Dairy management practices associated with multi-drug resistant fecal commensals and in cull cows: a machine learning approach.

Background: Understanding the effects of herd management practices on the prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic and commensals spp. in dairy cattle is key in reducing antibacterial resistant infections in humans originating from food animals. Our objective was to explore the herd and cow level features associated with the multi-drug resistant, and resistance phenotypes shared between , and spp.

Bayesian estimation of diagnostic accuracy of fecal culture and PCR-based tests for the detection of in California cull dairy cattle.

Epidemiological studies of low prevalence disease problems are often hindered by the high cost of diagnostic testing. The objective of this study was to evaluate PCR screening of both individual and pooled fecal samples from culled dairy cows for the A gene of followed by culture to determine if the sensitivity and specificity were comparable to the results from traditional culture methods applied to individual samples. Cows from six different dairies were sampled in all four seasons.

Bovine cardiac mesothelial hyperplasia: a common incidental finding in adult cattle.

Cardiac mesothelial hyperplasia forming pale plaque lesions on the epicardial surface is a common incidental finding in the hearts of aged humans. A similar phenomenon with a more papillary appearance has also been reported as an incidental finding in dogs and mice. These lesions are believed to occur in response to friction between the epicardium and overlying pericardium.

Environmental sampling to assess the bioburden of subspecies in drylot pens on California dairies.

subspecies (MAP) is a bacterium that can cause substantial economic losses in infected dairy herds due to reduced milk production and increased cow-replacement costs. In order to control MAP in dairies with drylot pens, a standardized environmental sampling protocol to quantify MAP in fecal slurry was developed based on an existing protocol for freestall pens. Specifically, following a 24 h hold of the flush, a grab sample of approximately 10 ml of fecal slurry was collected every 1 m along the flush lane of the drylot pens, avoiding individual cow fecal pats.