During the period between February, 2004 and December, 2006, a cross-sectional study was performed to investigate some epidemiological aspects related to camel brucellosis in Jordan. Four hundred twelve camel sera from 37 herds were randomly collected and analyzed using Rose Bengal plate test and complement fixation test. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was administered to collect information on camel herd health and management. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to investigate risk factors associated with seropositivity to Brucella antigens. Moreover, the incidence of Brucella-specific abortion was investigated in 7 camel herds located in different locations in Southern Jordan. The true prevalence of Brucella-seropositive in camels was 12.1%. Thirteen (35.1%) herds had at least one positive camel. The seroprevalence ofbrucellosis in camels was significantly higher in the southern part of Jordan than that in central or northern Jordan. The multivariable logistic regression model on both individual and herd levels revealed large herds and contact with small ruminants as risk factors for Brucella seropositivity. On the other hand, using disinfectants was identified as a protective factor (OR = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.9) only on the camel herd level. The incidence of Brucella-caused abortion was 1.9%. Brucella melitensis biotype 3 was isolated from 4 aborted camel fetuses.

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Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation are involved in the development and complications of pregnancy toxemia. An association between hyperketonemia and the products of lipid peroxidation has also been demonstrated, suggesting that ketosis is a risk factor in the development of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in ewes affected by pregnancy toxemia.

Medical records of 31 adult dairy cows suffering from recurrent rumen tympany for at least 1 month duration that underwent exploratory laparotomy and rumenotomy were reviewed and information was obtained on signalment, history, physical examination findings, laboratory findings and surgical findings. Cases were categorized according to surgical findings into 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 10) included cattle with reticuloruminal, metallic foreign bodies and perireticular adhesions/inflammation, group 2 (n = 14) included cattle with reticuloruminal, non-metallic foreign bodies and no perireticular adhesions/inflammation and group 3 (n = 7) included cattle with no reticuloruminal foreign bodies and no perireticular adhesions/inflammation. Anorexia and decreased milk production were the most common clinical signs in all groups. Reluctant to move and arched back were prominent in group 1. In 45% of cases, frothy bloat was associated with the presence of large amounts of reticuloruminal, non-metallic foreign bodies. Collectively, factors that significantly had negative impact on outcome were: presence of perireticular adhesions, feeding finely-ground grain and plasma fibrinogen levels above 600mg dL −1 . However, the amount of grain fed per day and type of bloat (free-gas or frothy gas) had no significant effect on the outcome. Results of this study suggest that similar to metallic foreign bodies, non-metallic foreign bodies in the reticulorumen of adult dairy cattle are equally important in causing recurrent rumen tympany.

ABSTRACT:A cold complement fixation test (CFT) was used to identify C. abortus infection in ewes and does in northern Jordan. Sera from 36 flocks of sheep and 20 flocks of goats were collected randomly. The results showed that 433 (21.8%) out of 1 984 ovine sera, and 82 (11.4%) out of 721 caprine sera, were seropositive for C. abortus infection, as indicated by a titre ≥ 1:40. However, all the tested sheep flocks and goat flocks (100%) revealed at least one seropositive animal. There was a strong association (P < 0.05) between the rate of C. abortus infection and the size of the sheep flock, when larger flocks had higher infection rates. However, in goats, the flock size had no relationship with seropositivity. Age had no significant (P > 0.05) impact on C. abortus seropositivity. In sheep, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the rates of the chlamydial infection in the four studied areas of northern Jordan. The highest infection rate in sheep (31.2%) was recorded in Mafraq area, while the rates in Irbid, Ajloun and Jerash were 18.5%, 11.2% and 13.9%, respectively. In goats, there was no significant difference between the rates of the chlamydial infection in the two areas studied. The rates of goat infections were 10.8% and 11.8% in Ajloun and Jerash areas, respectively.