OBJECTIVE To evaluate effects of topical ophthalmic administration of diclofenac on intraocular pressure (IOP) when applied at 4 frequencies to eyes of Beagles. ANIMALS 8 ophthalmologically normal Beagles. PROCEDURES The study involved four 5-day experimental periods each separated by a 16-day washout period. During each period, 1 drop of 0.1% diclofenac sodium ophthalmic solution was administered to the right eye at 4 treatment frequencies (1, 2, 3, or 4 times/d); 1 drop of eyewash was administered to the left eye as a control treatment. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed on days 0 (day before first treatment) and 5 of each experimental period. Gonioscopy was performed on day 0 of the first period. The IOPs were measured at 7 am and 7 pm on days 1 through 5. RESULTS No abnormalities were detected during neuro-ophthalmic and ophthalmic examinations on day 0 of each experimental period. No adverse reactions to administration of diclofenac or eyewash were observed at any time point. No abnormalities were detected during ophthalmic examinations performed on day 5, and IOPs remained < 25 mm Hg in all 4 periods. No significant differences were identified between the treated and control eyes or among the 4 treatment frequencies. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Topical ophthalmic administration of diclofenac up to 4 times/d in dogs with no ophthalmic abnormalities did not significantly increase the IOP. Additional research is needed to evaluate the effect of topical ophthalmic administration of diclofenac on IOP in dogs with anterior uveitis.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a dose-response relationship exists between short-term oral prednisone administration and common clinicopathologic variables, cardiovascular biomarkers, and systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP) in healthy dogs. ANIMALS 8 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES Dogs underwent five 5-day experiments (no prednisone treatment [control condition] and prednisone administration at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h), with a 9-day washout period between protocols. Analyses performed before and after treatments included a CBC, serum biochemical analysis, and determination of SAP, fractional excretion of electrolytes, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), serum N-terminal pro B–type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and plasma cortisol concentrations, and plasma renin activity. Linear mixed-effects modeling was used to compare changes in variables from baseline (day 1 for the same experiment) among treatment conditions. RESULTS Changes in serum glucose concentration and GFR were significantly greater after administration of prednisone at 4 mg/kg than for the control condition. Fractional excretion of sodium was decreased from baseline when dogs received 0.5, 1, or 4 mg of prednisone/kg, compared with results for the control condition. Several expected changes in clinicopathologic values were observed after prednisone administration at any dose. Changes in serum NT-proBNP concentration, plasma renin activity, and SAP did not differ from changes for the control condition at any prednisone dose. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Oral prednisone administration did not affect SAP, NT-proBNP concentration, or measures of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation in healthy laboratory-housed dogs but was associated with relative increases in GFR and serum glucose concentration.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a contrast medium that could be used for radiographic and ultrasonographic assessment of the small intestine in dogs. ANIMALS 8 healthy adult Beagles. PROCEDURES Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC; 0.5% solution) was combined with iohexol (300 mg of iodine/mL) to yield modified contrast medium (MCM). Dogs were orally administered the first of 3 MCMs (10 mL/kg [9.5 mL of CMC/kg plus 0.5 mL of iohexol/kg]). Radiographic and ultrasonographic assessment of the small intestine followed 10 minutes after administration and every 10 minutes thereafter, until MCM was seen within the ascending colon. Minimally, 1 week elapsed between dosing of subsequent MCMs (10 mL/kg [9 mL of CMC/kg plus 1 mL of iohexol/kg and 8.5 mL of CMC/kg plus 1.5 mL of iohexol/kg]) and repeated radiography and ultrasonography. RESULTS Radiographic contrast enhancement of the small intestine was best with MCM that combined 8.5 mL of CMC/kg and 1.5 mL of iohexol/kg. Mean small intestinal transit time for all MCMs was 86 minutes. All MCMs did not interfere with ultrasonographic assessment of the small intestine and may have improved visualization of the far-field small intestinal walls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE An MCM that combined 8.5 mL of 0.5% CMC/kg and 1.5 mL of iohexol/kg could be an alternative to barium or iohexol alone for contrast small intestinal radiography in dogs, especially when abdominal ultrasonography is to follow contrast radiography.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ability of Chitosan to promote induced tibial fracture healing in a rat model. The study was conducted on 14 albino rats divided into two equal groups (seven rats in each group). The first group was considered as a control group. The second group was injected Chitosan solution 0.1 mg/kg into the fracture gap. The progress of healing in each group was evaluated by clinical, radiography, ultrasonography and pathological examinations. The healing process was observed to be superior in the Chitosan group compared to the control one. Chitosan was found to promote healing of injured bone and is suggested to be used in cases of complicated or delayed bone fracture.

This study was conducted from January to October 2018 with the objective to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of Eimeria species in broiler and free-range chickens in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. A total of 342 faecal samples were collected from 12 randomly selected healthy broiler chicken farms and 40 free-range chickens from 10 different locations. Faecal samples were screened for the presence of Eimeria oocysts using a standard flotation method. The species of Eimeria isolates were confirmed by amplification of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) partial region and sequences analysis. Among broiler and free-ranging chickens, 19 out of 41 pens (46.3%) and 25 out of 42 faecal samples (59.5%) were positive for Eimeria infection. Molecular detection revealed the following species: Eimeria maxima, Eimeria tenella, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti and Eimeria mitis in all the samples screened. Similarly, polymerase chain reaction assays specific for three cryptic Eimeria operational taxonomic units were negative for all the samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS-1 sequences supported species identity with the greatest variation detected for E. mitis. This study provides information on the range and identity of Eimeria species, and their genetic relatedness, circulating in commercially reared broilers and free-ranging chickens from different locations in KwaZulu-Natal province.

In this study, 50 vaccinated broiler and one layer flock from Beni-Suef, Fayoum and Minia governorates were investigated. Necropsy lesions were suggestive of LPAI-H9N2 or NDV. Samples of tracheal swabs and organs were subjected for viral isolation and molecular characterization. Specific RT-PCR for the NDV F-gene and the HA gene of the LPAI-H9N2 viruses was used. Virus isolation and primary identification using HI test revealed 37.5 and 43.3-46.2% prevalence for LPAI-H9N2 and NDV viruses, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of the F gene showed that NDV viruses belong to genotype II and VII-1.1. as indicated by the F0 protein proteolytic cleavage site motifs (aa112-117) of the NDV strains F-gene. The vNDV isolates were 98.7-99.3% and 96.6-98.9% identical to each other based on nucleotide and amino acid identities, respectively. Compared to their counterpart isolates; the lentogenic strains shared 98-99.2% and 96.3-98.1% nucleotide and amino acid identities to the LaSota reference strain. The LPAI-H9N2 phylogeny of the HA gene showed that the 2 isolates obtained in this study are related to each other and related to recent 2016-2018 Egyptian H9N2 strains. Notably, the 2 strains showed higher identity (≥99%) to recent Israeli 2018 isolates with several amino acid changes. The current study revealed wide spread of both NDV and LPAI-H9N2 viruses. The vaccine failure and the mismatch between the vaccine and circulating NDV viruses is the most probable cause of current outbreaks. The LPAI-H9N2 viruses are divergent form their ancestral viruses in Egypt indicating continuous circulation and vaccine pressure induced mutations

Surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi, is a re-emerging animal trypanosomosis, which is of special concern for camel-rearing regions of Africa and Asia. Surra decreases milk yield, lessens animal body condition score and reduces market value of exported animals resulting in substantial economic losses. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study of dromedary camels was conducted in Algeria, and major risk factors associated with infection were identified by collecting data on animal characteristics and herd management practices. The seroprevalence of T. evansi infection was determined in sera of 865 camels from 82 herds located in eastern Algeria using an antibody test (card agglutination test for Trypanosomiasis – CATT/T. evansi). Individual and herd seroprevalence were 49.5% and 73.2%, respectively, indicating substantial exposure of camels to T. evansi in the four districts studied. Five significant risk factors for T. evansi hemoparasite infection were identified: geographical area, herd size, husbandry system, accessibility to natural water sources and type of watering. There was no association between breed, sex or age with T. evansi infection. Results of this study provide baseline information that will be useful for launching control programmes in the region and potentially elsewhere.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ability of estrogen to promote induced tibial fracture healing in a rat model. The study was conducted on 14 albino rats divided into two equal groups (seven rats in each group). The first group considered as a control group. The second group was injected estradiol solution 0.1 mg/kg into the fracture gap. The progress of healing in each group was evaluated by clinical, radiography, ultrasonography and pathological examinations. The healing process was observed to be superior in the estrogen group compared to the control one. Estrogen was found to promote healing of injured bone and is suggested to be used in cases of complicated or delayed bone fracture.

The present study aimed to provide a detailed description of the normal development of rabbit stomach and focusing on the histogenesis of gastric glands. In a total, 24 New Zealand White rabbit fetuses were collected at gestational days 21, 25, and 29. The stomachs of the collected fetuses were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and prepared by paraffin technique then stained with Harris's Haematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's Trichrome stain, Orcein, Periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, and Bromophenol blue stains. The results revealed that, at 21stgestational day, the different parts of the stomach including, cardia, fundus and pylorus could be easily distinguished. On 25th developmental day, the gastric mucosal folds were more prominent in the cardia than fundus and pylorus. At 29th developmental day, tunica mucosa and tunica submucosa of the fetal stomach were laid in longitudinally oriented folds known as rugae. The gastric gland in this age became well developed containing well-demarcated oxyntic and peptic cells. In conclusion, the rabbit stomach is completely differentiated during the embryonic life and the gastric glands were functionally active.

A study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Rift Valley fever (RVF) infection in cattle and some selected wildlife species at selected interface areas at the periphery of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area in Zimbabwe. Three study sites were selected based on the type of livestock–wildlife interface: porous livestock–wildlife interface (unrestricted); non-porous livestock–wildlife interface (restricted by fencing) and livestock–wildlife non-interface (totally absent contact or control). Sera were collected from cattle aged ≥ 2 years representing both female and intact male. Sera were also collected from selected wild ungulates from Mabalauta (porous interface) and Chipinda Pools (non-interface) areas of the Gonarezhou National Park. Sera were tested for antibodies to Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. AX2 test was used to assess differences between categories, and p 0.05 was considered as significant. In cattle, the overall seroprevalence was 1.7% (17/1011) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–2.7). The porous interface recorded a seroprevalence of 2.3% (95% CI: 1.2–4.3), the non-porous interface recorded a prevalence of 1.8% (95% CI: 0.7–4.3) and the non-interface area recorded a seroprevalence of 0.4% (955 CI: 0.02–2.5), but the difference in seroprevalence according to site was not significant (p 0.05). All impala and kudu samples tested negative. The overall seroprevalence in buffaloes was 11.7% (95% CI: 6.6–19.5), and there was no significant (p = 0.38) difference between the sites (Mabalauta, 4.4% [95% CI: 0.2–24] vs. Chipinda, 13.6% [95% CI: 7.6–23]). The overall seroprevalence in buffaloes (11.7%, 13/111) was significantly (p 0.0001) higher than in cattle (1.7%, 17/1011). The results established the presence of RVFV in cattle and selected wildlife and that sylvatic infections may be present in buffalo populations. Further studies are required to investigate if the virus is circulating between cattle and wildlife.