Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) was isolated from sloughed tongue epithelium of Egyptian cattle presenting with mouth lesions and ropy salivation in two Egyptian governorates (El-Fayoum and Dakahlia). The virus was isolated in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells and identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The complete genome was obtained by next generation sequencing. The strains isolated from El-Fayoum and Dakahlia were serotype A and O, respectively and both isolates had identity with the previously reported Egyptian strains. This study reports successive outbreaks of FMDV that occurred in Egypt during 2015–2016 and describes the dynamics of two outbreaks in addition to the use of cardiac biomarkers in the diagnosis of FMD-related myocarditis in calves and its clinical relevance. Serum cardiac troponin1 (cTn I) and creatinine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) were measured. Mean serum cardiac troponin1 (cTn I) showed significant increase (P < 0.001) in FMDV-infected calves. The increase in fatal and recovered cases was (2.794 ± 0.502 ng/mL) and (1.196 ± 0.443 ng/mL), respectively, compared to the healthy control cases (0.014 ± 0.002 ng/mL). Thus, the serum cTn-I successfully diagnosed FMD-associated myocarditis in calves but not prognostic for the fatal cases. The FMDV sequences described in this study should further help in studying FMDV endemicity in Egypt, tracking the source of infection, selection of control strategies and vaccine updates. The study also determines the clinical relevance of cardiac biomarkers in diagnosis of FMDV-related myocarditis in infected calves.

Cardiac biomarkers are important tools for monitoring disease progress and can monitor progression of therapy. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been studied for its use as a cardiac biomarker in human and small animal medicine while in horses with cardiac disease it has not been evaluated yet. The objective of the present study was to determine the concentration of plasma ET-1 in healthy horses and compare it with ET-1 concentration in horses with cardiac disease during rest and after exercise. Fifty four horses admitted to the Equine Clinic of Free University of Berlin were used in the present study, of which 15 horses were clinically healthy with no evidence of cardiac disease (Group 1), 22 horses suffered from cardiac disease with normal heart dimensions (Group 2) and 17 horses with cardiac disease and enlarged heart diameters (Group 3). Clinical examination, electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed. Endothelin-1 concentration was determined using ET-1 ELISA kit. The concentration of plasma ET-1 was significantly increased in horses with cardiac disease and normal cardiac dimensions (Group 2) and in horses with cardiac disease and enlargement of the left atrium (Group 3) compared to its concentration in clinically healthy horses (Group 1). In addition, the concentration of plasma ET-1 after exercise was significantly increased in diseased horses compared to its concentration at rest. Detection of ET-1 plasma concentration in horses at rest may be useful for detecting horses with changes in left atrial cardiac dimensions.

A total of 32 horses examined from the period between July 2015 and July 2017 were included in the present study. Horses were grouped according to the results of the general clinical examination and the diagnosis. Ten horses were apparently healthy used as control horses (Group I) and 22 research Article Abstract | The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of the plasma D-dimer in healthy horses and in horses with colic and to compare it before and after therapy. Thirty-two horses were included; 22 horses showed signs of abdominal pain. Horses were grouped according to clinical and laboratory examination results into healthy horses (Group I, n=10); horses with colic associated with enteritis and/or colitis (Group II, n=16) were presented with moderate intermittent abdominal pain with increased peristalsis and increased frequency of defecation; horses with colic associated with impaction of the intestine (Group III, n=6) were presented with severe abdominal pain and decreased fecal output. There was significant increase in the concentration of plasma D-dimer in horses with impaction of the intestine and horses with enteritis and/or colitis compared to clinically healthy horses. Therapeutic trials resulted in improvement of the D-dimer concentration where the concentration of plasma D-dimer was significantly decreased in horses with enteritis and/or colitis and in horses with impaction of the intestine after therapy compared to its concentration before therapy. In conclusion, D-dimer is a sensitive marker for detection of excessive fibrinolysis in horses. Higher concentration of plasma D-dimer is observed in severe cases of colic and might reflect poor prognosis.

| Respiratory disorders have an economic effect on the dairy industry. The purpose of this study was to diagnose cattle with respiratory problems, as well as to assess the nature of the lesions. A variety of practical approaches are used to examine respiratory disorders in cattle. The present study involved 55 cows of which 10 cows were clinically healthy and served as the control group. Cows were brought to the clinic for a number of complaints, including inappetence, cough, dyspnea and nasal discharges. The total leucocytic counts, aspartate aminotransferase activities, and carbon dioxide tension were significantly higher in all diseased cows. The ultrasonographical examination of the lungs demonstrated several comet-tail artifacts in cows affected with pulmonary emphysema. Various degrees of pulmonary consolidation in bronchopneumonic cows were observed. Furthermore, cows with pleurisy showed anechoic pleural effusion with fibrin deposits and an irregular pleural surface. It is concluded that, hematological and biochemical findings are the key indicators of bovine health, and they are more expressive when correlated with the history, clinical symptoms, and ultrasonographic examination of cows with respiratory diseases.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs is a group of disorders characterized by persistent gastrointestinal clinical manifestations. The goal of this study was to investigate the hematobiochemical alterations in association with the clinical outcomes and prognostic markers including cobalamine, folate and vitamin D3 in dogs with IBD. A total of 23 IBD dogs with symptoms of chronic gastrointestinal diseases were chosen for the study, these include vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss and abdominal pain. Ultrasonographically, the most common IBD-related abnormalities were dilated intestinal loops with hypermotility, as well as thickening and loss of wall layers in the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum. Hematological findings showed significant increase in the total white blood cell count (14.58 ± 0.49) and neutrophils (69.8 ± 1.6), and significant decrease in hemoglobin (9.83 ± 0.44) and Hematocrit value (30.30 ± 1.24). Biochemical analysis revealed significant increase in serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen and blood creatinine compared to the controls. Whilst significant decrease in serum 25(OH)D, folate and cobalamin levels in IBD dogs was observed which indicate intestinal malabsorption, and these markers are good predictors of IBD.