In the genus Paradiplozoon, few hard structures are present therefore most of the taxonomic studies have focused on the unique ultrastructure of the sclerites. Alcohol-fixed specimens were transferred to BSA-saline for 5 min. before staining indefinitely with 5 µl WGA-TRX, 5 µl SYTO 9 and 5 µl of Cal co fluor White M2R. Rhodamine, Fluorescein and DAPI bandpass filters on the microscope enabled selective light wavelength illumination of the three flourochromes by a mercury light source. This method provided an easy and rapid methodology to show the internal sclerites of attachment clamps. It is suitable for alcohol preserved specimens and may have additional applications in other helminth organisms.

The objective of this study was to determine the species spectrum of ixodid ticks infesting birds in Free State Province, South Africa. To this end a large number of birds belonging to several species were examined for ticks and a total of 180 birds belonging to 39 species at 17 localities were infested, and ticks belonging to eight species were recovered. The immature stages of only two, namely Amblyomma marmoreum and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, were sufficiently prevalent and numerous to safely assume that they regularly use birds as hosts. Helmeted guineafowls, Numida meleagris, were the most heavily infested and one harboured a total of 319 larvae and four nymphs. Amongst the other species an eastern clapper lark, Mirafra fasciolata, was infested with 69 larvae and a nymph, but no other bird harboured more than 40 ticks. The larvae and nymphs of H. m. rufipes were most numerous on birds from April to August.

Reproductive performance of 12 Kenyan pig breeding units (56-299 sows per unit) of similar feeding, genetics and health status were evaluated from October 2003 to October 2004 during hot and cooler periods. Sows during cooler months of the year (April to October, average temperature between 08:00 and 17:00: 25.2 + 2.2 °C) had shorter (P < 0.01) weaning to service intervals (7.9 + 2.2 days vs 12.7 + 2.7 days, respectively), less (P < 0.01) regular returns to service (5.7 + 1.9 % vs 9.9 + 1.9 %, respectively), higher (P < 0.01) farrowing rates (80.1 + 4.4 % vs 70.8 + 3.8 %, respectively), and larger born (10.0 + 1.1 vs 9.1 + 1.7, P < 0.05) and weaned litter sizes (9.2 + 1.2 vs 8.0 + 1.3, P < 0.05) compared with the time periods of high ambient temperature (November to March, between 08:00 and 17:00: 37.2 + 3.3 °C). It was concluded that a high ambient temperature is a risk factor for reproductive performance in pig breeding units.

Rapid Rural Appraisal methods were used to collate and code the indigenous knowledge on animal healthcare of Tsonga speaking people of South Africa. There was a rapport between local disease names as described by their clinical signs by the farmers and the local veterinary services important disease list. The perceived causes of diseases were physico-biological elements and no reference to ancestral guidance was recorded. Males and old people were more knowledgeable but females and young people did show a certain degree of confidence during general discussions. Plants were more frequently used than other non-conventional remedies with cattle being the most treated animals. Farmers reported using 19 plant species belonging to 12 families. Plants were collected from the wild when needed and no specific storage system was used. They were administered as decoctions or infusions of single plants. These remedies were used not only as alternatives to expensive pharmaceutical products but also because in certain diseases or chronic cases, they were thought to be more efficacious.

One hundred sheep naturally infected with Theileria lestoquardi were treated with a chloroform extract of the plant Peganum harmala. The treatment was continued for 5 days, the dose of extract being 5 mg/kg per day. Sixty-five of the sheep responded to treatment and recovered but 35 did not and died. The cure rate was 65 %

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a disease model of multiple sclerosis (MS) that is characterized by remittance and relapse of the disease and autoimmune and demyelinating lesions in the central nervous system (CNS). Autoimmune inflammation is maintained by secretion of a large number of protein. Previous studies have suggested that transcripts encoding osteopontin (OPN) are frequently detected in the mRNA population of MS plaques. To elucidate the functional role of OPN in initiation and development of EAE, we examined the expression and localization of OPN in the spinal cord during acute EAE.

A 15-year-old intact female poodle dog was referred to a local animal clinic showing signs of dyspnea. A radiographic examination revealed multiple nodules in the lung. The following day, the animal died and a necropsy examination revealed multiple nodular masses of varying sizes in the lung. Microscopically, the tumor cells were composed of round to polygonal cells resembling adipocytes with little or no collagenous stroma. Most of the cells contained clear cytoplasmic vacuoles with the nucleus at the periphery while the other cells contained varying numbers of smaller vacuoles.

A 7-month-old brown pig with a discoid and pedunculate mass measuring 14.0×12.5×2.5 cm on the skin of the right shoulder was noted at the slaughter house in Jeju. The surface of mass approximately 7×4 cm was interfaced with skin. The color of mass with firm consistency was mainly black and partially white on cut surface. Histopathologically, numerous unencapsulated endocrine-like cellular nodules of epithelioid cell type with abundant intracytoplasmic black pigment, melanin, were occupied in dermis and subcutis.

Residual materials such as veterinary drugs, environmental contaminants, and pesticides are affecting food safety. High resolution techniques and quality controls are needed to analyze these materials from part per million to part per trillion quantities in food. In order to achieve quality results, standardized methods and techniques are required. Our laboratories were prepared to obtain a certificate of accreditation for ISO/IEC 17025 in the analytical criteria of animal drugs, dioxins, pesticides, and heavy metals. ISO together with IEC has built a strategic partnership with the World Trade Organization with the common goal of promoting a free and fair global trading system.

The primary goal of the would healing is rapid wound closure. Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have greatly expanded our understanding of the biologic processes involved in wound repair and tissue regeneration. This study was conducted to develop a new sponge type of biomaterial to be used for either wound dressing or scaffold for tissue engineering. We designed to make a comparative study of the wound healing effect of silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid (SF/HA) blend sponge in full-thickness dermal injury model of rat.