First cases of besnoitiosis in cattle in Switzerland

Lesser, M; Braun, U; Deplazes, P; Gottstein, Bruno; Hilbe, M; Basso, W (2012). First cases of besnoitiosis in cattle in Switzerland. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde, 154(11), pp. 469-474. Huber 10.1024/0036-7281/a000389

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Bovine besnoitiosis has been diagnosed in neighboring countries but not in Switzerland so far. This disease occurs endemically in France and focal outbreaks have been reported in Germany and Italy. To determine if Besnoitia besnoiti is introduced into Switzerland through the import of breeding cattle from France, a systematic serological survey was performed. A total of 412 breeding cattle (from 114 farms) imported from France into Switzerland between 2005 and 2011, were serologically examined for antibodies against B. besnoiti using a commercial ELISA kit (PrioCHECK© Besnoitia Ab 2.0, Prionics AG, Zurich, Switzerland). Sixty-four (15.5 %) animals reacted positive in ELISA. The serologic diagnosis was confirmed by an indirect immunfluorescence test (IFAT) and a Western blot (WB) in only 2 Limousin cows imported from France on a farm in Eastern Switzerland. Subsequently, this whole herd (n = 16) was examined clinically and serologically and 2 additional Limousin cows imported from Germany also reacted positive in the three serological tests. One of these cows presented B. besnoiti tissue cysts in the scleral conjunctiva and typical skin lesions in the head region. The infection was further confirmed cytologically, histopathologically and by PCR. It can be concluded that the parasite is most likely being introduced into Switzerland through the import of infected animals.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute of Parasitology 05 Veterinary Medicine > Research Foci > Host-Pathogen Interaction 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP)
UniBE Contributor:	Gottstein, Bruno
Subjects:	600 Technology > 630 Agriculture 500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology 600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	0036-7281
Publisher:	Huber
Language:	German
Submitter:	Bruno Gottstein
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2015 15:56
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:40
Publisher DOI:	10.1024/0036-7281/a000389
PubMed ID:	23117988
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/63081