This study was carried out to determine the immunomodulating effect of β-glucans and mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on the immune response of chickens to Newcastle disease vaccine. The results showed that birds received β-glucans and MOS having higher average body weights values and significantly higher ND HI antibody titer than the other non medicated groups. Thymus, spleen and bursal indices of control negative showed significantly lower values than vaccinated medicated and non-medicated groups. Both total and differential leukocytic and lymphocytic counts showed significantly higher in medicated group than other groups. Liver function test showed lower AST and ALT in medicated group than other groups. Results of challenge test with NDV confirmed that MOS and B glucans immunostimulant improved protection rate by 15% in medicated than non- medicated ones. In conclusion MOS and B glucans can be given to chicken to improve both body weight and protection against VV NDV challenge that predominated in Egypt.

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.

The haematochemical, histopathological and immunological studies were carried out on chicks experimentally infected with the low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) (A/Turkey/CA/209092/02) H5N2. Eighty SPF one day old chicks were serologically negative for specific antibodies against avian influenza virus. The birds were devided into 2 groups, birds in the 1st group were inoculated with the virus via the intraocular and intranasal routs, while the other group was kept as non-infected control. Five birds were sacrificed from both groups at 5, 7, 10, 15, and 21 days post inoculation. Sera and heparinized blood as well as tissue specimens from lung, liver, spleen, trachea, small intestine and bursa of Fabricius were collected. Estimation of haemagglutination inhibition antibodies response against AI, liver and kidney function tests, rate of proliferation of T-lymphocyte were conducted. The experimentally infected birds showed general signs of illness with 80% morbidity and 6 % mortality. There was an increase in aniline aminotransferase (ALT) and asparate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes which reflected liver damage. High urea and creatinine values were also detected in sera of infected birds which proved kidney dysfunction. There was no significant proliferation of T-lymphocyte among examined groups. Very low haemagglutinating inhibiting (HI) antibodies was detected in infected birds. Histopathological examination displayed conspicuous depletion and necrosis of the lymphocytic aggregation in the organs of the haemobiotic system (Bursa of Fabricius, spleen and thymus). Such finding may decipher the low sero-conversion as well as the unproliferation of T-lymphocyte. The necrobiotic changes in liver and kidney sections in addition to congestion and edema elucidate the increased parameters in their functions. Also, the epithelial hyperplasia of the tracheal mucosa and the sloughing in the lining mucosal epithelium are indicative for the epithelio-tropism of the AI virus.

In 9 weeks field study, a total of 14100 (Ross broiler breeders) 51 weeks-old chickens fed on the same ration, placed in 2 houses (6600 female + 450 male / house). Birds of house 1 were treated with antimycotoxin adsorbent aluminum silicate (G-V-tox®) 5 kgm/ ton, while those of house 2 were kept as non treated controls. Productivity and reproductivety parameters were calculated for comparison. Treated flock showed improved average egg production (Average 62.2%/week) compared with non treated (Average 61.7%/week), but all still lower than farm stander (Average 76.4%/week). Marked improvement was in the 1st 3 weeks (51-53) of treatment only. Total 9 weeks production declined was 5.5% and 8.4% in control and silicate treated flock; with weekly average of 0.61, and 0.93; respectively. Control flock was slower in decline of production (0.61%/week) than treated flock (0.93%/week). Average weekly egg production and hatching eggs/ hen in treated flock was lower than standard and higher than non treated. Hatchery parameters of treated were improved in treated at the first 3 weeks post treatment. The fertility was higher in aluminum silicate treated group (77.2%), than the untreated one (72.19%). The hatchability was in silicate treated (63.66%) versus (62.25%) in the untreated control. Culls % in hatched chicks was 1.91% in treated flock and lower than in non treated (2.85%). Difference percentage between fertility and hatchability of G.V. tox treated chickens was (10.84%) higher than untreated control (16%). The number of marketable chicks l100 was also improved in treated than non treated. In conclusion, our field study cleared that administration of Silicate in ration for treatment of broiler breeders resulted in an improved production and hatchery performance as compared with non medicated control. However; it did not restore it to the farm stander. Consequently the results indicated that we still in need for more effective products to be used to control mycotoxins in breeder chicken.

The objective of this study was to validate, both in vitro and in an ex vivo model, a technique for the measurement of forces exerted on surgical sutures. For this purpose, a stainless steel E-type buckle force transducer was designed and constructed. A strain gauge was mounted on the central beam of the transducer to measure transducer deformation. The transducer was tested and calibrated on a single strand of surgical suture during cyclic loading. Further validation was performed using a previously published cadaveric model of laryngoplasty in the horse. Linear regression of transducer output with actual force during calibration tests resulted in mean R2 values of 1.00, 0.99, and 0.99 for rising slope, falling slope, and overall slope, respectively. The R2 was not less than 0.96 across an average of 75 cycles per test. The difference between rising slope and falling slope was 4%. Over 45 846 samples, the predicted force from transducer output showed a mean error of 4%. In vitro validation produced an adjusted R2 of 0.99 when the force on the suture was regressed against translaryngeal pressure in a mixed-effects model. E-type buckle force transducers showed a highly linear output over a physiological force range when applied to surgical suture in vitro and in an ex vivo model of laryngoplasty. With appropriate calibration and short-term in vivo implantation, these transducers may advance our knowledge of the mechanisms of success and failure of techniques, such as laryngoplasty, that use structural suture implants.

Practicing veterinarians play an important role in detecting the initial outbreak of disease in animal populations. A pilot study was conducted to determine the feasibility of a veterinary-based surveillance system for the Ontario swine industry. A total of 7 practitioners from 5 clinics agreed to submit information from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. The surveillance program was evaluated in terms of timeliness, compliance, geographic coverage, and data quality. Our study showed that the veterinary-based surveillance system was acceptable to practitioners and produced useful data. The program obtained information from 25% of pig farms in Ontario during this time period. However, better communication with practitioners, more user-friendly recording systems that can be adapted to each clinic’s management system, active involvement of the clinics’ technical personnel, and the use of financial incentives may help to improve compliance and timeliness.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) components in hepatic blood (HB) from 5 nonlactating nonpregnant cows fasted from days 0 to 3 and subsequently refed to day 10 and, in addition, to assess those of other lipoproteins. Increased phospholipid concentrations in each lipoprotein after the start of fasting suggested their availability for the surface lipids of lipoproteins. Although the VLDL-triglyceride (TG) concentration in HB from all cows increased on day 1, the value on day 4 became similar to that on day 0. However, the concentration on day 10 was significantly increased. In all cows, the decreased ratio of the VLDL-TG concentration in HB to the non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration in portal blood (PB) on day 4 appeared to reflect relatively decreased secretion of TG as VLDL by NEFA excessively mobilized to the liver via PB. The markedly increased ratio on day 10 was considered to contribute to the improvement of hepatic lipidosis.

Canine distemper virus (CDV)-specific immune response was measured in different dog populations. Three groups of vaccinated or wild-type virus exposed dogs were tested: dogs with a known vaccination history, dogs without a known vaccination history (shelter dogs), and dogs with potential exposure to wild-type CDV. The use of a T-cell proliferation assay demonstrated a detectable CDV-specific T-cell response from both spleen and blood lymphocytes of dogs. Qualitatively, antibody assays [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and neutralization assay] predicted the presence of a T-cell response well, although quantitatively neither antibody assays nor the T-cell assay correlated well with each other. An interesting finding from our study was that half of the dogs in shelters were not vaccinated (potentially posing a public veterinary health problem) and that antibody levels in dogs living in an environment with endemic CDV were lower than in vaccinated animals.