Search

Diseases caused by small ruminant lentiviruses, Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), Schmallenberg virus, and peste des petits ruminants virus (PPR) is globally recognised as serious threats to the ruminant industry due to their potential to spread rapidly across boundaries. Despite their global distribution and negative impacts on ruminant production, there is a gap in knowledge of the current trends in their epidemiology among sheep and goat populations in Peninsular Malaysia. This study was therefore designed to fill the gap of knowledge concerning the seroprevalence and contributing factors of CAEV, paratuberculosis, SBV, and PPRV among small ruminants from selected flocks in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang states in Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect animal data and blood samples for serological assays simultaneously. The ID Screen (ID.VET, France) indirect ELISA screening tests were used to detect serum antibodies directed against CAEV/MVV (VISNAS Ver 0922), paratuberculosis (PARAS Ver 0516), SBV (SBVC Ver 1114) and PPRV (PPRC Ver 0821). There was 45.4% (95% CI = 40.74-50.74), 6.8% (95% CI = 4.66-9.69), 27.8% (95% CI = 23.35-32.77), and 2.6% (95% CI = 1.11-0.51) true seroprevalence for CAEV, paratuberculosis, SBV, and PPR, respectively. Geographical location and species were the risk factors for CAEV and paratuberculosis, while the management system and age of small ruminants were the risk factors for SBV. The present study is the first to document a large-scale seroprevalence of MAP and PPR infection among sheep and goat flocks in Peninsular Malaysia. The presence of PPRV and MAP antibodies among small ruminant flocks is signalling current or previous exposure to the pathogens or cross reactions with similar antigens. This finding further suggests the potential for future outbreaks of these devastating diseases among sheep and goats in Malaysia. The high seroprevalence of CAEV and SBV among small ruminants indicates high levels of exposure to the viruses in the environment, which is a potential threat to production., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: We investigated the biomarkers, immune responses and cellular changes in vaccinated and non-vaccinated goats experimentally challenged with M. haemolytica serotype A2 under rainy and hot tropical conditions. A total of twenty-four clinically healthy, non-pregnant, female goats randomly allocated to 2 groups of 12 goats each were used for the study. The 12 goats in each season were subdivided into three groups (n = 4), which served as the control (G-NEG), non-vaccinated (G-POS), and vaccinated (G-VACC). In week-1, the G-VACC received 2 mL of alum-precipitated pasteurellosis vaccine while G-POS and G-NEG received 2 ml of sterile PBS. In week 2, the G-POS and G-VACC received 1 mL intranasal spray containing 10 5  CFU of M. haemolytica serotype A2. Inoculation was followed by daily monitoring and weekly bleeding for eight weeks to collect data and serum for biomarkers and immune responses using commercial ELISA test kits. The goats were humanely euthanised at the end of the experiments to collect lungs and the submandibular lymph nodes tissue samples for gross and histopathological examinations., Results: Regardless of the season, we have observed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum concentrations of acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin, serum amyloid A), proinflammatory cytokines (interleukine-1β, interleukin-6), antibodies (immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G), and stress markers (cortisol and heat shock protein 70) in the G-POS goats compared to G-VACC and G-NEG. With regards to seasons, there was a significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum concentration with 1.5, 2 and 1-folds increase in the serum interleukin (IL)-1β, cortisol, and heat shock protein (HSP)-70 in the G-POS during rainy compared to the hot season. Histopathology of the lungs in G-POS goats revealed inflammatory cell infiltration, degeneration, haemorrhage/congestion, and pulmonary oedema in the alveoli spaces; thickening of the interstitium, and desquamation of bronchiolar epithelium. Cellular changes in the lymph node were characterized by a marked hypercellularity in G-POS goats., Conclusion: Host responses to pneumonic mannheimiosis based on increased serum levels of biomarkers (cortisol, HSP70, IL-1β and IL-6) and severe cellular changes seen in the lungs and lymph nodes of G-POS goats compared to vaccinated goats and control group are influenced by the high environmental humidity recorded in the rainy season. Increased relative humidity in the rainy season is a significant stress factor for the higher susceptibility and severity of pneumonic mannheimiosis of goats in the tropics. Vaccination of goats using the alum precipitated Pasteurella multocida vaccine before the onset of the rainy season is recommended to minimise mortality due to potential outbreaks of pneumonia during the rainy season., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The risk of parasitism in different groups of small ruminants depends on intrinsic, environmental, and management factors. Although there are different views regarding the sex-related risk of endoparasites in small ruminants, females are undoubtedly the most affected group in the flock. Moreover, whether the greater sex-specific risk of parasitic infection observed in female goats in field situations is associated with their production or other intrinsic factors is still under scrutiny. In this paper, cross-sectional epidemiological data collected from selected small ruminant flocks were analysed to determine the distribution, risk, and burden of endoparasites in young, nonpregnant, pregnant, and lactating female goats. There was a higher incidence of gastrointestinal parasites (88.4%, 95%CI= 83.01-92.19) than blood protozoa (54.0%, 95%CI= 46.85-60.92), with a significant difference among the groups. A higher risk of gastrointestinal parasites was observed in lactating (OR = 46.667, P = 0.001) and pregnant (OR = 9.167, P = 0.003) groups. A greater risk of blood protozoan infection was also observed in the pregnant (OR = 5.971, P = 0.0104) and lactating (OR = 3.600, P = 0.0528) groups. A significant increase in the mean faecal egg count of the lactating (2.72 ± 0.76) and pregnant (2.34 ± 0.97) groups (P < 0.05) was accompanied by a significantly lower mean PCV in the lactating group (23.48 ± 4.838) than the kids (29.44 ± 6.13), or nonpregnant (27.80 ± 5.525) groups (P < 0.05). Thus, the pregnant and lactating female goats may experience a greater exposure risk and burden of endoparasites. Therefore, female goats may be selectively targeted for implementing nutritional management, controlled grazing, and selective anthelmintic treatment during pregnancy and lactation to save cost and minimise excessive use of anthelmintic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis cause haemolytic anaemia with decreased production outcomes and mortality in sheep and goats worldwide but there is a lack of published data on the epidemiology of M. ovis in Malaysia's small ruminant flocks. This preliminary study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of Mycoplasma ovis infection in selected smallholder farms in Negeri Sembilan state. A total of 341 blood samples was randomly collected from 5 farms between January and December 2019. The farmers also completed a structured questionnaire to provide farm management data and environmental information. Giemsa stained blood smears were examined microscopically to detect M. ovis and classify the infection as mild (1-29% infected red cells), moderate (30-59%) or severe (above 60%). The packed cell volume (PCV) was determined by microhaematocrit centrifugation technique and reported as anaemic or non-anaemic. Microscopic examination of blood smears revealed an overall prevalence of 50.7% (95%CI= 45.5-56.0), and there were higher (p<0.05) numbers of mild (34.3%) than moderate (12.6%) and severe (3.8%) infections. The mean PCV was significantly lower (p<0.05) in animals with severe (22.69%) than mild (29.11%) and moderate (30.53%) infections. Mycoplasma ovis infection was associated with the breeds physiological status, farm location, management system, farm ownership, frequency of vector control and deworming regime but the risk of infection was higher in Malin sheep (OR=3.97), Boer goats (OR=2.23), pregnant (OR=2.89) and lactating animals (OR= 2.23). The prevalence of M. ovis infection in smallholder flocks is associated with the breed and physiological status of sheep and goats and may potentially affect production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 (p < 0.05) in seroconversion rates between the states, farms, production systems and breeds of small ruminants. The prevalence of CAE in the Malaysian Peninsular is a potential threat to the small ruminant industry and developing agricultural economy. Further studies are required to determine the genetic characteristics, distribution and risk factors of CAEV for effective prevention and control in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of smallholder sheep and goat flocks is constrained by high morbidity and mortality of young stock due to helminthosis and coccidiosis. We hypothesized that gastrointestinal parasites are prevalent and may cause severe infections amongst small ruminants in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and December 2019 to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and levels of infection with gastrointestinal strongyle and coccidia in selected smallholder goat flocks in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. A total of 257 blood and fecal samples and management data were collected from four farms in Negeri Sembilan. Gastrointestinal parasites were detected by routine sodium chloride floatation, and the McMaster technique was used to quantify the fecal eggs/oocysts per gram outputs (EPG/OPG). The severity of infection was classified as mild (50-799), moderate (800-1200), or severe (>1200). The packed cell volume (PCV) was determined by microhematocrit centrifugation and classified as anemic or non-anemic. Coprological examination revealed an overall prevalence of 78.6% (CI = 72.74-83.44) and 100% flock level prevalence of strongyle and coccidia infection among goats from Negeri Sembilan with a higher infection in flock A-Lenggeng (95.6%) than B-Senawang (87.3%), D-Mendom (80.6%), or C-Seremban (60.0%). The co-infections of strongyle + Eimeria (50.6; CI = 44.50 to 56.64) were more common than single infections of either strongyle (16.7%; CI = 12.66 to 21.78) or Eimeria (4.3%; CI = 2.41 to 7.50). Quantitative analysis has revealed different (p < 0.05) patterns of EPG/OPG in various categories of goats. In total, there were 49.8% mild, 8.6% moderate, and 13.6% severe infections of strongyle and 40.1% mild, 6.6% moderate, and 19.8% severe infections of coccidia among goats. The mean PCV of goats with severe strongyle infection (24.60 ± 0.85) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the moderate (26.90 ± 1.15), or mild (28.23 ± 0.50) infections and the uninfected (30.4 ± 0.71). There were increased odds of infection with strongyle and coccidia among female (OR = 3.2) and adult (OR = 11.0) goats from smallholder flocks in Negeri Sembilan. In conclusion, gastrointestinal strongyles and coccidia occur at high frequency among smallholder goats, and there is a higher risk of infection amongst the adult and female stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]