Obesity constitutes a health problem due to its increasing worldwide prevalence. Among the health detriments caused by obesity, reproduction is disrupted. Some studies have shown a relationship between obesity and infertility, but until now it remains controversial. The objective of the current work was to examine the effect of diet-induced obesity on blood parameters, liver and kidney function tests, lipid profile and testicular oxidative stress. For that purpose, Male rats were fed ad libitum with a standard diet (control group; n.= 15) and high fat diet (HFD group; n.= 15) for 6 weeks. Hematological parameters, urea, creatinine, albumin were similar between the two groups. Intergroup testosterone levels were also comparable. The high fat diet induced significant increase in serum triglycerides, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. This diet also increases significantly alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and decreased total protein level and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. Furthermore, HFD showed a significant increasing in malondialdehyde contents in testes and decreasing in superoxide dismutase activity, the results of this study concluded that short-term high fat diet affect on liver enzymes and causing oxidative stress in testes.

The occurrence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in dogs from the municipality of Natal, RN, Brazil, was determined. Information about the presence of these coccidia in this species was not known. Blood samples were collected from 29 domiciled dogs which inhabit areas that surround two important protected areas of Atlantic Forest (Parque da Cidade and Parque das Dunas) and another 73 dogs that were sacrificed due to Leishmania spp. infection, in Center for Control of Zoonosis (CCZ) for the municipality of Natal. It was only possible to obtain information about the gender of dogs that live in the parks area. The presence of antibodies against each parasite was determined by indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT), with a cutoff of 16 for T. gondii and 50 for N. caninum. Of the 102 dogs examined, 13 (12.7%, 95% CI 7.0-20.8%) were T. gondii positive and three (2.9%, CI 0.6-8.4%) for N. caninum. Association between: localities of obtaining samples (parks x CCZ) and sex of animals, with the occurrence of antibodies against each of the parasites, was determined by the Fisher exact test. For T. gondii association was found with males (p = 0.027) and dogs living close to parks (p = 0.008) had higher rates of infection. Associations were not observed in relation to N. caninum.

The present study was conducted to estimate crossbreeding parameters for growth traits of growing rabbits in a complete 3 × 3 diallel crossing experiment involving three breeds namely New Zealand White (NN), Californian (CC) and Rex (RR). Highly significant differences (p≤0.001) were observed among different genotypes for almost traits studied with the exception of relative growth rates (RGR) at 4-12 weeks of age. Direct genetic effects of NN were found as positive for most of studied traits. Positive total maternal genetic effect was estimated for kits of NN dose for weight at weaning (57 g) and 12 weeks of age (92 g). Strong individual heterosis was estimated for NN × CC crossbreds for all body weight (BW) and most of body weight gains (BWG). In conclusion, direct additive genetic effects were infavor NN for growth traits and maternal genetic effects were infavor NN for weaning and final weights and higher individual heterosis has been estimated for NN × CC crossbred rabbits for growth traits.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis are the major causes of tuberculosis. These may infect many animal species, and are likely to be the main source of infection in humans. A total of 181 bovine raw milk samples and 123 pre-scapular lymph node biopsy samples were collected and subjected to acid fast staining, fluorescent staining, isolation and identification. Genus specific PCR to identify the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) organism, and multiplex PCR (mPCR) were done to differentiate M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. Among the milk samples tested, only one sample was culture-positive for M. tuberculosis. Four samples were positive by MTBC-PCR and mPCR; all these four were proved to be M. tuberculosis. It is quite likely that animals can be infected with human-originated M. tuberculosis, which in turn may act as a source of infection in humans, becoming a reverse zoonosis. Hence, control strategies for human tuberculosis caused by M. tuberculosis should necessarily include the control strategies in animals too.

The present study was conducted to investigate the role of Amblyomma lepidum in the transmission of Mycobacterium farcinogenes, the causal agent of bovine farcy in Sudan. A total of 22 samples comprising of prescapular, submaxillary, mediastinal, parotid, retropharengeal and pulmonary lymph nodes, and subcutaneous nodules were collected for this study. M. farcinogenes was successfully isolated from the specimens by following traditional bacteriological techniques, and the bacteria were identified using standard biochemical assays, lipid analysis using Thin Layer Chromatography, and duplex Polymerase Chain Reaction. Larvae and nymphs of A. lepidum acquired M. farcinogenes from experimentally infected rabbits, and subsequently transmitted the infection to fresh rabbits within a maximum period of ten weeks. In contrast, adult A. lepidum failed to contract the organism from the infected rabbits; so, trans-ovarian transmission could be ruled out. In conclusion, this study confirmed the trans-stadial transmission of M. farcinogenes through larvae and nymphs of A. lepidum.

The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental information on both the common toxicants and poisoning episodes in dogs within Effurun/Warri municipality region of Delta State of Nigeria from 2011 to 2014. The collected data were grouped according to age, sex, breed, year of occurrence, and toxicant type. The study revealed that a total of 76 dogs comprising 12 breeds were poisoned by several toxicants such as pesticides (69%; n=52/76), household products (12%; n=9/76), food and ndash;poisons (9%; n=7/76), and snakebite envenomation (3%; n=2/76). Mixed breeds (29%; n=22/76), Alsatian (25%; n=19/76), Rottweiler (16%; n=12/76) and indigenous breed (7%; n=5/76) ranked the topmost breeds accounted for most poison emergencies with human and ndash;related factors incriminated. This study provides useful information on episodes of poisoning in dogs in the studied region. The knowledge of agents involved can help veterinarians for accurate diagnosis, and pet owners to cautiously protect their pets from potentially poisonous substances. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 357-361]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of diets with inclusion of beef tallow on growth, and carcass characteristics, meat quality, and lipid profile in growing lambs. The experiment was conducted with 15 lambs for 63 days. The lambs were randomly allotted into three dietary treatments (T0, T1, and T2) with five animals in each group; T0 (control diet without beef tallow), T1 (diet with 2% beef tallow), and T2 (diet with 4% beef tallow). The body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (P<0.05) increased in T1 group as compared to other groups. Dressing percentages of warm carcass in T0, T1 and T2 group were 43.93, 42.87 and 44.05%, respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) on meat quality and chemical composition among the three dietary groups. Group T1 showed the highest increase of cholesterol concentration (11.5%) at the end of experiment, but serum triglyceride concentration was not significantly (P>0.05) correlated with any of the three dietary groups. To sum up, the use of beef tallow at 2% level in lamb diet can increase their performance without having any deleterious effect on carcass, meat quality and lipid profile. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 346-352]

The process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is generally characterized by distinct morphological characteristics and energy - dependent biochemical mechanisms. Apoptosis is a widely conserved phenomenon helping many processes, including normal cell turnover, proper development and functioning of the immune system, hormone dependent atrophy etc. Inappropriate apoptosis (either low level or high level) leads to many developmental abnormalities like, neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic damage, autoimmune disorders and many types of cancer. To use cells for therapeutic purposes through generating cell lines, it is critical to study the cell cycle machinery and signalling pathways that controls cell death and apoptosis. Apoptotic pathways provide a fundamental protective mechanism that decreases cellular sensitivity to damaging events and allow proper developmental process in multi-cellular organisms. Major mediator of apoptosis is a family of proteins known as caspases. There are mainly fourteen types of caspases but out of them only ten caspasese have got essential role in controlling the process of apoptosis. These ten caspases have been categorized into either initiator caspases (caspase 2, 8, 9, 10) or executioner caspases (caspase 3, 6, 7). Although various types of caspases have been identified so far, the exact mechanisms of action of these groups of proteins is still to be fully understood. The aim of this review is to provide a detail overview of role of different caspases in regulating the process of apoptosis.

Perfect detection of estrus is crucial for good husbandry practice of cow. Estrus synchronization is the alternative strategy to bypass the critical problem of estrus detection. Synchronization program allows fixed timed artificial inseminations (FTAI) to evade the estrus detection. The most recently developed programs include protocols for re-synchronization following first or subsequent inseminations. These re-synchronization protocols may involve selected forms of hormonal intervention during the diestrus and pro-estrus periods following FTAI, or following pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasound from 28 days after FTAI. Almost all programs involve strategically timed treatment of prostaglandin F2α (PGF) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). Treatment of an estradiol ester and progesterone supplementation per vaginum may be included in some programs. The basic program is the “Ovsynch” regimen. This mini-review discusses a number of key points related to external hormonal stimulation on ovarian follicular wave to improve pregnancy rate following timed AI.

The study was conducted to evaluate the prebiotic effects of Spirulina as a growth and immunity promoter for broiler chickens. Birds (n=100) were randomly and equally distributed into four groups (T0, T1, T2 and T3) and fed on a diet containing 0, 2, 4 and 8 g Spirulina/kg feed respectively for 4 weeks. The body weight was significantly (P<0.05) increased in the treatment groups fed with Spirulina diet from 7th days to 28th days old. FCR was also significantly (P<0.05) decreased among the treatment groups. Hematological parameters were significantly (P<0.05) increased except ESR which was decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the treatment group. Aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine aminotransferase (AST) level were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in all the treatment groups. The study suggests that, Spirulina is a good natural feed additive which has a tremendous effect to improve the broiler production and thereby may reduce the production cost. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 304-309]