Oxidative stress and bovine liver diseases: role of glutathione peroxidase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase

This article summarizes the different types of free radicals, antioxidants and the effect of oxidative stress on the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in bovine liver diseases. A growing body of evidence suggests that the formation of reactive oxygen species is a common occurrence associated with most if not all disease processes. The overall importance of reactive oxygen species to the progression and severity of various disease states varies greatly depending on the conditions and whether the disease is acute or chronic. Free radical researches in animals are in progress and further investigations are needed to establish the involvement of reactive oxygen species in diseases affecting different animal species and the pathology they produce.     

Study of infection with an Iranian field-isolated H9N2 avian influenza virus in vaccinated and unvaccinated Japanese quail

In the present study, we examined the mortality rate, egg production, and clinical signs of quail experimentally infected with a field isolate of A/Chicken/Iran/339/02 (H9N2) avian influenza virus obtained from an infected commercial layer farm with severe morbidity and mortality. A total of 120 quail at 14 days old were randomly divided into four groups of vaccinated (B and C) and unvaccinated (A and D) birds. Vaccination was done on days 20 and 32, and viral inoculation of birds in groups C and D was then carried out on day 43. For evaluation of viral transmission, at 24 hr postinoculation additional unvaccinated birds were placed in direct contact with challenged birds. All the birds were evaluated for clinical signs, egg production, antibody production, viral titration in lung homogenates, and viral transmission following inoculation. All unvaccinated-challenged birds were infected and showed clinical signs, whereas the infection rate along with clinical signs of vaccinated-challenged birds reached 30%-40%. Although vaccination induced high antibody titers, reduction in food and water consumption was evident in this vaccinated-challenged group compared with the unchallenged control group. These results could indicate that inactivated vaccine did not fully prevent the infection, although it was capable of protecting birds against clinical signs and significantly decreased viral titers in lungs after intranasal challenge.     

Detection of Brucella species in the milk of infected cattle,sheep, goats and camels by PCR

One hundred and three milk samples were collected from 52 cows, 21 ewes, 18 goats and 12 camels. The animals tested positive to at least one of the following: (1) standard tube agglutination test (SAT); (2) Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT); (3) milk ring test (MRT). All milk samples were examined by culture and single-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for detection of Brucella species. The PCR assay amplified Brucella-DNA from 29 bovine milk samples, 10 from sheep, 13 from goats and one from a camel. The direct culture method detected Brucella organisms from 24 samples of cows' milk, 12 from sheep, 10 from goats and failed to detect any Brucella organisms from camels' milk. PCR detected up to 100 colony forming units (CFU) of B. abortus per millilitre of milk in 100% of diluted milk samples, and 1000 CFU of B. melitensis from 70% of milk samples. Although the overall sensitivity of the PCR was higher than the culture method, it should be possible to increase the sensitivity to detect lower numbers of Brucella organisms in field samples. The speed and sensitivity of the PCR assay suggest that this technique could be useful for detection of Brucella organisms in bovine milk, as well as in sheep, goat, and camels milk.     

Animal rabies situation in Sultanate of Oman (2017–2019)

Successful preventive and control measures of zoonotic diseases require updated epidemiological data. Sylvatic rabies is endemic in Oman since 1990. Studying of the prevalence of animal rabies in Oman (2017–2019) was the goal of the current study besides the clinical–histopathological investigations of rabies in different animal species. A total of 117 whole brains of different animal species from different regions of Oman were examined by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and histopathology for rabies during 2017–2019. Sixty-four samples (54.7%) were positive for rabies by FAT. The most affected species were goat (53.1%) followed by camel (18.8%), which pose a great risk to farmers and veterinarians. Positive fox cases were (10.9%). Most confirmed cases of animal rabies were submitted from Northern regions of Oman. Rabies was reported recently in Al Wusta among wild ruminants, Central Oman. The seasonal cycle of animal rabies in Oman was year-round with the peak from December to April. The clinical signs and neuropathological findings were nearly similar in different animal species. Histopathology-positive cases had Negri bodies in pyramidal and purkinje neurons, non-suppurative encephalitis features, and neuronal degeneration and necrosis. The sensitivity and specificity of histopathological diagnosis of rabies in different animals were 76.47% and 100.00%, respectively. Finally, sylvatic rabies remains a major challenge to the public and animal health in Oman. Although of the value of histopathological diagnosis of rabies if no other technique is available, other complementary tests must be employed to confirm negative results.

     

Concurrent infection with bovine leukaemia virus and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Theileria annulata</Emphasis> in a Friesian calf

Concurrent infection with bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) and Theileria annulata was diagnosed in a Friesian calf about 6 months of age at a dairy farm at the Qassim region of central Saudi Arabia. The disease ended fatally with signs of liver and heart failure. There was anorexia, pyrexia, anaemia, generalized oedema and jaundice. Haematology showed low RBC counts, PCV percentage and haemoglobin concentration and WBC counts. Lymphocyte differential was high. Examination of blood smears stained with Giemsa’s stain showed the presence of piroplasms in red blood cells. Autopsy showed enlarged lymph nodes and lymphosarcoma lesions in the omentum and the heart. There was hydroperitoneum, hydropericardium and hydrothorax. The liver was pale yellow and friable. Impression smears from sliced lymph nodes and stained with Giemsa’s stain showed presence of Koch’s blue bodies in lymphoblasts. Histopathological examination revealed fatty degeneration of hepatocytes and pleomorphic lymphoblasts and giant cells in lymph nodes. Lymphoblasts infiltrated the omentum and heart tissues. Amyloid was found around blood vessels in the liver, kidneys and lymph nodes. BVL infection was diagnosed by demonstrating antibodies against the virus in serum using agar gel immunodiffusion and was confirmed with ELISA.     

Growth performance,biochemical, cytological and molecular aspects of rabbits exposed to lead toxicity

Heavy metals have enormous variety of deleterious effects on many organs in the body. This study demonstrated the toxic influences of lead on the growth, biochemical, cellular and molecular aspects of developing rabbits. Seventy‐five rabbits (New Zealand NZW) were divided into five equal groups as follows; control (C) and four treatment groups (T1‐4) orally administered lead acetate solution as follow T1: 20, T2: 30, T3: 50 and T4: 70 mg/kg body weight. Lead resulted in a significant decrease in live body weight, daily body weight gain and feed intake in T3 and T4 compared to those in other groups. Blood haematology measurements such as red blood cells, haematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume, platelet, white blood cells and lymphocytes were significantly influenced by the high level of lead. Oral administration of lead significantly reduced total proteins in the serum. It was observed that the high lead level led to significantly (p < 0.05) increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase enzymes, urea and creatinine. Four random amplified polymorphic DNA primers polymorphism were detected among the treatment groups. Total number of induced bands (loss or appearance) compared with control group were 4, 10, 10 and 14 bands using primers P1, P2, P3 and P4 respectively. Number of micronuclei showed a dose–response increase and the difference was highly significant especially between control compared with T3 and T4 groups. From our results, we can conclude that exposure of rabbits to lead acetate resulted in negative effects on the growth performance and altered the haematological and biochemical parameters, in addition to its adverse impact on cytological and molecular characterization of animals.     

Biochemical and molecular effects of a commercial diuretic with herbal extract on experimentally induced urolithiasis in chickens

Veterinary Research Communications - This study evaluated the diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunological effects of a commercial diuretic (CD) (composed of ammonium chloride,...     

Isolation and characterization of Mycoplasma arginini from camels (Camelus dromedarius) with pneumonia

Post-mortem examinations of 100 camels with pneumonic lesions were made at a local abattoir for Mycoplasma species. Sixteen isolates with indistinguishable biochemical and immunological characters were identified. The biochemical profile of these isolates showed that they were sensitive to digitonin, negative for urease production, glucose fermentation, and phosphatase activity but were positive for arginine hydrolysis. The identity of these isolates was further confirmed by disk growth inhibition test using a panel of specific antisera against selected reference Mycoplasma spp. Based on the biochemical profile and growth inhibition results, the camel isolates were identified as M. arginini. The pathological findings associated with M. arginini isolation consisted mostly of chronic interstitial pneumonia. The isolation rate of M. arginini from these specimens was 8.8%. These results suggest that the role of M. arginini in pneumonia in camels should be explored in greater detail.     

摩拉水牛二酰甘油酰基转移酶2基因的多态性检测

本研究旨在检测水牛二酰甘油酰基转移酶2（diacylglycerolacylt-ransferase,DGAT2）基因的单核苷酸多态性（SNP）,探究摩拉水牛多态性位点的群体遗传特征。以广西水牛研究所的57头摩拉水牛为材料,PCR扩增DGAT2基因的部分序列（外显子2及内含子2、3）,通过常规测序法检测其SNP,并运用遗传多样性分析软件（POPGENE）和SPSS软件对群体的多态性位点进行基因频率、基因型频率、多态信息含量（PIC）、有效等位基因数（Ne）及遗传杂合度（He）的检测。结果表明,在摩拉水牛DGAT2基因外显子2和内含子2、3上共发现了9个SNPs位点（IVS2.54 G > A、IVS2.158 A > G、EVS2.191 A > G、EVS2.228 A > G、IVS3.311 C > T、IVS3.444 A > G、IVS3.451 A > C、IVS3.466 C > T、IVS3.521 C > T）,其中EVS2.191 A > G位点的突变导致氨基酸由异亮氨酸突变为缬氨酸,突变位点间存在一定程度的连锁遗传但接近连锁平衡状态。从基因频率上看,IVS2.158 A > G、EVS2.191 A > G、IVS3.311 C > T、IVS3.451 A > C、IVS3.466 C > T和IVS3.521 C > T 6个SNPs位点的两个等位基因频率有较大差异,提示等位基因频率较大的基因个体可能更适合生存。9个SNPs位点在摩拉水牛品种上多处于高度多态,杂合度在0.1744~0.4975之间,说明摩拉水牛群体中DGAT2基因遗传多态性丰富,具有较大的育种价值和性状改良潜力。