The seroprevalence of Anaplasma antibodies in wildlife (eland, blue wildebeest, kongoni, impala, Thomson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, giraffe and plains zebra) and domestic animal (cattle, sheep and goat) populations was studied in wildlife / livestock interface areas of Kenya. Serum samples were analyzed by competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CI-ELISA), using a recombinant antigen (MSP-5) from Anaplasma marginale surface membrane. A monoclonal antibody, FC-16, was used as the primary antibody, while anti-mouse conjugated to horseradish peroxidase was used as the secondary antibody. The results indicate a high seroprevalence in both wildlife and livestock populations, in contrast to earlier reports from Kenya, which indicated a low seroprevalence. The differences are attributed to the accurate analytical method used (CI-ELISA), as compared with agglutination techniques, clinical signs and microscopy employed by the earlier workers.

Previous studies have shown that crude extracts from Pavetta harborii as well as dried plant material have cardiotoxic effects on rats and sheep that can lead to heart failure. The active component has since been isolated and identified. This substance has been named pavetamine. The aim of this study was to determine whether pavetamine has cardiotoxic effects similar to those seen in previous reports, when administered to rats intraperitoneally. Sprague Dawley rats received two doses, initially 4 mg / kg and then 3 mg / kg pavetamine respectively and were monitored for 35 days before cardiodynamic parameters were measured by inserting a fluid-filled catheter into the left ventricle via the right carotid artery. These values were compared to those of control rats that had received only saline. Pavetamine significantly reduced systolic function and body mass in the treated rats, which indicates that it has the potential to induce heart failure in this animal model.

The potential economic benefits of combining tactical anthelmintic treatment for gastrointestinal nematodes and nutritional supplementation with urea-molasses blocks were examined in Boer goats raised under extensive grazing conditions in the summer rainfall area of South Africa. Eight groups of nine goats were monitored over a 12-month period from 1 October 2002 to 9 October 2003. Ad libitum nutritional supplementation with urea-molasses blocks was provided when the goats were housed at night, during the summer (wet season -December 2002 to February 2003), and / or the winter (dry season -June 2003 to August 2003). All the goats were treated symptomatically for Haemonchus contortus infection when deemed necessary by clinical examination of the conjunctiva for anaemia using the FAMACHA© system. Half the groups were tactically treated for gastrointestinal nematodes in mid-summer (28 January 2003). Under the symptomatic treatment, climatic and extensive grazing conditions encountered during the trial, feed supplementation in the winter dry season had the greatest economic benefit and is therefore recommended. Tactical anthelmintic treatment afforded no additional advantage, but the nematode challenge was lo

The species composition and geographic distribution of ixodid ticks infesting domestic dogs owned by people in rural communities and villages in Maputo Province was established by collecting ticks from dogs at each of 27 localities spread throughout the province. Ticks were collected from a total of 132 dogs, and nine species belonging to four genera were identified. One dog was infested with six species, three with five and 13 with four species. Haemaphysalis elliptica followed by Rhipicephalus simus were present on dogs at most localities, and their geographic distribution in Maputo Province has been mapped for the first time.

Four stocks of Ehrlichia ruminantium (Welgevonden, Ball3, Nonile and Blaauwkrans), the causative agent of heartwater in domestic ruminants, were isolated into Ixodes scapularis (IDE8) tick cells using the leukocyte fraction of the blood of infected sheep. Organisms of two of the E. ruminantium stocks (Welgevonden and Blaauwkrans) propagated in IDE8 cells were also successfully used to infect bovine endothelial cells. All stocks were successfully propagated in IDE8 cells using Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium nutrient mixture Ham F-12 containing 10 % foetal bovine serum (FBS). The technique should be included in any attempt to isolate uncharacterized E. ruminantium stocks.

Cohorts of yearlings were sampled over a period of 6 years in a retrospective serological survey to establish the annual prevalence of serotype specific antibody to equine encephalosis virus on Thoroughbred stud farms distributed within defined geographical regions of South Africa. Seasonal seroprevalence varied between 3.6 % and 34.7 %, revealing both single and multiple serotype infections in an individual yearling. During the course of this study serotypes 1 and 6 were most frequently and extensively identified while the remaining serotypes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 were all identified as sporadic and localized infections affecting only individual horses. This study of the seasonal prevalence of equine encephalosis virus has a corollary and serves as a useful model in the seasonal incidence of the serotypes of African horse sickness and bluetongue in regions where the respective diseases are endemic.

The helminth community infecting Miniopterus natalensis was studied at two localities, the De Hoop Nature Reserve (DHNR) (n = 57), Western Cape Province and Pretoria (n = 12), Gauteng Province, South Africa. Hosts from the DHNR had formed part of an earlier, unrelated study and were all pregnant females. A single hymenolepidid cestode species, the nematodes Molinostrongylus ornatus and Litomosa chiropterorum together with nematodes of the subfamily Capillariinae were present at both study sites, while a single digenean, Allassogonoporus sp., was only found in hosts from the DHNR. The prevalence of helminth infections was high at both localities, 68.4 % in the DHNR and 77.7 % in Pretoria, whereas the mean intensity of infection was low at the DHNR (3.76 ± 3.15), but higher in Pretoria (10.4 ± 9.9). Molinostrongylus ornatus and, to a lesser extent L. chiropterorum, were the main contributors to the higher intensities in Pretoria. The species richness ranged from 0 to 4 at both localities.

The present study was carried out to develop a sustained release implantable formula of bovine somatotropin (SRIF-BST) and to examine its sustained ralease effect. The SRIF-BST was produced by coating a solid pellet, which was comprised of BST and an excipient, made of a biodegradable polymer and poloxamer, which are capable of regulating the rate of BST release. The coated membrane of SRIF-BST was observed with a field emission scanning election microscope. The thickness of the coated membrane was approximately 1 ㎛, and the pore sizes of the coated membrane surface were below 10 ㎛. In dissolution test, the release duration of the SRIF-BST maintained for 10 days, whereas the release duration of the control BST formula maintained for 3 days. In weight gain assay and tibia test of hypophysectomized rats, the release duration of the SRIF-BST treated group was 12 days and the net weight gain was 53.16 g, also the tibia length and strength of the SRIF-BST treated group was increased 10.5% and 23.1% compared with those of the control group, respectively.

A 6-year-old female Boston terrier dog was presented with seizure episode, forelimb paraparesis, excessive panting, and ataxia. On physical and neurological examination, episcleral vessel engorgement, delayed postural reaction, delayed pupillary light reflex (both direct and consensual), and crossed forelimb were noted. Serum biochemical profiles were not remarkable other than mildly elevated hepatic enzymes. On cerebrospinal fluid analysis, elevated protein concentration was observed. In magnetic resonance imaging scans, the left frontal brain lesion with ring enhancement strongly suggested the presence of intracranial tumor. Concurrently, secondary hydrocephalus and syringomyelia were also observed. The dog was euthanized at 4 months after initial presentation because of aggravated neurological signs. This case was definitely diagnosed as an intracranial anaplastic oligodendroglioma based on postmortem histopathologic examination.

Lactic acid bacteria have been reported their beneficial roles on host including reduction of infectious diarrhea problems. In this study, preventive effect of Lactobacillus (L.) reuteri HY25101 and L. johnsonii HY25103 on porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) was investigated in suckling piglets. Two groups of one day old PEDV naive piglets were orally administered L. reuteri HY25101 and L. johnsonii HY25103 for three days respectively before challenge with lethal dose of PEDV. In second experiment, passive immunized one day old piglets using colostrums containing PEDV specific IgA were used. The survival rates of the L. reuteri HY25101 administered group were significantly higher than that of L. johnsonii HY25103 administered group and viral shedding was rapidly diminished in L. reuteri HY25101 administered group. Interestingly piglets born from the sow immunized with attenuated PEDV vaccine were not completely protected from PEDV challenge, however coadministeration of L. reuteri HY25101 and colostrums containing PEDV specific IgA were more effectively prevent PEDV infection. These results suggested that dietary treatment using L. reuteri HY25101 could reduce diarrheal problem and mortality rate caused by PEDV in suckling pigs. In addition, L. reuteri HY25101 could be used as one of effective compensation treatment with attenuated live vaccine for PED.