Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) infects humans and livestock, causing haemorrhaging andabortions in animals. Three major RVF epizootics have occurred in South Africa since the1950s and the outbreak in 2010 had a mortality rate of 10.7% in humans. Accurate and earlydetection is therefore essential for management of this zoonotic disease. Enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been developed for the detection of either IgM or IgGantibodies to RVFV in animal sera. In this study, data are presented on the validation of adouble-antigen ELISA for the simultaneous detection of both classes of antibodies to RVFV ina single test. ELISA plates were coated with a recombinant nucleoprotein. The nucleoprotein,conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, was used as the detecting reagent. A total of 534 serafrom sheep and cattle were used in the validation. The sheep sera were collected during a RVFpathogenesis study at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) – Onderstepoort VeterinaryInstitute and the cattle sera were collected during an outbreak of RVF in 2008 at the ARC –Animal Production Institute in Irene, Pretoria. The ELISA had a diagnostic sensitivity of 98.4%and a specificity of 100% when compared to a commercial cELISA. This convenient and fastassay is suitable for use in serological surveys or monitoring immune responses in vaccinatedanimals.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) infects humans and livestock, causing haemorrhaging andabortions in animals. Three major RVF epizootics have occurred in South Africa since the1950s and the outbreak in 2010 had a mortality rate of 10.7% in humans. Accurate and earlydetection is therefore essential for management of this zoonotic disease. Enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been developed for the detection of either IgM or IgGantibodies to RVFV in animal sera. In this study, data are presented on the validation of adouble-antigen ELISA for the simultaneous detection of both classes of antibodies to RVFV ina single test. ELISA plates were coated with a recombinant nucleoprotein. The nucleoprotein,conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, was used as the detecting reagent. A total of 534 serafrom sheep and cattle were used in the validation. The sheep sera were collected during a RVFpathogenesis study at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) – Onderstepoort VeterinaryInstitute and the cattle sera were collected during an outbreak of RVF in 2008 at the ARC –Animal Production Institute in Irene, Pretoria. The ELISA had a diagnostic sensitivity of 98.4%and a specificity of 100% when compared to a commercial cELISA. This convenient and fastassay is suitable for use in serological surveys or monitoring immune responses in vaccinatedanimals.

A 4-year-old Rahmani breed ewe was presented for surgery to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, South Valley University, Egypt with enlargement and protrusion of the eye ball, blepharitis and congestion of the conjunctiva. On examination, a cyst 2.5 cm x 3.5 cm in diameter containing sandy fluid was detected in the perioptic nerve fat. Histopathological examination revealed that the epithelial lining of the conjunctiva was necrotic and severely infiltrated by neutrophils. The underlying connective tissue was oedematous, hyperaemic and severely infiltrated by neutrophils. Desquamation of the corneal epithelium was seen, together with oedema of the stroma. The tissue surrounding the cyst was compressed and the lacrimal glands revealed pressure atrophy. The muscular tissue was atrophied and infiltrated by fat cells. The cyst wall was lined with white scolices protruding from the inner wall. Based on the gross and histopathological characteristics of the cyst observed, the cyst was diagnosed as Coenurus cerebralis. This is the first report of orbital coenurosis in a sheep.

A 4-year-old Rahmani breed ewe was presented for surgery to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, South Valley University, Egypt with enlargement and protrusion of the eye ball, blepharitis and congestion of the conjunctiva. On examination, a cyst 2.5 cm x 3.5 cm in diameter containing sandy fluid was detected in the perioptic nerve fat. Histopathological examination revealed that the epithelial lining of the conjunctiva was necrotic and severely infiltrated by neutrophils. The underlying connective tissue was oedematous, hyperaemic and severely infiltrated by neutrophils. Desquamation of the corneal epithelium was seen, together with oedema of the stroma. The tissue surrounding the cyst was compressed and the lacrimal glands revealed pressure atrophy. The muscular tissue was atrophied and infiltrated by fat cells. The cyst wall was lined with white scolices protruding from the inner wall. Based on the gross and histopathological characteristics of the cyst observed, the cyst was diagnosed as Coenurus cerebralis. This is the first report of orbital coenurosis in a sheep.

Aspergillus clavatus intoxication is a highly fatal neuromycotoxicosis of ruminants, especially cattle. It is caused by the ingestion of infected sprouting grain and sorghum beer residue. Locomotor disturbances, tremors and paralysis are observed. Histologically, degeneration and necrosis of larger neurons in the medulla oblongata, the midbrain, the thalamus and the ventral horns of the spinal cord are observed. Although a range of mycotoxins such as patulin, cytochalasin E and pseurotin A have been isolated, there is limited information on which specific mycotoxin or group of mycotoxins are involved during outbreaks of intoxication in livestock. In the present study, two outbreaks of A. clavatus poisoning in cattle are briefly described. Feed samples were collected for fungal identification, and culture and multitoxin analysis. A range of fungal metabolites were detected, and the estimated concentrations (μg/kg) are provided. Both the sprouting barley and brewer’s grain were predominantly infected with A. clavatus and, to a lesser extent, Rhizopus arrhizus. The only common Aspergillus secondary metabolite present in all the samples was pseurotin A. Patulin and cytochalasin E were present in the sprouting barley samples, as well as the A. clavatus isolates cultured on malt extract agar for 2 weeks; however, neither of these mycotoxins could be detected in the brewer’s grain sample.

Aspergillus clavatus intoxication is a highly fatal neuromycotoxicosis of ruminants, especially cattle. It is caused by the ingestion of infected sprouting grain and sorghum beer residue. Locomotor disturbances, tremors and paralysis are observed. Histologically, degeneration and necrosis of larger neurons in the medulla oblongata, the midbrain, the thalamus and the ventral horns of the spinal cord are observed. Although a range of mycotoxins such as patulin, cytochalasin E and pseurotin A have been isolated, there is limited information on which specific mycotoxin or group of mycotoxins are involved during outbreaks of intoxication in livestock. In the present study, two outbreaks of A. clavatus poisoning in cattle are briefly described. Feed samples were collected for fungal identification, and culture and multitoxin analysis. A range of fungal metabolites were detected, and the estimated concentrations (μg/kg) are provided. Both the sprouting barley and brewer’s grain were predominantly infected with A. clavatus and, to a lesser extent, Rhizopus arrhizus. The only common Aspergillus secondary metabolite present in all the samples was pseurotin A. Patulin and cytochalasin E were present in the sprouting barley samples, as well as the A. clavatus isolates cultured on malt extract agar for 2 weeks; however, neither of these mycotoxins could be detected in the brewer’s grain sample.

Haemoparasite infections are among the most economically important cattle diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study investigated the occurrence of haemoparasites in 295 indigenous cattle from five villages (Mswakini, Lake Manyara, Naitolia, Makuyuni and Nanja) of the Monduli district, a wildlife-domestic animal-human interface area in northern Tanzania. The data showed that the overall occurrence of haemoparasites in the sampled cattle was 12.5% (95% CI: 8.7% – 16.3%), involving single and mixed infections with Theileria parva, Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis, Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma brucei. The highest haemoparasite occurrence was recorded in Lake Manyara (18.3%; 95% CI: 8.5% – 28.1%), and the lowest was recorded in Nanja (6.5%; 95% CI: 0.4% – 12.6%). This preliminary study, furthermore, provided evidence of the possible arthropod vectors (ticks and tsetse flies) that may be involved in the transmission of haemoparasites to cattle in the Monduli district. It is envisaged that this survey will stimulate more studies to determine the prevalence of haemoparasites in livestock by using more sensitive molecular techniques.

Haemoparasite infections are among the most economically important cattle diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study investigated the occurrence of haemoparasites in 295 indigenous cattle from five villages (Mswakini, Lake Manyara, Naitolia, Makuyuni and Nanja) of the Monduli district, a wildlife-domestic animal-human interface area in northern Tanzania. The data showed that the overall occurrence of haemoparasites in the sampled cattle was 12.5% (95% CI: 8.7% – 16.3%), involving single and mixed infections with Theileria parva, Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis, Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma brucei. The highest haemoparasite occurrence was recorded in Lake Manyara (18.3%; 95% CI: 8.5% – 28.1%), and the lowest was recorded in Nanja (6.5%; 95% CI: 0.4% – 12.6%). This preliminary study, furthermore, provided evidence of the possible arthropod vectors (ticks and tsetse flies) that may be involved in the transmission of haemoparasites to cattle in the Monduli district. It is envisaged that this survey will stimulate more studies to determine the prevalence of haemoparasites in livestock by using more sensitive molecular techniques.

This study was conducted for the detection of Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum infection in neonatal calves. A total of 220 fecal samples (diarrheic 110 and non-diarrheic 110) of neonatal calves were collected from Mosul city, Iraq over a period of 16 months from November 2010 to March 2012. The age of the calves ranged from 1 to 30 days. All the fecal samples were analyzed by capture direct ELISA. The infection was found in 29.0% (n=32/110) of the diarrheic calves. The infection was mostly prevalent (p<0.001) in the calves of three weeks of age. No C. parvum infection could be detected in the non-diarrheic animals. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.v1i1p8-10 J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(1): 8-10, March 2014

This study was conducted for the detection of Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum infection in neonatal calves. A total of 220 fecal samples (diarrheic 110 and nondiarrheic 110) of neonatal calves were collected from Mosul city, Iraq over a period of 16 months from November 2010 to March 2012. The age of the calves ranged from 1 to 30 days. All the fecal samples were analyzed by capture direct ELISA. The infection was found in 29.0% (n=32/110) of the diarrheic calves. The infection was mostly prevalent (p<0.001) in the calves of three weeks of age. No C. parvum infection could be detected in the nondiarrheic animals.

This study was conducted to assess the interaction of specific immune responses produced after vaccination using live attenuated Newcastle disease (ND) LaSota and infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccines in village chickens of Nigeria. After immunization with the vaccines (individually or in different combinations), specific antibody levels in the chickens were measured using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests. The cases of administration of ND LaSota alone, ND LaSota followed by IBD vaccine after one week, and simultaneous use of ND LaSota and IBD vaccines were seroconverted against ND virus. Interference of antibody production against NDV or IBDV was observed when primary vaccination was done by using any one of the two and the remaining one was given after one week. However, simultaneous administration of the vaccines did not interfere with each other in terms of antibody responses. In all the vaccination trials, elicited immunity conferred protection to the chickens challenged with virulent NDV and IBDV. Individual vaccination with ND LaSota followed by IBD vaccines or vice versa giving an interval of more than one week, or simultaneous use of both vaccines are recommended to confer protective antibody levels against NDV and IBDV in village chickens.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.v1i1p16-20 J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(1): 16-20, March 2014

This study was conducted to assess the interaction of specific immune responses produced after vaccination using live attenuated Newcastle disease (ND) LaSota and infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccines in village chickens of Nigeria. After immunization with the vaccines (individually or in different combinations), specific antibody levels in the chickens were measured using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests. The cases of administration of ND LaSota alone, ND LaSota followed by IBD vaccine after one week, and simultaneous use of ND LaSota and IBD vaccines were seroconverted against ND virus. Interference of antibody production against NDV or IBDV was observed when primary vaccination was done by using any one of the two and the remaining one was given after one week. However, simultaneous administration of the vaccines did not interfere with each other in terms of antibody responses. In all the vaccination trials, elicited immunity conferred protection to the chickens challenged with virulent NDV and IBDV. Individual vaccination with ND LaSota followed by IBD vaccines or vice versa giving an interval of more than one week, or simultaneous use of both vaccines are recommended to confer protective antibody levels against NDV and IBDV in village chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing maize in quail diets with graded levels of rumen filtrate-fermented cassava meal (FCM) on growth and egg production performances. Cassava meal (CM) was mixed with dried manure of layer at 75 g/kg CM, which was mixed with freshly collected rumen filtrate (at 1 L/5 kg CM), and finally fermented in sealed bags for 14 days. It was then sun-dried and added in grower or finisher diets at 0, 50, 75 and 100%. Then, 84 three weeks-old Japanese quails (Cortunix japonica) were divided into four equal groups; the birds were randomly assigned to 0, 50, 75 and 100% FCM grower/layers diets, and were reared until 56 days of age. Daily feed consumption, weekly body weights, weight gains, feed conversion ratios (FCR), hen-day, and egg weights were monitored. The quails fed with 75% FCM were found to be superior (p&lt;0.05) for body weight, feed intake, weight gain, and egg weights. However, birds fed control diets had higher (p&lt;0.05) hen-day, but lower (p&lt;0.05) in egg weights. Complete replacement of maize with FCM (100%) had similar (p&gt;0.05) effect on feed intake, body weight, and weight gain, as compared to those of fed control diets. Thus, replacing maize with FCM had no deleterious effects on growth performance, but depressed hen-day. However, better growth performance was obtained when maize was replaced at 75% FCM.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2014.a19J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(3): 100-106, September 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing maize in quail diets with graded levels of rumen filtrate-fermented cassava meal (FCM) on growth and egg production performances. Cassava meal (CM) was mixed with dried manure of layer at 75 g/kg CM, which was mixed with freshly collected rumen filtrate (at 1 L/5 kg CM), and finally fermented in sealed bags for 14 days. It was then sun-dried and added in grower or finisher diets at 0, 50, 75 and 100%. Then, 84 three weeks-old Japanese quails (Cortunix japonica) were divided into four equal groups; the birds were randomly assigned to 0, 50, 75 and 100% FCM grower/layers diets, and were reared until 56 days of age. Daily feed consumption, weekly body weights, weight gains, feed conversion ratios (FCR), hen-day, and egg weights were monitored. The quails fed with 75% FCM were found to be superior (p<0.05) for body weight, feed intake, weight gain, and egg weights. However, birds fed control diets had higher (p<0.05) hen-day, but lower (p<0.05) in egg weights. Complete replacement of maize with FCM (100%) had similar (p>0.05) effect on feed intake, body weight, and weight gain, as compared to those of fed control diets. Thus, replacing maize with FCM had no deleterious effects on growth performance, but depressed hen-day. However, better growth performance was obtained when maize was replaced at 75% FCM.

The present study was conducted to investigate the bony structure (i.e., os cordis) in the heart of mature Dromedary camel. Ten hearts were collected from healthy mature camels of both sexes aging between 7-9 years. Grossly, the heart contained one large, elongated bone that was embedded inside the heart wall where the cardiac muscles were inserted and fixed. The bony structure was located at the adjacent areas between aorta and atria. Also, it was lying in the atrioventricular plane near the junction of the interatrial and interventricular septa, and was extended anteriorly into the atrioventricular valve rings. Histologically, the os cordis was composed of fibrous connective tissue, small foci and pieces of hyaline cartilage, calcified cartilage, and a large piece of spongy bone. The spongy bone contained red and white bone marrows with numerous red blood cells, adipocytes and osteocytes. This is the first detail study on os cordis of Dromedary camel heart with special reference to cartilago cordis.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2014.a26J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(3): 130-135, September 2014

The present study was conducted to investigate the bony structure (i.e., os cordis) in the heart of mature Dromedary camel. Ten hearts were collected from healthy mature camels of both sexes aging between 7-9 years. Grossly, the heart contained one large, elongated bone that was embedded inside the heart wall where the cardiac muscles were inserted and fixed. The bony structure was located at the adjacent areas between aorta and atria. Also, it was lying in the atrioventricular plane near the junction of the interatrial and interventricular septa, and was extended anteriorly into the atrioventricular valve rings. Histologically, the os cordis was composed of fibrous connective tissue, small foci and pieces of hyaline cartilage, calcified cartilage, and a large piece of spongy bone. The spongy bone contained red and white bone marrows with numerous red blood cells, adipocytes and osteocytes. This is the first detail study on os cordis of Dromedary camel heart with special reference to cartilago cordis.