Heartwater is a tick-borne disease caused by the intracellular rickettsial parasite Ehrlichia ruminantium and transmitted by Amblyomma hebraeum ticks. Heartwater is problematic in endemic areas because it causes high mortality in ruminants and leads to economic losses that threaten productivity and food security. This may indicate that there is augmented genetic diversity in the field, which may result in isolates that are more virulent than the Ball3 and Welgevonden isolates. The genetic diversity of E. ruminantium was investigated in this study, focussing on the pCS20 gene region and four polymorphic open reading frames (ORFs) identified by subtractive hybridisation. The 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene confirmed E. ruminantium in brain, blood and tick genomic deoxyribonucleic acid samples (n = 3792) collected from 122 farms that were randomly selected from seven provinces of South Africa where heartwater is endemic. The conserved E. ruminantium pCS20 quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was used to scan all collected field samples. A total of 433 samples tested positive with the qPCR using the pCS20 gene region, of which 167 were sequenced. The known stocks and field samples were analysed, and phylogenetic trees were generated from consensus sequences. A total of 25 new clades were identified; of these, nine isolates from infected blood could be propagated in cell cultures. These clades were not geographically confined to a certain area but were distributed amongst heartwater-endemic areas in South Africa. Thus, the knowledge of strain diversity of E. ruminantium is essential for control of heartwater and provides a basis for further vaccine development.

The study was conducted to determine the occurrence and distribution patterns of diseases of goat in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of January 2018 to December 2018. Materials and Methods: A total of 452 goats were recorded during the study period. The diseases were diagnosed based on clinical signs, patient owners complain and laboratory findings. The prevalence was measured according to season and age of the goats which were studied. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test and P-value was calculated by using SPSS 25 for windows (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL).Results: In this study, 381 (84.29%) goats were found to be diseased from 452 visited goats at Central veterinary Hospital (CVH), Dhaka. The highest prevalence was found with worm infestation (31.42%) followed by PPR (13.72%), miscellaneous (ruminal acidosis, disuria, repeat breeding) (12.16%), pneumonia (10.18%), dermatitis (4.20%), enteritis (3.76%), urolithiasis (3.09%), bloat (2.65%), mastitis (1.55%), tetanus (1.11%) and protozoal diseases (0.44%). Rainy season represented the highest (86.11%) prevalence of goat diseases followed by winter season (82.85%) and summer season (82.44%). PPR was significantly (p<0.05) more prevalent in winter season than other two seasons. In this study, Goats had significantly higher (p<0.01) prevalence of worm infestation in the summer season (29.00%) and the rainy season (39.35%) and in all three (0-12 months, 13-24 months and >24 months) age groups with 21.64%, 45.06%, and 32.20% respectively. Prevalence of mastitis was lowest in 0-12 months (0.43%) and 13-24 months (0.62%) age group but the prevalence of tetanus was lowest in above 24 months (1.69%) age group.These findings will help to know about age-wise and season wise variation of different diseases of goat in this area and will help to execute proper preventive measures against those diseases.

Today, the use of components obtained from plant extracts is rapidly increasing, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. Eight different plants, which are used as winter tea and are frequently consumed among herbal teas, were selected in the study. The aim of study was to investigate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of teas obtained from medicinal and aromatic plants such as Linden, Ginger, Cinnamon, Sage, Daisy, Turmeric, Clove and Rosehip. Five different pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were selected from common disease-causing pathogens. A total of 21 combinations were made for each plant. Disc diffusion and Minimum inhibition concentration methods were used to determine antimicrobial activity. DPPH (2,2 Difenil-1Pikrohidrozil) method was used to determine antioxidant activity. The amount of total phenolic and tannins contents contained of herbal teas were also determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FCR) method.The highest value among the antimicrobial activities of herbal teas (triple combination) was measured against E. faecalis (25.11 mm). The herbal combination with the highest value measured was found in the ginger+cinnamon+clove group. The highest antioxidant value was measured in this mixture (36.8 mg/mL).Because some plants have more bioavailability, these benefits can be suppressed in a mixture. When determining these mixtures, the consumption will be more beneficial for public health, given the recommendations of researchers and experts.

The purpose of the study reported here, to investigate the effect of atropine on cardio-respiratory parameters and body temperature in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy with the combination of medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia. Twenty-six adult female intact domestic cats were admitted to Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for routine elective ovariohysterectomy. The animals were divided into two groups by the randomized grouping method before the operation. Trial animals (n=14) received atropine together with medetomidine and ketamine anesthesia. In control animals (n=12) received the same anesthesia without atropine injection. At the end of the operation, animals were moved to the critical care unit and the measurements of vital parameters were performed. Heart, respiration rates, deep rectal temperature and status of anesthesia recovery were recorded after the operation every 10 minutes for 1 hour.There was a group, time, and group x time interaction noted for heart rate. Treatment cats showed greater heart rate during measurement. The mean respiratory rate and deep rectal temperature were in reference ranges for cats and similar for both groups. In both groups significant sedation induced, however, the scores were not statistically significant among groups.In conclusion, atropine is an effective drug preventing decrease of heart rate and patients have shown less undesirable side effects when it is used before the administration of medetomidine in cats that operated for ovariohysterectomy.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease, affecting birds, human beings and most warm-blooded animals throughout the world. On the following case report Toxoplasma gondii infection was detected in two cats. Primary clinical findings were defined as involuntary and continuous contraction of the hind limb muscles, incoordination and pain. Toxoplasma gondii generally progresses asymptomatically however when clinical signs do appear, T. gondii shows itself with neurological symptoms. In these cases, the diagnosis of the disease was made by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) method. In both of the cases Clindamycin was given at a dose of 25mg/kg/24h for the first week and the dosage was rearranged to 12,5mg/kg/q12h. Clinical improvement was observed after one week and treatment was discontinued at the third week.

The aim of this case presentation is to report ectoparasites detected in one red fox. The adaptation of red foxes to urban environments and their increasing number result in an increased risk of transmission of some ectoparasites and pathogens originating from ectoparasites to humans and domestic animals. In this study, one red fox (Vulpes vulpes) which was after a traffic accident was examined for ectoparasites in the Clinic of Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Veterinary. A total 14 flies, 13 ticks and 4 fleas were collected from the red fox. As a result of the microscopic examinations of ectoparasites, Hippobosca longipennis (9 ♀, 5 ♂), Rhipicephalus turanicus (8 ♀, 5 ♂), Ctenocephalides felis (1 ♀) and Pulex irritans (2 ♀, 1 ♂) were identified. With this study, Hippobosca longipennis was recorded from foxes for the first time in Turkey.

Bluetongue (BT) is a vector-borne disease of ruminants caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV). Twenty-nine different serotypes of BTV are currently reported throughout the world. The main objective of this study is the development of a subunit vaccine model that could potentially be adapted to provide broad spectrum protection against multiple BTV serotypes, which the conventional vaccines fail to address. To this end, three different BTV proteins (conserved region of viral protein [VP]2, VP5 and NS1) were expressed and purified in an Escherichia coli expression system. The immunogenicity of these proteins was tested in murine models using the MontanideTM ISA 201 VG adjuvant. BALB/c mice were immunised thrice (with individual proteins and a mixture of three proteins) at two-week intervals and were monitored until Day 40 post-infection/vaccination. Protein-specific antibodies directed against the recombinant proteins were detected by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neutralising antibody (Nab) titres and cross-neutralisation against a range of BTV serotypes (BTV-1, -2, -4, -5, -9, -10, -12, -16, -21, -23 and -24) were determined by serum neutralisation test. The recombinant proteins elicited higher Nab titres compared with the inactivated vaccine group, except for BTV-1, where the inactivated vaccine group elicited higher Nab titres. Additive effect of the three proteins was not observed as the Nab titres generated with a combination of conserved VP2, VP5 and NS1 was similar to those of the individual protein groups. Whilst BTV-12 could only be neutralised by serum raised against the inactivated vaccine group, BTV-5 and -24 could not be neutralised by any of the groups tested. Our cumulative data suggest that the conserved regions of VP2 (cVP2), VP5 and NS1 could play an important part in the novel vaccine design against multiple BTV serotypes. Importantly, given that VP2 was already known to elicit a serotype-specific immune response against BT, we report, for the first time, that the conserved region of VP2 has the ability to induce cross-protective immune response.

In this study, positive blood and organ samples were obtained from different mixed herds of sheep and cattle against ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) infection. Target-positive DNA was sequenced and compared with worldwide distributed OvHV-2 sequences. Tegument gene (422 base pairs) and glycoprotein B (gB) gene (2800 base pairs) amplicons of OvHV-2 genome were used for understanding of epidemiology of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) infection in Turkey. The results of nucleotide sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products indicated presence of sheep-associated form for MCF infection in Turkey. Although the obtained sequences were genetically different from each other, it was found that genetic variations were limited.

Trichinella zimbabwensis naturally infects a variety of reptilian and wild mammalian hosts in South Africa. Attempts have been made to experimentally infect piranha fish with T. zimbabwensis and T. papuae without success. Tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) and African sharp tooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) are accomplished predators cohabiting with Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) and Nile monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) in southern Africa and are natural hosts of T. zimbabwensis. To assess the infectivity of T. zimbabwensis to these two hosts, 24 African sharp tooth catfish (mean live weight 581.75 ± 249.71 g) randomly divided into 5 groups were experimentally infected with 1.0 ± 0.34 T. zimbabwensis larvae per gram (lpg) of fish. Forty-one tigerfish (mean live weight 298.6 ± 99.3 g) were randomly divided for three separate trials. An additional 7 tigerfish were assessed for the presence of natural infection as controls. Results showed no adult worms or larvae of T. zimbabwensis in the gastrointestinal tract and body cavities of catfish sacrificed at day 1, 2 and 7 post-infection (p.i.). Two tigerfish from one experimental group yielded 0.1 lpg and 0.02 lpg of muscle tissue at day 26 p.i. and 28 p.i., respectively. No adult worms or larvae were detected in the fish from the remaining groups sacrificed at day 7, 21, 28, 33 and 35 p.i. and from the control group. Results from this study suggest that tigerfish could sustain T. zimbabwensis under specific yet unknown circumstances.

Despite the availability of Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines for more than six decades, disease outbreaks continue to occur with huge economic consequences to the global poultry industry. The aim of this study is to develop a safe and effective inactivated vaccine based on a recently isolated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain IBS025/13 and evaluate its protective efficacy in chicken following challenge with a highly virulent genotype VII isolate. Firstly, high titre of IBS025/13 was exposed to various concentrations of binary ethylenimine (BEI) to determine the optimal conditions for complete inactivation of the virus. The inactivated virus was then prepared in form of a stable water-in-oil emulsion of black seed oil (BSO) or Freund’s incomplete adjuvant (FIA) and used as vaccines in specific pathogen-free chicken. Efficacy of various vaccine preparations was also evaluated based on the ability of the vaccine to protect against clinical disease, mortality and virus shedding following challenge with highly virulent genotype\VII NDV isolate. The results indicate that exposure of NDV IBS025/13 to 10 mM of BEI for 21 h at 37 °C could completely inactivate the virus without tempering with the structural integrity of the viral hemagglutin-neuraminidase protein. More so, the inactivated vaccines adjuvanted with either BSO- or FIA-induced high hemagglutination inhibition antibody titre that protected the vaccinated birds against clinical disease and in some cases virus shedding, especially when used together with live attenuated vaccines. Thus, genotype VII-based NDV-inactivated vaccines formulated in BSO could substantially improve poultry disease control particularly when combined with live attenuated vaccines.