Comparative study on responses of cattle and water buffalo (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>) to experimental inoculation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella abortus</Emphasis> biovar 1 by the intraconjunctival route—a preliminary report

The preliminary study was conducted to assess the virulence of a strain of Brucella abortus (1969D) and to compare the susceptibility of water buffalo and cattle calves to infection by the intraconjunctival route. Seven of each cattle and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves aged 3–6 months were inoculated intraconjunctivally with counts ranging from 1.5 × 10⁷ to 1.7 × 10¹⁰ colony forming units of B. abortus. Animals were monitored over an 8-week period for clinical manifestations and serological and hematological evidence of infection. At slaughter, eight lymph nodes from each animal were sampled for bacteriological and histopathological assessments. Lymph nodes from three water buffalo (43%) and five cattle (71%) yielded B. abortus (P = 0.048). Parotid/prescapular lymph nodes were most sensitive in detecting B. abortus. Our data suggest that B. abortus strain 1969D may be used as challenge strain, and water buffalo appeared to have a lower susceptibility to B. abortus infection than cattle.     

Cytoarchitectural differences of myoepithelial cells among goat major salivary glands

Previously, the distribution of myoepithelial cells (mecs) in the salivary glands was studied by both immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy; however, little was elucidated concerning their morphological features, especially in goats. This study was performed to investigate the correlation between the cytoarchitecture of the mecs in goat major salivary glands (parotid, mandibular, and sublingual glands) and the nature of the saliva secretion. The cytoarchitectural features of the mecs were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as immunohistochemically. The secretory endpieces in the parotid gland are of the pure serous type, but in both the mandibular and sublingual glands they are of the mixed type. In all studied glands, the intercalated ducts were covered by mecs which, unlike the large stellate cells that surrounded the secretory endpieces, were spindle-shaped with few cytoplasmic processes. Interestingly, the mecs were found to bulge on the basal surfaces of the serous acini and intercalated ducts in all glands and to be in close contact to the seromucous tubules surface in the mandibular and sublingual glands forming a continuous network around it. In conclusion, the differences in the degree of development of the mecs as well as the number of their cytoplasmic processes may be correlated with the nature of the secretion and the number of the secretory granules. Thus these observations may have some relevance in the diagnosis of atrophy and pathogenic conditions of these glands.     

Early acute depletion of lymphocytes in calicivirus-infected adult rabbits

Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a lethal infection caused by calicivirus that kills 90% of the infected adult rabbits within 3 days. The calicivirus replicates in the liver and causes a fulminant hepatitis. Most studies on the pathology of RHD have been focused on the fulminant liver disease. This may not be the only mechanism in the pathogenesis of RHD: calicivirus infection may also induce leukopenia in the infected adult rabbits. We show now by flow cytometry analysis that the calicivirus induces an early decrease in B and T cells, in both spleen and liver. The depletion of B and T cells was associated with apoptosis labelled by annexin V. These changes occurred in rabbits before they showed enzymatic evidence of liver damage and persisted after liver transaminase values were very high. We conclude that depletion of lymphocytes caused by the calicivirus infection precedes or attends liver damage. The relative contribution of this lymphocyte depletion for the pathogenesis of the fatal calicivirus infection of rabbits remains to be investigated.     

Growth performances of Washera sheep under smallholder management systems in Yilmanadensa and Quarit districts,Ethiopia

A study was conducted to evaluate growth performances of Washera sheep under smallholder production systems in the Yilmanadensa and Quarit districts of the Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Data were collected and analysed on the growth of 690 lambs owned by 110 households from October 2004 to September 2007. Weight (kilograms) of Washera lambs at birth, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age was 2.69 ± 0.02, 7.10 ± 0.16, 12.42 ± 0.11, 16.12 ± 0.91, 20.05 ± 0.55 and 23.47 ± 0.68, respectively. Birth weight was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by district, year of birth, parity of the dam, birth type and sex of lamb and by the interaction effect of parity by birth type and parity by sex of lamb. Weaning weight was also affected by year of birth, type of birth and sex of lamb. Yearling weight was affected by only year of birth and sex of birth. The average daily weight gain (ADG; grams) from birth to 30 days, birth to 90 days, 90 to 180 days and birth to 1 year of age was 143.37 ± 13.46, 107.09 ± 2.67, 39.78 ± 9.73 and 60.13 ± 1.89, respectively. Growth rates from birth to 30 and 90 days of age were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by birth year, birth type and sex. ADG from birth to 1 year of age was affected by lamb sex and district. The indigenous Washera sheep had faster growth rate than those sheep breeds of Ethiopia extensively studied thus far. Integrated efforts combining improved nutrition, health and participatory community-based breeding would help the smallholder farmers to utilise and conserve this immense sheep genetic resource of Ethiopia.     

A serologic investigation of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in cattle and gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa in Turkey

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) is a vector-borne disease of ruminants disseminated in the tropic and subtropic zone of the world. Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa (goitered gazelle) is native species of Anatolia. Due to risk of extinction, captured gazelles have been taken under protection in a restricted area at Ceylanpinar state farm. In this study, the presence of EHDV was investigated serologically in 82 goitered gazelle and 399 cattle. Seropositivity rates in goitered gazelle and cattle were detected as 2.43% and 3.50%, respectively.     

Current situation and the development of the dairy industry in Jordan,Saudi Arabia,and Syria

The development of the dairy industry plays an important role in the economy of Middle Eastern countries. Judged by its growth rate, the dairy industry is viewed as one of the most progressive food industries in the Middle East. During the early 1970s, countries established executive programs to promote dairy farming; the major objective was to attain self-sufficiency in milk production. A massive investment was set up for importing top class cattle, complying with top industry operating standards, and a simultaneous introduction of the latest technology in processing, packaging, and distributing. Milk production has grown tremendously at rates of 6.6% and 4.9% in Syria and Saudi Arabia, respectively, between 2002 and 2007, which resulted in these nations being almost self-sufficient. Regarding Jordan, milk production has not yet met this target. An excessive growth in the dairy industry is quite noticeable in this region with an expanding capacity for exports. The aim of this study is to show the most recent trends and future prospects of the dairy industries in Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. It also attempts to investigate the drivers for the development of milk production, consumption, and trade in the region.     

Temporal changes in endogenous estrogens and expression of behaviors associated with estrus during the periovulaory period in Murrah buffaloes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>)

The objective of this study were (1) to establish the duration of behavioral estrus signs and timing of ovulation in Murrah buffaloes (n = 10) and (2) to determine relationship between behavioral estrus signs with change in plasma estrogen concentrations. Estrus and its behavioral signs were detected at hourly intervals by visual observations, per recta examination of genitalia and bull parading four times in a day for 30 minutes each. Among the behavioral signs of estrus, swollen vulva (80%) was the best indicator of estrus followed by excitement (70%). Among the duration of behavioral estrus signs the first and longest duration of estrus signs was swollen vulva which was seen upto 19.8 ± 0.8 h after onset of estrus. The mean total duration of estrus symptoms from appearance to disappearance of all the behavioral estrus symptoms was 23.5 ± 1.7 h. All the behavioral estrus symptoms were observed during the period of estrogen surge. Endocrine profile during the periestrus period showed that the mean peak concentrations of total estrogen 23.9 ± 3.9 pg/ml occurred at 8.8 ± 1.7 h after onset of estrus. The average number of estrus symptoms observed per animal during onset of spontaneous estrus was 5.7. Ovulation occurred after 37.4 ± 1.7 h after onset of estrus and 13.4 ± 1.0 h after end of total estrogen surge respectively. In conclusion, our results suggest that all signs of behavioral estrus occurred during the preovulatory rise in estrogens. The first sign of estrus to be observed was a swollen vulva and this symptom persisted the longest.     

Estimating total body water content in suckling and lactating llamas (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lama glama</Emphasis>) by isotope dilution

Total body water (TBW) in 17 suckling and six lactating llamas was estimated from isotope dilution at three different post natum and lactation stages using both ¹⁸O and deuterium oxide (D₂O). In total, 69 TBW measurements were undertaken. While TBW in lactating dams, expressed in kilogram, remained stable during the three measurement periods (91.8 ± 15.0 kg), the body water fraction (TBW expressed in percent of body mass) increased slightly (P = 0.042) from 62.9% to 65.8%. In contrast, TBW (kilogram) in suckling llamas increased significantly (P < 0.001) with age and decreased slightly when expressed as a percentage of body mass (P = 0.016). Relating TBW to body mass across all animals yielded a highly significant regression equation (TBW in kilogram = 2.633 + 0.623 body mass in kilogram, P < 0.001, n = 69) explaining 99.5% of the variation. The water fraction instead decreased in a curve linear fashion with increasing body mass (TBW in percent of body mass = 88.23 body mass in kilogram^−0.064, P < 0.001, R ² = 0.460). The present results on TBW can serve as reference values for suckling and lactating llamas, e.g., for the evaluation of fluid losses during disease. Additionally, the established regression equations can be used to predict TBW from body mass, providing that the body masses fall inside the range of masses used to derive the equations.