Amina Ali Dessouki

This study was done to detect the epidemiology of WSSV (white spot syndrome virus) and how to diagnose it by molecular tools. 200 cultured Litopenaus vannamei samples were collected seasonally and randomly from different localities in Egypt such as Damietta and Port Said governates. Infected shrimp exhibited white spot lesions on the carapace and all over the external surface. Some cases revealed a generalized pink body color and red coloration of appendages (telson). The total prevalence of white spot syndrome among collected shrimp was 11.5% and the seasonal prevalence was 0% ,0% ,6% and 40% in winter, spring, summer and autumn respectively. Molecular diagnosis by conventional PCR with primers specific for WSSV VP28 gave a predicted amplified product at 677 bp fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis. Confirmation of diagnosis was done by histopathological examination, which revealed nuclear basophilic inclusion bodies in the subcuticular cells and vacuolation, degeneration with disarrangement in the hepatopancreas of infected shrimp .

Pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1 (PPMV-1), an antigenic and host variant of avian paramyxovirus Newcastle disease virus (NDV), primarily originating from racing pigeons, has become a global panzootic. Egypt uses both inactivated PPMV-1 and conventional NDV vaccines to protect pigeons from disease and mortality. However, the impact of prevalent strains and the effectiveness of available vaccines in pigeons in Egypt are unclear. This study investigates the virulence of PPMV-1 (Pigeon/Egypt/Sharkia-19/2015/KX580988) and evaluates available paramyxovirus vaccines in protecting pigeons against a PPMV-1 challenge. Ten-day-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs infected with this strain exhibited a mean death time (MDT) of 86.4 ± 5.88 h. The intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) in day-old chickens was 0.8, while pigeons experienced an ICPI of 0.96 and an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of 2.11. These findings classify the strain as virulent and velogenic. Experimental infection of pigeons with this PPMV-1 strain at 10⁶ EID₅₀/0.1 mL resulted in a 62.5% mortality rate, displaying nervous and enteric distress. The virus caused extensive lesions in visceral organs, with strong immunohistochemistry signals in all examined organs, indicating the systemic spread of the virus concurrent to its neurotropic and viscerotropic tropism. Furthermore, vaccination using an inactivated PPMV-1 and live NDV LaSota vaccine regimen protected 100% of pigeons against mortality, while with a single NDV LaSota vaccine, it was 62.5%. The PPMV alone or combined with NDV LaSota induced protective levels of haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titres and reduced virus shedding from buccal and cloacal cavities. Based on generalised linear gamma model analysis, both PPMV-1 and NDV LaSota are antigenically comparable by HI. These findings suggest that using both inactivated PPMV-1 (G-VI) and live attenuated NDV (LaSota) vaccines is an effective prophylactic regimen for preventing and controlling PPMV-1 and NDV in pigeons, thereby reducing the risk of interspecies transmission.

Pigeon paramyxovirus serotype 1 (PPMV-1), primarily originating from racing pigeons, has become a global panzootic, spreading to poultry and wild birds, thus posing a threat to the poultry industry. Egypt uses both inactivated pigeon paramyxovirus (PPMV-1) and conventional Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccines to protect pigeons. However, the impact of prevalent strains and the effectiveness of available vaccines in pigeons in Egypt are unclear. This study investigates the virulence of PPMV-1 isolated from vaccinated pigeons in Sharkia, Egypt (Pigeon/ Egypt/Sharkia-19/2015/KX580988). Ten-day-old specific-pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs infected with this strain exhibited a mean death time (MDT) of 86.4±5.88 hours. The intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) in day-old chicks was 0.8, while pigeons experienced an ICPI of 0.96 and an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of 2.11. These findings classify the strain as virulent and velogenic. Experimental infection with this PPMV-1 strain at 106 EID50/0.1 ml resulted in a 62.5% mortality rate in pigeons, displaying nervous and enteric distress. The virus caused extensive lesions in visceral organs, with strong immunohistochemistry signals in all examined organs, indicating the systemic spread of the virus concurrent to its neurotropic and viscerotropic tropism. Furthermore, vaccination using inactivated PPMV-1 and live NDV LaSota vaccine regimen protected 100% of pigeons against mortality, while a single NDV LaSota vaccine provided 62.5% protection. The PPMV alone or combined with NDV LaSota induced protective levels of hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers and reduced virus shedding from buccal and cloacal cavities. These findings suggest that using both inactivated PPMV-1 (G-VI) and live attenuated NDV (LaSota) vaccines is an effective prophylactic regimen for preventing and controlling PPMV-1 and NDV in pigeons, thereby reducing the risk of interspecies transmission.

Arthritis is a painful inflammatory illness, characterized by joint destruction and disability. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are applied extinsively as pain relievers, however, their prolonged administration can result in undesirable side impacts on various body organs. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has drew researchers’ consideration by virtue of its several medical uses. The current study investigated the anti-inflammatory action of ashwagandha (Ash) versus that of diclofenac sodium (Dic) via the evaluation of paw thickness, hematological, biochemical and inflammatory parameters and histopathological alteration in rats. Rats were distributed into 6 groups, kept for 21 days: control; received normal saline orally, Ash group; orally treated with Ash (200 mg/kg body weight), Dic group; orally treated with Diclofenac sodium (2 mg/kg b.wt), Arthritic (Arth); rats were subjected to sub-plantar injection of 0.1 ml formalin (2.5%) at right hind paw on day 1 and received normal saline orally, Arth+Ash; arthritis was induced as explained in Arth group then treated with Ash (at the same dose as Ash group) orally, Arth+Dic; arthritis was induced as explained in Arth group then treated with Dic (at the same dose as Dic group) orally. Paw thickness was significantly increased in Arth rats than the control ones at various estimated times along the experiment, however, significant decline was recorded in Arth+Ash and Arth+Dic groups. Upon completion of the research (21 days), blood and tissue specimens were harvested. Hematological outcomes announced normocytic normochromic anemia in Arth rats, and this effect was alleviated upon administration of Ash to Arth rats. While, Dic had negative drawbacks on erythrogram. Serum ALT, urea, creatinine, IL-6, CRP, COX2 and hepatic TOC exhibited substantial increment along with substantial decrement in serum IL-10 and hepatic TAC in Arth group. Meanwhile, Arth+Ash and Arth+Dic groups showed significant improvement in these parameters in comparison to Arth group. In addition, our histopathological assessment illustrated the adverse sequel of Dic on miscellaneous rat’s body tissues and that Ash displayed invulnerable action. Lastly, oral administration of W. sominefra extract to rats with arthritis induced by formalin, remarkably decreased paw thickness and alleviated unfavorable modifications in all measured variables in a way better than diclofenac.

Background Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) causes oxidative stress in a variety of pathophysiological circumstances that can induce liver damage. Finding an effective antioxidant that can repair liver damage brought about by CCl4 is crucial. Aim This study investigated whether cinnamon ethanolic extract (CE) could reduce liver damage brought on by CCl4. Methods Twenty male rats were divided into four groups of five rats each; group I, the normal control: rats were fed on basal diet, group II: rats were administered CE at a dose of 0.1mg/kg b.wt daily for four weeks , Group III: rats were subjected to IP injection of CCl4 at a dose of 0.5ml/kg b.wt twice weekly for four weeks, Groups IV: rats were co-administered oral dose of CE (0.1 mg/kg daily) and IP injection of CCl4 (0.5 ml/kg twice weekly) for four weeks . Results CCl4 increased MDA, TNF-α and TNO levels and decreased SOD activity, and GSH level compared to normal group while CE decreased MDA, TNF-α, and TNO levels and improved SOD as well as GSH level comparative to the CCl4. Additionally, CCl4 caused a rise in liver enzymes levels related to the control group, CCl4 also increased TC, TG and LDL-C along with a significant decrease in HDL-C levels . Histopathological analyses of the livers revealed that CE decreased the toxicity of CCl4 and preserved the histoarchitecture of the liver tissue. Conclusions Constructed on its strong antioxidant activity and its phenolic and flavonoid contents, CE expressively reduced oxidative damage compared to CCl4 treated group.

Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is a potentially fatal disease especially in untreated animals. Total samples of 202 rectal swabs collected from dogs and cats were subjected to bacteriological examination. One hundred four bacterial isolates were identified from the total 202 examined samples. The identified bacterial isolates were E. coli (46; 44.23%), Proteus species (22; 21.15%), Klebsiella species (9; 8.65%), C. perfringens (5; 4.80%), Enterobacter species (4; 3.84%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4; 3.84%), Salmonella species (3; 2.88%), Shigella species (3; 2.88%); Citrobacter species (2; 1.92%), Providencia rettgeri (2; 1.92%), Serratia liquefaciens (1; 0.96%), Hafnia species (1; 0.96%), C. bifermentans (1; 0.96%), C. putrefaciens (1; 0.96%). Serological identification for some E. coli isolates revealed that EHEC strains represent (12/26, 46.15%), EPEC (9/26, 34.61%), ETEC (4/26, 15.38%) and EIEC (1/26, 3.85%). Serotyping of Salmonella isolates detected S. Typhymurium, S. Heidelberg and S. Infantis. In case of canine E. coli isolates, resistance was recorded against amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cephalexin, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, erythromycin and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole. Moderate resistance was recorded among feline E. coli isolates to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, tetracycline and trimethoprim/ sulphamethoxazole. Salmonella isolates were highly resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cephalexin, erythromycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole. In experimentally infected puppies with S. Typhymurium, histopathological examination showed necrosis in the tips of the villi and leukocytic infiltration in the submucosa of the jejunum, degeneration and fibrosis of the liver. In experimental salmonellosis in cats, histopathological examination showed coagulative necrosis in the tips of the villi of the jejunum and multifocal necrosis in the liver. In experimental E. coli infection in cats, histopathological examination showed ulceration and necrosis of the small intestine. The liver showed congestion of the blood vessels and fibrosis around the hepatic areas.

HGE is a potentially fatal disease especially in untreated animals. Total samples of 202 rectal swabs collected from dogs and cats were subjected to bacteriological examination. 104 bacterial isolates were identified from the total 202 examined samples. The identified bacterial isolates were E. coli (46; 44.23%), Proteus species (22; 21.15%), Klebsiella species (9; 8.65%), C. perfringens (5; 4.80%), Enterobacter species (4; 3.84%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4; 3.84%), Salmonella species (3; 2.88%), Shigella species (3; 2.88%); Citrobacter species (2; 1.92%), Providencia rettgeri (2; 1.92%), Serratia liquefaciens (1; 0.96%), Hafnia species (1; 0.96%), C. bifermentans (1; 0.96%), C. putrefaciens (1; 0.96%). Serological identification for some E. coli isolates revealed that EHEC strains represent (12/26, 46.15%), EPEC (9/26, 34.61%) and ETEC (4/26, 15.38%). Serotyping of Salmonella isolates detected S. Typhimurium, S. Heidelberg and S. Infantis. E. coli isolates from dogs were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cephalexin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim/ sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, and erythromycin. Feline E. coli isolates had moderate resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, trimethoprim/sulphonamides, and tetracycline. Salmonella isolates were highly resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cephalexin, trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, and erythromycin. In experimentally infected puppies with S. Typhimurium, histopathological examination showed necrosis in the tips of the villi and leukocytic infiltration in the submucosa of the jejunum, degeneration and fibrosis of the liver. In experimental salmonellosis in cats, histopathological examination showed coagulative necrosis in the tips of the villi of the jejunum and multifocal necrosis in the liver. In experimental E. coli infection in cats, histopathological examination showed ulceration and necrosis of the small intestine. The liver showed congestion of the blood vessels and fibrosis around the hepatic areas.

Dapagliflozin is a selective sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor; it reduces glucose reabsorption via the kidney and increases the glucose excretion in urine. This inhibitor functions through a unique insulin-independent mechanism, and is therefore a potential new approach for the treatment of hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the SGLT2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin, by using a rat model of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). The STZ-induced rats showed marked hyperglycemia and other metabolic abnormalities. We clarified the hypoglycemic effect of the combination treatment of dapagliflozin with a low dose of insulin compared with dapagliflozin alone and insulin alone in 3-week and 8-week studies. Our results showed that dapagliflozin in combination with a low dose of insulin significantly lowered hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Furthermore, the antioxidant status and body weight were improved. In contrast, treatment with dapagliflozin alone did not improve the blood glucose levels, lipid profile, antioxidant status, or body weight. These findings suggested that in type 1 diabetes, dapagliflozin was effective in combination with a low dose of insulin; however, the administration of dapagliflozin alone did not achieve a significant effect.