Veterinary Diseases Research Articles

Efficacy of Tylosin and Tiamulin against Mycoplasmosis in poultry

Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is one of the most important veterinary diseases in Bangladesh and all over the world. Mortality, reducing of weight gain and increasing of feed conversion ratio (FCR) are caused by CRD. Several drugs are used for prevention and control of Mycoplasmosis. It is caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). Tylosin and Tiamulin are effective on M. gallisepticum. By considering generating resistance against antibiotics that is effective on MG, studying the effect of these drugs in the treatment and prevention of Mycoplasmosis in birds were the purpose of this research. In this study, 36 layer birds (MG positive) of 25 weeks aged divided in three similar groups (A, B and C) contain 12 birds in each group. In group A; Tylosin was administered after mixing with 2.5 gm in 1 L drinking water, for Group B; Tiamulin was administered after mixing with feed @ 0.45gm/kg feed and Group C; Control (No antibiotic was given, only common feeding). The Serum Plate Agglutination (SPA) test was conducted; in positive cases granules were formed slowly which could be seen during rocking. In the negative case, no such granules were formed. Overall 6 and 9 serums shown negative SPA test in Group A and Group B, respectively. Therefore, the efficacy of Tylosin was 50.00% and the Tiamulin was 75.00% which resemble statistically significant (P<0.05). In control group, 5 birds were died during experiment. It can be concluded that usage of these antibiotics especially Tiamulin can be essential in the treatment and prevention of Mycoplasmosis in birds.Res. Agric. Livest. Fish.4(3): 187-191, December 2017

In vitro and in vivo efficacy of diamidines against Trypanosoma equiperdum strains.

Trypanosoma equiperdum is a protozoan parasite responsible for causing Dourine, a debilitating neglected veterinary disease, found worldwide affecting equids. It is the only pathogenic trypanosome species that does not require an invertebrate vector for transmission, thus being passed from animal to animal via coitus. At present, there is no officially recognized form of chemotherapeutic treatment and therefore all confirmed (or suspected) cases of infected animals must be slaughtered immediately. For many global communities and farming populations, which rely heavily on their animals for their livelihood, such stringent regulations can seriously enhance the socio-economic problems attributing to poverty. Two reference drugs, together with 37 novel diamidine compounds were tested in vitro using a 72 h drug sensitivity assay to determine their efficacy against two axenically adapted T. equiperdum strains. Further in vivo investigations in mouse models of infection against 4 'true' T. equiperdum strains were performed using the 17 most active diamidines. Single bolus doses of 10 mg kg-1, given i.p. were administered to NMRI mice infected with one of the 4 T. equiperdum strains. The results obtained from this study show that experimentally T. equiperdum can indeed be effectively treated with chemotherapy using in vivo mouse models of infection.

Characterization of old RHDV strains by complete genome sequencing identifies a novel genetic group

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a veterinary disease that affects the European rabbit and has a significant economic and ecological negative impact. In Portugal, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was reported in 1989 and still causes enzootic outbreaks. Several recombination events have been detected in RHDV strains, including in the first reported outbreak. Here we describe the occurrence of recombination in RHDV strains recovered from rabbit and Iberian hare samples collected in the mid-1990s in Portugal. Characterization of full genomic sequences revealed the existence of a single recombination breakpoint at the boundary of the non-structural and the structural encoding regions, further supporting the importance of this region as a recombination hotspot in lagoviruses. Phylogenetic analysis showed that in the structural region, the recombinant strains were similar to pathogenic G1 strains, but in the non-structural region they formed a new group that diverged ~13% from known strains. No further reports of such group exist, but this recombination event was also detected in an Iberian hare that was associated with the earliest species jump in RHDV. Our results highlight the importance of the characterization of full genomes to disclose RHDV evolution and show that lagoviruses’ diversity has been significantly undersampled.

A review of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological relevance of the South African weed Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Solanaceae)

Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. also known as “wild tomato” is a traditional medicine used by indigenous people of Central and South America, to treat both veterinary and human diseases. Various parts of the wild tomato have been widely used in prevention and treatment of numerous diseases including hypertension, diarrhoea, and respiratory and urinary tracts infections. The traditional uses of this plant has attracted researchers to investigate its efficacy using different in vivo and in vitro biological assays, identify and isolate phytochemicals from different parts of this plant. Biological activities of different parts of the plant reported include anti-microbial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-diabetic, cytotoxicity, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, larvicidal and piscicidal activity. Compound classes including steroidal saponin, spirostane saponins, glycoalkaloids, steroidal alkaloids, pyrrolidine alkaloids, sterols, steroid glycosides and lignans were isolated from different parts of S. sisymbriifolium and reported to exhibit biological activities. This review intends to document the ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and toxicity aspects of the South African weed, S. sisymbriifolium. To achieve this, textbooks and electronic databases were used to source the necessary peer-reviewed data. Research reports documented in this review have shown that S. sisymbriifolium has potential to be a contender for the treatment and management of numerous diseases, and a source of new pharmaceutical drugs. However, further research still needs to be conducted in order to fully understand the mechanisms of action of reported bioactive molecules.

Acupuncture and Cutaneous Medicine: Is It Effective?

Background: In China, acupuncture has been used as a form of medical therapy for more than 2500 years. It is a part of traditional medical practice and is used to treat the entire spectrum of human and veterinary disease. Although dermatologic disease has received much less attention in worldwide acupuncture research than pain and musculoskeletal conditions, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting acupuncture's usefulness in this area. Objective: The aim of this article was to review the evidence in the literature regarding the usefulness of acupuncture in managing dermatologic illness. Results: Trials and case reports of patients using acupuncture have been published in the areas of atopic dermatitis and urticaria, herpes zoster, psoriasis, acne, melasma, and hyperhidrosis, as well as in promoting wound healing. Itch modulation by acupuncture has been the focus of recent research as itch is a predominant symptom in allergic skin diseases and leads to serious impairment of quality of life. Conclusions: Although more research is needed, acupuncture's use in cutaneous medicine is promising in the area of itch modulation, in treating atopic dermatitis and herpes zoster pain, and in promoting wound healing.

Two novel house fly Vssc mutations, D600N and T929I, give rise to new insecticide resistance alleles

The house fly, Musca domestica, is a serious pest because it transmits a large diversity of human and veterinary diseases. Insecticides, particularly pyrethroids, are commonly used to control house flies. However, the evolution of pyrethroid resistance has reduced the effectiveness of these insecticides. A major mechanism of resistance to pyrethroids is target site insensitivity caused by the mutations in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) gene (e.g. kdr [L1014F] and super-kdr [M918T+L1014F]). Recently, two novel Vssc alleles, super-kdr+D600N and kdr+T929I were detected in a field collected resistant house fly population in Kansas, USA in 2013. To determine the levels of resistance that these new alleles confer to pyrethroids, we isolated strains having the unique Vssc alleles, but being otherwise congenic to the susceptible strain, aabys. We compared levels of resistance conferred to 14 pyrethroids and determined the inheritance of resistance to 8 pyrethroids. Our results revealed that super-kdr+D600N conferred higher levels of resistance to seven pyrethroids relative to super-kdr, and kdr+T929I showed super-kdr-like levels of resistance in house flies. Our results are compared with previous studies and reveal that addition of T929I to the kdr mutation (L1014F) increased resistance to all pyrethroids (except etofenprox), and enhanced resistance by ~1000-fold to acrinathrin and flumethrin. The implications of these results on the evolution of resistance are discussed.

Standardisation of loop mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid detection of New Duck disease

In the present study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay targeting the ompA gene of R. anatipestifer was standardised using three freeze dried isolates of the organism. The reaction could be completed in a short time i.e. approximately an hour, as compared to PCR which requires about 3 h for completion. The whole isothermal reaction was performed in a simple water bath and the positive reaction could be detected with naked eye, thereby confirming that no expensive equipment is needed for the diagnosis of the pathogen effectively. This technique could be mastered by veterinarians and laboratory technicians very easily compared to PCR; thereby reducing the time lag in reaching a confirmative diagnosis. This assay could be carried out in a local laboratory without any special equipment and high edge facilities.Once properly standardized, the LAMP assay serves as a very simple, rapid and effective pen-side diagnostic technique. It has the potential to revolutionize the field of human and veterinary disease diagnosis, thereby aiding in adopting prompt control and therapeutic strategies.

Poxviruses Utilize Multiple Strategies to Inhibit Apoptosis.

Cells have multiple means to induce apoptosis in response to viral infection. Poxviruses must prevent activation of cellular apoptosis to ensure successful replication. These viruses devote a substantial portion of their genome to immune evasion. Many of these immune evasion products expressed during infection antagonize cellular apoptotic pathways. Poxvirus products target multiple points in both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways, thereby mitigating apoptosis during infection. Interestingly, recent evidence indicates that poxviruses also hijack cellular means of eliminating apoptotic bodies as a means to spread cell to cell through a process called apoptotic mimicry. Poxviruses are the causative agent of many human and veterinary diseases. Further, there is substantial interest in developing these viruses as vectors for a variety of uses including vaccine delivery and as oncolytic viruses to treat certain human cancers. Therefore, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which poxviruses regulate the cellular apoptotic pathways remains a top research priority. In this review, we consider anti-apoptotic strategies of poxviruses focusing on three relevant poxvirus genera: Orthopoxvirus, Molluscipoxvirus, and Leporipoxvirus. All three genera express multiple products to inhibit both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways with many of these products required for virulence.

Rapid in vivo determination of fluoroquinolones in cultured puffer fish (Takifugu obscurus) muscle by solid-phase microextraction coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are a group of antimicrobial agents that have been widely used for therapeutic purposes in clinical medicine for human and veterinary diseases, as well as in aquaculture production. Their residues, however, may survive in foods of animal origin, thus causing health risks for human. In this study, a rapid and sensitive method based on in vivo solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed to detect the residues of five FQs in cultured puffer fish (Takifugu obscurus). In vitro fiber evaluation experiment demonstrated that, compared with the thicker polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating (165µm), the custom-made biocompatible C18-PAN fibers (45µm) exhibited much higher extraction efficiencies towards FQs (approximately 9–31 times). The custom-made C18-PAN coating also possessed excellent reproducibility in fish muscle with the intra-fiber relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 11.2% to 14.3% (n = 6) and inter-fiber RSDs ranging from 13.1% to 16.1% (n = 6), which was suitable for in vivo sampling. The custom-made SPME fibers were subsequently applied to determine fluoroquinolones in dorsal-epaxial muscle of living puffer fish. The accuracies were verified through the comparison with traditional liquid extraction (LE) method, and the sensitivities were demonstrated to be satisfying with the limits of detection (LODs) ranging from 0.3ngg−1 to 1.5ngg−1. In general, this study presented a convenient and high-efficient method to determine fluoroquinolones in puffer fish by in vivo sampling.

RNA Interference Restricts Rift Valley Fever Virus in Multiple Insect Systems.

The emerging bunyavirus Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is transmitted to humans and livestock by a large number of mosquito species. RNA interference (RNAi) has been characterized as an important innate immune defense mechanism used by mosquitoes to limit replication of positive-sense RNA flaviviruses and togaviruses; however, little is known about its role against negative-strand RNA viruses such as RVFV. We show that virus-specific small RNAs are produced in infected mosquito cells, in Drosophila melanogaster cells, and, most importantly, also in RVFV vector mosquitoes. By addressing the production of small RNAs in adult Aedes sp. and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, we showed the presence of virus-derived Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) not only in Aedes sp. but also in C.quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, indicating that antiviral RNA interference in C.quinquefasciatus mosquitoes is similar to the described activities of RNAi in Aedes sp. mosquitoes. We also show that these have antiviral activity, since silencing of RNAi pathway effectors enhances viral replication. Moreover, our data suggest that RVFV does not encode a suppressor of RNAi. These findings point toward a significant role of RNAi in the control of RVFV in mosquitoes. IMPORTANCE Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV; Phlebovirus, Bunyaviridae) is an emerging zoonotic mosquito-borne pathogen of high relevance for human and animal health. Successful strategies of intervention in RVFV transmission by its mosquito vectors and the prevention of human and veterinary disease rely on a better understanding of the mechanisms that govern RVFV-vector interactions. Despite its medical importance, little is known about the factors that govern RVFV replication, dissemination, and transmission in the invertebrate host. Here we studied the role of the antiviral RNA interference immune pathways in the defense against RVFV in natural vector mosquitoes and mosquito cells and draw comparisons to the model insect Drosophila melanogaster. We found that RVFV infection induces both the exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) and piRNA pathways, which contribute to the control of viral replication in insects. Furthermore, we demonstrate the production of virus-derived piRNAs in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Understanding these pathways and the targets within them offers the potential of the development of novel RVFV control measures in vector-based strategies.

Successful implementation of electronic disease reporting in Georgia

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate several aspects of theelectronic disease reporting system and its abilities used in Georgia.Also, the study assessed if the system abilities are tailored to thenational surveillance requirements. User attitudes (system strengthand weaknesses) toward the system was also surveyed.IntroductionThe Ministry of Health of Georgia accepted the ElectronicIntegrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS) as an officialdisease reporting system in 2012. The Georgian government adoptedelectronic reporting for both veterinary and human diseases in2015. We conducted a comparative assessment of progress in theimplementation of electronic reporting.MethodsA face-to-face initial survey was conducted in 2012, a follow-upsurvey (through telephone interviews) was performed in 2016. Theinitial survey was conducted in regions that had EIDSS installedand the follow-up survey was conducted in all regions. Standardizedquestionnaires were used and data was analyzed in Epi Info.ResultsOut of 450 trained EIDSS users, 32% were interviewed in theinitial survey and 25% (of 550) EIDSS trained users were interviewedin the follow-up survey. Of 147 respondents in the initial survey and138 in the follow-up survey, 44% and 79%, believed that they wereusing EIDSS effectively, respectively. The follow-up survey showeda 23% increase in respondents who acknowledge an improvement ofthe electronic reporting; acceptance of EIDSS increased from 80.3%to 97.8%. Of those interviewed in the follow-up survey, 19.7%mentioned that the main success in development of the system is dueto improved collaboration between institutes. However, 17.36% of therespondents in the follow-up survey reported non-sufficient qualitydata.ConclusionsOur study suggests that the acceptance and use of EIDSS hasnoticeably improved, indicating the successful implementation ofelectronic reporting. Recommendations have been made to furtherimprove the data quality by conducting regular data cleaning andadditional user training. We recommend the continuation of EIDSStraining.

ProMED-mail: 22 years of digital surveillance of emerging infectious diseases.

ProMED-mail (ProMED) was launched in 1994 as an email service to identify unusual health events related to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and toxins affecting humans, animals and plants. It is used daily by public health leaders, government officials at all levels, physicians, veterinarians and other healthcare workers, researchers, private companies, journalists and the general public. Reports are produced and commentary provided by a global team of subject matter experts in a variety of fields including virology, parasitology, epidemiology, entomology, veterinary and plant disease specialists. ProMED operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has over 83 000 subscribers, representing every country in the world. Additionally, ProMED disseminates information via its website and through social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook as well as through RSS feeds. Over the last 22 years, it has been the first to report on numerous major and minor disease outbreaks including SARS, MERS, Ebola and the early spread of Zika. ProMED is transparent, apolitical, open to all and free of charge, making it an important and longstanding contributor to global health surveillance.

A first estimate of the structure and density of the populations of pet cats and dogs across Great Britain.

Policy development, implementation, and effective contingency response rely on a strong evidence base to ensure success and cost-effectiveness. Where this includes preventing the establishment or spread of zoonotic or veterinary diseases infecting companion cats and dogs, descriptions of the structure and density of the populations of these pets are useful. Similarly, such descriptions may help in supporting diverse fields of study such as; evidence-based veterinary practice, veterinary epidemiology, public health and ecology. As well as maps of where pets are, estimates of how many may rarely, or never, be seen by veterinarians and might not be appropriately managed in the event of a disease outbreak are also important. Unfortunately both sources of evidence are absent from the scientific and regulatory literatures. We make this first estimate of the structure and density of pet populations by using the most recent national population estimates of cats and dogs across Great Britain and subdividing these spatially, and categorically across ownership classes. For the spatial model we used the location and size of veterinary practises across GB to predict the local density of pets, using client travel time to define catchments around practises, and combined this with residential address data to estimate the rate of ownership. For the estimates of pets which may provoke problems in managing a veterinary or zoonotic disease we reviewed the literature and defined a comprehensive suite of ownership classes for cats and dogs, collated estimates of the sub-populations for each ownership class as well as their rates of interaction and produced a coherent scaled description of the structure of the national population. The predicted density of pets varied substantially, with the lowest densities in rural areas, and the highest in the centres of large cities where each species could exceed 2500 animals.km-2. Conversely, the number of pets per household showed the opposite relationship. Both qualitative and quantitative validation support key assumptions in the model structure and suggest the model is useful at predicting the populations of cats at geographical scales important for decision-making, although it also indicates where further research may improve model performance. In the event of an animal health crisis, it appears that almost all dogs could be brought under control rapidly. For cats, a substantial and unknown number might never be bought under control and would be less likely to receive veterinary support to facilitate surveillance and disease management; we estimate this to be at least 1.5 million cats. In addition, the lack of spare capacity to care for unowned cats in welfare organisations suggests that any increase in their rate of acquisition of cats, or any decrease in the rate of re-homing might provoke problems during a period of crisis.

Characterization of the Bujaru, frijoles and Tapara antigenic complexes into the sandfly fever group and two unclassified phleboviruses from Brazil.

The genus Phlebovirus includes the sandfly fever viruses and tick-transmitted uukuviruses. Sandfly fever group viruses have been isolated from various vertebrate species and from phlebotomines and occasionally alternative arthropods, e.g. mosquitoes, or ceratopogonids of the genus Culicoides. Uukuniemi serogroup viruses have been isolated from various vertebrate species and from ticks. Despite the public health importance of some viruses of the genus, the genomic diversity of phleboviruses that could be incriminated as causative of human or veterinary diseases remains underestimated. Here we describe the nearly complete sequences and genomic characterization of two phleboviruses belonging to the Bujaru antigenic complex: the prototype species and the Munguba virus. Furthermore, six previously unclassified phleboviruses isolated in Brazil were also sequenced and characterized: Ambe, Anhanga, Joa, Uriurana, Urucuri and Tapara viruses. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicated that these viruses group with viruses of three antigenic complexes (Bujaru, Tapara and frijoles clades), with two unclassified phleboviruses. We also performed genomic reassortment analysis and confirmed that there were no events for the viruses described in this study, but we found a new potential reassortment in Medjerda Valley virus, which contains S and L segments of Arbia virus, and probably a unique M segment, both viruses circulate in the same geographic region, indicating these two isolates represent two distinct viruses. This study provides insights into the genetic diversity, classification and evolution of phleboviruses.

Етіологічні фактори та наслідки аномалій розвитку зубів і зубного прикусу у собак

According to the analysis of literary data it was found that in veterinary dentistry orthodontic disease are common, among which are abnormalities of the teeth and dental bite. The causes of the anomalies of the teeth- jaw apparatus are congenital and acquired. These include hereditary, genetic abnormalities, insufficient development of chewing muscles, insufficient root resorbtion of deciduous teeth, reducing the size of the jaws and gums for virtually no altered the shape of the teeth, errors in diet (soft and liquid feed, calcium deficiency), developmental disability, training with the wrong load on the teeth of young animals, deficiency of minerals in the diet, late change of teeth, tooth size discrepancy to jaws sizes, too large molars and so on. Hyperdontia, olihodontia, convergence, retention are registered among anomalies of the teeth. Violation of the number of teeth, the formation and eruption of teeth are referred to the abnormalities of teeth. Violation of the formation of teeth consists of enamel and dentine dysplasia. To the violation of the teething belong: retention, false polilentia, primary or secondary wolf mouth, dysplasia of temporomandibular joints, cranio-mandibular osteopathy (QS). Furthermore we pay attention to the displacement of the tooth crown and crown slope of (retroposition, vestposition, torpoposition, supraposition, infraposition, mezioposition). To the malocclusion in dogs belong: прогнатию, прогенію, direct bite (central occlusion), anterior cross bite, crooked bite, the open bite, alveolar bite, floating (not constant), skewed bite, mixed bite. Malocclusion of teeth and other problems could cause injury to soft tissue, cause pain and to promote the emergence and development of severe periodontal disease.

Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, 6th Edition. Edited by James F.Zachary. Elsevier, St Louis, MO, 2017, (1,394), ISBN 978‐0‐3233‐5775‐3, Price $159 US.

Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, 6th Edition. Edited by James F.Zachary. Elsevier, St Louis, MO, 2017, (1,394), ISBN 978‐0‐3233‐5775‐3, Price $159 US.

Ethnoveterinary Medicine of Tribes of Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh

Ethnoveterinary study was undertaken in the Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh for its high population of ethnic people and the livestock. There are 18 species of 17 genera and 16 families found used by ethnic people to cure veterinary diseases of their domestic animals. Habit-wise analysis showed the use of five species each of herbs, shrubs and trees. Leaf (8) is the predominantly used plant part, followed by stem bark and seed (2 each). The species are used in curing seven ailments with 19 practices. Cassia siamea and 11 practices were found to be new.

UTILIZATION OF ETHNO-VETERINARY MEDICINAL PLANTS IN HASSAN DISTRICT OF KARNATAKA, INDIA

Objective: Present work deals with the studies on ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used by local people in Hassan district, Karnataka, India Methods: The survey was undertaken during 2015-2016 to collect the information on the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used for treating various diseases in livestock in rural areas.Results: A total of 36 ethnoveterinary medicinal plants species belonging to 23 families were recorded along with their botanical names, local names, family name, parts used and their ethnomedicinal usage.Conclusion: Survey was vital importance in finding some miraculous medicines for curing various veterinary diseases.

Using local language syndromic terminology in participatory epidemiology: Lessons for One Health practitioners among the Maasai of Ngorongoro, Tanzania

Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists often occupy remote and hostile environments, which lack infrastructure and capacity in human and veterinary healthcare and disease surveillance systems. Participatory epidemiology (PE) and Participatory Disease Surveillance (PDS) are particularly useful in situations of resource scarcity, where conventional diagnostics and surveillance data of disease prevalence may be intermittent or limited. Livestock keepers, when participating in PE studies about health issues, commonly use their local language terms, which are often syndromic and descriptive in nature. Practitioners of PE recommend confirmation of their findings with triangulation including biomedical diagnostic techniques. However, the latter is not practiced in all studies, usually due to time, financial or logistical constraints. A cross sectional study was undertaken with the Maasai of Ngorongoro District, Tanzania. It aimed to identify the terms used to describe the infectious diseases of livestock and humans with the greatest perceived impact on livelihoods. Furthermore, it aimed to characterise the usefulness and limitations of relying on local terminology when conducting PE studies in which diagnoses were not confirmed. Semi-structured interviews were held with 23 small groups, totalling 117 community members within five villages across the district. In addition, informal discussions and field observations were conducted with village elders, district veterinary and medical officers, meat inspectors and livestock field officers. For human conditions including zoonoses, several biomedical terms are now part of the common language. Conversely, livestock conditions are described using local Maasai terms, usually associated with the signs observed by the livestock keeper. Several of these descriptive, syndromic terms are used inconsistently and showed temporal and spatial variations. This study highlights the complexity and ambiguity which may exist in local terminology when used in PE studies. It emphases the need for further analysis of such findings, including laboratory diagnosis where possible to improve specificity before incorporating them into PDS or disease control interventions.

Acknowledgement to reviewers

The Journal of the South African Veterinary Association (JSAVA), is a contemporary multi-disciplinary scientific mouthpiece for Veterinary Science in South African and abroad. It provides veterinarians in South Africa and elsewhere in the world with current scientific information across the full spectrum of veterinary science, diseases or other conditions that are endemic in, or particularly relevant to sub-Saharan Africa.