A Systematic Review of the Recent Techniques Commonly Used in the Diagnosis of Mycoplasma bovis in Dairy Cattle

Meta-analysis of prevalence of paratuberculosis in cattle using published estimates under serum and milk ELISA

Johne's disease (JD), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), poses significant challenges to the global livestock industry, particularly affecting bovine populations. To better understand the prevalence of paratuberculosis and its diagnostic nuances, a comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted. This analysis encompassed 21 studies involving 632,767 cows for milk enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 51 studies involving 256,409 cows for serum ELISA. The pooled prevalence estimate for paratuberculosis on a cow-basis was found to be 16% (95% CI: 14%; 18%) for milk ELISA and 8% (95% CI: 7%; 8%) for serum ELISA. Notably, higher confidence intervals (CI) were observed in milk ELISA, the Europe and Asia groups, suggesting variability in prevalence estimates within these regions. Conversely, lower CIs were noted in the USA and Canada groups, indicating greater consistency in prevalence estimates within these countries. However, serum ELISA exhibited high CI values across all regions, underscoring potential variability in diagnostic performance. These findings provide valuable insights for veterinarians, researchers, policymakers, and livestock producers in optimizing paratuberculosis detection and control strategies to mitigate its impact on bovine health and agricultural productivity.

Detection of haptoglobin and serum amyloid A as biomarkers in naturally infected Mycoplasma bovis calves

The livestock sector of Pakistan is increasing rapidly and it plays important role both for rural community and national economy. It is estimated that almost 8 million rural people are involved in livestock rearing and earning about 35-40 % of their income from the livestock sector. Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) infection causes significant economic losses in dairy animals especially young calf in the form of clinical illnesses such as pneumonia, poly-arthritis, respiratory distress and mortality. M. bovis is hard to diagnose and control because of uneven disease appearance and it is usually noticed in asymptomatic animals. For the identification of M. bovis in sub-clinical and clinical samples, determination of acute phase proteins i.e., haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA) are important tools for the timely diagnosis of disease. Therefore, early diagnosis of disease and hemato-biochemical changes are considered beneficial tools to control the infectious agent to uplift the economy of the dairy farmers. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 200 calves of Bovidae family. Serum was separated from blood samples to determine the concentration of Hp and SAA, while blood samples were processed to determine hematological changes in blood from calves by using hematological analyzer. The blood plasma obtained from the blood samples was processed to measure oxidative stress factors. Lungs tissues from slaughterhouses/ morbid calves were collected to observe histopathological changes. The results of present study indicated that level of SAA and Hp remarkably increased (P < 0.05) in M. bovis infected calves in comparison to healthy calves. The oxidative stress markers indicated that nitric oxide and MDA levels in the infected calves increased significantly (P < 0.05), while infected claves had considerably lower levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione. These findings indicate that oxidative stress play role to increase the level of APPs, while monitoring of APPs levels may serve as a valuable addition to the clinical evaluation of naturally infected calves with M. bovis. The hematological parameters were decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Altogether, this study suggests that Hp and SAA are proposed as promising biomarkers for detecting naturally occurring M. bovis infection in calves.

The reproductive microbiome in dogs: Friend or foe?

The microbiome of the reproductive tract is an area of research in full development. Specifically, the microbiome may be involved in reproductive health, disease, and pregnancy outcomes, as has been shown in humans and animals, including dogs. The aim of the present review was to summarize current knowledge on the microbiome of the canine reproductive tract, to expose the controversial role that some bacterial agents may play in canine subfertility, and to highlight future research perspectives. This review discussed whether the use of antimicrobials in dogs is appropriate to increase reproductive performance and to treat subfertility without proper diagnosis, and the possible use of probiotics to modulate the reproductive canine microbiome. Finally, we indicate areas in which scientific knowledge is currently lacking, and could be promising directions for future research.

A Comprehensive Review of the Common Bacterial Infections in Dairy Calves and Advanced Strategies for Health Management

Dairy farming faces a significant challenge of bacterial infections in dairy calves, which can have detrimental effects on their health and productivity. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the most prevalent bacterial infections in dairy calves, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella dublin, Salmonella enterica, Clostridium perfringens, Pasteurella multocida, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycoplasma bovis, and Haemophilus somnus. These pathogens can cause various clinical signs and symptoms, leading to diarrhea, respiratory distress, septicemia, and even mortality. Factors such as management practices, environmental conditions, and herd health influence the incidence and severity of the infections. Efficient management and prevention strategies include good colostrum and nutrient feeding, early detection, appropriate treatment, hygiene practices, and supportive care. Regular health monitoring and diagnostic tests facilitate early detection and intervention. The use of antibiotics should be judicious to prevent antimicrobial resistance and supportive care such as fluid therapy and nutritional support promotes recovery. Diagnostic methods, including immunological tests, culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serology, aid in the identification of specific pathogens. This review also explores recent advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bacterial infections in dairy calves, providing valuable insights for dairy farmers, veterinarians, and researchers. By synthesizing pertinent scientific literature, this review contributes to the development of effective strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of bacterial infections on the health, welfare, and productivity of young calves. Moreover, more research is required to enhance the understanding of the epidemiology and characterization of bacterial infections in dairy calves.