Vol. 45, No. 4, 2001 content next

THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF COWS OF THE SLOVAK SPOTTED BREED AND ITS CROSSBREEDS TO INFECTION BY THE MICROSPORIDIA Encephalitozoon cuniculi

Macák, V., Bálent, P., Halanová, M*., Kačmárik, J., Hajurka, J., Novotný, F., Hura, V., Bíreš, J.

University of Veterinary Medicine
Komenského 73
041 81 Košice
The Slovak Republic		 *Faculty of Medicine
P. J. Šafárik University
Moyzesova 11
041 76 Košice
The Slovak Republic

Summary

Our work focused on the diagnosis of a microsporidian species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi in the breeding of the Slovak spotted cow and its crossbreeds, as well as the evaluation of their susceptibility to infection during puerperal endometritis and/or retentio secundinarum. The diagnosis of E. cuniculi was performed in 54 dairy cattle aged 3 to 14 years in the spring period. From day 1 to day 14 after calving the dairy cattle were examined clinically, gynaecologically, and ultrasonographically (Aloka SSD 500, 5 MHz, a linear probe).
A sample from the corpus uteri of all the cows was taken by swabs in aseptic conditions for microbiological laboratory testing. E. cuniculi antibodies were diagnosed in the blood serum of the cows evaluated by the method of indirect immunofluorescence.
The E. cuniculi positive identification was recorded in 20 dairy cows (37.04%). In 9 positive cows (16.67%) no pathological findings on the genital organs were revealed (P < 0.01). In 6 dairy cows (11.11%) puerperal endometritis was manifested and in 5 cows (9.26%) retentio secundinarum was observed. The evaluation of dairy cattle infections with respect to their age proved that the highest percentage of positive cows (43.75%) were among those aged from 5 to 8 years.

Key words: cows; puerperal diseases; microsporidia; Encephalitozoon cuniculi

References

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Folia Veterinaria / 2001