Thirty samples of Mozzarella cheese (15 made traditionally from raw milk in Tripoli city (Libya) and other 15 imported samples sold in markets related to different brand names) were examined bacteriologically for their total bacterial count, psychrophilic count, coliform count (MPN/g), presumptive Staphylococcus aureus count, as well as enterococci count. Higher counts were found in locally manufactured Mozzarella cheese. Salmonellae were absent in all examined samples for both types, while Escherichia coli were isolated from 3 samples (20%) of locally made samples. According to the suggested Libyan Standards of such samples, most of examined locally manufactured Mozzarella cheese samples were found unacceptable.

A total of 620 egg samples from different species (chickens, ducks and ostriches) and 1615 poultry samples (chickens, ducks, pigeons, quails, turkeys and ostriches) were examined for salmonella infection. 12 salmonella isolates were obtained from the egg samples (1.9%) and 67 isolates from poultry samples (4.1%). Salmonella isolates were serotyped into S. enteritidis (25 isolates), S. typhimurium (17 isolates), S. infantis (12 isolates), S. montivideo (7 isolates), 3 isolates for each of S. rubislaw and S. cerro , 2 isolates for each of S. virginia, S. agona, S. poona, and S. derby and 1 isolate for each of S. sandiago and S. kentucky. The incidence of isolation from different poultry species was discussed in details. Antibiogram of the isolated salmonellae against 10 different antibiotics revealed that norofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, cepheridin and gentamycin gave the highest activity against different salmonella isolates while amoxicillin, tetracycline, and nitrofurantoin showed the highest resistance rate. Pathogenicity of the isolated serovars was tested in chickens. All isolates were found pathogenic with various degree of virulence. SDSPAGE protein analysis for the salmonella isolated form different poultry species revealed 12 protein bands ranged from 22-289 kDa. The differences were insufficient for reliable differentiation between the isolates and accordingly, it could be used beside other molecular techniques in differentiation between the salmonella strains.

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the administration of active dry yeast and/or lactobacillus preparation (AVI-BAC), either before or after the infection with antibiotic resistant field strain of Escherichia coli O127 (E. coli O127) in controlling the severity of infection in quail chicks. The quail chicks of the different experimental groups were infected orally for two successive days with 3x107 CFU of E. coli O-127 as an individual dose. The used field strain proved to be highly pathogenic for quails. Probiotics were supplemented in the drinking water for the different treatment groups at a dose level of 0.5 gm/L. The results revealed that the inclusion of lactobacilli or active dry yeast before E. coli infection has been highly effective in reducing mortality rate, organ invasion and the number of E. coli positive quail chicks. In addition, it decreased the severity of macroscopic and microscopic lesions in different organs in the probiotic treated groups as compared to the infected controls. Lactobacilli preparations were more efficient in controlling the severity of the infection. On the other hand, the administration of yeast and /or lactobacilli after inducing E. coli infection reduced the mortality rate and the severity of lesion score in different organs but probiotics failed to protect quail chicks against the infection. It has been proved that the two probiotics have synergistic effect in controlling collibacillosis in quails.

Thirty four apparently healthy cattle (9 males and 25 females) of mixed breed (Balady X Friesen) were selected for ultrasonographic investigations in this study. Ultrasonographic measurements of vertical and horizontal diameters of kidney, the diameters of the renal parenchyma and the diameter of renal sinus were determined in the middle of right and left kidneys. Twenty nine cattle (9 males and 20 females), had normal ultrasonographic appearance of both right and left kidney while the other five cows had some pathological affections including cystic kidney and renal dysplasia in their left kidneys . The vertical diameter of the right kidney was (4.84±1.18 cm) , the horizontal diameter (9.16 ± 1.35 cm) , and the vertical diameter of the renal sinus was ( 3.54 ± 1.02 cm ) . The thickness of the renal cortex and medulla ( renal parenchyma) was (2.16 ± 0.46 cm ). On the other hand ,the vertical diameter of the left kidney was (5.89 ±1.13 cm), and the vertical diameter of the renal sinus was ( 3.83 ± 1.12 cm ). The thickness of the renal cortex and medulla (renal parenchyma) was (2.46 ± 0.35 cm ). It was concluded that the ultrasonographic values determined in this study can be used as references for the diagnosis of morphologic changes in the kidney of domestic dairy cattle

The pharmacokinetic profile of ceftiofur sodium, a third generation cephalosporin, was studied in both Friesian and buffalo calves following a single intravenous and intramuscular administration of 2.2 mg kg-1 b.wt. in a cross over study with 15-day wash out period. After i.v administration the serum concentration-time curve of ceftiofur sodium was best fitted using two-compartments open model, with distribution half-lives (t½(()) of 0.384 and 0.176 h., elimination half-lives (t½(0)) of 5.047 and 1.607 h., mean residence time (MRT) of 6.926 and 2.072 h., volumes of distribution at steady-state (Vdss) of 0.206 and 0.134 L kg-1 and total body clearance (ClB) of 0.029 and 0.065 L kg-1 h-1 in Friesian and buffalo calves, respectively. Following intramuscular administration, the drug absorbed with half-lives of absorption (t½(ab)) of 1.010 and 0.217 h., maximum serum concentrations (Cmax) of 5.539 and 9.663 g ml-1 which attained after (tmax) of 3.147 and 0.825 h. and the drug was eliminated with half-lives (t½(el)) of 5.239 and 1.750 h. in Friesian and buffalo calves, respectively. The systemic intramuscular bioavailabilities were 89.82 and 99.7 %, while the in-vitro serum proteinbinding tendencies were 39.68 and 14.44 % in Friesian and buffalo calves, respectively

In this study five serotypes of E. coli were isolated from chickens and identified as O1, O2, O6, O78 and O126 out of 33 isolates derived from a total of 60 samples. SDS-PAGE revealed that four proteins were characteristic and shared in all these serotypes at the molecular weight of 21, 30, 55 and 74 kDa of which 55 and 74 kDa proteins were fully reacted with the antisera against E. coli in the western blot. Other proteins are present but varied from one serotype to another.

A total number of 28 buffaloes aged between 5-7years, body weight ranged between 400-500 kg, and belonged to private farms at Assiut Governorate constituted the materials of this study. Twenty of them showed the classical signs of hypophosphataemia while the other eight buffaloes were proved to be healthy by both clinical and laboratory investigations, used as control group. Biochemical analysis of blood sera showed a highly significant hypophosphataemia, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia in diseased buffaloes either pre or post treatment when compared with the healthy control ones. Meanwhile, the examination of blood showed marked decreases in erythrocytic count, haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume in diseased animals. All parameters improved in affected buffaloes after 10 days of treatment. The chemical analysis of agronomical samples of soil and drinking water were done. The statistical analyses between the studied parameters were carried out in buffaloes before and after treatment.

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of the Newcastle disease (ND) live vaccines from different commercial sources used in different programs for vaccination of chicks having maternal antibodies against Mycoplasma infection. The immune response was estimated using HI and challenge tests. The effect on the chicken performance was estimated by the detection of the body weight gain. The role of vaccines in stimulating respiratory bacterial stress was pointed out by the lesion scores. Birds vaccinated with live vaccines from source (2) showed higher HI titers than those vaccinated with vaccine from source (1) and birds received the 2nd vaccination from heterologous source showed lower titers than those received from homologous source. Results of the challenge test indicated that birds vaccinated with live ND vaccines from one source and those vaccinated with Hitchner B1 at 33-days of age instead of La Sota showed 100% protection rate as compared with 95 % followed by vaccination with heterologous La Sota. Birds received Hitchner B1 of vaccine source (1) showed only 85% protection rate. All vaccinated chicken groups showed feed conversion rates lower than the non-vaccinated control one. Groups received Hitchner B1 as a 3rd dose of the vaccine showed higher rates than those vaccinated with La Sota. Results of the lesion score for chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in vaccinated groups with different regimes revealed that birds received ND vaccinal strains from source (1) having higher scores than those received ND vaccines from the 2nd source. Administration of Hitchner B1 vaccine at 33-days of age showed lower scores. Hitchner B1 can be recommended in vaccination of chickens derived from Mycoplasma infected hens.

Tetrameres numida n. sp. from the proventriculus of Helmeted guinea fowls, Numida meleagris, in South Africa is described from eight male and four female specimens. The new species shares some characteristics with other Tetrameres species, but can be differentiated by a unique combination of characters. It bears two rows of cuticular spines extending over the whole length of the body and possesses two spicules. The left spicule measures 1 699-2 304 ?m and the right one 106-170 mm. Caudal spines are arranged in three ventral and three lateral pairs and the tail is 257-297 mm long. Diagnostic criteria of some of the previously described species of the genus Tetrameres from Africa and other parts of the world have been compiled from the literature and are included here.