A single subcutaneous dose of eprinomectin (Eprecis®) is effective against common gastrointestinal nematodes and lungworms in experimentally infected lactating goats.

BACKGROUND: The health and productivity of dairy goats continue to be impacted by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and lungworms (LW). Eprinomectin (EPN) is frequently selected for treatment because it is generally effective and does not require a milk withdrawal period. However, some factors, such as lactation, can have an impact on EPN pharmacokinetics and potentially its efficacy. To evaluate whether this can alter the efficacy of Eprecis® 2%, an eprinomectin injectable solution, a study was performed in lactating goats using the dose currently registered in cattle, sheep and goats (0.2 mg/kg). METHODS: This study was a blinded, randomized, controlled trial performed according to the VICH guidelines. Eighteen (18) worm-free lactating goats were included and experimentally challenged on day 28 with a mixed culture of infective gastrointestinal and lung nematode larvae (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Teladorsagia circumcincta, Dictyocaulus filaria). At D-1, fecal samples were collected to confirm patent infection in all animals. On D0, the goats were randomly allocated into two groups of nine goats; group 1 was treated with Eprecis® 2% at 0.2 mg/kg BW by subcutaneous injection, while group 2 remained untreated. Fecal samples for egg counts were collected from all animals on days 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 14. On D14, all goats were killed, and the abomasum, small intestine and lungs were removed, processed and subsampled to record the number and species of worms. RESULTS: The treatment was well tolerated. After treatment, the arithmetic mean FEC decreased in the treated group and remained < 5 EPG until the end of the study, while the arithmetic mean FEC in the control group remained > 849.0 EPG. At D14, goats in the treated group had very limited or zero total worm counts, whereas all animals from the control group had a high worm burden. The measured efficacy was 100.0% against H. contortus and T. colubriformis, 99.9% against T. circumcincta and 98.0% against D. filaria. CONCLUSIONS: Eprinomectin (Eprecis®, 20 mg/ml), administered at the label dose (0.2 mg/kg), is highly effective against gastrointestinal nematodes and lungworms in lactating goats.

Evaluation of the use of ketoprofen for the treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy cattle: A randomised, positive controlled, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of administering ketoprofen to cows suffering from active digital dermatitis (DD). METHODS: 158 cows presented with active DD (M1, M2 or M4.1 stage) were randomly allocated to either the control or the treatment group. All cows were treated with topical application of oxytetracycline spray. The treatment group also received an intramuscular injection of ketoprofen (3 mg/kg, Ketofen 10%, Ceva Animal Health). Cows were mobility scored just before they were treated and then again one week later. Information regarding their daily milk production was also collected. RESULTS: Animals in the control group were at 2.57 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-8.01, p = 0.10) times higher odds to be lame at the second evaluation compared to those that received ketoprofen as well. This was a numeric but not statistically significant difference. When only cows that were lame prior to treatment were considered, cows that did not receive ketoprofen were at 20.20 (95% CI: 1.40-291.29, p = 0.03) higher odds of remaining lame week post-treatment comparing to cows that did receive ketoprofen. Freshly calved and lame at enrolment cows in the treatment group produced 58.38 ± 1.85 kg per day the week after treatment comparing to freshly calved and lame at enrolment controls that produced 47.89 ± 1.81 kg per day (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of ketoprofen in the treatment of active DD lesions may be beneficial for animal welfare and for animal productivity.

QTest: A new way to easily sample, store, and ship samples to perform Q fever PCR analysis on bulk tank milk.

Bulk tank milk (BTM) is an easy, inexpensive, and representative sample for detection of Coxiella burnetii infections (Q fever) in dairy herds using real-time PCR. Bulk tank milk PCR can be performed either for initial herd screening or for monitoring the effectiveness of preventive measures. However, one major limitation under field conditions is the need to deliver BTM samples in adequate condition (quickly, safely, and under refrigeration) to a qualified laboratory. In addition, sending non-inactivated biological samples via normal mail may be prohibited. We developed an innovative, easy, and accurate diagnostic tool (QTest) for Q fever to support veterinarians and farmers in overcoming these constraints. The farmer or veterinarian simply places some drops of BTM on a Whatman FTA Elute Micro Card (FTA card) and lets the card dry before mailing it to the laboratory. In a 2-step study, we tested the hypotheses that (1) BTM samples stored on FTA cards are stable over time and at different temperatures, and (2) PCR results obtained via FTA cards are consistent with those obtained from raw BTM samples. The stability of C. burnetii DNA in milk preserved on an FTA card was maintained for at least 29 d at room temperature or 37°C to mimic field conditions. In our field study, of the original 70 positive BTM samples (when tested on raw BTM just after sampling), 58 samples were positive (on either raw BTM or FTA card) by the time of the direct comparison study (10 to 14 d later). Of these 58 samples, 45 raw BTM samples still tested positive after aging, and 53 FTA card BTM samples tested positive, indicating that detection was higher using FTA cards (91.4%) than raw milk (77.6%). Therefore, with inactivation and shipping advantages, this technique facilitates an easier and more practical approach to diagnosis of Q fever at the herd level and would support Q fever control strategies, especially in countries lacking adequate and close laboratory facilities.

Effect of injectable eprinomectin on milk quality and yield of dairy ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

The objective was to investigate the effect of injectable eprinomectin on milk yield and quality of dairy ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes when grazing in communal pastures. Onehundred and fifty (150) clinically healthy adult lactating ewes, equally selected from 3 farms, were included in the study. On day -7, the ewes on each farm were randomly allocated into 2 equal groups of 25 animals (n=50): Control group (C) and Treated group (T). On day 0, ewes in group T were given a single subcutaneous injection of eprinomectin at a dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg bodyweight. Ewes in group C were left untreated during the whole experiment. Ewes in group T with a fecal egg count (FEC) >300 eggs per g on day +60 were treated again. Fecal samples were individually collected on days -7, 0, +30, +60, +90, +120 for FEC estimations and coprocultures. On days -7, 0, +30, +60 and +90, individual milk yield (MY) was recorded using ICAR approved volumetric milk meters. Energy corrected milk yield (ECMY) for 6% fat was also calculated. Moreover, individual milk samples were collected on each day for determination of chemical composition [fat (F%), protein (P%) and lactose (L%) content] and somatic cell counts (SCC). On each day, individual fat and protein yield (FY and PY, respectively) were calculated. Total lactation MY, total ECMY, total FY and total PY were computed. The most prevalent parasite at pre-treatment and post-treatment days was Haemonchus spp. The overall efficacy on days +30 and +90 was 97.27 % and 98.80 %, respectively. In two out of the three farms, 80 % and 91.3 % of T ewes received a second treatment on day +60, due to high parasitic burden. Treatment had a significant effect (P=0.033) on MY with an average benefit of 8%. No significant effects of treatment were observed on the other parameters, although values were constantly numerically higher for treated ewes compared to control ones. In this field trial, injectable eprinomectin had a high overall efficacy and a beneficial effect on daily milk yield.

Anthelmintic activity of injectable eprinomectin (eprecis® 20 mg/mL) in naturally infected dairy sheep.

The anthelmintic activity of an injectable eprinomectin formulation (Eprecis® 20 mg/mL) was evaluated in 150 naturally infected dairy sheep raised in 3 semi-intensive flocks. All ewes were at the same stage of lactation and grazed on natural pastures. Ewes did not receive any anthelmintic treatment for at least 4 months prior to the experiment. In each flock, 50 ewes were selected and randomly allocated to control (C) or treatment (T) groups (n = 25 per group). Groups were balanced according to the ewes' bodyweight (BW) and fecal egg count (FEC) measured seven days before eprinomectin administration (day-7). On study day 0, ewes in group T, received 0.2 mg/kg BW of eprinomectin subcutaneously (Eprecis® 20 mg/mL, Ceva). Ewes in group C were left untreated. Fecal samples were collected on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 post-treatment to assess FEC and for coprocultures. Ewes were weighed on day 0 and 28. Overall and within-flock efficacy of eprinomectin was calculated throughout the experimental period. No local or general adverse reaction after injection was observed. The most prevalent parasite genera were Teladorsagia, Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus. Following treatment, the overall mean FEC of C and T groups differed significantly (P < 0.001). Overall and within-flock efficacy of eprinomectin was 99.8%-100.0% and 99.7%-100.0%, respectively. Contrary to C group, ewes treated with injectable eprinomectin increased their BW during the study (-0.5 kg vs. + 1.5 kg, P < 0.001). In this field study, a single subcutaneous injection of eprinomectin to dairy sheep, at 0.2 mg/kg BW, resulted in excellent curative anthelmintic activity; egg counts remain low for at least 28 days after treatment.

Survival associated with cerebrospinal fluid analysis in downer adult dairy cows: A retrospective study (2006-2014).

BACKGROUND: Threshold values for total nucleated cell count (TNCC) and protein concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of downer dairy cows suggestive of a spinal cord lesion were recently published. OBJECTIVES: Determine short- and long-term survival of downer cows that underwent CSF analysis using the reported threshold values. Evaluate the prognostic value of these threshold values to predict short- and long-term survival. ANIMALS: Two hundred and fourteen downer adult dairy cows that underwent CSF analysis during hospitalization at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire (CHUV) of the Université de Montréal. METHODS: Retrospective study. Medical records of downer adult dairy cows presented to the hospital between January 2006 and October 2014 for which CSF analysis results were available were studied. Short-term (discharge from hospital) and long-term (completion of lactation) survival were determined and compared in accordance with CSF TNCC and protein concentration, using a Chi-square test. RESULTS: Cows with CSF TNCC and/or protein concentration above the threshold values had a significantly lower short-term survival rate (P = .02). The odds of nonsurvival of cows with one or both CSF values above the threshold values was 2.16 times higher than the odds for cows with values under the threshold values. CSF TNCC >4.5 cells/µL had sensitivity and specificity of 17.3% (95% CI: 10.7%-25.7%) and 92.3% (95% CI: 85.4%-96.6%), respectively, for predicting short-term nonsurvival. CSF protein concentration >0.39 g/L had sensitivity and specificity of 20.9% (95% CI: 13.7%-29.7%) and 91.4% (95% CI: 84.2%-96.0%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CSF analysis above threshold values used in this study is associated with increased odds of short-term nonsurvival.

Treatment of experimentally induced bovine respiratory disease in young calves with a single administration of a combination of florfenicol and meloxicam.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a new florfenicol/meloxicam combination (FMC) in calves with bovine respiratory disease. A total of 90 young calves were challenged via intratracheal deposition of 108 colony-forming units of Mannheimia haemolytica Data for 84 calves demonstrating a rectal temperature (RT) above 39.5°C and a combined total clinical score (TCS) greater than or equal to 3 were included. Calves were then randomly allocated to one of the three study groups (FMC; florfenicol/flunixin combination (FFC); or saline) and promptly treated. RT and TCS of calves treated with an FMC or FFC were consistently lower than RT and TCS of calves belonging to the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, at the end of the study, a high clinical cure rate was observed in calves treated with FMC (100 per cent) or FFC (96.6 per cent) whereas cure was limited for calves receiving saline (29.6 per cent). Interestingly, calves treated with FMC were cured without relapse more rapidly compared with calves treated with FFC (HR=1.76, P<0.05) and with a lower percentage of clinical relapse due to fever (P=0.05). These results underline the high efficacy of the FMC and are in line with the pharmacokinetic properties of florfenicol and meloxicam.

Synovitis induced by joint lavage with hypertonic saline solutions in healthy dairy calves.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single joint lavage with 7.2% or 15% hypertonic saline solutions (HSS) on the tarsocrural joints of healthy calves. The tarsi of 10 calves were randomly lavaged with 7.2% HSS, 15% HSS, or isotonic saline. Synovial fluid samples were collected aseptically on days 1 (before joint lavage), 2, 3, 4, and 8 for complete cytological analysis. Lameness, joint swelling, and pain were recorded daily. Calves were euthanized on day 8 for gross and histological analyses of synovial membranes and articular cartilage. Synovitis was evaluated using a scoring system reflecting inflammatory changes in synovial membranes.Joints irrigated with HSS were more distended and painful compared with isotonic control joints. Swelling decreased consistently in the joints lavaged with 7.2% HSS, whereas it remained unchanged in joints lavaged with 15% HSS. Slight to moderate lameness was observed in the joints lavaged with 15% HSS. In comparison to isotonic saline joints, total protein concentration was significantly increased on day 2 and 3 for the joints lavaged with 7.2% HSS (P ≤ 0.01) and on days 2, 3, and 4 in the joints lavaged with 15% HSS (P ≤ 0.0006). Gross and histological findings revealed that synovitis was more severe in the joints lavaged with 15% HSS but variable in the joints lavaged with 7.2% HSS. No significant differences were observed for the articular cartilage.Fifteen percent HSS is not recommended for joint lavage. Although irrigation with 7.2% HSS may induce a variable synovitis, it was found appropriate for joint lavage. Its effects on septic joints remain undetermined.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of porcupine quill foreign bodies in the plantar flexor tendon sheath region in a heifer.

A 17-month-old Holstein heifer was presented for persistent enlargement above the right hind fetlock of 1-month's duration. Diffuse plantar soft tissue swelling was present on the radiographs and ultrasonography revealed the presence of multiple porcupine quill extremities embedded in the subcutaneous tissue within the flexor tendon sheath wall. Surgical removal was performed.