Goat flock abortion: a retrospective study at Abergelle Agricultural Research Center, Tigray, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Small ruminants are the principal component of livestock production in Tigray region, Ethiopia. But their productivity is affected by various factors. According to farmers and expert observation, goat abortion is among the leading causes of production losses in Tanqua-Abergelle district. However, study findings that examine the extent of distribution and economic impact of abortion cases in goats in the district are scarce. This retrospective study investigated the occurrence of abortion and its associated risk factors in three goat breed types at Abergelle Agricultural Research Center goat breeding site over a seven year period. The study included a total of does above one year old, and data were collected from a casebook that was specifically prepared for abortion cases. A thorough follow up was conducted to identify abortion cases. Additionally, a community survey was conducted in selected villages where the research center is located. RESULTS: The overall abortion proportion was 29.8% in the goat farm. Begait goat breeds had the highest abortion proportion (50.9%, CI 0.36-0.64) in 2015/16. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified year, season, age and breed as major risk factors of abortion occurrence at flock level. Accordingly, the likelihood of goats experiencing abortion during the dry season (proportion = 34) was 1.87 times higher compared to those in the wet season (proportion = 22.8). Begait breeds had a higher incidence of abortion (proportion 37.5%, OR 4.87, CI 2.49-10.35) compared to other breeds. Age was negatively associated with abortion, suggesting that older goats (OR = 0.67) had a higher relative risk than younger goats (OR = 0.57). Moreover, the study noted a high incidence of abortion during the years 2014/15 to 2016/17 (proportion = 35.7-39.7). Within-breed analysis revealed that age and season were significant risk factors for Abergelle and Begait breeds, respectively by using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. A community survey indicated that 89.7% households responded their goats experienced abortion. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the high prevalence of goat abortion at Abergelle and identifies important risk factors associated with its occurrence. The findings can inform targeted interventions to reduce abortion rates and improve goat productivity in the district.

Antibiofilm potential of luteolin against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from dairy goats and farm environments.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a prominent pathogen responsible for mastitis in dairy goats, and capable of contaminating farm environments. Luteolin is a naturally derived flavonoid found in many plant types. To our best of knowledge, this study involved the initial investigation into the prevalence of S. aureus and screened the multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. aureus from raw milk samples and farm environments. Furthermore, we explored the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of luteolin against MDR S. aureus. Antibiofilm activity was evaluated via crystal violet staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Bacterial morphology and biofilm microstructure were observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the antibiofilm mechanisms were further explored based on extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, extracellular DNA (eDNA) content, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). In total, 28 and 43 S. aureus isolates were isolated from raw milk and environmental samples, respectively. Raw milk samples had the highest prevalence of S. aureus (58.33%), followed by sewage sludge (35.42%), soil (27.78%), excrement (19.44%), bulk tank (12.50%), milking parlor (11.11%), and feed (7.50%). Among the isolated strains, 40 isolates (56.34%) expressed the MDR phenotype. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of luteolin against MDR S. aureus were 8-32 µg/mL and 16-64 µg/mL, respectively. Compared to that in the untreated control isolate, the number of dead cells increased, while the auto-aggregation and cell surface hydrophobicity decreased. Moreover, the cell membrane dissolved with the increase in luteolin concentration. Luteolin down-regulated the transcription of seven biofilm related genes: icaA, icaD, icab, hld, hla, agrA and RNAIII. These results indicated that S. aureus coexisted in raw milk and goat farm environments, and also suggested the potential of luteolin as a promising antibiofilm agent against MDR S. aureus.

Shedding and extensive and prolonged environmental contamination of goat farms of Q fever patients by Coxiella burnetii.

BACKGROUND: A majority (>70%) of Q fever patients in South Korea do not have a history of animal contact. Therefore, unconscious environmental exposure is suspected. The aim of this study was to investigate exposure of Q fever patients to environmental contamination and animal shedding. METHODS: Two goat farmers were enrolled. One was diagnosed with Q fever 3 years ago (Farm 1). Among 20 goats on Farm 1, five were tested randomly and found to be Q fever PCR-positive. Three of the five were Q fever ELISA-positive. Two of five environmental samples taken in 2015 were PCR-positive. In 2018, 17 of 18 environmental samples were PCR-positive. On Farm 2, 54 of the 77 goats were PCR-positive, and 63 were ELISA-positive. Twelve of 14 environmental samples were PCR-positive. Repeat administration of oxytetracycline to goats led to a gradual reduction in PCR-positive tests over a 5-month period. However, PCR-positivity of the farm environment persisted for 5 months. CONCLUSION: The environment on farms owned by Q fever patients was contaminated extensively and persistently, even after antibiotic treatment of goats and environmental decontamination. Undetected environmental contamination can be a major source of sporadic Q fever infection in South Korea.

Airborne particulate matter from goat farm increases acute allergic airway responses in mice.

Background: Inhalation exposure to biological particulate matter (BioPM) from livestock farms may provoke exacerbations in subjects suffering from allergy and asthma. The aim of this study was to use a murine model of allergic asthma to determine the effect of BioPM derived from goat farm on airway allergic responses.Methods: Fine (<2.5 µm) BioPM was collected from an indoor goat stable. Female BALB/c mice were ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized and challenged with OVA or saline as control. The OVA and saline groups were divided in sub-groups and exposed intranasally to different concentrations (0, 0.9, 3, or 9 µg) of goat farm BioPM. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), blood and lung tissues were collected.Results: In saline-challenged mice, goat farm BioPM induced 1) a dose-dependent increase in neutrophils in BALF and 2) production of macrophage inflammatory protein-3a. In OVA-challenged mice, BioPM induced 1) inflammatory cells in BALF, 2) OVA-specific Immunoglobulin (Ig)G1, 3) airway mucus secretion-specific gene expression. RNAseq analysis of lungs indicates that neutrophil chemotaxis and oxidation-reduction processes were the representative genomic pathways in saline and OVA-challenged mice, respectively.Conclusions: A single exposure to goat farm BioPM enhanced airway inflammation in both saline and OVA-challenged allergic mice, with neutrophilic response as Th17 disorder and eosinophilic response as Th2 disorder indicative of the severity of allergic responses. Identification of the mode of action by which farm PM interacts with airway allergic pathways will be useful to design potential therapeutic approaches.

Herd management and welfare assessment of dairy goat farms in Northern Cyprus by using breeding, health, reproduction, and biosecurity indicators.

This study describes the results of a farm-based welfare assessment, herd management, and some yield indicators in Northern Cyprus dairy goat farms. Out of 324 intensive milk goat farms which produce goats, only the 42 goat farms which had 7950 heads were chosen by random sampling in Northern Cyprus (2016), and face-to-face questionnaires and observations were conducted to collect data. Regarding the breeding techniques in these farms, of all the goats in these farms, 45.2% were cross-breed, 38.1% were Damascus, 11.9% were Saanen, and 4.8% were hair goats. The average of the total number of animals was 211.38 ± 209 heads. The average number of pens and the number of animals per pen in the farms, which had 2 to 5 pens, were 67 ± 49.5 heads. The barn types of these farms were observed to be semi-open and nearly open (95%). 45.5% of the farms made a single milking in a day. The most significant reason for this was that the suckling of the kids lasted 3 months or more in 73.8% of the farms. Natural random mating was applied to 69% of the farms. The 45.2% of the farms applied additional feeding before the mating season. The rate of multiple births was 24.76%. The mortality rate in kids was greater than 10% in the 57% of farms examined. The 75% of kids had diarrhea, 33% had umbilicus infections, and 33% suffered from respiratory problems. Among the adult goats of the surveyed farms, the most important problem was external parasites (100%). The second and third problems were overgrown claws (80.9%) and common abscesses (80.95%). Regarding the biosecurity indicators, the general disinfection percentage of farms was 78.57%. However, veterinarian controls were conducted only in the 26.9% of the farms on a regular basis. In these farms, there was no significant difference between the breeds regarding their breeding and reproduction techniques or health indicators. The entrance of the farms carries a high risk for biosecurity. Heat stress is quite important factor for the milk quality.

Goat farm management and Brucella serological test among goat keepers and livestock officers, 2011-2012, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand.

Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease particularly affecting goats, emerged in Thailand in 2003, resulting in both an occupational hazard for goat keepers and livestock officers, and production losses. Farm management practices have been identified as risk factors associated with Brucella sero-positivity in many studies. Our finding in this study should be considered in order to strengthen the system of biosecurity control in farm animals as one health approach. The objectives of the study were to describe the distribution of potential risk factors by types of goat farms and to document the prevalence of human Brucella sero-positivity among goat keepers and livestock officers in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2012. The study population included three types of goat farms: standard, community enterprise and private goat farms that were located in Nakhon Si Thammmarat Province in southern Thailand. Information on whether the farm had any Brucella sero-positivity goats since 2011 was retrieved from the local livestock office records. Information on farming management was also traced back to 2011. Field researchers collected information from goat keepers of the selected farms using a structured questionnaire. Goat keepers on all farms pre-identified (January to June 2012) as having had at least one positive goat were considered to have been exposed. Goat keepers on a random sample of farms having all goats with negative results were considered to be unexposed. Venous blood samples were collected from goat keepers exposed and unexposed and from livestock officers and the samples were tested by IgG ELISA. Statistical analysis was done under the complex survey design in R software. Fourteen standard farms, 66 community enterprise farms and 68 private farms participated in the study; 82.4% (122/148) used public pasture and 53.4% (79/148) shared breeder goats with other farms. Farm management practices corresponding to pre-identified risk factors were more common in private farms. Large herd size (≥ 51 goats) and having dogs and/or rats on the farm were significantly associated with Brucella infection in animals (P < 0.05). Similar proportions of goat keepers in positive goat farm and livestock officers were positive for Brucella antibody (8.3% and 8.8% respectively). Several goat farming management practices in the study area may increase the risk of Brucella infection in animals. Livestock officers in the area have a high risk of being infected with Brucella. Improving goat farm biosecurity practices in needed to reduce the risk of brucellosis in this area.