Seventy-five rats were used to determine the toxic effects of difenoconazole (D) fungicide on haematological, some biochemical parameters and thyroid hormones in adult albino rats of both sexes, as well as possible inhibition of adverse effects by using vitamin E and/or vitamin C as antioxidant drugs. Rats were classified into five groups each of 15 rats. Group (1) served without treatment as negative control, group (2) treated with 1/10 of the LD50 of D (140.3 mg/kg B.wt.), in alternative days for 30 days and cessation of D for further 15 days as a withdrawal period, group (3) treated with vit. E (24 mg/ kg B.wt.) combined with the same dose of D, intubation every other day, group (4) administered vit. C (200 mg/ kg B.wt.) daily per os combined with the same dose of D in alternative days, group (5) taken vit. E, vit. C and D. Vitamins were given daily from the beginning of experiment till the end and at withdrawal period. Samples were collected at 15 and 30 days during D exposure and at the end of withdrawal period. Using analysis of variance, R.B.Cs. count, PCV % and Hb content significantly decreased than negative controls allover the experimental period in D- treated groups, however vit. C alone or combined with vit. E produced gradual improvement in haematological parameters. Marked elevation in W.B.Cs. count and lymphocytes, accompanied by neutropenia were observed in all groups compared to negative controls allover the experiment period. Total protein, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein levels were significantly reduced in all D-administered groups compared to negative controls. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein showed higher levels in all D-treated groups in comparison to negative controls, meanwhile, administration of vit. E and/or vit. C produces gradual improvement in these parameters. Thyroid hormonal analysis indicated significant decrease in triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in all D- treated groups, whereas their levels returned to normal in groups given vit. C alone or combined with vit. E at the withdrawal period. In conclusion, these results indicated that D fungicide exposure caused overt disorders in haematological and biochemical parameters as well as thyroid function. These effects could be ameliorated by using vit. E and vit. C as antioxidant drugs. Vit. E and vit. C when combined together produce best results in all tested parameters, however vit. C alone has rapid response than vit. E especially in haematological picture and thyroid function.

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.

In this study a total of 200 stray dogs housed in Safe Harbor Animal Rescue and Clinic (SHARC), South Florida, USA were clinically and parasitologically examined for intestinal helminthes. In this investigation, dogs were clinically examined and monitored for intestinal parasites for 6 successive weeks, treated with specific drugs and investigated for the possibility of reinfestation with intestinal parasites within the closed quarters of the animal shelter environment. Fecal floatation technique revealed three types of parasitic eggs in fecal samples of 46 (23%) dogs, including Ankylostoma spp. 30 (15%), Toxocara canis 10 (3.5%), and Dipylidium caninum 6 (3%). Clinical examination of investigated dogs revealed bloody diarrhea associated with abdominal pain, anemia, poor hair coat and the presence of segments of tapeworms approximately in the size of grain of rice in the feces of some dogs. Some dogs showed frequent cough. Some dogs that were tested negative for Ankylostoma spp. and Toxocara canis tested positive later indicating definite contamination in the environment of the shelter. Some dogs developed tapeworm infestation during this study indicting the presence of infective flees in contact dogs. Control measures and therapy were discussed.

In July 2003 a 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt was imported from Harare, Zimbabwe to the Ashburton Training Centre, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Five months after importation, the colt presented with clinical signs suggestive of rabies: it was uncoordinated, showed muscle tremors and was biting at itself. Brain tissue was submitted for analysis and the clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the fluorescent antibody test and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the cytoplasmic domain of the glycoprotein and the G-L intergenic region of the rabies virus confirmed it to be an infection with a canid rabies virus, originating from an area in Zimbabwe endemic for the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and side-striped jackal (Canis adustus) rabies.

Five species of ixodid ticks were found in a cross-sectional survey in which 200 sheep were examined for ticks in River Nile Province, Sudan. Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum was the predominant species (73.6 %), whereas ticks belonging to the Rhipicephalus sanguineus group (14.7 %), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (9.1 %), Rhipicephalus simus (2 %) and Hyalomma dromedarii (0.5 %) were also found. The mean tick load was 11.2 per animal. In a subsequent longitudinal survey ticks were collected on a monthly basis from eight sentinel sheep that were introduced into the area. It was found that H. a. anatolicum almost disappeared during the hot period between April and August, whereas it's highest numbers were present in winter between November and February. It is concluded that there is only one generation of H. a. anatolicum per year, which may explain the yearround appearance of clinical cases of malignant ovine theileriosis indicating endemic instability of this disease in River Nile Province.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a disease of cattle, primarily in Africa and Madagascar and rarely in the Middle East. It is caused by a capripoxvirus that belongs to the family Poxviridae. The disease is of economic importance in endemic areas. Effective control of LSD requires accurate and rapid laboratory techniques to confirm a tentative clinical diagnosis. Comparative studies on different diagnostic tests used at different stages of the disease have not been done. The aim of this study was to compare several of these tests. Six seronegative bulls, between 11 and 20 months of age, were infected intravenously and kept in an insect-free facility. The course of the infection was monitored. During a 3-month period blood samples and skin biopsies were collected for virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Skin biopsies were also examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The incubation period in infected animals varied from 4-5 days. The length of the viraemic period did not correlate with the severity of clinical disease. Viraemia was detected from 1-12 days using virus isolation and from 4-11 days using the PCR, which is longer than has previously been reported. Virus was isolated from skin biopsies until Day 39 post infection (p.i.) and PCR could demonstrate viral DNA until Day 92 p.i. Transmission electron microscopy of negatively stained skin biopsies detected LSD virus only in one of the four bulls that developed skin lesions until Day 33 p.i. The PCR was a fast and sensitive method to demonstrate viral DNA in blood and skin samples. It could detect viral nucleic acid in skin lesions 53 days longer than virus isolation. Virus isolation from blood and skin samples was sensitive and reliable, but as a single test it may be too time-consuming to use although this depends on how rapidly the diagnosis must be confirmed. In conclusion, this study showed the PCR to be superior in detecting LSD virus from blood and skin samples. However, virus isolation is still required when the infectivity of the LSD virus is to be determined. Indexed by Sabinet Online

The concentration of organochlorines (OCs) such as organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were measured in adipose tissue collected from 14 male hippopotami at Mfuwe in the southern part of the Luangwa National Park, Zambia. The samples contained low levels of OCs, and the concentrations of OCs were comparable to or lower than reported for wild herbivores studied in other parts of the world.

Rhizome extracts of Gunnera perpensa are used in traditional remedies in South Africa to treat endometritis both in humans and animals. An investigation was undertaken to determine whether this plant possesses antibacterial activity, which may explain its efficacy. Gunnera perpensa rhizome extracts were prepared serially with solvents of increasing polarity and tested for antibacterial activity. Test bacteria included the Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A moderate to weak level of antibacterial activity in most of the extracts resulted, with the best minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 2.61 mg ml-1 shown by the acetone extract against S. aureus. The extracts were also submitted to the brine shrimp assay to detect possible toxic or pharmacological effects. All the extracts were lethal to the brine shrimp larvae at a concentration of 5 mg ml-1. The acetone extract was extremely toxic at 1 mg ml-1, with some toxicity evident at 0.1 mg ml-1. The remainder of the extracts generally displayed little activity at concentrations lower than 5 mg ml-1. In summary, the results indicate that although the extracts demonstrated a level of pharmacological activity, the relatively weak antibacterial activity is unlikely to justify the use of G. perpensa rhizomes in the traditional treatment of endometritis. Rather, the slightly antibacterial nature of the rhizomes may contribute to an additive effect, along with their known uterotonic activity, to the overall efficacy of the preparation.

Aqueous decoctions obtained from the galls of Guiera senegalensis were screened to determine their phytochemical composition and in vitro antiviral activity against fowlpox virus. In addition, we wanted to investigate the toxic effects, if any, of crude extracts in chickens. Steroids as well as cardiac glycosides not previously reported, an alkaloid, polyphenols and saponins were detected in the various fractions of organic solvents used for extracting the decoctions. Antiviral activity was determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay in primary chicken embryo skin cells. The 50 % inhibitory concentration (EC50) was shown to be 15.6 µg/ml. Toxicity for cells was established by determining the 50 % cytotoxic concentration (CCy50). A value of 90 µg/ml and a selectivity index (CCy50/EC50) of 5.8 were obtained. In vivo studies of toxicity were performed in chickens that were dosed orally with decoctions of several concentrations for 2 weeks and then monitored for 3 months. No significant changes in several blood chemical parameters were obtained, except for a significant decline in SGOT levels in birds dosed with 100 mg/kg. These levels were nevertheless within the accepted normal range. The findings suggest that aqueous decoctions of galls from G. senegalensis are non-toxic for chickens when administered orally, even at a daily dose of 100 mg/kg for 14 days.

Theileria parva-naïve Friesian (Bos taurus), Boran (Bos indicus) and Maasai Zebu steers (B. indicus) were infected with a T. parva sporozoite stabilate dose which had previously been shown to induce an estimated 50 % mortality rate in Boran cattle. All the cattle developed patent infections with no significant differences in the length of the prepatent period to development of macroschizonts (P > 0.05) between the three groups. Clinical theileriosis occurred in all eight the Friesians (100 %), five out of nine Borans (55.6 %) and two out of five Zebus (40 %). Three of the Friesians (37.5 %), and two of the Borans (22.2 %) died of theileriosis. The different cattle types were equally susceptible to the infective dose used as indicated by the length of the prepatent periods, but there was a marked difference in their development of clinical theileriosis. The gradation in resistance to disease confirms the findings of earlier less critical studies and identifies these cattle breeds as suitable for investigations into the mechanisms of resistance to theileriosis.