首页 | 本学科首页   官方微博 | 高级检索  
相似文献
 共查询到20条相似文献,搜索用时 31 毫秒
1.
AIM: To determine the aetiology of a syndrome characterised by facial paralysis in calves (facial paralysis syndrome; FPS); describe the epidemiology of the syndrome on an affected case farm; and define the intra-farm prevalence of affected calves, and inter-farm prevalence of affected dairy farms, in the Franklin district of New Zealand.

CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: An investigation was carried out on a town-supply dairy farm experiencing an outbreak of FPS in calves during the autumn of 2007, following a previous outbreak during the spring of 2006; 21 calves were affected in both outbreaks. Post-mortem examinations of three affected calves revealed no infectious aetiological agent in neurological tissues despite tests for viruses, bacteria and Mycoplasma species. Tests on hepatic tissues for vanadium toxicity were inconclusive.

SURVEY OF DAIRY FARMS: Results from a postal survey of 177/325 (54%) farms established the yearly prevalence of affected farms, based on farmer diagnosis, was 11%, and there was a median two (range 1–25) affected calves on those farms. There was no evidence of spatial clustering of affected farms after accounting for the underlying farm density, or of an increase in the number of affected farms between 2003 and 2007.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Facial paralysis syndrome is an unusual condition that has not been reported in other districts of New Zealand or in other countries. It is probable that this syndrome will continue to occur at a low to moderate prevalence, and have a significant impact on a small number of farms.  相似文献   

2.
AIM: To estimate the incidence of clinical mastitis and the frequency of isolation of mastitis-causing organisms from clinical cases in one lactation season (July 2005 to May 2006) on 14 dairy farms from the Northland region of New Zealand.

METHODS: Cases of clinical mastitis were determined by trained farm personnel who recorded the identity of affected cows. Pooled milk samples from affected quarter(s) were aseptically collected by the farm personnel, for microbiology. Mean numbers of affected cows and quarters were compared at the population and farm level per 305 cow-days-at-risk (DAR).

RESULTS: One or more cases of clinical mastitis occurred in 559/3,765 (14.8%) lactating cows. The average incidence of clinical mastitis was 0.19 cases per 305 DAR. The incidence in rear quarters (56.2%) was 1.3 times (p=0.027) that of front quarters (43.8%). The incidence of clinical mastitis and numbers of affected quarters were signifi cantly infl uenced by the stage of lactation (higher in early lactation), age (higher in older cows) and farm. At the cow level, the most common isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (23.7%) and Streptococcus uberis (23.3%). No causative organisms were identifi ed in 19.9% of the samples. Each cow had an average of 1.8 quarters affected during a case of clinical mastitis.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a higher incidence of staphylococcal clinical mastitis on dairy farms from Northland than has been reported in other regions of New Zealand.  相似文献   

3.
Abstract

CASE HISTORY: During the 2014/2015 season 823 predominantly Holstein-Friesian cows calved on a pasture-based farm in the Waikato region of New Zealand. A high prevalence and recurrence rate of lameness had been noted for several years but cows feet were not routinely picked up and therapeutically trimmed.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: At a farm visit in December 2015, 23 cows feet were examined and 18/23 (78%) cows had white line disease and 17/23 (74%) sole haemorrhages, as well as severely overgrown and misshapen hooves.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION: Lameness, culling and reproductive data were collected for the farm for the period from 01 July 2014 to 30 November 2015. In the 2014/2015 season, 207/823 (25.2%) cows were recorded lame, and in the first half of the 2015/16 season 120/850 (14%) cows were recorded lame. Of the cows recorded lame, 52/207 (25.1%) in the 2014/15 season had >1 case of lameness, and 39/120 (32.5%) cows recorded lame in the 2015/2016 season had been lame in the previous season. There was an apparent increase in prevalence between 29–37 weeks post-calving. Cows >7-years-old had seven times the odds of being recorded as lame compared to 2–3-year-old cows (p<0.001). Lameness was not associated with culling, empty rate or days to conception (p>0.3).

DIAGNOSIS: No direct cause for the lameness could be determined.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It was hypothesised that, along with the degenerative changes in the pedal bone as dairy cows increased in age, suboptimal treatment and overgrowth of hooves resulted in permanent changes in the cows feet, resulting in a high prevalence of lameness in older cattle and a high recurrence rate of lameness within and between seasons. This case highlights the importance of prompt identification and treatment of lame cattle.  相似文献   

4.
Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A Jersey herd of 350 cows and 70 heifers located in the Taranaki region of New Zealand ceased milking in June 2011. Ten cows died during the subsequent 14 days. For at least 9 months, the cows had received palm kernel expeller (PKE) and molasses supplements. Additional Cu supplementation was provided through the water system. Total Cu intake was calculated to be 400?mg/day/cow.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Half of the cows died suddenly while others presented with anorexia, depression and ataxia, which progressed to recumbency and death after 1 to 3 days. Clinical signs were mild dehydration, cyanosis and firm faeces which were covered in dark blood. Mean concentrations of Cu in liver and kidney in three of the dead cows were 3,900 and 440?µmol/kg fresh weight (FW), respectively. Haemorrhages were observed throughout the alimentary tracts and in muscles, and there were ecchymotic haemorrhages on the epi- and endocardia. The livers were swollen and the gall bladder walls were inflamed.

DIAGNOSIS: High concentrations of Cu in the liver and kidney are characteristic findings of chronic Cu toxicity.

TREATMENT: The remaining herd was fed 200?mg Mo, as sodium molybdate, per cow per day and all Cu supplements were removed including those provided by the water supply. This reduced mean concentrations of Cu in liver from 3,100 to 1,320?µmol/kg FW within 26 days in the five live animals that were biopsied. There were no further deaths.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dairy herds where excessive Cu intakes have resulted in high liver Cu concentrations and caused chronic Cu toxicity, the removal of all Cu supplements and provision of high intakes of Mo (200?mg/cow/day) can markedly reduce liver Cu stores within 4 weeks.  相似文献   

5.

Endometritis is a postpartum uterine disease of cows that interrupts reproductive cycles resulting in suboptimal fertility, reduced performance and profitability of the dairy herd. The objective of the study was to estimate the perceived and observed prevalence of endometritis among zero-grazed dairy cows in smallholder farms in Rwanda. A snowball sampling method was applied in cross-sectional survey to obtain data from 370 farms on 466 cows within their 21–60 days postpartum (dpp). The survey, conducted from September 2018 to March 2019, simultaneously examined cows using the Metricheck Device (MED) to determine the presence and type of vaginal mucus (VMC) based on a score scale of 0 to 3. Cows scoring VMC ≥ 1 were recorded as clinical endometritis (CLE)–positive. Cytotape (CYT) was used to determine the percentages of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) in endometrial cytology sample. Cows with ≥ 5% PMN were recorded subclinical endometritis (SCLE)–positive, whereas cows with VMC-0 and < 5% PMN were considered healthy cows. At cow-level, endometritis prevalence was 70.2% with 67.2% CLE and 31.8% SCLE while at the herd-level, prevalence was 71.1% with 68.1% CLE and 34.4% SCLE. The differences between the diagnostic performance of the MED and CYT were significant (p < 0.001). Perceived prevalence by farmers was much lower (3.2%) and without agreement with the observed prevalence (kappa = − 0.02, p > 0.05). The highly observed prevalence and farmer underestimation of endometritis prevalence indicate knowledge gaps about endometritis. The extension service therefore needs to increase awareness and education among smallholder farmers about detection and management of endometritis.

  相似文献   

6.
AIMS: To assess the feasibility of applying animal-based welfare assessments developed for use in Europe on New Zealand dairy farms; in particular, to identify measures which could be evaluated during a single visit at milking time alongside whole herd locomotion scoring.

METHODS: A protocol for animal welfare assessment, developed in the United Kingdom (UK), was evaluated. Measures that were suitable for use on pasture-based dairy farms in New Zealand were then assessed for practicability on 59 farms across New Zealand, during and immediately after milking, alongside whole herd locomotion scoring. Where data were collected the results were compared to those from a UK study of 53 dairy farms.

RESULTS: Thirteen observations of the physical condition of cows were considered suitable for measurement, excluding observations related to hock lesions as they are rarely observed on pasture-based farms. Five of these measures were not assessed as there was not time to do so during milking alongside whole herd locomotion scoring. Thus, the prevalence of dirty flanks, hind limbs and udders, dull coat, thick hairy coat, significant hair loss, very fat cows (body condition score (BCS) ≥7 on 1–10 scale) and very thin cows (BCS≤3), were recorded. Three measures of behaviour were considered suitable for measurement on-farm, but only locomotion score was practicable and was measured. Farmer-estimates for the incidence of mastitis, lameness, sudden death, milk fever and other diseases were also obtained.Overall, dirty flanks, dirty udders and estimated milk fever incidence were more prevalent in this study than in the UK. The prevalence of thin and fat cows, lame cows and estimated mastitis incidence were much lower in the present study than on UK farms.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Animal-based assessments can be used on dairy farms in New Zealand, but need to be modified from those developed for housed cows.Welfare on these farms was generally good compared to those in the UK, but these results need to be confirmed on more farms using a wider range of assessments than proved practicable in this study.  相似文献   


7.
AIM: To identify and enumerate colony forming units (cfu) of mastitis pathogens in bulk tank milk (BTM) from pasture-fed New Zealand dairy cows in the Waikato region.

METHODS: BTM samples from seven seasonal-calving dairy herds in the Waikato region were collected monthly from August to December 2004 (cows calved during July-September). Milk samples were cultured on blood aesculin and MacConkey agar plates for 24 h, and the number of mastitis pathogens identified and counted.

RESULTS: Colonies identified in BTM included aesculinpositive streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), and coliforms; counts ranged from zero to >1,000 cfu/ml. Counts >1,000 cfu/ml for total aesculin-positive streptococci, CNS and coliforms were present in 48%, 51% and 11% of BTM samples, respectively. Counts of Staph. aureus ranged from zero to 1,000 cfu/ml, but first appeared in BTM samples only in October. Staphylococcus aureus was repeatedly isolated in BTM from 4/7 farms during the testing period.

CONCLUSIONS: Counts of mastitis pathogens in this study appeared high relative to interpretive criteria set by other workers, which may indicate a high prevalence of mastitis risk factors on these farms. Interpretation of results is difficult as aesculinpositive streptococci, CNS and coliforms can be isolated from the environment as well as from cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis. Furthermore, Staph. aureus is inconsistently excreted from infected bovine mammary glands. More extensive study of this method is required in New Zealand to attempt to further validate the interpretation of results of bacterial culture of BTM.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This method may be used to monitor challenge from mastitis pathogens over time as part of milk quality control programmes. The technique may be of use as a screening test to provide information to veterinarians, affording them the opportunity to have an input into mastitis control on dairy farms in New Zealand.  相似文献   

8.
dAim:To estimate the prevalence of Neospora infection in a sample of New Zealand beef cattle.

dMethods: The prevalence of Neospora caninum infection in New Zealand beef cattle was estimated by collecting blood at slaughter from 499 beef cattle from 40 different farms at 2 slaughter plants in the North Island and 1 in the lower South Island. Sera were tested using an ELISA against Neospora tachyzoite antigen.

dResults: The prevalence of seropositive cattle was 2.5% (n=120), 3.6% (n=166) and 2.3% (n=213) at the plants surveyed, the overall prevalence being 2.8%. The serologically positive cattle came from 9 farms, 3 of which had more than 1 positive animal. The highest prevalence recorded amongst animals from 1 farm was 4/13 (31%), in a group of young steers.

dConclusion: Neosporosis appears to be present at a lower level in the New Zealand beef cattle population than in the New Zealand dairy cattle population. Nevertheless, from the high seroprevalence evident amongst young cattle on 1 farm, we suggest that Neospora may be a cause of infertility in beef cattle in this country.  相似文献   

9.
AIM: To establish the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in parasitic nematodes on sheep farms in New Zealand.

METHODS: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted, using a standardised faecal nematode egg count (FEC) reduction (FECR) test (FECRT) for ivermectin, at a full (0.2 mg/kg) and half (0.1 mg/kg) dose rate, and albendazole, levamisole and albendazole-levamisole in combination, on 60 lambs (n=10 per group) on farms selected from throughout New Zealand. Farms that conformed with selection criteria were chosen at random (n=80) or with a history of suspected resistance to macrocy- clic lactone (ML) anthelmintics (n=32). Resistance to an an- thelmintic was inferred when there was <95% reduction in FEC 7-10 days after treatment. Larval cultures were performed for all control groups and for treated groups for which resistance was evident.

RESULTS: Of the farms randomly selected, 36% showed ≥95% FECR for all anthelmintics tested; resistance to ivermectin at 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg liveweight was evident on 36% and 25% of these farms, respectively. Resistance to both ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg) and levamisole was evident on 8/80 (10%) farms, to ivermectin and albendazole on 10/80 (13%) farms, and to iver- mectin, levamisole and albendazole on 6/80 (8%) farms. The prevalence of resistance to a half dose of ivermectin tended to be more prevalent on farms with a history of suspected ML resistance (p=0.06). Resistance to albendazole was seen across all the main parasite genera, and to levamisole in Nematodirus, Ostertagia (= Teladorsagia) and Trichostrongylus species. Resistance to ivermectin was dominated by Ostertagia spp, although Cooperia, Nematodirus and Trichostrongylus species were also implicated.

CONCLUSION: Anthelmintic resistance in parasitic nema-todes of sheep is common in New Zealand. Not only was resistance to albendazole and levamisole common, but resistance to the ML, ivermectin, was at a higher prevalence than expected. Sheep farmers and advisors in New Zealand need to re-evaluate the way they manage parasites, and more research is urgently needed if the steady decline in anthelmintic susceptibility is to be halted.  相似文献   

10.
AIM: To investigate the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in populations of dogs from dairy farms, sheep/beef farms and urban areas in the central part of New Zealand. It was postulated seroprevalence would be higher for farm dogs than urban dogs if the life-cycle of this parasite involves transmission between dogs and cattle.

METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from dogs that lived on dairy farms (n=161), sheep/beef farms (n=154) and in urban situations (n=150). The relative risk of detecting antibodies to N. caninum using an immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was compared between farm and urban dogs.

RESULTS: The relative risk of having a titre of ≥1:200 to N. caninum was 2.43 (95% CI=1.88-3.14) for dairy-farm dogs and 3.16 (95% CI=2.48–4.02) for sheep/beef-farm dogs, compared with urban dogs. At this titre, which is currently used in New Zealand to indicate seropositivity, seroprevalence of N. caninum infection was 30.7% in urban dogs, 74.5% in dairy-farm dogs and 96.8% in sheep/beef-farm dogs.

CONCLUSION: This observation is consistent with a cycling of this disease between cattle and dogs on farms in New Zealand and with higher exposure of dogs to N. caninum on farms than occurs in urban environments. The prevalence of antibodies in all three groups of dogs tested in this study (dairy-farm dogs, sheep/beef-farm dogs and urban dogs) is higher than has generally been reported elsewhere. New Zealand farm dogs have a higher serological prevalence of N. caninum infection than urban dogs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Management and disease control practices that break the life-cycle of transmission between cattle and dogs should assist in controlling cattle abortion due to N. caninum.  相似文献   

11.
AIMS: To gather information on management practices and farmer attitudes to management of cows and calves during the immediate post-partum period on dairy farms in New Zealand, and to assess these practices for associations with concentrations of total protein (TP) in serum of calves 1–8 days-old.

METHOD: Between July and September 2015 blood samples were collected from calves aged between 24 hours and 7 days, from dairy farms (n=105) in nine areas in New Zealand, on three occasions throughout the calving period. Concentrations of TP were determined in all serum samples. At each visit technicians collected 1?L of the pooled colostrum that was intended for feeding to newborn calves that day. These samples were assessed for Brix, coliform and total bacterial counts. After the last sampling visit, the calf rearer or farm manager were asked to complete a questionnaire describing calf and colostrum management practices on the farm. Potential farm-level variables associated with concentrations of TP in serum of sampled calves were identified using univariable and multivariable linear mixed models.

RESULTS: Mean concentration of TP in serum of calves across all farms was 59.8 (95% CI=59.4–60.2) g/L, and was associated with region and herd size in the final multivariable model. Concentrations of TP were lower in calves from farms in Otago (56.2 (95% CI=53.4–58.9) g/L) and Southland (56.9 (95% CI=54.1–59.7) g/L) compared to calves on farms in the Far North (62.6 (95% CI=59.8–65.3) g/L), and were lower in calves from farms with a herd size >600 (58.3 (95% CI=56.7–59.8) g/L) than ≤600 (61.3 (95% CI=60.1–62.5) g/L) cows. After accounting for fixed effects, farm accounted for only 8.4% of the unexplained variation. There was no association between any of the measures of colostrum quality and concentrations of TP in serum (p>0.2).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Very few herd-level variables were associated with concentrations of TP in serum. Risk factors that have been shown to be of importance in previous studies outside New Zealand were not identified as important in the current study. It is possible that, in the situation where calves are kept at pasture with their dams for prolonged periods, variables which influence how well a cow can feed its calf in the first 12–24 hours have a larger influence on concentrations of TP in serum than the collection and management of calves once they reach the rearing shed.  相似文献   

12.
Abstract

AIMS: To determine if inequality in height between claws within each hindlimb of dairy cattle is a risk factor for the development of lameness and to determine the effect of preventive trimming of these claws on the subsequent risk of lameness.

METHODS: Cows (n=2,695) on three dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand, were examined and the height differential between their hind claws on each limb was measured. Cows were blocked by age, then breed and grouped by height differential, before being randomly assigned to either treatment or control groups. Cows in the control group were not trimmed, whilst cows in the treatment group were all trimmed according to the ‘Dutch Trimming’ method by an experienced foot trimmer. All subsequent clinical incidences of lameness were identified, recorded and classified according to five categories. The overall incidence of lameness, the effect of claw height differential on the incidence of lameness and the effect of trimming on the incidence of lameness were assessed using both GEE modelling and survival analysis.

RESULTS: The incidence of lameness identified in any untrimmed hindlimb irrespective of diagnosis, measured at a limb level and assessing the first incidence of lameness only, was 10.0% for a 6-month period from November to drying off. The predominant lesion identified was white line disease (WLD; 7.9% incidence and 78.6% of all lameness). The overall incidence of hindlimb lameness measured at cow level for the same period was 14.5%. The risk of lameness was influenced by breed (p=0.016), age (p=0.002) and claw height differential (p=0.026). There were no significant interactions. The risk of lameness was lowest where the claw height differential was 0–2 mm. The incidence of lameness in the first 70 days following trimming was higher in older cows than in younger cows (p<0.001). Trimming did not affect lameness incidence (p=0.185). The Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that farm (p<0.001), trimming group (p=0.021); and age (p=0.021) significantly affected the median days to lameness in the first 70 days following trimming.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hind feet with lower height differentials between claws had a lower incidence of lameness. Trimming of these feet to remove the height differential did not reduce their overall incidence of lameness, but did increase days to first lameness.  相似文献   

13.
AIM: To analyse the records made during routine veterinary treatment of lame cows, to identify the types of lesions causing lameness of dairy cows in north Taranaki, their relative prevalence and distribution, and some of the cow-associated factors which affect these parameters. METHODS: Data concerning cow age and breed, lesion type, lesion site, and whether the examination was a revisit were collected from records of veterinary visits between December 1995 and July 2007. Data were analysed on a single- or two-factor basis, using chi(2) and, where suitable, calculation of OR. RESULTS: The total number of individual cow treatments recorded was 4,488. The most commonly recorded lesion was white-line disease (WLD) (42% of diagnoses at first examination), and the second was sole injury (29%). Heifers accounted for 19% of cases, similar to the expected replacement rate. Jerseys accounted for 18% of cases, lower than the proportion of purebred Jerseys in the region (27%). There was a significant effect of age and breed on the prevalence and distribution of lesions. There were also significant differences between lesion types in their location, which were also influenced by breed and age. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided a comprehensive overview of the lesions causing lameness in dairy cattle in north Taranaki, and identified some of the factors which influence the development of lesions. More research is needed to better establish the aetiology and pathogenesis of lameness in cattle under New Zealand conditions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides baseline data with which veterinarians can compare their results to identify significant patterns on specific farms, which will suggest specific causal factors for lameness on those farms and thus better guide prevention programmes.  相似文献   

14.
AIMS: To describe and evaluate the current practices used to manage and prevent facial eczema (FE) in North Island dairy herds, and determine the within-herd prevalence of cows with elevated activities of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and with concentrations of Zn in serum <18?μmol/L.

METHODS: Between January and May 2014, 105 herd managers from throughout the North Island of New Zealand were invited to participate in the study when regional spore counts for Pithomyces chartarum started to rise towards 30,000 spores/g pasture. Managers selected 10 representative cattle that were weighed and blood-sampled by the herd veterinarian. Blood samples were analysed for concentrations of Zn in serum and GGT activity. Pasture samples were also collected and submitted for spore count estimation. Finally a survey of farm management practices relating to prevention of FE was completed by the herd manager. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to determine associations between herd-level and cow-level explanatory variables and the probability of a cow having a concentration of Zn in serum <18?µmol/L.

RESULTS: Of the 1,071 cows tested, 79 (7.3 (95% CI=5.8–9.0)%) had GGT activity in serum >300?IU/L, and 35/106 (33 (95% CI=24.2–42.8)%) herds had ≥1 of the 10 cows sampled with GGT activity >300?IU/L. Of the 911 cows that were being treated with Zn, concentrations of Zn were between 18–35?μmol/L in 398 (43.6 (95% CI=40.4–46.9)%) cows, were >35?μmol/L in 32 (3.5 (95% CI=2.4–4.1)%) cows, and <18?μmol/L in 479 (52.6 (95% CI=49.3–55.9)%) cows. After adjusting for the confounding effect of region, the odds of a cow having concentrations of Zn in serum <18?μmol/L were 5.5 (95% CI=1.1–29) times greater for cows supplemented with zinc in water compared with those supplemented by drenching. Of the 105 herd managers, 103 (98%) stated that they had access to regional spore count data, but only 35/105 (33%) reported that they measured spore counts on their own farm. Overall, 98/105 (93%) managers reported that they had some form of FE management programme in place. Fungicides were used on their own or in combination with zinc treatments in 10 herds, ZnSO4 in water troughs was used in 68 herds, oral drenching with ZnO in nine herds, and ZnO supplied in-feed in 26 herds. Estimated daily dose rates of zinc were less than that required to treat a 400?kg cow on 42/68 farms that administered ZnSO4 in the water or ZnO as a drench.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has shown that FE management on dairy farms in the North Island of New Zealand could be substantially improved. It is likely that improved FE management would occur if herd managers were provided with more feedback on the success (or otherwise) of their FE management programmes.  相似文献   

15.
The efficacy of two topical treatments for painful ulcerative stage (M2) of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) lesions was compared in a clinical trial conducted on five dairy farms in 2009 to 2010. The first treatment was a water-based gel with active components copper and zinc (Intra Hoof-fit gel [IHF]) and the second treatment was a topical chlortetracycline spray (CTC spray). The experimental unit for this study was the hindleg with the presence of a BDD lesion. Cure was defined as the transition of an M2 lesion into a healed (M0) or a non-painful chronic stage (M4) of BDD at D28. On day 0, cows with M2 BDD lesions were photographed and were treated with either IHF or CTC. Subsequently, feet were photographed and scored on D28. The cure rate of M2 BDD lesions treated with IHF at D28 was 0.92 (CI 0.84 to 0.96) and was significantly better than for M2 BDD lesions treated with CTC, which was 0.58 (CI 0.47 to 0.68).  相似文献   

16.
AIM: To establish the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in parasitic nematodes on a random sample of beef cattle herds in the North Island of New Zealand.

METHODS: A cross-sectional prevalence study was conducted using a standardised faecal nematode egg count (FEC) reduction (FECR) test (FECRT) for ivermectin, levamisole and albendazole on 60 calves on each of 62 farms in the North Island chosen at random from farms that conformed with the selection criteria. Resistance to an anthelmintic was inferred when there was <95% reduction in FEC 7-10 days after treatment. Larval cultures were performed for all control groups and for treated groups for which resistance was evident.

RESULTS: Of the farms that completed the FECRT, 4/61 (7%) showed ≥95% reduction in FEC for all anthelmintics tested. Resistance to ivermectin was evident on 56/61 (92%) farms, to albendazole on 47/62 (76%) farms, and to both ivermectin and albendazole on 45/61 (74%) farms. Resistance to levamisole was evident on only 4/62 (6%) farms. The parasites most prevalent in resistant populations cultured were Cooperia spp. On 45/61 (74%) farms where Cooperia spp were present in suffi cient numbers, resistance to both ivermectin and albendazole was evident. No cases of levamisole-resistant Cooperia spp were detected. Resistance of Ostertagia spp to ivermectin was evident on 4/45 (9%) farms, to albendazole on 15/46 (35%) farms, and to levamisole on 4/46 (9%) farms.

CONCLUSION: Anthelmintic resistance in parasitic nematodes of cattle is common in the North Island of New Zealand. Beef farmers need to be aware of the risks posed by anthelmintic resistance, and routine FECR testing is recommended to ensure optimal productivity and to guide decision-making when purchasing anthelmintics to be used on-farm.  相似文献   

17.
Aims: To assess the inter-observer agreement for detecting bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) lesions in digital colour photographs of the hind feet of cows, which had been taken while the animals were standing to be milked, between two trained observers.

Methods: Thirty-six photographs were selected from a total of 184 photographs held by the first author (R1), who had classified them as negative (n=11) or positive (n=25) for BDD. They were delivered to a technician (R2) who had previously visually inspected cattle for BDD lesions, and who then recorded the photographs as being either BDD-positive or BDD-negative. The percentage agreement between R1 and R2, and two other inter-observer agreement statistics, Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s first-order chance correction agreement coefficient (AC1), were calculated. The cumulative membership probabilities of Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s AC1 were then calculated for different benchmark ranges of κ.

Results: The percentage agreement between R1 and R2 was 33/36 (92%), Cohen’s κ was 0.80 (95% CI=0.57–1.0) and Gwet’s AC1 was 0.86 (95% CI=0.69–1.0). Based on the cumulative membership probabilities for Gwet’s AC1, there was 75% probability that the two observers had almost perfect agreement (κ≥0.81). For both Cohen’s κ and Gwet’s AC1, there was >95% probability that the two observers had at least substantial agreement (κ≥0.61).

Conclusions: The two trained observers had at least substantial agreement in identifying from a digital photograph as to whether BDD lesions were present or absent. Therefore results from the two could be used interchangeably.

Clinical Relevance: Visual assessment for BDD lesions in the milking parlour can be subjective. However a high agreement between these two trained BDD inspectors means BDD prevalence reported from different regions in New Zealand by these two can be directly compared.  相似文献   


18.
AIM: To provide information on current farmers’ opinions and farming practices thought to be related to anthelmintic resistance, and to test for associations between the presence of anthelmintic resistance and management practices on beef cattle- rearing farms in the North Island of New Zealand.

METHODS: A study using an interview-based questionnaire about management of internal parasites was conducted on 62 beef cattle-rearing farms in the North Island of New Zealand, using case-control analyses to test for associations between management practices and the presence or absence of resistance to ivermectin or albendazole. Resistance was inferred from faecal nematode egg count (FEC) reduction (FECR) tests (FECRTs) when there was <90% reduction in FEC 7-10 days after treatment of calves <12 months of age.

RESULTS: Of the 59 farmers who completed the questionnaire, most (n=40) ranked parasites highly, and at about the same level as quality and quantity of feed, as important production-limiting factors for their enterprises. In contrast, anthelmintic resistance was not perceived to be a problem on 13 farms, and its importance was rated low on 24, moderate on 15, and high on only six farms. Despite all farms having planned parasite control programmes, there was heavy reliance on clinical signs of parasitism to determine frequency of treatments. About one in three farmers with beef breeder cows routinely treated their calves at marking, one in five treated mixed-age cows, and almost half treated rising 2-year-old cows before calving. One in four farmers used anthelmintics on calves on 8–12 occasions in their first year of life. Co-grazing with other species was rare, but follow-on grazing within 3 months after older cattle or sheep was common. On most farms, grazing cattle was restricted to part of the farm, a finding with implications for parasite control and persistence of larvae in refugia. Macrocyclic lactone (ML) anthelmintics or their combinations with other action families were currently, and for the past 5 years, used more frequently than benzimidazoles and levamisole, and benzimidazole-levami- sole combinations. The prevalence of resistance to ivermectin was high (82%) and no plausible model of associations could be constructed from the data. The prevalence of resistance to albendazole was 60%, and the risk of resistance increased as the number of rising 1-year-old cattle present mid-winter increased, and decreased as the number of breeding cows >2 years old present mid-winter increased.

CONCLUSION: It is clear that in practice anthelmintic resistance is a secondary consideration to obtaining productivity advantages from the use of anthelmintics in beef cattle. Farmers’ opinions were divided on many issues and the overall impres- sion was of confused and diverse thinking regarding the principles of the use of anthelmintics. The overall outlook regarding anthelmintic resistance in cattle is bleak unless the need for integrated and long-term research activities is acted upon soon.  相似文献   

19.
Abstract

AIMS: To estimate the seroprevalence of antibodies to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in chickens in New Zealand, and to estimate the effect of housing type, geographical location and age on seroprevalence.

METHODS: A cross-sectional serological survey of a convenience sample of 545 broiler, breeder, and layer chickens in 55 flocks was conducted in 2010–2011. Birds were aged 5–83 weeks; housing types were free-range, shed, caged, and unknown; and flocks were located in the Auckland, Manawatu, North Canterbury, Otago, Taranaki, Waikato, and Wairarapa regions of New Zealand. An ELISA was used to measure antibodies to E. rhusiopathiae. Samples with an optical density reading ≥1.50 were considered to be positive. Logistic regression analysis was used to model the effect of housing type, geographical location and flock age on the prevalence of samples positive for antibodies to E. rhusiopathiae.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of samples with antibodies to E. rhusiopathiae was 39.8 (95% CI=35.68–44.06)% for the 545 samples, and 46/55 (84%) farms that were tested had at least one positive sample. Mean seroprevalence for types of housing was 44.2 (95% CI=37.79–50.70)% for free-range (n=240 birds), 23.7 (95% CI=17.83–30.38)% for shed (n=190), 73 (95% CI=56–86)% for caged (n=37) and 50 (95% CI=38–62)% for unknown (n=78). The disease was present in all seven geographical locations from which samples were obtained for this study. Seroprevalence increased with increasing age of birds (p<0.001); for birds ≤12 weeks of age it was 2 (95% CI=0.3–8)% (n=91), 13–24 weeks 29.1 (95% CI=23.34–35.46)% (n=230), 25–36 weeks 47 (95% CI=32–64)% (n=40), 37–48 weeks 75 (95% CI=51–91)% (n=20), >48 weeks 63.8 (95% CI=54.78–72.12)% (n=127). Neither housing type nor geographical location had a significant effect on the likelihood of samples being positive for antibodies to E. rhusiopathiae.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest the prevalence of erysipelas under New Zealand field conditions may be higher than expected and that the disease is significantly associated with increasing age. Housing type and geographical location appear to be unrelated to seroprevalence.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Further study of the epidemiology of E. rhusiopathiae in chickens in New Zealand should be considered in order to minimise the extent of birds' exposure to the organism. These findings will assist in the design of further studies.  相似文献   

20.
AIM: To detect the presence of bovine herpesvirus (BoHV) type 4 in New Zealand dairy cows with clinical metritis.

METHODS: Serum samples taken from 92 dairy cows with clinical metritis, each from a different farm, were tested for the presence of antibodies against BoHV-4 using a commercially available, indirect ELISA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 10 BoHV-4 seropositive cows, and PBMC were examined by a pan-herpesvirus nested PCR to detect herpesvirus. PCR products were sequenced directly and a proportion of the PCR products were cloned and sequenced to identify the virus present.

RESULTS: Antibodies to BoHV-4 were detected in 23/92 (25%) serum samples. The pan-herpesvirus PCR was positive in 8/10 PBMC samples. Cloning and sequencing identified that all of the eight PCR-positive PBMC contained bovine lymphotropic herpesvirus (BLHV); no BoHV-4 DNA was detected.

CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the finding of the presence of apparent antibodies to BoHV-4, and BLHV DNA in New Zealand dairy cows affected by metritis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bovine herpesvirus type 4 and BLHV are reported to have the potential to cause reproduction failure in cows. This is the first report of apparent BoHV-4 antibodies, and BLHV in New Zealand. The importance and epidemiology of these viruses in cattle in New Zealand requires further investigation.  相似文献   

设为首页 | 免责声明 | 关于勤云 | 加入收藏

Copyright©北京勤云科技发展有限公司  京ICP备09084417号