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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV), an emerging zoonotic virus belonging to the order Bunyavirales within the family Nairoviridae. The virus is maintained through a tick-vertebrate [...]

Background: Pakistan is the 6th most populous country of the world and also among one of the first Asian countries to begin family planning program yet the current contraceptive prevalence rates (CPR) stand at 35%. Men are the critically missing client as focus is always on women. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitude towards family planning by educated married men of Islamabad. Study design, settings and duration: Cross sectional study was conducted in twelve public and private sector organizations of Islamabad for duration of 12 months in 2014. Subjects and Methods: Total 300 educated married men age 20 to 60 years who had completed at least 12 years of formal education were enrolled after taking the informed written consent. Data was collected using a structured pre-tested questionnaire through an anonymous interview. Grading scale was used for knowledge and attitude evaluation. 10 marks were given to correct answer and agreement with positive statement. Score less than 70% is categorized as poor, 71-80% fair, 81-90% good and above 90% as very good. Results: Mean age of the study participants was 36 + 7 years. About 177 (59%) of the study participants were graduate. Nearly all (99%) participants had heard at least one family planning method while 141 (47%) had poor knowledge. Regarding male contraceptive methods, only 33 (11%) of the study participants know about the permanent birth control methods for men with a misconception that vasectomy decreases male's sexual desire in 267 (89%) of participants. Meanwhile only 18 (6%) study participants are aware that condoms are available both for male and female use. About 193 (64%) study participants were currently using at least one family planning method in an order of with drawl (24%), male condom (13%), and injectables (9%) while 10% don't know that their wives were currently using contraceptive methods or not. Only 3% of the males had poor attitude score. Among the positive attitude males, 99 (33%) had fair score. While 186 (62%) had good score while only 06 (2%) had very good score indicating that generally educated males have positive attitude towards family planning. Overall non response rate was very i.e. 32%. Conclusion: The study reveals positive attitude and poor knowledge of family planning methods among almost half of the study participants who are educated and are resident of urban Islamabad. High non response rate reflects that even educated men are very reluctant to talk and share information's on this topic. Increased use of traditional and temporary family planning methods highlights that positive attitude does not always lead to use to contraceptives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ivermectin is widely used in veterinary practice for the treatment of ecto- and endo-parasites. In wildlife, an extra-label use this parasiticide is sometimes associated with toxicity. Different treatment regimens have been used in ivermectin toxicosis. The present report describes a successful reversal of ivermectin toxicity by intravenous administration of a commercially available lipid emulsion in a captive African lion (Panthera leo). Case presentation: A 2-year old captive African lion (Panthera leo) weighing ~130 kg was presented with acute neurological impairment and bilateral blindness that had developed 24 h after ivermectin exposure. The animal was treated with a commercially available lipid emulsion along with supportive therapy and experienced complete recovery. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case report of the use of lipid emulsion in the management of ivermectin induced blindness in an African lion and it appears that intravenous lipid emulsion may be an effective therapy in ivermectin toxicity in lions. Further testing in expanded clinical trials is clearly warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was planned to investigate the prevalence of streak canal and intramammary infections in buffaloes and cows lacking any mastitis control program and to determine the contemporaneous association between streak canal and intramammary infections in these two dairy species. Streak canal swab and quarter foremilk samples were collected aseptically from 20 lactating mastitis free cows and buffaloes each in their first 2 months of second to third lactation and subjected to microbiological examination as per standard procedures. Isolates were speciated using commercially available kits. Contemporaneous association was defined as co-occurrence of a specific microorganism in streak canal swab and quarter foremilk sample of a particular teat simultaneously. The prevalence of streak canal infections as well as intramammary infections was higher in cows (91.25% and 55%, respectively) than in dairy buffaloes (73.75%, and 22.5%, respectively). Of the 78 isolates recovered from streak canal swab samples of buffaloes, Staphylococcus aureus (n=18; 23.07%) was the most predominant organism followed by S. choromogenes (n=14), E. coli (n= 6), unidentified esculin positive Streptococcus spp. (n=5). S. aureus (n=34) was the most frequent isolate recovered from the streak canals of cows followed by S. choromogenes (n=11), S. hyicus (n=8), Escherichia coli (n=8). In terms of frequency of isolation, S. aureus was the most predominant organism (n=6) recovered quarter foremilk samples of buffaloes followed by unidentified coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. (n=3), Trueperella pyogenes (Corynebacterium pyogenes; n=3), unidentified Trueperella spp. and mixed species (n=3). In the case of dairy cows, predominant organism recovered from quarter foremilk samples included S. aureus (n=13), Streptococcus agalactiae (n=4), yeast (n=4) and mixed species (n=4). Recovery of 44 and 27 isolates, respectively in cows and buffaloes was common to both streak canal swab and quarter foremilk samples (contemporaneous association). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-year-old intact female German shepherd dog weighing 25 kg was evaluated for acute onset of staggering gait and flaccid (dropped) tail following immersion in freeze water. Clinical signs included staggering gait, aggressive behavior, postural pain and flaccid tail. Clinical signs progressed in severity for 2-3 hours following immersion in freeze water. The dog was treated using anti-inflammatory medication along with warm fomentation of the affected portion of the tail and complete rest. Dog uneventfully recovered on day 7 of initiation of treatment and no reoccurrence was observed during one month follow up period. Limber tail syndrome is an uncommonly reported condition in German shepherd dogs that should be considered when sudden staggering gait and dropped tail is observed after immersion in too cold water. Recovery is possible with anti-inflammatory drugs and rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The children presenting with acute scrotum have many diseases in differential diagnosis and testicular torsion in undescended testis and normal testis is an important consideration. Torsion of the testis, or more correctly, torsion of the spermatic cord, is a surgical emergency because it causes strangulation of gonadal blood supply with subsequent testicular necrosis and atrophy. In most of cases history and physical examination are sufficient to make an accurate diagnosis. While other causes may require simple treatment but torsion require immediate exploration to save the testis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment is essential to help such children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This preliminary report describes the occurrence of acute pulmonary emphysema cum pulmonary edema ensuing in extensive subcutaneous emphysematous swellings in a dairy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) apparently associated with a sudden shift from berseem (Trifolium alexendrinum) to Brassica juncea fodder. Tachypnea, expiratory dyspnea, open-mouth breathing, loud expiratory grunt with abdominal lift, and crackles in ventral aspects of the lungs with normal rectal temperature characterized the condition clinically. A substantial improvement was noted 3 h after treatment with parenteral administration of prednisolone plus dexamethasone, diclofenac sodium, and furosemide. Per os administration of chlortetracycline was undertaken after dyspnea had abated. Extensive subcutaneous swellings developed as sequel on withers, back, axillae, and thorax, was deflated using a hypodermic needle. The buffalo completely recovered in 10 days. As far as could be ascertained, this is the first report dwelling on acute pulmonary emphysema cum pulmonary edema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The infection in dogs due to canine parvovirus (CPV), is a highly contagious one with high mortality rate. The present study was undertaken for a detailed genetic analysis of partial VP2 gene i.e., 630 bp isolated from rectal swab samples of infected domestic and stray dogs from all areas of district Faisalabad. Monitoring of viruses is important, as continuous prevalence of viral infection might be associated with emergence of new virulent strains. Methods: In the present study, 40 rectal swab samples were collected from diarrheic dogs from different areas of district Faisalabad, Pakistan, in 2014–15 and screened for the presence of CPV by immunochromatography. Most of these dogs were stray dogs showing symptoms of diarrhea. Viral DNA was isolated and partial VP2 gene was amplified using gene specific primer pair Hfor/Hrev through PCR. Amplified fragments were cloned in pTZ57R/T (Fermentas) and completely sequenced. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by the Lasergene DNA analysis package (v8; DNAStar Inc., Madison, WI, USA). Results: The results with immunochromatography showed that 33/40 (82%) of dogs were positive for CPV. We were able to amplify a fragment of 630 bp from 25 samples. In 25 samples the sequences of CPV-2a were detected showing the amino acid substitution Ser297Ala and presence of amino acid (426-Asn) in partial VP2 protein. Interestingly the BLAST analysis showed the of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) sequences in 3 samples which were already positive for new CPV-2a, with 99% sequence homology to other FPV sequences present in GenBank. Conclusions: Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of partial CPV-VP-2 gene with viruses from China, India, Japan and Uruguay identifying a new variant, whereas the 3 FPV sequences showed immediate ancestral relationship with viruses from Portugal, South Africa and USA. Interesting observation was that CPV are clustering away from the commercial vaccine strains. In this work we provide a better understanding of CPV prevailing in Pakistan at molecular level. The detection of FPV could be a case of real co-infection or a case of dual presence, due to ingestion of contaminated food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was conducted at Plant Pathology Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan during 2001 to 2013, for evaluating and standardizing 168 fungicides against 28 different plants diseases on 15 various crops. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with two replications. Maximum percentage of fungicides were standardized against diseases of vegetables (69.64%) followed by fruit plants (16.07%) and field crops (14.29%). Maximum fungicides standardization percentage was recorded against potato diseases (30.36%) followed by muskmelon (18.45%), mango (12.50%), tomato (10.12%), rice (8.93%) and cucumber (6.55%). Maximum percentage of fungicides were standardized against potato late blight (26.19%), followed by muskmelon downy mildew (15.48%), mango powdery mildew (9.52%), tomato late blight (7.14%), cucumber downy mildew (5.36%) and rice blast (5.36%). All the fungicides standardized against the crop diseases, effectively controlled the maladies when used at their recommended doses. In general, all the fungicide treatments significantly reduced the disease incidence resulting in higher crops yield compared to untreated crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorative ability of locally available bentonite clay (BN) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) toxicity in broiler chicks. In the first experiment the broiler chicks were kept on feeds contaminated with AFB1 (0.1, 0.2 and 0.6 mg/kg) alone and in combination with bentonite clay (3.7 and 7.5 g/kg). In the second experiment OTA (0.15, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) alone and concurrently with bentonite clay (3.7, 7.5 and 15 g/kg) was fed to the broiler chicks. The dietary addition of AFB1 and OTA alone exerted deleterious effects on the performance, sero-biochemical and oxidative status of the broiler chicks. A concurrent dietary incorporation of BN (3.7 and 7.5 g/kg) ameliorated the adverse effects of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg AFB1 on body weight, FCR, serum ALT and urea concentration. Serum creatinine, total protein and albumin concentrations were mostly significantly lower in combination groups suggesting a partial or no amelioration. Dietary incorporation of BN at all levels only partially alleviated the deleterious effects of 0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg dietary OTA on performance, serobiochemical and oxidative stress, but amelioration was absent when the concentration of OTA in the feed was 1 mg/kg. Results suggested that the dietary incorporation of BN (3.7 and 7.5 g/kg) ameliorated the adverse effects of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg of AFB1 on various parameters. However, BN at all levels did not alleviate the deleterious effects of OTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]