Breed and experience effect on the sexual behaviors of Damascus and Egyptian-Nubian goat bucks.

This study compares the sexual behaviors of bucks from two pure breeds of goats, Damascus and Egyptian-Nubian (Zaraibi), and assesses their relationships with the pregnancy and kidding rates of their inseminated does. Twenty-three bucks (12 Damascus and 11 Egyptian-Nubian bucks) were used in this study. These bucks were either in their first season of service (N =12, with an average age of 1.51 years) or had been previously used in service for several seasons (N = 11, with an average age of 3.34 years). Buck service behaviors toward estrous does were continuously recorded for 30 minutes from the moment of appearance of the doe. Egyptian-Nubian bucks were highly sexually active with estrous does in comparison with Damascus bucks. They required less time to mount and ejaculate for the first (P < 0.04) and second times (P < 0.0002) and tended to sniff, nudge and vocalize more frequently than Damascus bucks. In addition, Egyptian-Nubian bucks had more ejaculations and a higher mating efficiency (27.48% vs. 10.21%, P < 0.001), and their inseminated does had a higher pregnancy rate and larger litter sizes. Regarding the effect of experience, the data revealed a limited influence. No significant differences in sexual behavior were recorded between younger and older bucks. Conversely, pregnancy, kidding rates, and litter size were not influenced by the total number of ejaculations. From these results, it can be concluded that there were sexual behavior differences as a function of breed between Damascus and Egyptian-Nubian bucks and that experience had little impact in this study.

The impact of lambing stress on post-parturient behaviour of sheep with consequences on neonatal homeothermy and survival.

During lambing the expression of an appropriate behavioural response from both the ewe and the lamb are extremely important to lamb survival. The aim of this study was to show the effect of length and difficulty of the birth process on the expression of maternal and neonatal behaviour with consequences on homeothermy and survival of the neonate lamb. Data were collected from 61 Finnish Landrace × Rahmani crossbred (second generation) primiparous ewes and their single born lambs. Based on the average length of parturition, the ewes were grouped into short birth (less than 32.5 min) and long birth (equal to or higher than 32.5 min) classes. The data recorded include maternal and neonatal behaviour, lamb body temperature over the first 3 days of life and survival rate of the neonate lamb during the first week after birth. Blood samples were also collected from the lamb, pre-suckling and at 24 and 72 h after birth. The obtained sera were assayed for thyroid hormones (T(3) and T(4)) that are associated with heat production. Ewes that had prolonged and difficult births did not show competent maternal behaviour compared to mothers with short and un-complicated deliveries, as they were slower to begin grooming their lambs after birth, spent less time licking their lambs, made less low-pitched vocalizations and nosing, were more likely to show rejection behaviour (10.34 % vs 5.4 %, P < 0.05), and were more likely to move away when the lamb sought the udder in an attempt to suck (acceptance rate, 55.5 % vs 64.79 %, P < 0.05). Similarly, lambs from a prolonged and difficult birth were significantly less vigorous after birth, as they had taken more time to stand, reach the udder and to suck successfully. These lambs had lower serum concentrations of T(3) and T(4), and they also had a reduced ability to maintain body temperature after birth. This effect persisted over the first 3 days of life and was associated with higher neonatal mortality in the first week after birth (11.54 %), compared to lambs from short and non-stressful birth processes (2.86 %, P < 0.01). From the present study, it can be concluded that, prolonged deliveries with birthing difficulty were one of the main causes of death of large, single-born lambs, as these complications cause the expression of inappropriate behavioural responses from both the ewe and neonatal lamb. Thus, interventions designed to reduce the incidence of prolonged parturitions are likely to be associated with better welfare for the ewe and the lamb and consequently improved lamb homeothermy and survival.

Giardia lamblia and chronic gastritis.

One hundred and two patients suffering from giardiasis and/or chronic gastritis were subjected for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Purified immune rabbit's serum against Giardia lamblia was used in ELISA and immunoperoxidase (IIP) techniques for detection of Giardia antigen in the stomach. Results showed that out of 70 cases with intestinal giardiasis, 8 (11.4%) by ELISA and 6 (8.6%) by IIP showed gastric giardiasis. Higher percentage of gastric giardiasis (14%) was encountered in cases with both giardiasis and chronic gastritis (50) than in cases with giardiasis alone (5%) but with statistically insignificant difference (P > 0.05). None of the cases with chronic gastritis alone (without giardiasis) was positive for gastric giardiasis. Dyspepsia was the main presenting symptom in cases with gastric giardiasis (P < 0.05) with significant (P < 0.05) association. Helicobacter pylori was encountered in 6 out of 8 cases (75%) with gastric giardiasis (P < 0.05) with significant (P < 0.05) association. Duodenogastric reflux was detected in 4 out of 8 cases (50%). Histopathological changes in antral mucosa were detected in all cases of gastric giardiasis. This study indicates that under abnormal circumstances most probably with decreased gastric acidity, gastric giardiasis can occur in concomitance with intestinal giardiasis. So, one has to search for Giardia in gastric biopsies, particularly those showing chronic atrophic gastritis and H. pylori. Also, one has to be aware of gastric giardiasis as a possible cause of upper gastrointestinal symptoms.

Immunization against Trichinella spiralis using antigens from different life-cycle stages experimental study in mice.

Crude antigen preparations from different life-cycle stages of T. spiralis using 10 micrograms and 100 micrograms antigen/dose, were tested for their ability to immunize mice against homologous challenge infection. Immunization was assessed by accelerated expulsion of adult worms, reduction in female worm fecundity and decreased yield of muscle larvae. The dose of 100 micrograms proved to be more protective in all antigen preparations. The AA provided highly significant protection against adult stages (89%) and muscle larvae (80%). NLA produced highly significant protection against muscle larvae only (76%). MLA provided highly significant protection against adult stages (74%), female fecundity (74%) and muscle larvae (80%). Combination of AA and MLA produced highly significant protection against adult stages (96%), female fecundity (73%) and muscle larvae (86). The results show that all antigen preparations provided variable, considerable but partial protection against challenge infection. The variations in immunization potential are discussed.

Detection of Pneumocystic carinii in immuno-suppressed rats by different histological stains and immunological assays.

Detection of P. carinii in lung sections of 35 immuno-suppressed albino rats was evaluated using five histological stains (toluidine blue "O", Giemsa, Gram's stain, PAS and H & E) and two immunological assays (indirect immunofluorescence [IIF],, and indirect immunoperoxidase [IIP]) using polyclonal antibody, raised in white New Zealand rabbits, against rat P. carinii. In spite of the high sensitivity of the histological stains, they yield hazy details insufficient for easy identification with difficult interpretation. However, Gram and PAS stains provided a better visualization with easy identification of the parasite. On the other hand, both immunological assays allowed an accurate rapid interpretation of the stained slides. The IIP technique, having 100% sensitivity in detecting the precipitated parasite antigens with absolute specificity, seems to be a good diagnostic tool for detecting P. carinii in lung sections.

Detection of Giardia antigen in stool samples before and after treatment.

A double antibody sandwich ELISA technique, using a chromatography purified Giardia antiserum, was applied to detect faecal antigen in patients infected with Giardia lamblia before and after treatment. The assay could detect antigens in 98% of infected cases with false positive reactions in 3 cases infected with E. histolytica. There was a significant direct relation between the antigen level in stool samples and the number of Giardia cysts. The mean level of copro-antigen was slightly lower in children, below 10 years, than in older patients, without significant difference. On the other hand, the lowest cyst count was noticed in elder patients, over 20 years. The level of faecal antigens decreased significantly after successful treatment in patients with giardiasis. It was concluded that detection of Giardia antigens by ELISA technique in the stool samples was a highly sensitive (98%) and specific (91%) diagnostic method. It is also considered as a good monitor for treatment success.

Is immuno-protection against Toxoplasma strain specific?

Two different strains of Toxoplasma gondii were isolated from feline faecal deposits in two villages: Rommana (Northern Sinai) and El-Ekhewa (Sharkyia Governorate) as evidenced by their entirely different pathogenic effect and immune response in laboratory Swiss Webster mice. A man holding both villages as mutual residences, who was already proved to get acute toxoplasmosis twice made us avid to search for the presence of different strains in the two localities. The present study throws a suggestion that repeated Taxoplasma infection could be due to difference in strains.

Effect of Hymenolepis nana on the mouse ileal mucosal cells: histochemical studies.

Histochemical studies of the ileal mucosal cells of mice experimentally infected with H. nana revealed definite increase in mucous secretions indicating increased activity of the goblet cells in response to mucosal irritation. The activity of acid phosphatase was also increased representing a sort of defence mechanism against the attached worms. The activities of ATP-ase and NADH diaphorase enzymes were decreased indicating disturbance in the metabolic and transport processes and in the absorptive function of the intestinal epithelial cells.