Draft Genome Sequence of Bovine Mastitis Isolate Staphylococcus agnetis CBMRN 20813338.

Presented here is a draft genome sequence for Staphylococcus agnetis CBMRN 20813338, isolated from a lactating dairy cow with subclinical mastitis. The genome is approximately 2,416 kb and has 35.79% G+C content.

Benchmarks for evaluation and comparison of udder health status using monthly individual somatic cell count.

The objectives of this study were to propose benchmarks for the interpretation of herd udder health using monthly individual somatic cell counts (SCC) from dairy herds in Quebec, Canada and to evaluate the association of risk factors with intramammary infection (IMI) dynamics relative to these benchmarks. The mean and percentiles of indices related to udder infection status [e.g.

Herd-level relationship between antimicrobial use and presence or absence of antimicrobial resistance in gram-negative bovine mastitis pathogens on Canadian dairy farms.

Concurrent data on antimicrobial use (AMU) and resistance are needed to contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria. The present study examined a herd-level association between AMU and AMR in Escherichia coli (n=394) and Klebsiella species (n=139) isolated from bovine intramammary infections and mastitis cases on 89 dairy farms in 4 regions of Canada [Alberta, Ontario, Québec, and Maritime Provinces (Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick)]. Antimicrobial use data were collected using inventory of empty antimicrobial containers and antimicrobial drug use rate was calculated to quantify herd-level AMU.

Management practices associated with the bulk-milk prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in Canadian dairy farms.

When designing mastitis-prevention and control programs, it is important to know the level of adoption of mastitis-prevention management practices and control programs and the herd-level prevalence of contagious mastitis pathogens. Our objectives were to estimate: (1) adoption of recommended mastitis-preventive management on Canadian dairy farms; (2) herd-level prevalence of contagious mastitis pathogens on Canadian dairy farms; and (3) associations of certain management practices with the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from the bulk tank milk from Canadian dairy farms. In total, 226 farms participating in dairy herd improvement milk recording were randomly selected.

Development and validation of a bilingual questionnaire for measuring udder health related management practices on dairy farms.

Questionnaires are frequently used instruments to collect data in epidemiological studies. In countries where more than one language is spoken, the development of a questionnaire in more than one language is needed. The objective of this study was to develop and test the repeatability and validity of English and French versions of a personal interview-format questionnaire designed to capture udder health related management practices used on dairy farms.

Climatic and demographic determinants of American visceral leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil using remote sensing technology for environmental categorization of rain and region influences on leishmaniasis.

Remote sensing (RS) permits evaluation of spatial and temporal variables that can be used for vector-borne disease models. A Landsat Thematic Mapper scene covering Canindé, Ceará in northeastern Brazil (September 25, 1986) was spectrally enhanced and classified using ERDAS (Atlanta, GA) Imagine for 873 4-km2 areas. The population and number of cases of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) were determined for each 4-km2 area.

Prevalence and incidence density of Mycobacterium leprae and Trypanosoma cruzi infections within a population of wild nine-banded armadillos.

A total of 415 wild 9-banded armadillos from the East Atchafalaya River Levee (Point Coupee, LA) were collected over 4 years to estimate the incidence and prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae and Trypanosoma cruzi and to discern any relationship between the 2 agents. M. leprae infections were maintained at a high steady prevalence rate year to year averaging 19%.

Screening for syphilis in arrestees: usefulness for community-wide syphilis surveillance and control.

Background: Syphilis screening of jail arrestees has been promoted as an effective method for both disease control and surveillance.

Goals: To evaluate the yield of the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail screening program in detecting previously undiagnosed syphilis, to evaluate the program as a means for monitoring community syphilis rates, and to characterize arrestees at greatest risk for syphilis infection.

Study Design: From July 1994 to December 1998, arrestees brought to the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail were screened for syphilis.

Clinical hematology practices at veterinary teaching hospitals and private diagnostic laboratories.

The clinical hematology practices utilized at veterinary teaching hospitals and private veterinary diagnostic laboratories were surveyed using a questionnaire. The hematology caseload at private diagnostic laboratories was larger, and comprised predominantly of canine and feline submissions. The Coulter S Plus IV and Serono Baker 9000 were the hematology analyzers used most frequently at veterinary medical laboratories.