Author
Wesley, Irene | |
WELLS, S - USDA/APHIS, FT. COLLINS | |
HARMON, K - IA STATE UNIV., AMES, IA | |
GREEN, A - USDA/APHIS, FT. COLLINS |
Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 8/13/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Dairy cows were screened for Campylobacter jejuni and Arcobacter during the USDA NAHMS '96 Dairy survey. For C. jejuni, 80.6% operations (n=31) and 23.5% of individual dairy cattle fecal samples (n=2,085) were positive. C. jejuni herd prevalence was significantly higher (P<0.001) among milk cows (80.6%) than on-farm culls (69.2%) and cull cows at market (63.9%). For seasonal effect, herd-level prevalence was higher in milk cows (84.7%) sampled after May 1 than in on-farm cull cows (50%) and cull cows at market (55.2%). For individual cow prevalence, factors which approached significance included herd size with herds of >100 cows more frequently infected (P=0.014), absence of Salmonella infection (P=0. 015), and feeding of brewers' by products to lactating cows (P=0.013). For Arcobacter, 71% operations (n=31) and 14.3% of individual dairy cattle fecal samples (n=1,682) were positive. For individual cows, risk factors which achieved statistical significance (P<0.001) with Arcobacter shedding included location in the southern United States, herd size (>100 cows), concurrent Salmonella infection, and the alley flushing system used to clean the premises. This is the first report on the prevalence of Arcobacter in clinically healthy dairy cattle. |