The epidemiological patterns of Bluetongue (BT) in North Africa and Mediterranean Basin (MB) dramatically changed by emergence of subsequent episodes of novel bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes with highly pathogenic indexes and socio-economic impacts. The objective of the study was to investigate the sero-prevalence and serotype distribution of BTV in Libya. During 2015-2016, a total of 826 serum samples were collected from domestic ruminants in Libya. All sera were assayed by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (c-ELISA). C-Elisa-positive samples (43.3%; 173/400) were further analyzed by virus neutralization assay to identify BTV serotypes and determine the antibody titre of positive samples. An overall BTV sero-prevalence was 48.4% (95% CI: 45.0%-51.8%). Neutralizing antibodies were detected against the following BTV serotypes namely: BTV-1, BTV-2, BTV-3, BTV-4, BTV-9 and BTV-26. While BTV-1, BTV-2, BTV-4 and BTV-9 circulation was unsurprising as they have been responsible of the last year outbreaks in Northern African Countries, the detection of BTV-3 and BTV-26 was definitely new and concerning for the animal health of the countries facing the Mediterranean Basin. It is crucial that European and Northern African authorities collaborate in organizing common surveillance programmes to early detect novel strains or emerging serotypes in order to set up proper preventive measures, and, in case, develop specific vaccines and plan coordinated vaccination campaigns.
Ibrahim Eldaghayes(11-2018)

Detection of antibodies to avian influenza H9N2 in broiler flocks clinically expressing a respiratory disease syndrome
Abdulatif Asheg, OS Al-Garib,, ِAbdulwahab Kammon(7-2007)

A study was conducted to determine the effect of three native plants from El-Jabal al ELAkhdar, (Libya) on hematological profile, cholesterol and immune response to ND vaccine in broiler chickens. A total of 1260 one-day-old male Cobb chickens were used in the experiment. Chickens were assigned to 7 treatment groups (6 replicates per treatment). The dietary treatments included basal diet with no additives (control), and 6 other dietary treatments (Arbutus pavarii, Salvia officinalis and Zizyphus Vulgaris) each of which was added at the rate of 0.5g and 1g/kg of basal diet. Results explicitly revealed that no significant change in TLC between the treated and control groups has been recorded. A significant heteropenia was recorded at the third week of treatment with 1% A. Pavarii 0.5 S. Officinalis and 0.5 Z. Vulgaris when compared to control group. However, the lymphocytic count show a significant increase (P≤0.05) in all treated groups compared to the control groups. Immunologically, an enhanced humeral immune response was very obvious based upon the significant elevation of antibody titer at the third week of treatment for all groups received 1 % of the three types of plants. Interestingly , cholesterol levels were significantly elevated at the six week of treatment with 0.5 % Z. Vulgaris while highest decline in cholesterol levels were recorded in group that have received 0.5 S. Officinalis.
ِAbdulatif A. Asheg(3-2015)