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Analysis of liver tissue from a Cape penguin that died with hepatitis at a zoo in Germany revealed Umatilla virus. Testing uncovered Umatilla virus RNA in samples from 2 other deceased Cape penguins at the zoo. Our results expand knowledge of the prevalence of this virus in bird species across Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of the present study was to report, for the first time, the presence of canine parvovirus type 2c (CPV-2c) in domesticated dogs with acute gastroenteritis and to characterize the antigenic variants circulating in Palestine. Methodology: A veterinary clinical-based epidemiological study was carried out between December 2022 and April 2023. Fifty fecal samples were collected from dogs with gastroenteritis and screened for CPV-2 infection by polymerase chain reaction. The distribution of positive cases according to various epidemiological factors was studied. Partial sequencing of the viral protein 2 (VP2) gene was performed for the analysis of CPV-2 variants. Results: Most of the investigated samples (60%; n = 50) during the study period were found positive for CPV-2 infection. There was no difference in the distribution of positive cases of CPV-2 infection based on age group, gender, location, and vaccination status. The analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences from amplified products, as well as phylogenetic analysis, revealed the presence of CPV-2c clustered with Asian CPV-2c variants. Conclusions: In summary, this study represents the initial genetic analysis of CPV-2 present in Palestinian dogs with gastroenteritis and provides evidence that confirms the existence of the CPV-2c variants. To determine the prevailing CPV-2 variant associated with the infection, it is crucial to conduct further sequence analysis using large populations of both domestic and wild canines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) associated with inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) was identified in commercial broiler chickens in Palestine. Investigated birds showed primary clinical signs and lesions of IBH including growth retardation, congested and enlarged liver with necrosis, petechial hemorrhage and basophilic intra-nuclear inclusion bodies. The mortality rate was from 15.00%. The FAdV was detected and sequenced in the liver samples of infected chicken by polymerase chain reaction using hexon gene-specific primers. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FAdVs belong to FAdV-D serotype 10, clustered within the European highly pathogenic isolates. The highest nucleotide sequence similarity was 99.48% with highly pathogenic FAdV-D serotype 10 detected from infected chicken in Poland (GenBank: LN907532.1) and FAdV-D from infected chicken in Sweden (GenBank: HE961828.1). The lowest similarity was 93.46% with Canadian FAdV-D (GenBank: EF685576.1). In conclusion, this is the first report describing the presence of IBH revealing that the causative virus is closely similar to the highly pathogenic FAdV-D serotype 10 of IBH in broiler chickens in Palestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a severe, highly contagious and fatal viral disease of small ruminants causing high economic losses. Therefore, the disease was targeted for eradication by 2030. The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the molecular and pathological characterization of the circulating PPR virus (PPRV) in sheep and goat in Palestine. Samples were collected from suspected necropsy cases of sheep and goats during recent outbreaks in two provinces in Palestine between 2017 and 2019. In this study, severe PPR outbreaks occurred in sheep and goats causing typical lesions which include erosive and ulcerative stomatitis, bronchointerstitial pneumonia and severe enteritis. For the molecular investigation of PPRV, suspected animals were examined for the presence of PPRV by RT‐PCR. PPRV genome was detected in all samples. Subsequently, two samples were used for N gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of PPRV isolates. The nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Palestinian PPRV isolates were genetically clustered within the lineage IV isolates of the virus among populations of sheep and goats which most prevalent in Asia, the Middle East and recently Africa. Further analysis showed that the Palestinian isolates were closely related to those described in Turkey and Iraq, suggesting a common origin of PPRV isolates in the region. This information is critical to understand the molecular epidemiology of this disease in the region and helps to develop appropriate control measures for eradication of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Colistin is used to treat avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), a microorganism that affects turkey meat production in the Gaza Strip and worldwide. However, the recent emergence of plasmid-borne mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes in pathogenic E. coli strains is a serious antimicrobial resistance (AMR) challenge for both human and animal health. In December 2018, colistin was banned as a veterinary antimicrobial in the Gaza Strip. This study aimed to detect and track the prevalence of colistin-resistant APEC isolated from turkey flocks in the Gaza Strip. Materials and Methods: This study investigated 239 APEC isolates from turkey flocks in the Gaza Strip between October 2018 and December 2021 (at 6-month intervals). The colistin-resistant APEC strains were detected using the broth microdilution method. The mcr-1 gene was identified using a polymerase chain reaction. Results: The overall colistin resistance among the isolated APECs was 32.2% during the study period. The average resistance in the first interval was 37.5%, which significantly decreased to 9.3% in the last interval. Among the 77 phenotypically resistant isolates, 32.4% were positive for mcr-1. The average abundance of mcr-1 in the first interval was 66.6%, which decreased to 25% in the last interval. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the presence of the mcr-1 gene among the APEC isolates from turkeys in the Gaza Strip. Banned veterinary use of colistin significantly decreased the percentage of resistant APEC isolates from turkeys in Gaza Strip. Further studies are needed to investigate other colistin resistance genes and track the emergence of AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]