International audience

International audience | Objective-To evaluate the efficacy of tiludronate for the treatment of horses with signs of pain associated with lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column. Animals-29 horses with clinical manifestations of pain associated with lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column and abnormal radiographic findings indicative of osteoarthritis of the articular processes-synovial intervertebral joints. Procedures-Horses were initially examined in accordance with a standardized protocol, which included radiographic, ultrasonographic, and scintigraphic examinations. Fifteen horses were randomly assigned to receive tiludronate (1 mg/kg, IV, as a slow-rate infusion), and 14 horses received a control substance (day 0). Horses were monitored for the subsequent 120 days. Clinical evaluations were performed on days 60 and 120. Horses that had no evidence of clinical improvement on day 60 were administered tiludronate. Statistical analyses were performed to compare efficacy at day 60, improvement of dorsal flexibility at day 120, and dorsal flexibility before and 60 days after administration of tiludronate. Results-Horses treated with tiludronate had significant improvement in dorsal flexibility between days 0 and 60, compared with control horses. Clinical improvement in dorsal flexibility was still evident at day 120. The percentage of positive responses was higher in the tiludronate group at 60 days. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Tiludronate had efficacy in the treatment of horses with signs of pain induced by osteoarticular lesions of the thoracolumbar vertebral column, causing a significant improvement in dorsal flexibility. Tiludronate may offer a treatment option for the management of horses with interverteloral lesions and the associated pain.

peer reviewed | Objective-To compare measurements of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in plasma, laminar tissues, and skin obtained from control horses and horses given black walnut heartwood extract (BWHE). Animals-22 healthy 5- to 15-year-old horses. Procedures-Horses were randomly assigned to 4 groups as follows: a control group given water (n = 5) and 3 experimental groups given BWHE (17) via nasogastric intubation Experimental groups consisted of 5, 6, and 6 horses that received BWHE and were euthanatized at 1.5, 3, and 12 hours after intubation, respectively. Control horses were euthanatized at 12 hours after intubation. Plasma samples were obtained hourly for all horses. Laminar tissue and skin from the middle region of the neck were harvested at the time of euthanasia. Plasma and tissue MPO concentrations were determined via an ELISA; tissue MPO activity was measured by use of specific immunologic extraction followed by enzymatic detection. Results-Tissues and plasma of horses receiving BWHE contained significantly higher concentrations of MPO beginning at hour 3. Laminar tissue and skin from horses in experimental groups contained significantly higher MPO activity than tissues from control horses. Concentrations and activities of MPO in skin and laminar tissues were similar over time. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-in horses, BWHE administration causes increases in MPO concentration and activity in laminar tissue and skin and the time of increased MPO concentration correlates with emigration of WBCs from the vasculature. These findings support the hypothesis that activation of peripheral WBCs is an early step in the pathogenesis of acute laminitis.

A. N. Al Khalaf helminthes , Egret , Egretta alba , Saudi ArabiaExamination of the alimentary tracts of 9 Great Egret (Egretta alba) found freshly died in their inland places around Al-Qassim area during migration season in September and October revealed infection by 6 species of helminths. The extracted parasites were include two cestode worms, three nematodes and one acanthocephala. They were identified as Uniciuna species, Choano-taenia, Subulura species, Contrac-aecum species, Syphacia species and Polymorphus species. None of any examined carcass appears free from infection. The rate of distribution of the parasite in the examined birds was varied between 66.6%, 11.1%, 44.4%, 44.4%, 66.6% and 2.2 % for the previous parasites respectively. The rate of Parasite burden for each species was moderate to low, as it was 3.4, 2.0, 2.65, 3.25, 5.16 and 4.5 from the previous parasites respectively. None of these parasites was published previously in Saudi Arabia as infect this type of Egret. Their morphological characters and their distribution were described in detail

Polyclonal hyperimmune serum against Pasteurella multocida type A:5, A:8 and A:9 was prepared in boskat rabbits. The indirect haemagglutination test (IHT) showed that such serum had an antibody titer of 1114. The immunoglobulins in the prepared antiserum were precipitated using saturated ammonium sulphate solution. Its concentration was adjusted to be 18mg/ml in normal saline then it was conjugated with horse radish peroxidase and evaluated through the application of double sandwich ELISA. It was successful to detect Pasteurella multocida antibodies in positive serum samples with strong positive reactions up to a dilution of 1:100 ofthe prepared conjugate.In the present study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using random primer (E-20) was used to characterize and identify strains included in this study. Strains included 4 vaccinal reference strains of Pasteurella multocida, CU strain and 4 field isolates of Pasteurella multocida isolated from diseased turkeys which were identified biochemically and serologically as A:1, A:3, A3x4 and D:11. The obtained results revealed that all strains were reacted positively and in different manner with the E20 primer except the 2 field isolates. The results of these reactions demonstrated in terms of bands of different molecular weight specific to each strain. This can be used as a base for characterization and differentiation of strains involved in the present study as the 2 field strains A:1 and A:3 react with primer. Mouse protection test was performed by vaccination of mice with local fowl cholera oil adjuvant vaccine then challenge with virulent field strains A:1, A:3, D:12 and untypable isolates. Results revealed that the local fowl cholera adjuvant vaccine could protect mice against virulent challenge with A:1, A:3 and D:12 field strains but it could not be protect mice against untypable isolates

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the administration of active dry yeast and/or lactobacillus preparation (AVI-BAC), either before or after the infection with antibiotic resistant field strain of Escherichia coli O127 (E. coli O127) in controlling the severity of infection in quail chicks. The quail chicks of the different experimental groups were infected orally for two successive days with 3x107 CFU of E. coli O-127 as an individual dose. The used field strain proved to be highly pathogenic for quails. Probiotics were supplemented in the drinking water for the different treatment groups at a dose level of 0.5 gm/L. The results revealed that the inclusion of lactobacilli or active dry yeast before E. coli infection has been highly effective in reducing mortality rate, organ invasion and the number of E. coli positive quail chicks. In addition, it decreased the severity of macroscopic and microscopic lesions in different organs in the probiotic treated groups as comparedto the infected controls. Lactobacilli preparations were more efficient in controlling the severity of the infection. On the other hand, the administration of yeast and /or lactobacilli after inducing E. coli infection reduced the mortality rate and the severity of lesion score in different organs but probiotics failed to protect quail chicks against the infection. It has been proved that the two probiotics have synergistic effect in controlling collibacillosis in quails.

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) was isolated, from naturally infected cattle that have a history of previous vaccination with live attenuated sheep pox virus (SPV) vaccine. The virus was isolated on chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) of specific pathogen free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs (ECE) and identified by agar gel precipitation test (AGPT) and neutralization test using specific hyperimmune serum against LSDV and SPV. Characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies was detected in trypsenized cell of infected CAM stained with H&E. Laboratory studies for characterization of isolated LSDV revealed that it was stable at a wide range of pH, but it was inactivated by exposure to 56 0C for 15 minutes. Treatment of isolated LSDV with lipid solvents (20% ethyle ether and chloroform) reduced the virus titer 3.2 and 4.4 log respectively after 24 hrs at 4 0C .On cross neutralization testcomplete neutralization of isolated LSDV was obtained with both reference LSDV and SPV antisera. Cattle vaccinated with live attenuated SPV vaccine under experimental condition found to be protected against natural field infection with LSDV.

Thirty samples of Mozzarella cheese (15 made traditionally from raw milk in Tripoli city (Libya) and other 15 imported samples sold in markets related to different brand names) were examined bacteriologically for their total bacterial count, psychrophilic count, coliform count (MPN/g), presumptive Staphylococcus aureus count, as well as enterococci count. Higher counts were found in locally manufactured Mozzarella cheese. Salmonellae were absent in all examined samples for both types, while Escherichia coli were isolated from 3 samples (20%) of locally made samples. According to the suggested Libyan Standards of such samples, most of examined locally manufactured Mozzarella cheese samples were found unacceptable.

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are responsible for the transmission of a large number of pathogens to livestock and wild animals. In this study the presence of the genus, using light traps based at four different sites within the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, was investigated during 2002-2004. In total, 37 species were recorded, including large numbers of Culicoides imicola Kieffer, 1913, which is responsible for the transmission of economically important arboviruses in South Africa, Europe, Middle and Far East. These results are discussed with reference to the wider Culicoides fauna in the Onderstepoort area of South Africa, their vector competence as well as biosecurity at the National Zoological Gardens.

This study was carried out on 168 sheep in a private farm at Qena province. 128 out of them were apparently healthy, 22 clinically diseased suffering from respiratory affections and 18 were died at three weeks intervals. Bacteriological examination of the samples revealed that 42 samples were positive for bacterial isolation; 6 from apparently healthy animals, 20 from clinically diseased animals and 16 from dead ones. Bacterial isolates could be identified biochemically as P. multocida and P. heamolytica. Pathogenicity tests for P. multocida isolates indicated that the isolates were pathogenic to laboratory animals. P. multocida was isolated in high percentage (15%) in comparing with P. haemolytica (10%).