LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A SURVEY FOR ROTAVIRUS ANTIBODIES IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA CAlTLE The association of bovine rotavirus with neonatal calf diarrhoea has been recorded by Turner et a / (1973) in Australia. While neonatal diarrhoea is occasionally recorded under intensive conditions of cattle husbandry in Papua New Guinea (PNG), little information is available for the incidence in free ranging herds, and no data is available on incidence of rotavirus infection in such herds. In this letter we report the results of a small serological survey of free ranging herds in PNG for rotavirus antibody. The microtitre technique of the complement fixation test (CFT) described by Casey (1965) was used in the survey. Complement and haemolysin were supplied by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Melbourne. Known negative and positive reference serums, and purified antigen (single shelled particles) at optimal titre were supplied by Dr Ellens of the Lelystad Institute in Holland. In August 1977, serums were obtained from twenty 6-
months-old and some twenty 18-months-old calves from each of 3 sentinel herds in various localities of PNG and in November and February the younger ones were resampled. In addition, 57 random serum samples were obtained from young stock from herds in 2 other areas of PNG (Table I). Serums were heat inactivated before use. The highest titres recorded were 1:32 in some test serums; 1:32 was also the titre of the reference serum. Table 1 shows that sequential samplings from the.3 sentinel herds indicated a low level of C F antibody in 6- and 18-months-old calves in August. Evidence of recent infection in 6-months-old calves from 2 of these herds ( 5 5 and 60%) was seen in the November samplings, with disappearance of the majorityof these titres by the following February. Random samplings of young stock in the neighbouring herds showed a low prevalence of CF antibody (Table 1).
TABLE 1
Occurence of CF Antibody to calf rotavirus ~~
~~
CF Antibody Titre Locality
Age (Months)
Number Tested
August
November
1 :4 -118
1:16 -1:32
1:4 -1:8
February
1:16 -1132
1:4 -1:8
1:16 -1:32
Port Moresby (south coast)
18 6
16 20
0 0
4
1
0
0
0
7
Goroka (highlands)
18 6
18 20
3 4
1 0
2
9
2
3
Lae
18 6
17 20
2 0
0
11
1
2
1
Launakalana (south coast)
6
44
3
0
Wanera (north coast)
6
13
2
0
(north coast)
4 1 1 3 sentinel herds are monitored regularly, and no evidence of disease was observed in any neonatal calves within these
herds during the period August-November 1977. Calves of all ages were reported to be healthy, no scouring was observed, no growth retardation occurred. I t would appear that the infection in the Goroka and Lae herds was subclinical or of very short duration and mild. Although Woode and Bridger (1975) have associated rotavirus with diarrhoea in calves, McNulty el a/ (1976) have shown that rotavirus infection does not necessarily cause clinical signs in calves. Differences in virulence of different strains of virus, failure to transfer maternal antibody to calves in colostrum, or mixed infections with potentially pathogenic bacteria may be involved in field outbreaks of disease. The transient nature of the CF response in these calves is of interest, suggesting that the CF test for rotavirus antibody may detect recent infection only, or possibly a carrier status. No other microbiological investigation wa5 attempted, hence it is not known whether this infection was influenced by anv
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 5 5 , February, 1979
0
pathogenic bacteria, however combined infections and the possibility of clinical disease in neonates under less favourable circumstances should not be underestimated. We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of antigen and serums from Drs D. J . Ellens, P. W. d e Leeuw and J.-van Balken, Virologie Afd., Centraal Diergeneeskundig Institute, The Netherlands. We wish t o thank the Veterinary Officers of the Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea for their assistance, and Professor R . Johnson for his kind advice. Benai lora assisted with the serology. A. VAN KAMMEN, V . KILA, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Primary Industry, P.O. Box 6312 Boroko, Papua New Guinea 1 December 1978
89
References C.'ase), H. I.. (1965) ~Srnridard Diagnosric Cornp/ernent F i x rioii arid .Adaptarioii t o .Micro test, Public Health Monograph No. 74 United States Government Printing Office, \Vashington D.C.
McNtilty, kl, S., McFerran, 1. B., Bryson, D. G., ILogan, F. F. and Curran, W. I . , (1976) - Ver. Rec. 99: 229. Turner, A. J., Caple, I . W . , Craven, .I. A . and Keinganunl, C . (1973) - Aust. ver, .I. 49: 544. Woode, G . N . and Bridger, .I. C. (1975) - I'et. Kri,. 96: 8 5 .
LYNXACARUSON CATS IN FIJI I t bias uith interest that we noted I ? report concerning the cat f u r miit. ( L ? / i ~ a c ~ a I radovsky) tr in Australia (Bowman and Domrow 1978). in 1977, dui-ing the investigation of d refrac-
t o r y shin condition o f cats i n Fiji. a mite belonging to the genus 1 \rt.~ac'aru\\\a\ identified. L.e\ioris \*ere found ( i t i order of decreasing frequency) on either ride o f the base o f the tail, on the tail, the medial and lateral ahpect\ of the thigh and round the anus. Intense pruritis \&a\ a iiiajor feature. Excluding the tail, \shere the affected pait% sho\zed some loss o f tiair and the formation of hard, oltcii blood-tinged iri-egular scabs, the lesions tended to be circular. cleat-1) demarcated from the unaffected skin, showed marhed 1 0 s of hair and \\ere often raw. Self-mutilation apprared inipori;ini i n extending the lcbions. Skin scrapings revealed rhc presence of IOUconcentrations of rhe mite in the of tlic hair\. Repeated attempts to detect other ectopara\ite\ n c i e ~ ~ o n s i ~ t e rnegarive i r l ~ whilst mycological and bacteriological examinations did n o t rewal any vignificant micro-oryanirrn\. Trearnieni Lorisisred o f local application o f a I : 10 diltition in \vater o f cminic'rcial lime-sulphur Eolution containing 16% calciurii pol!sulphide\. T h e affected parts \\ere soahed i n the rniyiure and allo\\ed io dr..,. Repeat applications \\et-e made at
five dav intervals (Muller and i i 1969). an average of three treatments being found necesrary. Cure \\as effected in each case. Reinfestation was a problem on one property but retreatment combated these epi5odes. In contrast to the Hawaiian (Tenorio 1974) and Australian (Bowman and Donirow 1978) findings, parasite numbers were lo\v. Additionally, pruritis in the Fijian cat5 was c o n d e r a b l ) greater. Further study ma) highlight other factor5 which could account for the differing clinical pictures. Houever, the clinician presented ~ i t this h condition may find that treatment w#ith lime-sulphur solution is \imple, cheap, elfectite and safe.
K . XICNRO, H. L1.C . XIUNRO, 4A Ventnor Terrace, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH9 2B\V
References Rowinan. W . L. and Domro\r, K . (1978) - Au.\r. Lei. ./. 54: 403. hluller,
months-old and some twenty 18-months-old calves from each of 3 sentinel herds in various localities of PNG and in November and February the younger ones were resampled. In addition, 57 random serum samples were obtained from young stock from herds in 2 other areas of PNG (Table I). Serums were heat inactivated before use. The highest titres recorded were 1:32 in some test serums; 1:32 was also the titre of the reference serum. Table 1 shows that sequential samplings from the.3 sentinel herds indicated a low level of C F antibody in 6- and 18-months-old calves in August. Evidence of recent infection in 6-months-old calves from 2 of these herds ( 5 5 and 60%) was seen in the November samplings, with disappearance of the majorityof these titres by the following February. Random samplings of young stock in the neighbouring herds showed a low prevalence of CF antibody (Table 1).
TABLE 1
Occurence of CF Antibody to calf rotavirus ~~
~~
CF Antibody Titre Locality
Age (Months)
Number Tested
August
November
1 :4 -118
1:16 -1:32
1:4 -1:8
February
1:16 -1132
1:4 -1:8
1:16 -1:32
Port Moresby (south coast)
18 6
16 20
0 0
4
1
0
0
0
7
Goroka (highlands)
18 6
18 20
3 4
1 0
2
9
2
3
Lae
18 6
17 20
2 0
0
11
1
2
1
Launakalana (south coast)
6
44
3
0
Wanera (north coast)
6
13
2
0
(north coast)
4 1 1 3 sentinel herds are monitored regularly, and no evidence of disease was observed in any neonatal calves within these
herds during the period August-November 1977. Calves of all ages were reported to be healthy, no scouring was observed, no growth retardation occurred. I t would appear that the infection in the Goroka and Lae herds was subclinical or of very short duration and mild. Although Woode and Bridger (1975) have associated rotavirus with diarrhoea in calves, McNulty el a/ (1976) have shown that rotavirus infection does not necessarily cause clinical signs in calves. Differences in virulence of different strains of virus, failure to transfer maternal antibody to calves in colostrum, or mixed infections with potentially pathogenic bacteria may be involved in field outbreaks of disease. The transient nature of the CF response in these calves is of interest, suggesting that the CF test for rotavirus antibody may detect recent infection only, or possibly a carrier status. No other microbiological investigation wa5 attempted, hence it is not known whether this infection was influenced by anv
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 5 5 , February, 1979
0
pathogenic bacteria, however combined infections and the possibility of clinical disease in neonates under less favourable circumstances should not be underestimated. We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of antigen and serums from Drs D. J . Ellens, P. W. d e Leeuw and J.-van Balken, Virologie Afd., Centraal Diergeneeskundig Institute, The Netherlands. We wish t o thank the Veterinary Officers of the Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea for their assistance, and Professor R . Johnson for his kind advice. Benai lora assisted with the serology. A. VAN KAMMEN, V . KILA, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Primary Industry, P.O. Box 6312 Boroko, Papua New Guinea 1 December 1978
89
References C.'ase), H. I.. (1965) ~Srnridard Diagnosric Cornp/ernent F i x rioii arid .Adaptarioii t o .Micro test, Public Health Monograph No. 74 United States Government Printing Office, \Vashington D.C.
McNtilty, kl, S., McFerran, 1. B., Bryson, D. G., ILogan, F. F. and Curran, W. I . , (1976) - Ver. Rec. 99: 229. Turner, A. J., Caple, I . W . , Craven, .I. A . and Keinganunl, C . (1973) - Aust. ver, .I. 49: 544. Woode, G . N . and Bridger, .I. C. (1975) - I'et. Kri,. 96: 8 5 .
LYNXACARUSON CATS IN FIJI I t bias uith interest that we noted I ? report concerning the cat f u r miit. ( L ? / i ~ a c ~ a I radovsky) tr in Australia (Bowman and Domrow 1978). in 1977, dui-ing the investigation of d refrac-
t o r y shin condition o f cats i n Fiji. a mite belonging to the genus 1 \rt.~ac'aru\\\a\ identified. L.e\ioris \*ere found ( i t i order of decreasing frequency) on either ride o f the base o f the tail, on the tail, the medial and lateral ahpect\ of the thigh and round the anus. Intense pruritis \&a\ a iiiajor feature. Excluding the tail, \shere the affected pait% sho\zed some loss o f tiair and the formation of hard, oltcii blood-tinged iri-egular scabs, the lesions tended to be circular. cleat-1) demarcated from the unaffected skin, showed marhed 1 0 s of hair and \\ere often raw. Self-mutilation apprared inipori;ini i n extending the lcbions. Skin scrapings revealed rhc presence of IOUconcentrations of rhe mite in the of tlic hair\. Repeated attempts to detect other ectopara\ite\ n c i e ~ ~ o n s i ~ t e rnegarive i r l ~ whilst mycological and bacteriological examinations did n o t rewal any vignificant micro-oryanirrn\. Trearnieni Lorisisred o f local application o f a I : 10 diltition in \vater o f cminic'rcial lime-sulphur Eolution containing 16% calciurii pol!sulphide\. T h e affected parts \\ere soahed i n the rniyiure and allo\\ed io dr..,. Repeat applications \\et-e made at
five dav intervals (Muller and i i 1969). an average of three treatments being found necesrary. Cure \\as effected in each case. Reinfestation was a problem on one property but retreatment combated these epi5odes. In contrast to the Hawaiian (Tenorio 1974) and Australian (Bowman and Donirow 1978) findings, parasite numbers were lo\v. Additionally, pruritis in the Fijian cat5 was c o n d e r a b l ) greater. Further study ma) highlight other factor5 which could account for the differing clinical pictures. Houever, the clinician presented ~ i t this h condition may find that treatment w#ith lime-sulphur solution is \imple, cheap, elfectite and safe.
K . XICNRO, H. L1.C . XIUNRO, 4A Ventnor Terrace, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH9 2B\V
References Rowinan. W . L. and Domro\r, K . (1978) - Au.\r. Lei. ./. 54: 403. hluller,
