Investigation of the Infection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Sheep and Goats in Jiangsu, China.

In order to investigate the infection status and genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) in sheep and goats in Jiangsu Province, a total of 786 fresh fecal samples from 18 farms across five regions in Jiangsu were collected and examined for the presence of E. bieneusi, and the genotype of E. bieneusi was examined using nested-PCR and sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer. The results showed that E. bieneusi was detected in the fecal samples of sheep and goats in all regions, with infection rates ranging from 23.65% to 42.81%. The overall infection rate was 36.51% (287/786). The infection rate of E. bieneusi showed no significant difference between sheep and goats, as well as among different ages of animals (p > 0.05), but showed a significant difference in sheep and goats with different health conditions (p < 0.05). The positive products were amplified and cloned and subjected to sequenced analysis. Six genotypes, BEB6, CHG2, CHG3, CHC8, CHG14, and COS-I, were found. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the six genotypes belonged to Group 2, which had previously been described as a non-zoonotic group.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Sheep and Goats in Jiangsu, China.

Sheep and goats serve as crucial hosts for Cryptosporidium spp. and are primarily responsible for its transmission via the fecal-oral route. This can result in symptoms such as lamb weight loss, diarrhea, and even fatalities, leading to significant economic losses. Currently, there is a lack of scholarly research investigating the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in sheep and goats specifically within Jiangsu province. This study collected fecal samples from sheep and goats, extracted their DNA, amplified target bands using nested PCR, sequenced the DNA, constructed a phylogenetic tree, and identified the genetic genotype. In total, 3 positive samples were identified out of 398 samples. Furthermore, the gene sequences of these samples exhibited significant homology with C. xiaoi in GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Cryptosporidium spp. parasites under investigation are phylogenetically related to C. xiaoi. Conducting epidemiological investigations and accurately identifying the species of Cryptosporidium spp. is of utmost importance not only for the mutton sheep farming industry in Jiangsu but also for the proactive safeguarding of human health.

Occurrence and Antimicrobial Resistance among Staphylococci Isolated from the Skin Microbiota of Healthy Goats and Sheep.

Staphylococci colonize the skin and mucous membranes of different animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the staphylococcal composition of the skin microbiota of healthy, non-vet visiting, and antimicrobially non-treated sheep and goats. In total, 83 strains (44 from goats and 39 from sheep) were isolated and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The diversity of the isolated Staphylococcus species was relatively high, and only coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were isolated. In sheep, S. vitulinus (9/39, 23.1%) was the most common species, followed by S. equorum (8/39, 20.5%), S. lentus (7/39, 17.9%), S. sciuri (6/39, 15.4%), S. xylosus (6/39, 15.4%), S. warneri (1/39, 2.6%), S. simulans (1/39, 2.6%), and S. nepalensis (1/39, 2.6%). In the goats, the most common species was S. sciuri, which was detected in 13 (29.5%) animals. The goat skin was also inhabited by S. equorum (7/44, 15.9%), S. vitulinus (6/44, 13.6%), S. cohnii (5/44, 11.4%), S. lentus (4/44, 9.1%), S. suscinus (3/44, 6.8%), S. caprae, (2/44, 4.5%), S. auricularis (2/44, 4.5%), S. warneri (1/44, 2.3%), and S. xylosus (1/44, 2.3%). Only one S. xylosus strain of goat origin carried the enterotoxin gene (sea). Antimicrobial resistance was not common among the isolated staphylococci. Only 31 (37.3%) strains were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, with the highest frequency of resistance to penicillin (16.8%), followed by clindamycin (9.6%), erythromycin (8.4%), moxifloxacin (8.4%), and tetracycline (7.2%). All isolates were susceptible to eight antibiotics (amikacin, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, rifampicin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and tigecycline), representing six different classes. Three isolates displayed a multi-resistance phenotype (MDR): the goat isolates S. cohnii and S. sciuri, as well as the ewe isolate S. xylosus. The MDR S. cohnii isolate was found to be methicillin-resistant and carried the mecA gene. Moreover, the staphylococci isolated from the healthy animals carried genes conferring resistance to ß-lactams (mecA, blaZ), tetracyclines (tetL, tetK), macrolides (ermB, ermC), lincosamides (lnu), and fluoroquinolones (grlA). However, the prevalence of these genes was low.

Risk Factors for the Spread of Brucellosis in Sheep and Goats in the Campania Region in the Years 2015-2020.

Brucella is a Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogen that causes infection in sheep and goats (B. melitensis.); B. melitensis can also infect other animals. Sheep and goat brucellosis is still present in some regions of Italy, including Campania, and causes considerable economic losses and health threats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible risk factors influencing the spread of brucellosis among sheep and goat farms in the Campania region in order to provide the local veterinary services with practical support in evaluating and planning diagnostic, preventive and control interventions. The results of official controls for brucellosis carried out from 2015 to 2020 in the sheep and goat farms of the Campania Region were analyzed. Data were extracted from the National Veterinary Information Systems and the Laboratory Management System of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy. Statistical analysis was carried out through the software R version 4.1.0; the dataset consisted of 37,442 observations, and 9 qualitative and quantitative variables were evaluated on 8487 farms, 248 of which were positive. The association between covariates and the outcome (presence/absence of the disease) was evaluated (Fisher and Wilcoxon tests). A logistic regression model with mixed effects was carried out. This study confirmed that brucellosis in sheep and goats in the Campania region mostly occurs through contact with infected animals imported from other farms (OR = 3.41-IC 95% [1.82-6.41]). Farms with a greater number of animals were seen to be at the greatest risk of infection (OR = 1.04-IC 95% [1.03-1.05]); previous suspension of healthy status also proved to be a risk factor (OR = 55.8-IC 95% [26.7-117]).

Machine vision-based automatic lamb identification and drinking activity in a commercial farm.

Using ear tags, farmers can track specific data for individual lambs such as age, medical records, body condition scores, genetic abnormalities; to make data-based decisions. However, automatic reading of ear tags using Radio Frequency Identification requires (a) an antenna, (b) a reader, (c) comparable reading standards; consequently, such a system can be expensive and impractical for a large group of lambs, especially in situations where animals are not required to have a compulsory Electronic identification, contrary to the case in Europe, where it is mandatory. Therefore, this paper proposes a machine vision system for indoor animals to identify individual lambs using existing ear tags. Using a camera that is installed such that the trough is visible, the drinking behaviour of the lambs can be automatically monitored. Data from different lamb groups in two different pens were collected. The identification algorithm includes a number of steps: (1) Detecting the lambs' face, and its ear tags in each image; (2) Cropping each ear tag image and discerning the digits on it to obtain the tag number; (3) Tracking each lamb throughout the visit using a tracking algorithm; (4) Recovering the ear tag number using an algorithm that incorporates a list of the ear tag numbers of the lambs in each pen, and the predictions for each lamb in each frame. The You Only Look Once deep learning object detection algorithm was applied to locate and localise the lamb's face and the digits in an image. The models' datasets contained 1 160 and 2 165 images for the training set, and 325 and 616 images for the validation set, respectively. The algorithm output includes the identity of each lamb that came to drink, and its duration. The identification system resulted in a total accuracy of 93% for the data tested, which consisted of approximately 900 visits to the drinking stations, and was collected in real time in a natural environment. The ground truth of each video of a visit was obtained by human observation by studying the video. We checked if there was indeed a visit to the water trough and if so we registered the ear tag number of each lamb whose head was above the water trough. Thus, identifying lambs in a commercial pen using a relatively inexpensive and easily installed system consisting of a RGB camera and a computer vision-based algorithm has potential for farm management.

Antibacterial and Anti-Biofilm Activities of Cinnamon Oil against Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Pneumonic Sheep and Goats.

The primary objectives were to isolate and identify Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), and determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns and biofilm formation abilities of the isolates. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects of cinnamon oil against K. pneumoniae isolates. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to April 2023 to collect 200 samples (including 156 nasal swabs and 44 lung specimens) from pneumonic sheep and goats admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Zagazig University, Egypt. K. pneumoniae was isolated from a total of 72 (36%) samples, with 53 (73.6%) isolates recovered from nasal swabs and 19 (26.4%) from lung samples. Among the samples, 52 (36.9%) were from sheep and 20 (33.9%) were from goats. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the 72 K. pneumoniae isolates to 18 antimicrobials revealed that all isolates were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, colistin, fosfomycin, and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole. None of the isolates were resistant to amikacin, imipenem, and norfloxacin. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was observed in all K. pneumoniae isolates recovered from sheep and goats. The average MAR index was 0.71, ranging from 0.50 to 0.83. Regarding biofilm formation, among the K. pneumoniae isolates with a high MAR index (n = 30), 10% exhibited strong formation, 40% showed moderate formation, 43.3% displayed weak formation, and 6.7% did not form biofilms. Additionally, the biofilm-forming genes treC and fimA were present in all 28 biofilm-forming K. pneumoniae isolates, while the mrkA gene was detected in 15 (53.6%) of the 28 isolates. MDR K. pneumoniae isolates with strong biofilm formation abilities were treated with cinnamon oil at varying concentrations (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%). This treatment resulted in inhibition zone diameters ranging from 35 to 45 mm. Cinnamon oil exhibited lower minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values compared to norfloxacin for all isolates. Additionally, cinnamon oil significantly reduced the expression of biofilm-associated genes (treC, fimA, and mrkA) when compared to isolates treated with norfloxacin or untreated. In conclusion, this study identified a high level of MDR K. pneumoniae with strong and moderate biofilm formation abilities in pneumonic sheep and goats in Sharika Governorate, Egypt. Although cinnamon oil demonstrated potential antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties against K. pneumoniae, further research is required to investigate its effectiveness in treating K. pneumoniae infections in pneumonic sheep and goats.

Differential diagnosis of theileriosis through blood smear examination and polymerase chain reaction in small ruminants from Pakistan.

Background: Ovine and caprine theileriosis is a tick-borne hemoprotozoan disease, caused by Theileria spp., responsible for heavy economic losses in terms of high mortality and morbidity rates. Diagnosis of ovine theileriosis is primarily based on clinical symptoms, microscopic screening of stained blood smears, and lymph node biopsy smears, but the limitations of these detection methods against Theileria spp. infection limits their specificity. Aim: To overcome these limitations, the current study reports the differential diagnosis of theileriosis through a blood smear examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in small ruminants from Pakistan. Methods: The study was conducted on 1,200 apparently healthy small ruminants (737 sheep and 463 goats). First, blood smears were screened for the presence of Theileria piroplasms in red blood cells. Second, PCR amplification based on 18S rRNA gene was performed by using primers specific to Theileria spp. Results: Out of the 1,200 samples of examined blood smears, 100 animals (8.33%) were found positive for Theileria species, which showed intra-erythrocytic bodies in the form of dot and comma shapes. Amplification of the isolated DNA from randomly collected blood samples of 737 sheep and 463 goats showed that an amplicon size of 1,098 bp was positive for Theileria spp. In total, 315 out of the 1,200 small ruminants examined in this study were found positive for Theileria spp. DNA through PCR amplification. Notably, out of the 885 blood samples negative by PCR amplification, only 15 blood samples were found positive by the blood smear test. Conversely, 230 blood samples that tested negative in the smear technique produced a specific band through PCR amplification. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity rates were 26.98% and 98.31% for the blood smear method and 73.01% and 100% for the PCR assay, respectively. Conclusion: Our finding suggests that PCR is the gold standard method compared to the conventional method of smear examination for the diagnosis of ovine and caprine theileriosis in Pakistan.

Scientometric Analysis of Gastrointestinal Parasites Prevalence in Sheep and Goats of India.

PURPOSE: In the present study, gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) prevalence in sheep and goats from India was estimated by scientometrics. METHODS: The GIP prevalence studies (86) reported during 1998-2021 was obtained from online databases, and offline literatures, meta-analysis was undertaken by using "meta" package in R-Software. RESULTS: The pooled GIP prevalence in India was 65% (95% level CI 56-74%, PI 12-96%) in sheep, 74% (95% level CI 66-80%, PI 14-98%) in goats and 68% (95% level CI 62-73%, PI 15-96%) in sheep and goats. Period-wise analysis revealed a higher GIP prevalence during 1998-2010 than the recent periods. Among the zones, GIP prevalence was higher in the Central zone (79%) in sheep, North zone (82%) in goats, and Central zone (78%) in sheep and goats. Based on the state-wise analysis, a higher GIP prevalence was observed in Haryana for sheep, Himachal Pradesh for goats, and Uttarakhand for sheep and goats. In India, a higher prevalence was reported by nematodes than other parasite classes. Based on climatic regions, a higher GIP prevalence was observed in semi-arid Steppe type region (84%). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence zones, states, species, sample types, parasite classes, parasite species and climate regions of GIP will be useful in decision-making and resource use efficiency by policymakers and stake holders. There is an urgent need to prevent the occurrence of GIP infections in sheep and goats by adopting scientific management practices, effective therapeutic measures, and hygienic practices on farms to augment the economic benefits to sheep and goat farmers in India.

First study on molecular epidemiology of caseous lymphadenitis in slaughtered sheep and goats in Duhok Province, Iraq.

Background: Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic suppurative bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (C. pseudotuberculosis) affecting superficial and internal lymph nodes and internal organs of small ruminants. Aims: Through the use of molecular methods, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CLA and its contributing factors as well as the degree of genetic diversity and epidemiological relationships among C. pseudotuberculosis isolates from slaughtered sheep and goats in various districts of Duhok Province, Iraq. Methods: A total of 18,836 carcasses (15,775 sheep and 3,061 goats) were inspected by veterinarians at slaughterhouses [Duhok-Sumel (2,453 sheep + 627 goats), Zakho (6,000 sheep), Bardarash (1,117 sheep + 379 goats), Amedi (413 sheep + 178 goats) and Akre (5,792 sheep + 1,877 goats)] in Duhok Province for detection the prevalence rate of CLA using molecular techniques. Results: The prevalence of the disease was 0.94% and 1.93% in sheep and goats, respectively. Sheep in Duhok-Sumel and goats in Amedi were at a higher risk of infection than the animals in another location, with a prevalence rate of 4.31% and 6.18%, respectively. Sheep and goats of older age were more susceptible. Females were more susceptible than males in all districts except Duhok-Sumel where the reverse was true. ERIC-PCR analysis grouped the bacterial isolates into 11 different genotypes. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of partial sequences of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of C. pseudotuberculosis revealed no divergent sequences discovered in this study. Conclusion: A strict control program needs to be applied to reduce the entrance of pathogen from neighboring countries.

Molecular Detection and Associated Risk Factors of Brucella melitensis in Aborted Sheep and Goats in Duhok Province, Iraq.

Brucellosis in sheep and goats has a significant economic and zoonotic impact on the livestock population of Duhok province, Iraq. A total of 681 blood samples from aborted sheep and goats were collected from different flocks in seven districts of Duhok and tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Logistic regression was used for the analysis of the potential risk factors associated with RT-PCR positivity. Results revealed an overall prevalence of 35.45% (CI = 2.57) and 23.8% 18 (CI = 0.44) in sheep and goats, respectively. A statistically significant (p = 0.004) difference in prevalence was found between the two species. RT-PCR detected more positive cases in older-aged animals (OR = 0.7164; p = 0.073). A significant difference was found in RT-PCR positivity in relation to different risk factors, including body condition, treatment taken, and abortion frequency (<0.001). The phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the isolates belonged to B. melitensis and shared a common ancestor and were genetically related to the United States of America (USA), Greece, China, and Nigeria. This study demonstrates that brucellosis is widely prevalent in the study regions. Therefore, the study suggests the implementation of preventive control measures for brucellosis.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Akabane Virus Infection in Sheep and Goats in Fars Province, Iran.

Akabane disease is an arthropod-borne viral disease that affects ruminants. This teratogenic pathogen causes severe economic losses in ruminants worldwide and in Iran; however, it has not received enough attention in Fars province, Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the influence of age, gender, climate, farming system, and history of abortions on the seroprevalence of the Akabane disease in sheep and goats in Fars province. In the present study, Fars province was divided into three climates, and three cities were randomly selected from each climatic region. In each city, two epidemiologic units were selected, and all sheep and goats in each unit were sampled. Overall, 540 serum samples (391 sheep and 149 goats) were collected and examined with the commercial ELISA kit. The results showed that 83 out of 540 (15.4%) samples were seropositive and had antibodies against the Akabane virus (AKAV). The effect of gender and age on the rate of the AKAV was not significant. Animals in warm climates were 4.218 times more likely to have antibodies against the AKAV than animals in cold climates. Females were 1.32 times more likely to exhibit seropositivity. The odds of AKAV infection were higher in animals with an abortion history than in healthy animals. The findings of the present study indicated that the prevalence of the AKAV was high in small ruminants in Fars province. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more studies to control the risk factors involved in the spread of this virus.

Assessment of post-vaccination immune response to peste des petits ruminants virus in small ruminants in the central and western regions of India.

The cross-sectional serosurvey for post-vaccination assessment of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus (PPRV) antibodies in sheep and goats was carried out in different states in the central and western regions of India after the implementation of vaccination under the PPR control programme. The serum samples (n = 4687) were collected from sheep (n = 1539) and goats (n = 3148) from August 2017 to March 2018 at various epidemiological units (n = 301) of the studied regions using a stratified random sampling method and PPR competitive ELISA kit was employed to detect PPRV antibodies. The results revealed 34, 21, 52, 74, 68, and 65% of prevalence of PPRV antibodies in small ruminants in Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan states, respectively, with a difference in seropositivity in sheep and goats across the states in sheep (p < 0.01) and goats (p < 0.01). Further, this serosurvey revealed that 60% of the epi-units (n = 185) had > 50% prevalence of post vaccination PPRV antibodies across states due to variations in vaccination rates and patterns. The vaccination coverage and the reported outbreaks varied between the states in the studied regions. Due to continuous vaccination under the control program, the reported PPR outbreaks have progressively declined in most of the studied states, and the PPR risk areas are confined to a few districts and sporadically, outbreaks are reported indicating the effectiveness of vaccination. These findings provide valuable information on potential PPRV episystems, and will assist with activities regarding intensive surveillance, vaccination, biosecurity, and modification of policy decisions towards designing and implementing control and eradication measures. Further, the present situation necessitates continuous mass vaccination and active surveillance programs to make these regions free from PPR in consonance with the PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy under the PPR Global Eradication Program. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13337-022-00796-6.

Longitudinal Study of Selected Bacterial Zoonoses in Small Ruminants in Tana River County, Kenya.

Brucellosis, Q fever, and leptospirosis are priority zoonoses worldwide, yet their epidemiology is understudied, and studies investigating multiple pathogens are scarce. Therefore, we selected 316 small ruminants in irrigated, pastoral, and riverine settings in Tana River County and conducted repeated sampling for animals that were initially seronegative between September 2014 and June 2015. We carried out serological and polymerase chain reaction tests and determined risk factors for exposure. The survey-weighted serological incidence rates were 1.8 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.3-2.5) and 1.3 (95% CI: 0.7-2.3) cases per 100 animal-months at risk for Leptospira spp. and C. burnetii, respectively. We observed no seroconversions for Brucella spp. Animals from the irrigated setting had 6.83 (95% CI: 2.58-18.06, p-value = 0.01) higher odds of seropositivity to C. burnetii than those from riverine settings. Considerable co-exposure of animals to more than one zoonosis was also observed, with animals exposed to one zoonosis generally having 2.5 times higher odds of exposure to a second zoonosis. The higher incidence of C. burnetii and Leptospira spp. infections, which are understudied zoonoses in Kenya compared to Brucella spp., demonstrate the need for systematic prioritization of animal diseases to enable the appropriate allocation of resources.

Detection of Mycoplasma agalactiae in Ticks (Rhipicephalus bursa) Collected by Sheep and Goats in Sicily (South-Italy), Endemic Area for Contagious Agalactia.

The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the presence of Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma) or other Contagious Agalactia (CA) causative organisms, in hard ticks infesting milking sheep and goats in endemic areas for CA in Sicily (South-Italy). Although there is accumulating evidence to support the role of ticks in the transmission of blood-borne haemoplasmas, information regarding their role in the transmission of CA, remains scarce. Ticks (n = 152) were collected from 25 lactating sheep and goats from three farms with previous outbreaks of CA. Microbiological and biomolecular, as well as serological analysis were performed on milk, tick, and serum samples, respectively. Rhipicephalus bursa species predominated, comprising 84.8% of the sampled ticks. Mycoplasma-like colonies were isolated from 5/56 (8.9%) tick pools and were identified as Ma by specific PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Unexpectedly, the organism was isolated from R. bursa ticks recovered only from animals whose milk tested negative for the pathogen. This preliminary demonstration suggests the potential role for ticks to act as a reservoir for the organisms, with potential involvement in the spread and maintenance of CA. Further work is required to determine the location of the organisms within the body of the ticks and to assess transmission potential.

Prevalence of anti-leptospiral antibodies and frequency distribution of Leptospira serovars in small ruminants in enzootic South Peninsular India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: For understanding the epidemiology of leptospirosis, the confined abundance of several species of pathogenic leptospires and knowledge on the serovar(s) prevalent in the reservoir and carrier hosts may be a useful indicator of transmission to incidental/accidental hosts in a geographical niche. The present study was carried out to ascertain the frequency distribution of Leptospira serovars and the prevalence of anti-leptospiral antibodies in small ruminants (sheep and goats) in the epidemiological units (villages) in the coastal districts of enzootic regions in South Peninsular India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1167 serum samples (sheep n=299 and goats n=868) from apparently healthy animals, randomly collected from various epidemiological units were tested in microscopic agglutination test (MAT) using 18 reference Leptospira serovars antigens. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of 40% (at 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 36.82-42.43) in small ruminants (44% [95% CI: 40.49-52.26] in sheep and 38% [95% CI: 34.96-41.41] in goats) was observed with the predominance of Icterohaemorrhagiae, Javanica, Australis, Hurstbridge, and Pyrogenes serogroup anti-leptospiral antibodies in the studied region. The Chi-squared test revealed that the presence of anti-leptospiral antibodies is significantly not independent (associated) across the administrative division (Chi-square=105.80, p<0.05) as well as for sheep (Chi-square=34.67, p<0.01) and goats (Chi-square=68.78, p<0.01). Among seropositive samples (n=462 reactors), the MAT was positive for more than one serovar in 73% of sheep (95/131) and 53% of goats (177/331), representing an overall 59% cross-reactive prevalence in small ruminants. The determined frequency distribution (varied among small ruminants) of the employed serovars representing major reactive serogroup was Icterohaemorrhagiae (29.87), Javanica (20.78), Australis (20.35), Hurstbridge (16.23), Pyrogenes (15.8), Djasmin (15.58), Bataviae (15.37), Autumnalis (14.5), Canicola (14.5), Hebdomadis (14.07), Shermani (13.64), Panama (13.42), Sejroe (12.77), etc. CONCLUSION: This study indicates alarmingly high seroprevalence of leptospirosis in small ruminants with existing endemicity in the studied region in South Peninsular India. Further, these prevalent serovars in the administrative division may be of use in the reference panels of antigens in the MAT in both humans and animal disease diagnostic laboratories for effective and timely diagnosis of leptospirosis and to combat the challenges in public health.

High ß-Lactam and Quinolone Resistance of Enterobacteriaceae from the Respiratory Tract of Sheep and Goat with Respiratory Disease.

During the last decade's increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals, animal-human transmission has become a major threat. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the genetic basis of AMR in Gram-negative bacteria recovered from sheep and goats with respiratory disease. Nasal and ocular swabs were collected from 69 diseased animals, and 76 Gram-negative bacterial isolates were identified from 59 animals. All isolates were checked phenotypically for resistance and genotypically for different resistance mechanisms, including ß-lactam, quinolone, and aminoglycoside resistance. Our results demonstrated that 9.2% (95% CI 4.5-17.8%) of the isolates were multidrug-resistant, with high resistance rates to ß-lactams and quinolones, and 11.8% (95% CI 6.4-21%) and 6.6% (95% CI 2.8-14.5%) of the isolates were phenotypically positive for AmpC and ESBL, respectively. Genotypically, blaTEM was the most identified ß-lactamase encoding gene in 29% (95% CI 20-40%) of the isolates, followed by blaSHV (14.5%, 95% CI 8.3-24.1%) and blaCTX-M (4%, 95% CI 1.4-11%). Furthermore, 7.9% (95% CI 3.7-16.2%) of the isolates harbored plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance gene qnrS. Our study revealed for the first time to our knowledge high ß-lactam and quinolone resistance associated with the bacteria recovered from sheep and one goat with respiratory disease. Furthermore, different antimicrobial resistant determinants were identified for the first time from animals in Africa, such as blaLEN-13/55, blaTEM-176 and blaTEM-198/214. This study highlights the potential role of sheep and goats in disseminating AMR determinants and/or resistant bacteria to humans. The study regenerates interest for the development of a One Health approach to combat this formidable problem.

A study on mutation points of GDF9 gene and their association with prolificacy in Egyptian small ruminants.

BACKGROUND: Genetic variants of the GDF9 gene were considered to be the potent gene markers for improving fecundity traits in Egyptian sheep and goats. Also, these favorable gene variants could be applied in the breeding program by gene-assisted selection (GAS), aiming towards the potential amelioration of reproduction and production in such small ruminants. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the genetic variants of the GDF9 gene on fecundity traits including the mean number of lambing "MNL" and mean number of twin production "MNTP" of Egyptian sheep and goats. RESULTS: This experiment involved 113 mothers, 83 of sheep and 30 of goats, at first, second, third, and fourth parity, and also 26 young females, 12 of sheep and 14 of goats at age of sexual maturation. T-ARMS-PCR analysis was performed on five mutation points (G1, G4, G6, G7, and G8). In sheep, the heterozygous mothers of G4 had significant elevation (P ≤ 0.05) of MNL and MNTP than wild-type homozygous ewes. However, the heterozygous mothers of G1 and G6 gave a reduction of MNL and MNTP as compared to mothers with wild-type genotypes. The ewes of G7 had heterozygous genotype (AG), and the ewes of G8 had wild type (CC). In goat, G4 and G7 were polymorphic, and G1, G6, and G8 were monomorphic type. Based on these findings, it must be selected the young sheep females of heterozygous in G4, and the young goat females of heterozygous in G4 and G7 for participating in a successful breeding program, because they will have potential high fecundity traits. CONCLUSION: The present results confirmed that the genetic variants of the GDF9 gene were considered to be the major gene markers for enhancement of the prolificacy in Egyptian sheep and goats and could be applied in a successful breeding program by gene-assisted selection (GAS) in small ruminants.

Determination of Seroprevalence of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia and Associated Risk Factors in Goats and Sheep Using Classification and Regression Tree.

Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis is a potentially powerful tool for identifying risk factors associated with contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) and the important interactions between them. Our objective was therefore to determine the seroprevalence and identify the risk factors associated with CCPP using CART data mining modeling in the most densely sheep- and goat-populated governorates. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 620 animals (390 sheep, 230 goats) distributed over four governorates in the Nile Delta of Egypt in 2019. The randomly selected sheep and goats from different geographical study areas were serologically tested for CCPP, and the animals' information was obtained from flock men and farm owners. Six variables (geographic location, species, flock size, age, gender, and communal feeding and watering) were used for risk analysis. Multiple stepwise logistic regression and CART modeling were used for data analysis. A total of 124 (20%) serum samples were serologically positive for CCPP. The highest prevalence of CCPP was between aged animals (>4 y; 48.7%) raised in a flock size ≥200 (100%) having communal feeding and watering (28.2%). Based on logistic regression modeling (area under the curve, AUC = 0.89; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.91), communal feeding and watering showed the highest prevalence odds ratios (POR) of CCPP (POR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.9 to 7.3), followed by age (POR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.8) and flock size (POR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.2). However, higher-accuracy CART modeling (AUC = 0.92, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.95) showed that a flock size >100 animals is the most important risk factor (importance score = 8.9), followed by age >4 y (5.3) followed by communal feeding and watering (3.1). Our results strongly suggest that the CCPP is most likely to be found in animals raised in a flock size >100 animals and with age >4 y having communal feeding and watering. Additionally, sheep seem to have an important role in the CCPP epidemiology. The CART data mining modeling showed better accuracy than the traditional logistic regression.

Linguatulosis in small ruminants in southeastern Iran: Epidemiological, histopathological and phylogenetic findings and its public health importance.

Linguatulosis, as a zoonotic disease, can infect most ruminants and cause accidental infections in humans. The objective of this study was to explore the epidemiological, histopathological and phylogenetic profiles of Linguatula serrata infection in sheep and goats and its public health importance during 2015-2018. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and liver tissue of goats and sheep were selected randomly in Kerman slaughterhouse. Nymphal samples were used for DNA extraction, amplification and subsequently phylogenetic analysis using 18s rRNA and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). Overall, of 828 examined livestock, 179 (42.4%) goats and 71 (17.5%) sheep were found to be infected with the nymphal stage of L. serrata. A significant difference was observed between linguatulosis and age. In the histopathological assessment, longitudinal and transverse sections of L. serrata nymphs were observed within the cyst-like spaces surrounded by a wall of fine fibrosis and compact lymphocytes. Moreover, comparing with the L. serrata reference sequences, we found only a single nucleotide change in our goat haplotype in 18s genetic region; while much nucleotide variations were observed in cox1 gene sequences. The results of the present study showed a high infection rate among goats and sheep in southeastern Iran. A better understanding of the disease could be achieved when the parasite species, their molecular characterization and the extent of infection in the area are determined. It is fundamental to select a comprehensive control program in order to take proper preventive and therapeutic measures against the infection.

Towards eradication of peste des petits ruminants: post-vaccination evaluation in sheep and goats in Southern Peninsular India.

The cross-sectional seroprevalence study of the peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats was carried out in the Southern Peninsular region of India to ascertain the prevalence of PPR virus (PPRV) antibodies at the epidemiological units (epi-units) level in the small ruminant population. The serum samples were collected from various epi-units (villages) in the different states and union territory (UT) in Southern Peninsular region using a stratified random sampling methodology from August 2017 to March 2018. A total of 6643 serum samples [sheep (n = 2785) and goats (n = 3858)] were collected from 360 epi-units and were screened by PPR competitive ELISA kit for the detection of PPRV antibodies. The results revealed that the seroprevalence of PPR in small ruminants in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala states, and Puducherry UT was 87.0%, 66.4%, 64.3%, 47.8%, 11.4%, and 50.4%, respectively in the studied region. Further, the results of the chi-squared test revealed that the PPRV antibodies across different states and UT in the region were associated (sheep-χ2 = 218.8, p < 0.01; goats-χ2 = 827.1, p < 0.01), as all the states and UT adopted the PPR vaccination programme. The study also implies that the small ruminants in some of the epi-units (n = 102) had < 30% seroprevalence, which necessitates comprehensive intensive vaccination and active surveillance programmes to make this region as PPR free zone.