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González-Warleta M, Castro-Hermida JA, Figueira M, López J, Conesa D, López-Quílez A, Ubeira FM, Mezo M. Bayesian hierarchical modelling of the geospatial distribution of fasciolosis in dairy cattle and the impact on production: Application to the main milk-producing region (Galicia) in Spain. Vet Parasitol 2024; 325:110091. [PMID: 38056318 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a common parasitic infection among cattle in many countries. Although infected adult cows rarely show overt clinical signs, milk production may be impaired. Thus, significant production losses may occur in dairy herds with a high prevalence of fasciolosis. In this study, Bayesian hierarchical modelling was used to estimate the geospatial distribution of dairy cattle fasciolosis and its impact on milk production. The study was conducted in Galicia, the main milk producing region in Spain and a geographically heterogeneous area. The aims were: 1) to model the geospatial distribution of fasciolosis in dairy herds in the study area, 2) to identify clusters of herds with a high prevalence of fasciolosis, and 3) to assess the effect of fasciolosis on milk yield and quality. A large number of dairy cattle farms (n = 4907), of which 1660 provided production records, were surveyed. Fasciola infection status was determined by applying the MM3-SERO ELISA test to bulk tank milk samples. A high probability of infection was predicted in several zones, particularly in the centre, northeast and southeast of Galicia. Conversely, the predicted probability was very low in some parts of the northwest of the region. Infections with high within-herd prevalence (> 25% lactating cows infected) predominated. High within-herd prevalence was associated with loss of milk production (-1.387 kg/cow/ day, on average). No association between Fasciola infection and either milk fat or protein content was observed. This study has generated the first maps of the spatial distribution of the probability of Fasciola infection in dairy cattle herds in Galicia. The maps presented here can be used for reference purposes, enabling the design of better targeted fasciolosis control programmes in the region. Use of Bayesian hierarchical statistical analysis enabled us to ascertain the uncertainty of the predictions and to account for the spatial autocorrelation in the data. It also enabled us to generate maps showing the residual spatial variation in milk production, a topic that may deserve more detailed study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta González-Warleta
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, AGACAL, Abegondo, A Coruña, Spain
| | - José Antonio Castro-Hermida
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, AGACAL, Abegondo, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Mario Figueira
- Valencia Bayesian Research Group, Departament d'Estadística i Investigació Operativa, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Jesúa López
- Valencia Bayesian Research Group, Departament d'Estadística i Investigació Operativa, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - David Conesa
- Valencia Bayesian Research Group, Departament d'Estadística i Investigació Operativa, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Antonio López-Quílez
- Valencia Bayesian Research Group, Departament d'Estadística i Investigació Operativa, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Florencio M Ubeira
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Institute of Research on Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Mercedes Mezo
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, AGACAL, Abegondo, A Coruña, Spain.
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2
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Oehm AW, Leinmueller M, Zablotski Y, Campe A, Hoedemaker M, Springer A, Jordan D, Strube C, Knubben-Schweizer G. Multinomial logistic regression based on neural networks reveals inherent differences among dairy farms depending on the differential exposure to Fasciola hepatica and Ostertagia ostertagi. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:687-697. [PMID: 37355196 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica and Ostertagia ostertagi are cattle parasites with worldwide relevance for economic outcome as well as animal health and welfare. The on-farm exposure of cattle to both parasites is a function of host-associated, intrinsic, as well as environmental and farm-specific, extrinsic, factors. Even though knowledge on the biology of both parasites exists, sophisticated and innovative modelling approaches can help to deepen our understanding of key aspects fostering the exposure of dairy cows to these pathogens. In the present study, multiple multinomial logistic regression models were fitted via neural networks to describe the differences among farms where cattle were not exposed to either F. hepatica or O. ostertagi, to one parasite, or to both, respectively. Farm-specific production and management characteristics were used as covariates to portray these differences. This elucidated inherent farm characteristics associated with parasite exposure. In both studied regions, pasture access for cows, farm-level milk yield, and lameness prevalence were identified as relevant factors. In region 'South', adherence to organic farming principles was a further covariate of importance. In region 'North', the prevalence of cows with a low body condition score, herd size, hock lesion prevalence, farm-level somatic cell count, and study year appeared to be of relevance. The present study broadens our understanding of the complex epidemiological scenarios that could predict differential farm-level parasite status. The analyses have revealed the importance of awareness of dissimilarities between farms in regard to the differential exposure to F. hepatica and O. ostertagi. This provides solid evidence that dynamics and relevant factors differ depending on whether or not cows are exposed to F. hepatica, O. ostertagi, or to both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas W Oehm
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Markus Leinmueller
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Yury Zablotski
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Amely Campe
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martina Hoedemaker
- Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniela Jordan
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
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Strydom T, Lavan RP, Torres S, Heaney K. The Economic Impact of Parasitism from Nematodes, Trematodes and Ticks on Beef Cattle Production. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1599. [PMID: 37238028 PMCID: PMC10215612 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Global human population growth requires the consumption of more meat such as beef to meet human needs for protein intake. Cattle parasites are a constant and serious threat to the development of the beef cattle industry. Studies have shown that parasites not only reduce the performance of beef cattle, but also negatively affect the profitability of beef agriculture and have many other impacts, including contributing to the production of greenhouse gases. In addition, some zoonotic parasitic diseases may also threaten human health. Therefore, ongoing cattle parasite research is crucial for continual parasite control and the development of the beef cattle industry. Parasitism challenges profitable beef production by reducing feed efficiency, immune function, reproductive efficiency, liveweight, milk yield, calf yield and carcass weight, and leads to liver condemnations and disease transmission. Globally, beef cattle producers incur billions (US$) in losses due to parasitism annually, with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and cattle ticks causing the greatest economic impact. The enormity of losses justifies parasitic control measures to protect profits and improve animal welfare. Geographical differences in production environment, management practices, climate, cattle age and genotype, parasite epidemiology and susceptibility to chemotherapies necessitate control methods customized for each farm. Appropriate use of anthelmintics, endectocides and acaricides have widely been shown to result in net positive return on investment. Implementing strategic parasite control measures, with thorough knowledge of parasite risk, prevalence, parasiticide resistance profiles and prices can result in positive economic returns for beef cattle farmers in all sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Strydom
- MSD Animal Health, 20 Spartan Road, Isando, Kempton Park 1619, South Africa;
| | - Robert P. Lavan
- Merck & Co., Inc., 126 E. Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA
| | - Siddhartha Torres
- Merck Animal Health, 2 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940, USA; (S.T.); (K.H.)
| | - Kathleen Heaney
- Merck Animal Health, 2 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940, USA; (S.T.); (K.H.)
- Heaney Veterinary Consulting, 303 Fletcher Lake Avenue, Bradley Beach, NJ 07720, USA
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Kruchynenko OV, Mykhailiutenko SM, Petrenko MA, Kuzmenko LM. Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in ruminants in Ukraine: a 5-year meta-analysis. BIOSYSTEMS DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.15421/012131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of environmentally friendly livestock products is currently receiving much attention, especially in the European Union. The problem of monitoring the quality and safety of meat and milk in modern conditions is relevant not only for Ukraine but also for the world community. The scientific substantiation of the methods of research on meat for sale subject to invasive diseases is especially important, as the product may pose risks to the consumer. One of the criteria for assessing the welfare of a herd is the prevalence of helminthiases in cattle. Ruminant parasitoses in Ukraine have always been and remain a separate, often significant, problem for veterinary specialists. Helminths have evolved to use a wide range of ecological niches. In this study, we tried to quantify the prevalence of helminthiases among ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) in Ukraine. The relevant studies were searched for in the online databases. The meta-analysis included 15 publications from January 2015 to December 2020 which reported the spread of parasites in Ukraine. The research results show that the infestation of ruminants with gastrointestinal helminths on the territory of Ukraine is 56.7%. Egger’s regression test revealed no significant publication bias. During the period of pastured farming, stable parasitocenoses are formed in the body of ruminants. The parasitoses are caused by helminths (gastrointestinal strongyles, liver flukes, paramphistomas, dicrocelia). They are recorded in monoinvasions or mixed invasions. Ruminants, according to helminthological examination in different climatic zones, are constantly infested with trematodes. In Ukraine, the presence of three species of flukes has been confirmed in ruminants: Fasciola hepatica, Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Paramphistomum cervi. Parasitization by those species negatively affects the profitability of dairy farming. Trematodes cause significant economic losses: reduced milk productivity of cows, reduced live weight gain of young animals, negative impact on reproduction. At the same time, fascioliasis is socially significant and dangerous to humans. According to the analyzed literature sources, two types of cestodes have been registered in Ukraine: Moniezia benedeni and M. expansa. The epizootic situation regarding nematodes is just as fraught. That is the most numerous group of helminths, their fauna is represented by the following species: Strongyloides papillosus, Nematodirus spathiger, Bunostomum spp., Oesophagostomum radiatum, Haemonchus contortus, Toxocara vitulorum, Trichuris skrjabini, T. ovis and T. globulosa. It is proven that in cattle parasitocenoses are recorded more often than monoinvasions. The highest rates of prevalence of infection were observed when polyinvasion included gastrointestinal strongyles, namely from the order Strongylida. Strongyloides papillosus is the most common taxonomic representative, while Fasciola hepatica has the lowest prevalence of infection, especially in sheep. Updated data on helminthiasis will expand the screening strategy to maintain the health of farm ruminants and reduce economic losses.
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Springer A, Jordan D, Kirse A, Schneider B, Campe A, Knubben-Schweizer G, Müller KE, Hoedemaker M, Strube C. Seroprevalence of Major Pasture-Borne Parasitoses (Gastrointestinal Nematodes, Liver Flukes and Lungworms) in German Dairy Cattle Herds, Association with Management Factors and Impact on Production Parameters. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11072078. [PMID: 34359205 PMCID: PMC8300236 DOI: 10.3390/ani11072078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pasture-borne worm infections impact cattle health and productivity worldwide. The present study assessed exposure of dairy cattle herds to the three most important pastural parasites, i.e., gastrointestinal worms, liver flukes and lungworms, in three parts of Germany by measuring antibodies in bulk tank milk samples. The results show a high level of exposure to gastrointestinal worms, while antibodies against liver flukes were less frequently detected and lungworm-positive herds were rare. Regional and breed differences regarding parasite exposure were detected. In addition, the presence of antibodies was associated with access to fresh grass, access to hay, silage quality and deworming frequency. Furthermore, parasite exposure was significantly associated with a poor body condition across all regions. Parasite-exposed cows of high-performance breeds also produced on average less milk per year than dual-purpose breeds. Abstract Pasture-borne parasites adversely affect bovine health and productivity worldwide. In Europe, gastrointestinal nematodes, especially Ostertagia ostertagi, the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and the lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus represent the most important parasites of dairy cattle. The present study assessed exposure towards these parasites among 646 cattle herds in three parts of Germany during 2017–2019 via antibody detection in bulk tank milk (BTM). Overall, O. ostertagi levels indicative of production losses were detected in 41.2% (266/646; 95% confidence interval (CI): 37.4–45.1%) of BTM samples, while F. hepatica seroprevalence amounted to 14.9% (96/646; 95% CI: 12.2–17.9%). Only 2.3% (15/646; 95% CI: 1.4–3.9%) of samples were D. viviparus antibody-positive. Significantly lower O. ostertagi as well as F. hepatica seroprevalence was detected in dual-purpose breeds compared to high-performance breeds from the same region. Management factors related to parasite exposure included access to fresh grass and hay, silage quality and anthelmintic treatment. Furthermore, F. hepatica and O. ostertagi seropositivity was significantly associated with suboptimal herd-level body condition. Interestingly, the relationship between seropositivity and productivity differed between breed types. Negative impacts on milk yield were detected only in high-performance breeds, while O. ostertagi seropositivity was associated with a lower milk fat content in dual-purpose herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Springer
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.S.); (D.J.)
| | - Daniela Jordan
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.S.); (D.J.)
| | - Alina Kirse
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing (IBEI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.K.); (B.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Bettina Schneider
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing (IBEI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.K.); (B.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Amely Campe
- Department of Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing (IBEI), WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.K.); (B.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany;
| | - Kerstin E. Müller
- Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Martina Hoedemaker
- Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hanover, Germany;
| | - Christina Strube
- Centre for Infection Medicine, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.S.); (D.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-9538711
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6
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Kelley JM, Stevenson MA, Rathinasamy V, Rawlin G, Beddoe T, Spithill TW. Analysis of daily variation in the release of faecal eggs and coproantigen of Fasciola hepatica in naturally infected dairy cattle and the impact on diagnostic test sensitivity. Vet Parasitol 2021; 298:109504. [PMID: 34271316 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica (F. hepatica) is a widespread parasite infection in dairy cattle in Victoria, South-eastern Australia. Robust diagnosis of fluke infection is needed in dairy cattle to identify sub-clinical infections which often go unnoticed, causing significant production losses. We tested the coproantigen ELISA (cELISA) and the FlukeFinder faecal egg count kit® on naturally infected cows in a fluke endemic region of Victoria. The aim of the study was to investigate the variation in the release of coproantigens and eggs into faeces over a 5-day period, at the morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) milkings, and to assess the impact of the timing of faecal sample collection on diagnostic test sensitivity. Ten cows were enrolled into the study based on positive F. hepatica faecal egg counts (LFEC) and faecal samples from the ten cows were collected twice daily, at the 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM milking, for five consecutive days. At the conclusion of the sampling period, the cows were euthanized and F. hepatica burden determined at necropsy. A moderate negative correlation between cow age and cELISA optical density (OD) was observed using data from all samples (R -0.63; 95 % CI -0.68 to -0.57). Over the 5-day sampling period, we observed within-animal variation between days for both the cELISA OD (2.6-8.9 fold) and LFEC (5-16 fold), with more variation in values observed in the PM samples for both tests. The correlation with total fluke burden was higher in the AM sampling using both the cELISA and LFEC (R 0.64 and 0.78, respectively). The sensitivity was 100 % for the cELISA using various cut offs from the literature (0.014 OD, 0.030 OD, and 1.3 % or 1.6 % of the positive control). The sensitivity of the FlukeFinder kit® (based on 588 faecal samples and not accounting for lack of independence in the data) was 88 % (95 % CI 85 %-90 %). Seventy one false negatives were recorded from the 588 LFEC tests all of which were observed in the cows with fluke burdens <14 flukes; 42 of the 71 false negative LFECs occurred in one individual cow which had the lowest burden of nine flukes. In dairy cows, the cut-off for production losses due to fasciolosis is estimated at> 10 fluke. Both the cELISA and the LFEC identified all cows that had burdens equal to or greater than this cut-off. Five of the ten cows also exhibited relatively high paramphistome egg counts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane M Kelley
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Mark A Stevenson
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Vignesh Rathinasamy
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Grant Rawlin
- Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Travis Beddoe
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia
| | - Terry W Spithill
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia.
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Hendrickx A, Marsboom C, Rinaldi L, Vineer HR, Morgoglione ME, Sotiraki S, Cringoli G, Claerebout E, Hendrickx G. Constraints of using historical data for modelling the spatial distribution of helminth parasites in ruminants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 28:46. [PMID: 34047693 PMCID: PMC8162060 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2021042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a trematode that infects ruminant livestock and requires two different intermediate hosts to complete its lifecycle. Modelling the spatial distribution of this parasite can help to improve its management in higher risk regions. The aim of this research was to assess the constraints of using historical data sets when modelling the spatial distribution of helminth parasites in ruminants. A parasitological data set provided by CREMOPAR (Napoli, Italy) and covering most of Italy was used in this paper. A baseline model (Random Forest, VECMAP®) using the entire data set was first used to determine the minimal number of data points needed to build a stable model. Then, annual distribution models were computed and compared with the baseline model. The best prediction rate and statistical output were obtained for 2012 and the worst for 2016, even though the sample size of the former was significantly smaller than the latter. We discuss how this may be explained by the fact that in 2012, the samples were more evenly geographically distributed, whilst in 2016 most of the data were strongly clustered. It is concluded that the spatial distribution of the input data appears to be more important than the actual sample size when computing species distribution models. This is often a major issue when using historical data to develop spatial models. Such data sets often include sampling biases and large geographical gaps. If this bias is not corrected, the spatial distribution model outputs may display the sampling effort rather than the real species distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alizée Hendrickx
- Department of Research and Development, Avia-GIS NV, 2980 Zoersel, Belgium
| | - Cedric Marsboom
- Department of Research and Development, Avia-GIS NV, 2980 Zoersel, Belgium
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- CREMOPAR, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZX Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Elena Morgoglione
- CREMOPAR, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Smaragda Sotiraki
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Giuseppe Cringoli
- CREMOPAR, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Edwin Claerebout
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Guy Hendrickx
- Department of Research and Development, Avia-GIS NV, 2980 Zoersel, Belgium
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8
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Vanhecke M, Charlier J, Strube C, Claerebout E. Risk factors for lungworm-associated milk yield losses in grazing dairy cattle. Vet Parasitol 2021; 292:109414. [PMID: 33752038 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Dictyocaulus viviparus, the causative agent of bovine parasitic bronchitis, is an important parasite of dairy cattle. Infections can lead to substantial economic losses, due to mortality, reduced weight gain and milk production and treatment costs. There have been relatively few studies investigating herd management risk factors for infections with D. viviparus and lungworm-associated production losses. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the impact of (sub)clinical lungworm infections on productivity in dairy cows and, (2) to identify or confirm risk factors, related to herd management, for infections in grazing dairy cattle. Using a recombinant Major Sperm Protein (MSP)-based ELISA, the presence of D. viviparus antibodies in bulk tank milk (BTM) samples was evaluated on 717 and 634 farms at two-week intervals during two grazing seasons (2018 and 2019). Associations between milk antibody levels and production data (mean milk yield in kg/cow/day, percentage of fat and protein) were assessed, as well as associations with putative risk factors in the herd management, gathered through a questionnaire survey. In both years, there was a substantial, but non-significant, difference in the annual mean milk yield on farms with at least one BTM sample above the cut-off of 0.41 ODR, compared with the mean milk yield on farms that stayed under this threshold on each sampling day (-0.17 and -0.70 kg milk/cow/day in 2018 and 2019, respectively). In 2019, this association was stronger, and significant, when the cut-off was exceeded in at least two consecutive BTM samples (-1.74 kg milk/cow/day). BTM results were also significantly negatively associated with the closest milk production data during the two-weekly BTM sampling intervals in 2019. A single or two consecutive positive tests were used in the risk factor analysis as a proxy for lungworm-associated milk yield losses. Purchase of new animals (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.68) and the proportion of the first grazing season covered by preventive anthelmintic treatment (OR up to 3.88, depending on proportion) were positively associated with lungworm-associated milk yield losses, while mowing at least 50 % of the pastures (OR = 0.57) was negatively associated with lungworm-associated milk yield losses. Our results suggest that the ELISA holds promise to identify herds with significant production losses due to lungworm infections, under the condition that BTM sampling is done repeatedly during the grazing season. Based on the confirmed risk factors, adjustments of the farm management could perhaps mitigate these losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vanhecke
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - J Charlier
- Kreavet, Hendrik Mertensstraat 17, 9150, Kruibeke, Belgium
| | - C Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - E Claerebout
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Abstract
We report 2 cases of human fascioliasis (HF) in Belgium, likely caused by consumption of vegetables from a garden that was flooded by pasture runoff. Because autochthonous HF is rare and the route of transmission was unusual, HF was not diagnosed until 6 months after symptom onset in both cases.
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10
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Vanhecke M, Charlier J, Strube C, Claerebout E. Association between Dictyocaulus viviparus bulk tank milk antibody levels and farmer-reported lungworm outbreaks. Vet Parasitol 2020; 288:109280. [PMID: 33160192 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus can have a major impact on bovine health and productivity. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA), based on a recombinant Major Sperm Protein (MSP), have been developed to detect D. viviparus-specific antibodies in bulk tank milk (BTM). The objectives of this study are to assess the association between BTM optical density ratio's (ODR) and farmer-reported lungworm outbreaks based on the clinical sign "coughing" throughout the grazing season and to compare the sensitivity and specificity of two ELISAs under field conditions. The Hannover MSP-ELISA and the prototype Svanova MSP-ELISA were used for the detection of D. viviparus antibodies in BTM samples on 717 dairy farms during the 2018 grazing season. Assuming all herds to be truly lungworm infected, the results show that the Svanova ELISA had a lower sensitivity (40-65%) and specificity (75-90%) for the detection of D. viviparus infections in BTM compared to the Hannover ELISA, which had a sensitivity of 42% and 74% and specificity of 100% and 98% at a cut-off of 0.41 ODR and 0.25 ODR, respectively. Therefore, analyses of the associations between milk antibody levels and farmer-reported outbreaks during the 2018 and 2019 grazing season were assessed using the Hannover ELISA, on 717 and 634 farms, respectively. A positive association was found between a farmer-reported outbreak and having at least two consecutive positive BTM ODR's at a cut-off of 0.41 in 2018 (Odds Ratio (OR) = 5.5) and 2019 (OR = 2.8). Furthermore, there was a significant association between a farmer-reported outbreak and having a positive BTM ODR in August (OR 2018 = 4.4; OR 2019 = 2.8) and October (OR 2018 = 3.7; OR 2019 = 1.8). On the farms with a farmer-reported outbreak and positive BTM samples, over half (2018 = 77%; 2019 = 57%) of the positive ODR's were situated before the outbreak and 47% (2018) and 42% (2019) within 12 weeks before the outbreak. In conclusion, there is a positive association between farmer-reported outbreaks and the occurrence of a positive BTM sample at the cut-off of 0.41 ODR using the Hannover ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vanhecke
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - J Charlier
- Kreavet, Hendrik Mertensstraat 17, 9150, Kruibeke, Belgium
| | - C Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - E Claerebout
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
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11
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Morelli S, Diakou A, Di Cesare A, Schnyder M, Colombo M, Strube C, Dimzas D, Latino R, Traversa D. Feline lungworms in Greece: copromicroscopic, molecular and serological study. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2877-2883. [PMID: 32748040 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06839-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Metastrongyloidea) causes verminous pneumonia in cats worldwide. This study evaluated the seroprevalence of A. abstrusus antibodies in 220 stray and free-roaming cats from insular (Mykonos, Crete, Skopelos) and continental (Thessaloniki, Attica) Greece. The results were compared with morphological and biomolecular identification of first-stage larvae (L1) in faeces. Positive cats were observed in all 5 areas: 13/97 (13.4%), 1/32 (3.1%), 7/26 (26.9%), 3/18 (16.7%) and 5/47 (10.6%) cats tested positive for A. abstrusus L1 by Baermann examination, and 33/97 (34.0%), 7/32 (21.9%), 6/26 (23.1%), 3/18 (16.7%) and 11/47 (23.4%) were seropositive, in Mykonos, Crete, Skopelos, Thessaloniki and Attica, respectively. Troglostrongylus brevior L1 were found in 12/97 (12.4%), 3/26 (11.5%) and 2/47 (4.3%) cats from Mykonos, Skopelos and Attica respectively. Six of the 220 cats (2.7%), i.e. 4/97 (4.1%) from Mykonos and 2/26 (7.7%) from Skopelos, shed L1 of both A. abstrusus and T. brevior. Sixty samples were ELISA-positive (27.3%, 95% CI: 21.5-33.7%), of which 21 (35%) tested copromicroscopically positive (19 monospecific infections and 2 mixed with Troglostrongylus brevior), and 5 were positive for T. brevior L1 only. Among seronegative cats (n = 140), L1 of A. abstrusus were additionally detected in 8 (5.7% out of 140) cats (i.e. 4 monospecific infections and 4 mixed with T. brevior), and in 6 (4.3% out of 140) cats, L1 of T. brevior as monospecific infection were detected. This study confirms the presence of lungworms in Greece and suggests that the number of cats infected with/exposed to metastrongylids is higher than detected by faecal examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D'Accio snc, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D'Accio snc, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mariasole Colombo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D'Accio snc, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Dimitris Dimzas
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ramona Latino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D'Accio snc, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Località Piano D'Accio snc, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
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12
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Novobilský A, Rustas BO, Grandi G, Högberg N, Höglund J. Selective flukicide treatment of non-lactating cows and the corresponding production impact of Fasciola hepatica in dairy herds in Sweden. Vet Parasitol 2020; 283:109180. [PMID: 32682280 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A control strategy against Fasciola hepatica infection based on selective treatment of non-lactating animals was evaluated in four Swedish dairy herds. The study was conducted over the course of two consecutive seasons in moderately to highly F. hepatica infected herds with robotic milking, where heifers and dry cows received an oral drench with albendazole (10 mg/kg) during three visits in January, February and March in both 2017 and 2018. This resulted in an anthelmintic coverage between 38 % and 58 % of the animals. Furthermore, on each visit, the infection status of all dewormed animals along with 15 randomly selected milking cows were monitored by detection of F. hepatica coproantigens. Individual milk samples were also collected quarterly from the whole herds for measurements of individual antibody levels against the parasite using milk ELISA. In addition, individual data on milk yield and quality were collected on a monthly basis between 2016 and 2018. To further study the impact of the infection on milk production, truly F. hepatica positive and negative cows in the first lactation were identified based on the results from coproantigen and milk ELISA assays. Total F. hepatica coproantigen prevalence in the herds varied between 28 % and 85 % in the first year, and between 27 % and 68 % in the second year of the study. We found that two years of treatments resulted in a significant decrease of coproantigen-positivity especially on the two most heavily infected farms. These results were confirmed by a similar drop in within-herd prevalences obtained by milk ELISA results. The infection had a significant negative impact on milk yields in untreated F. hepatica positive cows. No consistent long-term effect was observed at the herd level probably due to the influx of animals infected before puberty and/or adult animals that were re-infected at dry-off. This is the first study of the effects of F. hepatica infection on milk yield and quality in dairy herds in Sweden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Novobilský
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden; Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Bengt-Ove Rustas
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Giulio Grandi
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Niclas Högberg
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Höglund
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Howell AK, Williams DJL. The Epidemiology and Control of Liver Flukes in Cattle and Sheep. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2020; 36:109-123. [PMID: 32029178 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica, and Fascioloides magna are liver flukes causing disease in cattle and sheep. Damage to the liver due to F hepatica and F gigantica results in clinical disease and/or production losses. F magna seems to have little effect in cattle but causes high mortality in sheep. The fluke life cycle involves an aquatic or amphibious snail intermediate host and thus requires suitable moisture and temperature conditions. F magna requires the presence of deer. Drug treatment is the mainstay of control and needs to be applied considering the life cycle and epidemiology of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K Howell
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
| | - Diana J L Williams
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
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14
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May K, Bohlsen E, König S, Strube C. Fasciola hepatica seroprevalence in Northern German dairy herds and associations with milk production parameters and milk ketone bodies. Vet Parasitol 2019; 277:109016. [PMID: 31901738 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.109016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Infections with the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica remain a serious problem in dairy herds causing significant production losses. In sheep, a strong relationship between F. hepatica infections and an increase in serum ketone bodies due to reduced feed intake and liver damage was demonstrated. We hypothesized that F. hepatica infections might contribute to an increase in milk ketone bodies in dairy herds. Thus, the objective of the study was to estimate the association between F. hepatica bulk tank milk (BTM) antibodies and milk production parameters (milk yield, milk protein, fat yield), somatic cell count (SCC) and the milk ketone bodies ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetone, inferred from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, via linear mixed model analysis. A further aim was to follow up the F. hepatica seroprevalence in dairy herds in the northern German region East Frisia. We collected BTM samples between October and December from 1022 herds in 2017 and 1318 herds in 2018. Overall, 33.1 % of the herds tested positive in 2017 and 37.0 % in 2018, showing decreased F. hepatica seroprevalences compared to prior seroprevalence studies in the same region in 2010, 2008 and 2006 (> 45 % positive herds). We estimated a significant negative association (P < 0.001) between herd F. hepatica infection category and average milk yield with a loss of -1.62 kg per cow per day in strongly infected herds compared to BTM ELISA negative herds. Moreover, F. hepatica infection category had a significant effect on herd average milk protein and fat yield (P < 0.001), showing a decrease of 0.06 kg for both parameters from BTM ELISA negative herds to strongly infected herds. No significant association with milk SCC was found (P = 0.664). Regarding ketone bodies, we estimated significant higher average BHB values in strongly infected herds compared to the other three infection categories in the model analysis (P = 0.002). The association between F. hepatica infection category and acetone values was not significant (P = 0.079). Besides primary ketosis, fasciolosis should be considered as differential diagnosis in dairy herds with increased BHB values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina May
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany.
| | - Ernst Bohlsen
- State Control Association for Milk Recording, Landeskontrollverband (LKV) Weser-Ems e.V., 26789 Leer, Germany
| | - Sven König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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15
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Villa-Mancera A, Reynoso-Palomar A. High prevalence, potential economic impact, and risk factors of Fasciola hepatica in dairy herds in tropical, dry and temperate climate regions in Mexico. Acta Trop 2019; 193:169-175. [PMID: 30844375 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle herds and its influence on production in order to identify potential risk factors in different climate regions and risk indices in three states of Mexico. The levels of anti-F. hepatica IgG1 antibodies were determined using an indirect ELISA. A total of 837 farm owners or managers answered the questionnaire. The total prevalence of the parasite over the period of January to March 2017 was 63.56%. The highest percentages of positive herds for the categories were found in Hidalgo state (88.33%), the no-risk classification (69.55%) and the temperate climate (76.53%). Overall, the production losses were approximately 0.51 to 1.00 kg of milk per parasitized cow per day. The annual costs of milk production loss per farm were estimated to range from US$2218.39 to US$6424.51, followed by anthelmintic treatment for young stock (US$67.68) and adult cows (US$209.47). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, six final models were constructed for potential association with the ELISA results and were supported by the climatic, environmental and management factors. The results indicate that different factors were significantly associated with an increased risk of infection for each model.
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16
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Villa-Mancera A, Reynoso-Palomar A. Prevalence, economic assessment, and risk factors of gastrointestinal nematodes infecting herds in tropical, dry and temperate climate regions in Mexico. Microb Pathog 2019; 129:50-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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17
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May K, Brügemann K, König S, Strube C. Patent infections with Fasciola hepatica and paramphistomes (Calicophoron daubneyi) in dairy cows and association of fasciolosis with individual milk production and fertility parameters. Vet Parasitol 2019; 267:32-41. [PMID: 30878082 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Infections with the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica may result in considerable economic losses in the dairy livestock industry worldwide. Infections have been associated with detrimental impacts on milk production and milk quality as well as reduced fertility. However, most related data rely on examinations on herd level and the rather few studies on individual cow level are based solely on antibodies as measure for F. hepatica infections. This entails the risk of including false-positives as anti-F. hepatica antibodies persist for months even if the infection is cleared. Therefore, the presented study aimed to overcome this issue by assessing the association between F. hepatica infections measured via faecal egg counts (FEC) and milk production as well as fertility parameters in individual dairy cows. In total, 2006 faecal samples from 1166 Black and White dairy cows from 17 small and medium-sized German grassland farms were examined in July and September 2015. The relationship between patent F. hepatica infections and the milk production parameters milk yield, milk protein content, milk fat content and somatic cell score (SCS) was assessed in a linear mixed model using test-day records of individual cows. Patent F. hepatica infections were found on 35.3% (7/17) of farms with an individual cow prevalence of 10.1% (97/963) in July and 9.1% (95/1036) in September. Patent rumen fluke infections were detected on 17.6% (3/17) farms with an individual cow prevalence of 0.4% (4/963) in July and 0.7% (9/1036) in September. No significant association was found between F. hepatica infection status and either SCS as an indicator of udder health or milk production parameters, despite 0.06 and 0.10% lower values for milk protein and fat content in patently infected cows. Linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models were established to estimate the impact of fasciolosis on the fertility parameters calving to first service (CTFS), calving interval (CI), success in first insemination (SFI) and 56-day nonreturn rate (NRR56). A significantly higher average CTFS of 4.69 days was detected in F. hepatica infected cows (P = 0.025), but no significant relationship was found for the other fertility parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina May
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany; Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Brügemann
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - Sven König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
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Arenal A, García Y, Quesada L, Velázquez D, Sánchez D, Peña M, Suárez A, Díaz A, Sánchez Y, Casaert S, van Dijk J, Vercruysse J, Charlier J. Risk factors for the presence of Fasciola hepatica antibodies in bulk-milk samples and their association with milk production decreases, in Cuban dairy cattle. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:336. [PMID: 30409134 PMCID: PMC6225579 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1654-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Worldwide, Fasciola hepatica infection causes high production losses in the livestock industry. Recently, studies have analyzed the association between measurements of F. hepatica infection intensity and herd management practices. The aim of the present study, the first of its kind in a subtropical region, was to evaluate associations between F. hepatica bulk-tank milk ELISA results with herd management factors and milk yield in dairy herds, in Camagüey, Cuba. The SVANOVIR® F. hepatica-AB ELISA was used to measure F. hepatica antibody levels in a random sample of 516 dairy herds during the period of May–July of 2014. Farm management practice data were collected using a questionnaire. Results With 82% of the herds testing positive, the results indicate that F. hepatica is very widespread in this area. Reductions in milk production of 18 and 32% were observed in herds with Optical Density Ratios (ODR) of 0.3–0.6 and > 0.6, respectively, when compared to herds with ODR < 0.3. Overall, the longer the milking cows were put out to pasture, the higher the levels of anti-parasite antibodies. Co-grazing with sheep and goats also significantly increased the risk of high ODR. Conclusions Our data show a widespread occurrence of the parasite as well as a major potential impact of the infection on the Cuban development goal of becoming self-sufficient in milk production. Our risk factor analysis suggests that the prevention of infection around water sources, and the separation of cattle from small ruminants could be useful control measures. This is the first epidemiological survey of F. hepatica abundance, and associated reductions in milk yield, in dairy herds in Cuba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amilcar Arenal
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba.
| | - Yipsi García
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba
| | - Lídice Quesada
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba
| | - Dayamis Velázquez
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba
| | - Diamela Sánchez
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba
| | - Mayelin Peña
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba
| | - Asnaldo Suárez
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba
| | - Arnielis Díaz
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba
| | - Yuliet Sánchez
- Department of Morpho-Physiology, University of Camagüey Ignacio Agramonte Loynaz, Km 5 ½, 74650, Camagüey, Cuba
| | - Stijn Casaert
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Jan van Dijk
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7UU, UK
| | - Jozef Vercruysse
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
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19
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Bulk tank milk ELISA to detect IgG1 prevalence and clustering to determine spatial distribution and risk factors of Fasciola hepatica-infected herds in Mexico. J Helminthol 2018; 93:704-710. [DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x18000792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractFasciola hepatica is a helminth parasite that causes huge economic losses to the livestock industry worldwide. Fasciolosis is an emerging foodborne zoonotic disease that affects both humans and grazing animals. This study investigated the associations between climatic/environmental factors (derived from satellite data) and management factors affecting the spatial distribution of this liver fluke in cattle herds across different climate zones in three Mexican states. A bulk-tank milk (BTM) IgG1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was used to detect F. hepatica infection levels of 717 cattle herds between January and April 2015. Management data were collected from the farms by questionnaire. The parasite's overall herd prevalence and mean optical density ratio (ODR) were 62.76% and 0.67, respectively. The presence of clustered F. hepatica infections was studied using the spatial scan statistic. Three marked clusters in the spatial distribution of the parasite were observed. Logistic regression was used to test three models of potential statistical association from the ELISA results using climatic, environmental and management variables. The final model based on climatic/environmental and management variables included the following factors: rainfall, elevation, proportion of grazed grass in the diet, contact with other herds, herd size, parasite control use and education level as significant predictors. Geostatistical kriging was applied to generate a risk map for the presence of parasites in dairy herds in Mexico. In conclusion, the spatial distribution of F. hepatica in Mexican cattle herds is influenced by multifactorial effects and should be considered in developing regionally adapted control measures.
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Byrne AW, Graham J, McConville J, Milne G, McDowell S, Hanna REB, Guelbenzu-Gonzalo M. Seasonal variation of Fasciola hepatica antibodies in dairy herds in Northern Ireland measured by bulk tank milk ELISA. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:2725-2733. [PMID: 29948207 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5961-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bovine fasciolosis, caused by the infection of the trematode parasite Fasciola hepatica, remains a problem in dairy herds causing significant production losses. In this study, bulk milk tank samples were utilised to generate a comprehensive survey of the variation in liver fluke exposure over the four seasons of 2016 in Northern Ireland (NI). Samples were tested using an antibody ELISA test; within-herd prevalence levels were categorised relative to sample-to-positive ratio (S/P%). Overall, 1494 herds (~ 50% of all active dairy farms in NI) were sampled. In total, 5750 samples were tested with 91% of herds having a sample result for each season. The proportion of herds with evidence of liver fluke exposure was very high across the year, with 93.03% of all bulk milk samples having some indication of liver fluke antibody presence. A high proportion of samples (2187/5750; 38.03%) fell within the highest infection class (indicating high within-herd prevalence). There was significant seasonal variation in the mean S/P%. A multivariable random effect ordinal logit model suggested that the greatest probability of being in a higher infection class was in winter, whilst the lowest was recorded during summer. There was a significant negative association between increasing herd liver fluke infection class and herd size. Furthermore, there was significant variation in infection levels across regions of Northern Ireland, with higher infection levels in northern administrative areas. This study demonstrates the very high liver fluke exposure in this region of Europe, and that risk is not equally distributed spatially or across seasons in dairy herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Byrne
- Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Science Division, Stormont, Belfast, UK. .,School of Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
| | - Jordon Graham
- Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Science Division, Stormont, Belfast, UK
| | - James McConville
- Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Science Division, Stormont, Belfast, UK
| | - Georgina Milne
- Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Science Division, Stormont, Belfast, UK
| | - Stanley McDowell
- Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Science Division, Stormont, Belfast, UK
| | - Robert E B Hanna
- Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Science Division, Stormont, Belfast, UK
| | - Maria Guelbenzu-Gonzalo
- Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Science Division, Stormont, Belfast, UK. .,Animal Health Ireland, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, Ireland.
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Bellet C, Green M, Bradley A, Kaler J. Short- and long-term association between individual levels of milk antibody against Ostertagia ostertagi and first-lactation heifer’s production performances. Vet Parasitol 2018; 256:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Kowalczyk SJ, Czopowicz M, Weber CN, Müller E, Nalbert T, Bereznowski A, Kaba J. Herd-level seroprevalence of Fasciola hepatica and Ostertagia ostertagi infection in dairy cattle population in the central and northeastern Poland. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:131. [PMID: 29665814 PMCID: PMC5905167 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1455-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fasciola hepatica and Ostertagia ostertagi infections are widespread in cattle population of Europe, however data on their prevalence in Poland are only fragmentary. Therefore, the cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the herd-level seroprevalence of F. hepatica and O. ostertagi infection in dairy cattle population in the central and north-eastern provinces Poland, and to identify basic local risk factors for these infections. In total, 598 herds were enrolled, 394 (65.9%) in the north-eastern province and 204 (34.1%) in the central province. In each herd the questionnaire survey was conducted and bulk-tank milk (BTM) sample was collected and screened using two indirect immunoenzymatic tests. Optical density ratio (ODR) was regarded as the quantitative proxy of exposure to either of the two parasites. Results Both Fasciola and Ostertagia ELISA ODR in the north-eastern province was significantly higher than ODR in the central province. At the cut-off value of ODR = 0.27 the true herd-level seroprevalence of F. hepatica was 79.6% (95% CI: 74.0%, 84.3%) in the north-eastern province and 13.0% (95% CI: 5.3%, 21.7%) in the central province. At the cut-off of ODR = 0.50151 of 188 herds (80.3%, 95% CI: 74.1%, 85.4%) were seropositive for O. ostertagi in the north-eastern province and only 70 of 136 herds (51.5%, 95% CI: 43.1%, 59.7%) were seropositive in the central province. Location of a herd in the north-eastern province, longer grazing period practiced in a herd and > 50%-share of grazing grass in roughage were all positively related to the increase in exposure to both parasites. Moreover, the use of hay or haylage as main roughage proved to be positively related to the increase in exposure to F. hepatica. Conclusions F. hepatica and O. ostertagi are widespread in cattle population in Poland, however their occurrence at a herd-level varies between different regions of Poland. This diversity can only partly be explained by different herd management, and appears linked to environmental and climate conditions typical for these regions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1455-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sławomir J Kowalczyk
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Czopowicz
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Corinna N Weber
- Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, Steubenstrasse 4, 97688, Bad Kissingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Müller
- Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, Steubenstrasse 4, 97688, Bad Kissingen, Germany
| | - Tomasz Nalbert
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Bereznowski
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jarosław Kaba
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland
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Villa-Mancera A, Pastelín-Rojas C, Olivares-Pérez J, Córdova-Izquierdo A, Reynoso-Palomar A. Bulk tank milk prevalence and production losses, spatial analysis, and predictive risk mapping of Ostertagia ostertagi infections in Mexican cattle herds. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:1613-1620. [PMID: 29594346 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5845-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence, production losses, spatial clustering, and predictive risk mapping in different climate zones in five states of Mexico. The bulk tank milk samples obtained between January and April 2015 were analyzed for antibodies against Ostertagia ostertagi using the Svanovir ELISA. A total of 1204 farm owners or managers answered the questionnaire. The overall herd prevalence and mean optical density ratio (ODR) of parasite were 61.96% and 0.55, respectively. Overall, the production loss was approximately 0.542 kg of milk per parasited cow per day (mean ODR = 0.92, 142 farms, 11.79%). The spatial disease cluster analysis using SatScan software indicated that two high-risk clusters were observed. In the multivariable analysis, three models were tested for potential association with the ELISA results supported by climatic, environmental, and management factors. The final logistic regression model based on both climatic/environmental and management variables included the factors rainfall, elevation, land surface temperature (LST) day, and parasite control program that were significantly associated with an increased risk of infection. Geostatistical kriging was applied to generate a risk map for the presence of parasite in dairy cattle herds in Mexico. The results indicate that climatic and meteorological factors had a higher potential impact on the spatial distribution of O. ostertagi than the management factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Villa-Mancera
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, 4 Sur 304 Col. Centro, 75482, Tecamachalco, Puebla, Mexico.
| | - César Pastelín-Rojas
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, 4 Sur 304 Col. Centro, 75482, Tecamachalco, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Jaime Olivares-Pérez
- Unidad Académica de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Ciudad Altamirano, Guerrero, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Córdova-Izquierdo
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Reynoso-Palomar
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, 4 Sur 304 Col. Centro, 75482, Tecamachalco, Puebla, Mexico
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24
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Jansen F, Dorny P, Gabriël S, Eichenberger RM, Berkvens D. Estimating prevalence and diagnostic test characteristics of bovine cysticercosis in Belgium in the absence of a 'gold standard' reference test using a Bayesian approach. Vet Parasitol 2018; 254:142-146. [PMID: 29656999 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A Bayesian model was developed to estimate values for the prevalence and diagnostic test characteristics of bovine cysticercosis (Taenia saginata) by combining results of four imperfect tests. Samples of 612 bovine carcases that were found negative for cysticercosis during routine meat inspection collected at three Belgian slaughterhouses, underwent enhanced meat inspection (additional incisions in the heart), dissection of the predilection sites, B158/B60 Ag-ELISA and ES Ab-ELISA. This Bayesian approach allows for the combination of prior expert opinion with experimental data to estimate the true prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in the absence of a gold standard test. A first model (based on a multinomial distribution and including all possible interactions between the individual tests) required estimation of 31 parameters, while only allowing for 15 parameters to be estimated. Including prior expert information about specificity and sensitivity resulted in an optimal model with a reduction of the number of parameters to be estimated to 8. The estimated bovine cysticercosis prevalence was 33.9% (95% credibility interval: 27.7-44.4%), while apparent prevalence based on meat inspection is only 0.23%. The test performances were estimated as follows (sensitivity (Se) - specificity (Sp)): enhanced meat inspection (Se 2.87% - Sp 100%), dissection of predilection sites (Se 69.8% - Sp 100%), Ag-ELISA (Se 26.9% - Sp 99.4%), Ab-ELISA (Se 13.8% - Sp 92.9%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Famke Jansen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 133 Salisburylaan, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Pierre Dorny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 133 Salisburylaan, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Sarah Gabriël
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 133 Salisburylaan, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ramon Marc Eichenberger
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Berkvens
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
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25
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May K, Brügemann K, König S, Strube C. The effect of patent Dictyocaulus viviparus (re)infections on individual milk yield and milk quality in pastured dairy cows and correlation with clinical signs. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:24. [PMID: 29310709 PMCID: PMC5759297 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2602-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infections with the bovine lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus might lead to reduced milk production and detrimental impacts on milk quality resulting in considerable economic losses in dairy farming. Methods In the presented field study, 1988 faecal samples were collected from 1166 Black and White dairy cows allocated in 17 small and medium-sized German grassland farms. Faecal samples were collected in summer and autumn 2015 to assess D. viviparus larvae excretion. Test-day records were used to estimate the association between patent D. viviparus infections in individual cows and the milk production parameters milk yield, milk protein and milk fat content by using linear mixed models. Bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from each farm and individual milk samples from those cows which were excreting larvae in summer were collected in autumn. In addition, occurrence of the clinical symptom “coughing” was noted in individual cows during autumn sampling to determine its association with patent lungworm infections. Results Patent D. viviparus infections were found on 23.5% (4/17) of farms with a prevalence at the individual cow level of 0.9% (9/960) in summer and 3.4% (35/1028) in autumn. No BTM sample exceeded the BTM ELISA cut-off value of 0.410 optical density ratio (ODR), the mean value was 0.168 ODR. Only one individual milk sample exceeded the individual milk ELISA cut-off value of 0.573 ODR (mean value of 0.302 ODR). A patent D. viviparus infection status was associated with a lower average daily milk yield of 1.62 kg/cow/day (P = 0.0406). No significant association was found with milk protein or fat content representing milk quality parameters. Coughing was observed in 5.9% (61/1028) of cows. Of the coughing cows, only 4.9% (3/61) had a patent lungworm infection. Fisher’s exact test showed no significant difference between infected and non-infected coughing cows. Conclusions Farmers and veterinarians should be aware that patent lungworm (re)infections in dairy cows reduce milk yield, despite the absence of clinical signs. Furthermore, if dairy cows present with coughing, other differential diagnoses need to be considered in addition to dictyocaulosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-017-2602-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina May
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany.,Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390, Gießen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Brügemann
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390, Gießen, Germany
| | - Sven König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390, Gießen, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
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Bellet C, Green M, Bradley A, Kaler J. A longitudinal study of gastrointestinal parasites in English dairy farms. Practices and factors associated with first lactation heifer exposure to Ostertagia ostertagi on pasture. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:537-546. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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27
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Apparent prevalence of and risk factors for infection with Ostertagia ostertagi, Fasciola hepatica and Dictyocaulus viviparus in Swiss dairy herds. Vet Parasitol 2018; 250:52-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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28
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Jiménez-Rocha AE, Argüello-Vargas S, Romero-Zuñiga JJ, Sequeira-Avalos JA, Dolz G, Montenegro-Hidalgo V, Schnieder T. Environmental factors associated with Dictyocaulus viviparus and Fasciola hepatica prevalence in dairy herds from Costa Rica. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2017; 9:115-121. [PMID: 31014833 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dictyocaulosis and fasciolosis are parasitic diseases that cause considerable economic losses for owners of farm animals worldwide, with special relevance on fasciolosis because it is an emerging zoonosis. Indirect diagnosis of these diseases through analyses of bulk milk tank samples has allowed carrying out large-scale prevalence studies, while the use of geographical information systems has helped to visualize and determine those variables that affect distribution of these pathogens. This study is intended to describe the spatial distribution of Dictyocaulus viviparus and Fasciola hepatica in dairy herds from Costa Rica, as well as their associated environmental factors. Bulk milk tank samples from 526 dairy herds in the three most important dairy regions of Costa Rica were analyzed using enzyme immunoassays. Results from the farms were subjected to spatial analyses using Holdridge's life zones, relief and soil type environmental layers. Of the total bulk milk tank samples analyzed, 3.8% (n=20) and 3.6% (n=19) were positive for D. viviparus and F. hepatica, respectively. Moran's I analysis revealed the existence of potential cluster (Moran's I=1.789, z=12.726 p<0.05) for D. viviparus. Consequently, Getis-Ord General G analysis showed that the spatial distribution of positive farms in the dataset was clustered (Observed General G=0.015, variance=0.000001, z=12.823, p<0.05). No significant positive spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I=0.038, z=0.286, p>0.0.5) was observed for F. hepatica. Furthermore, a significant difference was detected in the spatial locations of both parasites (latitude p<0.05, longitude p<0.05), and about the spatial distribution of both D. viviparus negative and positive farms (latitude p<0.05, longitude p<0.05), as well as in F. hepatica negative and positive farms regarding on latitude (p<0.05), but not on longitude (p>0.05). In the case of environmental factors, significant differences were found for D. viviparus and F. hepatica with respect to types of soil, precipitation, altitudinal belts, life zones, biotemperature, and elevation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Jiménez-Rocha
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica.
| | - S Argüello-Vargas
- Posgrado Regional en Ciencias Veterinarias Tropicales, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - J J Romero-Zuñiga
- Programa de Investigación en Medicina Poblacional, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - J A Sequeira-Avalos
- Cooperativa de Productores de Leche Dos Pinos, RL. Alajuela, Costa Rica, P.O. Box, 179-4060, Alajuela, Costa Rica
| | - G Dolz
- Programa de Investigación en Medicina Poblacional, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - V Montenegro-Hidalgo
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - T Schnieder
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Mehmood K, Zhang H, Sabir AJ, Abbas RZ, Ijaz M, Durrani AZ, Saleem MH, Ur Rehman M, Iqbal MK, Wang Y, Ahmad HI, Abbas T, Hussain R, Ghori MT, Ali S, Khan AU, Li J. A review on epidemiology, global prevalence and economical losses of fasciolosis in ruminants. Microb Pathog 2017; 109:253-262. [PMID: 28602837 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Fasciolosis is an important plant borne trematode zoonosis in ruminants caused by the Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigentica, It is classified as a neglected tropical disease and found in more than 50 countries especially where sheep and cattle are reared. Fasciolosis is a serious animal health problems in many rural and urban areas of world, causing significant financial losses due to decrease in production and viscera condemnation in animals. Accurate diagnosis of fasciolosis is always remained a challenging task for the field practitioners. There is no comprehensive summary on the occurrence and distribution of the infection at international level. Therefore, we intended to provide a complete overview on the prevalence and epidemiology of fasciolosis in farm animals from a global prospective. It includes to map the global distribution of fasciolosis in different areas of the world to identify the endemic regions which may be a source of potential disease outbreak. The financial liability related to fasciolosis on the livestock production has also been addressed. For this purpose, the published data during 2000-2015 (15 years) on fasciolosis was reviewed and collected by electronic literature search of four databases including Google, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science. Data presented are contemplated to enhance our current understanding of the parasite's geographical distribution, host range, and economic losses. Information provided would be useful for the application of more effective control strategies against fasciolosis in different geo-economics regions of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Mehmood
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; University College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan.
| | - Hui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Ahmad Jawad Sabir
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribe, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - Rao Zahid Abbas
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Ijaz
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Aneela Zameer Durrani
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hassan Saleem
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Mujeeb Ur Rehman
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Muhammad Kashif Iqbal
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Yajing Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Hafiz Ishfaq Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Huebi, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Tariq Abbas
- University College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Riaz Hussain
- University College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Taslim Ghori
- University College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Sadaqat Ali
- University College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Aman Ullah Khan
- College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences Jhang, Sub-Campus of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Jiakui Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; College of Animals Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, Linzhi, Tibet 860000, PR China.
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30
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Fanke J, Charlier J, Steppin T, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Vercruysse J, Demeler J. Economic assessment of Ostertagia ostertagi and Fasciola hepatica infections in dairy cattle herds in Germany using Paracalc ®. Vet Parasitol 2017; 240:39-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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31
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Innocent GT, Gilbert L, Jones EO, McLeod JE, Gunn G, McKendrick IJ, Albon SD. Combining Slaughterhouse Surveillance Data with Cattle Tracing Scheme and Environmental Data to Quantify Environmental Risk Factors for Liver Fluke in Cattle. Front Vet Sci 2017; 4:65. [PMID: 28534030 PMCID: PMC5421147 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fluke infection causes serious disease (fasciolosis) in cattle and sheep in many regions of the world, resulting in production losses and additional economic consequences due to condemnation of the liver at slaughter. Liver fluke depends on mud snails as an intermediate host and infect livestock when ingested through grazing. Therefore, environmental factors play important roles in infection risk and climate change is likely to modify this. Here, we demonstrate how slaughterhouse data can be integrated with other data, including animal movement and climate variables to identify environmental risk factors for liver fluke in cattle in Scotland. We fitted a generalized linear mixed model to the data, with exposure-weighted random and fixed effects, an approach which takes into account the amount of time cattle spent at different locations, exposed to different levels of risk. This enabled us to identify an increased risk of liver fluke with increased animal age, rainfall, and temperature and for farms located further to the West, in excess of the risk associated with a warmer, wetter climate. This model explained 45% of the variability in liver fluke between farms, suggesting that the unexplained 55% was due to factors not included in the model, such as differences in on-farm management and presence of wet habitats. This approach demonstrates the value of statistically integrating routinely recorded slaughterhouse data with other pre-existing data, creating a powerful approach to quantify disease risks in production animals. Furthermore, this approach can be used to better quantify the impact of projected climate change on liver fluke risk for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Edward O Jones
- The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, UK.,Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - George Gunn
- Future Farming Systems, R&D Division, SRUC, An Lòchran - Inverness Campus, Inverness, UK
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Twomey AJ, Sayers RG, Carroll RI, Byrne N, Brien EO, Doherty ML, McClure JC, Graham DA, Berry DP. Genetic parameters for both a liver damage phenotype caused by and antibody response to phenotype in dairy and beef cattle. J Anim Sci 2017; 94:4109-4119. [PMID: 27898879 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016-0621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
is a helminth parasite of economic importance to the global cattle industry, with documented high international herd prevalence. The objective of the present study was to generate the first published genetic parameter estimates for liver damage caused by as well as antibody response to in cattle. Abattoir data on the presence of live , or -damaged livers, were available between the years 2012 and 2015, inclusive. A second data set was available on cows from 68 selected dairy herds with a blood ELISA test for antibody response to in autumn 2015. Animals were identified as exposed by using herd mate phenotype, and only exposed animals were retained for analysis. The abattoir data set consisted of 20,481 dairy cows and 75,041 young dairy and beef animals, whereas the study herd data set consisted of 6,912 dairy cows. (Co)variance components for phenotypes in both data sets were estimated using animal linear mixed models. Fixed effects included in the model for both data sets were contemporary group, heterosis coefficient, recombination loss coefficient, parity, age relative to parity/age group, and stage of lactation. An additional fixed effect of abattoir by date of slaughter was included in the model for the analysis of the abattoir data. Direct additive genetic effects and a residual effect were included as random effects for all analyses. After data edits, the prevalence of liver damage caused by in cows and young cattle was 47% and 20%, respectively. The prevalence of a positive antibody response to in cows from the study herd data was 36% after data edits. The heritability of as a binary trait for dairy cows in abattoir data and study herd data was 0.03 ± 0.01 and 0.09 ± 0.02, respectively; heritability in young cattle was 0.01 ± 0.005. The additive genetic SD of as a binary trait was 0.069 and 0.050 for cows and young cattle from the abattoir data, respectively, and 0.112 from the study herd cows. The genetic correlation between liver damage caused by in young cattle and cows from the abattoir data was 0.94 ± 0.312 and the genetic correlation between liver damage caused by in cows and positive antibody response to in cows in the study herd data was 0.37 ± 0.283.
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van der Voort M, Van Meensel J, Lauwers L, de Haan M, Evers A, Van Huylenbroeck G, Charlier J. Economic modelling of grazing management against gastrointestinal nematodes in dairy cattle. Vet Parasitol 2017; 236:68-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Charlier J, Ghebretinsae A, Meyns T, Czaplicki G, Vercruysse J, Claerebout E. Antibodies against Dictyocaulus viviparus major sperm protein in bulk tank milk: Association with clinical appearance, herd management and milk production. Vet Parasitol 2016; 232:36-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Iglesias-Piñeiro J, González-Warleta M, Castro-Hermida JA, Córdoba M, González-Lanza C, Manga-González Y, Mezo M. Transmission of Calicophoron daubneyi and Fasciola hepatica in Galicia (Spain): Temporal follow-up in the intermediate and definitive hosts. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:610. [PMID: 27894356 PMCID: PMC5126829 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1892-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Paramphistomosis caused by Calicophoron daubneyi and fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica are common parasitic diseases of livestock animals. Transmission of the diseases depends on the presence of intermediate hosts, i.e. freshwater gastropods such as lymnaeids. We carried out a 2-year-long study of the dynamics of the snail population acting as the intermediate host for these parasites, considering the population structure in terms of size/age and infection status. In addition, we determined the kinetics of trematode egg excretion in grazing cows. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were used to analyze the associations between different response variables and snail size, sampling month and weather-related variables. Results Of the molluscan species examined, Galba truncatula, Radix peregra, Anisus (Anisus) leucostoma and Pisidium casertanum (n = 2802), only G. truncatula was infected with C. daubneyi or F. hepatica, at prevalence rates of 8.2% and 4.4% respectively. The probability of infection with C. daubneyi or F. hepatica was linearly related to snail size, although in different ways (negative for C. daubneyi and positive for F. hepatica). The total snail population increased in winter, when specimens of all size classes were found. Infected snails were more abundant during spring-autumn. Mature cercariae of both parasites were found in most seasons. In the statistical models, the sampling month accounted for a high percentage (71.9–78.2%) of the observed variability in snail abundance. The inclusion of climatic variables in the models moderately increased the percentage of deviance explained (77.7–91.9%). Excretion of C. daubneyi eggs in cow faeces was always higher than that of F. hepatica eggs. Conclusions Particular care should be taken to prevent pastures and the surrounding environment being contaminated with parasite eggs during winter-spring, when the number of snails susceptible to miracidial infections is maximal. This is therefore the optimal time for treating grazing animals. Nevertheless, control of trematodosis based only on chemotherapy is difficult in an area such as the study area, where environmental factors favour the regular appearance of snail populations harbouring mature cercariae. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1892-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Iglesias-Piñeiro
- Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física, Facultade de Bioloxía, Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706, Santiago de Compostela (A Coruña), Spain
| | - Marta González-Warleta
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, Instituto Galego de Calidade Alimentaria-Xunta de Galicia, Carretera AC-542 de Betanzos a Mesón do Vento, Km 7, 15318, Abegondo (A Coruña), Spain
| | - José Antonio Castro-Hermida
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, Instituto Galego de Calidade Alimentaria-Xunta de Galicia, Carretera AC-542 de Betanzos a Mesón do Vento, Km 7, 15318, Abegondo (A Coruña), Spain
| | - María Córdoba
- Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Camino González-Lanza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-ULE, 24346, Grulleros (León), Spain
| | - Yolanda Manga-González
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-ULE, 24346, Grulleros (León), Spain
| | - Mercedes Mezo
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, Instituto Galego de Calidade Alimentaria-Xunta de Galicia, Carretera AC-542 de Betanzos a Mesón do Vento, Km 7, 15318, Abegondo (A Coruña), Spain.
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Charlier J, Ghebretinsae AH, Levecke B, Ducheyne E, Claerebout E, Vercruysse J. Climate-driven longitudinal trends in pasture-borne helminth infections of dairy cattle. Int J Parasitol 2016; 46:881-888. [PMID: 27771256 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Helminth parasites of grazing ruminants are highly prevalent globally and impact negatively on animal productivity and food security. There is a growing concern that climate change increases helminth disease frequency and intensity. In Europe, these concerns stem from case reports and theoretical life cycle models assessing the effects of climate change scenarios on helminth epidemiology. We believe this study is the first to investigate climate-driven trends in helminth infections of cattle on a cohort of randomly selected farms. One thousand, six hundred and eighty dairy farms were monitored over an 8year period for the two major helminth infections in temperate climate regions and climate-driven trends were investigated by multivariable linear mixed models. The general levels of exposure to Fasciola hepatica decreased over the study period while those to Ostertagia ostertagi increased, and this could at least be partially explained by meteorological factors (i.e. the number of rainy (precipitation >1mm) and warm days (average daily temperature >10°C) in a year). The longitudinal trends varied according to the altitude and the agricultural region of the farm. This study shows that longitudinal epidemiological data from sentinel farms combined with meteorological datasets can significantly contribute to understanding the effects of climate on infectious disease dynamics. When local environmental conditions are taken into account, the effects of climate change on disease dynamics can also be understood at more local scales. We recommend setting up a longitudinal sampling strategy across Europe in order to monitor climate-driven changes in helminth disease risk to inform adaptation strategies to promote animal health and productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aklilu H Ghebretinsae
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Bruno Levecke
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | | | - Edwin Claerebout
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Jozef Vercruysse
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Byrne AW, McBride S, Lahuerta-Marin A, Guelbenzu M, McNair J, Skuce RA, McDowell SWJ. Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) infection in cattle in Northern Ireland: a large-scale epidemiological investigation utilising surveillance data. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:209. [PMID: 27079910 PMCID: PMC4832448 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1489-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) is a widespread parasite of ruminants which can have significant economic impact on cattle production. Fluke infection status at the animal-level is captured during meat inspection of all animals processed for human consumption within Northern Ireland. These national datasets have not been analysed to assess their utility in uncovering patterns in fluke infection at animal- and herd-levels in Northern Ireland. Methods We utilised a dataset of 1.2 million animal records from ~18,000 herds across 3 years (2011–2013) to assess animal- and herd-level apparent prevalence and risk-factors associated with fluke infection. Animal-level apparent prevalence was measured as the proportion of animals exhibiting evidence of fluke infection at slaughter; between herd-level infection prevalence was measured by binary categorisation of herds (infected or not). “Within herd” infection prevalence was measured using the proportion of animals within a herd that showed evidence of fluke infection per year (ranging from 0–100 %). “Within herd” infection prevalence at the herd level was investigated using multivariable modelling. Results At the animal level, the proportion of animals slaughtered that exhibited evidence of infection was 21–25 % amongst years. Across herds, the proportion of herds with at least one infected animal, varied between 61 and 65 %. However, there was a significant sampling effect at the herd-level; all herds where at least 105 animals slaughtered over the study period exhibited evidence of fluke infection (100 %). There was significant variation in terms of within-herd infection prevalence. Risk factors included herd type, long-term weather variation, geographic location (region) and the abattoir. Conclusions Liver fluke apparent prevalence was high at the herd-level across years. However, there was lower prevalence at the animal level, which may indicate significant variation in the exposure to fluke infection within herds. The proportion infected within-herds varied significantly in time and space, and by abattoir, herd-type and some weather variables. These data are a useful source of information on a widespread endemic disease, despite known limitations in terms of test performance (low sensitivity). As well as informing on the distribution and severity of liver fluke infection, these analyses will be used to investigate the effect of co-infection on risk for bovine tuberculosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1489-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Byrne
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT43SD, UK.
| | - Stewart McBride
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT43SD, UK
| | - Angela Lahuerta-Marin
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT43SD, UK
| | - Maria Guelbenzu
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT43SD, UK
| | - Jim McNair
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT43SD, UK
| | - Robin A Skuce
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT43SD, UK
| | - Stanley W J McDowell
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT43SD, UK
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Ploeger H. Comment on Bloemhoff et al., 2015. Prevalence and seasonality of bulk milk antibodies against Dictyocaulus viviparus and Ostertagia ostertagi in Irish pasture-based dairy herds. Vet. Parasitol. 209, 108–116. Vet Parasitol 2015; 214:226-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Dank M, Holzhauer M, Veldhuis A, Frankena K. Association between Dictyocaulus viviparus status and milk production parameters in Dutch dairy herds. J Dairy Sci 2015; 98:7741-7. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2015-9408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Howell A, Baylis M, Smith R, Pinchbeck G, Williams D. Epidemiology and impact of Fasciola hepatica exposure in high-yielding dairy herds. Prev Vet Med 2015; 121:41-8. [PMID: 26093971 PMCID: PMC4528078 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica is a trematode parasite with a worldwide distribution and is the cause of important production losses in the dairy industry. The aim of this observational study was to assess the prevalence of exposure to F. hepatica in a group of high yielding dairy herds, to determine the risk factors and investigate their associations with production and fertility parameters. Bulk milk tank samples from 606 herds that supply a single retailer with liquid milk were tested with an antibody ELISA for F. hepatica. Multivariable linear regression was used to investigate the effect of farm management and environmental risk factors on F. hepatica exposure. Higher rainfall, grazing boggy pasture, presence of beef cattle on farm, access to a stream or pond and smaller herd size were associated with an increased risk of exposure. Univariable regression was used to look for associations between fluke exposure and production-related variables including milk yield, composition, somatic cell count and calving index. Although causation cannot be assumed, a significant (p<0.001) negative association was seen between F. hepatica exposure and estimated milk yield at the herd level, representing a 15% decrease in yield for an increase in F. hepatica exposure from the 25th to the 75th percentile. This remained significant when fertility, farm management and environmental factors were controlled for. No associations were found between F. hepatica exposure and any of the other production, disease or fertility variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Howell
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZJ, UK; School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK.
| | - Matthew Baylis
- NIHR Health protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK; Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Rob Smith
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Gina Pinchbeck
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK; School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Diana Williams
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZJ, UK; School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, UK
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Beck MA, Colwell DD, Goater CP, Kienzle SW. Where's the risk? Landscape epidemiology of gastrointestinal parasitism in Alberta beef cattle. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:434. [PMID: 26303931 PMCID: PMC4548846 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1040-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gastrointenstinal nematodes (GIN) present a serious challenge to the health and productivity of grazing stock around the globe. However, the epidemiology of GIN transmission remains poorly understood in northern climates. Combining use of serological diagnostics, GIS mapping technology, and geospatial statistics, we evaluated ecological covariates of spatial and temporal variability in GIN transmission among bovine calves pastured in Alberta, Canada. Methods Sera were collected from 1000 beef calves across Alberta, Canada over three consecutive years (2008–2010) and analyzed for presence of anti-GIN antibodies using the SVANOVIR Ostertagia osteragi-Ab ELISA kit. Using a GIS and Bayesian multivariate spatial statistics, we evaluated the degree to which variation in specific environmental covariates (e.g. moisture, humidity, temperature) was associated with variation in spatial and temporal heterogeneity in exposure to GIN (Nematodirus and other trichostrongyles, primarily Ostertagia and Cooperia). Results Variation in growing degree days above a base temperature of 5 °C, humidity, air temperature, and accumulated precipitation were found to be significant predictors of broad–scale spatial and temporal variation in serum antibody concentrations. Risk model projections identified that while transmission in cattle from southeastern and northwestern Alberta was relatively low in all years, rate of GIN transmission was generally higher in the central region of Alberta. Conclusions The spatial variability in risk is attributed to higher average humidity, precipitation and moderate temperatures in the central region of Alberta in comparison with the hot, dry southeastern corner of the province and the cool, dry northwestern corner. Although more targeted sampling is needed to improve model accuracy, our projections represent an important step towards tying treatment recommendations to actual risk of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Beck
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3 M4, Canada.
| | - Douglas D Colwell
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Station, 5403 1st Ave South, Lethbirdge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada.
| | - Cameron P Goater
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3 M4, Canada.
| | - Stefan W Kienzle
- Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3 M4, Canada.
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Bloemhoff Y, Forbes A, Danaher M, Good B, Morgan E, Mulcahy G, Sekiya M, Sayers R. Determining the Prevalence and Seasonality of Fasciola hepatica in Pasture-based Dairy herds in Ireland using a Bulk Tank Milk ELISA. Ir Vet J 2015; 68:16. [PMID: 26157575 PMCID: PMC4495626 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-015-0042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fasciola hepatica is a helminth parasite of global importance in livestock, with major economic impact. However information on F. hepatica infections in Irish pasture-based dairy herds is limited. Therefore this study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence, seasonality and management factors associated with F. hepatica. A total of 319 Irish dairy herds were selected for this study. Bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were collected from 290 dairy farms on a quarter year basis, while from a further 29 dairy farms BTM samples were collected on a monthly basis to provide a more detailed pattern of F. hepatica exposure in Irish herds. BTM samples were analysed using a commercially available F. hepatica antibody detection ELISA. Furthermore, within-herd prevalence of F. hepatica was assessed in a subset of these 29 herds (n = 17); both individual serum samples and bulk tank milk samples were collected. RESULTS A within-herd prevalence of ≤ 50 % was found for herds with negative bulk tank milk samples. The mean prevalence of the 290 study herds was 75.4 % (Range 52 %-75.1 %), with the highest prevalence being observed in November (75.1 %). The seasonal pattern of F. hepatica shows elevated antibodies as the grazing season progressed, reaching a peak in January. A significant association was found between F. hepatica and age at first calving. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that F. hepatica is present in a large proportion of Irish dairy herds and provides a basis on which control practices, particularly in adult dairy cows, can be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yris Bloemhoff
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland
| | | | - Martin Danaher
- Food Safety Department, Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Teagasc, Dublin 15, Republic of Ireland
| | - Barbara Good
- Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Athenry, Co, Galway, Republic of Ireland
| | - Eric Morgan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol, BS8 1UG UK
| | - Grace Mulcahy
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Mary Sekiya
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Ríona Sayers
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland
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ECONOHEALTH: Placing helminth infections of livestock in an economic and social context. Vet Parasitol 2015; 212:62-7. [PMID: 26159836 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Livestock farming is central to global food security and to the sustainability of rural communities throughout Europe. Animal health management has a major impact on farming efficiency. Although animal health research has provided effective prevention strategies for the major endemic diseases of livestock, these strategies typically provide solutions for single infectious diseases and they are often not adequately implemented due to farm-specific constraints. We propose a concept termed "ECONOHEALTH" which aims at including the economic and social context in our understanding of the factors that drive animal health. The concept is elaborated on using the example of the major helminthic diseases of cattle in temperate climate regions (gastrointestinal nematodes, liver fluke and lungworm). By considering major diseases simultaneously and placing disease-complexes in an economic and a social context, we believe that insights will be generated upon which more integrated, situation-adapted and thus more effective prevention strategies can be devised.
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Novobilský A, Novák J, Björkman C, Höglund J. Impact of meteorological and environmental factors on the spatial distribution of Fasciola hepatica in beef cattle herds in Sweden. BMC Vet Res 2015; 11:128. [PMID: 26054940 PMCID: PMC4459679 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-015-0447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fasciola hepatica is a parasite with a significant impact on ruminant livestock production. Previous studies in north-west Europe have described its geographical distribution and determined potential predictors of fasciolosis using geographical information system (GIS) and regression modelling. In Sweden, however, information about the distribution of fasciolosis is limited. This study examined the geographical distribution of F. hepatica and identified high-risk areas for beef cattle in Sweden and sought to characterise potential predictors. Beef cattle serum samples were collected during winter 2006-2007 from 2135 herds which were examined for F. hepatica antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fasciolosis distribution maps were created using GIS based on postcode location of seropositive herds. Spatial scan analysis (SaTScan) was performed to determine high-risk areas. Using datasets on animal density, temperature, precipitation and Corine land cover data, including soil type and soil mineral concentrations in Sweden, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out in R software to reveal potential predictors of F. hepatica infection. RESULTS Overall herd seroprevalence of F. hepatica in beef cattle was 9.8 % (95 % CI: 8.6-11.1). An irregular spatial distribution of F. hepatica, with two main clusters, was observed in south-west Sweden. The most northerly occurrence of F. hepatica in the world was documented. The final model explained 15.8 % of the variation in F. hepatica distribution in study herds. Absence of coniferous forest was the variable with the highest predictive value. Precipitation in July-September, Dystric Cambisol, Dystric Regosol, and P and Cu concentrations in soil were other negative predictors. Beef cattle herd density, Dystric Leptosol and Fe concentration were positive predictors. CONCLUSIONS The spatial distribution of F. hepatica in Swedish beef cattle herds is influenced by multi-factorial effects. Interestingly, absence of coniferous forest, herd density, specific soil type and concentration of some soil minerals are more important predictors than climate factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Novobilský
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7036, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Jakub Novák
- Department of Geography, Tartu University, Vanemuise 46, 51 014, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Albertov 6, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Camilla Björkman
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7054, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7036, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Selemetas N, de Waal T. Detection of major climatic and environmental predictors of liver fluke exposure risk in Ireland using spatial cluster analysis. Vet Parasitol 2015; 209:242-53. [PMID: 25777048 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke) can cause significant economic and production losses in dairy cow farms. The aim of the current study was to identify important weather and environmental predictors of the exposure risk to liver fluke by detecting clusters of fasciolosis in Ireland. During autumn 2012, bulk-tank milk samples from 4365 dairy farms were collected throughout Ireland. Using an in-house antibody-detection ELISA, the analysis of BTM samples showed that 83% (n=3602) of dairy farms had been exposed to liver fluke. The Getis-Ord Gi* statistic identified 74 high-risk and 130 low-risk significant (P<0.01) clusters of fasciolosis. The low-risk clusters were mostly located in the southern regions of Ireland, whereas the high-risk clusters were mainly situated in the western part. Several climatic variables (monthly and seasonal mean rainfall and temperatures, total wet days and rain days) and environmental datasets (soil types, enhanced vegetation index and normalised difference vegetation index) were used to investigate dissimilarities in the exposure to liver fluke between clusters. Rainfall, total wet days and rain days, and soil type were the significant classes of climatic and environmental variables explaining the differences between significant clusters. A discriminant function analysis was used to predict the exposure risk to liver fluke using 80% of data for modelling and the remaining subset of 20% for post hoc model validation. The most significant predictors of the model risk function were total rainfall in August and September and total wet days. The risk model presented 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity and an accuracy of 95% correctly classified cases. A risk map of exposure to liver fluke was constructed with higher probability of exposure in western and north-western regions. The results of this study identified differences between clusters of fasciolosis in Ireland regarding climatic and environmental variables and detected significant predictors of the exposure risk to liver fluke.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Theo de Waal
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
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Prevalence and seasonality of bulk milk antibodies against Dictyocaulus viviparus and Ostertagia ostertagi in Irish pasture-based dairy herds. Vet Parasitol 2015; 209:108-16. [PMID: 25709092 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Infections with Dictyocaulus viviparus and Ostertagia ostertagi nematode parasites are of importance to bovine health and production in temperate areas across the world. Losses due to these parasites in dairy herds can be considerable due to decreased milk productivity and fertility. However, information on current epidemiological patterns in Irish dairy herds is limited. Bulk milk samples were collected from a total of 319 dairy farms across the Republic of Ireland. The D. viviparus samples were tested with an ELISA based on recombinant major sperm protein, while the O. ostertagi samples were tested with an ELISA based on crude saline extract, whole worm O. ostertagi antigen. Management data were collected from the farms using a questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to find significant associations between the presence of antibodies against D. viviparus and O. ostertagi and management factors. The overall prevalence of D. viviparus infection was 62.8%, while over 98% of herds had antibodies to O. ostertagi at the specified cut-off. Both D. viviparus and O. ostertagi antibodies were highest in November, which could be explained by the accumulated uptake of larvae through the grazing season. In herds of farmers that dosed their in-calf heifers with anthelmintics were significantly more likely to be positive for antibodies against D. viviparus infection. This study highlights that both D. viviparus and O. ostertagi infections are widespread in dairy herds in Ireland throughout the grazing season.
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Malrait K, Verschave S, Skuce P, Van Loo H, Vercruysse J, Charlier J. Novel insights into the pathogenic importance, diagnosis and treatment of the rumen fluke (Calicophoron daubneyi) in cattle. Vet Parasitol 2015; 207:134-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Revised: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Knubben-Schweizer G, Torgerson PR. Bovine fasciolosis: control strategies based on the location of Galba truncatula habitats on farms. Vet Parasitol 2014; 208:77-83. [PMID: 25596803 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Infection of livestock with Fasciola hepatica is a worldwide, economically important and increasing problem. Even though, bovine fasciolosis can be a disease associated with particular regions, there are usually epidemiological issues on individual farms. For this reason, it is recommended to find the source of infection by examination of definite hosts and pastures on a farm. The following factors which promote the transmission of bovine fasciolosis are usually found: (A) Snail habitats are present on pastures used for young stock (prior to first calving) or dry cows only. Pastures for dairy cows are not affected. (B) Snail habitats are present on all pastures for dairy cows. (C) Snail habitats are present on single pastures used for dairy cows. (D) Snail habitats are present on hayfields. For each of these epidemiological situations an individual control strategy is advised. When a control strategy is tailored according to the specific epidemiology found on the individual farm, egg shedding and F. hepatica-seroprevalence can be reduced significantly. This approach can support the responsible use of the available flukicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Knubben-Schweizer
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Sonnenstrasse 16, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Paul R Torgerson
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 270, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Charlier J, Soenen K, De Roeck E, Hantson W, Ducheyne E, Van Coillie F, De Wulf R, Hendrickx G, Vercruysse J. Longitudinal study on the temporal and micro-spatial distribution of Galba truncatula in four farms in Belgium as a base for small-scale risk mapping of Fasciola hepatica. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:528. [PMID: 25425397 PMCID: PMC4247775 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0528-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The trematode parasite Fasciola hepatica causes important economic losses in ruminants worldwide. Current spatial distribution models do not provide sufficient detail to support farm-specific control strategies. A technology to reliably assess the spatial distribution of intermediate host snail habitats on farms would be a major step forward to this respect. The aim of this study was to conduct a longitudinal field survey in Flanders (Belgium) to (i) characterise suitable small water bodies (SWB) for Galba truncatula and (ii) describe the population dynamics of G. truncatula. Methods Four F. hepatica-infected farms from two distinct agricultural regions were examined for the abundance of G. truncatula from the beginning (April 2012) until the end (November 2012) of the grazing season. Per farm, 12 to 18 SWB were selected for monthly examination, using a 10 m transect analysis. Observations on G. truncatula abundance were coupled with meteorological and (micro-)environmental factors and the within-herd prevalence of F. hepatica using simple comparison or negative binomial regression models. Results A total of 54 examined SWB were classified as a pond, ditch, trench, furrow or moist area. G. truncatula abundance was significantly associated with SWB-type, region and total monthly precipitation, but not with monthly temperature. The clear differences in G. truncatula abundance between the 2 studied regions did not result in comparable differences in F. hepatica prevalence in the cattle. Exploration of the relationship of G. truncatula abundance with (micro)-environmental variables revealed a positive association with soil and water pH and the occurrence of Ranunculus sp. and a negative association with mowed pastures, water temperature and presence of reed-like plant species. Conclusions Farm-level predictions of G. truncatula risk and subsequent risk for F. hepatica occurrence would require a rainfall, soil type (representing the agricultural region) and SWB layer in a geographic information system. While rainfall and soil type information is easily accessible, the recent advances in very high spatial resolution cameras carried on board of satellites, planes or drones should allow the delineation of SWBs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Charlier
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Karen Soenen
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - Els De Roeck
- Laboratory of Forest Management and Spatial Information Techniques, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium.
| | | | - Els Ducheyne
- Avia-GIS, Risschotlei 33, 2980, Zoersel, Belgium.
| | - Frieke Van Coillie
- Laboratory of Forest Management and Spatial Information Techniques, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium.
| | - Robert De Wulf
- Laboratory of Forest Management and Spatial Information Techniques, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium.
| | | | - Jozef Vercruysse
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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