The present study was carried out in dairy farms experiencing low reproductive efficiency. Blood samples were collected from 84 cattle and 16 buffaloes suffered from infertility problems for detection and titration of leptospiral antibodies using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Eleven standardized leptospira serovars were used as living antigens for this purpose. Sixteen (19.05%) and 2 (12.5%) samples were found positive for L. interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae for cattle and buffaloes respectively, with titers ≥1:200. Antibodies against L. interrogans serovar Pomona were detected in 8 (9.52%) and 2 (12.5%) in cattle and buffaloes respectively with titers ≥1:400. Two cattle (2.38%) and two buffalo (12.5%) samples were positive for L. interrogans serovar Djasiman. On the other hand, two cattle samples were positive for both L. interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae and L. interrogans serovar Pomona. Second serum samples were rechecked for seroconversion from each positively reacted animal with 3-4 weeks interval.

A total number of 30 buffaloe calves aged between 1-6 months with body weight range of 100- 125 kg and belonged to private farms at Assiut Governorate constituted the materials of this study. Twenty of them showed the classical signs of hypomagnesaemia while the other ten buffaloe calves were proved to be healthy by both clinical and laboratory methods of examinations and used as control. Biochemical analysis of blood sera showed a significant hypomagnesaemia , hypocalcaemia and hypophosphataemia in diseased buffaloe calves when compared with the healthy ones, also fluctuation between the previous studied parameters either pre and post treated animals were evident. Meanwhile, blood serum total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio and GOT levels were fluctuated in diseased buffaloe calves or treated one when compared with the healthy control animals. Statistical analysis between studies parameters were carried out in buffaloe calves before and after treatment.

A disease characterized by papules, nodules, vesicles, pustules and ulcers on teats and udder as well as drastic drop in milk production was seen among a cattle farm in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. A virus was isolated by inoculation of vesicle and scrap homogenate pool from infected cattle into the chorioallantoic membrane of specific pathogen free embryonated chicken eggs. The virus was identified by presence of pock lesions, intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies on the chorioallantoic membrane, polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry of the inoculated membrane. A novel pathogenicity model was developed via ear pinna inoculation of Swiss mice. The virus produced vesicular and ulcerative lesions at the site of inoculation in inoculated mice. The virus identity was confirmed by the presence of intracytoplasmic viral antigens by immunohistochemistry

This study was carried out on 180 pregnant ewes located at Ras Sedr research station - desert research center, from 2003 to 2005. Twenty five cases of abortion were recorded and examined serologically by complement fixation test (CFT). 17 (68%) out of these 25, showed positive results against Chlamydophila abortus and 3(15%) out of 20 apparently healthy pregnant ewes were serologically positive. Due to the fact that both clinical signs and pathological findings are not specific in case of chlamydial infection and also due to the fact that CFT is accompanied by false positive reactions due to cross reactivity between chlamydial species, five samples from serologically positive aborted dams were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They revealed positive results for Chlamydophila abortus at 119 bp. Therefore, PCR is proven to be reliable, rapid and specific diagnostic technique in the diagnosis of chlamydial infection.

Seroprevalence of Babesia ovis in sheep and goats was studied in Siwa Oasis between January 2002 and January 2003. A total of 240 blood samples were collected from 108 sheep and 132 goats for preparation of blood smears and for separation of serum samples and tested against B. ovis by using IFAT. B. ovis was detected in 55 (50.92%) and 59 (44.69%) blood smears examined in sheep and goats, respectively. The overall prevalence of B. ovis infection was 71.3% in sheep and 68.2% in goat using IFAT. The seasonal prevalence of B.ovis peaked in both spring and summer as revealed by blood smear examination and IFAT. A total of 143 ticks were collected from 62 sheep and 81 goats during the study. The ticks examined were Rhipicephalus turanicus (75.52%) and Hyalomma anatolicum (24.48%).

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.

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.

In the present study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using random primer (E-20) was used to characterize and identify strains included in this study. Strains included 4 vaccinal reference strains of Pasteurella multocida, CU strain and 4 field isolates of Pasteurella multocida isolated from diseased turkeys which were identified biochemically and serologically as A:1, A:3, A3x4 and D:11. The obtained results revealed that all strains were reacted positively and in different manner with the E20 primer except the 2 field isolates. The results of these reactions demonstrated in terms of bands of different molecular weight specific to each strain. This can be used as a base for characterization and differentiation of strains involved in the present study as the 2 field strains A:1 and A:3 react with primer. Mouse protection test was performed by vaccination of mice with local fowl cholera oil adjuvant vaccine then challenge with virulent field strains A:1, A:3, D:12 and untypable isolates. Results revealed that the local fowl cholera adjuvant vaccine could protect mice against virulent challenge with A:1, A:3 and D:12 field strains but it could not be protect mice against untypable isolates

The present study deals with a monogenean parasite infecting, some marine fish through light and scan electron microscopy. It revealed that the percentage of infection was 48% (14 out of 50 fish), 28% (14 out of 50 fish), 22% (11 out of 50 fish) and 16% (8 out of 50 fish) in Diplodus noct, Gerres oyena, Lethrinus elongates and Siganus revulatus, respectively. The present work recorded Paranaella diplodae (Polyopisthocotylea; Microcotylidae; Monogenea) as a new species collected from the investigated fish gills. They are lanculate flukes, the haptor is not distinguished from the body proper approximately 1/3 of the whole body length. The surface topography of the parasite bears small pits and conspicuous transverse folds and richly supplied with papillae-like unicellate sensory ending. The opisthohaptor is typical of Microcotylidae. The clamp structure and the haptoral tegument are similar to the rest of the body

Killing activity of fresh Oreochromis niloticus serum was used as an indicator of the natural immunity. Serum killing activity was tested in temperature stressed fish exposed to 32 ±1°C to different Pseudomonas fluorescens strains. As a clinical estimate of natural immunity and disease resistance, experimental challenge with P. fluorescens strains was conducted. The results cleared that serum killing activity at 32±1°C was almost stopped where fish got infected after bacterial challenge. On the other hand, control fish group kept at 23± 1°C developed serum killing activity and resistance to the acquisition of infection after challenge. A correlation was found between resistance activities of P. fluorescens strains to serum killing and their corresponding courses of infection after bacterial challenge. However, the results of experimental challenge conducted at 32±1°C suggested that the immunocompromising state resulted from the stress of inability to withstand high water temperature is exclusively the critical aspect for the induction of infection.