Volume 66 (2022): Issue 3 (September 2022)

A total of 10,696 randomly selected sheep have been collected in two slaughterhouses in the north of Algeria (El Harrach and Boufarik) to determine the prevalence of muscular cysticercosis and macroscopic cysts of sarcosporidiosis, to find out the association between prevalence and potential risk factors, as well as to assess the distribution of these parasites in the surface’s muscles of slaughtered sheep. All of the slaughtered sheep carcasses were visually and carefully inspected. Cysticercosis and sarcosporidiosis were found in 220 (2.06 %) and 76 (0.7 %) sheep, respectively. For both diseases, the prevalence was significantly higher in females than males. The prevalence of Cysticercus ovis increased with age, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001), while all infected animals were old (over 5 years old) for sarcosporidiosis. For C. ovis, it didn’t have significant difference between the seasons, however, all sheep were infected in the spring for sarcosporidiosis. All the detected cysts of C. ovis were non-viable, and were more frequently detected in the heart (51.82 %), followed by the diaphragm (30.77 %) and the oesophagus (17.41 %). This anatomical distribution of C. ovis cysts showed a significant variation (P < 0.001) in different predilection sites. Whereas, for sarcosporidiosis, the species involved was identified as S. gigantea by histology and were distributed in the organs as follows: the skeletal muscles (38.15 %), the oesophagus (31.57 %) and the diaphragm (30.26 %); no significant difference were noted between the 3 sites. The present study has revealed that these parasites are present in Algeria. Appropriate control measures need to be introduced to eradicate these parasites in sheep.

Laboratory rats are often used in experimental research of concern to human and veterinary medicine. There are several advantages of using rats as a scientific medium. In this study rats will be used as the scientific model as, previously discussed, they have proven their effectiveness in cardiovascular studies. The aim is to give a description of the cranial region, the head and neck of the rat as well as imaging of the vasculature of these regions to support the planning of surgical therapeutic methods to be applied to human and veterinary medical research. The research of the blood vessels morphology in anatomical studies is key to the prevention of ischemia during organ surgery. In recent times the laboratory rat has become one of the most popular models for experiments in medical research. Corrosion casts were prepared on the cranial arteries of the body of 20 adult Wistar rats using Duracryl Dental^® and PUR SP as the casting medium. We found the absence of the brachiocephalic trunk in some cases. Thyroid arteries originated independently or by the short common trunk from the right and left common carotid artery. The facial artery originated by the short trunk with the maxillary artery, or by the linguofacial trunk with the lingual artery from the common carotid artery. The results of this study revealed that, the functional anatomical relationship between the rat neck and head structures are important for the development of medical research of concern to human and veterinary experimental medicine.

This study evaluated the behavioural responses of male Wistar rats to normal air or cigarette smoke (CS) and compared the effects of curcumin and hesperidin on growth performance. In experiment 1, male rats were randomised into two groups (n = 10): control and CS-exposed groups. During exposure (four weeks), the dietary and behavioural patterns were monitored. In experiment 2, forty-eight rats were distributed across eight groups (n = 6): normal control, CS control, CS + curcumin (10 mg.kg⁻¹), CS + curcumin (20 mg.kg⁻¹), CS + hesperidin (10 mg.kg⁻¹), CS + hesperidin (20 mg.kg⁻¹), curcumin (20 mg.kg⁻¹), and hesperidin (20 mg.kg⁻¹) for 6 weeks. Growth performance (feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio FCR) were assessed. In the first experiment, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the body weight of the CS-exposed group compared to the normal control, whereas feed intake was significantly (P > 0.05) lower in the CS-group. The time to access feed and water was higher in the CS-group, while other behavioural responses (locomotion, stand upright, climbing, stand and stare, sniffing, sitting, and digging) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) compared with normal control, especially after two weeks. In the second experiment, weight gain, feed in-take, and FCR were significantly lower in the CS-exposed group compared to the control group, whereas treatment with curcumin and hesperidin, especially at the higher dose (20 mg.kg⁻¹ b. wt.), significantly improved the growth performance of the CS-exposed groups. This study submits that CS exposure negatively impacts on the growth performance and behavioural patterns and demonstrates the potentials of curcumin and hesperidin in addressing these CS-provoked changes.

Maintaining strict biosecurity measures are essential in preventing disease spread from live bird markets (LBMs), which serve as a major intermingling area for poultry from different sources. This study evaluated the efficacy of disinfectants used in daily live bird markets of four north-western states in Nigeria. Seven different disinfectants were identified as commonly used in the LBMs. They were analysed by suspension and surface disinfection tests against standard strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Isolates from swab samples of birds’ cages in the LBMs were initially subjected to biochemical tests and, subsequently, susceptibility tests against commercial disinfectants. All of the 7 (100 %) disinfectants used in the LBMs killed/inhibited the growth of E. coli, S. Enteritidis, and S. aureus with the suspension test, while following the surface disinfection test, all 7 (100 %) killed/inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. Enteritidis but only 4 (57 %) killed/inhibited the growth of S. aureus. Seven (0.02 %) samples out of the 400 swabs were positive for E. coli comprising 1 (14 %), 2 (29 %), and 4 (57 %) from LBMs in Katsina, Kaduna, and Kano, respectively. There were varying growths of E. coli at different concentrations and exposure times. Six (17 %) of the LBMs sampled had and used disinfectants. E. coli was isolated from 1 (17 %) out of the 6 LBMs that had and used disinfectants and 5 (17 %) out of the 29 LBMs that did not have or use disinfect-ants. The standard organisms were most susceptible to orthobenzyl chlorophenol-based disinfectants and least susceptible to chlorophenol-based disinfectants. This study has shown the importance of the use of disinfect-ants in LBMs. There should be enforcement of disinfectants usage in LBMs for public safety.

Traditionally managed cattle constitutes the main source of animal protein to humans in Nigeria. However, seasonal migration in search of pasture exposes them to several vector-borne infections such as the African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT), which limits their productivity. In this study, blood samples from 130 cattle in Plateau and Nasarawa states collected from May to June, 2021 were examined by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing methods to determine the prevalence of pathogenic trypanosomes. Overall, the DNA of T. vivax was detected in 19 out of the 130 (14.6 %) samples examined by the PCR. However, using the micro-hematocrit centrifugation technique, motile haemoparasites were detected in only six (4.6 %, confidence interval [CI] 0.5—6.9 %) of the samples. The higher prevalence of T. vivax was recorded in samples sourced from the abattoir than in samples submitted from the field in Plateau state (16.7 % versus 11.5 %). However, the reverse was the case in Nasarawa state (2.9 % versus 37.5 %). The difference in prevalence of T. vivax between the abattoir and field samples was significant (P = 0.009) in Nasarawa state, but not in Plateau state (P = 0.55). The mean PCV (Packed Cell Volume) of the trypanosome infected animals was lower than that of the non-infected animals, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.29). The internal transcribe spacer region (ITS) nucleotide sequences of T. vivax generated in this study were 100 % identical to each other and formed a monophyletic cluster with the sequences of T. vivax from different countries in the GenBank. AAT remains a major constraint to profitable cattle production and food security in Nigeria and deserves more attention.

Hereditary eye diseases occur to varying degrees in all dog breeds. Individual purebred breeds have specific predispositions to various eye disorders. The German Shepherd is diagnosed mainly with chronic superficial keratitis/pannus, but also with: distichiasis, plasmoma/atypical pannus, corneal dystrophy, persistent pupillary membranes, cataract, cone degeneration, retinal dysplasia, optic nerve hypoplasia/micropapilla, and limbal melanoma. Individual ocular abnormalities are manifested by characteristic clinical manifestations and ophthalmological findings. Some eye diseases can lead to blindness, others affect the comfort of life or work use of the dog to varying degrees. A thorough knowledge of individual ocular pathologies in a particular breed leads not only to the identification of the diagnosis but also to the correct assessment of the dog’s breeding usability.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between functional recovery and timing of surgery in dogs diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease treated surgically. Intervertebral disc disease is the most common spinal disease in dogs; it plays a significant role in the scientific field by its high prevalence. There is also an existing hypothesis that the faster the surgery is performed, the better the outcome will be. The data were collected during two years at one institution. The patients were neurologically assessed using the modified Frankel score when they were first diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease at the clinic and later after the surgery and during the following weeks. A total of 36 dogs were included in this study, represented by 13 different dog breeds and crossbreeds. In total 17 were females and 19 males. The mean age of the patients was 6.9 ± 2.97 years (range 2—15 years) and the mean body condition score was 3.5 within a scale of 1—5. Out of the 36 evaluated dogs, surgery was performed on 25 of them. The mean time of duration of clinical signs before surgery was 9 ± 13 days. The main limitation of this study was the small group of investigated dogs. Although the study was based on a small number of participants, the findings suggested that the timing of the surgery and recovery had a positive Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.39; implying that the timing of the surgery may have affected the recovery.

Hereditary diseases represent a serious problem in horses, especially in terms of sport use and breeding. Nowadays, we know the genetic basis of several breed-specific inherited diseases. In this study, we focused on the cytogenetic analysis of the clinical case of a healthy mare and her foal with numerous malformations in order to confirm or disprove the suspicion of genetic causes of a disability in this offspring. We used conventional metaphase staining to analyse chromosomal aberrations – breaks and gaps. In general, the number of breaks exceeding the norm (2—3 breaks/100 meta-phases) may indicate the influence of the external environment with a potential teratogenic effect on the offspring during its mother gravidity. Compared to the norm, we found a slightly increased percentage of chromosomal aberrations in both the mother and the foal. As another method, we used karyotyping to assess the number and morphology of chromosomes, where in addition to conventional staining, we also applied differential staining of metaphases (G-banding). Multiplication, loss or rearrangement of chromosome segments are almost always associated with pathology. In the karyotypes we constructed, we observed changes in both individuals, compared to the international standard; in the mare, we probably recorded the mosaic form of her karyotype. In the foal, we found 64, XX with a suspected morphological change which was probably related to autosomal chromosome pair 31. The cytogenetic analysis of suspected individuals is also very beneficial for horse owners and breeders. Thanks to the combination of cytogenetic and modern molecular-genetic methods, we were able to identify individuals unsuitable for breeding.

Xylene is one of the environmental pollutants with a negative impact mainly on several organ systems. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of xylene on the uterus of mice. The study was performed on 12 adult female mice. Control mice (n = 6) were fed shredded pellets at a dose of 4 g per day. Xylene mice (n = 6) were fed the same diet at the same dose and orally administered xylene at 10 μl per day for 14 days. The mice were synchronized using the Whit-ten effect and introduced to males before the end of the procedure. Mice of both groups with no copulation plug were euthanized by cervical dislocation. The uteri were collected for routine histological and immunohistochemical analysis. The endometrial epithelium demonstrated vacuolar degeneration, mitotic cell activity, and the presence of leukocytes typical of metoestrus. Reductions of the endometrium, stroma, and myometrium were observed in the xylene mice. The xylene application did not have a significant effect on the superficial epithelium, or the size and number of uterine tubular glands. The immunohistochemical analysis of a proliferation marker PCNA revealed that the xylene increased its expression in the stroma, endometrial and myometrial cells, but did not significantly affect the superficial epithelial cells. The expression of an anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-xl in the xylene mice was stronger in the superficial epithelial, stromal, and endometrial cells. The Bcl-xl expression in the myometrial cells was similar to the controls. The results showed that the application of xylene stimulated the proliferation and exerted an anti-apoptotic effect on the uterine cells. However, the increased proliferation can lead to the malignant transformation of cells, resulting in their uncontrollable division.

The spinal cord issues affect dogs and cats very commonly. The right diagnostics, therapy, and patient’s managements are challenging for almost all veterinarians. There exist many vascular anomalies such as: the vertebral arteries ectasia, hypoplasia and subclavian steal syndrome. These anomalies affect the patient’s neurological status directly. The modern diagnostic approaches (Computed Tomography [CT], and Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI]) help with the diagnosis of the vascular abnormalities of the spinal cord and various other vascular anomalies. The cervical part of the spinal cord is supplied with the spinal branches from the vertebral arteries. The vertebral arteries as the first branches arise separately from the subclavian artery and they exit the thoracic aperture and enter into the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra. The arterial system of dogs was studied in 14 dogs (carcasses), the average age of which was 7 years. The carcasses were divided into two groups: 11 dogs were studied by the corrosion casting method (Duracryl Plus) and 3 dogs were studied by contrast radiography (Urografin 76 %). We confirmed the standard origin and course of the left vertebral for all but one case. The right vertebral artery originated as an independent branch in 57.14 % of the cases; in the rest of them, we reported on the variability in origin and formation of inconstant branches. The formation of anastomoses was reported also. Our work contributed new information about the thoracic and cervical arterial system in dogs.