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Veterinary Parasitology Jun 2024Gastrointestinal helminth infection, particularly by Haemonchus contortus, poses significant challenges to sheep farming worldwide. While anthelmintic drugs have been...
Gastrointestinal helminth infection, particularly by Haemonchus contortus, poses significant challenges to sheep farming worldwide. While anthelmintic drugs have been traditional control measures, the emergence of resistance calls for alternative strategies. Understanding the interaction between parasites, host, and their microbiome is crucial for management of helminth infection. This study intricately explores the interactions between microbial communities in Kashmir Merino sheep infected with H. contortus, to understand the complex interplay between host, parasite, and their microbiome. Sheep abomasal contents and H. contortus were collected from infected and control groups, processed for DNA extraction, and subjected to metagenomic sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. Downstream analysis unveils distinct microbial patterns, where Proteobacteria were dominant in H. contortus, while Bacteroidota and Firmicutes prevailed in the sheep abomasum. The revelation of unique genera and shifts in diversity indices underscored helminth-induced disruptions in the host. Beta diversity analysis further showed significant variations in bacterial profiles, providing insights into the intricate host, parasite, and microbiome dynamics. Additionally, this study elucidated the presence of pathogenic bacteria within H. contortus, accentuating their potential role in exacerbating sheep health issues. This finding underscores the complexity of the host-parasite-microbiome interaction showing helminth-induced microbiome alterations of the host.
PubMed: 38944892
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110243 -
PloS One 2024The economic impact of gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections on livestock production is well documented worldwide. Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that...
The economic impact of gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections on livestock production is well documented worldwide. Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that parasite colonization induces significant changes in the GI tract environment and, therefore, in the landscape where the microbiota and parasites occur. Understanding the interactions between bacterial and parasite populations in the digestive tract of livestock may be useful to design parasite control strategies based on microbiota modification. The aims of this work were to investigate the impact of the oxytetracycline-mediated manipulation of the gut microbial community on the composition of GI nematode populations in naturally infected sheep and to explore changes in the GI microbial communities after nematode population treatment with the anthelmintic compound monepantel. Extensive manipulation of the GI microbiota with a therapeutic dose of the long-acting oxytetracycline formulation did not induce significant changes in the GI nematode burden. The gut microbiota of treated animals returned to control levels 17 days after treatment, suggesting strong resilience of the sheep microbial community to antibiotic-mediated microbiota perturbation. A significant decrease of the bacterial Mycoplasmataceae family (Log2FC = -4, Padj = 0.001) and a marked increase of the Methanobacteriaceae family (Log2FC = 2.9, Padj = 0.018) were observed in the abomasum of sheep receiving the monepantel treatment. While a comprehensive evaluation of the interactions among GI mycoplasma, methanobacteria and nematode populations deserves further assessment, the bacteria-nematode population interactions should be included in future control programs in livestock production. Understanding how bacteria and parasites may influence each other in the GI tract environment may substantially contribute to the knowledge of the role of microbiota composition in nematode parasite establishment and the role of the parasites in the microbiota composition.
Topics: Animals; Sheep; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Sheep Diseases; Nematode Infections; Nematoda; Oxytetracycline; Gastrointestinal Tract; Aminoacetonitrile; Bacteria
PubMed: 38935803
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306390 -
Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe G,... Jun 2024Uroperitoneum is a rarely documented finding in heifers. More frequently uroperitoneum is described in male youngstock suffering from obstructive urolithiasis, or...
Uroperitoneum is a rarely documented finding in heifers. More frequently uroperitoneum is described in male youngstock suffering from obstructive urolithiasis, or abscesses of the urachus. This report describes a case of uroperitoneum most likely as a result of a traumatic rupture of the urinary bladder in an 8.5 months old heifer. The animal was presented with a severely dilated abdomen and an undulating wave was evident upon palpation. The heifer exhibited physiologic urination. Additionally, left displacement of the abomasum was evident. In consequence to findings of the ultrasonographic examination and abdominocentesis, diagnostic laparotomy was performed. Urine was evacuated from the abdominal cavity in fractions and the damaged cranial pole of the urinary bladder was excised followed by the suture of the urinary bladder. The abomasum was replaced in its physiologic position and an omentopexy was performed. The heifer was discharged from hospital and was still in the herd 5 years after discharge.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Cattle Diseases; Urinary Bladder; Peritoneal Diseases; Rupture
PubMed: 38925130
DOI: 10.1055/a-2329-5778 -
Journal of Dairy Science Jun 2024The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of puerperal metritis (PM) diagnosed and treated during the early postpartum period of the first lactation on...
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of puerperal metritis (PM) diagnosed and treated during the early postpartum period of the first lactation on transition cow health, milk production, reproduction, and culling of dairy cows in their second lactation. Diagnosis of PM was based on fetid watery red-brown uterine discharge and rectal temperature above 39.5°C. Two farms were enrolled in this retrospective observational cohort study (Farm A and B). In both farms, the following diseases were recorded during the first 30 DIM in lactation 1 and 2: clinical hypocalcemia (CH), retained fetal membrane (RFM), PM, hyperketonemia (KET), left displaced abomasum (LDA) and clinical mastitis (MAST). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows separately for each farm. Linear and logistic regression models were used for continuous (e.g., milk yield) and binary (e.g., disease, pregnancy per AI, pregnancy loss) outcomes, respectively. Cox proportional hazard regression models were calculated to model the time to event outcomes for culling or death during the first 60 DIM and for pregnancy within 250 d of the second lactation. The initial models contained the following variables: year of calving, month of calving, calving ease, stillbirth, twins, days open in lactation 1, 305 d milk yield in lactation 1, PM in lactation 1, and PM in lactation 2 as explanatory variables. A total of 4,834 cows (Farm A) and 4,238 cows (Farm B) in the second lactation were considered for statistical analyses. On farm A, the incidence of PM in lactation 1 and 2 was 20.1% and 11.2%, respectively. On farm B, the incidence of PM in lactation 1 and 2 was 14.4% and 8.5%, respectively. On both farms, cows with PM in their first lactation had greater odds for RFM and PM in their second lactation, while there was no association of PM in the first lactation with any other non-uterine diseases (i.e., CH, KET, LDA, and MAST) in the second lactation. Cows with PM in lactation 2 had reduced milk yield. The reduction in milk yield in second lactation was greater for cows that already experienced PM in lactation 1. On Farm A, cows with PM in their first lactation had a greater hazard for culling within 60 DIM of the second lactation; however, the same association was not present on Farm B. Cows with PM in lactation 1 had reduced pregnancy per AI at first service in the second lactation only on farm B. Cows with PM in lactation 2 had reduced pregnancy per AI at first service in the second lactation on both farms. Pregnancy loss in lactation 2 was only associated with PM in lactation 2 but not with PM in lactation 1. On both farms, cows had a reduced hazard for pregnancy in their second lactation within 250 DIM when they experienced PM in either lactation. In conclusion, PM in the first lactation had long-lasting negative consequences (i.e., risk of uterine disease and lower reproductive performance) for cows in their next lactation.
PubMed: 38908710
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-24699 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024The University of Florida's Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI) conducted a post-mortem examination of a two-year-old white-tailed doe deceased at a northern...
The University of Florida's Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI) conducted a post-mortem examination of a two-year-old white-tailed doe deceased at a northern Florida white-tailed deer farm. The carcass of the deer had notable emaciation and bloating. Upon opening of the carcass, there was pneumonia and the rumen was tympanic and enlarged. Additionally, the abomasum was distended and contained approximately 5 kg of sand. It is not uncommon for white-tailed deer to engage in geophagia (eating soil or sand), which typically does not result in diseases or fatalities. However, in this animal, we suspect a chronic process that created a physical barrier, hindering nutrient absorption and resulting in physical irritation of the abomasal mucosa with subsequent inflammation. This may have caused a disturbance in immune system function, allowing opportunistic bacteria to colonize and invade other organs, such as the lungs, contributing to the animal's death.
PubMed: 38891649
DOI: 10.3390/ani14111602 -
PloS One 2024Abomasal ulcers are recognized in sheep of all ages, but research regarding therapeutic interventions is limited. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) such as pantoprazole, are...
Abomasal ulcers are recognized in sheep of all ages, but research regarding therapeutic interventions is limited. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) such as pantoprazole, are clinically used with a paucity of evidence regarding efficacy in mature sheep. Intravenous and subcutaneously administered pantoprazole dosed at 1.0 mg/kg in adult sheep will increase the pH of abomasal fluid compared to pre-administration baseline. The objectives were to assess the effect of pantoprazole, after single and multiple administration, on abomasal fluid pH in adult sheep. A third objective was to describe the pharmacokinetic parameters of IV and SC pantoprazole. Four clinically healthy adult Southdown ewes previously fitted with a gastrostomy tube in the abomasum were utilized in this randomized, 2-way cross-over trial. Ewes received pantoprazole (1.0 mg/kg) as a single and 3-dose regimen (every 24 hours). After a 10 day washout period the reverse treatment was applied. Blood for analysis of pantoprazole concentration was collected intermittently for 24 hours, and abomasal fluid pH was measured at intervals for a 96-hour period. The pH of the abomasal fluid was higher in pantoprazole treatments for up to 24 hours after dosing. Following intravenous administration of pantoprazole to study ewes, elimination half-life, volume of distribution, and clearance of pantoprazole was estimated as 3.29 hours, 0.35 L/kg, and 65.26 mL/hr/kg respectively. After subcutaneous dosing, maximum concentration, time to maximum concentration, half-life of elimination, and volume of distribution, were estimated as 2604 ng/mL, 0.55 hours, 2.48 hours, and 0.37 L/kg. Additionally, the bioavailability was estimated as 83.33%. Pantoprazole administered IV or SC may be useful for treatment or prevention of abomasal ulcers in adult sheep.
Topics: Animals; Pantoprazole; Sheep; Female; Injections, Subcutaneous; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Proton Pump Inhibitors; Abomasum; Administration, Intravenous; Cross-Over Studies; Injections, Intravenous
PubMed: 38865425
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304533 -
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences Aug 2024a stomach worm, is prevalent in ruminants worldwide. They particularly hamper profitable small ruminant production. Here, we estimate the genetic variation of...
a stomach worm, is prevalent in ruminants worldwide. They particularly hamper profitable small ruminant production. Here, we estimate the genetic variation of collected from slaughtered goats and sheep from various geographic zones of Bangladesh using multiple genes. To perform this, adult parasites were isolated from the abomasum of slaughtered animals (sheep and goats). Among them, 79 male were identified by microscopy. Following the extraction of DNA, and genes were amplified and subsequently considered for sequencing. After alignment and editing, sequences were analyzed to find out sequence variation, diversity pattern of genes, and population genetics of isolates. Among the sequence data, the analyses identified 19 genotypes of and 77 haplotypes of genes. The diversity of nucleotides was 0.0103 for and 0.029 for gene. The dendogram constructed by the genotype and haplotype sequences of revealed that two populations were circulating in Bangladesh without any demarcation of host and geographic regions. Analysis of population genetics demonstrated a high flow of genes (89.2 %) within the population of the worm in Bangladesh. The Fst value showed very little amount of genetic difference among the worm populations of Bangladesh but marked genetic variation between different continents. The findings are expected to help explain the risks of anthelmintic resistance and the transmission pattern of the parasite, and also provide a control strategy against .
PubMed: 38854893
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2024.104030 -
Journal of Dairy Science May 2024Our objectives were to compare the efficacy of ketoprofen or ceftiofur for treatment of metritis in dairy cows considering subsequent health, production, and...
Our objectives were to compare the efficacy of ketoprofen or ceftiofur for treatment of metritis in dairy cows considering subsequent health, production, and reproduction. Cows from 2 commercial dairy farms in Ontario, Canada were examined with a Metricheck device 3 times per week from 2 to 14 d in milk (DIM). Cows with metritis (fetid vaginal discharge; n = 193) were blocked by parity and fever (rectal temperature ≥39.5°C or <39.5°C) and within each block per farm, randomly assigned to receive 3 mg/kg BW of ketoprofen (KET) or 2.2 mg/kg of ceftiofur hydrochloride (CEF), once a day for 3 d. Day of enrollment was considered study d 0. Rectal temperature and attitude were evaluated in cows with metritis on study d 0, 3, 4, 7, 10, and 13, and vaginal discharge was evaluated on study d 4, 7, 10, and 13. Body condition was scored at enrollment and 35 DIM, and serum concentration of haptoglobin was measured at d 0, 2, 4, and 7. Cows with rectal temperature ≥39.5°C or a depressed attitude on d 3 were classified as clinical failure and received treatment with ceftiofur for 3 d (KET), or 2 additional days (CEF), to a maximum of 5 d of treatment with ceftiofur. At 35 ± 3 DIM cows were examined for uterine involution by transrectal palpation, purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) by Metricheck, and endometritis by endometrial cytology. Time to onset of cyclicity was assessed by serum progesterone (P4) measurements at 28, 42, and 56 DIM. Contemporary cows from the same farms without metritis (NOMET; n = 1,043) were used for comparison. Data were analyzed with mixed linear or logistic regression or Cox's proportional hazard models, including herd as a random effect. The proportion of clinical resolution of metritis on d 3 (96% vs. 92%), of cows with fever (from d 3 to d 13 after enrollment) or fetid discharge (from d 4 to d 13 after enrollment), and the number of medical treatments (3.1 vs. 3.3) were not different between CEF and KET, respectively. Cows in KET received fewer antibiotic treatments than cows in CEF (0.3 vs. 3.1). Uterine involution, the prevalence of PVD (50% vs. 47%) and subclinical endometritis (6.6% vs. 4.3%), and the proportion of cyclic cows (82% vs. 86%) did not differ between CEF and KET. Cows in KET had greater serum haptoglobin concentration from d 2 to 7 after enrollment. The incidence of mastitis, lameness, or displaced abomasum to 60 DIM and subclinical ketosis to 21 DIM did not differ among CEF, KET, and NOMET. There were no differences in median days to first AI (CEF = 68 d; 95% CI: 65-70; KET = 69 d; 95% CI: 68-72; NOMET = 69 d; 95% CI: 68-70), and median days to pregnancy (CEF = 118 d; 95% CI: 92-145; KET = 113 d; 95% CI: 90-135; NOMET = 105 d; 95% CI: 101-109), pregnancy at first AI at 33 d after insemination (CEF = 42%; KET = 41%; NOMET = 41%), pregnancy loss after first AI (CEF = 8%; KET = 11%; NOMET = 8%), hazard of pregnancy or hazard of culling up to 300 DIM. Milk yield was not different between CEF and KET during the first 10 weeks, but lesser in KET at wk 2 and 4 and CEF at wk 2, 4, and 6 than in NOMET. In this pilot-scale study, given early detection, we did not detect differences in subsequent health, milk yield, or reproductive performance in cows with metritis initially treated for 3 d with CEF or KET. Additional, larger studies are warranted.
PubMed: 38825109
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24585 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024The possibility that there is a resident and stable commensal microbiome within the pregnant uterus has been supported and refuted by a series of recent studies. One...
INTRODUCTION
The possibility that there is a resident and stable commensal microbiome within the pregnant uterus has been supported and refuted by a series of recent studies. One element of most of the initial studies was that they were based primarily on 16S rRNA gene sequencing from bacteria. To account for this limitation, the current study performed both bacterial culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing in a side-by-side manner (e.g., same tissues isolated from the same animal).
METHODS
The uteruses of 10 mid-pregnant (156 ± 5 d of gestation) Holstein heifers and cows were collected following slaughter. The external surface of the reproductive tract (positive control for contamination during tissue collection) as well as tissues within the pregnant uterus (placentome, inter-cotyledonary placenta, inter-caruncular endometrium, amnionic fluid, allantoic fluid, fetal abomasum content, and fetal meconium) were sampled for bacterial culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
RESULTS
There were 87 unique bacterial species cultured from the external surface of the pregnant reproductive tract (contamination control) and 12 bacterial species cultured from pregnancy tissues. Six out of 10 cattle (60%) exhibited bacterial growth in at least one location within the pregnant uterus. For the metataxonomic results (16S rRNA gene sequencing), a low targeted microbial biomass was identified. Analyses of the detected amplicon sequence variants (ASV) revealed that there were: (1) genera that were prevalent on both the external surface and within the pregnant uterus; (2) genera that were prevalent on the external surface but either not detected or had very low prevalence within the pregnant uterus; and (3) genera that were either not detected or had low prevalence on the external surface but found with relatively high prevalence within the pregnant uterus.
CONCLUSION
There are a small number of viable bacteria in the pregnant uterus. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing detected a microbial community within the pregnant uterus but with a low biomass. These results are consistent with recent studies of the pregnant bovine uterus and leave open the question of whether there is adequate microbial mass to significantly affect the biology of the normal healthy bovine pregnancy.
PubMed: 38812678
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1385497 -
Translational Animal Science 2024The use of tissue specimens for undergraduate instruction is a very valuable tool. However, fresh tissue specimens are not always available and many common preservation...
The use of tissue specimens for undergraduate instruction is a very valuable tool. However, fresh tissue specimens are not always available and many common preservation techniques can result in discoloration, offensive odors, and/or dangerous chemical residues. The Elnady Technique was developed as a means to produce tissue specimens that "are realistic, durable, have no offensive odor, and are dry, soft and flexible" (Elnady, F.A. 2016 The Elnady Technique: An innovative, new method for tissue preservation. 33:237-242. doi:10.14573/altex.1511091). Briefly for soft tissue, specimens were preserved by fixing in formalin. The tissue specimen was then dehydrated with a series of acetone baths. Once the tissue was fully dehydrated, the specimen was impregnated in glycerin. Excess glycerin was then removed by draining followed by immersion in cornstarch. Cornstarch residue was removed with a soft brush, and the specimen was stored in a plastic bag. Multiple specimens (including the female reproductive tract of the cat, goat, horse, and sow; digestive tract of cat, chicken, and dog; 1-day-old lamb stomach; goat rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum; and sheep heart and kidney) have been preserved and used in various animal science course laboratories (126 laboratory sections and 1,696 students at Berry College). Some of the specimens have been in use for seven years and are still in usable condition. Anonymously surveyed Berry College Animal Science Faculty strongly agreed or agreed that Elnady preserved tissues are a useful teaching aid ( = 5). The Elnady Technique has proven to be a useful means of preserving tissue samples used in undergraduate animal science courses.
PubMed: 38800102
DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae077