Contagious agalactia: costs and control revisited.

The economic costs of contagious agalactia (CA) to the small ruminant dairy industry are not well known but include losses due to mortality, lowered milk production, spoiled products, abortions and animal welfare problems, as well as diagnosis and treatment. This paper reports financial estimates made in southern Europe, including a study on small- and large-scale farming systems in Italy, indicating that the financial losses are high and underestimated. Furthermore, the current control strategies, including chemotherapy and vaccination, in selected countries in Europe are described. In some countries, disease control is hampered by excessively strict veterinary legislation which discourages farmers and private veterinarians from notifying outbreaks because it leads to the prohibition of milk sales and can result in delays in lifting restrictions. In addition, new European Union legislation may downgrade the importance of CA, which will have implications for international research efforts. Finally, a series of recommendations are provided that cover the proper notification and handling of CA outbreaks, including movement control, current diagnostics, treatment, vaccination and disinfection.

Si le coût économique exact de l'agalaxie contagieuse pour le secteur ovin et caprin de production laitière n'est pas connu, on sait néanmoins qu'il recouvre les pertes dues à la mortalité dans les cheptels, à une chute de la production de lait, aux produits altérés, aux avortements et aux problèmes de bien-être animal, en plus des coûts du diagnostic et des traitements. Les auteurs font état d'estimations financières réalisées en Europe méridionale, dont une étude sur les exploitations familiales et les élevages de grande taille en Italie, qui coïncident dans le constat de pertes financières à la fois importantes et sous-estimées. Les auteurs décrivent également les stratégies de lutte mises en place actuellement par plusieurs pays d'Europe, en particulier l'antibiothérapie et la vaccination. Dans certains pays, les efforts de lutte sont entravés par une législation vétérinaire excessivement rigoureuse qui dissuade les éleveurs et les vétérinaires privés de notifier les foyers car cela entraîne l'interdiction de vendre le lait issu des troupeaux infectés et retarde la levée des mesures de restriction. En outre, la nouvelle réglementation de l'Union européenne risque d'abaisser l'importance de l'agalaxie contagieuse, ce qui aura des conséquences sur les efforts mobilisés par la recherche au niveau international. Pour conclure, les auteurs formulent plusieurs recommandations en vue d'une notification et gestion appropriées des foyers d'agalaxie contagieuse, notamment pour ce qui concerne le contrôle des mouvements d'animaux, les méthodes actuelles de diagnostic, le traitement, la vaccination et la désinfection.

Aunque no se conocen bien los costos económicos que la agalaxia contagiosa inflige a la industria lechera de pequeños rumiantes, se sabe que las pérdidas por mortalidad, mengua de la producción lechera, productos echados a perder, abortos y problemas de bienestar animal son un factor importante, sin olvidar los gastos de diagnóstico y tratamiento. Los autores dan cuenta de cálculos económicos realizados en Europa meridional, en particular a raíz de un estudio de pequeñas y grandes explotaciones ganaderas de Italia, que llevaron a la conclusión de que las pérdidas económicas son cuantiosas y están subestimadas. Además, los autores describen los métodos de lucha aplicados actualmente en determinados países de Europa, que incluyen tratamiento medicamentoso y vacunaciones. En algunos países la lucha contra la enfermedad se ve lastrada por una legislación veterinaria demasiado estricta, que no alienta a productores y veterinarios privados a notificar brotes porque ello conduce a la prohibición de las ventas de leche y puede demorar el levantamiento de las restricciones. Por otra parte, hay nuevos textos legislativos de la Unión Europea que quizá vengan a restar importancia a la agalaxia contagiosa, lo que repercutiría en las actividades internacionales de investigación. Por último, los autores formulan una serie de recomendaciones referidas a cuestiones que van desde la correcta notificación y gestión de los brotes de agalaxia contagiosa hasta el control de los desplazamientos, pasando por los procedimientos vigentes de diagnóstico o los métodos de tratamiento, vacunación y desinfección.

Hemorrhagic pneumonia in neonatal minks in Greece concomitant with Leismania infantum detection.

In the present study a severe outbreak of hemorrhagic pneumonia (HP) in neonatal minks concomitant with Leismania infantum (L. infantum) detection is reported. The outbreak took place on a Greek mink farm and affected 1,362 mink kits, with 524 dying. Macroscopic lesions of 14 necropsied affected kits were confined to the respiratory system with dark red, consolidated lung lobes and to the small intestine with severe, acute, hemorrhagic and necrotic enteritis. Microscopic examination of lung sections revealed severe hemorrhagic pyogranulomatous pneumonia. Bacteria were obtained in pure culture from the lungs of all necropsied animals and were confirmed as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Three out of 14 (21.4%) animals were positive for the presence of L. infantum DNA. The outbreak was attributed to the infection of minks with P. aeruginosa, possibly as a consequence of being immuno-suppressed by L. infantum. Further research is necessary, especially on the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa/L. infantum co-infection and the implications of this interaction on HP disease outcome.

Bacterial subclinical mastitis and its effect on milk yield in low-input dairy goat herds.

The objectives of this study were (1) to record the major pathogens associated with subclinical mastitis (SCM), (2) to calculate their incidence during the milking period, and (3) to estimate the effect of SCM on daily milk yield (DMY) for goats reared under low-input management schemes. Dairy goats (n=590) of Skopelos and indigenous Greek breeds from 4 herds were randomly selected for the study. The study included monthly monitoring, milk yield recording, and bacteriological analyses of milk of individual goats during the course of 2 successive milking periods. Incidence and cumulative incidence were calculated for SCM cases. Moreover, 2 mixed linear regression models were built to assess the effects of (1) SCM and (2) different pathogens isolated from SCM cases, on DMY. The estimated incidence and cumulative incidence of SCM for the first and the second year of the study were 69.5 and 96.4 new cases of SCM/1,000 goat-months, and 24.1 and 31.7%, respectively. A total of 755 milk samples were subjected to microbiological examination, resulting in 661 positive cultures. Coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated from 50.2 and 34.5% of the positive cultures, respectively. The incidence of infections (new infections per 1,000 goat-months) for the first and the second year of the study were 34 and 53 for coagulase-negative staphylococci, 23 and 28 for coagulase-positive staphylococci, 3 and 5 for Streptococcus/Enterococcus spp., and 5.5 and 9.1 for gram-negative bacteria. Goats with SCM had lower DMY when compared with goats without SCM (ca. 47g/d, corresponding to a 5.7% decrease in DMY). In particular, goats with SCM due to coagulase-positive staphylococci infection produced approximately 80g/d less milk (a reduction of ca. 9.7%) compared with uninfected ones, whereas SCM due to gram-negative bacteria resulted in approximately 15% reduction in DMY. Investigating the epidemiology of SCM and its effects on production traits is critical for the establishment of effective preventive measures against SCM and for the assessment of the sustainability of production in low-input dairy goat herds.

Reproductive performance of sows was improved by administration of a sporing bacillary probiotic (Bacillus subtilis C-3102).

This field study assessed the efficacy of a probiotic based on viable spores of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 (Calsporin; Calpis Co. Ltd., Japan) on the health status and productivity of sows and their litters through 2 full, sequential reproductive cycles from service of the first cycle to weaning of the second cycle. Fifty-six sows were allocated to 2 experimental groups, an untreated control (T1) group and a probiotic-treated (T2) group that received the same basal feed as the T1 group plus the probiotic at an approximate allowance of 30 g/t of feed (3 × 10(5) cfu/g). The offspring of T1 and T2 sows were offered basal and T2 creep feed (3 × 10(5) cfu/g), respectively. Health and zootechnical parameters of sows and piglets were recorded. Feeding the probiotic to sows and piglets resulted in significant benefits, observed in both cycles: 1) improved sow body condition during pregnancy (P < 0.05), 2) increased sow feed consumption, 3) reduced sow weight loss during lactation (P < 0.05), 4) reduced sow weaning-estrus interval (P < 0.05), and 5) higher BW of piglets at weaning (P < 0.05). Additionally, a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in piglet birth weight and in the number of piglets weaned was observed in the second cycle of T2 sows, while a significant improvement of mean daily gain of piglets from birth to weaning was observed in the first cycle of T2 sows. Microbiological examination of fecal samples showed that probiotic treatment significantly reduced both Escherichia coli and Clostridium spp. in piglet feces, particularly during the second cycle. The data suggested that continuous feed supplementation with the probiotic is beneficial for both sows and piglets, since zootechnical benefits were observed in both cycles.

Clinical, microbiological and histological findings in lambs affected by 'salivary abomasum disease'.

'Salivary abomasum disease' is a common syndrome in Greece affecting lambs and kids from three to 17 days of age. In this case series, we present clinical and laboratory findings from 37 affected lambs presented alive and subsequently euthanased for welfare reasons and necropsied, and also from 24 other lambs submitted dead that were also necropsied. The clinical signs in the 37 lambs presented alive included lethargy (100 per cent), absence of sucking (83.8 per cent), weakness (37.8 per cent), abdominal distension (40.5 per cent) and increased frequency of urination (24.3 per cent). Diarrhoea was not observed in any affected lambs. At necropsy of these 37 lambs, the abomasum was distended with gas (70.3 per cent), saliva (43.2 per cent) along with mixed milk clots and gastric secretions; while multiple small mucosal and serosal haemorrhages with blood clots ('coffee grains') were recorded (91.9 per cent). Eight of 37 lambs that were examined alive, had elevated blood urea nitrogen concentrations (21.6 per cent). The pH of the abomasal contents ranged from 1.0 to 2.8; Escherichia coli was cultured from six of 37 (16.2 per cent) abomasal fluid samples. A mild to moderate inflammatory cell infiltrate was present in the mucosal lamina propria of 13 of 15 abomasal samples (86.6 per cent). Kidneys were paler than normal in 13 of the total 61 lambs necropsied (21.3 per cent); while acute tubular necrosis was evident on histopathological examination of 11 of 12 examined pale kidneys (91.6 per cent). The low abomasal pH and reported successful treatment with oral sodium bicarbonate suggest that metabolic acidosis may develop during the disease; however, further studies, including blood gas analysis, and determination of D- and L-lactic acid concentrations, are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolated from the airways of animals with chronic respiratory disease.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is a nonfermentative bacterium, which is naturally resistant against a panel of commonly-used antibiotics. It is frequently isolated from humans with chronic respiratory disease, e.g. cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In veterinary medicine S. maltophilia is perceived to be a mere coloniser. We herewith report 7 strains of S. maltophilia isolated from animals, of which 5 strains were harvested from 3 horses, a dog and a cat with chronic respiratory disease. The dog isolate showed resistance to trimethoprim / sulphamethoxazole, which was confirmed by detection of the sul 1 gene. Analysis with pulsed field gel electrophoresis revealed that 2 horses, which were boarded in the same clinic but two years apart, harboured the same strain of S. maltophilia. This is indicative of a hospital acquired colonisation / infection, which contradicts involvement in the pre-existing chronic disease.

Diarrheic shellfish poisoning due to toxic mussel consumption: the first recorded outbreak in Greece.

During the week of 14-20 January 2000, 120 people visited the Emergency Departments of hospitals in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, complaining of acute gastrointestinal illness after eating mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The symptoms indicated diarrhoeic shellfish poisoning, and the toxicity of mussels harvested from Thermaikos Gulf in Thessaloniki during the outbreak was investigated using mouse bioassays. The bioassays revealed toxicity to mice by the mussel samples; while high numbers of toxic algae Dinophysis acuminata were identified in water samples from Thermaikos Gulf. The harvesting of mussels was immediately suspended and a monitoring programme for algal blooms was established from then onwards. During a follow-up of the mussels' toxicity from January 2000 to January 2005, two more mussel samples were found positive for diarrheic shellfish poisoning: one harvested in March 2001 from the area of the outbreak (Thermaikos Gulf) and the other harvested in January 2001 from Amvrakikos Gulf in north-western Greece. However, no sporadic cases or outbreaks were reported during this period.

Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from bovine clinical mastitis cases in Northern Greece.

Mycoplasma bovis was detected in 18/219 (8.2%) quarter milk samples collected from cases of bovine clinical mastitis in Northern Greece between November 1997 and March 1999. The cases occurred in 2/37 (5.4%) of the herds examined. The micro-organism was isolated from bulk milk samples (BTS) from the two positive herds but was not isolated from 111 composite milk samples collected from clinically healthy cows from all 37 herds. Isolates were identified as M. bovis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Other micro-organisms were also isolated from the M. bovis positive samples. The M. bovis-positive cows had all been imported into Greece from other European countries.

Isolation of a rare Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain from farm animals in Greece.

A strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was isolated from goat faeces during a surveillance study on the prevalence of this serotype of E. coli in farm animals in Greece. Three hundred and fifty one faecal samples were collected from goat, sheep and cattle breeding farms in the area of Epirus, Northwestern Greece. The E. coli O157:H7 isolate was nonsorbitol-fermenter, produced only VT2 and showed a beta-glucuronidase positive activity, a rather unusual biochemical feature for the E. coli O157:H7 serotype. No other strain of E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from the faecal samples of the rest farm animals examined, thus the overall prevalence of animal carriage was found to be 0.2%. The findings also indicate that goats can be a reservoir of E. coli O157:H7 and goat milk, dairy products and meat may serve as a vehicle for the pathogen transmission to humans.

Isolation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from foods in Greece.

The presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in various foods of animal origin was surveyed in northwestern Greece. Six hundred samples of unpasteurized cows', ewes' and goats' milk, raw minced meat, uncooked frozen beef hamburgers, sandwiches (containing ham or turkey, mixed vegetable salad with mayonnaise and lettuce), fresh traditional Greek pork sausages and swine intestines appropriate for traditional Greek kokoretsi were assayed for E. coli serogroup O157:H7 using the standard cultural method and the immunomagnetic separation technique. The pathogen was detected in 1 out of 100 (1.0%) samples of ewes' milk, 1 out of 75 (1.3%) fresh sausages and 1 out of 50 (2.0%) swine intestines prepared for kokoretsi. The isolated strains were nonsorbitol fermenters, MUG-negative, O157 agglutinating, verotoxin-producing and carried both VT1 and VT2 genes. The three isolated strains were tested for antibiotic resistance and were found to be susceptible to eight antimicrobial agents (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and tetracycline).