Medicine and Animal

Three outbreaks of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, involving a total of 250 animals were reported. All the animals were examined thoroughly and based on the clinical signs exhibited, 120 (group A, n= 51, B, n=29 and C, n=40) animals were selected for latex agglutination test (LAT), using serum from each of the animal. The results indicate infection rates of 11.8% (6/51) in adult animals and 19.6% (10/51) in calves in farm A, while in farm B the infection rate were 27.6% (6/29) for the adult animals and 13.8% (4/29) for calves. While in farm C, 15.0% (6/40) of the adult animals and 17.5% (7/40) of the calves are positive, as demonstrated by strong (+++) agglutination in cell 1 (Plate 2). Overall infection rate of 16.7 and 17.5% was observed for adult and calves respectively. Although this diagnostic test LAT is not new, this is the first time it’s being conducted in the area of study for the diagnosis of CBPP. The present study described the histo-morphological and immuno-histochemical characteristics of the digestive and neuroendocrine systems of captive wild domesticated red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) in Latvia. Results revealed that four (4) out of the five (5) animals studied showed keratinization of the rumen mucosa, with patchy loci of parakeratotic basal cells in the epithelium of the rumen wall. Neutrophilic leukocytes, lymphocytes and rare macrophages had infiltrated the mucosa and muscle layers of the rumen wall. Vacuolization of gangliocytes was seen in the intermuscular nerve plexus. It was observed that red deer’s small and large intestines were more innerved than the rumen, despite the variations in some parts of the enveloped mucosa. Small intestines were characterized by abundant expression of serotonin. Focal appearance of neurofilaments (NF)-containing nerve fibers was characteristic of the tissues of the rumen in the direction of the large intestine. Prominent apoptosis was also seen in the rumen. Moderate hepatocyte activity, a small number of apoptotic cells in the vena centralis area, with simultaneously distinct expression of interleukins and limited expression of degeneration enzymes was observed in the liver of the animals studied. A study for ectoparasites and gastrointestinal (GI)-helminthes was conducted on 212 Fayoumi chickens raised under semi-intensive management system at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center (DZARC) poultry farm from October, 2009 to May, 2010. The results of study indicated that 52 (24.53%), 34 (16.04%) and 5 (2.35%) of the examined chickens were harbouring one species of nematode ( Ascaridia galli ), three species of cestodes ( Raillietina echinobothrida, Raillietina tetragona and Raillietina cesticillus ) and two species of ectoparasites ( Menacanthus stramineus and Menopon gallinae ), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in prevalence infection of cestodes between sex (males and females) and age groups. Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in prevalence of infection with nematode sex (males and females) and age groups. The present study clearly indicated that Fayoumi chickens kept under semi-intensive management system in DZARC poultry farm were exposed to ectoparasites and GI-helminthes. Due attention is required to the control the parasitism. (GI)-helminths, prevalence. Reproductive disorders are one of the most important problems that affect the production and productivity of dairy cows. A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of major reproductive disorders of dairy cows in and around Asella town, Central Ethiopia. For this purpose, a total of 82 owners and/or attendants of dairy cow herds were interviewed using structured questionnaire, and in addition, a total of 300 blood samples were randomly collected and analyzed from dairy cows in the study areas. Accordingly, the overall prevalence of reproductive disorders in the study area was 18.3%, with bovine brucellosis (32.9%), repeated breeding (26.8%) and abortion (14.6%) as the major reproductive disorders of dairy cows. It was also revealed that abortion is mostly common in exotic breeds (48.8%) and relatively less in local cows (9.8%) varying among parity and stage of pregnancy. Thus, it is recommended that strict animal husbandry especially animal feed and health management should be in place to minimize the risk of reproductive disorder occurrence in order to increase the production and productivity of dairy cows in the study area. A survey to determine major prepartum and postpartum reproductive problems of dairy cattle was carried out in three selected dairy farms in Debre Zeit town. Retrospective data analysis together with survey on major prepartum and postpartum reproductive problems were carried out through regular clinical follow up. A retrospective analysis of clinical data collected from a total of 711 cows in three farms was done and 44.3% of the cows were found with major prepartum and postpartum reproductive problems. Postpartum anestrus (12.9%) was the major reproductive problem followed by repeat breeding (11.4%) in the retrospective study. A total of 104 cows were used in the regular follow up and 33.6% (n =35) were found to be affected either with one or more of clinical reproductive problems. Postpartum anestrus (12.5%) was found to be the leading reproductive problem followed by repeat breeding (10.6%), metritis (8.7%), abortion (6.7%), retained placenta (3.8%), dystocia (2.9%) and prolapse (1.9%). Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the difference in prevalence of the major reproductive problems on the basis of parity and body condition score. Hence, the impact of increasing parity on the occurrence of reproductive problems was examined and there is a direct relationship between increasing parity and prevalence of the reproductive problems with a highly significant variation (P<0.01) between primiparous and pluriparous cows. There is an inverse relationship of body condition and prevalence of reproductive problems with a highly significant variation (P<0.01). This study demonstrated that anestrus, repeat breeding, metritis and abortion were noticed as the most common major reproductive problems in the study farms in Debre Zeit town, Central Ethiopia.