Infection with Coxiella burnetii causes significant economic impact and poses zoonotic risk to people exposed to livestock, yet few studies in South Africa have assessed seroprevalence of C. burnetii infection and no information is available for goats. Very little information is available regarding risk factors and outcomes of C. burnetii infection in peri-urban farming areas where widespread mixing of ruminants occurs. This study estimated the seroprevalence of C. burnetii infection among communally farmed goats in an area adjacent to the densely populated Gauteng province. Sera were collected from 216 goats in 39 herds, and questionnaires were completed to establish management practices as potential risk factors. C. burnetii antibody testing was done by ELISA. Thirty two out of 216 goats tested positive for C. burnetii antibodies and the overall seroprevalence, adjusted for sampling weights and clustering, was 18.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.2% - 23.5%). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.06, indicating low-to-moderate clustering. Multiple logistic regression showed age was significantly associated with seropositivity, with higher seroprevalence in animals ≥ 19 months old (26%) than animals ≤ 6 months old (6%) (odds ratio [OR]: 6.6; p = 0.010). We concluded C. burnetii infection is common in goats in Moretele and a potential cause of abortion in goats and poses the potential zoonotic disease risk. CONTRIBUTION: Despite the threats posed on animal health and productivity, scant information is published on C. burnetii in South Africa. This research established preliminary estimates of C. burnetii seroprevalence. The research is original from a South African perspective, relevant to Africa and focused on infectious disease in livestock.

Neospora caninum is a coccidian parasite that occurs worldwide and is one of the most important causes of abortion, especially in cattle. However, no studies have been performed in Namibia to determine the N. caninum status in livestock. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle and the associated risk factors in the Khomas region of Namibia. A total of 736 sera were collected from cows in 32 farming establishments. These comprised 698 beef and 38 dairy cattle sera and were tested using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Questionnaires were concurrently administered to determine possible risk factors associated with N. caninum seropositivity. A total of 42 sera were positive (all beef), giving an animal-level seroprevalence rate of 5.7%. Eight of the 32 establishments had at least one positive animal, giving a herd-level seroprevalence of 25%. There was no significant association between seropositivity and the presence of dogs, jackals, history of abortions, farm size, number of cattle or average annual rainfall. The establishments with moderate to high numbers of Feliformia were 9.8 times more likely to be seropositive to N. caninum than those with none to low levels of the former (p = 0.0245). The authors concluded that the seroprevalence level of N. caninum in the Khomas region was relatively low compared with other parts of the world and that the role of Feliformia in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis needed to be further investigated. CONTRIBUTION: Serological evidence of bovine neosporosis and the associated risk factors are reported in Namibia for the first time. This study contributes to the scientific body of knowledge on N. caninum in Africa, which is currently limited.

The aim of this work was to monitor the role of some risk factors on the incidence of endometritis in the herd, in addition to investigating the ability to make early pre-partum forecasting for occurrence of endometritis. 110 Holstein Friesian cows aged from 3-5 years were enrolled in this study. Cytological examination using a cytobrush (CB) and Indian MAP rapid stain kit (Indian MAP scientific©) for counting of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) under microscope was used as the most accurate tool to discriminate between healthy cows and those affected with subclinical endometritis (SCE) at either 21 or 45 days postpartum (dpp). Serum analysis was used to measure the level of Albumin and Haptoglobin (Hp) in serum of dam at day 7 before parturition and at 21 and 45 dpp. Male calf and rainy season of parturition have a significant effect on the incidence of endometritis (P <0.05). According to our study results, the prevalence of CE (N=15) is 16.48%, whereas that of SCE (N=34) is 37.36%. Albumin (a negative acute-phase protein) level has been discovered to be a trustworthy predictor of sickness risk in transition period and fresh cows. The standard range of Albumin in cow’s serum is (2.8-3.9 g/dl). Albumin was markedly higher in healthy cows than diseased cows either prior to parturition or after 21 and 45 days in milk (DIM), The pre-partum Hp concentration between the SCE and healthy groups in this study was significantly different in a deceptive way. Hp concentration in the SCE group, however, was significantly different from the control group at 21 DIM (0.10±0.01 g/l vs. 0.05±0.002 g/l). So, Hp concentration is a satisfactory diagnostic, not a prognostic test.

Bovine dictycaulosis is a serious disease in ruminants caused by lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparous with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. The infection is closely related to pasture contamination with the infective larvae. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to June 2021 to detect the prevalence of bovine dictyocaulosis in two animal-rearing stations in Assiut, Upper Egypt with risk factor analysis. Also, the role of filth flies in the transmission of infective larvae was investigated. A total of 251 animals (143 cattle and 108 buffaloes) were examined using the modified Baermann technique and postmortem examination. Multiple fly pools were also collected and examined for the detection of Dictyocaulus larvae in different seasons microscopically and by PCR techniques. The overall prevalence of D. viviparus infection in cattle and buffaloes was 20.98% and 52.78%, respectively. The infection was significantly higher in the young aged and symptomatic animals (96.7%). Most lungworm infection was recorded during autumn, spring, and winter seasons, respectively. Coprological examination coincides with microscopic examination of fly wash regarding the prevalence and the seasonal variation. Musca domestica, Borborillus vitripennis, Fannia canicularis, and Sepsis punctum were the most abundant fly species and showed the highest rates of infection. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of an outbreak of bovine dictycauolosis in Upper Egypt. The obtained results proved the role of filth flies in the transmission of D. viviparus larvae during the outbreak. Control programs for bovine dictyocaulosis should include the control of filth flies around the rearing places.

Post-parturient hemoglobinuria is a non-infectious hemolytic metabolic disorder of buffalo and cattle characterized by intravascular hemolysis, anemia, and hemoglobinuria. It may be highly fatal, if not diagnosed rapidly and treated promptly. The present study determines the clinical and biochemical alterations as well as, the risk factors associated with PPH in buffalo in Egypt. Sixty-eight buffalo displaying symptoms of hemoglobinuria, along with 24 healthy buffalo for comparison were involved. Each animal participating in the study underwent a comprehensive clinical examination, and blood and urine samples were collected for further analysis. A questionnaire was designed for the hypothesized risk factors. To determine the risk factors at the animal level, the logistic regression model was utilized. Clinically, PPH-affected buffalo had much lower ruminant movements than healthy ones, meanwhile their respiratory and pulse rates dramatically increased. The serum levels of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) showed a significant decrease in PPH-affected buffalo (p<0.05), whereas potassium (K), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and glucose serum levels all demonstrated a significant increase. (p<0.05) In the final logistic regression model, which was used to identify risk factors, there was a significant correlation between PPH and parity ≥4 (P = 0.036, OR: 3.76, 95% CI: 1.09-12.96), hypophosphatemia (P = 0.003, OR: 5.55, 95% CI: 1.78-17.27), and hypocalcaemia (P = 0.044, OR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.03-11.15), on the animal level. In conclusion, PPH–affected buffalo may demonstrate several biochemical changes, as well as the identification of PPH-associated risk factors may provide a useful approach for the prevention and control of PPH in buffalo.