Respiratory diseases of cattle represented the most important health and economic problems of cattle rearing. It was possible to diagnose ultrasonographically bronchopneumonia, consolidation, pulmonary emphysema, pleural effusion and pleuritis. The study aimed to correlate between the changes in clinical findings and laboratory assays mainly haematological pictures and serum acute phase proteins (APPs) i.e. haptoglobin, and the characteristic ultrasonographic findings in bovine respiratory diseases and their importance in differentiation between upper respiratory diseases and lower respiratory diseases in cattle. A total number of 84 cattle were included in the study and divided into 3 groups: healthy control group (n=15), upper respiratory diseased group [URG] (n=29) and lower respiratory diseased group [LRG] (n=40). The animals were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Assiut University-Egypt with a history of anorexia, respiratory distress, nasal discharge, cough and/or abnormal lung sounds. These animals were undergoing clinical and ultrasonographic examinations as well as laboratory analyses. Regarding to the ultrasonographic findings, the diseased cases were classified into URG and LRG. Ultrasonography differentiated many of the affections such as bronchopneumonia (n=16), Lung consolidation (n=12), pulmonary emphysema (n=8), and pleuritis and pleural effusion (n=4). Neutrophilic leukocytosis was reported in URG and LRG. The biochemical assays revealed significant elevation in serum levels of haptoglobin, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein in URG and LRG. Serum albumins were remarkably (P<0.05) decreased in URG. The study concluded that thoracic ultrasonography considered a diagnostic tool in cows with respiratory diseases because it determined the location and extent of the lung lesions as well as the severity of the affection. APPs and lipid profile used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of bovine respiratory diseases.

The bronchopneumonia of calves represents a risk to national supply chain because it is an ecopathy and weakens the more intensive production systems. It is characterized by inflammatory changes in the bronchi, bronchioles, lung parenchyma, and pleura. It is a disease of multifactorial traits called Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). The association of infectious agents with host defense and management to which the animal is subjected leads to the emergence of major clinical manifestations of the disease. The clinical evolution of BRD can also have serious secondary changes such as pulmonary edema, sepsis, and pulmonary hypertension, or even be consequent to the involvement of other structures, such as in cases of myocarditis leading to congestive heart failure. Although this report refers to a non-experimental framework, the circumstances that caused the calf to be subjected to a protocol-specific respiratory assessment involving non-routine reviews has made it possible to associate circulatory and respiratory conditions, rarely considered in ruminant clinic. The focus of this report was pulmonary edema. Modern clinical vision requires of the veterinarian work with cost-benefit relation, so that the more accurate and the earlier the clinical diagnosis the less expensive the treatment.

Several factors can affect bovine mammary gland health and although bacterial mastitis is the most studied and reported cause, viral infections may also have negative effects on bovine udder health. Viral infections can indirectly damage the papillary duct of the teat, and induce or exacerbate signs of bovine mastitis due to viral-induced immunosuppressive effects that may lead to a greater susceptibility to bacterial mastitis and even intensify the severity of established bacterial infections. Some viruses (Bovine alphaherpesvirus 2, cowpox, pseudocowpox, foot-and-mouth disease, vesicular stomatitis and papillomavirus) affect the integrity of the udder skin, leading to teat lesions, favoring the entry of mastitis-causing pathogens. It is therefore possible that the association between mastitis and viruses is underestimated and may, for example, be associated with negative bacterial culture results. Few milk samples are tested for the presence of viruses, mainly because of the more laborious and expensive procedures required. Furthermore, samples for virus testing would require specific procedures in terms of collection, handling and storage. Thus, there is a knowledge gap in regard to the actual impact of viruses on bovine udder health. Despite the fact that serum anti-virus antibodies can be detected, there is not enough evidence to confirm or exclude the effect of viruses on udder health. However, any expectation of milk production from healthy animals should consider the possible impact of viral infections in mastitis development and not underestimate the importance of actions to diagnose and control the disease. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to describe the association of diagnosis and control of viral diseases and their effect on bovine udder health.

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) determines luteolysis in cattle, and the ability to manipulate its endogenous synthesis is indispensible for large-scale animal breeding. Estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) modulate several molecular pathways in endometrial cells, including the synthesis of PGF2α; however, its specific mechanisms are still not totally known. This study investigated the production in vitro and possible modulation of endometrial PGF2α due to a local effect of endogenous E2 in the ipsilateral uterine horn (UH) containing the dominant follicle (DF) or from P4 in ipsilateral horn containing the corpus luteum (CL). The PGF2α stimulators oxytocin (OT) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) were incubated with endometrial explants, and PGF2α content was measured. For that, cycling cows were synchronized, the development of DF and CL was examined by ultrasonography and on the seventh day of the estrous cycle, endometrial explants were collected and cultured in medium supplemented with 10-6 M PDBu or 10-6 M OT or non-supplemented. Media samples were collected immediately after treatment and 60 min later. Radioimmunoassay showed that the PGF2α content of the UH ipsilateral to the DF was 49% less than that of the contralateral UH (8.22 ± 0.95 vs. 12.24 ± 0.95 pg/mL/mg tissue, respectively; P < 0.01). However, the PGF2α levels did not differ between the UHs as a function of the CL position (9.46 ± 0.95 vs. 11 ± 0.95 pg/mL/mg; P > 0.05). The cellular stimulators promoted an increase in PGF2α synthesis (P < 0.02), and the effects differed among the animals (P < 0.04). The PGF2a production was higher in the explants treated with PDBu rather than OT (13.68 ± 1.16 vs. 10.01 ± 1.16 pg/mL/mg tissue, respectively; P < 0.05). In conclusion, PGF2α synthesis is modulated by the presence of the DF (local E2) but not the CL (local P4), and both PDBu and OT stimulated PGF2a synthesis.

Taenia saginata cysticercosis is one of the zoonotic diseases that threaten food safety and food security, particularly in developing countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and cyst distribution in infected cattle, and food safety implications of Taenia saginata cysticercosis in Harari People’s National Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. Post-mortem inspection of carcasses and organs of slaughtered cattle in Harar Municipal Abattoir, cyst viability tests and interviews with randomly selected meat consumers were undertaken. The post-mortem inspection showed that of the 898 local zebu cattle slaughtered for human consumption and examined for the presence of cysticerci of T. saginata, 19.7% (177/898; 95% CI = 17.2–22.5) harboured at least one cyst in the muscles or organs inspected. Of the edible anatomical sites with cysticerci, shoulder muscle, liver and heart together represented 65.4%, 66.0% and 65.4% respectively of relative prevalence, total cyst count and cyst viability. These edible sites are preferred above others by local people for preparation and consumption of raw or inadequately cooked meat dishes that are locally served as kurt, kitffo and dullet. The interviews revealed that among the 300 study participants, 182 (60.7%) had been infected by taeniosis at least once during the previous year and of these 99.0% had eaten raw or undercooked beef, the majority (88.3%) obtained from butchers assumed to provide officially inspected meat that was fit for consumption. This indicated that existing meat inspection processes were inadequate to prevent carcasses infected with T. saginata cysticerci from reaching consumers. The high prevalence of viable cysts in the edible parts of beef together with the widespread consumption of raw or undercooked beef indicated the importance of T. saginata cysticercosis as a food safety problem in eastern Ethiopia. The promotion of policies to upgrade existing meat inspection procedures and public education to ensure effective prevention of T. saginata taeniosis in humans were recommended.

Several ixodid tick species are shared between domestic cattle and African buffaloes (<em>Syncerus caffer</em>). So too, are a number of tick-borne diseases. The aim of the study was to compare the species composition of ticks that infest cattle and buffaloes utilising the same habitat within the Tsavo Conservation Area, Kenya. To this end, 25 cattle and 62 buffaloes were each opportunistically sampled for ticks on a single occasion in February 2010. Eight species, namely <em>Amblyomma gemma</em>, <em>Amblyomma lepidum</em>, <em>Hyalomma albiparmatum</em>, <em>Hyalomma rufipes</em>, <em>Hyalomma truncatum</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus pravus</em> and <em>Rhipicephalus pulchellus</em> infested both cattle and buffaloes. Three species, <em>Rhipicephalus</em> (<em>Boophilus</em>) sp., <em>Rhipicephalus kochi</em>, and <em>Rhipicephalus muehlensi</em> were collected only from cattle, and three species,<em> Hyalomma impeltatum</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus humeralis</em> and<em> Rhipicephalus praetextatus</em> were present only on buffaloes. The attachment sites of the various tick species were also recorded. New locality records for <em>H. impeltatum</em> and <em>H. truncatum</em> and the first confirmed locality record for <em>Rhipicephalus praetextatus sensu stricto</em> in Kenya were documented.

The current investigation studied an outbreak of lumpy skin disease of cattle in Beni-Suef and Al-Fayium governorates from March up to September 2006. Epidemiological data over a total of 5500 cattle from all ages, breeds and sexes were investigated. Prevalence of lumpy skin antibodies was screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that revealed high exposure rates; 57% and 51.42% in Beni-Suef and Al Fayium governorates respectively Virus isolation was conducted on chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of specific pathogen free embryonated chicken egg (SPF-ECE) and MDBK cell culture. The virus identity was confirmed by passive haemagglutination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the infected CAM and MDBK cell culture. Experimental infection of rabbits was successful, demonstrating their possible roles in the epidemiological process of the disease.

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.

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.

During summer 2004, an outbreak of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) had beenspread among cattle as well as buffaloes in Egypt. The most striking clinical signs incattle were fever of short duration, depression, stiffness, lameness and sometimerecumbency. Young calves, unfattened bulls and dry, lean non-pregnant cows showed only mild signs while fattened calves, mature heavy bulls and high-producing dairy cows and cows at the late stages of pregnancy were severely affected and signs persisted longer. Deaths and other complications accompanied the disease such as subcutaneous emphysema was not recorded in these outbreaks. In buffaloes, the clinical signs were mild and less severe compared with that of cattle. Serological examination of paired serum samples collected from the diseased animals using serum neutralization test revealed rising of the neutralizing antibody titers for BEF virus after 3 weeks from the onset of clinical signs. Blood picture and biochemical analysis of sera of 6 diseased animals, showed anemia represented by significant decrease in RBCS, PCV% and Hb content. The leukogram showed neutrophihia and lymphopenia with normal leukocytic count. There was rise in plasma fibrinogen with drop in calcium and phosphorus values. All of these parameters were more or less improved three weeks post-recovery. Good nursing care with early treatment with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (Phenylbutazone) or administration of calcium borogluconate of lame or recumbent animals lead to rapid and prompt recovery.