Seroprevalence of Q fever among ewes and associated risk factors in Ain Defla region, North-central Algeria.

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, which causes abortions in domestic ruminants. This study aims to assess the seroprevalence of Q fever among ewes and investigate the associated risk factors in the Ain Defla region (north-central Algeria). Blood samples from 184 ewes were randomly collected from 45 sheep flocks. Sera were tested for the presence of antibodies against C. burnetii using an ELISA test. Seroprevalence was 24.9% and 66.7% at the animal and flock levels respectively. Univariate analysis at the animal level indicated three factors significantly associated with C. burnetii seropositivity: presence of pigeons in farms (χ2 = 9.689; p = 0.008), abortion in ewes (χ2 = 11.209; p = 0.001), and abortion history in the flock (χ2 = 7.744; p = 0.005). Therefore, C. burnetii infection plays a major role in abortions in the sheep populations under study, and the presence of pigeons in farms plays a role in disease transmission.

Factors affecting conception rate after the first artificial insemination in a private dairy cattle farm in North Algeria.

AIM: This study analyzed risk factors influencing the conception rate at the first artificial insemination (CR1) in dairy cows reared in the plain of Mitidja, which is considered a major dairy region in North Algeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1054 lactations were used in the relational study of fertility conducted using the multivariable logistic regression model using the odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: The breeding season had a specific effect on fertility; the first service was often followed by pregnancy when performed during autumn (AUT) (OR=1.67, p<0.05) and spring (SPR) (OR=1.65, p<0.05). The chances of obtaining conception during the first service increased significantly for a waiting period (WP) (interval between calving and time to first service) of 50-100 days postpartum (DPP) (OR=1.67, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: From this study, it can be concluded that no specific effect was observed relative to the breed and parity. Furthermore, CR1 significantly increased after summer calving when the first services were performed during SPR and AUT and a WP after 50 DPP.

The effects of early age thermal conditioning and vinegar supplementation of drinking water on physiological responses of female and male broiler chickens reared under summer Mediterranean temperatures.

The effects of early age thermal conditioning (ETC), vinegar supplementation (VS) of drinking water, broilers' gender, and their interactions on respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood parameters (biochemical, hematological, and thyroid hormones) of broiler chickens reared under high ambient temperatures were determined. A total of 1100 1-day-old chicks were divided into four treatments: the "control" which were non-conditioned and non-supplemented; "heat-conditioned" which were exposed to 38 ± 1 °C for 24 h at 5 days of age; "vinegar supplemented" which were given drinking water supplemented with 0.2% of commercial vinegar from 28 to 49 days of age; and "combined" which were both heat conditioned and vinegar supplemented. All groups were exposed to the natural fluctuations of summer ambient temperature (average diurnal ambient temperature of about 30 ± 1 °C and average relative humidity of 58 ± 5%). ETC and broiler gender did not affect the respiratory rate or body temperature of chronic heat-exposed chickens. VS changed the body temperature across time (d35, d42, d49) (linear and quadratic effects, P < 0.05) without changing respiratory rate. Heat-conditioned chickens exhibited lower levels of glycemia (P < 0.0001) and higher hematocrit and red blood cell counts (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the greatest effects of VS, alone or associated with ETC, were the lowering of cholesterol and triglyceride blood concentrations. A significant (P < 0.05) effect of ETC, gender, and ETC×gender on T3:T4 ratio was observed. Finally, some beneficial physiological responses induced by ETC and VS, separately or in association, on chronically heat-stressed chickens were observed. However, the expected cumulative positive responses when the two treatments were combined were not evident.