IntroductionRabies is one of the major public health problems mostly affecting developing countries in Africa and Asia where 99.9% of all rabies related human deaths are recorded each year. In Democratic Republic of Congo, repeated outbreaks have been reported. Despite this, there is little reliable epidemiological data about rabies in the country for the development of effective control strategies.Materials and MethodsA retrospective study was carried out in Kinshasa Province during a period of five years (2009–2013) to describe the proportion of rabid animals and the species involved in rabies transmission and maintenance. The survey also aimed at describing the spatial-temporal distribution of rabies. To gather information, the daily registers of institutions involved in rabies diagnosis were reviewed and each rabies case was traced back to area of occurrence for collection of geographic coordinates.Results and DiscussionA total of 5,053 attacks were registered involving six animal species including dog, cat, monkey, rabbit, rat, and pig. Based on clinical observations, rabies was reported in dogs and cats while data obtained from the laboratory confirmed rabies cases included dogs, cats and a goat. The annual distribution showed a significant decrease of rabies cases from 2009 up to 2011 and a later increase up to 2013. There was no difference in rabies occurrence between seasons (p = 0.721). Rabies cases were three times higher in peri-urban zone than in urban zone OR = 3.4 (95% CI: 2.3–5.1). The positive proportion of rabies was 2.6% (95% CI: 2.1–3) based on clinical evidence and 65.9% (95% CI: 50–79.5) for laboratory confirmed cases.Conclusion and SuggestionThis study confirms the endemicity of rabies in Kinshasa where occurrence of rabies cases was related to human population density and lifestyle. In order to control rabies, there is need to set up a surveillance program and implement efficient mass vaccination campaigns of susceptible animals.

A retrospective and prospective analysis of clinical records of dogs diagnosed with Babesia infections was carried out for the years 2000 to 2013 from practices in Lusaka, Zambia. Records of 363 dogs with confirmed Babesia infections were analysed using demographic factors including sex, breed, age, and clinical signs in relation to haematological findings and Babesia species. The clinical and laboratory findings observed are described as well as Babesia species identification. The study included 18 breeds and the highest proportion were mongrels (32.2%), males representing 64.5% of the population. The most common presenting problems were anorexia (65.3%) and lethargy/weakness (65.3%). The most common clinical signs were fever (87.3%), pallor (52.3%), lymphadenopathy (47.4%), and presence of ticks (44.9%). Anaemia (96.4%) and nucleated erythrocytes (42.2%) were the most common laboratory findings. A mixed infection of Babesia rossi and Babesia gibsoni was present in 59.7% of dogs, whilst 8% and 32.2% had B. rossi and B. gibsoni as a single infection, respectively. Case management mainly involved therapy with tetracyclines and imidocarb and was usually accompanied by clinical improvement. This study highlights, for the first time, the presence of B. gibsoni in natural dog populations in Zambia, where previously only B. rossi was reported.

ABSTRACT. Lactoferrin has several biological activities, including antitumor activities in some human and animal tumor cells. Clinical trials have been carried out in human medicine based on these effects. However, the antitumor effects of lactoferrin in veterinary medicine remain unknown. In this in vitro study, we demonstrated that co-incubation of canine mammary gland tumor cells (CIPp and CHMp) and bovine lactoferrin induced growth arrest of tumor cells. This growth arrest was associated with induction of G1 arrest. Furthermore, this effect was stronger in tumor cells than in normal cells. These findings demonstrate that bovine lactoferrin has anti-tumor activity in canine mammary tumors and has the potential for use in tumor-bearing dogs. KEY WORDS: bovine lactoferrin, canine mammary gland tumor cell, G1 arrest.

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21Canine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CLAD) in Irish setters is caused by genetic 22 defects of leukocyte integrin CD18 leading to recurrent bacterial infections. We report 23 clinical features and analysis of neutrophil function from two mixed-breed canine 24 littermates (one female and one male dog) similar to CLAD. The symptoms of pyogenic 25 infection were first recognized at 3 months of age and since then the patients suffered 26 from recurrent bacterial infections. These clinical findings were strongly suggestive of 27 genetic phagocyte dysfunction. Neutrophil function tests revealed a marked reduction of 28 serum-opsonized zymosan-mediated superoxide production in the two littermates. 29Neutrophils of the male dog revealed impaired integrin-mediated adherence and 30 phagocytic activity, whereas ability of serum opsonization was normal. There was also a 31 profound decrease of surface expression of CD11b/CD18 and 2-integrin transcript 32 level, detected by real-time RT-PCR without missense mutations unlike CLAD. 33Immunoblot analysis indicated that protein expression of cytochrome b 558 component 34 gp91 phox , the cytosolic components p47 phox and p67 phox of NADPH oxidase components 35 increased profoundly in the male. Our study suggests that decreased transcriptional 36 levels of 2-integrin without mutations, lead to downregulation of surface expression, 37 resulting in multiple defects in adhesion-related neutrophil functions and consequently, 38 recurrent bacterial infections from puppyhood. 39 40