Anthelmintic resistance status of goat gastrointestinal nematodes in Sing Buri Province, Thailand.

Background and Aim: Promotions of goat farming by both public and private sectors encouraged considerable goat raising in central Thailand. Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) infection is a major health and economic problem; however, evidence of resistance to broad-spectrum anthelmintics is frequently reported. Investigation of anthelmintic resistance (AR) status and identification of factors related to the development of AR is important components for sustainable GIN control. However, no information is available on this topic in the study area. The present study aimed to gather information on GIN control practices and to evaluate the effectiveness of albendazole, ivermectin, and levamisole for treating GIN infestation in goat herds in Sing Buri Province. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine herds were randomly selected. Information on management practices was collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Three field experiments for routinely used anthelmintics, including albendazole, ivermectin, and levamisole were conducted from June 2019 to November 2019. Fecal samples were collected pre- and post-treatment and examined for fecal egg count reduction to determine the status of anthelmintic resistance of goat GIN. Results: Several improper practices were identified that lead to AR, especially chronic use of albendazole and ivermectin. All herds were considered resistant to albendazole and ivermectin, and levamisole resistant nematodes were detected in two herds. AR was strongly linked with the continuous use of anthelmintics. Conclusion: Levamisole, which was still effective in the province, should be used with caution to minimize the selection of resistant strains. Farmers should be provided with updated information for sustainable parasite control. Further, the efficacy of anthelmintics should be routinely monitored.

Seroprevalence of bovine coronavirus and factors associated with the serological status in dairy cattle in the western region of Thailand.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is a pathogen affecting the productivities of dairy cattle worldwide. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and factors associated with BCoV serological status using a commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the western region of Thailand. Blood samples were collected from 30 dairy herds. In total, 617 blood serum samples were tested using a commercial indirect ELISA for BCoV-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the factors which have been identified as risk factors for BCoV antibody detection. The age and history of diarrhea of each animal were recorded. Fisher's exact test was performed to univariately assess the association between BCoV serological status and possible risk factors. Variables with Fisher's exact test p<0.10 were then evaluated using multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with BCoV serological status. The Bonferroni adjustment was used for multiple comparisons of significant variables in the final multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: No herd was free from antibodies to BCoV. The individual seroprevalence of BCoV was 97.89% (604/617). The prevalence within herds was in the range of 45.45-100%. Cattle >3 years of age were more likely to be seropositive to BCoV compared to cattle <1 year of age (p=0.003), with the odds ratio being 81.96. Disinfecting diarrhea stools were a protective factor for being BCoV seropositive, with odds ratios of 0.08 and 0.06 compared to doing nothing (p=0.008) and to clean with water (p=0.002), respectively. CONCLUSION: BCoV seropositive dairy cattle were distributed throughout the western region of Thailand. The probability of being seropositive for BCoV increased with increasing animal age. Cleaning the contaminated stool with appropriate disinfectants should be recommended to farmers to minimize the spread of the virus.

Management factors associated with perinatal lamb mortality in Prince Edward Island flocks.

The objective of this observational cohort study was to identify management factors associated with lamb mortality risk for sheep flocks in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Data were collected from 50 lambing groups from 36 sheep flocks during 3 farm visits before, during and after the lambing seasons in 2014-15. Variables of interest included flock management practices, ewe health indicators, ewe nutrition, litter size and lamb birth weight. Principal component analysis was performed and resulting component scores were used for further analysis using a mixed Poisson regression model with lamb mortality risk as the outcome. The median group-level lamb mortality in the first 8 weeks of life was 10.0 % (0 %-30.3 %), with 25 groups having lamb mortality greater than 10 %, which is considered higher than the standard productivity goal. Four principal component scores were retained in the final model identifying generalized factors associated with lamb mortality: 1) flock factors, 2) forage factors, 3) lamb health factors, and 4) general health factors. Specifically, the following management factors were indirectly through the 4 principal components associated with lower lamb mortality: using goal setting; having a strong working relationship with a veterinarian; seeking veterinary advice for animal treatment; using benzimidazole-class anthelmintics; feeding forage with high crude protein, digestible energy, and net energy for maintenance and low acid detergent fiber to late-gestation ewes; applying visual lamb identification methods; using anti-coccidial prophylactic medication to lambs; administering clostridial vaccines to lambs; avoiding separation of hypothermic lambs from their dams; and treatment/prevention of neurological and/or wasting disease. Although this study is exploratory, and confirmation is required, the results should help sheep farmers and researchers direct attention to management variables that could reduce lamb mortality in sheep flocks.

Evaluation of the Precision Xtra meter for monitoring blood ß-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in late-gestation ewes.

Blood samples were collected from late-gestation ewes to determine the agreement of a point-of-care (POC) Precision Xtra meter and a standard laboratory test for ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA). Fresh whole blood samples were immediately tested with the POC instrument, and serum samples were analyzed with a standard commercial biochemical analyzer. Ewes were classified as having ketonemia if their BHBA concentrations were ≥800 µmol/L. Scatter plots, paired t-tests, Bland-Altman limits of agreement, and Gwet AC1 tests were used to compare results. The 2 tests had very good agreement. The values between instruments were not statistically different based on paired t-tests ( p = 0.312). The intercept and slope of a linear mixed model, containing the standard test results as an outcome and the POC meter results as a predictor, were 0.02 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.04) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.01), respectively. When the samples were classified into ketonemic classes (non-ketonemic and ketonemic) based on BHBA concentrations obtained from each test, the Gwet AC1 statistic was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.97; p < 0.001). The ketosis classification agreed in 95% of samples. Based on the Bland-Altman plot and limits of agreement, the optimal cutoff to diagnose ketonemia with the POC meter was 1,000 µmol/L, which is 200 µmol/L higher than the laboratory BHBA medical decision limit. The Precision Xtra meter provided excellent correlation and substantial agreement with the standard laboratory technique for measuring blood BHBA in late-gestation ewes.

The association of serum ß-hydroxybutyrate concentration with fetal number and health indicators in late-gestation ewes in commercial meat flocks in Prince Edward Island.

Late-gestation ewes are susceptible to ketonemia resulting from high energy requirement for fetal growth during the last few weeks of pregnancy. High lamb mortality is a possible consequence of effects of ketonemia on both ewes and lambs. Determining risk factors to ketonemia is a fundamental step to identify ewes at risk, in order to avoid losses caused by ketonemia. Serum ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations of 384 late-gestation ewe samples were determined. Physical examinations, including body condition, FAMACHA© and hygiene scoring, were performed. Udders and teeth were also examined. Fecal floatation was performed to detect gastrointestinal helminth eggs of the ewe fecal samples. General feeding management practices and season at sampling were recorded. Litter sizes were retrieved from lambing records. Factors associated with log serum BHBA concentration were determined using a linear mixed model, with flock and lambing groups as random effects. The mean serum BHBA concentration was 545.8 (±453.3) µmol/l. Ewes with a body condition score (BCS) of 2.5-3.5 had significantly lower log BHBA concentrations than ewes with a BCS of ≤2.0, by 19.7% (p = 0.035). Ewes with a BCS of >3.5 had a trend toward higher log BHBA concentrations compared to ewes with a BCS of 2.5-3.5. Ewes with a FAMACHA© score of 3 had significantly higher log BHBA concentrations than ewes with a FAMACHA© score of 1 or 2, by 12.1% (p = 0.049). Ewes in which gastrointestinal helminth eggs were detected had significantly higher log BHBA concentrations than ewes in which helminth eggs were not detected, by 12.3% (p = 0.040). An increased litter size was associated with higher log BHBA concentration (p ≤ 0.003), with the log BHBA concentrations of ewes having twins, triplets, and quadruplets or quintuplets were higher than those of ewes having singleton by 19.2%, 30.4%, and 85.2%, respectively. Season at sampling confounded the association between log BHBA concentration and FAMACHA© score, and therefore was retained in the final model even though it was not statistically significant. Intra-class correlation coefficients at the flock and lambing group levels were 0.14 and 0.32, respectively.

Prevalence and risk factors for intestinal parasite infection in goats raised in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand.

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and risk factors for intestinal parasite infection in goats raised in Nakhon Pathom Province. Fecal samples from 190 goats in 12 herds were collected per rectum. Questionnaires focusing on the general information about the farm and farmers, and management practices on farms were completed. Modified McMaster counting technique was performed to detect eggs of intestinal parasites. Each egg found was classified into three groups of parasites based on its characteristics. Individual and herd prevalence were calculated. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to analyze risk factors of infection. Herd prevalence of intestinal parasite infection was 100%, while individual prevalence was 79.47%. Strongyle group was the most common intestinal parasite found in this study. Moniezia spp. (8/190) and Trichuris spp. (1/190) were also found. The average number of eggs found was 1,176 eggs per gram of feces. Risk factors for intestinal parasite infection were housing system, deworming interval, and type of goat in herd. Goats housed in groups had higher infection rates compared with goats housed individually (odds ratio (OR) = 6.34; P value = 0.009). Goats in herds in which anthelmintic drugs were administered in intervals of greater than 3 months were more likely to become infected with intestinal parasites (OR = 33.07; P value <0.001). Goats in herds that kept only dairy goats were less likely to become infected than herd that kept only meat goats or kept both dairy and meat goats (OR = 46.20 and 8.75; P value <0.001 and 0.011, respectively).