title: Trematode infections in pregnant ewes can predispose to mastitis during the subsequent lactation period.
abstract: Objective was to investigate if trematode infections predispose ewes to mastitis and/or metritis. We used 80 trematode-infected ewes: primigravidae in group P-A and multigravidae in M-A remained untreated, primigravidae in P-B and multigravidae in M-B were drenched with netobimin and multigravidae in M-C were given rafoxanide. We collected faecal samples for parasitological examination, blood samples for β-hydroxybutyrate concentration measurement and uterine content, teat duct material and milk samples for bacteriological examination. We found significant differences in blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations between M-A, M-B and M-C during pregnancy (P ⩽ 0.002). We did not observe significant differences between groups regarding development of metritis (P>0.83). We found that for M-A, M-B and M-C ewes, respectively, median time to first case of mastitis was 5.75, 21 and 6.75 days after lambing (P = 0.003) and incidence risk of mastitis was 0.308, 0.069 and 0.222 (P = 0.047). We postulate that trematode infections predispose ewes to mastitis; perhaps, increased β-hydroxybutyrate blood concentrations adversely affect mammary cellular defences. This is the first report associating parasitic infections with mastitis in sheep.
authors: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors: V S
authors: VS
authors: Mavrogianni
authors: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Papadopoulos
authors: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Spanos
authors: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mitsoura
authors: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ptochos
authors: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Gougoulis
authors: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Barbagianni
authors: School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Kyriazakis
authors: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece. Electronic address: gcf@vet.uth.gr.
authors: G C
authors: GC
authors: Fthenakis
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D007774:Lactation; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000382:microbiology; D008413:Mastitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014200:Trematoda / Q000254:growth & development*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014599:Uterus / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: Co-infection; Dicrocoelium; Fasciola; Mastitis; Metritis; Pregnancy toxaemia; Risk factor; Sheep; Trematode; β-Hydroxybuturate