Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide concern. The aim of the current study was to determine the vitamin D level and its contributing factors in Sudanese women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 251 Sudanese women attending Family Health Centers in Khartoum, Sudan were interviewed. Following the exclusion of confounding factors, samples from 190 women were analzsed. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D “25(OH) D” was quantified using competitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: Participants’ age ranged from 18 to 85 years with a mean age (±SD) of 40.2 (±14.06) years. The mean (±SD) vitamin D level was 13.4 (±6.72) ng/ml, ranged 3.00–36.5 ng/ml and the median was 12.7 ng/mL. In total, 157 out of 190 (82.6%) had vitamin D serum levels below 20 ng/ml (deficient); of whom, 52 (27.4%) were in the age group 21–30 years ( P value = 0.228). The correlation between vitamin D level and residence outside Khartoum, sun-exposed face and hands, and face and limbs in comparison with being completely covered were found to be statistically significant ( p values 0.008, 0.023, and 0.036). Conclusion: This study displayed a high percentage (82.6%.) of vitamin D deficiency among women in Sudan, and this in part may indicate that sunshine alone cannot guarantee vitamin D sufficiency in the tropics. Family physicians in tropical countries should screen those with clinical presentations related to vitamin D deficiency.

Background: The role of vitamin D in the development, progression, and prognosis of breast cancer, though widely studied worldwide, has been inconclusive. This study intended to assess the role of some factors (including serum vitamin D level, sun-exposed area, dietary factors, and physical activity) as predictors of the development of invasive breast cancer (IBC) among Sudanese women. Methods: A case–control study was conducted on 200 Sudanese women (100 with newly diagnosed IBC and 100 matched healthy females). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured through a competitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Matching analysis was adopted by R version 3.4.1 making use of the “MatchIt” package for calculating propensity scores to build a confounder-adjusted, multiple generalized, linear logistic regression model. Results: Participants’ age ranged from 28 to 85 years with a mean [±standard deviation (SD)] of 48.10 (±12.11) years. The mean (±SD) serum vitamin D level was 12.97 (±8.60) and 13.79 (±6.79) ng/mL in breast cancer and noncancer Sudanese women, respectively [P = 0.013; odds ratio (OR) 0.862; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.766–0.969; β = 0.149)]. Sun-exposed area ( P = 0.038; OR 0.013; 95% CI 0.000–0.782; β = 4.339) is significantly and negatively associated with breast cancer development. While moderate physical activity ( P = 0.0008; OR 2625.430; 95% CI 26.647–258673.001; β = 7.873) is significantly and positively associated with IBC risk. Occasional consumption of milk, dairy products, eggs, and fish reduces the risk of developing IBC by 78.1%, 75.0%, 78.4%, and 76.4%, respectively. Conclusion: The higher the plasma vitamin D level by one unit, the lower the risk of breast cancer by 13.84%. Sedentary lifestyle, reduced sun-exposed skin area, and low serum vitamin D levels can be considered as predictors of IBC. Encouraging moderate physical activity and consumption of certain foods may, in part, decrease the precipitating risks of breast cancer. More studies and research are needed to confirm these findings.

The aim of this study is to investigate field Infectious bursal disease outbreak in a laying poultry farm. The disease is an economically important worldwide disease in poultry production sector.  Serological tests (Elisa, AGID, and immunochromatography), morbidity rate, mortality rate and post-mortem changes were studied.  The results showed 100% morbidity, 28% mortality, positive AGID test and immunochromatography test and the Elisa test which was done at the end of the outbreak. Post-mortem revealed haemorrhages in the enlarged and edematous burasa, atrophy of the bursa, haemorrhage in skin, breast, thigh muscles and proventriculus as the most frequently detected lesions. The kidneys were affected showing enlargement, nut meg appearance and pale color Deposition of urates in ureters was also obvious. In conclusion IBD is a serious problem causing a considerable socioeconomic loss for the farmer, consumers and the country as a whole. The disease can be diagnosed using serological tests. IBD needs extensive effort in extension to raise the awareness of the sector about the disease diagnosis, prevention and control.

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Evaluation of cage placement on bird’s health was done to access the efficiency of the conventional battery cages as a housing system for laying hens in the highly demanding industry in tropical countries. Experimental birds were placed in House A in the lateral sixth northern battery cage (AN6L) beside cooling pads and medial northern battery cage (ANM) horizontally at the middle lower row in both sides-left and right. Each battery raw was divided into: first third beside pad (1W) consists of 130 cages; second third in middle (2W) which also consists of 130 cages and last third beside fans (3W) consists of 128 cages. The total birds in the two batteries were about four thousand and five hundred birds. In house B, experimental birds were placed in the lateral first northern battery cage (BN1L) beside northern pad, medial northern battery cage (BNM) in middle and lateral sixth northern battery cage (BN6L) beside southern pad vertically and horizontally from bottom in both sides (left and right). Each battery raw was divided into: First third beside pad (1W) consists of 520 cages; second third in middle (2W) consists also of 520 cages and last third beside fans (3W) beside fans consists of 512 cages, the total birds in the three batteries were about thirty thousand birds. Mortality and pathological changes were used in this study to evaluate the health status and welfare of Lohmann LSL Lite laying hens at different ages. Mortality of 4500 Lohmann LSL Lite laying hens at age 80 wks was recorded for twenty days in one lateral and one medial battery in House A; and it was recorded for 30000 Lohmann LSL Lite laying hens at age 57 wks for forty three days in two lateral and one medial battery in House B. The mortality in the two laying flocks at age 80 wks and 57 wks, in the first 20 days, was found to be 7.4% and 1.6% respectively. In the next 23 days in House B, it was found to be 1.7%. The mortality of the two flocks was significantly different. In the three positions- 1W, 2W, 3W- the mortality at a lateral (AN6L) and a medial (ANM) batteries in showed significant difference in the lateral ones of House A. The mortality in the three positions 1W, 2W, 3W of two laterals (BN1L and BN6L) and one medial (BNM) battery showed significant difference between the different positions of both lateral and medial batteries. Comparing house A and house B lateral and medial batteries for the mortality in the same position, 1W, 2W or 3W, revealed significant difference in 1W and 2W, whereas position 3W was found to be insignificantly different, and no significant difference between the lateral or medial batteries as a whole was detected when comparing them in the two houses. Post mortem examination of nine birds at age 80wks and fourteen birds at age 57wks revealed that the only possible effect of cage placement on the internal infection may be exerted by the direction of air current caused by the working exhaust fans.