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Faecal shedding of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica determined by qPCR for yst virulence gene associated with reduced live weight but not diarrhoea in prime lambs
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Faecal shedding of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica determined by qPCR for yst virulence gene associated with reduced live weight but not diarrhoea in prime lambs

C. Jacobson, R. Yang, A. Williams, G.E. Gardner, I. Carmichael, A.J.D. Campbell and U. Ryan
Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Vol.152, pp.56-64
2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.02.004
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Abstract

Associations between faecal shedding of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica (based on the yst virulence gene) with growth, carcass weight and diarrhoea were investigated using an observational longitudinal study of 1,200 crossbred prime (meat) lambs on eight Australian farms. Live weight, breech faecal soiling score (scale 1-5) and faecal consistency score (FCS; scale 1-5) were recorded, and faecal samples collected from each lamb on three sampling occasions; weaning (≈12 weeks of age), post-weaning (≈19 weeks) and pre-slaughter (≈29 weeks). Hot standard carcass weight was measured at slaughter. Faecal samples were screened for presence and concentration of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica using quantitative PCR. Associations of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica detection and shedding intensity with lamb health and production were assessed using general linear models (carcass weight), linear mixed effects models (live weight, FCS and breech soiling score) and non-parametric tests (FCS and breech soiling score). Prevalence for non-pelleted faeces (FCS ≥ 3.0) and diarrhoea (FCS ≥ 4.0) were compared with the two-tailed z-test, odds ratios and relative risk. Lambs shedding pathogenic Y. enterocolitica were 3.78 kg lighter post-weaning (P < 0.001) and 2.61 kg lighter pre-slaughter (P = 0.035) compared to lambs in which pathogenic Y. enterocolitica was not detected. Higher faecal concentration of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica was associated with lower live weight (P < 0.001). There was no association between pathogenic Y. enterocolitica detection and carcass weight. Overall there was no association between pathogenic Y. enterocolitica detection and FCS or breech soiling score. Only one flock had increased relative risk for non-pelleted faeces associated with pathogenic Y. enterocolitica detection, and one other flock had increased relative risk for diarrhoea associated with pathogenic Y. enterocolitica detection. This is the first report of an association between reduced sheep live weight and pathogenic Y. enterocolitica based on the presence of the yst gene for heat stable enterotoxin determined by qPCR in sheep. Notably, impacts on live weight were observed in the absence of diarrhoea.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.42 Bacteriology
1.42.1750 Yersinia Pathogenesis
Web Of Science research areas
Veterinary Sciences
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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