Diagnostic performance of Mycoplasmopsis bovis antibody ELISA tests on bulk tank milk from dairy herds.

Background: Testing of bulk tank milk (BTM) for Mycoplasmopsis bovis (previously Mycoplasma bovis) antibodies is increasingly popular. However the performance of some commercially available tests is unknown, and cutoff values possibly need to be adjusted in light of the purpose. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of three commercially available M.

Dynamics of protozoal excretion in the faeces of calves during the first 28 days after arrival at the fattening farm indicate infection before regrouping and show poor temporal correlation with diarrhoea.

Background: Calves in dairy cattle production in Switzerland are transported to a fattening farm at the age of 3-5 weeks, and frequently suffer from diarrhoea within the first 14 days after arrival. To characterise the role of intestinal protozoa in this, we investigated the excretion dynamics of Eimeria, Cryptosporidium and Giardia during the first 28 days after the arrival and regrouping of calves at fattening farms.

Methods: A total of 610 faecal samples from 122 calves (mean age 37.

A pilot study for the isolation of Eimeria spp. oocysts from environmental straw samples in comparison with individual faecal examination of fattening calves.

The diagnosis of eimeriosis in calves mainly relies on the presence of diarrhoea and the excretion of Eimeria oocysts in the faeces. Restraining the animals to collect rectal samples for diagnostic purposes is stressful and time-consuming. The aim of this study was to evaluate a method for the quantification of oocysts in environmental barn straw samples.

Effects of an oral hydro-ethanolic purple coneflower extract on performance, clinical health and immune parameters in calves.

The objective of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded field trial was to investigate the effects of oral administration of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L. (EP)) on performance, health and immune parameters in calves. Calves (n = 27) were enrolled to three groups (9 calves per group): 0.

Postoperative wound assessment in cattle: How reliable is the back hand palpation?

Background: As part of clinical wound assessment in bovine surgery, discrepancies in skin temperature are evaluated by placing the back of the hand on the area to be examined. Generally, an increased skin temperature at the wound site for a prolonged period is considered as an indicator of impaired wound healing. The aim of this study was to verify the reliability of palpation under bovine practice conditions using laparotomy as an example.

Income compensation options and partial budget analysis following a reduction of antimicrobial sales at the veterinary practice level.

Over the years, the excessive consumption of antimicrobials (AM) by animals and humans has become a major concern at the global level, and several studies have highlighted the link between antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance. Previous studies showed that, in Switzerland, every calf in the fattening process received in average seven days of AM treatment, and mainly oral group treatments. Therefore, policies to reduce the consumption of AM among veal calves should be implemented and promoted to decrease AM pressure on the microbiome.

Effect of season and genotype on values for bull semen variables under tropical conditions.

To assess the effects of season and genotype on fresh semen quality for freezing and subsequent use for AI, 32 healthy, mature (>4 to <6 years old) and habituated bulls (Bos indicus n = 14, Bos taurus n = 5, Crossbred taurus x indicus n = 6, and tropically adapted Bos taurus composites n = 7) were evaluated at a Venezuelan AI center for 12 months in which four distinct seasons (Hot-dry, Transition, Hot-humid, Cool-rainy) occur. Ejaculates were collected weekly from Bos taurus (n = 260), Bos indicus (n = 669), tropically adapted Bos taurus composites (n = 389), and crossbred Bos taurus x Bos indicus (n = 340) bulls. Routine AI Center assessments were conducted i.

Stakeholders' perceptions of the challenges to improving calf health and reducing antimicrobial use in Swiss veal production.

Large quantities of antimicrobials are used in Swiss veal production. To develop strategies to reduce antimicrobial use, it is important to understand how stakeholders along the veal production chain perceive the current situation and to find the key issues that challenge them about calf health management and antimicrobial use. However, there has been insufficient research into the individual contexts of the supply chain actors, and the central themes that they perceive to enable or limit their actions remain largely unknown.

Colostral transmission of BTV-8 antibodies from dairy cows six years after vaccination.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) antibodies were analysed in 27 Swiss calves born in 2016 at the age of 16-19 days using competitive enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay (cELISA) and virus neutralization test (VNT) (animal trial permission number: 75684). Obligatory documentation proved that 15 of 27 dams were BTV-8 vaccinated once or three times in 2008-2010. The offsprings of the non-vaccinated dams were seronegative.

Medicinal plants--prophylactic and therapeutic options for gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets? A systematic review.

Background: Gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets lead to significant economic losses in livestock husbandry. A high morbidity has been reported for diarrhea (calves ≤ 35%; piglets ≤ 50%) and for respiratory diseases (calves ≤ 80%; piglets ≤ 40%). Despite a highly diverse etiology and pathophysiology of these diseases, treatment with antimicrobials is often the first-line therapy.

Effect of feeding level of pregnant dairy heifers sired by one bull on maternal metabolism, placental parameters and birth weight of their female calves.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different phases of feed restriction on the metabolism and placental indices of growing heifers inseminated with sexed semen of one bull and on the birth weights of their calves. Red-Holstein heifers were randomly divided into three groups. C-group animals (N=17) daily received recommended energy and crude protein (standard diet).

Efficiency of two commercial on-farm pasteurizers for inactivation of mastitis pathogens in milk intended for feeding of calves.

Two commercially available pasteurizers for on farm pasteurization of milk intended for feeding calves were tested for their efficiency to inactivate mastitis pathogens. Raw bulk tank milk of the experimental farm Schaedtbek of the Max Rubner-Institute was artificially contaminated with twelve different strains of mastitis pathogens (intended level 7-8 log10 colony forming units [cfu]/ml). The average contamination level was 7.

A novel isotonic-balanced electrolyte solution with 1% glucose for perioperative fluid management in children- an animal experimental preauthorization study.

Background: The recommendations for perioperative maintenance fluid in children have been adapted from hypotonic to isotonic electrolyte solutions with lower glucose concentrations (1-2.5% instead of 5%) to avoid hyponatremia or hyperglycemia.

Objective: The objective of this prospective animal study was to determine the margin of safety of a novel isotonic-balanced electrolyte solution with 1% glucose (BS-G1) in comparison with normal saline with 1% glucose (NS-G1) in the case of accidental hyperhydration with a focus on acid-base electrolyte balance, glucose concentration, osmolality and intracranial pressure in piglets.

Rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid supplementation to dairy cows in late pregnancy and early lactation: effects on milk composition, milk yield, blood metabolites and gene expression in liver.

Background: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a collective term for isomers of octadecadienoic acid with conjugated double-bond system. Thus, it was the objective to investigate whether milk composition and metabolic key parameters are affected by adding CLA to the diet of dairy cows in the first four weeks of lactation.

Methods: A study was carried out with five primiparous cows fed a CLA supplemented diet compared to five primiparous cows without CLA supplementation.

Rapid method for cholesterol analysis in bovine milk and options for applications.

The adaptation of a colorimetric technique for the analysis of cholesterol in raw milk is presented. Performance quality was satisfying (mean intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) 4.8, inter-assay CV 9.

Cholesterol synthesis in the lactating cow: Induced expression of candidate genes.

Despite the extensive knowledge for other species, cholesterol metabolism in ruminants is nowadays still not clear. Huge differences in milk cholesterol concentration are observed between breeds, managing strategies, individuals and moment of the lactating cycle, but the genetic actors working in the process of cholesterol secretion into milk have not been identified. As ruminant diet contains no cholesterol, understanding the mechanisms and regulation of synthesis, transport and secretion into milk is crucial when trying to reduce the amount of this metabolite in dairy products.

[Layout proposal for a microtitre plate to be used in routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacteria from infections of dogs and cats].

The determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations by broth microdilution is recommended as method of choice for susceptibility testing of veterinary bacterial pathogens. Accordingly, broth microdilution is used in veterinary routine diagnostic laboratories at a progressive rate. To reduce the costs of susceptibility testing, it is reasonable to develop widely accepted uniform microtitre plate layouts that are produced in large quantities.

A proposal of clinical breakpoints for amoxicillin applicable to porcine respiratory tract pathogens.

In the present position paper, an attempt was made to establish clinical breakpoints of amoxicillin to classify porcine respiratory tract pathogens as susceptible, intermediate or resistant based on their minimum inhibitory concentrations of amoxicillin. For this, a thorough review of the published literature with regard to swine-specific pharmacological data (including dosages of amoxicillin applied and routes of administration used), clinical efficacy, and in vitro susceptibility of the target pathogens was performed. Based on the comparative analysis of the results, the working group "Antibiotic Resistance" of the German Veterinary Medical Society (DVG) proposed to classify porcine respiratory tract pathogens that show MIC values of amoxicillin of < or =0.

[Cross-resistance between antimicrobial agents used in veterinary medicine: molecular background and practical consequences for susceptibility testing].

Phenotypic resistance of veterinary pathogens to more than one antimicrobial agent (multi-resistance) may be caused by intrinsic resistance to the antimicrobial agents, acquired cross-resistance, or acquired co-resistance. Known cross-resistances allow to select so-called "representative substances" which are tested and the results of which can also be regarded as being valid for other members of the same class of antimicrobial agents. In general, a limitation in the number of antimicrobial agents to be tested in routine diagnostics is necessary because of capacity and cost efficiency.

[Proposals of the working group "Antibiotic resistance" for the configuration of microtitre plates to be used in routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial pathogens from infections of large food-producing animals and mastitis cases].

Two layouts for microtitre plates, which should serve for in-vitro susceptibility testing in routine diagnostics, have been set up by the working group "Antibiotic resistance" of the German Society for Veterinary Medicine. One of these layouts was designed for the testing of bacteria from cases of mastitis and the other for bacteria from infections in large food-producing animals. The choice of the antimicrobial agents and their concentrations to be included in these layouts were based on (1) the bacteria frequently associated with the respective diseases/animals, (2) the antimicrobial agents licensed for therapeutic use in these diseases/animals, (3) the currently available breakpoints, and (4) cross-resistances between the antimicrobial agerts so far known to occur in the respective bacteria.