The present study was carried out to investigate the epidemiological and clinical status of bovine Theileriosis in Aswan Governorate. During a 2-year study, 265 cattle were clinically suspected upon careful clinical examination as Theileria infected animals. Conventional diagnosis based on blood and lymph smears examinations showed that, the prevalence of Tropical Theileriosis in cattle in Aswan Governorate was 56 (21.13%). Giemsa stained blood smears showed presence of macro-schizont inside lymphocyte (Koch’s blue bodies), micro-schizonts inside lymphocyte, raptured schizont and intraerythrocytic stages of Theileria annulata piroplasms inside RBCs. Polymerase chain reactions of T. annulata merozoite-piroplasm surface antigen Targeting gene: (Tams1) revealed positive 29 (58%) animals confirmed by visualization of specific bands at 768 bP. Positive results could be detected in suspected cattle that showed positive or negative blood smear results that proved the high sensitivity of PCR test compared with the conventional method for diagnosis of bovine tropical Theileriosis. PCR proved a highly sensitive and accurate method for diagnosis of bovine tropical Theileriosis, especially in detection of blood and lymph smears negative cases.

Keywords | Epidemiology, Theileria annulata, Bovine, Diagnosis, PCR

Fertility in birds is dependent on their ability to store adequate populations of viable sperm for extended durations in sperm storage tubules (SSTs). The exact mechanisms by which sperm enter, reside, and egress from the SSTs are still controversial. Sharkasi chicken sperm showed a high tendency to agglutinate, forming motile thread-like bundles comprising many cells. Since it is difficult to observe sperm motility and behavior inside the opaque oviduct, we employed a microfluidic device with a microchannel cross-section resembling close to that of sperm glands allowing for the study of sperm agglutination and motility behavior. This study discusses how sperm bundles are formed, how they move, and what role they may have in extending sperm residency inside the SSTs. We investigated sperm velocity and rheotaxis behavior when a fluid flow was generated inside a microfluidic channel by hydrostatic pressure (flow velocity = 33 µm/s). Spermatozoa tended to swim against the flow (positive rheotaxis) and sperm bundles had significantly lower velocity compared to lonesome sperm. Sperm bundles were observed to swim in a spiral-like motion and to grow in length and thickness as more lonesome sperm are recruited. Sperm bundles were observed approaching and adhering to the sidewalls of the microfluidic channels to avoid being swept with fluid flow velocity > 33 µm/s. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that sperm bundles were supported by a copious dense substance. The findings show the distinct motility of Sharkasi chicken sperm, as well as sperm's capacity to agglutinate and form motile bundles, which provides a better understanding of long-term sperm storage in the SSTs.