No abstract available.

Anti-nutritive and toxic factors in plants adversely affect animal health and production. Hence, the aims of the study were to (1) carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis of these factors in Terminalia sericea that grows abundantly in Onderstepoort; (2) evaluate an affordable, efficient and reliable method that reduces these factors and (3) evaluate antioxidant properties of the phenolic compounds. Thus, sequential organic and aqueous extractions were carried out on T. sericea leaves and feed pellets. Extracts were subjected to qualitative analysis to confirm the presence of 11 phytochemicals. While quantitative analysis of nine phytochemicals was carried out on spectrophotometry, the phenolic extracts were further tested for antioxidant activity on 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay where gallic acid (GA), quercetin (Q) and ascorbic acid (AA) were used as standards. The contents of GA, Q and AA in the phenolic extracts were determined on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Aqueous extraction was an effective method as most phytochemicals were extracted. Nine phytochemicals were qualitatively analysed in T. sericea. The highest contents of 1.97% and 2.37 ± 0.077 mg/g gallic acid equivalent with a significant difference (p  0.05) were determined in oxalates and phenolics, respectively. Furthermore, 83.1% DPPH inhibition (IC50 = 0.0432 µg/mL) was determined relative to the standards (85.27% – 85.96%; IC50 = 0.000009 µg/mL – 0.00042 µg/mL). Subsequently, HPLC results showed that T. sericea contained high concentration of AA (62.5 ± 2.13 µg/mL) to confirm antioxidant properties of the leaves. Contribution: Though T. sericea leaves have antioxidant activities, the alkaloid contents may pose a threat to the livestock. Therefore, farmers around Onderstepoort should protect their livestock from feeding on these leaves.

Wild animals, sharing pathogens with domestic animals, play a crucial role in the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Sampling from wild animals poses significant challenges, yet it is vital for inclusion in disease surveillance and monitoring programmes. Often, mass surveillance involves serological screenings using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, typically validated only for domestic animals. This study assessed the diagnostic specificity of commercially available ELISA tests on 342 wild ruminant serum samples and 100 from wild boars. We evaluated three tests for foot-and-mouth disease: two for Peste des petits ruminants, two for Rift Valley fever and one for Capripox virus. Diagnostic specificity was calculated using the formula True Negative/(False Positive + True Negative). Cohen’s kappa coefficient measured agreement between tests. Results showed high specificity and agreement across all tests. Specificity for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) ranged from 93.89% for Prionics to 100% for IDEXX, with IDvet showing 99.6%. The highest agreement was between FMD IDvet and IDEXX at 97.1%. Rift Valley fever (RVF) tests, Ingezim and IDvet, achieved specificities of 100% and 98.83%, respectively. The optimal specificity was attained by retesting single reactors and inactivating the complement. Contribution: Commercially available ELISA kits are specific for foot-and-mouth disease and similar transboundary animal diseases and can be used for highly specific wild animal testing.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the viability of nitrogen distribution in milk to detect adulteration in market milk. Materials and Methods: Raw cow milk was obtained from the dairy farm at Bangladesh Agricultural University Dairy Farm (BAUDF). Fluid market milk, nonbranded bulk powdered milk, and local brand powdered milk were bought from the Mymensingh city area. The milk samples were T1 (milk from a known source—BAUDF, control group), T2 (reconstituted nonbranded bulk powdered milk), T3 (reconstituted local brand powdered milk), T4 (fluid market milk from Goala), T5 (mixture of 75% T1 and 25% T2), and T6 (mixture of 50% T1 and 50% T2). There were four replications in each variable, and the samples were tested for their physicochemical properties (specific gravity and acidity), gross composition (total solids, ash, milk fat, lactose, and total protein), and nitrogen distribution [casein nitrogen, noncasein nitrogen (NCN), and nonprotein nitrogen (NPN)]. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) among the milk samples about their physicochemical properties and gross composition. The T2 and T6 samples imparted lower protein content (p < 0.05). Much lower (p < 0.05) casein content was found in T2 and T6 than in T1. The NCN content among the samples also differed significantly (p < 0.05). All groups showed similar NPN values (p > 0.05) but the T1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results from this study show the potential of the nitrogen distribution of milk to detect adulterated and reconstituted market milk; however, a hefty dataset is required before being adopted at the field level. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(4.000): 1023-1029]

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the sequence of different fragments of the thyroperoxidase (TPO) gene from a cat diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Materials and Methods: The feline was diagnosed due to high serum concentrations of thy¬roid-stimulating hormone and low T4. The analysis of sequences containing mutations in the TPO gene from dogs with CH allowed for the prediction of mutation sites within the gene in an affected cat. In addition, the design of a polymerase chain reaction-based test allowed the amplification and sequencing of these gene segments. In addition, after the death of the patient, a necropsy and histopathology were performed, looking for macroscopic and microscopic alterations of affected organs. Results: The necropsy examination showed megacolon, cardiac concentric left ventricular hyper¬trophy, and bilateral enlargement of the thyroid gland. The histopathology of the thyroid showed follicular hypoplasia and low colloid production. gDNA analysis allowed the detection of mutation in the TPO gene, which corresponded to one transition in the nucleotide 12.542 (A > G) and het¬erozygous variations located in the nucleotide 14.627 (G/A) and in the nucleotide 30.713 (G/C). Conclusion: Due to the presence of these polymorphisms, it is suspected that one monoallelic expression of mutant alleles is present. More studies that allow an understanding of the role of the heterozygous in this pathology are required, as well as the role of gene mutations related to CH in cats. On the other hand, the data from the present study serve as the base for the development of a molecular test that allows a fast and accurate diagnosis of HC in cats. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(4.000): 1030-1036]

Objective: Orangutans (Pongo abelii), as endemic primates of Indonesia, are characterized by a predominantly arboreal lifestyle. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia) and other Gram-negative bacteria are present in the Indigenous flora of many mammals, including orangutans. This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance and virulence profile of K. pneumonia isolated from wild Sumatran orangutans. Materials and Methods: This study investigated 10 fecal samples from wild Sumatran orangutans from the Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh, Indonesia. Biochemical and molecular identification of K. pneumoniae using the RNA polymerase subunit b gene and detection of virulence-associated genes. In addition, molecular detection of antibiotic resistance genes was performed to character¬ize the resistance mechanisms in the isolates. Results: K. pneumonia was detected in 6 out of 10 fecal samples from wild Sumatran orangutans. The virulence genes mrkD and entB were detected in all (100%) of the isolates, whereas wabG was identified in 83.33% of the strains. Antibiotic susceptibility testing against K. pneumoniae revealed that three isolates were susceptible to streptomycin (S) and nalidixic acid (NA), while all six isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin. One isolate demonstrated intermediate resistance to NA, while the remaining two exhibited intermediate resistance to S. Six isolates were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and erythromycin, indicating multidrug resis¬tance. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance genes were detected in the isolates with the following prevalence: blaTEM gene (six isolates; 100%), blaSHV (six isolates; 100%), blaCTX-M gene (four isolates; 66.67%), and tetA gene (four isolates; 66.67%). Conclusion: This study revealed the virulence and resistance profile of K. pneumoniae bacterium isolated from wild Sumatran orangutans, which is essential for formulating effective conservation and healthcare strategies. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(4.000): 1066-1075]

Objective: This study aimed to examine the efficiency of newly formulated drugs based on mech¬anochemical modification of two widely used anthelmintic substances in suspension formulations against the main classes of helminths and parasitic arthropods. Materials and Methods: Solid-phase co-grinding of two substances, i.e., ivermectin (IM) and niclosamide (NS), with licorice extract and sodium succinate was performed in liquid-phase processing to obtain suspension formulations. Drug preparations were administered to the sheep of the experimental groups (5 experimental groups of 8 heads) with different concentrations of active substances, i.e., 3.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/kg of body weight (BW) NS and 0.2-mg/kg BW IM. Aqueous suspensions of the original substances in dosages of 0.2-mg/kg BW IM, 10.0-mg/kg NS, and placebo were included as controls. Efficacy of the formulations against gastrointestinal stron¬gyles, Trichuris spp., Moniezia spp., and nasal bot larvae (Oestrus ovis) was assessed in naturally infected sheep by the number of surviving adult parasites post-treatment in the gastrointestinal tract, nasal passages, and sinuses. Results: Formulated suspensions showed an increased solubility of 5.5–13.1 times compared to the original substances. Treatment of sheep with the SusIN-10 drug containing 0.2-mg/kg BW IM and 10.0-mg/kg NS showed 100% efficiency against gastrointestinal strongyles, Moniezia, and nasal bot larvae. Formulations containing 0.2-mg/kg BW IM and 3.0- and 0.5-mg/kg NS could eliminate all of the Trichuris worms. Administration of original substances of IM and NS with rec¬ommended dosages did not result in the adult parasites' complete elimination. Conclusion: Modification of the anthelmintic substances through mechanochemical methods made it possible to create formulations with a targeted spectrum of action, significantly higher water solubility, and optimal parasiticidal activity. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(4.000): 1122-1129]

Objective: Mastitis is the most common and costly dairy cow disease worldwide. We performed an intensive analysis of mastitis prevalence, pathogens, and treatments using retrospective data from a commercial dairy farm in Germany to estimate the severity of mastitis in the commercial production system and to give on-farm insights. Material and Methods: Milking system data and cow-individual data were collected over 9 years (2012-2021). A resilient amount of data from 1537 cows, >1,000 mastitis infections, 1901 patho¬gens, and 5729 treatments have been analyzed. Results: Mastitis occurrence was highest in summer (45.0%), in first lactation (51.1%), and in the late lactation stage (36.7%). The relative mastitis frequency increased sharply with a high lacta¬tion number (>7). The leading pathogens causing mastitis were coagulase-negative staphylococci (28.3%). Approximately 25% of mastitis cases were treated with non-antibiotic medicine and 75% with antibiotics. For the latter, cephalosporins and aminoglycosides were the most administered. The average mastitis treatment duration was 3.48 days. During the study time, the farm changed from a conventional milking system to an automatic milking system in 2015, which has not nega¬tively affected the number of recorded mastitis infections. Conclusion: This case report gives detailed insights about mastitis incidences gained under practical conditions. Novel information about mastitis drug usage and duration is presented. Potential mastitis risk factors identified from the results of this study were the summer season, first or >7 lactation(s), and the late lactation stage. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(4.000): 856-868]

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the response-ability of local chickens to their rearing habitat, especially at low altitudes, to comprehensively understand the cellular response related to protein growth. Materials and Methods: Studies of cellular responses related to modulation and growth-related protein salinization for three local Indonesian chicken breeds to low altitudes with high temperatures have been conducted in two locations with altitudes [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(4.000): 880-887]