Allicin is an active ingredient of garlic that has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiprotozoal activity. However, the inhibitory effects of allicin on Babesia parasites have not yet been examined. In the present study, allicin was tested as a potent inhibitor against the in vitro growth of bovine and equine Babesia parasites and the in vivo growth of Babesia microti in a mouse model. The in vitro growth of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia caballi, or Theileria equi was inhibited by allicin in a dose-dependent manner and had IC50 values of 818, 675, 470, and 742 μM, respectively. Moreover, allicin significantly inhibited (P < 0.001) invasion of B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi, and T. equi into the host erythrocyte. Furthermore, mice treated with 30 mg/kg of allicin for 5 days significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the parasitemia of B. microti over the period of the study. To further examine the potential synergism of allicin with diminazene aceturate, growth inhibitory assays were performed in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, combinations of diminazene aceturate with allicin synergistically potentiated its inhibitory effects in vitro and in vivo. These results indicate that allicin might be beneficial for the treatment of babesiosis, particularly when used in combination with diminazene aceturate.

BackgroundHypocalcemia is a frequent abnormality that has been associated with disease severity and outcome in hospitalized foals. However, the pathogenesis of equine neonatal hypocalcemia is poorly understood. Hypovitaminosis D in critically ill people has been linked to hypocalcemia and mortality; however, information on vitamin D metabolites and their association with clinical findings and outcome in critically ill foals is lacking. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (hypovitaminosis D) and its association with serum calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, disease severity, and mortality in hospitalized newborn foals.Methods and ResultsOne hundred newborn foals ≤72 hours old divided into hospitalized (n = 83; 59 septic, 24 sick non-septic [SNS]) and healthy (n = 17) groups were included. Blood samples were collected on admission to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH) 2D3], and PTH concentrations. Data were analyzed by nonparametric methods and univariate logistic regression. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D [defined as 25(OH)D3 <9.51 ng/mL] was 63% for hospitalized, 64% for septic, and 63% for SNS foals. Serum 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH) 2D3 concentrations were significantly lower in septic and SNS compared to healthy foals (P<0.0001; P = 0.037). Septic foals had significantly lower calcium and higher phosphorus and PTH concentrations than healthy and SNS foals (P<0.05). In hospitalized and septic foals, low 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations were associated with increased PTH but not with calcium or phosphorus concentrations. Septic foals with 25(OH)D3 <9.51 ng/mL and 1,25(OH) 2D3 <7.09 pmol/L were more likely to die (OR=3.62; 95% CI = 1.1-12.40; OR = 5.41; 95% CI = 1.19-24.52, respectively).ConclusionsLow 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations are associated with disease severity and mortality in hospitalized foals. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to a pro-inflammatory state in equine perinatal diseases. Hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia together with decreased 1,25(OH)2D3 but increased PTH concentrations in septic foals indicates that PTH resistance may be associated with the development of these abnormalities.

A total of 652 sera collected from cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and camels were investigated for the presence of antibodies to bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to BVD virus was 49.2, 52.0, 27.5. 31.4 and 52.5 Yo in cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and camels, respectively.The positive sera were titrated against BVD virus (BVDV) strains NADL and Oregon C24V, the latter is closely related to border disease (BD) virus. The frequency dismbutions of the antibody times to both strains are presented. The statistical analysis shows no significant difference between the antibody times to BVDV strains NADL and Oregon C24V in cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and camels. On the other hand antibody times to BVDV were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in cattle and buffalo in comparison with sheep, goats and camels. The cell-bound immunoassay (CBIA) is a serological test established for the detection and titration of antibodies to BVD virus and BD virus. The percentage of agreement between the CBIA and the n e u d m n g peroxidase-linked antibody (NPLA) test was 96.1 and 95.3 Yo in cattle and buffalo, respectively. The sensitivity of the CBIA in comparison with the NPLA was 100% while the specificity was 92.3 and 90.3 YO when testing the sera of cattle and buffalo, respectively. The method is easy to perform, cheap and suitable for the conditions in Egypt.

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In 1989, 220 Holstein Friesian cattle (212 heifers and eight bulls) were imported from Minnesota, USA, to form a closed dairy herd in Arab El-Aoumar, Assiut, Upper Egypt. In November 1996, some abnormal signs such as loss of weight, decreased milk yield, external lymphadenopathy and decreased appetite were observed on this farm. Serological screening by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed a seroprevalence of antibodies directed against bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) of 37.7% in cattle under 2 years old and of 72.8% in animals more than 2 years old. Diagnosis was confirmed by the detection of BLV proviral DNA using polymerase chain reaction with primers amplifying a fragment of the env gene. Out of 21 tested leucocyte fractions from individual animals, 15 were positive showing a BLV-specific amplicon of 444 base pairs. Analysis of the amplicons for restriction fragment length polymorphisms and DNA sequencing results allowed the isolates to be typed. Since this was the first recorded case of enzootic bovine leukosis in Upper Egypt, strict quarantine measures were adopted and all serologically positive animals in the herd were culled.

Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) is an arthropod-borne rhabdovirus that causes disabling clinical signs and major economic losses in cattle and water buffalo. The disease is well documented in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East; however, the seroprevalence of BEFV in different regions and bovine breeds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze risk factors which affect the prevalence of antibodies against BEFV in small herds of cattle in four geographical regions of KSA. A total of 1480 serum samples from non-BEFV vaccinated small herds of cattle were collected from the Eastern, Jizan, Qasim, and Riyadh regions (370 samples per region) during the summer of 2010. Serum neutralization test was used to detect antibodies against BEFV. There was a significant effect of region, breed, sex, and age on the seroprevalence of BEFV. Seropositive ratios were 18, 18, 26, and 12 % for the Eastern, Jizan, Qasim, and Riyadh regions, respectively (P = 0.00002); 23.2 % for dairy and 13.7 % for non-dairy breeds (P = 0.00004); 24.4 % for males and 14.6 % for females (P = 0.00004); and 15.4, 29.1, and 11.4 % for animals <1 year, 1-3 years, and >3 years, respectively (P < 0.001). Risk analysis showed a significant effect of different regions of KSA on the seroprevalence of BEFV. Host risk factors (age, sex, and breed) showed also a significant effect on the seroprevalence of BEFV. This indicates active circulation of this virus in small herds of cattle. Insect control strategies and BEFV vaccination programs during the spring are recommended to reduce the spread of BEFV and minimize subsequent economic losses as this is adopted in many enzootic countries.

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Aim: Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes Johne's disease in ruminants. This study aimed to investigate Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection in clinically infected camels on the immunological, conventional bacteriological, and molecular biological basis. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) were examined in this study. The camels were suffering from signs ranging from mild to severe infections (that did not respond to antibiotic treatment) to chronic or intermittent diarrhea. Camels were grouped into three groups based on their age, sex, and breed. Detection of anti-MAP antibodies in camels' serum, Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining technique on rectal scraps, direct recognition of MAP in stool and tissue specimens by IS900 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and finally isolation and molecular description of MAP from fecal and tissue samples were carried out. Results: Five MAP isolates were recovered from these investigated camel samples giving an isolation rate of 16.6%, while eight camels were identified by PCR (26.6%). Five camels yielded MAP in their feces by ZN fecal staining (16.6%), whereas ELISA detected anti-MAP antibodies in nine camels only (30%). Conclusion: From the obtained results, we concluded that the gold standard for the diagnosis of MAP is the culture method despite its limitations. Molecular diagnosis (PCR) could be a useful tool in the identification of truly positive and negative camels; however, great care should be given regarding the primers specificity and sensitivity.