The distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), the probable pacemakers in gastrointestinal motility, was investigated using an antigenic marker of gastric ICC known as C-Kit. Antiserum raised against the general neuronal marker protein gene peptide 9.5 (PGP) as well as the nitrergic neuronal marker neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were used to investigate the distribution of gastric nerves. Polyclonal goat anti-human C-Kit was reliable in labelling ICC in the stomach. Two classes of ICC were identified according to their distribution: ICC-MY distributed around the periphery of myenteric ganglia and ICC-IM in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers. The neuronal marker PGP was reliably consistent in revealing the density and distribution of the enteric nervous system. Density of nerve fibres was higher in circular smooth muscle than in longitudinal smooth muscle. From nNOS immunohistochemistry, it is evident that inhibitory (nitrergic) nerves constitute a substantial fraction of the enteric nervous system.

This study was conducted to study the UV protective effect against Haemonchus contortus infection in goats. Sixteen male goats were divided into 5 groups, control infected, control uninfected and UV 30minutes; UV 60minutes and UV booster 60minutes exposure. The UV groups were exposed to UV irradiation at wave length 254nm for 30 and 60 minutes. The UV booster 60min was administrated 2 doses of exposed larvae with an interval of one month. All groups except the control negative one were challenged for 42 days from the beginning. In UV booster 60min had reduction in egg count per gram feces and worm burden (93% & 34 % respectively). These parameters were similar in control infected, UV 30min and UV 60min groups. Increases in levels of antibodies were found in goats of UV booster 60min group the other groups. Finally, 2 doses of UV 60min exposure could protect goats from H. contortus.

Assessment of the neutralizing antibody response to the attenuated strain of peste des petits ruminants Nigerian strain (75/1) in 5 pregnant ewes revealed a geometric mean titre of 194, four weeks post Vaccination. Such an appreciably high titre was found to be dropped to 73.5, throughout 48 hours post parturn. Suckling kids born to these dams passively acquired a titre of 84.5 throughout their first month of life that dropped to 48.5 at the age of 2 months. At their 5th month of age their immune titre was found to be only 4. Data generated from this study might be of value in launching vaccination campaigns against peste des petits ruminants disease.

Micronization of chemical compounds is a new promising field as it reduces the size of the particles thus it increases their penetration power. Many theories prove that micronized particles are more effective even in very low concentration as compared to its normal size. Paracetamol is a commonly used effective analgesic and antipyretic agent for relief of mild and moderate pain. However, deliberate overdose or accidental overdose can cause hepatotoxicity. In the present study, we have evaluated and compared between the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of vitamin C and micronized vitamin C against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Activities of liver enzymatic markers (Alanine amino transferase "ALT", Aspartate amino transferase "AST", Alkaline Phosphatase "ALP") and total protein "TP" concentration were estimated in serum. Lipid peroxidation "MDA" and antioxidant status (reduced glutathione "GSH " concentration, glutathione reductase "GR", catalse and super oxide dismutase "SOD" activities) were measured in tissue homogenates. Paracetamol administration (600 mg/ Kg B.wt.) significantly increased the liver enzymatic markers and decreased the total protein level. It also increased hepatic lipid peroxidation “MDA” and the activities of both catalase and SOD while it decreased GSH content and glutathione reductase (GR) activity. Treatment of vitamin C and micronized vtamin C restore the measured parameters nearly to their normal levels. Finally, micronized vitamin C has a more potent effect than ordinary vitamin C.

In this study a total of 2230 sheep (one-three years of age) were serologically surveyed in three selected areas in Libya (Western, Middle and Southern areas) to specify foci of infection and determination of the prevalence of ovine brucellosis using Rose Bengal Plate Test and Rivanol test. Prevalence of brucellosis in this study revealed 4%, 0%and 0%, respectively. Only the western area showed positive cases, while the Middle and Southern areas showed no serological evidence of brucella infection.

The effect of rabies infection and vaccination on pregnancy was investigated in different groups of pregnant rats as an animal model. Intracerebral and intramuscular experimental infection with CVS rabies virus strain was applied on four pregnant rats groups at the middle (seven days after mating) and late stages of gestation (14 days after mating). Subcutaneous rout vaccination of other three pregnant rat groups five to seven days before; seven and 14 days after mating with the inactivated cell culture local rabies vaccine. Each group of infected rats showed clinical signs of rabies although their fetuses did not show any abnormalities. Virus recovery from the placenta and fetuses from dead and sacrificed animals failed to induce rabies signs in mice inoculated intracerebrally with placenta and fetus suspensions while brains of infected dams; through the routes; revealed positive FA by using fluorescent antibody technique. Vaccinated pregnant rats did not show any abnormalities with normal fetuses and good levels of specific rabies antibodies when estimated by serum neutralization test. These findings indicate that rabies vaccination of pregnant animals is safe and it could be recommended to protect both of dams and their offspring in the first months.

<span>In 2004, a new concept was introduced for simplifying identification of larvae of the common nematodes of cattle, sheep and goats that comprises estimates of the lengths of the sheath tail extensions of infective third-stage larvae (L</span>₃<span>) of each genus and/or species to that of </span><em>Trichostrongylus</em><span> spp., instead of having to be dependent only on measurements in micrometre. For example, if the mean length of the sheath tail extension (the extension of the sheath caudad, beyond the caudal tip of the larva) of </span><em>Trichostrongylus colubriformis </em><span>and</span><em> Trichostrongylus axei</em><span> is assumed to be ‘X’, then that of</span><em>Haemonchus contortus</em><span> is 2.0–2.7 ‘X’ – a difference that is not difficult to estimate. An additional new approach suggested now, particularly for L</span>₃<span> of species and/or genera difficult to differentiate (such as </span><em>Chabertia ovina</em><span> and </span><em>Oesophagostomum columbianum</em><span>), is to estimate the proportion of the larval sheath tail extension comprising a terminal thin, whip-like filament. For the experienced person, it is seldom necessary to measure more than one or two sheath tail extensions of L</span>₃<span> in a mixed culture, because the identity of most of the remaining L</span>₃<span> can thereafter be estimated in relation to those measured, without having to take further measurements. The aim of this article was to present the novel approach in the form of a working guide for routine use in the laboratory. To facilitate identification, figures and a separate organogram for each of small ruminants and cattle have been added to illustrate the distinguishing features of the common L</span>₃<span>.</span><br />

Objective—To determine the microvascular anatomy of the suspensory ligament of the forelimb of horses. Sample—17 cadaveric forelimbs from 9 adult horses with no known history of forelimb lameness. Procedures—The median artery of the forelimb was cannulated proximal to the antebrachiocarpal joint and injected with contrast medium for CT evaluation of the gross vasculature (n = 2) or India ink to evaluate the microvasculature (12). Routine histologic evaluation was performed on an additional 3 forelimbs to confirm the microvascular anatomy. Results—The vascular supply of the suspensory ligament of the forelimb originated from branches of the medial and lateral palmar and palmar metacarpal vessels as well as the proximal and distal deep palmar arches. An abundant, longitudinally oriented microvascular supply was evident throughout the length of the suspensory ligament without distinct variation among the proximal, midbody, and distal regions. The intraligamentous blood supply originated from a periligamentous vascular plexus that surrounded the suspensory ligament throughout its length. Histologic findings indicated the presence of a periligamentous connective tissue plexus, which contained vessels that penetrated and anastomosed with an extensive network of intraligamentous vessels throughout the length of the suspensory ligament. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The suspensory ligament of the equine forelimb had an abundant intraligamentous microvascular supply throughout its entire length. The absence of an obvious hypovascular area suggested that regional variations in healing rates of the suspensory ligament are not associated with the microvascular anatomy.

Lawsonia intracellularis infection causes proliferative enteropathy (PE) in many mammalian species, with porcine and equine proliferative enteropathy (PPE and EPE) known worldwide. Hamsters are a well-published animal model for PPE infection studies in pigs. There is no laboratory animal model for EPE infection studies and it is not known whether there is species-specificity for equine or porcine isolates of L. intracellularis in animal models. The objective of this study was to determine whether it is possible to generate typical EPE lesions in hamsters after inoculation with an equine strain of L. intracellularis (EPE strain) and whether it is comparatively possible to generate PPE lesions in rabbits after inoculation with a porcine strain of L. intracellularis (PPE strain). In 2 separate trials, 4-week-old and 3-week-old weanling golden Syrian hamsters were challenged with EPE strains and compared to uninfected (both trials) and PPE-infected controls (Trial 2 only). Concurrently, 6 female New Zealand white juvenile rabbits were infected with PPE strain and observed concomitantly to 8 similar rabbits infected with EPE strain for a different experiment. Hamsters and rabbits were observed for 21 to 24 days post-infection (DPI), depending on the experiment. Neither infected species developed clinical signs. The presence of disease was assessed with diagnostic techniques classically used for pigs and horses: immune-peroxidase monolayer assay on sera; quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detection of molecular DNA in feces; and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on intestinal tissues. Our results showed that EPE-challenged hamsters do not develop infection when compared with PPE controls (IHC, P = 0.009; qPCR, P = 0.0003). Conversely, PPE-challenged rabbits do not develop typical intestinal lesions in comparison to EPE-challenged rabbits, with serological response at 14 DPI being significantly lower (P = 0.0023). In conclusion, PPE and EPE strains appear to have different host-specificities for hamsters and rabbits, respectively.

Objective: To compare immune responses following modified-live virus (MLV) vaccination at weaning after intranasal or SC administration of an MLV vaccine to beef calves at 2 or 70 days of age. Animals: 184 calves. Procedures: Calves were allocated to 1 of 5 groups. The IN2 (n = 37) and IN70 (37) groups received an MLV vaccine containing bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) types 1 and 2, bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and parainfluenza 3 virus intranasally and a Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida bacterin SC at median ages of 2 and 70 days, respectively. The SC2 (n = 36) and SC70 (37) groups received a 7-way MLV vaccine containing BHV1, BVDV1, BVDV2, BRSV, parainfluenza 3 virus, M haemolytica, and P multocida SC at median ages of 2 and 70 days, respectively; the control group (37) remained unvaccinated until weaning. All calves received the 7-way MLV vaccine SC at median ages of 217 (weaning) and 231 days. Serum neutralizing antibody (SNA) titers against BHV1, BVDV1, and BRSV and intranasal IgA concentrations were determined at median ages of 2, 70, 140, 217, and 262 days. Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) against BHV1, BRSV, BVDV1, and P multocida was determined for 16 calves/group. Results: At median ages of 140 and 217 days, BVDV1 SNA titers were significantly higher for the SC70 group than those for the other groups. Intranasal IgA concentrations and CMI increased over time for all groups. Vaccination at weaning increased SNA titers and CMI in all groups. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: SC administration of an MLV vaccine to 70-day-old calves significantly increased BVDV1 antibody titers before weaning.