The present study was carried out for studying the prevalence of equine herpes virus-1 infection among equines in different Governorates of Egypt. One hundred eighty two equines of different ages, sexes, localities and breeds showing signs of fever, respiratory manifestations, abortions, ataxia, dog sitting position, limb edema, foal depression and death were examined for the isolation of EHV-1 on both embryonated chicken eggs and baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell culture, the aborted fetuses were histologically examined for the detection of inclusion bodies. Serum samples were collected to detect immunoglobulin-G specific to EHV-1 by using ELISA. Nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus and the aborted fetal tissues were tested by PCR using specific primers to prove the infection with EHV-1. The prevalence of EHV-1 infection in the examined animals was recorded as 4.94%. It was prevalent in Cairo, Giza, Kafr Elsheikh, Monofeia, El Sharkia Governorates. The EHV-1 was isolated on the embryo chicken eggs and the pock lesion was appeared on the chorio-allantoic membranes. The cytopathic effects were also observed in tissue cultures. The Liver of aborted fetuses showed necrosis of all hepatic tissue and activation of Kupffer cells with hemosiderin and the detection of eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies. Indirect ELISA could detect IgG in all infected equines (n=9) from which EHV-1 isolated. PCR proved the infection with EHV-1 in the aborted fetal (n=3) tissues and gave similar results by using the horses nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus where 489 bp PCR products were detected in both. In conclusion, EHV-1 is prevalent in different Governorates in Egypt. EHV-1 infection could be diagnosed by intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the aborted fetal tissues. The indirect ELISA could diagnose EHV-1 infection in all ages and sexes groups. PCR applied on aborted fetal tissues is better for the diagnosis of EHV-1 infection than that based on the horse nasopharyngeal swabs isolated virus due to saving time and money.

A total of 100 random muscle samples of Oreochromis niloticus, Claries lazera, imported Mugil cephalus and Scomber scombrus fish (25 of each) were collected from different markets in Fayoum City for determination of lead, cadmium, copper and mercury residual levels to ascertain whether these levels exceeded the prescribed legal limits. The mean mercury level in the edible muscles tissues of fish species were ranged from below detectable level to 0.29 ppm in local fish and to 0.28 ppm in imported fish. The residual levels were not exceeded the prescribed legal limits of the European Commission Regulation (EC). The highest mean levels of cadmium were recorded in Mackerel (0.119 ± 0.060, ppm) which exceeded the permitted values stipulated by European Commission (EC). The samples in this study contained copper within of the general guideline limit for copper in food. The highest mean levels of lead were also recorded in Mackerel (0.477±0.073 ppm) which exceeded the permitted value stipulated by European Commission (EC). The results were evaluated according to International standards of WHO and EC. The provisional tolerable weekly intakes used in this study to assess the relative safety of marketed in Fayoum. The public health significance of heavy metal residues in fishes were also discussed.

This study was performed to investigate the frequency and the distribution of antimicrobial resistance and resistant genes in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolated from both calves and their environment. Fecal samples (n=136) were collected from calves, besides 270 environmental samples for isolation and identification of EPEC. 50 E. coli isolates comprising 6 serogroupgs were recovered and tested against 12 antimicrobials comprising 4 different groups and 3 disinfectants with characterization of resistance genes. Results revealed that E. coli was isolated in the highest percentage from diarrheic calves (68.3%) followed by apparently healthy and environment (56.7 and 56.6 %, respectively). Six serogroups of E. coli were identified from diarrheic calves with the highest percentage of O26 (27.8 %) followed by O159 and O55 (16.7 and 16.6 %, respectively). The tested isolates showed high rates of resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim whereas the highest rates of susceptibility were found to enrofloxacin and neomycin. Meanwhile the highest bactericidal effect against E. coli isolates from calves and environment was exhibited by Virkon® S (80 % and 70 %, respectively) compared to 80 % and 50%, respectively for TH4+ and 60 and 70 %, respectively for iodine. E. coli isolates were found to include the following genes blaTEM, qacED1, dƒrA, tetA, and sul1. In conclusion, the high prevalence of multidrug resistant E. coli provided insights about the possibility of dairy calves to act as source of resistance genes in the environment that pose health risk for humans and animals.

The pharmacokinetic aspects of tulathromycin(2.5 mg/kg) administered alone and in combination with flunixin meglumine (2.2 mg/kg) after a single subcutaneous (SC) administration, werestudied in clinically healthy goats. The animals were divided into two groups: the 1st group was given tulathromycin alone and the 2nd group was given tulathromycin concurrently with flunixin meglumine. Serum concentrations of tulathromycin were determined using microbiological assay method. Tulathromycin was rapidly absorbed with a half-life of absorption (t(0.5)ab) of 0.54 h and the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) was 3.7ug/ml was attained after 0.98 h (Tmax). Flunixin significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin by increasing its absorption and delay its elimination from body where t0.5(ab)were 0.54 and0.34 h and the elimination half-lives (t0.5(el)) were 1.35 and 1.8 h, for alone and combination groups, respectively. Significant decreases (39.8%) in the area under the curve (AUC) and (22.6%) in the elimination rate constant (Kel) from the central compartment were found following coadministration with flunixin compared with administration of tulathromycin alone. It was concluded that the combination of tulathromycin and flunixin negatively altered the kinetics of tulathromycin.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Haemonchus contortus infection on rams’ haematological, biochemical and clinical parameters and reproductive performances. A total number of 12 Barbarine rams (control and infected) were included in the experiment. The infected group received 30 000 H. contortus third-stage larvae orally. Each ram’s ejaculate was immediately evaluated for volume, sperm cell concentration and mortality rate. At the end of the experiment (day 82 post-infection), which lasted 89 days, serial blood samples were collected in order to assess plasma testosterone and luteinising hormone (LH) concentrations. There was an effect of time, infection and their interaction on haematological parameters (p < 0.001). In infected rams, haematocrit, red blood cell count and haemoglobin started to decrease from 21 days post-infection. There was an effect of time and infection for albumin. For total protein, only infection had a statistically significant effect. For glucose, only time had a statistically significant effect. Concentrations were significantly lower in infected rams compared to control animals. A significant effect of infection and time on sperm concentrations and sperm mortality was observed. The effect of infection appears in time for sperm concentrations at days 69 and 76 post-infection. Sperm mortality rate was significantly higher in infected animals at day 46 post-infection when compared to control group (p < 0.05). Finally, plasma testosterone traits (average concentration, cumulated levels during the sampling period and pulse frequency) were depressed in infected rams when compared to control counterparts; none of these endocrine traits were affected for plasma LH.

In this study, the prevalence of Theileria and Babesia species in sheep was assessed with Giemsa-stained blood smear examination and polymerase chain reaction to identify the different piroplasms in 270 sheep from three Tunisian bioclimatic zones (north, centre, and south). The overall infection prevalence by Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in Giemsa-stained blood smears was 2.9% (8 / 270) and 4.8% (13/270) respectively. The molecular results showed that sheep were more often infected by Theileria ovis than Babesia ovis with an overall prevalence of 16.3% (44/270) and 7.8% (21/270) respectively (p = 0.01). The molecular prevalence by Babesia ovis was significantly higher in females than in males (p < 0.05). According to localities B. ovis was found exclusively in sheep from the centre of Tunisia (Kairouan) whereas Theileria ovis was found in all regions. Infections with T. ovis and B. ovis were confirmed by sequencing. The sequence of T. ovis in this study (accession numbers KM924442) falls into the same clade as T. ovis deposited in GenBank. The T. ovis amplicons (KM924442) showed 99%-100% identities with GenBank sequences. Moreover, comparison of the partial sequences of 18S rRNA gene of B. ovis described in this study (KP670199) revealed 99.4% similarity with B. ovis recently reported in northern Tunisia from sheep and goats. Three nucleotides were different at positions 73 (A/T), 417 (A/T), and 420 (G/T). It also had 99% identity with B. ovis from Spain, Turkey and Iraq. The results suggest a high T. ovis prevalence in Tunisia with a decreasing north-south gradient. This could be correlated to the vector tick distribution.

Salmonellosis is a significant public health concern around the world. The injudicious use of antimicrobial agents in poultry production for treatment, growth promotion and prophylaxis has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant strains of Salmonella. The current study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes from Salmonella isolated from South African and Brazilian broiler chickens as well as human clinical isolates. Out of a total of 200 chicken samples that were collected from South Africa 102 (51%) tested positive for Salmonella using the InvA gene. Of the overall 146 Salmonella-positive samples that were screened for the iroB gene, most of them were confirmed to be Salmonella enterica with high prevalence rates. All the Salmonella isolates obtained were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing with ten antibiotics. Salmonella isolates from South African chickens exhibited resistance to almost all antimicrobial agents used. All the samples were further subjected to the Polymerase Chain Reaction in order to screen some common antimicrobial and virulence genes of interest, namely spiC, pipD, misL, orfL, pse-1, tet A, tet B, ant (3")-la, sul 1 and sul. All the Salmonella-positive isolates exhibited resistance to at least one antimicrobial agent; however, antimicrobial resistance patterns demonstrated that multiple drug resistance was prevalent. The findings provide evidence that broiler chickens are colonised by pathogenic Salmonella harbouring antimicrobial resistance genes. Therefore, it is evident that there is a need for prudent use of antimicrobial agents in poultry production systems in order to mitigate the proliferation of multiple drug resistance across species.

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is an endangered seabird that breeds along the coast of Namibia and South Africa, and disease surveillance was identified as a priority for its conservation. Aiming for the establishment of baseline data on the presence of potential pathogens in this species, a comprehensive health assessment (blood smear examination, haematology, biochemistry and serology) was conducted on samples obtained from 578 African penguins at 11 breeding colonies and a rehabilitation centre. There were 68 penguins that were seropositive for at least one of seven pathogens tested: avian encephalomyelitis virus, avian infectious bronchitis virus, avian reovirus, infectious bursal disease virus, Newcastle disease virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae. All samples were seronegative for avian influenza virus subtypes H5 and H7 and infectious laryngotracheitis virus. The apparent prevalence of Babesia sp. and Borrelia sp. in blood smears was consistent with previous studies. Babesia-infected individuals had a regenerative response of the erythrocytic lineage, an active inflammatory response and hepatic function impairment. These findings indicate that African penguins may be exposed to conservation-significant pathogens in the wild and encourage further studies aiming for the direct detection and/or isolation of these microorganisms.

A total of 103 blood samples from pet dogs around Ipoh were screenedfor common blood protozoa. A total of 14 samples were found positive for Erhlichia canis and one sample was found positive for microfilaria of Dirofilaria immitis. Both these diseases are transmitted by vectors; ticks (Rhipicephalus sangiuneus) and mosquitoes respectively. In the hot and wet tropical environment where vectors are abundant, pet care, hygiene and regular screening will help veterinarians detect these infections early to facilitatetreatment.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence, etiology and progression of Pigmentary keratitis in dogs. Materialsand Methods: A total of 83 corneas from 55 dogs of different breeds, sex and age were selected for the study. Signalment, anamnesis, nature of discharge and duration of illness was collected from all the animals.The progression of pigmentation was assessed by dividing the cornea in to four quadrants. Pigmentation grading, extent of pigmentation and mean pigment density were calculated by dividing the cornea in to 24 sectors. Schirmer tear test (STT), fluorescein dye test (FDT), tonometry, and slitlamp biomicroscopy and Cornealimpression cytology were done. Results: Among the 55 animals, 51 dogs were Chinese Pug (92.7%) and the mean age was 33.13 ± 3.12 months. Among 55 animals, 28 were females (50.9%) and left cornea was affected in 44 animals (53.01%). The mean duration of the disease as noticed by the owner was 07.21 ± 0.65 months.Most of the owners were totally unaware about the condition of the eye. Among 83 corneas, 40 (35%) showed pigmentation in all the sectors. 29 animals (53%) wereaffected with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) followed by 13 animals (24%) affected with entropion. The mean value of random blood sugar was 107.84 ± 0.99 and the mean intraocular pressure in the animals under the study was 40.64 ± 2.38. The mean value of pigmentation grading,extent of pigmenta ion and mean pigment density was 32.59 ± 2.27, 15.67 ± 0.83 and 1.37 ± 0.07 respectively. The mean value of Schirmer tear test was 10.31 ± 0.58 andunder high power microscopy, Leishman’s stained corneal impression cytology revealed infiltration of neutrophils in all the slides. Conclusion: It was concludedthat Chinese pugs under the age of 3 years are mostly affected and females and left eye is mostly affected. All the animals with pigmentation is having KCS.