Objective: The current investigation was designed to point out the prevalence of multidrug-resis¬tant Streptococcus spp. causing acute clinical mastitis and their pattern of antibiotic resistance in dairy cows. Materials and methods: Milk was sampled from 128 dairy cows with 191 infected quarters during the period from August 2017 to December 2018. Bacterial species were isolated from the milk samples and identified based on colony morphology and biochemical tests. Multiplex PCR was done for confirmatory detection of the Streptococcus spp. isolates. Results: The chief isolation percentages, from the sampled milk, were Escherichia coli (26%), then Staphylococcus aureus (23%), and Streptococcus dysagalactiae (23%), then Streptococcus agalac¬tiae (20.1%), and finally coagulase-negative Staphylococci (7.7%). In confirmed PCR streptococci isolates, the antibiotic resistance genes have been detected, including macrolides antibiotic resis¬tance genes (ermB and mefA genes), lincosamides antibiotic resistance genes (linB gene), and tetra¬cycline resistance genes (tetM and tetO genes). Age, parity number, cleaning of bedding materials, cleaning of milking facilities, and utensils and udder cleaning practice were significant risk factors for multidrug-resistant streptococcal mastitis in dairy cows. Conclusion: The results of this study explored the phenotypic and genotypic traits of Streptococcus spp. which constitute a usual cause of acute clinical mastitis in dairy cows. The ermB, mefA, tetM, and tetO antibiotic-resistant genes were identified in streptococci isolates from dairy cows milk with acute clinical mastitis, indicating a public health hazard. Thus, veterinary clinical breakpoints are needed to improve surveillance data, improve the hygiene regimen on the farms, and pro¬mote the wise use of antimicrobials. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(2.000): 186-197]

Objective: The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor sildenafil citrate (SC) on the level of brain hippocampal neurophysiological parameters (inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters), oxidant/antioxidant status, minerals, and anxiety-like behavior using albino male rats. Materials and methods: A total of 24 albino male rats were allocated to three separate groups (each one had eight rats): control and SC 5 and 10 mg/kg treatments via i.p. infusion every 3 days for 12 injections. For the behavior of anxiety evaluation, the elevated plus maze test was conducted 1 day after the last treatment, and then all the rats were killed. For serum separation, the blood samples were taken, and hippocampus was dissected from the brain and stored frozen until analysis. Results: Both doses of sildenafil significantly improved brain hippocampal neurotransmitter [nor¬epinephrine, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), and gamma-aminobutyric acid] values accompa¬nied by a decreased dopamine level. Interestingly, the SC higher given dose (10 mg/kg) increased the malondialdehyde level with the reduction of the antioxidant parameters [reduced glutathione (GSH) level, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities] although the lower dose of SC did not cause oxidative stress. Serum and brain hippocampal K, Cu, and Se concentrations were also increased with SC treatments. Moreover, the test of elevated plus maze revealed an anxiolytic impact of sildenafil. Conclusion: It was concluded that SC improved the parameters of some hippocampal neurotrans¬mitters and minerals accompanied by anxiolytic impact with the test of elevated plus maze, with a state of oxidative stress revealed with the higher dose of SC which was not recorded with the lower dose. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(2.000): 281-289]

Objective: This study aimed to inspect the occurrence of Haemoproteus tinnunculi (H. tinnunculi) in falcons from the central area of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 100 falcons species, including 55 Falco cherrug, 22 Falco peregrinus, 13 Falco pelegrinoides, and 10 Falco rusticolus, were collected from November 2018 to April 2019 and examined for H. tinnunculi by microscopic examination and nested PCR, targeting a cytochrome b (cytb) gene. Results: The prevalence was 1% by microscopic examination. The prevalence rate of H. tinnunculi was 1% by the microscopic method and 3% by PCR. Only F. cherrug was infected. In the sequence and phylogenetic analyses, the two cytb H. tinnunculi sequences were 100% identical and closely related to the Lithuanian isolate with 99.35% identity. Conclusions: This study presents the first report of molecular detection and characterization of H. tinnunculai in F. cherrug from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 626-632]

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize Kacang goats (aged 12 years) in the highland (group 1) and lowland (group 2) areas of Jambi Province based on their body measure¬ments and body indices. Materials and Methods: A total of 320 goats were collected from lowland (n = 160), and highland (n = 160) areas with sex proportions of 80 bucks and 80 does for each area. Eight body mea¬surements and 12 body indices were used to characterize the Kacang goats from different areas. Results: The research showed that each animal group had one principal component (PC) for body measurements and four PCs for body indices. Thus, the body measurement of rump height (RH) and the body indices of area index, weight index, and thoracic development were suggested as the variables to distinguish the Kacang goats from different areas. However, the canonical correla¬tion (rc) value in the study was approximately 0.30 (low). Therefore, about 59.4% (lowland) and 60.6% (highland) of Kacang goats were characterized by the body measurements, and the body indices were indicated approximately 48.8% (lowland) and 61.2% (highland) of Kacang goats. A cluster analysis of the four Kacang populations revealed that Kacang goats in this study were grouped into a first cluster (Kerinci) and a second cluster (Muaro Jambi, Batanghari, and Sungai Penuh). Conclusion: It is concluded that body measurements and body indices cannot characterize the Kacang goats from lowland and highland areas. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 734-743]

Objective: Annual health screening inclusive of heart workup is recommended for the detection of heart diseases, especially in asymptomatic patients (no clinical signs). This study determined the occurrences of the common heart disease and the risk factors in apparently healthy cats. Material and methods: This prospective study that screened 59 healthy cats and the status of the heart were evaluated based on a combination of findings from physical examination, electrocar¬diography, blood pressure measurement, routine blood test, urinalysis, and total thyroid level. Results: Approximately 40.7% (n = 24/59) of the apparently healthy cats were diagnosed with heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (62.5%) remains to be the most commonly diag¬nosed. The mean age was 4.9-year old (age range, 7-month-old to 19-year-old). The prevalence was higher in males (45.0%; n = 17/38) cats, especially the domestic shorthairs (46.0%; n = 11/24). Among the healthy cats with vertebral heart scale (VHS) > 8.0, only 52% (n = 12/23) of them were diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. However, 33% (n = 12/36) of the cats with normal VHS ≤ 7.9 were diagnosed with heart disease. Consistently, all healthy cats with abnormal heart sounds were diagnosed with heart disease. About 31.4% (n = 16/51) of these cats with typical heart sound had cardiomyopathy too. Conclusion: The occurrence of cardiomyopathy in apparently healthy cats has no association with the patients age, sex, and VHS, except for the heart sound. Echocardiography remains the best diagnostic tool, as normal heart size and normal heart sound do not exclude cardiomyopathy in this group of apparently healthy cats. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(3.000): 501-508]

Objective: Infertility caused by reproductive pathologies plays a significant role in animal breeding and could result in massive economic losses to livestock owners. Hence, this study was designed to allocate various pathological lesions in the female reproductive tract of she-camels (Camelus dromedarius) slaughtered in Egypt and isolate the causative agents associated with those pathologies. Materials and Methods: A total of 500 genitalia of adult nonpregnant she-camels aged between 6 and 15 years old were collected from three slaughterhouses at the Giza Governorate, Egypt, from August 2017 to August 2019. The uterus, cervix, and vagina were examined pathologically and microbiologically. Results: The uteri of 152 cases (30.4%), cervices of 24 cases (4.8%), and vaginae of 20 cases (4.2%) showed pathological abnormalities. The uterine inflammatory lesions were detected in 119 cases (23.8%), and the non-inflammatory lesions were detected in 58 cases (11.6%). Pathological changes of the cervix comprised 4.8%, whereas vaginal abnormalities represented 4%. The total microbial recovery rate was 28.4%, and the isolated organisms included Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in addition to Candida albicans. Trials to isolate Brucella and Salmonella species were negative; however, virological examination revealed the isolation of bovine herpes¬virus type-1 in two cases. Conclusion: Inflammatory lesions were the most prevailing pathological lesions observed along the genital tract of she-camels, and E. coli was the most prevalent isolate. The microbiological burden from the genital discharge could be of zoonotic importance to the examiner and could be a contaminant to the environment and, consequently, human. In addition, attention should be paid toward the possibility of infected she-camels to transmit such infections to farm animals in contact. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 633-646]

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effects of wet-to-dry bandages for the treatment of surgical wounds in goats. Materials and Methods: Three types of bandages, i.e., the calcium alginate gel, the homogenous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel dressing, and saline dressing, were used to promote the healing process for the management of wounds. Artificial circular wounds were created and treated with bandages to evaluate their effects on the wound healing process in 12 goats. The morphological parameters, i.e., diameters (cm), duration of healing, and wound contraction (cm), were evalu¬ated to differentiate the postoperative sequelae on wound healing process up to day 30 in three different treatment groups of goats. Tissue specimens from the wounds were examined histo¬pathologically on 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 30th postoperative days. Finally, the obtained data were ana¬lyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 19 software. Results: The current study revealed that the contraction diameter was higher in calcium alginate gel and PRP gel treated group when compared to the saline dressing group. Aggregation of immu¬noreactive cells (neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes), collagen fiber bundles among the cells, and proliferation of blood vessels were observed in the epidermis of calcium alginate gel, PRP gel treated and saline dressing wounds, which promote the healing process of wounds. In visual inspection, the number of reactive cells and proliferation of blood vessels were higher in the calcium alginate gel and PRP gel treated group than the saline dressing. Conclusion: In terms of epithelialization, epidermal characteristics, neovascularization, and infil¬tration of immunoreactive cells, the calcium alginate gel and the homogenous PRP gel dressings showed the best healing performance. Therefore, the present study suggests that clinicians could consider the calcium alginate gel dressing and homogenous PRP gel dressing as beneficial for wound care. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 647-654]

Objective: We aimed to determine the neem leaf extracts effect on Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) expressions in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis rats. Materials and Methods: In the first phase of the study, colitis was induced by DSS administration in the case group and compared to the control group. In the second phase, 84 colitis rats were divided into groups I, II, and III receiving 7.8 mg/day of mesalazine, 100 mg/200 gm body weight, and 200 mg/200 gm body weight neem leaf extract, respectively. Results: TNF-α and IL-6 expressions were significantly increased in the case group compared to the control group. TNF-α and IL-6 expressions were decreasing in all groups receiving treatment. Group III showed an earlier decrease compared to group II. TNF-α and IL-6 expressions in group III were comparable with group I since the second week. This condition was observed in the 4th week between group II and group I. Conclusion: It can be concluded that neem leaf extract decreased the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in DSS-induced colitis. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 744-749]

Objective: The study of an in vitro embryosis is crucial in genetics for breed improvement and reproduction in livestock, identifying the causes of infertility, and stem cell application. Meanwhile, the problem of nucleic acid denaturation observed during embryo development is yet to be resolved. This study was set out to analyze the nucleic acid denaturation during the development of in vitro embryos. Materials and Methods: Using an in-vitro fertilization-embryo in porcine, the cell development and apoptosis were evaluated by adding rapamycin by concentration to the TCM-199 containing 10% FBS or 10% porcine follicle fluid (pFF). Real-time PCR, zymography, DNA fragment, Western blot, and immunofluorescence analysis were also carried out to determine the development rate of inner cell mass in the in-vitro fertilization-embryo. Results: The findings indicated that the addition of rapamycin to the 10% pFF group during in vitro maturation led to an increase in the rates of cleavage and blastocyst development and the expression of active matrix metallopeptidase (MMP-9), while nucleic acid denaturation was suppressed. In other words, the addition of rapamycin was found to increase the expression of MMP-2 in the inner cell mass and trophoblast, while it inhibited apoptosis. Conclusion: The addition of rapamycin influences the regulation of apoptosis and MMPs, and based on this, it is presumed to have a positive effect on blastocyst development. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 614-620]

Objective: This case report aims to discuss the veterinary approach taken to control a case of aspergillosis outbreak on a duck farm. Materials and Methods: A broiler duck farm with a population of 900 Muscovy ducks was having a complaint of a 5% mortality rate in their 3-week-old ducklings. Upon presentation, 10% of the ducks appeared to be listless, dyspneic, ruffled feathers, and cyanotic. Postmortem examination of the dead birds was conducted. The collected samples were subjected to isolation and iden¬tification of the associated Aspergillus fumigatus under the microscope using the scotch tape method. Results: Postmortem examination revealed whitish to creamy caseous nodules in the lungs, tho¬racic air sacs, gizzard, proventriculus, and intestines. Granuloma lesions and infiltration of inflam¬matory cells were observed in the lung and liver tissues. As for therapeutic management, all ducks were treated with copper sulfate, erythromycin, and multivitamins as the fungicide, antibiotic, and supplement, respectively, via drinking water. Conclusion: There is no effective treatment for Aspergillosis as the spores are difficult to destroy completely. Nonetheless, the disease can be controlled and prevented effectively with proper farm sanitation and providing a suitable feed storage environment to inhibit the growth of this opportunistic fungus. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 692-697]