Resistance-to-antibiotics (ABR) in bacteria is an ever increasing critical global public health concern, as is the prevalence of mycotoxins in human food and animal feed. Mycotoxins are toxins produced by fungi, and so are antibiotics, albeit some soil bacteria also produce antibiotics. While fungal compounds toxic to humans and animals were categorised as mycotoxins, compounds having bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity were pharmacologically used as antibiotics. Nevertheless, the line of demarcation between antibiotics and mycotoxins is not absolute, as many mycotoxins possess antibiotic properties. However, until now mycotoxins were usually not-suspected to induce cross-resistance to antibiotics. The current article demonstrates the plausible mechanistic link for the induction of cross-resistance by mycotoxins to antibiotics. Evidence presented shows that in addition to common origin both mycotoxins and antibiotics have similar chemical structures, genetic backbone, biosynthetic pathway as well as role in the life of producing organism and even induce similar resistance mechanisms in bacteria, scientifically substantiating that mycotoxin induced ABR is a plausible phenomenon. Further the unavoidable presence of mycotoxins in animal feed albeit at low levels, mimics long-term exposure of commensal bacteria in farm animals to antibiotic-growth-promoters at low levels. Additionally, chronic low-level antibiotic exposure in animals is argued to be a serious factor contributing to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans. Finally the article provides experimental design to help evaluate the mycotoxin-induced-ABR. The given scientific evidence necessitates future investigations through appropriate studies to confirm the potential of mycotoxins as critical inducers of ABR, from possibility to plausibility.

A study was carried out to determine the effects of feed form i.e.crumble and mash feed on growth performance in Japanese quail. Totally 500 Nandanam quail III day-old chicks were weighed individually, then randomly assigned to two dietary treatment groups of 250 chicks each. They were 50 chicks per replicate and five replicate per dietary treatment group. These Japanese quails were fed with starter diet in the form of crumble and mash up to 5 weeks. The parameters such as weekly body weight, feed consumption, livability and carcass characteristics were recorded. There was a significant difference (P ≤ 0.01) in weekly body weight and body weight gain was observed between crumble and mash dietary treatment groups during entire study period of 5 weeks. Similarly, the feed consumption and FCR also showed significant (P ≤ 0.01) difference between the dietary treatment groups. The per cent livability showed no significant difference between dietary treatment groups. The pre- slaughter live weight showed significant (P ≤ 0.01) difference between the dietary treatments; however, the other carcass characteristics such as eviscerated weight, ready to cook yield, giblets yield, breast yield, and thigh yield showed no significant difference between dietary treatments. It can be concluded that crumble form of diet had improved the growth performance than mash form in Japanese quail.

A feeding trial was carried out with 216 day-old Vencobb-400 broiler chicks distributed to six experimental groups with six replicates, each replicate containing six chicks, in deep litter for 35 days. The experimental groups were fed with control ration (T1), ration with oxytetracycline (OTC) at 50 mg/kg (T2), ration with cinnamon oil (CO) at 250 mg per kg and coated sodium butyrate either at 0.09 (T3) or 0.18 (T4) per cent levels and ration with CO at 500 mg per kg and CSB either at 0.09 (T5) or 0.18 (T6) per cent levels. The coated sodium butyrate used in this experiment was encapsulated with a vegetable fatty acid containing 30% sodium butyrate. The economics of raising broilers up to 35 days with different levels of CO with CSB supplementation was calculated based on the actual cost of feed per kg live weight gain. The increase in the revenue was Rs. 2.79 per kg live weight in group supplemented with CO at 250 mg per kg and CSB at 0.09 per cent (T3) when compared to control. Returns were found to be better in group supplemented with CSB @ 0.09 per cent and CO @ 250 mg per kg than the dietary oxytetracycline group. A decrease (Rs.0.43) in the revenue of per kg live weight gain was recorded in T3 (CO @ 250 mg per kg and CSB @ 0.09%) when compared to antibiotic group (T2) but this decrease was marginal and not significant. This is an important observation in this study as to the industry’s attempts to avoid use of antibiotics in feed.

The study was conducted to assess the perceived impact of the Tribal Sub Plan project on the tribal beneficiaries in terms of socio-economic upliftment. Critical inputs namely sheep/goats, desi chicken, concentrate feed for sheep/goats, dewormers and vaccines, wire net for poultry housing, poultry feed and veterinary first aid kit were provided to the selected beneficiaries. With regard to the perceived direct impact, majority of the beneficiaries opined that their income had increased substantially due to the involvement in the tribal project. Enhanced income was observed through direct marketing and each farmer beneficiary was earning Rs.700-1000/ month by way of selling sheep/goat kids and desi chicken eggs. Among the indirect consequences, significant social, economic and behavioural impact was perceived by majority of the beneficiaries. With regard to social impact, there was increased outside contact followed by changes in food habit, increased organizational participation, better relation and credibility with officers and veterinarians and recognition in the society. With regard to economic impact, majority of the farmers perceived that there was substantial increase in family employment and in addition, few farmers were able to renovate their houses, purchased new land and household materials, invested in monthly savings and cleared their debts. As far as the behavioural impact, majority developed positive attitude towards livestock farming activities and there was increased awareness on the tribal schemes implemented by the Government. Further, majority of the beneficiaries have acquired newer skills namely azolla cultivation, vermicomposting, poultry chick candling and hatching due to their active involvement in the tribal project.

Pig rearing on concentrate feed may not be economical because of higher market price of raw materials. The alternative source could be the use of swill feeding. Consequently, the impact of the swill feed on the back fat thickness and body measurements calls for investigation against concentrate feeding. Hence in the present study, an attempt was made to compare the body measurements and back fat thickness in fattener piglets which were fed with swill feed vs. concentrate feed. Body measurements were made using measuring tape and back fat thickness was recorded with Lean Meater. By statistical analysis it was found that there was no significant difference in body length, girth and back fat thickness of pigs between the treatments. This indicated that the type of feed has no effect on the body measurements and back fat thickness in fattener pigs.

The study was conducted to identify the common bacteria leading to dermatitis in canines. The swab samples taken from the dermatitis affected dogs brought to MVC teaching hospital were subjected to Antibiotic Sensitivity Test (ABST). A total of 21 dermatitis affected dogs were screened for the presence of Staphylococcus spp and Escherichia coli, by subjecting swab samples for culture by using MSA and EMB agar respectively. All the samples tested positive for Staphylococcus species while 50% of the samples tested positive for Escherichia coli.   Subsequent ABST of the collected swab samples revealed resistance towards Penicillin-G (100%), Amoxicillin (91%) and Cefalothin (91%). Fluoroquinolones like Ciprofloxaxin and Levofloxacin showed 60% and 82% resistance respectively. Cephalosporins such as Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone were moderately resistant (55% and 45.5% respectively) while Clindamycin and Vancomycin showed high level of resistance (82%) indicating rapid emergence of resistance among Staphylococcus spp and E. coli against a variety of antibiotics tested.

A full term pluriparous Kanni doe was presented with the history of difficulty in parturition, bloody vaginal discharge and straining. Based on the obstetrical examination, the case was diagnosed as dystocia due to foetal anasarca. The present communication places on record the successful per vaginal delivery of a foetal anasarcous co-twin.

Uterine torsion is twisting of uterus or its horn perpendicular to its long axis. This is a case report of uterine torsion in an adult Wistar Albino breeder. The rat was in advanced stage of gestation with no overt signs of illness. The rat was found dead with distended abdomen and four dead pups beside her in her cage. On post mortem examination, 270o uterine torsion was observed in left uterine horn in between the two dead foetuses present and there was a 360º torsion between the caudal foetus and the cervix. One dead fetus was observed in right uterine horn. Uterine torsion in this case was attributed to the foetus-maternal disproportion. Occlusion of uterine blood vessels leads to extensive uterine damage and consequent sequestration of blood to uterus might have resulted in hypovolemic shock and death of the rat. Being a rare condition in rats, uterine torsion should always be considered as a complication in parturition.

Successful obstetrical management of foetal mummification in a full term pregnant pluriparous crossbred Jersey cow by per vaginal removal of foetal parts is reported and discussed.

Intracellular bacterial diseases cause significant economic losses in livestock industries. Constraints in eradicating infectious diseases indicate the need for selection and breeding of animals based on natural disease resistance. Solute Carrier Family 11 Member 1(SLC11A1) gene expressed in macrophages has significant involvement in innate immune mechanism. Investigation of polymorphism of 3’untranslated region (3’UTR) of SLC11A1 gene was conducted and the Polymerase Chain Reaction - Single-Stranded Conformational Polymorphic (PCR-SSCP) pattern at 3’untranslated region (3’UTR) of SLC11A1 gene in Jersey crossbred cattle was analyzed. A fragment of 175bp encoding 3’UTR was amplified by PCR and the genotyping was done by using PCR-SSCP. SSCP pattern of 3’UTR revealed the presence of four genotypes, viz. AB, BB, CC and CB with a frequency of 0.29, 0.40, 0.17 and 0.13, respectively with allelic frequencies of A (0.144), B (0.615) and C (0.24). The result showed that the population was not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for SLC11A1 gene. SLC11A1 gene was found to be highly polymorphic in the Jersey crossbred cattle population studied.