This paper reports the relationship between mixed infections ofstrongyles with fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV) of the blood and FAMACHA in experimental sheep in VRI. The third larval stage (L3) of strongylid nematode were fed orally to two experimental sheep. Each animal was given 3 ml L3 or equivalent to 3000 larvae. Faecal samples were then collected weekly for a 10 week duration. The FAMACHA scale for anemia estimation was used and blood collection through ear tip was also done twice a week to measure the packed cell volume (PCV) of the blood. The results show that the PCV decreases while faecal egg counts increase over the study period.The FAMACHA scale also increases with time indicating a progressive anemia with the decreasing PCV. As helminth infections are common in small ruminants, the effects of anemia are critical parameters to be monitored in any flock as this will determine its productivity in terms of mortality and morbidity.

This study was done to evaluate the status of resistance to nematode populations on four major groups of anthelminthics. Nematode faecalegg count reduction tests (FECRT) were conducted on six free grazing small holder goat farms (namely Farms A-F) in Perak.The four drug groups tested in this study were Benzimidazoles, Imidazothiazoles,Macrocyclic Lactones and Salicylanilides. Faecal samples were subjected to the standard procedures of McMaster for worm egg estimation and also larval cultures for third stage larvae identification. Results of Farm A, Farm C and Farm D showed resistance to all 4 drugs groups of anthelminthic that were tested and the major worm population of this farm were Haemonchus contortus (49.75%), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (47.71%) and Cooperia sp. (2.53%). The results of Farm B and Farm F showed resistance to all the 3 groups of anthelminthics except Levamisole and the worm population of this farm was Haemonchus contortus (47.30%), Trichostrongylus sp. (38.44%), Oesophagostomum columbianum (13.50%) and Cooperia sp. (0.76%) Farm E was resistant to Benzimidazoles andsuspected resistance to 3 drugs groups; Levamisole, Macrocyclic Lactones and Closantel. The worm population for Farm E was Haemonchus contortus (71.35%), Trichostrongylus sp. (27.6%) and Oesophagostomum sp. (2%). These farms have a history of using the same anthelminthics over the past few years, thus leading to the severe case of anthelminthic resistance. Recommendations have beenmade to control helminths using alternative approaches such as cut and carry feeding, herbal medication using Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and rotational grazing as well as improvement in management of animals to increase their immunity.

Blood protozoan diseases are significant to animal breeding as theyresult in economic loss due to mortality, reduction in production efficiency and increment in drugs usage. This historical retrospective study was carried out to investigate the most significant blood protozoan diseases, their trends as well as the host range diagnosed by Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) from 1931 to 2010 among Malaysian domestic animals. Conventional techniques such as stained thin blood film, whole blood buffy coatexamination and direct wet smears were utilised for diagnosis from 1931 to 2010. Five most common significant blood protozoan diseases from the domestic animals were identified namely, theileriosis,leucocy tozoonosis, pla smod ia sis, babesiosis and trypanosomiasisrespectively. The setting up of a systematic laboratory service in VRI has enabled more cases of blood protozoan infections to be diagnosed and this has inadvertently led to better understanding and control of the diseases thereby improving the livelihood and reducing economic loss of local farmers.

The mycotoxin test data base (2005–2009) of the Veterinary PublicHealth Laboratory (VPHL), Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia (DVS) showed that there was a significant increase (51%) of overall aflatoxin occurrences in various types of animal feed samples, especially those formulated from agricultural by-product, for the year 2008. A study was thus conducted to investigate if there could be some sources of mycotoxin contamination during theperiod of sample handling. Three different laboratory storage conditions were chosen for the study within a period of fourteendays i.e 4 °C, room temperature (in light) with mean relative humidity of 62.5%, and room temperature (in dark) with mean relative humidity of 55.7%. The observations showed that there were nosignificant differences in total aflatoxin, zearalenone, and fumonisin detections in all storage conditions as screened by the ELISA technique. However 11– 50% inconsistencies of the mycotoxinconcentrations detected were observed within the samples.

Brucellosis has been in South East Asia for many generations affecting both man and animals and responsible for massive economic losses. The threat to the economy and to public health from this zoonotic disease is so great to ignore. Over the years there have been many attempts to control and possibly eradicate this infection but these efforts have not fully yielded the desired results due to many factors mentioned in this paper. Eradication, though expensive,
actually saves a lot of economic resources when properly implemented. In this review, the past and current situation of
brucellosis in South East Asia is explored with particular reference to Malaysia and challenges to the full eradication of the infection are elucidated.

The aim of this study was to test the potential diagnostic usefulness of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 antigen and
excretory-secretory antigen (ESA), with respect to toxoplasmosis detection and infection phase distinction in laboratory mouse by determining specifi c serum IgM and IgG antibodies with the use of indirect ELISA technique. The highest titre at the beginning of infection was demonstrated by immunoglobulin M while the highest titre at the end of the infection was displayed by immunoglobulin G. In contrast, sera of chronically infected mice, positive IgG titre was detected on day 14 p.i. for ESA or day seven p.i. with rSAG1 and increased thereafter until day 70 p.i. after which the titre stabilized. IgA antibody also showed similar kinetics as IgG. Potentially rSAG1 may be a suitable diagnostic antigen than ESA in the diagnosis of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.

The Malaysian Pangolin (Manis javanica) is an endangered species,
but is widely hunted for its medicinal value in body parts. A total of sixteen pangolins were screened for blood protozoa and six
pangolins were confi rmed to be positive for eperythrozoonosis infection based on morphology from blood smears stained with 8% Giemsa. The causative organism, Eperythrozoon sp., with a size of 0.3 μm were observed under a compound microscope at 100× magnification on the surface of red blood cells as blue coloured dots. This is the fi rst report of Eperythrozoon infection from pangolins in Malaysia. Further identifi cation using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is necessary to confi rm E. ovis or wenyonii,
which is uncultivatable in artifi cial media.

In vitro digestibility study was conducted to determine the effectsof supplementing fractionated Refined,Bleached and Deodorized Palm Stearin(RBDPST) on ruminal digestion. Fractionated RBDPST was soaked in incubation medium consisting of distilled water, buffer solution, trace element solution, micro and macro mineral solution, as well as rumen liquor that was collected from slaughtered cattle. This experiment was conducted at 39°C with an incubation period of 24 hours. Dried napier grass was used as control treatment. Gas producedwas recorded and collected to measure the methane gas produced. Methane gas produced from fractionated RBDPST was found to be relatively lower than control. This indicates that fractionated RBDPST had the ability to function as rumen bypass fat as it was not fully digested in the rumen.