Bovine herpes mammillitis is a disease of cows and buffaloes associated with bovine herpes mammillitis virus 2 and characterized clinically by successive appearance of plaques, vesicles ulcers and scabs on teats and udder. Vesicle formation, a characteristic feature of early stages of the disease in cow is either absent or occurs rarely in dairy buffaloes. The disease is worldwide in distribution but has not been reported from Pakistan. This is despite the fact that one clinical form of the disease (colloquially known as Gulwaddee in Punjabi) has been observed by most of the seasoned Pakistani veterinary practitioners. Most cows and buffaloes are affected by latent and sub-clinical form of the disease and only a few infected animals develop its clinical form. Stress of calving, udder edema and hormonal changes close to calving are important predisposing factors. The condition is usually sporadic although outbreaks have also been documented. It is more prevalent in cows and buffaloes in their first lactation. The causative virus multiplies at a temperature lower than the temperature of the rest of the body. Therapeutic interventions that can be used for the treatment of bovine herpes mammillits include debridement of the scab covered lesion, topical and parenteral administration of antibiotics, topical administration of lysine/propolis, topical and oral administration of acyclovir (an anti-herpes virus drug), oral administration of zinc sulphate and other immunity enhancing agents and parenteral administration of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory drugs. Therapeutic interventions proposed for future research include investigation of the oral use of zinc sulpahte, local infiltration of acyclovir into the lesions and use of infrared lamp to increase the temperature of the lesion. No vaccine is currently available recommended control and prevention measures include biosecurity, prevention and proper treatment of udder edema, insect control and milking time hygiene.

Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) caused by Pasteurella multocidaserotype B:2 is an economically important disease of cattle and buffaloes, which causes heavy economic losses due to sudden death of animals in developing countries like Pakistan. In this country, animals were being vaccinated by alum (adjuvant) precipitated vaccine twice a year. Immunity induced through this prophylactic measure lasts for 3 to 4 months only, which reflect an un-protective state of the animals between two vaccinations. A new HS oil based vaccine has been developed by adding an adjuvant Montanide ISA-50V2 with the ratio of 1:1. The bacterial dry weight has been adjusted to 2 mg/ml which results in to reduction of dose per animal from 5 ml (alum precipitated) to 2 ml. The addition of enrichments and aeration (sparging and vortexing) has resulted in dense bacterial growth of Pasteurella multocida. The new vaccine has passed sterility, safety and potency tests as per OIE, 2017. This new product has low viscosity and single shot is expected to confer solid immunity against HS for one year. Active Mouse Protection Test, Passive Mouse Protection test and Indirect Haem-Agglutination Tests have been used to evaluate its potency. Properties like easy to inject with no side effects such as swelling at the injection site, have motivated the livestock owners to use this new product to protect their animals against fatal HS disease which will ultimately result in the increased productivity of livestock in Punjab, Pakistan.

Ticks are one of the important vectors of zoonoses and are major constraint to livestock farming. The present study was carried at East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India, during October 2016 to May 2017 to determine the prevalence of tick infestation on buffaloes. Examination of ticks collected from 420 buffaloes of house hold, organised and unorganised dairy farms from different villages of district revealed 29.52 percent of tick infestation in the study area. Exclusively Haemaphysalis species was identified by processing of ticks in 10 percent KOH solution by standard parasitological technique. Among different age groups the higher rate of prevalence (10.24 percent) was noticed in LT= 6 months followed by 8.09 percent in 6 months to 1 year, 5.48 percent in 1 to 2 years and 5.71 percent in GT= 2 years of age group animals. Statistically there was a significant difference (chi square =16.97, P=0.0007) between the age groups with respect to prevalence of ticks in buffaloes. Subsequently animals were treated with two subcutaneous injections of ivermectin at 200 micro g/ kg four days apart. Farther owners were also advised spraying of animal sheds and its surroundings with Amitraz 12.5 percent emulsifiable concentration. The results of the present study is suggestive of the poor animal husbandry practices pursued by the farmers of the study area which are to be addressed by following appropriate control strategies considering the epidemiology of ticks.

The Myxovirus resistance protein 2 of Homo sapiens is well characterized in terms of structure and function but very little is known about myxovirus resistance protein 2 (Mx2) of Bubalus bubalis. Although a few functions of buffalo Mx2 protein are known, its structural characteristics have still remained unclear. In the present study, buffalo Mx2 protein was characterized by defining its possible structure and functions using several online and offline computational tools. Besides the physico-chemical characteristics, various post translational modifications, localization, possible domains and interactions with other probable proteins were predicted using its amino acid sequence. In addition to the secondary structure, the three-dimensional structure was predicted using I-TASSER homology modelling server and a refined model was constructed in Modeller. The refined model manifested acceptable quality and stereochemistry on validation with different programs. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis of the protein was done and Mx2 protein of buffalo was found to have a common ancestry with that of other bovidae family members. These curated observations might provide a sound foundation for further structural and functional characterization of buffalo Mx2 protein.

Congenital apocrine gland adenoma of tail on ventral aspect in between 2nd and 6th coccygeal vertebrae is reported in an infant buffalo calf. The histological findings are also discussed.

In present case report, a rare case of dystocia due to bull dog calf monster in Murrah buffalo and its successful pervaginal management is described.

Flexor tendons of forelimb play a major role in the locomotion of the animal and also in bearing 45 percent of the body wieght, thus making these tendons prone to several injuries. Current investigation was carried in three post-natal age groups of buffalo bulls to elucidate gross morphological and morphometrical features of superficial (SDFT) and deep (DDFT) digital flexor tendons of forelimb. Morphological studies revealed that they are shiny white fibrous structures bound by tough, durable fibrous sheath the 'flexor retinaculum' on palmar aspect of manus in all three groups (G) i.e., 1 to 3 years (G I), 3 to 6 years (G II) and 6 years and above (G III). SDFT in cross sections at myo-tendinous junction was flat elliptical shaped in G I and G II whereas it was oval in G III specimens. At mid metacarpal region the SDFT was dorso-ventrally compressed and ring-shaped in digital region. Thickness increased in aged specimens at their origin, mid metacarpus and at insertion points. Lengths of the two slips of SDFT in buffalo gradually increased from inter digital space up to their insertion points from G I to G III. Cross sectional profile of DDFT in mid metacarpus was flat elliptical in outline in all groups. Thickness of the tendon steadily increased with age from G I to III. Length of DDFT from origin to its division and from division to insertion steadily increased.

Farm ruminants are responsible for about 15 percent of total global methane emission due to enteric fermentation of feeds. Additives are being used to modify rumen fermentation towards reduced methanogenesis, however, hazards associated with feeding of antibiotics and other chemical compounds to livestock for improving animal performance and methane mitigation are growing public awareness and encourage the research towards exploiting natural products as feed additives. Therefore, an experiment was carried out to examine the potential of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) leaves essential oils in modulating rumen fermentation for reduced methane production in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Essential oils were extracted both from dried and fresh eucalyptus leaves, separately in Soxhlet's apparatus by organic solvent, hexane [15 g leaves extracted in 100 ml n-hexane (mol. wt. 86.18, assay 99.0 percent and density 0.658)] for 72 h and tested at three dose levels (0, 0.5 and 2.0 ml) in buffered rumen fluid (BRF). Oats hay (200+-5 mg) was used as substrate and incubated with 30 ml BRF in 100 ml calibrated glass syringes at 39 deg C for 24 h following standard in vitro gas production protocol. Gas production was recorded by displacement of piston in the syringe. Methane in the gas phase and volatile fatty acids in the fermentation medium were estimated by Gas Chromatograph (GC). The total gas production and dry matter digestibility was increased (P LT 0.05) at low dose (0.5 ml) of eucalyptus leaves extract, irrespective of nature of leaves however, these were reduced (P LT 0.05) at higher dose (2.0 ml). Methane production was reduced (P LT 0.05), irrespective of doses. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) production were increased (P LT 0.05) at low dose but higher dose detrimentally reduced it. Rumen ammonia - N was not affected at low dose however, it was reduced at high dose of extract. Extracts from both dried and fresh leaves behaved similarly in modulating all the rumen fermentation parameters at corresponding dose levels. Results of this study revealed reduced methane production with increased feed digestibility and volatile fatty acids production by dosing extract of eucalyptus leaves. Therefore, it suggests using of either extract of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) leaves (0.5 ml/30 ml rumen fluid) or its corresponding dose of leaves as feed additive in buffaloes.

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the alkaline indigestion syndrome in riverine buffaloes caused by inadvertent colostrum feeding, clinical pattern and its therapeutic management. Fifteen recently parturited buffaloes with history of feeding average 2.96 kg (1 to 5 kg) of colostrum immediately after parturition followed by sudden onset of anorexia, decrease in milk yield and nervous signs were investigated. Clinical examination showed normal body temperature (100.26+-0.42 vs 100.62+-0.18), respiration (23.73+-3.53 vs 24.13+-0.66) and heart rate (57.26+-3.30 vs 53.20+-1.79) compared to healthy buffaloes. Examination of rumen revealed impaction with highly significant (P LT 0.01) reduction in rumen motility (0.80+-0.24 vs 3.80+-0.17 per five minutes). Similarly, highly significant (P LT 0.01) increase in rumen pH (8.10+-0.16 vs 6.25+-0.07) and decrease in protozoal density (5.00+-0.88 vs 32.93+-1.72) with sluggish (+) to no (-) protozoal motility was observed in ailing buffaloes. Haematological analysis showed normal blood profile with significant (P LT 0.05) increase only in neutrophil count (51.60+-5.1 vs 42.06+-3.4). Prominent clinical signs of anorexia, congested conjunctival mucosae, decreased milk yield and varied nervous signs like restlessness, head pressing, staggering gait, incoordination, circling, convulsions, dummy syndrome, apparent blindness and coma were observed in affected buffaloes. Postural abnormalities like sternal / lateral recumbency and lateral deviation of neck were also observed in two buffaloes. All the ailing buffaloes were treated with Dextrose Normal Saline, single dose of preparation containing calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, vitamin B complex, antihistaminic, sedatives, laxatives, pre, probiotics, and oral antibiotics. All the treated buffaloes showed satisfactory improvement from 1st to 3rd day with complete clinical recovery by 4.93 (3 to 9) days of treatment. Buffalo owners should be made aware of unscientific practice of colostrum feeding in adult animals and accidentally intoxicated buffaloes could be successfully treated with the standardized treatment protocol.

Milk fatty acid composition of Murrah buffaloes was determined in present study. Samples were collected from 10 lactating buffaloes and were analysed for fatty acid profile using AOCS official method. Murrah milk fat was having 71.6 percent saturated fatty acids (SFA), 27.97 percent unsaturated fatty acids. C16:0, C18:1c, C18:0, C14:0 and C12:0 were the five most abundant fatty acid (82.5 percent of total fatty acids) in the Murrah milk. Palmitic acid, myristic acid (14:0) and stearic acid (18:0) together constituted approximately 85.8 percent of saturated fatty acids by weight. Short chain fatty acids (C4:0, C6:0), medium chain fatty acids (C8:0, C10:0, C12:0), and long chain fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0, C16:1, C18:2) were 1.82, 4.56 and 49.96 g/100 g respectively. Mono-unsaturated fatty acid were 26.79 percent of the fatty acids in milk, mostly oleic acid (18:1). Poly-unsaturated fatty acids constitute about 1.18 percent by weight of the total fatty acids. Linoleic acid (18:2) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3) accounted for 0.88 and 0.30 percent by weight of the total fatty acids.