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Holder T, Srinivasan S, McGoldrick A, Williams GA, Palmer S, Clarke J, O'Brien A, Conlan AJK, Juleff N, Vordermeier HM, Jones GJ, Kapur V. Temporal dynamics of the early immune response following Mycobacterium bovis infection of cattle. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2600. [PMID: 38297023 PMCID: PMC10831113 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52314-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis is an infectious disease of global significance that remains endemic in many countries. Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle is characterized by a cell-mediated immune response (CMI) that precedes humoral responses, however the timing and trajectories of CMI and antibody responses determined by newer generation assays remain undefined. Here we used defined-antigen interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) and an eleven-antigen multiplex ELISA (Enferplex TB test) alongside traditional tuberculin-based IGRA and IDEXX M. bovis antibody tests to assess immune trajectories following experimental M. bovis infection of cattle. The results show CMI responses developed as early as two-weeks post-infection, with all infected cattle testing positive three weeks post-infection. Interestingly, 6 of 8 infected animals were serologically positive with the Enferplex TB assay as early as 4 weeks post-infection. As expected, application of the tuberculin skin test enhanced subsequent serological reactivity. Infrequent M. bovis faecal shedding was observed but was uncorrelated with observed immune trajectories. Together, the results show that early antibody responses to M. bovis infection are detectable in some individuals and highlight an urgent need to identify biomarkers that better predict infection outcomes, particularly for application in low-and-middle income countries where test-and-slaughter based control methods are largely unfeasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Holder
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Bacteriology, Addlestone, UK
| | - Sreenidhi Srinivasan
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - John Clarke
- Enfer Scientific, Unit T, M7 Business Park, Newhall, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - Amanda O'Brien
- Enfer Scientific, Unit T, M7 Business Park, Newhall, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
| | - Andrew J K Conlan
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nick Juleff
- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Gareth J Jones
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Bacteriology, Addlestone, UK.
| | - Vivek Kapur
- The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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Mellado M, Treviño N, Véliz FG, Macías-Cruz U, Avendaño-Reyes L, de Santiago A, García JE. Effect of co-positivity for brucellosis and tuberculosis on milk yield and fertility of Holstein cows. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021; 53:504. [PMID: 34622357 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02952-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether cows detected as tuberculosis (bTB) reactors and seropositive to brucellosis (bBR), as well as co-positive to bBR and bTB (bBR-bTB) and with a complete lactation before slaughter, were associated with reduced milk production and fertility. A total of 8068 productive and reproductive records of high-yielding Holstein cows from a single large dairy herd with a high prevalence of bTB and bBR were collected from 2012 to 2015. Lactation derived either from calving (n = 6019) or hormonally induced lactation (n = 2049), and all cows received growth hormone throughout lactation. For cows not induced into lactation, pregnancy rate to first service for healthy cows (C; 26.6%) was higher (P < 0.01) than bBR (15.2%), bTB (15.8%), and bBR-bTB (1.3%) cows. For induced cows, pregnancy rate to first service did not differ significantly among C, bBR, and bTB (14.5-17.3%) cows, but the percentage success of first service was extremely low (1.3%; P < 0.01) in bBR-bTB cows. Services per pregnancy (only pregnant cows) were lowest for C (3.3 ± 2.9; P < 0.01) and highest (6.4 ± 3.4) for bBR-bTB non-induced cows. This variable was lowest for C (2.9 ± 2.5; P < 0.01) and highest for bBR-bTB non-induced cows (6.3 ± 3.1). Pregnancy rate to all services did not differed for C (79.5%), bBR (76.7%), and bTB (75.9%) but was lower (58.9%; P < 0.01) for bBR-bTB non-induced cows. For induced cows this variable was highest for bBR (53.3%) and lowest for bBR-bTB (34.1%; P < 0.01) non-induced cows. 305-d milk production was increased by 4%, and total milk yield by 7% in TB-positive cows compared to that of the negative cows non-induced hormonally into lactation. This study showed the negative impact of the co-positivity for bTB and bBR on the reproductive efficiency of Holstein cows, although positive bTB and bBR tests enhanced milk yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mellado
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 25315, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - N Treviño
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 25315, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - F G Véliz
- Department of Veterinary Science, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreon, Mexico
| | - U Macías-Cruz
- Institute of Agriculture Science, Autonomous University of Baja California, 21705, Mexicali, Mexico
| | - L Avendaño-Reyes
- Institute of Agriculture Science, Autonomous University of Baja California, 21705, Mexicali, Mexico
| | - A de Santiago
- Department of Veterinary Science, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreon, Mexico
| | - J E García
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 25315, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.
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Tschopp R, Conlan AJK, Gemechu G, Almaw G, Hattendorf J, Zinsstag J, Wood JLN. Effect of Bovine Tuberculosis on Selected Productivity Parameters and Trading in Dairy Cattle Kept Under Intensive Husbandry in Central Ethiopia. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:698768. [PMID: 34368283 PMCID: PMC8334357 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) has substantial impact on fertility, milk, and meat productivity in cattle. However, these assumptions are based on outdated data. Recent global studies on the impact of BTB on cattle productivity are scarce and show sometimes inconclusive and/or contradicting results. This pilot study is the first longitudinal study performed in urban upgraded dairy cattle in Ethiopia that are kept under intensive husbandry. We assessed whether BTB has an impact on various animal productivity parameters and animal movement. Animals (N = 890) included in the study were tested for BTB at least once using the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CIDT). Fertility, mortality, and offtake were assessed in 21 dairy farms where herd follow-ups over 3 years were performed. In addition, an independent abattoir survey was conducted to assess carcass weight and visible TB-like lesions upon meat inspection. Animal movements (purchasing and offtakes) were documented for each farm. The impact of BTB status on the intervals been birth, service, and calving times and the intercalving intervals was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. The hazard ratio associated with BTB-positive animals was smaller than 1 for all fertility parameters, suggesting that BTB status increases the time between events; however, the effect was small and only statistically significant (95% level) for the time between calving and service. Offtakes included a higher percentage of reactor animals (58%) as compared with non-reactor animals (42%) (p = 0.0001). Overall, reactors were eliminated from the farms within 238.6 days after receiving test results, which was 54.9 days faster than for negative animals. The majority of owners purchased animals within their town or its surrounding. Nearly a quarter of reactors were sold directly to other farms. Animals were also sold further away, including other regions, raising the question of disease spread and the need for an animal tracing mechanism. In the abattoir survey, a total of 349 carcasses were weighed, of which 8% showed visible TB-like lesions and 53.6% had fasciolosis. Negative adult bull carcasses were 7.5 kg heavier than reactor bulls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rea Tschopp
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- One-Health Unit, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Andrew J. K. Conlan
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gizachew Gemechu
- One-Health Unit, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Gizat Almaw
- National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia
| | - Jan Hattendorf
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jakob Zinsstag
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - James L. N. Wood
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Risk factors associated with testing positive for tuberculosis in high-yielding Holstein cows. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021; 53:149. [PMID: 33532976 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02599-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis remains a significant infectious disease of farm animals and humans worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess various risk factors associated with testing positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in high-yielding Holstein cows in an intensive dry-lot dairy operation. In a retrospective observational study, 9312 records from Holstein cows from a large dairy herd in northern Mexico were used. The incidence rate of lactating cows reactor to bTB was 7.3 cases/100 cow years (95% CI = 6.7-7.9%). Multiple logistic regression models indicated that cows with total milk yield during the first lactation >10,200 kg were 1.3 times (95% confidence intervals (CI) for odds ratio (OR) = 1.2-1.6) more likely to be detected as bTB reactors than cows with total milk yield <10,200 kg (8.2 vs. 6.4%; P < 0.01). The risk of being reactor to bTB increased with x̅ total milk yield/lactation >11,500 kg (OR=2.7, 95% CI = 2.3-3.3; 10.4 vs. 4.2%) compared with cows with x̅ total milk yield/lactation <11,500 kg. Cows with >10,200 kg 305-day milk yield in the last lactation was associated (P < 0.01) with 1.3 times higher odds (95% CI for OR = 1.1-1.5) of being classed as reactors than cows with <10,200 kg. Cows with peak milk yield >48 kg were 1.9 times (95% CI for OR = 1.6-2.2) more likely to be reactor to bTB than cows with peak milk yield <48 kg (9.2 vs. 5.1%; P < 0.01). Cows with either puerperal metritis (OR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.5-0.9) or carrying twins (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01-0.19) had a protective role for being reactor to bTB. This study showed that increased milk production was associated with a higher risk of becoming positive to tuberculin skin test in high-yielding Holstein cows.
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Hidano A, Gates MC. Why sold, not culled? Analysing farm and animal characteristics associated with livestock selling practices. Prev Vet Med 2019; 166:65-77. [PMID: 30935507 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Livestock disease simulation models that incorporate animal movements often assume (1) that farmers' livestock trading practices remain consistent over time in future, (2) that animals sold to other farms are chosen randomly from a herd, and (3) that the animals' fate on the destination farm is not influenced by their past production and movement histories. The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which these assumptions are violated in the real world using records from a national database in New Zealand that captures both milk production and movement data for individual dairy cattle. All individual animal milk test records from 2006 through 2010 were extracted from the database and processed to generate different animal and herd level variables including cow demographics, previous movement history, milk volume, and milk composition (somatic cell counts (SCC), protein percentage, and fat percentage). Various statistical models were used to explore factors associated with farms' selling practice and characteristics of animals being sold. The results showed farms' livestock selling practices were highly influenced by both external factors such as market milk price and internal factors such as previous year's cow mortality and how long farms had been in business. Higher milk price increased both the number of cows being sold and the number of farms selling cows. Compared with cows that remained in the herd at the end of lactation, cows sold to other farms had lower fat and protein percentages, but similar milk volumes and SCCs. Cows that had been sold more often in the past were more likely to be sold after controlling for the effects of age. Overall, these findings highlight the potential need for disease simulation models to account for dynamics in selling practices and animal characteristics when determining which animals will be sold to other herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arata Hidano
- EpiCentre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
| | - M Carolyn Gates
- EpiCentre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
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Verteramo Chiu LJ, Tauer LW, Smith RL, Grohn YT. Assessment of the bovine tuberculosis elimination protocol in the United States. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:2384-2400. [PMID: 30692003 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-14990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we analyzed the performance of the USDA's bovine tuberculosis (bTB) elimination protocol in a 1,000-cow closed dairy herd using an agent-based simulation model under different levels of initial bTB infection. We followed the bTB test sensitivity and specificity values used by the USDA in its model assessment. We estimated the net present value over a 20-yr horizon for a bTB-free milking herd and for bTB-infected herds following the USDA protocol. We estimated the expected time to identify the infection in the herd once it is introduced, its elimination time, the reproductive number (R0), and effective reproduction number (Re) under the USDA protocol. The optimal number of consecutive negative whole-herd tests (WHT) needed to declare a herd bTB-free with a 95% confidence under different bTB prevalence levels was derived. Our results support the minimum number of consecutive negative WHT required by the USDA protocol to declare a herd bTB-free; however, the number of consecutive negative WHT needed to eliminate bTB in a herd depends on the sensitivity and specificity of the tests. The robustness of the protocol was analyzed under conservative bTB test parameters from the literature. The cost of implementing the USDA protocol when 1 infected heifer is introduced in a 1,000-cow dairy herd is about $1,523,161. The average time until detection and the time required to eliminate bTB-infected animals from the herd, after 1 occult animal is introduced in the herd, were 735 and 119 d, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie J Verteramo Chiu
- Section of Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
| | - Loren W Tauer
- Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Rebecca L Smith
- Department of Pathobiology, Cornell S. C. Johnson College of Business, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802
| | - Yrjo T Grohn
- Section of Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
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