A study of pulmonary lesions identified in sheep and goat carcasses in Trinidad and Tobago in 2018

The small ruminant industry has been identified by Caribbean governments as key to agricultural development and food security. • The economic impact of these prolific species is significant to farmers both locally and regionally, given its contribution to foreign exchange, employment generation and poverty alleviation • Recognizing disease is critical for a small ruminant based economy to possess both sustainability and viability. Understanding ways to accurately identify, prevent, cure and control disease is necessary to improve the economic status of this industry. • Post mortem evaluation is a useful diagnostic tool as it can reliably confirm, refute or augment ante-mortem diagnoses. • Respiratory disease is of particular importance as it is commonly encountered in small ruminant flocks, affecting groups or individuals of any breed, age and sex. More often than not, it involves a combination of infectious and non-infectious aetiologies. An interstitial, bronchinterstital or bronchopneumonia may develop which is largely dependent upon the causative agent.

A Case Report of A Urinary Bladder Marsupializatiojm to correct Obstructive Urolithiasis in a 3-Month-Old Boer Goat (Capra hircus)

A 3-month-old intact male Boer caprine kid weighing 22.3Kg. presented to the Large Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), with a primary complaint of stranguria for approximately 8 days. The animal had been treated one week prior to presentation by a private clinician who amputated the vermiform appendage which offered temporary resolution of the clinical signs. Within twodays however, the animal was once again observed with stranguria and the clinician referrred the animal to the SVM for further treatment. On presentation, the patient had multiple anomalies including, paraphimosis. a swelling at the base of the penile shaft and tachycardia. Radiographic examination revealed a distended bladder. No radio-opaque calculi were noted along the urethra. The patient required urgent surgical intervention during which he was maintained under anaesthesia using continuous rate indusion of ketamine and lidocaine to which xylazine was subsequently added after a cystotomy was performed. The patient recovered with minimal post-operative complications. Although not a common procedure in farm animals due to its aftercare, bladder marsupialization was deemed feaseible in this case since the patient was reared with some sentimental value rather than entirely for production. This procedure shpuld thus be considered for pet livestock animals or in salvage situations where a perineal urethrostomy is deemed non-curative,

A Case Report of A Hybrid External Fixator for Fracture Repair in a 3-Month-Old Boer Goat (Capra hircus)

A 3-month-old male intact crossbred Boer Anglo Nubian caprine kid weighing 20.50Kg. presented to the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) with a history of acute onset lameness of the left hind limb. Initial examination at a private veterinary clinic revealed a fracture of the left tibia. The patient was referred to the SVM for treatment. Physical and radiographic examination of the animal revealed a closed, complete, short oblique fracture of the distal metaphysis of the left tibia with moderate cranio-proximal displacemnt of the distal segment, The limb was temporarily immobilized using a pre-made bivalve cast until the surgery. Surgical intervention involved using hybrid external fixator best described as a maximal bilateral uniplanar (Type II) fixator frame with a distal fabricated aluminum ring. The post-operative regimen included antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, frequent cleaning of the pin-skin interface and apparatus bandage changes, The animal was also confined to pen rest initially with gradual increase in exercise. Since surgery, the patient has progressively increases weight bearing on the affected limb and was fully weight bearing upon external fixator removal, 6-weeks post operatively. This method of external fixatiojm has not been commonly used foe repair of fractured limbs in goats, however in this scenario it proved ecomonical and highly effectively in provideing the stability required for fracture repair. Veterarians with limited resourcs and financially conservative clients should consider this method for repairing similar type fractures in small ruminant animal species.

Dogs and goats as sentinels for environmental lead burden in Caribbean basin islands: Jamaica West Indies

Ingested/inhaled environmental lead (Pb) continues to pose a health risk to humans (children in particular) and animals. Automobile emissions from leaded gasoline combustion (less of a problem today with the phasing out of leaded gasoline), lead contaminated foods, soil and water, lead-based paints, ceramics, batteries (more frequently encountered today), and possible electronic waste, remain major sources of environmental lead. In a study carried out in Jamaica, West Indies, blood samples from dogs (n=63 at 5 locations) and goats (n=46 at 4 locations) were collected in lead-free (EDTA) tubes and analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) for lead. The analytical method detection limit was 0.24 μg/dl. Overall (blood lead) PbB concentrations were 2.83 ñ 2.96 μg/dl (dogs), and 1.02 ñ 0:10 μg/dl (goats). There were significant differences among locations, and. in a location of high automobile and plant foliage/grass forage density, PbB levels were 7.03 ñ 2.96 μg/dl (n=8) and 1.91 ñ 0.83 μg/d1 (n=10) in dogs and goats respectively. Although sample sizes are small the results suggest the use of dogs and goats as sentinels for evaluating environmental lead in developing countries.

A possible case of white muscle disease complicated by arthrogryposis and atresia ani in and Anglo Nubian kid in Trinidad and Tobago

There have been many instances of livestock congenital defects in Trinidad and Tobago; however, this case is an interesting one because of the number of defects observed and systems involved in an individual animal. A 2-day-old male Anglo Nubian kid was presented to The University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine. The kid was weak, unable to walk, unable to stand and had not suckled since birth, unlike its twin. After detailed physical examination the kid was euthanized and subsequent post mortem examination and histological analysis of tissues revealed atresia ani, numerous muscular defects, severe hepatic necrosis and ankylosis of the joints, strongly suggesting a possible complicated case of White Muscle Disease.

Ethnoveterinary medicines used for ruminants in Trinidad and Tobago

Ethnoveterinary research was conducted in Trinidad and Tobago in 1995, in order to document existing ethnoveterinary practices. This paper describes 20 medicinal plants and used to treat ruminants. The main plants used were Azadirachta indica and Curcuma longa. Medicinal plants were used predominantly for endoparasities, internal and external injuries and pregnancy-related conditions. A 4-stage process was used to conduct the research and document the ethnoveterinary practices. This documentation could provide a foundation for the further scientific study and verification of those practices which merit such study(AU)

Serological survey of leptospirosis in livestock animals in the Lesser Antilles

A serological survey was performed of 1788 cattle, goats and sheep on 13 islands in the Lesser Antilles. Sera were tested by microscopic agglutination (MAT) using a panel of 22 live antigens. Evidence of past exposure, at a titer of > or = 100, was found in 101 animals (5.6 percent). Antibodies were more common in cattle and goats (7.2 percent in each) than in sheep (1.7 percent). Seroprevalence was highest in cattle in Martinique (20 percent) and in goats in St. Vincent (23 percent). The predominant serogroups were Sejroe (largely confined to cattle in Martinique), Autumnalis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, and Cynopteri. Eleven cattle from Martinique and 2 sheep with titers of > or = 800 showed evidence of recent infection. (AU)

Study of efficacy of lamstreptocide a & b on cases of dermatophilosis within the Caribbean

The efficacy of Lamstreptocide A & B was studied on 9 natural cases of bovine and caprine dermatophilosis in 8 different farms in St. Kitts, employing standard histopathologic and bacteriological methods. The lesions of 5 of the treated cases were dried-up and there was marked peeling-off of scabs of a severely affected case exposing erythematous underlying tissue, at 3 weeks post-application of the product. Apart from 3 mild cases which were not available for follow-up studies and which were reported to have recovered, there was no outright recovery of the 5 animals after treatment at 3 weeks, and even after a second application of the product. An in vitro sensitivity test of the product revealed a slowing down of growth of Dermatophilus congolensis at concentrations in excess of 1 percent by agarstreak method. However, there was no inhibition of growth of the bacterium by an agar-impregnated sensitivity method (AU)

The occurrence of streptothricosis and its association with Amblyomma variegatum ticks in St. Lucia

Cattle, horses, sheep and goats in all areas of St. Lucia were examined to ascertain the prevalence and distribution of streptothricosis on the island and to investigate its association with the occurrence of Amblyomma variegatum ticks. Although the disease was found to occur throughout St. Lucia it was more prevalent and generally of a more severe form in areas where A. variegatum ticks are present. A tick control programme in the north of the island appeared to have resulted in a dramatic reduction in the prevalence of the disease. (AU)

Detection of ruminal bacteria that degrade toxic dihydroxypyridine compounds produced from mimosine

Leucaena leucocephala, a tropical leguminous shrub, contains a toxic amino acid, mimosine. Successful utilization of leucaena as a ruminant forage depends on colonization of the rumen by bacteria that degrade dihydroxypyridines (DHP), which are toxic intermediates in the metabolism of mimosine. Populations in the rumina of animals in some parts of the world, however, do not include bacteria that are able to carry out this degradation. We thus describe tests for the presence of DHP degraders in ruminal populations that are based on degradation (loss) of DHP compounds from culture media. Results obtained with the tests indicate that DHP degraders were not part of microbial populations in the rumina of cattle, sheep, and goats in Iowa, while most rumen samples examined from animals from the Virgin Islands and Haiti contained DHP degraders. These results confirm and extend the findings of others about geographic limits to the distribution of these important ruminal bacteria. (AU)

The development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Trypanosoma vivax and its use in a seroepidemiological survey of the Eastern Caribbean Basin

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG antibodies against a South American (New World) strain of Trypanosoma vivax was developed and used for mass screening of cattle from 20 islands in the Eastern Caribbean Basin. The sensitivity and specificity of antigens prepared from a bovine-derived field strain and a nurine-adapted laboratory strain of T. vivax, both of New World origin, were compared using an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test, and an antigen prepared from murine-adapted strain was subsequently used to develop an ELISA test. The results of the ELISA test were then compared with the results of a concurrently run IFA test. There was no cross-reactivity with either test using serum from a Trypanosoma theileri-infected cow. Both tests were weakly cross-reactive with sera from a T. brucei-infected steer, and the IFA test was moderately cross-reactive with several serum samples from a T. evansi-infected steer. For bovine sera collected from herds on islands in the Eastern Caribbean region, only five of 640 tested positive with the ELISA test. Thirty five of 653 sera tested were positive by IFA although the fluorscence elicited was weak as compared to that elicited by sera from known infected animals. Sera collected from 27 cattle in a region known to be free of T. vivax (OH, U.S.A) were negative with the ELISA test, whereas seven of 30 sera from a herd in French Guiana known to be infected with T. vivax were positive. None of 45 caprine and 60 ovine sera collected from islands in the Eastern Caribbean region were positive by the IFA test, therefore an ELISA system for these species was not developed (AU)

Small ruminant trypanosomiasis in Guyana - a preliminary report [published erratum appears in Br Vet J 1990 Nov-Dec: 146(6): 581]

Trypanosomes identified as Trypanosoma vivax were found infecting nine sheep (4.6 percent) and one goat (1.3 percent) on four of 11 farms surveyed on coastal Guyana. Animals sampled on another farm situated in the Rupununi savannahs gave negative results. Haematological techniques preferred for studies of this nature were the hematocrit centrifuge technique (HCT) and the thick blood smear technique. (AU)

A sero-epidemiological survey of leptospirosis among Jamaican human and animal populations

To date, relatively little research on leptospirosis has been undertaken in Jamaica and the Caribbean as a whole. This is despite the apparent role of this disease as a zoonosis. The major objective of this survey was that of determining the current status of leptospirosis in the Jamaican human, livestock and sylvatic populations through a sero-epidemiological approach. Sera for this survey were randomly selected from the ongoing National Brucelosis Control Programme serum banks at the Veterinary Diagnostic laboratory at Hope, in addition to sera collected island-wide on special field trips. Leptospiral titres were determined by the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), the standard reference procedure as described by Galton et al and modified by Cole et al. All sera were tested against the following live leptopiral antigens: abramis, autumnalis, canicola, ictero-haemorrhagiae, hardjo, grippotyphhosa, jules, pomona, portland-vere, monymusk, bog-vere and pyrogenes. A presumptive positive reaction was based on a 1:100 dilution or greater to any of the test antigens used. Leptospiral determination of the approximately 12,000 sera used indicated high seroprevalence rates for all species studied. Seroprevalence rates were being reported in poultry for the first time in Jamaica. The most frequent presumptive infecting serovars found in this particular survey were portland-vere, canicola, icterohaemorrhagiae and jules. These prodominated in nearly all the species surveyed. The serovar jules is unique to Jamaica and its comparatively high prevalence in both the human and animal population indicates a necessity for further investigation. The highest yearly seroprevalence rate (46 percent) was recorded for 1986. There was no significant differences observed in sex-related seroprevalence rates for humans while age, geographical and occupational seroprevalence relationships were significant. The periods accounting for the highest precipitation had correspondingly the highest leptospiral seropositive rates. This study has confirmed that leptospirosis is both an endemic and enzootic condition in Jamaica and that the dimension of the problem may be greater than current information suggests. The results further indicate that serological surveys are useful tools and provide a pragmatic approach to the greater understanding of the epidemiological patterns of leptospirosis. An intensified national ongoing leptospirosis control programme along with an assessment of the economic impact of this disease on livestock production and its public health significance are urgently needed (AU)

Serological studies on leptospirosis in livestock and chickens from Grenada

Sera from 1206 livestock animals and chickens in Grenada and Trinidad were tested for leptospiral antibodies by the microscopic agglutination test. 376 of the sera were positive (44 percent of those tested in Trinidad and 25 percent of those tested in Grenada). The positive sera were obtained from 25 percent of 324 cattle 35 percent of 130 pigs, 35 percent of 126 sheep, 25 percent of 44 goats, and 11 percent of 175 chickens in Grenada; and 92 percent of 26 cattle, 53 percent of 122 pigs, 76 percent of 86 horses, and 11 percent of 144 chickens in Trinidad. 8 sera from ducks and geese in Trinidad were tested and found to be negative. The serogroups most commonly found to react with sera of the Grenadian animals were Autumnalis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Hebdomadis and the related serogroups Sejroe and Mini, and Pyrogenes; in the Trinidadian animals they were Icterohaemorrhagiae, Autumnalis, Hebdomadis and its related serogroups and Panama. Strains of serogroup Pomona do not appear to have become established as livestock pathogens on the islands (AU)

Serological study of the distribution of leptospira interrogans (Serotype Jules) and five other leptospires in Jamaica

Five hundred and thirty-five sera from the three main species of livestock in Jamaica (cows, pigs and goats) were tested for leptospiral antibodies by the microscopic agglutination technique. Three hundred and sixteen (59.1 percent) were reactive with titres equal or greater than 1:100. There was reactivity to six serotypes with the following frequencies: jules 51.9 percent, icterohaemorrhagiae 28.1 percent, autumnalis 8.3 percent, canicola 6.1 percent, pomona 5.2 percent and abramis 0.4 percent Jules thus has the highest frequency of occurrence. The highest percentage of reactive sera (65.5 percent) and the widest distribution of serotypes occurred in the pig. The study confirms that leptospirosis is enzootic and endemic in Jamaica (AU)

Fascioliasis in Jamaica: epidemiologic and economic aspects of a snail-borne parasitic zoonoses

This study attempts to quantify the animal health, veterinary public health, and economic impact of fascioliasis in Jamaica. A coprologic survey conducted for this purpose in late 1979 and early 1980 revealed an overall fascioliasis prevalence of at least 22.2 percent (n=520) in cattle and 17.2 percent (n=514) in goats. In general the prevalence of the disease was found to be directly correlated with rainfall and inversely correlated with altitude. Four ecological zones of endemicity were identified and related to the epidemiology of the intermediate host, Fossaria cubensis. The economic cost of the disease was estimated from production statistics and a questionnaire survey. Losses were categorised as either direct (due mainly to liver condemnation and suboptimal dairy or beef production) or indirect (due mainly to treatment costs). The estimate did not include the less quantifiable costs associated with mortality, provision of veterinary services, and lost opportunities for development. The total economic cost of fascioliasis in Jamaica, as indicated by the above data, appears to be on the order of J$2.4 million (J$1.78=US1.00); and if anticipated improvements in Jamaica's livestock industry are allowed for, this total rises to J$3.2 million. It is noteworthy that a significant share of this cost would be in scarce foreign exchange spent on drugs and on imported substitutes for local meat and dairy products. It should also be recalled that fascioliasis is a zoonosis producing significant numbers of human cases in the Greater Antilles, and that inappropriate changes in vegetable cultivation practices could cause it to become a significant health problem in Jamaica. Finally, there is a very real danger that proposed increases in Jamaica's cattle and sheep herds could enormously increase the prevalence of the disease, as has happened elsewhere. It is therefore recommended that development of the country's livestock industry be paralled by development of an appropriate fascioliasis control strategy. Such a planned approach to fascioliasis control, which tends to be relatively cost-effective, confines treatment to the periods and localities at greatest risk and uses animal management techniques to reduce the incidence of infection (Summary)