BackgroundThe importance of upper airway structure in the susceptibility of the lower respiratory tract to colonization with potential pathogens is well established. With the advent of rapid, high throughput, next generation sequencing, there is a growing appreciation of the importance of commensal microbial populations in maintaining mucosal health, and a realization that bacteria colonize anatomical locations that were previously considered to be sterile. While upper respiratory tract microbial populations have been described, there are currently no published studies describing the normal microbial populations of the bovine lower respiratory tract. Consequently, we have little understanding of the relationship between upper and lower respiratory tract microbiota in healthy cattle. The primary objective of our study was to characterize the composition, structure and relationship of the lower and upper respiratory microbial communities in clinically healthy feedlot cattle. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS), and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, were collected from clinically healthy feedlot calves (n = 8). Genomic DNA from each sample was extracted, and the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using Illumina Miseq platform.ResultsAcross all samples, the most predominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. The most common genera were Rathayibacter, Mycoplasma, Bibersteinia and Corynebacterium. The microbial community structure was distinct between these two biogeographical sites. Most of the bacterial genera identified in the BAL samples were also present in the NPS, but biogeographical-specific genera were enriched in both the NPS (Rathayibacter) and BAL (Bibersteinia) samples. There were strong associations between the presence of certain taxa at each specific location, and strong correlations between the presence of specific taxa in both the NPS and BAL samples.ConclusionsThe correlation between the presence of specific taxa in both the NPS and BAL samples, supports the notion of a mutualistic interrelationship between these microbial communities. Future studies, in large cohorts of animals, are needed to determine the role and clinical importance of the relationships of respiratory tract microbial communities with health, productivity, and susceptibility to the development of respiratory disease, in growing cattle.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-017-1042-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT) is a metabolic disorder that is caused by excessive phosphate in diets, insufficient calcium, or both. This study was carried out on 20 male kittens with 2-3 month of age. The NSHPT was induced in 10 kittens by feeding solely on heart beef meat for 9 weeks. The other 10 kittens were fed on commercial diet as control. Clinically, affected kittens were unable to stand or walk then recumbent with bone abnormalities lameness and lately loss their body weight. Serum biochemical changes showed significant (P<0.05) increase in CPK, ALP, phosphorus and 1,25 dihydroxyVit.D3, but showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in 25(OH)Vit.D3, total protein, albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc in cats with induced NSHPT compared to control.Radiographic changes in cats with induced NSHPT showed generalized decrease in bone opacity which affects entire skeleton (osteoporosis); cortices become thin and faint with decreased bone to soft tissue contrast. It was concluded that NSHPT is associated with clinical, biochemical and radiographic changes in young growing kittens. It is recommended to give kittens a balanced diet especially in Ca and P during the first 9 weeks of life.

This study was carried out on twelve Holstein dairy cows. Five cows were clinically healthy and considered as control; three cows with left displacement of abomasum (LDA) and four cows with right displacement of abomasum (LDA). Diagnosis of DA based on clinical examinations and confirmed by ultrasonography. The Hb, PCV%, total leucocytic count, neutrophils and abomasal fluid pH were significantly increased (P<0.05) in RDA compared to control. Serum biochemical analysis showed significant reductions of sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium in LDA and RDA and significant increases (P < 0.05) in glucose and total proteins in RDA compared to the control. Moreover, there were significant increases (P<0.001) in ALT, AST, LDH, CPK, urea and creatinine in LDA and RDA compared to control. In conclusion, abomasal displacement produces alterations in the clinical, hematological and biochemical picture compared to control healthy cow and these alterations may vary according to the type of displacement.[

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different treatment in cat models of induced nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT) by using chicken's eggs hell compared to other conventional treatments. The NSHPT was induced experimentally in 20 rapidly growing kittens by feeding a diet consisted of only beef heart meat (low Ca-high P) for 9weeks. The clinical signs of NSHPT in kittens included disturbance in locomotion manifested by reluctance to move, posterior lameness, and uncoordinated gait. The diseased kittens were divided into four equal groups (n=5), each group was treated with a different protocol. Treatment of affected kittens was achieved by eggshell (G4) that was compared to three treatment protocols including combined Cavitamin D injection. (G1), oral Ca alone (G2) and oral Ca, Mg, and Zn (G3). The clinical symptoms and biochemical analysis were monitored at day 1, 3, 5 and 7 after treatment. The PTH and 1.25 (OH) 2 Vit.D3were gradually reduced starting from the 1 st day post treatment in eggshell treated group compared to other treatment groups. The eggshell treatment induced changes in clinical signs and biochemical parameters that were comparable to the other three groups. Based on these results, it was suggested that feeding egg shell solution could be used as an economic source of Caasan alternative treatment for NSHPT in cats.

Nephrotoxicity is the main problem associated with gentamicin. So this work aimed to evaluate the effect of Vitamin C on gentamicin -induced nephrotoxicity in Baladi goats (Capra hircus) based on the clinical, haematobiochemical and histopathological changes. To achieve this aim, ten clinical healthy Baladi goats were allotted into two groups, each of five. The first group was gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity that injected with gentamicin while, the second group was injected with Vitamin C along with gentamycin. Jugular blood samples were collected at 0, 7, and 12 days post gentamycin injection. Dullness, decreased appetite and unable to stand and lie down were the main signs exhibited after gentamicin injection. However, these signs did not appear in Vitamin C treated goats. In addition, there was significant increase in serum urea, creatinine and serum MDA. While hematological examination showed a significant decrease in Hb content and RBCs content and erythrocyte SOD. In the meantime, histopathological examinations revealed severe renal damage. Marked improvement in the haematobiochemical changes were detected in gentamicin Vitamin C treated goats with mild renal damage. Our results suggest the cytoprotective role of Vitamin C on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in goats that could be attributed to its anti-oxidant activity, a result of high importance in clinical application.