A Sheeppox Virus Outbreak in Central Turkey in 2003: Isolation and Identification of Capripoxvirus Ovis

Poxvirus epidemics occur almost every year and cause significant economic losses for small-scale animal producers in Turkey. In this study, the causative agent of the most recent epidemic in Central Anatolia was detected in clinical samples using electron microscopy (EM) and amplified using an in house polymerase chain reaction procedure for the first time. Additionally, the aetiological agent was isolated from a sheep and identified using EM and PCR.     

Ventricular ependymoma in a German Shepherd dog

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) together with clinical, pathomorphological and immunohistological methods, a ependymoma is described in a 9-year-old German Shepherd dog, which presented with behavioural and oculocephalic responses and generalised ataxia. The ependymoma, 9 x 6 x 5mm in size, was localised intra-axially in the right interventricular foramen and hydrocephalus was observed by MRI. Microscopically, the tumour was composed of pseudorosettes, and immunohistochemical examination revealed vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity in the neoplastic cells.     

In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oils and various extracts of Thymus eigii M. Zohary et P.H. Davis

This study was designed to examine the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and various extracts obtained from aerial parts of Thymus eigii. The essential oil was particularly found to possess stronger antimicrobial activity, whereas other nonpolar extracts and subfractions showed moderate activity and polar extracts remained almost inactive. GC-MS analysis of the oil resulted in the identification of 39 compounds, representing 93.7% of the oil; thymol (30.6%), carvacrol (26.1%), and p-cymene (13.0%) were the main components. The samples were also subjected to a screening for their possible antioxidant activity by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and beta-carotene-linoleic acid assays. In the former case, the polar subfraction of the methanol extract was found to be superior to all extracts tested, only 16.8 microg/mL of which provided 50% inhibition, whereas all extracts, particularly the polar ones, seem to inhibit the oxidation of linoleic acid in the latter case. These data were further supported by total phenolics analysis, indicating that the antioxidative potential of the extracts was closely related to their phenolic constituents.     

The effect of vitamin E treatment on selected immune and oxidative parameters in Kivircik ewes suffering from transport stress

The study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin E injection for the prevention of transport stress on ewes. Kivircik ewes (2–3 years old, n = 24) were randomly separated into three groups; G1 (Control) and G2 treated with 14 ml. saline as the placebo, G3 treated with 2100 IU/ind. DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate prior to transport. G2 and G3 were transported at 80 km/h for 4 h on a truck. Serum samples were obtained before (T0) and after (T1) transport. Serum cortisol, catalase, IgG, ceruloplasmin, C-reactive protein, complement component 4, interleukin-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde analyses performed by ELISA, and serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations were evaluated by HPLC-UV. Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used for statistical assessments (p < 0.05). Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were founded 1.22 ± 0.82, 0.27 ± 0.14 and 0.14 ± 0.07 µmol/L, respectively, in G1, G2 and G3 at T1. Alpha-tocopherol concentration decreased significantly in G2 between T0 and T1. GPx concentrations were increased twofold in G2 and G3 between T0 and T1 (p < 0.01). As a result, G2 alpha-tocopherol concentrations decreased but, the stress and oxidative parameters tested in this study were not affected by treating 2100 IU/ind. DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate before transport.     

Ivermectin is an effective treatment for bovine cutaneous papillomatosis

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ivermectin on the treatment of bovine cutaneous papillomatosis. Twenty-four Holstein calves between 9 and 17 months of age with cutaneous papillomatosis were placed into three groups with six in group I, and nine in groups II and III. Group I served as a control group and received no treatment. Ivermectin at a dose of 0.2mg/kg was administered subcutaneously as a single dose to the animals in Group II and twice with 15 days intervals to animals in Group III. The first ivermectin application was considered as the 0th day Animals were monitored at 15 days intervals up to 3 months. No remission was observed in the control group (Group I). In Group II eight out of nine animals (88.8%) and in Group III seven out of nine animals (77.7%) showed complete recovery within 3 month observation period. It was concluded that ivermectin, as either single or double dose applications, is effective as a treatment for cutaneous papillomatosis.     

Soil organic carbon and nutrients in smallholding land uses in southern Ethiopia

This study assessed the soil organic C (SOC) and soil nutrients in smallholding home garden, woodlot, grazing land, and cropland at two soil depths and two sites in Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. The results showed that soil properties were significantly influenced by land use. The home garden had significantly higher (p < 0.05) SOC and soil nutrients when compared to the cropland. When the home garden was compared to the woodlot and grazing land uses, it had significantly higher (p < 0.05) values except in SOC, total N (TN), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and exchangeable Ca. Cropland, in comparison with grazing land and woodlot, had a non‐significant difference except TN. The SOC stock (0–40 cm) in the home garden, woodlot, grazing land and cropland was 79.5, 68.0, 65.0, and 58.1 Mg ha^?1, respectively. Home garden significantly differed (p ≤ 0.05) in SOC only from cropland, and this was attributed not only to the relatively higher organic input in the home garden but also to the little organic matter input and frequently tillage of the cropland. The similar SOC among the home garden, woodlot and grazing lands may imply that the balance between inputs and outputs could be nearly similar for the land uses. Soil TN and CEC had a nearly similar pattern of difference as in SOC among the land uses because of their close relationship with SOC. In general, the land use influence on soil nutrients can be in the order: home garden > wood land ≈ grazing land ≈ cropland, with home garden showing the least difference from the woodlot and the greatest from the cropland. In the agroecosystem, in general, the influence of smallholding home garden on SOC and soil nutrient was marginally different from Eucalyptus woodlot and grazing lands but evidently different from cropland.     

Status of cypress aphid on Cupressus lusitanica and Juniperus procera in protected and cultivated forests of South Wollo,Ethiopia

In Ethiopia,Cupressus lusitanica and Juniperus procera are important tree species.The incidence of the cypress aphid,Cinara cupressi,which has not been reported before on the exotic Cupressus lusitanica is becoming catastrophic.The appearance of the insect was reported for the first time in 2003 in Ethiopia.However,information is scarce on the status of this species in northeast Amhara state.The objectives of this study were to assess the extent of damage,abundance and status of the cypress aphid on C.lusitanica and J.procera in the protected and cultivated forests of South Wollo,Ethiopia.Results reveal that tree compositions of the three study areas differed.The dominant tree species were C.lucitanica(15–80%),Olea europaea(5–90%)and J.procera(14–70%).The cypress aphid showed significantly higher levels of infestation on C.lusitanica(35–90%)than on J.procera(1–16%).Moreover,there was higher C.lusitanica mortality(40–93%).In contrast,there was low infestation(1–16%)on J.procera and no mortality.The results reveal that the cypress aphid causes enormous losses of C.lusitanica.Therefore,it is recommended that insect surveillance be strengthened and the introduction bioagents be considered and integrated with other insecticides to minimize the degree of C.lusitanica infestation and loss.     

Unilateral leiomyoma in the mesosalpinx of a dog

Routine ultrasonographic evaluation of the genital organs of a 3-year-old terrier bitch revealed a mass at the level of the left ovary. The mass was located next to the caudal pole of the left kidney and ventrocaudal to the left ovary. Ultrasonographically, the uterus was not enlarged and had no luminal contents. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a mass attached to the left ovarian bursa with a small and thin pedicle. The mass had smooth margins, was whitish in color, and was lobulated on cut surface. The histopathological diagnosis of the mass was leiomyoma associated with the mesosalpinx.     

Antimicrobial activity of some endemic plants growing in the Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey

The Eastern Black Sea Region has an extensive flora because of ample rainfall lasting all year. In this study, antimicrobial effects of 74 crude extracts of 22 endemic plants were investigated. Among the 30 active crude extracts, water-insoluble crude extracts from Betula medwediewii, Heracleum platytaenium, Primula longipes, Anthemis cretica ssp. argaea and Centaurea helenioides were the prominent ones with their MIC values.