Investigation of Weather Triggers Preceding Outbreaks of Acute Bovine Liver Disease in Australia.

Acute bovine liver disease (ABLD) is a hepatic disease affecting cattle sporadically in southern Australia, characterised histologically by striking periportal hepatocellular necrosis. The cause of ABLD is unknown; however, the seasonality and acute presentation of outbreaks suggest mycotoxin involvement. We described the geographical and seasonal occurrence of ABLD reports from 2010 to 2020 in Victoria, Australia, and explored potential weather triggers preceding 26 outbreaks occurring across 23 properties using a case-crossover design.

Development of molecular detection methods of Bovicola ovis from sheep fleece.

The sheep body louse (Bovicola ovis) commonly referred to as sheep lice are small chewing ectoparasites of sheep. Infection results in significant economic costs to the Australian sheep industry due to reduced wool quality caused by chronic itching from sheep rubbing and biting fleece. Treatment relies on use of insecticides; however, resistance has developed against pyrethroid and other insect growth regulator lousicides.

Clinical and pathologic features of acute bovine liver disease in Australia.

Acute bovine liver disease (ABLD) is a sporadic hepatic disease affecting cattle in southern Australia, characterized histologically by striking periportal hepatocellular necrosis. The cause of ABLD is unknown; however, the seasonality and acute presentation of outbreaks suggest mycotoxin involvement. We describe here the clinical and pathologic findings of ABLD in 45 naturally affected cattle from 13 outbreaks occurring from 2010 to 2019 in Victoria, Australia.

Field Verification of an African Swine Fever Virus Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay During an Outbreak in Timor-Leste.

Recent outbreaks of African swine fever virus (ASFV) have seen the movement of this virus into multiple new regions with devastating impact. Many of these outbreaks are occurring in remote, or resource-limited areas, that do not have access to molecular laboratories. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid point of care test that can overcome a range of inhibitors.

An idiopathic upper alimentary tract ulcerative syndrome in weaned dairy calves in Victoria, Australia.

An idiopathic clinical syndrome had been described in weaned dairy calves in the state of Victoria, Australia, where affected animals presented with diarrhoea, ill-thrift, enteritis and ulceration of the upper alimentary tract, with occasional oral/nasal ulcers. Between 7 November 2016 and 31 March 2019, 34 Victorian cattle herds were investigated, after each reported five or more weaned calves with diarrhoea and/or ill-thrift, or at least one calf with oral/nasal ulceration. Primary study objectives included the development of a detailed case definition for the clinical syndrome, termed upper alimentary tract ulcerative syndrome (UAUS) and the identification of potential causative virus(es) using metagenomics.

Plant and Fungal Hepatotoxicities of Cattle in Australia, with a Focus on Minimally Understood Toxins.

Plant- and fungus-derived hepatotoxins are a major cause of disease and production losses in ruminants in Australia and around the world. Many are well studied and described in the literature; however, this is not the case for a number of hepatotoxicities with economic and animal welfare impacts, such as acute bovine liver disease (ABLD), brassica-associated liver disease (BALD) and , and toxicity. Additionally, significant overlap in the clinical presentation and pathology of these conditions can present a diagnostic challenge for veterinarians.