One stillborn lamb with congenital deformities was submitted to the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Carmarthen Veterinary Investigation Centre, to investigate the cause of its malformation. Congenital articular rigidity involving multiple joints and scoliosis was detected by postmortem examination. Histologically, there was a severe protozoal panmyelitis and encephalitis with intralesional protozoa. Multifocal non-suppurative myositis with occasional associated protozoal forms was also observed. Intralesional tachyzoites and tissue cysts in the brain, spinal cord and skeletal muscles reacted with Neospora caninum antibodies. N. caninum DNA was also detected in brain tissue by real-time PCR using primers designed to amplify an 86-base pair region of the Nc5 gene, specific to N. caninum. No Toxoplasma gondii involvement was identified. The findings of this study demonstrate that N. caninum can cause arthrogryposis in lambs and, consequently, should be included as a differential diagnosis in cases of congenital neurological disease or malformations in lambs.

This focus article has been prepared by Vanessa Swinson, David Jorge and Michele Macrelli of the APHA.

Linguatula serrata, also known as tongue worm, is a zoonotic parasite that lives in the nasal airways of dogs where it is responsible for mild to severe rhinosinusitis. In recent years, the number of pets entering the United Kingdom from abroad has increased, with a coinciding increase in the number of L. serrata infections diagnosed in UK veterinary clinics. Here, we report a case of linguatulosis in a 10-month-old, rescued dog imported from Romania. Two weeks post arrival, the dog showed coughing, nasal discharge, epiphora and respiratory distress. Two worm-like parasites were expelled by sneezing and they were morphologically identified as L. serrata. L. serrata eggs were also detected. A macrocyclic lactone treatment was administered, and clinical signs resolved. L. serrata should be included in the differential diagnosis of respiratory disease in imported dogs. Due to the zoonotic potential of this parasite, rapid diagnosis and correct treatment is essential.

Rumen fluke (Calicophoron daubneyi) has emerged as a prominent parasite of ruminants in Europe over the past decades. Epidemiological questions remain regarding this observed increase in prevalence as well as the prospect for future paramphistomosis risk. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the temporal−spatial prevalence of rumen fluke as measured by veterinary surveillance in a temperate region using zero-inflated negative binomial mixed modelling. Modelling revealed that summer rainfall, raindays and sunshine hours and mean winter temperature as significant positively associated climate variables for rumen fluke prevalence over space and time (P < 0.05). Rumen fluke prevalence was also higher in counties with higher cattle/sheep densities and was positively associated with rumen fluke case rates in the previous years (P < 0.05). Equivalent models for fasciolosis prevalence revealed no significant association with winter temperature and sunshine hours, (P > 0.05). These results confirm a strong association between rainfall and the prevalence of both fluke species in a temperate environment, likely due to the role of Galba truncatula as their intermediate snail host. It also highlights the potential added importance of winter temperature and sunshine hours in rumen fluke epidemiology when compared to liver fluke.

We report a disease and mortality event involving swans, seals, and a fox at a wildlife rehabilitation center in the United Kingdom during late 2020. Five swans had onset of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection while in captivity. Subsequently, 5 seals and a fox died (or were euthanized) after onset of clinical disease. Avian-origin influenza A virus subtype H5N8 was retrospectively determined as the cause of disease. Infection in the seals manifested as seizures, and immunohistochemical and molecular testing on postmortem samples detected a neurologic distribution of viral products. The fox died overnight after sudden onset of inappetence, and postmortem tissues revealed neurologic and respiratory distribution of viral products. Live virus was isolated from the swans, seals, and the fox, and a single genetic change was detected as a potential adaptive mutation in the mammalian-derived viral sequences. No human influenza-like illness was reported in the weeks after the event.

Europe has experienced extensive outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during the autumn/winter 2020/21 season. These avian influenza A viruses are highly transmissible and have infected over 1000 commercial and backyard poultry premises in Europe in this period causing high mortality. The impact on wild bird populations has also been significant, with over 400 detections in at least 47 different species reported across Europe as being positive with the H5N8 virus. Although different H5Nx combinations within the H5 clade 2.3.4.4b have been detected, the H5N8 subtype has predominated both in wild birds and domestic poultry outbreaks. In the UK there have been 22 outbreaks of H5N8 in domestic poultry and captive birds and more than 300 wild bird detections involving H5N8 over the autumn/winter 2020/21 period to April 2021. Here we detail the series of events surrounding the detection of an H5N8 influenza A virus of avian origin in five swans, a fox and three seals in a wildlife rehabilitation centre.

Bovine cysticercosis is a parasitic infection of cattle caused by the human tapeworm Taenia saginata. Bovine cysticercosis was identified by meat inspection in 4.7 per cent (18 out of 380) of the cattle submitted for slaughter, over an 8-month period, from a beef finisher farm. This value is significantly higher compared with the 2019 annual rate of detection from England meat inspection data, which was 0.018 per cent. Two of the 18 carcases were condemned on the grounds of generalised bovine cysticercosis. Its involvement was investigated by histopathological examination and confirmed using PCR and sequencing. Animal and Plant Health Agency collected data regarding the feed, the source of livestock, the staff sanitary conditions, the husbandry system, management and the farm environment. The results indicated that the permanently housed cattle were most likely infected on the finisher unit by homemade grass silage produced from a field which was crossed by a public footpath and bordered by two camp sites.

This focus article has been prepared byAmanda Carson,Sian Mitchell,Paul Phipps,Michele MacrelliandElizabeth Dunnettof the APHA.

Veterinary RecordVolume 186, Issue 19 p. 651-652 Letters and notices Expansion of red sheep tick range in England Paul Phipps, Paul Phipps virologist APHA, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NBSearch for more papers by this authorNicholas Johnson, Nicholas Johnson virologist APHA, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NBSearch for more papers by this authorMichele Macrelli, Michele Macrelli veterinary investigation officer APHA, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NBSearch for more papers by this authorNick Pile, Corresponding Author Nick Pile practitioner nick.johnson@apha.gov.uk Cliffe Veterinary Group, Radstock House, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2AHemail: nick.johnson@apha.gov.ukSearch for more papers by this authorLiz McGinley, Liz McGinley medical entomologist PHE, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JGSearch for more papers by this authorKayleigh Hansford, Kayleigh Hansford medical entomologist PHE, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JGSearch for more papers by this authorJolyon Medlock, Jolyon Medlock medical entomologist PHE, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JGSearch for more papers by this author Paul Phipps, Paul Phipps virologist APHA, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NBSearch for more papers by this authorNicholas Johnson, Nicholas Johnson virologist APHA, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NBSearch for more papers by this authorMichele Macrelli, Michele Macrelli veterinary investigation officer APHA, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NBSearch for more papers by this authorNick Pile, Corresponding Author Nick Pile practitioner nick.johnson@apha.gov.uk Cliffe Veterinary Group, Radstock House, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2AHemail: nick.johnson@apha.gov.ukSearch for more papers by this authorLiz McGinley, Liz McGinley medical entomologist PHE, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JGSearch for more papers by this authorKayleigh Hansford, Kayleigh Hansford medical entomologist PHE, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JGSearch for more papers by this authorJolyon Medlock, Jolyon Medlock medical entomologist PHE, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JGSearch for more papers by this author First published: 25 June 2020 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.m2496Citations: 2Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume186, Issue19June 2020Pages 651-652 RelatedInformation

Tick pyaemia is a disease of sheep characterised by the development of internal abscesses caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The disease is normally triggered by infestation with Ixodes ricinus and can be exacerbated by co-infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Here the authors report the finding of tick pyaemia in a sheep flock suffering from high mortality caused by severe infestation with the red sheep tick, Haemaphysalis punctata. Tick pyaemia was confirmed by gross identification of internal abscesses in two lambs and isolation of S aureus from these lesions, with concurrent identification of H punctata ticks on the carcases. Additionally, Babesia motasi and Theileria luwenshuni were detected by pan-piroplasm PCR in the blood of infested animals including the two sent for postmortem examination.Anaplasma phagocytophilum was not detected. These findings suggest that infestation with H punctata is capable of inducing tick pyaemia in lambs and that this may be exacerbated by coinfection with piroplasms.

Bovine babesios is a sporadic disease within the United Kingdom causing mortality and morbidity within the national herd. Despite numerous reports in cattle, there have been no published reports of its molecular characterization or genetic confirmation of the Babesia species since its first description in England. This study describes the molecular detection and species identification of Babesia divergens in a case of babesiosis from an outbreak of the disease on a farm in northern England. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that B. divergens 18S RNA sequence in England is 100% identical to B. divergens in Ireland and France. The sequence derived is publically available and can be used to compare future cases of bovine babesiosis, especially if the pathogenesis of disease changes in response to the emergence of other Babesia species.

As anthelmintic resistance is increasingly being reported in cattle worldwide, there is a need to explore alternative approaches to gastrointestinal nematode control in cattle. A novel approach is the use of targeted selective treatments (TST) where only individual animals are treated instead of the entire group. The study objective was to determine if anthelmintic usage could be reduced using a TST-based approach in rotationally grazed first-grazing season suckler beef calves without affecting calf performance. Eighty-eight spring-born suckler beef calves, naïve to anthelmintics, with an initial mean (s.d.) age and live weight of 159 (22.4) days and 221 (42.4) kg, respectively, were used. All calves were vaccinated at pasture against dictyocaulosis at 8 and 12 weeks old. On August 9th 2013 (Week 0), when the trial began, calves were randomised by age, weight, sex, dam breed and sire breed to one of two treatments: (1) standard treatment (positive control) (n = 44) and (2) TST (n = 44). Samples collected one week prior to the start of the study were used as baseline covariates. Each treatment group was replicated once. All calves in the control groups were treated subcutaneously with levamisole on Week 0 and on Week 6. Individual calves in the TST groups were only eligible for treatment at pasture with the same product if predetermined thresholds were reached [plasma pepsinogen ≥2.0 international units of tyrosine/litre and faecal egg count ≥200 eggs per gram of faeces]. The trial concluded at housing on Week 13. Data were analysed using repeated measures mixed models ANOVA (PROC MIXED) (SAS 9.3). No calves in the TST groups were treated for gastrointestinal nematodes during the study period as they did not reach pre-determined treatment thresholds. Mean (sem) calf daily live weight gain for control and TST groups was 0.90 (±0.04) and 0.92 (±0.03) kg, respectively (P = 0.68). Using an ELISA to detect antibodies to Dictyocaulus viviparus at Week 11, 81% of calves were seropositive. Gastrointestinal nematode challenge in spring-born suckler beef calves under these conditions can potentially be controlled with minimal anthelmintic treatments whilst not significantly impairing calf performance, provided appropriate control measures are taken to prevent dictyocaulosis from occurring.

Veterinary RecordVolume 175, Issue 5 p. 120-120 Research Detection of anthelmintic resistance on two Irish beef research farms J. O'Shaughnessy, Corresponding Author J. O'Shaughnessy [email protected] Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, IrelandE-mail for correspondence:[email protected]Search for more papers by this authorB. Earley PhD, B. Earley PhD Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorJ. F. Mee PhD, J. F. Mee PhD Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorM. L. Doherty PhD, M. L. Doherty PhD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorP. Crosson PhD, P. Crosson PhD Livestock Systems Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorD. Barrett DipECBHM, D. Barrett DipECBHM DAFM, Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Doonally, Co. Sligo, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorR. Prendiville PhD, R. Prendiville PhD Livestock Systems Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorM. Macrelli DVM, M. Macrelli DVM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, Milano, 20133 ItalySearch for more papers by this authorT. de Waal PhD, T. de Waal PhD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, IrelandSearch for more papers by this author J. O'Shaughnessy, Corresponding Author J. O'Shaughnessy [email protected] Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, IrelandE-mail for correspondence:[email protected]Search for more papers by this authorB. Earley PhD, B. Earley PhD Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorJ. F. Mee PhD, J. F. Mee PhD Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorM. L. Doherty PhD, M. L. Doherty PhD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorP. Crosson PhD, P. Crosson PhD Livestock Systems Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorD. Barrett DipECBHM, D. Barrett DipECBHM DAFM, Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Doonally, Co. Sligo, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorR. Prendiville PhD, R. Prendiville PhD Livestock Systems Department, Animal Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, IrelandSearch for more papers by this authorM. Macrelli DVM, M. Macrelli DVM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via Celoria 10, Milano, 20133 ItalySearch for more papers by this authorT. de Waal PhD, T. de Waal PhD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, IrelandSearch for more papers by this author First published: 02 August 2014 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.102556Citations: 10 Provenance: not commissioned; externally peer reviewed Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. References ANONYMOUS (1989). 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(2011) Anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of cattle: a global issue? Trends in Parasitology 27, 176– 181 Torgerson P. R., Paul M., Furrer R. (2014) Evaluating faecal egg count reduction using a specifically designed package “eggCounts” in R and a user friendly web interface. International Journal for Parasitology 44 : 299– 303 Urquhart G. M., Armour J., Duncan J. L., Dunn A. M., Jennings F. W. (1996) Veterinary Parasitology. 2nd Edn. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Science Ltd. 307pp Van wyk J. A., Mayhew E. (2013) Morphological identification of parasitic nematode infective larvae of small ruminants and cattle: a practical lab guide. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 80, 14 Citing Literature Volume175, Issue5August 2014Pages 120-120 ReferencesRelatedInformation