An adult Indian Spotted Eagle (Aquila hastata) was presented with a history of being unable to fly. Clinical examination and radiography revealed a compound oblique fracture in the distal humerus of the right wing. The fracture site was grossly contaminated and the fragments were necrosed. Hence, to save the life of the bird, the wing was amputated under general anaesthesia, induced and maintained with ketamine. The surgical intervention led to uncomplicated recovery of an eagle.

For centuries, tuberculosis, which is a chronic infection caused by the bacillus <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> has remained a global health problem. The global burden of tuberculosis has increased, particularly in the Southern African region, mainly due to HIV, and inadequate health systems which has in turn given rise to emergent drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) strains. Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) has also emerged as a significant disease with the tendency for inter-species spread. The extent of interspecies BTB transmission both in urban and rural communities has not been adequately assessed. The phenomenon is of particular importance in rural communities where people share habitats with livestock and wildlife (particularly in areas near national parks and game reserves). Aerosol and oral intake are the major routes of transmission from diseased to healthy individuals, with health care workers often contracting infection nosocomially. Although TB control has increasingly been achieved in high-income countries, the disease, like other poverty-related infections, has continued to be a disaster in countries with low income economies. Transmission of infections occurs not only amongst humans but also between animals and humans (and occasionally vice versa) necessitating assessment of the extent of transmission at their interface. This review explores tuberculosis as a disease of humans which can cross-transmit between humans, livestock and wildlife. The review also addresses issues underlying the use of molecular biology, genetic sequencing and bioinformatics as t tools to understand the extent of inter-species cross-transmission of TB in a ‘One Health’ context.

The present study was carried out on 45 hard working donkeys suffering from different types of traumatic foot fractures. These animals were selected from the clinical cases admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Assiut University during the period of 2007-2010. Based on history, clinical signs and radiographic examination, various types of traumatic foot fractures were diagnosed and recorded. These fractures were affect metacarpal bones (N. =16), metatarsal bones (N. =9), proximal phalanx (N. = 13), middle phalanx (N. = 3), distal phalanx (N. = 2) and proximal sesamoid bones (N. = 2). It could be concluded that fractures of the large metacarpal bones are the most common types followed by fractures of the proximal phalanx of the thoracic limb then fractures of the metatarsal bones. Fractures of the middle phalanx, distal phalanx and proximal sesamoid bone are less common in donkeys. Single fractures of the metacarpal and metatarsal bones are more common than comminuted one, in addition diaphyseal fractures of these bones are more common than metaphyseal or epiphyseal fractures. In the proximal phalanx, comminuted fractures are more common than single fractures.

The present study was undertaken to study the effect of enrofloxacin administration on semen quality of Barbari buck. Six normal, healthy adult Barbari bucks (25-30 Kg) aged between 2 to 2.5 years were used as semen donors. The bucks were administered enrofloxacin at the dose of 5mg/kg body weight intra-muscularly daily for 7 days. From each buck biweekly eighteen semen ejaculates (1st to 18th) were collected and one sample (0th) from each buck was collected before administration of enrofloxacin, using a non-oestrous doe as dummy and investigated for semen quality parameters. There was no significant difference (P≥0.05) in seminal volume between different ejaculates. Mass motility decreased significantly (P≤0.01) and was lowest in 4th ejaculate as compared to mass motility prior to drug administration. Highest significant (P≤0.01) decrease in progressive motility was seen in 9th ejaculate as compared to progressive motility before drug administration. Sperm concentration decreased significantly (P≤0.01) and was found to be lowest in 4th ejaculate as compared to sperm concentration before enrofloxacin administration. Percent live spermatozoa decreased significantly (P≤0.01) and was found to be minmum in 12th ejaculate as compared to sperm concentration prior to drug administration. Highest significant increase (P≤ 0.01) in per cent head, mid-piece and tail abnormalities of spermatozoa was observed in 4th, 3rd and 6th ejaculate respectively following parentral administration of enrofloxacion as compared to ejaculate before drug administration. Following drug administration, the semen quality decreased progressively and then became slowly normal after 14th ejaculate.

There are currently no validated animal models or suitable biomarkers with which to ascertain the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in equine, bovine or ovine species during conditions of endotoxemia. This has resulted in approval of only one NSAID, flunixin meglumine, for controlling inflammation due to endotoxemia in bovine and equine animals, while none are approved in ovine animals for this claim. This study aims to investigate biomarkers with which to test efficacy of NSAIDs in these species. To this end, the effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation on gene expression were investigated. Whole blood from each species was cultured and stimulated with LPS, after which RNA was extracted at various times. RNA was analyzed via quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) to determine differential expression of biomarkers. Results indicated up-regulation of cluster of differentiation 1 (CD1) gene in bovine and serum amyloid A (SAA) gene in ovine cultures. Down-regulation of cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) gene and Caspase 1 was seen in bovine, and of CD1 in equine cultures. This work demonstrates that LPS stimulation alters expression of these genes in these species. These genes may be useful biomarkers for inflammation which could serve as markers for NSAID efficacy.

Newcastle disease (ND) is regarded as a highly contagious and economically important disease in poultry and has a worldwide distribution. Viral determinants for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) virulence are not completely understood and viruses of different pathotypes can be found at live-bird markets in different geographical areas. The prevalence of Newcastle disease in village poultry in Mozambique is not well documented and strains of NDV involved in yearly outbreaks are unknown. The fusion (F) protein is an important determinant of pathogenicity of the virus and is used commonly for phylogenetic analysis. Newcastle disease viruses from various geographical regions of Mozambique were sequenced and compared genetically to published sequences obtained from GenBank. Samples were collected in three different areas of Mozambique and NDV was isolated by infection of embryonated chicken eggs. Sequence analysis of the F-protein encoding gene was used to classify 28 isolates from Mozambique into genotypes and compare these genotypes phylogenetically with existing genotypes found in GenBank. The isolates obtained from Mozambique grouped mainly into two clades. In the first clade, 12 isolates grouped together with sequences of isolates representing genotypes from Mozambique that were previously described. In the second clade, 16 isolates group together with sequences obtained from GenBank originating from Australia, China, South Africa and the USA. Eleven of these isolates showed a high similarity with sequences from South Africa. The number of samples sequenced (<em>n</em> = 28), as well as the relatively small geographical collection area used in this study, are too small to be a representation of the circulating viruses in Mozambique in 2005. Viruses characterised in this study belonged to lineage 5b, a similar finding of a previous study 10 years ago. From this data, it merely can be concluded that no new introduction of the virus occurred from 1995 to 2005 in Mozambique.

Accurate pregnancy detection is one of the prime requisites in reproductive management of domestic animals as it indirectly depicts fertility of the animal. Early pregnancy detection in animals is important so as to monitor reproductive losses. Though hormonal profiling of progesterone is an important method of pregnancy detection in domestic species; it usually results in false positivity. Pregnancy marker(s), which is embryo specific and depicts presence and viability of the embryo, should be considered ideal candidate for developing pregnancy diagnostics. Pregnant Associated Glycoproteins (PAGs) are potential biomarker in early pregnancy in cattle and buffalo. They belong to the aspartic proteinase family but proteolytically inactive due to key mutations. In this review, the scope and prospects of pregnancy associated glycoproteins as potential pregnancy biomarkers in cattle and buffalo species, is discussed.

AbstractThe study was conducted from September 2010 to January 2011 in Fogera district Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 270 local cattle of Fogera breeds to determine the prevalence of cattle schistosomiasis and associated risk factors. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the study animals in three peasant associations (PAs). These were Nabega, Shaga and Kokit. Sedimentation technique was applied for the recovery of schistosoma eggs from fresh fecal samples collected directly from rectum and preserved at 40c. Study parameters such as sex, age, husbandry practice, epidemiology and agroecologies were considered. Out of 270 fecal samples examined, 37(13.70%) were found to be positive for schistosomiasis. Nabega showed higher prevalence (17.78%) than other two study sites. From the total of 37 positive samples, 20(15.38%) were males and 17(12.17%) were females. There was no significant statistical variation in sex and age groups. The prevalence of schistosomiasis in calf (< 2 years), young (2-5 years) and adult (> 5 years) were 12(17.65%), 11(12.64 %) and 14(12.48%) respectively. From the result it is concluded that cattle schistosomiasis is one of the major health problems in the district. Therefore, control of schistosomiasis based on drug treatment (strategic anthelmintics practice), snail control and appropriate sanitation measures were recommended.

A glyco-conjugate vaccine using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the outer membrane protein (OMP) of Brucella abortus S19 strain was prepared. The vaccine was administered in mice subcutaneously (25 µg LPS per dose). Separate groups of mice were also vaccinated with LPS, OMP or live, attenuated S19 vaccine. Mice were challenged 30 days post vaccination with B. abortus 544 strain. The LPS, OMP and LPS-OMP glyco-conjugate vaccinated mice were protected against the challenge. The percentage of animals protected with the sub-unit vaccines and the glyco-conjugate vaccine were comparable with the live, attenuated vaccine. The glyco-conjugate vaccine was able to induce strong immune response against both the components. The prominent isotypes were IgG1, IgG2a and IgG3. In addition, the glyco-conjugate vaccine was able to induce a cell mediated immune response as indicated by the expression of IFN γ by splenocytes. The study indicated that the glyco-conjugate vaccine may be a useful candidate for prophylactic use.