<span>The effect of a continuous disinfection programme, using the non-toxic disinfectant Virukill, in layers, on the spread and impact of infectious coryza, caused by <em>Haemophilus paragallinarum</em> was evaluated. <br />In this experiment, both unvaccinated layers and layers vaccinated against infectious coryza were used. Duplicate smaller groups of vaccinated and unvaccinated chickens were challenged with different serovars of both NAD-dependent as well as NAD-independent isolates of <em>Haemophilus paragallinarum</em>. One group of chickens challenged with each of the different bacterial serovars was treated with the continuous disinfection programme, while the other group remained as the untreated controls. <br />The clinical signs of infectious coryza were evaluated over a period of 20 days in each group. The egg production over this period was also evaluated. <br />It was found in all experimental challenges, that the severity of the symptoms was reduced in the birds receiving the continuous disinfection programme. The drop in egg production was also found to be less severe in the treated groups when compared to the untreated control groups. The duration of infection was found to be either unchanged, or shorter in the birds treated with the continuous disinfection programme. In none of the experimental challenges was the duration or expression of clinical signs of IC increased due to the continuous disinfection programme.</span>

<span>Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a common disease of the psittacine species and is caused by the psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV). In this study the occurrence of the disease in ring-neck parakeets and budgerigars in South Africa suffering from feathering problems, using polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test was investigated. The genetic variation between viral isolates was also studied. Results indicate that PBFDV can be attributed to being the cause of feathering problems in some of the ring-neck parakeets and budgerigars in South Africa. Genetic variation of isolates occurs between species and individuals. A cheap and easy to use method of blood sample collection on filter paper for diagnostic purposes was also evaluated. It proved to be less stressful to the birds and did not inhibit further processes.</span>

<span>Four trials, three in the United States and one in South Africa, were conducted to evaluate the potential value of a novel self-medicating applicator in the passive control of gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle and deer, and of flies and ticks on cattle using oil-based treatments. The results of the trials demonstrated that this applicator is an effective and practical device for the passive treatment of both deer and cattle for trichostrongyle infections using the endectocide, moxidectin (Cydectin^(R), Fort Dodge Animal Health, USA), of cattle for horn fly (<em>Haemotobia irritans</em>) infestations using the insecticide, cyfluthrin (CyLence^(R), Bayer AG, Germany) and of cattle for tick infestations (in particular <em>Amblyomma hebraeum</em> and <em>Rhipicephalus appendiculatus</em>) using the acaricides deltamethrin and amitraz (Delete All^(R), Intervet, South Africa).</span>

<span>The adult male and female and first instar nymph of the sucking louse <em>Linognathus weisseri</em> n. sp. are described. This louse was collected from impalas, <em>Aepyceros melampus</em>, at three localities in Limpopo Province, and at three in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Although it usually accounted for only a small proportion of the total louse burden, its overall prevalence exceeded 27 %. Its prevalence on adult male impalas (9 %) was significantly lower (<em>P</em> = 0.004) than that on adult females (39 %), but did not differ among age classes. However, the intensity of <em>L. weisseri</em> infestation was higher on lambs than on yearlings and adults, and peaked on impalas in late winter to early summer. Five species of lice are now known to parasitize impalas and a key for distinguishing adults of these species is included.</span>

<span>The aim of this study was to determine for reference purposes the values of serum albumin, <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>a</span></span>₁-globulin, <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>a</span></span>₂-globulin, <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>b</span></span>-globulin, <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>g</span></span>-globulin, and <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>a</span></span>-lipoprotein (high density lipoprotein), pre-<span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>b</span></span>-lipoprotein (very low density lipoprotein) and <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>b</span></span>-lipoprotein (low density lipoprotein) fractions of normal ostriches (<em>Struthio camelus</em>) in Turkey. Five male and five female ostriches, 18 months old, were used. All the ostriches were fed on a diet that contained 15.14 % crude protein and 2 950 Kcal/kg of metabolizable energy. The serum protein and lipoprotein fractions were measured using agarose gel electrophoresis. The fractions were found to be 60.96 % albumin, 0.24% <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>a</span></span>₁-globulin, 15.91 % <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>a</span></span>₂-globulin, 13.34 % <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>b</span></span>-globulin, 9.55 % <span style="font-family: Symbol;" lang="AF"><span>g</span></span>-globulin, 53.77 % HDL, 0.60 % VLDL and 48.09 % LDL.</span>