CHARACTERIZATION OF SERUM LYSOSOMAL ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITIES .3. EFFECT OF INFECTIOUS INFLUENZA IN EGYPTIAN EQUINES

An outbreak of infectious influenza was recognized in Menofeia governo rate in October 1989. Eight naturally influenza infected as well as 8 healthy control horses, mules and donkeys were selected for collection of blood and sera separation to estimate four lysosomal enzymatic act ivities and to describe the clinical findings, which were fever, conge sted nasal, conjunctival membranes and cough. Bronchopneumonia followe d later with bilateral purulent nasal discharge as a complication in 2 donkeys. Thereafter laboured breathing occured. Therefore a therapeut ic penicillin-streptomycin dose was injected to safeguard against the secondary bacterial invasion. All lysosomal enzyme levels in serum of diseased equines were subjected to consistent regression except N-acet yl-beta-glucosaminidase -beta-NAG) that behaved very highly significan t activity, probably due to the acid pH resulting from bronchopneumoni a and respiratory acidosis which override the inhibitory action of the antibiotics. Influenza virus may inhibit the synthesis of the pulmona ry surfactant in alveolar and bronchial epithelium, thereafter, the an imals suffered from respiratory distress and bronchospasm with resulta nt decreased acid phosphatase (ACP) value which was histochemically lo cated in both sites. The disappearance of alpha- and beta-galactosidas es (alpha-GAL & beta-GAL) from the serum of diseased animals can be at tributed to the antibiotic dose.