International audience

International audience | Objective-To evaluate the efficacy of tiludronate for the treatment of horses with signs of pain associated with lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column. Animals-29 horses with clinical manifestations of pain associated with lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column and abnormal radiographic findings indicative of osteoarthritis of the articular processes-synovial intervertebral joints. Procedures-Horses were initially examined in accordance with a standardized protocol, which included radiographic, ultrasonographic, and scintigraphic examinations. Fifteen horses were randomly assigned to receive tiludronate (1 mg/kg, IV, as a slow-rate infusion), and 14 horses received a control substance (day 0). Horses were monitored for the subsequent 120 days. Clinical evaluations were performed on days 60 and 120. Horses that had no evidence of clinical improvement on day 60 were administered tiludronate. Statistical analyses were performed to compare efficacy at day 60, improvement of dorsal flexibility at day 120, and dorsal flexibility before and 60 days after administration of tiludronate. Results-Horses treated with tiludronate had significant improvement in dorsal flexibility between days 0 and 60, compared with control horses. Clinical improvement in dorsal flexibility was still evident at day 120. The percentage of positive responses was higher in the tiludronate group at 60 days. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Tiludronate had efficacy in the treatment of horses with signs of pain induced by osteoarticular lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column, causing a significant improvement in dorsal flexibility. Tiludronate may offer a treatment option for the management of horses with interverteloral lesions and the associated pain.

The epidemiology of serotype SAT-2 foot-and-mouth disease was investigated in sub-Saharan Africa by phylogenetic analysis using the 1D gene encoding the major antigenic determinant. Fourteen genotypes were identified of which three are novel and belong to East Africa, bringing the total number of genotypes for that region to eight. The genotypes clustered into three lineages that demonstrated surprising links between East, southern and south-western Africa. One lineage was unique to West Africa. These results established numerous incursions across country borders in East Africa and long term conservation of sequences for periods up to 41 years. Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda have all experienced outbreaks from more than one unrelated strain, demonstrating the potential for new introductions. The amount of variation observed within this serotype nearly equalled that which was found between serotypes; this has severe implications for disease control using vaccination.

An investigation was carried out to study the prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus hydatidosis in feral pigs (Sus domesticus) in the Charters Towers region of tropical North Queensland. Data were collected from a total of 238 carcasses, which were hunted and shot in the Burdekin River catchment area. Organs of the abdominal, thoracic, and pelvic cavities were examined for the presence of hydatid cysts. In the laboratory, cysts and hydatid cyst fluids were examined under a stereoscopic binoc ular microscope and a compound microscope. An overall prevalence of E. granulosus hydatid cysts in feral pigs was found to be 31.1%. There was no significant difference in either sex or age between infected and non-infected feral pigs. The predilection sites of cysts were livers (23%) and lungs (62%), with more cysts in lungs (252) than livers (48). The ratio of livers to lungs infected with fertile cysts was 1:4 compared to 1:8 sterile cysts. The overall fertility of cysts was 70.1%. The percentage of fertile cysts in liver and lung was 79.2% and 68.7%, respectively. The diameter of fertile cysts ranged from 15 to over 60 mm. There was no significant difference in size between fertile and non-fertile cysts in lungs. The high prevalence rate and fertility of cysts in feral pigs confirm that feral pigs can take part in the sylvatic cycle of the parasite in the region. The public health significance of this observation is potentially very important.

Between January 1999 and December 2000 faecal samples from 16 264 cattle at 12 dipping sites in the highveld and nine in the lowveld communal grazing areas of Zimbabwe were examined for gastrointestinal (GI) nematode and cestodes eggs, and coccidia oocysts. Strongyle larvae were identified following culture of pooled faecal samples collected at monthly intervals. The effects of region, age, sex and season on the prevalence of GI nematodes, cestodes and coccidia were determined. Faecal egg and oocyst counts showed an overall prevalence of GI nematodes of 43 %, coccidia 19.8 % and cestodes 4.8 %. A significantly higher prevalence of infection with GI nematodes, cestodes and coccidia was recorded in calves (P < 0.01) than in adults. Pregnant and lactating cows had significantly higher prevalences than bulls, oxen and non-lactating (dry cows) (P < 0.01). The general trend of eggs per gram (epg) of faeces and oocysts per gram (opg) of faeces was associated with the rainfall pattern in the two regions, with high epg and opg being recorded during the wet months. The most prevalent genera of GI nematodes were Cooperia, Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus in that order. Strongyloides papillosus was found exclusively in calves. Haemonchus was significantly more prevalent during the wet season than the dry season (P < 0.01). In contrast, Trichostrongylus was present in significantly (P < 0.01) higher numbers during the dry months than the wet months, while Cooperia and Oesophagostomum revealed no significant differences between the wet and dry season. These findings are discussed with reference to their relevance for strategic control of GI parasites in cattle in communal grazing areas of Zimbabwe.

Koch (1844) originally described only the male of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) elliptica (Koch, 1844), which he named Rhipistoma ellipticum. For the past century, however, this name has been considered a junior synonym of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi (Audouin, 1826), or a nomen nudum. We redescribe here the male and larva of H. (R.) elliptica and describe the female and nymph for the first time. Our redescription is based on the male holotype, plus numerous specimens from southern and East Africa. The adults of this tick parasitize domestic and wild carnivores, and the immature stages infest rodents in these regions. For comparative purposes redescriptions of all parasitic stages of H. (R.) leachi are provided. It parasitizes the same hosts as H. (R.) elliptica in Egypt, and in northeastern, Central, West and East Africa.

kills Brucella cells by causing lysis of the membrane, so the phenol-heat killed brucella antigen may lake specificity as a result of destruction the majority of proteins in the cell wall. Accordingly, attention was directed to produce antigen using binary ethylene imine as an inactivator. The produced antigen showed high specificity in detecting Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis-infected animals, but sensitivity was not affected in comparison with the standard Rose Bengal antigen. In Enzyme immunotransfer blot (EITB), phenol–heat killed brucella cells showed only 3 bands (37.375, 23.47 and 7.83 kDa) that denotes denaturation for at least 6 bands whereas binary inactivated brucella cells showed similarity with non-treated ones

This work was carried out in four selected provinces in Beni-Suef Governorate, Egypt to investigate the possibility of existence of different types of enteric parasites infect 2-5 years old sheep and estimate the rate of improvement in some of its productive parameters post eradication of these parasites in relation to each parasitic infection. The study cleared that gasterointestinal bursated nematodes (Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Ostertagia spp., Nematodirus spp. and Cooperia spp.) and Fasciola are the most common parasites infecting sheep (57.44% & 48.44% respectively), this was followed by Paramphistopmum infection (38.88%), Moniezia spp. (33.11%), different types of Eimeria spp. (29%) and finally Trichuris spp(7%). Fecal culture of positive samples demonstrate presence of five types of nematode larvae include Haemonchus spp. larvae (33.75%), Oestertagia spp. (31.5%), Trichostrongylus (11.75%), Cooperia spp. (14.5%) and Nematodirus spp. (8.5%). Using of ivermectin for treatement of GIN, Nitroxynil for treatment of Fasciola, and oxyclozanide for treatment of Paramphistomum species infection, induce marked decrease in the mean number of different eggs per gram (e.p.g.) offaeces associated with improvement in mean body weight gain (5.71 Kg) and rate of lambing (26.77) after 6 months post treatment. High rate of improvement post treatment was recorded in animals originally free from Fasciolia infection, also and that harboring low e.p.g. than animals of high e.p.g. Finally it was evident that high rate of improvement was cleared in animals less than 4 years old in comparison by that over 4 years old

Thirty four apparently healthy cattle (9 males and 25 females) of mixed breed (Balady X Friesen) were selected for ultrasonographic investigations in this study. Ultrasonographic measurements of vertical and horizontal diameters of kidney, the diameters of the renal parenchyma and the diameter of renal sinus were determined in the middle of right and left kidneys. Twenty nine cattle (9 males and 20 females), had normal ultrasonographic appearance of both right and left kidney while the other five cows had some pathological affections including cystic kidney and renal dysplasia in their left kidneys . The vertical diameter of the right kidney was (4.84±1.18 cm) , the horizontal diameter (9.16 ± 1.35 cm) , and the vertical diameter of the renal sinus was ( 3.54 ± 1.02 cm ) . The thickness of the renal cortex and medulla ( renal parenchyma) was (2.16 ± 0.46 cm ). On the other hand ,the vertical diameter of the left kidney was (5.89 ±1.13 cm), and the vertical diameter of the renal sinus was ( 3.83 ± 1.12 cm ). The thickness of the renal cortex and medulla (renal parenchyma) was (2.46 ± 0.35 cm ). It was concluded that the ultrasonographic values determined in this study can be used as references for the diagnosis of morphologic changes in the kidney of domestic dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to make an inventory of the ixodid tick species infesting wild animals in three western, semi-arid nature reserves in South Africa. To this end 22 animals in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, 10 in the West Coast National Park and 16 in the Karoo National Park were examined. Fourteen tick species were recovered, of which Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus exoph thalmos and Rhipicephalus glabroscutatum were each present in two reserves and the remainder only in one. The distributions of two of the 14 tick species recovered, namely Rhipicephalus capensis and Rhipicephalus neumanni, are virtually confined to the western semi-arid regions of southern Africa. Hyalomma truncatum, R. capensis and R. glabroscutatum were the most numerous of the ticks recovered, and eland, Taurotragus oryx, were the most heavily infested with the former two species and gemsbok, Oryx gazella, and mountain reedbuck, Redunca fulvorufula, with R. glabroscutatum.