The use of medicinal plants plays a major role in the primary health care of animals in South Africa. A survey was conducted to document medicinal plants used to control parasites in goats in Kwezi and Ntambethemba villages in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Information from 50 farmers and 3 herbalists was obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire, and a snowball sampling technique was used to identify key informants. The obtained data were analysed using PROC FREQ of SAS (2003), and fidelity level values were determined to estimate the healing potential of the mentioned plants. The survey revealed nine plant species belonging to eight families that were used to control parasites in goats. Asphodelaceae (22.22%) was the most frequently used plant family. Leaves were the most used plant parts, constituting 60.38%. They were prepared either as infusions or decoctions of single plants or in mixtures. Aloe ferox, Acokanthera oppositifolia and Elephantorrhiza elephantina were the plants having the highest fidelity level for their use to control parasites, each scoring 100%, followed by Albuca setosa (83.33%). The study revealed low knowledge about ethnoveterinary medicine in the study area. It also revealed that information on ethno-veterinary medicine in this area is mostly confined to older people and there is danger that this knowledge can be lost before being passed on to other generations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to document information on these plant species so that the future generation can benefit. Further investigation should be carried out to validate the efficacy and safety of the above-mentioned plants so as to provide cheap alternative ways of controlling parasites. Keywords: ailments; ethno-veterinary practices; small ruminant; traditional medicine

Fungal diseases of poultry have become problematic as bacterial and viral diseases. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence of fungal agents in broiler chickens suffering from respiratory disorders. The prevalence rate of fungal isolation was 53.1% including mycelia fungi (42%) and yeast isolates (11.1%). Mould isolates were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus (21.7%), Aspergillus flavus (8.4%), Aspergillus niger (8.4%), Aspergillus nidulans (1.3%), Cladosporium spp. (0.4%) and Penicillium spp. (1.8%). Concerning yeast isolates, Candida spp. was the most predominant which were identified as C. albicans, C. pseudotropicalis (2.7% each), C. krusei, C. regosa (2.2% each), and C. stellatoidea (0.4%). Moreover, one Cryptococcus sp. was recovered and identified as C. neoformans (0.9%). PCR assay using oligonucleotide primer amplifying a 570 bp fragment based on ITS region gene was conducted on randomly selected 9 isolates including 6 Aspergillus spp. (A. flavus, A. niger, A. fumigates; 2 each) as well as 3 yeast isolates (two isolates of C. albicans and one isolate of C. neoformans). All tested isolates had positive reactions.

Between 2005 and 2006, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in domestic ruminants in agropastoral communities of Serengeti district, Tanzania to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in domestic–wildlife interface villages. Both the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Competitive Enzyme Linked-immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA) were used to analyse 82 human and 413 livestock sera from four randomly selected villages located along game reserve areas of Serengeti National Park. Although both cattle (288) and small ruminants (125) were screened, seropositivity was detected only in cattle. The overall seroprevalence based on c-ELISA as a confirmatory test was 5.6%. In cattle both age and sex were not statistically associated with brucellosis seropositivity (P = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.8 and 0.33; 95% CI = 0.6, 3.7, respectively). Overall herd level seropositivity was 46.7% (n = 7), ranging from 25% to 66.7% (n = 4–10). Each village had at least one brucellosis seropositive herd. None of the 82 humans tested with both RBPT and c-ELISA were seropositive. Detecting Brucella infection in cattle in such areas warrants further investigation to establish the circulating strains for eventual appropriate control interventions in domestic animals.

Campylobacteriosis is assumed to be mainly a food-borne disease. Also the importance of milk as a source of human Campylobacter enteritis was confirmed by the European Union summary report on food-borne disease outbreaks. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to detect the prevalence of Campylobacters in milk and milk products. A total of 250 samples (100 milk, 50 Domiati cheese, 50 kareish cheese and 50 ice-cream) were collected from the different collection points in El-Minia and Beni-Suef Governorates. The samples were examined by microbiological culture method, and presumptive isolates were further confirmed by genetic amplification (PCR) using specific primers of hippuricase gene.The overall prevalence of Campylobacter species were 13% in raw milk, 52% in kareish cheese, 18% in Domiati cheese and 6% in ice-cream. PCR amplification of hipO gene of isolated C. jejuni from the milk and milk products samples had been shown identical fingerprints with human isolates at 323bp, which indicates the zoonotic hazards of Campylobacter jejuni in Egypt.

The present study was carried out for studying the prevalence of equine herpes virus-1 infection among equines in different Governorates of Egypt. One hundred eighty two equines of different ages, sexes, localities and breeds showing signs of fever, respiratory manifestations, abortions, ataxia, dog sitting position, limb edema, foal depression and death were examined for the isolation of EHV-1 on both embryonated chicken eggs and baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell culture, the aborted fetuses were histologically examined for the detection of inclusion bodies. Serum samples were collected to detect immunoglobulin-G specific to EHV-1 by using ELISA. Nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus and the aborted fetal tissues were tested by PCR using specific primers to prove the infection with EHV-1. The prevalence of EHV-1 infection in the examined animals was recorded as 4.94%. It was prevalent in Cairo, Giza, Kafr Elsheikh, Monofeia, El Sharkia Governorates. The EHV-1 was isolated on the embryo chicken eggs and the pock lesion was appeared on the chorio-allantoic membranes. The cytopathic effects were also observed in tissue cultures. The Liver of aborted fetuses showed necrosis of all hepatic tissue and activation of Kupffer cells with hemosiderin and the detection of eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies. Indirect ELISA could detect IgG in all infected equines (n=9) from which EHV-1 isolated. PCR proved the infection with EHV-1 in the aborted fetal (n=3) tissues and gave similar results by using the horses nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus where 489 bp PCR products were detected in both. In conclusion, EHV-1 is prevalent in different Governorates in Egypt. EHV-1 infection could be diagnosed by intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the aborted fetal tissues. The indirect ELISA could diagnose EHV-1 infection in all ages and sexes groups. PCR applied on aborted fetal tissues is better for the diagnosis of EHV-1 infection than that based on the horse nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus due to saving time and money.

A retrospective study covering a period of ten years (2001–2010) was conducted using postmortem meat inspection records of the Department of Veterinary Services in Gaborone to determine the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis in Botswana. Meat inspection records of monthly and annual returns from the two main export abattoirs in the country were examined, as well as the data collected on the total number of cattle slaughtered and the number of livers condemned due to Fasciola gigantica infection. Only 1250 of the approximately 1.4 million cattle slaughtered were infected with F. gigantica (0.09%, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.0% – 0.3%). No distinct seasonal pattern was observed in condemnation rates of livers. However, the pattern of distribution of fasciolosis was higher (but not significant) in cattle that originated from areas with high rainfall and more permanent water bodies than those from relatively low rainfall areas with a transitory water system. It is recommended that a longitudinal survey should be carried out at the abattoirs and farms to determine the prevalence of the disease in cattle of different ages, sex and breed as well as the place of origin in the country. The present study indicated that the prevalence of fasciolosis in cattle is low and the disease is therefore of less significance in Botswana than other African countries for which information is available. Keywords: Botswana; cattle; Fasciola gigantica; liver; prevalence

A total of 100 random muscle samples of Oreochromis niloticus, Claries lazera, imported Mugil cephalus and Scomber scombrus fish (25 of each) were collected from different markets in Fayoum City for determination of lead, cadmium, copper and mercury residual levels to ascertain whether these levels exceeded the prescribed legal limits. The mean mercury level in the edible muscles tissues of fish species were ranged from below detectable level to 0.29 ppm in local fish and to 0.28 ppm in imported fish. The residual levels were not exceeded the prescribed legal limits of the European Commission Regulation (EC). The highest mean levels of cadmium were recorded in Mackerel (0.119 ± 0.060, ppm) which exceeded the permitted values stipulated by European Commission (EC). The samples in this study contained copper within of the general guideline limit for copper in food. The highest mean levels of lead were also recorded in Mackerel (0.477±0.073 ppm) which exceeded the permitted value stipulated by European Commission (EC). The results were evaluated according to International standards of WHO and EC. The provisional tolerable weekly intakes used in this study to assess the relative safety of marketed in Fayoum. The public health significance of heavy metal residues in fishes were also discussed.

This study was performed to investigate the frequency and the distribution of antimicrobial resistance and resistant genes in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolated from both calves and their environment. Fecal samples (n=136) were collected from calves, besides 270 environmental samples for isolation and identification of EPEC. 50 E. coli isolates comprising 6 serogroupgs were recovered and tested against 12 antimicrobials comprising 4 different groups and 3 disinfectants with characterization of resistance genes. Results revealed that E. coli was isolated in the highest percentage from diarrheic calves (68.3%) followed by apparently healthy and environment (56.7 and 56.6 %, respectively). Six serogroups of E. coli were identified from diarrheic calves with the highest percentage of O26 (27.8 %) followed by O159 and O55 (16.7 and 16.6 %, respectively). The tested isolates showed high rates of resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim whereas the highest rates of susceptibility were found to enrofloxacin and neomycin. Meanwhile the highest bactericidal effect against E. coli isolates from calves and environment was exhibited by Virkon® S (80 % and 70 %, respectively) compared to 80 % and 50%, respectively for TH4+ and 60 and 70 %, respectively for iodine. E. coli isolates were found to include the following genes blaTEM, qacED1, dƒrA, tetA, and sul1. In conclusion, the high prevalence of multidrug resistant E. coli provided insights about the possibility of dairy calves to act as source of resistance genes in the environment that pose health risk for humans and animals.

The pharmacokinetic aspects of tulathromycin(2.5 mg/kg) administered alone and in combination with flunixin meglumine (2.2 mg/kg) after a single subcutaneous (SC) administration, werestudied in clinically healthy goats. The animals were divided into two groups: the 1st group was given tulathromycin alone and the 2nd group was given tulathromycin concurrently with flunixin meglumine. Serum concentrations of tulathromycin were determined using microbiological assay method. Tulathromycin was rapidly absorbed with a half-life of absorption (t(0.5)ab) of 0.54 h and the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) was 3.7ug/ml was attained after 0.98 h (Tmax). Flunixin significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin by increasing its absorption and delay its elimination from body where t0.5(ab)were 0.54 and0.34 h and the elimination half-lives (t0.5(el)) were 1.35 and 1.8 h, for alone and combination groups, respectively. Significant decreases (39.8%) in the area under the curve (AUC) and (22.6%) in the elimination rate constant (Kel) from the central compartment were found following coadministration with flunixin compared with administration of tulathromycin alone. It was concluded that the combination of tulathromycin and flunixin negatively altered the kinetics of tulathromycin.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Haemonchus contortus infection on rams’ haematological, biochemical and clinical parameters and reproductive performances. A total number of 12 Barbarine rams (control and infected) were included in the experiment. The infected group received 30 000 H. contortus third-stage larvae orally. Each ram’s ejaculate was immediately evaluated for volume, sperm cell concentration and mortality rate. At the end of the experiment (day 82 post-infection), which lasted 89 days, serial blood samples were collected in order to assess plasma testosterone and luteinising hormone (LH) concentrations. There was an effect of time, infection and their interaction on haematological parameters (p < 0.001). In infected rams, haematocrit, red blood cell count and haemoglobin started to decrease from 21 days post-infection. There was an effect of time and infection for albumin. For total protein, only infection had a statistically significant effect. For glucose, only time had a statistically significant effect. Concentrations were significantly lower in infected rams compared to control animals. A significant effect of infection and time on sperm concentrations and sperm mortality was observed. The effect of infection appears in time for sperm concentrations at days 69 and 76 post-infection. Sperm mortality rate was significantly higher in infected animals at day 46 post-infection when compared to control group (p < 0.05). Finally, plasma testosterone traits (average concentration, cumulated levels during the sampling period and pulse frequency) were depressed in infected rams when compared to control counterparts; none of these endocrine traits were affected for plasma LH.