BACKGROUND: The protozoancryptosporidiumisan important intestinal parasitic infection in domestic ruminants that has the potential for transmission between humans and livestock throughout the world and Iran. OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to determine cryptosporidiuminfection in different age groupsof cattle and water buffaloesin farms of Mahabad suburb, Iran. METHODS: For this purpose, a total number of 248 fresh fecal samples were randomly collected from rectum of cattle and water buffaloesin farms of 4 villages from May2016 to May 2017. The fecal samples were subjected to floatation technique andcryptosporidiumoocysts were collected using Sucrose Gradient and Percole flotation technique and stained with modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of cryptosporidiuminfection was 50% (124/248). The highest rate of infection was significant in female calves (30.65%) less than one year-old. The highest infection rate was significantly found in summer (20.16%). Cryptosporidium parvum and C. andersoni were identified in 40.32% (100/248) and 9.68% (24/248) of examined cattle, respectively. Mixed infection was 8.47%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that C.parvum was prevalent in cattle of the region, therefore, further molecular studies are recommended to determine the genotypes of the parasiteas a potential zoonotic agent.

The ameliorative effect of salts, ascorbic acid olyphosphate and zinc oxide supplementation on heat stress was studied in adult buffaloes of either sex which were randomly divided into two groups of four animals each. Group I served as control and Group II was supplemented with sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, ascorbic acid polyphosphate and zinc oxide. All the animals were exposed to two conditions of temperature and humidity: hot-dry and hot-humid in psychrometric chamber for 4 hours daily for 10 days. Blood was collected on days 1, 5 and 10 of treatment. The activities of enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH), hormone cortisol and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) binding substances (lipid peroxidation) were estimated in serum. Significant decreasewas observed in activities of serum catalase and SOD. Serum GSH concentration decreased while serum concentrations of TBA binding substances and cortisol significantly increased in both groups which were subjected to heat stress. Dietary supplementation of ascorbate, zinc and electrolytes resulted in further decrease in the enzymes' activities where as the serum GSH increased at par to normal values. Serum concentrations ofTBA binding substances and cortisol were comparatively lower in supplemented group in both types of stress. Thus, supplementation of ascorbate and zinc in addition to electrolytes relieved the animals of oxidative stress.

Different segments of oviduct (infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus and utero tubaljunction)of six buffaloes each during follicular and luteal phases of estrous cycle were studied. The samples were collected in 10% NBF processed for paraffin sectioning were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, PetiodicAcid Schiff, alcian blue and PASalcian blue. The mucosa was found thrown into longitudinal folds having primary, secondary and tertiary branches. Branching was more pronounced in infundibulum and ampulla as well as during the follicular phase as compared to luteal phase. The different segments were lined with columnarto pseudostratifiedcolumnarepithelium.The cellswere ciliatedand non ciliated type. In follicular phase, the epithelium showed strong PASreaction which was con~entrated in the supranuclear zone while during the luteal phase the reaction was moderate. The reaction was granular in nature. The epithelium was also strongly positive for alcian blue and PASalcian blue during follicularphase. Thepropria submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa showed weak to mild reaction for PASand alcian blue.

The study was conducted on twelve normally calved, suckled, lactating Murrah buffaloes, aged 57.9±3.2 months from 1st to 3rd parity. The animals varied from 12 to 30 days postpartum at the start of experiment and suckling was restricted to twice daily (before milking). The objective of the study was to monitor ovarian follicular changes during early postpartum in Murrah buffaloes using a real time Bmode ultrasonography. Only 3 out of 12 animals showed cyclicity during observation period. Large follicles (8 to 10 mm) were detected for the 1st time at 24.4±1.99 days, whereas 10 mm follicles were first noticed at 26.0±1.41 days. The duration of growth of dominant follicle (9.3±0.48 days) was higher than duration of its regression (7.1±0.40 days), thereby indicating that the rate of regression is faster (0.73±0.03 mm/d) as compared to rate of growth (0.64±0.02 mm/d). The duration of growth of corpus luteum formed after 1st ovulation was very short (8.67±1.44 days). The largest diameter attained by first postpartum ovulatory follicle was 13.0±1.10 mm and the calving to first postpartum ovulation interval was 52.67±8.02 days in the present study. It is concluded that very few (25%) buffaloes experience ovulations in early postpartum period (within 2 months postpartum). Low number of buffaloes displayed spontaneous resumption of postpartum cyclicity although ovaries of all the animals exhibited follicular activity.

Heat stress is major concern for maintaining optimum production in livestock. The improvement of productivity in dairy animals, exposed to adverse environmental conditions, is primarily focused on improving the microclimate and nutritional management of the animals. The experiment was conducted on three groups of animals comprising six adult buffaloes in each group. Two groups were exposed to heat stress in the psychrometric chamber (40oC), the third group was kept under ambient conditions as control. One of the exposed groups was offered ascorbic acid (20g/day/animal). The blood samples were taken at every 4th day up to 16th day. Samples were analyzed for the total plasma protein and plasma albumin. Results showed that as the days of exposure progressed, the level of stress increased which is evident from the elevated level of total proteins. When compared with the ascorbic acid supplemented group (7.28±0.09 gm/dl), the non-supplemented group had higher protein content (7.93±0.13 gm/dl). There was significant difference (P 0.05) in protein levels among the groups. The level of albumin also followed the same pattern as that of total protein but in heat stressed (2.42±0.17gm/ dl) and ascorbic acid supplemented animals (2.41±0.19 gm/dl), the globulin levels declined as compared to group kept at ambient conditions (2.79±0.33 gm/dl). Further, the Albumin:Globulin ratio was significantly (P 0.05) higher in heat stressed animals (2.78±0.43) and ascorbic acid supplemented animals (2.19±0.30) as compared to control group (1.61±0.37). It can be concluded that ascorbic acid supplementation would be beneficial to buffalo producers of the arid/ semi-arid regions in amelioration of stress challenge imposed by the harsh weather.

Clinico-physiological effects of Xylazine - Ketamine were evaluated in 12 clinical cases of uremic buffalo calves having urolithiasis. In group A, Xylazine -Ketamine were used at the dose rate of 0.05 mg/kg body weight and 2.5 mg/kg body weight respectively to create regional spinal anesthesia at the lumbosacral space in 6 buffalo calves. In group B, Xylazine and Ketamine at the same dose rates were used intramuscularly in 6 buffalo calves. Analgesia was then recorded at different regions by the pin prick method and scored on a scale and motor incoordination, sedation, complete duration of anesthesia, complete recovery and physiological parameters (heart rate, respiration rate and rectal temperature) were evaluated in both the groups at various intervals of time throughout the duration of surgery of Tube cystotomy. It was found that the animals of group B achieved a safer physiological peak values than animals of group A.

In this study twenty four isolates of Pasteurella multocida were collected from field out breaks of Haemorrhagic septicaemia (H.S) in cattle and buffalo from various regions of the country from 1991-2001. The isolates were subjected to detailed cultural, biochemical and pathogenicity test in albino mice. The stereotyping was done by indirect haemagglutination test for determination of their capsular antigen. Serologically all the isolates were classified on the basis of their capsular antigen as Carter Type B. All the twenty four isolates produced oxidase, catalase and indole and reduced nitrate. They did not produce urease. All the isolates fermented fructose, glucose, sucrose and sorbitol and mannitol with the production of acid whereas dulcitol, lactose, silicon were found negative. Variable results were found among isolates on the fermentation of arabinose and maltose. It was concluded that all the isolates were serologically and immunologically homologous to H.S. vaccine strain produced in the institute.