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Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis, a debilitating chronic disease of sheep and goats. Little is known about the buck's reproductive pathophysiology with respect to inoculation with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculois and its immunogen mycolic acid extract. Therefore, this present study was designed to determine the concentration of testosterone hormone, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and semen quality of the experimental animals. A total of 12 bucks, divided into groups 1, 2, and 3 (Negative control group, Positive control group and Mycolic acid group respectively), were enrolled in this study. Following inoculation, all goats were observed for clinical responses and monitored for 60 days post-challenge and were then sacrificed. Blood samples were collected via the jugular once before inoculation and on a weekly basis post-challenge. Semen samples were collected 2 weeks post-challenge and prior to the sacrifice of the experimental animals. During the post inoculation period of 60 days, the concentration of testosterone hormone for group 2 was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in weeks 5, 6, and 9 but decreased in weeks 2 and 7 post inoculation. In group 3, the mean concentration of testosterone was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in weeks 5, 6, 7, and 9 post inoculation but decreased in week 2. The concentration of interleukin 6 (IL 6) in treated group 2 did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) but increased significantly (p < 0.05) in week 2 post inoculation in group 3. For concentration of interleukin 1β (IL1β) in both treated groups 2 and 3 showed significant difference (p < 0.05) in weeks 2 and 3 post inoculation. The tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) concentration in both treated groups 2 and 3 did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) as compared to group 1. The concentration of interferon-γ (IFNγ) significantly increased (p < 0.05) for group 2 for weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5 where else for group 3 was not in significant difference (p > 0.05) compared to group 1. Both group 2 and group 3 showed a reduction in semen qualities as compared to group 1, but the severity was more intense in group 2 if compared to group 3. In conclusion, therefore, the present study concluded that the mycolic acid group revealed significant responses of testosterone hormone concentration, semen quality, and its related pro-inflammatory cytokines in bucks following infection but the severity lesser compared to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis group.

Haptoglobin (Hp) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA) are a group of blood proteins whose concentrations in animals can be influenced by infection, inflammation, surgical trauma or stress. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), and Mycolic acid is a virulent factor extracted from C. pseudotuberculosis. There is a dearth of sufficient evidence on the clinical implication of MAs on the responses of Hp and SAA in goats. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential effects of Mycolic acid (MAs) and C. pseudotuberculosis on the responses of Hp and SAA in female goats. A total of 12 healthy female goats was divided into three groups; A, B and C each comprising of 4 goats and managed for a period of three months. Group (A) was inoculated with 2 mL of sterile phosphate buffered saline (as a negative control group) intradermally, while group (B) and (C) were inoculated intradermally with 2 ml each of mycolic acid and 1‏ × 10 cfu of active C. pseudotuberculosis respectively. The result of the study showed that the Hp concentration in goats inoculated with C. pseudotuberculosis was significantly increased up to 7-fold (1.17 ± 0.17 ng/L) while MAs showed a 3-fold increased (0.83 ± 0.01 ng/L) compared with the control. Whereas SAA concentration in C. pseudotuberculosis and MAs groups showed a significant 3-fold (17.85 ± 0.91 pg/mL) and 2-fold (10.97 ± 0.71 pg/mL) increased compared with the control. This study concludes that inoculation of C. pseudotuberculosis and MAs have significant effects on Hp and SAA levels, which indicates that MAs could have a role in the pathogenesis of caseous lymphadenitis.

Introduction: Human brucellosis is one of the most common zoonosis infections, with an important impact on the health and economy worldwide. This study aimed to update and provide epidemiological information on this infection and evaluate Rose Bengal Test, which is used as an essential diagnostic test for brucellosis in Erbil. Methodology: A total of 325 participants seeking care and reporting fever at Rizgary Teaching Hospital were enrolled. Blood samples were tested for Brucella spp. antibodies using Rose Bengal Test and blood culture followed by species identification. A questionnaire was administered to detect the risk factors. Results: The prevalence of probable and confirmed brucellosis was 12.3% (95% CI 9.2–16.3) and 9.5% (95% CI 6.8–13.2) respectively. The majority of cases were in the age group of 18-39 years. Brucellosis was significantly associated with raw milk consumption (OR = 10.3 95% CI 5-22.4) and contact with livestock (OR = 11.5 95% CI 5.6-23.9). Brucella melitensis (58.1%) and Brucella abortus (41.9%) are the dominant species in the area. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Rose Bengal Test in comparison to the blood culture were 100%, 96.9%, 77.5 %, and 100% respectively. Conclusions: Brucellosis is a significant cause of fever in Erbil and could be diagnosed by the Rose Bengal Test taking into account the compatibility of clinical features with the positive result. The vaccination of livestock and boiling or pasteurization of milk are essential procedures to reduce the frequency of human brucellosis.

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Mannheimia (formerly known as Pasteurella) haemolytica is the causative agent of cattle and sheep pneumonic pasteurellosis (mannheimiosis), which is an infection that causes significant financial losses to the cattle, sheep and goat sectors with climatic and animal management factors participating in their pathogenesis (Zamri-Saad et al., 1994; Chung et al., 2015; Jesse et al., 2019). Pasteurella and Mannheimia species are nonmotile, non-spore-forming,