Variations in protein and fat contents and their fractions in milk from two species fed different forages.

This study aimed at determining the variations in milk constituents which could be varied by feed and animal species. To achieve this goal, two groups of homoparity Baladi cows and Egyptian buffaloes (n = 20 per species) were used. Each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 10): subgroup I received legume forage (Egyptian clover) and subgroup II received grass forage (sorghum forage). All experimental animals were fed the diet consisting of concentrate, forage and rice straw as 50, 25 and 25% of dry matter intake respectively. Milk samples were taken for analysis. The trial lasted until the 3rd month of parturition. The main results indicated that lactating cattle fed legume forage significantly (p ≤ 0.01) had more content of casein nitrogen (513 mg/100 ml milk), lower content of glutamic acid (23.56 g/100 g milk protein) and more content of cis-9, trans-11 18:2 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (0.77 g/100 g milk fat) compared with 433, 26.67 and 0.53, respectively, for cattle fed grass forage. With regard to the species effect, results showed that buffalo milk appeared to contain significantly higher (p ≤ 0.01) contents of casein nitrogen, phenylalanine, glutamic and arachidonic acid compared with cow's milk. However, the latter was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) more in the cis-9, trans-11CLA (0.59 g/100 g milk fat) than that in buffalo milk (0.47 g/100 g milk fat). The results revealed that not only forage type played a critical role in determining the variations of milk nitrogen distribution, milk amino acids and fatty acids but also animal species had a significant effect on these parameters.

Influence of Sunflower Whole Seeds or Oil on Ruminal Fermentation, Milk Production, Composition, and Fatty Acid Profile in Lactating Goats.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sunflower seeds, either as whole or as oil, on rumen fermentation, milk production, milk composition and fatty acids profile in dairy goats. Fifteen lactating Damascus goats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 5) fed a basal diet of concentrate feed mixture and fresh Trifolium alexandrinum at 50:50 on dry matter basis (Control) in addition to 50 g/head/d sunflower seeds whole (SS) or 20 mL/head/d sunflower seeds oil (SO) in a complete randomized design. Milk was sampled every two weeks during 90 days of experimental period for chemical analysis and rumen was sampled at 30, 60, and 90 days of the experiment for ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and ammonia-N determination. Addition of SO decreased (p = 0.017) ruminal pH, whereas SO and SS increased tVFA (p<0.001) and acetate (p = 0.034) concentrations. Serum glucose increased (p = 0.013) in SO and SS goats vs Control. The SO and SS treated goats had improved milk yield (p = 0.007) and milk fat content (p = 0.002). Moreover, SO increased milk lactose content (p = 0.048) and feed efficiency (p = 0.046) compared to Control. Both of SS and SO increased (p<0.05) milk unsaturated fatty acids content specially conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) vs Control. Addition of SS and SO increased (p = 0. 021) C18:3N3 fatty acid compared to Control diet. Data suggested that addition of either SS or SO to lactating goats ration had beneficial effects on milk yield and milk composition with enhancing milk content of healthy fatty acids (CLA and omega 3), without detrimental effects on animal performance.

Ultrasound-assisted preparation of anise extract nanoemulsion and its bioactivity against different pathogenic bacteria.

The present work aimed to characterize the nanoemulsion of anise seed extract and to compare its efficacy with the bulk extract against pathogenic bacteria. The anise seeds extract was prepared by cold solvent extraction method using ethanol. Nanoemulsion of anise extract was formulated using ultrasound assisted method and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The antimicrobial activity of the nanoemulsion was tested against seven foodborne pathogenic bacterial species. Results showed that the extract contained anethole (37%), naringenin (21%), and taxifolin (13%) as the major phytochemical components. The average droplet size of the nanoemulsion droplets was measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and confirmed by transmission electron microscope to be about 400 nm. Anise extract nanoemulsion showed higher antimicrobial activity against most of the tested pathogens. Anise extract nanoemulsion performed better than bulk extract as an antimicrobial agent against some foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

Reduced longevity and fecundity in Leishmania-infected sand flies.

Phlebotomus papatasi and P. langeroni were infected with Leishmania major and L. infantum by membrane feeding. Each sand fly ingested approximately 200 parasites per blood meal. Higher mortality in both sand fly species was seen with mixed infections than with a single parasite species. There was no significant difference between infections with either L. major or L. infantum in their natural vectors or experimental hosts. Infection significantly depressed the mean number of eggs laid per female.

Natural infections of Leishmania major in domestic dogs from Alexandria, Egypt.

Two leishmanial isolates from dogs from Alexandria, Egypt, were typed serologically and biochemically as Leishmania major. This is the second time that L. major has been shown to occur in dogs. The significance of these findings as a misleading phenomenon in relation to the relatively recent outbreak of infantile kala-azar in the area of Alexandria is discussed.

On the main reservoir host of Fasciola in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

In the present work, a total of 4180 sheep were obtained from different localities at Dakahlia Governorate. One hundred and eighty male sheep were investigated for Fasciola worms (the adult and juvenile forms) at Mansoura governmental abattoir. Four hundred grazing sheep were screened by the coprological examination from ten centers. The mean number of eggs per gm in a group of ten sheep ranged from 2.9-10.8 egg/gm. The number of worms ranged from 5-84. In the Mansoura abattoir, it was found that 37 sheep were infected (20.56%). Fasciola worms were recovered from the livers in 100%, common bile ducts in 60%, gall bladder in 80%, two sites in 50% and three sites in 40% of infected biliary tracts. According to the coprological examination, the infection rate was the highest in El-Manzalla Center (15.75) and the lowest was in Mansoura Center (3.25%). According to the prevalence and egg output results, it is concluded that sheep are the main reservoir host for fascioliasis among the edible animals in Dakahlia Governorate. However, examination of the non-edible animals and the domestic and wild rodents are ongoing and will be published soon elsewhere.

Visceral leishmaniasis with special reference to Egypt (review and comment).

The leishmaniases comprise several diseases of wide diversity of manifestations caused by different species of the genus Leishmania. They are grouped under three main headings: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Leishmania donovani complex which visceralize in man with a predilection for infecting cells in the viscera, particularly in the spleen and the main vectors are Phlebotomus of the "major" group. These include L.d. donovani (Asia, mainly India and China), Ld. infantum (Mediterranean countries) infects mainly children and L.d. chagasi (South America) infects adults and children. In this paper, the historical background of L. donovani and L. infantum with special reference to Egypt is given. Not all the previous references were included, but many of them were cited. Comment was given whenever indicated.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Egypt (review and comment).

Leishmania is primarily characterized by existing in two stages in its life cycle, each occurs in a distinct host. The amastigote stage found in the cytoplasm of the reticulo- endothelial cells, monocytes and other phagocytic cells of the vertebrate host. The promastigote stage found in the gut of its insect vector. The leishmaniasis comprise several diseases of wide diversity of manifestations caused by different species of the genus Leishmania. Because of the virtual morphological identity of the organisms throughout the genus, they are classified according to the clinical conditions which they produce in man, under three main headings: (1) Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL.), (2) Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL.), (3) Visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Generally speaking, leishmaniasis is an example of a zoonosis that reaches man through an insect vector. The great majority of the Leishmania species are maintained by mammalian reservoir hosts in natural foci of infection. Rodents, dogs, wild cats, jackals, foxes, sloths, hyraxes and other carnivores are the animal reservoirs which maintain the infection in nature. The insect vectors are over 50 species of the genus Phlebotomus in the Old World and genus Lutzomyia in the New World.