The Immune Response in the Uteri and Placentae of -Infected Ewes and Its Association with Pregnancy Outcomes.

The enzootic abortion of ewes, caused by the bacterium (), is one of the main causes of abortion in sheep. There are multiple contributory factors, including chlamydial growth, host immune response, and hormonal balance, that result in different pregnancy outcomes, such as abortion, the birth of weak lambs that may die, or healthy lambs. This study aimed to determine the relationship between phenotypical patterns of immune cell infiltration and different pregnancy outcomes in twin-bearing sheep (both lambs born dead; one alive and one dead; both alive) when experimentally infected with .

Distribution and Severity of Placental Lesions Caused by the 1B Vaccine Strain in Vaccinated Ewes.

infects livestock species worldwide and is the cause of enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE). In Europe, control of the disease is achieved using a live vaccine based on 1B strain. Although the vaccine has been useful for controlling disease outbreaks, abortion events due to the vaccine have been reported.

Risk factors associated with Ctenocephalides felis flea infestation of peri-urban goats: a neglected parasite in an under-appreciated host.

Goats are critical in mixed smallholder agricultural systems in lower and middle-income countries, while fleas are important human and animal health concerns around the world. Convenience sampling was used to describe and consider risk factors for flea infestations of peri-urban goats, with the aim of informing the iterative development of animal husbandry and management based control strategies. Seven hundred and ninety-two goats were examined in 228 households across 10 peri-urban communities surrounding Blantyre in southern Malawi.

The 1B vaccine strain of Chlamydia abortus produces placental pathology indistinguishable from a wild type infection.

Chlamydia abortus is one of the most commonly diagnosed causes of infectious abortion in small ruminants worldwide. Control of the disease (Enzootic Abortion of Ewes or EAE) is achieved using the commercial live, attenuated C. abortus 1B vaccine strain, which can be distinguished from virulent wild-type (wt) strains by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.

Performance of the antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the face of low-level mite infestation.

mites, the causative agent of sheep scab, can severely compromise sheep welfare and production. However, in subclinical infections, mite detection is difficult increasing the risk of spread. A recent serodiagnostic test, based on detecting host antibodies to the allergen, Pso o 2, has made the detection of subclinical infection possible.