Sarcoptic mange in wild ungulates in the European Alps - A systematic review.

Sarcoptic mange, caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, is a disease that affects many species of mammals, including several wild ungulate species in the region of the European Alps, especially the Alpine chamois and the Alpine ibex, which act as parasite reservoirs. Here records of mange in alpine wild ungulates and its spread over time across the eastern parts of the European Alps are reviewed. First cases were recorded from Austria in 1824, and epizootic outbreaks have been described since then from the mountainous regions of Austria (mostly Tyrol, Carinthia, and Styria), Germany (Bavaria), Italy (Udine and Trentino) and Slovenia. Switzerland, by contrast, has so far been free of mange except for cases in wild boar, indicating that this species is not a reservoir host of sarcoptic mites for other ungulate species in the European Alps, and that, so far, the disease in ruminant ungulates is restricted to the eastern and central parts of the Alps. Mutual transmission among wild and domestic ruminants is possible and, together with the protection of vulnerable wildlife, is also a reason for monitoring and, if necessary, intervention to contain mange outbreaks.

Spatiotemporal cluster and incidence analysis of cattle mortality caused by bovine babesiosis in Styria, Austria, between 1998 and 2016.

Reported fatal cases of bovine babesiosis (syn.: piroplasmosis, red water fever) in cattle were analyzed to identify spatial and temporal clusters of their incidence in the Austrian province of Styria. Data were collected within a governmental babesiosis compensation program. Diagnosis was performed using a standardized necropsy protocol. Between 1998 and 2016, a total of 1257 cases of fatal babesiosis were registered and compensated. Within the study interval, annual numbers of fatal babesiosis differed significantly among municipalities. Spatiotemporal analysis covering the entire study period revealed one high-risk cluster in the western and central northern region of Styria and a low-risk cluster in the southeastern part of Styria. Annual temporal analysis demonstrated that cases accumulated in June. Annual spatial analysis revealed consistently that cases mainly occurred in the western and central northern regions, whereas they occurred rarely in the southeastern regions. These results should increase awareness and facilitate protective actions against ticks during certain time periods and geographic areas.

Spatial-temporal cluster analysis of fatal Clostridium chauvoei cases among cattle in Styria, Austria between 1986 and 2013.

Clostridium chauvoei is a gram positive, spore building bacterium that causes blackleg, a mostly fatal disease in cattle and other ruminants. Although the disease is common, little is known on the epidemiology of blackleg. As infection occurs through the environment, the risk of blackleg might be increased in areas with a specific climate or soil type. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to identify spatial and temporal clusters in the incidence of blackleg in the province of Styria, Austria. Data were collected within the governmentally delivered blackleg control program which includes vaccination of cattle with access to known blackleg pastures and compensation for fallen stock. Between 1986 and 2013, 1448 suspect blackleg cases were reported to official veterinarians; with blackleg confirmed through bacteriology in 266 cases (18%). The number of confirmed blackleg cases was highest in 2011 (25 cases) and lowest in 2004 (2 cases). Mean annual blackleg incidences varied considerably between different municipalities from 0 cases in most of the Southern parts of the province to 584 cases/1,000,000 cattle in some Northwestern municipalities. The spatio-temporal analysis identified one high risk cluster in the Northwest where cattle had 9.56 times the risk to develop blackleg compared to those in Northern and Northeastern parts of the province. Furthermore, a low-risk cluster was identified in the southeastern part of the province, where cattle had a relative risk of 0.015 to die of blackleg. No temporal or spatio-temporal clusters were identified. Results of the present study suggest that blackleg cases are clustered within certain geographic areas which might be due to soil type and water permeability. Results of this study should be used to motivate farmers to vaccinate cattle against Clostridium chauvoei in known areas with high risk.

Analysis of the resistance behaviour of indicator bacteria to several antibiotics in bulk milk using spatial point pattern methodology.

Between 2002 and 2004, indicator bacteria (Enterococcus, Escherichia coli) isolated from 799 bulk milk samples were tested against thirty different antibiotics for resistance. Systematic sampling over space (every eighth Styrian cattle breeding farm on an unaligned grid) was conducted within the scope of the bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) control programme. Results of resistance testing were assigned to their respective farms by means of LFBIS (information system for agricultural and forestry enterprises: land- und forstwirtschaftlichen Betriebsinformationssystem) numbers. The distribution of resistance was evaluated using a geographic information system. To show the application of spatial point pattern analysis, results of resistance testing of Enterococcus to tetracycline and streptomycin is presented. Kernel density estimation and K functions were used to determine whether the distribution of the resistant samples was clustered, relative to isolates from samples that were sensitive to these antibiotics. Initially, spatial clustering of resistance (tetracycline and streptomycin separately) was investigated. The space-time scan statistic was subsequently used to search for space-time clusters of resistance for both antibiotics simultaneously.

Toxocara-infestations in Austria: a study on the risk of infection of farmers, slaughterhouse staff, hunters and veterinarians.

A total of 585 persons from several occupational groups (farmers, slaughterhouse staff, hunters, veterinarians) exposed to Toxocara infestations and 50 persons of a control group were tested for the presence of specific antibodies to the Toxocara canis antigen using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a western blot. Farmers showed the highest seroprevalence (44%), followed by veterinarians (27%), slaughterhouse staff (25%) and hunters (17%), whereas only 2% of the individuals of the control group were seropositive. Thus, the risk to Toxocara infestation is 39, 18, 16 and 9 times higher for farmers, veterinarians, slaughterhouse staff (some workers were part-time farmers) and for hunters, respectively, when compared to the control group. The main source of infection in rural areas seems to be (roaming) farm cats and dogs that have not been dewormed. The results are discussed with a view to potential risk factors and preventive measures, in terms of veterinary and human medicine.

[Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wild animal species and cattle in Styria/Austria]. / Nachweise von Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis bei Wildtieren und Rindern in der Steiermark/Osterreich.

Infections with Mycobacterium ovium ssp. paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis) are increasingly recognised worldwide. In addition to an increased prevalence of paratuberculosis in Austrian cattle herds, recent years have also shown a rise in infections with M. paratuberculosis in wild red and roe deer, chamois and mouflon. During the period from June 2002 to September 2004, mesenteric lymph nodes were taken from a total of 483 wild animals hunted or found dead and from 338 deceased cattle. Samples were analysed using PCR and cultivation methods. In the case of pathomorphological changes or anamnestic indications, investigations also included an analysis of organ samples (e.g. liver, lung) or foetuses. The tests revealed that 129 wild animal samples (red deer, roe deer, chamois, mouflon, fallow deer, ibex, foxes, mountain hare, yellow-necked field mouse, and capercaillie) contained M. paratuberculosis. The major symptoms in the wild aninodes. Evidence of diarrhoea was only observed in about 15% of the positive cases. The study for the first time provided evidence of intrauterine transmission of M. paratuberculosis in red deer (3 cases) and chamois (1 case) and succeeded in the isolation of the pathogen from the liver, lung and subcutaneous granulomas of wild animals. Of the total of 338 mesenteric lymphnodes of cattle from 303 herds, 80 samples from 77 herds tested positive for paratuberculosis. Twenty-two wild animal and 3 cattle isolates have so far been molecularly typed using IS900-RFLP and RAPD analyses in order to prove epidemiological relationships between occurrences in cattle and wild animals. The increase of paratuberculosis in wild animal species is assumed to have been caused by the purchase of animals, a strong increase in suckler cow farming (cow-calf herds) with a concentration of pathogens in the environment and by inadequate feed hygiene for wild animals.

[Seroepidemiological studies of zoonotic infections in hunters in southeastern Austria--prevalences, risk factors, and preventive methods]. / Seroepidemiologische Untersuchung von Jägern auf Zoonosen in Südostösterreich--Prävalenzen, Risikopotentiale und Vorbeugemassnahmen.

The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalences to zoonotic pathogens in hunters, to propose preventive measures and to obtain more information about the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens in local wild animal populations. From 146 male and 3 female hunters originating from the south-eastern Austrian federal states of Styria and Burgenland blood samples were taken and anamnestic data were obtained using a questionnaire. The serological investigations included the following viral, bacterial and parasitic zoonotic agents or zoonoses, respectively (antibody-seroprevalences in brackets): encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV, 15%), Puumala-Hantavirus (10%), Newcastle Disease virus (NDV, 4%), borreliosis (IgG 42%, IgM 7%), brucellosis (1%), chlamydiosis (3%), ehrlichiosis (IgG 15%, IgM 3%), leptospirosis (10%), tularaemia (3%), Q fever (0%), Echinococcus multilocularis/E. granulosus (5%/11%), toxocariasis (17%). Out of a control group of 50 persons (urban population, no hunters) only one person was found to be seropositive for Toxocara canis and NDV and four for EMCV, all other results were negative in the control group. The high seroprevalences especially to Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Ehrlichia spp., Leptospira interrogans, E. granulosus, E. multilocularis, encephalomyocarditis virus and Puumala virus demonstrate that hunters are particularly exposed to zoonotic pathogens. It should also be noted that one hunter was seropositive for Brucella abortus and five exhibited antibodies to Francisella tularensis. In these cases, as well as in the cases of the 15 seropositives for Leptospira interrogans, the suspected source of infection may--besides rodents--also include wild boars and brown hares. The infections with NDV and Chlamydophila psittaci may be traced back to contact with certain species of birds (potential risk: aviaries). For Hantaviruses, rodents are considered to be the main source of human infections.

Genetic diversity of recent bovine viral diarrhoea viruses from the southeast of Austria (Styria).

To characterise the bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates circulating in the southeastern region of Austria, namely in the province of Styria, 71 blood samples collected between 1998 and 2000 from persistently infected cattle in 62 herds were subjected to genetic typing. For this, 288bp fragments from the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction after reverse transcription (RT-PCR). The products were sequenced and used for phylogenetic analysis. Seventy virus isolates were typed as BVDV species 1 (BVDV-1). Only one isolate was typed as BVDV species 2 (BVDV-2), representing the first isolate of this pestivirus genotype found in Austria. In addition, phylogenetic analysis revealed that viruses belonging to five genetic groups within BVDV-1 are circulating in Styria. Most viruses (53) were found in group BVDV-1f, nine viruses in BVDV-1h, four viruses in BVDV-1b, three viruses in BVDV-1d and one virus in BVDV-1g. No virus was found in genetic group BVDV-1a, which is dominant in the UK and widely distributed in USA. Likewise, the BVDV isolates predominating in a neighbouring country, namely Germany, belonged to different genogroups than those circulating in Styria. We conclude that in a particular region and environment certain BVDV-1 genetic groups predominate. New groups, including BVDV-2, can be introduced, e.g. by trade of animals. The low incidence of BVDV-2 in Styria is in concert with the sporadic occurrence of these viruses in other regions of Europe.

[Sero-epidemiological studies of zoonotic infections in hunters--comparative analysis with veterinarians, farmers, and abattoir workers]. / Seroepidemiologische Untersuchungen von Jägern auf Zoonosen--Vergleich mit Untersuchungen bei Tierärzten, Landwirten und Schlachthofarbeitern.

The aim of this study was to investigate seroprevalences to zoonotic pathogens in hunters, to compare the results with other predisposed occupational groups already investigated and to propose preventive measures. Blood samples were taken from 146 male and 3 female hunters from the provinces of Styria and Burgenland in the south-east of Austria and anamnestic data were obtained using a questionnaire. The serological investigations included the following bacterial, viral and parasitic zoonotic agents or zoonoses, respectively (antibody prevalence rates in brackets): borreliosis (IgG 42%, IgM 7%), brucellosis (1%), chlamydiosis (3%), ehrlichiosis (IgG 15%, IgM 3%), leptospirosis (10%), tularaemia (3%), Q fever (0%), encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV, 15%), Puumala-Hantavirus (10%), Newcastle Disease virus (4%), Echinococcus multilocularis/E. granulosus (5%/11%), toxocariasis (17%). Particularly striking in comparison with the control group and the veterinarians, farmers and slaughterhouse workers examined in earlier projects were the high seroprevalences to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Ehrlichia spp., Leptospira interrogans, E. granulosus and E. multilocularis, encephalomyocarditis, Puumala-Hantavirus and Newcastle Disease virus as well as to Brucella abortus and Francisella tularensis. The present study indicates that hunters are especially exposed to zoonotic pathogens.