Brucellosis is considered an economically important highly contagious and zoonotic bacterial disease of water buffaloes. Control of brucellosis in buffaloes is very important for public health. The efficacy of control program depends on the detection and eradication of infected animals coupled with vaccination and application of biosecurity. This study was carried out to control the brucellosis in buffalo farm in Assuit Governorate, Egypt during the period from April 2015 to August 2016. Out of 620 unvaccinated buffaloes, 87 (14.03%) aborted. Moreover, 90/620(14.51%), 82/620(13.22%), 82/620(13.22%), and 80/620 (12.9%) buffaloes were serologically positive by BAPA, RBPT, m SAT and Riv.T, respectively. Three isolates were differentiated as Brucella melitensis, biovar 3, one strain isolated from one vaginal swap out of 10 Riv.T. positive recently aborted buffaloes (10%) and two strains were isolated out of ten milk samples of Riv.T. positive buffaloes (20%). Eighty serological positive buffaloes to Riv.T were culled from the herd, while 60 serological negative heifers were vaccinated by Brucella abortus S 19 vaccine, with a dose of 3-8×109 cfu/5ml and monitored for serological titer for 240 days. After 6 months of vaccination, the number of serologically positive calves declined marginally to 50 (83.33%), 40 (66.67%), 50 (83.33%), 0 (0%), 40 (66.67%) and 0 (0%) by BAPA, RBPT, mSAT, CFT, iELISA and cELISA, respectively. Three successive serological tests every three weeks were done by screening tests, BAPA and RBPT and confirmed by Riv.T. At the end of the control program, all examined buffaloes were serologically negative. Application of biosecurity in the farm was applied by the sanitary disposal of aborted material and application of proper disinfectants at its recommended work strength and contact time.

The current study was conducted to investigate the incidence of metritis and endometritis in dairy cows. Moreover, to determine the collective impact of metritis and endometritis in dairy farms on reproductive performance and milk yield. A total number of 246 Holstein cows divided into three groups was included in the current study.One of these groups as control group and the second and the third groups were including those cows diagnosed with acute postpartum metritis and chronic endometritis, respectively. The obtained results showed that endometritis possessed severe negative effects on postpartum reproductive performance of the studied cows compared to normal cows. Moreover, the impact of this disease was higher in premiparous cows in comparison with com their pleuriparous herd-mates. Days to first estrus tended (P=0.06) to be increased in premiparous cows suffering from endometritis (89.19±12.12 days) compared to normal cows (59.45±3.30 days) or those suffering from acute metritis (65.37±4.92 days). While in pleuriparous cows, the negative effects of endometritis did not show any tendency for prolonged days to first estrus, when compared to normal cows. Endometritis had significantly (P<0.01) negative impacts on postpartum cyclicity in premiparous cows (89.19±12.12 days), compared to 56.32±3.15 days in pleuriparous cows. Endometritis, significantly negatively (P<0.05) impacted days to first AI in both premiparous cows (105.63±12.95 days, compared to 65.97±2.63 days for normal cows and pleuriparous cows (76.19±3.64 days). A nearly similar trend was observed for endometritis and metritis regarding their potential negative impacts on number of inseminations per conception in both premiparous and pleuriparous cows. Regarding to, days open, diseases like endometritis was associated with significantly (P<0.01) higher days open in both premiparous and pleuriparous cows. Meanwhile, advancing parity was associated with significantly (P<0.05) higher days open for cows suffering from endometritis only.

The acaricidal activity of acetone and ethanol extracts of 12 plant species was evaluated using the contact method on Rhipicephalus turanicus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks at an initial concentration of 20% (200 mg/mL). Eight of the 12 plants had mortality greater than 50% and the acetone extracts had better acaricidal activity than the ethanol extracts. The acetone extract of Calpurnia aurea (leaves and flowers) had the highest corrected mortality (CM) of 92.2% followed by Schkuhria pinnata (whole plant) with a CM of 88.9%, Ficus sycomorus (bark and stems) 86.7% and Senna italica subsp. arachoides (roots, leaves and fruits) 83.3%. Selected extracts were tested at five different concentrations using the adult immersion test. From dose–response assays, EC₅₀ values of 61.82 mg/mL, 115.21 mg/mL and 161.02 mg/mL were obtained for the acetone extracts of S. pinnata (whole plant), S. italica subsp. arachoides (roots, leaves and fruits) and C. aurea (leaves and flowers) respectively. The ethanol extract of Monsonia angustifolia (whole plant) had the highest CM of 97.8% followed by S. pinnata (whole plant) with a CM of 86.7%, C. aurea (leaves and flowers) 81.1% and Cleome gynandra (leaves) 77.8%. There is potential for the development of environmentally benign botanicals as natural acaricides against R. turanicus.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an endemic infectious disease of cattle in Egypt. This survey aimed to define the prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical LSD virus (LSDV) infection among cattle and investigate their contact with water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in order to improve the understanding of LSD epidemiology. Cattle and buffalo were examined owing to the appearance of skin lesions. Because clinical signs were consistent with LSDV infection, samples from cattle in a non-grazing dairy farm (n = 450) were submitted for LSDV testing together with those from the in-contact buffaloes (n = 100). Results revealed that the intra-herd percentage of cattle infected with LSDV varied with the detection method. This ranged from 22.4% to 65.4% by virus isolation (VI) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively, in clinical cattle samples, compared to 0% and 10% by VI and PCR in non-clinical cases. Using the neutralising index (NI), LSDV antibodies were found in 100% (n = 100) of the tested cow’s sera (NI = > 2.0 and ≥ 3.0), whereas buffalo’s sera (n = 34) displayed little increase in antibody level (NI ≥ 1.5). None of the buffalo were positive for LSDV by VI and PCR. In addition, there were no significant differences in LSD prevalence among the cattle with regard to age and sex. In conclusion, the occurrence of LSD in cattle warrants a further epidemiological study of the spread of the disease in the area and adoption of control and prevention strategies. In addition, the PCR assay was confirmed to be useful in the diagnosis of LSDV and for wider epidemiological studies.

The intensification of cattle production has raised concern for animal welfare due to the stress that is associated with farming practices. The welfare of an animal is determined by the animal’s ability to cope with or adapt to its continuously changing environment and the biological cost that is associated with this adaptation and maintenance. Stressors arise from various psychological, physiological and physical aspects of farming practices due to management and human–cattle interactions. Measuring the activity of the hypothalamopituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis with plasma cortisol levels is a useful method for determining the effects of stress on animals as it is stimulated at the onset of a perceived stress. The activation of the HPA axis affects various target tissues or systems and can result in suppression of the immune system, increased susceptibility to disease and adverse effects on reproductive success in prenatal and neonatal calves. Although some levels of stress associated with farming practices are unavoidable, improvements in farming methods need to be implemented in order to maintain or increase the efficiency of cattle production in a way that does not compromise the welfare of the animal.