Publications by authors named "Katzer F"

Lack of data on the aetiology of livestock diseases constrains effective interventions to improve livelihoods, food security and public health. Livestock abortion is an important disease syndrome affecting productivity and public health. Several pathogens are associated with livestock abortions but across Africa surveillance data rarely include information from abortions, little is known about aetiology and impacts, and data are not available to inform interventions.

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  • Ovine toxoplasmosis, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, leads to reproductive issues in sheep and poses public health risks to humans through contaminated meat, water, and dairy products.
  • A study in northeastern Brazil examined the prevalence and genetic characteristics of T. gondii by collecting blood and tissue samples from 256 sheep at slaughterhouses.
  • Results showed a seroprevalence of 31.64% and identified atypical genotypes, emphasizing the need for control measures to reduce the risk of human exposure, especially since sheep meat is a vital protein source.
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This study aimed to evaluate the presence and viability of in chickens intended for human consumption in the Pernambuco State, Brazil. Blood and tissue samples were collected from 25 chickens sold in markets in Recife, Pernambuco. Samples were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to detect antibodies to .

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Neosporosis and toxoplasmosis are major causes of abortion in livestock worldwide, leading to substantial economic losses. Detection tools are fundamental to the diagnosis and management of those diseases. Current immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests, using sera raised against whole parasite lysates, have not been able to distinguish between and We used and recombinant proteins, expressed in and purified using insoluble conditions, to produce specific polyclonal rabbit antisera.

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The objective of this study was to characterise a -induced abortion outbreak on a goat farm in the State of Paraíba, Northeast Region of Brazil. From a herd of 10 does, seven experienced abortions and one gave birth to twins (one stillborn and the other weak and underdeveloped). Serum samples from all of the does were analysed by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT).

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This study aimed to genotype isolates of obtained from samples of brain, diaphragm and heart of goats and sheep intended for human consumption in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. Tissue samples from 14 animals, goats ( = 5) and lambs ( = 9), were sourced from public slaughterhouses in seven cities and bio-assayed in mice. The brains of the mice were utilized for DNA extraction.

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is a causative agent of cryptosporidiosis, an infectious gastroenteritis in neonatal ruminants, which can be fatal in severe cases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infections in dairy cattle/calves during the early stages of a calving season and the species/genotypes of the present. Faecal samples collected from pre- and post-partum dams ( = 224) as well as calves from age ∼1 day onwards ( = 312) were examined.

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A wide spectrum of disease severity associated with cryptosporidiosis has been described, ranging from asymptomatic to fatal in both human and animal hosts. The reasons for the variations in severity are likely to be multifactorial, involving environmental, host and parasite factors. This paper describes two experimental infection trials in lambs, a symptomatic host for the parasite, to investigate variation in the clinical manifestations following infection with two distinct isolates of .

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  • A protozoan parasite causing gastrointestinal disease in humans and animals has been under-researched in the UK, impacting our understanding of its effects.
  • Recent findings indicate that the parasite has an endemic presence in the UK, not just through travel, although the human infection sources remain mostly unclear.
  • A study improved testing methods and found various genotypes of the parasite in human and animal samples, highlighting domestic pets as potential carriers and stressing the importance of hygiene to prevent zoonotic transmission.
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Eosinophilic myositis in bovine striated muscle thought to be caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to the degradation of Sarcocystis tissue cysts, is a rare reason for carcase condemnation in the United Kingdom. This paper describes the identification of Sarcocystis cruzi associated with lesions of generalised eosinophilic myositis in three English beef carcases, by gross and histopathological examination followed by PCR with subsequent sequencing. Samples from two unaffected animals were also examined.

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Livestock abortion is an important cause of productivity losses worldwide and many infectious causes of abortion are zoonotic pathogens that impact on human health. Little is known about the relative importance of infectious causes of livestock abortion in Africa, including in subsistence farming communities that are critically dependent on livestock for food, income, and wellbeing. We conducted a prospective cohort study of livestock abortion, supported by cross-sectional serosurveillance, to determine aetiologies of livestock abortions in livestock in Tanzania.

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, a major zoonotic pathogen, possess a significant genetic and phenotypic diversity that have been proposed to be responsible for the variation in clinical outcomes, mainly related to reproductive failure and ocular and neurological signs. Different haplogroups showed strong phenotypic differences in laboratory mouse infections, which provide a suitable model for mimicking acute and chronic infections. In addition, it has been observed that degrees of virulence might be related to the physiological status of the host and its genetic background.

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Subtyping for outbreak investigations or epidemiological surveillance usually relies on DNA sequence analysis of a gene coding for a 60 KDa glycoprotein (). Although can be useful for allelic discrimination and to help investigate sources and routes of transmission, the presence of common subtypes and recombination during the parasite's sexual life-cycle demand a multilocus-based method for more discriminatory genotyping. While whole genome sequencing would provide the ultimate approach, it is a time consuming and expensive option for faecal parasites such as that occur at low density and are difficult to propagate routinely.

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Background: This study aimed to evaluate whether different methods of providing eubiotic feed additives to neonatal calves, during the preweaning period, can improve the calves' health, performance, ruminal fermentation, and metabolic status. Forty-four (3-day-old) Holstein-Friesian dairy calves (22 female and 22 male) were divided into four treatment groups for the duration of the 8-week trial. The eubiotic feed additive consisted of a combination of probiotic Lactobacillus spp.

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  • * Research investigated infections in cattle and red deer on a farm known for tick-borne diseases, uncovering infected cattle without noticeable symptoms and finding 11% of local red deer infected with the parasite.
  • * The study also identified a new parasite in 16% of the red deer population, enhancing understanding of disease spread in the UK and impacting control measures for redwater fever.
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  • Cryptosporidiosis significantly affects neonatal calves, leading to symptoms like diarrhea, loss of appetite, and potential production losses, necessitating rehydration or veterinary care to avoid calf mortality.
  • There are critical gaps in understanding how calves initially ingest oocysts and how these parasites persist, with some studies investigating the role of adult cattle in this transmission with inconclusive results.
  • This study utilized advanced techniques to analyze fecal samples from adult cattle and their calves on dairy and beef farms, revealing that adult cattle exhibit greater genotype diversity, and while calves usually carry one predominant genotype, there is no consistent transmission from adults to calves.
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In most of the world Toxoplasma gondii is comprised of archetypal types (types I, II and III); however, South America displays several non-archetypal strains. This study used an experimental mouse model to characterize the immune response and parasite kinetics following infection with different parasite genotypes. An oral inoculation of 50 oocysts per mouse from T.

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A prior systematic review on the efficacy of halofuginone (HFG) treatment to prevent or treat cryptosporidiosis in bovine calves was inconclusive. We undertook an updated synthesis and meta-analyses on key outcomes for the treatment of calves with HFG. Evaluated outcomes were oocyst shedding, diarrhoea, mortality and weight gain.

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  • - Giardia duodenalis is a widespread gastrointestinal parasite that affects both humans and animals, notable for its unique binucleate cell structure among eukaryotes.
  • - Current genomic studies on Giardia are limited, hindering the understanding of its epidemiology and population biology due to the existing molecular tools.
  • - The review discusses the impact of affordable and fast genome sequencing technologies, which are enhancing diagnostic capabilities and will deepen knowledge of Giardia’s biology and implications for public and veterinary health.
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Aims: Reporting of head and neck ultrasound (HNU) has been outlined to be a major obstacle during ultrasound training due to a lack of standardized structure, content and terminology. Consequently, overall report quality differs significantly between various examiners posing a severe risk factor for information loss and miscommunication. Therefore, the present study's purpose is to compare the overall quality of free text reports (FTR) and structured reports (SR) of HNU at various stages of training in order to determine the optimal educational level to implement SR.

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is a globally important zoonotic parasite ranked as one of the most significant causes of disease burden among the major foodborne pathogens. Consumption of undercooked meat is a well-known risk factor for infection so the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of in meat samples from retail outlets in Scotland. In Sampling Period 1, 300 meat samples (39 beef, 21 chicken, 87 lamb, 71 pork and 82 venison) were purchased from butchers', farmers' markets, farm shops and supermarkets, and in Sampling Period 2, 67 pure venison samples only were purchased from farmers' markets, farm shops and supermarkets.

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We report a case of severe congenital toxoplasmosis that involved an atypical T. gondii genotype in a newborn baby from Alagoas state in Northeastern Brazil. A pregnant woman presented IgM and IgG anti-T.

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Cryptosporidiosis can have a devastating effect in neonatal calves, resulting in diarrhoea, dehydration and, in severe cases, death of the animal. The disease is caused by Cryptosporidium spp. and is one of the most common causes of calf enteritis in the UK.

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Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite which can infect almost all warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Brazil have greater genetic diversity with a predominance of virulent and atypical genotypes, compared with the Northern Hemisphere. Considering that previous studies have demonstrated a high seroprevalence of T.

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