Prevalence of spp., and associated antibodies in dairy cattle with reproductive disorders.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

In cattle dairy farms, abortions and other reproductive problems due to major infectious diseases are overlooked, and identifying their causative agents is very challenging without a confirmatory diagnosis. Further, a prevalence study in animals will provide important hints of pathogen reservoirs and provide necessary direction to disease burden with appropriate control and biosecurity measures at the farm level. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of antibodies in dairy cattle associated with reproductive problems along with coexisting antibodies against abortifacient zoonotic ( and spp.) pathogens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cattle sera (n = 246) from dairy farms (n = 35) situated in different locations in India were screened for anti- and antibodies with enzyme-linked immunoassay and spp. antibodies with microscopic agglutination test.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of 11.4% (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 7.99%-15.96%) antibodies in cattle associated with reproductive problems (p < 0.021) with farm-level seropositivity of 43% was observed. Further, on analysis of screened sera, 49.8% (95% CI: 42.6%-55%) and 77.6% (95% CI: 72%-82.4%) of samples were found to be positive for and spp. antibodies, respectively. Moreover, the seropositivity of 91.9% (226/246) for at least one of the screened zoonotic pathogens was observed, indicating antibodies against either of these organisms in association with reproductive disorders (p < 0.005). The percentage of cattle found to have antibodies was only 1.8%, whereas 11.5% and 41.6% of cattle were found to have and spp. antibodies, respectively. Nevertheless, the predominantly mixed infections observed were of and (34.5%), followed by all three infections (4.9%); toxoplasmosis and leptospirosis (3.5%); and toxoplasmosis and Q fever (2.2%).

CONCLUSION

The serological detection of antibodies against these pathogens in cattle may have significant implications for the livestock industry and public health, suggesting the need for continuous surveillance and monitoring of these infections to prevent their spread.