Three vaccination regimes based on Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) type A, C or combined AC toxoids were evaluated to detect if toxoid vaccines can prevent necrtotic enteritis (NE) caused by clostridial infection in broilers. The vaccines were administered two times at two weeks interval, then the birds were challenged with virulent strains of C. perfringens type A, C or combined AC. Blood samples were taken after both first and second vaccination doses as well as after challenge. Evaluating parameters included clinical signs, gross intestinal lesions, hemogram [red blood cell count (RBCs), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), total leukocytic count (TLC) and differential leukocytic count],serum biochemical assays [total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glob), albumin globulin ratio (A/G), serum activities of alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and uric acid (UA) values] and ELISA test for detecting serum antibody titers. Results revealed that affected birds showed marked depression, anorexia, reluctance to move, ruffled feathers and diarrhea. Numbers of chickens with intestinal lesions in immunized challenged groups were greatly fewer than the infected non immunized ones. There was an increase in RBCs, PCV and Hb. TLC decreased in infected non immunized birds and increased in vaccinated ones. Heterophils were increased in infected groups while, lymphocytes decreased. Prominent lymphocytosis was observed in immunized birds. Results of biochemical assays showed that there was a significant increase in TP, Alb, Glob, ALP, ALT, AST and UA and decrease in A/G. Results of ELISA test showed that there was a significant increase in antibody titer after immunization paricularly after the second dose of vaccination. The combined AC toxoid provided the greater antibody titer and best protection followed by toxoid A and finally toxoid C. We concluded that results provide an evidence that immunization of broilers with toxoid vaccines paricularly the combined type AC is safe, welltolerated and can protect broiler chickens against NE after the second booster dose of the vaccine.

The pharmacokinetic aspects of cephradine were studied after intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC) and oral administration of a single dose of 50 mg kg-1 b.wt. in chickens. Tissue distribution and residues of cephradine after repeated oral administration for 5 consecutive days were also estimated. After IV injection of cephradine in a dose of 50 mg kg-1 b.wt., the serum concentration time curves were best described by a two compartment-open model. The drug was rapidly distributed with a distribution half-life (t0.5(α)) of 0.120 h and apparent volume of distribution (Vdss) was 2.187 L kg-1. The drug was rapidly eliminated with a half-life of elimination (t0.5(β)) of 1.047 h and the body clearance (ClB) was 2.35 L kg-1 h-1. The drug was rapidly absorbed after IM, SC and oral administration as indicated by short half-lives of absorption (t0.5(ab)) of 0.154, 0.364 and 0.65 h., respectively. While the elimination half-lives (t0.5(el)) and systemic bioavailabilities were 0.859, 2.652, 1.74 h and 59.386, 84.5, 97.97 %, respectively. Repeated oral administration of cephradine (50 mg kg-1 b.wt twice daily) for 5 consecutive days caused no change in serum enzyme activities of ALT and AST but induced a significant increase in serum uric acid concentration at 72 to 120 hours post administration.

Twenty five isolates of IBV were isolated from 36 broiler and layer chicken farms collected from 13 governorates during 2 years started from January 2003. All the examined farms were vaccinated using the commercial live IB-H120 vaccine in addition to the IB-inactivated vaccine in the layer farm. The viruses were isolated and identified previously by chicken embryo, CEK cell culture inoculation. Isolates subjected to RT-PCR. Four isolates; three broiler farms and one from layer farm were genotyped using S1 partial gene sequencing. Typing of the four isolates using S1 partial gene sequencing, revealed that the isolated IBV strains showed homology to Asia, Europe, USA and Middle East strains.

The present study aimed to clarify the light and electron microscopic structure of the prostate gland of mature (one-humped camels) during different seasons of the year. Glands of seventy-two mature healthy animals (5-7 years old) were collected from the Cairo slaughter house during one year, (6 samples each month) and prepared to be studied microscopically by the light and electron microscope. The prostate gland was found to be consisted of an external dorsal part dorsal to the neck of the bladder and an internal part situated in the submucosa of the prostatic urethra. During active season (winter and spring), the corpus prostate was enveloped by a thick fibromuscular capsule which sent septa, to divide the gland into lobules. The parenchyma formed of compound tubuloalveolar adenomeres. The alveoli and tubules were lined by high columnar cells and few basal ones. The acini appeared at different stages of secretory activity (synthesis, storage, secretion and exhaustion). Ultrastructurally, the acinar cells contained well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), numerous mitochondria and a variable number of secretory granules. The duct system began as central collecting sinuses lined by simple columnar secretory epithelium. The pars interna occurred in the submucosa of the prostatic urethra enveloped by a thick fibro-muscular band. The branched tubuloalveolar parenchyma contained adenomeres lined with simple cuboidal epithelium. During the inactive season (summer and autumn), the stroma showed a marked proliferation of the fibromuscular tissue on the expense of the parenchymatous tissue. The adenomeres became very small or even rudimentary with narrow lumina devoid of secretory materials. Marked reduction in the cytoplasmic organelles with a total absence of the secretory granules was also pronounced.

A total of 90 one-day-old male broiler chicks were fed on balanced ration for 15 days and then divided into 3 equal groups. Control group fed ration probiotic free, group 2 and 3 fed ration supplemented with probiotic at concentration levels 0.5 and 1.0g/kg ration respectively for 4 weeks.It was found that probiotic improve body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Relative organs weights were not altered in groups of birds fed ration mixed with probiotic. Serum values of biochemical parameter (AST, ALT, ALP, total protein, A/G ratio, Ph) were not significantly changed in comparison to control group. Probiotic enhance the immune response of broiler chickens in a dose dependent relation as documented by increasing the serumNDHI antibody geometric mean titres to ND vaccine, phagocyte percentage and phagocytic index of peripheral blood monocyte of broiler chickens. We concluded that probiotic composed of 3 strains of bacteria (Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococaoccus pentosaceus and Bacillus Amylolique- faciens) in addition to 2 strains of yeast( Pichia farinose and Dekera anomala ) enhance body weight gain, feed conversion, growth performance and Newcastle disease antibody titres in broiler chickens. Moreover, probiotic was safe as proved by serum biochemical profile and relative organ weight of male broiler chickens.

This survey was carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies to Neospora (N.) caninum in dairy cattle raised in Kangwon province in Korea. A total of 349 sera collected from dairy cattle were tested for N. caninum antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Ninety six (27.5%) dairy cattle were positive by IFAT. Seroprevalence of cows was 28.9% (91/315) and seroprevalence of boars was 14.7% (5/34). The seroprevalences of cows were increased according to the ages from 19.6% in cows less than 2 year-old to 50.0% in cows more than 7 year-old. Among the seroprevalences of cattle according to the raised areas, five counties or cities, Wheongsung was 34.6% (27/78), Wonju was 29.3% (46/157), Hongcheon was 28.9% (13/45), Chuncheon was 15.0% (3/20) and Cheolwon was 13.3% (2/15). It was proved that dairy cattle raised in Kangwon provinces exposed extensively and seriously to N. caninum.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic and contagious disease of sheep and goats caused by Corynebacterium (C.) pseudotuberculosis. A four-year-old female Saanen dairy goat was submitted to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Center at National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service. The clinical signs of the goat were emaciation, abortion and quadriplegia. The multifocal nodules of lymph nodes were encapsulated and filled with whitish caseous contents on the cut surface. Histopathologically, lymph nodes displayed suppurative and necrotizing granulomas. Caseous necrosis was diffusely observed in the center of the lymph nodes. Gram positive bacilli were shown in the lesions. C. pseudotuberculosis was isolated and confirmed by the biochemical tests and PCR assay. Based on clinical signs, histopathological examination and bacterial isolation, we diagnosed this case as CLA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CLA in a Saanen dairy goat in Korea.

Yersinia (Y.) ruckeri has been recognized as a serious bacterial pathogen to several kinds of fish, including rainbow trout. However, there are no reports about the characteristics and pathogenicity of Y. ruckeri isolated from farm-cultured eels. In this study, we isolated and characterized Y. ruckeri from the farm-cultured eel Anguilla japonica in Korea. We investigated the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Y. ruckeri and tested the virulence of Y. ruckeri isolates on experimentally infected eels. Examination of the flagellar morphology of Y. ruckeri by electron microscopy showed peritrichous flagella in its cell body. Biochemical reaction studies showed overall identical profiles between the isolates and the reference strain of Y. ruckeri in API 20E and API ZYM tests. We sequenced the 16S rRNA of the Y. ruckeri (1,505 bp) for the genotypic characterization (National Center for Biotechnology Information accession number EU401667). Comparison of the 16S rRNA sequences with previously reported Y. ruckeri strains revealed similar phylogenetic relationships. In the virulence assay of the Y. ruckeri on eels, the eels exhibited listlessness, but Y. ruckeri was reisolated from those of the gills and kidneys.

Torque teno virus (TTV), a species of Anellovirus, is a non-enveloped single stranded DNA virus with a wide range of animal hosts. The incidence of TTV is quite ubiquitous throughout the world. A total of 235 serum samples obtained from 137 pigs and 98 cattle at slaughterhouses in Korea during April 2005 to May 2005 were tested by TTV-specific PCR as to monitor prevalence of TTV among swine and cattle. As a result, the prevalent rates of TTVs in pigs and cattle were 43.1% and 4.1%, respectively. It seems that TTV infection is quite prevalent in swine population.

A Persian chinchila (2 years old, intact female) and a Korean domestic shorthaired cat (3 months, intact male) were referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University with tachypnea. The two cats were diagnosed as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) by blood and blood chemical examination, radiographic examination, RT-PCR and electrophoresis analysis of pleural effusion. Thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (Ozagrel HCl, 5 mg/kg, twice a day) was administered to the Persian chinchila and Korean domestic shorthair for 13 days and 16 days, respectively. Pleural effusion disappeared after treatment with Ozagrel HCl. Further study is needed to establish a new application protocol of Ozagrel HCl for FIP cases.