This study was designated to evaluate some external and internal characteristics of quail eggs reared in Basrah city. Ten mature female quails were used in the present study. All birds were reared under similar environmental, managerial and hygienic conditions. To assess the egg quality parameters, a total of 100 eggs were randomly collected for 20 days. The values related to egg weight, shape index, shell weight, shell ratio , shell thickness, egg length, Egg width, Shell index and shell surface area (cm2) are found respectively as 7.041, 79.590, 0.973, 14.193, 0.307, 2.825, 2.245, 13.044 and 8.205. The internal traits as albumen index, albumen height, albumen weight, albumen ratio, albumen width, Albumen length, albumin average, yolk diameter, yolk height, yolk weight, yolk index, yolk ratio and Yolk : Albumen ratio are found respectively as 12.056, 3.204, 2.5, 35.515, 2.308, 3.058, 2.683, 2.195, 3.983, 2.591, 17.601, 36.746 and 1.120.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of pregnancy on some physiological parameters in Iraqi She camels in comparative with males and females in estrus phase , sixty (60) camel blood samples were taken from AL-Najaf Slaughter house , twenty (20) blood samples for pregnant She camels , twenty (20) blood samples for females in estrus phase and twenty (20) blood samples for males to study the following parameters , Red blood cells count , hemoglobin concentration and packed cells volume and blood indices which are include mean corpuscular volume , mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration The grossly examination of ovary was used to determine the estrus phase for non – pregnant females . The electronic methods by beck man coulter were used to measure the studded parameters , The results revealed a significant decrease ( P  0.05) in blood parameters which are included RBCS count , Hb concentration and PCV% during pregnancy . Whereas no significant changes (P  0.05) in the blood indices values. There was decreased during dehydration and return to normal during rehydration , Which don’t take place in any group of this study

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB), a chronic disease of mammals caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a threat to South African wildlife. It has been reported that African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) are reservoir hosts of BTB in South African wildlife populations. This study reports on the molecular identification and typing of 31 M. bovis isolates collected between 1993 and 2008, mainly from buffaloes but also from two lions and a bush pig, in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal. To study the dynamics of BTB in the buffalo populations, 28 M. bovis isolates from the HiP and epidemiologically related parks were characterised using regions of difference deletion analysis for species identification and spoligotyping, variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR), polymorphic G–C-rich sequences and IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) genotyping methods. At least three distinct M. bovis genotypes were found amongst HiP samples. The combination of VNTR typing (using a 16-loci panel) and IS6110 RFLP revealed the presence of three additional genetic profiles in individual buffaloes, demonstrating that the highest level of discrimination was achieved by these typing methods. One of the observed spoligotypes (SB0130) was dominant and represented 75% of isolates from buffaloes. A novel M. bovis spoligotype (SB1474), which is reported for the first time in this study, was observed in 14.3% of isolates from buffaloes. Based on the observed genetic relationships, the findings suggest independent introductions from at least three unrelated sources. These findings improve the knowledge regarding the diversity of circulating M. bovis strains in the HiP.

The pathogenic effect of representative local isolates of Aeromonas organisms was studied on 1٠0 native breed chickens. At 2 weeks of age, one hundred chicks were grouped into four equal groups (1-4); 25 birds each; after collection of fecal from all groups, examined and proved to be free from Aeromonas species. All groups were subcutaneously (s.c) inoculated with 0.5 ml containing 9×105 cfu /bird. Group 1 of chickens was infected by A. hydrophila; while group 2 was infected with A. caviae. The third group was infected with A. sobria; while, chicks of Group 4 were kept as non infected control. Results were showed mild clinical signs in some birds in the form of alternative diarrhea. Post mortem lesions showed general congestion of all carcasses. In severely emaciated cases the lesions were confined to the intestine, which filled with watery fluid and distended with gas. Results of Aeromonas reisolation revealed that all collected weekly fecal swabs were positive. While, percentage of A. hydrophila and A. caviae was 100% out of all tested organs, while isolation of A. sobria was 100%, 100% and 80% from liver, intestine and heart; respectively. Histopathological examination of infected chicken organs showing focal coaggulative necrosis in liver with mononuclear cells infiltration that varied in severity between groups as less severe in A. hydrophila (Gr.1) than A. caviae (Gr. 2), while A. sobria (Gr. 3) was markedly affected showing severe degenerated and dissociated hepatocytes. Intestinal changes were severe in group 3 than 2 while group 1 showing the mildest comparatively the changes was consist of necrosed mucosa, gland with leucocytic infiltration in lamina propria. Under the condition of our study we can conclude that the used Aeromonas isolates from field diseased chickens were of mild pathogenicity to s.c. inoculated 12 days old Fayoumi chicks with long course affection.

In an attempt to isolate reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) from field cases, plasma of commercial broiler chickens-suspect to have virus infection-were examined. Samples were inoculated in chicken embryo fibroblasts and after proper incubation infected cultures were assayed for REV-antigen by ELISA, immuno-peroxidase (IP) plaque assay, and PCR.Specificity of ELISA and IP was evaluated by comparing their results with that obtained by PCR. REV could be isolated and virus antigen was detected in cell cultures by all three techniques. Results showed that PCR and ELISA are more specific than IP in detection of REV-antigen. However, the sensitivity of ELISA was affected by the criterion used for determination of the cut-off point. Further studies are needed for full characterization of the isolated virus by using reference antiserum or strain specific primers for PCR.

Gentamicin is an effective aminoglycoside antibiotic against severe infections. In spite of inducing nephrotoxicity and oxidative damage, gentamicin is used clinically due to its wide spectrum of activities against Gram negative bacterial infections. Its nephrotoxicity occurs by selective accumulation in renal proximal convoluting tubules. Its nephrotoxicity involves renal free radical generation and reduction in antioxidant defense mechanisms. A potential therapeutic approach to protect or reverse gentamicin-induced oxidative stressand nephrotoxicity would have more importance for clinical consequences. Therefore, thepresent study was designed to investigate the possible antioxidant protective effects of oxytocin and silymarin against gentamicin-induced renal damage in rats. A total of 40 adult male albino rats were divided into four groups. The first group is the control group that received normal saline (1ml/kg/i.p/day for 8 consecutive days), the second group was treated withgentamicin(80mg/kg/i.p/day for 8 days), the third group was treated with gentamicin (80mg/kg/i.p/day for 8 days) and oxytocin (5 I.U/kg/i.p/day for 8 days) and the fourth group was treated with gentamicin (80mg/kg/i.p/day for 8 days) and salymarin in a dose of (50 mg/kg orally/day for 8 days). Some biochemical and histopathological examinations of kidneys were performed after treatment for evaluation of the oxidative stress and renal nephrotoxicity. Gentamicin treatment significantly increased serum urea and creatinine levels and AST activities. Also gentamicin significantly decreased the total antioxidant capacity and catalase activity in renal tissues. Renal tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) has a non significant increase, while renal reduced glutathione (GSH) wasn't changed. Study of renal morphology showed degenerative changes in the form of cloudy swelling, hydropic degeneration and glomerular necrosis in gentamicin group. Administration of oxytocin and silymarin with gentamicin ameliorated to some degree the biochemical changes and oxidative stress parameters against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. It was concluded that treatments with these antioxidants could have beneficial effects in treatment of gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity.