A total of 24 adult male aged 32 weeks from Iraqi local drakes were used in this study to determined some semen characterization, drakes devided randomly into three equal groups and subjected to three semen collection frequencies (once daily, twice daily and once every 2 days) for- 18 consecutive days. The study revealed the following results: 1- Semen characteristics of Iraqi local drakes were, semen volume 0.65ml, spermatozoa concentration 3.52 X 10 9, sperm motility and Abnormality 81.64, 13.14% respectively, pll value 7.1 and individual motility 84.2%. The concentration of glucose, protein and cholesterol in semen plasma were 95.8ml/100ml, 1.22mg/ 100 ml and 102.4 Mnol/ml respectively. 2— The total mean semen volume over 18 days period and total number of spermatozoa produced by the drakes increased significantly as the collection frequency in creased from once over 2 days to twice daily from 3.42 to 8.90ml and 5.85 x 109 to 10.72 x 109 respectively. 3- The average semen volume per collection and the average number of spermatozoa per ejaculate decreased significantly as the collection frequency increased from once over 2days to twice daily from 0.91 to 0.67ml and 1.96 X 109 to 0.92 X 10 9 respectively. 1- , 4- No significantly difference showed on concentration of spermatozoa with the . frequency of collection over 3 periods. 5- Analysis of semen from birds were ejaculated twice daily was showed that the second collection inferior to the first in total number of spermatozoa, total volume of semen and concentration of spermatozoa.

The pattern of growth and carcass composition of indigenous Iraqi black goats were assessed through serial slaughter and carcass dissection of 36 kids at six different growth phases. The general linear model procedure and allometric growth ‘equations were used to assess the effects of various factors and differential growth of carcass components, ' respectively. Results showed that kids growth and carcass composition were significantly (P< 0-05 to P< O-O01) affected by the growth phase and sex of kids. The effects of growth phase clearly showed that slower growth of the body and of carcass components were observed during the third phase (i.e. after weaning). Although there was an effect on fat to lean ratios (P _ < 005), growth phase had no significant effect on dressing out proportion, and lean to bone ratios. A significant influence of sex (P < 0-O5) "was observed on lean to bone ratios. The log/log regression of weights of dissectible carcass components on hot carcass and empty body weight showed that the differential growth of bone was declining and that of lean was isometric relative to the growth of empty body weight. For carcass fat, the allometric growth coefficients (b) of 1.6 indicated that fat is a late maturing body component. Moreover the growth of carcass fat relative to empty body weight in local goat was slower than that reported for other goat breeds

This study had been done on twenty four healthy adult local female rabbits of _ mean body weight of 2 kgm and mean age of 5 months were randomly allocated into four groups of six ainmals eash; all groups were fed during the period of experiment on a diet contained 0.5 % cholesterol and 14% coconut oil. The first group was regarded as control and received 3ml of physiological saline orally‘ for a month. The second group was drenched ethanolic extract of Taraxacum ojficirzale (500 mg/kg/day) for one month; the third group first subjected to cholecystoctomy (removal of gall bladder) then drenched 500 mg/kg/day ethanolic extract of T. oflicinale for month also. The fourth group was treated with atrovastatin (0.4 mg/kg/day) for one month also. Those females were joined with males after treatment for a week to study the effect on fertility and reproductive capacity and on fetal growth. Blood samples were taken from all groups at the end of the treatment to know the effect on serum cholesterol and on enzymatic activity then after killing the animals the following organs were taken for histological study. They are pituitary and thyroid glands; ovaries and uterin from each animal of each . group. The following results were obtained:- 1. The ethanolic extract of Taraxacum ofiicinale caused highly significant increase (p

ABSTRACT _ The fertility and viability rates of hydatid cysts obtained from livers and lungs of goat,camels and buffaloes were investigated .Out of (659) cysts (198 from goat,241 from buffaloes and 220 from camels) .examined ,520(164 from goat ,156 from buffaloes and 200 from camels were fertile (containing living protoscolices).The mean viability rates in -the liver cysts of goat camel and buffalo were (77.4%, 76.8% and 76.7%) respectively whereas those in the lung cyst of the same hosts,in the same order were 81.2% 75% and - 84.65% respectively. The growth rate of lung cysts was slower than those of liver in all hosts investigated. . Three hosts investigated seem to be suitable hosts for Echinococcus granulosus .However ,goats seem to be the most significant host that contributes actively in A perptuation of life cycle of this parasite in Iraq .

Selected specimens of Carassius carassius fish were exposed to acute lead concentrations (15 , 30 and 45 MgL ), for tow periods 48 and 96 hrs The exposure to lead occurred changes in some blood parameter in treatment fish., There was an’ increasing in the R.B.C. , Hb, M.C.H., blood glucose and blood lactic acid , These changes were more clear after 96 hrs Whereas values of PCV and MCV showed decline significantly, blood serpm also appeared disturb on ionic balance represented by decreasing in(Na+ , K+ and Ca 2 ) after( 48 and 96 ) hours in treatment fish compare with control specimens.

In a large Kenyan production unit the urogenital organs and mammary glands of 771 sows, culled due to recurring swine urogenital disease (SUGD) were subjected to necropsy Necropsy findings were analysed separately according to parity group of the sows [parities 2 (n = 252); 3-5 (n = 250); and > 5 (n = 269)]. Sows of higher parities had more pathological changes in their ovaries, uteri, vaginas, cervices, urinary bladders, kidneys and mammary glands compared to parity 2 sows (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Parity 2 sows had more ovarian degeneration, mucosal hyperaemia, congestion in the bladder, and acute purulent exudative mastitis than parity > 5 sows (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively).

The present study investigated the distribution of nerves in the oviduct of the sexually immature ostrich. The presence of protein gene product 9.5, neurofilament protein and neuron specific enolase nerve fibres were demonstrated in the infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, shell gland and vagina. Nerve fibres containing protein gene product 9.5, neuron specific enolase and neurofilament protein were particularly numerous in the tunica muscularis and intermuscular connective tissue areas of the shell gland and vagina. The presence of a large number of nerves in these oviductal regions is probably important in the coordination of muscle contraction. An interesting finding of the study was the presence of protein gene product 9.5 and neuron specific enolase immunopositive nerve fibres in the walls of blood vessels. It is likely that these nerves are autonomicin nature and play a role in the regulation of blood flow. This study has shown the presence of an extensive neural network in the oviduct of the ostrich. In addition, the results of the investigation have shown that the neuronal markers protein gene product 9.5, neurofilament protein and neuron specific enolase can be used to demonstate nerve fibres in the ostrich.

One hundred sheep naturally infected with Theileria lestoquardi were treated with a chloroform extract of the plant Peganum harmala. The treatment was continued for 5 days, the dose of extract being 5 mg/kg per day. Sixty-five of the sheep responded to treatment and recovered but 35 did not and died. The cure rate was 65 %

Sixteen experimental burn plot replicates, in groups of four, in four landscape zones of the Kruger National Park, South Africa, and from which wildlife are not excluded, have been subjected to fixed, regular burning regimens since 1954. In 1999, a study to determine the effect of burning on ixodid ticks questing for hosts from the vegetation of the plots was initiated, and six sub-plots, with identical histories, within each of two of the burn plot replicates in Combretum collinum / Combretum zeyheyri woodland on granite, were selected. With few exceptions these 12 sub-plots, as well as unburned vegetation adjacent to each of the replicates, were sampled for ticks at monthly intervals for a period of 39 months by dragging with flannel strips. The existing regimen of burning during August or during October on individual sub-plots was continued during this time. A total of 14 tick species was recovered from the plots of which nine could be considered major species. Sufficient numbers for statistical analysis of only eight species were, however, collected. Burning appeared to have little short-term effect on the number of ticks recovered. In the longer term, the response varied from no change, an increase, or a decrease in the numbers of ticks collected each year after burning. Tick species, life cycle, seasonality, questing strategy, host preference and host utilization of the habitat were important determinants of the effect of burning.

During the period between January 1999 and December 2000, the distribution and seasonal patterns of Schistosoma mattheei infections in cattle in the highveld and lowveld communal grazing areas of Zimbabwe were determined through monthly coprological examination. Faecal samples of cattle were collected from 12 and nine dipping sites in the highveld and lowveld communal grazing areas, respectively. Patterns of distribution and seasonal fluctuations of the intermediate host-snail populations and the climatic factors influencing the distribution were also determined at monthly intervals from November 1998 to October 2000, a period of 24 months, in six dams and six streams in the highveld and nine dams in the lowveld communal grazing areas. Monthly, each site was sampled for relative snail density, the vegetation cover and type, and physical and chemical properties of the water. Mean monthly rainfall and temperature were recorded. Snails collected at the same time were individually examined for shedding of cercariae of S. mattheei and Schistosoma haematobium. A total of 16 264 (5 418 calves, 5 461 weaners and 5 385 adults) faecal samples were collected during the entire period of study and 734 (4.5 %) were positive for S. mattheei eggs. Significantly higher prevalences were found in the highveld compared to the lowveld (P < 0.001), calves compared to adult cattle (P < 0.01) and the wet season compared to the dry season (P < 0.01). Faecal egg output peaked from October/ November to March / April for both years of the study. Bulinus globosus, the snail intermediate host of S. mattheei was recorded from the study sites with the highveld having a significantly higher abundance of the snails than the lowveld (P < 0.01). Monthly densities of B. globosus did not show a clearcut pattern although there were peaks between March / May and September / November. The mean num ber of snails collected was positively correlated with the water plants Nymphaea caerulea and Typha species. Overall, 2.5 % of B. globosus were shedding Schistosoma cercariae. In the highveld, 2.8 % of B. globosus were infected with schistosome cercariae and 1.5 % in the lowveld, with the figures at individual sites ranging from 0-18.8 % in the highveld and from 0-4.5 % in the lowveld. The cercariae recorded here were a mixture of S. mattheei and S. haematobium since they share the same intermediate host. The transmission of Schistosoma cercariae exhibited a marked seasonal pattern, being more intensive during the hot, dry season (September / November).