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Production of high quality embryos in vitro needs an efficient in vitro fertilization (IVF). Seminal origin is one of the important factors that affects the success of in vitro embryo production. So our goal was to determine the effect of using fresh and frozen semen in fertilization on developmental competence and cryo-survival of buffalo embryos. Buffalo oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro by fresh and frozen semen. After embryos evaluation, good quality morula and blastocysts were vitrified using 0.25 ml straws and the post-warmed viability was assessed by further culture for 24 h. There was no significant difference in cleavage rate between embryos derived from fresh and frozen semen, whereas the rate of embryo development to the morula (P<0.05) and blastocysts (P<0.01) stages was significantly decreased in embryos derived from frozen compared to fresh semen. After warming the vitrified embryos, there was no significant difference between embryos derived from fresh and frozen semen in the percentages of morphologically viable embryos. However, 24 h after culture, the rate of morphologically normal and survived embryos was increased (P<0.05) in embryos derived from fresh compared to the frozen semen. In conclusion, in buffalo, the use of fresh semen could improve the rate of embryo development and their crytolerance compared to the frozen semen.

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This study was conducted to determine chromatin integrity and DNA damage by DNA electrophoresis and comet assays of buffalo fresh and frozen semen. Semen samples were collected from four buffalo bulls and evaluated after freezing for semen motility, viability, sperm abnormalities, chromatin integrity and DNA damage. A significant variation was found in semen parameters after thawing. Highly significant differences (P<0.001) in chromatin integrity were observed between fresh and frozen semen. For the fresh semen, there was no significant difference between the bulls for chromatin integrity; however, a significant variation (P<0.05) was detected in their frozen semen. No DNA fragmentation was observed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The percentage of sperm with damaged DNA detected by comet assay differed significantly between fresh and frozen semen. A significant negative correlation was recorded between motility and DNA damage (r=-0.68, P<0.05). Sperm abnormalities and DNA fragmentation were significantly positively correlated (r=0.59, P<0.05). In conclusion, DNA damage evaluation can provide reassurance about genomic normalcy and guide the development of improved methods of selecting spermatozoa with intact DNA to be used in artificial insemination.

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The intensity of heat signs in buffaloes is generally low and the incidence of suboestrus varied from 15 to 73% (Buffalopedia). The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of monitoring the changes in some milk constituents, oestradiol levels and electrical conductivity of vaginal mucus during peri-oestrous period in prediction of the timing of oestrus in buffaloes. Twenty-one Egyptian buffaloes aged 3-9 year, 1st-6th lactations, were examined by oestrous detector and ultrasonographically for monitoring the ovarian and uterine activity for 7 days around the time of standing oestrus. Sodium, potassium, chloride and lactose were assayed in aqueous phase of milk; besides, oestradiol was estimated in serum. Current results declared highly significant acute changes in milk constituents at the time of oestrus characterized by peaking of chloride and sodium levels and lowering of potassium and lactose values. The alternation in milk composition when arranged in decreasing order of magnitude, sodium was the highest (77.78 ± 0.69%), followed by chloride (61.60 ± 1.52%) and potassium (-58.14 ± 10.89%). Concomitantly, milk lactose decreased by 26.07 ± 7.97% compared to baseline levels. Synchronously, vaginal electrical resistance (VER) showed a significant (p < 0.01) decrease, but serum oestradiol 17ß levels surged (59.93 ± 7.29 pg/ml) on day of oestrus. Serum oestradiol level was negatively correlated with VER (r = -0.577), potassium (r = -0.661), positively correlated with chloride (r = 0.707) and sodium (r = 0.579) and not correlated with lactose levels. These results for the first time suggested that the changes in constituents of milk during peri-oestrous period may be used as a practical non-invasive indicator for oestrous detection and prediction of ovulation in Egyptian buffaloes.

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This study evaluated the effect of administration of exogenous antioxidant (antox) on the course and treatment of Trichinella spiralis in the intestinal phase (2 days post infection, p.i.) and the muscle phase (35 days p.i.) using albino rats as an experimental model. The results indicated that the administration of antox had led to delayed expulsion of adult worms from the small intestine, decreased inflammatory reactions in the intestines and muscles and causing an increase in the muscle larval burden. The intake of antioxidant decreased the efficacy of mebendazole on adult worms in the intestinai phase, while it enhanced the effect of treatment in the muscle phase and the number of larvae was highly decreased. So, antox inhibited free radical generation in small intestine which acts as a contributing factor to the rejection process. But, in muscle phase, the decreased inflammatory reaction around larvae increases the chance of the drug to reach larvae and affects them.

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Histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies were carried out on the skeletal muscles of mice experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni throughout 20 weeks post infection. Histopathogical changes were detected from the 13th week post infection inspite of absence of Schistosoma mansoni eggs. There were definite enzymatic changes dehydrogenase, non specific esterase and acid and alkaline phosphatases. These changes started from the 14th week post infection. S. mansoni immune complex deposits were detected in the muscles from the 9th week post infection. Positive correlation was found between the degree of immune complex deposition and histopathological and histochemical changes. The study confirmed the role of immune complex in the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle lesion in Schistosoma mansoni infection (schistosomal myopathy).

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The current study was conducted to estimate the time needed for placental dropping and the effect of beta-blocker carazolol (Suacron, Praemix, Mannheim) on placental retention. Carazolol was injected to enhance the placental dropping and also as a prophylactic measure to minimize the incidence of retained foetal membrane in the she-camel. Normal dropping of placenta engaged 49.27 +/- 6.76 minutes. In the treated animals the time needed for normal placental dropping was 33.00 +/- 10.05 minutes when injected with a prophylactic dose of carazolol. It was 38.89 +/- 8.07 minutes when the drug was injected in case of placental retention.

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Two cases of phycomycosis of the abomasum in dromedary camels are described. In one of the cases there is evidence of spread to the liver. The pathology and pathogenesis of the disease are discussed. We believe this is the first report of phycomycosis in Camelidae.

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