This study describes a reproducible cell culture system that permits the growth and secondary multiplication of the V4 strain of Newcastle disease virus. Allantoic fluid, magnesium chloride and diethylaminoethyl dextran were incorporated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium to encourage secondary viral multiplication without adversely affecting healthy Madin Derby bovine kidney cell growth.
Two hundred and thirty-nine cattle from Gauteng Province in South Africa were tested for various pathogens causing reproductive diseases includingbovine viral diarrhoea/mucosal disease (BVD/MD) virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV) virus, Neospora caninum and Brucella abortus usingvarious tests. For BVD/MD virus, 49.37% tested positive, 74.47% for IBR/IPV virus, 8.96% for Neospora caninum and 3.8% for Brucella abortus. The result for Brucella abortus is higher than the national average, possibly due to the small sample size. A high seroprevalence of antibodies to both BVD/MD virus and IBR/IPV virus was evident. These 2 viruses should be considered, in addition to Brucella abortus, when trying to establish causes of abortion in cattle. The clinical significance of Neospora caninum as a cause of abortion in Gauteng needs further investigation. One hundred and forty-three bulls were tested for Campylobacter fetus and Trichomonas fetus, and a low prevalence of 1.4% and 2.1% respectively was found in this study. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
A cross sectional survey to determine the distribution and prevalence of trypanosomosis was conducted in Kindo Koisha district, in the Wollaita zone in southern Ethiopia. A total of 1 008 adult cattle was examined at eight different localities. Dark field examination of the buffy coat, as well as stained thin blood film examination and packed cell volume (PCV) evaluation were the diagnostic techniques used. The overall prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis was 15 %. Among the positive animals, 108 (71.1%), 43 (28.4%) and 1 (0.6%) were due to Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma congolense and mixed infection (T. vivax and T. congolense), respectively. The infection rate of T. vivax and T. congolense varied significantly (P < 0.01). The mean PCV of the positive and negative animals ranged between 18.3-32.1% and 26.8-33.4%, respectively. The mean PCV of negative animals (28 %) was significantly higher than the mean PCV of positive animals (22.3%) (P < 0.001). There was an inverse association of PCV with the prevalence of trypanosomosis (P > 0.05). The herd average PCV values of each site decreased with increasing proportion of the positive herds of that particular site. Of the diagnostic tests employed, the microhaematocrit buffy coat technique is relatively sensitive and it has an added advantage of indicating the general condition of the animal by haematocrit measurement. In view of the risk of trypanosomosis, a control intervention through the strategic application of appropriate trypanocidal drugs is recommended. A tsetse fly control scheme to reduce host-tsetse fly contact is equally as important as chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis against trypanosomosis.
A retrospective study that involves the analysis of laboratory diagnostic data collected during the period 1996-2006 was conducted. A total of 3417 Salmonella isolations involving 183 different serotypes was recorded from 1999-2006, inclusive, at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. The most common serotypes were Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium (917 incidents), Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Dublin (248 incidents), Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis (232 incidents), Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Muenchen (164 incidents), Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Heidelberg (118 incidents) and Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Chester (113 incidents). The number of recorded Salmonella isolations over the period 1996 to 2006 varies considerably from year to year The peak of 693 isolations was recorded in 1997, and the lowest, 108 incidents, in 2001. Of the total incidents recorded during the period of survey, 2410 (70.5%) occurred in poultry and other birds, 641 (18.75%) occurred in cattle, 255 (7.46) in pigs and 111 (3.24%) in sheep. Despite the large number of serotypes isolated (183), 52 % of incidents were due to only 6 serotypes in decreasing order of prevalence: S. Typhimurium, S. Dublin, S. Enteritidis, S. Muenchen, S. Heidelberg and S. Chester. Serovar Typhimurium was the most common serotype and was detected in all animal species sampled, with, 65% (598) of the incidents occurring in poultry and 20% (187) occurring in cattle. Of the total of 248 incidents of S. Dublin serotype, 95.6% (237) of incidents occurred in cattle and of the 232 isolates of S. Enteritidis, 223 (96%) originated from poultry. Serovar Choleraesuis was identified in 16 isolates from pigs. The following 4 serotypes were each recorded in more than 50 incidents: S. Hadar (102), S. Schwarzengrund (99), S. Mbandaka (94) and S. Sandiego (73). The trends of annual incidence of Salmonella infection in cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and other birds during the 11-year period and the distribution of the main serotypes in individual species of animals from 1996-2006 are discussed.
SUMMARY A seroprevalence study of small ruminant brucellosis was conducted in two sheep and goat rearing pastoral regions of Ethiopia, namely Afar and Somali, from November 2004 to April 2005. Sera from 2000 sheep and goats were tested by Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) and Indirect Enzyme Linked Immuno – Sorbent Assay (I – ELISA). Out of the 2000 sera tested 1.9 % (n = 38) were positive to RBPT and 9.7 % (n = 193) were positive to I – ELISA. This investigation is the first of its type to be performed in small ruminants kept under pastoral production systems. There was statistically highly significant difference (P < 0.001) between the over all seropositivity revealed by RBPT and I – ELISA (Z0.05 = 250 ; 95 % C.I. for the difference between prevalence using I – ELISA and RBPT = 7.69, 7.81). Only fair agreement (Kappa = 31.25 %) was observed between RBPT and I – ELISA for the detection of Brucella antibodies in sera of sheep and goats. Higher prevalence rate (16 %) was found in Afar region (where commingling of animals at communal grazing is the common practice) while lower prevalence (1.9 %) was recorded in Somali region where herding and rangeland utilization is based on clan basis. (X 2 = 117.06 ; P < 0.001). Afar region is about 12 times at risk of infection with Brucella organisms (OR = 11.76 ; C.I : 6.76, 22.11). Brucella antibodies were more prevalent in goats (13.2 % ; C.I : 11.2, 15.3) than in sheep (5.6 % ; C.I : 4.2, 7.3). This difference is statistically significant (X 2 = 32.5 ; P < 0.001 ; OR = 0.392). No difference was observed in prevalence between male and female study animals. The current study revealed higher prevalence of Brucella antibodies (9.7 %) in the absence of Brucella vaccination. This is an indication of the wide spread nature of Brucella infection in the study areas. The Afar region is particularly at high risk of brucellosis. Further epidemiological studies on the distribution and risk factors of brucellosis in the area are warranted.
Purpose The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of indicator microorganisms [ Staphylococcus aureus , non- S. aureus staphylococci (NSAS), coliforms and aerobic bacteria] for contamination of chicken carcasses, carcass drip and rinse water from the informal chicken market in Gauteng, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach Chicken swabs, chicken drips and rinse waters were collected from 151 chickens from 47 random outlets. Pre-tested questionnaires were administered to capture the risk factors for bacterial contamination. Standard microbiological procedures were conducted for isolation and enumeration of target bacteria. Findings NSAS (64% and 41%) and S. aureus (12% and 31%) were prevalent on carcasses and in carcass drip respectively. Coliforms (62%) and aerobic bacteria (85%) were detected in rinse water. Significant risk factors for contamination of carcasses with NSAS, S. aureus and coliform organisms were: evisceration of chickens on the same location used for sale, cleaning of display counter with dirty clothes/wipes, holding of differently sourced chickens in the same cage prior to slaughter, not cleaning the display table/counter and hands at all, washing knives in rinse water, high turnover of daily slaughter and length of time to display chickens. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this research were the limited geographical coverage and small sample size. Practical implications The isolation of these indicator microorganisms suggests the potential presence of other chicken-borne pathogens not tested for in the study. Social implications The findings serve to inform policy on public health and street-vended food and can guide control on good sanitary practices. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive report on ready to eat chickens from the informal markets in Gauteng, South Africa.