SUMMARY This study was undertaken to survey the presence of Salmonella in 200 chicken samples collected from Mansoura, Egypt. Salmonella was detected in 16% (8/50), 28% (14/50), 32% (16/50) and 60% (30/50) of whole chicken carcasses, drumsticks, livers and gizzards, respectively, with an overall prevalence of 34% (68/200) among all samples. One hundred and sixty-six isolates were identified biochemically as Salmonella, and confirmed genetically by PCR, based on the presence of invA and stn genes. The spvC gene, however, was detected in only 25.3% (42/166) of the isolates. Isolates were serotyped as Salmonella Enteritidis (37.3%), S. Typhimurium (30.1%), S. Kentucky (10.8%), S. Muenster (8.4%), S. Virchow (4.8%), S. Anatum (4.8%), S. Haifa (1.2%), and four were non-typable. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests of the Salmonella isolates revealed that 100% were resistant to each of erythromycin, penicillin, and amoxicillin, while 98.8%, 96.4%, 95.2%, and 91.6% were resistant to nalidixic acid, sulphamethoxazole, oxytetracycline, and ampicillin, respectively. Multidrug resistance was evident for 92.8% of the isolates. The high contamination level of chicken meat with multidrug-resistant Salmonella can constitute a problem for public health.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in milk (farm bulk milk, raw market milk) and cheese (kareish, white soft cheese) samples that were collected randomly from farms, supermarkets, small vendors and shops in different districts of Mansoura city, Egypt. Materials and methods: A total of 100 farm bulk milk, raw market milk, kareish cheese and white soft cheese samples (25 of each) were screened for the prevalence of Salmonella spp. The Salmonella isolates were isolated and identified by conventional bacteriological techniques, which were further confirmed genetically by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the presence of invA gene. Finally, the isolates were serotyped. Results: Salmonella could be detected in 15%(n=15/100) samples with a prevalence of 12%(n=3/25), 24%(n=6/25), 20%(n=5/25) and 4%(n=1/25) in raw market milk, raw farm bulk milk, kareish cheese and white soft cheese, respectively. The Salmonella isolates were serotyped into S. enteritidis 33.3%(n=9/27) which was the most frequent, followed by S. typhimurium 25.9%(n=7/27), S. heidelberg 14.8%(n=4/27), S. infantis 11.11%(n=3/27), S. tsevie 11.11%(n=3/27) and S. haifa 3.7%(n=1/27). Conclusion:The present study confirms the presence of Salmonella in milk and cheese samples in Mansoura, Egypt, indicating that the dairy products can act as potential sources of Salmonella infection. Thus, appropriate hygienic measures are suggestive for combating Salmonellosis in Egypt.

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The aim of the present study was to evaluate growth performance parameters, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and hepatic and renal functions of APRI growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with zinc-oxide (ZnO) or nano-zinc oxide (ZnO-NP). A number of 60 weaned rabbits (5 wk of age) were divided into three experimental groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (G1), 50 mg ZnO (G2), and 30 mg ZnO-NP (G3) per kg during the growing period (5 to 13 wk of age). Live body weight, feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, performance index and mortality rate were recorded. Biochemical parameters, antioxidant and immunity status were determined at 13 wk of age. Results show that dietary ZnO or ZnO-NP addition increased (P<0.05) growth performance parameters, serum high-density lipoproteins, glutathione, glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase, immunoglobulins. Concentrations of triglycerides and MDA in blood serum reduced (P<0.05) in treatment groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with ZnO or ZnO-NP can enhance growth performance, lipid profile, immunity and antioxidant status of growing rabbits under heat stress conditions.

Application of assisted reproductive technology in camelidea, such as artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer, has been slow in comparison to that for other livestock species. In Egypt, there are few attempts to establish in vitro maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) techniques in dromedary camel. The present study was carried out to produce Sudanese camel embryos using in vitro matured oocytes and epididymal spermatozoa. Dromedary camel ovaries were collected from abattoirs and then, the oocytes were aspirated from all the visible follicles on the ovarian surface (~2-8 mm in a diameter). Meanwhile, Fetal Dromedary Camel Serum (FDCS) was obtained from camel fetuses after slaughtering. Thereafter, only Cumulus Oocyte Complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro in the Tissue Culture Medium (TCM-199) complemented with 10% FDCS. Spermatozoa required for in vitro fertilization were collected from testes (epididymal cauda) of the slaughtered camel bulls. The results clearly showed that the maturation rate of oocytes at metaphase II was about 59.5% while the fertilization rate was around 70.4%. Intriguingly, the embryo rates determined were 13.1%, in 2-cell; 0.0%, in 4-cell; 34.7%, in 8-16% cell; 39.1%, in morula and 13.1% in a blastocyst stage. This study represented a successful in vitro production of Sudanese dromedary camel embryos from epididymal sperm cells and in vitro matured oocytes recovered from slaughtered camels.

This study was conducted under the semi-arid desert conditions of the northwest coastal belt of Egypt to evaluate the effect of autumn vs. spring shearing on wool production, some wool traits, physiological responses, thermal gradients, haematological, biochemical parameters and hormonal profile of thyroxin (T4) and cortisol of adult Barki ewes. Results show that autumn shearing reduced (P<0.01) body weight loss; resulted in heavier (P<0.05) greasy fleece weight with lower fiber diameter (P<0.05) and improved the uniformity of wool fiber diameter, point of staple break (P<0.05) and wool staple elongation rate (P<0.01) compared with spring shearing. Spring shearing resulted in higher skin temperature (P<0.05) and thermal gradient between rectal and skin temperature (P<0.01), elevated (P<0.05) serum globulin concentration and declined (P<0.05) albumin/globulin ratio. Serum T4 and cortisol profiles were not affected by shearing in spring or autumn. These results indicated that altering shearing time of Barki sheep from spring to autumn may be safely conducted without negative effects on wool production, physiological responses, blood constituents and animal homeostasis. The reduction in body weight due to shearing suggests the necessity of providing additive food supplementation after shearing to avoid weight loss particularly in autumn.