an epidemiological study of listeriosis in dairy cattle

5) Nervous signs:
Cases of Listeriosis in sheep: The presence of Listeriosis in sheep was associated with
an increased risk of reporting cases of Listeriosis with nervous signs (OR 10.15, CL
1.3-78.5) (Table 4.12).
Maize silage feeding: Feeding maize silage ad libitum (OR 7.68, CL 1.59-37.08) and in
ring feeders (OR 4.3, CL 1.07-17.9) when animals were housed was associated with an
increased risk of disease (Table 4. 12).
The exclusion of herd size and herd size and cases of Listeriosis in beef cattle
did not alter the results.
Table 4. 12. The multivariate relationship between farming practices and cases of
Listeriosis showing nervous signs
Number of observations=176 OR 95% CL p value
cases of Listeriosis in sheep 10.15 1.3-78.5 0.02
maize silage feeding ad libitum (indoor) 7.68 1.59-37.08 0.01
ring feeder for maize silage (indoor) 4.3 1.07-17.9 0.04
OR adjusted odds ratio, 95% CL, 95% confidence limit.
Overall 7 predictor variables were associated with any of the outcome variables.
Of these 5 were associated with an increased risk of reporting disease and 2 were with a
decreased risk of disease (Table 4. 13). Only feeding maize silage in ring feeders when
animals were housed was associated with all outcome variables. Feeding maize silage
ad libitum when animals were housed was also associated with the outcome variables