Haemophilus parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer’s disease, which is characterised by fibrinous polyserositis, meningitis and polyarthritis, causing severe economic losses to the swine industry. In this study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test was developed to improve the specificity, facility and speed of diagnosis of H. parasuis isolates. The LAMP assay rapidly amplified the target gene within 50 min incubation at 63 °C in a laboratory water bath. The LAMP amplicon could be visualised directly in the reaction tubes following the addition of SYBR Green I dye. The detection limit of this LAMP method was 10 CFU/mL, which was 10 times more sensitive than the earlier 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test conducted by Oliveira, Galina and Pijoan (2001), and no cross-reactivity was observed from other non-H. parasuis strains. This LAMP test was evaluated further on 187 clinical specimens from pigs suspected of being infected with H. parasuis. Forty-three were found positive by bacterial isolation of H. parasuis, as well as by the 16S rRNA PCR and LAMP tests. The 43 H. parasuis isolates were classified into 9 serovars and had 37 genetic patterns when analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). This displayed that various H. parasuis serovars and genotypes were widely distributed in South China. Therefore, the speed, specificity and sensitivity of the LAMP test, the lack of a need for expensive equipment, and the visual readout showed great potential for a correct clinical diagnosis of H. parasuis in favour of controlling Glässer’s disease.

Collection and evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid is one of the most important aspects in investigation and diagnosis of various diseases with involvement of central nervous system and spinal cord. In veterinary practice, scanty information is available regarding biochemical and physiological laboratory tests and biochemical referral values of biological ingredients of cerebrospinal fluid, hence this paper may be informative for researchers and veterinary practitioners.

The aims of this study were to determine the modulating role of ascorbic acid (AA) on rectal temperature (RT), heterophil to lymphocyte (H to L) ratio and aberrant behaviours of ostrich chicks transported by road for 4 h during hot-dry conditions. Twenty ostrich chicks aged 2.5 months, of both sexes and belonging to the Red Neck breed, served as subjects of the study. The chicks were assigned randomly to AA-treated and control groups, consisting of 10 chicks each. The AA-treated group was administered orally with 100 mg/kg body weight of AA dissolved in 5 mL of sterile water 30 min before transportation, whilst the control group was given the equivalent of sterile water only. The thermal load (TL) experienced in the vehicle during transportation fluctuated between 31 °C and 89 °C, as calculated from the ambient temperature and relative humidity. Transportation induced hyperthermia, lymphopenia, heterophilia and aberrant behaviours of pecking, wing fluffing and panting, which were ameliorated by AA administration. The relationships between the TL, journey duration and physiological variables of RT, H to L ratio and aberrant behaviours recorded during transportation were significantly and positively correlated in the control group. In AA-treated group the relationships were not significantly correlated. In conclusion, the results showed for the first time that AA ameliorated the adverse effects of stress caused by road transportation on the aberrant behaviours, RT and H to L ratio of ostrich chicks during the hot-dry season.

Cross-sectional study was done to determine the prevalence and economic significance of fasciolosis at Gondar ELFORA abattoir using coprological and abattoir survey. A 6 year database (2005-2010) from the abattoir was retrieved and analyzed. Faecal samples from randomly selected 400 cattle were examined using sedimentation technique and postmortem. Among 400 livers and faecal samples examined, 119 (29.75%) and 76 (19.5%) were positive for adult fasciola parasites and eggs respectively. Species identification revealed that F.hepatica was more prevalent (79.8%) as compared to F. gigantica (14.28 %). Some animals (5.88%) were harboring mixed infections. Animals of poor body condition (40%, n=50) were positive for Fasciola. Results from the retrospective study revealed that out of 33, 256 examined livers 8,830 (26.55 %) were condemned due to fasciolosis. Based on present local price of liver, the total economic loss through condemnation accounts 32, 075.41 Eth. Birr (US$ 2,566) annually. This indicated that Fasciola infection is an important condition that leads to high liver condemnation rates consequential into high economic loss. Therefore, additional work on this parasite on live animals of different age, species, breeds and economic aspects should be accomplished.

The present experiment was carried out to estimate the total saponins and evaluate their effect on methanogenesis and rumen fermentation by in vitro gas production techniques. Three plant material, rough chaff tree seed (Achyranthus aspara, T1), gokhru seed (Tribulus terrestris, T2) and Siris seed (Albizia lebbeck, T3) were selected for present study. The total saponins content in T1, T2 and T3 were 45.75, 25.65 and 48.26% (w/w), respectively. Three levels of each saponins (3, 6 and 9% on DM basis) and wheat straw based (50R:50C) medium fiber diet (200±10 mg) were used for the evaluation of their effect on methanogenesis and rumen fermentation pattern. Results showed the maximum methane reduction (49.66% in term of mM/gDDM) and acetate propionate ration (35.08%) were found in T1 at 6 and 3% levels. Result show that propionate production (mM/ml) was increased; protozoa population decreased (75%) significantly on addition with T3 at 6% level. No significant variation was found in dry matter digestibility in all cases. The present results demonstrate that total saponins extracted from different herbal plants are a promising rumen modifying agent. They have the potential to modulate the methane production, dry matter digestibility and microbial biomass synthesis.

The present study was carried out in six mature hard working donkeys of both sexes. They were selected from the clinical cases admitted to the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, Assiut University during the period of 2007-2010. These animals suffering from chip fracture of the proximal phalanx. Diagnoses of the cases were depending on history, clinical examination and radiographic description. Surgical removal of the bone fragment was performed in all cases. Follow up of the cases revealed satisfactory results without any postoperative complications.

Coenurosis is a zoonotic disease in a variety of ruminants caused by the metacestode of<em> Taenia multiceps</em>. The coenuri in the brain and spinal cord of sheep and goats have been identified as Coenurus cerebralis whilst those reported in other tissues have been named Coenurus gaigeri. This study was conducted during the spring and summer of 2011. Out of 25 739 goats inspected in slaughterhouses, 23 carcasses (0.09%) revealed one or multiple visible swellings on the different muscles and visceral organs. The coenuri, of variable sizes, were found mainly in the muscles of the thigh, shoulder and neck, and were less common in the abdominal muscles and subcutaneous tissues. Coenuri were also found in the diaphragm, tongue, intercostal muscles, lung, parotid area and tunica adventitia of the aorta in a goat with severe infection. The brains of slaughtered goats that had coenuri in their skeletal muscles were examined and coenuri were found in two specimens (8.69%). The coenuri were located in the occipital lobe, the anterior part of the right cerebrum and the parietal lobe of the left cerebrum. Histopathologically, coenuri in the brain caused pressure atrophy and liquefactive necrosis in the surrounding tissues, hyperaemia, perivascular cuffing, neuronal degeneration, neuronophagia, satellitosis, diffuse microgliosis and astrocytosis. Coenuri in the skeletal muscles caused degenerative and necrotic changes, hyalinisation and myositis. In the lung, tissues around the coenurus revealed atelectasis and focal interstitial fibrosis. In the present study, concurrent occurrence of coenuri in the central nervous system and skeletal muscles supports the hypothesis that C. cerebralis and C. gaigeri are different names for the metacestodes of the same species of tapeworm.

Different forms of equine sarcoids were recorded in 100 donkeys admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital- Assiut University and to Veterinary Units that belong to Assiut Governorate during the period from 2008-2010. In each animal, different data including: (types, size, multiplicity and anatomical location) were recorded., Histopathological examination, surgical and nonsurgical techniques for treatment of sarcoids were applied. Results of this study showed 123 sarcoid lesions classified into: Fibroblastic (87); nodular (21); verrucous (9); mixed (6). Treatment of sarcoid varied in results according to the seat and type of lesion. Injection of the sarcoid by live attenuated Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine was the best treatment in case of preocular sarcoid lesions..

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for ectoparasites infestation in sheep in three agro-ecological zones in central Oromia, Ethiopia, from October 2009 to April 2010. The study revealed that 637 (48.1%) of the 1325 sheep examined were infested with one or more ectoparasites. The ectoparasites identified were <em>Bovicola ovis</em> (27.2%), <em>Melophagus ovinus</em> (16.4%), <em>Ctenocephalides</em> sp. (2.3%), <em>Linognathus africanus</em> (1.2%), <em>Linognathus ovillus </em> (0.3%),<em> Sarcoptes</em> sp. (1.2%), <em>Amblyomma variegatum</em> (4.4%), <em>Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi</em> (1.9%), <em>Rhipicephalus pravus</em> (1.9%), <em>Rhipicephalus</em> (<em>Boophilus</em>) <em>decoloratus</em> (1.1%), <em>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</em> (0.9%), <em>Rhipicephalus praetextatus</em> (1.1%) and <em>Hyalomma truncatum</em> (1.6%). Statistically significant difference was observed in prevalence of <em>B. ovis</em> amongst study agroecological zones: highland 36.6%, midland 20.9% and lowland 14.0%. Significantly higher prevalence was recorded in highland agroecological zone. A significantly (OR = 0.041, <em>p</em> < 0.001) higher prevalence of <em>M. ovinus</em> in the highland (31.7%) than in both the lowland (0%) and midland (1.9%) was observed. The risk of tick infestation in the lowland and midland was 9.883 times and 13.988 times higher than the risk in the highland, respectively. A significantly higher prevalence of <em>Ctenocephalides</em> species was encountered in both the lowland (OR = 4.738, <em>p</em> = 0.011) and midland (OR = 8.078, <em>p</em> = 0.000) than in the highland agro-ecological zone. However, a significant difference (<em>p</em> = 0.191) amongst agro-ecological zones was not found for the prevalence of <em>Linognathus</em> and <em>Sarcoptes </em>species. Statistically significant variation (<em>p</em> > 0.05) was never recorded in the prevalence of all the identified species of ectoparasites between male and female sheep hosts. However, a significantly (<em>p</em> = 0.006) higher prevalence of<em> B. ovis</em> was recorded between young and adult sheep. The risk of <em>B. ovis</em> infestation was 1.45 times higher in young than the adult sheep. Furthermore, a significantly (<em>p</em> < 0.001) higher prevalence of <em>M. ovinus</em>, <em>B. ovis</em> and <em>Sarcoptes</em> sp. was found between sheep with poor and a good body condition. The ever increasing threat of ectoparasites on overall sheep productivity and tanning industry in Ethiopia warrants urgent control intervention. Further studies on the role of ectoparasites in transmission of diseases to sheep, zoonotic importance, comparative prevalence and load, and the importance of sheep as alternative hosts in different agroecological zones, breeds and management systems in Ethiopia are recommended so as to design applicable control programme in the country.