Studies on diarrhea in equine associated with Clostridiun difficile and Clostridium perfringens infection

Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfingens play a significant role in diarrhea affecting equini. This study was designed to determine the role of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfingens in equine diarhhea, 380 animals were examined clicically, where 65 were suffering from diarrhea. Fecal samples were collected from diarrheic animals, and 10 samples from apparently healthy animals. Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfingens were isolated from 19 and 11 samples respectively, while the two bacteria were isolated from 5 samples simultaneously. Moreover 4 samples from apparent clinical healthy animals had Clostridium difficile infection, indicating the high prevelance of these organisms in equine. Toxins of Clostridium difficile wasn't detected in diarrheic samples or culture of Clostridium isolates by ELISA and PCR-technique, while alpha and beta2 toxins of clostridium perfingens were detected in culture of clostridium

Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic test for detection of Brucella abortus antibodies in Egyptian cattle sera and milk

Rapid diagnostic tests are needed to facilitate diagnosis and control of brucellosis. Sero-epidemiology of brucellosis is currently done by employing the Rose Bengal test [RBT]. Also the world organization for animal health [OIE] has approved an indirect ELISA for testing serum and milk. The Immuno-Chromatographic brucellosis test [ICT] is a rapid, card-based immunochromatographic test for detection of antibodies directed against B. abortus antigens. To the best of our knowledge, ICT has not been used for the diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle yet. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of the ICT brucellosis test for the diagnosis of B. abortus in cattle sera versus RBT and ELISA as a gold standard, Also evaluation of ICT brucellosis test efficacy for detection of antibodies against B. Abortus in milk samples. 94, 90.36 and 84.3% of sera samples were positive by RBT, ICT and ELISA respectively. The ICT had 94.44% sensitivity and 100% specificity versus RBT and ELISA as a gold standard. The kappa value between ICT and ELISA was 0.76. Also ICT detected antibodies against B. abortus in serum and milk samples of 7 cows while a recently calved cow showed antibodies in the milk sample only. In conclusion, ICT provides a handy and accurate tool for the rapid detection of antibodies to B. abortus in cattle sera and milk