Concurrent infection with bovine leukaemia virus and Theileria annulata in a Friesian calf.

Concurrent infection with bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) and Theileria annulata was diagnosed in a Friesian calf about 6 months of age at a dairy farm at the Qassim region of central Saudi Arabia. The disease ended fatally with signs of liver and heart failure. There was anorexia, pyrexia, anaemia, generalized oedema and jaundice. Haematology showed low RBC counts, PCV percentage and haemoglobin concentration and WBC counts. Lymphocyte differential was high. Examination of blood smears stained with Giemsa's stain showed the presence of piroplasms in red blood cells. Autopsy showed enlarged lymph nodes and lymphosarcoma lesions in the omentum and the heart. There was hydroperitoneum, hydropericardium and hydrothorax. The liver was pale yellow and friable. Impression smears from sliced lymph nodes and stained with Giemsa's stain showed presence of Koch's blue bodies in lymphoblasts. Histopathological examination revealed fatty degeneration of hepatocytes and pleomorphic lymphoblasts and giant cells in lymph nodes. Lymphoblasts infiltrated the omentum and heart tissues. Amyloid was found around blood vessels in the liver, kidneys and lymph nodes. BVL infection was diagnosed by demonstrating antibodies against the virus in serum using agar gel immunodiffusion and was confirmed with ELISA.

Antioxidant levels in tissues of young and adult camels (Camelus dromedarius).

In this study, we measured the concentration of some antioxidant substances in erythrocytes hemolysate, liver, kidney and brain in young and adult camels. It has been found that the activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the concentration of glutathione, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol are high in both young and adult camels. GSH-Px and CAT activities were higher in adult camels than in the young whereas no significant difference in the activity of SOD between young and adult camels was noticed. Glutathione was present in all tissues studied. Ascorbic acid was found to have significantly higher values in young camels. From this study it could be concluded that, as in other mammals, camel tissues contain a powerful antioxidant system. The liver has the highest contents of antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes indicating that it plays an important role in pro-oxidants detoxification. Age has a variable effect on the antioxidant system in camels.

Parasitological and clinico-pathological profiles in friesian cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata in Saudi Arabia.

Clinico-pathological profiles were studied in adult and young Friesian cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata in the Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia. Sixty-two clinical cases of T. annulata infection in adult and young Friesian cattle were diagnosed during the period from August 1999 to July 2000. Symptoms observed were marked fever, swelling of superficial lymph nodes, inappetance, tachycardia, dyspnoea and weakness. The most prominent gross pathological features were jaundice, petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages involving mucosal and serosal surfaces of many organs as well as body fat. A number of young and adult Friesian cattle undergoing lethal T. annulata infection developed lymphoma-like lesions in a manner similar to that of T. parva. The main histological findings were necrosis and severe lymphocytic infiltration. The spleen, lymph nodes and Peyer's patches were devoid of typical lymph nodules.