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The article describes an outbreak of massive acute cysticercosis in lambs that were sick for at least several days. Topics discussed include a farmer's complaint that 2 lambs died after an illness that lasted for 2 days, the presence of lesions from C. tenuicolis migration in liver and the lungs and findings of severe hepatitis cysticercosa in a 4 month lamb that died from acute cysticercosis and a diagnosis of acute cysticercosis in various other animal species than lambs and goat kids.

The article presents a case study on the diagnosis given to a five-year-old red deer calf with tachypnoea, dyspnoea and was having a difficulty in moving. According to clinical findings, muscular damage was observed on the calf based on the creatinine phosphokinase activities conducted and low selenium level in blood of only 24.8 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L). It was found that the livestock was suffering from congenital white muscle disease (WMD).

The article presents a study which examines the manifestation of cervical hyper-extension in a lamb with nutritional myo-degenerescence secondary to vitamin E deficiency. For the study, researchers examined a female 25-day old lamb which originated from a dairy sheep flock of 200 Lacaune sheep. Key findings were compatible with white muscle disease (WMD), with exception to cervical hyper-extension that could be diagnosed with opistotonus caused by central nervous system (CNS) disease or intoxication. They also found that cervical hyper-extension can be considered a clinical symptom of the WMD in lambs.

The article presents a case of congenital nutritional myodegeneration in a Cypriot mouflon lamb. Results of the necropsy revealed generalized pale discoloration of skeletal muscles and to a lesser extent of the myocardium. Histology showed extensive and severe muscular degeneration and necrosis. The lamb was diagnosed with white muscle disease. It is concluded that congenital white muscle disease can cause sudden death in neonatal Cypriot mouflon lambs.

The article presents a clinical study regarding the carbamate poisoning in a dairy goat herd. It states that the 55 animals showed signs of poisoning after the consumption of carnations. Findings of the study indicate that the affected animals experience urination, tympany and miosis which were suspected to come from an acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting insecticide.

The results of inorganic blood parameters are presented in the periparturient period and during lactation of Simmental dairy cows. Serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus in blood of dairy cows in puerperium were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the values in the blood of dairy cows in advanced pregnancy and during peak of lactation, probably indicating the increased use of these macro-elements by the Simmental cows' mammary gland at the early stages of lactation. When the cows were in the periparturient period serum magnesium levels were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the values of dairy cows during their maximal lactation probably indicating the increased use of magnesium by the Simmental dairy cow during the periparturient period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varicocele is a common pathological condition of testis that is related to male fertility problems. A 3-year age Chios ram had an abnormally enlarged scrotal area, was excluded from reproductive duties, and was euthanized with the owners' permission. The main pathological finding was the presence of bilateral multinodular spermatic cord enlargement with laminated vascular thrombi. Histopathological examination revealed commonly mineralized thrombi within the lumen of veins of the pampiniform plexus, inflammation and testicular degeneration. The epididymides were transported to the laboratory and each cauda region was sliced and washed (8 mL water for injection/epididymis), and the epididymal sperm samples were collected. Sperm motility variables (CASA), viability (eosin-nigrosine), morphology (SpermBlue ® ), and DNA integrity (Acridine Orange Test, AOT) were assessed. The total and progressive motility were low in semen samples of both sides (30.00% and 1.00% vs. 42.60% and 2.50% for left and right epididymis, respectively). Low viability values were observed for both sides (26.00% vs. 23.00% for left and right epididymis, respectively), while sperm morphological abnormalities were within normal limits. No sperm with DNA damage were detected. The results of this case report indicate that varicocele is associated with testis dysfunction and degradation of ram semen quality, mainly affecting motility and kinematics.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, transmitted by Ixodes ticks, is an intracellular pathogen of zoonotic interest. Regarding animals of veterinary importance, infection by this agent has been linked mainly to high fever, neutropenia, reduced milk production, but hemorrhagic diathesis, abortion and impaired spermatogenesis have also sporadically been reported. In Greece, A. phagocytophilum has been detected in dogs, ticks and humans, while so far only A. ovis had been detected in farm animals. Following the occurrence of multiple abortions in two goat farms in Northern Greece, samples were collected from aborted animals. Stomach contents and placental tissue from aborted animals tested positive for A. phagocytophilum by molecular assays and negative for other infectious and parasitic agents. Treatment with oxytetracycline LA stopped the abortions. In tick risk areas clinicians should consider A. phagocytophilum as a cause of abortion in goats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of experimental Toxoplasma gondii infection on ram sperm quality. Five months old, pre-pubertal, rams were divided into four groups ( n = 8 per group). Group A was the control group; the remaining animals received per os (p.o.) 5000 oocysts per ram. Group B did not receive treatment post-infection (p.i.). Group C received sulphadimidine (intermuscular injection (i.m.) 33 mg/kg for eight days; every 48 hrs) two months p.i. and Group D received the same drug twice (24 hours p.i. and two months later). Blood samples were collected every 15 days to detect serum immunoglobulin G (IgG). Epididymal sperm samples were analyzed for concentration, kinetics, morphology/viability, functional membrane integrity, DNA integrity, and the presence of parasite DNA. Histopathological examination was performed on the testes. The IgG titres in infected groups raised two weeks p.i. and remained high for four months. Higher values were noticed in viability and functional membrane integrity in positive spermatozoa in the control group compared to other groups, level of significance p < 0.05. Abnormal sperm was higher in groups C and D vs. A and C vs. B ( p < 0.05). T. gondii DNA was detected in three sperm samples of the infected rams (12.5%). Histopathology revealed similar findings with little variation among all infected groups, characterized mostly by increased interstitial connective tissue, non-purulent inflammation, and presence of seminiferous tubules with spermatogenic cell depletion, which increased gradually from D to C and B groups. In conclusion Toxoplasmosis in pre-pubertal age negatively affected mature ram sperm quality, while sulphadimidine administration failed to alter this.

Tick-borne bacteria pose a significant threat to human and veterinary public health. Greece is a Mediterranean country with rich tick fauna and the most commonly detected tick-borne bacterial pathogens are members of the Rickettsia and Anaplasma species. The variable V2-V4 and V6-V9 regions of 16S rRNA gene of seven ticks belonging to four genera representative in Greece ( Ixodes, Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, Haemophyssalis ) were analysed using multiple primer pairs by next generation sequencing (NGS). Nine bacterial phyla corresponding to 95 families, 116 genera and 172 species were identified. Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum in five of the seven ticks, followed by Actinobacteria, which predominated in two ticks. The tick-borne bacteria included Rickettsia and Anaplasma species, while " Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii" were detected in high abundance in I. ricinus ticks and less in Rhipicephalus bursa ; Coxiella -like endosymbionts were detected in Rh. sanguineus , H. parva , and less in Rh. bursa ticks. Co-infections with Rickettsia and Anaplasma were also observed. 16S rRNA NGS is a powerful tool to investigate the tick bacteriome and can improve the strategies for prevention and control of tick-borne diseases., (© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Testing for vector-borne pathogens in livestock is largely reliant upon blood and tissue. The role of biopsy samples remains poorly explored for detecting tick-borne bacteria in animals. In a 2-year survey, animals of veterinary importance from farms throughout the northern part of Greece were routinely checked for the presence of biopsy samples. Where detected, either a portion or a biopsy was collected together with whole blood samples and any ticks at the site of the biopsy sample. Molecular testing was carried out by real-time PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer gene of Bartonella species. A total of 68 samples (28 blood samples, 28 biopsy samples and 12 ticks (nine Rhipicephalus bursa and three Rhipicephalus turanicus )) were collected from goats (64 samples) and cattle (four samples). Eight (11.8%) of the 68 samples were positive for Bartonella species. Of the biopsy and whole blood samples, four (14.3%) of each type were positive for Bartonella species. None of the ticks tested positive for Bartonella species. All pairs of positive biopsy samples/whole blood samples originated from the same animals. Positive samples were identified as Bartonella vinsonii subsp. arupensis . Although many more samples from a much wider spectrum of animal species is required before concluding upon the merit of biopsy samples in the study of tick-borne diseases, the significance of our finding warrants further study, both for clinical consequences in small ruminants and for those humans who are farming infected animals., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Determination of serum total protein concentration is commonly performed by the biuret method. Refractometric measurement is a faster and less expensive alternative but its accuracy has not been determined in ruminants., Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare the serum total protein concentrations in cattle, sheep, and goats measured by the biuret method with those obtained by refractometry., Methods: Serum total protein concentration was determined in 120 cattle, 67 sheep, and 58 goat blood samples refractometrically and with the biuret method. The data were analyzed with a paired samples t-test, and Passing and Bablok regression equations and Bland and Altman plots were generated., Results: There was a strong linear relationship between the total protein values determined with the refractometer and the biuret method in cattle, sheep, and goats. The statistical accuracy, which represents a bias correction factor that measures the deviation of the best-fit line from the 45° line through the origin, was 90.63% for cattle, 93.05% for sheep, and 91.76% for goats. The mean protein values determined with the refractometer were significantly lower than those measured with the biuret method in cattle and goats (P < .05) but not in sheep (P > .05)., Conclusions: The evaluated refractometer was sufficiently accurate for the determination of serum total proteins in cattle, sheep, and goats, although it cannot be used interchangeably with the biuret method. The RIs should be corrected for negative bias based on the created equations., (© 2017 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

Ticks collected from goats in northern Greece were tested for the presence of tick-borne bacteria. Among adult ticks, 37 (57.8%) were Rhipicephalus bursa, 11 (17.2%) Dermacentor marginatus, 10 (15.6%) Ixodes ricinus, 3 (4.7%) Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and 2 (3.1%) Haemaphysalis parva; one (1.6%) Rhipicephalus spp. tick was nymph. Rickettsia monacensis, Rickettsia massilae, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys were detected in I. ricinus and Rh. bursa ticks. A variety of Coxiella-like endosymbionts were detected in all tick genera tested, forming distinct clades from Coxiella burnetii in the phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene. An additional endosymbiont, Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii, was detected in most of the I. ricinus ticks. Surveillance for human pathogens in ticks provides knowledge helpful for the public health, while further studies are needed to determine the role of endosymbionts in tick physiology, vector competence and probably in public health., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the seroprevalence of Greek adult cattle against West Nile virus, Anaplasma ovis and Lehismania infantum. In total, 156 serum samples were examined, drawn from cattle between 2-4 years old. All the examined cattle originated from slaughterhouses of 4 prefectures in Northern Greece (Thessaloniki, Pella, Chalkidiki, Kilkis), in 2 of which (Thessaloniki, Pella) human cases of West Nile virus had been recorded some months before. Thirty out of the 156 (18.6%) samples have tested positive for West Nile virus and fifty-five (35.9%) samples for Anaplasma ovis. All the examined samples tested negative for Leishmania infantum. The prefectures with positive samples against West Nile virus also showed human cases of West Nile virus infections. This should raise questions whether cattle could become markers for West Nile virus activity in high risk areas.

Toxoplasma and Neospora infections are important causes of abortions and economic losses in animal production. Mixed stock farming of sheep and goats is a common practice in Mediterranean countries and could serve as a suitable model for the evaluation of differences between the two animal species regarding parasitic infections. In order to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum among flocks of small ruminants in Greece and to evaluate any prevalence difference between sheep and goats kept in mixed flocks, 833 sera samples (458 sheep and 375 goats) from 50 mixed flocks in different areas of the country were examined by ELISA for the detection of specific antibodies. Specific IgG against T. gondii were detected in 53.71% and 61.3% and against N. caninum in 16.8% and 6.9% of the sheep and goats, respectively. Goats had higher Toxoplasma seroprevalence than sheep (p<0.05), while sheep had higher Neospora seroprevalence than goats (p<0.05). The present study is the first report world wide, on the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in sheep and goats that are kept together in mixed flocks., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Case History: A routine ultrasonographic examination for pregnancy diagnosis in a 3-year-old ewe revealed a normal embryo located in the uterine cavity and an abnormal mass located in the abdomen. At the time of examination, the ewe was 4.5 months pregnant, but 10 months previously she had undergone a caesarean section due to dystocia., Clinical Findings: The abnormal mass (12 cm × 8 cm) was located outside the uterine cavity; it was anechoic at the periphery, and in the centre there was an echogenic embryo-like structure. Exploratory laparotomy was performed, which revealed an ectopic pregnancy through the caesarean scar., Treatment: The ectopic foetus was excised and the caesarean scar was repaired. The ewe made a complete recovery and the intrauterine pregnancy was completed to full-term, resulting in the birth of a healthy female lamb 35 days after the removal of the ectopic foetus., Clinical Relevance: Ectopic pregnancies have previously been described in ewes. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first report of an ectopic pregnancy through a caesarean scar in sheep or any other farm animal species.