Little is known about latent infection and molecular characterisation of Neospora caninum in sheep (Ovis aries). In this study, 330 sheep samples (180 hearts and 150 brains) were analysed for N. caninum DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the Nc-5 gene. Neospora caninum DNA was detected in 3.9% (13/330) of sheep samples. The parasite’s DNA was detected in 6.7% of heart samples (12/180) and 0.7% (1/150) of brain samples. No clinical signs were recorded from infected or uninfected animals. Sequencing of the genomic DNA revealed 96% – 99% similarity with each other and 95.15% – 100% similarity with N. caninum sequences deposited in GenBank. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of PCR to identify latent neosporosis in sheep in Iran. The results of this study have the potential to contribute to our understanding of the role of N. caninum-infected sheep in the epidemiology of neosporosis.

Clausena anisata is a medicinal plant used traditionally to treat myiasis and as an insect repellent by various communities. We have previously demonstrated the effects of C. anisata extracts on blowfly feeding and development in our laboratory. The impact of C. anisata leaf extracts on populations of different fly species on farms in Mpumalanga, South Africa was investigated in this study under field conditions. Flies were exposed to liver baits treated with acetone leaf extracts of C. anisata (150 mg/mL). Fly numbers and composition on two farms, with and without C. anisata treated liver, were compared during a period of 12 weeks when fly populations were expected to be high. Observations were made on fly behaviour and development, adult sizes and numbers. The flies exposed to liver treated with the leaf extract of C. anisata had a decreased rate of development, prolonged larval period, smaller body sizes and more sluggish behaviour compared to those subjected to the control treatment. No significant differences were, however, found between the numbers and sizes of flies on the treated and on the control farm, which was most likely due to the limited nature of the baiting programme we followed. The effects of C. anisata extracts on blowfly behaviour and development observed in previous laboratory studies were confirmed in this field evaluation. Although the extracts did not have a significant effect on the overall population size in this experiment, we believe that the C. anisata leaf extract could be useful in integrated pest management based on its effect on larval development. In addition, species such as Lucilia cuprina and Chrysomya marginalis seemed to have been repelled by the C. anisata treated liver; as a result, further work should explore this aspect and how it can be used for the protection of animals.

Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) is an acute, arthropod-borne disease of cattle. The disease is characterized by sudden onset of fever, high morbidity and very low mortality. Recovery occurs within three days of the onset of clinical signs. BEF is an important viral disease of cattle in Egypt so the live attenuated BEFV vaccine which is inactivated just before inoculation by reconstitute in PBS containing saponin. is extensive used for the prevention and control of the disease. Different assays were applied in the current study to quality control evaluate of that produce vaccine by detection of viral identity and viability before and after reconstitution by using real time quantitative reserve transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and clinical findings (Body temperature and clinical signs) and potency by measuring the humoral immune response by serum neutralization test (SNT) and ELISA and cellular immune response by interferon gamma (IFN-γ) using ELISA kit and Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and also by lymphocyte cell proliferation assay using tetrazolium salt(XTT).

Omphalitis is a major cause of increased first week-chick mortality. Omphalitis, navel-yolk sac infection, is a hatchery-born disease, and also known as ‘mushy chick disease’ or ‘navel ill’. It is a common disease of chicks and poults, often artificially hatched chicks, causing high losses in the brooding period, as a bacterium penetrates the porous egg shell. As incubation conditions are suitable for bacterial growth and incubating eggs as well, various bacteria, such as E. coli, staphylococci, Proteus, Clostridium fecali and Pseudomonas may be involved in the yolk sac infection. The present study aimed to determine bacterial causes of omphalitis through isolation and identification of such pathogens. Therefore, samples from 216 yolk sacs were collected from chicks with unabsorbed yolk materials that could even smell putrid. Among those, 196 (90.7%) were positive; 135 (62.5%) harboured single bacterial strains and 61 (28.2%) had mixed infections. The most prevalent single bacterial isolates were E. coli (110 isolates) and P. aeruginosa (11 isolates). Meanwhile, the most predominant mixed bacterial strains were E. coli with Salmonella spp. (16 isolates; 7.4%) and E. coli with P. aeruginosa (13 isolates; 6%). Other mixed infections were found in low percentages. Most E. coli strains were Congo red-positive and non-haemolytic. Different E. coli serogroups were serologically identified including O27 (4 isolates; 20%), O157 (3isolates; 15%), O26 (3 isolates; 15%) and one isolate of each of the following; O78, O6, O125, O44, O15, O115, O25, O168, O112 and O63 (each of 5%). Different Salmonella serogroups were identified including S. cremieu (2 isolates) and one isolate of each of the following S.enteritidis, S. blegdam, S. senftenberg, S. kingston and S. emek.

Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a zoonotic disease causing approximately 6% of total human deaths. Its economic losses are not only a reduction of 10-20% in milk production and weight, but also infertility and condemnation of meat. Many serological tests are applied for detection of tuberculosis. ELISA test has the highest sensitivity and specificity than the other serological tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Several forms of new technology were brought into the diagnostic approach to mycobacterial infection. The aim of this work was to detect bovine tuberculosis by application of different traditional tests and PCR. Tuberculin skin test was applied on 2650 cattle, only 63(2.4%) were positive. Forty eight (76.2%) of the slaughtered positive animals showed visible lesions (VL) while the other 15 (23.8%) had non-visible lesions (NVL). Bacteriological examination of 10 selected tuberculin positive samples revealed M. bovis from 6 processed samples (60%) while PCR and ELISA assays revealed positive in 8 cases (80%) and 7 cases (70%), respectively. It was concluded that PCR test is more sensitive and specific test to confirm the infection with tuberculosis.

In the current study, a total of 20 and 78 milk samples were collected from animals showed signs of clinical and subclinical mastitis, for isolation and identification of different causative pathogens in some dairy farms of Beni-Suef Governorate, and for investigation of in vitro sensitivity. The recovered microorganisms were Staphylococcus species (n=79; 80.61%), Enterococcus spp. (n=28; 28.57%), CAMP negative Streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=7; 7.14%), E. coli (n=3; 3.06%) and Proteus vulgaris (n=1; 1.02%). Antibiogram profile for S. aureus showed that the most effective drug was vancomycin and the least was penicillin. Trials were done to detect biofilm production for recovered isolates of S. aureus (n=23) by the use of a phenotypic method (Congo red agar, CRA) and genotypic methods through determination of some biofilm related genes using PCR. All recovered S.aureus isolates were seeded on the CRA media to detect the biofilm forming ability. It has been found that all tested isolates showed a biofilm forming ability either strong (13; 56.52%) or intermediate (10; 43.48%). The detection of some biofilm associated genes (icaA, icaD and bap genes) using polymerase chain reaction revealed that two (10.53%) isolates out of 19 were negative for all tested genes, 16 (84.21%) isolates harbored both icaA and icaD gene, while only one (5.26%) isolate had all tested genes.

Bovine brucellosis is endemic in Nigeria; however, limited data exist on nationwide studies and risk factors associated with the disease. Using a cross-sectional sero-epidemiological survey, we determined the prevalence of and risk factors for brucellosis in slaughtered cattle in three geographical regions of Nigeria. Serum samples from randomly selected unvaccinated cattle slaughtered over a period of 3 years (between December 2010 and September 2013) from northern, southern and south-western Nigeria were tested for antibodies to Brucella abortus using the Rose Bengal test. Data associated with risk factors of brucellosis were analysed by Stata Version 12. In all, 8105 cattle were screened. An overall seroprevalence of 3.9% (315/8105) was recorded by the Rose Bengal test, with 3.8%, 3.4% and 4.0% from the northern, southern and south-western regions, respectively. Bivariate analysis showed that cattle screened in northern Nigeria were less likely to be seropositive for antibodies to Brucella spp. than those from south-western Nigeria (odds ratio = 0.94; 95% confidence interval: 0.73–1.22). However, logistic regression analysis revealed that breed ( p = 0.04) and sex ( p £ 0.0001) of cattle were statistically significant for seropositivity to Brucella spp. The study found that brucellosis was endemic at a low prevalence among slaughtered cattle in Nigeria, with sex and breed of cattle being significant risk factors. Considering the public health implications of brucellosis, we advocate coordinated surveillance for the disease among diverse cattle populations in Nigeria, as is carried out in most developed countries. Keywords: Bovine brucellosis, RBT, Epidemiology, Public Health, Nigeria

OBJECTIVE To evaluate safety and toxicokinetic profiles associated with daily oral administration of grapiprant, a new analgesic that selectively blocks the prostaglandin E2 EP4 receptor, to cats. ANIMALS 24 healthy domestic shorthair cats (12 males and 12 females). PROCEDURES Cats were randomly assigned (3 of each sex/group) to receive a placebo capsule or grapiprant at 3, 9, or 15 mg/kg, administered PO once daily for 28 days, beginning on day 0. Food consumption and behavior were observed daily, body weight was measured weekly, and clinicopathologic tests were performed on blood and urine samples collected on days −7, 14, and 25. Blood samples for toxicokinetic analyses were collected after treatment on days 0 and 27. Cats were euthanized on day 28, and full necropsies and histologic evaluations were performed. RESULTS Grapiprant rapidly reached peak serum concentrations and maintained substantial concentrations throughout the 28-day period. By day 27, maximum serum concentrations ranged from 683 ng/mL to 4,950 ng/mL, which were attained by 1 to 4 hours after administration. Serum half-lives on day 27 ranged from approximately 2 to 14 hours (median, approx 5 to 6 hours). Grapiprant was well tolerated, and no adverse effects were detected at doses ≤ 15 mg/kg. No significant effects of grapiprant were identified on body weight, food consumption, clinicopathologic variables, or gross or histologic necropsy findings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested the safety of daily oral administration of grapiprant to cats. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of grapiprant for treatment of cats with osteoarthritis.

Bovine anaplasmosis is the disease caused by the bacterium Anaplasma marginale. It can cause production loss and death in cattle and bison. This was a reportable disease in Canada until April 2014. Before then, infected herds were quarantined and culled, removing infected animals. In North America, A. marginale is biologically vectored by hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), Dermacentor variabilis and D. andersoni. Biting flies, particularly horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae), can also act as mechanical vectors. An outbreak of bovine anaplasmosis, consisting of 14 herds, was detected in southern Manitoba in 2008. This outbreak lasted multiple rounds of testing and culling before eradication in 2011, suggesting local maintenance of the pathogen was occurring. We applied novel approaches to examine the vector ecology of this disease in this region. We did not detect A. marginale by screening of 2056 D. variabilis (2011 and 2012) and 520 horse flies (2011) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

OBJECTIVE To quantify and characterize pleural fluid collected from healthy dogs after placement of a thoracostomy tube (TT). ANIMALS 8 healthy Coonhound-cross dogs (mean ± SD weight, 27.2 ± 1.6 kg). PROCEDURES Thoracic CT of each dog was performed before placement of a TT and daily thereafter for 7 days. Thoracic fluid volume was calculated from CT images. Effusion was aspirated when detected; volume was recorded, and cytologic analysis and bacterial culture were performed. RESULTS Mean ± SD volume of pleural effusion detected by CT was 1.43 ± 0.59 mL/kg (range, 0.12 to 3.32 mL/kg). Mean volume collected via aspiration was 0.48 ± 0.84 mL/kg (range, 0 to 2.16 mL/kg). Cytologic analysis yielded results consistent with an exudate, characterized by septic suppurative inflammation in 6 dogs and mixed inflammation in 1 dog; there was insufficient volume for analysis in 1 dog. Sufficient volume was obtained for bacterial culture for 6 dogs, which yielded pure growths of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (n = 3) and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (2) and mixed growth of both of these species (1). The TT was removed before day 7 in 4 dogs because of pyothorax (n = 3) and irreversible damage to the TT (1). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Presence of a TT induced a minimal volume of pleural effusion in healthy dogs. Pyothorax developed in most dogs between 4 and 6 days after TT placement. On the basis of these findings, a TT should be removed by the fourth day after placement, unless complications are detected sooner.