Health problems of Iraqi police dogs referred to Baghdad Veterinary Hospital during 2015-2017

Research (Published online: 16-07-2019)

18. Health problems of Iraqi police dogs referred to Baghdad Veterinary Hospital during 2015-2017

Naqa Saleh Mahdi Tamimi and Abdulraheem Abduljalil Wali

Veterinary World, 12(7): 1046-1051

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Police dogs in Iraq have been working mostly as explosive detectors since 2003. The health problems of these dogs are unique and have not been reported in literature. This investigation assessed the prevalence of health problems in Police dogs referred to Baghdad Veterinary Hospital during 2015-2017.

Materials and Methods: A total of 1220 police dogs that were referred to Baghdad Veterinary Hospital in 2015-2017 were studied. The dogs were mostly German Shepherd dogs (GSDs) or Belgian Malinois (BM), with an average age of 4.6 years. The dogs' health problems and some of their risk factors were studied.

Results: Congestive heart failure (CHF), babesiosis, various malignancies, and intestinal parasites were the most commonly diagnosed health problems, followed by general aging, bronchopneumonia, otitis, nutritional deficiencies, and anemia. GSDs were more prone to CHF, while BM had more diagnoses of malignancies. Age was associated with both health conditions.

Conclusion: The presence of health problems in these working dogs highlights the need for a stricter and more organized preventive schedule to keep the dogs healthy and efficient at old age.

Keywords: health problems, Iraq, police dogs.

First isolation of Dicrocoelium dendriticum among cattle in some Northern Algerian slaughterhouses

Research (Published online: 16-07-2019)

17. First isolation of Dicrocoelium dendriticum among cattle in some Northern Algerian slaughterhouses

Linda Chougar, Kh. Harhoura and M. Aissi

Veterinary World, 12(7): 1039-1045

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Dicrocoelium dendriticum or small liver fluke often causes unnoticed clinical manifestations in cattle. For a live animal, its diagnosis is mainly based on the detection of eggs by coproscopic examination. The objective of this study was to determine the presence or absence of Dicrocoelium spp. never previously reported in the study area but also to establish its prevalence, as well as an association between dicrocoeliasis and sex, age and season of the year, and histological characteristics.

Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in slaughterhouses of three districts (Bouira, Tizi-Ouzou, and Bejaia) from January 2017 to December 2017. To this end, of 4053 cattle, representing more than 10% of the total number of animals slaughtered, stool and bile samples were collected and a liver inspection was carried out to investigate lesions of distomial cholangitis. They were processed for histological analysis. The specimens were morphologically identified according to the orientation of the testicles, the length and width of the body, and the level of the maximum width of the body.

Results: The total prevalence of dicrocoeliasis obtained of the 4053 cattle inspected is 0.52% with a prevalence of 0.66% in Tizi-Ouzou, 0.54% in Bouira, and 0.27% in Bejaia. About 0.52% of livers had distomial cholangitis (21 of the 4053 livers examined had adult D. dendriticum and 15% had non-distomial cholangitis. About 0.25% of cattle had D. dendriticum eggs in the stool versus 0.52% of cattle had parasite eggs in the bile. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between dicrocoeliasis infection and the season of the year (p>0.05). However, a significant association was found between dicrocoeliasis infection and sex and age of the animal (p<0.05); females and older animals are more likely to have dicrocoeliasis. Histological analysis of the fluke revealed an anterior positioning of the testicles with a slightly oblique tandem orientation, an average body length of 3.69 mm and an average body width of 1 mm. The maximum body width level is either in the middle of the fluke body or in the rear position.

Conclusion: The histological study confirms that the collected fluke is D. dendriticum. Thus, this work reveals for the 1st time in Algeria the presence of D. dendriticum in three districts (Bouira, Tizi-Ouzou, and Bejaia). The results indicate that many cattle farms in the North Central Province of Algeria are infested with D. dendriticum.

Keywords: bile, cattle, dicrocoeliasis, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, liver, stools.

Molecular diversity of the invA gene obtained from human and egg samples

Research (Published online: 15-07-2019)

16. Molecular diversity of the invA gene obtained from human and egg samples

Mona Kadry, Sara Mohamed Nader, Sohad M. Dorgham and Mai M. Kandil

Veterinary World, 12(7): 1033-1038

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Salmonellosis is one of the most common foodborne bacterial diseases in the world. The great majority of Salmonella infections in humans are foodborne with Salmonella enterica and SalmonellaTyphimurium accounting for a major part of the problem. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of invA gene in strains of Salmonellae isolated from eggs and diarrheal swabs from human cases. In addition, the relationship between invA gene nucleotide sequences from different sources (human stool and egg samples) have been studied through phylogenetic tree.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy eggs (eggshell and its contents) and 160 stool swabs samples were collected from four poultry farms and medical hospital in Giza Governorate.

Results: The study reported the presence of two Salmonella strains in eggshell surface with an overall isolation rate of 1.2 and 0% of the egg content. Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium were isolated from eggshell surface with an incidence of 50% for each strain. Six salmonella strains were isolated from human stool with an incidence of 3.75%; the isolated strains are S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, Salmonella Virchow, Salmonella Haifa, and Salmonella Kentucky with an incidence of 33.3%, 16.6%, 16.6%, 16.6%, and 16.6%, respectively. Among eight Salmonella strains, invA gene was detected with percentage of 50%. The phylogenetic analysis of the sequences invA gene, from two isolates included in this study and five isolates retrieved from GenBank showed that sequence from human, layer hens, egg, and water in the same clusters.

Conclusion: Close relation between drinking contaminated water and layer hens and contaminated water is one such source.

Keywords: invA gene, phylogeny, Salmonella.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in households sheep "Elevage en case" in Dakar, Senegal

Research (Published online: 15-07-2019)

15. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in households sheep "Elevage en case" in Dakar, Senegal

Laibané Dieudonné Dahourou, Oubri Bassa Gbati, Madi Savadogo, Bernadette Yougbare, Amadou Dicko, Alima Hadjia Banyala Combari and Alain Richi Kamga-Waladjo

Veterinary World, 12(7): 1028-1032

ABSTRACT

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep breeding in a particular husbandry system called "Elevage en case" in Dakar, Senegal.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 278 sheep. Serum was harvested and used for analysis. For the detection of T. gondii antibodies, 278 sera were analyzed using the modified agglutination test, while the enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay was used on 174 sheep sera to look for N. caninum antibodies.

Results: This study showed that 29.4±6.8% of sheep carried both T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies. The overall prevalence was 60.1±5.7% and 41.9±7.3% for toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, respectively. For toxoplasmosis, the prevalence was higher in Gueule Tapée (63.3%) than in Medina (58.9%), but the variation was not significant (p=0.45). Regarding the age of animals, the prevalence was significantly higher in animals over 2 years old compared to those under 2 years old (p=0.002). For neosporosis, the prevalence was significantly higher in Medina (48.67%) than Gueule Tapée (16.7%) (p=0.001), but non-significant variation was noted according to animal age.

Conclusion: The study showed that sheep reared in households have carried antibodies of T. gondii and N. caninum. The prevalence was high and it means that consumption of meat from these animals is risky if the meat is eaten undercooked.

Keywords: Elevage en case, Neospora caninum, prevalence, Senegal, sheep, Toxoplasma gondii.

Molecular characterization of Orf virus isolates from Kodai hills, Tamil Nadu, India

Research (Published online: 12-07-2019)

14. Molecular characterization of Orf virus isolates from Kodai hills, Tamil Nadu, India

G. Nagarajan, R. Pourouchottamane, G. B. Manjunatha Reddy, R. Yogisharadhya, K. Sumana, S. Rajapandi, G. Murali, S. M. K. Thirumaran, P. K. Mallick and A. S. Rajendiran

Veterinary World, 12(7): 1022-1027

ABSTRACT

Aim: The present study was carried out to find out the causative agent of exanthematous skin lesions in sheep maintained by Southern Regional Research Centre, Mannavanur, Kodai hills, Tamil Nadu.

Materials and Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with Orf virus (ORFV) B2L gene-specific primers was carried out by employing the total genomic DNA isolated from the scabs as the template. The ORFV isolates from Kodai hills were characterized by the use of bioinformatics tools.

Results: The amino acid identity of ORFV isolate 1 from Kodai hills is having 98.14%, 96.29%, and 83.59% identity with reference strains of ORFV, Pseudocowpox virus, and bovine papular stomatitis virus, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ORFV isolates from Kodai hills clustered with the other ORFV isolates from different geographical areas of India.

Conclusion: The etiological agent of exanthematous skin lesion among sheep of Kodai hills is ORFV.

Keywords: B2L gene, Kodai hills, Orf virus, phylogenetic analysis, sheep.

The role of edible bird's nest and mechanism of averting lead acetate toxicity effect on rat uterus

Research (Published online: 12-07-2019)

13. The role of edible bird's nest and mechanism of averting lead acetate toxicity effect on rat uterus

Abdulla A. Albishtue, Nurhusien Yimer, Md. Zuki A. Zakaria, Abd Wahid Haron, Abd Salam Babji, Adamu A. Abubakar, Falah H. Baiee, Hazem Kareem Almhanna and Bahaa H. Almhanawi

Veterinary World, 12(7): 1013-1021

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of edible bird's nest (EBN) supplement on the uteri of rats exposed to lead acetate (LA) toxicity.

Materials and Methods: Five treatment groups were established as follows: Group 1 (C), which was given distilled water; Group 2 (T0), which was administered with LA (10 mg/kg body weight [BW]); and Groups 3 (T1), 4 (T2), and 5 (T3), which were given LA (10 mg/kg BW) plus graded concentrations of 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg BW of EBN, respectively, for days. Rats were euthanized at week 5 to collect blood for superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay, and uterus for histomorphological study and expression analyses of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

Results: Results revealed that LA causes destruction of uterine lining cells and necrosis of uterine glands of exposed rats without EBN supplement while the degree of damage decreased among EBN treated groups; T3 showed the highest ameliorating effect against LA toxicity, as well as an increased number of uterine glands. Increased levels of SOD were also achieved in EBN supplemented groups than the controls. Results of immunohistochemistry showed significantly higher expressions of EGF, VEGF, and PCNA levels (p<0.05) in T3 compared to other treatments. EBN maintained upregulation of antioxidant – reactive oxygen species balance.

Conclusion: The findings showed that EBN could ameliorate the detrimental effects of LA toxicity on the uterus possibly by enhancing enzymatic antioxidant (SOD) activity as well as expressions of EGF, VEGF, and PCNA with cell proliferation roles.

Keywords: edible bird's nest, growth factors, lead acetate, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, superoxide dismutase, uterus.

Effect of monosodium glutamate on growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W.)

Research (Published online: 11-07-2019)

12. Effect of monosodium glutamate on growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W.)

Georgi Zhelyazkov and Deyan Stratev

Veterinary World, 12(7): 1008-1012

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary monosodium glutamate (MSG) on growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W.).

Materials and Methods: A total of 200 trouts were allotted in five experimental groups (n=40) that for 60 days received feed supplemented with MSG at the following levels: 0% (K) or 0.5% (E) or 1% (F) or 3% (G) or 5% (H).

Results: The average initial weight of trouts was 116.68±1.51 g (K), 116.58±1.33 g (E), 116.43±1.39 g (F), 117.40±1.47 g (G), and 115.95±1.88 g (H). At the end of the trial, control fish (K) had the lowest live weight (242.90±3.87 g) compared to Groups E (252.70±5.69 g), F (250.93±4.82 g), G (248.25±4.98 g), and H (247.95±4.74 g). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of control group (K) was higher (1.11±0.02) versus FCR values established in Groups E (1.03±0.01), F (1.04±0.02), G (1.07±0.03), and H (1.06±0.02). Albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, magnesium, and triglyceride exhibited statistically significant differences versus controls.

Conclusion: The results from the study showed that dietary supplementation of rainbow trouts with MSG increased live weight and reduced FCR. The optimum level of MSG recommended for addition to feed was 0.5%.

Keywords: blood biochemical parameters, growth performance, monosodium glutamate, rainbow trout.