The brown paper nautilus, Argonauta hians Lightfoot, 1786 was recorded for the first time from Indian waters while investigating the biodiversity of the molluscs of Gulf of Mannar during June, 2011. One specimen of the said species was collected as an incidental by-catch in the trawl catch off Thoothukudi coast of Gulf of Mannar, from India, between 08º 35’ 22.5" N 78º 27’ 40.9" E and 08º 31’ 91.2"N 78º 25’ 32.7"E at a depth of 305-310 m.  

A seven year old female Doberman dog was presented with the history of dullness, anorexia and dysuria for three days. Abdominal palpation revealed distended bladder, which was confirmed by plain radiography and ultrasonography on Neurological examination animal was found to be normal. On manual compression of the bladder urine was not evacuated, therefore by catheterization was performed and no obstruction was found; around three litres of urine was drained. The animal was treated with oral Diazepam, @ 0.04mg/kg, Prazosin, 1mg/15 kg and Bethanechol, @ 2mg/kg bd. wt. On fourth day of treatment, the animal was able to urinate normally and it was advised to continue the treatment for two weeks. The animal had an unevenful recovery.

Multicut fodder sorghum Co (FS) 29 was evaluated for its growth and yield performance with the application of different sources of irrigation and nutrients. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. Main plot consists of treatments with application of irrigation through ground water (I1), domestic sewage water (I2) and ground and domestic sewage water alternatively (I3). The sub plots consist of no fertilisers (control) (N1), application of farm yard manure alone (FYM alone) (N2), farmyard manure + NPK (FYM + NPK) (N3) and NPK alone (N4). The application of domestic sewage water along with FYM + NPK nutrients as per the treatment schedule resulted in higher plant height, leaf length, number of leaves, biomass production, dry matter and biomass yield of multicut fodder sorghum. However, pertaining to nutrient application, nitrogen uptake was higher with application of FYM +NPK but found on par with the application of NPK alone and application of FYM alone.

A study was conducted to evaluate external and internal egg quality characters of three chicken breeds/ ecotypes namely, indigenous Siruvidai, TANUVAS Aseel and White Leghorn.  A total of 180 eggs (120 eggs from Siruvidai chicken, 30 eggs from TANUVAS Aseel and 30 eggs from White Leghorn) were subjected to this study. The weight, length, width and surface area of White Leghorn eggs were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of TANUVAS Aseel and indigenous Siruvidai chicken. Shape index was found to be significantly (P<0.05 higher in Siruvidai chicken eggs compared to that of TANUVAS Aseel and White Leghorn. Among the internal egg qualities, the height and width of albumen and albumen index were significantly (P<0.05) higher in White Leghorn chicken eggs compared to that of TANUVAS Aseel and Siruvidai chicken. Yolk height and yolk index of three breeds showed no significant difference among breeds. Yolk width was significantly (P<0.05) higher in TANUVAS Aseel compared to that of Siruvidai chicken. Yolk colour was significantly (P<0.05) higher in TANUVAS Aseel and Siruvidai chicken compared to that of White Leghorn. Shell thickness was significantly (P<0.05) higher in TANUVAS Aseel and White Leghorn as compared to Siruvidai chicken. Haugh unit was significantly (P<0.05) higher in White Leghorn compared to TANUVAS Aseel and Siruvidai chicken. The results revealed that the egg quality characters like egg weight, egg length, egg width, shape index, surface area, albumen height, albumen index, shell thickness and Haugh unit of indigenous Siruvidai chicken is different from other indigenous breed like Aseel and exotic breed like White Leghorn.

The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of two oestrus induction protocols on 30 postpartum anoestrus crossbred cows reared by rural farmers of Puducherry region. The cows were randomly divided into Treatment I (CIDR+PGF2α+GnRH; n=15) and Treatment group II (Ovsynch+ CIDR; n=15) with double fixed timed inseminations at 12 and 24 hours post-administration of last GnRH. Oestrus induction response was 100% in both the treatment groups with majority of the cows (80%) in both the treatment groups showed intermediate intensity of oestrus. The mean time to onset of oestrus from the time of removal of CIDR in Treatment I and Treatment II was 43.45 ± 9.21 and 45.81 ± 6.34 h respectively. There is no significant difference in the serum progesterone concentration at the time of AI between Treatment I (0.92±0.26 ng/mL) and Treatment II (0.92±0.18 ng/mL). Though the conception rate was higher in treatment II (40 %) compared to Treatment I (20 %), the difference is not statistically significant. From the present study, it was concluded that Ovsynch in combination with CIDR found to be effective in oestrus induction and conception following fixed timed AI in anoestrus cows under field conditions. 

The present communication deals with concurrent infestation of lice and tick in a peafowl from Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu. External examination of the bird revealed presence of six lice and seven tick specimens. The ectoprasites were processed and examined under microscope. The lice and tick specimens were identified as Goniodes pavonis and nymphal stages of Haemaphysalis sp respectively. This is the first study to establish the concurrent infection of Goniodes pavonis and Haemaphysalis sp in peafowl from Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu and also first report of Goniodes pavonis in peafowl from India. 

Gross anatomy of sternum in white-breasted waterhen was studied. Bone samples (sternum) were collected from three carcasses of white-breasted waterhen died were brought for postmortem examination to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai. The sternum was quadrilateral in shape. The longitudinal groove on the body of the sternum extended proximally and disappeared distally. The antero-lateral process was large, three-sided polygon shaped. Postero-lateral process was clamp-like at its posterior end. Postero-lateral process extended beyond the level of body of the sternum. Foramen ovale wasnoticed in the form of a W- shaped oval notch between the body of the sternum and the postero-lateral process. The anterior border of body of the sternum was noticed with two medial pneumatic notches. 

This study presents two clinical cases in Chinchilla and Himalayan rabbits, exhibiting symptoms such as alopecia, skin lesions, and ear lesions. Skin scrapings and fecal samples were collected and processed, revealing the presence of Sarcoptes scabiei mites, Psoroptes cuniculi mites, and Eimeria oocysts. Treatment involved subcutaneous administration of Ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg), accompanied by supportive and topical application of Benzyl benzoate. The rabbits displayed clinical improvement, with complete recovery observed within 30 days.

A biochemical study was conducted in Japanese quail to find out the efficiency of supplementation of diet with Selenium, Vitamin E, Ocimum Sanctum and their combinations on the blood antioxidant status. Day old Japanese quail chicks belonging to the same hatch were purchased and maintained in the Institute of Poultry Production and Management, Nandanam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Chicks were weighed and randomly distributed into 8 dietary treatments with 3 replicates of 7 chicks each (168 chicks). The control chicks were fed, only with basal diet (T1) and the other treatments had, 0.2mg of selenium per kg diet (T2), 40mg of vitamin E per kg diet (T3),1g of Ocimum sanctum per kg diet (T4), Selenium 0.2mg and vitamin E 40 mg per kg diet (T5), Vitamin E 40 mg  and Ocimum sanctum 1g per kg diet (T6), Selenium 0.2 mg and Ocimum sanctum 1g per kg diet (T7), Selenium 0.2mg , vitamin E 40 mg and Ocimum sanctum 1g per kg diet (T8). Isocaloric and Isonitrogenous feed and water were given ad libitum. Blood  was drawn at the end of 4th, 8th and 12th week of age and the following  antioxidant analysis were carried out using standard procedures. Reduced glutathione (Eyer 1986), Catalase  (Sinha 1974), Glutathione peroxidase ( Rotruck 1973), MDA lipid peroxidation  (Yagi 1998). The results of the antioxidant analysis showed a highly significant (p<0.01) increase in all supplemented groups with respect to control in all weeks. The MDA levels showed a highly significant (p<0.01) decrease in supplemented groups with respect to control in all weeks. The dietary supplementation of Selenium, Vitamin E and Ocimum sanctum has improved the blood antioxidant status. The combination of all the three supplements produced higher improvement than given alone. 

Hydatidosis, caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus is considered to be an important condition in herbivores such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats. Due to its presence in the food animals meant for meat purpose, the disease is considered to be of economic and public health significance owing to the impact it produces on the meat industry by condemnation of the affected organs. Food animals such as sheep, goats get infected by accidental ingestion of contaminated feed and water with the eggs of the tapeworm. Development of the cysts in the intermediate host such as sheep and goats occurs in the lungs, liver and other visceral organs. The disease remains asymptomatic in most cases in spite of the presence of the hydatid cysts for a long period. A study was undertaken to find out the incidence of the hydatid cysts in sheep and goats in the Corporation slaughter house by examination of the carcasses of the slaughtered sheep and goats. By the study, an overall incidence of 6.5% in sheep and 5.8% in goats were observed with the sheep harbouring more number of fertile hydatid cysts which plays a major role in dissemination of infection to dogs.