OBJECTIVE To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of focused cardiac ultrasonography and selected echocardiographic variables for predicting fluid responsiveness in conscious, spontaneously breathing dogs with various clinical conditions. ANIMALS 26 dogs (15 males and 11 females) with a median age of 84 months (range, 12 to 360 months) and median body weight of 8 kg (range, 2 to 35 kg) referred for various clinical conditions. PROCEDURES Left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter normalized to body weight (LVIDDn), left ventricular volume score (LVVS), left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), aortic velocity time integral (VTIAo), and aortic peak flow velocity (VmaxAo) were echocardiographically measured before and after IV administration of a bolus of lactated Ringer solution (4 mL/kg) over a 1-minute period. Dogs were classified on the basis of the observed change in aortic stroke volume following fluid administration as responders (≥ 15%) or nonresponders (< 15%) to fluid administration. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for the ability of LVVS, LVIDDn, EDVI, VTIAo, and VmaxAo to predict responder status. RESULTS 13 dogs were classified as responders and 13 as nonresponders. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (95% confidence intervals) for predicting fluid responsiveness were as follows: VTIAo, 0.91 (0.74 to 0.99); LVIDDn, 0.85 (0.66 to 0.96); EDVI, 0.85 (0.65 to 0.96); LVVS, 0.85 (0.65 to 0.96); and VmaxAo, 0.75 (0.54 to 0.90). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The evaluated echocardiographic variables were useful for noninvasive prediction of fluid responsiveness in conscious dogs and could be valuable for informing clinical decisions regarding fluid therapy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate agreement of 4 methods (Tikhonov gamma variate adaptive regularization of plasma concentration-time curve fitting applied to technetium Tc 99m diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid [99mTc-DTPA] plasma clearance [Tk-GV], plasma clearance of exogenous creatinine [CrCL], Gates gamma camera-based measurement method with 99mTc-DTPA renal clearance and dynamic scintigraphy [GTS], and iohexol renal clearance assessed with dynamic CT with Patlak plotting [CT-Pp]) for measuring glomerular filtration rates (GFR) in healthy cats. ANIMALS 7 healthy, laboratory-raised cats. PROCEDURES Each method for measuring GFR was performed twice in 7 cats at 24-day intervals. The Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test was used to compare the results obtained from the 14 studies for each method. Results from the 4 methods were assessed for agreement and correlation. RESULTS The median GFR values were 2.75, 2.83, 3.14, and 4.26 mL/min/kg, for Tk-GV, CT-Pp, plasma CrCL, and GTS, respectively. Analysis with Wilcoxon signed-rank sum tests identified significant pairwise differences between results obtained with the Tk-GV versus the plasma CrCL method, the Tk-GV versus the GTS method, and the plasma CrCL versus the GTS method. The least variable method was Tk-GV, with an SD of 1.27 (mL/min/kg). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings indicated that Tk-GV yielded GFR measurements comparable with those obtained with CT-Pp, plasma CrCL, and GTS; however, the Tk-GV method yielded the tightest range of results among the methods evaluated.

The objective of this study was to detect the influence of age, breed and season on sexual behaviour, testosterone concentrations and scrotal circumference in Egyptian rams. The study was carried out at agricultural research center belonging to Minia University, Shosha village, Samalut city, El-Minia. Ten crossbred and five adult Ossimi rams were used during this study. Every ram was allowed to breed two ewes to evaluate its sexual behaviour for a twenty minutes test. Blood samples were collected three times per season at two weeks interval from each ram during the period of experiment to measure testosterone concentrations. Also, scrotal circumference was measured at the same frequency and time interval as blood samples. Sexual behaviour was better in old rams than young ones (p<0.01), but it was not affected by breed or season (p>0.05). Serum testosterone level was higher at autumn (7.13±02.9 ng/ml) than at winter (5.54±0.29 ng/ml) in crossbred rams (p<0.01), while in Ossimi rams, higher level was obtained in spring (8.24±.39 ng/ml) than in summer (3.99±0.40 ng/ml). Mean scrotal circumference was higher in older rams (30.20±1.20 cm) than younger rams (22.53±1.27 cm). There was no significant difference for measures of scrotal circumference between crossbred rams (30.86±1.09 cm) and Ossimi rams (30.93±1.06 cm). Season had no significant effect on scrotal circumference in crossbred rams, whereas in Ossimi rams the effect of season was significantly obvious with the highest and lowest values were recorded in spring (31.0±1.05 cm) and winter (30.60±1.17 cm) respectively. It could be concluded from this study that the age of rams had a great influence on their sexual behaviour and scrotal circumference, while the effect of breed and season on sexual behaviour and scrotal circumference was not clear.

The current study aimed to describe the normal cross sectional anatomy, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of fetlock joint in adult camel from both sexes. The study was carried out on twelve fetlock joints of fresh cadavers from three camels. The case history of these camels indicated that they were grossly normal with no orthopedic disorders. The cadaveric fetlock joints (n=12) were scanned using CT scanner and a 1 Tesla MRI scanner, injected with colored latex and sectioned into transverse, dorsal and sagittal slices. Cross anatomical sections were correlated with their corresponding CT and MR images for evaluation of the normal relevant anatomical structures which appeared with different signal intensities on CT and MRI scans. The current study revealed that all major soft tissues in fetlock joint of camel were clearly visualized on both CT and MR images, except the short and cruciate sesamoidean ligaments which could not be identified on both CT and MR images. The anatomical sections with the corresponding CT and MR images obtained in this study could be used as a reference for diagnosis and interpretation of clinical diseases in fetlock joint of camel.

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of methanolic red carrot extract (MRCE) against cadmium intoxication on testis of adult Wister albino male rats. For that purpose, forty eight Wister albino male rats were randomly divided into four groups (12 rats per group). Group 1 (normal control), animals received corn oil. Group 2 (cadmium group), animals received cadmium chloride (CdCl2) at a dose of (5 mg/ kg BW). Group 3 (cadmium &Vit. E group), animals received vitamin E at a dose of (400mg/kg BW) and CdCl2at a dose of (5 mg/kg BW). Group 4 (cadmium & red carrot extract, animals received methanol: water red carrot extract (1:1) at a dose of 400 mg/kg and CdCl2 at a dose of (5 mg/kg BW). All rats were received their corresponding treatment orally by gastric gavage daily for 4 weeks. Result of organ weight analysis in Cd –exposed rats showed a decrease in testes weight. On the contrary, MRCE and vitamin E prophylactic co-treatments with cadmium showed significant increase in testis weights in comparison to cadmium group (P<0.05). Moreover, sperm concentrations were reduced markedly with cadmium while they were upturned greatly after prophylactic co-treatment with either MRCE or vitamin E (P<0.05). Moreover, cadmium induced a significant increase in testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and significant decrease of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) but both MRCE and vitamin E supplementation succeeded markedly to produce a significant reduction in testicular MDA and noticeable increase of TAC level. Thus, MRCE and vitamin E could be considered optimal prophylactic treatments to protect the testis of rats from cadmium intoxication.

The aim of the present study was to compare the microbiological quality and safety of chicken products collected from a poultry processing plant and from the retail market. The collected samples represented 120 chicken product samples (mortadella, frankfurters, burgers, nuggets, fillet and fajita); 60 samples were collected from a poultry processing plant and 60 samples were from retail markets. For assessing the microbiological quality of these products, total bacterial count (TBC), most probable number (MPN) of coliforms and total mold and yeasts were determined. While, for evaluating the safety of collected products, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes were investigated. As well as, sensory evaluation of collected products was carried out. It was found that the bacterial counts in samples collected from processing plants were lower than corresponding samples collected from retail market. For instance, the obtained mean values of TBC in processing plant samples were 1x10, 4x102, 2x10, 2x10, 3x10 and 6x10 CFU/g in case of chicken mortadella, chicken frank, chicken nuggets, chicken burger, chicken fillet and chicken fajita, respectively. While for retail market samples, TBC mean values were 2x10, 2x10, 3x10, 3x10, 4x10 and 3x10 CFU/g in chicken mortadella, chicken frank, chicken nuggets, chicken burger, chicken fillet and chicken fajita, respectively. It was evident that most of examined chicken product samples either from processing plant or retail markets were contaminated with investigated foodborne pathogens, namely; Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes, in addition to contamination with mold and yeasts. In conclusion, the rate of contamination of chicken products from retail markets was higher than corresponding products obtained from processing plant, which is attributed to contamination of chicken products through bad handling during transportation, storage and marketing, as well as growth of contaminants as a result of improper storage conditions including temperature and humidity.

The present study aimed to describe the normal cross sectional anatomy and magnetic resonance imaging of pastern and coffin joints in dromedary camel. This study was conducted on twelve distal limbs (fore and hind) of fresh cadavers from three adult camels of both sexes. The specimens appeared normal without orthopedic disorders. Twelve distal limbs were scanned using a 1 Tesla MRI scanner and then injected with colored latex to be sectioned into sagittal, dorsal and transverse slices. Cross anatomical sections were matched with their corresponding MR images for identification and evaluation of the clinically relevant anatomical structures that appeared with different signal intensities on MRI scans. The present study showed that all major soft tissues in pastern and coffin joints of camel were clearly depicted on MR images, however, the palmar/plantar ligaments of pastern joint and ligaments of navicular cartilage could not be identified on MR images. The annotated cross anatomical sections with the corresponding MR images could be used as a normal reference for interpretation of some clinical diseases in pastern and coffin joints of camel.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of virgin olive oil on some blood parameters in male Albino rats supplemented with normal diet. thirty male Sprague Dawley rats, (90-110 g), were used in the present study, and were divided into three groups (10 in each), 1st group (control), received basal diet and supplemented with 1ml saline. 2nd and 3rd groups received basal diet, and supplemented daily with 1ml/100 gm B.W and 2ml/100 gm B.W of virgin olive oil (VOO), respectively for 4 weeks. Blood samples were collected weekly from all rats. Serum samples was obtained for assay of lipid profile levels and hepatic lipid peroxidation (MDA) enzyme. Blood lysate was used for antioxidant enzymes activities SOD, GPx and CAT.

Avian coccidiosis is an important parasitic disease affecting poultry and causes high economic losses in poultry industry, which acts as an important sector in the Egyptian national income. It is caused by genus Eimeria that belongs to subphylum apicomplexa. It affects domestic pigeons causing great losses, particularly in squabs. So, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Eimeria species infecting domestic pigeons (Columbia livia) in Minia province. Intestines of 400 domestic pigeons collected from various poultry butcher shops as well as 103 pooled fecal samples of household pigeons were microscopically examined by the flotation technique. The recovered oocysts were morphologically identified. The overall prevalence of Eimeria species infection was 27.0% (108/400) and 72.82% (75/103) in the intestinal and pooled fecal samples respectively. Seasonally, the highest infection rate in the pooled fecal samples was in both spring and autumn (80.0%), while the lowest was in summer (56.0%). Meanwhile, the infection rate of the intestinal samples was the highest in winter (33.33%) and the lowest in autumn (20.0%). Moreover, The monthly infection rate of intestinal samples revealed that September and April had the highest rates;(55.0% and 41.62%). However, no infection rates were found in October and November, while monthly infection rate of fecal samples recorded that January and February showed 100% infection rate. Meanwhile, March and August, showed the lowest rate of infection 28.57% and 42.86% respectively. The morphological identification revealed the presence of four Eimeria species, Eimeria labbeana, E. columbarum E.columbae and E.labbeana-like, in pigeons in Minia province. Further studies are recommended to investigate the life cycle and molecular differentiation of Eimeria species infecting domestic birds.

A total of 225 samples were collected from suspected cases and they were 75 human samples (40 ear swabs, 29 vaginal swabs and 6 sputum samples) and 150 from broiler chickens for microbiological examination and fungal isolation, they collected from different areas in El-Fayoum and Beni-Suef governorates, from which 129 fungal isolates were recovered, 22 fungal isolates( 29.3%) were recovered from human; of which 15 isolates of ear swabs ( A.fumigatus 37.5%) while 7 (24.1%) A.fumigatus isolates were recovered from women, but there was no A.fumigatus recovered from sputum samples, as well as there were 53 A.fumigatus isolates (35.3%) recovered from broiler chicken. The antifungal activities of thymol and carvacrol oils against the recovered fungal isolates were tested using agar dilution method. Thymol and carvacrol oils completely inhibited the growth of different fungal isolates at concentrations of 1% and 0.1%. On the other hand, the concentration of 0.01% was too weak to inhibit the fungal growth, but it completely reduced the colour of the fungal colony converted it into white coloured arial mycelium. PCR assay using oligonucleotide primer that amplifying 250bp fragment in its Gene of A.fumigatus and A.niger was performed. Sequence analysis of two isolates of A.niger and A.fumigatus using its Gene was performed.