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

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) was isolated, from naturally infected cattle that have a history of previous vaccination with live attenuated sheep pox virus (SPV) vaccine. The virus was isolated on chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) of specific pathogen free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) and identified by agar gel precipitation test (AGPT) and neutralization test using specific hyperimmune serum against LSDV and SPV. Characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies was detected in trypsenized cell of infected CAM stained with H&E. Laboratory studies for characterization of isolated LSDV revealed that it was stable at a wide range of pH, but it was inactivated by exposure to 56 0C for 15 minutes. Treatment of isolated LSDV with lipid solvents (20% ethyle ether and chloroform) reduced the virus titer 3.2 and 4.4 log respectively after 24 hrs at 4 0C .On cross neutralization test complete neutralization of isolated LSDV was obtained with both reference LSDV and SPV antisera. Cattle vaccinated with live attenuated SPV vaccine under experimental condition found to be protected against natural field infection with LSDV.

This study was carried out on 68 randomly collected chickens located at Ras Sedr Research Station, Desert Research Center, 68 serum samples were examined serologically by complement fixation test (CFT). Twenty out of 68 (29.91%) had antibodies against Chlamydophila psittaci . Ten blood samples of the serologically positive cases were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and showed positive results for Chlamydophila psittaci at 119 bp. Therefore PCR was found to be reliable, rapid, sensitive and specific technique for the detection Chlamydophila psittaci in birds. Serologically positive birds did not show any clinical symptoms of disease, but they were in contact with sheep and goat that showed previous abortion and were positive for C. abortus. It is recommended to avoid breeding of chickens with other animal species in the same yard because chickens become asymptomatic carrier with shedding of Chlamydophila psittaci in their feaces and respiratory discharges.

The urinary bladder of 15 clinically normal dogs was excised and the ureters were implanted into an isolated, vagotomized gastric segment derived from the fundic region of the stomach. The gastric segment was closed to form a neobladder. Continence was maintained with a "nipple valve" created at the tubularized end of isolated segment of stomach. Clinical, radiological, ultrasonographical, urine and blood analysis and histopathological examination were carried out for assessment of the technique. Eleven cases showed an apparently normal bladder function. Two cases suffered from renal hydronephrosis and other two suffered from incontinence. It was concluded that gastric neobladder urinary diversion is satisfactory for clinical use in dogs.

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are responsible for the transmission of a large number of pathogens to livestock and wild animals. In this study the presence of the genus, using light traps based at four different sites within the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, was investigated during 2002-2004. In total, 37 species were recorded, including large numbers of Culicoides imicola Kieffer, 1913, which is responsible for the transmission of economically important arboviruses in South Africa, Europe, Middle and Far East. These results are discussed with reference to the wider Culicoides fauna in the Onderstepoort area of South Africa, their vector competence as well as biosecurity at the National Zoological Gardens.

The present work was conducted on 25 hearts of healthy donkeys of both sexes. Three methods were adopted to clarify the musculature of the ventricles; nitric acid method, acetic acid method and flour paste method. The ventricular myocardium was arranged into three layers: superficial, middle and deep. The superficial layer consists of eleven bundles arranged longitudinally from the base to the apex of the heart. Moreover, a thin subepicardial layer separated it from the epicardium. The middle layer on the right ventricle was horizontally oriented, while on the left ventricle it was represented by three bands; (A), (B) and (C). The deep layer on the right ventricle was formed of two bands (A) and (B) while on the left ventricle consisted of a single band (C), in addition to some fibers derived from the superficial layer. The intervrentricular septum was formed from fibers extended from the middle and deep layers. The papillary muscles were four in the right ventricle and two in the left one.

The objective of this study was to make an inventory of the ixodid tick species infesting wild animals in three western, semi-arid nature reserves in South Africa. To this end 22 animals in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, 10 in the West Coast National Park and 16 in the Karoo National Park were examined. Fourteen tick species were recovered, of which Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus exoph thalmos and Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum were each present in two reserves and the remainder only in one. The distributions of two of the 14 tick species recovered, namely Rhipicephalus capensis and Rhipicephalus neumanni, are virtually confined to the western semi-arid regions of southern Africa. Hyalomma truncatum, R. capensis and R. glabroscutatum were the most numerous of the ticks recovered, and eland, Taurotragus oryx, were the most heavily infested with the former two species and gemsbok, Oryx gazella, and mountain reedbuck, Redunca fulvorufula, with R. glabroscutatum.

Objective--To evaluate antimicrobial activity of bovine bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (bBPI)-derived synthetic peptides against mastitis-causing gram-negative bacteria. Sample Population--Bacterial isolates from the milk of cows with clinical mastitis. Procedures--3 peptides were synthesized with sequences corresponding to amino acids 65 to 99 (bBPI6599) or 142 to 169 (bBPI142169) or the combination of amino acids 90 to 99 and 148 to 161 (bBPI9099,148161) of bBPI. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of these peptides against bacterial isolates from cows with mastitis were determined by use of a standardized broth microdilution assay. The ability of these peptides to retain their antimicrobial activity in serum and milk was also evaluated. Finally, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-neutralizing activity of these peptides was assayed with the Limulus amebocyte lysate test. Results--Of the 3 peptides tested, bBPI9099,148161 had the widest spectrum of antimicrobial activity, with MIC and MBC values ranging from 16 to 64 Mg/mL against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp and from 64 to 128 Mg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. None of the peptides had any growth-inhibitory effect on Serratia marcescens. The antimicrobial activity of bBPI9099,148161 was inhibited in milk, but preserved in serum. Finally, bBPI142169 and bBPI9099,148161 completely neutralized LPS. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--bBPI9099,148161 is a potent neutralizer of the highly proinflammatory molecule bacterial LPS and has antimicrobial activity against a variety of gram-negative bacteria. The ability of bBPI9099,148161 to retain antimicrobial activity in serum suggests a potential therapeutic application for this peptide in the management of gram-negative septicemia.

Koch (1844) originally described only the male of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) elliptica (Koch, 1844), which he named Rhipistoma ellipticum. For the past century, however, this name has been considered a junior synonym of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi (Audouin, 1826), or a nomen nudum. We redescribe here the male and larva of H. (R.) elliptica and describe the female and nymph for the first time. Our redescription is based on the male holotype, plus numerous specimens from southern and East Africa. The adults of this tick parasitize domestic and wild carnivores, and the immature stages infest rodents in these regions. For comparative purposes redescriptions of all parasitic stages of H. (R.) leachi are provided. It parasitizes the same hosts as H. (R.) elliptica in Egypt, and in northeastern, Central, West and East Africa.