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.

Megaoesophagus is uncommon but an important consideration for chronic regurgitation in dogs. Five dogs of various breeds were presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) at College of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad with signs of chronic regurgitation, loss of weight, lethargy, weakness, dehydration and abnormalities of skin, and hair coat were diagnosed for megaesophagus on barium meal contrast radiography. At the TVCC, radiography and gastroscopy were performed, and the condition was confirmed as megaesophagus. Ancillary hemato-biochemical evaluations revealed normocytic normochromic anemia and mild leukocytosis with normal enzymatic activity in liver and kidneys. The thyroid profile in 80% (n=4/5) dogs showed decreased T3 and T4, and elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels confirming hypothyroidism. Ultrasonography of abdomen eliminated obstructions in the gastro-intestinal tract and other systemic conditions. Echocardiographic observations were normal in all the dogs. Treatment with metoclopramide (dosed at 5 mg/kg bwt) and levothyroxine (dosed at 20 μg/kg bwt) and modified management practices involving feeding and diets were successful in controlling the regurgitation in dogs and resulted in good clinical recovery within 20-30 days of post-treatment.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ticks infesting cattle and seroprevalence of Theileria annulata antibodies in White Nile State, Sudan between March to June 2012. Ticks, blood smears (n=105) and serum samples (n=82) were collected from Rabak, Kosti, El Dowaim, El Getaina, El Jabalain, Kenana and El Gezira Aba. Three tick genera and eleven species were identified. The genera belong to Amblyomma, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus. The species were A. lepidum (810), A. variegatum (7), H. impeltatum (189), H. truncatum (78), H. anatolicum (255), H. dromedarii (19), H. rufipes (338), R. (Boophilus) decoloratus (54), R. (B.) annulatus (56), R. evertsi evertsi (476) and R. sanguineus group (60). Out of 105 blood smears, 7 (6.7%) were positive for Theileria spp. piroplasms, whereas in ELISA, out of 82 serum samples, 50 (61%) were positive for T. annulata antibodies. It is concluded that there are three tick genera and eleven species infesting cattle in White Nile State and the high prevalence T. annulata antibodies indicates that tropical theileriosis is endemic in the region. Prevalence of Amblyomma spp. implying that heartwater may be endemic in the area.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of tulathromycin (TUL) with a combination of florfenicol (FFC) and long-acting oxytetracycline (LAOTC) in the treatment of naturally occurring undifferentiated respiratory diseases in large numbers of sheep. In this study, seven natural outbreaks of sheep pneumonia in Garmsar, Iran were considered. From these outbreaks, 400 sheep exhibiting the signs of respiratory diseases were selected, and the sheep were randomly divided into two equal groups. The first group was treated with a single injection of TUL (dosed at 2.5 mg/kg body weight), and the second group was treated with concurrent injections of FFC (dosed at 40 mg/kg bwt) and LAOTC (dosed at 20 mg/kg bwt). In the first group, 186 (93%) sheep were found to be cured 5 days after the injection, and 14 (7%) sheep needed further treatment, of which 6 (3%) were cured, and 8 (4%) died. In the second group, 172 (86%) sheep were cured after the injections, but 28 (14%) sheep needed further treatment, of which 10 (5%) were cured, and 18 (9%) died. This study revealed that TUL was more efficacious as compared to the combined treatment using FFC and LAOTC. As the first report, this field trial describes the successful treatment of undifferentiated respiratory diseases in large numbers of sheep. Thus, TUL can be used for the treatment of undifferentiated respiratory diseases in sheep. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 279-284]

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of two estrus synchronization treatments i.e., Ovsynch alone and Ovsynch plus Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR), on the occurrence of estrus and conception rate in Kundhi buffalo during breeding season in Pakistan. Forty Kundhi buffaloes were randomly selected and were divided into three groups; Group A (n=16; Ovsynch) received 2 mL GnRH intramuscularly (i/m) on day 0 and 9. On day 7, 5 mL prostaglandin F2 and #945; (PGF2 and #945; analogue) was administered through i/m route. The buffaloes of Group B (n=17; Ovsynch+CIDR) received 2 mL GnRH on day 0 along with implantation of CIDR. On day 7, the CIDR was removed, and 5 mL PGF2 and #945; analogue was injected through i/m route. A second dose of GnRH was administered through i/m route after 48 h of PGF2 and #945; inj. in both groups. Group C (n=7; control) received 2 mL normal saline through i/m route on day 0, 7 and 9. The buffaloes of all three groups were artificially inseminated twice (12 h and 24 h after the second GnRH inj.) using frozen-thawed semen. Estrus response differed significantly (P<0.05) among the groups. The animals of Group B (76.47%) showed superior estrus response as compared to others. Higher conception rate (52.94%) was observed in the animals of Group B; however, the difference was not significant. In conclusion, Ovsynch+CIDR causes to occur better estrus response and conception rate as compared to Ovsynch alone in Kundhi buffaloes during breeding season. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 362-365]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (EFE) and/or live yeast culture supplementation in total mixed ration (TMR) on rumen fermentation patterns in buffalo. For this, four adult buffalo bulls weighing 377.05+/-43.36 kg were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments viz., TMR containing R:C ratio of 70:30 (T1), T1 supplemented with EFE at 15 g/animal/day (T2), T1 supplemented with live yeast culture at 10 g/animal/day (T3), and T1 supplemented with EFEs at 15 g/animal/day and live yeast culture at 10 g/animal/day (T4). Rumen liquor from the fistulated animals was collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post-feeding, and was analyzed. This study revealed that rumen pH values were highest at 0 h, and were declined to minimum by 4 h post-feeding, while total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and nitrogen (N) fractions reached to peak at 4 h post-feeding, and later followed a decreasing trend in all the treatments. Supplementation of EFE in TMR (T2 and not;) had no effect (P>0.05) on rumen pH and food and protozoal N concentration, while it influenced to increase (P<0.01) the concentration of TVFA, NH3-N and other N fractions as compared to the T1. Yeast culture supplementation in TMR (T3) increased (P<0.01) rumen pH, TVFA, NH3-N, total N, TCA-insoluble N and residual N. However, no effect (P>0.05) on food and protozoal N in buffalo bulls was found. This study indicated that, supplementation of EFE and/or live yeast culture in TMR (T4) increased (P<0.01) the rumen pH, TVFA, NH3-N and N fractions in buffalo bulls as compared to the control group. Therefore, it is concluded that supplementation of EFE and/or live yeast culture in TMR can increase the concentration of rumen metabolites in buffalo bulls. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 310-315]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of EK extender alone or incorporation with CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10) and/or soyphosphatidylcholine (SPC) in poultry semen and their effects on seminal traits during temporal storage at 4⁰C for different time intervals (12 h, 24 h, and 36 h). Heterospermic pooled semen samples diluted (1:4) with EK, EK + SPC, EK+ CoQ10 and EK + SPC + CoQ10 extenders separately, preserved and different spermiogram were assessed. Various seminal traits within the same extender differ significantly (p<0.05) among different groups and with different time intervals of storage. CoQ10 and SPC in the EK extender exhibited favorable synergistic effect on sperm quality and were able to protect the male gametes against cold-stress up to 36h at 4⁰C. In this study, we concluded that incorporation of SPC and CoQ10 together in EK extender possess novel potentiality to maintain seminal quality during liquid storage of poultry semen at 4⁰C and for their safe transportation and further use for Artificial Reproductive technologies (ARTs).

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.

Pasteurella multocida type A is the etiologic agent of fowl cholera, a highly contagious and fatal disease of chickens. The present research work was performed for the isolation, identification and molecular detection of P. multocida Type A from chickens. Liver, heart and spleen of suspected dead chicken (n=35) were collected from Gazipur and Pabna districts in Bangladesh. The targeted bacteria from the samples were isolated, identified and characterized based on their morphology, staining, cultural, biochemical characters, pathogenicity test, histopathological study and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The P. multocida organism was isolated from 11.42% (n=4/35) samples. The organisms were gram negative, non-spore forming rod, non-motile, occurring singly or pairs in Gram staining, whereas in Leishman's stain, bipolar shaped organisms were observed. All the isolates were found positive for oxidase and catalase tests, produced indole, and fermented glucose, mannitol and sucrose. Necrotic foci in liver and congestion with hemorrhages in heart were found on necropsy. After pathogenicity test, the pathological changes were reconfirmed by histopathology depicting congestion, hemorrhage and lymphocyte infiltration in heart, liver and spleen tissues. In type specific PCR reaction, the organisms were confirmed as P. multocida Type A. In conclusion, P. multocida type A is prevalent among poultry in the studied regions; thus, care must be taken to control of the disease. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 338-345]

This study was aimed to assess the effects of single and repeated tramadol administration on some hematological and serum biochemical parameters of laparotomized rats. Laparotomized rats (n=18) were randomly divided into three equal groups. Normal saline was administered to the rats of group 1 (control). Tramadol (dosed at 10 mg/kg bwt) was administered singly to the rats of group 2. The same dose of tramadol was administered repeatedly every 12 h up to 72 h to the rats of group 3. On day 3 and 10 post-laparotomy (PSL), blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, total serum protein, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell counts in the rats of group 2 were found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher than those obtained in group 1 and group 3. Mean weights of rats in group 1 and group 3 were significantly lower than those of the rats of group 2 PSL. This study showed that repeated tramadol administration lead to slower weight gain as well as marked decrease in biochemical and erythrocytic variables in rats. Therefore, single administration of tramadol PSL may suffice for analgesia. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 316-320]