A total of 300 cross-bred dairy cattle in Beni-Suef and El-Fayoum Governorates were screened for bovine tuberculosis using single intradermal (SID) cervical tuberculin test. 18 out of 300 (6%) tested cattle were found tuberculin positive. Blood samples from the positive reactors were tested by ELISA. ELISA plates were coated by either bovine purified protein derivative (PPD) or short term culture filtrate (ST-CF) antigens. The test sensitivity was compared at different serum dilutions. At serum dilution of 1/40, all of the 18 tuberculin positive samples, (100%), were ELISA positive using both ST-CF and PPD antigens, but at 1/80 dilution, 13 (72.22%) and 12 (66.66%) samples; at 1/160, 11 (61.11%) and 11 (61.11%) and finally at 1/320, 10 (55.55%) and 9 (50%) were ELISA positive on using ST-CF and PPD as a coating antigens respectively

This study was carried out on 180 pregnant ewes located at Ras Sedr research station - desert research center, from 2003 to 2005. Twenty five cases of abortion were recorded and examined serologically by complement fixation test (CFT). 17 (68%) out of these 25, showed positive results against Chlamydophila abortus and 3(15%) out of 20 apparently healthy pregnant ewes were serologically positive. Due to the fact that both clinical signs and pathological findings are not specific in case of chlamydial infection and also due to the fact that CFT is accompanied by false positive reactions due to cross reactivity between chlamydial species, five samples from serologically positive aborted dams were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They revealed positive results for Chlamydophila abortus at 119 bp. Therefore, PCR is proven to be reliable, rapid and specific diagnostic technique in the diagnosis of chlamydial infection.

Seroprevalence of Babesia ovis in sheep and goats was studied in Siwa Oasis between January 2002 and January 2003. A total of 240 blood samples were collected from 108 sheep and 132 goats for preparation of blood smears and for separation of serum samples and tested against B. ovis by using IFAT. B. ovis was detected in 55 (50.92%) and 59 (44.69%) blood smears examined in sheep and goats, respectively. The overall prevalence of B. ovis infection was 71.3% in sheep and 68.2% in goat using IFAT. The seasonal prevalence of B.ovis peaked in both spring and summer as revealed by blood smear examination and IFAT. A total of 143 ticks were collected from 62 sheep and 81 goats during the study. The ticks examined were Rhipicephalus turanicus (75.52%) and Hyalomma anatolicum (24.48%).

The present study aimed to assess some biochemical changes of oxidative stress in alloxaninduced diabetic rats with administration of lipoic acid. The experiment was carried out on 96 male rats. The group I (32 rats) was left as control (normal non-diabetic). Sixty-four rats were injected subcutaneously with alloxan (120 mg / kg.b.wt.) for induction of diabetes. Then it was divided into two equal groups, group II (diabetic without administration of lipoic acid) and group III (diabetic with administration of lipoic acid). Blood samples were collected from 8 rats of each group for separation of clear serum at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the 4th week after administration for determination of glucose. Fresh liver and brain tissue samples (0.2 g) were collected from sacrificed rats and homogenized in ten volumes of (ice-cold phosphate saline pH: 7), then kept at –20 ?C for assay of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione and liver glycogen. The obtained data revealed that serum glucose level was significantly decreased in the 3rd group as compared with the diabetic one. Also there was a significant decrease of liver glycogen in the diabetic group as compared with the non-diabetic control group. Moreover, significant decrease of reduced glutathione in both liver and brain tissues in diabetic group as compared with control. Lipoic acid caused a significant elevation in liver reduced glutathione as compared with the diabetic group, but without effect on brain. There was a significant rise in malondialdehyde in liver and brain tissues of diabetic group as compared with control. On the other hand there was a significant decrease of malondialdehyde in liver and brain tissues of diabetic rats with lipoic acid as compared with diabetic rats throughout the experiment period. It could be concluded that significant increase of malondialdehyde together with the decrease of reduced glutathione in the diabetic group: indicated the oxidative stress of induced diabetes. Also the study revealed that lipoic acid exerted a powerful antioxidant effect and therefore the diabetics should be supplemented regularly with this vitamin.

This work was carried out in four selected provinces in Beni-Suef Governorate, Egypt to investigate the possibility of existence of different types of enteric parasites infect 2-5 years old sheep and estimate the rate of improvement in some of its productive parameters post eradication of these parasites in relation to each parasitic infection. The study cleared that gasterointestinal bursated nematodes (Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Ostertagia spp., Nematodirus spp. and Cooperia spp.) and Fasciola are the most common parasites infecting sheep (57.44% & 48.44% respectively), this was followed by Paramphistopmum infection (38.88%), Moniezia spp. (33.11%), different types of Eimeria spp. (29%) and finally Trichuris spp (7%). Fecal culture of positive samples demonstrate presence of five types of nematode larvae include Haemonchus spp. larvae (33.75%), Oestertagia spp. (31.5%), Trichostrongylus (11.75%), Cooperia spp. (14.5%) and Nematodirus spp. (8.5%). Using of ivermectin for treatement of GIN, Nitroxynil for treatment of Fasciola, and oxyclozanide for treatment of Paramphistomum species infection, induce marked decrease in the mean number of different eggs per gram (e.p.g.) of faeces associated with improvement in mean body weight gain (5.71 Kg) and rate of lambing (26.77) after 6 months post treatment. High rate of improvement post treatment was recorded in animals originally free from Fasciolia infection, also and that harboring low e.p.g. than animals of high e.p.g. Finally it was evident that high rate of improvement was cleared in animals less than 4 years old in comparison by that over 4 years old

This study was carried out on 168 sheep in a private farm at Qena province. 128 out of them were apparently healthy, 22 clinically diseased suffering from respiratory affections and 18 were died at three weeks intervals. Bacteriological examination of the samples revealed that 42 samples were positive for bacterial isolation; 6 from apparently healthy animals, 20 from clinically diseased animals and 16 from dead ones. Bacterial isolates could be identified biochemically as P. multocida and P. heamolytica. Pathogenicity tests for P. multocida isolates indicated that the isolates were pathogenic to laboratory animals. P. multocida was isolated in high percentage (15%) in comparing with P. haemolytica (10%).

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.

Sixty, day-old, chicks were reared up to 3 weeks of age and then randomly divided into 4 equal groups (3 treated and one control group). Urea (46 % nitrogen) was added to the grower-finisher ration of the treated birds at levels of 1% , 3% and 5% (groups I, II & III respectively). Feed and water were available ad libitum for all birds over the time of experiment. At days 7, 20 and 30 post exposure, 5 birds from each group were weighed, bled and sacrificed. All birds spontaneously died during the experiment were also necropsied. Haematological parameters (RBCs, WBCs counts, PCV and Hb), biochemical variables [urea, glucose, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase; (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase; (LDH)] and body weight gain were assessed. The encountered pathological changes were described. The obtained results indicated that: (1) decrease in RBCs, WBCs counts, PCV and Hb, (2) increase in ALP, LDH, urea and uric acid, while glucose level was decreased. (3) decrease in body weight gain in all treated birds. There were significant pathological changes in kidneys, heart, liver and lungs of the treated birds. It was concluded that addition of urea to poultry feeds to replace the more expensive protein-nitrogen has serious consequences which affect the health condition and weight gain of birds.

Some pharmacokinetic aspects of sulphadoxine alone and sulphadoxine-trimethoprim (TMP) combination were studied in goats following single intravenous (i.v) and intramuscular (i.m) administration of 15 mg kg–1 b.wt. After i.v injection the serum sulphadoxine concentration time course was best described by two compartment-open model with distribution half-lives (t0.5(.)) 2.48 and 2.31 h., elimination (t0.5(3)) half-lives 23.10 and 24.75 h., total body clearance (ClB) 0.076 and 0.073 L kg-1 h.-1 and steady state volume of distribution (Vdss) 368.54 and 411.73 ml kg-1 for sulphadoxine alone and sulphadoxine-trimethoprim combination, respectively. After i.m administration the mean peak serum concentrations (Cmax) 25.69 and 33.31 ug ml–1 were achieved after maximum time (tmax) of 3.09 and 2.79 h. for sulphadoxine alone and sulphadoxinetrimethoprim combination, respectively. The absorption half-lives (t0.5(ab)) were 0.58 and 0.42 h., respectively. It is concluded that a combination of sulphadoxine and TMP can provide a synergistic level for both antimicrobials and thus be a useful combination in the treatment of various goat diseases.

A total number of 80 nasal swabs collected from apparently normal cattle slaughtered in Basateen abattoir were screened for the presence of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Among 80 examined samples, 4 samples found positive after the 3rd passage on MDBK cell line with appearance of the specific cytopathic effect (grape like clusters). The isolated virus titers were 103.9, 104.2, 105, 105.6 TCID50 / 0.1 ml. The four positive isolates were identified by agar gel precipitation test (AGPT), virus neutralization test (VNT) and gave the intracytoplasmic granules by indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT). Electrophoretic profile of IBR in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was described and visualized by Coomassie blue stain. The mobilities of electrophoretic bands were determined with molecular weight marker at approximate range from 206.39 to 22.14 kDa.