Correlation between neonatal calf diarrhea and the level of maternally derived antibodies

Passively acquired antibodies through colostrum will protect calves against etiological agents of neonatal calf diarrhea. Among them enteric diseases due to strains of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli [ETEC] are the most commonly occurring form of colibacillosis in newborn calves. Specific antibodies against whole ETEC cells and total immunoglobulin G in dam serum, colostrum and calf serum were determined. There were significant differences [P=0.0005] between antibody titers in normal and diarrheic groups, in which diarrheic group had a higher titer. Total IgG concentration in diarrheic calves [20.86 +/- 0.49], their dams [23.48 +/- 0.54] and colostrum [33.40 +/- 0.50] was less than normal group [P=0.0005]. There was a highly significant positive correlation between dam total IgG with calf total IgG [r=0.022; ratio=52.11]. Colostral anti-E. coli antibody had a highly significant positive correlation with anti-E. coli in calf serum [r=0.345; ratio=0.62]. Anti-E. coli antibody in calf serum had a highly significant negative correlati with total IgG of dam serum, colostrum and calf serum. While the level of anti-E. coli antibodies in diarrheic group was considerably higher than normal group, our findings reported here are in agreement that immunity to diarrhea also might be correlated with maternal cells or cellular components as well as cytokines which are transferred by colostrum to neonatal calves. Nevertheless, the level of maternally derived antibodies is a promising indicator for passive immunity and protection against diarrhea in neonatal calves

[Molecular and histopathological findings on induced pulmonary lesions by bovine viral diarrhea virus]

The bovine viral diarrhea virus [BVDV] is one of the bovine respiratory system pathogens that represses lungs immunity and raises the pathogenicity of other bacteria and viruses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of BVDV in lung tissue. In this study, 30 bovine lung tissues were used. Histopathologic analysis showed different lesions in lung tissues. RT-PCR test results and histopathologic observations were studied for each sample and compared. Kai Square Test was used to study any possible association between the existence of BVD virus and incidence of four common lesions: 1- Interestitial pneumonia, 2- bronchitis and bronchiolitis, 3- edema, emphysema and atelectasis and 4- bronchopneumonia. If the assumptions of X2 test were not applicable, the Fisher Exact Test was used. The RT-PCR test for BVDV results was positive for 10 lung samples. 5 BVD positive cases were involved with interestitial pneumonia, while 10 BVD negative cases were not affected. Finally, in the studied lung tissues, only the 3 + degree or severe interstitial pneumonia was significantly associated with the existence of BVD virus. No significant relation was seen regarding other possible lesions, which may have resulted from the probable roles of bacteria or other viruses and toxic factors that were not studied in this project

[Effectiveness evaluation of inactivated vaccines against bovine viral diarrhea and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis]

Bovine viral diarrhea [BVD] and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis [IBR] are two of the most important diseases responsible for major economic losses in the Iranian dairy industry. Since there are not in-house vaccines, the evaluations of the effectiveness of imported commercial vaccines are imperative. The purpose of the present study was to assess the clinical effectiveness of commercial inactivated Bovine viral diarrhea virus [BVDV] and Bovine herpes virus type 1 [BHV-1] vaccines to reduce the occurrence of culling and diseases, as well as their impact on milk production and prevention of birth of calves persistently infected [PI] with BVDV. A blind randomized controlled trial was performed. Animals were assigned to treatment [n=342] and control [n=351] groups by systematic randomization. Animals in the treatment group were inoculated with inactivated BVDV and BHV-1 vaccines [Intervet-Schering Plough]. One and seven months later, vaccination was repeated. Over a one-year period, the incidence of disease, death and culling, birth of PI calves and milk production were recorded and compared. All statistical analyses were done with IBM SPSS statistics 20 software. At the start of the study, the two groups showed no significant differences in the means of age [day], parities, days in milk, milk production and preexisting antibodies of BVDV and BHV-1. In addition, significant difference was not observed between treatment and control groups during the period of study. Unlike previous years, there were no reports of BHV-1 respiratory disease and birth of PI calves in the herd as a whole. Although the efficacies of the mentioned vaccines were approved previously, effectiveness was not augmented in our study. Evidence-based Vaccinology in the developing countries should be performed by implementation of effectiveness studies

[Molecular typing of group Abovine rotavirus of calves in the[provinces of Tehran, Alborz and Qazvin]]

BACKGROUND: Group Abovine rotavirus [BRV-A] is one of the most important causes of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in newborn calves

OBJECTIVES: Major types of BRV-A in Tehran, Alborz and Qazvin were detected in this study

METHODS:Atotal 125 fecal samples of calves showing clinical signs of diarrhea were collected from 26 industrial dairy farms located in the provinces of Tehran, Alborz and Qazvin, during two years

RESULTS: BRV-A was detected in 39.2 % [49/125] of total samples using a commercial ELISA kit. Thirty five positive samples were analyzed by seminested multiplex RT-PCR for Pand G genotyping. G10 was the most prevalent genotype, accounting for 57.1% of samples, G6 accounted for 22.9% of samples and in 5.7% of samples [2/35], mixed infection of both genotypes G6 and G10 were detected. Also, the detected P types were P[11] and P[5], accounting for 71.4% and 14.2%, respectively. In our study, none of the genotypes G8 and P[1] were detected. The incidence of genotype combinations corresponded to the B223-like strains [G10P[11]], UK-like strains [G6P[5]] and KN4-like strains [G6P[11]] were 51.4%,14.3% and 8.6%, respectively. Mixed infections G6/G10P[11] were detected in 2.85% of all samples analyzed with RT-PCR

CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the determination of Pgenotypes of BRV-Aand distribution of the most common BRV-Astrains circulating in Iran

Our study also indicated that the incidence of the G genotypes of BRV-Ain the provinces of Tehran, Alborz and Qazvin, which is one of the greatest husbandry centers in Iran, has changed in the past years. Furthermore, this finding could be valuable in rotavirus vaccine design

[ effects of oral administration of solution containing minerals and organic substances in parturient dairy cows and the prevention of mineral deficiency and negative energy balance]

Negative energy balance and mineral deficiency are the most important metabolic disorders in fresh dairy cows. In order to evaluate the effect of the feeding of solution [LICVITE [registered sign]] containing minerals [calcium, phosphorus and magnesium] and organic substances [propylene glycol and niacin] in parturient dairy cows, 30 cows were examined in a dairy farm with 500 milking dairy cows. 500 ml of Licvite syrup was fed to 15 dairy cows one hour post partum, and once again 14 hours after calving [treatment group]. Fifteen parturient dairy cows, almost at the same physical situation as the treatment group, did not receive any substances after calving and were chosen as the control group. Jugular blood samples were taken from two groups as follow: 12- 15 days before parturition; 14 and 24 hours after calving; and, 10 days after parturition. Analysis of sera showed that the mean serum concentration of calcium in the treatment group at 24 hours after parturition, and mean serum concentration of phosphorous in all the measured times after parturition, were significantly higher than the control group [p<0.05]. After parturition it was noticed that there was a decreased level of BHBA and NEFA in the cows in the treatment group. The differences, however, were not statistically significant. The results of present study showed that oral administration of a solution containing mineral and organic substances, to dairy cows during the first day after parturition, had a very significant effect on the prevention of subclinical mineral deficiency and the negative energy balance

Dog-bite induced fatal meningitis in a kitten: a case report

Bacterial infection of the brain is relatively rare in dogs and cats. A cat at approximately three months of age was admitted to the clinic with a history of dog bite seven days before admission. On clinical presentation, the cat was unconscious and in lateral recumbency. One hour after admission, the cat developed severe apnoea and asystole. Cardiorespiratory resuscitation was unsuccessful and the animal died. Necropsy and histopathological examination revealed a purulent meningitis. A sample of purulent exudates was submitted for microbiological examination. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from bacterial culture. Due to the history of dog biting, direct inoculation of P. multocida into the subdural space following penetrating dog-bite wounds was suggested to be the cause of meningitis and death of the kitten. This report highlights the importance of antibiotic therapy in bite wounds to reduce such fatal complications