OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of stacked wedge pads and chains applied to the forefeet of Tennessee Walking Horses on behavioral and biochemical indicators of pain, stress, and inflamation. ANIMALS 20 Tennessee Walking Horses. PROCEDURES Horses were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: keg shoes (control; n = 10) or stacked wedge pads and exercise with chains (10). Ten days before treatment application, an accelerometer was attached at the left metatarsus of each horse to record daily activity. Horses were exercised for 20 minutes daily, beginning on day -7. On day 0, exercise ceased, the forefeet were trimmed, and the assigned treatment was applied. From days 1 through 5, horses were exercised as before. Blood samples for measurement of plasma cortisol, substance P, and fibrinogen concentrations were collected on days -5, 1, and 5 before and after exercise and every 30 minutes thereafter for 6 hours. RESULTS No significant differences in plasma concentrations of cortisol, substance P, and fibrinogen were detected between groups. Although lying behaviors changed after shoes were applied, these behaviors did not differ significantly between groups. Shoeing appeared to have altered behavior to a greater extent than did the type of treatment applied. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Application of stacked wedge pads and chains to the forefeet of horses for a 5-day period as performed in this study evoked no acute or subacute stress or nociceptive response as measured. Although these findings should not be extrapolated to the long-term use of such devices in Tennessee Walking Horses performing the running walk, the data should be considered when making evidence-based decisions relating to animal welfare and the use of stacked wedge pads and chains.

OBJECTIVE To compare the pharmacokinetics of 2 commercial florfenicol formulations following IM and SC administration to sheep. ANIMALS 16 healthy adult mixed-breed sheep. PROCEDURES In a crossover study, sheep were randomly assigned to receive florfenicol formulation A or B at a single dose of 20 mg/kg, IM, or 40 mg/kg, SC. After a 2-week washout period, each sheep was administered the opposite formulation at the same dose and administration route as the initial formulation. Blood samples were collected immediately before and at predetermined times for 24 hours after each florfenicol administration. Plasma florfenicol concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by noncompartmental methods and compared between the 2 formulations at each dose and route of administration. RESULTS Median maximum plasma concentration, elimination half-life, and area under the concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable measurement for florfenicol were 3.76 μg/mL, 13.44 hours, and 24.88 μg•h/mL, respectively, for formulation A and 7.72 μg/mL, 5.98 hours, and 41.53 μg•h/mL, respectively, for formulation B following administration of 20 mg of florfenicol/kg, IM, and 2.63 μg/mL, 12.48 hours, and 31.63 μg•h/mL, respectively, for formulation A and 4.70 μg/mL, 16.60 hours, and 48.32 μg•h/mL, respectively, for formulation B following administration of 40 mg of florfenicol/kg, SC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that both formulations achieved plasma florfenicol concentrations expected to be therapeutic for respiratory tract disease caused by Mannheimia haemolytica or Pasteurella spp at both doses and administration routes evaluated.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate colonization of Streptococcus suis and Streptococcus parasuis on pig farms in Japan and to identify sources of infections. SAMPLE Saliva, feces, and vaginal swab samples from 84 healthy pigs of several growth stages on 4 farms and swab samples of feed troughs and water dispensers at those farms. PROCEDURES Samples were collected from August 2015 to June 2016. Two quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays (one for S suis and the other for S parasuis) were designed for use in the study. The novel qPCR assays were used in combination with previously described qPCR assays for S suis serotype 2 or 1/2 and total bacteria. Relative abundance of bacteria in each sample was evaluated. RESULTS Streptococcus suis was detected in all saliva samples and some of the other samples, whereas S parasuis was not detected in any of the samples, including saliva samples, which indicated a difference in colonization preference. The ratio of S suis to total bacteria in saliva appeared to increase with age of pigs. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 or 1/2 was detected in a few saliva samples and feed trough swab samples at 2 farms where S suis infections were prevalent. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Saliva, especially that of sows, appeared to be a reservoir and source of S suis infection for pigs. The qPCR assay described here may provide an effective way to monitor for S suis in live pigs, which could lead to effective disease control on pig farms.

Lactococcus garvieae is a Gram-positive bacterium that causes mortalities in freshwater and marine fish worldwide and therefore results in severe economic losses in the aquaculture industry. Apart from the apparent integral role of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) capsule in pathogenesis, factors associated with virulence of this bacterium are poorly understood. However, recent studies have indicated that the ability of L. garvieae to cause disease does not depend on the presence of the EPS capsule. Lack of knowledge of virulence factors, pathogenesis and serology of L. garvieae is an impediment to the development of effective typing methods and control measures. This study, therefore, aimed to detect the presence of EPS capsules and other putative virulence factors in South African L. garvieae fish pathogenic isolates and a non-virulent isolate, and to identify possible candidates for subunit vaccine development. No indication of the presence of the EPS capsule was detected by negative staining or amplification of the EPS biosynthesis gene cluster in the virulent isolates or the avirulent strain, discrediting the notion that the EPS capsule is the sole determinant of virulence. However, a set of putative virulence factor genes was detected in all isolates, and candidates for subunit vaccine development (enolase, lactate dehydrogenase phosphoenolpyruvate-protein phosphotransferase) were identified by identification of extracellular proteins of virulent strains.

A total of a hundred and twenty samples of crustaceans, 60 samples of shrimp (30 peeled & 30 unpeeled shrimps) and 60 samples of local chilled crab were collected from Beni-Suef markets. Collected samples were evaluated by the physicochemical deteriorative criteria (pH and TVB-N), the bacterial load determination (mesophilic count, psychrophilic count, Staphylococcus aureus count and MPN of coliforms, faecal coliforms and E. coli), and isolation and identification of specific pathogens (E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus). All fresh and frozen seafood samples were judged as safe food from the microbiological point of view. The total mesophilic, psychrophilic and S. aureus for all examined seafood samples lies within the standard permissible limits recommended by national and international agencies. The suggestive measure for produce high-quality shrimp & crab was recommended.

Thirty apparently healthy lambs with average weight and age of 5.8±0.5 kg and 15±1.6 days respectively were chosen in Sids Agricultural Research Station belonging to Animal Production Research Institute in Beni-Suef governorate to investigate the effect of castration and docking on maintenance behaviour and blood cortisol level during and after such operations. Lambs were classified into castration (n=10), docking (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The results revealed that castration and docking could significantly affect the behaviours of standing idle, recumbency, sleep, suckling and ingestion in lambs. Moreover, blood cortisol level was significantly (p<0.05) increased after operation in castrated and docked lambs as compared to the time before, at operation and 3 hours after operation.

The prevalence of coccidiosis was determined and Eimeria species were identified in farms at different locations in the Bejaia region, Algeria. The study was conducted from February to December 2016. Unvaccinated birds were selected randomly. Samples from litter and faeces were collected randomly (147 and 109, respectively). Necropsy and parasitological examinations were carried out using standard methods. Of the samples examined, 93 out of the 147 litter samples and 78 out of the 109 intestinal content samples were infected with Eimeria oocysts (63.26% and 71.55%, respectively). Mixed infections with Eimeria spp. were observed in some of the positive farms, with an overall prevalence of 54.28%. Five species of Eimeria (viz. E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. maxima, E. brunetti and E. mitis) were identified with different indices. Eimeria acervulina followed by E. tenella were the predominant species infecting chickens at the farms visited (32.05% and 26.92%, respectively). Statistically, the most prevalent Eimeria spp. was E. Acervulina (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that coccidiosis is an omnipresent parasitic intestinal disease. It could strongly decrease production performance in broiler chickens.

Canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis are important tick-borne infections in South Africa. Many South African general veterinary practitioners perceive co-infection with Ehrlichia spp. as a common occurrence in dogs with babesiosis. Studies about the prevalence of co-infection in South African dogs are lacking. This retrospective study aimed to determine the prevalence of Ehrlichia co-infection in dogs with babesiosis. Additionally, the predicative value of specific haematological variables for co-infection was evaluated. The study population consisted of 205 dogs diagnosed with canine babesiosis presented to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) in 2006 and between 2011 and 2013. The Babesia-infected dogs were grouped based on presence or absence of an Ehrlichia spp. co-infection. Ehrlichia spp. co-infection was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction. Positive and negative predictive values (PPVs and NPVs) of leukopenia or thrombocytopenia for co-infection were also calculated. The prevalence of Babesiaspp. and Ehrlichia spp. co-infection in this cohort of dogs was 2%. In the babesiosis dogs, the PPV of leukopenia for co-infection with Ehrlichia spp. was 1.3%, and the NPV 97.4%. Similarly, the PPV and NPVs of thrombocytopenia for co-infection were 2.1% and 100%, respectively. Co-infection with Ehrlichia spp. was a rare occurrence in dogs with babesiosis presented to the OVAH. Normal leukocyte or platelet counts confidently ruled out the presence of concurrent ehrlichiosis in this cohort of dogs. However, the diagnosis of Ehrlichia co-infection based on the presence of thrombocytopenia or leukopenia would have been associated with false positive results in more than 97.4% of cases.

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.

This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of water soluble formulation of diclazuril (1%) in the prevention and control of mixed Eimeria infection in two experimental (semifield) trials and testing efficacy of this medicament in controlling of natural field case of mixed Eimeria infection. The experimental (semifield) trials carried out each on 150-day-old broiler chicks, as they were divided into 3 equal separate subgroups. Infected groups were orally received 1ml of an inoculum containing 50.000 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella, E. acervulina and E. necatrix/ chick at 14 days of age. Diclazuril (1%) liquid at dose of 1 ml / 4 liter of drinking water for 2 successive days just after appearance of bloody dropping (at the 5th day post infection). Birds were given prophylactic diclazuril dose (1 ml / 8 liter) at the 7th day before the experimental inoculation. In both trials were oocyst count (shedding) in the dropping, dropping score, lesion score, body weight gain % and mortality rate were evaluated. Groups treated with diclazuril either in the prophylactic and curative studies gave significant and satisfactory improvement in the assessment criteria when compared with infected non medicated groups. A field trial was conducted 2 commercial broiler chicken farm consisted of 2 flocks aged 33 days; 6000 birds each. Flock (1) was kept as control positive infected non medicated group, whereas flock (2) was medicated with diclazuril (1%) at dose of 1 ml / 4 liter of the drinking water for 2 successive days. The results revealed more reduction in total oocyst count, lesion score and the mortality rate in the medicated than the infected non-treated group. The results proved that diclazuril (1%) liquid is effective in prevention and control of both experimental and field infection field circulating Eimeria species still sensitive to the drug.