Detection of Avian Orthoavulavirus-1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1 with neuro-viscerotropic tropism in some backyard pigeons (Columbidae) in Eastern Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Avian orthoavulavirus-1 (AOAV1) has a wide host range, including domestic and wild birds. The present study aimed to identify the currently circulating AOAV1 strains from some outbreaks in some backyard pigeons in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia (ERSA).

Methods: Tracheal/cloacal swabs and tissue specimens were collected from eight backyards in Al-Ahsa, ERSA, between January 2021 and March 2023.

Avian encephalomyelitis virus in backyard chickens.

Background And Aim: Avian viral diseases usually cause high economic losses because of high morbidity and mortality and poor growth. The rearing of chickens in backyards could have an important role in the spread of certain diseases, particularly those of viral origin. Infected birds might be prone to many viral infections for several reasons, including a lack of vaccination programs, the mixing of different bird species in the same location, and the close interactions of these birds with wild and migratory birds carrying various pathogens.

A longitudinal study of bovine viral diarrhea virus in a semi-closed management dairy cattle herd, 2020-2022.

Introduction: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) brings great economic loss to the cattle industry worldwide. Developing a control/prevention strategy requires the prior assessment of certain epidemiological parameters. To determine the BVD incidence rate and associated risk factors, a dairy cattle herd in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia was monitored between 2020 and 2022.

Evidence of the circulation of avian metapneumovirus in domestic backyard chickens in Eastern Saudi Arabia in 2019.

Background And Aim: Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) is a recently discovered respiratory virus in chickens. Avian metapneumovirus has been linked to respiratory syndromes, reproductive failure in affected chickens and turkeys, swollen head syndrome in chickens, and rhinotracheitis in turkeys. Wild birds are considered potential reservoirs of aMPV, particularly aMPV-C.

Immunoinformatic prediction of the pathogenicity of bovine viral diarrhea virus genotypes: implications for viral virulence determinants, designing novel diagnostic assays and vaccines development.

Introduction: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) significantly impacts the bovine industries, both dairy and beef sectors. BVDV can infect various domestic and wild animals, most notably cattle. The dynamic variations among BVDV serotypes due to the continuous genetic diversity, especially in BVDV1 (BVDV1), reduce the effectiveness of the currently available vaccines and reduce the specificity/sensitivity of the diagnostic assays.

Risk-associated factors associated with the bovine viral diarrhea virus in dromedary camels, sheep, and goats in abattoir surveillance and semi-closed herd system.

Background And Aim: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the most important viral pathogens causing high economic losses in cattle of all ages. Despite the active vaccination campaigns against BVDV, many outbreaks are still detected in various populations of cattle worldwide. Other species of animals such as dromedary camels, sheep, and goats may harbor BVDV infection and cause variable clinical syndromes.

The efficacy of the prime-boost regimen for heterologous infectious bronchitis vaccines mandates the administration of homologous vaccines.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) has been frequently reported in chickens worldwide, including in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia (ERS). Several IBV outbreaks were recently reported in chickens despite the massive use of various vaccines. Based on partial sequencing of the S1 gene, at least three genotypes were reported (CK/CH/LDL/97I, IS/720/99, and IS/Variant2/98) in the ERS with no available homologous vaccines.

Camel viral diseases: Current diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies.

Many pathogenic viruses infect camels, generally regarded as especially hardy livestock because of their ability to thrive in harsh and arid conditions. Transmission of these viruses has been facilitated by the commercialization of camel milk and meat and their byproducts, and vaccines are needed to prevent viruses from spreading. There is a paucity of information on the effectiveness of viral immunizations in camels, even though numerous studies have looked into the topic.

Immunomodulatory Effects of the Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor Lornoxicam on Phenotype and Function of Camel Blood Leukocytes.

(1) Background: Lornoxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with analgesic, antiphlogistic and antipyretic effects. The improved tolerance of lornoxicam due to the relatively shorter elimination half-life in comparison to other members of the oxicams may favor its application in the management of pain and inflammation in race dromedary camels. There are no studies conducted yet on the immunomodulatory or immunotoxilogic effect of lornoxicam in camels.

Recent Advances on the Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Molecular Pathogenesis, Immune Response, and Vaccines Development.

The bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) consists of two species and various subspecies of closely related viruses of varying antigenicity, cytopathology, and virulence-induced pathogenesis. Despite the great ongoing efforts to control and prevent BVDV outbreaks and the emergence of new variants, outbreaks still reported throughout the world. In this review, we are focusing on the molecular biology of BVDV, its molecular pathogenesis, and the immune response of the host against the viral infection.

Antibody-Based Immunotherapeutic Strategies for COVID-19.

Global efforts to contain the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) include the development of novel preventive vaccines and effective therapeutics. Passive antibody therapies using convalescent plasma, SARS-CoV-2 (Severe-Acute-Respiratory-Syndrome-Corona-Virus-2)-specific neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), and the development of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are among the most promising strategies for prophylaxis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. In addition, several immunomodulatory antibodies acting via several mechanisms to boost the host immune defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as to avoid the harmful overreaction of the immune system are currently under clinical trial.

Leukocyte populations and their cell adhesion molecules expression in newborn dromedary camel calves.

Background And Aim: Different properties of the newborn immune system have been characterized in many species. For the newborn camel calf, however, the phenotype and composition of blood leukocytes have so far not been evaluated. The current study aimed to analyze the distribution of leukocyte subpopulations and their expression pattern of cell adhesion molecules in newborn and adult dromedary camels.

Leukocyte populations in peripheral blood of dromedary camels with clinical endometritis.

Endometritis represents the main cause of reproductive failure in dromedary camels. In dromedary camels, associations between endometritis-causing pathogen-species, disease severity, and systemic changes in the immune system have not been evaluated. In the current study, there was use of flow cytometry and immunofluorescence of membrane proteins for the evaluation of leukocyte subsets and the cellular phenotype in blood of camels with clinical endometritis and evaluations of associations with disease severity and endometritis-causing pathogens.

Cocirculation of Four Infectious Bronchitis Virus Lineages in Broiler Chickens in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia from 2012 to 2014.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is an evolving and dynamic virus that causes major economic losses for the poultry industry worldwide. Continuous evolution and emergence of new variants of this virus are the major challenges for controlling the disease with routine vaccination. Successful vaccination usually requires the use of a homologous vaccine, which in turn necessitates continuous investigation of the circulating strains.

Dromedary camel CD14 MHCII monocytes display inflammatory properties and are reduced in newborn camel calves.

Background: In human and different animal species, blood monocytes are classified based on their expression pattern of different monocytic markers into phenotypically and functionally different subsets. In the current study, we used flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies to CD172a, CD14, CD163 and MHCII to identify monocyte subsets in peripheral blood of dromedary camels.

Results: Based on CD14, CD163 and MHCII expression, camel CD172a + monocytes were divided into three subsets: The major subpopulation of camel monocytes (mo-I) showed high expression of CD14 and CD163, but low expression of MHCII.

MERS-CoV in Upper Respiratory Tract and Lungs of Dromedary Camels, Saudi Arabia, 2013-2014.

To assess the temporal dynamics of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in dromedary camels, specimens were collected at 1-2 month intervals from 2 independent groups of animals during April 2013-May 2014 in Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia, and tested for MERS-CoV RNA by reverse transcription PCR. Of 96 live camels, 28 (29.2%) nasal swab samples were positive; of 91 camel carcasses, 56 (61.