Bovine besnoitiosis (Besnoitia besnoiti) in an Irish dairy herd

• DOI: 10.1136/vr.103683
• Publication Date: 2016-04-28T16:39:33Z
• Authors: E. G. Ryan; A. Lee; C. Carty; J. O'Shaughnessy; P. Kelly; J. P. Cassidy; M. Sheehan; A. Johnson; T. de Waal
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; Coccidiosis; Cattle Diseases; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Disease Outbreaks; 3. Good health; 0403 veterinary science; Sarcocystidae; Animals; Cattle; Female; Ireland

Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti , was diagnosed in an Irish dairy herd. This is first diagnosis of besnoitiosis Ireland or UK and most northerly European outbreak yet described. The occurred following a farm investigation June 2015 into unusual dermatological problem that had been ongoing since 2010. On annual basis, 1–2 per cent cows herd exhibited clinical signs, including skin thickening, alopecia, weight loss poor performance. Others displayed pyrexia, limb oedema, respiratory distress reduced milk yield. Histopathological examination revealed granulomatous eosinophilic dermatitis, with characteristic intradermal protozoal cysts, consistent cutaneous besnoitiosis. Follow‐up serological testing cattle (n=228) on found 68 (144/212) were seropositive for B. . In addition, 51 (117/228) scleral conjunctival cysts (134/198) vulval cysts. Postmortem severely affected animal typical gross histopathological lesions infection. These results confirmed endemic infection identification this exotic disease highlights importance veterinary surveillance at both local national level, particularly relation to emerging diseases.