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1.
Although abortion contributes substantially to poor reproductive health of dairy herds, little is known about the predictability of abortion based on age, previous abortion or gravidity (number of previous pregnancies). A poor understanding of effects of maternal factors on abortion risk exists, in part, because of methodological difficulties related to non-independence of multiple pregnancies of the same cow in analysis of fetal survival data. We prospectively examined sequential pregnancies to investigate relationships between fetal survival and putative dam risk factors for 2991 abortions from 24,706 pregnancies of 13,145 cows in nine California dairy herds. Relative risks and predicted probabilities of abortion (PPA) were estimated using a previously described hierarchical Bayesian logistic-survival model generalized to incorporate longitudinal data of multiple pregnancies from a single cow. The PPA increased with increasing dam age at conception, with increasing number of previous abortions, and if the previous pregnancy was aborted >60 days in gestation. The PPA decreased with increasing gravidity and with increasing number of days open. For cows that aborted, the median time to fetal death decreased slightly as gravidity increased. The study considers several methodological issues faced in epidemiologic investigations of fetal health, including multi-modal hazard functions, extensive censoring and non-independence of multiple pregnancies. The model improves our ability to predict bovine abortion and to characterize fetal survival, which have important applications to herd health management.  相似文献   

2.
Epidemiology of bovine abortions in Israeli dairy herds   总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1  
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3.
The antigen-specific IgG subclass response may be a convenient indicator of the underlying nature of T helper cell regulation. The aim of the present study was to identify possible differences in Neospora caninum-specific total plasma IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 antibody levels in purebreed and crossbreed pregnancies throughout gestation in beef and dairy cattle chronically infected with N. caninum. Comparisons were also made between aborting and non-aborting dams. The population examined comprised 96 pregnant parous cows seropositive for N. caninum. Plasma antibodies were determined on Days 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 of gestation or until abortion. Of the 96 pregnancies examined, 12 ended in abortion. None of the 14 Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows inseminated with HF semen (HF-HF group) aborted, whereas 6 (11.0%) of the 54 HF cows inseminated with Limousin semen (HF-L group) and 6 (21.4%) of the 28 Rubia Gallega (RG) beef cows inseminated with RG semen (RG-RG group) aborted. In the 84 non-aborting cows, a significant positive effect of gestation day was observed on total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies levels (P<0.0001 for the three variables). In RG-RG cows, significantly higher levels of IgG (P=0.003; d.f.=2; F-value=6.41), IgG1 (P<0.001; d.f.=2; F-value=10.55) and IgG2 (P=0.004; d.f.=2; F-value=5.82) antibodies against N. caninum were recorded throughout gestation compared to the other groups, whereas the levels of these antibodies were significantly lower in HF-HF on Days 180 and 210 of gestation. In aborting cows, significantly lower IgG (P=0.001; d.f.=1; F-value=25.21) and IgG2 (P=0.001; d.f.=1; F-value=20.39) antibody levels were observed in the RG-RG cows compared to the HF-L cows, whereas no significant effect on IgG1 antibody levels was detected in the two groups with aborting animals (RG-RG and HF-L). Our findings indicate that humoral mechanisms against N. caninum infection and abortion differ in purebreed pregnancies and crossbreed pregnancies in beef/dairy cattle.  相似文献   

4.
The protozoa Neospora caninum is an important cause of bovine abortion world-wide. The objective of this survey was to determine the distribution pattern of infectious abortion in Southern Brazil with special reference to N. caninum infection. A total of 161 bovine aborted fetuses from 149 farms were analysed during a 1.5 year period. The cause of abortion was identified in 51.5% of cases. Overall, 23% (37/161) of the fetuses were considered to be infected with N. caninum. Bacterial infection accounted for 17.4% (28/161) of cases, fungal infection for 3.1% (5/161) of cases and viral aetiology for 1.8% (3/161). Six fetuses had concurrent infection with N. caninum and Leptospira spp. Data from 111 fetuses and the respective aborted cows were analysed to investigate the association between previous abortion and current N. caninum infection. The prevalence of N. caninum-infected fetuses from cows with and without a history of previous abortion was 44% (11/25) and 24.4% (21/86), respectively. Cows aborting a N. caninum-infected fetuses were 2.4 times more likely to have aborted previously than cows aborting for other reasons (95% CI of odds ratio=0.9-6.8, P=0.06).  相似文献   

5.
Forty-six aborted bovine fetuses submitted to the Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Clinical Pathology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, were examined histopathologically. Non-suppurative inflammation was observed mainly in the brain and heart of 22 fetuses. Brain lesions consisted primarily of mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrates with occasional foci of necrosis. Protozoa that reacted with Neospora caninum antisera were seen in 18 of the 22 (81.8%) brain specimens from fetuses with encephalitis. Blood samples collected from 223 Holstein cows on five dairy herds were tested for N. caninum antibodies by an immunofluorescent antibody technique. These samples were obtained from aborting cattle and normally calving cattle (control group). Overall, 11.2% of cows sampled had N. caninum antibodies at a dilution of 1:200. Seroprevalence was higher (P = 0.0053) in aborting (23.3%) than in non-aborting cows (8.3%). Association between seropositivity to N. caninum and abortion was found, with seropositive cows being 3.3 times more likely to abort than seronegative cows (OR = 3.33; 95% CI: 1.38, 8.062). Additionally, N. caninum antibodies were detected in sera from seven cows that had aborted fetuses with lesions suggestive of protozoal infection. These results suggest that N. caninum is an important cause of abortion in dairy cattle in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.  相似文献   

6.
A serological survey for antibodies against Neospora caninum in aborting cattle was carried out in the Czech Republic. Serum samples from 463 aborting dairy cows originated from 137 farms from different parts of the Czech Republic were tested for presence of N. caninum antibodies by use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Antibodies (> or = 1:640) to N. caninum were found in 18 (3.9%) of 463 aborting cows. Farm prevalence in aborting cows was 12.4% (17/137). The antibody titres of cows were 1:200 (9 cows), 1:640 (7 cows), 1:1280 (3 cows), 1:2560 (3 cows), 1:5120 (3 cows), 1:10,240 (2 cows) and 1:20,480 (0 cow). A case-control study was conducted to estimate the association of N. caninum infection and abortion. For this 407 serum samples were collected from cows on five dairy farms with repeated occurrence of endemic and sporadic abortion of unidentified etiology. These samples were obtained from aborting cattle (n=44) and normally calving cattle (control group; n=363) and tested for N. caninum antibodies by an immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Overall, 3.19% (13/407) of cows sampled had positive N. caninum fluorescence with a cut-off titre of 1:200. The prevalence of N. caninum was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the aborting group (13.64%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.2, 27.4) than in the control group (1.93%; 95% CI: 0.8, 3.9). A strong association between seropositivity and abortion was found, with seropositive cows being eight times more likely to abort than seronegative cows (odds ratio=8; 95% CI: 2.6, 25.1). This first report on the serological prevalence of N. caninum in cows in the Czech Republic verified a strong association between N. caninum infection and abortions in five dairy farms. Thus, the neosporosis should be considered in differential diagnosis of bovine abortion.  相似文献   

7.
There is an evidence that the epidemiology of neosporosis differs in dairy and beef cattle, such that beef cattle carry a lower risk of abortion. The aim of the present study was to establish whether artificial insemination using semen from beef bulls could reduce the risk of abortion in dairy cows seropositive for the Neospora caninum parasite. Our study was based on yearly serological screening for neosporosis and on the confirmation of Neospora infection in aborted fetuses in two high-producing dairy herds with a mean 28% seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies. The study population comprised of 273 pregnancies in seropositive animals: 156 pregnancies monitored after insemination using Holstein-Friesian semen and 117 after insemination using beef bull semen. Abortion rates for these animals were 28.2% (77 of 273), 34.6% (54 of 156) and 19.7% (23 of 117). Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant effects of lactation number and previous abortion on the abortion rate. Based on the odds ratio, a 1-unit increase in the Neospora antibody titre yielded a 1.01-fold increase in the abortion rate. The likelihood of abortion was two times higher for cows in one of the two herds and 2.8 times lower (one of 0.36) for pregnant cows inseminated with beef bull semen rather than Holstein-Friesian semen. Our results indicate that the use of beef bull semen can reduce the risk of abortion in dairy cows, and suggest that annual screening for neosporosis, specifically the antibody titre to the protozoan, could be an useful predictor of abortion risk in reproductive health programmes.  相似文献   

8.
There is an evidence that the epidemiology of neosporosis differs in dairy and beef cattle, such that beef cattle carry a lower risk of abortion. The aim of the present study was to establish whether artificial insemination using semen from beef bulls could reduce the risk of abortion in dairy cows seropositive for the Neospora caninum parasite. Our study was based on yearly serological screening for neosporosis and on the confirmation of Neospora infection in aborted fetuses in two high‐producing dairy herds with a mean 28% seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies. The study population comprised of 273 pregnancies in seropositive animals: 156 pregnancies monitored after insemination using Holstein–Friesian semen and 117 after insemination using beef bull semen. Abortion rates for these animals were 28.2% (77 of 273), 34.6% (54 of 156) and 19.7% (23 of 117). Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant effects of lactation number and previous abortion on the abortion rate. Based on the odds ratio, a 1‐unit increase in the Neospora antibody titre yielded a 1.01‐fold increase in the abortion rate. The likelihood of abortion was two times higher for cows in one of the two herds and 2.8 times lower (one of 0.36) for pregnant cows inseminated with beef bull semen rather than Holstein–Friesian semen. Our results indicate that the use of beef bull semen can reduce the risk of abortion in dairy cows, and suggest that annual screening for neosporosis, specifically the antibody titre to the protozoan, could be an useful predictor of abortion risk in reproductive health programmes.  相似文献   

9.
The protozoan parasite Neospora caninum and bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) are recognized as important causes of bovine abortion and congenital disease worldwide. In this study, serological investigations were performed to estimate the prevalence of N. caninum infection in Swedish dairy cattle, to assess to what extent it may affect abortion rates, and to determine possible effects of coinfection with BVDV. The overall N. caninum seroprevalence in Swedish dairy cows was estimated at 2% (16/780), and the BVDV seroprevalence was 32% (249/780). Among aborting cows from herds with abortion problems, 7% (26/378) had antibodies to N. caninum and 42% (153/378) to BVDV. Seventeen of the N. caninum positive animals also had antibodies to BVDV. There was a statistically significant (P = 0.013) association between presence of antibodies to N. caninum and BVDV. In a case-control study comprising sera from cows in herds without recognized abortion problems, 6% (5/89) and 1% (1/89) of sera from aborting and non-aborting cows, respectively, had antibodies to N. caninum. Two of the N. caninum seropositive aborting cows also had antibodies to BVDV. These results confirm that N. caninum infection is associated with bovine abortion in Sweden and also indicate that there might be concurrent effects of N. caninum and BVDV. It is concluded that Swedish dairy cows have a low prevalence of N. caninum infection which is favourable in relation to possible future control programmes.  相似文献   

10.
The dynamics of antibody production against Neospora caninum during the gestation period was examined in chronically infected dairy cows. Data were obtained from 86 pregnant parous dairy cows, 21 of which had suffered abortion. The cows belonged to two herds in which a diagnosis of N. caninum infection had been previously confirmed in aborted foetuses. Pregnancy diagnosis and blood collection were performed on post-insemination Days 40, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and at parturition or until the time of abortion detection. Blood plasma was tested for antibodies against N. caninum using ELISA. The non-aborting cows were divided into two groups according to whether their antibody values in the second half of gestation had increased or not, while aborting cows were classified as those showing an antibody peak before abortion or those not showing a pre-abortion peak. Differences in antibody values throughout pregnancy in each group of non-aborting and aborting cows were analysed by GLM repeated measures of analysis of variance. While 32 non-aborting cows (49%) showed a significant and consistent increase in anti-Neospora antibody values during the second half of gestation, antibody values in the remaining 33 non-aborting cows were practically constant throughout gestation. An antibody peak around abortion was observed in 11 aborting cows (52%), while antibody values in the remaining 10 aborting cows were similar before and at abortion. Seroprevalence fluctuations, defined as seronegative blood samples at some point during the gestation period, were, furthermore, observed in 2 aborting and 11 non-aborting cows. Our results indicate two clearly distinguishable types of humoral immune dynamics throughout gestation: an increased or flat production of antibodies during the second half of gestation in non-aborting animals and before abortion in aborting cows. The observation that some Neospora-infected dams can exhibit negative antibody values at any time during gestation, particularly at parturition or abortion, prompts future studies designed to explore the use of new ELISA strategies at the farm level.  相似文献   

11.
Twin pregnancies are classified into bilateral (one fetus in each uterine horn: 44%) and unilateral (both fetuses in the same uterine horn, right or left: 56%). The incidence of abortion during mid- to late gestation is approximately 1% in cows carrying bilateral twins and more than 40% in cows carrying unilateral twins. In this period, abortion seems most commonly associated with infectious agents. However, although this imbalanced abortion rate may imply that unilateral twin pregnancy is a non-infectious abortion factor, few available data can describe the cause of abortions in twin pregnancies. The current findings suggest that unilateral twin pregnancy is a non-infectious factor required for the etiological diagnosis of abortion in dairy herds.  相似文献   

12.
The possible relationship between Coxiella-seropositivity and the reproductive performance of cows during the previous year to the serological screening was examined in three high producing dairy herds. The herds had a history of subfertility (<25% of pregnancies for the total number of AI), abortion (>18% abortions) and a positive polymerase chain reaction test for Coxiella burnetii in the bulk tank milk with an excretion higher than 10(4)Coxiella /ml for all three herds. Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in 50.2% of the 781 parous cows analyzed. Coxiella seropositivity was linked to placenta retention, to changes in the interval from parturition to conception (with the lowest interval parturition-conception for cows with low level of seropositivity), early pregnancy (cows becoming pregnant before Day 90 postpartum) and maintenance of gestation during the early fetal period, while it failed to affect rates of abortion after Day 90 of gestation or stillbirth.  相似文献   

13.
An outbreak of Neospora caninum-associated abortion occurred in a South Carolina dairy wherein greater than 10% of the herd aborted over a 4-month period. Of the total number of cows at mid-late gestation, nearly 40% (28/71) aborted while the remaining 60% (43/71) gave birth to normal calves. Immunohistochemical examination of brain tissue from a subset of aborted fetuses confirmed N. caninum as the causative agent of abortion in these animals. A variety of serological assays, including indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (rELISA), ISCOM-ELISA, avidity ELISA, and Neospora agglutination test (NAT), were used to evaluate sera collected during the outbreak from 240 cows for antibodies to N. caninum. IFAT and ISCOM-ELISA testing showed that nearly 80% of the dairy cows had antibodies to N. caninum. NAT and rELISA had similar levels of seropositivity relative to IFAT and ISCOM-ELISA, but the percentage of positive sera was dependent on the cut-off value chosen. As indicated by kappa coefficient statistical analysis, ISCOM-ELISA and IFAT exhibited the highest level of agreement in identifying N. caninum-positive and -negative cows. A decrease in the percentage of seropositive cows as determined by ISCOM-ELISA and IFAT with increasing cow age was noted. However, no significant difference was observed between cow age and abortion status. In addition to these tests, an avidity ELISA was performed on all sera with high (> or =0.4) ISCOM-ELISA readings. Avidity index (AI) increased with time post-abortion suggesting that most abortions were due to recent N. caninum infection. Of the cows at risk for abortion, the mean serological AI of aborting cows was significantly lower (P<0.05) than mean serological AI of non-aborting cows.  相似文献   

14.
The present study sought to determine: (i) the effects of Neospora caninum infection and twin pregnancy on plasma pregnancy‐associated glycoprotein‐2 (PAG‐2) concentrations throughout pregnancy and (ii) whether plasma PAG‐2 concentrations could predict abortion in N. caninum‐infected cows. The study was performed on a commercial Holstein‐Friesian dairy herd in northeastern Spain and the final data included those recorded in 53 non‐aborting and 19 aborting animals. Blood samples were collected immediately before pregnancy diagnosis (on Days 40, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 post‐insemination) in non‐aborting cows or until the time of abortion detection in aborting cows. General lineal models (GLM) repeated measures anova revealed the different behaviour of PAG‐1 and PAG‐2, and significant effects of Neospora seropositivity, cool season and twin pregnancy on plasma PAG‐2 concentrations throughout gestation (between‐subject effects). In addition, based on the odds ratios, the likelihood of abortion increased in Neospora‐seropositive cows (by a factor of 7.0) compared to seronegative animals and decreased in cows with a high plasma PAG‐2 concentration (>4.5 ng/ml) on Day 120 of pregnancy (by a factor of 0.24), compared to the remaining cows. In conclusion, there is a relationship between plasma PAG‐2 concentrations and the risk of abortion in Neospora‐infected dairy cows. Thus, plasma PAG concentrations measured using anti‐boPAG‐2 antiserum on Day 120 of gestation could serve as an indicator of the abortion risk in N. caninum infected animals; values <4.5 ng/ml indicating a high risk of abortion in chronically infected animals.  相似文献   

15.
Bovine neosporosis, caused by Neospora caninum is a leading cause of abortion in cattle. We postulated that neosporosis could lead to fetal death and mummification. Fifteen mummified fetuses were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the mutation in the bovine SLC35A3 gene that causes complex vertebral malformation (CVM) and the pNC-5 gene which identifies N. caninum infection. DNA was extracted from the mummified fetuses and the sex of the mummies was determined by PCR. The CVM mutation was not detected in the mummified fetuses, but 4 fetuses were positive for N. caninum infection. The ages of the mummies with N. caninum infection were 100, 113, 123, and 131 days. Twelve of the 15 mummified fetuses were male. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of N. caninum as a possible cause of bovine fetal mummification.  相似文献   

16.
The possible direct relationship between climate variations and abortion in Neospora caninum-infected cows has not been studied. The objective of this study was to determine whether climate changes could be a risk factor for abortion in N. caninum-infected cows, and was based on yearly serological screening for neosporosis and on the confirmation of N. caninum infection on aborted fetuses in two high-producing dairy herds with a mean 27% seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies. The final population study was comprised of 357 pregnancies in seropositive animals. Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant effects of herd, N. caninum antibody titre, climate variables during the first and third trimesters of gestation, mean and maximum temperature-humidity index values during the second trimester of gestation, and previous abortion on the abortion rate. Based on the odds ratio, a 1-unit increase in lactation number yielded a 0.85-fold decrease in the abortion rate. The likelihood of abortion was 1.9 times (1/0.54) lower for pregnant cows inseminated with beef bull semen compared with Holstein-Friesian bull semen. The likelihood of abortion decreased significant and progressively by factors of 0.5, 0.41 and 0.3 for the respective classes 40-49, 30-39 and <30 rainfall mm during the second trimester of gestation (using the class >or=60 rainfall mm as reference). As a general conclusion, it seems that increased rainfall in a dry environment can compromise the success of gestation in N. caninum-infected cows. Attempts should therefore be made to reduce environment effects during the second trimester of gestation, a period in which the immune response of cows is diminished.  相似文献   

17.
The objective of this study was to record how the antibody levels change over time during pregnancy in dairy cows naturally infected with the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, and relate this to the reproductive performance. Eighteen cows with antibodies to N. caninum were serum sampled monthly during their first pregnancy and 13 of them were also followed for a second pregnancy. In all, five pregnancies ended in abortion and two in stillbirth. Antibodies to N. caninum in serum were demonstrated by immune stimulating complex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iscom ELISA). The N. caninum antibody titres remained well above the 1:100 cut-off limit for the test used during 2 years in all cows. In the non-aborting cows, mean values of antibody titres to N. caninum rose 1.5-2.5 dilution steps to reach a plateau 4-5 months before parturition, and thereafter decreased from 2 months before parturition. These changes were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The same pattern was seen in the aborting cows. The consistent pattern of rise in antibody titres observed during both pregnancies in all cows indicated a reactivation rather than a reinfection of the parasite at mid-gestation.  相似文献   

18.
The aim of this study was to determine if the factors affecting the abortion rate in dairy herds with high incidence of Neospora‐associated abortions are different in pregnancies of cows and heifers chronically infected with Neospora caninum. In heifers (n = 229), an increase in the cumulative number of days with a mean relative humidity (RH) lower than 60% during the second trimester of gestation increases the risk of abortion. Yet, the likelihood of abortion was 7.6 times lower for pregnant heifers inseminated with Limousin bull semen, compared with those inseminated with Holstein‐Friesian bull semen. In pregnancies of parous cows (n = 521), an increase in rainfall and in the cumulative number of days with a mean RH lower than 60% during the second trimester of gestation increased the abortion rate. However, in contrast, an increase in the lactation number produced a decrease in the abortion rate, with a likelihood of abortion 4.8 times lower for pregnant cows inseminated with Limousin bull semen, and three times lower for those inseminated with Belgian Blue bull semen, compared with dairy cows inseminated with Holstein‐Friesian bull semen. Finally, the likelihood of abortion was 3.2 times lower for pregnancies of parous cows with low antibody titres against N. caninum (6–30 units) as compared to those with high antibody titres (≥30 units), whereas in heifers this variable had no effect. The practical recommendations of the present study include the control of the cow environment during the second trimester of gestation, the priority of culling for parous cows with higher antibody titres against N. caninum and the insemination of Neospora‐seropositive cows with semen from the Limousin breed.  相似文献   

19.
Bovine leptospirosis: some clinical features of serovar hardjo infection   总被引:9,自引:0,他引:9  
During an investigation of natural in utero infection of cattle by Leptospira interrogans strains, infection (almost entirely caused by serovar hardjo) was diagnosed in 57 per cent of 505 calves (472 aborted fetuses, 20 stillborn calves and 13 perinatal deaths) examined over a six-year period. The prevalence of leptospire-infected fetuses showed a seasonal increase in September, October and December and was significantly higher in fetuses aborted by dairy cows than in fetuses aborted by beef cows. The majority of infected fetuses were aborted from the sixth month of gestation onwards. Cows which aborted infected fetuses had not previously exhibited overt signs of agalactia. There was an association between leptospiral infection and retention of fetal membranes.  相似文献   

20.
The aim of this study was to determine by nested PCR probe the presence of Neospora caninum in fetal brain tissue from aborted dairy fetuses in Aguascalientes, a state in the central part of Mexico. Forty-four fetal brains from eight dairy farms were analyzed using single tube nested PCR probe with primers NF1, NS2, NR1 and SR1, with histopathology as the reference technique. From the 44 bovine fetuses studied, 35 (80%) were diagnosed as being infected by N. caninum using PCR probe and 20 (45%) were considered positive by histopathology, because they had lesions suggestive of bovine neosporosis. Fair agreement was observed (31%) between both probes. The age of aborting cows ranged from 1.6 to 2.9-year-old in 17 (49%) of the positive cases diagnosed by PCR. Gestational ages of aborted fetuses ranged from <3 to 9 months, with average of 5.6 months, and no statistical significant difference was observed when ages of infected and no infected fetuses were compared (P > 0.05). The frequency of N. caninum positive cases observed could be considered to be higher than other areas of Mexico and other countries.  相似文献   

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