This study was carried out to determine the pathogen-causing diarrhoea in sheep Ovis aries in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China. A trophozoite was identified as species of ciliate alveolates infecting the sheep based on morphological characteristics examined by microscope. It was mostly spherical, colourless and transparent, with many vesicles. Macronucleus and contractile vacuoles could not be distinguished. Size of the trophozoite was 80–180×70–150 μm and its surface was covered with cilia. Molecular analysis based on sequences of 18S rRNA and ITS genes confirmed the ciliate species as Balantidium coli. According to the literature, there have been many epidemiological investigations of B. coli infection in pigs, monkeys and humans. To our knowledge, this was the first report of B. coli infections in sheep in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area of China, or eleswhere around the world. Importantly, the sheep case was rare but raised our concern that B. coli may spread across species and expand its host range.
Balantidium ; China ; Cilia ; Haplorhini ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Macronucleus ; Sheep ; Sheep, Domestic ; Swine ; Trophozoites ; Vacuoles

No abstract available.
Sheep* ; Temporomandibular Joint*

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) in sheep is a hazardous zoonotic parasitic disease that is caused by Echinococcus granulosus (Eg). At present, serological test is an important diagnostic method for Eg infection in domestic animals. Here, a fusion protein Eg mefAg-1 harboring 8 dominant B-cell epitopes of Eg such as antigen B, tetraspanin 1, tetraspanin 6, reticulon and Eg95 was produced in E. coli and evaluated for CE in sheep by indirect ELISA. Eg mefAg-1 showed in ELISA a high sensitivity (93.41%) and specificity (99.31%), with a coincidence rate of 97.02%. Overall, it is suggested that the Eg mefAg-1 could be a potential antigen candidate for CE serodiagnosis in sheep.
Animals, Domestic ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus granulosus ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; Methods ; Parasitic Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Sheep

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of pedicle cortex perforation on the stability of internal fixation of the vertebral body fracture, and to compare the stability of the vertebrae with pedicle cortex perforation after the injured vertebra transpedicular screw fixation by different ways.

METHODSA total of 36 fresh thoracic and lumbarvertebrae samples of adult sheep (T₁₃-L₁) were equally divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) by using the random number table method. The vertebral compression fracture was performed in the L1 vertebral body of the four groups using the Chiba's method. Four pedicle screws were fixed on the upper and lower injured vertebrae of four groups. In addition, the group C was fixed into a pedicle screw through the injured vertebrae; D group was set two pedicle screws through the injured vertebrae. Then the samples of group B, C, and D were removed a quarter of either side of lateral T₁₄ thoracic pedicle, which was considered as the pedicle cortex perforation model. Four groups were performed fatigue test of 10 000 times by (300 ± 105)N load. The drawing force of the screw and the stability of injured thoracolumbar vertebrae were measured and the differences in every group were compared.

RESULTSThe axial compressive stiffness and maximum drawing force of screws in the other three groups were significantly higher than those in group B (all P=0.000). The maximum range of motion in four directions of group B were significantly larger than those of the other three groups (all P=0.000). The stiffness and the drawing force in groups C and D were significantly larger than those in the group A (all P=0.000), and the maximum range of motion in four directions of the two groups were lower than that of group A (P=0.002, P=0.005). Every testing indicator in group C had no significant difference when compared with group D (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe pedicle cortex perforation seriously affects the stability of the fractured vertebral body. The injured vertebra transpedicular screw can increase the stability of internal fixation.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Erythrocytes* ; Germinal Center* ; Mice* ; Sheep* ; Spleen*

To analyze quality standards of cattle bile and sheep bile, and to discuss the related problems in the standards. The results showed that physical forms of the related medicinal materials of cattle bile and sheep bile were chaotic, and the technical methods adopted in the quality standards were generally backward. In addition, there were still problems that some medicinal material standards lacked necessary test items, which were especially obvious in the relevant medicinal material standards of sheep bile and brought difficulties to quality evaluation and control. We suggest that physical forms of cattle bile and sheep bile in quality standards should be determined, and inspection items should be completed. Based on mainstream analytical technology, some technical methods of these standards should be improved.
Animals ; Bile ; Cattle ; Reference Standards ; Sheep ; Steroids

Aims: This study evaluated in vitro resistance and susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella oxytoca strains) and Staphylococci strains, isolated from sheep’s milk, against antibiotics and essential oils from Thymus satureioides and Mentha pulegium. Methodology and results: Antibiotic resistance tests were done using disc diffusion while essential oils were extracted by steam distillation and yields were calculated relative to plant dry matter. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze each oil's chemical composition. Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid (AMC), Cefotaxime (CTX), Cefoxitine (FOX), Nalidixic acid (NA), Gentamicin (CN), Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Ofloxacin (OFX) were very effective against the E. coli strains tested. Half of the strains were resistant to AMC, 60% to Ticarcillin (TIC) and 80% to Tetracycline (TE). Klebsiella oxytoca was resistant against AMC, FOX and TIC (100%). Antibiotic-resistant testing on Staphylococci strains indicated Staphylococcus capitis and S. chromogenes as the most sensitive. Staphylococcus aureus, S. xylosus and S. cohnii ureal exhibited less resistance to Oxacilin (OX), TE, Pristinamycin (PT), Erythromycin (E) and Penicillin (P). Mentha pulegium resulted in a higher yield of essential oil of 3.2% oil compared to T. satureioides with only 1.85% yield. The monoterpene oxygenated derivatives, monoterpene hydrocarbons and phenols are found in essential oil extracts. Thymus satureioides essential oil had high antibacterial activity even at low concentrations (0.2; 0.55 g/mL). The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values indicate that the essential oils from the plants analyzed had bactericidal effects on all strains tested and are similar to the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The high antibacterial properties of these medicinal plants, against bacteria isolated from sheep’s milk, provide an opportunity to use these medicinal plants in the breeding sector, as additives and preservatives in the dairy industry.
Enterobacteriaceae ; Staphylococcus ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Sheep

Congenital malformations with multiple anomalies have been described infrequently in the veterinary literature. A stillborn male crossbred lamb with diprosopus, craniorachischisis, and arthrogryposis was examined macroscopically and histopathologically in this study. The left head was smaller than the right head. Micrencephaly, agnathia, and a rudimentary tongue, which was adherent to the palate, were present in the left head. Micrencephaly, brachygnathia superior, and cleft palate were present in the right head. Cerebellar agenesis and spinal cord hypoplasia were observed. The cerebrums and the spinal cord were covered with a tapering membranous structure. Neural and dermal tissues were noted to intervene upon microscopic examination of this structure. Disorganization of neurons was observed in both cerebrums, though it was more severe in the left one. This case demonstrates many congenital defects occurring together in a lamb.
Animals ; Congenital Abnormalities/pathology/*veterinary ; Male ; Sheep ; Sheep Diseases/*congenital/pathology ; Stillbirth

Uzbekistan is endemic of cystic echinococcosis (CE). In order to estimate endemicity of CE, we collected data from emergency surgery due to CE in 2002-2010 and also investigated the prevalence of hydatid cysts in the liver and lungs of sheep at an abattoir in Uzbekistan from July 2009 to June 2010. In 14 emergency hospitals, 8,014 patients received surgical removal or drainage of CE during 2002-2010, and 2,966 patients were found in 2010. A total of 22,959 sheep were grossly examined of their liver and lungs, and 479 (2.1%) and 340 (1.5%) of them were positive for the cyst in the liver and lungs, respectively. Echinococcus granulosus is actively transmitted both to humans and sheep, and CE is a zoonotic disease of public health priority in Uzbekistan.
Animals ; Echinococcosis/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Humans ; Sheep ; Sheep Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Uzbekistan/epidemiology

The aim of this study was to refold the OvisAries leukocyte antigen (OLA) class Ⅰ protein with peptides derived from sheeppox virus (SPPV) to identify SPPV T cell epitopes. Two pairs of primers were designed based on the published sequence of a sheep major histocompatibility complex Ⅰ to amplify the heavy chain gene of OLA Ⅰ α-BSP and the light chain gene of OLA Ⅰ-β₂m. Both genes were cloned into a pET-28a(+) expression vector, respectively, and induced with ITPG for protein expression. After purification, the heavy chain and light chain proteins as well as peptides derived from SPPV were refolded at a ratio of 1:1:1 using a gradual dilution method. Molecular exclusion chromatography was used to test whether these peptides bind to the OLA Ⅰ complex. T-cell responses were assessed using freshly isolated PBMCs from immunized sheep through IFN-γ ELISPOT with peptides derived from SPPV protein. The results showed that the cloned heavy chain and light chain expressed sufficiently, with a molecular weight of 36.3 kDa and 16.7 kDa, respectively. The protein separated via a Superdex^TM 200 increase 10/300 GL column was collected and verified by SDS-PAGE after refolding. One SPPV CTL epitope was identified after combined refolding and functional studies based on T-cell epitopes derived from SPPV. An OLA Ⅰ/peptide complex was refolded correctly, which is necessary for the structural characterization. This study may contribute to the development of sheep vaccine based on peptides.
Animals ; Capripoxvirus ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics* ; Peptides/genetics* ; Poxviridae Infections ; Sheep ; Sheep Diseases