anthelminthic, fasciola, triclabendasole, albendasole, coprology

Moxidectin Efficacy in a Goat Herd with Chronic and Generalized Sarcoptic Mange

A case of sarcoptic mange affecting almost all the animals of a dairy goat herd is described. This pruritic skin disease led progressively to high mortality and dramatic drop of milk yield. The lesions of the affected goats were typical of a chronic and generalized-diffuse sarcoptic mange. Diagnosis was confirmed by skin scrapings and histopathology in which many mites were demonstrated. All surviving goats were treated with injectable moxidectin solution 1% (CYDECTIN-Fort Dodge) at the dose of 0.2 mg/kg, applied every 15 days for four times, subcutaneously. Although pruritus had decreased soon after the first treatment, a satisfactory healing of cutaneous lesions was witnessed 6 weeks after the beginning of moxidectin trial. Parasitological cure was achieved in all affected animals by the end of the trial. In the four monthly followups, no evidence of sarcoptic mange could be found

SLOW VIRAL INFECTIONS OF SMALL RUMINANTS IN GREECE

The slow viral infections are from the most important problems of sheep and goatproduction in Greece. Diseases as enzootic nasal tumor, Maedi-Visna, caprinearthritis-encephalitis, pulmonary adenomatosis and Scrapie can cause significantlosses in sheep and goat flocks. They can be transmitted during grazing or with animalsales. Here are described the clinicopathological findings of the aforementioneddiseases, as well as their diagnosis and control

Differential diagnosis of neurological diseases of small ruminants

Σκοπός της παρούσας ανασκόπησης είναι η περιγραφή της διαγνωστικής προσέγγισης σε νευρολογικά περιστατικά σε μικρά μηρυκαστικά. Για την υποβοήθηση της διαφορικής διάγνωσης σε περιστατικά νευρολογικών νοσημάτων σε μικρά μηρυκαστικά, στην ανασκόπηση αυτή τα νοσήματα κατατάσσονται ως εξής: (α) συγγενή νευρολογικά νοσήματα (αβιταμίνωση Α, ενζωοτική αταξία, νοσήματα ιογενούς αιτιολογίας [περιλαμβανομένης της νόσου border και της νόσου Schmallenberg], παθολογικές καταστάσεις με γενετικό υπόβαθρο), (β) επίκτητα νευρολογικά προβλήματα με οξεία εξέλιξη (νοσολογικές οντότητες ιδιαίτερης σημασίας: βακτηριακής αιτιολογίας μηνιγγοεγκεφαλίτιδα, εντεροτοξιναιμία τύπου D, λιστερίωση, λύσσα, οξεία κοινούρωση, πολιοεγκεφαλομαλάκυνση, τέτανος, τοξιναιμία της εγκυμοσύνης, υπασβεστιαιμία / λιγότερο σημαντικές νοσολογικές οντότητες: αλλαντίαση, ενζωοτική αταξία, κροτωνική παράλυση, κροτωνογενής εγκεφαλίτιδα, τοξικώσεις, σπάνιες νευρολογικές παθήσεις παρασιτικής αιτιολογίας, τοξικώσεις, τραυματικής αιτιολογίας μονοπάρεση/μονοπληγία, υπομαγνησιαιμία, χάλκωση, ψευδολύσσα) και (γ) επίκτητα νευρολογικά προβλήματα με χρόνια εξέλιξη (νοσολογικές οντότητες ιδιαίτερης σημασίας: αρθρίτιδα-εγκεφαλίτιδα των γιδιών, ιογενής μη πυώδης εγκεφαλομυελίτιδα των προβάτων, τρομώδης νόσος, χρόνια κοινούρωση / λιγότερο σημαντικές νοσολογικές οντότητες: αποστήματα στο κεντρικό νευρικό σύστημα, παθολογικές καταστάσεις νεοπλασματικής ατιολογίας).Objective of the present review is the description of diagnostic approach in neurological cases in small ruminants. To improve description purposes in the present paper, neurological disorders of small ruminants are classified as follows: (a) congenital neurological disorders (vitamin A deficiency, copper deficiency, disorders of viral aetiology [including border disease and Schmallenberg disease], disorders with a genetic background), (b) acquired neurological disorders with an acute course (acute coenurosis, Aujeszky’s disease, bacterial meningoencephalitis, botulism, copper deficiency, copper poisoning, disorders following injury, hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia, listeriosis, louping-ill, rare disorders of parasitic aetiology, pregnancy toxaemia, rabies, tetanus, tick paralysis, toxicoses, type D enterotoxaemia, vitamin B1 deficiency) and (c) acquired neurological disorders with a long-standing course (caprine arthritis-encephalitis, central nervous system abscesses, chronic coenurosis, neoplastic disorders, ovine lentiviral encephalomyelitis, scrapie)

Procena orf vakcine na terenu kod stada ovaca i koza sa visokom neonatalnom smrtnošću

A high percent of annual neonatal mortality attributed to orf infection was observed between 2001 and 2004 in 2 sheep and 2 mixed (sheep and goat) flocks of Northern Greece. In order to protect the neonatal lambs and kids from orf infection a commercially available live orf vaccine was used. Pregnant sheep and goats were vaccinated subcutaneously a month before parturition, while 10 sheep and 10 goats in each flock remained unvaccinated and were used as negative controls. The vaccine was significantly effective (P lt 0.05) in reducing the orf lesions and the mortality rate in lambs and kids of the 4 flocks. During the next year 3 of the 4 flocks were revaccinated. A significantly low percentage of orf lesions and neonatal mortality continued to occur in revaccinated flocks, while a significant percentage (P lt 0.05) of orf lesions and neonatal mortality reappeared in the nonrevaccinated flock. The antibody titres in vaccinated sheep and goats were increased significantly on days 60 and 105 post-vaccination, while the titres in the controls remained low (P lt 0.05).Visok stepen godišnje smrtnosti neonatalnih životinja doprineo je orf infekcijama uočenim izmedju 2001 i 2004 kod dva stada ovaca i dva mešovita stada ovaca i koza u severnoj Grčkoj. Komercijalno dostupna živa orf vakcina je upotrebljena da bi se zaštitila neonatalna jagnjad i jarad od orf infekcije. Bređe ovce i koze su vakcinisane subkutano mesec dana pre partusa, dok je 10 ovaca i 10 koza u svakom stadu ostalo nevakcinisano i posluž ile su kao negativne kontrole. Vakcina je bila značajno efikasna (P lt 0,05) u smanjenju orf lezija i stope smrtnosti kod jagnjadi i jaradi sva četiri stada. Tokom sledeće godine, 3 od 4 stada su revakcinisana. Nastavljena je pojava značajno niskog procenta orf lezija i smrtnosti neonatalnih životinja u revakcinisanim stadima, dok se ponovo pojavio značajan procenat (P lt 0,05) orf lezija i smrtnosti neonatalnih životinja kod stada koja nisu revakcionisana. Titri antitela kod vakcinisanih ovaca i koza su bili znacajno poviseni 60 i 105 dana posle vakcinacije, dok su titri kod kontrola ostali niski (P lt 0,05)