Infectious diseases are serious constraints for improving livestock productivity. Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is a virus causing grave economic losses throughout the cattle producing world. Infection is often not apparent, but the virus can also cause respiratory signs, diarrhoea, reproductive problems and immunosuppression. Risk factors for disease transmission include, but are not limited to, herd size, animal trade and grazing on communal pastures. Several prevalence studies have been conducted in southern Africa, but in Botswana the occurrence is largely unknown. In this study, blood samples were obtained from 100 goats from three villages around the capital city, Gaborone. Also, 364 blood samples from cattle around Gaborone, collected as part of another study, were analysed. The detected antibody prevalence was 0% in goats and 53.6% in cattle when using a competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay. Three animals from two different herds were positive for viral nucleic acids on polymerase chain reaction. The two herds with viraemic animals had significantly higher antibody prevalence compared to the other herds. Also, two of the detected viruses were sequenced and found to be most similar to BVDV-1a. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that sequencing has been performed on BVDV isolated in Botswana.

The effective control of tsetse flies (Diptera; Glossinidae), the biological vectors of trypanosome parasites that cause human African trypanosomosis and African animal trypanosomosis throughout sub-Saharan Africa, is crucial for the development of productive livestock systems. The degree of genetic isolation of the targeted populations, which indicate reinvasion potential from uncontrolled areas, will be critical to establish a control strategy. Molecular and morphometrics markers were used to assess the degree of genetic isolation between seemingly fragmented populations of Glossina brevipalpis Newstead and Glossina austeni Newstead present in South Africa. These populations were also compared with flies from adjacent areas in Mozambique and Eswatini. For the molecular markers, deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted, a r16S2 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed and the PCR product sequenced. Nine landmarks were used for the morphometrics study as defined by vein intersections in the right wings of female flies. Generalised Procrustes analyses and regression on centroid size were used to determine the Cartesian coordinates for comparison between populations. Both methods indicated an absence of significant barriers to gene flow between the G. brevipalpis and G. austeni populations of South Africa and southern Mozambique. Sustainable control can only be achieved if implemented following an area-wide management approach against the entire G. brevipalpis and G. austeni populations of South Africa and southern Mozambique. Limited gene flow detected between the G. austeni population from Eswatini and that of South Africa or Mozambique may imply that these two populations are in the proses of becoming isolated.

Between July and September 2017, samples collected from six unvaccinated chickens in Namibia were shown to be positive for infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) by RT-PCR. Partial sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 and VP2 genes from six viruses revealed that they all belong to the very virulent pathotype (Genogroup 3) and are genetically very similar to IBDVs identified in neighbouring Zambia. This is the first molecular characterisation of IBDV in Namibia and has implications on the control and management of the disease in the country.

Eight ixodid tick species were collected from 173 African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Kenya, northern Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and two species were collected from six African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) in the Republic of Congo. A new host record is reported for Amblyomma eburneum. A list of ticks collected from elephants in various African countries, and stored in the United States National Tick Collection, is supplied as well as an annotated checklist of the 27 ixodid tick species that have been collected from African elephants. The geographic distributions and alternative hosts of the various tick species collected from elephants are briefly discussed.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether differences existed in the viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid samples from the metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, and distal interphalangeal joints of orthopedically normal athletic horses. ANIMALS 45 warmblood horses and 30 Thoroughbreds (age range, 4 to 16 years). PROCEDURES Synovial fluid samples were aseptically obtained via arthrocentesis from 1 metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal, and distal interphalangeal joint of each horse, and nucleated cell counts were performed. A commercial ELISA was used to measure sample hyaluronic acid concentrations, and full rheological characterization of samples was performed to measure the elastic or storage modulus G' and viscous or loss modulus G“ at 37.5°C (representing the body temperature of horses). Findings were compared among joints and between breed groups by means of ANOVA. RESULTS Significant differences in synovial fluid G' and G“ values were identified between Thoroughbreds and warmblood horses for the metacarpophalangeal joint, between the metacarpophalangeal and intercarpal joints of Thoroughbreds, and between the metacarpophalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints and intercarpal and distal interphalangeal joints of warmblood horses. No significant differences were identified between breed groups or among joints in synovial fluid hyaluronic concentrations or nucleated cell counts. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Viscoelastic properties of the forelimb joints of orthopedically normal Thoroughbreds and warmblood horses differed within and between these 2 groups, mainly as a function of the evaluated joint. To the authors' knowledge, this was the first study of its kind, and additional research is warranted to better understand the viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid in horses to optimize their locomotive function.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether an enrofloxacin–silver sulfadiazine emulsion (ESS) labeled for treatment of otitis externa in dogs has ototoxic effects in rabbits following myringotomy. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURES Rabbits were anesthetized for brainstem auditory-evoked response (BAER) tests on day 0. Myringotomy was performed, and BAER testing was repeated. Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution and ESS were then instilled in the left and right middle ears, respectively, and BAER testing was repeated prior to recovery of rabbits from anesthesia. Application of assigned treatments was continued every 12 hours for 7 days, and rabbits were anesthetized for BAER testing on day 8. Rabbits were euthanized, and samples were collected for histologic (6 ears/treatment) and scanning electron microscopic (1 ear/treatment) examination. RESULTS Most hearing thresholds (11/12 ears) were subjectively increased after myringotomy, with BAER measurements ranging from 30 to 85 dB in both ears. All day 8 hearing thresholds exceeded baseline (premyringotomy) values; results ranged from 30 to 85 dB and 80 to > 95 dB (the upper test limit) in saline solution–treated and ESS-treated ears, respectively. All ESS-treated ears had heterophilic otitis externa, epithelial hyperplasia of the external ear canal, various degrees of mucoperiosteal edema, and periosteal new bone formation on histologic examination. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that most outer hair cells in the ESS-treated ear lacked stereocilia or were absent. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results supported that ESS has ototoxic effects in the middle ear of rabbits. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. Myringotomized laboratory rabbits may be useful to study ototoxicity of drugs used in human medicine.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation by means of plasma clearance of iohexol (IOX) in domestic rabbits and to assess accuracy of limited-sampling models for GFR estimation. ANIMALS 6 healthy domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). PROCEDURES Each rabbit received IOX (64.7 mg/kg [0.1 mL/kg], IV), and blood samples were collected at predetermined times before and after administration. Plasma IOX concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetics of IOX was determined by a noncompartmental method. For each rabbit, plasma clearance of IOX was determined by dividing the total IOX dose administered by the area under the concentration-time curve indexed to the subject's body weight. The GFR estimated from the plasma IOX concentration at 6 sampling times (referent model) was compared with that estimated from the plasma IOX concentration at 5 (model A), 4 (model B), and 3 (models C, D, and E) sampling times (limited-sampling models). RESULTS Mean ± SD GFR was 4.41 ± 1.10 mL/min/kg for the referent model and did not differ significantly from the GFR estimated by any of the limited-sampling models. The GFR bias magnitude relative to the referent model was smallest for model D in which GFR was estimated from plasma IOX concentrations at 5, 15, and 90 minutes after IOX administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that plasma clearance of IOX was a safe, reliable, accurate, and clinically feasible method to estimate GFR in domestic rabbits. Further research is necessary to refine the method.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of geographical area (central and southwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina) on hematological and biochemical blood parameters of autochthonous Pramenka sheep. Materials and The study included 104 sheep from the Vlasic mountain (central part) (n = 52) and Livno (southwestern part) (n = 52). Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein into Vactuainer tubes with EDTA anticoagulant for hematological, for glucose, analyses and BD Vacutainer® SST II gel for biochemical analyses. All hematological and biochemical analyses were performed within the next 24 hours, and until then the samples were kept at 4 °C. Hematological parameters included total Red Blood Cell (RBC), White Blood Cell (WBC), Hemoglobin concentration (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), Mean Corpuscolar Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscolar Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and White Cell Differential Count (WCDC). Analyzes are carried out using the automated veterinary hematological analyzer Advia 120 SIEMENS. Blood in the serum tubes was allowed to clot for at least 30 min prior to centrifugation. Serum samples were kept frozen at -20 °C until biochemical analyses were performed. Biochemical parameters were determined by analyzer Olimpus AU400 with Beckman Coulter reagens according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Parameters for biochemistry panel included: total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), urea (BUM), creatinine (CRE), glucose (GLU), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), cholesterol (CHO), bilirubin (BIL), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P),sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). All analyzes were tested to spectrophotometric method, except for Na, K, Cl, which were generated by ISE method, or by ion selective method. BHBA and NEFA were constructed with reagents from Randox.Results: The values of WBC (p<0.05), RBC (p<0.001), Hb (p<0.001), PCV (p<0.001), MCV (0.05), NEU (p<0.01) from the Livno area, while the value of LYM (p<0.05) was determined for sheep from the Vlasic area. The correlative values between RBC: Hb (P<0.001), RBC:PCV (P<0.001), WBC:NEU (P<0.001), WBC:LYM (P<0.001), WBC:BAS (P<0.001) areas. The correlative correlation at P<0.01 was established between RBC:MCH, RBC:PLT, RBC:MPV in sheep from Vlasica area, while correlative values at P<0.05 were established between RBC:MPC, WBC:MON for sheep from the Livno area. The values of BHB (p<0.001), total protein (p<0.001), albumin (p<0.001), urea (p<0.001), AST (p<0.001), cholesterol (p<0.001) , magnesium (p<0.001) were determined for sheep in area Livno. The values of NEFA (p<0.001), creatinine (p<0.01), glucose (p<0.001), bilirubin (p<0.001), phosphate (p<0.001) were established for sheep in the Vlasic area. Correlative correlation (P<0.001) between total protein:chloride, calcium:phosphates, sodium:chlorides was found in animals from Vlasic area, while correlation was found (P<0.05) between sodium:chloride in animals from the Livno area.It was concluded that values showed significant differences for individual haematological and biochemical parameters in sheep for both investigated areas.

The oil of Juniperus communis (JC) which is among medicinal plants, has many pharmacological activities. In this study, the effects of JC oil on serum paraoxonase (PON1), pancreatic enzymes levels and lipid levels in experimental diabetic rats were investigated.Thirty-two male Wistar-Albino rats (250-300g) were used. The rats were dividedequally into four groups, control (C), diabetes (D), JC oil (J), and diabetes + JC oil (DJ). D and DJ groups wereintraperitoneally (IP) injected with 45 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). JC oil was administered as 200 mg/kg/21days by oral gavage in J and DJ groups.Total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly decreased in the J and DJgroups when compared to C and D groups (p≤0.001). There was no difference in TG levels between D andcontrol group (p≥0.05). Lipoprotein levels were not statistically significant between any group (p≥0.05).Comparing to the control group in the diabetes and DJ groups; significant decreased amylase levels andincreased lipase levels (p≤0.001) was observed. Paraoxonase activity in D group was statistically lower thanin the other groups (p≤0.05). There is no significant difference between the C group and the Jgroup (p>0.05).PON1 level has a significant elevation in the DJ in comparison with the D group (p≤0.05). As a result, JC oil caused an increase in antioxidant PON1 enzyme level and a decrease in lipidlevels in diabetes. The data obtained are supportive that JC oil may be a potential protective effect againstdiabetes-associated complications.

In this study, microbiological quality of tantuni that have been consumed in the province of Van was examined. Materials and Methods: For this purpose; 100 tantuni samples, whose 79 of them were red meat tantuni (raw and cooked) and 21 of them chicken tantuni (raw and cooked) were used as material.According to analysis findings with regard to aerobic mesophilic organisms, coliform group microorganisms, E. coli, micrococcus/staphylococcus, S. aureus, C. perfringens and yeast-mould at the samples of raw and cooked red meat tantuni were found to be 5.67 and 3.98, 2.88 and 0.21, 0.87 and 2.00, 2.99 and 2.27, 1.33 and 0.25, 0.05 and 1.00, 4.43 and 0.63 log cfu/g respectively. In the same order, at the samples of raw and cooked chicken tantuni were found to be; 4.35 and 3.77, 2.84 and 1.00, 1.15 and 2.00, 0.95 and 1.22, 2.00 and 2.00, 1.00 and 1.00, 4.05 and 0.11 log cfu/g respectively. Salmonella spp. could not be isolated in the tantuni samples that had been investigated. In the raw red meat tantuni samples 5.26% (1/19) had S. aureus, in the cooked red meat tantuni samples 1.66% (1/60) had S. aureus, and 3.33% (2/60) yeast-mould which were not compatible with the limit values that were stated at the Turkish Food Codex were found. However, values obtained from this study show that during preparation and production of the goods and in the other stages; hygienic rules have not been carried out.In conclusion to secure the product safety, it is essential to be cautious for the temperature and time during preparation, reservation temperature and GMP/GHP based applications in the preparation of tantuni.