OBJECTIVE To measure thrombin generation by high and low tissue factor (TF)–expressing canine cancer cell lines. SAMPLE Canine cell lines CMT25 (high TF–expressing mammary gland tumor cell line) and HMPOS (low TF–expressing osteosarcoma cell line). PROCEDURES Thrombin generation by cancer cells was measured in pooled normal canine plasma by use of calibrated automated thrombography without added trigger reagents. Results were expressed as lag time, time to peak thrombin concentration, peak thrombin concentration, and total thrombin concentration or thrombin generation potential. Corn trypsin inhibitor, hirudin, and annexin V were used to inhibit contact activation, thrombin formation, and phosphatidylserine activity, respectively. Pooled normal human plasma deficient in coagulation factors VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, or XII was used to assess the role of individual coagulation factors on thrombin generation. RESULTS CMT25 generated significantly more thrombin than did HMPOS (mean ± SD, 3,555 ± 604nM thrombin•min and 636 ± 440nM thrombin•min, respectively). Thrombin generation of CMT25 was dependent on factor VII and phosphatidylserine and was independent of contact activation. In contrast, thrombin generation of HMPOS was attributed to contact activation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE High TF-expressing canine mammary cancer cells generated thrombin in a plasma milieu in vitro in a factor VII- and phosphatidylserine-dependent manner. These findings support a role for TF in hypercoagulability detected in dogs with mammary gland tumors and potentially for other tumors that strongly express TF.

Gastric lesions, especially ulceration, cause significant economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. The study was designed to assess its prevalence, distribution and pattern in pigs in south-western Nigeria. Slaughter house surveys were conducted on three government-established abattoirs in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states. Stomachs from 480 pigs were assessed for gross lesions, which were graded using a modification of a standard technique. Tissues from different regions of the stomach were routinely stained to assess histopathologic changes. Data were presented as frequency counts and analysed using analysis of variance and chi-square technique. Significance was determined at p ≤ 0.05. Gastric lesions were encountered across the four regions of the stomach with a point prevalence of 57.29%. The prevalence of lesions in the non-glandular region was 32.9%, with severe hyperkeratosis (13.13%) being most frequently observed (p < 0.05). Erosions were significantly higher in the cardia (8.54%) (p < 0.05), followed by fundus (8.33%). Gastric ulcers were significantly higher in the fundus (19.58%) (p < 0.05). Scars of healed ulcers and lacerations were also observed in the fundus (5.42%) (p < 0.05). The gastric lesion distribution across the four regions of the stomach and the occurrence of ulceration in the fundus showed an unusual pattern, which is rarely reported in other parts of the world. The reason for these findings in pigs in Nigeria is not fully understood; therefore, further studies are required to identify and manage these factors for increased productivity, improved animal welfare and enhanced food security. Keywords: prevalence; gastric; lesions; fundic ulcers; pigs

Forty samples of crustaceans, 20 shrimp (local, imported, peeled and nonpeeled) and 20 local chilled samples were collected from Beni-Suef markets. Samples were evaluated by physiochemical deteriorative criteria (pH, TVBN) and bacteriological quality including APC at 35°C (mesophils), APC at 7°C (psycrotrophs), coliforms (MPN), fecal coliform (MPN), E. coli (MPN), S.aureus count and isolation and identification of specific pathogens (E. coli, and S. aurerus). All fresh and frozen seafood samples were judged as safe food from the microbiological point of view. The total mesophillic, psychrotrophic and S. aureus of all examined seafood samples lied within the standard permissible limits.

Female genital tracts of six to eight years Baladi cows (n=30) were collected from Belevia abattoir of Beni-Suef province during the period from March 2016 to May 2016 to investigate ovarian abnormalities and uterine changes in cattle based on histopathology. Prevalence rates of granulosa cell tumors were 26.67% and 38.89% in right and left ovaries, respectively. Follicular cysts could be detected in both ovaries with percentages of 50.0% and 44.44%, respectively. The most predominant pathological lesions in ovarian medulla were hyalinosis of blood vessels and mononuclear cell infiltration. The main uterine pathological alterations were endometritis associated with degenerative changes and necrosis in the endometrial linings in most cases (n=25), endometriosis (n=13). Variable degrees of congestion from moderate (n=25) to highly congested (n=5) were elucidated. Perivascular cuffing (n=2) and perivascular fibrosis (n=3) of uterine blood vessels could be detected. Immunohistochemically, granulosa cell tumors were positive to vimentin and negative to inhibin.

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is an endangered seabird that breeds along the coast of Namibia and South Africa, and disease surveillance was identified as a priority for its conservation. Aiming for the establishment of baseline data on the presence of potential pathogens in this species, a comprehensive health assessment (blood smear examination, haematology, biochemistry and serology) was conducted on samples obtained from 578 African penguins at 11 breeding colonies and a rehabilitation centre. There were 68 penguins that were seropositive for at least one of seven pathogens tested: avian encephalomyelitis virus, avian infectious bronchitis virus, avian reovirus, infectious bursal disease virus, Newcastle disease virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae. All samples were seronegative for avian influenza virus subtypes H5 and H7 and infectious laryngotracheitis virus. The apparent prevalence of Babesia sp. and Borrelia sp. in blood smears was consistent with previous studies. Babesia-infected individuals had a regenerative response of the erythrocytic lineage, an active inflammatory response and hepatic function impairment. These findings indicate that African penguins may be exposed to conservation-significant pathogens in the wild and encourage further studies aiming for the direct detection and/or isolation of these microorganisms.

The majority of small-holder pig farmers in Mpumalanga had between 1- and 10-sow herds. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the current government agricultural intervention (supply of 10 sows and a boar) in terms of technical and economic feasibilities and ascertain whether the small-scale pig value chain system alleviates poverty. Data were obtained from 220 randomly selected small-holder pig farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed that 58% farrowed ≤ 10 piglets/born/sow/litter, 44.2% practiced no weaning method and many fed swill and leftovers alone (41.6%). Pair-wise association revealed that the feeding of commercial feeds had a relationship with pigs in relatively good to very good body condition. Pigs in poor body condition were positively correlated with the feeding of swill alone. The economic models for the 10-sow unit proved that pig farming is unprofitable if the current management and feeding systems that operate in the commercial industry are utilised. However, only through a combination of cooperative systems, benefits of economies of scale, reduction of preweaning mortalities and structured government inputs can pig production be profitable at this scale of production. Keywords: piglets; market; profit; economics; feeds

A descriptive study was conducted to identify the different strains of Echinococcus granulosus occurring in livestock in Moroto district, Uganda. Echinococcus cysts from 104 domestic animals, including cattle, sheep, goats and camels, were taken and examined by microscopy, polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism and Sanger DNA sequencing. Echinococcus granulosus genotypes or strains were identified through use of Bioinformatics tools: BioEdit, BLAST and MEGA6. The major finding of this study was the existence of a limited number of E. granulosus genotypes from cattle, goats, sheep and camels. The most predominant genotype was G1 (96.05%), corresponding to the common sheep strain. To a limited extent (3.95%), the study revealed the existence of Echinococcus canadensis G6/7 in three (n = 3) of the E. granulosus–positive samples. No other strains of E. granulosus were identified. It was concluded that the common sheep strain of Echinococcus sensu stricto and G6/7 of E. canadensis were responsible for echinococcal disease in Moroto district, Uganda.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of high metabolizable energy diets with normal or wide metabolizable energy to crude protein ratios (ME:CP) on the performance, carcass characteristics, body composition and blood parameters of broilers fed from 1 to 56 days of age. The chicks were allotted into 7 groups; one control and 6 tested. The birds were fed starter, grower and finisher diets. The control diet was formulated according to the NRC of poultry (1994) and the other six diets contained three different levels of high energy diets (3275, 3350 & 3425 kcal/kg; one level for each two groups). The first three tested groups were pointed for as the ''normal calorie-protein ratio” groups in which the CP increased in relation to the increased ME, keeping the normal NRC ratio. In the second three tested groups, named “wide calorie-protein ratio” groups, the dietary protein was kept at the NRC levels leading to ratios wider than that of the NRC. Results showed that chicks fed high ME diets with normal energy to protein ratio grew faster, and used feed more efficiently than chicks fed the control diets. However, feeding diets with high ME and normal protein NRC-levels slightly improved the weight and feed conversion. The visible fat and fat retained in the body was higher in all tested groups compared to the control. However, the blood parameters had no significant variations among the treatments, except for ALT which had an increased response to increased dietary energy density. In conclusion, increasing the dietary ME level without increasing the crude protein level provided moderately economic returns and lesser improvement in the performance of broilers. However, increasing of dietary ME with normal ME:CP ratio resulted in increased broiler performance and higher economic return.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ca soap of palm oil fatty acids (CSFA), as a protected fat, on milk composition and the performance of both ewes and lambs. Thirty-three crossbred ewes aged 2-3 years and weighed 41-44 kg were allocated in three unequal groups for A, B &C (10, 12 &11 ewes, respectively). Group A was fed a diet free from protected fat and kept as a control. Group B was fed a diet containing 4 % fat and group C was given a diet containing 8 % fat. The ewes were in the last month of pregnancy and the experiment extended till the end of late lactation (4.5 months). Milk composition was tested, and body change in ewes and nursing lambs was traced. Moreover, the effect of fat addition on dry matter intake of ewes was analyzed. Results revealed a decrease in dry matter intake in the late gestation and an increase in early lactation, with no significant differences in the late lactation. The effect followed the amount of fat added. There was no effect on ewe’s body weight change or lamb’s growth rate from birth to weaning. On milk composition, there was an increase in fat %, higher in group B and total solids%, while percentage of protein was decreased. Concerning fat supplementation, no effect on lactose, urea milk nitrogen, and somatic cell counts was detected. There was a decreased level of solids-not-fat in group B, while group C showed no detectable alterations. In conclusion CSFA supplementation was effective to increase the fat % and yield in milk of sheep especially at the rate of 4% of addition.

The prevalence of taeniasis was determined during the period January to April 2013 in a cross-sectional study of non-descript domestic dogs from the livestock–wildlife ecosystem of Ngorongoro, Tanzania. Taeniid eggs were determined by screening faecal samples using the formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Predisposing factors for dog infection were assessed in relation to demographic, husbandry and management data. Of the 205 faecal samples screened, 150 (73.2%) were positive for taeniid eggs. The prevalence of dogs harbouring taeniid eggs was 80%, 30.2% and 75.3% in the less than 1 year, 1–3 years and greater than 3 years of age groups, respectively. Age group and sex prevalence in dogs did not differ significantly (P > 0.05), although the females showed a marginally higher prevalence (73.8%) in comparison to the males (72.7%). Taeniid eggs were significantly more likely to be found in the faeces of dogs located in Waso (80.6%) and Endulen (75%) than in Malambo (63.2%, P < 0.05). The study revealed that dogs owned and raised by agro-pastoralists were at a lower risk of acquiring Taenia spp. infection (P = 0.001) than those that were raised by pastoralists. The majority of dog owners were not aware of the predisposing factors and the mode of transmission of taeniids. Dogs were frequently fed on viscera, trimmings and the heads of slaughtered animals, and they were not treated for parasitic infections. The findings of this study indicate that taeniasis is prevalent among non-descript dogs in Ngorongoro, underscoring the need for further research and active surveillance to better understand the transmission cycle of Taenia spp. in a wider geographical area in Tanzania.