ABSTRACT Background Sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) is an economically significant ectoparasite of sheep that adversely affects animal health, welfare, and productivity. However, epidemiological and haematological data on sheep ked infestation remain limited in Ethiopia. Objectives This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sheep keds, identify factors associated with infestation, assess farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), evaluate the association between infestation and packed cell volume (PCV), and characterize the morphometry and predilection sites of M. ovinus. Methods A cross‐sectional study was condacted between September 2023 and June 2024 in the South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 414 sheep were randomly selected and examined for sheep ked infestation. Data were analysed using multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with infestation, and PCV was compared between infested and non‐infested groups using independent‐samples t‐test and one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Morphometric measurements were performed on 40 adult keds (15 males and 25 females), and predilection sites were recorded for each infested sheep. A structured questionnaire was administered to 150 farmers to assess KAP regarding sheep ked infestation. Results The overall prevalence of sheep ked infestation was 11.6% (n = 48). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that infestation was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with sex, season, agroecology, body condition score, and wool type. Higher prevalence was recorded in sheep with poor (40.7%) and medium (4.05%) body condition scores compared to those with good body condition (1.3%). Infestation was significantly higher in highland (21.95%) than midland (1.43%) areas, in males (26.72%) than females (4.59%), in densely woolled sheep (13.07%) than sparse‐woolled sheep (7.41%), and during the wet season (22.7%) than the dry season (0.48%). Age was not significantly associated with infestation (p > 0.05). Sheep ked infestation was associated with a significant reduction in PCV, with infested sheep showing a mean PCV of 26.5% ± 2.4% compared to 35.1% ± 2.9% in non‐infested sheep (p < 0.001). The most frequent predilection sites were the neck/dorsal shoulders (29.2%) and back/rump (25%). Morphometric analysis revealed significant sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males in most body dimensions (p < 0.05). The questionnaire survey showed that 96.7% of respondents were aware of sheep keds, and 85.3% recognized their economic importance. Conclusions Sheep ked infestation remains a significant problem in the study area. Control efforts should prioritize highland areas during the wet season and focus particularly on males, poorly conditioned, and densely wooled sheep. As farmers rely primarily on medication and rarely adopt management‐based control measures, an integrated approach combining strategic seasonal insecticide treatment, regular shearing, improved nutrition, and strengthened veterinary extension services is recommended.
ABSTRACT Eimeria tenella is among the most pathogenic chicken‐infecting Eimeria species; hence, coccidiosis remains one of the most economically damaging diseases in the poultry industry globally due to poor growth performance, reduced feed efficiency, intestinal pathology, and increased mortality. Conventional control measures, including chemotherapeutic drugs and live‐attenuated vaccines, are increasingly limited due to drug resistance, residue concerns, safety concerns, and high production costs, prompting interest in alternative strategies such as apical membrane antigen‐1 (AMA1), a conserved and highly immunogenic microneme protein essential for host‐cell invasion. Previous studies in Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and Babesia have demonstrated the successful use of AMA1 in recombinant and immunoinformatic‐designed vaccines, underscoring its potential as a cross‐species subunit vaccine candidate. This study explored Eimeria tenella AMA1 (EtAMA1) with the aim of investigating the physicochemical and structural properties, identifying antigenic T‐cell and B‐cell epitopes using immunoinformatic tools and evaluating the effectiveness of EtAMA1 in inducing an immune response within the host. The structural analysis revealed a z‐score of −6.86 and a Ramachandran plot of 97.19%. EtAMA1 contained three CD8+, seven CD4+ T‐cell epitopes, one linear, and eight discontinuous B‐cell epitopes. The ability of EtAMA1 to elicit an immune response was assessed via an in silico immune simulation. The binding interaction energy generated via molecular docking and dynamics simulations indicated a strong binding interaction of EtAMA1 to Toll‐like receptor 5. The results indicate that EtAMA1 is a strong vaccine candidate; however, experimental validation is required.
ABSTRACT Background Schmallenberg virus (SBV), an emerging Orthobunyavirus, is associated with reproductive disorders in ruminants. Although SBV has spread from Europe into parts of Asia, epidemiological data from Iran remain limited. Objective To investigate SBV exposure among ruminants from selected regions of Iran using the virus neutralization test (VNT). Methods Serum samples from 92 ruminants (37 sheep and 55 cattle) with a history of abortion or SBV‐compatible clinical signs were collected from three provinces in eastern (Sistan and Baluchestan), central (Qazvin), and western (East Azerbaijan) Iran. Sera were inactivated, serially diluted (1:5–1:640), and tested in quadruplicate by VNT on BHK‐21 cells with a back‐titrated SBV inoculum (125 TCID50/well). Results Seventy of 92 samples (76.1%) were positive for SBV‐neutralizing antibodies (≥1:10). Seropositivity was 87.5% (14/16), 64.1% (25/39), and 83.8% (31/37) in the eastern, central, and western regions, respectively. Mean VN50 titres varied descriptively, with the highest mean titre observed in the western region (60.47 ± 57.65), followed by the central (43.30 ± 56.65) and eastern (22.73 ± 13.72) regions. Although the Kruskal–Wallis test indicated an overall difference in antibody titres (p = 0.022), post hoc pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction did not identify statistically significant differences between any pair of regions. Therefore, regional variation should be considered exploratory and not be interpreted as evidence of confirmed geographical differences in SBV exposure. Conclusions This study provides serological evidence of prior SBV exposure among ruminants. Seropositivity indicates prior exposure to SBV and does not establish a causal relationship between SBV infection and abortion. Although regional differences in mean antibody titres were observed descriptively, these patterns should be regarded as exploratory, as pairwise regional comparisons did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple testing. Larger, population‐based studies with balanced sample sizes are required to clarify the geographical patterns of SBV in Iran.
ABSTRACT Background Several antioxidant combinations are commercially available; however, it remains unclear whether these combinations can enhance the anti‐inflammatory effects of systemic corticosteroids in acute uveitis models. Objectives To evaluate the anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects of an orally administered antioxidant formulation in a lipopolysaccharide‐induced uveitis rat model and explore its potential as an adjunctive therapy to corticosteroid treatment. Methods Seventy‐five male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly and evenly assigned to five groups and orally treated for 10 days with antioxidant formulations, either alone or in combination with intravenous dexamethasone. Uveitis was induced via subcutaneous lipopolysaccharide injection. Clinical severity was assessed using a slit‐lamp biomicroscope. Subsequently, a subset of five randomly selected rats per group underwent biochemical analyses of the aqueous humour and histopathological evaluation of the ocular tissues. Results The lipopolysaccharide‐treated group exhibited the highest clinical score, which was significantly reduced by dexamethasone monotherapy and combination treatment. Moreover, the antioxidant formulation significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the aqueous humour, which was further diminished by the combination treatment. TNF‐α and IL‐6 levels decreased upon combination therapy, yielding significantly lower TNF‐α levels than those with dexamethasone monotherapy. Combination treatment significantly increased IL‐10 levels. Moreover, total superoxide dismutase activity was highest in the combination group. No significant differences were observed in the histopathological scores or total protein concentrations between the dexamethasone and combination groups. Conclusions Co‐administration of dexamethasone and an antioxidant is a potential adjunctive therapeutic strategy for mitigating oxidative tissue damage.
ABSTRACT Background In rural areas, goat farming is essential for maintaining livelihoods by ensuring income generation and enhancing agricultural resilience globally. However, the productivity of small ruminant systems is significantly affected by parasitic infections from gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs), particularly in regions where extensive production systems dominate. Objectives The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and infection intensity of GIN parasites and associated risk factors in goats in the Humbo District of Southern Ethiopia. Methods A cross‐sectional study examined faecal samples from 384 goats using a flotation test with the modified McMaster egg‐counting technique, complemented by coproculture for nematode genera identification. Results The study revealed an overall GINs prevalence of 71.4% (95% CI: 66.6%–75.8%). Amongst the identified nematode parasites, Strongyle‐type egg (STE) nematodes were the most common (45.3%), followed by mixed infections of STE and Strongyloides (14.6%), Strongyloides (10.15%) and Trichuris (1.3%) infections. Coproculture of pooled faecal samples (100 larvae counted) further identified Haemonchus (46%), Trichostrongylus (32%), Teladorsagia (12%), Oesophagostomum (5%), Bunostomum (3%) and Chabertia (2%) as the predominant genera. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that younger goats, goats in poor body condition and those managed in lowland agroecological zones significantly influenced the occurrence of GINs infection (p < 0.05). Younger goats had 2.2 times more odds of GINs infection compared to adults (95% CI: 1.3–3.6), and poorly body‐conditioned goats had 8.1 fold an increased risk (95% CI: 3.4–19.3). Goats in lowland areas are 2.5 more likely to harbour GINs compared to those in midland areas (95% CI: 1.5–4.1). Infection intensity assessments showed that the most affected goats exhibited light infection (88.9%), with a smaller proportion experiencing moderate (7.1%) and heavy burdens (4%). Conclusion These findings underscore the substantial impact of GIN infections on goat health and productivity in the region and warrant the need for strengthened targeted parasite control strategies to reduce infection pressure and improve goat productivity in the study area.
