Bangladesh Journal of Veterinary Medicine (BJVM)

Identification of Brucella spp. in Aborted Fetuses by Guineapig inoculation

2024-08-06T02:54:45-05:00

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease which is endemic in Bangladesh. The prevalence of bovine brucellosis in subsistence management system in Bangladesh is low. However, the prevalence of bovine brucellosis at Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm (CCBDF) is reported to be very high and Brucella abortus DNA has also been detected from cows’ milk of this farm. The principal manifestation of bovine brucellosis is abortion in pregnant cows, which is common at CCBDF. The role of brucellosis in abortion at CCBDF has not been ascertained. Hence, this study was undertaken to confirm Brucella spp. as the etiology of abortion in cows at CCBDF.

Materials and Methods: Aborted fetal membranes and vaginal swabs from 3 cows, in which late abortion occurred, were collected aseptically from the CCBDF. The samples were initially stained with modified Zeihl-Neelsen staining method. The stain-positive samples were ground individually using a pestle and mortar, and a homogenized mixture was prepared by adding normal saline. Two milliliters of the homogenate from each sample were inoculated subcutaneously into a guinea pig. The sera of guinea pigs were collected after 3rd week of inoculation to perform rose Bengal test (RBT) and rapid antibody test (RAT).

Result: Samples from two cows showed positive staining result in which numerous pink-colored coccobacilli were seen. All the sera collected were tested positive for both RBT and RAT. It is evident from this study that three of two abortions at CCBDF were due to brucellosis.

Conclusion: Guineapig inoculation technique could be used as a good alternative of culture for confirming the diagnosis of brucellosis from contaminated clinical samples like placenta.

DOI

Lumpy Skin Disease: A review of epidemiological study and preventive measures

2024-10-26T11:10:56-05:00

Background: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a highly infectious and economically important transboundary disease that is rapidly spreading to the globe. The disease causes high morbidity and a low mortality rate of infection. The animals show acute or chronic illnesses depending on the immune responses of the hosts. The economic burden of LSD manifested the poor-quality hides, a drop in milk and meat production, abortion, and death.

Methods: This systematic literature review was accomplished according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The literature on lumpy skin disease has been explored over the last two decades and searched keywords on online databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus. Both automated and manual searching tools were used to screen the articles. The literature published other than English was rejected during the screening process. Conference papers were excluded during the screening.

Results: LSD is transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods and is most prevalent in summer and rainy seasons. Exotic-bred cattle and calves are highly susceptible. Although the disease has low mortality, the high mortality of the disease prevails in endemic regions in complicated cases. Calves from unvaccinated cows should be vaccinated at any age, on the other hand, the calves from vaccinated cows should be immunized at 3 months of age. Animals should be vaccinated before the risk period. Strict biosecurity, quarantine, and immunoprophylaxis can reduce the prevalence of the disease.

Conclusions: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an acute infectious and contagious disease affecting cattle and water buffaloes. The disease causes serious economic loss due to decreased production, skin problems, and mortality in complicated cases. Further details on genetic characterization, transmission dynamics, and host-pathogen interaction should be performed to prevent the prevalence of the disease in emerging or re-emerging countries.

Retrospective study of congenital anomalies of cattle and goats in selected areas of Mymensingh and Netrokona districts of Bangladesh

2024-11-28T03:43:45-06:00

Background: Ruminants, especially cattle and goats, are prone to a wide range of congenital anomalies influenced by dietary, genetic, or environmental factors. Understanding these anomalies is essential for improving animal health and productivity. This study aimed to identify congenital defects in calves and kids across three upazilas in Bangladesh and to analyze their occurrence concerning breed, sex, and season.

Methods: Retrospective data on species, sex, breed, and season (summer, rainy, and winter) were collected from the register books of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh; Upazila Veterinary Hospital, Mymensingh Sadar, Mymensingh; and Upazila Veterinary Hospital, Kendua, Netrokona, spanning July 2013 to June 2023. Among 1159 cases, 1050 involved calves, and 109 involved kids. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test in SPSS version 20.

Results: The most prevalent congenital anomaly identified was umbilical hernia (52.6%), followed by dermoid cyst (21.4%), atresia ani (15%), persistent urachus (5.8%), knuckling (3.4%), and rectovaginal fistula (1.8%). Both cattle (55.8%) and goats (57.8%) showed a higher prevalence of anomalies in males. Specifically, atresia ani, dermoid cyst, and umbilical hernia were more common in male calves, with occurrences of 62.4%, 57.35%, and 52.9%, respectively, while persistent urachus was found predominantly in males (80.3%). Knuckling was slightly more prevalent in females (52.8%), and rectovaginal fistula occurred exclusively in females. Regarding breed, persistent urachus was more frequently observed in indigenous breeds (55.7%), while atresia ani and rectovaginal fistula showed high frequencies in indigenous calves, with 65% and 63.2%, respectively. Conversely, dermoid cyst, umbilical hernia, and knuckling were more common in crossbred animals, occurring at frequencies of 55.6%, 60%, and 55.6%, respectively. Seasonal variations also played a role, with atresia ani most frequent in the rainy season (35%), while all other anomalies showed their lowest occurrences during this season. Persistent urachus was most prevalent in winter (41%), while dermoid cyst, umbilical hernia, and rectovaginal fistula were most common in summer, with frequencies of 38.2%, 39.7%, and 42.1%, respectively. Additionally, cattle exhibited a higher occurrence of congenital anomalies in crossbred calves during summer, whereas Black Bengal kids were more affected during winter.

Conclusion: Calves exhibited a higher occurrence of diverse congenital anomalies, with umbilical hernia being the most common, while kids were predominantly affected by atresia ani. Anomalies were more frequently observed in male animals and during the summer season.