The present study was carried out to evaluate the levels of copper, zinc and iron in buffaloes from different regions in Basra province. Serum samples were taken from (255)buffaloes and (20)soil samples from pastures as well as (20)samples of green forage grazed by the animals. Results divided the buffaloes into three groups, the first one was healthy 38(14.9%)of total buffaloes, second 17(6.6%) those were subclinically affected and the third group 200(78,4%) were clinically affected and revealed deficient values in comparison with other groups. Values of copper, zinc and iron were(70.3 ±0.867, 154±4.459,320±2.844) μg/dl, respectively for healthy control buffaloes, while the values of subclinical group were(59.7 ±0.384, 94.7±1.943 and 291.8±4.214) μg/dl respectively, and those of deficient group were(44.6±0.442, 78.4±1.069 and 229.1±4.098) μg/dl, respectively. The soil levels of copper, zinc and iron were(0.25 ±0.039, 0.72±0.032 and 5.9±0.301) μg/g respectively, and in forage (2.3±0.269, 23.8±0.486 and 25.5±0.641) μg/g , respectively. The main clinical signs of deficient group were; Alopecia, depigmentation, emaciation, parakeratosis and pale mucous membranes. In conclusion, the study exhibited values of minerals in buffaloes those were higher in healthy buffaloes than those of subclinical and deficient groups. Soil of Basra, was deficient in copper and zinc but normal in iron, while forages were deficient in those minerals.

In this study, the enteric parasites of zoo animals and zookeepers in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt were investigated. Fecal samples from thirteen animal species were examined by floatation and formol ether sedimentation techniques. Zoo animals were classified into non-human primates, carnivores and herbivorous animals. The examination of non-human primates revealed the presence of Trichuris trichura eggs, Giardia intestinals and Entamoeba histolytica cysts. In carnivores, Toxoascaris leonina eggs and Isospora felis oocysts were the most predominant findings. In herbivore wild animals, gastrointestinal nematode (GIT) eggs and Eimeria species oocysts were present. Larval identification by fecal culture of (GIT) eggs demonstrated the presence of Haemonchus contortus and Strongyloid papillosus larvae. Examination of zookeepers and one lab worker revealed the presence of Giardia intestinals and Entamoeba histolytica cysts. In conclusion, infection with Giardia intestinals and Entamoeba histolytica in both of human and nonhuman primates suggests the zoonotic transmission in the zoo.

The apxIC genes of the <em>Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae</em> serovar 5 (SC-1), encoding the ApxIactivating proteins, was deleted by a method involving sucrose counter-selection. In this study, a mutant strain of <em>A. pleuropneumoniae</em> (SC-1) was constructed and named DapxIC/ ompP2. The mutant strain contained foreign DNA in the deletion site of ompP2 gene of <em>Haemophilus parasuis</em>. It showed no haemolytic activity and lower virulence of cytotoxicity in mice compared with the parent strain, and its safety and immunogenicity were also evaluated in mice. The LD₅₀ data shown that the mutant strain was attenuated 30-fold, compared with the parent strain (LD₅₀ of the mutant strain and parent strain in mice were determined to be 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU and 3.5 × 10⁵ CFU respectively). The mutant strain that was attenuated could secrete inactivated ApxIA RTX toxins with complete antigenicity and could be used as a candidate live vaccine strain against infections of <em>A. pleuropneumoniae</em> and <em>H. parasuis.</em>

A molecular study was undertaken to detect Theileria ovis, Theileria lestoquardi and Theileria annulatain sheep and tick vectors. Investigation was conducted from 2010 to 2011 in the south of Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. A total of 150 blood samples were collected from 30 different sheep flocks. In addition, ixodid ticks were sampled from the same flocks. The stained blood smears were microscopically examined for the presence of piroplasms and a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction (PCR) was used for subsequent molecular speciation. Salivary glands were isolated from the ticks and subsequently analysed by semi-nested PCR. polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to differentiate between T. lestoquardi and T. annulata from PCR-positive samples. Theileria species infection was microscopically detected in 18.6% of blood smears. The presence of T. ovis and T. lestoquardi or T. annulata was detected by semi-nested PCR in 58.6% and 6.6% of blood samples respectively. In total, 169 ixodid ticks were collected from different areas of the province. The most prevalent ticks were Rhipicephalus turanicus (n = 155; 91.7% of the total), followed by Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (n = 8; 4.7%) and Hyalomma marginatum turanicum (n = 6; 3.5%). From an organ pooling of 33 ticks, three pools of salivary glands from R. turanicus were positive for Theileria species by semi-nested PCR. Of the three R. turanicus samples testing positive for Theileria species, two (6.1%) were positive for T. ovis and one (3.0%) for T. lestoquardi or T. annulata. Amongst the 11 PCR-positive samples for T. lestoquardi or T. annulata, 10 were positive for T. lestoquardi and one sample was positive for both T. lestoquardi and T. annulata using PCR-RFLP. The results also demonstrated that PCR-RFLP could be used for the detection of T. ovis. Based on the results, it can be concluded that T. ovis has a higher prevalence than T. lestoquardi, and that R. turanicus could be a possible vector for T. ovis and T. lestoquardi. Finally, the PCR-RFLP based on Msp1 restriction enzyme is a simple method for differentiation of Theileria species in sheep and ixodid ticks.

The present study was established to evaluate and compare stress response to anesthesia as well as surgery in sheep and goat. For this purpose, 5 rams and 5 bucks underwent anesthesia alone followed a week later by anesthesia with rumenotomy. Serum cortisol levels as well as differential leucocytic count were assayed just prior to anesthesia (0 time) and then after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours post anesthesia. In the second experiment, blood samples were collected just prior to anesthesia (0 time) then after half an hour (0 time post rumenotomy) then after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours post completion of rumenotomy. Serum cortisol levels in both species increased significantly and reach its peak one hour following anesthesia (3.31 ± 0.17 and 4.09 ± 0.12, respectively) which were higher than subsequent cortisol levels. In addition, Peak cortisol level in sheep obtained at 0 time post rumenotomy (4.39 ± 0.13) and 1 hour following rumenotomy in goat (3.45 ± 0.16). The significant increase in cortisol level persists for 6 hours and returns to normal level 24 hours following surgery.

Fatty liver is considered a serious problem in broilers as liver is the main organ involved in metabolism of all absorbed substances. In addition, fatty liver has a direct impact on the growth and performance of the chicken. One of the modern approach in controlling metabolic upset, is the use of probiotics, prebiotics in controlling this problems. Here we tried to summarize the protective role of some probiotics, prebiotics and other natural lipotropic factors and their mode of action against hperlipidemia and fatty liver in broilers.

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.

Effect of some neurotransmitters on pituitary in bull-camelThe present in vitro study is an attempt for profound exploration of the influence of some inhibitory (GABA and taurine) and excitatory neurotransmitters (glutamic acid and L-Argnine) on pituitary gland gonadotropic hormones in camels. For this purpose, neurotransmitters were added individually to pituitary cells in vitro. Results of current study revealed that addition of GABA alone has a potent inhibitory influence on gonadotropins release; an action which was dosedependent. In addition, exaggerated high dose of GABA added to culture resulting in depression of GnRH activity. Inhibitory neurotransmitter taurine preserved gonadotropins release within their normal values and maintained the stimulatory potentials of GnRH. On the other side, nitric oxide had a stimulatory action at small dose rates and a depressive effect at higher dose rates. Glutamic acid as the major endogenous excitatory neurotransmitter had a potent dose-dependent excitatory effect upon FSH and LH as well as GnRH stimulatory influence.