kills Brucella cells by causing lysis of the membrane, so the phenol-heat killed brucella antigen may lake specificity as a result of destruction the majority of proteins in the cell wall. Accordingly, attention was directed to produce antigen using binary ethylene imine as an inactivator. The produced antigen showed high specificity in detecting Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis-infected animals, but sensitivity was not affected in comparison with the standard Rose Bengal antigen. In Enzyme immunotransfer blot (EITB), phenol–heat killed brucella cells showed only 3 bands (37.375, 23.47 and 7.83 kDa) that denotes denaturation for at least 6 bands whereas binary inactivated brucella cells showed similarity with non-treated ones

Thirty four apparently healthy cattle (9 males and 25 females) of mixed breed (Balady X Friesen) were selected for ultrasonographic investigations in this study. Ultrasonographic measurements of vertical and horizontal diameters of kidney, the diameters of the renal parenchyma and the diameter of renal sinus were determined in the middle of right and left kidneys. Twenty nine cattle (9 males and 20 females), had normal ultrasonographic appearance of both right and left kidney while the other five cows had some pathological affections including cystic kidney and renal dysplasia in their left kidneys . The vertical diameter of the right kidney was (4.84±1.18 cm) , the horizontal diameter (9.16 ± 1.35 cm) , and the vertical diameter of the renal sinus was ( 3.54 ± 1.02 cm ) . The thickness of the renal cortex and medulla ( renal parenchyma) was (2.16 ± 0.46 cm ). On the other hand ,the vertical diameter of the left kidney was (5.89 ±1.13 cm), and the vertical diameter of the renal sinus was ( 3.83 ± 1.12 cm ). The thickness of the renal cortex and medulla (renal parenchyma) was (2.46 ± 0.35 cm ). It was concluded that the ultrasonographic values determined in this study can be used as references for the diagnosis of morphologic changes in the kidney of domestic dairy cattle

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of the Newcastle disease (ND) live vaccines from different commercial sources used in different programs for vaccination of chicks having maternal antibodies against Mycoplasma infection. The immune response was estimated using HI and challenge tests. The effect on the chicken performance was estimated by the detection of the body weight gain. The role of vaccines in stimulating respiratory bacterial stress was pointed out by the lesion scores. Birds vaccinated with live vaccines from source (2) showed higher HI titers than those vaccinated with vaccine from source (1) and birds received the 2nd vaccination from heterologous source showed lower titers than those received from homologous source. Results of the challenge test indicated that birds vaccinated with live ND vaccines from one source and those vaccinated with Hitchner B1 at 33-days of age instead of La Sota showed 100% protection rate as compared with 95 % followed by vaccination with heterologous La Sota. Birds received Hitchner B1 of vaccine source (1) showed only 85% protection rate. All vaccinated chicken groups showed feed conversion rates lower than the non-vaccinated control one. Groups received Hitchner B1 as a 3rd dose of the vaccine showed higher rates than those vaccinated with La Sota. Results of the lesion score for chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in vaccinated groups with different regimes revealed that birds received ND vaccinal strains from source (1) having higher scores than those received ND vaccines from the 2nd source. Administration of Hitchner B1 vaccine at 33-days of age showed lower scores. Hitchner B1 can be recommended in vaccination of chickens derived from Mycoplasma infected hens.

Krimpsiekte, a chronic form of cardiac glycoside poisoning, is an important plant-induced intoxication of small stock in South Africa. It is caused by cumulative, neurotoxic bufadienolides, such as cotyledoside. A cotyledoside-bovine serum albumin conjugate was synthesized to immunize animals. The efficacy of the cotyledoside-conjugate in inducing an immunological response was ascertained in rabbits (n = 4) and sheep (n = 4) by determining cotyledoside antibody titres with an ELISA using cotyledoside-hen ovalbumin as antigen. The formation of anticotyledoside antibodies was induced in both rabbits and sheep following immunization with the cotyledoside-protein conjugate. Protection provided by the vaccine was demonstrated by challenging sheep (n = 4) with repeated, daily doses of cotyledoside (0.015 mg / kg) administered intravenously, commencing 45 days after the initial vaccination. One control animal died on Day 3 of the challenge period and the other was severely affected after administration of the third cotyledoside dose. The immunized ewes (n = 2) remained clinically unaffected and the challenge was suspended following six daily injections. Vaccination as a means of preventing krimpsiekte seems to be quite feasible and deserves further investigation.

The toxic effects of an aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius were studied in 20 male white rats over a period of 18 days. The rats were divided into four groups of five rats per group. Those in Group A served as controls while the rats in Groups B, C and D were dosed per os with 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1 600 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Blood samples were collected for haematological and biochemical analysis and specimens of the liver, kidney and testes were taken for histopathological studies. The study showed that the extract of A. precatorius caused decreased levels of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. The extract also resulted in increased levels of total serum protein, albumin, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Histologically, testicular degeneration characterized by decreased numbers of lining cells of the epithelium as well as reduction in sperm cells with presence of scattered Sertoli cells were noted. The study thus showed that aqueous extract of Abrus precatorius is toxic and caution should be exercised in its use for medicinal purpose.

The viruses causing the economically important livestock diseases of African horse sickness (AHS) and bluetongue (BT) are transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera, Cerato po gonidae). In the Old World the most important vectors of these diseases are Culicoides imicola Kieffer, 1913, Culicoides brevitarsis Kieffer, 1917 and Culicoides bolitinos Meiswinkel, 1989. All three of these vectors belong to the Imicola complex of the subgenus Avaritia Fox, 1955. This species complex now comprises 12 sibling species; ten occur in sub-Saharan Africa and are difficult to identify (based mostly on subtle variations in the wing patterns) and so additional methods of reliable identification are needed. The pupal exuviae of the five commonest sibling species (C. imicola, C. bolitinos, Culicoides loxodontis Meiswinkel, 1992, Culicoides tuttifrutti Meiswinkel, Cornet & Dyce, 2003 and Culicoides sp. # 107) harvested from a variety of large herbivore dung types and from decaying fruits, are described and illustrated in detail. It is shown that they can be differentiated clearly on a number of morphological characters and, furthermore, are separable into two distinct groups based (principally) on the shape of the respiratory organ. A key for identifying and differentiating these five pupae is provided. Also, the pupa of the Oriental-Australasian C. brevitarsis was compared with its allopatric sister taxon, C. bolitinos. Because they share a common larval habitat (cattle and buffalo dung) and are almost inseparable in the adult phenotype, the question of their possible synonymy is raised. However, their respective pupae could not be differentiated on gross morphology and so it is argued that this unresolved problem requires a molecular solution.

Between July 2005 and November 2006 the gastro-intestinal helminths of 15 Helmeted guineafowls and a single Crested guineafowl from Musina, Limpopo Province were examined, and in July and August 2005 helminths were collected from five Helmeted guineafowls from Mokopane in the same province. The acanthocephalan Mediorhynchus gallinarum, the cestodes Abuladzugnia gutterae, Davainea nana, Hymenolepis cantaniana, Numidella numida, Octopetalum numida, Ortleppolepis multiuncinata, Porogynia paronai, Raillietina angusta, Raillietina pintneri, Raillietina steinhardti and Raillietina sp. and the nematodes Ascaridia numidae, Cyrnea parroti, Gongylonema congolense, Hadjelia truncata, Sicarius caudatus, Subulura dentigera, Subulura suctoria, Subulura sp., Tetrameres numida and an unidentified subulurid were recovered. A single trematode species, Dicrocoelium macrostomum, was present in the liver. Mediorhynchus gallinarum, A. gutterae, O. multiuncinata, H. truncata and S. caudatus are recorded for the first time from Helmeted guineafowls, as well as from South Africa. South Africa is a new geographic record for D. macrostomum, G. congolense and D. nana. Subulura suctoria, G. congolense and H. truncata from the Crested guineafowl constitute new host-parasite associations.

The importance of milk for the growth and health of a newborn offspring is well known. Milk contains immunoglobulin G (Ig G), Ig A, lactoperoxidase, lactoferin, cytokines, and growth factors. Osteopontin, one of the multifunctional proteins, is secreted by macrophages, T cell, and epithelial cells. Although osteopontin production in bovine milk have been documented, the precise expression levels in bovine milk have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to observe the expression of osteopontin, in bovine milk during the lactation period or bovine mammary glands.

Streptococcus spp. comprising Streptococcus (S.) uberis and S. dysgalactiae strains is major cause of bovine mastitis from particularly well-managed or low somatic cell count herds that have successfully controlled contagious pathogens. In this study, antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic characteristics of S. uberis isolated from clinical or subclinical mastitis milk at 2003 were investigated. Eighty seven isolates of Streptococcus spp. were identified by the conventional biochemical methods. The antimicrobial susceptibility by disk diffusion method was determined for 46 S. uberis, 11 S. bovis, 10 S. oralis, 6 S. uberis and 14 other Streptococcus spp., Overall, the tested strains were susceptible to tetracycline (11.5%), amikacin (14.9%), streptomycin (16.1%), neomycin (26.4%), kanamycin (35.6%), gentamicin (65.2%), oxacillin (70.1%), ampicillin (75.9%), chloramphenicol (78.2%), and cephalothin (97.7%).

A case of multicentric high grade T cell lymphoma is reported in a 5-year-old male Maltese dog with generalized lymphadenopathy. The dog showed depression, anorexia, blindness, jaundice, arrhythmia, and hematuria for 8 months. Complete blood count and chemistry profile revealed anemia and increased alanine transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and total cholesterol. Grossly, most of lymph nodes, spleen, and liver were enlarged and neoplastic masses were occupied in these tissues. Histologically, massive accumulation of small noncleaved neoplastic lymphocytes with high mitotic figures was observed in all lymph nodes and spleen.