High prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of mecA Staphylococcus aureus in dairy cattle,sheep, and goat bulk tank milk in Jordan

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of mecA and mecC methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in...     

Synovial fluid analysis and bacterial findings in arthritic joints of juvenile male camel (Camelus dromedarius) calves

Eighteen synovial fluid samples from 11 male dromedarian calves, 9-12 month old, were analysed cytologically and bacteriologically. Calves were lame and all joints were grossly swollen. The mean +/- SD of total nucleated cell count was 7970 +/- 5000 cells/microl (range 2800-20,000 cells/microl). Polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocytes were the predominant cell type. The mean +/- SD of absolute and percentages of each cell type were as follows: PMN leucocytes 5518 +/- 3600 cells/microl and 68 +/- 19%, monocytes/macrophages 1600 +/- 1120 cells/microl and 26 +/- 17%, lymphocytes 830 +/- 140 cells/microl and 8 +/- 7%, and red blood cell 350 +/- 130 cells/microl. The mean +/- SD of total protein concentration was 3.5 +/- 1 g/dl (range 2.5-5 g/dl). The most commonly isolated bacteria were non-haemolytic streptococci spp., followed by Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. No bacterial growth was obtained in eight samples and non-revealed Mycoplasma spp.     

A Review on Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) with Special Reference to PPR in Iran

In 1995, a peste des petits ruminants (PPR) outbreak was diagnosed in Ilam province in Iran near the border with Iraq both serologically and virologically. As then, despite all control measures, PPR has been identified in the whole country and has led to costs of at least US$1.5 million to the Iranian owners of sheep and goats.     

A detailed evaluation method to identify sources of quantitative resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi race 2 within a Pisum spp. germplasm collection

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi (Fop) is an important pathogen of field pea (Pisum sativum) worldwide. The constant evolution of the pathogen drives the necessity to broaden the genetic basis of resistance to Fop. To achieve this, it is important to have a large germplasm collection available and an accurate and efficient method for disease assessment. Here, a detailed evaluation method coupling disease incidence, disease rating over time and its related area under the disease progression curve (AUDPC) was established and used to screen a Pisum spp. germplasm collection against one isolate of Fop race 2. A large variation in the disease response of specific pea accessions ranging from highly resistant to susceptible was observed within the collection, indicating the quantitative expression of the resistance. The repetition of the inoculation experiments on a subset of 19 accessions, including two susceptible accessions, indicated that the scoring method was robust and reproducible and confirmed the highly resistant phenotypes of 11 accessions. To initiate the characterization of resistance mechanisms within these accessions, the external and internal stem symptoms were compared between these selected pea accessions, together with the extent of fungal colonization within plants. All these tests indicated that, in all resistant accessions, the resistance mechanisms efficiently stopped pathogen progression at the crown. Incorporation of these sources of resistance to breeding programmes will contribute to improved Fop resistance in pea cultivars.     

Effects of defoliation on whole‐plant maize characteristics as forage and energy crop

Hail affects yield and quality of maize crops, and consequences also depend on the growth stage at which the injury occurred. Whole‐plant maize (WPM) silage is often used within the same farm for cattle feeding and biogas production. The present study aimed to verify the effects of hail damage, simulated by artificial defoliation, on yield and chemical and nutritional features, as well as on biochemical methane potential (BMP) of maize forage. In a randomized block design with three replicates, four defoliation levels (0%, 33%, 66% and 100% of leaf area removal respectively) have been applied at either the V12 (12th leaf), R1 (silking) or R3 (milk) stages for two consecutive years. WPM yield, chemical and nutritional features, and BMP were measured. Dry‐matter (DM) yield per hectare was progressively reduced (p < 0.001) with increasing levels of defoliation and with application at V12 in comparison with R1 or R3 (1.26 vs. 1.39 and 1.46 kg ha^?1 for V12 vs. R1 and R3; p < 0.003). Nutritive value and BMP per unit of product were less altered than dry‐matter yield per hectare by defoliation. Anticipating defoliation reduced net energy for lactation (5.26 vs. 5.46 MJ kg^?1 DM for V12 and R3 respectively; p = 0.02). Total defoliation resulted in an accumulation of nitrates (NO₃) compared to the other treatments (3.98 vs. 1.53 g NO₃ kg^?1 DM; p < 0.001). BMP was mainly reduced by early and complete defoliation. Equations were developed to estimate the effects of defoliation on yield, composition, and nutritive and energetic values of WPM.     

Effects of resistance of Eremocitrus glauca and Microcitrus australis to viroid infection: replication,accumulation and long‐distance movement of six citrus viroids

In studies to identify genotypes resistant to infection with citrus viroids, Eremocitrus glauca and Microcitrus australis were selected because their evolution in their habitat in Australia and New Guinea may have led to the selection of unusual traits. The movement and accumulation of Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Hop stunt viroid, Citrus bent leaf viroid, Citrus dwarfing viroid, Citrus bark cracking viroid and Citrus viroid V (CVd‐V) in self‐rooted as well as in graft‐ propagated E. glauca and M. australis plants was assessed by northern hybridization, RT‐PCR and by topworking to the sensitive selection 861‐S1 of Etrog citron. In both plant species the inoculated viroids were undetectable unless these plants were grafted to a susceptible Citrus partner, the rough lemon rootstock and/or the topworked Etrog citron, which acted as viroid sources. The results obtained indicate that M. australis and in particular E. glauca are poor viroid hosts in which viroid replication/accumulation does not occur or is extremely inefficient. However, viroid downward and upward movement to grafted Citrus partners in which viroid replication and accumulation occurs efficiently was not impaired. Eremocitrus glauca and M. australis showed differences regarding their properties as viroid hosts, but for both species CEVd seemed to have the lowest affinity among the viroid species tested and CVd‐V the highest. Even though E. glauca and M. australis do not appear to be truly resistant to viroid infection, they are interesting genotypes for further characterization of the mechanisms involved in viroid infection.     

Occurrence of on-farm risk factors and health effects of mycotoxins in dairy farms in Jordan

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of on-farm risk factors and health effects associated with contamination of dairy feeds with aflatoxins (AFs), zearalenone (ZEN), trichothecenes (T-2), deoxynivalenol (DON), and fumonisins (FB) in Jordan. A pre-tested and validated questionnaire was used to determine on-farm practices and health effects associated with high levels of mycotoxins. A total of 88 feed samples were collected from the 37 farms participating in the study and analyzed using commercially available ELISA kits. The mean total AF concentration exceeded the European Union (EU) limit in alfalfa (4%) and total mixed ration (TMR) (3%) samples. Similarly, levels exceeding EU limits were observed for T-2 in alfalfa (29%), TMR (30%), and corn silage (4%). The average concentrations of ZEN and FB were 300 ppb and 11,638 ppb, respectively, which were below the EU maximum limits in all feed samples examined. Intensive management system (OR?=?7.70), imported feed (OR?=?3.40), feed storage on the farm for more than 1-month duration (OR?=?7.90), and not using antitoxins (OR?=?2.30) were significantly (P?<?0.05) associated with high levels of mycotoxins in feed samples. A significant correlation (P?<?0.05) was evident between the presence of mycotoxins in dairy feed and feed refusal (R?=?0.70), low milk production (R?=?0.50), diarrhea problems (R?=?0.60), infertility (R?=?0.50), and repeated breeder problems (R?=?0.80). Results show that mycotoxin contamination in dairy feeds is a problem in Jordan, and appropriate measures need to be undertaken to reduce risks to human and animal health and improve production.

     

Pharmacokinetics of toltrazuril and its metabolites in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes and determination of their concentrations in milk,allantoic fluid,and newborn plasma

The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetics of toltrazuril and its metabolites in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes following a single oral dose and to determine the plasma concentrations of these compounds in milk, allantoic fluid, and newborn plasma. Eighteen healthy ewes were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6 each): pregnant ewes at 12–13 weeks of gestation (group A), nonpregnant ewes (group B), and pregnant ewes at 1–2 weeks before expected lambing date (group C). Ewes in all groups received a single oral dose of toltrazuril at 20 mg/kg body weight. In groups A and B, blood samples were collected at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18 hr, every 6 hr to day 3, every 12 hr to day 7 and thereafter every 24 hr to day 14 post-toltrazuril administration. In group C, parturition was induced 24–36 hr after toltrazuril administration then milk, allantoic fluid, and newborn plasma samples were collected immediately after birth. Drug metabolites were assayed using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection method (UHPLC-UV). The maximum concentration (C_max), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC_0–t), AUC to 24 and 48 hr (AUC_0–24), and (AUC_0–48) were significantly higher in pregnant ewes. Longer apparent half-life (T_1/2), significantly higher apparent volume of distribution (Vd/F) and total clearance (Cl/F) were observed in nonpregnant ewes. The time to maximum plasma concentration (T_max), mean residence time (MRT) and elimination rate constant (K_el) were similar in both groups. The AUC_0–24 and AUC_0–48 were significantly higher in nonpregnant ewes. The AUC_0–t was significantly higher in pregnant ones. The ratio of plasma toltrazuril concentrations in ewes and toltrazuril concentrations in newborn lambs' plasma, allantoic fluid, and milk were 68%, 2.3%, and 5.3%, respectively. Results of this study showed that toltrazuril is well absorbed after a single oral dose in ewes with widespread distribution in different body tissues.     

Peritoneal fluid analysis in adult, nonpregnant Awassi sheep

BACKGROUND: To the authors' knowledge, there is no information in the literature about normal peritoneal fluid values in ovine species. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study reported here was to establish reference intervals for peritoneal fluid from clinically normal Awassi sheep and to compare the values to those in blood. METHODS: Peritoneal fluid and blood samples were collected into tubes containing EDTA, from 40 clinically healthy, nonpregnant, female Awassi sheep, aged 2 to 7 years. Total nucleated cell count (TNCC) was determined using an electronic cell counter. Total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, and glucose concentrations and aspartate transaminase activity were analyzed using commercially available kits. RESULTS: TNCC (mean +/- SD) of peritoneal fluid was 1.1 +/- 0.87 X 10(3)/microl, with neutrophils (3.9%), lymphocytes (33.5%), macrophages/monocytes (61.2%), and eosinophils (1.4%). Biochemical results in peritoneal fluid were: total protein, 1.7 +/- 0.74 g/dL; albumin, 1.0 +/- 0.04 g/dL; urea, 12.6 +/- 3.95 mg/dL; creatinine, 0.6 +/- 0.19 mg/dL; glucose, 54.8 +/- 6.11 mg/dL; and aspartate transaminase, 23.5 +/- 8.82 U/L. Eosinophil percentage and creatinine concentration did not differ significantly from blood values. CONCLUSION: Baseline values for cytologic and biochemical parameters in peritoneal fluid of Awassi sheep, with comparison to blood, have been generated. Such data may be applicable to other ovine species and can be used in the clinical investigation of ovine abdominal disorders.