Bovine anaplasmosis herd prevalence and management practices as risk-factors associated with herd disease status

The Economic Impact of Parasitism from Nematodes, Trematodes and Ticks on Beef Cattle Production

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.

Hematological and gene co-expression network analyses of high-risk beef cattle defines immunological mechanisms and biological complexes involved in bovine respiratory disease and weight gain

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), the leading disease complex in beef cattle production systems, remains highly elusive regarding diagnostics and disease prediction. Previous research has employed cellular and molecular techniques to describe hematological and gene expression variation that coincides with BRD development. Here, we utilized weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to leverage total gene expression patterns from cattle at arrival and generate hematological and clinical trait associations to describe mechanisms that may predict BRD development. Gene expression counts of previously published RNA-Seq data from 23 cattle (2017; n = 11 Healthy, n = 12 BRD) were used to construct gene co-expression modules and correlation patterns with complete blood count (CBC) and clinical datasets. Modules were further evaluated for cross-populational preservation of expression with RNA-Seq data from 24 cattle in an independent population (2019; n = 12 Healthy, n = 12 BRD). Genes within well-preserved modules were subject to functional enrichment analysis for significant Gene Ontology terms and pathways. Genes which possessed high module membership and association with BRD development, regardless of module preservation (“hub genes”), were utilized for protein-protein physical interaction network and clustering analyses. Five well-preserved modules of co-expressed genes were identified. One module (“steelblue”), involved in alpha-beta T-cell complexes and Th2-type immunity, possessed significant correlation with increased erythrocytes, platelets, and BRD development. One module (“purple”), involved in mitochondrial metabolism and rRNA maturation, possessed significant correlation with increased eosinophils, fecal egg count per gram, and weight gain over time. Fifty-two interacting hub genes, stratified into 11 clusters, may possess transient function involved in BRD development not previously described in literature. This study identifies co-expressed genes and coordinated mechanisms associated with BRD, which necessitates further investigation in BRD-prediction research.

Satisfactory breeding potential is transiently eliminated in beef bulls with clinical anaplasmosis

Background

Natural service breeding is common in U.S. cow-calf operations. Diseases impacting bull reproductive performance have significant economic consequences for producers. Anaplasmosis may be an underappreciated cause of poor reproductive performance in bulls. The primary systemic effects of bovine anaplasmosis including anemia, fever, and weight loss, can all result in unsatisfactory reproductive performance. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate breeding soundness examination (BSE) outcomes and clinical changes in bulls during and upon resolution of clinical anaplasmosis. Anaplasma marginale-challenged bulls were observed for clinical disease and infection progression and changes in breeding soundness compared to uninfected control bulls for 16 weeks.

Results

All Anaplasma marginale-challenged bulls were PCR-positive, seropositive, and showed clinical signs by 3-, 17-, and 24-days post-challenge, respectively. Clinical signs of anaplasmosis included pallor, icterus, fever (≥ 40.2 °C), and weight loss. Acute anemia was observed in all challenged bulls with PCV nadirs ≤ 18% and peak percent parasitized erythrocyte ≥ 50%. Decreased scrotal circumference and poor semen quality (e.g., increased percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, decreased progressively motile sperm), were initially observed within days after onset of clinical anaplasmosis signs and continued weeks beyond disease resolution. Control bulls remained negative for A. marginale.

Conclusion

This pilot study demonstrates that clinical anaplasmosis reduces breeding soundness in beef bulls. Anaplasmosis should be considered as a differential for bulls with decreased semen quality, especially within endemic areas. A 90 day or greater retest window is recommended for bulls of unsatisfactory breeding potential recently recovered from clinical anaplasmosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-022-03470-7.

Seasonality of Ticks and Prevalence of Rickettsiae Species in Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum Across Oklahoma Pastures

Tick-borne diseases are an increasing concern for people and companion animals in the United States, but there is a need for continued vigilance regarding livestock in pasture systems. The south-central United States has some of the highest incidences of tick-borne diseases, and there is a need to re-examine the ecology of tick vectors in relation to pasture systems and livestock. The objective of this study was to establish a baseline of seasonal activity for tick species in diverse regional Oklahoma pastures and screen for important pathogens in Dermacentor variabilis (Say) and Amblyomma maculatum Koch group that may impact livestock and human health. Between 2015 and 2017, transects in five pastures across Oklahoma were visited each month. DNA extracted from adult D. variabilis and A. maculatum group was tested for the presence of bacterial pathogens. We found that tick communities in pastures across Oklahoma differ by season, abundance, and bacterial presence and prevalence. The peak abundance of Amblyomma americanum (L.) adults and nymphs occurred a month earlier over the 2 yr of the study compared with historical studies in the same regions. Additionally, we observed notable differences in peak activity between A. americanum adults and nymphs collected in pastures in central Oklahoma (April) versus pastures in northern part of the state (May). We detected Rickettsia parkeri, R. bellii, and Anaplasma sp. DNA in D. variabilis from pastures across the state. These results potentially have important ramifications for human and livestock risk of encountering infected ticks in pastures across the southern Great Plains.

Effect of Protracted Free-Choice Chlortetracycline-Medicated Mineral for Anaplasmosis Control on Escherichia coli Chlortetracycline Resistance Profile from Pastured Beef Cattle

Anaplasmosis is an economically-significant, hemolytic, tick-borne disease of cattle caused by Anaplasma marginale which can cause clinical anemia and death. Current control options are limited, and FDA-approved antimicrobial control options do not have a defined duration of use. A practical and routinely used anaplasmosis control method involves feeding free-choice chlortetracycline (CTC)-medicated mineral to pastured cattle for several months. Constant antimicrobial use poses the risk of expediting the development and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in off-target commensal bacteria in the bovine gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to determine the CTC-susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from anaplasmosis endemic beef cattle herds provided different FDA-approved free-choice CTC-medicated mineral formulations, all intended to provide cattle a dosage of 0.5 to 2.0 mg CTC/lb bodyweight per day. A closed-herd, comprised of Hereford-Angus cows, naturally endemic for anaplasmosis, were grazed in five different pastures with one herd serving as an untreated control group. The other cattle herds were randomly assigned one of four FDA-approved CTC-medicated mineral formulations (700, 5000, 6000, and 8000 g CTC/ton) labeled for “the control of active anaplasmosis” and provided their respective CTC-medicated mineral formulation for five consecutive months. Fecal samples were collected monthly from a subset of cows (n = 6 or 10) per pasture. Fecal samples were cultured for E. coli isolates and the minimal inhibitory concentration of CTC was determined. Baseline CTC-susceptibility of E. coli was variable among all treatment and control groups. The susceptibility of E. coli isolates was significantly different between study herds over the treatment period (p = 0.0037 across time and 0.009 at the final sampling time). The interaction between study herds and treatment period was not significant (p = 0.075).

Molecular survey on prevalence and risk factors of Anaplasma spp. infection in cattle and sheep in West of Iran

Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in general and Anaplasma spp. in particular are known as economically important agents of diseases of domestic ruminants worldwide. Little information exists regarding the prevalence and the role of various factors affecting the occurrence of anaplasmosis in the west of Iran. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Anaplasma pathogens in Kurdistan province, west of Iran. During spring and summer 2016, blood samples were collected from a total of 401 livestock animals from different farms distributed in the Kurdistan province. Furthermore, data on general husbandry traits and management practices were recorded. PCR examination showed an overall prevalence of 37.3 and 10% in cattle and sheep, respectively. Cattle were infected with A. phagocytophilum (23.8%), A. bovis (15.4%), and A. marginale (13.9%) while sheep were infected with A. ovis (10%) and A. phagocytophilum (3.5%). The occurrence of anaplasmosis was considerably higher in cattle compared to sheep (P < 0.0001). Based on results of logistic regression models, risk of Anaplasma infection was significantly higher in crossbreeds (odds ratio (OR) = 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.025-3.65, P = 0.042) compared with local cattle breeds. Furthermore, being older than 1 year was associated with increased risk of Anaplasma infection in cattle (OR = 2.18, 95%, CI = 1.022-4.68, P = 0.044) and sheep (OR = 2.86, 95%, CI = 1.006-8.22, P = 0.049) compared to younger individuals. No difference was observed between the counties. Identifying potential risk factors and potential vectors and reservoirs contribute to the successful control and prevention of tick-borne diseases.