Objective—To determine whether a mutation in the fibrillin 2 gene (FBN2) is associated with canine hip dysplasia (CHD) and osteoarthritis in dogs. Animals—-1,551 dogs. Procedures—Hip conformation was measured radiographically. The FBN2 was sequenced from genomic DNA of 21 Labrador Retrievers and 2 Greyhounds, and a haplotype in intron 30 of FBN2 was sequenced in 90 additional Labrador Retrievers and 143 dogs of 6 other breeds. Steady-state values of FBN2 mRNA and control genes were measured in hip joint tissues of fourteen 8-month-old Labrador Retriever–Greyhound crossbreeds. Results—The Labrador Retrievers homozygous for a 10-bp deletion haplotype in intron 30 of FBN2 had significantly worse CHD as measured via higher distraction index and extended-hip joint radiograph score and a lower Norberg angle and dorsolateral subluxation score. Among 143 dogs of 6 other breeds, those homozygous for the same deletion haplotype also had significantly worse radiographic CHD. Among the 14 crossbred dogs, as the dorsolateral subluxation score decreased, the capsular FBN2 mRNA increased significantly. Those dogs with incipient hip joint osteoarthritis had significantly increased capsular FBN2 mRNA, compared with those dogs without osteoarthritis. Dogs homozygous for the FBN2 deletion haplotype had significantly less FBN2 mRNA in their femoral head articular cartilage. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The FBN2 deletion haplotype was associated with CHD. Capsular gene expression of FBN2 was confounded by incipient secondary osteoarthritis in dysplastic hip joints. Genes influencing complex traits in dogs can be identified by genome-wide screening, fine mapping, and candidate gene screening.

The purpose of this study was to develop a percutaneous lung biopsy technique to be used on steers in a commercial feedlot setting. Thirty-four crossbred steer and heifer calves from a commercial feedlot in southern Alberta were used in this study. The calves originated from the auction market and all were chronically affected with bovine respiratory disease (BRD). A technique was developed to obtain a lung sample from the right cranioventral lung lobe, intercostal space (ICS) 2, using a manual or an automatic biopsy instrument with a 14- or 12-gauge (ga) biopsy needle. Overall, lung parenchyma was successfully harvested in 55.9% of experimental animals and in 55.0% of lung biopsy trials. Compared with postmortem diagnosis, the biopsy resulted in the same pathologic diagnosis for 75% of biopsy samples when evaluated using standardized criteria by the same veterinary pathologist. The success rate was 61.5% and 42.9% in a hospital or field setting, respectively. With an automatic instrument, lung was recovered from 57.9% and 37.5% of samples obtained using a 12- or 14-ga biopsy needle, respectively. One experimental animal or 2.9% of the total had fatal complications from the procedure. In a commercial feedlot setting, the procedure took 20 min for each animal. Percutaneous lung biopsy of the right cranioventral lung lobe may be a viable technique when used on feedlot steers affected with chronic pneumonia. These findings suggest that using an automatic instrument with either a 14- or 12-ga biopsy needle may yield lung samples that are suitable for histopathological evaluation. However, this technique needs to be further evaluated in a field setting.

Prevalence and management of ovulatory disturbances was recorded from 454 repeat breeding crossbred Jersey cattle of Kashmir valley during a 7 years period (2004-05 to 2010-11). Prevalence of anovulation and delayed ovulation was recorded 16.30 and 12.78% with an overall prevalence of 29.07% ovulatory disturbances. Anovulatory animals treated with RCG (Chorulon @ 1500 to 3000 IV i.v. per animal depending on body weight) showed conception rate (CR) of 86.36%; while those treated with Buserelin (Receptal @ 5ml Lv. per animal) as 100.00%, although this difference was statistically non-significant. Animals suffering from delayed ovulation inseminated twice, thrice or 4th times depending on the persistence of estrus signs showed overall CR of 87.93%.

Pertaining to the scenario at hand milk samples from Holstein x Hariana crossbred cows were investigated for alternation in enzyme activity as influenced by sub clinical mastitis (SCM) and their percent sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios and correlation with (somatic cell count) SCC were calculated. It was found that SCM influence significantly the activity of ALP at pO.OIand LDH at pO.O5in milk. Aspartate amino transferase activity was not influenced by SCM in milk. Moreover, both were found to be correlated with somaticcellcount, significantly.Fromthe likelihoodratios itwas clearthat both alkalinephosphatase (ALP) and LDH can be used for diagnosis of SCM, but, ALP is the safe indicator of SCM in the present study.

The objective of this experiment was to study wheather the administration of GnRH plus PGF2 alpha synchronizes the estrus in anestrus crossbred cows exposed to bull urine (BU) during the winter season (Nov to Feb). The results indicated that a greater proportion of BU-exposed cows (n=20) showed estrus as compared to control (n=8) (90 vs 37.5 % P0.05). The mean plasma progesterone concentration remained below 1ng/ml in all animals of each group during the treatment period. The overall conception rate was double in BU-exposed cows (66.7 vs 33.3 % P0.05). From this experiment it can be concluded that oro-nasal application of BU synchronizes the estrus in a greater proportion of anestrus cows treated with GnRH plus PGF2 alpha during winter season.

The herd strength of the farm was 480 crossbreds containing 393 females and 87 males, out of which 43 females and 15 males suffered from fluorosis leading to overall prevalence of 12.08 %. It is revealed that overall prevalence in males (17.24 %) was higher as compare to the females (11.05%). The prevalence in males below six months of age group and in six months and above (adults) was recorded to be 16.66 % and 17.46 % respectively. The adults and calves were equally susceptible to fluorosis in both sexes while heifers were least susceptible (3.12 %). Genetic group wise studies concluded that,prevalence in Brown swiss 50 % + Holstein Frisian 25 % + Gir 25% (16.88 %), then comes Holstein Frisian 50 % + Gir 50 % (15.84 %), then (11.94 %) in Holstein Frisian 50 % + Jersey 25 % + Gir 25% and least (5.95 %) was recorded in reciprocal crosses. Clinical examination revealed two forms viz: osteodental fluorosis and osteofluorosis. The level of fluorine in serum samples ranged between 1.0 to 7.0 ìg/ml. Epidemiological investigation could not ascertain the source of fluorine intake. Drop in milk production, adverse effect on reproduction and evidence of hypothyroidism were not recorded in any animal. Aluminium sulphate @ 30 gms to 45 gms / day was given as a curative treatment while in chronic cases of fluorosis @ 20 gms/animal was given for 15 days keeping 7 days gap and again given for 15 days till there is improvement in clinical symptoms. There was no recurrence of clinical symptoms and no addition of new cases. __________________________________________________________________

Oestrosis is a worldwide myiasis infection caused by the larvae of
the fly Oestrus ovis (Diptera, Oestridae), that develops from the first to the third stage larvae. This is an obligate parasite of the nasal and sinus cavities of sheep and goats. The Oestrus ovis larvae elicit clinical signs of cavitary myiasis seen as a seromucous or purulent nasal discharge, frequent sneezing, incoordination and
dyspnea. Myiasis in an incidental host may have biological significance towards medical and public health importance if
the incidental host is man. This infection can result in signs of generalized disease, causing serious economic losses in sheep and goat reared for meat and dairy production. Due to the large numbers of small ruminants imported into Malaysia from countries which are endemic with oestrosis, precautionary measures should be exercised to prevent this infection from establishing here. In 2009, there was a report of respiratory distress (pneumonic sign) accompanied by high mortality in Damara sheep that was imported from Australia. Investigations showed the presence of Oestrus ovis larvae in affected
sheep. The post mortem was conducted in the field and the larvae were discovered in the tracheal region. The larvae was confirmed as Oestrus ovis using the appropriate keys for identification by Zumpt. The carcass showed pulmonary edema with severe congestion of the lungs accompanied by frothy exudation in the bronchus. There were also signs of serious atrophy (heart muscle) and mild enteritis
(intestine histopathological examination showed, there was pulmonary congestion and edema, centrilobular hepatic necrosis, renal tubular necrosis and myocardial sarcocystosis. The sheep also showed chronic helminthiasis and Staphylococcus spp. was isolated from organ specimens.Oestus ovis infection is rare in Malaysia, as such this case posed as an unusual case for investigation.