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Rabies is a neglected zoonosis with adverse public health effects. We describe the community engagement in containing a bovine paralytic rabies outbreak in two rural communities of Mexico. We carried out a participatory rapid appraisal using different community participation techniques for 2 weeks, including information sharing, community meetings, prioritization of activities, and training. In addition to the animal census and vaccination, necropsy and immunofluorescence tests were performed to diagnose rabies. Cattle mortality during the outbreak of bovine paralytic rabies was 4.5% (15/331); 1446 anti-rebies vacines were applied, directly benefiting 94 families. Members of two rural communities were trained. The continuous exchange of information among the stakeholders allowed us to inform, consult, involve, and empower community members. Community participation played an essential role in identifying a common problem, implementing activities to contain it, and successfully safeguarding public health, animal production, and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective-To identify serum biochemical and hematologic variables, as measured in the week before parturition, that predict postpartum retention of the placenta (RP) in dairy cows. Design-Retrospective cohort study. Animals-i 038 cows in 20 commercial dairy herds. Procedures-Serum concentrations of fatty acids (FAs), β-hydroxybutyrate, cholesterol, glucose, urea, and calcium and blood leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil counts were determined.These variables were evaluated for an association with development of RP by use of a multivariate logistic regression model. Parity, season of parturition, existence of twins or dystocia, body condition score, and vitamin E treatment were included in the model as covariates. Results-High serum concentrations of cholesterol and FAs were associated with an increased odds of RR There was a 5% relative increase in the odds of RP for each 0.1 mmol/L increase in cholesterol or FAs concentration in the week before parturition. Season of parturition and twinning were also identified as risk factors. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-These associations indicated that prepartum energy metabolism contributes to the development of RR Serum concentrations of cholesterol and FAs may be useful to identify cows with a metabolic abnormality or energy imbalance that might predispose them to RP and should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical risk factors such as twinning, dystocia, or parturient paresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selected biochemical values were determined in venous blood plasma from 45 clinically healthy ostriches (Struthio camelus) of different age and sex at an altitude 2 200 m above sea level. Animals were divided by age into 4 groups and the group of adults was divided by sex into 2 subgroups. Group 1 included chickens (n =10) aged 26.5 d; Group 2 included 70-day-old chickens (n =10); Group 3 were juvenile birds (n =8) aged 232.4 d; Group 4 was formed by 10 females and 7 males (n =17), aged 6 years old. The diet was a mixture composed of chopped alfalfa hay, sorghum and soybean meal, supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Drinking water and diet were provided ad libitum. In all blood samples 17 biochemical analytes were determined. Significant (P < 0.05) age effect was found in the values for glucose, uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulins, Ca2+, inorganic P, cholesterol, ALT, AST, creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase and amylase. There was also a significant (P < 0.05) sex difference in values for total protein, albumin, globulins, Ca2+, Mg2+ and inorganic P. Blood biochemical values determined in this study can be considered reference data for disease diagnosis in ostriches of different ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since dairy cows during the transition period have multiple endocrine and metabolic changes, it is necessary to determine the reference limits of laboratory analytes in normal transition cows. Reference limits for the weeks before and after calving were determined in dairy cows. Animals that had adverse clinical outcomes after calving and cows that were culled or had mastitis within the first 7 days after calving were excluded. All biochemical analytes (beta-hydroxybutyrate, fatty acids, glucose, cholesterol, urea, calcium, and phosphorus) were statistically different between precalving and postcalving groups. The hematological analytes were not significantly different except for eosinophils. The data from precalving and postcalving cows were significantly different from reference limits in a university-associated laboratory derived from early- and mid-lactation cows. Different reference limits for precalving and postcalving dairy cows should be determined for biochemical analytes to ensure appropriate interpretation of results.