Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] as an accurate technique for diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle [with one table and one figure]

At Fayoum Governorate, blood samples were collected from 124 Friesian cattle to determine the prevalence of brucellosis using Tube Agglutination Test [TAT]. Among the examined animals positive titers [more than 1/20] were recorded in 37 animals with a prevalence rate of 29.8%. The prevalence of brucellosis was significantly higher [p<0.05] in adult [35.8%] than young [12.5%] animals. Infected animals showed signs of late stage abortion beginning from the fifth months to the nine months, retained placentas and mastitis. Microbiological culture from the aborted fetuses, vaginal swabs and milk samples on tryptic soya agar after addition of brucella supplement revealed Brucella abortus in 9 animals out of the 37 serologically positive animals. Application of Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] on two blood samples obtained from serologically and bacteriologically negative cows showed positive PCR results. Moreover, PCR on 5 milk samples obtained from cows showed serologically positive and bacteriologically negative results gave positive PCR reactions. In addition blood sample was taken from human attendant in infected farm showed positive serological TAT [Titer 1/160 but results of PCR gave negative results. Finally it can be concluded that PCR is more sensitive technique than cultures and more specific than TAT

Reappearance of lumpy skin disease [LSD] in Egypt [with one table and 11 figures]

During late summer and autumn, 2005, outbreaks of Lumpy skin disease [LSD] were observed in different Egyptian governorates. So, this study was carried out to explore some epidemiological and clinical aspects of the disease in these recent outbreaks. Three private farms at Salheia and Gharbia governorate in addition to 200 individual animals belonging to farmers in different villages at different governorate were used in this study. In the first farm out of the examined 833 Friesian cattle, 500 contracted the disease; 25 of them were died representing a morbidity rate 60.02%, mortality rate 3% and case fatality rate of 5%. In the second farm out of the examined 20 Friesian cattle, 10 contracted the disease; two of them were died representing a morbidity rate 50%, mortality rate 10% and case fatality rate of 20%. Whereas in the third farm out of the examined 70 Holstein cattle, 3 of them contracted the disease representing a morbidity rate of 4.28% whereas no fatality was recorded in this farm. The occurrence of the disease in late summer, 2005 indicating the role of biting insect in the disease transmission. The expansion of the outbreaks through autumn months suggest other modes of transmission rather than the insect as the needles that used in vaccination and medication in addition to the role of direct contact. Concerning the clinical findings that observed in these outbreaks, infected animals showed, pyrexia, anorexia, nasal discharge, salivation, depressions, external lymphadenopathy, dysgalactia, appearance of skin nodules of varying size which may cover the whole of the animal's body. These nodules might disappear spontaneously within 3 to 4 weeks or gathered to form large lumps that increase in the thickness of the skin at the coalesced lesions. Some lumps were opened and sloughed leaving ulcer in the detached area in some cases. Lesions are often found in the mouth and upper respiratory tract. Edema of legs, brisket, head regions and scrotum in males was observed. Lameness and recumbency was observed in cases with severe edema. It was complicated with respiratory manifestation, pneumonia, hemorrhagic enteritis, dehydration and later recumbency followed by death. Abortion was reported in one Holstein cattle in the fifth month. Postmortem findings observed in dead Friesian cattle were in the form of skin nodules in different part of skin; these nodules involve all skin thickness, subcutis and muscles in some cases, superficial lymph node enlargement. Similar nodules were observed in upper respiratory tract, lungs and digestive system