The study of Neospora caninum in a Texas beef cattle population /
The purpose of the work described in this dissertation is to test the hypothesis that Neospora caninum causes subclinical, chronic disease and significant economic losses of beef calves and its transmission is attributable to sylvatic canids and ranch management factors. The 1998-99 Texas A&M U...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2000.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=727726101&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | The purpose of the work described in this dissertation is to test the hypothesis that Neospora caninum causes subclinical, chronic disease and significant economic losses of beef calves and its transmission is attributable to sylvatic canids and ranch management factors. The 1998-99 Texas A&M University Ranch to Rail Calf Population, a retained-ownership feedlot calf population, was designated as the research population. This population consisted of 1,009 weaned, beef calves from 94 different Texas ranches. The central hypothesis was tested by three epidemiologic studies using methods that account for correlated responses of calves aggregated at multiple levels. Post-weaning losses in calf weight gains, carcass measurements, and economic profits were associated with calf seroprevalence for N. caninum. Several ranch management practices, identified through of questionnaire analysis, were associated with calf seroprevalence. Spatial regression techniques confirmed significant associations between calf seroprevalence, and densities of cattle and wild canids. Bovine neosporosis was demonstrated to be a chronic, subclinical disease and responsible for significant economic losses in beef calves. The transmission of N. caninum in the Ranch to Rail population of calves was attributed to sylvatic canids and ranch management practices. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Veterinary Microbiology". |
| Physical Description: | ix, 70 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-69). |