This study sought to determine if sheep suffer neurological symptoms when fed Acacia angustissima leaves, and whether an equivalent amount of 70% acetone extract would have the same effect. In addition, the study tried to determine if treatment of leaves with 70% acetone would destroy the activity of A. angustissima toxins, and whether extraction with 70% aqueous acetone extract would separate two components of a toxic system. Twenty-five Menz lambs were randomly assigned to one of five treatments (1) A angustissima leaves as half the diet, 2) dried extract (70% aqueous acetone) of the same quantity of leaves, 3) a corresponding amount of residues, 4) a recombination of the dried extract and dried residue, or (5) a control diet containing no A angustissima leaves or extract fractions. All animals fed the leaves and the recombined fractions died or were euthanized when they were observed to be dying of severe neurological derangement. None of the other animals showed any neurological signs of impairement. The results of this study indicate that healthy, well-fed sheep can be poisoned by A angustissima, that the toxins are not destroyed by acetone or oven drying, and that severe neurological intoxication requires two components, which can be separated by acetone extraction.

International audience

International audience

peer reviewed | Techniques of cost-effectiveness analyses were applied to determine whether or not it is economically efficient to measure the packed cell volume (PCV) on a colic horse before deciding on abdominal surgery. The effects of this decision of uncertainty on the estimated values of the parameters (probability of survival after surgery, surgery costs, PCV positive predictive value, and length of survival after surgery) were considered along with the monetary values of collecting additional information on those parameters. The effects of uncertainty on the incremental net benefits of each alternative were depicted by tornado diagrams, cost-effectiveness acceptability curves, and posterior probability distributions. The worth of additional information was computed as the expected values of perfect and sampling information. Given previously published results, the best PCV cut-off point to distinguish between survivors and nonsurvivors was at 44%. At this threshold, the most economically effective alternative is to measure PCV before surgery providing the owner is willing to pay less than €672 for each year the horse survives. Uncertainty on probability of survival after surgery largely influenced the decision whether or not to measure the PCV, but one should spend at most €381 in research to reduce this uncertainty. A study of postoperative survival of 500 colic horses would ensure an expected gain of €370 associated with a reduction in uncertainty.

A penta-dog inactivated cell culture vaccine was prepared to protect dogs against canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus1, 2 and rabies virus. The potency of this vaccine was compared with that of single inactivated vaccines prepared against each disease, in different groups of susceptible dogs. It was found that the protective dose of penta-dog vaccine (2ml) including the protective amounts of the five viral proteins resulted in full protection of vaccinated dogs against the challenge with virulent strain of the used viruses showing no antagonizing effect between each other with and no adverse postvaccinal reaction. So, the prepared inactivated cell culture penta-dog vaccine is a safe and potent vaccine for dogs which resulted in saving time, cost, and effort stress factors on animals and providing good immune statues.

In this study, two methods for determination of formalin amount were applied on samples of inactivated vaccines representing local or foreign companies. The first method; matching method was conducted by using phenyl hydrazine while in the other method is; spectrophotometry phloroglucinol was used. Spectrophotometrical method was found more sensitive and more accurate than the matching one. At the same time, the spectrophotometry method could be used for determination of formalin in all inactivated vaccines either bacterial or viral vaccines.

The incidence of E. coli O157, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Yersinia enterocolitica were studied in some locally produced cheeses. Thirty samples of each kind of the cheese were tested for the presence of some pathogens, which are frequently associated with food born disease. E. coli O157: IMS; Listeria monocytogenes were enumerated on modified Oxford agar; Salmonella was enumerated using standard procedures from Dynal manual using anti-Salmonella antibodies. Y. enterocolitica was enumerated on Yersinia selective agar base. Romano and processed cheese were found to be free from all tested pathogens but Kareish and Feta cheese were found to harbor E. coli and Y. entertocolitica. The results indicated the presence of some food borne pathogens in our food supply. Certain types of locally produced cheese still pose a significant health threat for the consumers. The finding of this study warrant the need for educational programs for dairy producers about the risks associated with consumption of certain cheeses manufactured from raw or insufficiently heated milk.

The anesthetic, biochemical and pathological effects of eugenol were evaluated in the African cat-fish Clarias gariepinus in comparison with MS-222. Aquous exposure of Clarias gariepinus to eugenol at concentration of 62.5 – 250 ) g / ml showed short interval to induction than MS-222. On the other hand, eugenol provided longer time for recovery (8.28 min) at higher concentration (250 )g / ml) than MS-222 (5.26 min) but no differences were observed at lower concentrations between both agents. Mortality rate of 46.5 and 33.3 % was recorded for eugenol and MS-222, respectively at 250 )g / ml. Exposure of fish to 250 )g / ml of eugenol or MS-222 resulted in significant increases in serum levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid and decrease in total protein and albumin. Significant increases in AST, ALT and Ca levels were recorded only on exposure to eugenol 250 )g / ml. Histopathological examinations showed congestion of gill blood vessels, diffuse vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of the epithelium lining of the secondary lamellae of the gill filaments, degeneration and focal necrosis of renal tubules in kidneys, necrosis and deposition of hemosiderin pigment in the macrophages of spleen which is indicative for hemorrhages and hemolysis as well as mild catarrhal enteritis of intestine of fish groups exposed to 250 ) g / ml of both agents. Moreover, massive fatty and degenerative changes in liver were observed only in fish exposed to 250 )g / ml of eugenol. On the other hand, lower concentrations of both agents did not differ from those of control fish. In conclusion, it appears that eugenol at lower and medium concentrations could produce an anesthesia characterized by rapid induction and rational recovery without significant changes in tissues and blood chemistry. Care should be taken on using high concentrations of eugenol as ventilatory failure may occur

A total of 17 commercially reared ostriches (Struthio camelus) from Msengi farm, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, observed with swollen eyes, severe conjunctivitis and constant lacrimation accompanied by a purulent exudate, were restrained for further clinical examination. Some of the birds were semi-blind with severe loss of body condition. When examined, tiny organisms were observed attached to the nictitating membranes and the conjuctival sacs of both eyes. The organisms were identified as Philophthalmus gralli, the "oriental eye-fluke" and Melanoides tuberculata, a prosobranch snail, was confirmed as the intermediate host through natural and experimental infection. To the best of our knowledge this is the first record of the oriental eye-fluke infection in birds in Zimbabwe and Africa and extends its known geographical range.

Seasonal surveys were conducted at the Vaal Dam between April 2000 and January 2001. Twenty smallmouth yellowfish (Labeobarbus aeneus) and 20 largemouth yellowfish (Labeobarbus kimberleyensis) were collected with the aid of gill nets. Surface water quality variables were included. The cestodes were identified as either Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934 or "other cestode spp.". The majority (99.8 %) of the cestodes found in both yellowfish species were identified as B. acheilognathi (Asian tapeworm). The prevalence, mean intensity and abundance of B. acheilognathi in both yellowfish species were calculated. Ecological parameters including species specificity, seasonality, gender specificity and relationships between fish size and the Asian tapeworm prevalence were also included. In this study, B. acheilognathi preferred L. kimberleyensis over L. aeneus although a low intensity was observed in smallmouth yellowfish. Furthermore, the infection (in terms of prevalence, abundance and mean intensity) in largemouth yellowfish was markedly higher. Seasonal patterns observed in the Asian tapeworm's infection of smallmouth yellowfish are attributed to breeding and subsequent feeding patterns of this fish species with relatively high infections recorded in winter and spring. For L. kimberleyensis no explanation can be given regarding the seasonal patterns observed for the mean intensity and abundance of B. acheilognathi. The maximum and minimum mean intensity and abundance values in largemouth yellowfish were recorded in autumn and spring, respectively. In addition, the prevalence of B. acheilognathi was consistently high in all four seasons.