An unusual fowl pox outbreak has been diagnosed in 40 days-old-unvaccinated broilers farm in Dakahlia Governorate during summer, 2004. The most characteristic observation of this outbreak was that the pox signs and lesions were observed on the feathered parts of the body mainly in the posterior dorsal area of the chickens. Classical pox lesions were also seen in the mouth, comb, wattle, eyelids and shank of some chickens. Samples were collected from affected birds for virus isolation and histopathological studies. The isolated virus on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) was serologically confirmed. Histopathological examination revealed characteristic intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies in affected chicken tissues and CAM. This outbreak caused severe economic losses due to cutaneous lesions in the feathered area of the body that resulted in high condemnation rate at processing plant beside to high mortality which reached upto25%.

Elevated rectal temperature, mucopurulent nasal discharge, mortalities and abortion of pregnant ewes were the main clinical abnormalities recorded in sheep flocks at Seedy Salem Village, Kafr Al-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt following their vaccination by the attenuated Rift Valley vaccine. Meanwhile, 45 of the farmers in the village showed variable findings suggestive for a RVF epidemic and 17 farmers died of haemorrhagic fever as reported by the World Health Organization, WHO (2003). Blood serum samples were collected from 78 humans and 86 sheep and tested for RVF antibodies. We found that, where 11 (12.94%) and 10 (19.30%) of sheep and human sera respectively were positive. The recent history of vaccination of such flocks using the attenuated RVF vaccine lead us to suggest that the used vaccine might be the source of such epidemic.

A total of 40 samples of beef and chicken luncheon (20 samples for each) were collected from different markets in Giza city. Samples were subjected to Mycological investigations. Beef luncheon were highly contaminated than chicken luncheon (3.1 x 103 /g ±0.3x 10³) and (4.0 x 102 /g ±0.2x 10² ) respectively . Seven mould genera were isolated from examined samples. The majority of which were Aspergillus (19.7% and 18.1%) and Penicillium (18.9% and 15.7 %), while, Mucor (7.1% and 4.7%), Cladosporium (4.7% and 3.9%) and other genera were also isolated from the same samples but in low percentages from beef and chicken luncheon respectively. The predominant identified Aspergillus species were; A. niger (18.7% and 14.5%), A. flavus (18.7% and 12.5%) and A. ochraceous (6.3% and 6.3%) in the two products respectively. The main identified Penicillium species were; P. citrinium (20.6% and 13.6%), P. expansum (11.4% and 13.6%) and P. verrucosum (6.8% and 6.8%) from the same products respectively. Examination for mycotoxin production revealed the detection of ochratoxin A at a higher level (mean 21.0 and 27.0 ng /kg) from 2 (10%) samples of beef luncheon and one (5%) sample of chicken luncheon, respectively. Aflatoxin B1 (mean 15.3 and 9.8 ng / kg) was detected in 4 (20%) samples of beef luncheon and 3 (15%) samples of chicken luncheon, respectively. Other mycotoxins (AFB2, AFG1, AFG2 and T-2) were detected but in minor levels. Public health significance of the identified mould species and the detected mycotoxins were discussed.

This paper focuses on the geographical distribution and habitats of Bulinus forskalii, the snail intermediate host of the conical fluke of equids, Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus as reflected by the 1 209 samples in the database of the National Freshwater Snail Collection of South Africa. The 362 different loci on record represent an extensive distribution in KwaZulu-Natal Province, the Limpopo Province, the coastal areas of the Eastern Cape Province and the south-eastern part of the North West Province. Although it was recorded from all types of water-body represented in the database, the highest percentages of samples were recovered from dams (30.4 %) and brooks (28.2 %). The majority of samples came from perennial habitats (59.1%), 60.7% from habitats with standing water, 54.0 % from habitats with clear water and 71.8 % from habitats of which the water was described as fresh. The majority of samples (39.5 %) were collected in habitats of which the substratum was recorded as muddy. The highest percentage of samples, by far (81.5 %), was collected in habitats that fell within the mean yearly temperature interval ranging from 15-20 °C. An integrated decision tree constructed from the data in the database indicated that temperature and type of water-body played a decisive role in determining the presence of B. forskalii in a given area. The results of experimental exposure to miracidia of a local strain of both Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mattheei in the laboratory indicated that a local strain of B. forskalii was incompatible with both these strains of parasite. Research to clarify the role of B. forskalii in the transmission of both Calicophoron microbothrium and G. aegyptiacus in South Africa, is recommended.

The pharmacokinetic profile of difloxacin was investigated in camels after single intravenous and intramuscular administration of 5 mg kg-1 b.wt. After i. v. injection, serum concentration time curve was best described as two compartment open model. The distribution and elimination half lives (t0.5 (') and t0.5())) were 0.513± 0.01 h and 6.3±0.15 h. respectively. Difloxacin was distributed extravascularly with a volume of distribution (Vdss) 1.10 ± 0.035 l kg-1., and total body clearance (CLB) of 0.141+ 0.031 l kg-1 h-1. following intramusclar injection, peak serum concentration (Cmax) 2.59 ± 0.19 ug ml-1 attained after Tmax 3.05 ± 0.035 h. The absorption and elimination half lives (t0.5 (ab) and t0.5 (el)) were 0.95 ± 0.003 and 5.86 ± 0.33 h., respectively. The systemic bioavailablility (F) and the plasma protein binding were 87.95 and 23 %, respectively.

A penta-dog inactivated cell culture vaccine was prepared to protect dogs against canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus1, 2 and rabies virus. The potency of this vaccine was compared with that of single inactivated vaccines prepared against each disease, in different groups of susceptible dogs. It was found that the protective dose of penta-dog vaccine (2ml) including the protective amounts of the five viral proteins resulted in full protection of vaccinated dogs against the challenge with virulent strain of the used viruses showing no antagonizing effect between each other with and no adverse postvaccinal reaction. So, the prepared inactivated cell culture penta-dog vaccine is a safe and potent vaccine for dogs which resulted in saving time, cost, and effort stress factors on animals and providing good immune statues.

An investigation on certain bacterial contaminants of Mortadella produced by three Palestinian factories has been carried out. One sample (2units) was taken monthly (June/1999-may/2000) from each of three local factories (A, B&C). The lowest viable bacterial count recorded was 1x 103 CFU/g. in sample No. C1, while the highest count was 3x107 CFU/g. in sample No. B5. Some bacterial strains were isolated during the course of this study by using specific isolation media. They were identified and distributed as: Salmonella spp. (40%) (S. typhi, 6 strains, S. arizonae, 4 strains and S. infantis, 2 strains), Eschirichia spp. (50%) (E. coli, 8 strains and E. coli O157:H7, 7 strains), anaerobic Streptococcus parvulus (3.3%) (One strain) and Clostridum spp. (6.7%) (Cl. baratii, one strain and Cl. botulinum, 2 strains). Three samples (A1, C3 and B10) were mix contaminated; two pathogenic bacterial strains were isolated from each. All investigated samples were negative for Yersinia spp. and Campylobacter spp. The scientific and medical importance was discussed.

In this study a total of 120 diarrheic buffalo calves were examined clinically and bacteriologically was investigated. The role of E. coli in diarrheic buffalo calves. E. coli, could be isolated from 31 (25.80%) calves. K99 antigen could be detected in (12.90%) isolates. Studying some virulence factors of E. coli isolates revealed that 28 (90.30) isolates showed congored binding, 29 (93.50%) isolates were able to survive in serum and 23 (74.19%) were able to grow in calf serum, 25 (80.64 %) isolates could be proved as enterotoxin producers and caused accumulation of fluids in the intestinal tract of the inoculated mice. In addition, 28 (90.30 %) were able to produce verotoxins. The present study demonstrated the correlation between the presence of different virulence factors in E. coli isolates and its pathogenicity to newborn calves and its role in diarrheic calves

An experimental study was conducted on 14 donkeys. The animals were classified into two main groups. The first group included 5 donkeys that are used for induction of duodenal, obstruction for determination of the different clinical and biochemical changes and for determination of the mean survival time after obstruction. The second group contained 9 donkeys that were used for the determination of proper time for surgical intervention. Results revealed that mean survival time after obstruction was 20-35 h and the critical time for surgery was 14-35 h.

The present study describes the clinical, serological and bacteriolological findings in calves from two beef herds experiencing outbreaks of pneumonia. The clinical signs were nasal discharge, cough, pyrexia and increased respiratory rates. The morbidity and mortality rates over a month period were 40.72% and 15.63% respectively. Laboratory investigations revealed that bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) was involved in and probably initiated both outbreaks as indicated by a significant increase in antibody titers against BVDV in sera of convalescent calves (paired serum samples). No antibodies bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and parainfluenza-3 (BPIV-3) viruses were detected in both acute and convalescent sera. Mycoplasma bovis was concurrently demonstrated in lungs of affected calves as it was isolated from 13 (81.25%) of examined lungs suggesting that there may be a synergism between bovine viral diarrhea virus and Mycoplasma bovis in the pathogenesis of pneumonia. A total of 15 (68.18%) isolates of Mannheimia haemolytica, 5 (22.73%) Pasteurella multocida, 1 (4.54%) Pseudomonase aerugenosa, 3 (13.64%) Staphylococcus aureus, 3 (13.64%) Actinomycis pyogenes, 1 (4.54%) Klebsiella pneumonae, 1 (4.54%) Streptococcus pneumonae, 2 (9.09%) E. coli and 2 (9.09%) Aspergellus fumigatus were recovered from lungs of calves suffering from pneumonia.