Objective: Humpback (hpbk) mice harbor a pathogenic mutation in the Notch3 gene and can serve as a beneficial animal model for investigating human myopathy, kyphosis, and developmen­tal disorders, including lateral meningocele syndrome. Detection of the point mutation in hpbk mice is important for maintaining strains and scrutinizing genetic rescues, especially considering that homozygous mice are infertile and indistinguishable from their littermates at a young age. This study aimed for the development of a novel, precise, and time-saving genotyping method to identify the mutation in hpbk mice.  Materials and Methods: In order to study the hpbk mouse line, we describe how we applied sev­eral tools, including quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), multiplex tetra-primer ampli­fication-refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR) and Sanger sequencing, toward the recognition of heterozygous and homozygous mice.  Results: The Notch3 mutation was clearly identified using qPCR and ARMS assays, but the latter was a more precise and cost-effective approach. The lengths of the ARMS-PCR amplicons are 210 bp and 164 bp for the wild-type and hpbk alleles, respectively. Moreover, the genotyping results for each mouse were corroborated by Sanger DNA sequencing.  Conclusion: Our newly developed PCR-based ARMS system affords a swift and precise way to genotype the hpbk mice. ARMS-PCR does not rely on any advanced equipment and is useful as a genotyping method for other model organisms that harbor a pathogenic variant. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 7-13, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h479

Objective: The study was carried out to investigate the use and impact of veterinary drugs, anti­microbials, and supplements in commercial aquaculture for fish health management measures in three selected areas of Mymensingh, Bangladesh.  Materials and Methods: Data collection was conducted through questionnaire interviews with owners of 50 fish farms and 25 drug shop owners from Trishal, Fulpur, Tarakanda, and Sadar Upazila of Mymensingh district.  Results: A total of 15 trade-named veterinary antibiotics and six categories of other compounds were identified in this study. Antibiotics were found as the most used veterinary drugs (80.85%), followed by disinfectants, nutritional supplements, saline, ammonia removal agents, probiotics, and pesticides. These veterinary compounds’ performances for fish health management were found to vary (10%–60%) significantly.  Conclusion: This study’s findings urge the necessity to produce and approve effective aqua drugs and treatments to ensure farmed fish and public health. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 36-43, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h482

Objective: The study was carried out for molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance anal­ysis of Escherichia coli isolated from different turkey farms in Dinajpur, Bangladesh.  Materials and methods: A total of 45 samples comprising feces (n = 23) and cloacal swabs (n = 22) were collected randomly from turkeys. The samples were subjected to isolation and identification of E. coli by cultural and biochemical characteristics, followed by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. An antibiogram of the isolated E. coli isolates was carried out by following the Kirby– Bauer disk diffusion method.  Results: Out of the 45 samples, 28 (62.21%) were positive for E. coli, of which 16 (35.55%) fecal samples were positive and 12 (26.66%) cloacal swabs were positive . The antibiotic sensitivity analysis revealed that all the E. coli isolates were 100% sensitive to levofloxacin, norfloxacin, neo­mycin, gentamicin, and nitrofurantoin. On the other hand, all the isolates were 100% resistant to amoxicillin, azithromycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, bacitracin, cephalexin, nalidixic acid, van­comycin, methicilin, piperacillin, pefloxacin, novobiocin, cefepime, trimethoprim, netilmicin, and aztreonam.  Conclusion: This study’s results uncover the occurrence and antibiotic resistance pattern of E. coli in the study area’s turkeys. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 64-69, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h486

Objective: This work aimed to detect the frequency of pathogenic bacteria of zoonotic impor­tance in ducks’ dropping, their surrounding environment, and farmworkers in contact with them. Furthermore, the susceptibility pattern of isolated bacteria to antimicrobial drugs and the effi­ciency of disinfectants (CID 20, Durak® plus, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nano zinc oxide (ZnO NPs), and hydrogen peroxide loaded nano zinc oxide (H2O2/ZnO NPs) composites against isolated bacteria were evaluated.  Materials and Methods: A total of 271 samples were collected from duck pens, including 35 fecal droppings, 200 environmental samples, and 36 from the hands of pen workers for isolation and identification of bacterial strains using standard microbiological procedures. After that, the antibi­otic sensitivity testing of 40 bacterial isolates was carried out using disk diffusion assay. ZnO NPs and H2O2/ZnO NPs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectrum and high-reso­lution transmission electron microscopy. The efficacy of disinfectants and nanocomposites was evaluated against enteropathogenic bacteria using the broth macro-dilution method.  Results: The results showed that the overall prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in duck pens was 62.73. The highest isolation rate was detected in duck fecal droppings (100%), while Escherichia coli was found to be the most isolated pathogen (56.47%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.8%), Proteus mirabilis (15.29), and Salmonella species (6.47%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in the majority of bacterial isolates. The efficiency of CID 20 and Durak® plus dis­infectants against all bacterial isolates was highly susceptible (100%) after 120 min of exposure time compared to the effectiveness of H2O2 on enteropathogenic bacteria which did not exceeded 60% at 5% concentration. Meanwhile, the sensitivity of Salmonella spp. to Durak® plus did not exceeded 80%.  Conclusion: The duck fecal droppings are the primary source of bacterial isolates. MDR isolates were susceptible to both CID 20 and Durak® plus disinfectants after 120 min of exposure time at a concentration of 1:100 ml. Besides, H2O2/ZnO NPs composite proved its lethal effect against all testing strains at 0.02 mg/ml after 120 min of exposure. Strict biosecurity guidelines are required to mitigate and prevent the transmission of potentially zoonotic pathogens through the farm envi­ronment and/or duck droppings. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 105-115, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h492

Objective: This study aimed to explore the seroprevalence of Brucella spp. in goats in some selected areas of Bangladesh.  Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in different goat-populated regions of Bangladesh from July 2017 to June 2018. A total of 208 serum samples were randomly collected from goats in Jashore (n = 50), Jhenidah (n = 22), Tangail (n = 40), Savar (n = 46), Thakurgaon (n = 18), and Bandarban (n = 32) areas. The samples were subjected to determine the presence of antibodies against Brucella spp. by rose bengal plate test (RBPT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA).  Results: Overall, the seroprevalence of Brucellosis in goats was 4.33% (n = 9/208) by RBPT and 2.40% (n = 5/208) by c-ELISA. The seroprevalence of brucellosis on the basis of RBPT was 6% (buck: 0%, doe: 6%) in Jashore, 4.5% (buck: 0%, doe: 4.5%) in Jhenidah, 2.5% (buck: 0%, doe: 2.5%) in Tangail, 4.35% (buck: 0%, doe: 4.35%) in Savar, 6.25% (buck: 0%, doe: 6.25%) in Bandarban, and 5.56% (buck: 0%, doe: 5.56%) in Thakurgaon. On the other hand, the seroprevalence of brucel­losis by c-ELISA was 4% (buck: 0%, doe: 4%) in Jashore, 4.5% (buck: 0%, doe: 4.5%) in Jhenidah, 3.13% (buck: 0%, doe: 3.13%) in Bandarban, and 5.56% (buck: 0%, doe: 5.56%) in Thakurgaon. Brucellosis was more prevalent (p > 0.001) in does aging 3–4 years.  Conclusion: Goats from different areas of Bangladesh are caring antibodies against Brucella organisms. Further bacteriological investigations are necessary. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 123-128, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h494

Objective: Indonesia is one of the Newcastle disease (ND) endemic countries in the world. An outbreak of the ND virus (NDV) was first reported in Indonesia in 1926. This study aimed to detect, isolate, and classify the NDV by molecular approaches from poultry farms in South Sulawesi Province of Indonesia in 2019.  Materials and Methods: As many as 36 pooling samples from the cloacal swab, trachea swab, proventriculus, and spleen tissues obtained from ND-suspected chickens were isolated in 11-day-old embryonated chicken eggs type-specific antibody-negative. The viruses were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), followed by sequencing.  Results: The results showed that 18 out of 36 pooling samples were NDV-positive based on the isolation result and RT-PCR test. The sequencing results showed that 10 NDV isolates had a motif 112R-R-Q-K-R-F117 in the fusion protein cleavage site region, which suggested that the NDV isolates were of virulent pathotype. The phylogenetic studies based on the F gene’s partial nucleotide sequence classified the study isolates into NDV virus genotype/subgenotype VII.2.  Conclusion: These findings are expected to help provide the latest characteristic information of NDV in South Sulawesi Province to determine the seed vaccine for control strategies of ND. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 129-137, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h495

Objectives: Probiotics are well documented for their health benefits by developing a balanced intestinal microbiota and boosting immunity. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of a probiotic preparation EnzimsporinTM (consisting of spore-forming bacteria Bacillus sub­tilis B-2998D, B-3057D, and Bacillus licheniformis B-2999D) on the biochemical, hematological, immunological parameters, intestinal microbiota, and growth dynamics of sheep and lambs.  Materials and methods: Enzimsporin was fed to lambs and sheep at different doses to determine the bacteria’s probiotic effects. Sheep were divided into three groups (six each), which received 0, 1, and 3 gm of Enzimsporin/per head/day, respectively, and two groups of lambs (10 each), who received 0 gm and 1 gm of Enzimsporin/per head/day for 30 days in addition to their regular ration. On day 30, blood samples were collected, followed by the determination of biochemical, hematological, and natural resistance indicators. Fecal samples were examined to determine the intestinal microflora, and animals were weighed daily to determine their growth dynamics.  Results: Supplementation of probiotics (EnzimsporinTM) improved the lambs’ body weight gain by 18.8%. Analysis of the clinical parameters showed improvements in the levels of total pro­tein, globulins, and urea by 5.3%, 10.8%, and 6.2%, respectively, in the blood of probiotic-supple­mented lambs. Similarly, an increment in the total protein, albumins, and globulins was observed in the sheep with EnzimsporinTM supplementation. The decrease in bilirubin and cholesterol levels in the blood and increased bactericidal and phagocytic index in the sheep and lambs with pro­biotic supplementation indicated a positive influence of EnzimsporinTM on the liver function and natural resistance. Furthermore, an increase in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and a decrease in the Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Yeast in the fecal contents of experimental sheep and lambs indicated the potentiality of EnzimsporinTM on maintaining good gut health.  Conclusion: Spore-forming bacteria B. subtilis B-2998D, B-3057D, and B. licheniformis B-2999D can be used in feeding sheep and lambs of 2 months of age to increase body weight gain, improve intestinal microbiota, strengthen the immune system, and maintain normal metabolic processes. J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 8(1): 146-157, Mar 2021 http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2021.h497