Several outbreaks of Rift Valley fever (RVF) have been documented in South Africa since it first occurred in the country in 1950. However, there is no comprehensive account of the timing, location and extent of all known outbreaks. As part of a study investigating the epidemiology of RVF in South Africa, a full history of outbreaks was compiled using references to the disease in South Africa from scientific literature, annual reports, disease reports and animal disease databases. The geographic location and temporal occurrence of each outbreak were recorded as accurately as allowed by the available records. The result was a better and more complete picture than has hitherto been available of the spatial and temporal distribution of RVF in South Africa for the period between 1950 and 2011. Several smaller outbreaks which had not been described previously in literature were documented. Extensive outbreaks occurred in the central interior of the country (Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces), interspersed with smaller outbreaks or long intervening periods of absence, whilst smaller outbreaks occurred in the eastern part of the country (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng).

In this study, the enteric parasites of zoo animals and zookeepers in Beni-Suef governorate, Egypt were investigated. Fecal samples from thirteen animal species were examined by floatation and formol ether sedimentation techniques. Zoo animals were classified into non-human primates, carnivores and herbivorous animals. The examination of non-human primates revealed the presence of Trichuris trichura eggs, Giardia intestinals and Entamoeba histolytica cysts. In carnivores, Toxoascaris leonina eggs and Isospora felis oocysts were the most predominant findings. In herbivore wild animals, gastrointestinal nematode (GIT) eggs and Eimeria species oocysts were present. Larval identification by fecal culture of (GIT) eggs demonstrated the presence of Haemonchus contortus and Strongyloid papillosus larvae. Examination of zookeepers and one lab worker revealed the presence of Giardia intestinals and Entamoeba histolytica cysts. In conclusion, infection with Giardia intestinals and Entamoeba histolytica in both of human and nonhuman primates suggests the zoonotic transmission in the zoo.

In order to get a reliable estimate of brucellosis prevalence in Eritrean dairy cattle, a cross-sectional study was carried out in 2009. The survey considered the sub-population of dairy cattle reared in modern small- and medium-sized farms. Samples were screened with the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and positive cases were confirmed with the complement fixation test (CFT). A total of 2.77%(417/15 049; Credibility Interval CI: 2.52% – 3.05%) of the animals tested in this study were positive for antibodies to Brucellaspecies, with a variable and generally low distribution of positive animals at regional level. The highest seroprevalence was found in the Maekel region (5.15%; CI: 4.58% – 5.80%), followed by the Debub (1.99%; CI: 1.59% – 2.50%) and Gash-Barka (1.71%; CI: 1.34% – 2.20%) regions. Seroprevalence at sub-regional levels was also generally low, except for two sub-regions of Debub and the sub-region Haicota from the Gash-Barka region. Seroprevalence was high and more uniformly distributed in the Maekel region, namely in the Asmara, Berik and Serejeka sub-regions. Considering the overall low brucellosis prevalence in the country, as identified by the present study, a brucellosis eradication programme for dairy farms using a test-and-slaughter policy would be possible. However, to encourage the voluntary participation of farmers to the programme and to raise their awareness of the risks related to the disease for animals and humans, an extensive public awareness campaign should be carefully considered, as well as strict and mandatory dairy movement control.

Peste des petits ruminants virus, which causes a severe disease in sheep and goats, has only recently been officially declared to be present in Tanzania. An epidemiological study was carried out between September 2008 and October 2010 to investigate the incursion, persistence and spread of the virus in Tanzania. The investigation involved serosurveillance, outbreak investigation and computation of epidemiological indices such as the effective reproductive number, persistence and the threshold level for vaccination. Field and molecular epidemiological techniques were applied to isolate, characterise and trace the origin of the virus in Tanzania. A total of 2182 serum samples from goats and 1296 from sheep from 79 villages across 12 districts were investigated. Village-level prevalence of infection was variable (0.00% – 88.00%) and was higher in pastoral than in agro-pastoral villages. The overall antibody response to the virus was 22.10% (CI 95% = 20.72% – 23.48%). About 68.00% and 73.00% of seropositive goats and sheep, respectively, did not show clinical signs. The proportion of seropositive animals differed significantly (p ≤ 0.001) between age groups, sex and farming practices. Real-time polymerase chain reaction results showed that the isolated strains belong to lineage III, whose origin is in East Africa and the Middle East. This indicates that one of the northern neighbouring countries is most likely the source of infection. The computed overall effective reproductive number, the threshold level of vaccination necessary to eradicate the disease and persistence were 4.75% and 98.00%, respectively. These estimates indicate that achieving elimination of the peste des petits ruminants virus from pastoral flocks will require significant effort and development of highly effective intervention tools.

The use of haematological techniques to assess fish health is generally accepted. The aim of the current study was to determine selected haematological changes that occur in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). infected with trypanosomes. Blood films were prepared according to standard techniques to confirm trypanosome infections and whole blood was collected, the serum and plasma separated, and prepared for albumin and total protein concentration analysis. Plasma albumin levels were significantly higher in infected wild caught fish than in uninfected wild caught fish and uninfected breeding stock. Serum albumin levels were significantly lower in infected wild caught fish when compared to uninfected breeding stock. The total plasma and serum protein levels were within the normal range for C. gariepinus, that is, 3 g – 6 g/100 mL. The total plasma protein levels varied significantly between the three groups. However, the total serum protein levels were only significantly different between uninfected breeding stock and uninfected wild caught fish, as well as uninfected breeding stock and infected wild caught fish. The total protein levels were significantly higher in infected wild caught fish than in the other groups, a possible indication of an infection or inflammatory host response.

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of peste des petits ruminants in the arid zone (Niamey, Tillabéry and Tahoua) of the Republic of Niger. A serological survey was conducted and 519 serum samples were collected from 253 unvaccinated sheep and 266 unvaccinated goats. The sample included 340 female animals (168 sheep and 172 goats) and 160 kids and lambs (78 lambs and 82 kids). A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay yielded an overall seroprevalence of 45.0%. The prevalence in sheep was 42.0% compared with 47.9% in goats. The seroprevalence observed amongst small ruminants in Tahoua (49.8%) and Tillabéry (46.6%) was significantly higher (p = 0.001) than that observed in animals from Niamey (25.1%). It was also higher (p = 0.04) in sheep younger than two years (51.8%) than in adults (37.6%). Conversely, the seroprevalence showed no significant difference between male animals (35.8% in sheep; 50.1% in goats) and female animals (45.1% in sheep; 46.4% in goats). The prevalence of the disease observed amongst the sheep and goat populations confirms the continued danger of this disease in the areas studied. It is therefore necessary to develop strategies such as improving livestock services, providing effective vaccines and implementing a vaccination programme for an effective control of the disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

A total of 35 Sprague-Dawley adult rats were used to investigate the effect of aluminium toxicity on behavioural patterns of adult female rats and learning ability of offspring. Rats were allotted into 4 groups, group one received 2g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride (n=10), group two received 3g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride (n=10), group three received 3.5g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride in drinking water (n=10) and control group did not receive anhydrous aluminium chloride (n=5) from 8th day of pregnancy till weaning of pups. The obtained results showed that feeding time increased significantly in 2g/l and 3.5g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride groups than control one, while, litter licking frequency and nursing time increased significantly in 2g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride than other groups. On contrary lying time decreased significantly in rats treated with 2g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride than other groups, licking and scratching decreased in 3g/l and 3.5g/l anhydrous aluminium chloride groups. In considering, the time spent in closed arms by offspring pups exhibited much times significantly than control group, while, time spent in open arms of elevated plus maze decreased significantly in all treated groups than control group. On the other hand, number of entries in open arms significantly decreased in treated groups than control one.

This study was done to investigate the prevalence of the Enterobacteriaceae in chickens and eggs. Isolation of forty four different bacterial isolates belonging to Enterobacteriaceae from chicken egg samples, cloacal swabs and swabs from Hatcheries’s floor, the isolates from commercial flock swabs were biochemically identified as E coli, P. mirabilis E Sakazakii and E .cloacae by incidence 22%, 55 %, 11% and 11 % respectively. The isolates from Layers and broilers breeder cloacal swabs were biochemically identified to be E. coli, P. mirabilis E. fergusonii and E .cloacae by incidence 20 %, 20 %, 20% and 40 % respectively. The isolates from commercial eggs were biochemically identified to be Pantoea Sp. , Kluyvera sp., E Sakazakii , E.aerogenes and E.harmanii by incidence 33.3% , 16.6% , 16.6% , 16.6% and 16.6 % respectively. The isolates from fertilized egg samples were biochemically identified as E Sakazakii , E. fergusonii , E.coli , E. Cloacae , Aeromonas ,S. Anatum and Prov. Alcolifaciens with a number of 1 ,1, 3, 3, 2, 2 and 1 , incidence 8% , 8% , 23% , 23% , 15% , 15% and 8 % respectively. The incidence of Enterobacteriaceae isolates from floor swabs of both primitive and automatic hatcheries was 20.8 % and these isolates were biochemically identified to be Pantoea spp., Citrokoserilama, k.pneumo. Ozaenae and E .cloacae with number 2, 1, 1 and 1 also its incidence were 40%, 20%, 20% and 20 % respectively. We found that the most common isolated bacterium from eggs either fertilized or commercial table eggs in our study was E.coli although we could isolate other bacterial species as Enterobacter, Proteus species , Escherichia fergusonii; E. Sakazakii, Klebsiella sp., S. anatum, and Pseudomonas sp..In-vitro sensitivity test of the isolated strains to various chemotherapeutic agents revealed that all isolates were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Enrofloxacin, and Amoxicillin.

The development of safe, novel adjuvant is necessary to maximize the efficacy of new and/or available vaccines. In this study, three different molecular weights of chitosan (low, medium, high) were evaluated as immunopotentiators/adjuvants of inactivated rabies vaccine in white Norway rats as an experimental model. Two concentrations (1.5% & 3% w/v) of each chitosan type were used in final concentration 5 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml. Results showed that lymphocyte proliferation were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in all chitosan vaccinated rats compared to aluminum hydroxide gel vaccinated one. All three type of chitosan produced accelerated and enhanced effects on rabies-neutralizing antibody responses in vaccinated groups. Increases in antibody titers together with lymphocytes proliferation responses revealed that chitosan induced both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. When compared with aluminum hydroxide vaccine adjuvant, chitosan was superior to aluminum hydroxide. The conclusion of these results suggested that chitosan with different MW had a strong potential to increase both cellular and humoral immune responses and that chitosan may be a promising and efficacious adjuvant candidate suitable for inactivated rabies vaccine.

The present study was established to evaluate and compare stress response to anesthesia as well as surgery in sheep and goat. For this purpose, 5 rams and 5 bucks underwent anesthesia alone followed a week later by anesthesia with rumenotomy. Serum cortisol levels as well as differential leucocytic count were assayed just prior to anesthesia (0 time) and then after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours post anesthesia. In the second experiment, blood samples were collected just prior to anesthesia (0 time) then after half an hour (0 time post rumenotomy) then after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours post completion of rumenotomy. Serum cortisol levels in both species increased significantly and reach its peak one hour following anesthesia (3.31 ± 0.17 and 4.09 ± 0.12, respectively) which were higher than subsequent cortisol levels. In addition, Peak cortisol level in sheep obtained at 0 time post rumenotomy (4.39 ± 0.13) and 1 hour following rumenotomy in goat (3.45 ± 0.16). The significant increase in cortisol level persists for 6 hours and returns to normal level 24 hours following surgery.