Animal Diseases

Abstract Sheep and goat coccidiosis has a worldwide distribution and is an important disease on lambing farms. Infection with multiple Eimeria species can lead to severe intestinal damage in sheep/goats and economic losses on farms. Disease is a serious constraint to the healthy development of small ruminant farming. Studies published on PubMed, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang and the resulting references of selected studies were included. Risk factors affecting prevalence were analyzed and stratified by geographic location and climatic variables, age, sex, feeding model, season, sample year, breeds and environment. The total prevalence of coccidia in sheep and goats reached more than 60% in most regions, in which the dominant species in sheep were mainly E . parva , E . ovinoidalis , and E . parva and E . ahsata . East China had the lowest prevalence of coccidia infection in sheep (43.24%), and the dominant species were different from those in the other regions, mainly E . bakuensis and E . gonzalezi . Southwestern China and Central China had slightly less than 40.0% goat coccidia infection, and the dominant species in goats were mainly E . arloingi , E . aligevi , E . hirci and E . ninakohlyakimovae . Sheep/goats of different ages can be infected with coccidiosis, but lambs between 1 and 3 months of age are more susceptible to the disease. When lambs become infected, the pathogen spreads rapidly throughout the herd. Spring, summer and autumn are the seasons with a high incidence of this disease. Environmental pollution may be a significant factor in the development of coccidiosis in sheep raised in large-scale housing. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the species, morphology and geographic distribution of Eimeria species in sheep and goats, summary prevalence in different regions of China, risk factors affecting prevalence, and prevention and control strategies.

Manyu Liu

Senyang Li

Shucheng Huang

Longxian Zhang

Fuchun Jian

Epidemiological characteristics and prevention and control strategies for Eimeria spp. in sheep and goats in China: a systematic review

中国绵羊和山羊艾美耳球虫的流行病学特征及防控策略：系统综述

Abstract Small ruminants are vital to the economy of Ethiopia and significantly contribute to the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers. However, poor management practices and high mortality rates among young lambs and kids have hindered their economic potential. A prospective cohort study was conducted in three rural villages in Dalocha district with the aim of estimating morbidity and mortality rates among these animals and identifying associated risk factors. The study monitored 130 lambs and kids every 15 days from birth to three months and recorded health events and deaths. Data analysis utilized Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis, log-rank tests, and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression. The results revealed an overall morbidity rate of 0.58 and a mortality rate of 0.2 cases per 100 lamb days at risk for lambs, whereas the rates of morbidity and mortality for kids were 0.27 and 0.1 cases per 100 kid days, respectively. Respiratory issues were the leading health problem, accounting for 35.9% of morbidity cases, whereas diarrhea accounted for 38.5% of deaths. The hazard of morbidity was 2.1 times greater for lambs than for kids (HR = 2.1; p = 0.039). Additionally, the morbidity hazard was significantly greater in lambs and kids from multiparous dams (HR = 3.8, p = 0.017) but 89% lower in vaccinated flocks (HR = 0.11, p = 0.001). The identified risk factors for mortality included litter size and maternal behavior. Twin-born lambs and kids presented a mortality hazard that was 6.31 times greater than that of singletons (HR = 6.31; p = 0.025), whereas offspring from dams with poor mothering presented a mortality hazard that was more than 24 times greater (HR = 24.56; p = 0.006) than that of offspring from normal mothers. This study underscores the need for improved maternal care, access to colostrum, better bonding, and suitable environments for multiple births to reduce morbidity and mortality rates among lambs and kids. Further research into the specific causes of these issues is recommended.

Redwan Anwar

Rahmeto Abebe

Desie Sheferaw

Epidemiological study of lamb and kid morbidity and mortality rates and associated risk factors in an extensive management system in the Dalocha district, Silte Zone, Central Ethiopia

埃塞俄比亚中部西尔特区达洛查地区广泛管理系统中羔羊和幼崽发病率、死亡率及相关风险因素的流行病学研究

Abstract Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has emerged as a significant threat to the pig farming industry worldwide, resulting in considerable economic losses. However, few reports detail its economic impact on the pig farming sector. A study was conducted on 23 breeding pig farms in Hubei Province from January 2021 to December 2023, and the PRRSV infection status and associated economic losses were monitored to address this gap. PRRSV antigens and antibodies were identified through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additional monthly production data and weaning costs were gathered. The Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test was used to assess the differences in production efficiency and weaning costs across various PRRSV infection statuses. Dunn’s test was used to compare multiple groups. The parameter distributions of various variables were determined via @RISK (V. 8.5.2) software. Models were developed to evaluate the economic impact of PRRSV infection status on breeding pig farms and assess the losses from a PRRSV outbreak in either provisional PRRSV-negative or PRRSV-positive stable farms. A total of 754 months of monitoring was conducted across 23 breeding pig farms, which included 131 months (17.37%) classified as PRRSV provisional negative, 298 months (39.52%) as PRRSV-positive stable, and 325 months (43.11%) as PRRSV-positive unstable. The production efficiency and weaning costs were similar between provisional PRRSV-negative farms and PRRSV-positive stable farms, revealing no significant differences. However, these metrics varied significantly compared with those of PRRSV-positive unstable farms. With respect to provisional PRRSV-negative farms, PRRSV-positive stable farms and unstable farms faced additional annual losses of ¥3,135.17 and ¥4,898.79 per sow, respectively. Compared with PRRSV-positive stable farms, PRRSV-positive unstable farms incurred an extra annual loss of ¥1,763.62 per sow. Upon a PRRSV outbreak on a swine farm, followed by a return to preoutbreak conditions, the average economic loss per sow on provisional PRRSV-negative farms is approximately ¥3,061.21. Conversely, PRRSV-positive stable farms face an average loss of approximately ¥508.42 per sow. This study provides a systematic evaluation of the economic impact of PRRSV on Chinese pig farms, offering data to support the quantitative assessment of economic losses stemming from PRRSV within the domestic pig farming industry.

Huifeng Zhao

Jingwei Zhou

Min Zhang

Xiutao Yang

Zhaofang Xi

Qingxia Gao

Rui Fang

Pengfei Zhao

Junlong Zhao

Epidemiological surveillance and economic impact analysis of different porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection statuses in 23 breeding pig farms in Hubei, China

中国湖北省23个种猪场不同猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒感染状态的流行病学监测及经济影响分析

Abstract Apicomplexan parasites predominantly generate ATP and lactic acid through glycolysis and anaerobic glucose metabolism, incorporating CO 2 into glycolysis via a stage-dependent phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) mechanism. Although the role of PEPC in plant and bacterial carbon fixation is well documented, its function within Babesia remains largely unexplored. This study employs reverse genetics to probe the biological role of PEPC in Babesia gibsoni , noting its conservation across similar protozoa, suggesting a pivotal and conserved biological function. Western blotting and immunofluorescence (IFA) experiments using the BgPEPC-3 × Flag strain revealed that the BgPEPC protein has a molecular weight of 105 kDa and localizes predominantly to the cytoplasm. Attempts to knock out the PEPC gene in BgPEPC-3 × Flag strains failed under standard media conditions, succeeded only with the addition of 5 mM malate, an upstream metabolite of oxaloacetic acid (OAA). In addition to malate, the downstream metabolite of OAA can also partially compensate for the phenotypic defects caused by PEPC deficiency. This intervention alleviated severe growth deficits, underscoring the critical role of aspartate in the parasite lifecycle. Moreover, metabolic inhibitors such as L-cycloserine and triazamidine, which target aspartate aminotransferase and mitochondrial functions, respectively, demonstrated increased efficacy against BgPEPC knockout strains. The lack of a compensatory response to malic acid supplementation underscores the integral role of BgPEPC in intermediary carbon metabolism and its necessity in providing aspartate as a precursor to pyrimidine synthesis. Collectively, these findings suggest that PEPC could be a potential target for future drug development against B. gibsoni infections. Graphical Abstract

Dong-Fang Li

Ling-Na Wang

Yi-Dan Bai

Yu-Xin Yu

Xing Lu

Xing-Ai Guan

Fang-Jie Li

Sen Wang

Lan He

Jun-Long Zhao

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is essential for the glycolytic pathway and parasite proliferation in Babesia gibsoni

磷酸烯醇丙酮酸羧化酶（PEPC）对吉氏巴贝斯虫的糖酵解途径和寄生虫增殖至关重要

Abstract Pathogenic African swine fever virus (ASFV) remains a lethal causative agent in the domestic pig industry, which poses a burden on the swine market and causes substantial socioeconomic losses worldwide. Currently, there are no commercially efficacious vaccines or specific treatments available for ASF prevention and control. Unfortunately, little is known about the swine immune response upon ASFV infection. Here, we investigated the host immune response discrepancy induced by the field moderately virulent strain ASFV HB-2208 among healthy, diseased and asymptomatic pigs. In the peripheral blood of diseased swine, lymphopenia is caused by the massive loss of bystander lymphocytes, such as γδ T cells, B cells and CD4 + T cells. Conversely, ASFV has a strong tropism for the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) and partial dendritic cells (DCs), whose antigen-presenting ability is impeded by the downregulation of CD80 and MHC I. However, no significant difference in the number of CD8α high T cells was detected, whereas the frequencies of NK cells, NKT cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) were significantly increased. Additionally, an in vitro model was established with a coculture of primary pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which significantly reduced γδ T cells, B cells and CD4 + T cells and increased Tregs. The differentiated immune response might aid in enhancing the understanding of ASFV pathogenesis in suids and provide insights into the mechanism of ASFV-induced lymphopenia for further studies.

Wenjing Xiong

Haowei Chen

Yanru Chen

Ke Wang

Tingting Lian

Weijia Zhang

Qing Yu

Xiaochen Gao

Jie Su

Qigai He

Xiangru Wang

Junping Yu

Min Cui

Diverse immune cell profiles in ASFV-associated lymphopenia

与非洲猪瘟病毒相关的淋巴细胞减少症中的多种免疫细胞特征

Publication Information	Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd，Publishing cycle: ，Journal Type: journal，Open Access Journals: Yes
Basic data	Year of publication: 2021，Proportion of original research papers: ，Self Citation Rate:， Gold OA Rate:
Average review cycle	12 weeks

Animal Diseases

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Epidemiological characteristics and prevention and control strategies for Eimeria spp. in sheep and goats in China: a systematic review

Epidemiological study of lamb and kid morbidity and mortality rates and associated risk factors in an extensive management system in the Dalocha district, Silte Zone, Central Ethiopia

Epidemiological surveillance and economic impact analysis of different porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection statuses in 23 breeding pig farms in Hubei, China

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is essential for the glycolytic pathway and parasite proliferation in Babesia gibsoni

Diverse immune cell profiles in ASFV-associated lymphopenia

Epidemiological characteristics and prevention and control strategies for Eimeria spp. in sheep and goats in China: a systematic review

Epidemiological study of lamb and kid morbidity and mortality rates and associated risk factors in an extensive management system in the Dalocha district, Silte Zone, Central Ethiopia

Epidemiological surveillance and economic impact analysis of different porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection statuses in 23 breeding pig farms in Hubei, China

Diverse immune cell profiles in ASFV-associated lymphopenia

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is essential for the glycolytic pathway and parasite proliferation in Babesia gibsoni

ISSN	2731-0442
h-index	6