Surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi, is a re-emerging animal trypanosomosis, which is of special concern for camel-rearing regions of Africa and Asia. Surra decreases milk yield, lessens animal body condition score and reduces market value of exported animals resulting in substantial economic losses. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study of dromedary camels was conducted in Algeria, and major risk factors associated with infection were identified by collecting data on animal characteristics and herd management practices. The seroprevalence of T. evansi infection was determined in sera of 865 camels from 82 herds located in eastern Algeria using an antibody test (card agglutination test for Trypanosomiasis – CATT/T. evansi). Individual and herd seroprevalence were 49.5% and 73.2%, respectively, indicating substantial exposure of camels to T. evansi in the four districts studied. Five significant risk factors for T. evansi hemoparasite infection were identified: geographical area, herd size, husbandry system, accessibility to natural water sources and type of watering. There was no association between breed, sex or age with T. evansi infection. Results of this study provide baseline information that will be useful for launching control programmes in the region and potentially elsewhere.

In the conditions of Vitebsk region of the Republic of Belarus there was realized a programme on creation of breed type of Hereford cattle. In course of the study there were realized experiments on increasing the number of livestock of beef cattle breeding by means of accumulation cross breeding of black-and-white cattle with Hereford producer bulls as well as by means of pedigree breeding of Hereford cows and calves imported from Russia and Hungary for the production of marbled beef. Breeding background of obtained purebred calves was determined by DNA-testing method in accordance with the international standard of certification. Into the breeding group of created meat type of Hereford cattle in the analyzed cattle breeding enterprise there were selected 1183 heads, including 24,2% of purebred animals and 17,2% hybrids of the third and fourth generations. The breeding estimation thoroughbred Hereford cattle showed that all producer bulls belonged to the class elite-record. The percentage of cows and heifers of the elite-record class was 89,3% in the conditions of growing number of a thoroughbred livestock on 98 heads. Purebred young stock in number of 45 heads and their mother passed the estimation of their origin by DNA method-testing.