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Clinico-pathological profiles were studied in adult and young Friesian cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Sixty-two clinical cases of T. annulata infection in adult and young Friesian cattle were diagnosed during the period from August 1999 to July 2000. Symptoms observed were marked fever, swelling of superficial lymph nodes, inappetance, tachycardia, dyspnoea and weakness. The most prominent gross pathological features were jaundice, petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages involving mucosal and serosal surfaces of many organs as well as body fat. A number of young and adult Friesian cattle undergoing lethal T. annulata infection developed lymphoma-like lesions in a manner similar to that of T. parva. The main histological findings were necrosis and severe lymphocytic infiltration. The spleen, lymph nodes and Peyer's patches were devoid of typical lymph nodules.

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BackgroundDengue fever, caused by dengue virus (DENV), has become one of the most important mosquito-borne viral diseases with a steady rise in global incidence, including the Sudan. Sporadic cases and frequent acute febrile illness outbreaks, compatible with Dengue fever, have been reported in El-Gadarif State, Sudan. However, diagnosis was based almost exclusively on clinical signs without confirmatory laboratory investigations. Despite the magnitude of the problem in El-Gadarif State, no information is currently available with regard to the epidemiology of the disease in this State. El-Gadarif State is one of the largest commercial centers in the Sudan. The objective of the present investigation is to estimate the prevalence of DENV antibodies, and determine the potential risk factors associated with seropositivity among residents of El-Gadarif State.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted in a total of 701residents randomly selected from all 10 localities in El-Gadarif State. The sera from the 701 residents were tested for the presence of DENV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using a commercially available Anti-dengue IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsAmong the 701 residents, 334 residents (47.6%) were seropositive for DENV. Mosquito control (OR = 2.73, CI = 1.37–5.87, p-value = 0.001); low income (OR = 2.31, CI: 1.71–6.36, p value = 0.032); sleeping out-doors (OR = 3.73, CI = 2.63–6.23, p-value = 0.013), and localities were determined as potential risk factors for contracting DENV infection.ConclusionsThe prevalence rate of DENV antibodies among residents of El-Gadarif State is significantly high (47.6%). Further epidemiologic studies including, distribution of mosquito vectors and implementation of improved surveillance are urgently warranted for better prediction and prevention of a possible DENV outbreak in El-Gadarif State, Sudan.

Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis were assessed in 55 cases of heat stroke who presented with or without bleeding tendencies during the Makkah pilgrimage of 1983. 17 patients were identified to have evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Bleeders with DIC had a higher incidence of shock and a higher mortality when compared to non-bleeders. Thrombocytopenia and liver cell damage were not limited to cases with DIC. Coagulation factors and serum enzyme studies suggested non-specific tissue damage as the trigger mechanism for DIC possibly proceeding through the extrinsic system of blood clotting. We conclude that the breakdown of haemostasis in heat stroke is multifactorial: thrombocytopenia, liver cell damage and DIC.

In this study, we measured the concentration of some antioxidant substances in erythrocytes hemolysate, liver, kidney and brain in young and adult camels. It has been found that the activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the concentration of glutathione, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol are high in both young and adult camels. GSH-Px and CAT activities were higher in adult camels than in the young whereas no significant difference in the activity of SOD between young and adult camels was noticed. Glutathione was present in all tissues studied. Ascorbic acid was found to have significantly higher values in young camels. From this study it could be concluded that, as in other mammals, camel tissues contain a powerful antioxidant system. The liver has the highest contents of antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes indicating that it plays an important role in pro-oxidants detoxification. Age has a variable effect on the antioxidant system in camels.

The passive haemagglutination test and Ag-ELISA were employed to monitor antibody titres and antigenaemia levels in 4 Najdi camels experimentally infected with T@unosoma euansi. The two tests were also used to determine the prevalence of trypanosomiasis in a total of 218 Najdi camels in the Gassim region, Central Saudi Arabia, during the period from October 1992 to September 1993. T@unosoma euansi antibodies in the experimentally infected camels rose after 1&21 days and reached a maximum of between 1:64 and 1:128 by the 12th week post infection. Circulating antigens were detected in the experimentally infected camels one week post infection and antigenaemia levels fluctuated but generally remained above preinfection OD values. The results obtained from the field s w e y showed that 5.5% of the sampled camels were parasitologically positive for trypanosomes, while 19.7 % were serologically positive by the passive haemagglutination test and 13.8% by Ag-ELISA. No significant age difference in seropositivity was observed in the tested camels.