Browsing by Subject "Small ruminants"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Comparison of commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for diagnosis of contagious agalactia caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae
    (Sciendo, 2022-03-10) Sánchez López, Antonio; Contreras de Vera, Antonio; Sánchez-Corral, María L.; Martínez-Nista, Carmen; Collado, Soledad; Sáez, José L.; Minguez, Olga; de la Fe Rodríguez, Christian; Sanidad Animal
    Introduction: Contagious agalactia (CA) is a disease affecting small ruminants with worldwide distribution and caused by several mycoplasmas, especially M. agalactiae. The main option for systematic diagnosis under monitoring control programmes is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Material and Methods: This study was designed to appraise the performance of two commercial indirect ELISA tests using M. agalactiae p48 protein and one using total protein, for antibody detection in small ruminants after natural infection with different M. agalactiae strains. We carried out the test evaluation using sera of confirmed M. agalactiae-positive goats with clinical signs. In addition, test agreement was assessed by kappa between the three commercial ELISA tests. Results: All three ELISA tests showed high validity scores (Youden’s J: 72.9–84%). The sensitivity values for the P48 protein-based tests were 76.9% and 84.6%, and was 79% for the total protein-based test. The specificity of all tests was 100%. In addition, between the total protein-based ELISA test and the other two ELISA tests based on the P48 protein, the agreement was substantial (kappa: 0.762–0.763) and the agreement between the latter two tests was almost perfect (kappa: 0.93). Conclusion: The validity parameters for all tests allowed their application for diagnostic purposes in lactating goats excreting M. agalactiae in milk and presenting clinical signs.
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    Prevalence of Oestrus ovis in small ruminants from the eastern Iberian Peninsula. A long-term study
    (Wiley, 2023-01-24) Garijo Toledo, María Magdalena; Sansano-Maestre, José; Ahuir-Baraja, Ana Elena; Martínez Carrasco-Pleite, Carlos; Alonso de Vega, Francisco Domingo; Llobat, Lola; Ruiz de Ybáñez Carnero, María del Rocío; Sanidad Animal
    Oestrus ovis is an obligate parasite that causes myiasis in domestic ruminants, being commonly found in the Mediterranean area. From 2009 to 2019 a total of 3476 heads of culling sheep and goats from the Mediterranean coast of Spain were examined for the presence of O. ovis. The total prevalence was 56.3%, significantly higher in sheep than in goats (61.2% and 43%, respectively). Differences were found in the mean annual prevalence, with the highest value being registered in 2018 (61.7%) and the lowest in 2012 (50.3%). Autumn, for sheep, and winter, for goats, were the seasons with the highest number of infested specimens. Temperature, but not rainfall, was found to be associated with prevalence (p < 0.05). Most L1 were found in the anatomic region I (septum, meatus, and ventral conchae), while L2 and L3 were mainly located in regions II (nasopharynx, ethmoid labyrinth, and dorsal conchae), and III (sinuses). The overall intensity was 12.8 larvae per head, significantly higher in sheep (13.3) than in goats (3.5). Our results confirm the high prevalence of O. ovis in sheep and goats in this geographic area over the last decade, with the trend increasing in recent years in association with higher mean temperatures
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    Price Fluctuation, Protected Geographical Indications and Employment in the Spanish Small Ruminant Sector during the COVID-19 Crisis
    (MDPI, 2020-11-26) Vidaurreta, Irene; Orengo Femenia, Juan; De la Fe Rodríguez, Christian; González, José María; Gómez-Martin, Ángel; Benito López, Bernardino; Sanidad Animal
    This work assesses milk and meat price fluctuations from small ruminants during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis in Spain, using o cial data provided by the Interprofessional Dairy Organization (InLaC) and a representative sample of agricultural markets fixing prices per kilogram of lamb and goat kid meat. Data showed a drop in meat and goat milk prices during the period of confinement, which is only maintained for goat milk over the three following months. Similarly, analysis of data from the most important production areas, involving three protected geographical indications (PGI) of lamb meat, suggested that this quality label had a beneficial e ect on sales and price stability in times of crisis. On the other hand, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Spanish labor market, the small ruminant sector did not seem to be a ected in terms of the number of workers when comparing the period before and after the pandemic. All these factors are of interest for producers when making decisions regarding the management of flocks and adapting their marketing strategies for a down market or unexpected volatile circumstances.
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    Short-Term Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Spanish Small Ruminant Flocks
    (MDPI, 2020-08-05) Vidaurreta, Irene; De la Fe, Christian; Orengo, Juan; Gómez-Martín, Angel; Benito, Bernardino; Sanidad Animal
    The human pandemic COVID-19 has rapidly spread around the world, leading to extreme control measures such as population confinement and industries activity closure, including tourism and restauration. Although small ruminants are not sanitary a ected, this situation might cause a negative economic impact on Spanish flocks. The data analyses provided by producers and slaughterhouses in the initial 60 days after COVID-19’s pandemic declaration, showed that while the dairy goat flocks su ered a substantial drop in milk prices, this impact was not seen in sheep milk, which remained almost stable. A price drop for lambs or goat kids was also reported. These data are in agreement with the unexpected drop of lambs and goat kids’ sacrifices in April, as reported by some slaughterhouses. We registered a short-term negative economic impact on Spanish small ruminant’s flocks after COVID-19’s pandemic declaration in the country. The long-term economic consequences still need to be studied to establish contingency plans for this type of sanitary crisis.