Management of bovine brucellosis in organized dairy herds through the identification of risk factors: A cross-sectional study from Karnataka, India.

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by Brucella species. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with bovine brucellosis seropositivity in organized dairy farms to control the disease in unvaccinated adult bovine herds in Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: In total, 3610 samples (3221 cattle and 389 buffaloes) were subjected to parallel testing using the Rose Bengal plate test and protein G-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, followed by analyses of animal- and farm-level epidemiological datasets to identify the risk factors. Results: The apparent brucellosis prevalence at the animal level was higher in buffaloes (8.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.9-11.4) than in cattle (6.1%, 95% CI = 5.3-7.0). In a multivariable logistic model, animals calved 3-5 times (odds ratio [OR] = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.50-3.1, reference [ref]: animals calved <2 times); animals with a history of abortion (OR = 54.73, 95% CI = 33.66-89.02), repeat breeding (OR = 19.46, 95% CI = 11.72-32.25), and placental retention (OR = 13.94, 95% CI = 4.92-39.42, ref: no clinical signs); and dogs on farms (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.48-4.40, ref: absence of dogs); disposal of aborted fetus in open fields (OR = 4.97, 95% CI = 1.93-12.84) and water bodies (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.50-3.1, ref: buried); purchase of animals from other farms (OR = 6.46, 95% CI = 1.01-41.67, ref: government farms); hand milking (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.02-10.0, ref: machine milking); and use of monthly veterinary services (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 1.28-9.29, ref: weekly services) were considered significant risk factors for brucellosis in organized bovine herds (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study identified that the animals calved 3-5 times or with a history of abortion/repeat breeding/placental retention, and disposal of aborted fetus in open fields/water bodies as the potential risk factors for bovine brucellosis. These risk factors should be controlled through the implementation of best practices to reduce the brucellosis burden in bovine farms.

Genetic diversity and risk factor analysis of drug-resistant Escherichia coli recovered from broiler chicken farms.

A total of 38 Escherichia coli isolates were recovered from 120 samples collected from various sources of broiler chicken farms (n = 10 each) in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. Though the recovered E. coli isolates were found variably resistant to the tested antibiotics, all the tested isolates were susceptible to meropenem. Alarming multi-drug resistance (MDR) was observed (34/38) among the recovered isolates, wherein antibiotic-resistant genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, and tetA) were detected, except for blaCTX-M-9. The heatmap with cluster analysis exhibited that majority of the E. coli isolates recovered from different sources and regions clustered together based on their phenotypic resistance suggesting co-sharing of resistance. However, the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing revealed an extremely diverse genotypic profile. Further, a significant statistical association was not observed between hypothesized risk factors and recovered MDR- E. coli isolates from various sources, although a significant statistical association between antibiotic resistance with large flock size, poor biosecurity practices, poor workers' hygiene, and poor disinfection practices was noticed. Since the study highlighted an alarming level of drug resistance among the recovered E. coli isolates, further in-depth research in similar veins is required to ensure the prudent use of antimicrobials in the poultry sector and the implementation of an antimicrobial surveillance system.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for brucellosis in small ruminant flocks in Karnataka in the Southern Province of India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of high economic and public health importance in large and small ruminant populations worldwide. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in small ruminants in organized farms in the southern region of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Farms exclusively rearing sheep and goats were selected based on the number of animals (small, medium, or large) and the location of the farm (urban, periurban, or rural). A total of 1499 serum samples; 1001 from sheeps and 498 from goats were sourced from six sheep and four goat farms and tested using Rose Bengal Plate and indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay tests. RESULTS: The apparent prevalence of brucellosis was higher in sheep (8.29%, 95% CI 6.7-10.1) than goats (5.82%, 95% CI 4.0-8.2). The true adjusted population level seroprevalence was also higher in sheep, at 7.7% (95% CI 6.0-9.6) than in goats, at 5.1% (95% CI 3.2-7.6). According to bivariate categorical analysis, six highly significant (p<0.001) animal- and farm-level risk factors for sheep were age, breed, number of lambings, history of abortion, rural farms, and presence of dogs on the farm. In goats, five significant risk factors were found: History of abortion, separate sheds, dogs on the farm, weekly veterinary consultation, and lack of brucellosis awareness. In a logistic regression model, abortion (OR adjusted 10.8, 95% CI 1.2-96.12), rural farms (OR adjusted 8.5, 95% CI 3.6-20.0), and absence of separate sheds on the farms (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.5) were found to be significant risk factors for ovine brucellosis. CONCLUSION: The use of complementary measures to tackle the multiple animal- and farm-level risk factors may help to reduce the disease burden in the absence of a vaccination policy for small ruminants in India.

Antimicrobial resistance pattern of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from fecal samples of piglets and pig farm workers of selected organized farms of India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are gradually increasing worldwide and carry a serious public threat. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from fecal samples of piglets and pig farm workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal samples from <3-month-old piglets (n=156) and farm workers (n=21) were processed for the isolation of ESBL-producing E. coli in MacConkey agar added with 1 µg/mL of cefotaxime. E. coli (piglets=124; farm workers=21) were tested for ESBL production by combined disk method and ESBL E-strip test. Each of the ESBL-positive isolate was subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing. The ESBL-producing E. coli were further processed for genotypic confirmation to CTX-M gene. RESULTS: A total of 55 (44.4%, 55/124) and nine (42.9%, 9/21) ESBL-producing E. coli were isolated from piglets and farm workers, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the ESBL-positive E. coli isolates from piglets and farm workers showed 100% resistance to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefotaxime/clavulanic acid, ceftazidime/clavulanic acid, and cefpodoxime. A proportion of 100% (55/55) and 88.9% (8/9) ESBL-positive E. coli were multidrug resistance (MDR) in piglets and farm workers, respectively. On genotypic screening of the ESBL E. coli isolated from piglets (n=55), 15 were positive for the bla CTX-M gene and of the nine ESBL E. coli from farm workers, none were positive for the bla CTX-M gene. CONCLUSION: Although there was no significant difference in isolation of ESBL-producing E. coli between piglets and farm workers, the ESBL-positive E. coli from piglets showed relatively higher MDR than farm workers.