Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) is a challenge for the veterinary practitioner since its etiology and treatments are still undefined. The present paper investigated the role of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in the severity of the FCGS. Oral mucosal biopsies obtained from 19 cats with FCGS were divided into two groups according to their FIV serology status. Later, the clinical lesion score was correlated with the histopathological grade of FCGS lesions and the degree of immunostaining in both groups. Most of the animals had significant histological changes; however, no correlation with FIV immunostaining intensity was observed. It was concluded that the presence of FIV infection or the animal’s seropositivity status does not seem to interfere with the severity of clinical signs nor the degree of histopathological changes when compared to the seronegative group.

Mastitis affects a high proportion of dairy cows throughout the world and is one of the greater problems faced by the dairy industry today. The disease is still a major cause of economic loss on a dairy farm. Mastitis poses not only negative consequences for the dairy farmer but also for the dairy industry as a number of issues threaten the reputation of milk as a healthy product from healthy animals. The use of antimicrobials is one of those concerns and threats. Antimicrobial usage on dairy farms is most often related to udder health as most medicines are used in prevention and control of mastitis. Antimicrobials remain vital for treatment of bacterial infections in dairy cattle, but in light of the upcoming debate instigated by the potential link between the use of antimicrobial products in animal husbandry and the development of antimicrobial resistance in both animal and human pathogens, there is an urgent need for innovation and alternatives to antibiotic therapy for mastitis treatment and control. Alternative approaches include vaccination, probiotics or beneficial microorganisms and inhibitory substances, immunomodulation, bacteriophages, homeopathy, and plant-derived inhibitory substances, yet only when scientifically-proven evidence is available indicating these alternatives are effective.

The present investigation evaluated the quality of turkey meat produced in two production systems, according to the following parameters: water loss in cooking, drip water loss, texture (shear strength), pH, color, humidity, protein, ashes and lipids. A total of 200 turkey breast samples of 500 g, separated by a batch of 20 samples, from ten aviaries from Santa Catarina, Brazil, were used: five from breeding with a traditional ventilation system and five with a mechanical ventilation system. Samples were obtained after slaughter and frozen at -15°C for 30 days. The results were submitted to variance analysis and the Tukey test. Significant differences were found only in the analysis of drip water loss. The birds of the traditional ventilation system presented 14.26% loss of water drip, while those of the ventilation exhaust system presented a loss of 19.21%. There were no differences in the chemical composition of poultry meat in relation to the production systems.

Human-wildlife conflicts, a growing and sad reality worldwide, makes population control of wildlife and feral animals one of the biggest challenges in wildlife management, especially due to the rapidly expanding human population, and consequently the ever-diminishing natural habitats of animals. Human activities and the destruction of nature forcing wildlife to move inevitably into urban and agricultural areas, causing “conflicts”, such as the risk of zoonosis and traffic accidents, as well as damage to crops in the search for food, whose losses reach millions of dollars. For decades, science has been engaged in extensive efforts to develop methods of “humane” population control methods, and many techniques are being employed in order to control wildlife population. In this article, we present an overview of applied contraceptive methods with simplified graphic demonstrations of their interactions with reproductive physiology, furthermore relating pro and contra of utilized antifertility agents. These are being compared to a set of desired characteristics for free-ranging wildlife for in-field applications, with emphasis on reversible immunocontraception – concluding, therefore, the reasons why this concept is becoming the most appropriate and promising for free-ranging wildlife.

The use of alternative therapeutic approaches in wild animals has gained notoriety due to its efficiency, low cost and reduced or nonexistent stressors. The present study evaluated the efficacy of treatment of a bilateral excoriative lesion in the region of the dorsal metacarpus in a Chilean skua (Catharacta chilensis) in a rehabilitation process with the use of a porous cell membrane, sold commercially, in concomitance with moxibustion sessions with herbs (Artemisia vulgaris). The healing time of 14 days was reduced when compared to traditional techniques and proved the viability and efficacy of the treatment.

The detrimental impact of summer temperature is a subject of huge concern for poultry health and production in Egypt. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of AGRIMOS® prebiotic on performance, internal organs weight, caecal bacterial count and humoral immunity for Avian influenza vaccine and behavioral tests in broiler chickens reared under cyclic heat stress. At day 28; the birds were exposed to 32°C for 9 hours daily after they were randomly allotted to four treatments: 0, 0.5, 2, and 4 g AGRIMOS kg-1, respectively. The experiment showed that, at 42 days of age, 4 g AGRIMOS kg-1 significantly improved the birds’ performance and significantly increased the abdominal fat, bursa and thymus relative weight as well as, the time of latency to lie and decreased the tonic immobility response. The total aerobic count in the caecal samples showed a significant decrease in all groups received AGRIMOS. However; the lactobacilli count and the Hemagglutination inhibition titers, for avian influenza vaccine, were significantly increased. In conclusion, the AGRIMOS supplement to broiler chickens could be considered a protective prebiotic which control the negative effects of hot environment in summer.

Mammary neoplasms are described as the third most common type of feline tumor, after haematopoietic and skin tumors, and present a challenge for clinicians because the prognosis for feline mammary tumors ranges from guarded to poor. Thus, it is necessary to define new therapeutic approaches and establish more in-depth knowledge about this disease in felines. The main aspects of the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of feline mammary neoplasia were discussed, aiming to standardize the criteria and to serve as a guide for pathologists and veterinary clinicians.

A total of 200 random samples of Kareish, Domiati, Ras and Processed cheese (50 samples each) were collected from different dairy shops and supermarkets in Assiut City-Egypt, from February 2011 to May 2012 for the presence of anaerobes. By using plate method technique their percentages were 92, 96, 100 and 90% with average counts of 4.1×103,1.3×103, 2.7×103 and 4.5×102/g, respectively. Cl. species as Cl. ramosum, Cl. perfringens, Cl. difficile, Cl. innoculum, Cl. septicum, Cl. novyi type A, Cl. cadaveris, Cl. sporogenes, Cl. hastiforme, Cl. butyricum and Cl. subterminale were identified in various percentages from the concerning samples. Cl. perfringens were recorded in percentages of 12, 2, 22 and 10% with average counts of 3.7×10, <10, 8.4 and 2.2×102/g, respectively by using MPN technique however, Cl. botulinum failed to be detected. Moreover, Cl. perfringens type A enterotoxines were determined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two samples of Ras cheese were positive with optical density of 0.262 and 0.314. In addition, lysozyme (Delvozyme) at concentration of 250 IU was found to be highly effective on growth rate of the vegetative form of Cl. perfringens. Public health as well as economical importance of detected microorganisms in the locally manufactured cheeses was discussed.

A number of 50 Ardeola ibis ibis birds were found harboring six nematodes species; Tetrameres species, Microtteramere species, Synhimantus invaginatus, Synhimantus equispeculatus, Ascaridia species, Paracamallanus species,and five species of trematodes; Euclinostomum heterostomum, Nephrostomum ramosum, Apharyngostrigea ibis, Apatemon gracilis and Centrocestus armatus. The most common infection by nematodes was (46%) in which highest infection rate Synhimantus invaginatus recorded (30 %) while the trematode infection was (24 %) and Apatemon gracilis was the most prevalent (16 %). Experimental infection of buff backed heron by encysted metacercaria (EMC) and exysted metacercaria (ExMC) of Clinostomum complanatum from freshwater fish Tilapia nilotica, resulted in adult worms formed after 6 days. Where the infection by EMC recorded higher worm burden (14-18 worm) and hatching percent (78%) while the infection by ExMC gave lower worm burden (7-10 worm / bird ) and hatching (48 %). In the present study, it is worthy to mention that buff backed heron act as final host model for Clinostomum complanatum and this will be helpful in further biological and immunological studies for this trematode to decrease its economic losses in fish intermediate host.

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.