Serum and milk concentrations of oxidant and anti-oxidant markers in dairy cows affected with bloody milk.

This study was conducted to determine the serum and milk levels of thiobarbturic acid-reac- tive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxi- dase (GSH-Px), vitamin E and selenium, IL-4 and IL-6 in lactating dairy cows affected with bloody milk using commercially available ELISA kits. Milk and whole blood samples were collected from 60 cows affected with bloody milk and 20 apparently healthy cows for control. In the serum, levels of GSH-Px and SOD were significantly (p˂0.05) higher in healthy cows compared to cows affected with bloody milk while the levels of TBARS and NO were significantly (p˂0.05) higher in affected cows. In the milk, levels of SOD, TBARS and NO were significantly (p˂0.05) higher in affected cows. In the serum, levels of vitamin E were significantly (p˂0.05) lower in affected cows compared to healthy cows, while no significant changes were observed in the levels of this vitamin in the milk between healthy and affected cows. In the serum, levels of selenium were significantly (p˂0.05) lower in affected cows while in milk, selenium levels were significantly (p˂0.05) higher in affected cows compared to healthy ones. Levels of IL-4 were significantly (p˂0.05) lower in the serum and milk of affected cows compared to healthy cows while levels of IL-6 were significantly (p˂0.05) higher in both serum and milk of affected cows. Results of this study suggest a possible role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of bloody milk in dairy cows.

Effect of shearing on the incidence of caseous lymphadenitis in Awassi sheep in Jordan.

A total of 876 sheep from five flocks in north Jordan were selected to study the effect of shearing on the incidence of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA). The animals were divided into two age groups, sheep aged 1-2 years and those aged > or = 3 years. Blood samples were collected from the animals at the time of shearing and again 6 months later. A toxin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to identify sheep that had been infected with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. The point prevalences of CLA were 6.59% and 21.06% in the 1-2-year and > or = 3-year age groups, respectively, and were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the > or = 3-year age group. The overall prevalence among all ages was 15.3%. In the shorn sheep, the incidence of CLA was 22.46% and 9.47% in the 1-2-year and > or = 3-year age groups, respectively, and was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the 1-2-year age group. In the control animals, the incidence was 8% and 5.26% in the 1-2-year and > or = 3-year age groups, respectively, and was different (P < 0.01) between the shorn (22.46%) and control (8%) animals of the 1-2-year age group. An epidemiological survey of 35 sheep farms revealed the prevalence of CLA, shearing wounds and unhygienic conditions during shearing in all farms. In conclusion, the prevalence of CLA increases with age and the incidence increases only in young sheep after shearing. Sheep are sheared under unhygienic conditions, which may be a contributing factor in increasing both the prevalence and the incidence of CLA.

A survey of camel (Camelus dromedarius) diseases in Jordan.

Information on incidences of camel (Camelus dromedarius) diseases in Jordan is scarce. In this survey, 369 live and 156 slaughtered camels were examined in four Jordanian geographic regions and the proportion of diseased camels was calculated. Intestinal parasite ova were detected in 98% of camels; one or more species of external parasites were found on the skin of all camels; 33% had nasal myiasis; and hydatid cysts were identified in 44% of the slaughtered animals. Sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei var. cameli) and trypanasomiasis, two diseases of economic importance, were also diagnosed in 83% and 33% of the 32 and 257 examined camels, respectively. Rabies virus was detected in eight camels by use of fluorescent antibody examination of brain tissues. Foreign-body accumulation within the first and second stomach compartments was the predominant gastrointestinal disease of slaughtered adult camels (22%). Ten percent of slaughtered camels had bacterial pneumonia, with Pasteurella hemolytica most often isolated (56% of pneumonic lungs). Further investigation into the relationship between parasite burden and health in camels is required to assess the significance of the high prevalence of parasites.

Efficacy of closantel plus albendazole liquid suspension against natural infection of gastrointestinal parasites in camels.

Oral administration of closantel in a dose of 10 mg/kg plus albendazole in a dose of 5 mg/kg liquid suspension was studied in 75 camels naturally infected with various types of gastrointestinal parasites. The camels involved were 15 pregnant she-camels, 20 non-pregnant she-camels and 40 male camels of various ages. Each camel received a single oral dose of closantel (10 mg/kg) plus albendazole (5 mg/kg) orally. Two weeks later, 20 camels of this group were re-dosed again with the same dose of the anthelmintic. Fecal samples were collected per rectum from all camels at the time of treatment and again 14 and 42 days post treatment. Fecal egg counts and generic determination of third stage larvae was performed. Results indicated that six different species of gastrointestinal tract parasites were identified in camels. Single treatment of closantel plus albendazole mixture reduced egg counts in camels by 100%, 100%, 98% and 77% for Haemonchus longistipes, Ascaris spp., Monezia expansa and Fasciola hepatica, respectively. However, administration of the drug twice on the base of 2 weeks apart significantly raised the efficacy of the drug for clearance of the parasites from 92.5% to 100% in camels infected with various parasites. Camels were not adversely affected by treatment.