Rabbit’s rearing becomes one of the most important source of income in many countries world-wide. Rabbit’s meat has many advantageous over any time of meat and it is recommended especially for sick people. Rabbits are susceptible to some important bacterial diseases such as listeriosis which causes severe economic losses. Listeriosis is a disease caused by many species of Listeria which may be environmental saprophytes or sometimes pathogenic for mammals, birds, and humans. Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is the most common cause of illness either in animals or humans. Infection with this bacterium usually occur in animals via ingestion, while in human via handling or consumption of uncooked or under-processed food. Most of signs in rabbits and humans are the same and including septicaemia especially in young, meningoencephalitis, and metritis and fetal mortality in pregnancy. Additionally, human may show the signs of severe febrile gastroenteritis due to food borne illness as well as skin and joint affections. Diagnosis of the disease depends mainly on the traditional methods of isolation and identification along with the recent molecular techniques for detection. Serological diagnosis is of little value. Prevention and control of listeriosis in rabbits are based on cleaning and disinfection of rabbit’s cages, using of specific antibiotic treatment, and application of some natural alternatives such as probiotics and phytobiotics. In human, avoidances of the possible causes of Listeria infection and stressors and administration of a specific drug is the must. Besides, improvement of the quality control measures in processing plants or during handling of food are essential to effectively prevent and control listeriosis associated with food-borne illness. Accordingly, this article focuses on listeriosis in rabbits regarding the pathogenesis and virulence of the causative agent, clinical picture in rabbits, zoonotic importance in human, laboratory diagnosis, and the different strategies used for the prevention and control of the disease.

The haemagglutination property of viruses is useful for titration and condensation of virions of their own, as well as for titration specific antibodies to them, but detection of the pathogens in clinical samples. However, on the base of the haemagglutination (HA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titration techniques a derivative technique was recently contrived for detection of haemagglutinating viruses in animals called the method of Assay of Shifting of Standardized Direct Haemagglutination Inhibition, or SSDHI. We herein report on the application of these HA-based techniques in cases of rabies virus. With pictorial evidences in detecting the microbe in saliva fluids of furious and healthy dogs in Central Vietnam for disease diagnosis and epidemiological investigation, some results on detection of rabies virus in clinical samples, criteria of discrimination of “coinfections” with other haemagglutinating viruses and possible “contaminations” with specific antibodies or their analogues in clinical samples were discussed. The techniques did also help prove that air-dried virions of rabies virus from clinical samples can sustain their integrity at room temperature at least for two days which implies possibility of the pathogen’s transmission through aerosols.

The undertaken study was planned to investigate the influence of genetic variants of β-lactoglobulin and κ-casein loci on milk composition traits in two autochthonous Arbi and Serti goats raised in Tunisia's continental oasis region. For this purpose, blood and milk from 177 multiparous and unrelated animals were collected and used. Milk samples were analyzed for physical parameters, chemical composition, and mineral concentrations using standard methods. PCR amplification was performed using DNA samples and specific primers targeting exon 7 and 4 of β-lactoglobulin and κ-casein, respectively. To detect genetic variants, amplified products were digested with the restriction enzymes SmaI for β-lactoglobulin and HaeIII for κ-casein. The κ-casein protein had two alleles A and B, as well as two genotypes AA and AB, whereas the β-lactoglobulin showed two alleles C and T, and three genotypes CC, TT, and CT. Allele A of κ-casein occurred at a higher frequency than allele B in Arbi and Serti subpopulations and overall population. The β-lactoglobulin C allele was more common than T allele in Arbi and Serti subpopulations and throughout population. Homozygotes' frequencies were found to be higher than those of heterozygotes in all animals. Genetic polymorphism of β-lactoglobulin has been linked to milk acidity, dry matter, protein, casein, fat, lactose, Ca, P, and k content, with homozygous TT and CC genotypes clearly outperforming CT genotype. The κ-casein locus had a marked influence on the dry matter, protein, casein, and fat components, favoring homozygous AA goats in all traits except fat, which distinguished heterozygous AB goats.

The precise role of the nictating membrane is uncertain and inconsistently discussed in the literature, it is still up for debate. Currently, there have been no extensive investigations on the effect of nictating membrane excision on tear production in donkeys. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the effects of total or partial surgical resection of the nictitating membrane on aquous tear production, pH, and corneal integrity via fluorescein dye and histological examination in donkeys. Donkeys were allocated into two equal groups. Group I (5 donkeys): donkeys were subjected to complete resection of the third eyelid in the left eye and the right one was a control. Group II (5 donkeys), donkeys were subjected to partial resection of the third eyelid in the left eye, and the right one was a control. All animals were observed for three months postoperative. The following criteria (ophthalmic examination, Schirmer tear test I (STT I), tear pH, and fluorescein staining test) were used for the evaluation of the eyes weekly for the first two months, then every two weeks for the last month. There were no significant variations in the mean values of STT I and pH of the total resection of the third eyelid (group Ι) in comparison with the partial resection of the third eyelid (group ΙΙ) (P > 0.05). In both eyes, there were no obvious clinical indicators of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). The histopathological examination of various regions such as eyelids, cornea, and conjunctiva in both groups compared to the control showed that all regions were perfectly normal. However, acinar atrophy, degeneration and periacinar fibrosis were visible in the glandular tissue of the third eyelid and cystic dilation and periductal fibrosis were visible in the nictitans gland’s duct system. In conclusion, neither complete nor partial resection of the third eyelid causes the development of KCS or alters the ocular surface integrity.

The esophagus in bird is thin and distensible tube that extends from oropharynx to the stomach, it is divided anatomically into three sections: anterior (cervical), middle (crop) and posterior (thoracic) regions. The present work aimed to study the morphological, morphometrical, histological and scanning of the cervical region of the esophagus in three different birds (kestrel, hoopoe, rock pigeon). The current study used samples from different three species, the birds scarified, and the esophagus were dissected. The cervical part of the esophagus was analyzed grossly and by using the light and scanning electron microscope. The cervical part of the esophagus in rock pigeon is longer than the kestrel and hoopoe and its width in the kestrel is narrower than the hoopoe and rock pigeon. In lamina propria of kestrel and hoopoe had numerous mucous glands, which are rounded, branched tubular glands surrounded by a fibrous capsule. These glands open into the esophageal lumen through ducts passing within the lining epithelium. However, the lamina propria of the cervical part of the esophagus in rock pigeon was lacking the glands. The obtained results demonstrated that the type of food consumed, is greatly affect the anatomical and the histological structure of the esophagus.

The efficacy of immunotherapy in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients has been debated in years. Study of immunotherapy in AD mouse model can help finding objective information in the mechanism of immunotherapy, especially interleukin (IL)-4 that widely known has important role in AD pathogenesis. Thirty-three male BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly assigned to 3 different groups: immunotherapy, AD model, and control group. The mice in immunotherapy and AD model group were sensitized with house dust mites (HDM) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der-p) allergen extract, patched for the first 7 days and nebulized continuously from day 1-93. Subcutaneous Der-p immunotherapy injection was given every 3 days in increasing doses. The skin samples were taken on day 93 and was assessed for IL-4 with immunohistochemistry method. The data were analyzed with comparative analysis. The mice in immunotherapy group had lower IL-4 expression compared to AD model group which received placebo injections, and slightly higher than the control group. The mean IL-4 expression comparison between groups of mice was not significant (p = 0.098). This study found a decrease of IL-4 after immunotherapy with local HDM allergen in AD BALB/c mice compared to placebo group.

The current study was aimed to investigate ciliated protozoa that can infest Procambarus Clarkii in Assiut governorate, Egypt. Hymenostomatida (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis), Peritrich ciliates (Epistylis sp., Vorticella sp. and Trichodina sp.), Suctorians ciliates (Tokophrya cyclopum, Tokophrya infusionum, Tokophrya quadripartite and Podophrya sp.), Ichthyophonida (Psorospermium haeckeli) and Cyrtophorids (Chilodonella sp.) were all identified from gills, branchiostegite and pleopods of infested individuals. Gills melanization was recorded in 11.5% of infested individuals associated with granulomas or encapsulation reaction filled with hemocytes aggregations (3.84%). Abdomen, pleopods and tail (telson and uropod) were also melanized and covered with brown slime like material in 38.46% of examined samples. Histopathological examination showed lamellar disorganization and distortion of the tip of gills lamellae with vacuoles formation. Hyperplasia and hypertrophied, strongly basophilic nuclei of lamellar epithelial cells and damaged gill lamellae with cuticle lysis were recorded. Lesions of epithelial cells varied from degeneration and necrosis to complete epithelial cell lysis. Melanization and granuloma formation were also recorded. It is obvious from the results that infestation of external ciliated protozoa induced pathogenic lesions in tissue of Procambarus Clarkii.

Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, and facultative anaerobic bacterium that is widely distributed in the environment. Commonly, B. cereus is a soil occupant and is generally isolated from food and food products. It is a human pathogen that causes two variant types of gastrointestinal diseases: diarrheal and emetic. Diseases caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are difficult to be treated. In addition, group of B. cereus has several virulence factors, which play their roles in pathogenesis, infectivity and its capability to form biofilms. B. cereus biofilm is grown on medical devices either abiotic or biotic surfaces. This biofilm avoids the bacteria from the effect of antibiotics and host immune system leading to chronic infections, persistence and mortalities. Thus, it is necessary to explore new antiquorum and antibiofilm agents better than the conventional therapy to eliminate the biofilm that reflect on controlling B. cereus infections. The present review will discuss B. cereus virulence attributes, antibiotic resistance profiles, and their ability to produce biofilm as well as its molecular regulation. The application of the antiquorum and antibiofilm approaches for infection control will be illustrated as well. Finally, we will spot the light on their consequence in food industry loses and human health risk.

The present study aimed to investigate the antiparasitic activity of the wasp venom (WV), Vespa orientalis, against the adult Fasciola gigantica (F. gigantica) worm, as WV has known pharmacological properties. We assessed its anthelmintic efficacy using 40 adult F. gigantica flukes collected from slaughtered cattle divided into four groups (10 each). Worms in three groups were treated with 50, 100, and 200 µg/ml of WV, while a fourth untreated one was used as control. After WV treatment, the tegument area of the fluke’s body was assessed using a scanning electron microscope. This revealed several tegumental alterations all over the fluke's body, including sunken spines due to local swelling, complete disappearance of spines from their sockets, furrowing and sloughing of the basal lamina, splitting off some spines to resemble an “open jaw,” broken oral and ventral sucker teguments, increased swelling of the ventral sucker with loss of its ridges, severe swelling and smoothening of the ventral sucker due to loss of normal transverse ridges, deformed cirrus, and swollen sensory papillae with blebs. The sensory papillae were completely disrupted and dislodged, leaving pits and a series of holes throughout the basal lamina and severely eroded, turning into lesions exposing the basement membrane. These findings indicate that WV destructs the tegument surface of the adult flukes. However, further in vivo studies on the activity of WV treatment are recommended.

Biosecurity is an important tool to exclude potential pathogens from the poultry farms and to maintain the health, welfare and productivity of the stocks. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the biosecurity measures practiced in 50 selected broiler farms in four districts of Kabul province of Afghanistan. Data were collected by structured interview using a pre-designed questionnaire. This study revealed that all of the studied farms practiced the biosecurity measures from medium to the high levels, but these levels were not statistically significant based on the study districts and farms size (p>0.05). Disinfection of the farms at the end of each production cycle (100%) along with the disinfection of boots (86%) and vehicle (76%) and routine vaccines administrations (98%) were the most common practiced internal biosecurity measures, while inappropriate farm location, insufficient pest control and improper dead bird disposal were the main non-practiced external biosecurity measures in the surveyed farms. Hence, it is highly recommended to the animal health and production authorities to develop and implement specific biosecurity guidelines to the national level using regional and international manuals.