Brazilian spotted fever is a serious and lethal illness for humans and is caused by the Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria. In the state of São Paulo/SP (Brazil), the etiological agent of this disease is transmitted by the Amblyomma sculptum tick. It was already shown that horses infected with this bacteria produce a strong immune response and could be important sentinels for the detection of the disease in a proper region. The present investigation performed a serological survey in horses from five farms of Vale do Paraíba, São Paulo state, Brazil, searching for antibodies against, Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia rhipicephali, and Rickettsia bellii. In each farm, ticks were also collected that were taxonomically identified and examined by real-time PCR for Rickettsia spp DNA. Blood samples were collected from 206 horses, and 334 ticks were picked up from these animals from January to December 2017. Eighty ticks wereA. sculptum and 254 Dermacentor nitens. Of the blood samples, 7.3% seroconverted to Rickettsia spp. Of these, 0.97% had a positive serological response to R. bellii. None of the 80 A. sculptum ticks were positive through real-time PCR for Rickettsia spp. Although there was no detection of ticks infected by Rickettsia spp in five farms of Paraíba Valley, the horses presented serological positive reactions against this agent. Thus, further large studies should be conducted in the area targeting hosts and vectors to generate data for control measures of the transmission of Brazilian spotted fever.

This report describes a 14-year-old Pit Bull dog presenting with a soft tissue swelling of 3-month progression in the right sublingual region. Histopathological analysis of the surgically resected specimen revealed large numbers of mature adipocytes and islets consisting of mucin-containing atrophic acini and dilated ducts surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule. Findings were consistent with sialolipoma of the sublingual salivary gland. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of sialolipoma affecting the sublingual salivary gland in dogs.

Bovine herpesvirus 5 is an alphaherpesvirus that causes nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis in cattle. This disease occurs naturally in either outbreaks or isolated cases, and exhibits low morbidity and high lethality. Although previous studies elucidated crucial aspects involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, there is a paucity of information regarding the molecular events contributing to infection and replication of BoHV-5. The objective of the present study was to determine the in vitro gene expression pattern of BoHV-5 (e.g., alpha, beta, and gamma genes) and host cells genes (GAPDH and 18S) over time utilizing different quantities of inoculated virus. Three BoHV-5 genes (bICP0, UL9, US4) and one structural bovine cell gene had their expression accessed by real-time PCR. While the expression of BoHV-5 genes increased during the course of infection, GAPDH gene expression decreased in the host cells, evidencing the effect of viral infection on the expression of bovine cell genes. The 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was constitutively expressed throughout BoHV-5 infection. Our data clearly demonstrates that GAPDH gene should not be used as a reference gene in studies of BoHV-5 infection because it was influenced by viral infection. However, 18S rRNA was constitutively expressed and, therefore, is recommended for normalization of BoHV-5 infection studies in bovine cells. The expression of viral genes transcripts was not altered by increasing number of viral particles added to the culture. All viral genes included here demonstrated the same expression pattern over time and there was no difference in the expression of viral genes among the various time points. Our data show important differences comparing to classical studies regarding herpesvirus alpha, beta, and gamma genes expression. More research is necessary to improve our understanding about the BoHV-5 biology during infection. Studies employing next-generation sequencing (i.e., RNA-seq), using both in vitro and in vivo models, would be the next logical step to grasp the virus and host cell’s transcriptome changes over the course of infection.

The various studies on the manipulation of the estrous cycle culminated in the development of estrous and ovulation synchronization protocols, to the point of defining an optimum moment for artificial insemination. The induction of ovulation is a primordial part for the determination of the moment of the TAI, so to study which hormones and how they behave allows a better understanding of this physiological process and, to manipulate it efficiently. The aim of the present study was to compare the use of estradiol benzoate (EB) and cypionate (ECP) as ovulation inducer in Girolando cows submitted to Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI). Ovulations of 108 Girolando cows were synchronized and the initial day of treatment, recorded as D0, which was when the animals received an intravaginal device containing 1g of progestogen and an intramuscular application (im) of 2mg of EB. After 8 days (D8), the device was removed and 500μg of cloprostenol (im) was administered to all females. Then, the animals were randomly divided into two treatments: BG Group (n = 52) and CG Group (n = 56). The CG animals received 1mg of ECP (im) as the ovulation inducer at the time of device removal, while BG Group cows received 1mg of EB (im) 24 h later (D9). TAI occurred at D10. After device removal, ultrasound evaluations were performed every 12 h up to ovulation. The following reproductive parameters were evaluated: interval from intravaginal device removal to ovulation - IDO (hours); interval from ovulation to TAI-IOT (hours); diameter of the largest follicle at intravaginal device removal (mm); maximum diameter of the DF (mm) at D10; the dominant follicle growth rate (mm/day); synchronization rate - SR (%); ovulation rate - OR (%) and PR - pregnancy rate (%). Only the ovulation rate presented a statistical difference (p<0.05). In conclusion, despite the ovulation rate difference, both estradiol esters administered were effective and presented similar pregnancy rates in Girolando cows submitted to TAI.

Aquarium ornamental pet fish constitute a major segment in the pet industry, with the United States, Europe, and Japan dominating the market. There are approximately 1,500 marine fish species and over 4,500 freshwater fish species commercialized as aquarium ornamental pet fish. Fish are the fourth most common pet present in Brazilian homes. In Brazil, aquarium ornamental pet fish can be marketed and distributed from different parts of the Brazilian territory and the world. Commercialization and circulation of living animals without the use of adequate prophylactic management procedures enables dissemination of a number of agents responsible for infectious diseases. Aquarium pet fish can also carry pathogenic agents, of bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic etiology, that may have a zoonotic feature endangering the persons handling the animals. This review presents the main pathogenic infectious agents of bacterial, viral, andfungal etiology that affect aquarium pet fish, as well as the prevention and control measures to ensure sanitary excellence in this segment.

Toxoplasmosis is an important reason of reproductive failure in human and farm animals causing significant socioeconomic losses worldwide. Additionally, infection in pregnant women can cause severe health problems in the child as mental retardation and blindness. In this work the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was estimated in dairy goats, sheep, and cows as well as in pregnant women in Qena Province, Egypt using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The study included 150 raw milk samples which were collected from the previously mentioned animals in different localities (50 from each) as well as 100 pregnant women serum samples with a history of abortion. Our results revealed that T. gondii IgM and both IgM & IgG antibodies were detected in 20, 40 and 28, 6% of goat and sheep milk samples, respectively. While T. gondii IgM antibodies could be detected in 64% of cow milk samples. A total of 28 (28%) women were seropositive for toxoplasmosis, divided into 2 (2%) were seropositive for T. gondii IgM antibodies and 26 (26%) for IgG. There was an association between IgG seroprevalence and age and the times of abortion in pregnant women.

Acute upper respiratory disease in chickens is a major cause of economic losses due to high mortality rates especially in poorly managed cases. Respiratory disease in poultry is initiated by variety of viruses, bacteria and fungi. The current study aims to investigate the prevalence of avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), their proteases and other virulence genes in respiratory viral disease outbreaks in broiler chickens. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed on samples from 25 farms with respiratory affections, APEC was isolated and virulence determinants in E. coli were investigated phenotypically and genotypically. E. coli was isolated from different flocks (100%, n=25). They were positive to Congo red binding (100%, n=25), iss gene (100%, n=25), iutA gene (92%, n= 23), tsh gene (24%, n=6), vat gene (20%, n=5). Presence of iss gene and CR binding proves that all isolates are APEC. Although the entire 25 APEC isolates carried more than one virulence gene; either 2 genes (n=17), 3 genes (n=7) and 4 genes (n=1), no effect of the number of genes harbored on the mortality rates in different flocks was observed. The presence of two serine proteases genes (tsh and vat) was confirmed in a total of 10 isolates (40% of the isolates) with positivity to tsh gene (24%) and vat gene (20%). qRT-PCR for detection of IBV-S1, AIV-H9, AIV-H5 and velogenic NDV-F genes revealed that 96% (n=24), 44% (n=11), 12% (n=3) and 4% (n=1) of 25 farms were positive to IBV, AIV-H9, velogenic NDV and AIV-H5, respectively. The results showed that among the 25 flocks, single viral infection was observed in 12 flocks (11 IBV and 1 AIV-H9), while mixed viral infections were detected in 13 flocks; IBV/AIV-H9 (n=9), IBV/velogenic NDV (n=3) and IBV/AIV-H9/AIV-H5 (n=1).The average mortality rate was the lowest in flocks infected with IBV, higher rates of mortality were observed in flocks infected with AIV-H9, velogenic NDV and AIV-H5. Flock age seems to affect the mortality rate in flocks infected with AIV-H9 where flocks aging 16:20, 21:25 and 26:30 days suffered from 2.38%, 8.13%, 11.48% average mortality rates, respectively.

Bacterial disease still has serious problem in the intensive poultry production. In the recent years, particular concern has been raised by high incidence of poultry infections by E. coli. Analyses of antibacterial properties of essential oils have been carried out by range of researches. This experiment aimed to study the effect of immunomodulators on the immunogenicity of vaccine E. coli O78. In this study 250 broiler chickens were used. They were divided into 5 separated groups all groups vaccinated with E. coli O78 cebel coarse spray vaccine, except control group, 2 groups treated with immunomodulators, 3 groups challenged with untyped E. coli strain, all chickens housed in separated anavar. First group was control, 2nd group was vaccinated only, 3rd group was vaccinated and challenged, 4th group was vaccinated and received immunomodulators and 5th group was vaccinated, received immunomodulators and challenged. All chickens were observed daily food consumption, weight gained mortality rate, lesion, bioavailability, and weekly collected blood samples from 2-5 birds. The results were summarized as follows; immunomodulators have positive effect on B.W.G, decreased mortality and morbidity rate. The challenge enhanced the effect of E. coli O78 vaccine and there was marked improvement in bioavailability, B.W.G and immune defense against bacterial and respiratory diseases. Also, immunomodulators increased immunogenicity against bacterial disease through enhancing immune response system, and had synergistic effect with vaccination against E. coli.

This study was carried out to identify testicular biometric data of native Egyptian buffalo-bulls through the determination of testicular parameters by using ultrasound examination of the testis and scrotum and determination of scrotal circumference of the life animal and morphometric data of the testis after slaughter of the bulls and their correlations with body weight at the different ages that will provide data base for the reproductive anatomy of the local Egyptian buffalo bull. The animals were divided into three groups (G1, G2 and G3) according to the age and the weight of the animals. All animals were examined with ultrasonography to determine the different parameters of the testis, epididymis and pampiniform plexus. After slaughter of the animals, the left and right testes were taken for morphometric and histological analysis. The results revealed significant (p˂0.05) variations between body weight and testicular parameters that included (Testicular Weight, Testicular Width, Testicular Circumference, Testicular Thickness and Testicular Length) as there was an increase in all parameters with the advancement in age and body weight. Histological analysis of G1 declared that only sertoli cells rested on basal lamina of seminiferous tubules and Gonocyt cells are predominant but there was no spermatogenic cells, no spermatocyte and no spermatid in the lumen of seminiferous tubules. In G2 group, there was replacement of Gonocyt cells with differentiated spermatogenic cell and spermatocyte in the lumen of seminiferous tubule but there was no spermatid. In G3 group, there were different stages of developmental spermatogenic cell clusters within the epithelium of seminiferous tubules (sertoli cells spermatogenia cells, different cells type of spermatocyte, and  round  spermatid as well as several threads like sperms were in the lumen of seminiferous tubules) that  indicate the early maturity of Egyptian  buffalo bull noticed at this age Statistical analysis revealed significant (p <0.05) changes in the testicular parameters with the advancement in the age and weight of the animals concluding that ultrasonographic imaging of the testis and epididymis of buffalo-bulls was given appreciable benefits in studying the developmental changes of the testes and epididymis of buffalo-bulls, so that ultrasound examination of testicular parameters is a good tool for prediction of the future fertility of buffalo-bulls.

Glucocorticoid therapy is limited by numerous metabolic adverse effects associated with long term exposure to excess doses. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the possible protective effects of date palm and/or Saccharomyces cerevisiae probiotics on dexamethasone-induced metabolic changes in rabbits. 25 healthy male white New Zealand rabbits were grouped into group 1 (control), group 2 (2 mg/kg bw/day dexamethasone I/M), group 3 (0.5 g/kg/day date palm flesh+2 mg/kg bw/day dexamethasone I/M), group 4 (1g/kg/day S. cerevisiae probiotic + 2 mg/kg bw/day dexamethasone I/M), group 5 (date palm flesh + S. cerevisiae probiotic + dexamethasone at the aforementioned doses). Dexamethasone injection resulted in marked increases (p≤0.05) in hepatic MDA concentration and catalase activity, as well as significant decreases in hepatic GSH concentration and body weight gain. The serum levels of glucose, lipid profile (TG, cholesterol, VLDL, LDL/HDL risk ratio), and liver function biomarkers (serum total proteins, albumin, ALT, ALP) showed significant variations (P≤0.05) between control and dexamethasone treated group. The ameliorative effect of date palm fruit and/or probiotics (S. cerevisiae) was markedly indicated by restoration of these tested parameters to near normalcy. Therefore, the co-treatment with date or S. cerevisiae could be considered of great interest as potential feed additives for reduction of the adverse metabolic effects induced by dexamethasone in rabbits.