By use of likelihood ratios, the threshold of serum IgG1 concentration for optimal health and performance of calves was higher than values reported previously. Implementation and maintenance of management and intervention strategies designed for early detection and treatment of calves at risk for failure of passive transfer will likely result in increases in preweaning health and performance parameters.

This study was designed to describe the percentage of cattle shedding Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Midwestern U.S. feedlots and to discover relationships between the point prevalence of cattle shedding the organism and the characteristics of those cattle or the conditions of their pens. Cattle from 29 pens of five Midwestern feedlots were each sampled once between June and September 1999. Feces were collected from the rectum of each animal in each pen. Concurrently, samples of water were collected from the water tank, and partially consumed feed was collected from the feedbunk of each pen. Characteristics of the cattle and conditions of each pen that might have affected the prevalence of cattle shedding E. coli O157:H7 were recorded. These factors included the number of cattle; the number of days on feed; and the average body weight, class, and sex of the cattle. In addition, the temperature and pH of the tank water were determined, and the cleanliness of the tank water and the condition of the pen floor were subjectively assessed. The samples of feces, feed, and water were tested for the presence of E. coli O157:H7. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from the feces of 719 of 3,162 cattle tested (23%), including at least one animal from each of the 29 pens. The percentage of cattle in a pen shedding E. coli O157:H7 did not differ between feedyards, but it did vary widely within feedyards. A higher prevalence of cattle shed E. coli O157:H7 from muddy pen conditions than cattle from pens in normal condition. The results of this study suggest that E. coli O157:H7 should be considered common to groups of feedlot cattle housed together in pens and that the condition of the pen floor may influence the prevalence of cattle shedding the organism.

BackgroundNigeria is ranked in the top five countries for tuberculosis deaths worldwide. This study investigated the mycobacterial agents associated with presumptive clinical pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria and evaluated the pattern and frequency of mycobacterial infections over twelve calendar months period.MethodsSputum samples from 1,603 consecutive new cases with presumptive diagnosis of TB were collected from August 2010 to July 2011. All sputum samples were incubated for detection of mycobacterial growth and those with positive acid fast bacilli (AFB) growth were tested to detect mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex and characterized to differentiate between MTB complex species. Cultures suggestive of Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections (NTM) were sub-cultured and characterized.ResultsOf the 1,603 patients screened, 444 (28%) culture-positive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were identified. Of these, 375 (85%) were due to strains of MTB complex (354 cases of M. tuberculosis, 20 M. africanum and one case of M. bovis) and 69 (15%) were due to infection with NTM. In contrast to the MTB complex cases, the NTM cases were more likely to have been diagnosed during the calendar months of the Harmattan dust season (OR = 2.34, 1.28–4.29; p = 0.01), and aged older than 35 years (OR = 2.77, 1.52–5.02, p = 0.0007), but less likely to have AFB identified on their sputum smear (OR = 0.06, 0.02–0.14, p<0.0001). Among those with NTM infection, cases 35 years or younger were more likely to have co-infection with HIV (3.76, 1.72–8.22; p = 0.0009) compared to those older than 35 years.InterpretationThe high proportion of younger patients with clinical pulmonary TB due to NTM and co-infection with HIV and the likely role of the seasonal dust exposure in the occurrence of the disease, present novel public health challenges for prevention and treatment.

Summary Data from 116 mares that had caesarean section or vaginal delivery at 2 university hospitals were analysed in 5 groups, as follows: dystocia corrected by caesarean section, Group DCS (n = 48); elective caesarean section, Group ECS (n = 10); caesarean section concurrently with colic surgery, Group CCS (n = 8); assisted vaginal delivery, Group AVD (n = 22); and controlled vaginal delivery under general anaesthesia, Group CVD (n = 28). Survival rate in all mares that had caesarean section, excluding Group CCS, was 88% (51/58). All mares in Group ECS survived and Group CCS had the lowest survival rate (38%). In 98 mares with dystocia, Groups DCS (15%) and AVD (14%) had significantly lower (P<0.05) mortality rates than Group CVD (29%). There were no differences between groups for duration of dystocia. The placenta was retained in 75 (65%) of 116 mares, and for a longer period following elective caesarean section than following assisted vaginal delivery. Multiple complications (≥3) were recorded in 6 mares in Group CVD but not in the other groups. Of the 102 foals delivered from 98 mares with dystocia, 11 (11%) were alive at delivery and 5 (5%) survived to discharge. Survival rate for foals was 38% in Group CCS, and 90% in Group ECS. Under conditions similar to those in this study, it is calculated that caesarean section is preferable to CVD if dystocia is protracted and great difficulty and trauma is invloved, even if CVD allows delivery of the foal.