Dietary fat and oil is important for many body processes. The present investigation was carried out to determine the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in butter, olive and corn oil. A total of 125 samples (75 butter, 25 each of olive oil and corn oil) were collected from El Minia Governorate, Egypt. Levels of these compounds were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The results indicated that 30.4%(38/125), 24.8%(31/125), 21.6%(27/125), 21.6%(27/125), 16.8%(21/125), 14.4%(18/125), 14.4%(18/125), 12.8%(16/125), 9.6%(12/125), 8.8%(11/125), 8%(10/125), 1.6%(2/125) and 0.8%(1/125) of the examined samples were contaminated with Heptachlor, Endrin, Aldrin, Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene(p,p'-DDE), Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane(p,p'-DDD), Gamma hexachlorocyclohexane(Gamma HCH), Heptachlor epoxide, Dieldrin, Endosulfan, methoxychlor, Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane(Alpha HCH), Delta hexachlorocyclohexane(Delta HCH) and Gamma Chlordane, respectively. None of the examined samples revealed the presence of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT) and 11 samples contained organochlorine residues above European Union maximum residue limits (EU MRL)

This investigation was carried out on 5457 animals; among which, 3916 cows, 1531 buffaloes and 10 she-camels in Beni-Suef and Fayoum provinces. Animals were subjected to clinical examination to study the congenital and acquired udder and teat surgical affections. Clinical findings of affected animals were recorded. It has been found that the prevalence of teat and udder affections were: in cattle (19.87%; 778/3916), 141 (3.6%) had congenital anomalies, (hyperthelia 2.17%, leaker 0.38%, athelia 0.26%, pendulous udder 0.20%, hypermastia 0.26%, hypoplasia of mammary gland 0.13%, hyperplasia of teat 0.08%, teat obstruction 0.08% and fistula 0.05%)and 637 (16.267%) suffered from acquired affections (fibrosis 6.26%, mastitis 3.29%, pendulous udder 1.18%, edema 1.15%, fistula/wound 0.84%, teat obstruction 0.66%, teat stenosis 0.66%, ulcer/crack 0.64%, abscess 0.54%, hematoma 0.26%, seborrhea 0.23%, impetigo 0.18%, neoplastic growths 0.18%, udder gangrene 0.15% and teat gangrene 0.05%). In buffaloes (11.43%; 175/1531), 11 (0.72%) had congenital anomalies (hypermastia 0.59%, hyperthelia 0.07% and fistula 0.07%), and 164 (10.71%) had acquired affections (fibrosis 2.81%, ulcer/cracks 2.09%, mastitis 1.89%, seborrhea 1.44%, obstruction 0.91%, edema 0.46%, hematoma 0.33%, fistula/wound 0.26%, teat gangrene 0.26%, stenosis 0.13%, abscess 0.07% and impetigo 0.07%). In shecamels, no congenital anomalies were recorded with only one animal showed an acute mastitis and other had a teat orifice obstruction.

In the last decades, the light had been shed on the importance of male reproduction and how to protect it from disease conditions and inflammation which may cause infertility. Accordingly, the mechanism underlying inflammation-mediated infertility must be well clarified. In the present study, an experimental model of acute inflammation in mature male albino rats was established by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of a single dose of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Consequently, basic reproductive parameters were estimated after LPS administration. Blood samples were collected and assayed for serum testosterone levels. Semen was also analyzed for live sperm percent. Testes were removed for histopathological evaluation. The findings revealed that testosterone level in LPS-treated rats decreased significantly (P<0.05) compared to control rats at 6 and 12 hrs after injection. Meanwhile, serum testosterone recovered 72 hrs after injection. Moreover, live sperm percent decreased drastically in LPS-treated rats (P<0.001) compared with control rats at 6 and 12 hrs after LPS injection. Adverse effects of LPS on sperm vitality at 72 hrs after LPS injection were also found. Microscopic examination revealed that degenerative changes were observed in LPS-treated rats at 6 and 12 hrs. Most of histopathological findings returned to normal structure in LPS-treated rats at 72 hrs.

Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) is a major cause of mastitis in dairy animals and a serious pathogen affecting human health. The current study was designed to investigate the extent of S.aureus in milk samples collected from dairy animals as well as human clinical samples,beside determination of its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Also, the prevalence of both mecA and vanA genes among some selected methicillin-resistant isolates was investigated. Out of 120 milk samples obtained from different animals (cows, buffaloes, sheep, and goats), 81 (67.5%) samples reacted positive for S. aureus, whereas 67 (74%) out of 90 human samples were found positive for S. aureus. Disk diffusion susceptibility testing revealed that S.aureus isolates of humans were more resistant than thoseof animals against all tested antimicrobials except for clindamycin. A high rate of multi-drug resistance (MDR) and mecA gene was recorded in S. aureusof both animals and humans. Surprisingly,vanAgene, which is responsible for vancomycin resistance was detected only in S. aureus isolated from animal milk. To the best of ourknowledge, it is the first record of vanA gene in S. aureus recovered from animals.

The aim of this study was to investigate the course and distribution of the celiac artery in Hooded crows and to extend our knowledge on the captured crows. Scarce information in the field of veterinary comparative anatomy and the available literature on the celiac artery and its distribution is provided. So, the present study tried to declare the confusion about the course and distribution of the celiac artery in the Hooded crows. Therefore, 10 apparently healthy Hooded crows of different ages and sexes were captured. The birds were anaesthetized by IM injection of 0.5 cc of 2% xylazine HCL (3 mg/kg). Colored gum milk latex (60%) was then injected through the descending aorta. Then, specimens were subjected to fine dissection to demonstrate the origin, course and distribution of the celiac artery. The celiac artery erupted laterally from the right face of the descending aorta opposite to the distance between the 5th and 6th vertebral rib, on a level with the junction of the esophagus and the proventriculus. It proceeded ventrally and slight caudally, where it gave off the esophageal artery after, 5 cm from its origin, the dorsal proventricular artery, splinc arteries and at the middle of spleen then bifurcated into left and right branches. The left branch of the celiac artery gave rise to right hepatic artery, ventral proventricular artery, pyloric branches, ventral gastric artery and then continued as the A. gastrica sinistra. The right branch of the celiac artery released the caudal group of splenic arteries, A. gastrica dextra, then continued as A. pancreaticoduodenalis.

A recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-based method was developed for rapid and specific detection of African swine fever virus (ASFV), the etiologic agent of African swine fever, a devastating disease of swine. Primers and the exo probe targeting the conserved region of the P72 gene of ASFV were designed and the reaction was run on the Genie III scanner device. Using recombinant plasmid DNA containing the P72 gene as template, we showed that the amplified product could be detected in less than 10 min and that the detection limit was 102 copies DNA/reaction [same detection limit as real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)]. The RPA assay did not cross-detect CSFV, PCV-2, PRV, PRRSV, or FMDV, common viruses seen in pigs. Tests of recombinant plasmid-spiked serum samples revealed that RPA and real-time PCR had the same diagnostic rate. The RPA assay, which is simple, cost-effective, and fast, is a promising alternative to real-time PCR for ASFV detection.

The digital cushion (DC) plays a role in absorbing and dampening forces applied to the foot and therefore supports internal structures such as navicular bone; yet, its architecture is not well-known. The goal of this study was to characterize the microanatomical structure of the DC in horses with clinically sound hooves. Both forefeet from the cadavers of 12 adult Quarter horses were cut and sectioned and samples of the following 4 regions of the DC were obtained: axial proximal (AxProx), axial distal (AxDis), abaxial lateral (AbxLat), and abaxial medial (AbxMed). The samples were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and Weigert's elastic stains. On each slide, 2 central 3- × 3-mm areas were microscopically assessed and all measurements were done within the 9-mm2 area. The number of detected collagen bundles, nerve fascicles, vessels, and the diameter of wall thickness and lumen of blood vessels were measured. Elastic fiber profiles were categorized based on relative density of elastic fibers detected in the field. The percentage of samples in which chondrocytes and adipose tissues were either present or absent was calculated. Significant structural differences were identified among the 4 regions of the DC. The AxDis region contained more collagen bundles (P < 0.0001) and less elastic fiber profiles than the AxProx region (P < 0.0001). The AxDis also contained more collagen bundles than the AbxMed and AbxLat (P < 0.0001) regions. Our findings provide insight into the structure of the DC of mature Quarter horses. The structural differences in the various regions of the DC are presumably related to the different functional properties of those regions; yet more research is warranted.

Muscle loss associated with disease (cachexia) or with aging (sarcopenia) is common in dogs, but clinically relevant methods for quantifying muscle loss are needed. We previously validated an ultrasound method of quantifying muscle size in dogs in a single breed. The goal of this study was to assess the variability and reproducibility of the Vertebral Epaxial Muscle Score (VEMS) in other dog breeds. Static ultrasound images were obtained from 38 healthy, neutered dogs of 5 different breeds between 1- and 5-years-old. The maximal transverse right epaxial muscle height and area at the level of the 13th thoracic vertebra (T13) were measured. Length of the 4th thoracic vertebra (T4) was measured from thoracic radiography. Ratios of the muscle height and area to vertebral length (height/T4 and area/T4, respectively) were calculated to account for differences in body size among breeds. Reproducibility testing was performed on 2 dogs of each breed (26% of the total) to determine intra- and inter-investigator reproducibility, as well as intra-class correlation. Mean height/T4 = 1.02 ± 0.18 and mean area/T4 = 3.32 ± 1.68. There was no significant difference for height/T4 (P = 0.10) among breeds, but breeds were significantly different in area/T4 (P < 0.001). Intra-class correlation ranged from 0.80 to 0.99. Testing showed better reproducibility for height/T4 compared to area/T4. The VEMS using height/T4 was valid and reproducible for healthy dogs of different sizes and body conformations. Studies assessing this technique in dogs with congestive heart failure and other diseases associated with muscle loss are warranted.