Objective-To compare pathological changes and viral antigen distribution in tissues of calves with and without preexisting subclinical bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection following challenge with bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1). Animals-24 Friesian calves. Procedures-12 calves were inoculated intranasally with noncytopathic BVDV-1a; 12 days later, 10 of these calves were challenged intranasally with BHV-1 subtype 1. Two calves were euthanized before and 1, 2, 4, 7, or 14 days after BHV-1 inoculation. Another 10 calves were inoculated intranasally with BHV-1 only and euthanized 1, 2, 4, 7, or 14 days later. Two calves were inoculated intranasally with virus-free tissue culture fluid and euthanized as negative controls. Pathological changes and viral antigen distribution in various tissue samples from calves with and without BVDV infection (all of which had been experimentally inoculated with BHV-1) were compared. Results-Following BHV-1 challenge, calves with preexisting subclinical BVDV infection had earlier development of more severe inflammatory processes and, consequently, more severe tissue lesions (limited to lymphoid tissues and respiratory and digestive tracts) and greater dissemination of BHV-1, compared with calves without preexisting BVDV infection. Moreover, coinfected calves had an intense lymphoid depletion in the Peyer patches of the ileum as well as the persistence of BVDV in target organs and the reappearance of digestive tract changes during disease progression. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-In calves, preexisting infection with BVDV facilitated the establishment of BHV-1 infection, just as the presence of BHV-1 favors BVDV persistence, thereby synergistically potentiating effects of both viruses and increasing the severity of the resultant clinical signs.

Objective-To compare presumed fatty acid content in natural diets of feral domestic cats (inferred from body fat polyunsatrated fatty acids content) with polyunsaturated fatty acid content of commercial feline extruded diets. Sample-Subcutaneous and intra-abdominal adipose tissue samples (approx 1 g) from previously frozen cadavers of 7 adult feral domestic cats trapped in habitats remote from human activity and triplicate samples (200 g each) of 7 commercial extruded diets representing 68% of market share obtained from retail stores. Procedures-Lipid, triacylglycerol, and phospholipid fractions in adipose tissue samples and ether extracts of diet samples were determined by gas chromatography of methyl esters. Triacylglycerol and phospholipid fractions in the adipose tissue were isolated by thin-layer chromatography. Diet samples were also analyzed for proximate contents. Results-For the adipose tissue samples, with few exceptions, fatty acids fractions varied only moderately with lipid fraction and site from which tissue samples were obtained. Linoleic, α-linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acid fractions were 15.0% to 28.2%, 4.5% to 18.7%, 0.9% to 5.0%, < 0.1% to 0.2%, and 0.6% to 1.7%, respectively. As inferred from the adipose findings, dietary fractions of docosahexaenoic and α-linolenic acid were significantly greater than those in the commercial feline diets, but those for linoleic and eicosapentaenoic acids were not significantly different. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The fatty acid content of commercial extruded feline diets differed from the inferred content of natural feral cat diets, in which dietary n-3 and possibly n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids were more abundant. The impact of this difference on the health of pet cats is not known.

Objective-To assess antimicrobial resistance and transfer of virulence genes facilitated by subtherapeutic concentrations of antimicrobials in swine intestines. Animals-20 anesthetized pigs experimentally inoculated with donor and recipient bacteria. Procedures-4 recipient pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella flexneri, or Proteus mirabilis) were incubated with donor bacteria in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of 1 of 16 antimicrobials in isolated ligated intestinal loops in swine. Donor Escherichia coli contained transferrable antimicrobial resistance or virulence genes. After coincubations, intestinal contents were removed and assessed for pathogens that acquired new antimicrobial resistance or virulence genes following exposure to the subtherapeutic concentrations of antimicrobials. Results-3 antimicrobials (apramycin, lincomycin, and neomycin) enhanced transfer of an antimicrobial resistance plasmid from commensal E coli organisms to Yersinia and Proteus organisms, whereas 7 antimicrobials (florfenicol, hygromycin, penicillin G, roxarsone, sulfamethazine, tetracycline, and tylosin) exacerbated transfer of an integron (Salmonella genomic island 1) from Salmonella organisms to Yersinia organisms. Sulfamethazine induced the transfer of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 from pathogenic to nonpathogenic Salmonella organisms. Six antimicrobials (bacitracin, carbadox, erythromycin, sulfathiazole, tiamulin, and virginiamycin) did not mediate any transfer events. Sulfamethazine was the only antimicrobial implicated in 2 types of transfer events. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-10 of 16 antimicrobials at subinhibitory or subtherapeutic concentrations augmented specific antimicrobial resistance or transfer of virulence genes into pathogenic bacteria in isolated intestinal loops in swine. Use of subtherapeutic antimicrobials in animal feed may be associated with unwanted collateral effects.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of sub-clinical and clinical mastitis and the associated factors in cows from selected smallholder dairy farms in Zimbabwe. Physical examinations were conducted on all lactating cows for evidence of signs of clinical mastitis. Composite milk samples were collected from all lactating cows for bacterial culture and somatic cell counting. Cows were categorised as clinical if they exhibited clinical features of mastitis, or sub-clinical if no apparent signs were present but they had a positive bacterial isolation and a somatic cell count of at least 300 x 103 cells/mL. Farm-level factors were obtained through a structured questionnaire. The association of mastitis and animal- and herd-level factors were analysed using logistic regression. A total of 584 animals from 73 farms were tested. Overall, 21.1%(123/584) had mastitis, 16.3%(95/584) had sub-clinical mastitis and 4.8% (28/584) had clinical mastitis. Herd-level prevalence was 49.3%. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (27.6%),  Escherichia coli (25.2%),  Staphylococcus aureus(16.3%), Klebsiella spp. (15.5%) and Streptococcus spp. (1.6%) were the most common isolates. In individual cows, pure dairy herds (OR = 6.3) and dairy crosses (OR = 3.1) were more likely to have mastitis compared to Mashona cows. Farms that used pre-milking teat dipping were associated with reduced mastitis prevalence. Further research is needed on the prevalence of mastitis and a comparison of data for both smallholder and commercial dairy farms in all regions of Zimbabwe should be undertaken.

This study was conducted to study the UV protective effect against Haemonchus contortus infection in goats. Sixteen male goats were divided into 5 groups, control infected, control uninfected and UV 30minutes; UV 60minutes and UV booster 60minutes exposure. The UV groups were exposed to UV irradiation at wave length 254nm for 30 and 60 minutes. The UV booster 60min was administrated 2 doses of exposed larvae with an interval of one month. All groups except the control negative one were challenged for 42 days from the beginning. In UV booster 60min had reduction in egg count per gram feces and worm burden (93% & 34 % respectively). These parameters were similar in control infected, UV 30min and UV 60min groups. Increases in levels of antibodies were found in goats of UV booster 60min group the other groups. Finally, 2 doses of UV 60min exposure could protect goats from H. contortus.

Assessment of the neutralizing antibody response to the attenuated strain of peste des petits ruminants Nigerian strain (75/1) in 5 pregnant ewes revealed a geometric mean titre of 194, four weeks post Vaccination. Such an appreciably high titre was found to be dropped to 73.5, throughout 48 hours post parturn. Suckling kids born to these dams passively acquired a titre of 84.5 throughout their first month of life that dropped to 48.5 at the age of 2 months. At their 5th month of age their immune titre was found to be only 4. Data generated from this study might be of value in launching vaccination campaigns against peste des petits ruminants disease.

Micronization of chemical compounds is a new promising field as it reduces the size of the particles thus it increases their penetration power. Many theories prove that micronized particles are more effective even in very low concentration as compared to its normal size. Paracetamol is a commonly used effective analgesic and antipyretic agent for relief of mild and moderate pain. However, deliberate overdose or accidental overdose can cause hepatotoxicity. In the present study, we have evaluated and compared between the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of vitamin C and micronized vitamin C against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Activities of liver enzymatic markers (Alanine amino transferase "ALT", Aspartate amino transferase "AST", Alkaline Phosphatase "ALP") and total protein "TP" concentration were estimated in serum. Lipid peroxidation "MDA" and antioxidant status (reduced glutathione "GSH " concentration, glutathione reductase "GR", catalse and super oxide dismutase "SOD" activities) were measured in tissue homogenates. Paracetamol administration (600 mg/ Kg B.wt.) significantly increased the liver enzymatic markers and decreased the total protein level. It also increased hepatic lipid peroxidation “MDA” and the activities of both catalase and SOD while it decreased GSH content and glutathione reductase (GR) activity. Treatment of vitamin C and micronized vtamin C restore the measured parameters nearly to their normal levels. Finally, micronized vitamin C has a more potent effect than ordinary vitamin C.

In this study a total of 2230 sheep (one-three years of age) were serologically surveyed in three selected areas in Libya (Western, Middle and Southern areas) to specify foci of infection and determination of the prevalence of ovine brucellosis using Rose Bengal Plate Test and Rivanol test. Prevalence of brucellosis in this study revealed 4%, 0%and 0%, respectively. Only the western area showed positive cases, while the Middle and Southern areas showed no serological evidence of brucella infection.

The effect of rabies infection and vaccination on pregnancy was investigated in different groups of pregnant rats as an animal model. Intracerebral and intramuscular experimental infection with CVS rabies virus strain was applied on four pregnant rats groups at the middle (seven days after mating) and late stages of gestation (14 days after mating). Subcutaneous rout vaccination of other three pregnant rat groups five to seven days before; seven and 14 days after mating with the inactivated cell culture local rabies vaccine. Each group of infected rats showed clinical signs of rabies although their fetuses did not show any abnormalities. Virus recovery from the placenta and fetuses from dead and sacrificed animals failed to induce rabies signs in mice inoculated intracerebrally with placenta and fetus suspensions while brains of infected dams; through the routes; revealed positive FA by using fluorescent antibody technique. Vaccinated pregnant rats did not show any abnormalities with normal fetuses and good levels of specific rabies antibodies when estimated by serum neutralization test. These findings indicate that rabies vaccination of pregnant animals is safe and it could be recommended to protect both of dams and their offspring in the first months.