Veterinary Science & Technology

The study involved 55 685 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows whose services per conception (SPC) averaged 2.2. Statistical analysis performed using the GLM procedure of SAS, showed significant differences in SPC value within different factors. The greatest changes were associated with daily milk yield of the cows; as it increased from ≤ 20 kg to >40 kg, the number of services required to conceive increased by 0.6. SPC value deteriorated also with an increasing number of cows in the herd (by 0.37) and with an increase in milk somatic cell count, being indicative of mastitis (by 0.11). The opposite situation existed for an increase in herd production level and lengthening of the interval between calving and first insemination (decrease of SPC by 0.31). It was also found that summer was the least favourable period for insemination and winter the most favourable (SPC=2.28 vs. 2.16). Analysis of the results demonstrates that it is necessary and appropriate to account for these factors when aiming to improve cow fertility.

Objectives: To assess the major causes of organ and carcass condemnation of sheep and goats slaughtered at Hashim Nurs’ Ethiopian Livestock and Meat Export (HELMEX) abattoir and to estimate the magnitude of direct financial loss attributed to the condemned organs and carcasses. Methods: A retrospective data of four year period from October 2005 to October 2008 was analyzed to identify the causes of organs and carcass condemnation in slaughtered sheep and goats at HELMEX abattoir of Debre Zeit. The international and domestic average price during the four year period was used to calculate the financial losses. Results: A total of 1,883,652 small ruminants (1,36,484 sheep and 1, 747, 168 goats) were slaughtered in the four year period and 313,331 (16.63%) livers, 215,185 (11.42%) lung, 104,368 (5.54%) heart, 133,295 (6.02%) kidney, 107,748 (5.72%) brain and 27,153 (1.44%) carcasses were condemned due to gross abnormalities. The present survey revealed that hepatitis (33.27%) in the liver, pneumonia (48.19%) in the lung, pericarditis (92.37%) in the heart, nephritis (65.13%) in the kidney, Coenurus cerebralis (70.14%) in the brain and bruising (21.71%) in the carcass were found to be the major condition responsible for the respective organs and carcasses condemnation. Annual financial losses from domestic and international market of carcass at HELMEX abattoir in a period of 4-years was 174 million of USD/1,476 millions of ETB. Conclusion: The result of present work suggest that immediate control and prevention of the prevailing conditions which helps the country to compete in the current attractive market there by increase the foreign exchange earnings.

Bispyribac-sodium (nominee (used extensively as a herbicide in rice fields in Egypt. We investigate the cytotoxic effect of bispyribac-sodium in albino rats that intubated orally with 0, 16.47, 32.94, 65.88 mg/kg of bispyribac-sodium (equivalent to 1/160 1/80 and 1/40 of the LD50 of bispyribac-sodium) for three months twice per week. It was found that bispyribac-herbicide caused non-significant decrease in the body weight gain ratio of albino rats. Moreover, bispyribac-sodium elevated significance levels of ALT, AST, urea, creatinine and LDH. In contrast, bispyribac herbicide decreased significant levels of glucose, cholesterol, total protein and albumin. Bispyribac-sodium showed histopathological changes in liver, lungs, kidney and spleen, but had no significant effect on RBCs count while showing significant increases in leukocyte count. On the conclusions, bispyribac sodium had a toxic effect on liver, lungs and kidney of female albino rats.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2014 to January 2015 in Dire Dawa city and Haramaya University slaughterhouses and retail shops to identify major foodborne pathogens, assess the beef microbial safety and potential contamination risk factors. 320 beef and environmental pooled samples were examined for the presence of E. coli, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in accordance with international standard guidelines. On each visit of the slaughter house a total of four pooled swab samples were taken each from cleaned, disinfected and dry surfaces, other from hooks, knives and aprons, the third from personnel’s hands who works on flaying, evisceration and carcass cutting before the beginning of operation. For isolation and identification of pathogens from meat, 25 gram of sample was weighed, cut in to small piece with different sterile scalpel blade and placed into sterile stomacher bags. The questionnaire survey data and laboratory results of the collected samples were entered into databases using Micro-Soft Excel computer program and analyze using SPSS version-19.0. Of 290 total beef samples collected, E. coli was isolated from 36(12.41%) and of which 6(2.06%) were confirmed on Sorbitol MacConkey agar to be E. coli O157 H7. On the other hand 8(2.75%) Salmonella spp. was identified using culture and biochemical tests. The present study indicated significantly higher fecal coliforms counts in beef samples from HU slaughterhouse (7.50 log10 cfug-1) than in carcass sample from Haramaya retail shop (4.80 log10 cfug-1). Out of 30 environmental pooled samples, E. coli, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella were investigated in 7(23.33%), 2(6.66%) and 2(6.66%), respectively. From the visual observations: slaughterhouse, hygienic practice employed, personnel habit were found below the minimum standards. Therefore, good management and hygienic practices should be introduced in order to enhance the overall safety and hygienic quality of beef for the safeguard of consumers.

In this study the isolated Clostridium perfringens from fecal samples of zoo animals of Al-zawraa Zoo of Baghdad city. A total of 170 fecal samples was aseptically collected from different mammalian species of apparently healthy animals for the isolation and identification of bacterial flora. All the collected samples were inoculated in sheep blood agar media and incubated anaerobically in an anaerobic jar with the gas bag for the study of their cultural properties. Gram’s staining, motility test and biochemical tests were also performed for the proper diagnosis of the isolated bacteria.

Background: Heart slices and enzymatically dissociated cardiomyocytes are used in cardiac safety pharmacology for extracellular recording using microelectrode array (MEA). The aim of this study was to set up and validate a vitro cardiac surface mapping system for studies pharmaco-electrophysiology effects in Langendorff perfused rat hearts by flexible MEA.

Materials and Methods: Hearts isolated from Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rat of either sex weighing 200-250 g were perfused by the Langendorff method with Tyrode’s solution. A cardiac surface mapping system suitable for recordings from Langendorff-perfused rat hearts using the Class III antiarrhythmic agents has been developed. In 48 Langendorff-perfused rat hearts, after obtaining baseline data, ibutilide, amiodarone or dofetilide were infused. The field potentials (FP) and heart rhythm by Multi-channel flexible MEA were monitored throughout the experiments.

Results: Langendorff perfusion enabled the autorhythmicity of the rats’ heart last about 240 min. Simultaneous 64 channels FP graphs could be recorded stably. FP duration revealed significant, dose-dependent prolongation more than 2 fold upon administration of three drugs, but present a different proarrhythmic properties (dofetilide> ibutilide>amiodarone). Dofetilide and ibutilide lead to early afterdepolarizations (EAD) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) but not amiodarone. Amiodarone led to atrial ventricular block, atrial flutter and junctional escape rhythm, in the presence of ibutilide or dofetilide, neither EAD nor VT occur.

Conclusion: Our model with isolated rat heart and flexible MEA represents a novel and reliable tool for application in cardiac safety pharmacology and preclinical studies of electrophysiological effects of various pathophysiological concepts.

Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), a disease contributes significantly to cattle morbidity and mortality, remains the most important infectious disease of cattle in Ethiopia. Hence, a cross-sectional study was carried out in nine districts of Sidama Zone, to estimate animal level seroprevalence of CBPP in cattle, and to assess risk factors associated with its occurrence using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). In the investigation, a total of 462 serum samples were collected and tested and the overall animal level sero-prevalence was recorded as 25.3%. Among the host related potential predisposing factors assessed, age and body condition of the animals were not significantly (p>0.05) associated with the occurrence of the disease, whereas sex of cattle was found significantly (χ2=8.447, df=2, p=0.004) associated. There was statistically significant (χ2=21.2, df=8, p=0.006) difference in the occurrence of CBPP among the nine districts of the Zone at individual animal level. Multi-variable logistic regression analysis showed that, males had 2.6 times (OR=2.6; CI=1.3-5.2) the odds of being negative for CBPP than female. Except sex of an animal, the other categorical variables were not significantly associated (p>0.05) with occurrence of CBPP on univariable as well as multivariable logistic regression analysis. It is concluded that, CBPP is moderately prevalent in the study area. Therefore, it is needed to design and implement control measures directed at lowering and preventing further spread of the disease.

The study was conducted to identify major causes of total organs condemnation in cattle slaughtered at Hawassa city municipal abattoir and to estimate the associated direct financial losses. To this effect, a cross sectional active abattoir survey was conducted on 609 cattle from October 2015 to April 2016. During ante mortem examination, various types of abnormalities were detected in 39 (6.4%) cattle which includes rough hair coat 8(1.3%), teeth grinding 7 (1.2%), dyspnea 5 (0.8%), diarrhea 5(0.8%), lameness 4(0.7%), nasal discharge 2(0.3%), blindness 2 (0.3%), early LSD signs 2 (0.3%), dry muzzle 2 (0.3%), paraphimosis 1 (0.2%) and gangrenous testis 1 (0.2%). On postmortem examination inspected, 96.1% (585) of the examined lungs (n=609) were condemned due to different disease conditions such as pneumonia (43.2%), hydatid cyst (24.8%), emphysema (18.9%), atelectasis (14.9%), and congestion (1%). Similarly, 63.1% of livers inspected were condemned due to fasciolosis (24.3%), calcification (15.3%), fibrosis (10.3%), fatty change (4.4%) and abscessation (1.8%). Heart and kidneys also had various abnormalities. The study further revealed that a total of 2,535,022.42 ETB (116, 611.03 USD) was lost due to the organs condemned during the active abattoir survey. To reduce organ condemnation rate and hence the associated financial loss and public health consequences, educating the public/the concerned bodies to avoid eating of raw meat, to improve canine health care and cattle management systems, to institute stray dog population management, to properly dispose condemned organs, and to implement regular deworming with effective anti-helminths are important. Moreover, proper and detail meat inspection at the abattoir and proper disposal or incineration of condemned organs are also recommended.

The study was conducted to identify major causes of total organs condemnation in cattle slaughtered at Hawassa city municipal abattoir and to estimate the associated direct financial losses. To this effect, a cross sectional active abattoir survey was conducted on 609 cattle from October 2015 to April 2016. During ante mortem examination, various types of abnormalities were detected in 39 (6.4%) cattle which includes rough hair coat 8 (1.3%), teeth grinding 7 (1.2%), dyspnea 5 (0.8%), diarrhea 5 (0.8%), lameness 4 (0.7%), nasal discharge 2 (0.3%), blindness 2 (0.3%), early LSD signs 2 (0.3%), dry muzzle 2(0.3%), paraphimosis 1 (0.2%) and gangrenous testis 1 (0.2%). On postmortem examination inspected, 96.1% (585) of the examined lungs (n=609) were condemned due to different disease conditions such as pneumonia (43.2%), hydatid cyst (24.8%), emphysema (18.9%), atelectasis (14.9%), and congestion (1%). Similarly, 63.1% of livers inspected were condemned due to fasciolosis (24.3%), calcification (15.3%), fibrosis (10.3%), fatty change (4.4%) and abscessation (1.8%). Heart and kidneys also had various abnormalities. The study further revealed that a total of 2,535,022.42 ETB (116, 611.03 USD) was lost due to the organs condemned during the active abattoir survey. To reduce organ condemnation rate and hence the associated financial loss and public health consequences, educating the public/the concerned bodies to avoid eating of raw meat, to improve canine health care and cattle management systems, to institute stray dog population management, to properly dispose condemned organs, and to implement regular deworming with effective anti-helminths are important. Moreover, proper and detail meat inspection at the abattoir and proper disposal or incineration of condemned organs are also recommended.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) of sheep and goats is a chronic and often sub-clinical disease, with high prevalence in different parts of the world, which can caused significant economic losses for farmers. The causative agent is Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis that primarily infects domestic small ruminants, but it has been isolated also in wildlife such as pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) and elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis). Furthermore, a recent research has demonstrated a maintenance of the infection on an endemic level in a Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) population after an outbreak with high morbidity and mortality. The typical clinical manifestation is lymph node abscess that may fistulize and discharge pus contaminating the environment where can survive for months in faeces, fomites, and soil. Infected subjects with the sub-clinical form can also shed bacteria through respiratory tract and mechanical vectors such as flies. Human infection is a rare event. Wildlife-livestock interfaces are dynamic and bidirectional and pathogens could be transmitted freely within and between the two species. The study area is the Alpine hunting district located in Vercelli province (formerly named C.A. VC1). The study was carried out during 2016 hunting season, between September and December and performed on hunted chamois. A macroscopic examination of each carcass has been conducted at the Control Centre, where each hunter had to bring the chamois after culling for the control by a veterinarian. Hunters collected post-mortem-blood samples via jugular or heart clot from their own bag and leaded up to the Control Centre where serum was obtained by centrifugation and stored at -20°C until further processing. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (ELITEST CLA, HYPHEN BioMed, France) has been used to detect antibodies (IgG) anti-PLD. Results have been expressed as OD after reading the plates at 450 nm in an ELISA microplate reader. The aim of this monitoring is to confirm the circulation of C. pseudotuberculosis in the chamois population as suspected on the basis of the finding of several chamois with characteristic lesions during previous hunting seasons and to identify risk factors for the infection and the development of clinical signs of disease. 196 chamois have been hunted in 2016 hunting season, a total of 34 sera have been processed (1 kid, 7 yearlings, 17 adult males, 9 adult females) showing a seroprevalence of 8.82% (c.i. 95% 0.0-18.26). One yearling female and two adult females resulted seropositive; at the macroscopic examination the two adults had showed typical lymph node abscesses in abdominal cavity and the oldest was underweight and presented typical dermatophilosis lesions. Furthermore, a 4-year-old male showed a grey zone OD. The results of this first year survey on the territory are to be considered as preliminary, the starting point for a data collection that can become a historical series that could give useful management guidance in the near future. In spite of this, it can be safely stated that the first results obtained confirm the circulation of C. pseudotuberculosis, together with the pathological and bacteriological diagnoses of previous years. The fact that a yearling seropositive has been found without any lesions found is evidence of the current circulation of the pathogen as this subject has come into contact with the infection during the previous year.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November, 2016 to April, 2017 to estimate the prevalence of lungworm infection and its associated risk factors, and to identify predominant species of lungworms in small ruminants in and around Mekelle town, Tigray, northern Ethiopia. In this study both coproscopic examination and Berman techniques were employed on a total of 384 fecal samples of small ruminants (218 sheep and 166 goats) of different age groups and both sexes. The overall prevalence of lungworm infection in small ruminant was found to be 23.4%, where goats (25.9%) were more susceptible than sheep (21.6%). In the present study the highest prevalence was observed in goats (25.9%) than in sheep (21.6%). Regarding age, the highest prevalence was observed in animals <1 years (31.7%), followed by 1-3 years (23.5%) and >3 years (18.2%). Animals with poor body condition have higher prevalence than (27.5%), medium (26%) and good (18.1%) ones. Furthermore, animals kept under extensive management system have highest prevalence (25.8%) than those kept under semi-intensive management system (17.7%). The study revealed that there was no statistical significant difference (p>0.05) between prevalence of lungworm infection and risk factors such as species, age, sex, body condition and management system. In the present study Dictyocaulus filarial was found to be the highest in prevalence (11.4%) followed by Muellerius capillaris (6.25%); while Protostrongylus rufescens was found the least prevalent (4.16%) and mixed infection (1.04%) and the difference was statistical significant (p<0.05). Hence, it was concluded that lungworm infection is quite prevalent in the present study and warrants implementation of economically acceptable control measures both on the hosts and the intermediate host.

A cross sectional study was carried out from November 2014 to April 2015 to determine the prevalence of bovine gastrointestinal tract (GIT) nematodes and associated risk factors by using flotation technique and fecal culture in and around Kombolcha and Dessie town. Out of 384 bovines examined for GIT nematodes, 160 (41.7%) animals were found positive for single or mixed GI nematode infection. The findings of fecal examination revealed eggs of Strongyle, Ascaris and Trichuris type were identified. Cattle harboring single-parasite eggs (83.75%) were more common than those harboring mixed eggs (16.25%) type. The major nematode genera identified by fecal culture were Oesophagostomum (11.5%), Bunostomum (7.0%), Trichuris (5.5%), Stronglyloides (2.6%), Haemonchus (2.9%), Trichostrongylus (2.6%), Toxocara (1.6%) and Ostertagia (1.3%). The prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode infection showed a significant difference (p<0.05) between sex, age, breed, body conditions, management and origin of the animals. In conclusion, the present study has revealed the presence of GIT nematodes which have significant impact on the health and production of the cattle’s in the study area. Therefore, further studies on species identification and seasonal epidemiology of these parasites should be carried out.