Search

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging arthropod-borne pathogen of domestic and wild ruminants responsible for devasting economic losses in European countries with a potential for spreading across boundaries. Three hundred sixty-two (362) serum samples were randomly collected from 7 selected sheep and goat farms from January to October 2019 to investigate the seroprevalence of SBV among small ruminants in Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu states. Seroprevalence of SBV was determined using commercial ID vet® SBV multispecies cELISA test. The farmers completed a structured questionnaire to furnish farm management data to evaluate the risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of SBV among individual animals. A Chi-square test was performed to determine the association between seroprevalence of SBV and putative risk factors of individual animals. Based on the ELISA test, a total of 78 individual animals were seropositive with an overall prevalence of 21.5% and the true prevalence of 22.1% (95% CI:18.06-26.71). Multivariable logistic regression analysis further revealed that Negeri Sembilan state (p

The present study investigated the seroprevalence of Leptospira hardjo antibodies and their relationship to the burden of reproductive disorders associated with smallholder ruminant production systems in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria. We randomly collected 376 blood samples from 11 cattle (n=188) and 10 goats (n=188) farms in Maiduguri from April to September 2019. The farmers completed structured questionnaires to furnish information regarding herd characteristics and reproductive histories of farm animals. A serum IgG/IgM antibody-capture ELISA test kit with a sensitivity of 96.91%, specificity of 90.40%, positive and negative predictive values of 88.68% and 97.41%, respectively, was used for the detection of Leptospira hardjo antibodies from blood serum. The overall seroprevalence of Leptospira hardjo was 4.26% (95%CI: 2.17-8.17) in cattle and 2.13% (95%CI: 0.83-5.34) in goats, respectively. Leptospira hardjo antibodies were detected in 4 (50%) out of the 8 cattle herds and 3 out of the 7 goat flocks with a history of reproductive disorders. At the present rate of detection of Leptospira hardjo antibodies in ruminants with histories of reproductive disorders, the current burden of the disease and its consequences on the reproductive efficiencies could be highly underestimated in the smallholder ruminant production system in the northeastern part of Nigeria.

Brachiaria decumbens is a highly productive tropical grass used for ruminant production. However, it can cause hepatogenous photosensitization, general ill-thrift, and deaths in ruminants due to the presence of steroidal saponins. This study determined the acute and chronic clinico-pathological responses of sheep to graded levels of B. decumbens diet. A total of 30 male crossbred Dorper sheep (six-month-old) used in the study were randomly divided into three treatment groups of 10 sheep each. Treatment 1 (T1), which served as the control group, was fed with Pennisetum purpureum and concentrates, whereas Treatments 2 (T2) and 3 (T3) were fed low (10%) and high (60%) levels of B. decumbens, respectively. The study period was divided into acute (7 days) and chronic (90 days) phases. The rectal temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, and mucous membrane color were monitored throughout the experiment. At the end of each stage, five animals were selected from each treatment group and euthanized by slaughter to collect organs for gross pathology, organ morphometric and histopathological evaluations. The treated animals did not show significant changes (p>0.05) in rectal temperature, pulse, and respiration rates throughout the study period. However, the mucous membranes were noticeably becoming pale starting from day 60 to 90 in T3 and during the chronic phase (day 90) in T2. There was no lesion or morphometric change in any organ at postmortem examination. At histopathology, both T2 and T3 exhibited mild to moderate necrosis, hemorrhage, congestion, hydropic degeneration and edema (p

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) is a member of the genus lentivirus causing caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE), a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the lungs, joints, udder and central nervous system of small ruminants such as sheep and goats. CAE is distributed worldwide and is recognised as a significant cause of morbidity and decreased milk production in dairy goats. Earlier studies highlighted the clinicopathological features and supplied preliminary serological evidence for the existence of CAE among selected goat herds in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to provide further insights into the seroprevalence and contributing factors of CAE among sheep and goat herds in two states of Peninsular Malaysia. The blood samples and biodata were randomly collected from a total of 262 individual sheep (40) and goat (222) in seven smallholder farms. Blood sera were tested for specific anti-CAEV antibodies using Qayee-Bio CAEV sandwich-ELISA test kits according to standard procedures. Our results of the study revealed 21.4% (95% CI: 15.8-28.6) apparent and 20.6% (95% CI: 14.5-27.8) true seroprevalence with significant differences (Virus Kaprin Artritis Ensefalitis (CAEV) merupakan ahli kumpulan dalam genus virus lentivirus dimana akan menyebabkan penyakit kaprin artritis ensefalitis (CAE) di mana penyakit ini akan menyebabkan keradangan kronik pada paru-paru, sendi, kelenjar mamari dan sistem saraf pusat bagi haiwan ruminan kecil seperti bebiri dan kambing. CAE telah merebak ke seluruh dunia dan penyakit ini akan menyebabkan penularan wabak pada kadar morbiditi yang tinggi dan mengurangkan kuantiti penghasilan susu bagi kambing tenusu. Kajian terdahulu memberi penekanan kepada dapatan klinikal patologi dan data bukti serologi kewujudan penyakit CAE dalam kalangan gerompok kambing di Malaysia. Maka, kajian kini bertujuan memberikan pendedahan awal berkaitan kadar kelaziman serologi dan faktor yang menyumbang penyakit CAE dalam kalangan bebiri dan kambing bagi dua negeri di Semanjung Malaysia. Sampel darah dan data biologi telah dikumpulkan secara rawak dengan jumlah sampel 262 ekor (40 ekor bebiri dan 222 ekor kambing) daripada tujuh buah ladang peternak kecil. Serum yang telah dikumpul diuji dengan antibodi spesifik anti-CAEV dengan menggunakan prosedur piawai kit elisa daripada Qayee-Bio CAEV. Keputusan kajian ini menunjukkan kadar kelaziman serologi 21.4% (95% CI: 15.8–28.6) jelas dan 20.6% (95% CI: 14.5–27.8) kadar kelaziman benar dengan perbezaan ketara (

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and intensity of nematode infection among slaughtered donkeys in Kaltungo, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 fecal samples were examined by salt flotation and the modified McMaster fecal egg count technique to morphologically identify nematodes eggs and determine their egg per gram (EPG) outputs. Results: Out of a total of 72 (100%) donkeys sampled, 36 (50%) tested positive, but the prevalence of nematodes was independent of the age, sex, and breed of donkeys (p>0.05). Among the four species of nematodes identified in single and mixed infections, Strongylus spp. (27.8%) and Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (13.9%) were the most prevalent followed by Strongyloides westeri (5.6%) and Trichonema spp. (5.6%). Infected donkeys had moderate overall mean EPG (801.39±611.3) with no statistical differences between age groups and sexes (p>0.05), but means of EPG were significantly higher (p