High prevalence of liver fluke infestation, Fasciola gigantica, among slaughtered cattle in Boyolali District, Central Java.

Background: Fasciolosis is a foodborne disease caused by Fasciola sp. infecting ruminants, especially cattle. Fasciolosis remains a significant concern for Veterinary Public Health because of its zoonosis risk and transmission mode. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Fasciola gigantica infestation in cattle at Ampel abbatoir, Central Java, Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 585 cattle from February to August 2022. Visual observation postmortem was used to assess Fasciola infection based on adult flukes in liver parenchyma and ductuli biliferi. Results: The overall prevalence of fasciolosis in Ampel abbatoir is high, reaching 25.12% (147/585). The highest prevalence was observed in the Ongole breed, 42.1% (24/57), female cattle, 38.72% (115/297), body condition score criteria of 2 50% (21/42), cattle aged >3.5 years 46.06% (82/178), and cattle originated from outside of Boyolali district 33.33% (71/213). Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of fasciolosis in Ampel abbatoir, as shown in the correlation between the risk factors of breed, sex, body condition score (BCS), origin, and age. Because of the high prevalence of fasciolosis in the abattoirs, it is essential to continue performing epidemiology studies in more expansive areas. The subsequent plans are important to reduce the risk of fasciolosis as a threat to productive cattle husbandry and warrant its transmission to humans as a foodborne-zoonotic disease.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 detection in domestic animals as a reservoir for the virus transmission to humans in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Background and Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that attacks the respiratory and digestive tract. The SARS-CoV-2 showed systemic characteristics with various clinical symptoms from subclinical to fatal (causing death). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to occur from humans to pets (cats, dogs, tigers, ferrets, and poultry). Knowledge about the role of domestic animals in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans, and as reservoirs of this virus needs to be investigated further. This study aimed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic animals such as dogs, cats, pigs, cows, birds, and bats that are often in contact with humans. Materials and Methods: A total of 157 samples, which included nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, along with sera samples from domestic animals such as cats, pigs, cows, birds, and bats, were taken from Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Clinics, and farms around the Yogyakarta region. Detection of the virus was done using rapid detection of viral antigens, antibodies, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Results: The results showed that 5/157 (3.1%) samples found positive against the COVID-19 virus using a rapid antibody test; however, the results were negative on the rapid antigen and RT-PCR tests. Antibody-positive samples came from animals that had a history of household COVID-19 human infection. Conclusion: Thus, findings of the present study conclude that there is a potential for transmission of the COVID-19 virus between animals and humans.

Genetic characterization and distribution of the virus in chicken embryo tissues infected with Newcastle disease virus isolated from commercial and native chickens in Indonesia.

Background and Aim: Newcastle disease (ND) is a viral infectious disease that affects commercial and native chickens, resulting in economic losses to the poultry industry. This study aimed to examine the viral strains circulating in commercial and native chickens by genetic characterization and observe the distribution of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in chicken embryonic tissue. Materials and Methods: ND was detected using a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Genetic characterization of the fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) genes from the eight NDVs was performed using specific primers. The sequence was compared with that of other NDVs from GenBank and analyzed using the MEGA-X software. The distribution of NDV in chicken embryos was analyzed based on lesions and the immunopositivity in immunohistochemistry staining. Results: Based on F gene characterization, velogenic NDV strains circulating in commercial and native chickens that showed varying clinical symptoms belonged to genotype VII.2. Lentogenic strains found in chickens without clinical symptoms were grouped into genotype II (unvaccinated native chickens) and genotype I (vaccinated commercial chickens). Amino acid variations in the HN gene, namely, the neutralization epitope and antigenic sites at positions 263 and 494, respectively, occurred in lentogenic strains. The NDV reaches the digestive and respiratory organs, but in lentogenic NDV does not cause significant damage, and hence embryo death does not occur. Conclusion: This study showed that velogenic and lentogenic NDV strains circulated in both commercial and native chickens with varying genotypes. The virus was distributed in almost all organs, especially digestive and respiratory. Organ damage in lentogenic infection is not as severe as in velogenic NDV. Further research is needed to observe the distribution of NDV with varying pathogenicity in chickens.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 in domesticated animals and its potential of transmission: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a global lockdown, which has limited the mobility of the public, and thus, more time is spent with their pets. Unfortunately, many social media have blamed pet animals as a reservoir of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiologic agent of COVID-19, triggering a panic abandonment of pets. However, no article has summarized the information regarding the role of pets as SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs. This study aimed to evaluate the role of pets as a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 on the basis of research papers (i.e., animal model, surveillance, and case report) published in 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The review was conducted using articles from the PubMed database in 2020, using the keywords "COVID-19 in domesticated animals," which were screened and analyzed. Only the data from research articles were mimicked and transformed to conduct a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was conducted regarding the effects of inhabitation and viral shedding in pets. In this study, we used 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 132 papers in PubMed were related to the keywords, whereas only 12 papers were appropriate to answer the dynamics of the role of pets as the reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. Seven studies indicated the potential of cat-cat (4/7), human-cat (2/7), and human-dog (1/7) SARS-CoV-2 transmission. No study proved the presence of cat-human transmission. Another study showed that comingling did not affect SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding among a cat and dog. Furthermore, the viral shedding of cats and dogs caused asymptomatic manifestations and generated neutralizing antibodies within a short period of time. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 transmission is present in domesticated animals, especially in pet cats and dogs, and transmission occurs between animals of the same species (cat-cat). The reverse zoonosis (zooanthroponosis) was found from human to cat/dog (comingled) with asymptomatic clinical signs due to the representation of neutralizing antibodies.

Intestinal and hepatic coccidiosis among rabbits in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The attention to rabbit meat production in Indonesia is comparatively less to other farm animals such as cattle and poultry industries. However, future prospect of rabbit to be seriously industrialized seemed quite promising due to rabbit is highly productive and has short reproduction cycle as well as generation interval. One of the diseases infecting many rabbits is coccidiosis caused by protozoan parasite, Eimeria spp. The infectious stage of Eimeria spp. presents ubiquitously in the environment and increases the risk of parasite transmission. Preventive methods such as vaccination are not yet fully developed, while sporadic treatment is not efficiently reduce the cases. In this study, Eimeria spp. infecting rabbits in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, were investigated with the aim for precise diagnosis to determine targeted treatment and as a baseline epidemiological data from rabbit in Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sample collection was performed randomly for 3 months, from March 2017 to May 2017 and covered areas in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A total of 750 samples were collected. Eimeria species identification was determined morphologically from the samples after sporulation in 2.5% potassium dichromate byCOCCIMORPH. RESULTS: Ten species of Eimeria spp. were identified in this study from the positive samples (527/750; 70.3%). Eimeria flavescens was present in 80% of the positive samples, Eimeria coeciola in 78%, Eimeria perforans in 61%, Eimeria exigua in 37%, Eimeria media in 33%, Eimeria stiedae in 31%, Eimeria irresidua in 12%, Eimeria magna in 11%, Eimeria intestinalis in 10%, and Eimeria piriformis in 10%. Coinfection as noted in 80% of the positive samples with 2-6 species in a specimen. E. flavescens and E. coeciola were the most prevalent among all Eimeria spp. (p≤0.0001). CONCLUSION: Eimeria spp. is detected in high prevalence among rabbit in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with commonly occurs in mixed infections. In this paper, we describe Eimeria spp. that are circulating in Indonesia and present it as updated information to farmers and veterinarians. To the best of our knowledge, we provide the first information about rabbit coccidiosis in Indonesia.

Bovine coccidiosis cases of beef and dairy cattle in Indonesia.

The number of bovine coccidiosis cases is generally high and distributed worldwide. It can reach up to 100% in the early weeks of age in calves and has a corresponding impact on further cattle development and the economic outcome. For these reasons, this study was conducted to detect the presence of Eimeria spp. oocysts followed by morphologically species characterization in different breeds of beef and dairy cattle. These breeds were reared by rural farmers in 9 provinces in Indonesia from March to October 2017. A total of 2150 fecal samples were collected, along with farmer knowledge about coccidiosis through interviews. Results show that prevalence varied as indicated by the following regions: Riau (68.73%), South Sumatera (78.34%), Banten (63.73%), Special Region of Yogyakarta (54.69%), East Java (63.89%), Bali (83.34%), West Nusa Tenggara (78.43%), Central Kalimantan (72.46%), and South Sulawesi (85.07%). The overall prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in all provinces sampled was 72.07%. Eight species of Eimeria spp. were identified, namely, E. auburnensis (52.11%), E. bovis (81.89%), E. bukidnonensis (18.44%), E. canadensis (38.22%), E. cylindrica (31.67%), E. zuernii (60%), E. ellipsoidalis (10.11%), and E. alabamensis (11.67%). The highest prevalence was found in E. bovis compared with any other Eimerias (P ≤ .0001) followed by E. zuernii. Most of the interviewed farmers in this study did not know about coccidia, especially Eimeria spp. in cattle. They were more familiar with worm infections because of both their experience and knowledge. The distribution of cattle with ages <6 months, 6-18 months, and >18 months exhibited 97%, 81%, and 38% infection, respectively. Based on these results, the authors saw the necessity to inform farmers about bovine coccidiosis as well as the veterinarian regarding better preventive and curative treatments.

Chicken Coccidiosis in Central Java, Indonesia: A Recent Update.

Avian coccidiosis is a huge problem worldwide. Heavily infected animals that show severe clinical signs and coccidiostat resistance are causing important economic losses. The present study aimed to update the recent cases of coccidiosis in Central Java, Indonesia, and to show the importance of the disease in the region. A total of 699 samples were obtained from different chicken breed. Different Eimeria species were detected in 175 individuals (25.04%). Three different groups of chicken breed were considered: local chicken (autochthonous chickens of Sentul and Jawa), commercial broiler, and layer. Broiler chickens showed the highest prevalence of infection (34%), followed by layer (26.26%) and local chickens (10.45%). Mild to severe clinical signs of avian coccidiosis were observed in 42% of the infected animals, while 58% of the infected animals showed no clinical signs other than low feed conversion rates. Seven different Eimeria species were identified: E. tenella was the most prevalent (43.3%), followed by E. maxima (26.3%), E. necatrix (15.7%), E. acervulina (8%), E. praecox (3.1%), E. mitis (2.2%), and E. brunetti (1.3%). Coinfections with several Eimeria species were diagnosed. With this study we found massive usage of coccidiostat in the region even though its usage cannot guarantee coccidiosis-free chicken production.