A total of 300 cross-bred dairy cattle in Beni-Suef and El-Fayoum Governorates were screened for bovine tuberculosis using single intradermal (SID) cervical tuberculin test. 18 out of 300 (6%) tested cattle were found tuberculin positive. Blood samples from the positive reactors were tested by ELISA. ELISA plates were coated by either bovine purified protein derivative (PPD) or short term culture filtrate (ST-CF) antigens. The test sensitivity was compared at different serum dilutions. At serum dilution of 1/40, all of the 18 tuberculin positive samples, (100%), were ELISA positive using both ST-CF and PPD antigens, but at 1/80 dilution, 13 (72.22%) and 12 (66.66%) samples; at 1/160, 11 (61.11%) and 11 (61.11%) and finally at 1/320, 10 (55.55%) and 9 (50%) were ELISA positive on using ST-CF and PPD as a coating antigens respectively

A total number of 80 nasal swabs collected from apparently normal cattle slaughtered in Basateen abattoir were screened for the presence of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Among 80 examined samples, 4 samples found positive after the 3rd passage on MDBK cell line with appearance of the specific cytopathic effect (grape like clusters). The isolated virus titers were 103.9, 104.2, 105, 105.6 TCID50 / 0.1 ml. The four positive isolates were identified by agar gel precipitation test (AGPT), virus neutralization test (VNT) and gave the intracytoplasmic granules by indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT). Electrophoretic profile of IBR in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was described and visualized by Coomassie blue stain. The mobilities of electrophoretic bands were determined with molecular weight marker at approximate range from 206.39 to 22.14 kDa.

A disease characterized by papules, nodules, vesicles, pustules and ulcers on teats and udder as well as drastic drop in milk production was seen among a cattle farm in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. A virus was isolated by inoculation of vesicle and scrap homogenate pool from infected cattle into the chorioallantoic membrane of specific pathogen free embryonated chicken eggs. The virus was identified by presence of pock lesions, intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies on the chorioallantoic membrane, polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry of the inoculated membrane. A novel pathogenicity model was developed via ear pinna inoculation of Swiss mice. The virus produced vesicular and ulcerative lesions at the site of inoculation in inoculated mice. The virus identity was confirmed by the presence of intracytoplasmic viral antigens by immunohistochemistry

Objective--To evaluate antimicrobial activity of bovine bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (bBPI)-derived synthetic peptides against mastitis-causing gram-negative bacteria. Sample Population--Bacterial isolates from the milk of cows with clinical mastitis. Procedures--3 peptides were synthesized with sequences corresponding to amino acids 65 to 99 (bBPI6599) or 142 to 169 (bBPI142169) or the combination of amino acids 90 to 99 and 148 to 161 (bBPI9099,148161) of bBPI. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of these peptides against bacterial isolates from cows with mastitis were determined by use of a standardized broth microdilution assay. The ability of these peptides to retain their antimicrobial activity in serum and milk was also evaluated. Finally, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-neutralizing activity of these peptides was assayed with the Limulus amebocyte lysate test. Results--Of the 3 peptides tested, bBPI9099,148161 had the widest spectrum of antimicrobial activity, with MIC and MBC values ranging from 16 to 64 Mg/mL against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp and from 64 to 128 Mg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. None of the peptides had any growth-inhibitory effect on Serratia marcescens. The antimicrobial activity of bBPI9099,148161 was inhibited in milk, but preserved in serum. Finally, bBPI142169 and bBPI9099,148161 completely neutralized LPS. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--bBPI9099,148161 is a potent neutralizer of the highly proinflammatory molecule bacterial LPS and has antimicrobial activity against a variety of gram-negative bacteria. The ability of bBPI9099,148161 to retain antimicrobial activity in serum suggests a potential therapeutic application for this peptide in the management of gram-negative septicemia.