Bovine Torovirus and Other Enteric Microorganisins in Feces from Clinical Cases of Gastroenteritis in Cattle

During the year 1999-2000, 185 specimens [39 calves (~ 6-month-old), 32 young adults ( < 2 years), 84 adults (~ 2 years), 30 of unknown age] were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test developed in our lab to detect BoTV antigen. Testing for other enteric pathogens was performed by ADDL, and the results were recorded and analyzed together with the BoTV data. Results and Discussion


Introduction
Bovine Torovirus (BoTV or bredavirus) is an uncultivable, enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus that causes diarrhea in calves.Our objective was to determine the prevalence of BoTV in bovine fecal samples from clinical cases of gastroenteritis sent to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL), and its rate of detection with other enteric pathogens.

Materials and Methods
During the year 1999-2000, 185 specimens [39 calves (~ 6-month-old), 32 young adults ( < 2 years), 84 adults (~ 2 years), 30 of unknown age] were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test developed in our lab to detect BoTV antigen.Testing for other enteric pathogens was performed by ADDL, and the results were recorded and analyzed together with the BoTV data.

Results and Discussion
BoTV was detected in 6/185 (3.2%) of the clinical samples, two in calves and four in adult cattle.In 3/6 ELISA-positive specimens, BoTV was the only pathogen detected among those examined.In summary, BoTV was detected in several samples from clinical cases of gastroenteritis in cattle of various ages.Future investigations ofinfectious diarrhea in cattle may need to include assays to detect this etiologic agent.

Introduction
Detrimental effects of twinning have been reported in dairy herds.Dystocia, premature calving, retained placenta, abortion and delivery offreemartins, and their 180 subsequent effects on reproductive indices and milk production, have been studied extensively. 1 In the present report, negative effects and losses of twinning on reproductive indices, postpartum conditions and milk production were studied retrospectively in a large dairy herd.

Materials and Methods
The study compared 180 twinnings and eight twin abortions with normal single pregnancies from 4,052 calvings and 77 abortions during a three-year study (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) in a Holstein dairy farm (1,350 milking cows).Postpartum conditions, such as retained placenta, reproductive indices (days to first service, days open, first-service pregnancy rate and services per pregnancy) and average 305-day milk production were compared, using chi-square and student t tests.

Discussion
A deficit of 13.75% was shown in twin pregnancies, compared to singles.Postpartum conditions, dystocia and retained placenta due to twinning significantly affected reproductive indices and milk production, reducing reproductive and productive potentials of such animals.Freemartins are also of concern and should not be overlooked.The dairy industry needs to work on reducing incidence of twin pregnancies to decrease these losses.

Introduction
In a 65-cow herd located north oflthaca, 12 abortions had occurred during 1999; four between mid-January and mid-February, one in March and one more in July.The remaining six abortions had occurred between the beginning of September and mid-October, three of them within one week during mid-October.Submission of a blood sample from the last aborting cow revealed a positiveNeospora caninum titer.Upon screening 15 cows including most of the cows that had previously aborted, nine animals were found positive to Neospora caninum.It was decided to try and controlling the problem by vaccinating with a Neospora caninum vaccine.

Materials and Methods
A total of 28 cows were randomly chosen to receive either 5cc of a Neospora caninum vaccine, or 5cc of sterile saline, four weeks apart.Serum samples were taken at time of the first vaccination and one month after the second dose.
The number of animals that seroconverted between the first and second vaccination was compared using Fisher's exact test.The difference in pre-and postvaccination titers between the vaccinated and control groups was evaluated with the Rank-Sum test.