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Escherichia coli has been attributed to playing a major role in a cascade of events that affect the prevalence and severity of uterine disease in cattle. The objectives of this project were to (i) define the association between the prevalence of specific antimicrobial resistance and virulence factor genes in E. coli with the clinical status related to uterine infection, (ii) identify the genetic relationship between E. coli isolates from cows with diarrhea, with mastitis, and with and without metritis, and (iii) determine the association between the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance identified on the E. coli isolated from postpartum cattle. Bacterial isolates (n = 148) were obtained from a larger cross-sectional study. Cows were categorized into one of three clinical groups before enrollment: metritis, cows with purulent discharge, and control cows. For genomic comparison, public genomes (n = 130) from cows with diarrhea, mastitis, and metritis were included in a genome-wide association study, to evaluate differences between the drug classes or the virulence factor category among clinical groups. A distinct E. coli genotype associated with metritis could not be identified. Instead, a high genetic diversity among the isolates from uterine sources was present. A virulence factor previously associated with metritis (fimH) using PCR was not associated with metritis. There was moderate accuracy for whole-genome sequencing to predict phenotypic resistance, which varied depending on the antimicrobial tested. Findings from this study contradict the traditional pathotype classification and the unique intrauterine E. coli genotype associated with metritis in dairy cows.IMPORTANCEMetritis is a common infectious disease in dairy cattle and the second most common reason for treating a cow with antimicrobials. The pathophysiology of the disease is complex and is not completely understood. Specific endometrial pathogenic Escherichia coli have been reported to be adapted to the endometrium and sometimes lead to uterine disease. Unfortunately, the specific genomic details of the endometrial-adapted isolates have not been investigated using enough genomes to represent the genomic diversity of this organism to identify specific virulence genes that are consistently associated with disease development and severity. Results from this study provide key microbial ecological advances by elucidating and challenging accepted concepts for the role of Intrauterine E. coli in metritis in dairy cattle, especially contradicting the existence of a unique intrauterine E. coli genotype associated with metritis in dairy cows, which was not found in our study.

Simple Summary: Coccidiosis is a protozoan parasite disease that causes diarrhea in livestock worldwide. Because of their underdeveloped immune system, young bovine calves are highly susceptible. In calves of up to two months of age, diarrhea can lead to death if not managed promptly. Melatonin, synthesized from the essential amino acid tryptophan in the pineal gland, shows immunomodulatory properties. In fact, exogenous melatonin has been proposed as therapy to trigger an immune response against infectious diseases. Immunosuppression around the time of delivery has been extensively associated with early postpartum diseases of infectious cause in cattle. As public concerns about the use of antibiotics limit preventive actions, the objective of the present study was to explore the effects of melatonin treatment two months before expected parturition as a way of boosting the immune system of the dams and their calves. Treatment significantly reduced coccidia shedding in both dams and their calves during the early postpartum period. Coccidiosis is a protozoan disease that causes diarrhea in cattle. This study examines the impact of treating pregnant cows at dry-off with melatonin on postpartum coccidia excretion in dams and their calves. The study population comprised 106 primiparous lactating dairy cows: 53 controls and 53 receiving melatonin on days 220–226 of gestation, plus 99 calves: 52 born from control and 47 from treated dams. Feces samples were collected from each dam on gestation days 220–226 and on days 10–16 and 30–36 postpartum; and from each calf on days 10–16 and 30–36 of age. Postpartum rates of high excretion of oocysts per gram (OPG) (feces counts > 5000) were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in treated than control dams. Low excretion rates of OPG (<2000) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the melatonin treatment than control groups in dams on days 30–36 of lactation and in calves at 10–16 and 30–36 days of life. In conclusion, melatonin treatment in lactating cows at dry-off reduced coccidia shedding in dams and their calves during the early postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to measure the level of farmers’ perceptions on psychological, socio-cultural and economic aspects, and to analyze the economic losses during foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks. This study was conducted in Bantul District, Yogyakarta, during the period of July-September 2023. A total of 148 farmers affected by FMD were surveyed by a purposive sampling method using a questionnaire and the data were analyzed using the ordinal logistic regression method. The result showed that farmers’ perceptions of FMD outbreaks of psychological, socio-cultural and economic attributes were in the high category. The majority of farmers experienced low economic losses (47.30%). Age and livestock ownership (p<0.01), formal education, and informal education (p<0.1) had a positive effect on the level of farmers’ economic losses, while only farming experience (p<0.01) had a negative effect. Pseudo R-Square value of 33.9% or the level of economic losses, is influenced by farmers’ age, farming experience, livestock ownership, as well as formal and informal education. Reaction in the field of opportunity: the highest level of economic losses in the low category is 0.997%. This study shows that FMD handling carried out by farmers is good enough to prevent the impact of large economic losses on cattle farmers in Bantul Regency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bovine leukosis virus causes enzootic bovine leukosis (BLV) of the Retroviridae family and is the most significant neoplastic disease in cattle, leading to substantial economic losses globally. This study aimed to associate the progression of bovine leukosis with BoLA-DRB3 alleles in the Lucerna breed. A total of 104 animals were tested for the presence of BLV by nested PCR, the development of persistent lymphocytosis (PL) by peripheral blood smear, antibody titers (AT) to BLV by ELISA, and proviral load (PVL) by qPCR. Animals were genotyped for the BoLA-DRB3 gene by PCR-SBT. Allele frequencies of the DRB3 gene were estimated and associated using Fisher’s exact test and odds ratio. About 93.2% of the animals were virus positive, and 18.3% developed PL. Fifty percent of the animals had elevated AT with a value of 88.7 log2, and 43.3% had elevated PVL with 326871 copies/105 cells. In total, 17 BoLA-DRB3 alleles were found; the BoLA-DRB3*011:01 allele (12.1%) was the most frequent. Two alleles showed an association with susceptibility to viral infection (BoLA-DRB3*15:01 and *23:01), and only the BoLA-DRB3*38:01 allele was considered resistant. The BoLA-DRB3*11:01 and *15:01 alleles were not associated with LP, and neither allele was associated with high LP. Low AT was found in the BoLA-DRB3*13:01 and *20:01:02 alleles. The BoLA-DRB3*15:01 and *16:01 alleles were associated with high AT. Low PVL was associated with the BoLA-DRB3*11:01 and *23:01 alleles. BoLA-DRB3*15:01 allele was associated with high PVL. In conclusion, the Lucerne breed has a slow progression of enzootic bovine leukosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) is a severe lymphoproliferative vascular disease of cattle that is caused by ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvGHV2), which is a Macavirus within the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily. SA-MCF occurs worldwide in several mammalian hosts. Alternatively, alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 1 (AlGHV1) is a Macavirus that causes wildebeest-associated malignant catarrhal fever (MCF), which principally occurs in cattle from Africa. Previous serological assays to evaluate the presence of MCF in mammals used a competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CI-ELISA). This CI-ELISA is based on the 15A antigenic epitope that is common to all Macavirus associated with the development of MCF in their respective hosts. This study evaluated an indirect MCF-specific ELISA assay based on the AlGHV1 C500 strain to detect antibodies against OvGHV2 in 43 closed dairy cattle farms from Southern Brazil. These farms are located in a region where subclinical infections by OvGHV2 have been detected in free-ranging wild boars (Sus scrofa). Sheep or goats were not reared at these farms or within the proximity of these farms. Risk factors associated with seropositivity to OvGHV2 were evaluated, while the possible participation of subclinically infected wild boars in the dissemination of OvGHV2 was estimated using spatial analysis. Sera from 29 dairy cows from 16 farms demonstrated sample/positive (S/P) values considered positive with this MCF-specific ELISA (cutoff S/P, 0.063). The S/P values for the positive dairy cows varied between 0.0633 and 0.2510 (mean, 0.0998; standard deviation, 0.0476). At least one cow was seropositive in 16/43 (37.2%) of these farms, with seropositivity identified in 29/367 (7.9%) of dairy cows maintained at these farms. Additionally, dairy cows raised within the intensive system had a more than threefold higher chance of being seropositive to OvGHV2 relative to those reared within the semi-intensive system. Furthermore, the spatial evaluation revealed that cows on dairy farms within a 50 km radius of the home range of subclinically infected wild boars had an increased risk of being seropositive to this assay. These findings demonstrated that the AlGHV1 C500-specific MCF ELISA can be efficiently used to monitor the occurrence of OvGHV2 in cattle. In addition, the occurrence of subclinically infected free-ranging wild boars within a radius of 50 km from susceptible cattle may be a possible risk factor for the occurrence of OvGHV2-related infections in these animals from Southern Brazil. These initial results are fundamental to understanding the epidemiology of OvGHV2-associated infections and clinical SA-MCF in mammals in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: BRSV is one of the most important pathogens responsible for bovine respiratory syndrome and poses a threat to cattle production. Although high seroprevalence rates have been reported, the detection of the virus is much lower. The virus detection is often synchronized with the onset of respiratory symptoms, making the etiological testing of BRSV even more important for the prevention and control of the disease. In this study, we developed a qRT-RAA diagnostic method targeting the BRSV F gene based on emerging RAA technology, which allows the assay to be completed in 20 min at a constant temperature. This method is efficient and rapid, has high sensitivity and specificity, and is suitable for the clinical diagnosis of BRSV infection. Background: Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a significant cause of bovine respiratory disease, resulting in significant losses to the cattle industry. For rapid detection of BRSV, a real-time recombinase-aided isothermal amplification assay (qRT-RAA) based on the F gene of BRSV was developed in this study. Results: The developed qRT-RAA assay showed good exponential amplification of the target fragment in 20 min at a constant temperature of 39 °C. And this assay displayed a high specificity for BRSV, without cross-reactions with Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus (IBRV), Bovine Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 (BPIV3), Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), and Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV). With the standard RNA of BRSV serving as a template, the limit of detection for qRT-RAA was 102 copies/μL. We examined ninety-seven clinical samples from cattle with respiratory disease using this method and determined a positive rate of 7.2% (7/97), consistent with results using the classical PCR method reported previously. Conclusions: A qRT-RAA assay for BRSV detection was established in this study. The method is specific and sensitive and can be completed within 20 min at 39 °C. These works demonstrate that the generated qRT-RAA assay is an effective diagnostic tool for rapidly detecting BRSV in resource-limited settings, which may be applied for the clinical detection of BRSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a major contributor to cattle respiratory diseases. The study systematically reviewed 110 studies to assess BRSV prevalence and detection rates. Results showed that BRSV prevalence varies with the detection method: 0.62 for antibody-based, 0.05 for antigen-based, and 0.03 for nucleic acid-based methods. Key factors influencing prevalence included location, herd size, and co-infections. These findings indicate the complexity of BRSV detection. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is an economically important pathogen of cattle and contributes to the bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). Despite individual studies investigating BRSV prevalence, risk factors, and detection methodologies, a systematic review and meta-analysis have been lacking. The aim of the current study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence and detection rate of BRSV and identify associated risk factors. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the variability in BRSV prevalence based on different detection methods and associated risk factors. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, data from three databases—Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus—were systematically retrieved, screened and extracted. Out of 2790 initial studies, 110 met the inclusion criteria. The study found that prevalence and detection rates varied based on the detection methods used (antibody, antigen, and nucleic acid), study populations, production systems, and geographic locations. Findings were reported as a pooled proportion. The pooled proportion, hereafter referred to as prevalence or detection rate, was determined by calculating the ratio of cattle that tested positive for BRSV to the total number of cattle tested. Key findings include a pooled prevalence of 0.62 for antibody-based methods, 0.05 for antigen-based methods, and 0.09 (adjusted to 0.03) for nucleic acid-based methods. Detection rates in BRDC cases also varied, with antibody methods showing a rate of 0.34, antigen methods 0.16, and nucleic acid methods 0.13. The certainty of evidence of the meta-analysis results, assessed using GRADE, was moderate for antibody detection methods and low for antigen and nucleic acid methods. The study identified significant risk factors and trends affecting BRSV prevalence, such as geographical location, herd size, age, and co-infections. The results of the current study showed the complexity of understanding BRSV prevalence in different settings. The variability in BRSV prevalence based on detection methods and associated risk factors, such as geographic location and herd size, highlights the need for tailored approaches to detect and manage BRSV accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is common in intensively raised cattle and is often treated with antibiotics. For practitioners, knowledge of the bacteria involved in an outbreak and their antibiotic susceptibility is warranted. To this end, samples from the upper or lower respiratory tract of calves can be submitted for bacteriological culture and susceptibility testing of relevant isolates. However, it is debated whether isolates from the upper respiratory tract are representative of bacteria causing infections in the lower respiratory tract. In this study, we used MALDI-TOF MS, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) to compare culture results of 219 paired samples (sample pairs) of deep nasal swabs (DNS) and tracheobronchial lavage (TBL). The sample pairs came from 171 calves in 30 calf groups across 25 farms with 48 calves sampled twice. Results: The predominant bacterial pathogen was Pasteurella multocida, which was isolated from 37.4% of DNS and 22.4% of TBL. There was no statistically significant difference in isolation frequency of P. multocida between calves considered healthy and those suspected for BRD for DNS (P = 0.778) or TBL (P = 0.410). Among the 49 sample pairs where P. multocida was isolated from TBL, the same species was isolated from DNS in 29 sample pairs (59.2%). Isolates from 28 of these sample pairs were evaluated by MLST, and in 24 pairs (86.0%) P. multocida from DNS and TBL were of the same sequence type (ST). Moreover, cgMLST showed that the genetic distance between isolates within 21 of the 28 sample pairs (75.0%), was less than two alleles, and DNS and TBL isolates were considered identical. In seven sample pairs (25%), the genetic distance was greater, and DNS and TBL isolates were considered nonidentical. Conclusions: Pasteurella multocida was readily isolated from DNS and in calves where this species was isolated also from TBL, DNS and TBL isolates were identical in 75% of the sample pairs. This suggests that during an outbreak of BRD, submission of DNS samples from 4 to 6 calves could be a convenient approach for practitioners seeking guidance on P. multocida present in the lower respiratory tract and their antibiotic susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a significant and costly disease in cattle, characterized by various infections with distinct causes and clinical signs. This study focuses on investigating some hematological and inflammatory parameters, as well as cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) parameters, in calves with BRD. Forty-two calves were allocated to three groups based on clinical scoring: Group I (n=10, healthy, score 0), Group II (n=16, BRD, score 3), and Group III (n=16, BRD, score 4). Some hematological (WBC, NEU, LYM, NLR, and PLT), inflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-ĸB, and IL-10), and CAMP parameters were evaluated in all groups. Group III had significantly higher WBC, NEU, and NLR concentrations than Group I, while concentrations of PLT in Group II were higher than Group I (p<0.05). NF-ĸB, TNF-α, and CAMP levels were enhanced in Group III compared to Group I, and CAMP levels were higher in Group II than in Group I p<0.05). Strong positive correlations were found between NEU and WBC and NLR. Weak positive correlations existed between WBC, NEU, IL-10, and CAMP, as well as between LYM and IL-1β and NF-ĸB and CAMP. In conclusion, the most severe inflammation was observed in Group III, aligning with clinical scoring in BRD-affected calves. CAMP was identified as a reliable marker for inflammation assessment. Additionally, NLR, being low-cost and easily measurable, showed promise as an inflammation indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high antigenic variability of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) represents a challenge for developing prophylactic strategies, stressing the need for research into vaccines offering broad protection against a range of virus strains. Here, the heterotypic cross-reaction using different vaccine schemes against serotype O strains was studied, evaluating the impact of revaccination, antigen dose, and incorporation of additional FMDV serotypes. Naïve cattle were immunized with seven distinct FMDV vaccines, receiving three doses of the same formulation at 0, 28, and 56 days post-primary vaccination (dpv). Serum samples were collected up to 70 dpv and tested by a virus-neutralizing test against serotype O strains from a South American lineage and two strains representative of two Asian lineages. Our results showed that vaccines containing the ME-SA topotype O1/Campos strain developed cross-neutralizing responses against the two Asian viruses after the first vaccination. In contrast, significant heterotypic neutralizing antibody titers against the homologous topotype strain were only found after the second vaccination, indicating that the phylogenic relationship may differ from the antigenic profiles for these two viruses. The amount of the O1/Campos strain and the revaccination were essential factors for neutralization against the homologous- and heterologous-type O FMDV viruses. The strain composition of the vaccine was only relevant for cross-neutralization against one of the Asian strains, suggesting potential intra-serotypic divergences for this pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic burden of diseases and reproductive inefficiency in dairy cattle is evident and has been quantified. Dairy diseases and reproductive inefficiency are however associated with other issues as well, including animal welfare, environmental pressure, and public health risks. Quantifying these other issues is becoming important to help farmers make decisions. Quantification of the noneconomic burdens of diseases and reproductive inefficiency is rare and lacks an overview of approaches and metrics. The first aim of this paper is to provide trends for associating diseases and reproductive inefficiency with economic and noneconomic burdens of disease. The second aim is to provide a review of approaches and metrics used to quantify the noneconomic burdens of disease and reproductive inefficiency. For the economic burden of diseases and reproductive performance, only an overview of the approaches used to quantify the burden is provided. The final aim is to propose approaches and metrics for future quantification of noneconomic burdens caused by individual diseases. A literature search was conducted in Web of Science to identify scientific articles on mastitis, lameness, metabolic disorders, and reproductive inefficiency in dairy cows. The search was restricted to articles published between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2022 and resulted in 7,565 articles. The total number of articles that mentioned the economic, animal welfare, public health, and environmental burden was 1,253, 428, 291, and 77, respectively. An increase in the percentage of articles mentioning the economic, animal welfare, and public health burden was observed between 2010 and 2022. Despite the 2,049 articles that mentioned one of the burdens, the results showed that approximately 10% of the articles quantified one or more of these burdens. The economic burden of diseases and reproductive inefficiency has been quantified in 154 articles and very few articles quantified the noneconomic burdens (9 articles for environment, 29 articles for public health, and 2 articles for animal welfare). Eleven articles were identified that quantified multiple burdens, and in all these studies the economic burden was combined with a noneconomic burden through a modeling approach (mainly simulation). We propose to link the noneconomic burdens to biological simulation models, and thus develop bioburden simulation models. Well-established approaches and metrics can be used to quantify economic, environmental, and public health burdens. For the economic impact, costs per cow per year can be assessed. A life cycle assessment can be performed for environmental impact and the public health impact can be assessed by a defined daily dose for antimicrobial use and disability-adjusted life years for zoonotic diseases. Regarding animal welfare, approaches and metrics to quantify the welfare impact of a diseased animal are not well established. For animal welfare, we propose a welfare-adjusted life years approach. The mentioned approaches and metrics are a proposal, and it is up to the scientific community to use them or, based on empirics and research experience, propose changes so that we will end up with robust approaches and metrics that enable us to compare research results and provide more evidence for animal health decision makers. The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postmortem examination of deceased production animals with appropriate ancillary testing is fundamental to determining causes of morbidity and mortality. Reaching a definitive diagnosis is crucial to evidence-based herd management and treatment decisions that safeguard animal health and welfare, food safety, and human health. However, for a range of reasons, carcasses sometimes cannot be examined in a veterinary diagnostic laboratory. As a result, postmortem examinations of farmed animals, including cattle, are often performed on-farm by the referring veterinarian (rVet) with tissue samples submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory for ancillary testing. For various reasons, field postmortems can be associated with lower diagnostic rates. We investigated real-time pathologist-assisted field postmortem examination (rtPAP) assistance to beef cattle rVets to gauge any improvement in attaining a final diagnosis. We found that rtPAPs improved the success of reaching a final diagnosis compared to unassisted field postmortem examinations. Both the participating bovine rVets and the pathologists saw benefits to the rtPAPs, with bovine rVets indicating that they would utilize this service in the future if available. Our proof-of-concept study demonstrated the positive role of rtPAPs in diagnosing beef cattle disease and speaks to the need for telepathology services supporting food animal rVets and producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) inflicts significant losses in cattle farming worldwide and is caused by the co-occurrence of various infectious agents which is often compounded by environmental factors. It is well known that microorganisms of the Mollicutes class are responsible for respiratory disorders in cattle, including BRD. This review highlights the current role of these microorganisms, in particular Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma dispar, in the etiology of this disease complex, which has recently shifted toward a primary or predominant cause of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astylus atromaculatus is a pollen beetle native to South America, commonly found in crop flowers. Experimental intoxication of sheep and guinea pigs by this beetle resulting in fibrinonecrotizing enteritis has been reported. We describe here 6 natural outbreaks of intoxication in cattle associated with consumption of alfalfa (5 of 6) and mixed native (1 of 6) pastures heavily contaminated with A. atromaculatus. The outbreaks occurred during the summer (January-February) of 2023 in Argentina (n = 4) and Uruguay (n = 2), in beef cattle under extensive or semi-extensive rearing systems, with overall cumulative incidence and mortality of 22.3% and 17.8%, respectively. The main clinical signs included acute onset of anorexia, lethargy, hyperthermia, hindlimb weakness, reluctance to move, and diarrhea, for up to 15 d. In 2 outbreaks, sudden death was observed. Eight Hereford, Angus, and/or crossbreed heifers, cows, steers, and/or calves were autopsied. Gross and microscopic findings included multifocal necrosis with fibrinous pseudomembranes in the forestomachs and/or small and large intestines. Fragments or whole specimens of A. atromaculatus were identified in the ruminal content of all animals. Testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens was negative as was testing of A. atromaculatus for cantharidin and batrachotoxin. GC-MS and LC-MS/MS performed on the beetles did not identify any known toxic compounds. Based on the exposure to A. atromaculatus-contaminated pasture, gross and microscopic lesions, and negative results of all testing for multiple gastroenteric pathogens, a diagnosis of intoxication by A. atromaculatus is proposed. Disease caused by A. atromaculatus consumption has not been reported previously in cattle, to our knowledge.

This review paper delves into the intricate relationship between the genital microbiome and fertility outcomes in livestock, with a specific focus on cattle. Drawing upon insights derived from culture-independent metagenomics studies, the paper meticulously examines the composition and dynamics of the genital microbiome. Through advanced techniques such as high-throughput sequencing, the review illuminates the temporal shifts in microbial communities and their profound implications for reproductive health. The analysis underscores the association between dysbiosis—an imbalance in microbial communities—and the development of reproductive diseases, shedding light on the pivotal role of microbial gatekeepers in livestock fertility. Furthermore, the paper emphasizes the need for continued exploration of uncharted dimensions of the female reproductive microbiome to unlock new insights into its impact on fertility. By elucidating the complex interplay between microbial communities and reproductive health, this review underscores the importance of innovative strategies aimed at enhancing fertility and mitigating reproductive diseases in livestock populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate seroprevalence, clinical manifestations, molecular diagnosis of Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle in an around Parbhani during outbreak of LSD. Methods: The cattle irrespective of their age, breed and gender were screened for detection of LSDV. Duration of study period was from December, 2020 to August, 2021. The cattle showed high fever, presence of nodules on body, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, brisket oedema and lameness were screened for lumpy skin disease and were further confirmed using molecular tests. Total 478 cattle were screened for the seroprevalence of lumpy skin disease by ELISA and PCR tests. The cattle were categorized into different age groups as calves (less than 0-2 years), young (between 2-4 years) and adults (4 years and above). The various breeds such as Khillar, Red Kandhari, Gir, Holstein-Friesen, cross-bred and non-descript cattle were screened. The seroprevalence of Lumpy Skin Disease in female and male was also recorded. Result: The molecular assay of LSD revealed that, out of 478 cattle screened, 267 (55.85%) serum samples were found positive by ELISA test. Whereas, among 267 blood samples and 8 scab samples tested by PCR, 82 blood samples (30.7%) and 5 scab samples (62.5%) were found positive for LSDV in cattle. LSD is an emerging, transboundary and economically important viral disease of cattle. The overall seroprevalence of LSD in cattle was 55.85%. Prominent clinical manifestations in LSD affected cattle was Prominent clinical manifestations in LSD affected cattle were fever followed by generalized appearance of skin nodules on body. In addition, LSD affected cattle showed oculo-nasal discharge, enlarged lymph nodes, brisket oedema, lameness, corneal opacity and anorexia. The scab samples were more reliable material for LSDV confirmation by PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Left displaced abomasum is a common disease among Holstein cattle that is causing significant economic losses. The exact causes of the disease are unknown, but it is assumed that LDA is multifactorial in nature. Predisposition to the displacement has been shown to be inherited. We conducted a genome-wide study to identify statistical associations between certain mutations and left displaced abomasum in Holstein cows from several farms in the Leningrad region. We found suggestive statistical associations with this disease and several mutations located in a set of genes involved in a variety of physiological processes. Some of these processes may be directly related to the development of the disease being studied. In addition, we conducted runs of homozygosity analysis and found that cows with displaced abomasum are more likely than healthy cows to carry a specific state of genomic regions containing genes associated with body shape, including width. This may indicate the role of this trait in the development of the disease. Left displaced abomasum (LDA) is a multifactorial disease of cattle that occurs mainly during the transition postpartum period and is characterized by a decrease in milk production and an increased risk of culling. Several studies have been conducted confirming the hereditary nature of predisposition to this disease. The aim of our study is to identify genetic associations characterizing the genomic variability of susceptibility to LDA in Holstein cattle of the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation. The objects of this study were 360 highly productive dairy cows divided into two groups: animals with LDA, and healthy ones (control). Runs of homozygosity analysis revealed one ROH on BTA13 that was found to be significantly more prevalent in the group of animals with LDA than in the healthy group. Fourteen candidate SNPs were found to be nominally associated with left displacement of the abomasum (p-value < 1 × 10−4). When performing functional annotation of genes containing associated polymorphisms or located close to them, candidate genes presumably associated with the development of LDA were identified: ABCB11, SRP72, RGS18, SOX4, GSG1L, FBXL19, and PNPLA4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) poses a significant threat to animal welfare and leads to economic losses in affected countries. LSD outbreaks may also impact trade and regional relationships. South and Southeast Asia, with its dense livestock population and intricate trade networks, are susceptible to LSD outbreaks. Indonesia confirmed its first LSD cases in March 2022, leading to substantial livestock losses by August 2023. Australia, an important player in the global beef industry, faced trade disruptions due to LSD concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia, claims that were refuted by Australian authorities. The dispute highlights the need for good surveillance. EPIWATCH®, employing artificial intelligence, provides real‐time outbreak signals, and spatial analysis can identify LSD hotspots, leading to timely interventions. This study uses data collected by the EPIWATCH® open‐source disease surveillance system at the University of New South Wales in 2022 and 2023 and compares it for timeliness and completeness with data available on the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS). We found more timely reports of LSD outbreaks in EPIWATCH® compared to WAHIS. In conclusion, open‐source surveillance tools like EPIWATCH® can provide timely alerts of disease emergence, such as LSD outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia, which can supplement formal reporting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a highly contagious viral infection in cattle that poses a significant threat to agricultural economies, especially in countries like India. Early and accurate detection is vital to prevent widespread outbreaks and reduce economic losses. Our research leverages advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), specifically deep learning, to develop an automated system for detecting LSD in cattle. We utilized publicly available datasets containing images of healthy cattle, those affected by LSD, and, importantly, cattle with other skin diseases to ensure our model specifically identifies LSD rather than general illness signs. We evaluated over ten pretrained deep learning models, including VGG16 and MobileNetV2, using transfer learning techniques. Through detailed data preprocessing, augmentation, and balancing, we enhanced model performance and generalizability. We assessed the models using crucial medical diagnostics metrics like sensitivity and specificity to minimize false negatives and positives. VGG16 and MobileNetV2 stood out, achieving high accuracy along with excellent sensitivity and specificity, effectively detecting LSD without misclassifying other conditions. This study provides valuable insights into applying deep learning in veterinary diagnostics, contributing to developing reliable AI tools for early LSD detection, ultimately improving animal health management and safeguarding the agricultural economy. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) poses a significant threat to agricultural economies, particularly in livestock-dependent countries like India, due to its high transmission rate leading to severe morbidity and mortality among cattle. This underscores the urgent need for early and accurate detection to effectively manage and mitigate outbreaks. Leveraging advancements in computer vision and artificial intelligence, our research develops an automated system for LSD detection in cattle using deep learning techniques. We utilized two publicly available datasets comprising images of healthy cattle and those with LSD, including additional images of cattle affected by other diseases to enhance specificity and ensure the model detects LSD specifically rather than general illness signs. Our methodology involved preprocessing the images, applying data augmentation, and balancing the datasets to improve model generalizability. We evaluated over ten pretrained deep learning models—Xception, VGG16, VGG19, ResNet152V2, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2, DenseNet201, NASNetMobile, NASNetLarge, and EfficientNetV2S—using transfer learning. The models were rigorously trained and tested under diverse conditions, with performance assessed using metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1-score, and AUC-ROC. Notably, VGG16 and MobileNetV2 emerged as the most effective, achieving accuracies of 96.07% and 96.39%, sensitivities of 93.75% and 98.57%, and specificities of 97.14% and 94.59%, respectively. Our study critically highlights the strengths and limitations of each model, demonstrating that while high accuracy is achievable, sensitivity and specificity are crucial for clinical applicability. By meticulously detailing the performance characteristics and including images of cattle with other diseases, we ensured the robustness and reliability of the models. This comprehensive comparative analysis enriches our understanding of deep learning applications in veterinary diagnostics and makes a substantial contribution to the field of automated disease recognition in livestock farming. Our findings suggest that adopting such AI-driven diagnostic tools can enhance the early detection and control of LSD, ultimately benefiting animal health and the agricultural economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United Kingdom, the management of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) challenges the coexistence of people and wildlife. Control of this cattle disease is hindered by transmission of its causative agent, Mycobacterium bovis, between cattle and badgers Meles meles.Badger culling has formed an element of bTB control policy for decades, but current government policy envisions expanding badger vaccination. Farming leaders are sceptical, citing concerns that badger vaccination would be impractical and potentially ineffective.We report on a 4‐year badger vaccination initiative in an 11 km2 area which, atypically, was initiated by local farmers, delivered by scientists and conservationists, and co‐funded by all three. Participating landholders cited controversies around culling and a desire to support neighbours as their primary reasons for adopting vaccination.The number of badgers vaccinated per km2 (5.6 km−2 in 2019) exceeded the number culled on nearby land (2.9 km−2 in 2019), and the estimated proportion vaccinated (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 40%–137%) exceeded the 30% threshold predicted by models to be necessary to control M. bovis. Farmers were content with how vaccination was delivered, and felt that it built trust with wildlife professionals.The percentage of badgers testing positive for M. bovis declined from 16.0% (95% CI 4.5%–36.1%) at the start of vaccination to 0% (95% CI 0%–9.7%) in the final year. With neither replication nor unvaccinated controls, this small‐scale case study does not demonstrate a causal link between badger vaccination and bTB epidemiology, but it does suggest that larger‐scale evaluation of badger vaccination would be warranted.Farmers reported that their enthusiasm for badger vaccination had increased after participating for 4 years. They considered vaccination to have been effective, and good value for money, and wished to continue with it.Synthesis and applications: Although small‐scale, this case study suggests that badger vaccination can be a technically effective and socially acceptable component of bTB control. A wider rollout of badger vaccination is more likely if it is led by the farming community, rather than by conservationists or government, and is combined with scientific monitoring. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus outbreak in U.S. cattle and poultry and the associated human cases, CDC and partners are monitoring influenza A virus levels and detection of the H5 subtype in wastewater. Among 48 states and the District of Columbia that performed influenza A testing of wastewater during May 12–July 13, 2024, a weekly average of 309 sites in 38 states had sufficient data for analysis, and 11 sites in four states reported high levels of influenza A virus. H5 subtype testing was conducted at 203 sites in 41 states, with H5 detections at 24 sites in nine states. For each detection or high level, CDC and state and local health departments evaluated data from other influenza surveillance systems and partnered with wastewater utilities and agriculture departments to investigate potential sources. Among the four states with high influenza A virus levels detected in wastewater, three states had corresponding evidence of human influenza activity from other influenza surveillance systems. Among the 24 sites with H5 detections, 15 identified animal sources within the sewershed or adjacent county, including eight milk-processing inputs. Data from these early investigations can help health officials optimize the use of wastewater surveillance during the upcoming respiratory illness season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surra is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi that threatens the health and productivity of camels. Despite its significant impact on camels in Ethiopia, surra has not received as much attention as diseases in cattle and other domestic animals. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of surra, identify the potential risk factors and assess the traditional knowledge, attitude and practices of camel herders towards the disease. Methods: The study used a parasitological and participatory epidemiological (PE) approach. Between February and July 2022, a total of 335 blood samples were collected from camels across three districts and tested using the buffy coat technique. The PE investigation involved six key informant groups consisting of 8 to 12 key persons, and used a semi-structured interview and various PE tools and principles. Result: The study found that the prevalence of surra among examined camels was 3.9% (95% CI: 2.1–6.5). The prevalence was significantly higher in camels with a poor body condition score (BCS) (OR = 9.3; 95% CI: 1.8–47.5; p = 0.008) compared with camels with a good BCS. However, district, age, sex, and ethnicity had no effect on the prevalence of surra (p > 0.05). The study also found that the packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in parasitaemic animals (18.92 ± 2.63) than in aparasitaemic animals (25.13 ± 4.56). Camels with poor BCS (22.7 ± 3.5) had a significantly (p < 0.001) lower mean PCV than camels with good BCS (26.2 ± 5.0). The PE investigation showed that all the camel herders were well aware of surra, known locally as Dhukana. The clinical symptoms, the season of high incidence, routes of transmission, impact on production, and control methods were accurately described. Moreover, this study emphasized that surra is the primary disease affecting camel health and productivity. Conclusion: The study identified a moderate prevalence of surra in the research area. To reduce surra incidence and associated losses, enhancing veterinary services and providing support for proper camel husbandry practices in the region is recommended. Additionally, future studies should consider using more sensitive and specific techniques like serological and molecular assays, as this study relied on microscopy only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cattle husbandry in India is a cornerstone of the agricultural sector, supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers. However, the industry grapples with challenges such as disease outbreaks, low productivity and limited access to veterinary services. The TNAU Cattle Expert System Application represents a digital innovation aimed at addressing these challenges by providing farmers with real-time guidance on various aspects of cattle management. Methods: The study was meticulously conducted in Tamil Nadu over the years of both 2022 and 2023. Feedback was systematically collected from 523 users of the TNAU Cattle Expert System Application. Text analysis tools were employed to categorize sentiments as positive, negative or neutral using Azure machine learing sotware in MS Excel. Log Regression was carried out to identify the variance of feedback sentiments followed by cluster analysis through jamovi further classified feedback into distinct groups, revealing patterns in user engagement. Result: Positive feedback praised the application's detailed information on cattle protection and disease precautions, particularly for FMD, BRD, Mastitis, Johne's disease, Brucellosis, Clostridia diseases and BVD. "Delicate" users (38.54%) gave appreciative feedback, "Arbitrator" users (26.04%) offered diverse opinions, "Eloquent" users (18.75%) expressed positive sentiments, while "Criticizer" (12.50%) and "Harsh stringer" users (4.17%) provided critical insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is responsible for huge economic losses due to reduced milk production, degradation of hide, abortion, temporary or permanent sterility of bulls and cows and death. It is highly contagious in nature. The clinical entity and morbidity pattern of disease vary considerably therefore present study was undertaken. Methods: A total of 308 cattle were screened for LSD for a period of one year (October 2021 to September 2022) in Rajasthan state in India and the animals were subjected to thorough physical and clinical examination. Skin nodular scab samples were collected and processed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for molecular characterization. Blood samples were also collected for investigations on haemato-biochemical parameters. Result: Overall prevalence of LSD in cattle was 5.84 per cent. Highest prevalence was observed in cattle above 3 years of age. Higher prevalence of LSD was observed in crossbred cattle and during winter season. Molecular characterization revealed a band size of 192 bp in all LSDV positive samples. There was highly significant (P<0.01) difference in PCV, Hb, TEC, TLC, total protein, albumen, globulin, ALT, AST, ALKP, BUN and total bilirubin in LSD affected cattle as compared to healthy control whereas reduction in platelet count was significant (P<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Widely regarded as one of the chief causes of diseases in cattle population, bovine herpesvirus‐1 (BoHV‐1) has the potential to infect sheep and goat, making them potential reservoirs or hosts for this virus. Thus, preventive measures against BoHV‐1 in cattle should not overlook the ability of this virus to infect other animals. Aims: Therefore, the focal point of this study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of BoHV‐1 in 300 healthy goats, the relationship between host and the environmental determinants of infection, and the contributing role of goats in the epidemiology of the BoHV‐1. Materials & Methods: In order to pinpoint the existing antibodies to BoHV‐1, the obtained sera were analyzed by Virus Neutralization test. Results: According to this test, the seroprevalence of BoHV‐1 appeared to be 64.33% in southwestern Iran. What logistic regression disclosed was that the odds ratio between age and infection with BoHV‐1 was 0.83 (p = 0.01), representing a decrease of 17% as goats grew one year older. In addition, females manifested a higher relative frequency of infection compared to males, with the odds of infection in female goats being registered at 1.88, compared to those in males (p = 0.2). Moreover, contrasted with goats lacking any history of abortion, those with a history of abortion featured 1.1 as the odds ratio (p = 0.87). The seroprevalence in Hendijan, Ahvaz, Shushtar and Dasht e Azadegan was detected to stand at 73.24, 71.30, 55.56 and 47.06 percent, respectively, with 6% of fluctuation in the infection rates being attributed to various geographical locations under the scrutiny of this study (p = 0.003). Discussion and Conclusion: Having attested the marked seroprevalence of BoHV‐1, the definitive role of goats in the epidemiology of this virus as a secondary host or reservoir was confirmed by the present study, necessitating the strict monitoring of BoHV‐1 in goats by animal health authorities in areas where BoHV‐1 abounds in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Bovine digital dermatitis remains a widespread endemic disease of dairy cattle worldwide. Footbathing is commonly used as a control measure and has significant economic and environmental impacts. Few studies document footbathing practices on dairy farms or evaluate their suitability for achieving foot disinfection. This study describes footbathing practices on 32 farms observed in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. We measured solution depth throughout footbathing and observed levels below 7 cm on 9 out of 32 farms, which leads to inadequate foot coverage. Solution depth was associated with the number of cow passages and decreased by 1.2 cm for every 100 cow passages. We also describe levels of OM content (g/L) throughout footbathing as a proxy for footbath hygiene. Our data indicates that almost half of footbaths (15/32) became contaminated above the 20 g/L threshold to which veterinary biocides are tested for efficacy, and that OM content is associated with the number of cow passages per liter of footbathing solution provided. A multivariable mixed model predicted that 1 L of footbathing solution per cow should be sufficient to prevent excess contamination. As a further measure of hygiene, we tested a subset of footbath samples to quantify the amount of DNA present from the Treponema species which are considered instrumental in the etiology of digital dermatitis. We did not detect Treponema DNA in footbath samples, which suggested they are unlikely to act as infection reservoirs for this disease. Multivariable mixed models including farm identity as a random effect demonstrated that for both change in solution depth and OM content the effect of farm-level factors was large. Because of the magnitude of this farm effect, applying model predictions will not translate to adequate solution depth and hygiene on all farms. Our data highlights the importance of footbath auditing on individual farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. An economic simulation was carried out over 183 milk-producing countries to estimate the global economic impacts of 12 dairy cattle diseases and health conditions: mastitis (subclinical and clinical), lameness, paratuberculosis (Johne's disease), displaced abomasum, dystocia, metritis, milk fever, ovarian cysts, retained placenta, and ketosis (subclinical and clinical). Estimates of disease impacts on milk yield, fertility, and culling were collected from the literature, standardized, meta-analyzed using a variety of methods ranging from simple averaging to random-effects models, and adjusted for comorbidities to prevent overestimation. These comorbidity-adjusted disease impacts were then combined with a set of country-level estimates for lactational incidence or prevalence or both, herd characteristics, and price estimates within a series of Monte Carlo simulations that estimated and valued the economic losses due to these diseases. It was estimated that total annual global losses are US$65 billion (B). Subclinical ketosis, clinical mastitis, and subclinical mastitis were the costliest diseases modeled, resulting in mean annual global losses of approximately US$18B, US$13B, and US$9B, respectively. Estimated global annual losses due to clinical ketosis, displaced abomasum, dystocia, lameness, metritis, milk fever, ovarian cysts, paratuberculosis, and retained placenta were estimated to be US$0.2B, US$0.6B, US$0.6B, US$6B, US$5B, US$0.6B, US$4B, US$4B, and US$3B, respectively. Without adjustment for comorbidities, when statistical associations between diseases were disregarded, mean aggregate global losses would have been overestimated by 45%. Although annual losses were greatest in India (US$12B), the United States (US$8B), and China (US$5B), depending on the measure of losses used (losses as a percentage of gross domestic product, losses per capita, losses as a percentage of gross milk revenue), the relative economic burden of these dairy cattle diseases across countries varied markedly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective study describes the occurrence, morphology and localisation of type 1 abomasal ulcers (AU1) in various diseases of buffaloes and cattle. The carcasses were examined to confirm the cause of death. The abomasa were examined for AU1 and their characteristics. The AU1 were categorised into four subtypes, 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, as per standard procedure. Traumatic reticuloperitonitis/pericarditis, reticular diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal obstruction, peritonitis, bronchopneumonia and theileriosis were the common causes for AU1. The overall prevalence of AU1 was 62.9%, which did not differ significantly with species and age. The prevalence of acute ulcers (1a and 1b) was significantly higher than that of chronic ulcers (1c and 1d). Most AU1 were located in the caudal third of abomasal body on parietal surface along the greater curvature. Most of the 1a ulcers were located in the pylorus, while 1b, 1c and 1d were located in the abomasal body. The overall prevalence of AU1 was lower (P<0.05) in the fundus than in other anatomical regions of the abomasum. Type 1b ulcers were more numerous than other subtypes. It was concluded that AU1 may be an important cause of slow recovery/poor prognosis under clinical situations and hence, the therapy protocol for such cases should include treatment for probable gastrointestinal bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatic cell count detection is the daily work of dairy farms to monitor the health of cows. The feasibility of applying near-infrared spectroscopy to somatic cell count detection was researched in this paper. Milk samples with different somatic cell counts were collected and preprocessing methods were studied. Variable selection algorithm based on hybrid strategy and modelling method based on ensemble learning were explored for somatic cell count detection. Detection model was used to diagnose subclinical mastitis and the results showed that near-infrared spectroscopy could be a tool to realize rapid detection of somatic cell count in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease (BVD-MD) is a contagious disease in cattle, caused by the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). This virus continues to spread globally, exerting pressure on both public health and the economy. Despite its impact, there are currently no effective drugs for treating BVDV. This study utilized Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells as amodel to investigate the antiviral effects of melatonin against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) and its connection with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Our results show that melatonin can suppress BVDV proliferation in MDBK cells by modulating the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated NF-κB pathway and autophagy. Specifically,melatonin alleviated ER stress, inhibited the activation of IκBα and p65, regulated autophagy, and reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further, when we treated BVDV-infected cells with the ER stress inducer thapsigargin, it led to significant activation of the NF-κB pathway and autophagy. Conversely, treating the cells with the ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid reversed these effects. These findings suggest that melatonin exerts its antiviral effects primarily through the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 of ER stress-mediated NF-κB pathway and autophagy. Overall, our study underscores the potential of melatonin as an effective protective and therapeutic option against BVDV, offering insights into its anti-infective mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is capable of causing a range of diseases in cattle, encompassing calf pneumonia, arthritis, conjunctivitis, meningitis, and mastitis. It is widely recognized as one of the predominant pathogens posing a significant threat to the global cattle industry. Therefore, accurate and sensitive methods are urgently needed to detect M. bovis. This study aims to detect M. bovis by combining colloidal gold with biotin-labeled oligonucleotides to improve detection sensitivity and form a chromogenic detection probe based on signal amplification technology. Here, we developed a sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction-lateral flow dipstick assay (PCR-LFD) strip for efficient nucleic acid detection of M. bovis. A pair of specific primers with 5' ends labeled with biotin and digoxigenin probes was designed for PCR experiments. Colloidal gold particles-labeled anti-digoxigenin IgG coated gold-labeled test strip was prepared, streptavidin was used as the detection probe, and nitrocellulose membrane coated goat anti-mouse IgG was used as the control line. Our results showed that the detection limit of the PCR-LFD was 89 fg/µL for the M. bovis DNA. The results from the test strip were highly consistent with those from real-time qPCR. This assay were highly specific for M. bovis, as there were no cross-reactions with other microorganisms tested and the detection sensitivity of the test was also relatively high (97.67%). The novel strips present a promising tool for the cost-effective and sensitive diagnosis of M. bovis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a critical problem for cattle populations, affecting both individual cows and the entire herd. Given cattle's critical role in meeting human needs, effective management of this disease is essential to prevent significant losses. The study proposes a deep learning approach using the MobileNetV2 model and the RMSprop optimizer to address this challenge. Tests on a dataset of healthy and lumpy cattle images show an impressive accuracy of 95%, outperforming existing benchmarks by 4–10%. These results underline the potential of the proposed methodology to revolutionize the diagnosis and management of skin diseases in cattle farming. Researchers and graduate students are the audience for our paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimum fertility is a pre-requisite for enhancing productivity as well as life time production of dairy bovines. However, increasing evidences indicate that with increasing milk yields, fertility has been declining. Analysis of the existing information indicates that dairy animals in our country calve at a later age, conceive at very later stage of post-partum period and the conception rate is low. Among the several reasons for extended service period (in turn calving interval), postpartum uterine infection alone accounts to around 30 per cent. Infectious diseases affecting reproductive organs can create losses throughout the reproductive cycle by decreasing ovulation rates, fertilization rates, embryonic survival rates and fetal survival rates. Understanding the molecular basis of uterine disease and identification of bio-molecules to detect uterine infection at an early stage besides developing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies is the need of the hour to realize the dream of obtaining a calf per cow per year. It is in this regard, the developments in the field of diagnosis and treatment of uterine infection, with special reference to subclinical uterine infection, are compiled, analysed and presented in this paper to provide the readers with the updated information on these aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypodermosis is a subcutaneous infestation in cattle that is caused by larvae of Hypoderma spp. and it is an economically important disease in the cattle industry. This study aimed to find the prevalence rate of hypodermosis and identify variations in the COX1 gene among isolates present in Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Methodology: The study was conducted in a Sulaymaniyah slaughterhouse from March to July 2021. The carcasses of 867 cattle were carefully checked before and after skinning them to record the presence of boils containing the larvae of Hypoderma spp. Polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using TaqI enzyme, and sequencing of the COX1 gene were used for diagnosis and molecular characterization of Hypoderma spp. Results: The rate of infestation with Hypoderma bovis was 1.61% and the highest rate (3.57%) was detected in April. The disease was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in local breeds at 2.79%. PCR-RFLP confirmed that all recorded species were H. bovis. The result was further confirmed by Sanger sequencing of the COX1 gene of the isolated species. Comparison of the sequences of the conserved COX1 gene of the parasite led to identification of six different haplotypes in the research area. Two of the haplotypes were previously recorded internationally, while four new haplotypes associated with four novel mutations were recorded for the first time in the study region. Conclusions: Based on these results we can conclude that H. bovis is a widespread species in the research region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schisandra chinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine known for its antitussive and sedative effects, has shown promise in preventing various viral infections. Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) is an enveloped DNA virus that causes respiratory disease in cattle, leading to significant economic losses in the industry. Because the lack of previous reports on Schisandra chinensis resisting BoHV-1 infection, this study aimed to investigate the specific mechanisms involved. Results from TCID50, qPCR, IFA, and western blot analyses demonstrated that Schisandra chinensis could inhibit BoHV-1 entry into MDBK cells, primarily through its extract Methylgomisin O (Meth O). The specific mechanism involved Meth O blocking BoHV-1 entry into cells via clathrin- and caveolin-mediated endocytosis by suppressing the activation of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Additionally, findings from TCID50, qPCR, co-immunoprecipitation and western blot assays revealed that Schisandra chinensis blocked BoHV-1 gD transcription through enhancing m6A methylation of gD after virus entry, thereby hindering gD protein expression and preventing progeny virus entry into cells and ultimately inhibiting BoHV-1 replication. Overall, these results suggest that Schisandra chinensis can resist BoHV-1 infection by targeting the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and inhibiting gD transcription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Theileria orientalis Ikeda genotype is an emerging cattle disease in the US. Since 2017, when T. orientalis Ikeda was discovered in beef cattle in two counties in Virginia, cattle infections have risen to include ~67% of Virginia counties and 14 states. Consistent with New Zealand studies, many infected herds in Virginia were >90% positive upon initial testing without overt evidence of infection. Central bull tests present a unique opportunity to study the effects of T. orientalis Ikeda infections, as bulls from multiple source herds are consolidated. The objective of this study was to determine if infection with T. orientalis Ikeda affected the average daily gain (ADG), adjusted yearling weight (AYW) and breeding soundness of bulls at two test stations in Virginia over a period of years. Materials and methods: The bulls were fed and housed similarly to compare their growth performance and breeding soundness. For T. orientalis Ikeda testing, DNA was extracted from whole blood for quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The number of bulls infected with T. orientalis Ikeda at initial delivery to the stations increased significantly over the years studied. Multivariable linear regression models, using Angus bulls from Virginia test stations, indicated no significant effect on ADG or AYW in bulls that became test positive during the test or were positive for the duration, compared to Angus bulls that were negative for the duration. At LOC A, the odds of passing a breeding soundness exam (BSE) were not significantly different for bulls that turned positive during the test or were positive for the duration, compared to bulls that were negative for the duration of the test. At LOC B, bulls that became positive during the test were 2.4 times more likely (95% CI: 1.165-4.995, p = 0.016) to pass their BSE compared to bulls that remained negative throughout the test. Discussion: We do not suppose that an obscured infection of T. orientalis Ikeda is protective for bulls to pass a BSE. However, this study demonstrates an obscured infection of T. orientalis Ikeda does not negatively affect weight gain or achievement of a satisfactory BSE rating at the central bull test stations in Virginia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infection has been reported in cattle in Argentina, it has not been associated with pneumonia in Argentina. We report here 5 cases of bovine pneumonia associated with BRSV. Autopsies were performed on 35 beef cattle with gross and/or microscopic lesions of pneumonia from 3 commercial feedlots. Lung samples in 5 of 35 animals were BRSV-positive by reverse-transcription nested PCR. The lungs of 2 of these 5 animals were coinfected with Mannheimia haemolytica, and 1 with bovine viral diarrhea virus 1. Microscopically, the lungs of 3 of the 5 BRSV PCR-positive animals had fibrinosuppurative bronchopneumonia, with or without pleuritis; 2 of the 5 had interstitial pneumonia. We conclude that BRSV is part of the bovine respiratory disease complex in Argentina.

California Leafy Green Products Handler Marketing Agreement (LGMA) established food safety metrics with guidance recommendations of 366 m (1,200 feet) and 1,609 m (1 mile) distances between production fields of leafy greens and a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) containing >1,000 and >80,000 head of cattle, respectively. This study evaluated the effect of these distance metrics and environmental factors on the occurrence of airborneEscherichia coliin proximity to seven commercial beef cattle feedlots located in Imperial Valley, California. A total of 168 air samples were collected from seven beef cattle feedlots during March and April 2020, which were the months implicated in the 2018 Yuma Arizona lettuce outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. The distance between air sampling sites and the edge of the feedlot ranged from ∼0 to ∼2,200 m (∼1.3 mile), with each sample comprised of 1,000 L of processed air taken at a 1.2 m elevation over a 10-minute duration. E. colicolonies were enumerated on CHROMagar ECC selective agar and confirmed with conventional PCR. Meteorological data (air temperature, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity) were collectedin situ. The prevalence and mean concentration ofE. coliwere 6.55% (11/168) and 0.09 CFU per 1,000 L of air, with positive samples limited to within 37 m (120 ft) of the feedlot.Based on logistic regression, the odds of airborne E. coli detection were associated with little to no wind and close proximity to a feedlot. This pilot study found limited dispersal of airborne E. coli in proximity to commercial feedlots in Imperial Valley, with light-to-no wind and proximity within 37 m of a feedlot significant factor-associated airborne E. coli in this produce-growing region of California.

A multicenter observational study was conducted on early lactation Holstein cows (n = 261) from 32 herds from 3 regions (Australia, AU; California, CA; and Canada, CAN) to characterize their risk of acidosis into 3 groups (high, medium, or low) using a discriminant analysis model previously developed. Diets ranged from pasture supplemented with concentrates to total mixed ration (nonfiber carbohydrates = 17 to 47 and neutral detergent fiber = 27 to 58% of dry matter). Rumen fluid samples were collected

Salmonella enterica is a major food-borne pathogen that affects cattle-rearing systems worldwide. Little information is available on the epidemiology and pathology of salmonellosis and the virulence genes (VGs) carried by Salmonella in spontaneous outbreaks in cattle. We describe epidemiological findings in 15 fatal outbreaks of salmonellosis in Uruguayan dairy farms and the age, clinical signs, and pathology in 20 affected calves. We also describe the serotypes and frequencies of 17 VGs in the causative Salmonella strains and explore their associations with epidemiological, clinical, and pathological findings. Salmonella Typhimurium and Dublin were identified in 11/15 and 4/15 outbreaks, respectively. The most frequent reason for consultation was digestive disease (8 outbreaks caused by S. Typhimurium), followed by sudden death (4 outbreaks, 3 caused by S. Dublin). Morbidity, mortality, and lethality ranged 4.8-100%, 3.8-78.9%, and 10-100%, without significant differences between serotypes. Diarrhea, the most common clinical sign (14 cases), was associated with the Typhimurium serotype (OR = 26.95), especially in ≤ 30-day-old calves with fibrinous enteritis as the main autopsy finding. The Dublin serotype affected ≥ 50-day-old calves and was associated with fibrinosuppurative splenitis (p = 0.01) and tubulointerstitial nephritis (OR = 48.95). The chances of the Dublin serotype increased significantly with age. There was low variability of VG across serotypes. The pefA gene was associated with the Typhimurium serotype (OR = 21.95), macroscopic enteritis (p = 0.03), and microscopic fibrinosuppurative splenitis (p = 0.04). Understanding the epidemiology, pathology, and virulence of S. enterica at the farm level is key to delineating prevention and control strategies to mitigate its impact on animal and human health.

In this paper, a mathematical model for the transmission dynamics of Fasciola hepatica in cattle and snail populations is formulated and analyzed. The snail mortality rate (μs) is the most important factor that indirectly impacts the basic reproduction number (R0). A 50% change, either an increase or decrease, in the snail mortality rate will result in an approximate 50% change in the opposite direction in the value of R0. The model shows a forward bifurcation at R0 = 1, indicating that the disease dynamics undergo a critical transition at this threshold. This change signifies a transition from a disease‐free state to a persistent infection, highlighting the possibility of a continuous disease presence given specific epidemiological conditions. Simulations show that reducing miracidia, metacercariae, and snail populations, improving treatment, and lowering pathogen transfer between cattle and snails significantly decrease disease prevalence in cattle. To control the disease, transmission rates for cattle and snails must be reduced below γc = 1.4338 × 10−7 and γs = 1.1473 × 10−8, respectively. Current treatments are insufficient, and a combination of improved treatments reduced transmission rates, and increased snail mortality is recommended for better disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As for many other organisms, CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genetic modification has gained increasing importance for the identification of vaccine candidates and drug targets in Neospora caninum, an apicomplexan parasite causing abortion in cattle and neuromuscular disease in dogs. A widely used approach for generating knock-out (KO) strains devoid of virulence factors is the integration of a drug selectable marker such as mutated dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (mdhfr-ts) into the target gene, thus preventing the synthesis of respective protein and mediating resistance to pyrimethamine. However, CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis is not free of off-target effects, which can lead to integration of multiple mdhfr-ts copies into other sites of the genome. To determine the number of integrated mdhfr-ts in N. caninum, a duplex quantitative TaqMan PCR was developed. For this purpose, primers were designed that amplifies a 106 bp fragment from wild-type (WT) parasites corresponding to the single copy wtdhfrs-ts gene, as well as the mutated mdhfrs-ts present in KO parasites that confers resistance and were used simultaneously with primers amplifying the diagnostic NC5 gene. Thus, the dhfr-ts to NC5 ratio should be approximately 1 in WT parasites, while in KO parasites with a single integrated mdhrf-ts gene this ratio is doubled, and in case of multiple integration events even higher. This approach was applied to the Neospora KO strains NcDGRA7 and NcDROP40. For NcDGRA7, the number of tachyzoites determined by dhfr-ts quantification was twice the number of tachyzoites determined by NC5 quantification, thus indicating that only one mdhfr-ts copy was integrated. The results obtained with the NcDROP40 strain, however, showed that the number of dhfr-ts copies per genome was substantially higher, indicating that at least three copies of the selectable mdhfrts marker were integrated into the genomic DNA during gene editing by CRISPRCas9. This duplex TaqMan-qPCR provides a reliable and easy-to-use tool for assessing CRISPR-Cas9 mediated mutagenesis in WT N. caninum strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) can evade the immune system by modulating cytokines production, therefore enabling the virus to establish persistent infections or exacerbate the severity of disease in infected cattle. The objective of this research was to investigate interleukins and oxidative stress parameters in cows naturally infected with BVDV. The study comprised of two groups: a naturally infected group of 15 cattle with clinical signs of BVDV infection or a history of abortion and confirmed positive for pestivirus by RT-PCR, and a control group of 15 cattle with no abortion anamnesis or clinical symptoms, confirmed negative by RT-PCR. Anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-20, IL-10) and pro-inflammatory ones (IL-1, IL-1β, IL-6) values were measured in all samples using ELISA method. Additionally, the oxidative stress marker malonaldehyde (MDA) was measured in all samples using the HPLC method. MDA levels were significantly higher in the infected samples compared with the controls. While cytokine levels were elevated in the infected group, however, the differences were not statistically significant. This study found a positive relationship among anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as a negative relationship among IL-1β and IL-1. It was concluded that oxidative stress occurs in BVDV-infected cattle, and the interleukins measured appear to remain in equilibrium by inhibiting each other. Notably, IL-20 was measured for the first time in BVDV-infected cattle, making it an important finding. Altogether, it may be concluded on the basis of these results that cytokines are important in the evaluation of the disease process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinfectious diseases in cattle, which result in significant economic losses and pose a serious threat to animal health, often go undiagnosed due to the challenge of identifying their underlying cause. In this study, a total of 180 brain samples from cattle with neurological symptoms were collected from various provinces in Türkiye during 2021-2022. Viral nucleic acids were extracted, followed by PCR and RT-PCR assays targeting specific gene regions of BoHV-1, BoHV-5, OvHV-2, and BoAstV. BoHV-1 was detected in 7.22% (13/180) of the samples, BoHV-5 in 5.00% (9/180), and OvHV-2 in 0.55% (1/180). BoAstV, however, was not detected in any of the samples. Analysis of the gB gene region sequences revealed a high nucleotide identity (100%) between BoHV-1 strains from America, Israel, Sweden, and Italy, and BoHV-5 strains (S9 and S24) from Brazil. The OvHV-2 strain obtained from this study clustered within the OvHV-2.1 cluster along with some Asian strains (Iraq, Pakistan, Mongolia, India, Turkey). Studies focused on neuroinfectious diseases in cattle, especially those related to BoAstV and BoHV-5, are relatively scarce. This study represents one of the first investigations into the majority of neuroinfectious viruses in Turkish cattle, with the identification of BoHV-5 being reported for the first time here. It is anticipated that the data obtained will significantly contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology of these studied viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the prevalence and spatial distribution of selected pathogens associated with infectious diseases of dairy cattle in Ontario, Canada. The cross-sectional study surveyed bulk tank milk for antibodies against bovine leukemia virus (BLV), Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), and Salmonella Dublin, and for the presence of mastitis pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus agalactiae , Mycoplasma bovis). Between October 2021 and June 2022, bulk tank milk samples were obtained from every commercial dairy farm in Ontario (n = 3,286). Samples underwent ELISA testing for the presence of BLV, MAP, and S. Dublin antibodies, and quantitative PCR testing for the detection of specific antigens of pathogens associated with mastitis. Bayesian models were used to estimate prevalence, and spatial analysis was carried out to identify regional clusters of high pathogen prevalence. Prevalence varied for different pathogens, and BLV was widespread across dairy farms in Ontario, with an estimated prevalence of 88.3%. The prevalence of MAP, Staph. aureus and S. Dublin in Ontario dairy herds was 39.8%, 31.5%, and 5.1%, respectively. The vast majority of dairy herds in Ontario were free of intramammary infections caused by Strep. agalactiae and M. bovis. Clusters of increased positive test rates were detected for S. Dublin, MAP, and Staph. aureus , indicating potential geographic risk factors for pathogen transmission. For S. Dublin, an area of increased test positivity rates was detected in southwestern Ontario, close to the Canada-United States border where most of the dairy herds in Ontario are located. Conversely, a localized cluster of positive test outcomes involving 14 subdivisions located in the southeastern region of Ontario was detected for Staph. aureus. Findings from our survey highlight the importance of the testing of aggregated samples and conducting spatial analysis as part of disease surveillance programs, and for implementing risk-based trading approaches among dairy producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are essential enzymes for the accurate translation of genetic information. IARS1 and IARS2 are isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases functioning in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, respectively, with genetic mutations in these enzymes causing diverse clinical phenotypes in specific organs and tissues. Mutations in IARS1 and IARS2 have recently been linked to mitochondrial diseases. This review aims to explore the relationship between IARS1 and IARS2 and these diseases, providing a comprehensive overview of their association with mitochondrial diseases. Mutations in IARS1 cause weak calf syndrome in cattle and mitochondrial diseases in humans, leading to growth retardation and liver dysfunction. Mutations in IARS2 are associated with Leigh syndrome, craniosynostosis and abnormal genitalia syndrome. Future research is expected to involve genetic analysis of a larger number of patients, identifying new mutations in IARS1 and IARS2, and elucidating their impact on mitochondrial function. Additionally, genetically modified mice and the corresponding phenotypic analysis will serve as powerful tools for understanding the functions of these gene products and unraveling disease mechanisms. This will likely promote the development of new therapies and preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study was conducted to establish the utility of radiography in the diagnosis of lung diseases in cattle and its correlation with different pneumonia diagnosed on the basis of TBA cytology. Methods: Lateral chest radiography and tracheo-bronchial wash was performed in control (n=21) and diseased group (n=55). Diseased group included cattle presented with respiratory signs and diagnosed with pulmonary diseases on the basis of history, physical and clinical examination and tracheo-bronchial wash cytology. Cytologic diagnosis was established as chronic pneumonia (n=24), acute pneumonia (n=18), tuberculosis (n=5) and aspiration pneumonia (n=8). Survivability was also correlated with lung patterns in diseased cattle. Result: Nodular interstitial pattern (27.3%), unstructured interstitial pattern (25.4%), bronchial pattern (20.0%), pleural effusions (12.7%), mixed lung patterns (10.9%) and miliary interstitial pattern (4.54%) was observed in diseased group. Unstructured interstitial pattern and pleural effusions were most evident in acute pneumonia. The radiographic findings in aspiration pneumonia did not correlate well with cytologic findings. Highest survivability was recorded in cows with bronchial pattern (81.8%) and lowest in miliary interstitial pattern (zero per cent). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laminitis is a condition characterized by lameness, which poses a significant economic burden on the dairy industry. The condition presents a challenge in combat due to its multifactorial etiology. This is why it remains a widespread issue globally, including the developed countries. This study aims to reveal publication trends and interactions between studies outcomes based on the data obtained from the Web of Science. To access the appropriate articles, a search was conducted using the keyword “laminitis” as the inclusion criteria. The search criteria included selecting “English” as the language, “Article” as the document type, and “All Fields” as the search method. The study revealed that a total of 967 articles were published during the analyzed period. The average annual growth rate of the studies was found to be 6.35%. The highest number of articles were published in 2019 with 64 articles (6.61%). With the keyword analysis, “lameness”, “cattle,” and “dairy cattle” were identified as the most relevant keywords. The analysis of the keywords indicated that laminitis is an important concern not only for animal welfare but also for behavioral sciences as well as economic loss. In terms of article count, the United Kingdom exhibited the highest performance. The journal with the highest number of articles in this field was Preventive Veterinary Medicine 8.8% (85 articles). Whay H.R. from the United Kingdom was identified as the most influential author. A general upward trend in the number of publications primarily driven by developed countries was observed during the period analyzed in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of animal resistance has recently become increasingly important as the genetic potential of newly developed dairy cattle breeds has increased, and the animals are highly susceptible to various diseases, metabolic disorders, and disruptions in general homeostasis. This contributes to a significant culling of cows, prevents their planned selection, and, in turn, slows down the pace of breeding work. The state of natural resistance in animals is determined by nonspecific protective factors of their organism, which depend on several factors: species, breed, physiological state, conditions of care, housing, feeding, individual and constitutional characteristics, etc. The research aimed to study the natural resistance of Limousin cows of different selections. The studies were conducted at Lvivske LLC, Lviv region, on Limousin cows of Hungarian, Polish, and Ukrainian breeding. The natural resistance of the controlled animals was studied by analyzing the complex cellular and humoral blood factors in the third month after calving, according to the methods described in the reference book Laboratory Research Methods in Biology, Animal Husbandry, and Veterinary Medicine. It was found that Limousin cows of domestic and imported breeding differed in terms of natural resistance. In particular, the phagocytic activity of blood neutrophils, the phagocytic index, the phagocytic number, and the lysozyme and bactericidal activity of blood serum were highest in cows of Ukrainian breeding. However, their superiority in these traits over Polish and Hungarian breeding animals was statistically insignificant in almost all cases. A slightly higher level of protective functions in animals of the Ukrainian Limousin breed is also indicated by a higher number of T-lymphocytes, including T-helper cells. On the other hand, the number of T-suppressors was lower in Ukrainian cows by 3.1 % and 1.4 %, respectively, compared to Hungarian and Polish breeding animals. The immunoregulatory index in the controlled cows, depending on their country of breeding, ranged from 1,85 to 2,74, with the highest value observed in domestically bred individuals and the lowest in animals imported from Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a preventable disease in cattle. Understanding the epidemiology of the disease, as well as farmers' perceptions, is the most important key to designing a prevention strategy. Accordingly, the current study was designed to establish LSD seroprevalence using specific methods and to investigate LSD epidemiology in the Sidama regional state (Ethiopia), as well as to assess farmers' perceptions. The study determined high exposures to LSD at both herd and animal levels in three agro-ecological zones. Furthermore, the farmers' knowledge about LSD was low, and there were complaints of LSD disease reports even in vaccinated groups. As a conclusion, this study identified the distribution of LSD in different management systems as well as agro-ecological zones, followed by a low level of farmers' knowledge about the disease. Furthermore, this study indicates the necessity for community-based awareness campaigns regarding clinical signs of LSD along with regularly updated information on LSD prevalence. The lumpy skin disease (LSD) vaccination status and epidemiological distribution remain unknown in some parts of Ethiopia, including the Sidama regional state. In this study, a serological survey of LSD was performed using a specific virus neutralization assay in selected districts of the Sidama regional state representing three agroecological zones from September 2021 to June 2022. Moreover, an assessment of community awareness and LSD vaccine-related problems was conducted using a questionnaire. Our results showed an overall animal and herd level seroprevalence of 40.8% (95%CI = 35.8, 45.8) and 81% (95%CI = 77, 85), respectively. High and low seroprevalence were observed in lowland (48%) and highland (28%) areas, although they were not statistically significant. However, risk factors such as management systems and breeds showed substantial differences in their LSD prevalence. The results obtained through the questionnaire showed that a small portion of respondents (29.2%) know about LSD and vaccinate their cattle (23.3%) against this disease. Only 20.8% of the respondents stated that there was LSD occurrence in their vaccinated cattle. In conclusion, both qualitative and quantitative study results showed the need for intervention in terms of community-based awareness creation about LSD clinical signs and vaccination advantages together with the frequently updated information on LSD prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]