Detection of Bartonella schoenbuchensis (sub)species DNA in different louse fly species in Saxony, Germany: The proof of multiple PCR analysis necessity in case of ruminant-associated bartonellae determination.

BACKGROUND: Hippoboscid flies are bloodsucking arthropods that can transmit pathogenic microorganisms and are therefore potential vectors for pathogens such as Bartonella spp. These Gram-negative bacteria can cause mild-to-severe clinical signs in humans and animals; therefore, monitoring Bartonella spp. prevalence in louse fly populations appears to be a useful prerequisite for zoonotic risk assessment. METHODS: Using convenience sampling, we collected 103 adult louse flies from four ked species (Lipoptena cervi, n = 22; Lipoptena fortisetosa, n = 61; Melophagus ovinus, n = 12; Hippobosca equina, n = 8) and the pupae of M. ovinus (n = 10) in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. All the samples were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Bartonella spp. DNA, targeting the citrate synthase gene (gltA). Subsequently, PCRs targeting five more genes (16S, ftsZ, nuoG, ribC and rpoB) were performed for representatives of revealed gltA genotypes, and all the PCR products were sequenced to identify the Bartonella (sub)species accurately. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall detection rates for Bartonella spp. were 100.0%, 59.1%, 24.6% and 75.0% in M. ovinus, L. cervi, L. fortisetosa and H. equina, respectively. All the identified bartonellae belong to the Bartonella schoenbuchensis complex. Our data support the proposed reclassification of the (sub)species status of this group, and thus we conclude that several genotypes of B. schoenbuchensis were detected, including Bartonella schoenbuchensis subsp. melophagi and Bartonella schoenbuchensis subsp. schoenbuchensis, both of which have previously validated zoonotic potential. The extensive PCR analysis revealed the necessity of multiple PCR approach for proper identification of the ruminant-associated bartonellae.

Flock-level risk factors of litter condition for the occurrence of plumage damage and skin lesions in commercial laying hen farms.

Plumage damage (PD) as a result of severe feather pecking (SFP) and skin lesions (SL) due to cannibalism (CA) is serious welfare, performance, and economic problems in commercial layer farms. Genetics, nutrition, and housing conditions are central complexes that contribute to the multifactorial causes of these behavioral disorders. Practical recommendations consider the quality of litter as an important criterion for the prevention of SFP, although systematic longitudinal studies providing evidence-based findings are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of litter condition on the occurrence of PD and SL in the field using a longitudinal design. Integument scoring (PD and SL; 7 times), litter scoring (structure, cake formation, litter quality, and litter height; 12 times), and laboratory litter analysis (dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and pH value; 12 times) were performed in 28 laying hen flocks with a median flock size of 12,357 birds, in barn (n = 21) or free-range systems (n = 7), during the first laying period. Binary logistic regression (BLR) models showed the association of housing type and animal age on PD and SL (P < 0.001), and of the hybrid type on PD (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant association with PD and SL was observed for several litter traits. An increase in litter height, DM, and P was associated with lower PD (P ≤ 0.022) and SL (P < 0.001). In contrast, a higher N content of the litter was associated with an increase in SL (P = 0.007). Cake formation (P < 0.001) and a low structure (P = 0.025) of the litter showed an association with higher PD. In conclusion, this study identified caked litter with less structure, low height, and low contents of DM and P as risk factors for behavioral disorders in commercial laying flocks.

Effects of the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) load on the plumage condition in commercial laying hen farms.

Plumage damage (PD) resulting from severe feather pecking (SFP) is a significant problem for animal welfare, performance, and economics in commercial laying hen farms. Genetics, nutrition, and housing conditions are central complexes that contribute to the multifactorial cause of SFP. Practical experience suggests that infestation by the poultry red mite (PRM), which is the most severe ectoparasite of laying hens in cage-free housing systems, may be a risk factor for the occurrence of PD, although evidence-based findings are lacking. The objective of this longitudinal observational field study was to investigate the effects of PRM infestation of commercial laying flocks on the occurrence of PD. Integument scoring (plumage damage and skin lesions) and the quantification of PRM infestation using mite traps were conducted during the laying period of 28 laying flocks, with an average flock size of 12,357 birds in barn (n = 21) or free-range (n = 7) systems. Across all flocks and survey times, the median PRM mass per trap was 0.7 mg (1.-3. quartile: 0.0-19.3 mg/trap), corresponding to a median count of 65.2 mites/trap (1.-3. quartile: 0.0-246.8 mites/trap). Binary logistic regression models revealed an association between PD and skin lesions with hen age, housing system, and hybrid type (p<0.001). The PRM load also affected the plumage condition, where PD increased with increasing PRM infestation (p<0.001). In addition, the PRM load tended to have an effect on skin injuries (p = 0.097). In conclusion, this longitudinal study identified the PRM load in laying hen flocks as a risk factor for PD.

Research Note: Is infrared thermography an appropriate method for early detection and objective quantification of plumage damage in white and brown feathered laying hens?

For the standardized assessment of plumage damage in laying hens, imaging techniques can be used in addition to visual plumage scoring (PS). In this study, the diagnostic accuracy of infrared thermography (IRT) was analyzed in white-feathered (WL) and brown-feathered laying hens (BL) with PS as a reference. In 28 flocks, a 3-level PS and IRT were performed 8 times for the dorsal neck, back, and belly plumage. A total of 3,600 records for WL and 7,600 records for BL were available for both PS and IRT in each of the 3 body regions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to investigate diagnostic accuracy. High-accuracy detection was found for severe plumage damage on the back (WL-sensitivity: 96.0%, specificity: 98.3%; BL-sensitivity: 96.1%, specificity: 98.9%) and belly plumage (WL-sensitivity: 96.3%, specificity: 95.7%; BL-sensitivity: 95.3%, specificity: 97.2%), but insufficient accuracy for distinguishing between intact plumage and moderate plumage damage in all 3 body regions (sensitivity: 31.7-71.5%; specificity: 70.4-98.1%). The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC graphs differed significantly between BL and WL for the back and belly plumage (P ≤ 0.05). We concluded that IRT is a suitable tool to objectively detect severe plumage damage but not for early detection of incipient plumage loss.

Incubation characteristics, growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Saxonian Chicken and German Langshan bantam breeds in a free-range rearing system.

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: In the absence of evidence-based findings for Saxonian Chicken (SaChi) and German Langshan bantam (GLB), which are indigenous endangered German fancy chicken breeds, the objective of the present study was to characterise their growth performance and meat potential in an extensive free-range system METHODS: A total of 340 hatching eggs from SaChi and 439 eggs from GLB were provided by private breeders, from which 263 SaChi (77.3%) and 174 GLB (39.6%) hatched (p < 0.001) RESULTS: By week 20, SaChi reached body weights of 2362.3 ± 315.3 g (mean ± SD; roosters) and 1624.7 ± 158.9 g (hens), while GLB weighed 1089.7 ± 148.3 g (roosters) and 820.4 ± 89.5 g (hens). Fitting the non-linear regression of growth data to the Gompertz function estimated asymptotic body weights of 3131.4, 2363.9, 1359.2 and 1107.3 g, with inflection point times of 10.5, 10.3, 9.2 and 9.3 weeks in male SaChi, female SaChi, male GLB and female GLB, respectively. Moderate plumage damage was observed on days 18, 35, 53, 70 and 105 in SaChi and on days 53, 70 and 105 in GLB, while all birds presented completely intact plumage on day 140. Using a binary logistic regression model, breed, age and sex were shown to affect the plumage condition (p < 0.001 each). Roosters were slaughtered in week 20. No breed effects were detected in the carcass yield (SaChi: 68.8 ± 1.7%, GLB: 69.7 ± 1.8%) (p = 0.135) or abdominal fat share (SaChi: 0.89 ± 0.15%, GLB: 1.08 ± 0.14%) (p = 0.281). The percentage of valuable cuts (breast fillets and legs) in the carcass was 43.8 ± 1.9% for SaChi and 43.1 ± 3.0% for GLB (p = 0.490) DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study provides insights into the performance traits and welfare indicators during the rearing of two endangered German chicken breeds.

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is highly prevalent in fancy-chicken flocks in Saxony.

The current prevalence of avian leukosis virus (ALV) in fancy chickens in Germany is unknown. Therefore, 537 cloacal swabs from 50 purebred fancy-chicken flocks in Saxony were tested for the presence of the ALV p27 protein using a commercial antigen-capture ELISA. The detection rate was 28.7% at the individual-animal level and 56.0% at the flock level. Phylogenetic analysis of PCR products obtained from 22 different flocks revealed the highest similarity to ALV subtype K. When classifying breeds by their origin, ALV detection rates differed significantly. Evaluation of questionnaire data revealed no significant differences between ALV-positive and negative flocks regarding mortality.

Effects of Selective Dry Cow Treatment on Intramammary Infection Risk after Calving, Cure Risk during the Dry Period, and Antibiotic Use at Drying-Off: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Current Literature (2000-2021).

The objectives of this paper were (i) to perform a systematic review of the literature over the last 21 yr and (ii) to evaluate the efficacy of selective dry cow treatment (SDCT) vs. blanket dry cow treatment (BDCT) in dairy cows regarding the risk of intramammary infection (IMI) after calving, new IMI risk after calving, cure risk during the dry period, and a reduction in antibiotic use at drying-off by meta-analysis. The systematic search was carried out using the databases PubMed, CAB Direct, and ScienceDirect. A meta-analytical assessment was performed for each outcome of interest using random-effects models, and the relative risk (RR) for IMI and cure or the pooled proportion for antibiotic use was calculated. The final number of included studies was n = 3 for IMI risk after calving and n = 5 for new IMI risk after calving, cure risk during the dry period, and antibiotic use. The RR levels for IMI (RR, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 0.94-1.11; p = 0.592), new IMI (RR, 95% CI: 1.06, 0.94-1.20; p = 0.994), and cure (RR, 95% CI: 1.00, 0.97-1.02; p = 0.661) did not differ significantly between SDCT and BDCT. Substantial heterogeneity was observed between the trials regarding the pooled proportion of antibiotic use within the SDCT groups (I2 = 97.7%; p < 0.001). This meta-analysis provides evidence that SDCT seems to be an adequate alternative to BDCT regarding udder health with a simultaneous reduction in antibiotic use. Limitations might arise because of the small number of studies included.

Relation between Feed Particle Size Distribution and Plumage Condition in Laying Hens on Commercial Farms.

In this cross-sectional study, 103 complete feed samples from laying hen herds affected by plumage damage as an indirect measure for severe feather pecking (affected herds; AH, n = 37) and control herds without plumage damage (control herd; CH, n = 66) of commercial German farms were examined by dry sieve and nutrient analysis. AH showed higher percentages of particles >2.50 mm (mean ± SD, CH: 11.0 ± 8.5%, AH: 24.9 ± 14.3%) and 2.00-2.50 mm (CH: 11.2 ± 5.3%, AH: 15.7 ± 5.7%), but lower proportions of fractions 1.01-1.60 mm (CH: 22.9 ± 4.9%, AH: 17.8 ± 5.7%), 0.51-1.00 mm (CH: 25.5 ± 8.2%, AH: 16.0 ± 6.8%) and ≤0.50 mm (CH: 15.4 ± 5.0%, AH: 11.0 ± 4.8%) (p < 0.001). Diets of AH had a higher geometric mean diameter (GMD) compared to CH (AH: 1470.8 ± 343.9 µm; CH: 1113.3 ± 225.7 µm) (p < 0.001). Contents of crude ash (CH: 130.3 ± 18.8 g/kg, AH: 115.9 ± 24.3 g/kg), lysine (CH: 8.2 ± 1.0 g/kg, AH: 7.7 ± 1.2 g/kg), methionine (CH: 3.4 ± 0.5 g/kg, AH: 3.2 ± 0.6 g/kg) and sodium (CH: 1.7 ± 0.4 g/kg, AH: 1.3 ± 0.4 g/kg) were lower in AH (p ≤ 0.041). In a logistic regression model, animal age (p = 0.041) and GMD (p < 0.001) were significant factors on the occurrence of plumage damage.

Prevalence of pigeon rotavirus infections: animal exhibitions as a risk factor for pigeon flocks.

A total of 289 cloacal swabs from pigeons from 29 different breeders in Germany were collected. In addition, samples from pigeons exhibited at shows were collected. The detailed health status of the pigeon flocks was recorded. Samples were analysed for the presence of the recently discovered pigeon rotavirus and pigeon circovirus. Pigeon rotavirus was found in 10.3% and pigeon circoviruses was found in 65.5% of sampled pigeon lofts. The study revealed a strong relationship between the attendance of shows and the occurrence of different clinical signs. The higher prevalence of pigeon rotavirus in exhibited animals indicates that exhibitions are a risk factor for the transmission of this pathogen.

Edible Environmental Enrichments in Littered Housing Systems: Do Their Effects on Integument Condition Differ Between Commercial Laying Hen Strains?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of additional enrichment materials (EMs; pecking stones and alfalfa bales) on the occurrence of plumage damage, skin injuries, and toe injuries, with an emphasis on the possible differences between commercial hybrid strains of laying hens. During rearing (weeks 1-18, 16 compartments, 4000 pullets) and laying periods (weeks 21-72, 24 compartments, 2808 hens) in a littered housing system, EMs were permanently provided to the study groups (EXP), while control groups (CON) did not receive additional EM. In a two-factorial study design (two groups with four strains) with 351 hens per variant, the brown egg-laying Lohmann Brown classic (LB) and Bovans Brown (BB) strains as well as the white egg-laying Lohmann Selected Leghorn classic (LSL) and Dekalb White (DW) strains were investigated. Compared to the CON, the EXP showed reduced body mass during rearing (p < 0.001) and reduced albumen consistency in the laying period (p < 0.001). Regarding integument condition, the LSL in the EXP showed more toe injuries than in the CON (p = 0.018). Remarkably, genotype-environment interactions between strains and groups were evident (p < 0.001). In groups with an EM supply, plumage damage decreased in LB (p ≤ 0.033) and LSL (p ≤ 0.005) but increased in BB (p ≤ 0.003). Moreover, there were fewer skin injuries in LSL (p = 0.001) but more in BB (p = 0.001) in groups with access to EM. In view of the diverging effects between strains, future practical recommendations for laying hen husbandry should be strain-specific.

Effects of edible environmental enrichments during the rearing and laying periods in a littered aviary-Part 1: integument condition in pullets and laying hens.

Severe feather pecking is a damaging allopecking behavior in pullets and laying hens which was found to be associated with multiple factors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the occurrence of feather pecking could be reduced by additional environmental enrichment materials (EM; pecking stones and hard-pressed alfalfa bales) in a littered housing system. In total 4,000 pullets (2000 Lohmann Brown classic [LB] and 2000 Lohmann Selected Leghorn classic [LSL]) were reared in an aviary system until week 18, and 1,320 remaining laying hens were kept thereafter, from week 19 to 48. During rearing, half of the compartments were permanently supplied with enrichment materials, while the other half did not receive any EM. After transferring to the laying hens' stable, we examined the hens under four treatment variants: V1 - no EM over the entire study period; V2 - rearing period with and laying period without EM; V3 - rearing period without and laying period with EM; V4 - EM over the entire study period. The integument condition (i.e. beak protrusion, beak fissures, plumage condition, skin and toe injuries, and foot pad dermatitis) was scored in weeks 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 18 (rearing) and 25, 30, 40, and 48 (laying period). At the end of the study (week 48), lower plumage damage was observed in the variants provided with EM during rearing (V2 and V4) compared to the other two variants (V1 and V3; P < 0.001). Skin injuries were less prevalent in week 40 in hens with access to EM during rearing (V2 and V4) than the other variants (V1 and V3) within LSL (P < 0.001), and in week 48 in the both strains (P < 0.001). The variants with access to EM during the laying period (V3 and V4) showed lesser protrusion of the beak tip in week 48 (P < 0.001). The observed beneficial effects of EM could be attributed to its impact on foraging behavior and beak-tip abrasion.

Effects of edible environmental enrichments during the rearing and laying periods in a littered aviary-Part 2: physical development of pullets and performance, egg quality, and carcass composition in laying hens.

Feather pecking and cannibalism are 2 major problems in laying hens' husbandry. Although additional environmental enrichment material (EM) supply is thought to lessen these problems, consistent evidences are lacking. This study examined the effects of EM supply (pecking stones and alfalfa bales) on biological performance, carcass composition, and animal losses in a littered housing system. 2,000 brown-egg and 2,000 white-egg layer hen pullets of the genetic strains Lohmann Brown classic and Lohmann Selected Leghorn classic, respectively, were reared separately in a 16-compartment aviary system until week 18. 1,320 remaining laying hens were then transferred to a 44-compartment laying stable (weeks 19-48). Both strains were tested under 4 treatment variants (n = 150-180 per strain and per variant): V1-no EM over the entire study period; V2-the rearing period with and the laying period without EM; V3-the rearing period without and the laying period with EM; V4-EM over the entire study period. Data on development, performance, egg quality, feed intake, EM consumption, animal losses, carcass composition, and economic traits were collected. Enrichment material supply during rearing (V2 and V4, both strains) was found to globally increase not only hens' relative gizzard mass (P = 0.036) but also the cracked eggs' percentage (compared with V3; P = 0.008) and to decrease the body mass in weeks 6 (P = 0.023) and 8 (P = 0.023) and the uniformity in week 16 (P = 0.011). Enrichment material provision during the laying period (V3 and V4, both strains) increased egg weights (P = 0.028) and the mean body mass (P = 0.036); however, continuous provision of EM (V4, both strains) increased the floor eggs' percentage (P = 0.019). The EM supply did not affect mortality, loss of production days, losses due to skin and toe cannibalism, or the income over feed costs. However, the income over feed and enrichment costs of V1 hens was higher by 0.55 €/hen than that of V4 hens (P = 0.022). Therefore, EM supply cannot be recommended as a measure to increase laying performance and reduce animal losses, but its positive effects on animal welfare should be considered.

Clinical Chemistry Investigations in Recumbent and Healthy German Holstein Cows After the Fifth Day in Milk.

INTRODUCTION: Recumbency is a frequent symptom occurring throughout lactation. Its cause can be related to the energy or mineral metabolism, or to trauma or infectious diseases. We compared various clinical chemistry parameters between healthy and recumbent cows and between cows with different causes of recumbency and determined if hypocalcaemia manifests in later lactation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Recumbent (n = 32) and healthy (n = 32) German Holstein cows were studied. After clinical examination, a serum sample was taken to measure the concentrations of Mg, Ca, Fe, Na, K, Pi, ß-hydroxybutyrate, total bilirubin, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), urea, and creatinine as well as activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), and γ-glutamyl transferase in recumbent cows > 5 d in milk and control cows matched for age, lactation number, and pregnancy stage. RESULTS: In recumbent cows, mean serum concentrations of NEFA, bilirubin, and CK were statistically higher, while those of Fe, K, and Pi were significantly lower. Parameters compared between different recumbency diagnoses showed some descriptive Fe, K, urea, and AST differences, but these were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results show that only a limited number of parameters have diagnostic besides therapeutic value. Although of minor importance in our study, hypocalcaemia should be considered a cause of recumbency, even outside the typical risk period of parturient paresis.

Effects of litter and additional enrichment elements on the occurrence of feather pecking in pullets and laying hens - A focused review.

Severe feather pecking (SFP) is a serious problem in the egg production industry with regard to animal welfare and performance. The multifactorial causes of SFP are discussed in the areas of genetics, feeding, husbandry, stable climate and management. Several studies on the influence of manipulable material on the incidence of SFP in different environments and housing systems have been performed. This review presents current knowledge on the effects of litter and additional enrichment elements on the occurrence of SFP in pullets and laying hens. Because SFP is associated with foraging and feed intake behaviour, the provision of manipulable material in the husbandry environment is an approach that is intended to reduce the occurrence of SFP by adequate exercise of these behaviours. As shown in the literature, the positive effect of enrichment and litter substrate on SFP in a low-complexity cage environment is evident. On the other hand, consistent results have not been reported on the influence of additional enrichment material in housing systems with litter substrate, which represent the most common type of husbandry in Northwestern Europe. Thus, further research is recommended.

Comparison of the therapeutic efficacy of salicylic acid paste with a polyurethane wound dressing for the treatment of digital dermatitis lesions in dairy cows.

There is little evidence of the efficacy of artificial polymers for controlling bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) as a major problem of intensive dairy productions worldwide. We therefore aimed to compare salicylic acid (SA)-based paste with a polyurethane (PU) wound dressing on a German Holstein dairy farm over a maximum 56-d period. On d 0, 109 ft with active BDD lesions from 109 cows were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: (1) SA group received a topical SA-containing paste and (2) PU group was treated with a PU wound dressing. Dressing changes were performed according to manufacturer's instructions until clinical cure (transition from active M1 or M2 to non-active M4 or healed M0 stages), whereby a clinical scoring of lesions was additionally conducted. Data from 100 ft could be analyzed (nSA = 54; nPU = 46). There was a significant reduction of the lesion score over time within each group (SA: d 0-d 14; PU: d 0-d 28, p < .05). Score differences between first (d 0) and second (SA: d 7; PU: d 14) as well as between first and third (SA: d 14; PU: d 28) evaluation did not differ significantly (p > .05). The proportion of clinically cured cows was higher in SA than in PU on d 14 (96.3 vs. 32.6%) as well as on d 28 (100 vs. 54.3%) after initial treatment (p < .05). Analysis of survival to cure in a Cox regression model showed that hazard ratio (HR) was higher for SA with PU as baseline (HR: 6.324, 95% CI: 3.625-11.033, p < .05). However, while BDD scores at enrollment did not differ between treatments (p > .05), PU had a significantly lower final BDD score (p < .05). In conclusion, evidence on the efficacy of PU bandages to treat BDD lesions is provided and further studies on bacteriological cure as well as recurrence rates are needed.

Detection of Coxiella burnetii DNA and anti-Coxiella burnetii IgG antibodies in precolostral blood samples of stillborn calves in an endemically infected Holstein dairy herd.

Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), an intracellular zoonotic bacterium causing Q fever, occurs widely in cattle herds. After invasion of the pregnant uterus and initial localization in the placenta, active C. burnetii infections may spread to the fetus hematogenously or by the amniotic-oral route and thus may cause abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth, and weak offspring (APSW) complex. In a case-control study, we investigated precolostral blood samples of 56 stillborn calves and 30 live births from a dairy herd endemically infected with C. burnetii "C-cluster" strains and an increased stillbirth rate in primiparous cows. Within the group of the stillborn calves, four precolostral blood samples (7.1%) were tested positive for C. burnetii DNA by PCR and one serum sample (1.8%) positive for anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies by a commercial ELISA test, respectively. Neither C. burnetii DNA nor anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies were detected in the samples of calves being born alive. In conclusion, we demonstrated that coxiellaemia and precolostral seroconversion occurred sporadically in stillborn calves from this endemically infected herd. Due to the low detection rates, C. burnetii could not be confirmed to be the cause of the increased stillbirth rate.

A rare case of monozygotic iniodymic diprosopiasis in a German Holstein calf.

Craniofacial duplication abnormity is a rare phenomenon in buiatric practice. This report attends to a male German Holstein calf which could be classified as a diprosopic iniodymus. A fetus exhibiting a doubled face was delivered after fetotomy. To our knowledge, this is the first description of diprosopiasis with two cranial cavities as well as two separate encephala in a calf showing the potential extent of duplication. Throughout this work also the question is answered of whether this malformation in a bovine species arose from one embryo or rather, there is a dizygotic background by genotyping of tissue samples from both parts of the diprosopus. Regarding etiology, not only hereditary dispositions including among others a failed function of the signaling molecule Sonic hedgehog mediating regulation of craniofacial morphogenesis, but also incompletely separated monozygotic twins are discussed.

Sertoli cell tumour in a neonate calf: an unusual congenital tumour. A case report.

Congenital testicular tumours are seldom reported in bovine species. This case report describes the clinical, sonographical, haematological, pathomorphological and immunohistological features of a Sertoli cell tumour in a neonatal German Holstein calf. Microscopically, the enlarged testicle was composed of neoplastic cells, which were packed in well-formed tubules. The mostly polygonal shaped cells had round to elongated nuclei and a scanty eosinophilic cytoplasm. Some cells were arranged perpendicularly to the light PAS-positive basement membrane. These cells were packed in broad sheets separated by dense fibrous stroma. Mitotic figures were present. The features described above are indicative of a Sertoli cell tumour. The contralateral testicle showed a well formed rete testis, fusiform cells and a dense central capillary convolute and haemorrhagic foci. The features are indicative of an extensive fibrosis and older haemorrhage. The neoplasia was immunopositive for vimentin, α-oestrogen receptor, α-inhibin and S-100 protein, but immunonegative for cytokeratine, CD30, progesterone receptor, α-fetoprotein, SALL4, OCT4 and glypican-3. The mycotoxicological investigations revealed the presence of residues of zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin, HT2 toxin and their metabolites in feeds and urine of heavily pregnant cows of the herd. Furthermore, information is provided about oestrogen and testosterone levels of the affected and healthy neonatal calves. A possible influence of mycotoxins on the cancerogenesis is discussed.

Mastitis vaccination using a commercial polyvalent vaccine or a herd-specific Staphylococcus aureus vaccine. Results of a controlled field trial on a dairy farm.

UNLABELLED: Objective of this study was the improvement of selected parameters of udder health by mastitis vaccination in a dairy herd with elevated bulk milk somatic cell counts and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus as predominant mastitis causing pathogen. MATERIAL AND METHODS: On a dairy farm, pregnant heifers (status group [SG] 1; n = 181) as well as cows stratified for their udder health state (classification based on results of cytobacteriological investigations of quarter milk samples obtained before dry cow therapy [MS0]) (SG 2-4; n = 416) were randomly assigned to one of the following vaccination groups (VG): Startvac® (VG SV), Bestvac® Rind Mastitis (containing herd-specific S. aureus-strains; VG BV) and the unvaccinated control (VG Co, placebo), respectively. The collected data (5 [MS5] and 52 [MS52] days in milk [DIM]: quarter milk somatic cell count [QSCC] and bacteriological investigation of quarter milk samples; dairy herd improvement test [DHIT] days 1-10: milk yield and individual cow somatic cell count; until 305 DIM: clinical mastitis cases) were compared between the VG within their SG. RESULTS: S. aureus prevalences were significantly lower in VG SV (p < 0.001) and VG BV (p = 0.006) within SG 3 and in VG SV (p = 0.008) within SG 4, respectively, in comparison to VG Co. Milk yields (DHIT days [p = 0.042] and 305-day milk yield [p = 0.040]) were significantly less in VG SV within SG 4 compared to VG Co. Significant different changes over time in comparison to VG Co indicating a vaccine effect during lactation were only observed for QSCC within SG 4 for VG BV (p = 0.017; increase towards MS52) and for S. aureus prevalence within SG 3 for VG BV (p < 0.001; opposing trends from MS0 towards MS52). All other interactions of time and VG under investigation were not significant in any of the SG. Furthermore, there were no descriptive differences in the incidence of clinical mastitis and duration of a necessary mastitis therapy, respectively, between the VG within their SG. CONCLUSION: In this field study, the application of two different mastitis vaccines was not an appropriate tool to improve the considered parameters of udder health sustainably.