Volume 4, Issue 1

Feline panleukopenia (FP) is a fatal viral disease that predisposes cats to sepsis and organ failure. Owing to a wide variety of clinical findings, hematochemical examinations are significant for the determination of early signs of disease-related complications. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of certain hematochemical parameters together with quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) in cats with FP. A total of 10 healthy and 30 panleukopenic cats were included in this study. Physical examinations revealed that the body temperature was highest in septic panleukopenic cats ( p < 0.009) and they had higher qSOFA scores ( p = 0.000). Hemogram analysis revealed that leukocyte, lymphocyte, granulocyte, erythrocyte, and hemoglobin levels were lower in non-septic panleukopenic cats compared with the healthy ones ( p < 0.030). Also, monocyte and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels were lower in septic ones ( p < 0.048). Serum biochemistry profiling revealed higher blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, and C-reactive protein levels in panleukopenic cats ( p < 0.033). As a result, it was concluded that although the qSOFA is not sufficient to distinguish sepsis in cats, unlike dogs, in order to achieve a positive clinical outcome, when evaluated together with hematochemical variables, it may help in making early diagnosis of FP-related complications.

Experiments were performed to determine the effects of ergothioneine (ERG) on behavioural responses of stallions to exercise during hot-dry and rainy seasons. Eighteen healthy stallions were divided into three groups of six horses each. Group I (ERG + Exercise) was treated with ERG before exercise, group II was treated after exercise (Exercise + ERG), and group III (Exercise only) was not treated but subject to exercise. The stallions were subjected to a race of 2,000 m at maximum speed. The time spent standing by the horses in the ERG + Exercise and Exercise + ERG groups (1430.31 ± 30.73 s/30 min and 1403.32 ± 32.43 s/30 min, respectively) were higher ( P < 0.0001) than the time spent standing in the Exercise-only group (1033.26 ± 21.19 s/30 min). The number of times the stallions bit their cribs per 30 min in the ERG + Exercise (0.38 ± 0.02/30 min) and Exercise + ERG (0.67 ± 0.0530 min) groups was lower ( P < 0.0001) than that recorded in the Exercise-only group (3.51 ± 1.7730 min). It was concluded that ERG modulates behavioural responses to exercise in stallions, and the agent may be beneficial in alleviating exercise-induced stress responses and improving the welfare of horses post-exercise.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are endemic in Zambia and several other Sub-Saharan countries. They affect livestock production by causing high morbidity and mortality, resulting in increased production losses in terms of live-weight gain, milk production, off-take rates, and draft power. Herein, we applied a facility-based design to assess the proportion and seasonal distribution of theileriosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and heartwater in cattle from selected smallholder farms in Lusaka and Central provinces of Zambia using laboratory records for microscopic examination of haemoparasites. The overall proportions for theileriosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis were 33.7% (95% CI: 30.7–38.2%), 8.3% (95% CI: 6.4–10.9%), and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.1–1.4%), respectively. Heartwater was detected in all the six laboratory records reviewed. Lusaka province had the highest proportion of theileriosis at 30.2% (95% CI: 25.5–35.3%), followed by babesiosis, 8.5% (95% CI: 5.8–11.9%), and anaplasmosis, 0.3% (95% CI: 0.01–1.6%). Similarly, Central province had the highest proportion of theileriosis at 39.5% (95% CI: 33.8–45.4%), followed by babesiosis, 8.4% (95% CI: 5.5–12.2%), and anaplasmosis, 0.7% (95% CI: 0.1–2.5%). Among the districts, Rufunsa district had the highest proportion for theileriosis at 70.6% (95% CI: 44.0–89.7%), followed by Kafue, 54.5% (95% CI: 23.4–83.3%), and Shibuyunji, 51.4% (95% CI: 34.0–68.6%). Analysis of seasonal variation revealed no statistical difference between the dry and wet seasons for theileriosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference between Central and Lusaka provinces for babesiosis and anaplasmosis except for theileriosis. These data may have implications on farmers’ herd health management strategies with respect to TBDs, and farmers should be sensitized for effective implementation of risk-based disease control.

Sheep pox is a highly contagious infectious viral disease (F/Poxviridae, G/ Capripoxvirus ), still causing economic damage in endemic zones like northern Africa, the Middle East, and many regions in Asia. Nevertheless, the clinical symptoms caused by sheep pox virus (SPPV) is similar to those caused by genetically related viruses, notably goat pox virus (GTPV) and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). One of the main objectives of the current study is to characterize the virus; nasal swabs were taken from sheep showing SPPV clinical signs, submitted to molecular sequencing based on the P32 gene marker, and proceeded to genetic comparisons. Phylogenetic results showed that all virus isolate sequences cluster in the SPPV clade, thus distinguishing them from those of GTPV and LSDV. These results give an accurate diagnostic and a clear view of endemic viral strains, guiding veterinary managers in control politics, especially in the choice of a homologous vaccine.