Diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli in calves is an important problem in terms of survivability, productivity and treatment costs. In this study, 88 of 150 diarrheic animals tested positive for E. coli. Of these, 54 samples had mixed infection with other bacterial and/or parasitic agents. There are several diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes including enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and necrotoxigenic E. coli (NTEC). Molecular detection of virulence factors Stx2, Cdt3, Eae, CNF2, F5, Hly, Stx1, and ST revealed their presence at 39.7, 27.2, 19.3, 15.9, 13.6, 9.0, 3.4, and 3.4 percent, respectively. As many as 13.6% of the isolates lacked virulence genes and none of the isolate had LT or CNF1 toxin gene. The odds of isolating ETEC from male calves was 3.6 times (95% CI: 1.1, 12.4; P value = 0.042) that of female calves, whereas the odds of isolating NTEC from male calves was 72.9% lower (95% CI: 91.3% lower, 15.7% lower; P value = 0.024) than that in females. The odds of isolating STEC in winter was 3.3 times (95% CI: 1.1, 10.3; P value = 0.037) that of spring. Antibiograms showed 48 (54.5%) of the isolates to be multi-drug resistant. The percent resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin, ampicillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was 79.5, 67.0, 54.5, and 43.0, respectively. Ceftazidime (14.8%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (13.6%) and aztreonam (11.3%) showed the lowest resistance, and none of the isolates was resistant to imipenem. The results of this study can help improve our understanding of the epidemiological aspects of E. coli infection and to devise strategies for protection against it. The prevalence of E. coli pathotypes can help potential buyers of calves to avoid infected premises. The antibiograms in this study emphasizes the risks associated with the random use of antibiotics.

Treatment of dermatophytosis is quite challenging. This work aims to investigate the antidermatophyte action of Azelaic acid (AzA) and evaluate its efficacy upon entrapment into transethosomes (TEs) and incorporation into a gel to enhance its application. Optimization of formulation variables of TEs was carried out after preparation using the thin film hydration technique. The antidermatophyte activity of AzA-TEs was first evaluated in vitro. In addition, two guinea pig infection models with Trichophyton (T.) mentagrophytes and Microsporum (M.) canis were established for the in vivo assessment. The optimized formula showed a mean particle size of 219.8 ± 4.7 nm and a zeta potential of −36.5 ± 0.73 mV, while the entrapment efficiency value was 81.9 ± 1.4%. Moreover, the ex vivo permeation study showed enhanced skin penetration for the AzA-TEs (3056 µg/cm²) compared to the free AzA (590 µg/cm²) after 48 h. AzA-TEs induced a greater inhibition in vitro on the tested dermatophyte species than free AzA (MIC₉₀ was 0.01% vs. 0.32% for T. rubrum and 0.032% for T. mentagrophytes and M. canis vs. 0.56%). The mycological cure rate was improved in all treated groups, specially for our optimized AzA-TEs formula in the T. mentagrophytes model, in which it reached 83% in this treated group, while it was 66.76% in the itraconazole and free AzA treated groups. Significant (p < 0.05) lower scores of erythema, scales, and alopecia were observed in the treated groups in comparison with the untreated control and plain groups. In essence, the TEs could be a promising carrier for AzA delivery into deeper skin layers with enhanced antidermatophyte activity.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically important diseases of swine, with losses due to poor reproductive performance and high piglet and growing pig mortality. Transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) may occur by both direct and indirect routes; the latter includes exposure to PRRSV-contaminated fomites, aerosols, and arthropod vectors. This review has collected available data on the ex-vivo environmental stability and persistence of PRRSV in an effort to highlight important sources of the virus and to determine the role of environmental conditions on the stability of the virus, especially temperature. The ex-vivo settings include fomites (solid, porous, and liquid fomites), insects, people, and pork meat, as well as the role of environmental conditions on the stability of the virus, especially temperature.

Newly emergent turkey arthritis reoviruses (TARV) were isolated from tendons of lame 15-week-old tom turkeys that occasionally had ruptured leg tendons. Experimentally, these TARVs induced remarkable tenosynovitis in gastrocnemius tendons of turkey poults. The current study aimed to characterize the location and the extent of virus replication as well as the cytokine response induced by TARV during the first two weeks of infection. One-week-old male turkeys were inoculated orally with TARV (O’Neil strain). Copy numbers of viral genes were estimated in intestines, internal organs and tendons at ½, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14 days Post inoculation (dpi). Cytokine profile was measured in intestines, spleen and leg tendons at 0, 4, 7 and 14 dpi. Viral copy number peaked in jejunum, cecum and bursa of Fabricius at 4 dpi. Copy numbers increased dramatically in leg tendons at 7 and 14 dpi while minimal copies were detected in internal organs and blood during the same period. Virus was detected in cloacal swabs at 1–2 dpi, and peaked at 14 dpi indicating enterotropism of the virus and its early shedding in feces. Elevation of IFN-α and IFN-β was observed in intestines at 7 dpi as well as a prominent T helper-1 response (IFN-γ) at 7 and 14 dpi. IFN-γ and IL-6 were elevated in gastrocnemius tendons at 14 dpi. Elevation of antiviral cytokines in intestines occurred at 7dpi when a significant decline of viral replication in intestines was observed. T helper-1 response in intestines and leg tendons was the dominant T-helper response. These results suggest the possible correlation between viral replication and cytokine response in early infection of TARV in turkeys. Our findings provide novel insights which help elucidate viral pathogenesis in turkey tendons infected with TARV.

Kobuvirus infections are common among humans, rodents, carnivores, pigs, and ruminants. We report herein the complete genome sequence of a novel caprine kobuvirus (MN604700) from diarrheic kids in Minnesota. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a kobuvirus genome of 8,139 nt with a single ORF region encoding a polyprotein of 2,480 amino acids. Further analysis revealed nt substitutions along the genome compared with that of the caprine kobuvirus reference strain, with 93% identity. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the clade of the caprine kobuvirus was most closely related to porcine kobuviruses rather than bovine or ovine kobuviruses. Using primers designed from this genome, caprine kobuvirus was identified in the stools of other goats. Sanger sequencing of PCR products indicated 3D and VP1 gene nucleotides of this latter strain were 95% and 91% identical with those of MN604700, respectively. There were 35 and 101 nt substitutions in 3D and VP1 genes, respectively. Findings of kobuvirus over a 2-y period may indicate an endemic state, which needs further research. In addition, screening for kobuviruses over large geographic areas is needed to identify the evolutionary connections among different strains.

Background and Aim: Signs of dysautonomia were frequently observed in calves that died during foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDV) outbreaks in Egypt from 2015 to 2018. This study aimed to describe the clinical and histopathological features of the central nervous system in malignant cases of FMD and excluding possible concurrent bacterial, and bovine herpes virus 4 (BHV4) infections or both. Materials and Methods: In this study, 335 FMDV-infected buffalo calves aged 1-22 months were clinically examined and followed until recovery or death. Of the 335 calves, 134 died (malignant group) and 201 recovered after exhibiting classic symptoms of FMD (recover group). The calves were subjected to clinical examination. For the malignant group, several laboratory trials were conducted to assess the possible cause/s of dysautonomia-related viral, bacterial, or concurrent infections. Koch's postulates and polymerase chain reaction were employed. Postmortem and histopathological examinations of nervous tissue were performed. Results: In the malignant group, signs of dysautonomia were observed before death, including partial or complete gut dysfunction, loss of anal sphincter tone, rapid breathing sounds, fluctuating body temperature, and cardiac arrhythmias. In the malignant group, histopathological examination of the spinal cord, pons, medulla oblongata, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and cerebrum revealed demyelination, neuronal degeneration, and focal areas of malacia and gliosis. The nervous tissue and heart samples from malignant cases were positive for serotype O FMDV. Conclusion: Findings revealed in this study support the existence of neurodegeneration induced by FMDV infection in buffalo calves.