Protozoan Parasites in Adult Dairy Small Ruminants and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples

Lianou, Daphne Τ.; Arsenopoulos, Konstantinos V.; Michael, Charalambia K.; Papadopoulos, Elias; Fthenakis, George C.

doi:10.3390/microorganisms10101931

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Previous studies in Greece have reported a high frequency of Eimeria spp. detection in other animal species: poultry (85.7%) [44], small ruminants (69%) [45] and fish (67.3%) [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatic Coccidiosis in Wild Rabbits in Greece: Parasite Detection on Liver Imprints and the Associated Biochemical Profile

Athanasiou

Tsokana

Doukas

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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(1) Background: Rabbit hepatic coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria stiedae, is a devastating disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. The disease is well described in rabbits, but little is known about E. stiedae infection in wild rabbits. In this study, we investigated the presence of E. stiedae infection in wild rabbits from the island of Lemnos, Greece, where this species is overpopulated, and the effects of infection on common hepatic biomarkers. (2) Methods: We used liver impression smears to detect the coccidian oocysts, and we defined the liver biochemical profile of the infected individuals. (3) Results: Overall, 13.3% of the liver imprints examined were positive for the presence of coccidial oocysts. The activities of liver enzymes, that is, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamyltransferase (GGT), as well as globulins (GLOB), were increased while the concentrations of albumins (ALB), total proteins (TP) and the albumin to globulin (A/G) ratio were decreased in the infected individuals compared to the non-infected ones. (4) Conclusions: This study adds to the current knowledge on the pathogens affecting wild rabbits and those circulating in this population on the island of Lemnos, Greece. Moreover, we showed that E. stiedae infection exerts pathological effects on the hepatocyte integrity and liver function of wild rabbits, as reflected by the abnormal values of liver injury and dysfunction biomarkers.

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“…Previous studies in Greece have reported a high frequency of Eimeria spp. detection in other animal species: poultry (85.7%) [44], small ruminants (69%) [45] and fish (67.3%) [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatic Coccidiosis in Wild Rabbits in Greece: Parasite Detection on Liver Imprints and the Associated Biochemical Profile

Athanasiou

Tsokana

Doukas

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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“…Four bulk-tank samples were collected from the tank of each farm. Faecal samples were subsequently obtained from the female animals (ewes/does) on each farm [ 14 ]. Faecal samples were obtained directly from the rectum of animals, following the standard technique.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Data on Mapping 444 Dairy Small Ruminant Farms during a Countrywide Investigation Performed in Greece

Lianou

Michael

Fthenakis

2023

Animals

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The small ruminant industry is the most important branch of Greek agriculture. Nevertheless, despite the importance of small ruminant farming for Greece, no detailed mapping of the respective farms has been undertaken and published. The present work refers to mapping the dairy sheep and goat industry in Greece through an extensive, countrywide cross-sectional study, in which information was obtained from 325 sheep and 119 goat farms. The objectives were the collection, the classification and the presentation of data obtained from all these farms through interviews, using a questionnaire and through examination of samples collected during the visits. All the farms enrolled in the study were visited by the investigators. Initially, information was obtained by means of a detailed, structured questionnaire with 442 questions. Moreover, samples of milk were collected from the bulk-tank of each farm and faecal samples were collected from female animals in each farm. The milk samples were processed for cytological and microbiological examination. Staphylococcus spp. and Listeria spp. isolates were recovered and identified at a species level; furthermore, a full antibiotic sensitivity pattern assessment was conducted. Faecal samples were processed by standard parasitological tests for the identification of protozoan, trematode, cestode and gastrointestinal and respiratory nematode parasites. The paper presents the cumulative findings of the study, i.e., the answers to the questions during the interviews and the results of the laboratory examinations performed in the samples; the findings are presented separately for sheep and goat farms. The findings can be used as baseline measurements; individual farms and cohorts of farms can be compared against the current results to draw conclusions against the countrywide situation. Moreover, the current results can be used as reference points for the future, in order to assess changes that might have occurred in the meantime. The study also described the differences between farms with sheep or goats; in total, differences in 137 parameters were identified. Some of these can be attributed to the different management systems practiced; sheep flocks are managed mostly under the intensive or semi-intensive system, whilst goat herds are managed mostly under the semi-extensive or extensive system. These findings can be useful in the health management of small ruminants, in providing evidence-based support and within the scope of precise livestock medicine and health management.

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“…visited all the flocks for sample collection. Samples were collected directly from the rectum of adult ewes on the farms, as described in detail by Lianou et al [ 15 ]. In each flock, 20, 30, 40 or 50 ewes (for flocks with ≤165, 166–330, 331–500 or >500 ewes, respectively) were selected for sampling.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples

et al. 2023

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The aims of the present study were: (a) to describe the prevalence of helminth infections from pooled faecal samples from sheep flocks across Greece and (b) to evaluate flock-related factors potentially associated with the presence of these infections in the flocks. An extensive countrywide study was performed on 325 sheep farms throughout Greece; faecal samples were collected from ewes and processed for the identification of helminth parasites. Helminths were detected in samples from 92.9% of flocks; these included Dicrocoelium dendriticum (16.7% of flocks), Fasciola hepatica (0.6%), Paramphistomum cervi (2.2%), Moniezia spp. (18.8%), Trichostrongylidae (85.5%), Nematodirus spp. (18.8%), Strongyloides papillosus (7.1%), Trichuris spp. (20.0%) and lungworms (17.8%). Mean Trichostrongylidae counts across all flocks in the study were 215 epg. Specifically, for Trichostrongylidae, there were differences between flocks that had or had not received anthelmintics during the two months prior to sampling, as well as between flocks located in various areas of the country. In multivariable analyses, for the outcome ‘high (>300) epg counts in faecal samples’, the month into the lactation period at sampling and the application of reproductive control practices on the farm emerged as significant factors; for the outcome ‘high proportion (>63%) of Teladorsagia spp. in faecal samples’, the availability of straw bedding emerged as a significant factor; and for the outcome ‘high proportion (>63%) of Haemonchus contortus in faecal samples’, the age of the farmer emerged as a significant factor. For the outcome ‘presence of Trichuris spp. in faecal samples’, the provision of finished feed (concentrate) to animals emerged as a significant factor, whilst, finally, for the outcomes ‘presence of D. dendriticum in faecal samples’ and ‘presence of lungworms in faecal samples,’ no significant factors emerged.

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Protozoan Parasites in Adult Dairy Small Ruminants and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples

Cited by 7 publications

References 32 publications

Hepatic Coccidiosis in Wild Rabbits in Greece: Parasite Detection on Liver Imprints and the Associated Biochemical Profile

Hepatic Coccidiosis in Wild Rabbits in Greece: Parasite Detection on Liver Imprints and the Associated Biochemical Profile

Data on Mapping 444 Dairy Small Ruminant Farms during a Countrywide Investigation Performed in Greece

Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples

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