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The Pharmacokinetics of Ceftazidime Following its Intravenous Administration in Dogs
No full textCeftazidime is a beta-lactam that is used in the treatment of bacterial infections in humans and companion animals, such as dogs and cats. It is prescribed to treat gram-negative infections, especially those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study aimed to compare the pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime using a microbiological assay to evaluate the adequacy of the proposed dosage regimens for susceptible gram-negative bacteria. For this purpose, five healthy mongrel male dogs, with a mean age of four years and an average weight of 19.1 kg, were administered a single intravenous bolus dose of ceftazidime (20 mg/kg). Plasma concentrations were measured using a microbiological assay, and dosage regimens were established by integrating pharmacokinetics data with pharmacodynamics parameters. The results showed that ceftazidime was rapidly distributed to the peripheral tissues (0.189 L/kg), with a half-life of 1.15 hours and a clearance rate of 0.166 L/hr./kg. The results obtained from the pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamic integration suggested 20 mg/kg q8 hours of ceftazidime for susceptible gram-negative bacteria with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of ≤ 8 µg/ml, and 20 mg /kg q12 hours of ceftazidime for susceptible gram-negative bacteria with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of ≤ 4 µg/ml. In conclusion, a mild correlation was observed between the dogs’ weight and the ceftazidime half-life, which led to an adjustment of the proposed dosage regimen to 20 mg/kg q8 hours
Practical Management of Sheep Farming in Eastern Algeria: Situation, Constraints and Perspectives
No full textSuccessful sheep farming requires hands-on management and a thorough understanding of the factors that influence it. This necessitates a practical, well-organized approach to ensure the flock's health, productivity, and profitability. Various factors, such as climate, available resources, and management strategies, play a crucial role in determining the success of sheep farming. This study, conducted in the Batna region of Algeria, aimed to assess sheep breeding practices and production performance through a questionnaire distributed to farmers and veterinarians. The study encompassed 14,124 sheep, including 9,435 ewes, from 33 Batna region farms to evaluate production and reproduction performance. The findings revealed that the Ouled Djellal breed is the most prevalent, comprising 61.02% of the sheep population. The results indicated that sheep farming in the region largely relies on traditional extensive grazing systems. It is worth noting that breeding practices have not consistently followed recommended guidelines, as evidenced by a suboptimal sex ratio of 36.28. Additionally, only 21.94% of breeders had employed heat synchronization methods, and artificial insemination was not utilized. The low adoption of artificial insemination is primarily attributed to factors, including a lack of knowledge regarding reproductive management, along with challenges related to illiteracy and limited access to essential resources. The analysis further demonstrated that all categories of sheep were profitable; however, profitability was influenced by factors, such as environmental conditions, feed availability, and the age of the animals. The study underscored significant findings, including the prevalence of the Ouled Djellal breed and the limited use of advanced breeding practices, such as artificial insemination, in the Batna region. The value of the current study lies in its comprehensive examination of traditional sheep farming practices and its recommendations for enhancing productivity. These include improving management practices, increasing access to resources, and promoting genetic improvement by adopting advanced breeding technologies
The Behavior of Axially Compression Loaded Barrette and Bored Piles with Model Tests
No full textDeep foundations could be preferred instead of shallow foundations in the event that the loads coming from the structure are excessive and the soil state is inconvenient. Rectangular shaped barrette piles are the one of them. In this study, firstly a series of laboratory tests have been conducted using three different sizes of barrette and bored piles placed in the sand soil. Then, finite element based three-dimensional back analyses have been performed using the data obtained from these tests. Afterwards; a series of parametric analyses were performed with different pile geometries, including real pile dimension used in current geotechnical applications. As seen that bored piles are exposed to displacement approximately 2 times more than barrette piles under the same force at all pile lengths. When the pile lengths used in real geotechnical applications are also investigated, it has been determined that bored piles have displacements between 1.5 and 2.3 times more than barrette piles. Numerical results with the piles of small cross-section area show that barrette piles have more bearing capacity compared with bored piles. As the pile length increases, barrette piles could be more loads from 2% up to 17%. When the piles in real geotechnical dimensions are examined, barrette piles have revealed more bearing capacity performance from 7% to 49% when compared to bored piles as the pile length increases. It also has been revealed that barrette piles show better performance than bored piles both in experimental and numerical analyses
Effects of Blended Portland-Fly Ash Cement on Compressive Strength of Seawater Mixed and Cured Lateritic Concrete
No full textThe use of cement in the construction industry is accompanied by the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the ecosystem, and freshwater usage is on the rise globally, putting the world in a potential freshwater scarcity. This study investigated the effects of blended Portland-fly ash cement on the compressive strength of seawater-mixed and cured lateritic concrete by partially replacing the concrete materials: cement with fly ash at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 25%; fine aggregate, with laterite at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%. A concrete mix ratio of 1:1.5:3 was used in the production of concrete cubes with an expected target compressive strength of 20 N/mm2. The compressive strength of the cubes was measured at 7, 28, and 56 days using standard testing procedures. Cubes cast with and cured in seawater (SW-SW) had strength values relatively higher than those cast with and cured in freshwater (FW-FW) at 28 days of curing. At 28 days, SW-SW cubes gave 22.44 N/mm2 while FW-FW cubes gave 21.80 N/mm2 as the highest strength values at 10% Lat and 10% FA. However, the FW-FW cubes had strength values higher than those of seawater mixed and cured concrete (SW-SW) at 56 days. FW-FW cubes gave 26.82 N/mm2 while SW-SW cubes gave 26.34 N/mm2 as their highest strength values at 10% Lat and 10% FA. Generally, an increase in fly ash and laterite content significantly reduces the compressive strength of concrete. Overall, seawater is recommended for curing and mixing, especially in non-reinforcing concrete. 10% fly ash and 10% laterite are also recommended for use in blended Portland cement-fly ash concrete as they give the highest strength values
Experiences Encountered while Using Construction Contracts during Project Delivery in Botswana
No full textVarious forms of contracts guide the construction project delivery processes across the world. To make procurement more accessible and faster, various institutions have developed what is known as standard forms of contracts (SFoC). These institutions believe that SFoCs could be used in an adopted or adapted mode to reduce the burden of writing contracts every time a project is procured. This article discusses the results of a study that investigated the effectiveness of identified SFoCs and the experiences encountered by key stakeholders in using the contracts during construction project delivery. Study participants were drawn from contractor, consulting and client organisations and completed a questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. 11 attributes synthesised from literature were used to measure the effectiveness of a contract. Three major SFoCs were identified as being used in Botswana: the Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT), the New Engineering Contract (NEC) and International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). The FIDIC has a long history of use, but in recent years, the NEC entered the arena. Due to the low usage of the JCT, the discussion centred on the NEC and FIDIC contracts. Some insights were drawn from the study. Respondents did not find a big difference in the effectiveness of the two contracts (WME for NEC =3.3 and FIDIC =3.1). However, there were a few attributes for which the NEC seemed to be a better contract. These were a) simple and non-legalistic language with self-contained clauses and b) a communicative and proactive risk management regime, which respondents identified with a propensity to reduce or avoid disputes. The study had the limitations of having used a small (38) sample of respondents and the fact that NEC has not been used in the country for the length of time as the FIDIC contract
An Analysis of Water Demand of the Rural Population within the Iishana System, Namibia
No full textThe Namibian people, particularly, those living within the Iishana system, which is a subset of the Cuvelai Basin, often encounter recurrent floods and droughts. After each rainy season, the Iishana system dries up gradually, hence, water for both agriculture and potable purposes becomes crucial. With the anticipated new water infrastructural development and rehabilitation of existing ones, it will be necessary to ascertain the water demand of the rural population, for the quantification of the supply potential to improve water availability. This study adopts historical water consumption per capita recommended within the Iishana system to determine the rural population demand. Considering a thirty years’ population projection, the water demand of the Iishana system is properly estimated. Moreover, the historical hydrological dataset daily data for the period 2012-2021 was used for the analysis. The current demand is estimated at 2,479 cubic meters per day. The projections of water demand for the rural population for 2033, 2043, and 2053 are 0.9, 0.5, and 0.1 Mm3/year, respectively. More so, the surface water resource potential of the system is estimated at an average of 300 mm/year. The region loses more water through evaporation than it receives in the wet season. Around 2500 mm of water evaporates from the surface annually, giving a water deficit of 2200 mm/year. The region's flat, shallow landscape, high evaporation rate, and the inadequacy of infrastructure have made the area vulnerable in terms of water security for both agricultural and potable purposes, resulting in droughts after the rainy season. With these findings, it is recommended to build water infrastructures within the region to improve the well-being and livelihood of rural communities
Radiological Evaluation of Regenerative Growth Plate Defect Treated with Platelet-Rich Fibrin Membrane in Rabbits
No full textBony bar formation after growth plate injuries leads to shortening and angulation of the long bone, which is considered one of the most critical sequelae affecting animals’ and humans’ lives in adulthood. The objective of the present study was to evaluate radiographically the role of using an autologous platelet-rich fibrin membrane in regenerating growth plate defects to prevent the formation of bony bars. A total of 20 kit rabbits, aged between 6-12 weeks and weighing 500-1100 g, were included in the current study. They were experimentally exposed to approximately 551 mm growth plate defects, which were filled with an autologous platelet-rich fibrin membrane previously prepared at the time of the surgery. A radiological follow-up was conducted weekly at the first, second, third, fourth, sixth, and eighth weeks post-surgery to examine the growth plate defect area. The tibial length and angulation were measured during this period of the study and compared to the contralateral limb of the same animal. The radiological results showed no bony bar formation in most cases and the presence of the growth plate up to the end of the study (week 8 post-surgery) in the injured area. In addition, no significant differences were identified in the tibial length and angulation of the affected limb in comparison to the contralateral limb of the same animal throughout the study. In conclusion, treating serious growth plate injuries by PRF membrane may prevent angular deformity and length discrepancy in limbs
Incidence and Risk Factors of Toxocara vitulorum Infection in Beef Cattle of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
No full textToxocara vitulorum (T. vitulorum), an Ascarid nematode, infects the small intestine of cattle and buffalo, particularly in newborn calves. The present study aimed to identify the occurrence of T. vitulorum collected from cattle in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and to examine the surface structure of its eggs by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The present study did not observe asymptomatic clinical signs of toxocariasis, including diarrhoea and weight loss. Fecal samples were collected from 247 cattle of various breeds, consisting of 65 males and 182 females across three regions including Bantul (78 cattle), Sleman (63 cattle), and Kulon Progo (106 cattle). Qualitative and quantitative methods, including flotation and modified McMaster methods, were respectively employed to analyze nematode egg counts. SEM was utilized to characterize the surface morphology of T. vitulorum nematodes. A total of 9 cattle were found to excrete T. vitulorum eggs in their feces (3.64%). The average fecal egg count was 2.861 eggs per gram (EPG), with positive cases observed exclusively in female cattle. The risk factors influencing toxocariasis in this study were breeds and frequency of cleaning the stall. A higher odd ratio of T. vitulorum infection was found in mixed Ongole breeds than in Limousin or Simmental breeds. Moreover, cattle housed in rarely cleaned stalls showed a higher odd ratio than those in regularly cleaned ones. Factors such as age, fecal consistency, and population density factor showed no significant association with toxocariasis. The SEM analysis of T. vitulorum eggs revealed an oval shape with distinct surface ornamentations, including interlocking ridges and depressions. The cage cleanliness and cattle breed were the most common risk factors associated with infected cattle
Physiological and Productive Responses to Dietary Supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris in Growing Rabbits
No full textA tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that exceeds normal boundaries, resulting from uncoordinated and uncontrolled cell proliferation. Tumors can affect various parts of cattle animals, including the skin, bones, glands, and visceral organs. The present study aimed to explore the pathology of bovine skin tumors and their health and economic impacts on cattle. Skin tumors are the most frequently diagnosed neoplastic disorders in bovine species. The most common skin tumors in bovine include bovine papilloma, squamous cell carcinoma, and bovine lymphosarcoma. These tumors pose significant health challenges and have a negative economic impact on cattle production and its byproducts. Clinical features of skin tumors often include hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, elongated rete pegs, large nodular structures, exophytic and cauliflower-like lesions, and friable lesions. Melanomas, another type of proliferative skin tumor, are characterized by spindle to round cell shapes containing abundant black pigment. More than 90% of skin tumors are linked to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Diagnosing a skin tumor in cattle typically involves skin biopsy and fine needle aspiration cytology. Histologically, skin tumor cells exhibit an increased nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, cellular and nuclear pleomorphism, and a discohesive arrangement of cells. In addition to their health implications, skin tumors in cattle result in significant economic losses due to reduced productivity, decreased reproduction rates, carcass condemnation, and the downgrading of skins and hides. Common treatment options for skin tumors include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical removal. Given that skin tumors are an economically significant disease in Ethiopia, they require increased attention from researchers and the centers for control and prevention. Early diagnosis and effective management of these tumors are crucial issues that must be addressed
MINERALS CONTENT OF WATER SOURCES FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN ETHIOPIA
No full textMinerals are essential nutrients for sustainable livestock production and productivity. Water is a source of minerals to livestock production beside feed minerals. Presence of some minerals in water at higher levels will be toxic to animals and will affect animal health and productivity. So, it is essential to know the mineral content of water sources for livestock consumption in the country. This paper is based on a review of literature that was conducted on the mineral content and quality of water sources mainly for human consumption and other purposes in Ethiopia. Based on the literature values of the mineral content of the water sources and recommended values of minerals in livestock drinking water, the water sources were assessed for their suitability for livestock production. The review showed the presence of variation in the mineral content of the water sources in Ethiopia. In addition, there is variation in the mineral content of the water sources between the dry and the wet season. The total dissolved solids (TDS), Calcium, magnesium, chromium and zinc content of the water sources in Ethiopia is within acceptable levels for livestock consumption. But the sodium, chloride, copper, fluoride, iron, lead and manganese content of some of the water sources (river, well and lake) in the country is beyond the maximum recommended level. This demands implementation of mitigation mechanisms to reduce the mineral contents of water sources; otherwise, it will result in deleterious effects on the health and productivity of animals. Generally, there is a lack of adequate research on the mineral content of water sources for livestock production in the country. So, there is a need to conduct more research on the water sources being consumed by livestock in the country in the future. Open Access: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. © The Author(s) 202