Diagnosis of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Saudi Arabia mainlydepends on clinical signs and post-mortem findings, in addition to limited usage of latexagglutination test (LAT). In this study, a PCR method specific for detection of Mycoplasmacapricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) was used as a direct confirmatory methodand to compare it with clinical signs, necropsy lesions and LAT. During the 2016-2017 year,samples of serum, pleural fluid, lung tissue and nasal swab were collected from 40 goats withclinical signs of CCPP, which were selected from goats brought to the veterinary clinic ofQassim University from 18 goat herds and nine localities. Epidemiological data revealed34.1%, 27.8% and 81.6% morbidity, mortality and case fatality rates, respectively. At necropsy,31 of 40 goats (77.5%) were found with lesions matching those of CCPP. Molecular findingssupported the suitability and applicability of PCR as a reliable method to diagnose andconfirm CCPP directly from clinical samples. The disease was confirmed by PCR in 35 goatsout of 40 (87.5%), 15 herds out of 18 (83.3%) and in all localities. Sera of 32 goats (80%) werefound positive by LAT. Four of the five goats and two of the three herds negative by PCR werealso negative by LAT and necropsy examination. Therefore, PCR sensitivity was considered97.2% (35/36). Compared to the claimed high specificity and sensitivity of the used PCRmethod, diagnosis of CCPP based on clinical signs was found less specific and necropsyexamination and LAT were less sensitive. It was concluded that molecular detection of Mccpdirectly in clinical samples should routinely be used to confirm diagnosis of CCPP in theregion of study, prevent economic impact of wrong diagnosis and to hasten control process.

The study evaluated antiviral efficacy of antibiotics- Doxycycline and Kanamycinagainst Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection in vivo. Adult Swiss albino mice (4- 6weeks) were used. Mice were distributed in four groups- control group (A), only drug group(B), JEV infected group (C) and JEV + drug treated group (D). Mice were given intravenousinoculation of JEV strain P20778. Doxycycline was given via intra peritoneal (i. p.) route at 50mg/kg dose. Kanamycin was given to mice via subcutaneous (s. c.) route at 20 mg/kg dose. Alldrug dosages were administered at 24 hr, 48 hr and 96 hr post infection (p.i.) twice a day (BID)for upto 14 days. The mice were monitored for 21 days. The viral load was determined byplaque assay. Viral RNA load and cytokine levels were determined. The infected mice died by8 days of infection. Doxycycline treatment at 50 mg/kg dose after 24 hr p.i. lowered diseaseprogression, prolonging the survival of the animals by a week. Antiviral effect was evidentwith reduction of progeny plaque formation. The plaque formation was reduced at 24 hr p.i.compared to virus group. Doxycycline inhibited viral RNA replication. Doxycycline was ableto moderately modulate proinflammatory cytokines. Kanamycin administration was lesseffective. Thus, the studies demonstrated encouraging results in treatment of JEV infectionby Doxycycline. It indicated that Doxycycline delayed the disease progression. Thus, thefindings suggest that Doxycycline could be used as an adjuvant treatment against JE.

Cats are commonly infected by many species of parasites that includes helminths,protozoan parasites, mites and fleas. Parasites affect the health of cats and cause morbidityand mortality, especially in young and old animals. Some species such as Ancylostoma spp.,Opisthorchis felineus and Echinococcus spp. are well-known zoonotic parasites worldwide,that high public health risks. Currently of available data on prevalence of feline parasites inRussia, and published studies provide incomplete information regarding the period ofparasitological study, number of cats examined, origin, gender and life condition of examinedanimals. There are no official veterinary guidelines on parasitological examination available.Moreover low quality of veterinary monitoring and inadequate preventive measures has leadto the high rates of environmental contamination by infested cats’ feces containing helminthseggs and protozoan cysts. This paper reviews the knowledge on feline parasites fauna andthe prevalence in Russia. Practical aspects related to diagnosis, treatment, and controls ofparasitic diseases of cats in Russia are discussed.

The aim of present study was to determine the seroprevalence of Dirofilariaimmitis in dogs and cats from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Blood samples were collected by cephalicand jugular venipuncture from 294 dogs and 190 cats from Riyadh. Serum samples weretested against circulating D. immitis antigen using DiroCHEK?, SYNBIOTICS Corporation,San Diego, CA 92127, USA and anti-D. immitis antibodies using Green Spring D. immitis IgGantibody ELISA test kit, Shenzhen Lvshiyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Guangdong, China. D.immitis antigens were detected in 7.82% of the dogs and in 1.58% of the cats, while antibodiesagainst D. immitis were detected in 13.61% of the dogs and 2.11% of the cats. In outdoordogs, antigens of D. immitis were detected in 10.33% while antibodies were detected in16.85%. A significant difference in the seroprevalence of D. immitis antibodies in dogs wasreported in the summer compared to the winter (p<0.05). There was no significant differenceobserved in the seroprevalence between males and females dogs. Older dogs (3-6 years)showed higher prevalence of D. immitis antigen compared to younger dogs, in the contraryD. immitis antibody prevalence was higher in younger dogs (1-3 years) compared to olddogs. In cats, the prevalence of D. immitis antigen and antibody was high in males comparedto the females, however, the difference was not statistically significant. There was no effectfor the season and age in the prevalence of D. immitis in cats.

Ovitrap surveillance was initiated for eight continuous weeks to determine the distribution and abundance of Aedes sp. mosquitoes in the University of Malaya campus, Kuala Lumpur, and the impact of meteorological conditions on the Aedes populations. Two study areas within the campus were selected: Varsity Lake and Seventh Residential College. The abundance of Aedes populations in Varsity Lake was indicated by ovitrap index (OI) which ranged from 60.00% - 90.00%. The mean number of larvae per ovitrap of Aedes albopictus in Varsity Lake ranged from 11.23 +/- 2.42 - 43.80 +/- 6.22. On the other hand, the outdoor OI for Seventh Residential College ranged from 73.33% - 93.33%, respectively, while the mean number larvae per ovitrap for this area ranged from 19.33 +/- 4.55 - 35.27 +/- 5.46, respectively. In addition, the indoor OI of Seventh Residential College ranged from 0.00% - 30.00%, while the mean number of larvae per ovitrap for Ae. albopictus ranged from 0 - 5.90 +/- 3.55. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) of Ae. albopictus population between Varsity Lake and Seventh Residential College. The studies showed a correlation between OI and mean number of larvae per ovitrap for outdoor Ae. albopictus populations in Varsity Lake and Seventh Residential College (r = 0.794). There was also a correlation between the mean larvae number per ovitrap of Ae. albopictus obtained from eight weeks indoor ovitrap surveillance in Seventh Residential College with rainfall (r = 0.584). However, there was no correlation between the mean larvae number per ovitrap of Ae. albopictus in both study areas with temperature and relative humidity. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were found neither indoor nor outdoor in both study areas. This study indicated that the principal dengue vector in the university campus was most likely Ae. albopictus.
College ; Seventh ; Lake ; Aedes ; seconds

A chemical-ecology approach has been used to screen plants growing in Guyana Highlands as an indicator of production of biologically active secondary metabolites. Extracts of leaves from 19 species, most of them endemic in this area, and collected at the top of Roraima Tepui (2,723 m) were screened in vitro at different concentrations for their potential cytotoxic activity against three tumour cell lines: HT29 (colon), A549 (lung) and MDA-MB-231 (breast). MTT (tetrazolium blue) colorimetric assay was employed as cytotoxicity test. Extracts of nine species caused less than 30% growth in at least one cell line. From these species, high cytotoxic activity was detected in Casearia sylvestris var. lingua and Ledotamnus sessiliflorus extracts; medium activity was found in Cyathea sp. Two other species, Cyrilla racemiflora and Heliamphora minor showed lower but significant cytotoxicity. Further cytotoxicity-directed fractionation of these extracts would be advisable to isolate and identify the active principles of these plants.
Cytotoxicity ; Aspects of disease screening ; Cell Line ; MB-2 ; Employed

Signal fly, Scholastes sp. (Diptera: Platystomatidae) was observed associated with animal carcasses in Malaysia. The first observation was on a monkey carcass, which was killed by using a handgun and immediately placed in a forested area in Gombak, Selangor while the second observation was on a pig that died of natural causes and whose carcass was placed in an oil palm plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor. Both animal carcasses were visited by Scholastes sp. flies during the fresh decomposition period. However, the role Scholastes flies in the decomposition process remains unknown. In this paper, we report the occurrence of Scholastes sp. on animal carcasses in Malaysia for the first time.
Diptera ; Animals ; Malaysia ; Patient observation ; First

During a forensic entomological study conducted at an oil palm plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat, Selangor, a Bengalia emarginata Malloch, 1927 (Diptera: Calliphoridae: Calliphorinae: Bengalini) was collected for the first time. Two adults were collected nearby the pig carcass by the first author and identified by the second. Prior to this finding, nine species of Bengalia were recorded from peninsular Malaysia or Borneo. Male of B. emarginata are different from Bengalia varicolor Fabricious by the following characters: Sternite 5 projection rounded with small identation and mid tibia double-fringed in ventral surface.
Calliphoridae ; Malaysia ; Diptera ; Upper case Bee ; Status pre-

Legionella pneumophila are intracellular pathogens, associated with human disease, attributed to the presence and absence of certain virulent genes. In this study, virulent gene loci (lvh and rtxA regions) associated with human disease were determined. Thirty-three cooling tower water isolates, isolated between 2004 to 2006, were analyzed for the presence of these genes by PCR method. Results showed that 19 of 33 (57.5%) of the L. pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates have both the genes. Six (18.2%) of the isolates have only the lvh gene and 2 (6.1%) of the isolates have only the rtxA gene. However, both genes were absent in 6 (18.2%) of the L. pneumophila isolates. The result of our study provides some insight into the presence of the disease causing L. pneumophila serogroup 1 in the environment. Molecular epidemiological studies will provide better understanding of the prevalence of the disease in Malaysia.
L ; Malaysia ; Genes ; Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 ; occurrence

Fannia prisca Stein, 1918 is newly recorded from peninsular Malaysia. This record is based on 4 male specimens from Mount Berembun, Brinchang, Cameron Highland, Pahang state, peninsular Malaysia. It is previously recorded from China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Bonin Island, Thailand and oriental region. The male of Fannia prisca can be differentiated from male Fannia scalaris by the following features: for F. prisca, mid-coxa without spine; mid-tibia normal or without stout triangular ventral projection; and hind tibia usually with 2 av, while F. scalaris has several stout hook-like spines on the anterior margin; mid-tibia with stout triangular ventral projection and hind tibia usually with 3 av. Both F. prisca and F. scalaris can be differentiated from Fannia leucosticta by looking at its hind tibia, which only has 1 av.
Tibia ; Fannia ; Upper case eff ; Malaysia ; Stout