<p>A total of 1 076 sera from breeding goats were randomly collected from 24 different farms and tested with CHEKIT&reg;-ELISA (IDEXX Laboratories B.V., 1 119 NE Schiphol-Rijk, Nederland) for antibodies against <em>Chlamydophila abortus</em>. The farms were divided into two categories of twelve farms each,based on their previous history of observed abortions over the previous 12 months: those with low (&lt; 5%) levels of abortion and those with high (&ge; 5%) levels of abortion. The farmers were also interviewed on their level of awareness about chlamydophilosis, its zoonotic importance and vaccination measures against the disease. The study detected overall seroprevalence levels of 25% for the farms and 8% for the individual animals (at 95% confidence). A total of six out of twentyfour farms (25%) had at least one positive breeding animal. Only five out of the twenty-four (20.8%)farmers interviewed were aware of chlamydophilosis and its zoonotic dangers. None of the 24 farmers interviewed practised any vaccination against chlamydophilosis. There was a significantly higher number of seropositive animals from farms with high levels of abortion, compared to those animals from farms with low levels of abortion (<em>p</em> = 0.0001). This study underscores the need for a higher level of farmer awareness and training on chlamydophilosis and its zoonotic dangers.</p><p><strong>How to cite this article: </strong>Samkange, A., Katsande,T.C., Tjipura-Zaire, G.&amp; Crafford, J.E., 2010,Seroprevalence survey of <em>Chlamydophila abortus</em> infection in breeding goats on commercial farms in the Otavi Veterinary District,northern Namibia,<em>Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research</em> 77(1):Art. #1, 5 pages. DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v77i1.1</p>

Abortions --- breeding goats --- CHEKIT®-ELISA --- Chlamydophila abortus --- chlamydophilosis --- farmer awareness --- seroprevalence --- zoonosis

A cerebrovascular accident or stroke is a rare condition in dogs, but previous studies suggest that it is now increasingly being recognised. Platelets and fibrin networks are involved in haemostasis,which is disrupted during a thrombotic event. In this study we investigate the ultrastructure of the fibrin networks of a dog that had suffered ischaemic stroke, following suspected thromboembolism from clots that became dislodged during catheter maintenance (flushing with heparinised saline) 2 days after carotid artery catheter insertion. Fibrin networks of blood samples that were collected immediately after the stroke, 15 min after treatment with streptokinase and 24 h after treatment, were studied. The results were compared to those of two control dogs. During a stroke, fibrin morphology changes to form a thick, matted layer.Post-treatment ultrastructure shows that the fibrin morphology returns to that comparable to controls. Our results show that during thrombotic risk, fibrin network morphology changes visibly and reduces the fibrinolytic activity of the coagulation system.

dog --- fibrin networks --- Ischemic stroke --- platelets --- Scanning Electron Microscopy

Wound healing is a fundamental response to tissue injury and several natural products have been shown to accelerate the healing process. The present study was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of the topical treatment of acetone leaf extracts of <em>Combretum imberbe, Combretum nelsonii,Combretum albopuntactum</em> and <em>Terminalia sericea</em> based on their in <em>vitro</em> antimicrobial activity. Four circular full-thickness skin wounds were made on the backs of eight anaesthetised Wistar rats using aseptic techniques. The treatments were administrated topically using 10% and 20% concentrations of each extract in aqueous cream in separate treatments. Indications of erythema, exudate, crust formation,swelling and ulceration were used to determine the wound healing process. All of the wounds closed completely within 17 days. Throughout the experiment, a subcutaneous probe was used to determine that the body temperature and body weight of the rats were within the normal range. <em>C. imberbe</em> and <em>C. nelsonii</em> extracts accelerated wound healing, but there was no significant difference in wound contraction using 10% and 20% concentrations of the extracts in cream. The results also showed the potential usefulness of this model to measure accelerating wound healing.The extracts could perhaps overcome defects associated with healing failure in chronic wounds and prevent secondary bacterial and fungal infections.<p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong>Masoko, P., Eloff, J.N.,Picard, J., 2010, The use of a rat model to evaluate the in <em>vivo</em> toxicity and wound healing activity of selected <em>Combretum</em> and <em>Terminalia</em>(Combretaceae) species extracts,Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 77(1):Art. #2, 7pages. DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v77i1.2</p>

Combretum --- crust formation --- erythema --- exudates --- Terminalia --- Wistar rats --- wound healing