Although diclofenac (DS) is used in treating a wide variety of painful and inflammatory situations in humans and animals, its chronic administration is accompanied by side effects. Curcumin, coumarin, and honey are suggested to be promising strategies owing to their antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective properties. Thus, this study aimed to highlight the potential protective effects of these natural products on the testis of DS-challenged mice and its mechanistic tools. Thirty adult male mice were divided into five groups: control, DS, DS + curcumin, DS + coumarin and DS + honey. DS-exposed mice were characterized by a decrease in plasma FSH. 17beta-estradiol and FSH increased in the plasma of all the protected groups. Plasma LH increased in DS+curcumin and DS+coumarin groups compared to the DS group. DS increased testicular lipid peroxides and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and decreased testicular reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The plasma testosterone levels were within the standard limit in all experimental groups. Curcumin, coumarin, and honey decreased LPO and increased GSH and SOD, whereas coumarin and honey only decreased TAC. The natural products normalized the integrity of the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules. Immuno-staining of glutathione reductase (GR) and SOD 2 was increased in all groups relative to the control. Curcumin-, coumarin- and honey- supplemented groups, showed few numbers of apoptotic spermatogenic cells similar to the control group. The studied natural products provided efficient protective strategies against DS-induced testicular deterioration by their antioxidant, cytoprotective, and anti-apoptotic effects.

The adrenal gland of the Japanese quail is a bilateral endocrine organ that is located in the abdominal cavity. The development of the adrenal gland begins in the pre hatching period and continues during the post hatching. The current study aimed to describe the anatomical and histological changes of the adrenal gland in Japanese quail during the post hatching period. The present study was carried on Japanese quail chicks, at ages of day of hatching, two- and four-weeks post-hatching. The dissected adrenal glands were investigated morphologically, histologically, and histochemically. In the current work, the interrenal tissue makes up most the adrenal parenchyma and the chromaffin mass gradually increase with the age. The interrenal tissue at the peripheral zone of the gland arranged into arch-like cords, becomes more prevalent throughout the gland with age, notably at five weeks. They were strongly positive for PAS especially on the day of hatching age but appeared negative by Grimelius argyrophilic stain. At the two weeks of age, chromaffin cells appeared in the form of triangular islets scattered between the interrenal cells. They are smaller and fewer than the interrenal cells, at the age of five weeks the chromaffin islets increased in size and concentrated at the central zone. Two types of chromaffin cells were observed by using Grimelius argyrophilic stain; one of them contain dark brown granules and the other is free from these granules. Finally, distinct morphological changes in the adrenal gland occur during the post-hatching phase.

Tetracycline had proven to be effective in the management of the different types of corneal ulcers. It has have antimicrobial activity as well as anti-collaginase effect. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of oxytetracycline 5% on the alkali burn ulcer after its injection subconjunctivaly. The drug was applied by subconjunctival injection in a dose of 0.5 ml once weekly for 5 weeks. Ten healthy New Zealand albino rabbits were divided into equal groups (control and treatment). They were examined carefully before induction of the ulcer using in 1% NaOH NaOH in the right eye. A 0.5 ml of oxytetracycline 5% was injected in the subconjunctival space weekly for 5 consecutive weeks. The eye was examined weekly clinically and by fluorescein staining dye just before the injection of oxytetracycline. At the end of the study, the rabbits were euthanized and the eyes were harvested for histological and electron microscopic examinations. The results revealed there were no significant variations between the control and treatment groups except for prevention of bacterial colonization on the ulcerated corneal surface in the oxytetacycline group. The conclusion of the present study was the subconjunctival injection of oxytetracycline was not efficient for management of alkali burn corneal ulcers, but it could be used as adjunctive treatment for control and prevention of bacterial growth on the ulcerated corneal surface.

Tribulus terrestris (Tt) is a herb distributed worldwide due to its beneficial claims on many diseases. This study aimed to study the role of Tt against Cadmium (Cd)-induced toxicity on thyroid gland of adult male albino rats. Twenty-four rats were subdivided into four groups; (Control group) without any treatment, (Tt + Cd group) with a daily oral dose of Tt (5 mg/ kg b. wt.) for eight weeks, from the beginning of the ninth week, they injected i.p. with 2 mg/kg of CdCl4 for 8 days, (Cd group) injected i.p. with 2 mg/kg of CdCl4 for 8 days, (Cd + Tt group) injected i.p. with 2 mg/kg of CdCl4 for eight days, from the ninth day they were given a daily oral dose of Tt (5 mg/ kg b. wt.) for eight weeks. Results revealed that levels of T4 and TAC decreased while levels of TSH and MDA increased in Cd group resulted in follicular cells degeneration, increasing the amount of collagen fibers, and increased positive immunoreactivity of PCNA. Administration of Tt before Cd injection increased levels of T4 and TAC while decreased levels of TSH and MDA. administration of Tt after Cd injection didn't affect T4, TSH, MDA and TAC levels. The pre-treatment with Tt protects the thyroid tissue from those destructive changes by Cd while the post-treatment did not treat them.  In conclusion, Tribulus terrestris is highly effective in shielding the thyroid gland from further damaging effects of Cd -induced oxidative stress when utilized as prophylactic antioxidant rather than treatment therapy.

The study was carried out to characterize different body types of rabbits based on the phenotypic relationship between body weight and body measurements. The materials used were 135 of New Zealand Grade, 115 heads of Rex, and 60 heads of Flamish Giant. Rabbits were categorized into three groups: semi-commercial, commercial, and semi-arc body types. Pearson correlation was used to estimate the correlation coefficients between body weight and body measurements with 1% and 5% significant level. Principal component analysis (PCA) representing a linear combination of the body measurement into a factor or component was determined separately for each body type of rabbit. BW showed a significant correlation with all of the variables measured on semi-commercial and semi-arc body types. The result of PCA showed a lower factors of PC1 (-0.04 - 0.41). The highest component loaded were CD in PC3 for all body types and TB in PC2 for semi-arc body type. Chest circumference, chest depth, and chest width (chest shape) are more appropriate in predicting body weight in rabbits than body length. Body length is highly correlated with body weight, but shows low factors in the principal component analysis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of i.m administration of (250 mg) GnRH on predicted testicular volume (PTV), scrotal circumference (SC), sperm assessment, and eventual fertility after ten weeks (period of the experiment), particularly in the summer (heat stress). Fifteen buffalo bulls (10 treatment and five control) with comparable age (1.5-2 years old) and body weight (300-400 kg) were used in this study. These animals must be housed in the Farm of Animals Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt, under identical conditions (administration, diet, etc.). PTV, SC, and blood samples were collected soon before GnRH administration. Blood samples were taken from all animals after GnRH injection (treated groups) and normal saline in the control groups. PTV and SC were assessed every 15 days for the first 75 days. All blood samples were centrifuged after being stored at 4°C for 6 hours. Serum was isolated and kept at - 20°C until the hormone meagered. The ejaculate volume, individual motility, living sperm percent, and sperm concentration were all measured in the collected semen from these animals. Five females in estrus were bred by each animal from the treatment and control groups. At 60-75 days after mating, the pregnancy was detected by rectal palpation technique. Testosterone concentrations, PTV, and SC values rose considerably (P0.01) in treated bulls compared to controls after GnRH therapy. Serum testosterone levels climbed from 5.38 0.75 ng/ml to 14.86 1.51 ng/ml. Individual motility, the overall number of sperm/ejaculates, and the number of living sperm were significantly affected by GnRH administration. Furthermore, after receiving GnRH injections, the rate of pregnancy increased in females inseminated by treated bulls. It was 84.56.8% for treated buffalo bulls and 76.57.89% for control buffalo bulls. GnRH injection considerably enhanced PTV and SC levels, according to the findings. Furthermore, semen quality and fertility improved dramatically in treated bulls compared to controls, which may be affected by summer heat stress. GnRH also improves the reproductive performance of buffalo bulls in the summer.

Antimicrobials are an essential tool for intra-mammary infection control. This study was achieved to assess the resistance to antimicrobials as a risk associated with less common bacteria identified in subclinical mastitis (SCM) milk samples of dairy cows. The disc diffusion method was used for determining the resistance to antimicrobials. The interrelate resistance genes were also detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antimicrobial sensitivity test indicated that ampicillin, oxacillin, gentamicin, tetracycline, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, oxytetracycline, and cephradine were highly resistant antibiotics against gram-positive bacilli microorganisms. However, the highest effective antibiotic against the investigated gram-negative bacilli isolates was gentamicin. The antimicrobial resistance genes investigation showed that the tetA(A) and blaTEM genes were expressed in all the Gram-negative bacilli isolates. The mecA and blaZ were positive in the investigated Staphylococcus chromogenes isolates, while all B. cereus and B. subtilis isolates were positive for the Bla gene. The Sul1 gene was positive in all the examined Citrobacter amalanaticus, Enterobacter species, and 50.0% of Klebsiella oxytoca isolates. The mph (A) gene was found in all Enterobacter species isolates.

This study was performed to evaluate the hygienic condition of marketable milk sold in New Valley Governorate by determination of coliforms contamination. One hundred and fifty marketable milk samples were collected from farmer’s houses, dairy farms and dairy shops and these samples were examined for coliform counts. The coliforms percentages were 20, 6 and 14% for concerning samples with average counts of 1.9X104, 6.6X104 and 4.6X104cfu/ml, respectively. Moreover, Escherichia coli was found in 2, 2 and 4% of the analyzed milk samples, respectively. The serotypes of E. coli strains were O127:K63, O55, O114:K90 and O44:K74. Two strains carried intmin gene and all isolates didn’t contain hemolysin gene. On the other side, Enterobacter spp. was detected in percentages of 4, 2 and 4% in the farmer’s houses, dairy farms and dairy shop milk samples, respectively. Moreover, Cronobacter sakazakii was detected in 7(14%) of farmer’s houses and 4(8%) of dairy shop milk samples and it couldn’t be detected in dairy farms milk samples. The coliform contamination in marketable milk in New Valley Governorate reflects the unhygienic condition of milk production, therefore strict hygienic measures must be applied during milk production to safeguard consumers.

Improvement of sheep production became a global aim because of the good quality and cheap price of lamb meat. One of the most crucial goals for achieving optimum productivity in Upper Egypt is to protect farm animals from unfavorable climate conditions. Hence, the current study was planned to investigate the influence of three different housing constructions (semi-open, closed and semi-closed plus trees) on feeding behaviour, body weight, serum total protein and glucose levels, as well as faecal coliforms of male lambs under Upper Egypt temperate fall climate.  Eighteen lambs were randomly allocated into 3 equal groups (n=6); group I (raised in house 1; semi-shaded (SSB)), group II (raised in house 2; full-shaded (FSB)) and group III (raised in house 3; semi-shaded+ a number of high trees (SSB+T)).  The lambs were reared in these housings for 3 months; body weight and feeding behaviour were recorded bi-weekly.  In addition, blood total protein and glucose levels, as well as neutrophil\ lymphocyte (N\L) ratio were measured. At the 12th week fecal coliforms count was analyzed, the longest feeding time was associated with highest glucose level in lambs reared in SSB.  In addition, body gain was improved significantly in SSB and FSB that accompanied with the high total protein at the 8th week.  However, N\L ratio was the lowest in SSB.  Fecal coliform count was not affected by housing system. Thus, data suggested that the SSB house had lowest negative impacts on behaviour and performance of lambs followed by FSB and SSB+T housing conditions.

This study aimed to investigate pathogenic microbial causes of mortalities in twenty rabbit flocks located in 4 governorates in Northwest of Delta Egypt during a period from 2019 to 2022.The mortality rate was varied from 10 to 90 % in either sex of different breeds and ages (15 day-18 month). Ten flocks (50%) were positive for Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) by HA and RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP60 gene indicated one sample (MW455128) was classic RHDV and eight strains (MW455120 - MW455127) were variant RHDV2.Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) was the predominant isolated bacteria (60%), belonging to various serotypes (poly 1, O26 K60, poly 2, O55 K59, poly 2, O126 K71, poly 1, O111, and poly 3, O114), followed by K. pneumoniae (35%), which was determined to be virulent by PCR detection of the uge gene (80%) and rmpA (40%), while the kfu gene was absent. Staph. aureus and Pasteurella multocida represented (30%) for each, while pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%) and Salmonella was negative. Pathologically, apoptosis was the most prominent lesion observed in liver, kidney, intestine, spleen, lung and heart, also there were severe enteritis, abscess in lung, liver and kidney and suppurative bronchopneumonia. By immunohistochemistry the RHDV antigen was detected in hepatic, splenic, renal, pulmonary, and cardiac tissues. The findings of this investigation highpoints on the significance of RHDVs (classic G3-G5 and variant RHDV2 which become more predominant), EPEC, K. pneumonia, S. aureus, P. multocida and p. aeruginosa  as rabbit pathogens causing mortalities in studied Egyptian provinces. So that, these results are important in any effort to control rabbit pathogens in Egypt.