Jackson L P, Higgins H M, Duncan J S
Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecologica Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, United Kingdom.
Front Vet Sci. 2024 Dec 23;11:1489751. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1489751. eCollection 2024.
Neonatal infectious arthritis (NIA) is a bacterial disease of lambs in the first month of life. NIA is associated with poor animal welfare, economic losses, and prophylactic antibiotic use. Farmers report problems with NIA despite following current guidance on prevention. The aim of this study was to estimate NIA UK incidence, describe current management practices for NIA control, and farm management risk factors associated with NIA.
A cross-sectional, online questionnaire of UK sheep farmers was carried out between June and October 2020. Descriptive statistics, and univariable and multivariable risk factor analysis was undertaken.
Of the 322 respondents, 64% reported joint ill cases in the 2020 lambing period. The median within flock incidence was 1.4% (IQR 0.8-2.6%; 95% CI, 1.2-1.6). Seventeen percent of farmers estimated their current treatment efficacy for NIA was less than 50%. Eleven percent of farmers used prophylactic or metaphylactic antibiotics in all lambs to prevent NIA occurrence. Across all flocks, risk factor associated with NIA occurrence was the number of ewes lambed (301-600; OR, 3.9; 95% CI 1.9-8.0. >600; OR, 13.7; 95% CI, 5.4-34.4). In outdoor lambing flocks, increased risk of joint ill was associated with the number of ewes lambed (>600 ewes; OR, 34.7; 95% CI, 6.6-182.7), not providing outdoor shelter to lambing ewes (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.2-7.8), and not cleaning ear tags (OR, 5.7; 95% CI, 1.5-21.4). Using antibiotics as a preventative measure was associated with a reduced risk of joint ill (OR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.01-0.4). In indoor lambing flocks, increased risk of joint ill was associated with upland flocks (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.3-6.8), number of lambs born alive (501-1,000; OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.6-10.7. >1,000; OR, 14.0; 95% CI, 4.0-48.9), and not washing hands (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.2-10.6).
NIA was reported in indoor and outdoor lambing flocks. A pattern of risk factors associated with increasing intensity of lambing was observed. Prophylactic antibiotic use was associated with a reduced risk of NIA in outdoor flocks, however, NIA still occurred in flocks where this was practiced. More veterinary involvement is advised in the diagnosis, treatment protocols, and prevention of NIA.
新生儿感染性关节炎（NIA）是羔羊出生后第一个月内的一种细菌性疾病。NIA与动物福利差、经济损失以及预防性使用抗生素有关。尽管农民遵循了当前的预防指南，但仍报告存在NIA问题。本研究的目的是估计英国NIA的发病率，描述当前控制NIA的管理措施，以及与NIA相关的农场管理风险因素。
2020年6月至10月对英国养羊农民进行了一项横断面在线问卷调查。进行了描述性统计以及单变量和多变量风险因素分析。
在322名受访者中，64%报告在2020年产羔期有羔羊关节病病例。羊群内发病率的中位数为1.4%（四分位间距0.8 - 2.6%；95%置信区间，1.2 - 1.6）。17%的农民估计他们目前对NIA的治疗有效率低于50%。11%的农民对所有羔羊使用预防性或群体预防性抗生素以预防NIA的发生。在所有羊群中，与NIA发生相关的风险因素是产羔母羊的数量（301 - 600只；比值比，3.9；95%置信区间1.9 - 8.0。＞600只；比值比，13.7；95%置信区间，5.4 - 34.4）。在户外产羔的羊群中，关节病风险增加与产羔母羊数量（＞600只母羊；比值比，34.7；95%置信区间，6.6 - 182.7）、未为产羔母羊提供户外庇护所（比值比，3.0；95%置信区间，1.2 - 7.8）以及未清洁耳标（比值比，5.7；95%置信区间，1.5 - 21.4）有关。将抗生素用作预防措施与关节病风险降低有关（比值比，0.1；95%置信区间，0.01 - 0.4）。在室内产羔的羊群中，关节病风险增加与山地羊群（比值比，3.0；95%置信区间，1.3 - 6.8）、存活出生羔羊数量（501 - 1000只；比值比，4.1；95%置信区间，1.6 - 10.7。＞1000只；比值比，14.0；95%置信区间，4.0 - 48.9）以及未洗手（比值比，3.6；95%置信区间，1.2 - 10.6）有关。
在室内和户外产羔的羊群中均报告有NIA。观察到与产羔强度增加相关的风险因素模式。在户外羊群中，预防性使用抗生素与NIA风险降低有关，然而，在实施此措施的羊群中仍发生了NIA。建议在NIA的诊断、治疗方案和预防方面更多地让兽医参与。
