Epidemiología de la mortalidad por intoxicación en el ganado bovino asegurado en España (2000-2005)

Abstract

The livestock poisonings are not included in public databases nationwide, this hinders state research into these pathologies at a state level. Therefore, in order to assess the frequency of food poisoning mortality of cattle in Spain, an epidemiological study using data from an insurance entity implanted in Spain that covers food poisoning was carried out. The population studied was the cattle for breeding and rearing insured in Spain between 2000 and 2005 As a result, the estimated food poisoning mortality rate in Spanish cattle was of 23.25 deaths per 100,000 heads, it was higher in beef cattle than in dairy cattle. The period of increased risk of poisoning was in the autumn. The highest mortality rates in beef cattle were found in Asturias, Andalusia and the Basque Country and there was little variation in the mortality rates for dairy cattle in the different regions. Causal agents were classified as plant-based, non plant-based, and of unknown origin. 37 different causal agents were identified: 22 plant agents responsible for 72.31% of the cases of poisoning, and 15 non plant agents. In beef cattle the mortality rate was higher for plant agents than for non plant agents. In dairy cattle there was however no statistically significant difference between plant and non plant agent It is concluded that in Spain, mortality from poisoning in cattle is low, is conditioned by productive capacity of cattle, in beef cattle is associated with food shortages and in dairy cattle with accidental situations.