A 10-Year Surveillance of Eimeria spp. in Cattle and Buffaloes in a Mediterranean Area
Coccidiosis due to Eimeria spp. are widespread parasitic infections in cattle and water buffaloes and may impair health, welfare, and production of these livestock species. The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the prevalence and seasonal dynamics of eimeriosis and (ii) to characterize the...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00410/full |
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| author | Maria Elena Morgoglione Antonio Bosco Maria Paola Maurelli Leucio Camara Alves Giorgio Saralli Gianpaolo Bruni Giuseppe Cringoli Laura Rinaldi |
| author_facet | Maria Elena Morgoglione Antonio Bosco Maria Paola Maurelli Leucio Camara Alves Giorgio Saralli Gianpaolo Bruni Giuseppe Cringoli Laura Rinaldi |
| author_sort | Maria Elena Morgoglione |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coccidiosis due to Eimeria spp. are widespread parasitic infections in cattle and water buffaloes and may impair health, welfare, and production of these livestock species. The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the prevalence and seasonal dynamics of eimeriosis and (ii) to characterize the Eimeria species in large ruminants in a Mediterranean area, in order to plan effective control strategies. Parasitological data were obtained from a 10-year surveillance program (2010–2019) on 3,631 farms (2,089 buffalo and 1,542 cattle farms) sampled in central and southern Italy. Pooled fecal samples were analyzed using the FLOTAC technique with an analytic sensitivity of 2 oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) utilizing a saturated sodium chloride flotation solution (specific gravity = 1.200). Eimeria species identification was performed by morphometric analysis after a one week incubation of oocysts in a 2.5% potassium dichromate solution. The results showed high prevalence of Eimeria (up to 100%) in both cattle and buffaloes in the 10 years of surveillance, even if a slight reduction was reported in the last three years. The overall prevalence of eimeriosis was 91.7% (95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 90.2–93.1) in cattle farms and 81.5% (95% CI = 79.8–83.1) in water buffalo farms. The mean OPG value was 66.8 (min = 2; max = 8,065) in cattle and 55.9 (min = 2; max = 15,415) in water buffaloes, but this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In total, nine species of Eimeria were found in cattle the most prevalent being Eimeria bovis, E. ellipsoidalis, E. cylindrica, and E. zuernii, whereas in water buffaloes eight species of Eimeria were found, the most prevalent being E. ellipsoidalis, E. auburnensis, E. bovis, and E. zuernii. Mixed infections were common in both ruminant species. The seasonal pattern showed a higher prevalence of eimeriosis in cattle in spring (86.9%) whereas in buffalo farms the prevalence was higher in winter (82.3%) and summer (82.4%). In conclusion, the 10-year surveillance program indicates that eimeriosis is common in cattle and water buffaloes and therefore continuous effective control strategies are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:50:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03e07903a2944ae39581773b71f29045 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:50:13Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-03e07903a2944ae39581773b71f290452022-12-21T19:03:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692020-08-01710.3389/fvets.2020.00410555570A 10-Year Surveillance of Eimeria spp. in Cattle and Buffaloes in a Mediterranean AreaMaria Elena Morgoglione0Antonio Bosco1Maria Paola Maurelli2Leucio Camara Alves3Giorgio Saralli4Gianpaolo Bruni5Giuseppe Cringoli6Laura Rinaldi7Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, BrazilIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, Rome, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Campania Region, Naples, ItalyCoccidiosis due to Eimeria spp. are widespread parasitic infections in cattle and water buffaloes and may impair health, welfare, and production of these livestock species. The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the prevalence and seasonal dynamics of eimeriosis and (ii) to characterize the Eimeria species in large ruminants in a Mediterranean area, in order to plan effective control strategies. Parasitological data were obtained from a 10-year surveillance program (2010–2019) on 3,631 farms (2,089 buffalo and 1,542 cattle farms) sampled in central and southern Italy. Pooled fecal samples were analyzed using the FLOTAC technique with an analytic sensitivity of 2 oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) utilizing a saturated sodium chloride flotation solution (specific gravity = 1.200). Eimeria species identification was performed by morphometric analysis after a one week incubation of oocysts in a 2.5% potassium dichromate solution. The results showed high prevalence of Eimeria (up to 100%) in both cattle and buffaloes in the 10 years of surveillance, even if a slight reduction was reported in the last three years. The overall prevalence of eimeriosis was 91.7% (95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 90.2–93.1) in cattle farms and 81.5% (95% CI = 79.8–83.1) in water buffalo farms. The mean OPG value was 66.8 (min = 2; max = 8,065) in cattle and 55.9 (min = 2; max = 15,415) in water buffaloes, but this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In total, nine species of Eimeria were found in cattle the most prevalent being Eimeria bovis, E. ellipsoidalis, E. cylindrica, and E. zuernii, whereas in water buffaloes eight species of Eimeria were found, the most prevalent being E. ellipsoidalis, E. auburnensis, E. bovis, and E. zuernii. Mixed infections were common in both ruminant species. The seasonal pattern showed a higher prevalence of eimeriosis in cattle in spring (86.9%) whereas in buffalo farms the prevalence was higher in winter (82.3%) and summer (82.4%). In conclusion, the 10-year surveillance program indicates that eimeriosis is common in cattle and water buffaloes and therefore continuous effective control strategies are needed.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00410/fulleimeriosisseasonal dynamicscattlebuffaloesMediterranean area |
| spellingShingle | Maria Elena Morgoglione Antonio Bosco Maria Paola Maurelli Leucio Camara Alves Giorgio Saralli Gianpaolo Bruni Giuseppe Cringoli Laura Rinaldi A 10-Year Surveillance of Eimeria spp. in Cattle and Buffaloes in a Mediterranean Area Frontiers in Veterinary Science eimeriosis seasonal dynamics cattle buffaloes Mediterranean area |
| title | A 10-Year Surveillance of Eimeria spp. in Cattle and Buffaloes in a Mediterranean Area |
| title_full | A 10-Year Surveillance of Eimeria spp. in Cattle and Buffaloes in a Mediterranean Area |
| title_fullStr | A 10-Year Surveillance of Eimeria spp. in Cattle and Buffaloes in a Mediterranean Area |
| title_full_unstemmed | A 10-Year Surveillance of Eimeria spp. in Cattle and Buffaloes in a Mediterranean Area |
| title_short | A 10-Year Surveillance of Eimeria spp. in Cattle and Buffaloes in a Mediterranean Area |
| title_sort | 10 year surveillance of eimeria spp in cattle and buffaloes in a mediterranean area |
| topic | eimeriosis seasonal dynamics cattle buffaloes Mediterranean area |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fvets.2020.00410/full |
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