Gumboro, or infectious bursal disease (IBD), represents a significant threat to poultry worldwide due to its genetic and pathogenic variations. Viruses can mutate and produce new variants, which can have an impact on the epidemiological situation. The study will determine and assess the genetics, protein sequence, and pathogenicity of IBDV present in broiler flocks in different locations within Ismalia and Dakahlia Governorates, Egypt, in 2022. A total of 150 bursa samples were collected from 15 broiler flocks exhibiting symptoms indicative of IBDV infection. The VP2 (viral protein2) gene was partially detected and then subjected to complete gene sequencing in order to summarize the key genetic mutations found and histopathological examination. The results demonstrated that 12 out of 15 farms were infected with IBDV. Genetic analysis revealed that 10 of the 12 identified strains belonged to genogroup 3, which was similar to previous Egyptian strains. The remaining two strains were of genus 1. The VP2 gene hypervariable region displayed amino acid alterations at several positions. Classic IBDV strains (genogroup 2) showed similar amino acid profiles. Amino acid alterations were identified in the VP2 gene, indicating that classic IBDV strains may cause damage to the bursa of Fabricius, leading to immunosuppression. In Egypt, vvIBDV (very virulent infectious bursal disease virus) strains have led to recurring outbreaks and high chick mortality rates. These findings are anticipated to contribute to the latest features of IBDV in the examined regions. Therefore, it is recommended that IBDV immunization programs in Egypt, where live attenuated virus vaccinations are common, be reevaluated. It is also recommended that the evaluation of clinical signs in broiler chicken flocks over time be monitored for diagnosis.

A biomarker is defined as a detectable biomarker of a specific state and is often measured in urine, blood, milk, sweat, tear or soft tissue, either in physiological or pathological conditions. Of these commonly used biomarkers specifically for heart injury, there are cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. The cardiac troponin I is a sensitive biomarker formed by the injured cardiac cells and hence is used in humans for the early discovery of cardiac injury, and in parallel, it is used for prognostic purposes. Veterinary medicine widely uses cTnI as a marker for myocardial injury. In equines, cTnI was found to be a useful marker for the diagnosis of either primary or secondary myocardial injuries. It has also been used in newborn dogs to predict hypoxia and cardiac injury as a result of perinatal asphyxia. In neonatal calves with congenital heart anomalies, it was reported that the affected animals had a higher concentration of cTnI. In lambs with myocarditis, it was reported that significant levels of serum cTnI were detectable in diseased cases compared to healthy ones. This review article was written to emphasize the clinical significance of cTnI as a sensitive biomarker for cardiac injury in animals either in physiological or pathologic states. It has been concluded from several pathological and physiological studies that cTnI is a highly specific cardiac biomarker. It can detect myocardial injury due to primary cardiac disorders such as pericarditis, endocarditis and myocarditis. Also, it can predict cardiac injury in some non-cardiac-affected cases that can affect the heart, such as racing competitions, long road transportation, extensive training, difficult parturition, Downer syndrome, general anesthesia, infestation with external parasites such as ticks, calcium injection in extremely high doses, injection of cardiac glycosides, and use of the electroejaculation method to collect semen.

This paper presents a potential strategy for the development of an antiviral agent against FMDV, specifically O Pan-Asia-2, A Iran 05 and SAT2/EGY/2012. Examining the potential use of interferon from the Bovine Ephemeral Fever Virus (BEFV) as a therapy is an intriguing approach. In order to test the cell toxicity and anti-FMDV in African green monkey kidney cell (Vero) and Baby Hamster Kidney Cell (BHK) cell lines up to serial dilutions of 10-7, BEFV was used to produce interferon in Vero and MDBK cell lines 12, 24, and 48 hours after cell infection. The in vitro findings showed that the cell safety and the ability of the prepared interferon to exhibit antiviral effects against various three FMDV serotypes, especially when administered shortly before or concurrently with the virus, are encouraging. The highest anti-FMDV effective dilution of the obtained interferon, either by Vero or MDBK cells, ranged from 10-3 to 10-4. This suggests that the interferon may be able to activate cellular antiviral mechanisms and disrupt FMDV infection. The next critical step will be conducting further in vivo studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and potential side effects of the interferon-based treatment. This will provide important insights into virus-host interactions and the broader therapeutic potential of this approach. Some key areas for future research could include: expanding the testing of the interferon against additional FMDV serotypes to assess its breadth of coverage; Optimizing the administration parameters, such as timing, dose, and route, to maximize the antiviral effect, Investigating the specific mechanisms by which the interferon inhibits FMDV replication and spread, Evaluating the interferon impact on disease progression and transmission in animal models, Assessing any potential negative effects or toxicity in the treated animals. The development of effective antivirals against FMDV is critical for controlling outbreaks and protecting livestock. This research represents a promising line of investigation that warrants further study.

Poultry farming is crucial for the livelihoods of small-scale producers in the Northen Benin, yet the industry faces challenges from diseases like ND, which threaten both poultry health and economic stability. This study investigates the seroprevalence of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) among indigenous chickens and guinea fowl in the Atacora and Donga regions of Northern Benin, addressing a significant gap in regional poultry health data. A cross-sectional study was designed, sampling a total of 300 birds, including 191 indigenous chickens and 109 guinea fowl, from six districts. Systematic random sampling was employed to select smallholder farms, and blood samples were collected for Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests to detect NDV antibodies. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, determined associations and differences in seroprevalence between regions and species. Results revealed notable variations in NDV seroprevalence between the two regions. In Atacora, 59.22% of chickens tested positive for NDV antibodies, with 52.33% of non-vaccinated and 94.12% of vaccinated chickens showing positive results. In Donga, the overall seroprevalence was 46.59%, with 27.78% of non-vaccinated and 59.62% of vaccinated chickens testing positive. A chi-square test indicated a significant difference in NDV seroprevalence between the two regions for chickens (x2 = 12.901; P = 0.024). For guinea fowls, seroprevalence was 63.53% in Atacora and 62.50% in Donga, with no significant difference observed (x2 = 1.102; P = 0.954). This study provides the first serological data on NDV prevalence in northern Benin, highlighting the endemic nature of NDV and the critical epidemiological role of guinea fowls due to frequent exposure and field infections, especially in the Atacora region. It recommends enhancing vaccination coverage, improving biosecurity measures, and conducting further research to isolate and characterize virus strains to develop more effective control strategies.

Hard corals are precious marine creatures that comprise a complex form of symbiosis between symbiont algae and coral holobiont. For decades, corals have been challenged by disastrous events of climatic and anthropogenic etiologies. Such complex interactions have resulted in devastating disease episodes among coral populations worldwide. There is a scarcity of information about diseases of hard corals in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate various diseases of hard corals in this pristine habitat within the Red Sea. Whitening and dark green dots were the most noticeable morphopathology among hard coral samples collected from Gulf of Aqaba. Some human-based pathogens, such as Rothia kristinae, Cupriavidus pauculus, and Delftia acidovorans, were isolated from some of the examined coral tissues, while the Burkholderia cepacia group was isolated from the nearby sediment. The final identities of the above-mentioned bacterial isolates have been molecularly confirmed using 16S RNA sequence analysis. Pathologically, diseased corals have been observed with changes such as some forms of tissue losses, degenerative changes, and eosinophilic granular amoebocytes/agranular cells infiltration. The frequent detection of some microbial pathogens of human origin could suggest deleterious forms of environmental pollution of anthropogenic origin. Ultimately, the entire existence of hard coral populations is mostly threatened by swiftly erupting climatic changes as well as environmental aquatic pollution. Thus, the current study concludes the real need for extensive ecological, biological, pathological, and immunological studies to determine the eminent threats and propose possible control means for better/sustainable hard coral populations.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an infectious disease of cattle caused by lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), which is a member of the Poxviridae family and genus Capripoxvirus. The illness is marked by mild to severe symptoms, including edema, fever, lymphadenitis, widespread skin nodules, and infrequently, death. In spite of its significance, little is now understood about the magnitude and predisposing factors in Tanzania. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of LSD in cattle within Kilolo district, and to identify key predisposing factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 17 villages within Kilolo district from February to March 2024 to estimate the seroprevalence of LSD in cattle. A total number of 276 serum samples was obtained from 65 cattle herds and a Double Antigen ELISA (ID Screen®) (IDVet, France) was used to screen for LSDV antibodies. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the risk factors for LSD seropositivity. The overall animal- and herd-level seroprevalence were 18.1% (95% CI: 13.98–23.14) and 44.6% (95% CI: 7.54–15.38), respectively. The highest individual animal level seroprevalence was documented in Irindi village 39.1% (95% CI: 5.36–12.24), followed by Masalali 38.5% (95% CI: 6.25–13.50), Ng’uruhe 37.5% (95% CI: 5.65–12.66), Irole 33% (95% CI: 1.5–6.10), and Utengule 26.5% (95% CI: 3.07-8.81) with significant differences (p=0.003). The seroprevalence of LSD varied significantly (P<0.001) among the three age groups, with adults >2 years having a higher seroprevalence (29.8%, 95%CI, 52.27–64.21) than yearlings aged 1-2 years (5. 6%, 95%CI, 9.31–17.60) and calves (0.0%, 95%CI, 23.36-34.35). Sex (Female/male, OR=2.0937, 95%CI, 1.4642-3.0248), age (Yearling/Adult, OR=0.1756, 95%CI, 0.0841-0.3730), village (OR=0.8970, 95%CI, 0.8349-0.9636) and herd size (Large/small, OR=1.9464, 95%CI, 1.1597-3.2669) were significant risk factors for LSDV seropositivity in Kilolo district. Raising awareness among livestock owners and veterinary staff about the disease and its risk factors, vaccination and vector control measures should be prioritized to minimize the transmission of the disease.

Prevalent etiological agents and treatment options are essential for diagnosing and managing fish diseases. Therefore, this study used standard microbiological procedures to enumerate and identify the total bacterial count in the water, skin, and gastrointestinal tract of 75 moribund cultured Clarias gariepinus from different culture facilities. Following that, the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated bacteria to eight antibiotics was tested using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Various clinical signs and pathological lesions were observed on the sampled moribund fish. Total bacterial count varied significantly (P < 0.05) regardless of the types of culture facilities. Bacteria species from eight different genera were present, comprising three Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus, and five Gram-negative bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, Citrobacter freundii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica, in which Gram-negative bacteria (> 70%) were the most prevalent type of bacteria isolated. There was an association between the bacteria species isolated from the water and the different parts of the fish sampled regardless of the culture facilities. The antibiogram of the bacteria recovered revealed different sensitivity and resistance profiles. More than fifty percent of the Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, while the Gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamycin (> 40%). Amoxicillin, ampicillin oxytetracycline, and tetracycline resistance were high in the bacteria isolates. This study confirmed the presence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria isolated with a multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) index of 0.63–0.75, indicating indiscriminate and irrational use of antibiotics.

The rationality in the use of veterinary drugs among sheep farmers has been a concern, particularly in remote areas of Lesotho. In this light, a descriptive survey was conducted where a cross-sectional design was employed to collect the data on the availability and rational use of veterinary drugs from a total of 102 sheep farmers. SPSS (Version 20.00) was used for data analysis, where the crosstabs within descriptive statistics were used to determine percentages while the significance was tested using both the Chi-square test and Fisher‘s exact test. Sheep farming in the study area is mostly dominated by adult men who are mostly married and have attained primary school leaving certificates, as reflected by 51.9% and 48.7% in rural and peri-urban villages, respectively. The use of commercial drugs for the control of diseases surpasses the use of medicinal plants, as demonstrated by 95.8% and 86.8% of responses in the rural and peri-urban villages, respectively. Moreover, the greater proportion of sheep farmers (83.3% and 89.1% in the rural and peri-urban, respectively) have not been trained on the use of veterinary drugs; however, it was observed that most of them diagnose and treat their animals on their own. The availability of veterinary services among sheep farming communities is very poor and mostly, farmers rely on farm feeds and hawkers as sources of drugs. The common method for dosage measurement is by guessing the animal’s body weight. Most farmers are not aware of the withdrawal period following animal treatment as reflected by 78.2% and 63.8% of farmers in rural and peri-urban villages, respectively. Veterinary drugs are mostly stored at room temperature. In conclusion, the availability of veterinary drugs among farming communities is very poor and drugs are mostly irrationally used.

This research aimed to study the effect of supplementation of Lactobacillus brevis and a combination of Lactobacillus brevis and Enterococus faecalis on growth performance, bacterial population and serum biochemical parameters in broilers. A total of 200 one-day-old chicks were obtained from a local hatchery. They were divided into four groups: group 1 served as a control, group 2 received commercial probiotics, group 3 received Lactobacillus brevis, and group 4 received the combination. The main parameters measured through 6 weeks were body weight, food intake, food conversion ratio (FCR), blood total protein, albumin and cholesterol. In addition to enumeration of bacteria from cloaca and caecum. The results showed a statistically significant increase in body weight (26%) for the group receiving the combined supplementation compared to the control. Similarly, there was a significant increase in FCR for this group compared to the control. The results also showed an increase in the Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count in the caecum and a decrease in the total late count (TPC) and coliform count, showing the inhibitory effect of LAB. Also, there was a significant decrease in cholesterol and albumin level, while there was no difference between the different groups regarding protein level. The results showed that Lactobacillus brevis and Enterococus faecalis have a good potential to be used as probiotics in poultry.