This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of chitosan (CHI) on sugarcane fermentation profile and losses, chemical composition, and in situ degradation. Treatments were: 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 g of CHI/kg of dry matter (DM). Twenty experimental silos (PVC tubing with diameter 28 cm and height 25 cm) were used. Sand (2 kg) was placed at the bottom of each silo to evaluate effluent losses, and silos were weighed 60 d after ensiling to calculate gas losses. Samples were collected from the center of the silo mass to evaluate silage chemical composition, in situ degradation, fermentation profile, and mold and yeast count. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design, and the treatment effect was decomposed using polynomial regression. Chitosan linearly increased acetic acid and NH3-N concentration, while yeast and mold count, and ethanol concentration decreased. Intermediary levels of CHI (from 4.47 to 6.34 g/kg DM) showed the lower values of effluent, gas, and total losses. There was a quadratic effect of CHI on the content of non-fiber carbohydrates, neutral and acid detergent, and in situ DM degradation. The lowest fiber content was observed with levels between 7.01 and 7.47 g/kg DM, whereas the highest non-fiber carbohydrate content and in situ DM degradation were found with 6.30 and 7.17 g/kg DM of CHI, respectively. Chitosan linearly increased acetic acid and NH3-N concentration, whereas it linearly reduced ethanol concentration and count of yeast and mold. Thus, intermediary levels of CHI, between 4.47 and 7.47 g/kg of DM, decrease fermentation losses and improve the nutritional value of sugarcane silage.

Medical management of abdominal abscesses in horses requires prolonged antibiotic therapy and presents varied success rates. A 6-year-old male horse with a history of colic and multiple abdominal punctures to relieve gas was attended. At admission, tachycardia, tachypnea, hyperthermia, mucosal congestion, dehydration, and rigid gait were observed. The association of physical examination, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings allowed the diagnoses of peritonitis and abdominal abscess. Supporting treatment plus broad spectrum antibiotic therapy was performed: daily intraperitoneal ceftriaxone (25 mg/kg, 7 days); daily intravenous gentamicin (6.6 mg/kg, 7 days); per os metronidazole three times a day (15 mg/kg 12 days), followed by the same dose twice a day (15 mg/kg 33 days), totaling 45 days of treatment. Plasma fibrinogen and ultrasonographic examination were the most effective tools to evaluate abscess evolution. There was normalization of the physical examination 24 h after beginning the treatment, consecutive regression of the nucleated cell count in the peritoneal fluid, and regression of plasma fibrinogen and size of the abscess. On the 10th treatment day, the animal was discharged from the hospital, maintaining oral therapy with metronidazole every 12 h (15 mg / kg). When the animal returned on the 30th day, an abscess size regression was observed. However, there was no resolution, and therapy with metronidazole was maintained. On the 45th day of treatment, a new hospital evaluation was performed, where the abscess resolved, and metronidazole was suspended. It is highlighted that the therapeutic association used in the treatment of abdominal infection and abscess resulted in a rapid clinical response

This study was designed to detect equine piroplasmosis using the molecular technique in Al-Najaf province during the season that showed an increment in tick activities. Blood samples were collected from 110 horses with more than two signs of piroplasmosis. After DNA extraction, the product was examined by a polymerase chain reaction to amplify 18SrRNA. The results showed that the overall percentage of equine theileriosis was 38.18%. According to gender, the percentage of infection was 43.48% and 29.27% in females and males, respectively. Significant variations appeared between infected horses according to age, and the percentage of infection was 50% and 35.22% in less than 2 years and more than 2 years age, respectively. Moreover, the percentage of infection was 62.5% and 19.35% in animals with and without acariasis, respectively. Significant variations were also seen in equine theileriosis according to geographical areas, and the higher percentage was reported in Hera district (60.87%), while the lowest percentage was in the center of Al-Najaf (21.43%). This difference may be due to different distribution of vector of disease (tick), which may be the availability of the suitable weather that helped in the multiplication of the intermediate vectors. In conclusion, this study proved the variations in the occurrences of equine piroplasmosis according to gender, age, and geographical areas.

This survey evaluated mombin leaves (Spondias mombin L.) decoction efficiency as an antiseptic during post-surgery period on cats submitted to orchiectomy and ovariosalpingohisterectomy. For this purpose, 45 castrated mongrels cats were divided into three groups, the first group as a positive control using 0.5% chlorhexidine-alcohol solution, the second a negative control group using sterile distilled water and, finally, the test group using mombin leaves decocted with a concentration of 100 mg/mL. All animals, independent of age and sex, had visibly healed in most cases in a similar time. Animals treated with mombin leaves decoction presented a significant reduction of bacterial growth. In addition, the animals treated in the test group had better surgical wound healing. All isolated bacterial strains presented inhibition halo for chlorhexidine and for Spondias mombin L. Thus, the decoction of Spondias mombin L. leaves proved antiseptic efficacy in the surgical wounds of cats submitted to orchiectomy and ovariosalpingohisterectomy.

Castration refers to induced sterility via physical, chemical, or hormonal methods. Chemical castration is an efficient and reliable technique in contrast to other sterilization procedures as it is less painful to physical methods and cost‑effective to hormonal methods. Azadirachta indica (neem), is a charismatic plant as its leaves possess anti-inflammatory, anti‑microbial, and anti-androgenic chattels. To abate the escalating human population in South Asia, neem oil and neem leaf extract have been effectively used as a contraceptive agent. The key determinant of the current study was to evaluate Neem as a chemical sterilizing agent, (either necrotic or apoptotic), in dogs injected intratesticular in comparison to a hypertonic saline solution. Pre- and post-injection testicular width size and blood samples for serum testosterone levels were collected on alternative days. Results disclosed substantial changes in testicular width size, histopathological profile, and serum testosterone level. A non-significant (P > 0.05) pre-injection testicular width readings in contrast to a significant increase (P < 0.05) three days post-injection was noted in all the competitive groups. The mean values recorded for testicular width size at the end of the trial study via neem leaf extract, 30% HSS and, control groups were 27.7362 ± 2.3315mm, 30.9594 ± 4.6861mm, and 24.5023 ± 2.5387mm, respectively. A declining trend, regarding serum testosterone level being statistically significant (P < 0.05) was recorded in treated groups (A, B) in contrast to the control group (C) as the values were 1.5357 ± 0.7819ng, 1.2669 ± 0.9095ng, and 2.4517 ± 0.1827ng in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Histopathological findings advocated the presence of apoptotic bodies in the neem treated group whereas the presence of degenerated interstitial cells, necrosed seminiferous tubules, damaged germinal epithelium, and ceased spermatogenesis was also studied in both competitive groups. Thus, the apoptotic effect and anti-inflammatory property of neem leaf extract resulted in less painful castration and verified Azadirachta indica as a better substitute for chemical castration in contrast to hypertonic saline solution.

Environmental pollution with heavy metals represents global problem. One of these heavy metals is the lead acetate that emits from many industries such as paint, ceramics, lead containing pipes and plastics led to a manifold rise in the occurrence of free lead in biological systems and the environment. Exposure to lead acetate affects most of the body’s organs especially testes since it has a unique vascular system. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin C against lead acetate induced testicular toxicity in rats. Thirty male adult albino rats were used in this study. They were equally divided into three groups; group I "control group", group II "lead acetate treated group" and group III "lead acetate and vitamin C treated group". Administration of lead acetate (20 mg /kg body weight for 8 successive weeks) resulted in a significant decrease in serum level of testosterone. It also led to a significant increase in the testicular tissue homogenate concentration of MDA and a significant decrease in GSH concentration and catalase activity. Administration of vitamin C (20 mg/kg body weight) with lead acetate for 8 successive weeks succeeded in improving semen quality and antioxidant enzyme concentrations of testes. It can be concluded that lead acetate testicular toxicity in rats led to disturbance in serum level of the main male reproductive hormone and increased testicular contents of oxidative markers and decreased the antioxidant markers. The use of vitamin C improved these changes.

This study aimed to examine the histopathological changes and some biochemical parameters including oxidative stress indices during the course of a natural Cryptosporidium parvum infection in newborn buffalo calves. A total of 102 buffalo calves of 1-3 weeks of age, suffering from diarrhea were examined for the presence of C. parvum oocysts. Out of them, 16 buffalo calves were positive for C. parvum and 15 calves were free from Cryptosporidium infection and represented the control group. The histopathological study was also included two newly born buffalo calves that were died and proved to be positive for C. parvum oocysts. Intestinal and abomasal mucosa of infected calves showed villous atrophy and architectural abnormalities characterized by rounded edges, with markedly dilated glands filled with necrotic material, and numerous cryptosporidia at different stages of life cycle. Serum biochemical constituents revealed decreases (P < 0.05) in concentrations of total proteins (-14.94%), albumin (-17.22%), sodium (-7.532%), potassium (-16.02%) and chloride (-9.628%) when compared with healthy calves. There were increases (P < 0.05) in serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (62.524%) and total peroxides (30.31%). In contrast, there were an inhibition (P < 0.05) in serum concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (-35.49%) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (-30.43%) in comparison with the control group. Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) and linear regression (R2) analysis (n = 16) showed that TPX was inversely correlates with albumin (r=0.61, R2=0.43, P<0.001) and sodium (r=0.67, R2=0.48, P<0.001) concentration in serum of C. parvum infected calves. It can be concluded that, Cryptosporidiosis had an adverse effect on biochemical parameters with increased reactive oxygen metabolites and lipid peroxide production in infected buffalo calves, which may be responsible for tissue damage and villus atrophy in infected calves.

Liver fibrosis is one of the most prevalent health problem in the world and resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the antifibrogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cell in liver fibrosis induced by TAA and some of its underlying mechanisms was investigated.40 male albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups 10 rats per every group as Group 1; normal control group, Group 2; Control group for only a single dose of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs, 3x106 cell/ml), Group 3; TAA-treated group (200mg TAA /kg body weight I/P three times a week for 6 weeks) and Group 4; rats injected with TAA for six weeks then injected intravenous with a single dose of MSCs (3x106 cell/ml) per rat at tail vein for another eight weeks. MSCs improved liver biomarker via decreasing serum level of ALT and AST in comparison to fibrotic group with significant increase in the level of albumin and total protein and improved oxidative status of the hepatic tissue. TAA is successfully induced liver fibrosis that was assessed histopathologically by Crossman’s trichrome staining and immunostaining of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). MSCs successfully improved pathological alterations in hepatic tissues induced by TAA as well as it could suppress α-SMA and increase the level of HGF in immunostained sections. Finally, MSCs have therapeutic effect on experimentally induced liver fibrosis using TAA via its regenerative capacity and anti-fibrotic effect. Therefore, the obtained results recommend that, MSCs could be used as a complementary treatment in hepatic fibrosis

The present study aimed to provide a detailed description of the normal development of rabbit stomach and focusing on the histogenesis of gastric glands. In a total, 24 New Zealand White rabbit fetuses were collected at gestational days 21, 25, and 29. The stomachs of the collected fetuses were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and prepared by paraffin technique then stained with Harris's Haematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's Trichrome stain, Orcein, Periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, and Bromophenol blue stains. The results revealed that, at 21stgestational day, the different parts of the stomach including, cardia, fundus and pylorus could be easily distinguished. On 25th developmental day, the gastric mucosal folds were more prominent in the cardia than fundus and pylorus. At 29th developmental day, tunica mucosa and tunica submucosa of the fetal stomach were laid in longitudinally oriented folds known as rugae. The gastric gland in this age became well developed containing well-demarcated oxyntic and peptic cells. In conclusion, the rabbit stomach is completely differentiated during the embryonic life and the gastric glands were functionally active.

The first known severe disease caused by a coronavirus (CoV) in humans emerged with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in China, which killed 774 people during its 2002/2003 outbreak. The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) was the second human fatal disease, which started in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and resulted in 858 fatalities. In December 2019, a new virus, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), originating from China, began generating headlines worldwide because of the unprecedented speed of its transmission; 5.2 million people were infected and 338 480 had been reported dead from December 2019 to May 2020. These human coronaviruses are believed to have an animal origin and had reached humans through species jump. Coronaviruses are well known for their high frequency of recombination and high mutation rates, allowing them to adapt to new hosts and ecological niches. This review summarises existing information on what is currently known on the role of wild and domesticated animals and discussions on whether they are the natural reservoir/amplifiers hosts or incidental hosts of CoVs. Results of experimental infection and transmission using different wild, domesticated and pet animals are also reviewed. The need for a One Health approach in implementing measures and practices is highlighted to improve human health and reduce the emergence of pandemics from these zoonotic viruses.