The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a trap-neuter-return (TNR) event on the size of free-roaming rural cat colonies in Quebec. This prospective randomized, controlled study included 18 cat colonies around barns and stables that were randomly assigned to either a TNR group (10 colonies of 7 to 27 cats; 14.3 cats on average) or a control group (8 colonies of 7 to 26 cats; 14.5 cats on average). The number of cats in each colony was calculated from the images obtained by camera-trapping at: baseline (T0), 7.5 mo (T7), and 12 mo (T12). At baseline, the TNR group was subjected to a TNR event. When taking into account adults only, a significant growth difference was observed in the number of cats between the TNR group and the control group at T7 (P = 0.03). When including kittens as well as adults, a trend towards a lower growth of the TNR group compared to the control group was noted at T7 (P = 0.06). There was no difference in the number of kittens between the 2 groups at T7 (P = 0.49) or at T12 (P = 0.36). There was a trend towards more emigration in the control group at T12 (P = 0.095). Isolated TNR events have a low and temporary impact on colony size in Quebec's rural cat colonies.

Virulence-associated genes have been recognised and detected in Campylobacter species. The majority of them have been proven to be associated with pathogenicity. This study aimed to detect the presence of virulence genes associated with pathogenicity and responsible for invasion, expression of adherence, colonisation and production of the cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Commercial chicken faecal samples were randomly sampled from chicken farms within the Durban metropolitan area in South Africa. Furthermore, human clinical Campylobacter spp. isolates were randomly sampled from a private pathology laboratory in South Africa. Out of a total of 100 chicken faecal samples, 78% (n = 78) were positive for Campylobacter growth on modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate and from the random laboratory collection of 100 human clinical isolates, 83% (n = 83) demonstrated positive Campylobacter spp. growth following culturing methods. These samples were screened for the presence of the following virulence genes: cadF, hipO, asp, ciaB, dnaJ, pldA, cdtA, cdtB and cdtC. As expected, the cadF gene was present in 100% of poultry (n = 78) and human clinical isolates (n = 83). Campylobacter jejuni was the main species detected in both poultry and human clinical isolates, whilst C. coli were detected at a significantly lower percentage (p < 0.05). Eight per cent of the C. jejuni from human clinical isolates had all virulence genes that were investigated. Only one C. coli isolate demonstrated the presence of all the virulence genes investigated; however, the pldA virulence gene was detected in 100% of the C. coli isolates in poultry and a high percentage (71%) in human clinical C. coli isolates as well. The detection of cdt genes was found at higher frequency in poultry than human clinical isolates. The high prevalence rates of virulence genes detected in poultry and human clinical isolates demonstrate their significance in the pathogenicity of Campylobacter species.

The aim of this study was to investigate the immunogenicity of a plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccine encoding the G1 epitope of bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) G glycoprotein in mice. A plasmid DNA carrying the G1 gene was constructed and designated as pcDNA3.1-G1. The expression of the target gene was confirmed in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells transfected with pcDNA3.1-G1 by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Immunisation experiments were intramuscularly carried out by vaccinating 6-week-old female mice in four groups, including the pcDNA3.1-G1 construct, pcDNA3.1 (+) plasmid alone, BEF-inactivated vaccine and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (1X) three times with 2-week intervals. Fourteen days after the last immunisation, the animals were bled and the resulting sera were tested for anti-G1-specific antibodies by immunoblotting analysis, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and virus neutralisation (VN) test. Serological assays showed that the pcDNA3.1-G1 construct expressing G1 protein was able to elicit specific antibodies against this antigen. Virus neutralisation test showed that pcDNA3.1-G1 could induce anti-BEFV-neutralising antibodies in mice. Our findings indicated that a new dimension can be added to vaccine studies for bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) using eukaryotic expression plasmids encoding the G1 antigen in the future.

Recent years have seen a change in the relative prevalence of environmental and contagious intramammary pathogens, as well as a change in the relative number of total mixed ration (TMR)-based and pasture (PAS)-based dairies in South Africa. The objectives of the study were to determine and compare the prevalence of mastitis pathogens in TMR and PAS dairies in South Africa during 2008 and 2013; furthermore, the within-herd prevalence of Streptococcus uberis in Str. uberis-positive herds was determined and compared. The prevalence of each pathogen, as well as the within-herd prevalence of Str. uberis, were compared between the two years and the two management systems using bacterial culture results from routinely collected composite cow milk samples submitted to the Onderstepoort Milk Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria. Coagulase-negative staphylococci had the highest prevalence in both TMR and PAS dairies for both 2008 (29.60% [95.00% CI: 28.80% – 30.40%] and 26.90% [95.00% CI: 25.50% – 28.30%], respectively) and 2013 (20.20% [95.00% CI: 19.30% – 21.10%] and 22.70% [95.00% CI: 22.20% – 23.10%], respectively), which decreased significantly from 2008 to 2013 in both TMR and PAS dairies (p < 0.001). Streptococcus uberis showed an increase in prevalence in both TMR (p = 0.002) and PAS dairies (p = 0.001) from 2008 (2.36% [95.00% CI: 2.10% – 2.65%] and 2.63% [95.00% CI: 2.16% – 3.16%], respectively) to 2013 (3.10% [95.00% CI: 2.72% – 3.51%] and 3.64% [95.00% CI: 3.45% – 3.83%], respectively). Staphylococcus aureusshowed a significant decrease in both TMR (p = 0.011) and PAS (p < 0.001) dairies from 2008 (4.71% [95.00% CI: 4.34% – 5.10%] and 5.62% [95.00% CI: 4.94% – 6.36%], respectively) to 2013 (3.95% [95.00% CI: 3.52% – 4.40%] and 1.71% [95.00% CI: 1.58% – 1.84%], respectively). The median within-herd prevalence of Str. uberis for the combined dairy systems showed a significant increase from 2008 (1.72% [IQR: 0.88% – 5.00%]) to 2013 (3.10% [IQR: 1.72% – 4.70%]) (p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of most of the major contagious and environmental mastitis pathogens between 2008 and 2013 and between TMR and PAS dairies. The within-herd prevalence of Str. uberis increased from 2008 to 2013, with the highest within-herd prevalence in PAS dairies in 2013.

Medicinal herbal feed that used as feed additives are widely applied in livestock production and may be applicable to aquaculture production systems. The present study explores the modulatory effects of incorporation of herbal combination of black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa), peppermint (Mentha piperita) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), on African Sharptooth Catfish, Clarias gariepinus. For this purpose, a total of 72 catfish were randomly distributed into 6 groups of 12 fish each and fed on the experimental diets for 45 successive days. Fish of first group were fed on basic diet only while, those of the second one were fed on basic diet supplemented with 0.5% from each medicinal plant while, other 4 groups were subjected to challenge experiment by injection with Vibrio vulnificus. The third group was kept non-injected, fourth group was injected by saline, fifth and sixth groups were injected by Vibrio vulnificus after feeding with basic diet and basic diet with herbs, respectively. Results proved that, total antioxidant capacity, serum total proteins, albumins and globulins were observed to be significantly higher in the treated group as compared to the control. Lymphocytes percent increased significantly in herbal fed group comparing to the control group while, neutrophils percent decreased significantly. Although serum urea level was not affected by herbal supplement, serum creatinine level was decreased significantly. Body weight gain of C. gariepinus increased significantly after herbal administration. Catfish challenged with a Vibrio vulnificus isolate and received the herbal diet showed less mortality than the control group. Fish fed on the herbal diet exhibited normal histological structure of liver, kidney and spleen. In conclusion, based on the current results together with the low cost and the potential antioxidant and immune effects of mixed herbal medicinal plants used in the study, it is recommended to be used in fish feed to diminish the mortalities caused by some aquatic pathogens.

The experiment was designed to investigate the immunomodulating effect of lector 50 on general health and immune response of broiler chicks to Mycoplasma gallisepticum vaccination in commercial broiler chicks. the obtained results reveled significantly higher effects on body weight ,bursal, and thymic index on lector treated group of chickens, while no effects on spleen index. Also significant improvement in total and differential leukocytic count as well as significantly higher antibody titer was detected by ELISA in lector 50 treated groups.

The present work was done to investigate the interrelationship between the ovarian activity and each of seasonal environment, hormonal pattern, age and body condition scores(BCS) in shecamel. Over a period of one year (November 2005– October 2006), jugular blood samples were collected from 320 she-camel (5-20 years old) in Cairo–slaughter house during their antimortum inspection and body condition was scored. Immediately, after slaughter both ovaries were individually collected and morphometric findings were recorded. The results of hormonal assay including estrogen (E), progesterone (P4), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were recorded. The obtained hormonal levels were studied in relation to the ovarian findings and seasonal variation. Moreover the ovarian activity was studied in relation to age and BCS. According to the ovarian findings and hormonal levels, there is clear breeding season in dromedary camel extended from November to April under Egyptian conditions. Otherwise, the period from May to October (non-breeding season) has a lower ovarian activity and concomitant with lower hormonal levels. She-camel reaches its maturity later and has a higher longevity than cattle. The best reproductive capacity of she-camel are found within 8-15 years of age (BCS,2.92±0.21).

In the present study, a total number of 1576 livers of ruminants, including cattle (924), sheep (487) and camels (165) were examined for detection of different pathogenic agents. Among those, a number of 58 cases (3.68 %) were infected with both parasites and bacteria. Out of this number, 3 cases only (0.19 %) were infected with bacterial species (Lactobacillus lactis lactis), 31 cases (1.97 %) were infected with parasitic stages only and a number of 24 cases (1.52 %) were co-infected with both bacteria and parasites. Among the bacterial isolates, 11 genera of bacterial species were found in 27 cases. The obtained results revealed that, all infected cases were cattle. The most prevalent isolate was Enterococcus species which present in 7 cases (25.92 %) among the totally bacterial infected cases, followed by 5 cases showed Staphylococci (18.52 %), then both genus Escherichia and genus Lactobacillus, each was found in 4 cases (14.81 %) and finally 7 genera including;Enterobacter,Micrococcus,Citrobacter,Aerococcus,Pseudomonas,Chrysomonas and Streptococcus; each was found in a single case with a percentage of 3.70 %. Concerning the parasitic affections, it has been found that Fasciola species was the most prevalent type of helminthes present in the infected livers. Among all infected livers, 40 cases (2.54 %) were infected with adult Fasciola gigantica (including 33 cattle and 7 sheep), followed by 8 cases of camels (0.51 %) infected with Hydatid cysts, then 4 cases of sheep (0.25 %) infected with Cysticercus tenuicollis and finally 3 cases of sheep (0.19 %) infected with both Fasciola gigantica and Cysticercus tenuicollis. The results revealed that, a considerable high number of co-infected animals {24 cases (41.38 %) among the totally infected animals} was existed and this reveals that the parasite facilitates the way to the secondary bacterial infection with the end results of hepatic tissue degeneration and necrosis. So, in abattoirs, great attention must be taken for appropriate evaluation of these pathogenic sources.

Salmonellosis is a major problem for the poultry industry, and this problem represents a critical food safety hazard. Resistance to antimicrobial agents within nontyphoidal Salmonellae is a serious problem. The present study aimed to analyze genetically some β-lactamase resistance genes and some virulence associated genes in Salmonella isolates from broiler chicken. Five hundred samples were collected from diseased broiler chickens of different ages (3-6 weeks) from different farms in Assiut Governorate in Egypt during the period from January 2015 to December 2015. Bacteriological examination showed that 26 Salmonella isolates were recovered with a prevalence rate of 5.2% Serotyping of Salmonella isolates showed that S. Enteritidis S. Typhimurium, and S. Kentuky were identified at rates of 50%, 30.8% and 19.2%, respectively. Results of antibiogram showed that 18 Salmonella isolates (92.3%) were multidrug resistant. All isolates were screened for the presence of 2 β-lactamase resistance genes (blaCTX and blaCMY) as well as 3 virulence genes (stn, invA and hilA) using multiplex PCR. The overall prevalences were 53.9% for blaCTX and 34.6% for blaCMY. Meanwhile, stn, invA and hilA genes were found in 96.2%, 100% and 84.7% of isolates, respectively.

Bovine herpes virus-1 (BHV-1) was isolated from bull semen by inoculation onto chorioallantoic membrane of specific pathogen free eggs. The isolated virus was identified by agar gel precipitation test, Dot ELISA, pock reduction and neutralization test, as well as by histopathology. The isolated virus was propagated on Madin Darby Bovine Kidney cells and identified by polymerase chain reaction. In sero-survey for BHV-1 antibodies on 1091 collected serum samples 188 sera showed clear precipitation lines by AGPT