iML Disease Info

Independent Milk Laboratories

Herd Health & Disease Testing Services from

Bulk Milk Screen SchemeIdeal Screen to establish herd Status & basis for design of herd health plan

Blood & Milk Antibody tests

Johnes, IBR, BVD, Lepto, Liver Fluke, Neospora

Tests can be performed on Blood or milk

BVD Virus Tests

Bulk Milk PCR

Ear notch virus test

Individual Blood Antibody, Antigen & PCR

Mastitis ID

• Identifies Mastitis pathogens on Bulk or individual cow sample• Help in identifying source of mastitis or SCC• Allow for identification of appropriate treatment• PCR test for bacterial DNA• Highly accurate• Only bacteria actually in milk• No after-sample contamination• Not reliant on bacterial culture

Disease Control Information:

Guides to control of:

• BVD page 2

• IBR page 3

• IBR & A.I. page 4

• Johnes page 5

• Neospora page 6

• Leptospirosis page 7

• Mastitis page 8

iML is comitted to being a leader in the provision of disease testing and also advice relating to Herd Health.

These step-by-step guides are for illustra-tive purposes only. Detailed guides may be requested by IML customers. Disease situations differ between herds and between locations and your veteri-nary practitioner is best placed to assist you in deciding which control programmes are best suited to your farm.

Testing Services


A new joint venture business designed to provide Irish agriculture with high quality, accredited and independent milk & disease testing services.

Progressive Genetics is Ireland leader in cattle breeding, herd improvement and mangement services. All iML tests are available through Progressive Genetics.

For more information:www.progressivegenetics.iewww.imlabs.ie email: [email protected] Tel: 01-4502142

Providing Vets & farmers with positive

solutions to improve their businesses

Guide to BVD Control


Establish Herd Status• Bulk Milk Antibody• Unvaccinated Youngstock Screen

Establish if P.I. Present• Bulk Milk Virus• Test all newborn calves for virus

Find P.I.• Test all animals individually for BVD virus• Test all calves born following year for BVD virus

Continous Monitoring

• On-going management of herd• Biosecurity

Remove P.I.• Once confirmed, slaughter PIs• DO NOT SELL ON

Testing Options

• Bulk Monitoring Scheme• Blood Antibody

Disease situations differ between herds and between locations and your veterinary practitioner is best placed to assist you in deciding which control programmes are best suited to your farm.

What is it? BVD is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle.What causes it?Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus (BVDv).How it is transmitted?Direct animal contact is the most efficient method of BVD virus transmission. Both transient and persis-tently infected animals will shed virus particles in all bodily secretions, such as nasal and oral discharges, tears, milk and semen. Persistently infected animals shed significantly higher levels of virus than transiently infected animals. Indirect transmission by contaminated housing, veterinary equipment and farm visitors can also occur although of lower risk.Clinical Signs• Poor fertility (conception rates), having ruled out other causes• Poor calf health i.e. unprecedented or undeserved level of calf scour and/or pneumonia• Increased number of abortions, stillbirths and/or de-formities• Birth of weak calves• Occurrence of severe acute BVD• Occurrence of fatal mucosal disease (only possible in persistently infected animals)Eliminate from your herd by:1. Testing for and removing persistently infected ani-mals.2. Designing and implementing a biosecurity plan.3. Vaccinating.

• Bulk Milk Virus PCR • Ear Notch test• Blood Virus test

• Blood Antigen Elisa• Blood Virus test• Ear Notch test

• Bulk Monitoring Scheme

check www.animalhealthireland.ie for a full BVD guide

Biosecurity

EffectiveDiseaseControl

DiagnosticTesting Vaccination

Disease Triangle

This step-by-step guide is for illustrative purposes only. A detailed guide is available to IML customers. Discuss with your veterinary practitioner to determine which steps are most appropriate to your farm.

for more information: visit www.progressivegenetics.ie or phone 01-4502142visit www.imlabs.ie or email [email protected]

Good planning is key to a successful result. Carefully plan your herd’s health programme with your veterinary practitioner in order to derive maximum benefit from your disease control plan.

Testing Options


• Individual Blood Antibody• Individual Milk Antibody• gE test for vaccinated herds

Establish Herd Status• Bulk Milk Antibody (gE if vaccinating)• Unvaccinated Youngstock Screen

• Identification of IBR Carriers (low antibody herd)• Individual testing of entire herd


• On-going management of herd• Biosecurity

Vaccination programme may be warranted in antibody positive(discuss with vet practitioner)

What is it? IBR is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle.What causes it?Bovine Herpes Virus 1 (BHV-1).How it is transmitted?Direct animal contact is the most efficient method of IBR virus transmission. Stress re-activates infections in carrier animals. Nasal discharges from infected animals will contain large amount of virus. Indirect transmission by contaminated housing, veterinary equipment and farm visitors can also occur. Clinical SignsInitial outbreak • Sudden milk drop and high fever• Nasal discharge – red, crusty nose• Sore and cloudy eyes• Severe pneumonia due to secondary bacterial infec-tions• Abortions in the second half of pregnancy• Increase in calf pneumoniaRepeat outbreak (tends to be less severe)• Calf pneumonia• Cow pneumonia• Occasional abortions in second half of pregnancyInfected herds often show no obvious clinical signs of diseaseEliminate from your herd by:1 Vaccinating with a live vaccine in the face of an outbreak2 Continuing to vaccinate at six-monthly intervals3 Testing to establish the level of carriers in the herd4 Culling carriers out of the herd when economically feasible5 Designing and implementing a biosecurity plan includ-ing diagnostic testing

Biosecurity



Disease Triangle

• Remove IBR Carriers (low antibody herd only)• Do not sell into IBR free herd


Guide to IBR Control






IBR & A.I. : How to avoid dangers & increase chances of passing AI entry tests.

IBR Positive Cow

Colostrum to calf

Mothers Antibodies supress IBRVirus becomes Latent

Calf tests IBR Negative“Sero Negative Latent Carrier”

Begins sheding virus laterAfter entry to AI Stud

IBR danger from infected cows

IBR Positive Cow

Colostrum to calf

Sero Neg Carrier avoided

How to Avoid the Danger

IBR Negative Cow

Calf gets colostrumfrom IBR negative cow

Calf will be IBR free ifhe passes tests

No Danger to AI Stud

IBR virus is found in many herds in Ireland and is spread easily from animal to animal in a variety of ways including semen. IBR infection is permanent, although often animals become infected with IBR without any clinical signs or symptoms. IBR is unusual in that the virus can become dormant or latent in the animal, re-emerging, shedding and spreading at times of stress.

Newborn calves pose a particular problem for two reasons; 1) Calving is a stressful activity and IBR positive cows are likely to shed more virus at this time so newborn calves are often exposed to IBR shortly after birth.and 2) Calves are born without a fully functioning immune system – they rely on antibodies absorbed from their dams colostrum to give them temporary protection from disease. If the dam is IBR infected, they will absorb large doses of IBR antibody from the colostrum. These large doses of IBR antibody interfere or block the normal response to IBR by the calves own immune system.

Antibodies absorbed from colostrum are temporary. When they wear off, some of the calves which became IBR infected at birth have none of the tell-tale IBR antibody associated with normal IBR infection. This calf will now pass its entry test (it has no IBR antibody!) but is a major threat to the breeding programme.

This is called the “Sero Negative Latent Carrier” state.

To avoid the creation of this Sero Negative Latent Carrier state we want to ensure as many high merit bulls as possible receive colostrum that is free from IBR antibodies. If a bull does not receive antibodies to IBR in their colostrum in the first 24 hours of life they will not become a Sero Negative Latent Carrier. This will protect the breeding programme, the bull stud and the rearing centres.

How can we increase the number of calves that receive colostrum from IBR negative dams? As a first step we will where possible identify the IBR status of the dam of the calf if the dam is IBR negative you can safely feed her colostrum to the target calf at birth.

If the dam is IBR positive her colostrum will pass on some antibodies to IBR. To avoid this we must look to see if we can provide an alternative source of colostrum for the calf that is IBR negative.

The best option is colostrum from an IBR negative cow in your herd. Because of time constraints to have colostrum available when the calf is born we are asking farmers to freeze 4-5 litres of colostrum from the next 3-5 cows to calve in your herd. Ideally younger cows have the best chance of being IBR negative. Once the colostrum is frozen please take a milk sample from the same cow 1 week later. Send the samples to us and we will screen the samples to identify those that are IBR negative.

Feeding only the colostrum (4-5 litres) from the IBR negative cow to the target bull calf for the first 24 hours of life will ensure we do not cre-ate a Sero Negative Latent Carrier calf. After 24 hours you can use the calf’s mothers milk.

If you are vaccinating for IBR all vaccinated cows will have antibodies to the IBR virus therefore they will give antibodies in colostrum to new born calves and therefore could create a Sero Negative Latent Carrier calf. If you have vaccinated please call NCBC to discuss options.

We can all work together to prevent threat of IBR on your farms and at the AI stud.

Please contact NCBC if you have any furthur questions.

NCBC,Kilcorney, Enfield,Co Meath

Telephone:046 9541333 Fax: 046 9541438

Note for pedigree breeders: getting animals qualified for A.I., Tully etc

Guide to Johnes Disease Control

Bulk Milk Test(Least Reliable)

30 Cow Screen(Moderately Reliable)

Individual Milking Cow Herd Screen(Better Reliablility)

Continous MonitoringBe aware of test reliability

On-going management of positive cows Biosecurity

What is it? Johnes Disease or Paratuberculosis is a bacterial disease of cattle. What causes it?Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. How it is transmitted?This bacterium is shed in faeces by infected animals. Young calves are most at risk of infection and become infected when exposed to infected dung, particularly when nursing from an udder contaminated with infected faeces or from ingestion of infected colostrum and/or milk. M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis can also cross the placenta; however the most common route of infection is through ingestion of the mycobacte-rium. An apparently normal animal can silently shed mycobacteria in the herd. This bacterium remains viable in the environment for lengthy periods. Clinical signs• Chronic, eventually fatal, weight loss in cows despite treatment• Progressive wasting despite a good appetite, Persistent and severe diarrhoea• Clinical signs rarely seen in animals less than two years of age. Control in your herd by:1 Continuous testing to identify high-risk animals2 Culling of high risk animals if/when economically feasible.3 Management of high risk animals that remain within the herd4 Implementing a calf management system to avoid infection i.e. o high levels of hygiene to minimise faecal contamination of young calves o feed colostrum from cows either negative or low-risk for Johnes o rear calves on milk replacer until weaned o if possible, separate newborn calves from all adult animals immediately after birth until at least 12 months of age and preferably until two years of age5 Using an approved disinfectant in hygiene maintenance. 6 Designing and implementing a biosecurity plan including diagnostic testing

Repeated Individual Milking Cow Herd Screen (Best Reliability)

Testing Options

Bulk Monitoring Scheme

• Individual Milk Antibody• Individual Blood Antibody


Biosecurity



Disease Triangle





Guide to Neosporosis Control

Bulk Milk Antibody Screen

Test all animals individually for exposure to Neospora (test in second half of gestation for optimal results)

Cull Neospora positive animals if economically feasibleManage Neospora positive animals if culling is not possible

• On-going management of herd. • Biosecurity

What is it? Neosporosis is a parasitic disease of canines; cattle are infected as incidental hosts.What causes it?Neospora caninum; a protozoan parasiteHow it is transmitted?An animal originally becomes infected with Neospora through ingestion of Neospora oocysts (egg equivalent), which are shed in dog (or other canine) faeces. The infected animal may carry the infection for life and will infect some if not all of her subsequent calves. A calf infected during gestation will either be aborted or will survive full term and be born as an otherwise normal albeit infected calf. The congenitally infected calf, if female, will then pass the infection to her off-spring. Clinical signs• Abortions in mid-gestation • Can occur as an abortion storm• Birth of weak possibly underweight calves with neurological signs i.e. unable to stand, poor reflexes• Possible reduction in milk production and productive lifespan in infected cowsEliminate from your herd by:1. Testing to identify cows that have been exposed; check for antibody to Neospora2. Ensuring no animal contact with infected placenta or aborted foetuses3. Breeding infected/exposed cows to beef bulls4. Culling infected/exposed cows when economically feasible5. Regularly worming farm dogs or pets and minimise contact of the herd with dog faeces6. Designing and implementing a biosecurity plan including diag-nostic testing.

Testing Options




• Individual Milk Antibody• Individual Blood Antibody






Guide to Leptospirosis Control

Bulk Milk TestYoungstock Screen

Continuously Monitor• Bulk Milk• Annual Youngstock Screen

Vaccinate annually

• Biosecurity• Ongoing management

What is it? Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease of cattle. It can also result in life-threatening disease in humans.What causes it?Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo Adapted to cattle:Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjoOther leptospiral serovars:Adapted to other species e.g. rats, dogsHow it is transmitted?A leptosprial infection can be transmitted from one animal to the next through direct contact with infected urine/water, milk or placental fluids. Infected animals often show no signs of infection but harbour the bac-teria in their kidneys, shedding them intermittently into the environment. Some wildlife species (e.g. rats) also shed leptospires in urine making avoidance difficult. Transmission via semen is possible but uncommon. Clinical Signs• Decreased reproductive efficiency (infertility)• Decreased milk production (milk drop syndrome)• Abortion sometimes with retention of afterbirth• Stillbirths and weak calves• Septicaemia (blood poisoning)Control in your herd using 1 Vaccination2 Selective treatment with high dose antibiotics3 Rodent control4 Fencing of wet ground and streams5 Keeping housing clean and disinfected 6 Designing and implementing a biosecurity plan including diagnostic testing

Testing Options


Blood Antibody Test

Biosecurity



Disease Triangle

+






Mastitis & SCC

Mastitis IncidenceProblem - Cow Report

Tel: Page:Test date:

Print date:

Herd No:

Herd owner:

Group

Cow IDCow nameSire ID

I&R-Tag Calv. DateAge

Lact.Days

Mastitis Incidence History (Current Lactation) Prev. lact.

Previous SCC (*1000) herd tests Ave. SCC

Tests > 250

Latest SCC% Herd SCC

Tests > 250

Test Mast Treats Last treat Mast TreatsPrevious mastitis treatments

Scheme A6

PROGRESSIVE GENETICSKYLEMORE ROADBLUEBELLDUBLIN

01/4502142 1(4)

25-may 06-apr 03-feb 23-nov 16-sep 15-jul

29/05/10

25/05/10

677 IE-2814636-9-0677

OKN

30/01/103y 8mSpring

2115

3

3 7709 2453 4411 6800

20.6

802 IE-2814636-1-0802 11/04/102y 3mSpring

144

1

1 40216

399 IE-2814636-3-0399

IE281463660245

02/02/107y 6mSpring

5112

2

2 3944 480 25530

12.8

797 IE-2814636-5-0797

SUW

14/05/102y 4mSpring

111

1

1 25974.5

731 IE-2814636-5-0731

OKN

25/03/103y 3mSpring

261

2

1 1831 172 8800

5.5

514 IE-2814636-2-0514

LCX

12/03/105y 11mSpring

474

2

2 1718 3034 57440

5.5

114 IE-BJWK-0114-E

HWR

05/04/1012y 2mSpring

1050

1

1 1525 9420

4.2

617 IE-2814636-6-0617

OKN

29/03/094y 8mSpring

2422

6

2 1343 30 184 46 289 4700

2

50 IE-2816593-4-0050

RIL

23/02/093y 1mSpring

1456

8

3 1014 621 41 382 33 601.2

64 IE-2816593-1-0064

SUW

14/05/102y 3mSpring

111

1

1 8782.2

474 IE-2814636-4-0474

GPO

05/04/096y 4mSpring

3415

7

4 847 508 397 6828 129 135 19940

1.6

741 IE-2814636-7-0741

MCL

01/06/093y 1mSpring

1358

6

4 846 669 1128 1790 202 621.3

242 IE-2814636-3-0242

GPO

24/10/089y 9mWinter

5578

9

7 796 1488 977 714 2277 1004 26250

1.1

For more information:www.progressivegenetics.iewww.imlabs.ieemail: [email protected]: 01-4502142

check www.animalhealthireland.ie for more information.

Is herd SCC >200,000? Are there clinical mastitis cases?

Which Pathogens?• Staphylococcus aureus• Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS)• Staphylococcal beta-lactamase (penicillin resistance) gene• Streptococcus agalactiae• Streptococcus dysgalactiae• Streptococcus uberis• Escherichia coli• Corynebacterium bovis

• Arcanobacterium pyogenes• Enterococcus faecalis and/or faecium• Klebsiella oxytoca and/or pneumoniae• Serratia marcescens

Large-scale prevalence studies indicate that >95 % of all clinical and subclinical mastitis cases are caused by the species detected by the PCR test.

Mastitis ID

• Identifies Mastitis pathogens on Bulk or individual cow sample• Help in identifying source of mastitis or SCC• Allow for identification of appropriate treatment• PCR test for bacterial DNA• Highly accurate• Only bacteria actually in milk• No after-sample contamination• Not reliant on bacterial culture

Identify high SCC cows using milk recording data and cows with clinical mastitis cases

Use mastitis ID test on problem cows to identify what bacteria is causing mastitis/SCC

Decide on course of actionActions will depend on type of mastitis

causing problem. Action plan should be discussed in conjunction with vet, farm advisor, milking parlour technician etc and may include a combination of treatments and management changes.

Use guidance notes on bacteria to understand effect, transmission and management factors influenc-ing source of mastitis

Monitor Progress

Components of scc management


Providing Vets & farmers with positive

solutions to improve their businesses

1. Information a. Milk Recording Cow SCC b. Problem cow reports c. Mastitis ID – key new development d. Treatments e. Progress reports – Milk Recording

2. Advice a. Vet b. Farm Advisor c. Milk Parlour Tech3. Action a. Plan based approach b. Based on available information c. Follow up

What we can provide: • Cow SCC • Mastitis ID • Problem Cow Reports • Agrinet software

Documents

iML Disease Info