Parasites are important in animal health because of the various significant challenge they pose to animal health and well-being. The prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal parasitic infections among trade dromedary camels in Kano, a major hub for camel trade in Northern Nigeria, are not well documented. This study contributes to the development of effective parasite control strategies, improving camel health and productivity. This study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites and associated risk factors in camels slaughtered at the Kano Main Abattoir in Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional study design, a total of 115 camels were examined for gastrointestinal parasites using faecal flotation and sedimentation techniques. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 84.4%, with 76.29% of infected camels having mixed parasite infections. Seven different parasite types were identified, belonging to nematodes (Strongyle spp., Trichuris spp., Strongyloides spp.), cestodes (Anoplocephala spp.), trematodes (Fasciola spp.), and coccidia (Eimeria cameli, E. rajasthani). The most prevalent parasites were Strongyle spp. (12.37%) and Trichuris spp. (7.22%). Risk factors significantly associated with parasite prevalence were sex (males 93.3%, females 74.5%) and faecal consistency (pasty 100%, pelleted 80.9%). Body condition score and presence of mucus in faeces did not show a significant association. The mean faecal egg count was 162.7 eggs per gram, with 92.63% of infected camels having mild infections. This study highlights the high burden of gastrointestinal parasites in camels in this region and the need for improved parasite control strategies.

This study investigated the relationships between key fertility and milk production traits in 582 Holstein Friesian cows over a five-year period on a commercial farm in Malkara, Thrace. A total of 1,305 lactation and reproductive records were screened for consistency, with invalid entries excluded. Milk yield parameters -lactation duration; total and standardized 305-day yield; dry period; peak production day; and peak yield- were recorded alongside fertility metrics including age at first insemination, age at first conception and calving, calving interval, inseminations per conception, days open, and parity. Traits were categorized according to lactation number, calving year and season, and production level (Tables 1–2). Persistency indices (P2:1, P3:1, P3:2) were calculated for the 0–100, 100–200, and 200–300 day intervals using established formulas. Statistical analyses employed General Linear Models (GLM) to estimate least squares means and Duncan’s multiple range test for subgroup comparisons. Pearson correlation and simple regression assessed trait interdependencies, assuming no significant factor interactions. Results demonstrated that cows averaged 2.29 inseminations per conception and exhibited a mean calving interval of 395.06 days (range 337.53–508.40 days). Lactation milk yield averaged 8,508.84 kg (range 5,942.46–13,037.57 kg). Analysis of variance revealed that calving interval, lactation duration, age at first calving, days open, and insemination number all had highly significant effects on milk yield (P<0.001), with parity significant at P<0.01. The strongest correlations with milk yield were lactation duration (r = 0.783) and calving interval (r = 0.649), whereas peak day and age at first calving showed negligible associations. These findings underscore the intertwined nature of reproductive efficiency and milk production, highlighting the need for integrated genetic and management strategies to optimize herd performance and sustainability.

The study was designed to determine the impact of administration of P. harmala total alkaloid extract on testicular oxidative stress biomarkers and histomorphometrics of testicular tissues in male mice. After two weeks of acclimatization, twenty eight Swiss albino male mice (Mus musculus) aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into equally four groups each (n=7). Male mice received daily by gavage an alkaloid extract of P. harmala at different concentrations (0, 6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg BW/day in carboxymethyl cellulose vehicle 0.5%) for 35 days. After the sacrifice of male mice, the testes were collected and stored at -80°C, while another set was immediately preserved in 10% formalin after removal from the animals. At the end of the trial, oxidative stress parameters and histomorphometric analyses of testicular tissues were evaluated. A significantly lower value of testicular MDA was observed in the treated groups with the total alkaloid extract of P. harmala compared to the control group (P<0.05). The mean level of superoxide dismutase increased in the groups treated with the 6.25 mg/ kg and 25 mg/ kg of the extract (0.44±0.07, 0.5±0.04 U/mg protein, respectively) compared to the control (0.4±0.08 U/mg protein). The results show a significant (P <0.05) increase of catalase activity in the group treated with a concentration of 25 mg/ kg. Additionally, the histological pattern of the testes in male mice treated with P. harmala extracts appears normal. The diameter of seminiferous tubules and germinal epithelium thickness appeared to increase in the P harmala-treated groups with different extract concentrations. It should also be noted that luminal height values were higher in male mice treated with a concentration of 25mg/kg than in male mice in the control group (P > 0.05). Based on our results, the total alkaloids of P. harmala appear to protect testicular tissues against oxidative stress, suggesting their potential as an antioxidant source. Furthermore, the positive effects of P. harmala seeds extract, especially at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight, are interesting in relation to the histomorphometric measures of testes.

In this study, serum horses were utilized to evaluate the effect of feeding high-quality, protein-enriched diets on antibody production. The horses were divided into two groups, each containing three animals (two females and one male per group).Two feeding periods were implemented, with one group serving as the control and fed a diet containing 13.65% crude protein, while the other group received a trial diet containing 18.05%crude protein. To increase accuracy, the control and experimental groups were alternated in a crossover design. No statistically significant differences were observed between the trial and control groups (p ≥ 0.05). Similarly, no significant differences were found when the data from the trial and control groups were analyzed separately by sex. However, a statistically significant difference was found between sexes (p=0.004), with antibody titers increasing by 40.2% in the trial groups overall and by 42.6% in male horses. No statistically significant changes were found for serum total protein values, albumin, and globulin levels (p>0.05).It was observed that individual antibody levels varied considerably, which limited the ability to achieve statistical significance. However, it can be inferred that the quantity and quality of dietary proteins significantly enhance antibody production in quantitative terms.

Trypanosomiasis is a protozoan disease of major economic importance in livestock worldwide, but it has not been documented in the high-altitude, temperate climate of Kashmir, India. This article reports the first confirmed case of trypanosomiasis in non-descript cattle from the Kashmir Valley. A two-year old female non-descript cow in the first trimester of pregnancy was presented with a history of weakness, infestation of ticks, anorexia, haematochezia, unilateral epistaxis and pica to the Division of Veterinary Clinical complex, FVSc & AH for the treatment. Clinical examination revealed hypothermia, white mucous membrane, enlarged prescapular lymph nodes, tachycardia, respiratory distress and hyper salivation. Haematological analysis revealed very low haemoglobin content and on blood smear examination Trypanosoma evansi organisms were identified which was further confirmed through presence of Trypanosoma evansi tryps in the lymph node aspirate. Blood transfusion was done with whole blood immediately and then Inj. diminazene aceturate @ 5 mg/kg intramuscularly was given which was repeated on 5th day. After 5 days haemantinics were also given. The animal showed clear signs of recovery after blood transfusion. This constitutes the first case of surra in the Kashmir Valley, highlighting the parasite’s expansion into the temperate region of the country and marking a critical observation for veterinary practitioners in the region. Future work is needed to identify the vector and possible reservoirs to prevent the spread of the disease.

Modern veterinary practice faces growing challenges in the field ofbiosecurity, especially in intensive livestock and poultry production.One of the most underestimated, yet critical, factors in maintainingthe health status of animals is the quality of drinking water andthe hygienic safety of the water distribution system. Although ineveryday veterinary practice, the leading causes of health disordersare often attributed to diet, environmental factors, or genetic potential,numerous cases indicate that water is a key vector of microbialcontamination, primarily through biofilm structures that form ininternal water distribution systems. Due to the increasing incidence ofresistant bacterial strains and the limited effectiveness of conventionaldisinfectants, such as chlorine, there is a growing need for new, safer,and more effective sanitation methods.Stabilised liquid chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) is emerging as a potentalternative to conventional agents. This paper represents a synthesisof experimental and review findings related to the use of stabilisedliquid chlorine dioxide for the rehabilitation of the drinking systemin laying hens suffering from colisepticemia. Through a case studyof a farm with a recorded problem of systemic infection caused byEscherichia coli, the causes of contamination, remediation measures,as well as the effects achieved in terms of biofilm reduction, mortalityand microbiological load of water were analyzed. Along with the casereport, the paper analyzes and expands the context of the effectivenessof stabilised liquid chlorine dioxide, based on the literature andprevious studies. Stabilised ClO₂, in contrast to its gaseous form,offers safer handling, a prolonged residual protection effect, andminimal toxicity.The paper emphasises the importance of microbiological control andimproved sanitation of water supply systems in poultry production,and highlights stabilised liquid chlorine dioxide as a highly effectivetool in the fight against biofilm and resistant bacterial strains.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the fundamental legal framework for animal protection is the Law on Animal Protection and Welfare (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 25/09 and 9/18). This law represents a significant step forward, establishing basic ethical standards for the treatment of experimental animals. The aim of this paper was to present the current legislative framework governing animal experiments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its implementation in practice.

One effective anthracycline human chemotherapy drug thatis frequently used to treat solid and haematological cancers isdoxorubicin (DOX). The dose-dependent cardiotoxicity of somemedications can result in irreversible heart failure, limiting theirclinical utility. Understanding the pathophysiology and earlydetection of DOX-induced cardiac injury is made possible byanimal models, especially rats, using acute models of DOXcardiotoxicity due to less time-consuming operations. The aimof this research is to determine a potential cardiotoxic DOX dosein gender-specific Wistar wild-type rats using light microscopyfor evaluating morphological changes of the heart.Adult Wistar rats (n=10), including males (n=5) and females(n=5), were treated with doxorubicin intraperitoneal injection indifferent doses (25 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) per male ratand female rat, respectively. Rats were sacrificed after 48 hoursand 72 hours for the models of 25 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg, whilethe rats of the 40 mg/kg model group were sacrificed 24 hoursafter. The myocardium of the left ventricle is analysed using alight microscope under magnifications of ten and twenty times.Male Wistar rats developed more pronounced morphologicalchanges of the left ventricle compared to female Wistar rats,resulting in myocardial interstitial oedema and disorganisationof myocyte architecture.Male Wistar wild-type rats develop a more aggressive form ofacute cardiotoxicity caused by doxorubicin compared to femaleWistar wild-type rats.

The grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) is an African rodent whose breeding has developed in part due to growing scientific interest. This work is to investigate the internal anatomy of grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) using computed tomography (CT scan). Six grasscutters with an average age of 345 ± 45.63 days and varying sexes and weights, underwent general anesthesia with a ketamine, xylazine mixture and were then subjected to CT scan examination. Volumetric acquisitions were obtained and reconstructed using specific filters: “thoracic or pulmonary tissue,” “abdominal tissue,” and “bone tissue.” Within the thoracic cavity, structures such as the trachea, bronchi, lungs, esophagus, heart, and aorta were identified. In the abdominal cavity, the liver was observed extending transversely from left to right. The stomach, which contained mineral content, as well as the spleen, were clearly identified. The kidneys were also visible, with the left kidney located more cranially than the right. The urinary bladder was identifiable depending on its degree of filling. These same organs have previously been described in rabbits, lemurs, and guinea pigs through CT imaging, supporting comparative anatomical analyses. However, the ureters could not be visualized on the current images. This study represents the first CT scan–based anatomical investigation of the grasscutter and offers valuable insights for applied research in health of this species.