This study was carried out to evaluate the potential effects of 90 days-long dietary supplementation of probiotic and yeast culture on immunity condition of lambs. Fifteen Rahrnani growing male lambs (about 5 months old and 23.21 +/- 2.75 kg body weight) were randomly allocated to three equal groups consisting of 5 animals each. The animals in the first group, served as a control (group C), were fed a basal diet without any supplementation. The lambs in the second and third group were fed the basal diet supplemented with probiotic (group Y) or yeast culture (group YC), respectively. The probiotic consisted of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae) alone, while the yeast culture was composed of Saccharantyces cerevisiae and the media on which it was grown. In group Y and YC, each lamb was supplemented daily with 0.5 g and 7.0 g of live yeast and yeast culture, respectively. Blood samples were collected before feeding the supplements and then every 15 days until the day 90th Total and differential leucocytic counts, total protein, albumin, IgA, IgG and IgM levels were measured in blood. There were insignificant (p>0.05) variations in the levels of total and differential leucocytic counts and total protein among the groups throughout the experiment. However, significant differences (p<0.05) were found in globulin. IgA, IgG and IgM in both (Y) and (YC) groups. but the effect of yeast culture seems to be better than that of the probiotic. In conclusions, the obtained results indicate that the tested probiotic and yeast culture improve the immunological status of lambs.

Changes in prepartum behaviors such as total daily rumination (TDR), total daily activity (TDA) and dry matter intake (DMI) have the potential to be used as early indicators for cows at risk for subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) or hypomagnesemia (HYM) after calving. Our objective was to investigate associations between average daily rate of change in total daily rumination (ΔTDR), total daily activity (ΔTDA) and dry matter intake (ΔDMI) from −3 days prepartum to calving with SCH and HYM at D0 or D3 relative to calving. Prepartum TDR, TDA and DMI were measured in 64 Holstein dairy cows. Blood samples were taken at D0 and D3 post-calving for the measurement of total plasma Ca and Mg concentration. Linear regression models were used to analyze the association between ΔTDR, ΔTDA and ΔDMI and SCH and HYM at D0 and D3 relative to calving. Potential confounding variables were offered to the models and backwards selection was used to determine which covariates to retain. No significant differences in prepartum ΔTDR, ΔTDA or ΔDMI were found between cows with or without SCH and HYM at D0 and D3. Our results suggest that the change in TDR, TDA and DMI in the last 3 days prepartum are not effective predictors for cows that will have SCH or HYM in the first 3 days postpartum.

| This study was designed to evaluate the alterations in oxidative stress status, antioxidants profile, leucogram and some biochemical parameters in Holstein-Friesian (H-F) dairy cows suffered from acute clinical mastitis. Thirty-nine lactating H-F cows were included in this experiment. According to the findings of the clinical examination, the animals were allocated into 2 groups. The first group consisted of 26 cows affected with acute clinical mastitis, while the 2 nd group consisted of 13 apparently healthy cows with negative reactions to California mastitis test (CMT) were served as control group. Physical examination of the selected animals including milk and udder was done. Blood, serum and plasma samples were obtained. Antioxidants, Oxidative stress, leucogram and some biochemical indicators were estimated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly increased (P0.05) in the hydrogen peroxide levels in the same group. Catalase (CAT) activities and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the mastitic group meanwhile, glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activities were insignificantly reduced in the same group. Significant elevated values (P<0.05) of total leucocytic count (TLC) along with significant reductions (P<0.05) in lymphocytes were observed in mastitic cows. Significantly reduced levels (P<0.05) of total protein (TP), globulin, calcium and phosphorus were recorded in the mastitic group as compared to controls. In summary, acute clinical mastitis in H-F cows is obviously associated with marked systemic involvement, typically severely swollen painful udder, and abnormal milk. It is also complemented with significant oxidant/antioxidant, biochemical and leukogram variations that could be used as useful indicators for dairy cows pathological status (mastitis). Oxidant-antioxidant changes explained that cows affected with acute mastitis are accompanied by marked oxidative stress that could be used as a biomarker to check the udder health status.

| This study was conducted to describe the clinical picture, hemato-biochemical changes, and lipid peroxidation/antioxidant status in cows affected with clinical babesiosis for understanding disease pathogenesis, perfect diagnosis, and evaluation of severity and prognosis of the disease. Thirty-eight crossbred cows were involved in this study. Twenty-six diseased crossbred cows showed typical signs of babesiosis and another 12 apparently healthy cows as control were enrolled in the current work. The selected animals were subjected to thorough clinical examination. Giemsa stained blood films were prepared from all cows and microscopically examined for parasitic piroplasm. Molecular demonstration of Babesia bigemina using PCR was performed. Blood samples from examined animals were collected and the hematologic, biochemical, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant alterations were estimated. High fever, inappetence, depression, congested mucous membranes and often dark red urine were the most consistent findings in acute cases. Labored breathing, pale to icteric mucous membranes and general weakness were recorded in prolonged cases. Hematological findings showed significant reductions in RBCs, Hb, hematocrit and neutrophils accompanied with significant elevations in lymphocytes and monocytes in affected animals. Significant reductions in albumin and A/G ratio along with significant increase in globulin, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, iron and copper levels were the most consistent biochemical changes observed in babesiosis affected cows. Excessive lipid peroxidation along with decreased total antioxidant status was observed in cows with babesiosis. The obtained findings indicated that babesiosis is a serious disease has a very characteristic clinical picture in which high fever and hemoglobinuria are the main aspects. Hematologic and biochemical findings indicated that the babesiosis affected cows suffered poor blood picture, severe anemia, liver and kidney dysfunction and significant oxidative stress which are implicated in the severity, pathogenesis and prognosis of bovine babesiosis.

Keywords | Theileriosis, Hematology, MDA, TAC, PCR.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the possible effects of the probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae dietary supplement on body weight and some rumen parameters in lambs. Totally fifteen native growing male lambs (with initial age and body weight of 4.88±0.91 months and 23.21±2.75 kg respectively) were randomly divided to three equal groups (five lambs/each). The first group (C) fed the basal ration without any supplementation, the second group (Y) fed the basal ration supplemented with 0.5 g of live yeast (levucell SC 20.)® daily for each lamb and the third group (YC) fed the basal ration supplemented with 7 g of yeast culture (Diamond V XP™)® daily for each lamb. Rumen liqour samples were collected before supplementation of probiotics and then every 15 days until the day 90th. Rumen liquor pH, ammonia-nitrogen, protozoa counts and total volatile fatty acids concentrations (TVFAs) were estimated. Further, body weight and daily weight gain were calculated. Rumen parameters were significantly affected by treatments (P ≤ 0.05). Also, body weights and weight gain were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) in both supplemented groups (Y and YC).