The purpose of this study was to determine serum ADA activity in cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata. In this study, a total of 37 cross-bred cattle which 27 of it showing clinical signs of theileriosis constituted infected group and 10 healthy cattle as control group were used as animal materials. Infected group divided into three groups according to their PCV values. Cattle with PCV > or = 25 were put on group I (n = 9), those with PCV 13-24 were put on group II (n = 11) and those with PCV < or = 12 were put on group III (n = 7). Microscopical diagnosis of the disease was also made. Hematological parameters, serum enzyme activities (ADA, AST, ALT and ALP) were determined in all cattle. Hematological results revealed that significant progressive decreases in HGB, PLT, PBML counts and ratios from group I onwards to group III, whereas the WBC, PBPL counts and ratios showed an increase from group I onwards to group III. The serum ADA, AST, ALT and ALP activity increased significantly in all infected groups compared to control group. However, these parameters were also observed to decrease progressively from group I to group III. Furthermore, the highest increase in enzyme activities observed in the infected group I. But, these enzyme's activities started to decrease in infected group II and III in parallel with PBML and PLT counts. Eventhough, this decrease did not reach to the values obtained from control group. On the contrary, PBPL counts and ratios increased in infected group II and III in contrast to decrease in PCV. As a result, increased serum ADA activity in tropical theileriosis may reflect the involvement of the cellular immune responses.

In this investigation, the effect of steaming on the water vapor diffusion coefficient of poplar wood (Populus nigra L.) was studied. Boards with dimensions of 50 × 50 × 150 (W × H × L) mm 3 and average moisture content of 12% were steamed at temperatures of 120, 140, 160, and 180 °C for 1, 2, and 3 h. The diffusion coefficients were then measured based on Fick's law of diffusion in steadystate conditions using the cup method. Results showed that the steaming of poplar wood at all mentioned temperatures can decrease the water vapor diffusion coefficient. However, no further improving effect was caused by increasing the steam temperature or duration. Some significant wood anatomical and chemical changes like cell wall collapse and holocellulose hydrolysis give some explanations for the improving effect of steaming on the diffusion coefficient. Overall, steaming at temperature of 120 °C for 1 h as the best treatment is recommended to modify the water vapor diffusion coefficient.

This study involved 14 ostriches of both sexes between 3 and 24 mo of age. Some hematologic and biochemical parameters were studied in animals with stomach impaction. Clinical examination of the birds revealed anorexia, emaciation, decreased defecation, listlessness, separation from the flock, and recumbence. The total number of leukocytes (10.4 x 10(3) mm3), the concentrations of serum glucose (166 mg/dl), and total protein (2.4 g/dl) decreased; serum creatine phosphokinase (1240 U/L) and alkaline phosphatase (598 U/L) increased; whereas no changes were found in the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and copper. Medical treatment was initiated in 13 animals; six of them recovered and seven birds died. Necropsy revealed edema, erosions, and hemorrhagic ulcers in the stomach of the dead birds. Foreign bodies such as sand; stone; pieces of wood, glass, and plastic; and metallic objects were encountered in the stomach at the necropsy. In one bird, metallic foreign body was diagnosed and the bird was referred to surgery. Under stress factors, ostriches tend to eat foreign material; therefore, adequate housing, nutrition, and care are crucial in prevention of stomach impaction.

Three young ostriches (Struthio camelus), aged 4 months, were found to have zygomycotic proventriculitis and ventriculitis associated with impaction. Clinical signs were anorexia, chronic weight loss, weakness and lethargy followed by scant faeces for seven days. Proventriculi and ventriculi from birds were full of masses of hay, grass, leaves and other fibrous materials in combination with sand, gravel and plastic. Erosions and haemorrhagic ulcers of varying number and severity were present in the mucosae of both organs involved. Mucosal lesions were characterized by haemorrhagic necrosis. Throughout the affected mucosae there were 5 to 12 microns wide rarely-septated fungal hyphae with non-parallel walls, irregular branching and occasional globoid distentions, typical of Zygomycetes. Zygomycotic proventriculitis and ventriculitis secondary to impaction was diagnosed.