In this study multiplex PCR was used for typing of Clostridium perfringens isolates from soil, clinically healthy and diseased sheep. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from 41 out of 100 soil samples, 12 out of 100 clinically healthy sheep and 118 out of 200 sheep with enterotoxaemia signs. Genotyping of 41 isolates from soil indicated that 29 (70.73%) were type A, 3 (7.31%) were type B and 9 (21.95%) were type D. Of 12 isolates from clinically healthy sheep 6 (50%) were type A and 6(50%) were type D. Of 118 isolates from diseased sheep 42 (35.59%) were type A, 22 (18.64%) were type B and 54 (45.76%) were type D. This result indicates that Clostridium perfringens type A, B and D are the main types causing enterotoxaemia in sheep in Egypt and Clostridium perfringens type A must be included in any vaccine programme to ensure optimum protection.

In this study, 50 vaccinated broiler and one layer flock from Beni-Suef, Fayoum and Minia governorates were investigated. Necropsy lesions were suggestive of LPAI-H9N2 or NDV. Samples of tracheal swabs and organs were subjected for viral isolation and molecular characterization. Specific RT-PCR for the NDV F-gene and the HA gene of the LPAI-H9N2 viruses was used. Virus isolation and primary identification using HI test revealed 37.5 and 43.3-46.2% prevalence for LPAI-H9N2 and NDV viruses, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of the F gene showed that NDV viruses belong to genotype II and VII-1.1. as indicated by the F0 protein proteolytic cleavage site motifs (aa112-117) of the NDV strains F-gene. The vNDV isolates were 98.7-99.3% and 96.6-98.9% identical to each other based on nucleotide and amino acid identities, respectively. Compared to their counterpart isolates; the lentogenic strains shared 98-99.2% and 96.3-98.1% nucleotide and amino acid identities to the LaSota reference strain. The LPAI-H9N2 phylogeny of the HA gene showed that the 2 isolates obtained in this study are related to each other and related to recent 2016-2018 Egyptian H9N2 strains. Notably, the 2 strains showed higher identity (≥99%) to recent Israeli 2018 isolates with several amino acid changes. The current study revealed wide spread of both NDV and LPAI-H9N2 viruses. The vaccine failure and the mismatch between the vaccine and circulating NDV viruses is the most probable cause of current outbreaks. The LPAI-H9N2 viruses are divergent form their ancestral viruses in Egypt indicating continuous circulation and vaccine pressure induced mutations

Three strains of the FMD virus (A, O, and SAT 2) were recognised as causes of the FMD circulating in Egypt. The aims of this study were to trace the FMDV isolates from outbreaks in Egypt to understand their epidemiology and evolution and to understand the situation of the vaccine strains compared with the circulating serotypes. A meta-analysis was carried out by using the data available for FMD outbreaks in Egypt from GenBank and the World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (WRLFMD); a comparison was done with both data sets for the three serotypes. MEGA-X was used for the evolution analysis, through constructions of phylogenetic trees for all sequences recorded in GenBank for each serotype in different Egyptian outbreaks in different years and also within the same year. Additionally, nucleotide substitution rate, molecular clock, and mean evolutionary rates were estimated for the three serotypes to understand and compare their evolution. Absence of some records of certain serotype outbreaks from the WRLFMD database was noted as were subsequent missing appropriate vaccine programmes. Genetic variation was recorded among the virus isolates within the same years and also the vaccine strain was associated with up to 26 amino acid substitutions. The evolution rate of the SAT2 strain was the highest of the circulating strains. SAT2 had high amino acid substitution per year at an important immunogenic site (130–170), serotype A had less, and serotype O the least. The need for different strategies for vaccine serotype selection is indicated.

Objectives: The present work was conducted to investigate the nutritional profile of the highly consumed beef luncheon in Egypt. Besides, the potential health hazards associated with the con¬sumption of luncheon were highlighted. Material and methods: A total of 60 beef luncheon samples were collected from Egyptian mar¬kets. They were classified into three classes: A, B, and C based on their prices. The collected samples were examined for their chemical composition by determining moisture, protein, fat, ash, carbohydrate, and energy percentage. The contents of trace elements were also investigated. Results: The obtained findings showed a comprehensive dissimilarity in the chemical composition. According to the fresh weight base, moisture, protein, fat, ash, and carbohydrate fluctuated from 56.97 to 64.52, 3.50 to 16.10, 4.73 to 13.39, 3.30 to 3.51, and 11.32 to 27.44% w/w, respectively. The highest price class A Egyptian beef luncheon had more accepted nutritive value and dietary energy content. All the examined classes were low in calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium. The target hazard quotient indicated that the trace elements did not present any risks for con¬sumers except for sodium. High phosphorous content and high phosphorusprotein ratio were observed in all categories which had a harmful health effect, hence named new cholesterol. Conclusion: Based on the information, this study is the leading work that deeply investigated the chemical composition of the Egyptian luncheon classes, and the obtained data could be beneficial to update the nutritional knowledge used by dietitians and the responsible for nutrition assess¬ment and surveillance by the government. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(2.000): 299-307]

Objective: The current investigation was designed to point out the prevalence of multidrug-resis¬tant Streptococcus spp. causing acute clinical mastitis and their pattern of antibiotic resistance in dairy cows. Materials and methods: Milk was sampled from 128 dairy cows with 191 infected quarters during the period from August 2017 to December 2018. Bacterial species were isolated from the milk samples and identified based on colony morphology and biochemical tests. Multiplex PCR was done for confirmatory detection of the Streptococcus spp. isolates. Results: The chief isolation percentages, from the sampled milk, were Escherichia coli (26%), then Staphylococcus aureus (23%), and Streptococcus dysagalactiae (23%), then Streptococcus agalac¬tiae (20.1%), and finally coagulase-negative Staphylococci (7.7%). In confirmed PCR streptococci isolates, the antibiotic resistance genes have been detected, including macrolides antibiotic resis¬tance genes (ermB and mefA genes), lincosamides antibiotic resistance genes (linB gene), and tetra¬cycline resistance genes (tetM and tetO genes). Age, parity number, cleaning of bedding materials, cleaning of milking facilities, and utensils and udder cleaning practice were significant risk factors for multidrug-resistant streptococcal mastitis in dairy cows. Conclusion: The results of this study explored the phenotypic and genotypic traits of Streptococcus spp. which constitute a usual cause of acute clinical mastitis in dairy cows. The ermB, mefA, tetM, and tetO antibiotic-resistant genes were identified in streptococci isolates from dairy cows milk with acute clinical mastitis, indicating a public health hazard. Thus, veterinary clinical breakpoints are needed to improve surveillance data, improve the hygiene regimen on the farms, and pro¬mote the wise use of antimicrobials. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(2.000): 186-197]