Factors associated with seroprevalence of bovine anaplasmosis in Mississippi, USA.

Anecdotally, Veterinary Feed Directive prescriptions in the southeastern United States (U.S.) are written most often for treatment and prevention of bovine anaplasmosis (BA) but seroprevalence estimates and factors associated with this disease are currently unavailable in Mississippi (MS). Bovine anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease of cattle caused by Anaplasma marginale, remains an economically important disease in U.S. The lack of recent seroprevalence of BA throughout the U.S. makes accurate assessment of production losses incurred by the cattle industry in the U.S. difficult, if not impossible to estimate. This study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence of and factors associated with BA in MS. Data were obtained from an active survey of 207 beef cows slaughtered between May 2013 and December, 2014 as well as from reviewing 5182 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories (VDLs) records of specimens from MS submitted for BA testing between 2002 and 2018. From the active surveillance, the overall observed apparent seroprevalence of BA in MS with cELISA was 28.99% (95% CI: 23.23 - 35.50%) while the estimated true seroprevalence was 29.02% (22.74 - 36.07%). However, from the laboratory records, the overall apparent period seroprevalence of BA in MS between 2002 and 2018 irrespective of diagnostic assay used was 16.72% (15.73 - 17.76%) and yearly increase in the diagnosis of BA followed a significant trend (P < 0.0001). With cELISA, the apparent seroprevalence of BA was 22.11% (20.78 - 23.49%) and the estimated true seroprevalence was 21.62% (20.18 - 23.11%). However, with CFT, the apparent seroprevalence of BA was 13.50% (10.75 - 16.81%) and the estimated true seroprevalence was 47.90% (36.30 - 61.87%). Factors associated with positive BA results were age, cattle type, and quarter of the year the specimens were submitted. The odds of the outcome were 22 as high in adults, 27 times as high in beef cattle, and 2 times as high between October to December in comparisons to juveniles, dairy cattle, and between April to June, respectively. Cattle population in the counties was not associated with positive BA results. Current records from the VDLs appear to accurately estimate the seroprevalence of BA in MS and thus serves as a reliable surveillance tool BA in the state. Because the burden of BA appears to be distributed throughout the state, future prevention and control measures for BA should focus on the identified putative risk factors and be intensified throughout MS.

Seroprevalence of bovine Anaplasmosis in Georgia.

Anecdotally, Veterinary Feed Directive prescriptions in many states in the southeastern United States (U.S.) are written most often for treatment and prevention of bovine anaplasmosis (BA). This tick-borne disease of cattle caused by Anaplasma marginale remains an economically important disease in U.S. However, there are no prevalence estimates of this disease in Georgia (GA). Thus, this study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence of BA in GA. In an active cull beef cow screening for BA, 293 beef cows were sampled from one cattle auction barn and one slaughterhouse between May 2013 and September 2014. These cows originated from 6 of 159 counties in GA. The top 3 counties sampled were Gordon (241 samples), Carroll (25 samples), and Emanuel (12 samples). Of the 293 sampled beef cows, 13 were positive and 280 were negative for BA. Hence, with competitive ELISA, the overall observed apparent seroprevalence of BA in GA was 4.44% (95% CI: 2.61-7.44%) while the estimated true seroprevalence was 2.62% (95% CI: 5.2-5.87%). The top 2 prevalent counties were Carroll and Gordon with apparent seroprevalence of 8% (95% CI: 2.22-24.97) and 4.78% (95% CI: 2.69-8.36), respectively and estimated true seroprevalence of 6.45% (95% CI: 0-25.37) and 2.99% (95% CI: 0.54-6.89), respectively. Although not significant, counties with specimen submissions for BA testing had a greater cattle population and number of cattle farms than counties without specimen submissions. Nevertheless, future prevention and control measures for BA should out of caution target counties with ≥5000 total cattle heads.

Factors associated with seroprevalence of bovine anaplasmosis in Texas.

Bovine anaplasmosis (BA), caused by Anaplasma marginale, is an economically important tick-borne disease of cattle in the United States (U.S.) and worldwide. Anecdotally, Veterinary Feed Directive prescriptions in the southeastern U.S. are written mostly for treatment/prevention of BA. However, there are no recent temporal seroprevalence estimates of BA in Texas (TX). Thus, this study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence of and factors associated with BA in TX. Data were obtained from an active slaughter survey (n = 215) performed between August and December 2014 as well as from reviewing Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (TVMDLs) records of specimens submitted for BA testing from January 2002 to June 2012 (n = 15,460). Irrespective of the assay used, the overall apparent seroprevalence of BA in TX between 2002 and 2012 was 15.91% (95% CI: 15.34 - 16.50%) and the yearly increase in seroprevalence followed a significant trend (P < .0001). With cELISA, the apparent seroprevalence of BA was 13.49% (95% CI: 9.56 - 18.7%) and 13.02% (95% CI: 9.74 - 17.18%) for the slaughter survey and TVMDLs records between October and December 2011, respectively. Whereas the estimated true seroprevalence for the same period was 12.35% (95% CI: 8.04 - 18.05%) and 12.78% (95% CI: 9.19 - 17.30%), respectively. Factors associated with positive BA results were age, breed, diagnostic assay used, year and quarter of the year the specimens were submitted. The odds of the outcome were 1.5 times as high when cattle were adults (vs juvenile). In comparison to other breeds, the odds of the outcome were 11.57, 7.16, and 2.5 times higher in Hereford, Angus, and mixed breeds, respectively. When compared to 2003, the odds of the diagnosis of BA was approximately 2 times as high in 2010 but 3 times as high in 2002, 2005, and 2011 and approximately 4 times as high in 2006 and 2007. In comparison to the duration from October to December, the odds of the outcome were approximately 1.5 as high from January to March and from July to September durations. Counties with specimen submissions for BA testing had a significantly greater cattle population (p = .0061) and number of cattle farms (p < .001) than counties without specimen submissions. Subsequent prevention and control measures for BA should target these factors and should prioritize on counties with higher cattle population in the eastern part of TX. Furthermore, TVMDLs records appear sufficient for the surveillance of BA in TX.

Factors associated with Seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale in Kentucky cattle.

Bovine anaplasmosis (BA) is tick-borne disease of cattle caused by Anaplasma marginale and it remains an economically important disease in the United States (U.S.). We have anecdotal information that Veterinary Feed Directive prescriptions in Kentucky (KY) are written most often for treatment and prevention of BA. However, there are no recent prevalence estimates of this disease in KY. Thus, this study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence of and factors associated with BA in KY. Data were obtained from an active slaughter survey (n = 232) performed between May and July 2013 as well as from reviewing The University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL) records of specimens submitted for BA testing from 2002-2012 (n = 2,573). With competitive ELISA, the apparent prevalence of BA in KY was 10.78% (95% CI: 7.41-15.42%) and 11.58% (95% CI: 10.31-12.98%) for the slaughter survey and laboratory records, respectively. Whereas the estimated true prevalence was 9.44% (95% CI: 5.65-14.48%) and 10.3% (95% CI: 8.92-11.8%), respectively. From the laboratory records, factors associated with positive BA results were age, breed, whether specimens were submitted singularly or as a group, year and quarter of the year the specimens were submitted. The odds of the outcome were 5 times as high when cattle were adults (vs juvenile) and almost 4 times as high when specimens were submitted singularly (vs group). In comparison to Holstein breed, the odds of the outcome were 3.5 and 2.5 times higher in Angus and mixed breeds, respectively. The odds of a diagnosis of BA varied in an undulating pattern by year of sample submission. When compared to 2011, the odds of a diagnosis of BA was approximately 3 times as high in 2005, 2008, and 2009 and approximately 5 times as high in 2004, 2006, and 2012. In comparison to the duration from January to March, the odds of the outcome were almost 20 times as high from July to September but 10 times as high from October to December durations. Counties with specimen submissions for BA testing had a significantly greater cattle population and number of cattle farms than counties without specimen submissions. Future prevention and control measures for BA should target these factors and should be weighted more on counties with higher cattle population. Furthermore, current records from the UKVDL appear sufficient for the surveillance of BA in KY.

Comparison of penetrating and nonpenetrating captive bolt methods in horned goats.

OBJECTIVE To use MRI and CT to compare the amount of tissue damage (soft tissue and bone) to the heads of goats after administration of a nonpenetrating or penetrating captive bolt. ANIMALS Cadavers of twelve 1- to 5-year-old mixed-breed goats that had been euthanized with an overdose of pentobarbital as part of an unrelated study. PROCEDURES Cadavers were randomly assigned to receive a nonpenetrating (n = 6) or penetrating (6) captive bolt. The head of 1 cadaver was imaged via CT and MRI. The muzzle of a device designed to administer either a penetrating or nonpenetrating captive bolt was then placed flush on the dorsal midline of each head at the level of the external occipital protuberance (poll) and aimed downward toward the cranialmost portion of the intermandibular space, and the assigned bolt was administered. Heads were removed, and CT and MRI of each head were performed. After imaging, each skull was transected along the sagittal plane to permit gross evaluation of central nervous tissue and obtain digital photographic images. In addition, 1 head that received a nonpenetrating captive bolt was further evaluated via blunt dissection and removal of adnexa from the external surface of the calvarium. RESULTS MRI, CT, and dissection of skulls revealed severe skeletal and soft tissue damage after impact with the penetrating and nonpenetrating captive bolts. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The nonpenetrating captive bolt appeared to cause damage similar to that of the penetrating captive bolt in the cranium and soft tissues of the head in caprine cadavers. This damage suggested that administration of a nonpenetrating captive bolt as described here may be an acceptable method of euthanasia in goats.

Not All Antidepressants Are Created Equal: Differential Effects of Monoamine Uptake Inhibitors on Effort-Related Choice Behavior.

Motivated behavior can be characterized by behavioral activation and high work output. Moreover, people with depression and other disorders show effort-related motivational symptoms, such as anergia, psychomotor retardation, and fatigue. Effort-based decision making is studied using tasks offering choices between high effort options leading to highly valued reinforcers vs low effort/low reward options, and such tasks could be useful as animal models of motivational symptoms. In the present studies the effort-related effects of the vesicular monoamine transport (VMAT-2) inhibitor tetrabenazine (TBZ) were investigated. TBZ blocks vesicular storage and also produces depressive symptoms in humans. Moreover, TBZ alters effort-based choice in rats, biasing animals toward low effort alternatives. The present studies investigated the ability of acute administration of various monoamine uptake inhibitors to reverse the effects of TBZ. Effort-related effects of TBZ were attenuated by the catecholamine uptake inhibitor and antidepressant bupropion, and this effect of bupropion was reversed by either D1 or D2 family antagonism. The effort-related effects of TBZ were also attenuated by the selective dopamine uptake blocker GBR12909. The 5-HT uptake inhibitor fluoxetine and the norepinephrine uptake inhibitor desipramine failed to reverse the effects of TBZ, and higher doses of these drugs, given alone or in combination with TBZ, led to further behavioral impairments. These results indicate that drugs acting on dopamine transmission are relatively effective at reversing the effort-related effects of TBZ, and are consistent with the hypothesis that drugs that enhance dopamine transmission may be effective at treating effort-related psychiatric symptoms in humans.