A study of some infectious causes of reproductive disorders in cattle owned by resource-poor farmers in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Njiro, S.M.; Kidanemariam, A.G.; Tsotetsi, A.M.; Katsande, T.C.; Mnisi, M.; Lubisi, B.A.; Potts, A.D.; Baloyi, F.; Moyo, G.; Mpofu, J.; Kalake, A.; Williams, R.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 82(4): 213-218
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1019-9128 PMID: 22616434 DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v82i4.76
Accession: 051264268
Two hundred and thirty-nine cattle from Gauteng Province in South Africa were tested for various pathogens causing reproductive diseases includingbovine viral diarrhoea/mucosal disease (BVD/MD) virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV) virus, Neospora caninum and Brucella abortus usingvarious tests. For BVD/MD virus, 49.37% tested positive, 74.47% for IBR/IPV virus, 8.96% for Neospora caninum and 3.8% for Brucella abortus. The result for Brucella abortus is higher than the national average, possibly due to the small sample size. A high seroprevalence of antibodies to both BVD/MD virus and IBR/IPV virus was evident. These 2 viruses should be considered, in addition to Brucella abortus, when trying to establish causes of abortion in cattle. The clinical significance of Neospora caninum as a cause of abortion in Gauteng needs further investigation. One hundred and forty-three bulls were tested for Campylobacter fetus and Trichomonas fetus, and a low prevalence of 1.4% and 2.1% respectively was found in this study. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.