Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA) in rabbits, rabbit handlers, and rabbitry environments in Terengganu. Materials and Methods: Swab samples from 183 rabbits (183 oral and 183 ear swabs), 45 rabbit handlers (45 oral and 45 nasal), and environmental (n = 180) samples from rabbitries were collected from 10 rabbit farms in Terengganu. The associated S. aureus isolates from the swabs were isolated using phenotypic microbiology tests. The bacteria were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction targeting nuc (S. aureus) and mecA (MRSA) genes. The antibiogram of all S. aureus isolates was determined using the KirbyBauer test. Results: Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 19% of rabbits, 26.7% of rabbit handlers, and 8.8% of swabs from the rabbitry environment. However, MRSA (0%) could not be detected. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that S. aureus from rabbits showed low resistance ( [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(3.000): 388-395]

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA) in rabbits, rabbit handlers, and rabbitry envi­ronments in Terengganu.  Materials and Methods: Swab samples from 183 rabbits (183 oral and 183 ear swabs), 45 rab­bit handlers (45 oral and 45 nasal), and environmental (n = 180) samples from rabbitries were collected from 10 rabbit farms in Terengganu. The associated S. aureus isolates from the swabs were isolated using phenotypic microbiology tests. The bacteria were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction targeting nuc (S. aureus) and mecA (MRSA) genes. The antibiogram of all S. aureus isolates was determined using the Kirby–Bauer test.  Results: Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 19% of rabbits, 26.7% of rabbit handlers, and 8.8% of swabs from the rabbitry environment. However, MRSA (0%) could not be detected. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that S. aureus from rabbits showed low resistance (<20%) against 15 different antibiotics while fully susceptible to 4 antibiotics. Meanwhile, S. aureus from rabbit han­dlers showed high resistance against penicillin (86%), oxacillin (64%), and amoxicillin (50%).  Conclusions: This study suggests the emergence of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus in rabbit farms settings. Therefore, careful selection of antimicrobial agents will be essential to preserve the effectiveness of treatments toward S. aureus infections. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(3): 388-395, September 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h527

Objective: This case report highlights the first detection of Trypanosoma lewisi, a blood protozoan parasite found in an urban rat in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Materials and Methods: Rat trapping was carried out within the Kota Bharu vicinity near a local wet market. A total of 38 rats were captured and subjected to peripheral blood smearing using Giemsa stain. Positive rats were sent for histopathological analysis for the evaluation of the organ samples. Results: The presence of trypanosomes was found in one sample from a blood smear. This was connected to a histological lesion on kidney tissues, which revealed a high concentration of trypanosomes. Additionally, the positive sample was confirmed as T. lewisi based on molecular diagnosis via polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Conclusions: This finding serves as a baseline for further surveillance on T. lewisi population among urban rats in Kelantan and possible zoonotic transmission to humans. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(3.000): 435-439]

Objective: This case report highlights the first detection of Trypanosoma lewisi, a blood protozoan parasite found in an urban rat in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.  Materials and Methods: Rat trapping was carried out within the Kota Bharu vicinity near a local wet market. A total of 38 rats were captured and subjected to peripheral blood smearing using Giemsa stain. Positive rats were sent for histopathological analysis for the evaluation of the organ samples.  Results: The presence of trypanosomes was found in one sample from a blood smear. This was connected to a histological lesion on kidney tissues, which revealed a high concentration of trypanosomes. Additionally, the positive sample was confirmed as T. lewisi based on molecular diagnosis via polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.  Conclusions: This finding serves as a baseline for further surveillance on T. lewisi population among urban rats in Kelantan and possible zoonotic transmission to humans. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(2): 435-439, June 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h531

Objective: The objective of this study was to obtain an insight into the role of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pregnancy-associated mammary epithelial development and angiogenesis. However, we examined the primary VEGF receptor (VEGFR-2) in the mouse mammary cycle. Materials and Methods: The virgin (1012 weeks), days 10 and 18 of pregnancy (P-10 and P-18), days 0, 5, 10, and 20 of lactation (L-0, L-5, L-10, and L-20), and days 5 and 10 of post-weaning (W-5 and W-10) stage were all used in this study. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were carried out on mammary tissues taken from three mice at each stage. Results: VEGFR-2 was detected immunohistochemically in the cytoplasm of mammary epithelial and endothelial cells. Immunostaining for VEGFR-2 was consistently positive in mammary endothelial cells across all stages, whereas staining intensity in epithelial cells varied across the mammary cycle. Additionally, immunoblot analysis indicated a 220 kDa unique band of VEGFR-2 protein at all stages of the mammary cycle, with the maximum expression reported toward the end of pregnancy and gradually decreasing toward the end of lactation. Conclusion: In conclusion, the presence of VEGFR-2 in the mammary epithelium in addition to the endothelium suggests that VEGF plays an autocrine and paracrine role in the development, proliferation, and differentiation of the mammary epithelium during pregnancy. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(4.000): 581-588]

Objective: The objective of this study was to obtain an insight into the role of the vascular endo­thelial growth factor (VEGF) in pregnancy-associated mammary epithelial development and angiogenesis. However, we examined the primary VEGF receptor (VEGFR-2) in the mouse mam­mary cycle.  Materials and Methods: The virgin (10–12 weeks), days 10 and 18 of pregnancy (P-10 and P-18), days 0, 5, 10, and 20 of lactation (L-0, L-5, L-10, and L-20), and days 5 and 10 of post-weaning (W-5 and W-10) stage were all used in this study. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were carried out on mammary tissues taken from three mice at each stage.  Results: VEGFR-2 was detected immunohistochemically in the cytoplasm of mammary epithe­lial and endothelial cells. Immunostaining for VEGFR-2 was consistently positive in mammary endothelial cells across all stages, whereas staining intensity in epithelial cells varied across the mammary cycle. Additionally, immunoblot analysis indicated a 220 kDa unique band of VEGFR-2 protein at all stages of the mammary cycle, with the maximum expression reported toward the end of pregnancy and gradually decreasing toward the end of lactation.  Conclusion: In conclusion, the presence of VEGFR-2 in the mammary epithelium in addition to the endothelium suggests that VEGF plays an autocrine and paracrine role in the development, proliferation, and differentiation of the mammary epithelium during pregnancy. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(4): 581-588, December 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h548

Objective: The present study aimed to explain the effect of fetal bovine serum (FBS) on the in vitro production of porcine embryos and the molecular effects of FBS on the growing of porcine embryos. Materials and Methods: Immature porcine oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro. The resulting zygotes were cultured in porcine zygotic medium-3- until day 7 and FBS was added on day 4. Without FBS, it was treated as a control group. Quantitative real-time PCR and 2′,7′-dichloro-di¬hydro-fluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) molecular staining techniques were used to detect the expression patterns of apoptosis-associated genes and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), respectively. Paired students t-test was used by GraphPad Prism statistical software. Results: FBS supplementation boosted blastocyst (BL) development and total cell count per BL substantially (p < 0.05). However, hatching and hatched BLs also increased in the FBS-treated group compared to the control. We also found that ROS accumulation in FBS-treated embryos was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. The expression of the anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 was significantly increased in FBS-treated BLs, but the pro-apoptotic gene, caspase-3 expression, was significantly reduced in FBS-treated BLs. Conclusion: Our results suggest that FBS supplementation in porcine culture media could increase porcine embryo production by decreasing ROS accumulation and increasing the anti-apoptotic gene expression in developing BLs. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(4.000): 589-596]

Objective: The present study aimed to explain the effect of fetal bovine serum (FBS) on the in vitro production of porcine embryos and the molecular effects of FBS on the growing of porcine embryos.  Materials and Methods: Immature porcine oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro. The resulting zygotes were cultured in porcine zygotic medium-3- until day 7 and FBS was added on day 4. Without FBS, it was treated as a control group. Quantitative real-time PCR and 2′,7′-dichloro-di­hydro-fluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) molecular staining techniques were used to detect the expression patterns of apoptosis-associated genes and the accumulation of reactive oxygen spe­cies (ROS), respectively. Paired student’s t-test was used by GraphPad Prism statistical software.  Results: FBS supplementation boosted blastocyst (BL) development and total cell count per BL substantially (p < 0.05). However, hatching and hatched BLs also increased in the FBS-treated group compared to the control. We also found that ROS accumulation in FBS-treated embryos was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. The expression of the anti-apop­totic gene BCL-2 was significantly increased in FBS-treated BLs, but the pro-apoptotic gene, caspase-3 expression, was significantly reduced in FBS-treated BLs.  Conclusion: Our results suggest that FBS supplementation in porcine culture media could increase porcine embryo production by decreasing ROS accumulation and increasing the anti-apoptotic gene expression in developing BLs. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(4): 589-596, December 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h549