Elevated rectal temperature, mucopurulent nasal discharge, mortalities and abortion of pregnant ewes were the main clinical abnormalities recorded in sheep flocks at Seedy Salem Village, Kafr Al-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt following their vaccination by the attenuated Rift Valley vaccine. Meanwhile, 45 of the farmers in the village showed variable findings suggestive for a RVF epidemic and 17 farmers died of haemorrhagic fever as reported by the World Health Organization, WHO (2003). Blood serum samples were collected from 78 humans and 86 sheep and tested for RVF antibodies. We found that, where 11 (12.94%) and 10 (19.30%) of sheep and human sera respectively were positive. The recent history of vaccination of such flocks using the attenuated RVF vaccine lead us to suggest that the used vaccine might be the source of such epidemic.

In the present study, 3 pooled proventricular homogenates were collected from 3broiler flocks, of chicken 15 to 30 days old, from Monofia Governorate. The 3 flockswere suffered from low growth rate, poor feed conversion rate, uneven growth andincreased mortalities. Necropsy of dead chickens revealed proventriculitis withincreased proventriculus size. IBD viral antigen was detected in the pooledproventricular homogenate of each flock by AGPT using reference antibodies againstIBDV and RT-PCR technique. No other viruses were detected; such as Reo virus,CAV, NDV, IBV and ALV-J. Further characterization of the IBDV isolates wereconducted by RFLP assay on PCR products using MboI and BstOI restrictionenzymes. Results demonstrate that the 3 IBDV isolates are identical in their RFLPpattern and related to the Del/E variant strain of IBDV.

The objective of this study was to determine whether Bos taurus cattle differ form Bos indicus in their susceptibility to infection with the Muguga stabilate of Theileria parva and in their resistance to the resultant disease. Ten Friesians (B. taurus), ten improved Borans (B. indicus), ten unimproved Borans (B. indicus) and ten Zebus (B. indicus) born to dams from an East Coast fever (ECF) endemic area were inoculated with an infective dose50 dilution of T. parva Muguga stabilate 147. All the animals except one Friesian and one Zebu developed schizont parasitosis. All the improved Borans, nine of the Friesians, eight of the unimproved Borans and six of the Zebus developed a febrile response. Four of the improved Borans, four of the Friesians and three of the unimproved Borans died of theileriosis. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in the prepatent period occurred between the groups, but the Zebus had a significantly shorter duration of schizont parasitosis (P > 0.05) and took a significantly shorter time to recover (P > 0.05) than the other three groups. There was no significant difference in the two parameters between the other three groups. The study showed that three B. indicus breds and a B. taurus breed are equally susceptible to T. parva infection. However, Zebus born to dams from an ECF endemic area showed a better ability to control the course of disease than cattle from ECF free areas.

An investigation on certain bacterial contaminants of Mortadella produced by three Palestinian factories has been carried out. One sample (2units) was taken monthly (June/1999-may/2000) from each of three local factories (A, B&C). The lowest viable bacterial count recorded was 1x 103 CFU/g. in sample No. C1, while the highest count was 3x107 CFU/g. in sample No. B5. Some bacterial strains were isolated during the course of this study by using specific isolation media. They were identified and distributed as: Salmonella spp. (40%) (S. typhi, 6 strains, S. arizonae, 4 strains and S. infantis, 2 strains), Eschirichia spp. (50%) (E. coli, 8 strains and E. coli O157:H7, 7 strains), anaerobic Streptococcus parvulus (3.3%) (One strain) and Clostridum spp. (6.7%) (Cl. baratii, one strain and Cl. botulinum, 2 strains). Three samples (A1, C3 and B10) were mix contaminated; two pathogenic bacterial strains were isolated from each. All investigated samples were negative for Yersinia spp. and Campylobacter spp. The scientific and medical importance was discussed.

Seventy-five rats were used to determine the toxic effects of difenoconazole (D) fungicide on haematological, some biochemical parameters and thyroid hormones in adult albino rats of both sexes, as well as possible inhibition of adverse effects by using vitamin E and/or vitamin C as antioxidant drugs. Rats were classified into five groups each of 15 rats. Group (1) served without treatment as negative control, group (2) treated with 1/10 of the LD50 of D (140.3 mg/kg B.wt.), in alternative days for 30 days and cessation of D for further 15 days as a withdrawal period, group (3) treated with vit. E (24 mg/ kg B.wt.) combined with the same dose of D, intubation every other day, group (4) administered vit. C (200 mg/ kg B.wt.) daily per os combined with the same dose of D in alternative days, group (5) taken vit. E, vit. C and D. Vitamins were given daily from the beginning of experiment till the end and at withdrawal period. Samples were collected at 15 and 30 days during D exposure and at the end of withdrawal period. Using analysis of variance, R.B.Cs. count, PCV % and Hb content significantly decreased than negative controls allover the experimental period in D- treated groups, however vit. C alone or combined with vit. E produced gradual improvement in haematological parameters. Marked elevation in W.B.Cs. count and lymphocytes, accompanied by neutropenia were observed in all groups compared to negative controls allover the experiment period. Total protein, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly reduced in all D-administered groups compared to negative controls. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein showed higher levels in all D-treated groups in comparison to negative controls, meanwhile, administration of vit. E and/or vit. C produces gradual improvement in these parameters. Thyroid hormonal analysis indicated significant decrease in triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in all D- treated groups, whereas their levels returned to normal in groups given vit. C alone or combined with vit. E at the withdrawal period. In conclusion, these results indicated that D fungicide exposure caused overt disorders in haematological and biochemical parameters as well as thyroid function. These effects could be ameliorated by using vit. E and vit. C as antioxidant drugs. Vit. E and vit. C when combined together produce best results in all tested parameters, however vit. C alone has rapid response than vit. E especially in haematological picture and thyroid function.

An experimental study was conducted on 14 donkeys. The animals were classified into two main groups. The first group included 5 donkeys that are used for induction of duodenal, obstruction for determination of the different clinical and biochemical changes and for determination of the mean survival time after obstruction. The second group contained 9 donkeys that were used for the determination of proper time for surgical intervention. Results revealed that mean survival time after obstruction was 20-35 h and the critical time for surgery was 14-35 h.

Three hundred and eighty-four samples of leaf litter, soil, faeces from domestic and game animals, compost and aqueous cultures of infective nematode larvae contaminated with unidentified fungi were plated out on water agar, baited with pure infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus, incubated and examined for the presence of nematophagous fungi. Duddingtonia flagrans was isolated from five samples, and 73 samples were positive for other nematophagous fungi.

In the present study, the humoral immune response developed following vaccinationwith the live-attenuated (Smithburn) Rift Valley fever (RVF) vaccine in sheep, goats,cattle, buffaloes and camels was investigated. Results showed that, serum neutralizing antibody titers of RVF virus started to appear in the sera of all vaccinated animals with live-attenuated Rift valley fever vaccine after the first week post-vaccination and reached its peak after the third month of vaccination. It persisted to be higher than the acceptable limit of protection (>40) in the sera of sheep and goats in more than 6 months post-vaccination while it declined in the sera of cattle, buffaloes and camels to become lower than the acceptable limit of protection (<40) after the sixth month post-vaccination. On the other hand, the serum neutralizing antibody titers remained negative in the sera of non-vaccinated (control) animals throughout the study. It could be concluded that, the neutralizing antibodies following vaccination of cattle, buffaloes and camels with live attenuated RVF (Smithburn) vaccine was low and of a short duration compared with those in sheep and goats. Hence, it is important to prepare a new vaccine which is safe and gives a high immune response for long period in cattle, buffaloes and camels instead of live attenuated (Smithburn) RVF vaccine to protect these animals species against this disease.

Studies were conducted to determine the utility of lysate antigens for rapidevaluation of the local entero-3 vaccine, antigens were prepared from cell culturesinfected with bovine rota virus (BRV) and bovine corona virus (BCV) as well asfrom Enterotoxigenic E. coli strain K99. Prepared antigens were tested with fieldserum samples collected from both late pregnant entero-3 vaccinated cows and their offsprings using different serological assays including: microagglutination test,indirect ELISA and immunofluorescent antibody technique. Results of this endeavorwere correlated to that of the standard virus neutralization test. The locally preparedantigens were proved useful for vaccine evaluation. Moreover, these antigens arerecommended for both detection and assessment post vaccination or post infection of sero-conversion against BRV, BCV and E. coli.

A total of 17 commercially reared ostriches (Struthio camelus) from Msengi farm, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, observed with swollen eyes, severe conjunctivitis and constant lacrimation accompanied by a purulent exudate, were restrained for further clinical examination. Some of the birds were semi-blind with severe loss of body condition. When examined, tiny organisms were observed attached to the nictitating membranes and the conjuctival sacs of both eyes. The organisms were identified as Philophthalmus gralli, the "oriental eye-fluke" and Melanoides tuberculata, a prosobranch snail, was confirmed as the intermediate host through natural and experimental infection. To the best of our knowledge this is the first record of the oriental eye-fluke infection in birds in Zimbabwe and Africa and extends its known geographical range.