A study undertaken to analyse the design and operational aspects of Needlefish gillnets of four different fishing villages of Ramanathapuram district of Tamilnadu, revealed the existence of notable difference with respect to catch rate despite having many common design features. Relatively shallow and broader continental shelf boarded with coral reef was found to serve as an ideal habitat for Needlefishes along the coastal villages of this district. Six species viz.,Ablenneshians, Tylosurus crocodiles, T. choram, T. agus,Strongylura strongylura and S. leiura were found to constitute the fishery of Needlefish in gill nets with the dominant species being either A. hians orT. crocodiles.A. hians was dominant in the gillnet catches Gulf of Mannar while T. crocodiles showed its dominance in the gillnet catches from the fishing villages of Palk bay. Trawling was found to be a common disturbing activity forNeedlefish gillnetting in all the four fishing villages studied. Among four villages, Mundal was found to be notable for Needlefish gillnetting as relatively longer gill nets involving more number of fishing crafts were found to be operated from this village. The catch composition of gillnets revealed that the mean Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) of Needlefishes ranged from 23 to 25 nos/boat/day while the CPUE of commercially important fishes such as seer fish, barracudas, mackerels, flying fish, queen fish and sail fishes altogether ranged from 15 to 19 nos/boat/day. The study suggests evolving a selective pelagic longline gear for capturing Needlefishes considering the rich resource of Needlefish along the coast of Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.

Prostate gland is the accessory sex gland found in dog. The gland was collected from apparently healthy six sexually mature dogs. The prostate gland was bilobed exocrine gland. Histologically, the prostate gland consisted of stroma and parenchyma. The stroma consisted of capsule, septa and interstitial connective tissue. Parenchyma was enclosed by a thick capsule with outer thin fibrous and inner thick fibromuscular layer. The capsule contained blood vessels, myelinated nerve fibres and nerve ending like meissner’s corpuscle, pacinian corpuscle. Fibromuscular septa entered the parenchyma and divided it into lobes and lobules of different shapes and sizes. Paraenchyma of the prostate gland was consisted of glandular portion and collecting ducts. The gland was compound tubuloalveolar in type. Parenchyma of prostate gland was divided into lobules with many glandular follicles. The glandular follicles showed two zones namely outer and inner zones. The glandular follicles were lined by simple columnar epithelium with oval dark staining nucleus at the basal part and eosinophilic staining part apically. The duct system was ordered into tertiary, secondary and primary ducts. The secretory glandular portion entered into the tertiary duct, to secondary duct and finally to the primary duct. The primary duct then opened into prostratic sinus. The primary, secondary and tertiary collecting ducts and prostratic sinus were lined by simple cuboidal epithelium, simple cuboidal or columnar epithelium and stratified cuboidal epithelium. The prostatic urethra were lined by transitional epithelium.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of addition of estradiol and growth hormone on in vitro growth, maturation and antrum formation of preantral follicles (PFs’) in sheep. Preantral follicles isolated from the sheep ovarian cortical slices were cultured for six days in bicarbonate buffered tissue culture medium 199B, standard culture medium supplemented with estradiol and growth hormone during the culture period at different time points. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) segregated from the follicles toward the end of six days culture in various treatments were exposed to in vitro maturation for extra 24hrs. Estradiol plus growth hormone supplementation during 0-2 days of the culture significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the average diameter of PFs' and supported better for antrum formation. Further the in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes in COCs isolated were developed to metaphase II stage at a higher rate. First two (0-2) days supplementation with estradiol plus growth hormone to TCM 199B in vitro culture medium followed by standard medium in later stages (3-6 days) supports better development of PFs' and appears to be advantageous for the development of oocytes to M-II stage.

Foot and mouth disease is an acute febrile highly contagious disease of cloven footed animals. India has a sizable proportion of small ruminants (135.17 million goats and 65.0 million sheep). Tamil Nadu, the eleventh largest state in India has a sizable proportion of sheep and goat populations (7.36 million sheep and 6.02 million goats). Sub-clinically infected small ruminants may pose a threat to cattle and buffalo in integrated livestock system. Small ruminants are neglected in FMD surveillance and control strategies in the country. In the present study, serological investigations against FMD were carried out to generate data on antibody prevalence in sheep and goat population of Tamil Nadu. Overall, 21.4% of sheep (83 out of 387 samples) and 23.5% of goats (81 out of 345 samples) tested were positive for FMD NSP antibodies and 14.7% of sheep and 18.3 % goats were positive for antibodies against virus structural proteins. The current study demonstrated the seroprevalence of FMD in the sheep and goat population of Tamil Nadu and suggests the need for surveillance activities and FMD control by vaccination in small ruminants alongside large ruminant population.nbsp;

Canine pyometra is the most common diestrual uterine disease of intact bitches and is characterized by accumulation of purulent material in the uterine lumen, typically occurring during or immediately following a period of progesterone dominance. Pyometra can be classified as open-cervix or closed-cervix, with the latter being a medical emergency requiring rapid intervention to prevent subsequent sepsis and potential patient death (Pretzer, 2008).

Mycotoxins are carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic toxic metabolites that are known to cause detrimental effect on the health of animals consuming its contaminated feed. The objective of this study was to study the seasonal occurrence of mycotoxins, aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2), citrinin, ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin in feed and feed ingredients submitted to Pharmacovigilance Laboratory for Animal Feed and Food Safety (PLAFFS). A total of 412 samples which included feed (289) and feed ingredients (123) received during 2019-2020 were analyzed using thin layer chromatographic method. Among the 249 positive samples, the incidence of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, Aflatoxin G1 amp;G2, citrinin and ochratoxin A were 85.54%, 14.06%, 1.2%, 20.08%, 3.21% and 2.41% respectively and the concentration of these mycotoxins ranged between 1.14 to 899.78 μg kg-1. Only few samples were contaminated with aflatoxin G1 amp; G2, Ochratoxin A and T-2 toxin. Seasons had an influence on the mycotoxin contamination and the highest incidence was detected during winter, whereas, Citrinin and T-2 toxin were maximum at monsoon and summer respectively. Regular monitoring of mycotoxin contamination in animal feed is essential to prevent the entry of mycotoxins in the food chain.

The objective of the study was to analyze the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of luteal blood flow during the first trimester of pregnancy in crossbred cows. Sixty pregnant animals were ultrasonographically investigated during three stages of gestation viz., Stage I: 25 – 35 days; Stage II: 45 – 60 days and Stage III: 75 – 90 days. The intensity of luteal blood flow was assessed and quantitative parameters were recorded. Very high intensity of luteal vascularity was found in stage I indicative of active neo-vascularization. The values of Doppler indices were reduced in stage II when compared to stage I, indicating a lesser resistance and free flow of blood as the pregnancy advanced. Progressive increase in vascularity could be attributed to the increasing demand of the CL to meet out the endocrine activity and maintenance of pregnancy.

This paper investigates the shelf life of mother’s milk at refrigerated storage (5˚C) processed by pulsed electric field technology (PEF), which is one of the novel, non–thermal methods of processing. Mother’s milk was processed using PEF technology by applying voltage gradient 35kV with different treatment times (3000 μs and 4500 μs). The processed samples were collected in sterile bottles and stored at 5˚C. The physico – chemical parameters (pH and acidity) of the PEF treated samples were analyzed at regular intervals and the results were compared with the pasteurized (62.5°C for 30 minutes) mother’s milk samples. Mean value for pH and acidity (ºD) was observed as 6.8±0.07 and 5.84±0.48 respectively during the 19th day of storage at 5ºC when the samples were treated at 35kV with a PEF treatment time of 4500 μs (T2). For pasteurized samples, mean value for pH and acidity (ºD) was observed as 6.75±0.09 and 6.17±0.61 respectively during the 7th day of storage at 5ºC. The results revealed that PEF treated samples stored at 5ºC remained shelf stable for 19 days whereas pasteurized milk samples stored at 5ºC remained shelf stable for 7 days.

Five years old seven month pregnant crossbred Jersey cow was presented with the history of anorexia and passing coffee coloured urine. Clinical examination of the animal revealed fever, pale mucous membrane, haemoglobinuria, suspended rumination and moderate tick infestation. Peripheral blood smear was stained with Giemsa stain and examined under compound light microscope found that the sample was positive for Babesia spp. The animal was treated with diminazine aceturate @ 3.5mg/kg b.wt IM along with supportive therapy. The animal was successfully recovered from the Babesiosis, after the ten days of recovery the cow was aborted.

A Seven months old female Jersey cross bred calf was presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College amp; Research Institute, Tirunelveli with the history of trauma on the left eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed chronic deep corneal ulcer on the left eye. The presented case was successfully treated with temporary tarsorrhaphy and medical management. Animal had an uneventful recovery.