The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a long-term antioxidant-supplemented diet to regulate the oxidative stress and general health status of dogs involved in animal-assisted intervention (AAI) programs. Oxidative stress is a consequence of the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Exercise-induced oxidative stress can increase muscle fatigue and fiber damage and eventually leads to impairment of the immune system. A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical evaluation was conducted with 11 healthy therapy dogs: 6 females and 5 males of different breeds and with a mean age of 2.7 ± 0.8 y (mean ± SEM). The dogs were divided into 2 groups, 1 fed a high quality commercial diet without antioxidants (CD) and the other a high quality commercial diet supplemented with antioxidants (SD) for 18 wk. After the first 18 wk, metabolic parameters, reactive oxygen metabolite-derivatives (d-ROMs), and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) levels were monitored and showed a significant reduction of d-ROMs, triglycerides, and creatinine values in the SD group (P < 0.05) and a significant increase in amylase values in the CD group (P < 0.01). At the end of this period, groups were crossed over and fed for another 18 wk. A significant decrease in amylase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) values was observed in the CD and SD group, respectively (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a controlled, balanced antioxidant diet may be a valid approach to restoring good cell metabolism and neutralizing excess free radicals in therapy dogs.

A study has been conducted to investigate the effect of two local herbs in Indonesia; Areca catechu nut and Sauropus androgynous leaf, combined with mineral block to treat gastro intestinal nematode in goats. A.catechu is well known to have anthelmintic property due to its alkaloid and tannin content, and S.androgynus also contains tannin, alkaloid and steroid that will enhance the anthelmintic property of those herbals. As many as 80 goats had been divided into 4 groups; 20 were treated with albendazole (Group A), 20 were given A.catechu and S.androgynus (Group B), 20 were given combination of A.catechu, S.androgynus, and mineral block (Group C), and 20 as negative control (Group D). The result revealed that herbal treatment showed significantly effective toward nematodes in gastro intestinal, demonstrated by declining egg worm of Group B and C. Body weight improvement and overall performance in Group C was higher compared to other groups. However, goats treated with albendazole showed slightly better results in the decreasing amount of egg worms found after treatment. Nevertheless, A.catechu and S.androgynus are potential anthelmintic herbal; combination with mineral block will enhance the anthelmintic activity. Therefore they are good options for treating helminthiasis in livestock.

One of the Acehnese traditional food preserved by the addition of salt, acid and dried was sie balu. The preservation method may lead to changes in the structure and nutritional content. Sie balu with the addition of vinegar, garlic and ginger can reduce the value of water activity (aW), pH and bacterial counts. This condition affects the physical properties and sensory of sie balu. Irradiation can control pathogenic microorganisms in meat without affecting the physical condition. Low-dose irradiation is able to maintain the desired sensory attributes nutritious food products. This study aims to determine the characteristics of the sensory and physic sie baluthat irradiated with increasing doses and the shelf life of 3-6 weeks. Sie balu was made of 10 kg fresh beef, dried in the sun to dry, vacuum and irradiated at doses of 5, 7 and 9 kGy. Sensory test conducted by taste sie balu by trained panelists and fill out the hedonicform. The physical properties based on pH and aW. The microbe total calculated used Total Plate Count.The results showed that the irradiation dose significantly (P 0.05) affected on microbe total, aroma, color, texture and taste of sie balu. Storage time does not affect the sensory properties. Irradiation dose and storage time significantly (P 0.05) on pH and aWsiebalu. The study concluded that irradiation can improve the physical properties, sensory and microorganisme reductionof sie balu.

In most countries, poultry are reared by traditional farmers d ue tothe relative minimum capital needed to start off, availability of feed and the fast period of the birds to grow. This research was conducted on turkeys which aims to study the abundance and prevalence of ectoparasites from three localities around Kedah, Malaysia. Atotal of 20 turkeys (eight males and twelve females) were examined for ectoparasites infestation and endoparasites infection.Six species of ectoparasites: five lice and a mite have been discovered. The most prevalent ectoparasite was Menopon gallinae with occurrence of 45%. Other external parasites recorded includeLipeurus caponis and Megninia cubitalis with occurrence of 40%, Menacanthus pallidulus (35%), Goniocotes gallinae (30%) and Chelopistes meleagridis (20%). There was a significant difference between the ectoparasite abundance in Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar and Alor Belat Barat [ANOVA, F(2,17)=6.33, p=0.009]. These lice commonly found in the fluff of the feathers, especially at the neck,abdomen, and wings. Lipeurus caponis was found to have the highest infestation in all male and female turkeys and Menacanthus pallidulus was noted as the less common ectoparasite infesting both the male andfemale turkeys. Endoparasite infection was recorded in two species of parasite eggs of nematodes and protozoa. Oocyst of Eimeria spp. recorded the highest faecal egg count with 7300 epg compared to Capillaria spp. with only 1200 epg. Scavenging and pecking behaviour of turkeys in barn area with unsuitable farm housing environmentwere the major contributing factors to the infestation of ectoparasites as well as endoparasites infection.

Canine hepatozoonosis isa growing tick-borne disease in Punjab.Two canine hepatozoonosis cases, oneclinical and one subclinical, in Punjabwere analyzed by PCR targeting 18S rRNAgene (666 bp). After sequence analysisof the PCR products, both of them werefound almost identical to each other andwere closely related to the Hepatozooncanis strain found in Saint kitts and Nevisand Brazil with 100% (442/442) and 99%(440/442) nucleotide identity respectively.Isolates from Malta and Philippines ofH. canis were distantly related to IndianH. canis with 437/442 and 436/442 matchidentities. These results suggest that H.canis detected in north Indian dogs mighthave closer ancestral relationship with SaintKitts and Nevis followed by Brazil strain.This is the first molecular characterizationof Hepatozoon from Punjab, India.

Decompression sickness, a condition in whales caused by bubble formation in certain body tissues from dissolved inert gases. It occurs during transition from a high pressure environment to one of lower pressure, resulting in a range of conditions from itching to joint pain, convulsions, and death. A carcass of a stranded Sei Whale, Balaenoptera borealis, found on the shores of southern coast of Peninsular Malaysia was presentedfor postmortem. Investigation results showed that the male Sei Whale, named Si Corner showed pathologic lesions as seen from histology with the formation of fibrosis, emphysema and edema in the lungs and hepatic atrophy which indicated chronic starvation. It believedthat he also suffering from “Barotrauma or decompression sickness” which affected the ear or lungs which lead to unbalanced movement due to changes in air pressure.This may have caused the whale to beach and consequent mortality. The pathologic lesions found give an insight into possible causes of death of beached whales inMalaysia.

Goose Parvovirus (GPV) also known as Derzy’s disease is aninfectious viral disease of waterfowl which causes serious economic loss in industrial production of geese and Muscovy ducks. In year 2014, Derzy’s disease was detected in Pekin ducks from Sarawak. The affected farm recorded up to 50% mortality, affecting only young ducklings (starting at the age of 3 weeks). Polymerase chainreaction (PCR) from liver samples were performed based on partial region of VP3 gene of GPV, generated amplicon of 801 bp. Sequence analysis showed that the isolate shared 99% sequence similaritywith goose parvovirus strain YBLJ and YZYZ20130304 from China. Phylogeny based on VP3 showed that this isolate is grouped under Asian strains. This is the first report of GPV in Malaysia focusingon the molecular analysis. Notably, this study revealed that GPV not only can be detected from goose and Muscovy but also from Pekin duck.

This study was conductedon raw cow’s milk collected in seven statesof Malaysia to investigate the compositionof minerals and trace elements in the milk.Raw cow’s milk samples were collectedfrom Kedah, Perak, Johor, Melaka,Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilanfrom January to November 2015. ICPMStechnique combined with microwavedigestion were applied to determine theconcentration of five major minerals (Na,Mg, K, Ca and P) and eleven trace elements(Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Mo,Baand Pb) in the milk samples. The resultof analysis showed relatively constantcomposition of minerals and trace elementsin the samples but some variations wereobserved in certain states. Application ofprincipal component analysis (PCA) in thecomposition data showed different clusterexists between the states of Selangor andNegeri Sembilan as well as Kedah andNegeri Sembilan. There is no significantdifference observed in the compositionsof minerals and trace elements betweenother states. The compositions of mineralsand trace elements in raw cow’s milk inMalaysia are comparable with reports fromother research. Further studies can be doneto investigate the source of nutrient, foodor environmental condition that producedthe amounts of minerals and trace elementsin the milk.

A total of 2803 bloodsamples from ruminant livestock werereceived for diagnosis for parasiticinfections from 2011 to 2015. Theruminant samples were from small holderand commercial farms from the states ofNegeri Sembilan, Melaka, Selangor andthe Federal Territory. The results indicatethe presence of theileriosis, anaplasmosis,babesiosis and trypanosomiasis in theseanimals. The most common parasiteidentified annually is theileriosis in cattle.This information is vital for disease controlstrategies as most blood protozoa causemorbidity and is transmitted by vectorssuch as ticks.

Fascioliasis is an importantparasitic disease caused by the liver flukeFasciola gigantica in Malaysia. Theinfestation of liver fluke in ruminants;cattle, sheep, goats and buffaloes can resultin economic losses to the country mainlydue to the drop in livestock production,reduction in growth rate, condemnationof liver, reduction in draught power andhigh usage of anthelmintics. This paperdescribes a case of liver fluke infestationin a two year old male buffalo that waseventually slaughtered. The buffalowas reported to be emaciated and wasreared in an oil palm plantation for useas draught power in buffalo-drawn cartsloaded with oil palm bunches; alongwith 18 other buffaloes of various ages.Previously, there were two cases of buffalodeaths from the same herd. The organand faecal samples were sent to KuantanRegional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL)for diagnostic work up. The receivedsamples were then sent to parasitology,histopathology and bacteriology sectionsfor laboratory analysis and confirmationon the pathogens. The bacteriology resultshowed Escherichia coli isolated in allinternal organs. Presence of adult flukes(Fasciola gigantica) were observed inthe bile duct of the liver through grossexamination and also histopathologicalevaluation and supported by the positiveresult of Fasciola ova via sedimentationtest conducted from the faecal sample, thusjustifying the final diagnosis as severe liverfluke infestation leading to emaciation andsimultaneously having colibacillosis.