Data over a period of eleven years was analysed for Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) virus isolated from chicken samples submit ted to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory at Bukit Tengah, Malaysia (RVLBT) for diagnosis. A total of 247 suspect IBD cases were tested by Virology Section, RVLBT between years of 2006 to 2016. IBD virus has been isolated by using Agar Gel Precipitation Test (AGPT), a bursal homogenate which has been used as an antigen against a known positive antiserum. About 27 cases (11%) from a total of 247 suspect cases in chickens were positive for the presence of IBD. The rate of IBD may be influenced by age of chickens with an increase in the possibility of IBD occurring in chicken older than 3 weeks. Apart from that, both broiler and local chickens are highly susceptible to this disease. Therefore, awareness on the existing IBD cases indicates the importance of strict management procedures, proper management programmes, vaccination and immunisation for chickens in Malaysia.

Cancers are mainly sustained by a small pool of neoplastic cells, known as cancer stem cells or tumorinitiating cells. These cells possess the ability to self-renew and proliferate, and are thus able to form the tumor. In the present study cells that correspond to cancer stem cells in mammary and liver cancers in animals were identified by the expression of CD133, CD44, CK7, and OCT4 using immunochemistry. As a result, we found with CD133+ and CD44+ cancer stem cell-like phenotypes in mouse and canine hepatocellular carcinoma and canine mammary gland tumors. However, CK7+ and OCT4+ cells were not identified in animal mammary and liver cancer. CD133+ and CD44+ cells are wellknown stem cell lines and play key roles in development and metastasis in human cancer. These findings suggest that cancer stem cells are involved in animal tumorigenesis and may provide insight into mechanisms in cancer development as well as cancer diagnostics.

Osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in bone mass that leads to an increased risk of fracture. The therapeutic effect of 1alpha,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol, the hormonal form of vitamin D3 that mediates calcium translation in intestine and bone, on the healing process of fracture has still been controversial. These studies were designed to understand the healing process of normal fibular fracture, the osteoporotic changes after ovariectomy, and the theraqeutic effects of 1alpha,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol on the osteoporotic fracture in rats. The simple transverse fractures of rat fibulae were produced with a rotating diamond saw. The changes of the biochemical and mechanical indices of rats were investigated. The mechanical study based on bending test revealed the healing of the fibular fracture in the 5th week after simple transverse fracture. The osteoporosis impaired more the healing of osteoporotic fibular fracture than normal non-osteoporotic fibular fracture. The healing process of osteoporotic fracture was facilitated by the treatment with 1alpha,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol, however was delayed more than the healing process of normal fracture. The bone strength based on the bending test also confirmed this tendency. The bone strengths in the 5th week after fracture of normal bone, osteoporotic bone, and 1alpha,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol-treated osteoporotic bone were 75%, 41% and 67%, respectively, in comparison with those of intact bone. In conclusion, 1alpha,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol was effective in promoting the osteroporotic fracture healing.

A study was conducted to identify the current status of Fasciolaand Paramphistomum infections in small ruminants in Terengganu. A total of 267 faecal samples from small ruminants were collected and subjected to sedimentation technique. Serum samples were diagnosed for detection of IgG antibody for Fasciola infection using sELISA method. Results showed that there were 4% of the goats positive with Paramphistomum eggs whereas Fasciola egg was not observed in any of the faecal samples. However, it was found that 89% of the serum samples from goats were positive with IgG antibody for Fasciola infection. Small ruminants in Terengganu were not infected with severe Fasciola and Paramphistomum infections yet the results obtained from this study will update the current status of the infections. This information will help the farmers and the Department of Veterinary Services to plan on management to maintain the animals’ health.

Objective-To measure concentrations of sucrose in the serum of captive dolphins after oral administration of a sucrose solution and determine the suitability of this method for use as a test to detect gastric ulcers. Animals-8 adult captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Procedures-Blood samples were collected from the ventral fluke vein of dolphins before and 45 minutes after oral administration of 500 mL of solution containing 25 or 50 g of sucrose; oral administration was achieved by use of gastric intubation. Serum was separated, diluted in a solution of 90% acetonitrile-to-10% water that contained 10 ng of an internal standard (trichlormethiazide)/microliter, mixed, and centrifuged. Supernatant was analyzed by use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Results-Serum sucrose concentrations of dolphins were at or less than the limits of detection before oral administration. Values after administration of sucrose solution varied among dolphins and were higher and more variable after administration of 50 g, compared with concentrations after administration of 25 g. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Serum sucrose concentrations in samples collected during routine health evaluations of captive dolphins can be reliably measured by use of LC-MS-MS. Correlating serum sucrose concentrations with endoscopic observations of the gastric mucosa of dolphins will validate this approach for use in screening for the prevalence and severity of gastric ulcers and determining the efficacy of treatment regimens.

This study was carried out (a) to investigate the variations of blood chemistry and (b) to examine the secretion trend of endocrine substances in a dog model after electroacupuncture and laser stimulation at different time period(9 to 11a.m. and 6 to 8p.m.). Two acupuncture points; Da Zhui(GV-14) and Shen Shu(BL-23) were electroacupunctured for 20 minutes with 2Vol, 20Hz and irradiated for 5 minutes with 8,000Hz. Before stimulation and after a lapse of time(10-minutes, 30-minutes and 60-minutes) all dogs were checked the following parameters; cortisol, ACTH, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC, Ca, P, SGPT, SGOT and creatinine. The results were as follow:The levels of cortisol and ACTH have been increased 10 minutes after the stimulation of the electroacupuncture and laser. The higher levels of cortisol and ACTH have been decreased to keep the normal levels from 30 minutes after the stimulation of the electroacupuncture and laser. The RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit and WBC showed the physiological phenomena in the electroacupuncture and laser stimulation. In sero chemical analysis, calcium, phosphate, SGOT, SGPT and creatinine levels were within normal physiological ranges.

Human brucellosis, a neglected zoonosis is endemic in KajiadoCounty in both man and livestock. The Kajiado County community’s mainlivelihood is livestock-keeping which puts it at risk. The study objective was to determine the community’s knowledge and practices, and the association between the two in relation to brucellosis. Results revealed three predictors of practices the community undertook that put them at risk of contracting brucellosis. The predictors were respondent’s education status (p=0.002 [CI 0.272-0.749] OR 0.451), knowledge of importance of pre-purchaselivestock breeding soundness (p=0.007 [CI 1.207-3.356] OR 2.013), and knowledge that livestock abortions could result in human disease (p=0.027 [CI 1.070-2.974] OR 1.783). This meant that respondents without formal education were nearly half less likely to undertake practices that prevented transmission of brucellosis than those withformal education. Respondents who knew that livestock examination was important for breeding soundness were twice more likely to engage in practices that prevented brucellosis transmission than those whodid not know. Respondents who knew that livestock abortions could lead to diseases in man were nearly twice more likely to engage in practices that prevented transmission of brucellosis than those whodid not know that livestock abortions could lead to diseases in man. It was concluded that the community’s knowledge and practices that promote brucellosis were inadequate. Two key recommendationswere drawn. There was need to create awareness in the community on the risk factors and practices that contribute to occurrence of human brucellosis. There was need for using qualified animal health providers to mitigate the disease in animals.

In vitro testing of bacterial susceptibility to a combination of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid was done, using 406 aerobic gram-positive and gram-negative isolates (considered to be pathogens) cultured from equine and small animal specimens. A microdilution broth technique of susceptibility testing was performed, using trays with wells containing a range of doubling concentrations of dehydrated ticarcillin (range, 0.50 to 128 microgram/ml) with fixed concentration of clavulanic acid (4 microgram/ml). The following isolates of equine origin were (90%) susceptible to concentrations of ticarcillin and clavulanic acid combinations of less than or equal to 16 and 4 microgram/ml, respectively: Staphylococcus aureus, S intermedius, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Ent agglomerans, Ent cloacae, Escherichia coli, Actinobacillus sp, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Rhodococcus equi, Proteus vulgaris, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. Isolates of small animal origin (90%) susceptible to less than or equal to 16 and 4 microgram of ticarcillin-clavulanic/ml included S aureus, S intermedius, Ent aerogenes, Ent agglomerans, Pasteurella multocida, B bronchiseptica, Pr mirabilis, and Serratia sp.

Objective: The present study was planned to examine the changes in serum protein fractions of lambs with pica symptoms with electrophoresis. Material and Methods: The three study groups were the control group that included healthy lambs, pretreatment and post-treatment groups that included lamb with pica. Lambs with pica symptoms were then treated with a single capsule mineral complex orally and single dose vitamin complex. Serum protein fractions in blood samples were determined with cellulose-acetate electrophoresis.Results: It was determined that in terms of concentration, total protein, albumin and β-globulin, levels did not change, albumin percentage levels increased with pica, however reached control group levels with treatment and α1-Globulin and α2-Globulin levels reduced after treatment. Based on % gr, it was determined that α1-Globulin and β-Globulin did not change and α2-Globulin decreased. ɣ-Globulin level and percentage increased after treatment.Conclusion: Profiles of serum protein fractions may play an important role in the etiology of pica; it was suggested that the identification of serum protein fractions should be considered as a beneficial method in veterinary clinic for the detection, treatment and follow-up of certain diseases and certain nutrition-related conditions.

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.