Introduction: Bovine parainfluenza virus-3 (BPIV3) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) are the cause of respiratory disease in cattle worldwide. With other pathogens, they cause bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in ruminants. The aim of the study was the detection and molecular characterisation of BPIV3 and BRSV from nasal swabs and lung samples of cows in and around the Erzurum region of eastern Turkey. Material and Methods: In total, 155 samples were collected. Of animals used in the study 92 were males and 63 females. The age of the animals was between 9 months and 5 years, mean 1.4 years. Most males were in the fattening period and being raised in open sheds; females were in the lactating period and kept in free stall barns. All samples were tested for the presence of viral genes using RT-PCR. Gene-specific primers in a molecular method (RT-PCR) identified BRSV (fusion gene) and BPIV3 (matrix gene) strains at the genus level. Results: RNA from BRSV and BPIV3 was detected in two (1.29%) and three (1.93%) samples, respectively, one of each of which was sequenced and the sequences were aligned with reference virus strains. Phylogenetic analyses clustered the strains in genotype C/BPIV3 and subgroup III/BRSV. Conclusion: The results indicate that BRSV and BPIV3 contribute to bovine respiratory disease cases in Turkey. This is the first report on their detection and molecular characterisation in ruminants in Turkey.

Objective-To identify risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium parvum infection in dairy calves. Animals-108 case animals and 283 control animals. Procedures-Case animals were calves infected with C parvum, and controls were infected with Cryptosporidium bovis (n = 67) or calves not infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Fecal samples were tested via the flotation concentration method for Cryptosporidium spp. Samples were genotyped by sequencing of the 18s rRNA gene. Associations between host, management, geographic, and meteorologic factors and Cryptosporidium genotype were assessed. Results-Younger calves and calves housed in a cow barn were more likely to be infected with both genotypes. Herd size and hay bedding were associated with an increased risk of infection with C parvum, and Jersey breed was a risk factor for C bovis infection. Compared with a flat surface, a steeper slope was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of infection with both genotypes, and precipitation influenced the risk of C parvum infection only. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Risk factors for calf infection with C parvum differed from those for infection with C bovis. Results may be useful to help design measures that reduce animal exposure and decrease public health risk and economic losses associated with C parvum infection in cattle.

Objective-To provide an epidemiologic investigation of the seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in populations of cats and wild rodents in Rhode Island and to address the possible epidemiologic role of wild rodents in the spread of toxoplasmosis. Animals-200 cats and 756 small wild rodents. Procedure-Serum samples were obtained from 84 cats in animal shelters and 116 cats in veterinary hospitals. Serum samples were also obtained from 756 small wild rodents from multiple sites in Rhode Island. Sera from rodents and cats were assayed for antibodies to T gondii by use of the modified agglutination test Results-Overall, 42% (84/200) of cats had serum antibodies to T gondii. Seroprevalence was not significantly different between stray (50%; 42 /84) versus client-owned (36%; 42/116) cats, between male (43%; 40/94) versus female (42%; 39/93) cats, or between indoor (26%; 7/27) versus outdoor (39%; 35/89) cats. Seroprevalence rate of trapped rodents was 0.8% (6/756). Six rodents captured in Washington County accounted for of the seropositive rodents. Four of 6 of the seropositive rodents were trapped at a single site in Washington County (an abandoned barn). Five stray cats, known to have resided at the same site in Washington County as 4 of the seropositive rodents, were also found to be seropositive for antibodies to T gondii. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Seroprevalence rate in rodents was not correlated with the seroprevalence rate in cats. Stray cats, especially those known to be feral, may be more likely to perpetuate the cat-mouse cycle of T gondii than clientowned cats.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate surfactant protein D (SP-D) concentrations in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from young healthy horses on pasture or housed in a typical barn. ANIMALS 20 young healthy horses. PROCEDURES Horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups (pasture, n = 10; barn, 10), and serum and BALF samples were collected for SP-D determination at baseline (all horses on pasture) and 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the barn group of horses was relocated from the pasture to the barn. Other evaluations included physical and tracheoscopic examinations. Findings were compared within and between groups. RESULTS Physical and tracheoscopic examinations, CBC, and serum biochemical analysis did not reveal evidence of respiratory disease, and no significant differences were present within and between groups. Serum SP-D concentrations did not significantly differ within and between groups, but BALF SP-D concentrations were significantly lower for the barn group at 2 weeks but not at 4 weeks, compared with baseline. The BALF SP-D concentration-to-BALF total protein concentration ratio was < 1.5 and did not significantly differ within and between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A mild decrease was evident in the concentration of SP-D in the BALF collected from young healthy horses after 2 weeks of exposure to a barn environment. The clinical importance of this finding remains to be determined.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a trap-neuter-return (TNR) event on the size of free-roaming rural cat colonies in Quebec. This prospective randomized, controlled study included 18 cat colonies around barns and stables that were randomly assigned to either a TNR group (10 colonies of 7 to 27 cats; 14.3 cats on average) or a control group (8 colonies of 7 to 26 cats; 14.5 cats on average). The number of cats in each colony was calculated from the images obtained by camera-trapping at: baseline (T0), 7.5 mo (T7), and 12 mo (T12). At baseline, the TNR group was subjected to a TNR event. When taking into account adults only, a significant growth difference was observed in the number of cats between the TNR group and the control group at T7 (P = 0.03). When including kittens as well as adults, a trend towards a lower growth of the TNR group compared to the control group was noted at T7 (P = 0.06). There was no difference in the number of kittens between the 2 groups at T7 (P = 0.49) or at T12 (P = 0.36). There was a trend towards more emigration in the control group at T12 (P = 0.095). Isolated TNR events have a low and temporary impact on colony size in Quebec's rural cat colonies.

The objective of this study was to describe the association between thermal measures in the barn environment (pen temperature and humidity) and fecal shedding of Salmonella in dairy cattle. A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted within a commercial dairy herd located in the midwestern United States. Five pooled fecal samples were collected monthly from each pen for 9 mo and submitted for microbiological culture. Negative binomial regression methods were used to test the association [incidence rate ratio (IRR)] between Salmonella pen status (the count of Salmonella-positive pools) and thermal environmental parameters [average temperature and temperature humidity index (THI)] for 3 time periods (48 h, 72 h, and 1 wk) before fecal sampling. Salmonella was cultured from 10.8% [39/360; 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.8% to 14.5%] of pooled samples. The highest proportion of positive pools occurred in August. The IRR ranged from 1.26 (95% CI: 1.15 to 1.39, THI 1 wk) to 4.5 (95% CI: 2.13 to 9.51, heat exposure 1 wk) across all thermal parameters and lag time periods measured. For example, the incidence rate of Salmonella-positive pools increased by 54% for every 5°C increment in average temperature (IRR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.29 to 1.85) and 29% for every 5-unit increase in THI (IRR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.42) during the 72 h before sampling. The incidence rate ratio for pens exposed to higher temperatures (> 25°C) was 4.5 times (95% CI: 2.13 to 9.51) the incidence rate ratio for pens exposed to temperatures < 25°C in the 72 h before sampling. Likewise, the incidence rate ratio for pens exposed to THI > 70 was 4.23 times greater (95% CI: 2.1 to 8.28) than when the THI was < 70 in the 72 h before sampling. An association was found between the thermal environment and Salmonella shedding in dairy cattle. Further research is warranted in order to fully understand the component risks associated with the summer season and increased Salmonella shedding.

Commercial vaccines against Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are widely used on swine farms. Marked body weight variation at marketing age is a problem on conventional pig farms using all-in/all-out barn management. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PCV2 infection could be a factor influencing body weight variation. Seven conventional farms that routinely used PCV2 vaccination were selected, and 60 serum samples from light and heavy pigs at each site were tested for PCV2 antibody titers and viremia. At 3 farms the mean antibody titer, proportion of viremic pigs, and virus load differed significantly between the light and heavy groups. These preliminary results suggest that PCV2 infection may be a factor contributing to weight variation in vaccinated market-age hogs.