Preventive veterinary medicine最新文献

{"title":"Role of stability and triangulation-based methods to improve identification of risk factors for lameness in ewes","authors":"Naomi S. Prosser ,&nbsp;Laura E. Green ,&nbsp;Martin J. Green","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lameness has serious impact on sheep health and profitability. In the UK, the largest-scale questionnaire investigating risk factors for lameness (107 questions and 1260 respondents) identified 20 significant variables using stepwise Poisson regression. It is now known that stepwise procedures with wide data can result in overfit models. This research reanalysed these data, using methods that minimise the likelihood of overfitting and therefore reduce the probability of identifying false positive variables. Poisson and log-normal regression models were built with six different variable selection methods, stability selection and triangulation. Six variables were selected in the final triangulated models associated with a reduced prevalence of lameness, fewer than the 20 variables selected in the original analysis. These six variables covered early treatment of individual sheep, treating sheep with any severity of lameness, avoiding routine foot trimming and avoiding footbathing to treat underrunning footrot. Early treatment of individual lame sheep had the highest population attributable fraction for reduction of lameness. Our results highlight the importance of addressing overfitting when fitting models to wide data and the usefulness of triangulating results across different model types. The results strengthen the evidence that the greatest reduction in lameness nationwide would be achieved if farmers treated the first lame sheep in a group rather than waiting until more become lame.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106767"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145768790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Veterinary assessment of periodontitis disease risk in dogs: A multi-country survey of clinical decision-making","authors":"Ciaran O’Flynn ,&nbsp;Harriet Wright ,&nbsp;Tom Williams ,&nbsp;Zack Ellerby","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106735","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106735","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite affecting most dogs, periodontal disease is routinely underdiagnosed, with detection often occurring only after irreversible damage has occurred. Understanding how veterinarians assess periodontitis risk is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies. This study explored risk factor evaluation and ranking by surveying 462 veterinary practitioners across five countries. Participants from general practice and dental specialty backgrounds assessed canine periodontitis risk through clinical vignettes and direct factor ratings. Despite anticipated differences between specialists and generalists, and between geographic regions, practitioners demonstrated consistent risk assessment approaches. Brachycephalic head shape ranked as the highest-weighted risk factor in all groups, followed by age and breed size, with smaller and older dogs consistently receiving higher risk ratings. Clinical presentations showed clear risk gradients, with tooth mobility and gum recession indicating highest risk, whilst bleeding gums alone signalled moderate risk elevation. Preventative care routines demonstrated perceived protective effects, with regular brushing providing greatest benefit, though practitioners recognised partial compliance as significantly protective compared to no preventative oral hygiene. Risk factor prioritisation aligned closely with epidemiological evidence, suggesting effective knowledge translation from research into clinical practice. Practitioners demonstrated an integrative approach to clinical reasoning, combining multiple factors holistically rather than additively. The study generated the first comprehensive data set of veterinary periodontitis risk assessment, providing evidence-based evaluations across specialisations and geographic regions for further analysis. The consistency of risk evaluations supports developing standardized assessment tools whilst highlighting the need for improved owner education to bridge the gap between professional knowledge and prevention outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106735"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145527847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bayesian assessment of three serological tests for the screening of Trypanosoma cruzi in hunting dogs of Virginia and West Virginia, USA","authors":"Juan Pablo Guarda ,&nbsp;Aida Estefania Pereyra-Cruzado ,&nbsp;Walter Logan ,&nbsp;Trinity Gleich ,&nbsp;Sarah A. Hamer ,&nbsp;Simon M. Firestone ,&nbsp;Roger Ramirez-Barrios ,&nbsp;Cristobal Verdugo","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106762","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106762","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em>, the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD), is a vector-borne disease that affects several mammalian species, including humans. An endemic cycle in wild animals has been described, where dogs with an outdoor lifestyle are at higher risk. CD diagnosis is challenging, requiring multiple tests. Although there are several serologic tests available, they were originally developed for human diagnosis. Currently, there is limited knowledge about their performance in other species. The objective of this research was to estimate the performance of three serologic assays for CD screening in hunting dogs without clinical CD, to support large <em>T. cruzi</em> surveys. A total of 490 hunting dogs were sampled in VA and WV, USA. Sera were tested in parallel using an in-house ELISA test, an immunochromatographic rapid test (IRT), and an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Sensitivity (<em>Se</em>) and specificity (<em>Sp</em>) of these tests were estimated using a Bayesian latent class model (BLCM), assuming the absence of a gold standard test. Informative priors were obtained from literature (IRT and IFAT), or from Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves analysis (ELISA) using an independent panel of 24 canine sera, with known infection status. The BLCM for the ELISA assay estimated a median <em>Se</em> and <em>Sp</em> of 99.3 % (95 % Posterior Probability Interval (PPI): 74.8 %-100 %) and 78.8 % (95 % PPI: 75.2 %-82.1 %), respectively. Similarly, the IRT had medians <em>Se</em> and <em>Sp</em> of 99.1 % (95 % PPI: 83.8 %-100 %) and 80.2 % (95 % PPI: 76.5 %-83.6 %), respectively. On the other hand, the IFAT presented a median <em>Se</em> of 96.7 % (95 % PPI: 90.9 % - 99.3 %) and a median <em>Sp</em> of 98.5 % (95 % PPI: 97.2 % - 99.3 %). A median true prevalence of 1.4 % (95 % PPI: 0.6 %-2.6 %) was estimated. Results suggest that ELISA and IRT are adequate screening tests, given their high <em>Se</em>. However, due to their limited <em>Sp</em> they would require the use of a second highly specific test for CD confirmatory diagnosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106762"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biosecurity practices useful for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome control and eradication on commercial swine farms using machine learning models","authors":"Shoki Akiyama ,&nbsp;Yosuke Sasaki","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is well known that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) decreases herd productivity and leads to economic loss, and it is believed that biosecurity practices are effective for the control and eradication of PRRS. This study aimed to prioritize biosecurity practices useful for PRRS control and eradication by using a machine learning algorithm. Biosecurity practices on 258 Japanese breeding farms were assessed using a biosecurity assessment tool. Random forest analysis was used to assess relevant features based on feature importance. In study 1, each farm was divided into two groups (PRRS controlled or not controlled), and the most relevant biosecurity practices for PRRS control were investigated. Seven features were selected as associated with PRRS control, and results identified the prioritization of semen management and the maintenance of a controlled barn environment to be critical elements for PRRS control. In study 2, each farm was divided into two groups (PRRS-free or not free of PRRS), and the most relevant biosecurity practices for PRRS eradication were investigated. Fourteen features were identified as critically associated with PRRS eradication, and results showed that the stringent management of replacement gilts, the exclusive use of semen from PRRS-free sources, and a comprehensive awareness of farm location were essential elements for PRRS eradication. In conclusion, this research underscores the significant divergence in biosecurity strategies required for effective PRRS control compared with those for eradication.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106764"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Companion animal health surveillance systems: An environmental scan","authors":"Heather Grieve ,&nbsp;Tasha Epp ,&nbsp;Amy L. Greer ,&nbsp;J. Scott Weese ,&nbsp;Lauren E. Grant","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106749","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106749","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Monitoring of companion animal zoonotic diseases in Canada is limited by the lack of a comprehensive companion animal health surveillance system, capable of integrating environmental and public health data. To guide the development of a suitable surveillance framework, we conducted an environmental scan of companion animal heath surveillance systems globally. Using academic and grey literature database searches, supplemented with targeted internet searching, we identified 12,718 unique sources. After screening, 257 sources were deemed eligible for inclusion. These sources identified 119 national or regional surveillance and control programs (which were not further characterized) and 33 companion animal health surveillance systems. We extracted information relating to surveillance scope, data source and collection methods, integration of environmental and public health data, and data dissemination methods. In total, 48.5 % (n = 16/33) of the systems relied on submission of data by veterinary professionals or others, whilst 42.4 % (n = 14) extracted data from electronic health records and veterinary diagnostic laboratory data. Surveillance scope included infectious diseases (n = 13), cause of death (n = 2), cancer (n = 1), and toxin exposure (n = 1). Some systems were not focused on specific health outcomes (n = 12). Only 9.1 % (n = 3) of systems integrated environmental or public health data at the point of data collection. However, other systems utilized environmental data during the analysis phase (27.3 %, n = 9). Surveillance systems largely disseminated surveillance outputs through reports (30.3 %, n = 10) and direct feedback to contributors (27.3 %, n = 9). By conducting this environmental scan, we provide a summary of global companion animal health surveillance efforts. Notably, there are few examples of fully integrated companion animal health surveillance systems using a One Health approach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106749"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145574177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brucellosis prevention and control in small ruminants using a test and slaughter strategy in the pastoral Afar Region of Ethiopia: A pilot study","authors":"Ashenafi Kidanu ,&nbsp;Balako Gumi ,&nbsp;Mahlet Osman ,&nbsp;Haregua Melak Selamsew ,&nbsp;Jakob Zinsstag ,&nbsp;Bezalem Tesfaye Araya ,&nbsp;Girmay Medhin ,&nbsp;Tesfu Kassa ,&nbsp;Rea Tschopp","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106751","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106751","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Brucellosis is a neglected tropical zoonosis with substantial health and economic impact in developing countries. Despite its endemicity in Ethiopia, there is currently no surveillance or control in livestock. The study objective was to assess the effect of animal segregation and elimination as a brucellosis control strategy in small ruminants in the pastoral Afar region of Ethiopia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study was conducted over 2 years. All small ruminants, older than 5 months originally in the herd and those subsequently entering the herd were ear tagged with unique ID numbers. All animals were tested for brucellosis every six months using Rose Bengal Testing and ELISA for confirmation. Purchased animals and animals that had aborted were segregated and tested before joining the herd. Sero-positive animals were eliminated and owners compensated. A herd-book was kept for all animals and households visited each week. A mathematical transmission model was developed to assess the change of prevalence under different intervention scenarios.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Cumulatively, 15,489 small ruminant samples were tested for brucellosis, of which 889 reactors were eliminated. Brucellosis prevalence declined from 12 % to 1 % over the study period and no more animal abortions were recorded by the end of the study. The mathematical model showed that the removal of positive reactors in that specific context clearly decreases the sero-prevalence and eventually leads to the elimination of brucellosis.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Segregation and test-and-slaughter strategy can effectively reduce brucellosis prevalence in animals, thus alleviating the disease burden on the public health sector. A strong inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary approach is required taking into account epidemiological context and pastoralist culture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106751"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145621613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pork safety across Vietnam's traditional markets: Microbial contamination and vendor knowledge, attitudes, and practices","authors":"Trang Thi Huyen Le ,&nbsp;Vivian Hoffmann ,&nbsp;Kate Ambler ,&nbsp;Mike Murphy ,&nbsp;Sinh Dang-Xuan ,&nbsp;Johanna F. Lindahl ,&nbsp;Elisabeth Rajala ,&nbsp;Steven Lâm ,&nbsp;Sofia Boqvist ,&nbsp;Fred Unger ,&nbsp;Hung Nguyen-Viet","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106757","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106757","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foodborne diseases are a major cause of illness in low- and middle-income countries, and most are due to fresh foods sold in traditional markets. Contamination with foodborne pathogens, especially <em>Salmonella</em> spp<em>.,</em> continues to be common in these markets. To better understand why this is the case, this study assessed total bacteria count (TBC) and <em>Salmonella</em> in pork across Vietnamese traditional markets and evaluated vendors’ food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices, examining their associations with contamination. Data was collected in 68 markets across five provinces, with up to 10 pork vendors per market randomly selected. Microbiological data were collected through cut pork samples and cutting boards swabs (n = 396), along with structured questionnaires and observations with vendors (n = 486). Cutting board swabs were analyzed for TBC only, while cut pork was tested for both TBC and <em>Salmonella</em>. Linear and generalized linear mixed-effects models were constructed to identify risk factors for TBC and <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence. The overall <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence in cut pork was 64.4 % (255/396) and was significantly higher in southern provinces (86.8 %) compared to the north (47.5 %, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01). TBC was high in pork and cutting boards (6.4 log₁₀CFU/g and 6.9 log₁₀CFU/cm², respectively), and only 30 % of the pork samples met the Vietnamese standard for TBC in fresh meat. Selling of organs was associated with a higher TBC (coefficient = 0.13, CI: 0.01–0.26, <em>p</em> = 0.03) and greater <em>Salmonella</em> risk (OR = 2.04, <em>p</em> = 0.009). Temperature significantly increased both outcomes (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), while using easy-to-clean surfaces reduced TBC levels (coefficient = −0.16, CI: −0.30 to −0.01, <em>p</em> = 0.03). Vendors demonstrated limited food safety knowledge and mixed attitudes. Observations revealed poor hygienic practices, such as displaying pork on cardboard or cloth or lack of washing with soap and disinfectants, which was influenced by limited access to facilities and equipment. Regional differences suggested contamination levels were influenced by both environmental and market-related factors. These findings highlight the need for holistic interventions targeting an enabling environment, appropriate equipment, and behavioral incentives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106757"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145678416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socioecological determinants of dog ownership in Mara region, Tanzania","authors":"Danni Anderson ,&nbsp;Maganga Sambo ,&nbsp;Ahmed Lugelo ,&nbsp;Anna Czupryna ,&nbsp;Joel Changalucha ,&nbsp;Jonathan M. Read ,&nbsp;Felix Lankester ,&nbsp;Katie Hampson","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding domestic dog population dynamics is critical for rabies control, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where domestic dogs are the primary virus reservoir. This study investigates demographic and environmental determinants of dog ownership in Tanzania’s Mara region, a rabies-endemic area with ecologically diverse landscapes. Using a cross-sectional household survey (n = 27,400 households), we employed mixed-effects models to assess predictors of dog ownership, dog counts, and Human-to-Dog Ratios (HDRs). Overall, 12,975 households (47 %) owned dogs, with a mean of 2.2 dogs per dog-owning household. Logistic regression revealed key predictors of ownership: urban households had reduced odds of dog ownership (OR = 0.311, CI: 0.132–0.734, while ownership likelihood increased with larger household size (adults: OR = 1.151, CI: 1.134–1.169; children: OR = 1.160, CI: 1.140–1.180), and crop (OR = 1.502, 95 % CI: 1.384–1.630), shrub (OR = 1.387, 95 % CI: 1.269–1.515), or tree land cover (OR = 1.708, 95 % CI: 1.260–2.314) compared to built areas. However, among dog-owning households, variables had minimal practical impact on dog counts with most households (85.6 %) owning 1–3 dogs regardless of household size, location, or land cover. Urban districts exhibited significantly higher HDRs (18.3:1 vs. rural 7.1:1), further influenced by land cover (tree: 5.1:1 vs. built: 8.7:1). These findings highlight a critical divergence: while contextual factors strongly predict dog ownership, they do not meaningfully influence the number of dogs owned. Consequently, effective vaccination programmes require strategies tailored to local dog density and ownership patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106756"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145678451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Canine leptospirosis and environmental risk factors in coastal New South Wales, Australia (2021 – 2023)","authors":"Xiao Lu,&nbsp;Christine Griebsch,&nbsp;Jacqueline M. Norris,&nbsp;Michael P. Ward","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Canine leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease that has been long neglected in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Clinical canine leptospirosis cases in Shoalhaven, southeastern NSW from October 2021 to May 2023 were analysed to examine associations between environmental factors and the local occurrence of canine leptospirosis. Poisson models (log-transformed canine population offset and adjusted for the Index of Economic Resources) of spatial (landscape factors adjusted for economic status) and temporal environmental factors (lagged weekly climate variables) were fit to the data. During the 2022 Australian winter, a significant spatio-temporal cluster of canine leptospirosis was detected near lakes, overlapping with the areas heavily flooded in March 2022. In areas surrounding case residential addresses, the rate of canine leptospirosis was increased by the presence of nature conservation areas [Risk Ratio (RR) = 2.47, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.0 – 6.06, p = 0.047] and reduced by the presence of recreational areas within the relevant neighbourhood (RR = 0.13, 95 % CI 0.04 – 0.34, p &lt; 0.001). The preceding extreme climate events (extreme heat and extreme precipitation) influenced the rate of canine leptospirosis in opposite ways, with extreme rainfall at lag −13, −10 and −9 weeks significantly increased rate. The re-emergence of canine leptospirosis in southern NSW was multifactorial, with hydrological events likely the main driving factor. Increased pet owner awareness during and following such events is advocated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106748"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toward controlling Anaplasma marginale in cattle: Molecular prevalence and risk factors across different climatic regions of Iran","authors":"Vahid Noaman ,&nbsp;Saeid Esmaeilkhanian","doi":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106760","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106760","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bovine anaplasmosis, caused by <em>Anaplasma marginale</em>, poses a significant threat to cattle health and productivity in Iran. This study investigated the molecular prevalence and associated risk factors of <em>A. marginale</em> across four climatic zones in Iran. A cross-sectional design with multi-stage stratified sampling was utilized. Blood samples from 1952 clinically healthy cattle were analyzed using nested-PCR targeting the <em>msp4</em> gene. The overall prevalence was 23.2 % (95 % CI: 21.3–25.0), with considerable regional variation; it was highest in the Persian Gulf zone at 44 % and lowest in the Caspian zone at 10.5 %. Sub-desert regions exhibited the highest infection rates (44.2 %), while mountainous and plain areas showed lower prevalence (26.1 % and 20.6 %, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences revealed distinct clustering of Iranian isolates, suggesting potential genetic divergence from global strains. Key risk factors identified through multivariable logistic regression included grazing practices (OR = 2.02, <em>P</em> = 0.029), inadequate barn sanitation (OR = 2.35, <em>P</em> = 0.002), infrequent ectoparasiticide application (OR = 2.92, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), proximity to other farms (OR = 3.12, <em>P</em> = 0.001), and co-rearing with other livestock species (OR = 2.73, <em>P</em> = 0.036). Seasonal variation was notable, with higher infection rates during warm, dry periods (OR = 2.86, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Spatial analysis using SaTScan, configured to identify non-overlapping clusters, revealed four statistically significant clusters, including high-risk clusters in central (Semnan Province, RR=3.88) and southwestern (Khuzestan Province, RR=2.26) Iran, and a low-risk cluster in the Caspian zone (P &lt; 0.001). These findings provide critical evidence for designing targeted surveillance and control programs. The identified high-risk clusters and modifiable risk factors, such as tick control, barn sanitation, and injection practices, offer a clear framework for veterinarians and farmers to prioritize interventions. For policymakers, this study underscores the necessity of region-specific strategies and farmer education campaigns to mitigate the economic and health impacts of bovine anaplasmosis in Iran.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20413,"journal":{"name":"Preventive veterinary medicine","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 106760"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145715358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}