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Elghryani N, McAloon C, Mincher C, McOwan T, de Waal T. Comparison of the Automated OvaCyte Telenostic Faecal Analyser versus the McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC Techniques in the Estimation of Helminth Faecal Egg Counts in Equine. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3874. [PMID: 38136911 PMCID: PMC10740962 DOI: 10.3390/ani13243874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal helminth parasites continue to be a significant threat to the health of equine. OvaCyte Telenostic (OCT) (Telenostic Ltd., Kilkenny, Ireland) has developed an automated digital microscope utilising Artificial Intelligence to identify and count the clinically important helminth species in equine, bovine, and ovine host species. In this paper, the performance of the OCT analyser was evaluated for the detection and counting of equine helminth species parasites and its performance compared to the currently accepted benchmark methods of faecal egg counts being the McMaster and the Mini-FLOTAC techniques. A pairwise comparison of tests was assessed based on the correlation of egg counts and Cohen's kappa agreement statistics for dichotomized outcomes. Bayesian latent class analysis was used to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of all three techniques in the absence of a gold standard for four helminth parasites (strongyles, Anoplocephala spp., Parascaris spp. and Strongyloides westeri). Based on the analysis of 783 equine faecal samples, we found a high level (ρ ≥ 0.94) of correlation between each pairwise comparison of techniques for strongyle egg counts. Cohen's kappa agreement between techniques was high for strongyles and S. westeri, moderate for Parascaris spp., and low for Anoplocephala spp. All three techniques had a high sensitivity and specificity (>0.90) for strongyles. Across helminth parasites, the sensitivity of the OCT was the highest of the three techniques evaluated for strongyles (0.98 v 0.96 and 0.94), Anoplocephala spp. (0.86 v 0.44 and 0.46) and Parascaris spp. (0.96 v 0.83 and 0.96); but lowest for S. westeri (0.74 v 0.88 and 0.88), compared to McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC, respectively. In terms of specificity, OCT was the lowest in two species (Parascaris spp. 0.96, Anoplocephala spp. 0.95). In conclusion, OCT has a sensitivity and specificity statistically similar to both McMaster and Mini-FLOTAC, and had a higher correlation with Mini-FLOTAC. The OCT point of care faecal analyser offers improved workflow, test turn-around time and does not require trained laboratory personnel to operate or interpret the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagwa Elghryani
- Telenostic Limited, R95 WN20 Kilkenny, Ireland; (C.M.); (T.M.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty ofSciences-Qumnis, University of Benghazi, Benghazi 1308, Libya
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 D6F6 Dublin, Ireland; (C.M.); (T.d.W.)
| | - Conor McAloon
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 D6F6 Dublin, Ireland; (C.M.); (T.d.W.)
| | - Craig Mincher
- Telenostic Limited, R95 WN20 Kilkenny, Ireland; (C.M.); (T.M.)
| | - Trish McOwan
- Telenostic Limited, R95 WN20 Kilkenny, Ireland; (C.M.); (T.M.)
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 D6F6 Dublin, Ireland; (C.M.); (T.d.W.)
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Hamilton KM, Waghorn TS, de Waal T, Keane OM, Green P, Leathwick DM. In vitro evaluation of fitness parameters for isolates of Teladorsagia circumcincta resistant and susceptible to multiple anthelmintic classes. Vet Parasitol 2022; 310:109791. [PMID: 36049292 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Anthelmintic resistance (AR) is an ever increasing problem for the sheep industry. Several studies worldwide have investigated reversing the trend of increasing AR and documented evidence for reversion toward susceptibility has been found. The hypothesis that resistance mutations compromise parasite fitness was drawn from this evidence. The aim of this study was to assess whether there were measurable differences in the fitness of Teladorsagia circumcincta isolates depending on their AR status. Four isolates were selected for the trial based on their known resistance status; D and M were multi-drug resistant, and T and W were susceptible to the benzimidazole, levamisole, and macrocyclic lactone anthelmintic classes. A secondary aim was to develop a series of in vitro bioassays for assessing fitness characteristics of parasites. The in vitro assays included; the cold stress test measured the number of third stage larvae (L3) developing from eggs stored at 4 °C for different lengths of time. Larval aging measured the locomotory activity of L3 after storage at 30 °C for different lengths of time. The exsheathment assay measured the exsheathment percentage of L3. Larval Length used length as a proxy for fecundity. The egg hatch assay evaluated egg hatch rate in water at room temperature. All isolates exhibited a decrease in the number of L3 recovered after storage of eggs at 4 °C (p < 0.001). Storage of L3 at 30 °C significantly influenced the ability of L3 to migrate through a 20 µm sieve (p < 0.001), however, there were no differences between isolates (p > 0.05). Exsheathment rate was higher for isolate D in comparison to isolates M and W, and for isolate T compared to isolate W. Isolate W was significantly longer than all other isolates (p < 0.05), whilst isolate M was significantly longer than isolate D (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between isolates in egg hatch (p > 0.05). Overall, the results do not support differences in fitness associated with anthelmintic resistance status, even though differences were seen between the isolates for some assays. This suggests there is considerable variation in fitness parameters between isolates, making it difficult to determine whether resistance genotypes come with lower fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra M Hamilton
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland; AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Tania S Waghorn
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Orla M Keane
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Peter Green
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Dave M Leathwick
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
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Jahns H, Markey BK, de Waal T, Cassidy JP. Climbing the Integration Ladder: A Case Study on an Interdisciplinary and Case-Based Approach to Teaching General Pathology, Parasitology and Microbiology in the Veterinary Curriculum. J Vet Med Educ 2022; 49:210-222. [PMID: 33929940 DOI: 10.3138/jvme-2020-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland, restructured the teaching of general pathology, parasitology, and microbiology in third year in 2018 as part of the development of an outcome-based curriculum. A new integrated teaching module was created, called Veterinary Pathobiology, which encompassed the three paraclinical subjects, worth 20 ECTS credits. Subject integration was driven and supported by case-based learning (CBL) activities, and practical classes, which were aimed at facilitating the understanding of basic disease processes, infectious agents, and the application of diagnostic tests. The disciplines maintained their identities within lectures which were aligned by content. The restructuring led to a reduction of contact hours by 20% and of assessment time by 40%. The examinations included integrated questions with an emphasis on the material students had covered in their CBL. Despite positive outcomes, which included equivalent examination scores and positive written feedback by students on teaching and learning, understanding, assessment, relevance, CBL, group work, and generic skills, the average scores for overall student satisfaction dropped dramatically in the second academic year of implementation. This followed the introduction of new regulations by the University relating to student progression, which was capped at "carrying" 10 ECTS credits, thus preventing students that failed the new module from progressing. Other criticisms of the new module by students included too little communication on the changes implemented in its first iteration and a workload perceived to be too heavy. Further restructuring is therefore necessary. This study highlights the process/pitfalls of integration/curricular innovation.
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Russell L, Whyte P, Zintl A, Gordon SV, Markey B, de Waal T, Nolan S, O'Flaherty V, Abram F, Richards K, Fenton O, Bolton D. The Survival of Salmonella Senftenberg, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium sporogenes in Sandy and Clay Loam Textured Soils When Applied in Bovine Slurry or Unpasteurised Digestate and the Run-Off Rate for a Test Bacterium, Listeria innocua, When Applied to Grass in Slurry and Digestate. Front Sustain Food Syst 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.806920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the survival of Salmonella Senftenberg, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium sporogenes in sandy and clay loam textured soils when applied in bovine slurry or unpasteurised digestate, using laboratory based inoculation studies. The run-off rate for a test bacterium, Listeria innocua, when applied to grass in slurry and digestate, was also examined using field studies. Bovine slurry and digestate were inoculated with the target bacteria to a final concentration of 106 log10 cfu/g or spores/g, thoroughly mixed into soil samples and incubated at 4°C or 14°C. Samples were removed periodically and the surviving cells enumerated using AOAC or equivalent methods. The loss of viability/culturability phase followed first order kinetics and T90 values ranged from 11.9 to 166.7 d at 4°C and from 6.0 to 156 d at 14°C. With the exception of E. coli O157:H7 and E. faecalis in sandy loam textured soil at 14°C (T90 values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in slurry) the type of soil texture or application material (slurry or digestate) did not affect survival rates. In the field study, 12 grass covered micro-plots were prepared. L. innocua was applied in digestate and bovine slurry and rainfall was simulated at a target rate of ~11 mm per plot per h−1. Rainfall simulation (30 min) took place after 24, 48 h, 14 d and 30 d. Run-off samples were tested for the L. innocua strain using Brilliance Listeria agar supplemented with streptomycin sulphate (1,000 μg/ml) at 37°C for 48 h, as were soil samples after 30, 58, 86 and 112 d. Significantly (P < 0.05) lower counts were obtained in the run-off from digestate after 1, 2 and 30 d as compared to slurry. It was concluded that the type of organic fertiliser does not affect the bacterial survival rates in sandy and clay soils, with the exception of E. coli O157:H7 and E. faecalis in sandy loam textured soil at 14°C. Furthermore, bacteria may be retained better in the soil-digestate matrices during rainfall although additional research is required to further validate and provide the scientific basis for this observation.
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Reichel MP, Greer AW, Nielsen MK, de Waal T. How to publish a great scientific paper – a guide for publishing successfully in Veterinary Parasitology. Vet Parasitol 2022; 304:109697. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Khalid Mehmood
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
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Rose Vineer H, Morgan ER, Hertzberg H, Bartley DJ, Bosco A, Charlier J, Chartier C, Claerebout E, de Waal T, Hendrickx G, Hinney B, Höglund J, Ježek J, Kašný M, Keane OM, Martínez-Valladares M, Mateus TL, McIntyre J, Mickiewicz M, Munoz AM, Phythian CJ, Ploeger HW, Rataj AV, Skuce PJ, Simin S, Sotiraki S, Spinu M, Stuen S, Thamsborg SM, Vadlejch J, Varady M, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Rinaldi L. Increasing importance of anthelmintic resistance in European livestock: creation and meta-analysis of an open database. Parasite 2020; 27:69. [PMID: 33277891 PMCID: PMC7718593 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2020062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminth infections are ubiquitous in grazing ruminant production systems, and are responsible for significant costs and production losses. Anthelmintic Resistance (AR) in parasites is now widespread throughout Europe, although there are still gaps in our knowledge in some regions and countries. AR is a major threat to the sustainability of modern ruminant livestock production, resulting in reduced productivity, compromised animal health and welfare, and increased greenhouse gas emissions through increased parasitism and farm inputs. A better understanding of the extent of AR in Europe is needed to develop and advocate more sustainable parasite control approaches. A database of European published and unpublished AR research on gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) was collated by members of the European COST Action "COMBAR" (Combatting Anthelmintic Resistance in Ruminants), and combined with data from a previous systematic review of AR in GIN. A total of 197 publications on AR in GIN were available for analysis, representing 535 studies in 22 countries and spanning the period 1980-2020. Reports of AR were present throughout the European continent and some reports indicated high within-country prevalence. Heuristic sample size-weighted estimates of European AR prevalence over the whole study period, stratified by anthelmintic class, varied between 0 and 48%. Estimated regional (country) prevalence was highly heterogeneous, ranging between 0% and 100% depending on livestock sector and anthelmintic class, and generally increased with increasing research effort in a country. In the few countries with adequate longitudinal data, there was a tendency towards increasing AR over time for all anthelmintic classes in GIN: aggregated results in sheep and goats since 2010 reveal an average prevalence of resistance to benzimidazoles (BZ) of 86%, macrocyclic lactones except moxidectin (ML) 52%, levamisole (LEV) 48%, and moxidectin (MOX) 21%. All major GIN genera survived treatment in various studies. In cattle, prevalence of AR varied between anthelmintic classes from 0-100% (BZ and ML), 0-17% (LEV) and 0-73% (MOX), and both Cooperia and Ostertagia survived treatment. Suspected AR in F. hepatica was reported in 21 studies spanning 6 countries. For GIN and particularly F. hepatica, there was a bias towards preferential sampling of individual farms with suspected AR, and research effort was biased towards Western Europe and particularly the United Kingdom. Ongoing capture of future results in the live database, efforts to avoid bias in farm recruitment, more accurate tests for AR, and stronger appreciation of the importance of AR among the agricultural industry and policy makers, will support more sophisticated analyses of factors contributing to AR and effective strategies to slow its spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Rose Vineer
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE UK
| | - Eric R. Morgan
- Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Biological Sciences 19 Chlorine Gardens Belfast BT9 5DL UK
| | | | - David J. Bartley
- Disease Control, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan Penicuik, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Antonio Bosco
- University of Naples Federico II, Unit of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, CREMOPAR Via Delpino, 1 80137 Napoli Italy
| | | | | | - Edwin Claerebout
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University B9820 Merelbeke Belgium
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin Dublin D04 W6F6 Ireland
| | | | - Barbara Hinney
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Vetmeduni Vienna Veterinärplatz 1 1210 Vienna Austria
| | - Johan Höglund
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology P.O. Box 7036 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Jožica Ježek
- Clinic for Reproduction and Large Animals, Veterinary faculty, University of Ljubljana Gerbičeva 60 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Martin Kašný
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University Brno 611 37 Czech Republic
| | - Orla M. Keane
- Animal Bioscience Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath C15 PW93 Ireland
| | | | - Teresa Letra Mateus
- CISAS – Centre for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Àlvares 4900-347 Viana do Castelo Portugal
- EpiUnit – Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto Rua das Taipas, nº 135 4050-091 Porto Portugal
| | - Jennifer McIntyre
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate Glasgow G61 1QH UK
| | - Marcin Mickiewicz
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences Nowoursynowska 159c 02-776 Warsaw Poland
| | - Ana Maria Munoz
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária – Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias Av. Campo Grande 376 1749-024 Lisbon Portugal
| | - Clare Joan Phythian
- Institute for Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Sandnes 4325 Norway
| | - Harm W. Ploeger
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University Yalelaan 1 3584 CL Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Aleksandra Vergles Rataj
- Institute for Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana Gerbičeva 60 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Philip J. Skuce
- Disease Control, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan Penicuik, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Stanislav Simin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad 21101 Novi Sad Republic of Serbia
| | - Smaragda Sotiraki
- Veterinary Research Institute, Section for Parasitology, HAO-DEMETER, Thermi 57001 Thessaloniki Greece
| | - Marina Spinu
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca 400372 Romania
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Institute for Production Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Sandnes 4325 Norway
| | - Stig Milan Thamsborg
- Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Pathobiology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen DK-1870 Frederiksberg C Denmark
| | - Jaroslav Vadlejch
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamycka 129 165 00 Prague Suchdol Czech Republic
| | - Marian Varady
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Kosice 040 01 Slovakia
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7–13 14163 Berlin Germany
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- University of Naples Federico II, Unit of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, CREMOPAR Via Delpino, 1 80137 Napoli Italy
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Maurelli MP, Dourado Martins OM, Morgan ER, Charlier J, Cringoli G, Mateus TL, Bacescu B, Chartier C, Claerebout E, de Waal T, Helm C, Hertzberg H, Hinney B, Höglund J, Kyriánová IA, Mickiewicz M, Petkevičius S, Simin S, Sotiraki S, Tosheska M, Toth M, Martínez-Valladares M, Varady M, Sekovska B, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Rinaldi L. A Qualitative Market Analysis Applied to Mini-FLOTAC and Fill-FLOTAC for Diagnosis of Helminth Infections in Ruminants. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:580649. [PMID: 33195595 PMCID: PMC7642452 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.580649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Helminth infections, mainly by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), are one of the main concerns for animal health, welfare and productivity in grazing ruminant livestock worldwide. The use of a sensitive, precise, accurate, low-cost, and easy-to-perform copromicroscopic technique is of pivotal importance to perform reliable fecal egg count (FEC) and fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), in order to determine the need of anthelmintic treatment, but also anthelmintic efficacy or resistance. This approach is fundamental to a correct and efficient control of GIN. Unfortunately, in worldwide ruminant farm practice, repeated anthelmintic treatments are carried out, without prior diagnosis of infection, contributing to the spread of Anthelmintic Resistance (AR). Tackling this phenomenon, improving mainly the GIN diagnosis and AR status in farm animals, is a priority of the European COST Action “COMBAR—COMBatting Anthelmintic Resistance in Ruminants” and of the STAR-IDAZ International Research Consortium on Animal Health. One of the specific objectives of the COMBAR Working Group 1 (WG1) is to conduct an European market analysis of new diagnostics and develop a business plan for commercial test introduction, leveraging technical know-how of participants. Since the Mini-FLOTAC in combination with the Fill-FLOTAC may be considered a good candidate for a standardized FEC and FECRT in the laboratory, as well as directly in the field, the aim of this study was to conduct SWOT (Strength—Weaknesses—Opportunities—Threats) and PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal) analyses of these tools in 20 European countries involved in the COMBAR WG1, in order to identify the opportunities, barriers, and challenges that might affect the Mini-FLOTAC and Fill-FLOTAC commercialization in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Paola Maurelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Eric R Morgan
- Institute of Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Giuseppe Cringoli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Letra Mateus
- CISAS-Centre for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun'Àlvares, Viana do Castelo, Portugal.,EpiUnit-Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Bogdan Bacescu
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Edwin Claerebout
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Christina Helm
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Barbara Hinney
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Iveta Angela Kyriánová
- Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marcin Mickiewicz
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Stanislav Simin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | | | - Mariann Toth
- Institutes of Agricultural Research and Educational Farm, Research Institute of Karcag, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Marian Varady
- Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Blagica Sekovska
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, St. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, North Macedonia
| | | | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Russell L, Whyte P, Zintl A, Gordon S, Markey B, de Waal T, Cummins E, Nolan S, O’Flaherty V, Abram F, Richards K, Fenton O, Bolton D. A Small Study of Bacterial Contamination of Anaerobic Digestion Materials and Survival in Different Feed Stocks. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:bioengineering7030116. [PMID: 32972002 PMCID: PMC7552645 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7030116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
If pathogens are present in feedstock materials and survive in anaerobic digestion (AD) formulations at 37 °C, they may also survive the AD process to be disseminated in digestate spread on farmland as a fertilizer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium spp. in AD feed and output materials and survival/growth in four formulations based on food waste, bovine slurry and/or grease-trap waste using International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or equivalent methods. The latter was undertaken in 100 mL Ramboldi tubes, incubated at 37 °C for 10 d with surviving cells enumerated periodically and the T90 values (time to achieve a 1 log reduction) calculated. The prevalence rates for Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium spp. were 3, 0, 5, 11 and 10/13 in food waste, 0, 0, 2, 3 and 2/3 in bovine slurry, 1, 0, 8, 7 and 8/8 in the mixing tank, 5, 1, 17, 18 and 17 /19 in raw digestate and 0, 0, 0, 2 and 2/2 in dried digestate, respectively. Depending on the formulation, T90 values ranged from 1.5 to 2.8 d, 1.6 to 2.8 d, 3.1 to 23.5 d, 2.2 to 6.6 d and 2.4 to 9.1 d for Salmonella Newport, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium sporogenes, respectively. It was concluded that AD feed materials may be contaminated with a range of bacterial pathogens and L. monocytogenes may survive for extended periods in the test formulations incubated at 37 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Russell
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland;
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; (P.W.); (A.Z.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (T.d.W.)
| | - Paul Whyte
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; (P.W.); (A.Z.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (T.d.W.)
| | - Annetta Zintl
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; (P.W.); (A.Z.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (T.d.W.)
| | - Stephen Gordon
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; (P.W.); (A.Z.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (T.d.W.)
| | - Bryan Markey
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; (P.W.); (A.Z.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (T.d.W.)
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; (P.W.); (A.Z.); (S.G.); (B.M.); (T.d.W.)
| | - Enda Cummins
- School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland;
| | - Stephen Nolan
- School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; (S.N.); (V.O.); (F.A.)
| | - Vincent O’Flaherty
- School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; (S.N.); (V.O.); (F.A.)
| | - Florence Abram
- School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; (S.N.); (V.O.); (F.A.)
| | - Karl Richards
- Teagasc Environmental Research Centres, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland; (K.R.); (O.F.)
| | - Owen Fenton
- Teagasc Environmental Research Centres, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland; (K.R.); (O.F.)
| | - Declan Bolton
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland;
- Correspondence:
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10
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de Waal T, Lawlor A, Zintl A, Cowley B, Bagha A. A Survey of Ticks Infesting Dogs and Cats in Ireland. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1404. [PMID: 32806603 PMCID: PMC7460173 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are important ectoparasites of dogs and cats. Infestations can result in itching and localised dermatitis. In addition, ticks can act as vector of a range of viral, bacterial and protozoal pathogens. This paper reports the results of a nationwide survey of ticks infesting dogs and cats in Ireland. Seventy veterinary practices submitted a total of 120 ticks collected from 56 dogs and 16 cats. Ixodes ricinus was the most abundant species on dogs while Ixodes hexagonus was the most abundant species on cats. The remainder were identified as Ixodes canisuga and a single Rhipicephalus sanguineus specimen. The garden was most frequently associated with tick exposure in both dogs and cats. Sporting dog breeds (n = 17; 31%) were more likely to be infested with ticks than any other breed. Nearly all (n = 56; 95%) veterinarians indicated that ticks are a concern to their clients when they are found on their pets. Pet owners used a variety of products to control ectoparasites on their animals but a significant number (n = 18, 31%) indicated that they felt that the products are less effective highlighting the need for further investigations. Field sampling indicated that ticks are present at a low level in much of the greater Dublin area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 W6F6 Dublin, Ireland; (A.L.); (A.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Amanda Lawlor
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 W6F6 Dublin, Ireland; (A.L.); (A.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Annetta Zintl
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 W6F6 Dublin, Ireland; (A.L.); (A.Z.); (A.B.)
| | | | - Atiyah Bagha
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 W6F6 Dublin, Ireland; (A.L.); (A.Z.); (A.B.)
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11
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Kelleher AC, Good B, de Waal T, Keane OM. Anthelmintic resistance among gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle on dairy calf to beef farms in Ireland. Ir Vet J 2020; 73:12. [PMID: 32637072 PMCID: PMC7331193 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-020-00167-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The control of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of cattle in pasture-based production systems such as Ireland is highly dependent on the availability of efficacious anthelmintics. There is very little information available on the efficacy of the broad-spectrum anthelmintics against GIN of cattle in Ireland and the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance on dairy calf to beef farms. Results GIN burden was monitored on thirty-six recruited farms by performing herd level faecal egg counts (FEC) every 2 weeks. Of these, nine farms were lost from the study as calves were treated with an anthelmintic for Dictyocaulus viviparus, two were lost as they treated for GIN, one dropped out of the study and on one the herd FEC did not reach the threshold for carrying out the Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT). On the remaining 23 farms, once the herd FEC reached 100 eggs per gram, a FECRT was carried out. Pre and post-treatment larval cultures were also performed to identify the GIN to genus level. The efficacy of fenbendazole, levamisole, ivermectin and moxidectin was evaluated on 15, 11, 16 and 11 farms respectively. Resistance to fenbendazole was identified on 9 farms (60%) with resistance suspected on a further farm. Resistance to levamisole, ivermectin and moxidectin was detected on 2 (18%), 16 (100%) and 8 (73%) farms respectively. The predominant genera detected pre and post-treatment were Cooperia and Ostertagia with both genera detected post-treatment with fenbendazole and ivermectin. Due to the low proportion of Ostertagia spp. pre-treatment, the efficacy of levamisole or moxidectin against this genus could not be reliably established. Conclusions Anthelmintic resistance was widespread on the sampled dairy calf to beef farms in Ireland with resistance to benzimidazole, levamisole, ivermectin and moxidectin detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Kelleher
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath Ireland.,School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - Barbara Good
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway Ireland
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - Orla M Keane
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath Ireland
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12
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Oc Byrne J, Byrne AW, Zintl A, Jankowska K, Coulange E, de Waal T, McCarthy G, O'Keeffe J, Hamnes IS, Fogarty U. Identification and epidemiological analysis of Perostrongylus falciformis infestation in Irish badgers. Ir Vet J 2019; 72:7. [PMID: 31333818 PMCID: PMC6617904 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-019-0144-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The lungworm, Perostrongylus falciformis (fomerly known as Aelurostrongylus falciformis) has been identified in badgers (Meles meles) in Britain, the Russian Federation, Italy, Norway, Poland, Ukraine, Bosnia Herzegovina and Romania, while Aelurostrongylus pridhami has been reported from badgers in Spain. Results Pulmonary tissue from 1580 Irish badgers was examined and an estimated prevalence of 32.09% (95% CI: 29.79–34.45%) of this parasite was detected. Confirmation of its occurrence was made by PCR analysis on a subset of the population. Conclusion Infestation was widely distributed throughout the Republic of Ireland, with a trend towards higher infestation risk in western versus eastern counties. In addition males were at a higher risk of infestation than females and juveniles were at a significantly higher risk than adult badgers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew W Byrne
- 2Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stoney Road, Belfast, BT4 3SD Northern Ireland
| | - Annetta Zintl
- 3UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Karolina Jankowska
- 3UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Theo de Waal
- 3UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grainne McCarthy
- 3UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - James O'Keeffe
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Inger S Hamnes
- 6Section of Parasitology, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Sentrum, NO-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - Ursula Fogarty
- 1Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, County Kildare Ireland
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13
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O'Shaughnessy J, Drought Y, Lynch J, Denny M, Hurley C, Byrne W, Casey M, de Waal T, Sheehan M. Ivermectin treatment failure on four Irish dairy farms. Ir Vet J 2019; 72:4. [PMID: 31123583 PMCID: PMC6521450 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-019-0142-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
We report on the use of the faecal egg count reduction test to evaluate the performance of ivermectin in treating gastrointestinal nematode infections in first grazing season (FGS) calves on four dairy farms in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. On each farm, FGS calves were injected subcutaneously with ivermectin in accordance with their live weight (day 0). Calves were individually faecal sampled on both day 0 and day 14. Faecal egg counts were determined using the Mini-FLOTAC technique. Composite faecal cultures for each farm were performed on each sampling occasion. The faecal egg count reductions (mode) ranged from 17.3–80.2% with the lower 95% confidence limit ranging from 3.1–72.3% on the four farms, respectively. Ivermectin-resistant nematodes were detected on all farms, with evidence of Ostertagia resistance on one farm. This study highlights the urgent need for Irish producers to reappraise their parasite control practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- James O'Shaughnessy
- 1Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Laboratories, Backweston, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Ireland
| | - Yvonne Drought
- 2School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - John Lynch
- Archersfield Veterinary Clinic, Archersfield, Castle Rd, Kilkenny, Ireland
| | - Marian Denny
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kilkenny Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Hebron Road, Kilkenny, Ireland
| | - Christine Hurley
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kilkenny Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Hebron Road, Kilkenny, Ireland
| | - William Byrne
- 1Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Laboratories, Backweston, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Ireland
| | - Mícheál Casey
- 1Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Laboratories, Backweston, Celbridge, Co. Kildare Ireland
| | - Theo de Waal
- 2School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Maresa Sheehan
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kilkenny Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Hebron Road, Kilkenny, Ireland
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14
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Morgan ER, Aziz NAA, Blanchard A, Charlier J, Charvet C, Claerebout E, Geldhof P, Greer AW, Hertzberg H, Hodgkinson J, Höglund J, Hoste H, Kaplan RM, Martínez-Valladares M, Mitchell S, Ploeger HW, Rinaldi L, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Sotiraki S, Schnyder M, Skuce P, Bartley D, Kenyon F, Thamsborg SM, Vineer HR, de Waal T, Williams AR, van Wyk JA, Vercruysse J. 100 Questions in Livestock Helminthology Research. Trends Parasitol 2018; 35:52-71. [PMID: 30477758 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
An elicitation exercise was conducted to collect and identify pressing questions concerning the study of helminths in livestock, to help guide research priorities. Questions were invited from the research community in an inclusive way. Of 385 questions submitted, 100 were chosen by online vote, with priority given to open questions in important areas that are specific enough to permit investigation within a focused project or programme of research. The final list of questions was divided into ten themes. We present the questions and set them briefly in the context of the current state of knowledge. Although subjective, the results provide a snapshot of current concerns and perceived priorities in the field of livestock helminthology, and we hope that they will stimulate ongoing or new research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Morgan
- Queen's University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences, 97, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
| | - Nor-Azlina A Aziz
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Claude Charvet
- ISP, INRA, Université Tours, UMR1282, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Edwin Claerebout
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Peter Geldhof
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Andrew W Greer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, P.O. Box 85084, Lincoln University, Christchurch, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Hubertus Hertzberg
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jane Hodgkinson
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
| | - Johan Höglund
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, BVF-parasitology, Box 7036, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hervé Hoste
- UMR 1225 IHAP INRA/ENVT, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076 Toulouse, France
| | - Ray M Kaplan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Finca Marzanas, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
| | - Siân Mitchell
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Carmarthen Veterinary Investigation Centre, Jobswell Road, Johnstown, Carmarthen, SA31 3EZ, UK
| | - Harm W Ploeger
- Utrecht University, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Smaragda Sotiraki
- Veterinary Research Institute, HAO-DEMETER, Campus Thermi 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Manuela Schnyder
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philip Skuce
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - David Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Fiona Kenyon
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Stig M Thamsborg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Theo de Waal
- University College Dublin, School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin, D04 W6F6, Ireland
| | - Andrew R Williams
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Jan A van Wyk
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jozef Vercruysse
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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15
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Keegan JD, Good B, Hanrahan JP, Lynch C, de Waal T, Keane OM. Live weight as a basis for targeted selective treatment of lambs post-weaning. Vet Parasitol 2018; 258:8-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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16
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Keegan JD, Good B, de Waal T, Fanning J, Keane OM. Genetic basis of benzimidazole resistance in Teladorsagia circumcincta in Ireland. Ir Vet J 2017; 70:8. [PMID: 28228936 PMCID: PMC5307811 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-017-0087-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to benzimidazole (BZ) anthelmintics is common in ovine nematodes of economic importance. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at three positions in the isotype 1 β– tubulin gene have been associated with BZ resistance and molecular tests for the detection of BZ resistance have been developed. In order to determine if such tests are practicable in Ireland the polymorphisms associated with BZ resistance must be identified. To this end, BZ-resistant nematodes were recovered from four farms in Ireland. Resistant Teladorsagia circumcincta, Cooperia curticei and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were recovered, with resistant T. circumcincta the most common and the only species studied further. Sequencing of the isotype 1 β–tubulin gene from resistant T. circumcincta identified a T - A transition, resulting in an F200Y substitution known to be responsible for BZ-resistance, on three of the farms. However, on the fourth farm the frequency of the resistant A allele was only 0.33 indicating another BZ resistance mechanism may be present on this farm. An additional polymorphism resulting in a substitution of glutamate for leucine (E198L) was also found on this farm at low frequency (0.17). No polymorphisms at position 167 were identified on any farm. Therefore, molecular tests to detect BZ resistance in T. circumcincta in Ireland could prove useful; however, they may result in some instances of resistance remaining undetected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D Keegan
- Animal and Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.,School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Barbara Good
- Animal & Bioscience Dept, Teagasc, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - June Fanning
- Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Backweston, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Orla M Keane
- Animal and Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
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17
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Ramünke S, Melville L, Rinaldi L, Hertzberg H, de Waal T, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Cringoli G, Mavrot F, Skuce P, Krücken J, Demeler J. Benzimidazole resistance survey for Haemonchus, Teladorsagia and Trichostrongylus in three European countries using pyrosequencing including the development of new assays for Trichostrongylus. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2016; 6:230-240. [PMID: 27821282 PMCID: PMC5099267 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to benzimidazoles (BZs) in trichostrongyloid nematodes is a worldwide problem for livestock production, particularly regarding small ruminants. Sensitive and reliable methods are required to assess anthelmintic resistance status. Currently available methods for BZ resistance detection can be divided into three main groups, in vivo (e.g. faecal egg count reduction test), in vitro (e.g. egg hatch assay) and molecular tests. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the isotype-1 β-tubulin gene of various nematode species correlate with BZ resistance. While PCR-based methods have been reported for the three most economically important nematodes of sheep, namely, Trichostrongylus, Haemonchus and Teladorsagia, pyrosequencing assays are so far only available for the latter two. Here, the design and evaluation of pyrosequencing assays for isotype-1 and isotype-2 β-tubulin genes of Trichostrongylus colubriformis are described. PCR fragments carrying the susceptible and corresponding resistant genotype were combined in defined ratios to evaluate assay sensitivity and linearity. The correlation between the given and the measured allele frequencies of the respective SNPs (codons F167Y, E198A and F200Y) was very high. Pyrosequencing assays for Haemonchus, Teladorsagia and Trichostrongylus were subsequently used for a BZ resistance survey, carried out in the three European countries, namely Ireland, Italy and Switzerland. Larval cultures obtained from field survey samples in 2012 and 2013 were used for pyrosequencing. The test was applied when the target species represented at least 10% of the sample. Trichostrongylus and Teladorsagia were detected in all countries' samples whereas Haemonchus was not detected in samples from Ireland. SNPs in isotype-1 associated with resistance were detected for all three species, with frequencies at codon F200Y far exceeding those at codons F167Y and E198A. Elevated SNP frequencies in isotype-2 of Trichostrongylus were only rarely detected. Farms with BZ resistance-associated SNP frequencies above 10% were most often found in Switzerland followed by Ireland and Italy. Successful development of a pyrosequencing assay for Trichostrongylus. Resistance survey revealed high number of SNPs present in all three countries. SNP at codon 200 most prevalent in European trichostrongyloid populations. Low number of SNPs found in Italy corresponds to FECRT data. Pyrosequencing successfully employed as a tool for large scale surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Ramünke
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lynsey Melville
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Italy
| | | | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
| | | | - Giuseppe Cringoli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR, Italy
| | - Fabien Mavrot
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Philip Skuce
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Janina Demeler
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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18
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Karanikola SN, Krücken J, Ramünke S, de Waal T, Höglund J, Charlier J, Weber C, Müller E, Kowalczyk SJ, Kaba J, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Demeler J. Development of a multiplex fluorescence immunological assay for the simultaneous detection of antibodies against Cooperia oncophora, Dictyocaulus viviparus and Fasciola hepatica in cattle. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:335. [PMID: 26084663 PMCID: PMC4492007 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0924-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A major constraint for the effective control and management of helminth parasites is the lack of rapid, high-throughput, routine diagnostic tests to assess the health status of individual animals and herds and to identify the parasite species responsible for these helminthoses. The capability of a multiplex platform for the simultaneous detection of three pasture associated parasite species was evaluated and compared to existing ELISAs. Methods The recombinant antigens 14.2 kDa ES protein for Cooperia oncophora, major sperm protein for Dictyocaulus viviparus and Cathepsin L1 for Fasciola hepatica were recombinantly expressed either in Escherichia coli or Pichia pastoris. Antigens were covalently coupled onto magnetic beads. Optimal concentrations for coupling were determined following the examination of serum samples collected from experimentally mono-infected animals, before and after their infection with the target species. Absence of cross-reactivity was further determined with sera from calves mono-infected with Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia ostertagi and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Examination of negative serum samples was characterised by low median fluorescence intensity (MFI). Results Establishment of the optimal serum dilution of 1:200 was achieved for all three bead sets. Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses were performed to obtain cut-off MFI values for each parasite separately. Sensitivity and specificity at the chosen cut-off values were close to, or 100 % for all bead sets. Examination of serum samples collected on different days post infection from different animals showed a high reproducibility of the assays. Serum samples were additionally examined with two already established ELISAs, an in-house ELISA using the recombinant MSP as an antigen and a DRG ELISA using Cathepsin L1 for liver fluke. The results between the assays were compared and kappa tests revealed an overall good agreement. Conclusions A versatile bead-based assay using fluorescence detection (xMAP® technology) was developed to simultaneously detect antibodies against C. oncophora, D. viviparus and F. hepatica in cattle serum samples. This platform provides rapid, high-throughput results and is highly sensitive and specific in comparison to existing serological as well as coproscopical diagnostic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia N Karanikola
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sabrina Ramünke
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Theo de Waal
- UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Johan Höglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Section for Parasitology (SWEPAR), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Johannes Charlier
- Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | | | | | - Slawomir J Kowalczyk
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Science, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jaroslaw Kaba
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Science, Warsaw, Poland.
| | | | - Janina Demeler
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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O’Shaughnessy J, Earley B, Mee JF, Doherty ML, Crosson P, Barrett D, de Waal T. Nematode control in suckler beef cattle over their first two grazing seasons using a targeted selective treatment approach. Ir Vet J 2015; 68:13. [PMID: 26203352 PMCID: PMC4511250 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-015-0038-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With concerns over the development of anthelmintic resistance in cattle nematode populations, we must re-examine our approach to nematode control in cattle. Targeted selective treatments (TST), whereby individual animals are treated instead of entire groups, are being investigated as an alternative. The study objective was to determine if anthelmintic usage could be reduced using a TST-based approach to nematode control in spring-born suckler beef cattle over their first and second grazing seasons (SGS) without affecting performance. In the first grazing season (FGS), 99 calves with an initial mean (s.d.) calf age and live weight on day 0 (June 28(th) 2012) of 107 (23.1) days and 160 (32.5) kg, respectively, were used. The study commenced on day 0 when calves were randomised and allocated to one of two treatments; 1), standard treatment (control) and 2), TST. Control calves were treated subcutaneously with ivermectin on days 0, 41 and 82 in the FGS. All calves were treated with ivermectin on day 124 and housed on day 133. In the SGS, only heifer calves from the FGS were used and control heifers were treated with ivermectin on day 393. Animals were weighed, blood and faecal sampled every three weeks. The TST animals were treated with ivermectin if thresholds based on a combination of plasma pepsinogen concentrations, faecal egg count and/or the presence of Dictyocaulus viviparus larvae in faeces (FGS only) were reached. RESULTS No TST calves reached the treatment threshold criteria in the FGS. The FGS average daily live weight gain (ADG ± s.e.m.) for control and TST group calves was 0.89 ± 0.02 kg and 0.94 ± 0.02 kg day(-1), respectively (P = 0.17). In the SGS, all heifers were treated with ivermectin on day 431 due to clinical signs of respiratory disease. The ADG for control and TST heifers from turnout on day 321 to day 431 was 0.90 ± 0.04 and 0.80 ± 0.04 kg day(-1), respectively (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Spring-born FGS suckler beef calves require minimal anthelmintic treatment to maintain performance. In contrast, clinical parasitic disease may develop in the SGS unless appropriate anthelmintic treatment is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- James O’Shaughnessy
- />Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
- />School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Bernadette Earley
- />Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - John F. Mee
- />Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
| | - Michael L. Doherty
- />School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Paul Crosson
- />Livestock Systems Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Damien Barrett
- />DAFM, Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Doonally, Co. Sligo, Ireland
| | - Theo de Waal
- />School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Selemetas N, Ducheyne E, Phelan P, O'Kiely P, Hendrickx G, de Waal T. Spatial analysis and risk mapping of Fasciola hepatica infection in dairy herds in Ireland. Geospat Health 2015; 9:281-291. [PMID: 25826309 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2015.350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Fasciolosis is generally a subclinical infection of dairy cows and can cause marked economic losses. This study investigated the prevalence and spatial distribution of fasciolosis in dairy cow herds in Ireland using an in-house antibodydetection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay applied to bulk tank milk (BTM) samples collected during the autumn of 2012. A total of 5,116 BTM samples were collected from 4,602 different herds, with 514 farmers submitting BTM samples in two consecutive months. Analysis of the BTM samples showed that 82% (n = 3,764) of the dairy herds had been exposed to Fasciola hepatica. A total of 108 variables, including averaged climatic data for the period 1981-2010 and contemporary meteorological data for the year 2012, such as soil, subsoil, land cover and habitat maps, were investigated for a possible role as predictor of fasciolosis. Using mainly climatic variables as the major predictors, a model of the predicted risk of fasciolosis was created by Random Forest modelling that had 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The most important predictors in descending order of importance were: average of annual total number of rain-days for the period 1981-2010, total rainfall during September, winter and autumn of 2012, average of annual total number of wet-days for the period 1981- 2010 and annual mean temperature of 2012. The findings of this study confirm the high prevalence of fasciolosis in Irish dairy herds and suggest that specific weather and environmental risk factors support a robust and precise distribution model.
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Selemetas N, Phelan P, O'Kiely P, de Waal T. Cluster analysis of fasciolosis in dairy cow herds in Munster province of Ireland and detection of major climatic and environmental predictors of the exposure risk. Geospat Health 2015; 9:271-279. [PMID: 25826308 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2015.349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a widespread parasitic disease in cattle farms. The aim of this study was to detect clusters of fasciolosis in dairy cow herds in Munster Province, Ireland and to identify significant climatic and environmental predictors of the exposure risk. In total, 1,292 dairy herds across Munster was sampled in September 2012 providing a single bulk tank milk (BTM) sample. The analysis of samples by an in-house antibody-detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), showed that 65% of the dairy herds (n = 842) had been exposed to F. hepatica. Using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic, 16 high-risk and 24 low-risk (P <0.01) clusters of fasciolosis were identified. The spatial distribution of high-risk clusters was more dispersed and mainly located in the northern and western regions of Munster compared to the low-risk clusters that were mostly concentrated in the southern and eastern regions. The most significant classes of variables that could reflect the difference between high-risk and low-risk clusters were the total number of wet-days and rain-days, rainfall, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), temperature and soil type. There was a bigger proportion of well-drained soils among the low-risk clusters, whereas poorly drained soils were more common among the high-risk clusters. These results stress the role of precipitation, grazing, temperature and drainage on the life cycle of F. hepatica in the temperate Irish climate. The findings of this study highlight the importance of cluster analysis for identifying significant differences in climatic and environmental variables between high-risk and low-risk clusters of fasciolosis in Irish dairy herds.
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Selemetas N, de Waal T. Detection of major climatic and environmental predictors of liver fluke exposure risk in Ireland using spatial cluster analysis. Vet Parasitol 2015; 209:242-53. [PMID: 25777048 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke) can cause significant economic and production losses in dairy cow farms. The aim of the current study was to identify important weather and environmental predictors of the exposure risk to liver fluke by detecting clusters of fasciolosis in Ireland. During autumn 2012, bulk-tank milk samples from 4365 dairy farms were collected throughout Ireland. Using an in-house antibody-detection ELISA, the analysis of BTM samples showed that 83% (n=3602) of dairy farms had been exposed to liver fluke. The Getis-Ord Gi* statistic identified 74 high-risk and 130 low-risk significant (P<0.01) clusters of fasciolosis. The low-risk clusters were mostly located in the southern regions of Ireland, whereas the high-risk clusters were mainly situated in the western part. Several climatic variables (monthly and seasonal mean rainfall and temperatures, total wet days and rain days) and environmental datasets (soil types, enhanced vegetation index and normalised difference vegetation index) were used to investigate dissimilarities in the exposure to liver fluke between clusters. Rainfall, total wet days and rain days, and soil type were the significant classes of climatic and environmental variables explaining the differences between significant clusters. A discriminant function analysis was used to predict the exposure risk to liver fluke using 80% of data for modelling and the remaining subset of 20% for post hoc model validation. The most significant predictors of the model risk function were total rainfall in August and September and total wet days. The risk model presented 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity and an accuracy of 95% correctly classified cases. A risk map of exposure to liver fluke was constructed with higher probability of exposure in western and north-western regions. The results of this study identified differences between clusters of fasciolosis in Ireland regarding climatic and environmental variables and detected significant predictors of the exposure risk to liver fluke.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Theo de Waal
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
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Pfister K, Rojo-Vázquez F, Marinculic A, Hellmann K, de Waal T. Vectors and vector-borne infections. Preface. Vet Parasitol 2015; 208:1. [PMID: 25683134 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Pfister
- Institute of Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, LMU Munich, Leopoldstrasse 5, D-80802 Munich, Germany.
| | - Francisco Rojo-Vázquez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Albert Marinculic
- Department for Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, P.O. Box 466, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Klaus Hellmann
- Klifovet AG, Geyerspergerstrasse 27, D-80689 Munich, Germany
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
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O'Shaughnessy J, Earley B, Barrett D, Doherty ML, Crosson P, de Waal T, Mee JF. Disease screening profiles and colostrum management practices on 16 Irish suckler beef farms. Ir Vet J 2015; 68:1. [PMID: 25642324 PMCID: PMC4311419 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-014-0029-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Calf output is a key element in determining the profitability of a suckler beef enterprise. Infectious agents such as Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD) virus, colostrum management and parasitic challenge can all affect calf output. Prior to the national BVD eradication programme, there was little published information on either the prevalence or effect of BVD in Irish beef herds. There is little published information on colostrum management practices in Irish commercial beef herds and there have also been few studies published on the prevalence of liver fluke or rumen fluke infection in Irish beef herds. Sixteen farms participating in the Teagasc/Farmers Journal BETTER farm beef programme were used in this study. Fourteen herds were screened for the presence of BVD virus in 2010 using RT-PCR. In 13 herds, blood samples were collected from calves (2–14 days of age) in November 2011 - April 2012 to determine their passive immune status using the zinc sulphate turbidity (ZST) test, while in 12 herds, blood and faecal samples were taken in order to determine the level of exposure to gastrointestinal and hepatic helminths. Results The overall prevalence of BVD virus-positive cattle was 0.98% (range 0 - 3% per herd, range 0.6 - 3.0% per positive herd). Eighteen of the 82 calves (22%) sampled had ZST values less than 20 units (herd mean range 17.0 – 38.5 units) indicating a failure of passive transfer. The overall animal-level (herd-level) prevalence of liver fluke and rumen fluke infection in these herds was 40.5% (100%) and 20.8% (75%), respectively. Conclusions The potential costs associated with the presence of animals persistently infected with BVD virus through the increased use of antibiotics; the rate of failure of passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins and the high prevalence of liver fluke infection in these herds highlight that some Irish suckler beef farms may not be realizing their economic potential due to a range of herd health issues. The use of farm-specific herd health plans should be further encouraged on Irish suckler beef farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- James O'Shaughnessy
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland ; School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Bernadette Earley
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Damien Barrett
- DAFM, Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Doonally, Co. Sligo, Ireland
| | - Michael L Doherty
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Paul Crosson
- Livestock Systems Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - John F Mee
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork Ireland
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Selemetas N, Phelan P, O'Kiely P, de Waal T. The effects of farm management practices on liver fluke prevalence and the current internal parasite control measures employed on Irish dairy farms. Vet Parasitol 2014; 207:228-40. [PMID: 25591405 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is responsible for major production losses in cattle farms. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of farm management practices on liver fluke prevalence on Irish dairy farms and to document the current control measures against parasitic diseases. In total, 369 dairy farms throughout Ireland were sampled from October to December 2013, each providing a single bulk tank milk (BTM) sample for liver fluke antibody-detection ELISA testing and completing a questionnaire on their farm management. The analysis of samples showed that cows on 78% (n=288) of dairy farms had been exposed to liver fluke. There was a difference (P<0.05) between farms where cows were positive or negative for liver fluke antibodies in (a) the total number of adult dairy cows in herds, (b) the number of adult dairy cows contributing to BTM samples, and (c) the size of the total area of grassland, with positive farms having larger numbers in each case. There was no difference (P>0.05) between positive and negative farms in (a) the grazing of dry cows together with replacement cows, (b) whether or not grazed grassland was mowed for conservation, (c) the type of drinking water provision system, (d) spreading of cattle manure on grassland or (e) for grazing season length (GSL; mean=262.5 days). Also, there were differences (P<0.001) between drainage statuses for GSL with farms on good drainage having longer GSL than moderately drained farms. The GSL for dairy cows on farms with good drainage was 11 days longer than for those with moderate drainage (P<0.001). The percentage of farmers that used an active ingredient during the non-lactating period against liver fluke, gastrointestinal nematodes, lungworm, and rumen fluke was 96%, 85%, 77% and 90%, respectively. Albendazole was the most frequently used active ingredient for treatment against gastrointestinal nematodes (57%), liver fluke (40%) and lungworm (47%), respectively. There was a difference (P<0.05) in the use of triclabendazole and albendazole between positive and negative farms, with triclabendazole use being more common in positive farms. This study highlighted differences in dairy management practices between Irish farms with dairy herds exposed or not exposed to liver fluke and stressed the need of fine-scale mapping of the disease patterns even at farm level to increase the accuracy of risk models. Also, comprehensive advice and professional support services to farmers on appropriate farm management practices are very important for an effective anthelmintic control strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Phelan
- Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Padraig O'Kiely
- Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Theo de Waal
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
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Keane OM, Keegan JD, Good B, de Waal T, Fanning J, Gottstein M, Casey M, Hurley C, Sheehan M. High level of treatment failure with commonly used anthelmintics on Irish sheep farms. Ir Vet J 2014; 67:16. [PMID: 25140223 PMCID: PMC4137937 DOI: 10.1186/2046-0481-67-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In 2013 a Technology Adoption Program for sheep farmers was established to encourage the implementation of best management practices on sheep farms in Ireland. There were 4,500 participants in this programme in 2013. As part of this programme, farmers had the option to carry out a drench test to establish the efficacy of their anthelmintic treatment. Results Flock faecal samples were collected before and after treatment administration and gastrointestinal nematode eggs enumerated. In total there were 1,893 participants in the task, however only 1,585 included both a pre- and post-treatment faecal sample. Of those, 1,308 provided information on the anthelmintic product that they used with 46%, 23% and 28% using a benzimidazole (BZ), levamisole (LEV) and macrocyclic lactone (ML) product respectively. The remaining farmers used a product inapplicable for inclusion in the task such as a flukicide or BZ/LEV combination product. Samples were included for analysis of drench efficacy if the pre-treatment flock egg count was ≥200 eggs per gram and the interval post-sampling was 10–14 days for BZ products, 4–7 days for LEV products and 14–18 days for ML products. These criteria reduced the number of valid tests to 369, 19.5% of all tests conducted. If the reduction post-treatment was ≥95% the treatment was considered effective. Only 51% of treatments were considered effective using this criterion. There was a significant difference in efficacy between the anthelmintic drug classes with BZ effective in only 30% of treatments, LEV effective in 52% of cases and ML effective in 76% of cases. Conclusions Gastrointestinal nematode anthelmintic treatments, as practiced on Irish farms, have a high failure rate. There was a significant difference between the efficacies of the anthelmintic classes with BZ the least effective and ML the most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orla M Keane
- Animal & Bioscience Department, AGRIC, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co, Meath, Ireland
| | - Jason D Keegan
- Animal & Bioscience Department, AGRIC, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co, Meath, Ireland ; School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Barbara Good
- Animal & Bioscience Department, AGRIC, Teagasc Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co, Galway, Ireland
| | - Theo de Waal
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - June Fanning
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | - Mícheál Casey
- Regional Veterinary Laboratories Division, Backweston, Co, Kildare, Ireland
| | - Christine Hurley
- Kilkenny Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Hebron Road, Kilkenny, Co, Kilkenny, Ireland
| | - Maresa Sheehan
- Kilkenny Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Hebron Road, Kilkenny, Co, Kilkenny, Ireland
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Stuart P, Golden O, Zintl A, de Waal T, Mulcahy G, McCarthy E, Lawton C. A coprological survey of parasites of wild carnivores in Ireland. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:3587-93. [PMID: 23900557 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3544-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The increasing movement of people to wilderness areas, shrinking of wildlife habitats and the resulting urbanisation of wildlife has led to growing concerns about the transfer of parasitic diseases, particularly from contaminated faeces. Faecal samples from wild carnivores in Ireland were examined for the presence of protozoan and nematode parasites. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) samples (n = 91) were positive for Uncinaria stenocephala (38%), Eucoleus aerophilus (26%), Toxocara canis (20%), Trichuris vulpis (4%) and Isospora-like oocysts (9%). Badger (Meles meles) samples (n = 50) were positive for Uncinaria criniformis (40%), E. aerophilus (6%) and Isospora-like oocysts (16%). No parasites were observed in pine marten (n = 48; Martes martes) faeces. Approximately 5% of American mink (Mustela vison) samples were positive for Cryptosporidium by polymerase chain reaction (identified as Cryptosporidium andersoni (n = 3) and 'mink' genotype (n = 1)). The results suggest that wild carnivores in Ireland have a range of parasites, although it is unclear from the present study to what extent these infections are associated with morbidity. While it can be expected that, via their faeces, wild carnivores contribute to the spread of these parasites, they are unlikely the primary source of environmental contamination. Therefore, they should not always be the principal target of control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Stuart
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic,
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Abstract
Blood samples were obtained from 38 wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) at two sites in Ireland and subjected to PCR analysis of the 18S rRNA gene followed by sequencing. Two fragments of the 18S rRNA gene were generated by two different PCR protocols and subsequent sequencing suggested that at least six of the deer were infected by a babesia that, in those loci, is indistinguishable from Babesia divergens, an important tick-borne pathogen of cattle and of zoonotic significance. Additionally, a B. odocoilei-like parasite was detected in three samples and a babesia that did not match any sequences in the GenBank database was found in five samples. Neither B. capreoli nor B. venatorum (EU1) were found. There have been several reports of B. divergens occurring in deer species, including red deer, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). However, in view of recent re-sequencing of bovine-origin samples deposited previously in GenBank, it is unlikely that any of these sequences from deer are B. divergens. The present study describes the only deer piroplasm detected so far that shows complete identity with B. divergens, in just over half of the 18S rRNA gene. The entire gene of this deer parasite should be analysed and transmission experiments undertaken before the infectivity of B. divergens for red deer can be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annetta Zintl
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Ireland.
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Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis, a protozoal disease which causes significant morbidity in humans, is one of the chief causes of diarrhoea in neonatal ruminants. although the parasite poses a significant threat to public health and animal health in Ireland, its epidemiology on the island is only poorly understood. Environmental studies have shown the waterborne parasite to be widespread in some untreated waterbodies around Ireland. The island's hydrogeological situation, combined with high stocking rates of livestock and the absence of filtration from regular water treatment, render it vulnerable to large-scale outbreaks. This review discusses the parasite in the Irish context and underlines the need for a reference facility to provide active surveillance on the island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annetta Zintl
- UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine and Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis, a protozoal disease which causes significant morbidity in humans, is one of the chief causes of diarrhoea in neonatal ruminants. Although the parasite poses a significant threat to public health and animal health in Ireland, its epidemiology on the island is only poorly understood. Environmental studies have shown the waterborne parasite to be widespread in some untreated waterbodies around Ireland. The island's hydrogeological situation, combined with high stocking rates of livestock and the absence of filtration from regular water treatment, render it vulnerable to large-scale outbreaks. This review discusses the parasite in the Irish context and underlines the need for a reference facility to provide active surveillance on the island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annetta Zintl
- UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine and Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Ireland
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