Perinatal immuno/inflammatory responses in the presence or absence of bovine fetal infection

peer-reviewedBackground It is known that the bovine fetus can mount an immune and inflammatory reaction to infection, but it is not known whether there is a contemporaneous maternal response. Nor is it known whether the response of calves which die perinatally, with or without infection, differs from that of live perinates. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine if acute phase reactant and immunoglobulin concentrations differed between calves (and their dams) in three groups: live calves (CC; n = 21) and dead calves with (PM INF+; n = 22) or without (PM INF-; n = 89) in utero infection. In calf plasma, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, immunoglobulins M, G1 and G2 and interleukin-6 were measured. In dam serum, SAA and Hp was measured and in amniotic and abomasal fluid, IL-6 was measured. Results Live calves had higher plasma concentrations of SAA and IL-6 than dead calves with (PM INF+) or without (PM INF-) in utero infection. Calves in the PM INF-, but not PM INF+ group, had higher Hp concentrations than calves in the CC group. Calves in the PM INF+ group had higher IgG1 concentrations than calves in the PM INF- and CC groups. Except for higher IgG1 and IgG2 concentrations, biomarker values did not differ significantly between dead calves with or without in utero infection. Live calves had higher IL-6 concentrations in abomasal fluid compared to PM INF- calves. There were no significant differences in blood biomarker concentrations between dams of the three groups of calves. Amniotic fluid IL-6 concentrations were higher from the dams of control calves than the dams of uninfected calves. Conclusions Differences in biomarkers (higher Hp and IgG1; lower SAA and IL-6) between perinatal mortalities and live perinates probably reflect differences between these two groups in age at sampling (SAA and IL-6) and in utero infection (IgG1). Out of the six analytes measured in calves, only IgG1 and IgG2 were biomarkers of (chronic) in utero infection

Infection exposure, detection and causes of death in perinatal mortalities in Polish dairy herds

peer-reviewedThe objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of infections in perinatal mortality (PM) cases from Polish dairy farms and the relevance of the presence of infection to the cause of death. This prospective longitudinal study was carried out on 121 PM and 21 control calves with a gestation of ≥260 days. Six control calves were euthanized and examined using the same protocol as for PM calves. Material was collected over a 20-month period between November 2013 and June 2015. The PM and control calves were collected from 29 to 5 herds, respectively. Blood samples from calves were tested for antibodies to Neospora caninum, glycoprotein B of BoHV-1, BVDV and SBV using ELISAs and Leptospira hardjo and Leptospira pomona with the microscopic agglutination test. Brain and kidney samples from all PM and six euthanized control calves were tested using real time PCR to detect Neospora caninum, pathogenic Leptospira spp., BoHV-1 and SBV; brain was examined histopathologically for detection of N. caninum cysts. Samples from eight inner organs from all PM and six control calves were cultured aerobically, anaerobically and microaerobically. Ear samples from all PM and control calves were tested for BVDV using an antigen ELISA. In total, 21.5% of PM calves were infected (antigen and/or antibody-positive) in utero; none of the control calves were infected. Direct evidence of infection (culture, Ag-ELISA, PCR, histopathology) was detected in 9.1% of PM calves. Gestation length in infected singletons was shorter than in uninfected singletons (274 ± 8 vs. 279 ± 7 days; P < 0.01). The odds ratio for diagnosis of infection in single pregnancies ≤275 days was 3.75 (95% CI:1.2–12.1), (P < 0.05). Infection was the cause of death in 10% of calves. The most common infections detected in these Polish PM calves were parasitic (11.6% of PM cases), viral (7.4%) and bacterial (5%). This study demonstrated that indirect evidence of infection is detected more frequently than direct, coinfection is rare, infection is rarely accompanied by gross lesions and is rarely a cause of death in cases of PM

Strategie profilaktyki boreliozy

This study aimed to analyze the severity of risks associated specific tick-borne diseases and to identify directions for the development of preventive measures, particularly for Lyme disease. Thus, a detailed literature review was performed to analyze epidemiological data and the latest scientific research in the field of prevention and health education for Lyme disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that it is necessary to increase the level of knowledge and health awareness of individuals living in the highest-risk areas and who travel to countries with endemic vectors. Additional activities of the WHO in the area of vector-borne disease prevention resulted from the adoption of the global vector control response 2017-2030 (GVCR 2017-2030), which focused on diseases transmitted by vectors. At the EU level, activities include the European Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases (EVD) program. At the national level, the basic legal act related to the issue of infectious diseases is the Act of 5 December 2008 on preventing and combating infections and infectious diseases in humans. The main body implementing activities in the field of prevention and health education in Poland is the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS). Creating new ways to implement preventive actions, including those regarding the problem of tick-borne diseases in humans, should take into account a number of factors that determine their effectiveness. The creation of effective educational strategies translates into the effectiveness of prevention efforts and negative social effects.Celem pracy jest analiza skali zagrożenia związanego ze specyfiką chorób odkleszczowych, w tym szczególnie boreliozy oraz wyznaczenie kierunków działań profilaktycznych. W tym celu dokonano szczegółowego przeglądu literatury, analizując dane epidemiologiczne oraz najnowsze badania naukowe z obszaru profilaktyki i edukacji zdrowotnej, w aspekcie zjawiska boreliozy. Jak wskazała WHO w uzasadnieniu podjęcia tematu chorób wektorowych, istotnym działaniem jest zwiększenie poziomu wiedzy i świadomości zdrowotnej ludności mieszkającej na obszarach najbardziej zagrożonych, jak również podróżujących do krajów endemicznego występowania chorobotwórczych wektorów. Dodatkowa aktywność WHO w zakresie profilaktyki chorób powodowanych przez wektory wynika z przyjęcia globalnej strategii w zakresie chorób przenoszonych przez wektory na lata 2017-2030 (GVCR 2017-2030). Na poziomie unijnym w odniesieniu do chorób przenoszonych przez wektory jest realizowany europejski program Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases (EVD) Programme. Na poziomie krajowym podstawowym aktem prawnym odnoszącym się do problematyki chorób zakaźnych jest ustawa z dnia 5 grudnia 2008 r. o zapobieganiu oraz zwalczaniu zakażeń i chorób zakaźnych u ludzi. Podstawowym podmiotem realizującym działania z zakresu profilaktyki i edukacji zdrowotnej w Polsce jest Główny Inspektorat Sanitarny. Kreowanie nowych sposobów na realizację działań profilaktycznych, obejmujących problem chorób odkleszczowych u ludzi, powinno uwzględniać szereg czynników determinujących ich skuteczność. Budowanie efektywnych strategii edukacyjnych przekłada się bowiem na skuteczność zapobiegania negatywnym skutkom zdrowotnym i społecznym

Infection exposure, detection and causes of death in perinatal mortalities in Polish dairy herds

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of infections in perinatal mortality (PM) cases from Polish dairy farms and the relevance of the presence of infection to the cause of death. This prospective longitudinal study was carried out on 121 PM and 21 control calves with a gestation of ≥260 days. Six control calves were euthanized and examined using the same protocol as for PM calves. Material was collected over a 20-month period between November 2013 and June 2015. The PM and control calves were collected from 29 to 5 herds, respectively. Blood samples from calves were tested for antibodies to Neospora caninum, glycoprotein B of BoHV-1, BVDV and SBV using ELISAs and Leptospira hardjo and Leptospira pomona with the microscopic agglutination test. Brain and kidney samples from all PM and six euthanized control calves were tested using real time PCR to detect Neospora caninum, pathogenic Leptospira spp., BoHV-1 and SBV; brain was examined histopathologically for detection of N. caninum cysts. Samples from eight inner organs from all PM and six control calves were cultured aerobically, anaerobically and microaerobically. Ear samples from all PM and control calves were tested for BVDV using an antigen ELISA. In total, 21.5% of PM calves were infected (antigen and/or antibody-positive) in utero; none of the control calves were infected. Direct evidence of infection (culture, Ag-ELISA, PCR, histopathology) was detected in 9.1% of PM calves. Gestation length in infected singletons was shorter than in uninfected singletons (274 ± 8 vs. 279 ± 7 days; P < 0.01). The odds ratio for diagnosis of infection in single pregnancies ≤275 days was 3.75 (95% CI:1.2–12.1), (P < 0.05). Infection was the cause of death in 10% of calves. The most common infections detected in these Polish PM calves were parasitic (11.6% of PM cases), viral (7.4%) and bacterial (5%). This study demonstrated that indirect evidence of infection is detected more frequently than direct, coinfection is rare, infection is rarely accompanied by gross lesions and is rarely a cause of death in cases of PM