Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and non-O157 are food-borne pathogens and contaminants of foods of animal origin. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of virulence and integrase genes in STEC isolates from diarrhoeic calves in Fars Province, Iran. Five hundred and forty diarrheic neonatal calves were randomly selected for sampling. Rectal swabs were collected and cultured for isolation and identification of E. coli following standard methods. The isolates were analysed for the presence of class 1 integrons and bacterial virulence factors using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Out of 540 diarrhoeic faecal samples, 312 (57.7%) harboured E. coli and 71 (22.7%) of them were identified as STEC: 41(69.5%) carried the stx2 gene, 21 (35.6%) carried the stx1 gene and 3 (5%) carried both. Twenty-six (44%) of the isolates showed the eaegene. Among the STEC isolates examined for susceptibility to eight antimicrobial agents, erythromycin and penicillin (96.8%) resistance were most commonly observed, followed by resistances to ampicillin (71.8%), tetracycline (62.5%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (39%). Integrons were detected by PCR in 36% of the STEC tested isolates, 57 (89%) of which showed resistance to at least three antimicrobial agents. Our findings should raise awareness about antibiotic resistance in diarrhoeic calves in Fars Province, Iran. Class 1 integrons facilitate the emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistance (MDR) among STEC strains recovered from food animals.

A total of 200 raw food samples including milk, kareish cheese, fresh sausage and hawawshy (spiced minced meat) (Fifty of each) were randomly collected from farmer’s houses, butcher’s shops and retail markets in Beni-Suef Governorate. All were screened for the presence of E.coli O157 and Salmonella. E.coli O157 could be detected in 1 (2%) and 1 (2%) of kareish cheese and sausage samples, respectively, while it could not be detected in any of milk or hawawshy samples. Salmonella were detected in 2 (4%), 2 (4%) and 1 (2%) of kareish cheese, sausage and hawawshy samples, respectively, while they could not be recovered from the examined milk samples. The isolated serotypes from kareish cheese samples were S.menden and S.allerton, while two strains of S.III arizonae were isolated from sausage samples, but S.anatum was recovered from hawawshy samples. The public health significance of isolated strains as well as suggested control measures were discussed.

The present study was conducted to study the immunomodulatory effect of combined of extract of propionobacterium and E.coli lipopolysaccharide (inmunair 17.5) to enhance the immune response of rabbits to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) vaccine. Forty New Zealand rabbits aged 2 months with average weight 1.5-2 kgs were divided into 4 equal groups. Group (1) was vaccinated with RHDV vaccine and the immunomodulator, group (2) was only vaccinated with RHDV vaccine, group (3) was received the immunomodulator only and the last group was kept as non-vaccinated, no-treated control. The results revealed that three days oral administration of the immunomodulator under test at time of RHDV vaccination had an improving effect on both humoral and cell mediated immune response of rabbits to RHDV vaccine. Results obtained by challenge test come in harmony with serological test

Stability study of biological products especially living bacterial vaccines plays an important role for determination of product changes in maintenance period and ensures safety, efficacy and maintenance of biological properties of the vaccines. So, the objective of this study was to establish stability and keeping quality of the local Brucella melitensis Rev-1 vaccine using different types of stabilizers in lyophilization process. A long-term stability study was carried out for four batches of reduced-dose Brucella melitensis Rev-1 vaccine manufactured by veterinary serum and vaccine research institute using four different stabilizers. These stabilizers were (A) sucrose and skimmed milk, (B and C) different concentrations of sucrose, sodium glutamate and gelatin, and (D) casein, sucrose and sodium glutamate. The quality control tests including colony forming unit, purity, dissociation and physicochemical tests on all batches until 12 months post- production were performed. The obtained results indicated that, in spite of collapse (shrinkage) of lyophilized cake in a number of bottles in batches prepared using stabilizer A, the brucella vaccine batches were stable and met the specification recommended by OIE 2012 for 12 months post-production in vaccine batches with stabilizers A and D.

The present study aimed to ellucidate the prenatal developmental stages of the submandibular salivary gland of the New-Zealand rabbits. To conduct that, twenty New-Zealand rabbit fetuses ranged from 11 to 30 days-old were used. The head region of fetuses and gland specimens were fixed, processed and stained with histological stains to be examined by light microscope. The submandibular primordia was firstly seen at the 12th day of the prenatal life as bilateral invaginated epithelial buds from the linguo-gingival groove. At 15 days-old , such buds continued deep down growth forming cord-like structure ended by compact bulges that forming the future primitive acini. At 17 days, such cords were branched off forming the future primary ducts. Canalization of the ducts appeared at 18 days. At 22 days, the primitive capsule initiated around the gland and the lobulation was recognized. At 25 days, the capsule became well developed, the duct system was completed and the parenchyma occupied by serous adenomeres surrounded by myoepithelial cells. At the full term, the submandibular gland became fully developed and became typically compound tubulo-acinar nature, the parenchyma showed seromucoidadenomeres. Strong positive PAS reaction was noticed in the striated ducts, while the cytoplasm of the acinar cells reacted weakly

A total number of 140 Egyptian breed donkeys were used in this study. Animals are classified into two groups according to the sex. Each group was further subdivided into four subgroups according to their ages. All animals were proved to be health by clinical and laboratory examinations. Two blood samples were collected from each donkey, one with anticoagulant and the other without anticoagulant for obtaining clear non-haemolysed serum. Various tests were conducted to measure the values of some blood contents. It was clear that total RBCs count, hemoglobin content and packed cells volume showed marked decrease with the increase of age. Significant difference in RBCs count between some groups and highly significant difference in Hb and PCV contents between another groups. Gradual elevation in the values of total leucocytes count from one month up to 10 years old was observed. Marked decrease in total WBCs count was reported in animals of both sexes on 10-20 years old. This denotes that Significant and highly significant differences appear in total WBCs count between animal groups. The biochemical parameters revealed highly significant difference in the total protein and albumin in some groups of male animals. Non significant fluctuation was observed in blood serum calcium, phosphorus and magnesium regarding the age and sex factors. In conclusion, it was clear that both age and sex factors has a marked influence on some blood contents in Egyptian donkeys.

Fish with bacterial septicemic syndrome (BSS) exhibit very similar clinical signs regardless of the etiological agents. Members of Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Edwardsiella, Streptococcus and Lactococcus species are considered the most reported bacterial pathogens incriminated in such syndrome. Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda and Streptococcus iniae are 3 major pathogens share in the BSS associated losses in aquaculture and considered problematic for growth of tilapia and catfish production in Egypt. Therefore, rapid and accurate diagnosis is highly needed for controlling their disease outbreaks, particularly, in mixed infections. In an attempt to elucidate the main causative pathogen, a novel multiplex PCR (m-PCR) was newly designed in this study. The developed m-PCR involves amplifying the three multiple genes in single reaction based upon primers deduced from the regions carrying 16S rRNA, etfA and 16S RNA genes of A. hydrophila (Aeromonas spp.), E. tarda and S. iniae, respectively. Prior to perform m-PCR, individual PCR assays were carried out to adapt suitable laboratory and m-PCR assays conditions. The specificity of the developed m-PCR was confirmed by the fact that only specific fragments were amplified equivalent for 953, 415 and 300 bp corresponding to A.hydrophila, E. tarda and S. iniae, respectively, and that was evident with both extracted DNAs and the bacterial cells. More specifically, these specific bands were obtained also when either the extracted DNAs or the bacterial cells of the three pathogens mixed together in the reaction. The developed m-PCR is accurate, sensitive, fast and simple technique for the simultaneous detection of A. hydrophila (Aeromonas spp.), E.tarda, and S. iniae, three major bacterial pathogens involved in BSS incidence in Egypt.

New-born lambs have limited energy reserves and need a rapid access to colostrum to maintain homeothermy and survive. The object of this study was to investigate the importance of neonatal lamb behaviour in the maintenance of its body temperature and survival. The time taken to stand and suck after birth and rectal temperatures were determined in 72 crossbred lambs (progeny of crossing 1/2 Rhamani and 1/2 Finnish). In addition, blood samples were collected at 1, 24 and 72 h after birth. The obtained sera were assayed for thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), known to be involved in heat production and phosphorous element (ph) which is essential for energy metabolism. The obtained results revealed that, low birth weight and triplet lambs were behaviourally less active at birth and had less T3, T4, Ph and body temperatures values over the first 3 days of life than lambs of heavy or medium birth weight and single or twin lambs. Thus, light weight and triplet lambs were highly susceptible to hypothermia and were exposed to high rate of mortality (18.75 and 16.66%) during the neonatal period than other lambs (3.84, 10.00, 4.55, and 9.38 %, respectively). Therefore, the present study concludes that neonatal lamb behaviour, specifically success in standing and obtaining colostrum are extremely important for thermoregulation and survival of the neonate.

Outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) cause severe economic loss to the livestock industries in terms of loss of meat, milk production and the high mortality rateespecially in calves. This study was intended for detection, isolation and molecular characterization of FMDV circulated strain among different regions in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt during 2015 and 2017. One hundred field samples were collected from clinically diseased cattle and buffaloes including vesicular fluid and sloughed epithelial membrane. Molecular detection and differentiation of FMDV serotypes by RT-PCR showed that (71%) were positive for serotype O indicating its predominance in Beni-Suef, Egypt.Also (18%) were positive for serotype SAT2 and (7%) were un-typed serotype being only positive for universal primer. Twenty samples were isolated on BHK-21 cells clone 13. Three samples showed the characteristic CPE of FMDV after blind passage 4 times. Sequences of VP1 coding-region of the three isolated FMD virus showed that the three isolated viruses were serotype O. The phylogenetic analysis of the isolated viruses reveled that they were closely related to type O of those reported in Ismailia, Behira, Giza and Cairo during 2016 with identity ranged from 97.7% - 99.8%. The most relevant outboard isolate was SUD/8/2008 with 93% identity after Blast homology search. However, the phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the three FMDV type O isolates FMDV/serotype O/Beni-Suef/2017 differs partially from all other Egyptian serotypes of 2016. In conclusion, serotype O was the most prevalent FMDV serotype in Beni-Suef, Egypt.

This study was done to evaluate and study the decaying curve of IBD MDAbs of the native chicken breeds including (Fayoumi, Dandrawi, Senawi and Baladi) were taken in consideration as compared with (Lohmann white) layer type breed. The results showed that the decline of maternal immunity of IBDV in Lohmann is the faster followed by Senawi, Baladi, Fayoumi and Dandrawi and the 1 day IBD ELISA titers were shown to be nearly equal in Senawi (5449 ± 371) and Lohmann (4536±437) and titer of Baladi chicks was close to the for mentioned two breeds (5327±371), the Dandrawi (4649±331) and Fayoumi (4596±857) are lower but close to each other. The standard deviation (SD) values recorded in Fayoumi breed showed great variation in the recorded titers, while of the other 4 groups seamed to be homogenous. Comparing the 22 day decline manner in titer it was clear that the loss in titer in Fayoumi (3494) and Lohmann (3413) was nearly equal and followed by Dandrawi (3093) and Baladi (2972) those showing lower titers. The recorded unprotected titer ≤ 400 was detected at 43 days in Lohmann, Baladi and Senawi, 37 days in Dandrawi and 31 in Fayoumi. Percentage of decline from its original values showed that Fayoumi last (75.95%) at 22 days followed by (66.53%) in Dandrawi followed by (62.78%) Lohmann,(55.79) Baladi and (55.19) Senawi. Different breeds showed different slope values that indicate differences in the decay of maternal antibodies. The predication of antibody titer for each breed as the slope in decline curve in Lohmann chicks showed highest values followed by Dandrawi chicks while the Fayoumi and Baladi were as the same values and on the other hand the Senawi showed the lowest value.