The current investigation studied an outbreak of lumpy skin disease of cattle in Beni-Suef and Al-Fayium governorates from March up to September 2006. Epidemiological data over a total of 5500 cattle from all ages, breeds and sexes were investigated. Prevalence of lumpy skin antibodies was screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that revealed high exposure rates; 57% and 51.42% in Beni-Suef and Al Fayium governorates respectively Virus isolation was conducted on chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of specific pathogen free embryonated chicken egg (SPF-ECE) and MDBK cell culture. The virus identity was confirmed by passive haemagglutination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the infected CAM and MDBK cell culture. Experimental infection of rabbits was successful, demonstrating their possible roles in the epidemiological process of the disease.

This study was performed in the period February 2009 through January 2010 to determine the role of dairy cattle in transmitting listeriosis to man in Beni-Suef Governorate, Egypt. Individual milk samples and rectal swabs were gathered from 175 dairy cows (125 clinically diseased and 50 apparently healthy). A total of 75 kariesh cheese and 150 dairy shop milk samples were randomly collected from the same localities where the examined cattle were reared. Stool and blood samples were taken from 125 humans comprising 75 individuals residing in close contact with the examined cows and 50 feverish inpatients. The occurrence of Listeria spp. in the examined dairy cattle revealed that 1.14 % of individual milk samples harboured Listeria spp.; L. innocua (0.57 %) and L. seeligeri (0.57 %). None of rectal swabs revealed a positive result. L. monocytogenes could not be recovered from any of the examined cattle samples. Examination of kariesh cheese demonstrated a positive result to L. innocua (1.33 %). Concerning dairy shop milk examined, 5.33 % was Listeria spp.-positive; they were identified as L.monocytogenes (2.67 %), L. innocua (1.33 %) and L.seeligeri (1.33 %). Examination of humans revealed a positive result for L. welshimeri in a stool sample (0.8 %) taken from an apparently healthy woman while all the examined blood sampleswere Listeria-negative. It was concluded that listeriosis in Beni-Suef Governorate appears to be ofsporadic nature and that the potential of human exposure to Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes from dairy cattle is more likely to exist in dairy shop milk rather than being related to the animal itself.

Torque teno virus (TTV), a species of Anellovirus, is a non-enveloped single stranded DNA virus with a wide range of animal hosts. The incidence of TTV is quite ubiquitous throughout the world. A total of 235 serum samples obtained from 137 pigs and 98 cattle at slaughterhouses in Korea during April 2005 to May 2005 were tested by TTV-specific PCR as to monitor prevalence of TTV among swine and cattle. As a result, the prevalent rates of TTVs in pigs and cattle were 43.1% and 4.1%, respectively. It seems that TTV infection is quite prevalent in swine population.

Objective--To determine the contribution of 7,8-methylenedioxylycoctonine (MDL)–type alkaloids to the toxic effects of tall larkspur (Delphinium spp) consumption in cattle. Animals--Sixteen 2-year-old Angus steers. Procedures--Plant material from 3 populations of tall larkspur that contained different concentration ratios of MDL-type-to-N-(methylsuccinimido) anthranoyllycoctonine (MSAL)–type alkaloids was collected, dried, and finely ground. For each plant population, a dose of ground plant material that would elicit similar clinical signs of toxicosis in cattle after oral administration was determined on the basis of the plants' MSAL-type alkaloid concentration. Cattle were treated via oral gavage with single doses of ground plant material from each of the 3 populations of tall larkspur; each animal underwent 1 to 3 single-dose treatments (> = 21-day interval between treatments). Heart rate was recorded immediately before (baseline) and 24 hours after each larkspur treatment. Results--Tall larkspur populations with a lower MDL-type-to-MSAL-type alkaloid concentration ratio required a greater amount of MSAL-type alkaloids to cause the expected clinical signs of toxicosis (including increased heart rate) in cattle. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--Results indicated that the typically less toxic MDL-type alkaloids contributed in a significant manner to the toxic effects of tall larkspur in steers. Consequently, both the concentration of MSAL-type alkaloids and the total concentration of MSAL- and MDL-type alkaloids should be determined when assessing the relative toxicity of tall larkspur populations. These results provide valuable information to determine the risk of toxicosis in cattle grazing on tall larkspur–infested rangelands.

Thirty Staphylococcus aureus isolates used in the study obtained from cattle (20) and goat (10) were haemolytic on blood agar. Twenty one of the isolates (14 from cattle, 7 from goats) produced a-haemolysis, 3 produced b-haemolysis (2 from cattle and 1 from goats), and 6 isolates (4 from cattle and 2 from goats) produced both a- and b-haemolysis. The haemolysins tested against erythrocytes from rabbit, cattle and horse in order to demonstrate a-, b- and d-toxins, respectively revealed that a- and b-toxins were produced by all the isolates but b toxin was produced by only 7 isolates from cattle and by 3 from goats. On titration it was recorded that highest titre was recorded for a-toxins (for cattle, 1:2560 and for goat, 1:1280) whereas the highest titres for b and d-toxins was similar (1:160) for cattle as well as goat isolates. The result obtained for qualitative and quantitative haemolysin assays correlated well with the haemolysis pattern seen on the blood agar plates.

The calf was a congenital abnormal stillbirth of Sahiwal breed of zebu cattle, with multiple musculoskeletal defects. It was born to a heifer in its first calving. The calving was normal; however, calf born had multiple anomalies. The body of the calf was flashy just like a rubber balloon filled with water (case of hydropsy). The body was without hairs (hypotrichosis). Skeleton was noncalcified and ribs were cartilaginous. The body was identifiable in three regions: head, thoraxabdomen, and limbs. Morphologically limbs were developed but were quite short in length with well-developed hoof. There was one eye like structure just above the mouth (case of cyclopia). The tongue was developed and was protruded from mouth. There was one additional structure on the head, looked like outgrowth of muscles covered with thin skin, had openings of nostrils on the end. In autopsy abdominal body cavity was found filled with fluid. The visceral organ seemed normal. It was identified as female; however, ovaries and genital tract could not be traced and examined. It was the first calving of its dam with the complete gestation period of 287 days like a normal period in cattle. Pieces of tissue from lung and blood from the heart and vena cava were collected; however, cultures were found heavily contaminated with bacterial growth. The actual cause of the defects could not be established, might be defects of certain genes responsible for incomplete growth and development.