A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Newcastle disease (ND) and Avian Influenza (AI) from backyard chickens and ducks in Sabah. A total of 2,117 samples consisting of 1,498 swabs and 619 serum samples were taken from all districts in the state.
All samples tested were negative to Avian Influenza virus. 23.59% of the 619 serum samples collected were sero-positive for Newcastle Disease with the highest HI titre being 1/256. Only one pool of 4
trachael swabs or 0.27% of the total 1,498 swabs was positive on virus isolation for Newcastle Disease. No Avian influenza virus was isolated from all the samples collected.

PCV-2 associated disease and related losses occur commonly in high health status herds. With the advent of PCV-2 vaccines, these losses can be successfully reduced. In this study, there was a significant reduction (48%) in the mortality rate of the vaccinated pigs when
compared to the non-vaccinated pigs. Vaccination was conducted at day 21. In the vaccinated group, mortality was reduced from 5.25 % to 2.73%. This data indicates that the implementation of a PCV2 vaccination program can reduce the mortality rate of high health status pigs in Malaysia.

The rapid method for predicting palm kernel cake quality with near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was investigated. Chemical tests for moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, total digestible nutrients (TDN), nitrogen free extract (NFE), metabolisable energy (ME), calcium and phosphorous were time
consuming and involve high cost. This technology can save considerable time by testing all the parameters simultaneously;
however accurate calibration of the equipment is essential. Near infrared (NIR) partial least square (PLS) regression models for determination of several palm kernel cake quality parameters were
developed from NIRFlex Model N-500 (Buchi). In general, reliable prediction results were obtained for the TDN (SEP = 0.85 r2 = 0.99), NFE (SEP = 0.42 r2 = 0.97) and crude protein (SEP = 0.57 r2 = 0.98)
PLS regression models.

The small ruminant industry in Malaysia is plagued by several significant problems related to health and management. Due to the hot, wet tropical climate, parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases are rampant and conveniently spread and enhanced by poor management. The Veterinary Research Institute has initiated a working group to
identify and control critical diseases in small ruminants as an educational cum advisory programme for farmers on the lower economic rung so that productivity and profits may be heightened. Farms are attended to base on the complaint of high mortality and morbidity, whereby a complete and holistic approach to disease control is taken. All the farms sampled were in the vicinity of the laboratory
that is within 150 km radius. Samples collected were faeces, blood (serum and whole blood) and nasal swabs as well as water and feed samples. A questionnaire on the management practices as well as
history of the farm was recorded. Tests on all samples were conducted according to routine procedures. Results from this study
on 7 farms involving 175 goats and sheep revealed that the common parasitic diseases encountered are helminthiasis, coccidiosis and blood protozoans. More than 80% of the animals showed strongyle and coccidial infections. The prominent bacterial infections are Caseous Lymphadenitis (34.3%), Brucellosis (Brucella melitensis), Leptospirosis (1.7%), Melliodosis and QFever whereas the viral diseases are Caprine Arthiritis Encephalitis (1.1%) and Blue Tongue (15.4%). Early detection for these diseases is critical so that production losses can be minimised. Poor nutrition and hygiene is a contributing factor for the high incidence of disease in small
ruminants. Farmer awareness on latest farming methods and services provided also contributes to general wellbeing of animals. One of the outcomes of this programme is to create awareness and getting farmers to be independent and confident in problem solving with regards to management and disease in their herds.

This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the
effectiveness of Neem leaf extracts, Azaridachta indica, an indigenous medicinal plant, against helminths of goats. Two extracts were prepared with distilled water using two different techniques; that is, the Neem leaves Water Extract (NLWE) and decoction of Neem
leaves(NLD). This study was carried out using 20 goats from a government farm in Perak. The two extracts showed variable degrees of efficacy in naturally infected goats, as measured by faecal egg count. Further evaluation is required to establish the efficacy.

A total of 3430 serum samples from various animal species and humans were tested using microscopic agglutination test (MAT) to determine
the frequency of the important leptospiral serovars involved in animals and humans. The sera were screened against 14 serovars of pathogenic Leptospira interogans and 1 serovar of non-pathogenic Leptospira biflexa. Altogether, 441 (12.86%) of the tested serum samples were found to be positive serologically. Tested sera reacted to all 15 serovars used in this study. The most predominant serovar in cattle and sheep is hardjo (39.60% and 66.67%). However, in goat, buffalo and horse, the most frequent serovar detected is hebdomadis (30.00%, 32.58% and 57.14%). In dog, the most predominant serovar is bataviae (19.23%). In humans, the most predominant serovar is cynopteri (3.26%). Among all the samples tested, there were no positive samples from pig and cat. Domestic animals, rodents and
pets can infect the environment or transmit the disease to human or other animals. This study showed that domestic animals could play a role in the epidemiology of leptospirosis and represents a threat to
public health.

A detailed post mortem was carried out on a male Bryde’s whale
Balaenoptera brydei, a cetacean of suborder Mysticetes, with a wide geographical distribution. The stranded whale, weighing approximately 3.5 metric tons was found beached along the Pekan Nenasi River, Pahang in East Coast of Malaysia facing South China Sea. Gross pathology showed severe hemorrhagic gastritis, probably
due to foreign material found compacted in the multichamber stomach, severe congestion in the various vital organs due to toxemia, and severe endoparasite burden in the intestine. Thousands of Digeneans
were found in both the caecum and colon. Morphological identification was carried out on these parasites which were identified as Ogmogaster species. As co parasites, the acathocephalan worms Falsifilicollis species was also detected in the large intestine. Histological examination indicated severe bronchointerstitial embolic pneumonia, chronic interstitial
hemorrhages, intra alveolar septa thickening in lung tissue; chronic hepatic interstitial hemorrhage, hepatocellular and centrilobular degeneration on the liver tissue; renal tubular and glomerular
necrosis in kidney tissue; splenic necrosis and hemorrhages; intestinal mucosal layer necrosis and severe intestinal villi necrosis. The continuing survival of Bryde’s species whale is precarious, because of disregard for appropriate measures for their
conservation and to conduct appropriate study for the cause of death.