EHV-1 infection is responsible for huge economic losses in equines due to abortion and neonatal mortality. In this study, we describe 4 cases of abortion and neonatal deaths from pregnant mares and a she-donkey from different localities in Egypt during the period from May 2015 to October 2017. Attempts were made to isolate and identify EHV-1, in addition to compare the different pathological lesions in various tissues of the necropsied cases. EHV-1 was successfully isolated from two aborted fetuses and one dead neonatal foal from mares, beside one aborted fetus from a she-donkey. The positive cases showed cytopathic effect on embryonated chicken eggs scattered on chorioallantoic membrane. Moreover, PCR was applied for the pock lesions and revealed positive results for EHV-1. Interstitial pneumonia, bronchopneumonia and necrosis of hepatic, myocardial, microcotyledonary tissues besides disseminated thrombi were the main encountered lesions. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were demonstrated in brain, liver, placenta and pulmonary tissues. Here, we describe EHV-1 induced brain lesions represented by degenerated neurons, vascular endotheliosis with intranuclear inclusion bodies in the aborted she-donkey fetus. Lesions were more sever in the aborted fetuses from mares than the one from the she-donkey. EHV-1 antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry staining.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

E quine neoplasia leads to economic losses which ranged from undesirable effects on the animal's skin to locomotors and reproductive dysfunctions. Equine sarcoid is considered to be one of the most prevalent skin affections in equids (Chambers et al., 2003). It represents nearly 20% of equine tumors and about 90% of equine skin neoplasia. Although it had a low mortality rate, it has a direct effect on the material value of horses and may lead to lameness according to their locations (Goodrich et al., 1998). (Valentine, 2006) recorded the most common neoplasms in equine populations as the following; sarcoid (51.4%), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (18.3%) beside melanocytic tumors, papillomas, and mast cell tumors were, constituting (17.8%). while, lymphoma, fibrosarcoma, fibroma, schwannoma, hemangiosarcoma, lipoma, malignant mela-

Since the duration of clinical signs could be used to identify cases of chronic constipation, in addition, prolonged duration is often associated with irreversible changes. Thus, the main objective of this study was to determine whether the duration of clinical signs of idiopathic megacolon in cats affected their diagnosis and prognosis after treatment. Medical records of cats that either had confirmed megacolon for an unknown cause (cat patients) or with normal bowels (control cats) were reviewed. Cat patients were grouped based on the duration of their clinical signs (constipation/obstipation) to cats <6 months and ≥6 months. For all feline patients, abdominal radiographs (for colonic indexes) and resected colon specimens (for histology) were assessed vs. control cats. Treatment applied to cat patients was also evaluated. Cat patients were older (p = 0.0138) and had a higher maximum colon diameter (MCD; mean 41.25 vs. 21.67 mm, p < 0.0001) and MCD/L5L ratio (1.77 vs. 0.98, p < 0.0001) than controls. Compared to cats with <6 months, cats ≥6 months showed a higher MCD (43.78 vs. 37.12 mm, p < 0.0001) and MCD/L5L ratio (1.98 vs. 1.67, p < 0.0001). Histologically, increased thickness of the smooth muscularis mucosa (54.1 vs. 22.33 μm, p < 0.05), and inner circular (743.65 vs. 482.67 μm, p < 0.05) and outer longitudinal (570.68 vs. 330.33 μm, p < 0.05) smooth muscular layers of the muscularis externa was noted only in cat patients with ≥6 months compared to controls. Similarly, fewer ganglion cells (0.93 vs. 2.87, p < 0.005) and more necrotized myocytes (2.25 vs. 0.07, p < 0.005) were observed in cats with ≥6 months. In contrast to <6 months, the majority of cats (94.4%) with ≥6 months duration did not show any response to medical treatment and therefore underwent surgery with favorable results. In conclusion, this study suggests that the duration of clinical signs should be considered in conjunction with maximal colon scores to evaluate cats for idiopathic megacolon and determine the level of treatment. Functional abnormalities of the colonic smooth muscles may be a possible cause of idiopathic megacolon in cats.

The present study aimed to illustrate the hypolipemic effect of 10-Dehydrogengardione (10-DHG) or caffeic acid (CA) with reference to the role of microRNA-122 (miR-122) and ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) activity. Diabetic hyperlipidemia was induced in rats, and then randomly classified into three groups. The first one received only a CCT-diet for 6 weeks and was referred to as the positive control. The other two groups received 10-DHG (10 mg/kg/day) or CA (50 mg/kg/day), orally for 6 weeks along with a CCT-diet. Another group of normal rats was included, received a normal diet, and was referred to as the negative control. Either 10-DHG or CA significantly decreased MiR-122 expression and appeared more remarkable in the CA group by 15.5%. The 10-DHG greatly enhanced phosphorylated form of AMP activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) activity, more than CA by 1.18-fold, while the latter exerted more inhibitory effect on ACLY, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) activities compared with 10-DHG (p < 0.05). Both drugs significantly decreased hydroxy methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-COA) reductase activity, which appeared more remarkable in 10-DHG, and significantly decreased triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) along with a high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increase. The 10-DHG ameliorated the hepatic tissue lesions greatly, more than CA. The 10-DHG or CA significantly inhibited MiR-122, hepatic FAS, and ACLY levels along with p-AMPK activation. This subsequently led to reduced plasma TG, cholesterol levels, and blood glucose improvement and, indeed, may explain their mechanisms as hypolipemic agents.