A total of six clinical cases of snake bite were examined clinico-haematologically. The clinical examination revealed the normal rectal temperature but increased respiration as well as heart rates. The hematological values showed decreased Hb and PCV but increase in polymorphonuclear cells. All these snake bite dogs had been successfully treated with slow i.v. administration of antivenin along with corticosteroids i.m., adrenaline (1: 10,000 dilution in i.v. fluid), inj. DNS (5%), i.m. administration of antibiotic(s) and local antiseptic dressing with povidone Iodine after irrigation or washing the affected area(s) with soap water. Out of six dogs, four dogs survived and two died even after treatment.

A dead calf with cranial duplication removed by cesarean section under local infiltration anaesthesia. The cow made uneventful recovery after surgery without complication.

A total of 128 faecal samples of dogs suspected for canine parvovirus infection were examined by Haemagglutination (HA) and Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests. The prevalence of canine parvovirus infection was 45.30% (58/128) and the age wise maximum (70.20%) prevalence was found in dogs upto 6 month. The breed wise maximum (56.90%) prevalence was in Non-descript dogs and sex wise prevalence revealed no significant difference in male (45.9%) and female (43.3%).

Effect of strain (Khaki Campbell, Indigenous) and age (224 and 280 days) of ducks on the physical egg quality and presence of off-flavour in eggs was studied. The average of egg weight, yolk index and percent yolk weight for the two ages under study were significantly (P0.05) higher in Indigenous duck eggs whereas the same average value for albumen index, Haugh Unit score and percent albumen were higher in Khaki Campbell eggs. However, shape index, yolk colour score, shell thickness and percent shell weight of eggs were comparable for the two strains. Age of ducks had an insignificant influence on shape index, albumen height, shell thickness and yolk index as evident from the least difference between average values of two strains under study. But, the average values of the two strains under study were significantly affected by age for A.I., H.U. score, % albumen weight, % shell weight and % yolk weight. Presence of off-flavour was more pronounced in Khaki Campbell eggs than that of indigenous eggs.

The donkey population has remained unchanged in the last two decades despite a decrease in the overall population of equids, emphasizing the usefulness of the donkey as a draught and pack animal. Piroplasmosis in donkeys, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, has been recognized as a serious problem of major economic importance as the affected animals manifest decreased working capacity, loss of appetite, etc. In tropical countries, T. equi infections are more wide-spread and pathogenic than those caused by B. caballi. Donkeys usually remain asymptomatic carriers with positive antibody titres throughout life. Transmission of infection occurs from animal to animal through ticks such as Hyalomma spp. Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. The clinical form of the disease is diagnosed by peripheral blood smear examination, but in carrier donkeys it is very difficult to demonstrate the parasite in stained blood smears as the parasitaemia is extremely low. For diagnosis of such low grade infection or carrier animals, serological tests and DNA-based molecular diagnostic techniques, which are discussed in the present review, have become mandatory. Currently, there is no suitable pharmacotherapy available to clear the T. equi infection from affected donkeys, though some new drugs and drug combinations used against this disease condition have been discussed. In the present situation, there is an urgent need for international cooperation and coordination for development of sensitive molecular diagnostic tools and effective pharmacotherapies for curtailment of the disease condition. Hence, it is imperative to develop and exchange reagents and technology developed through human resource sharing in the interest of sustainability of donkey husbandry.

We examined morphological growth variations in skull features between the Kuril harbor seal and the spotted seal in Hokkaido, Japan. Skulls from 80 Kuril harbor seals and 41 spotted seals were collected, and we measured 29 metric and 6 non-metric cranial characteristics. Three growth classes were defined according to the postnatal developmental stage: pups (0 year), subadults (1-4 years old) and adults (more than 5 years old). We detected sexual dimorphism in Kuril harbor seal pups, subadults, and adults. Although interspecies differences were detected in each growth class, Kuril harbor seals were larger and more massive than spotted seals; this feature was already detectable in pups. We did not detect certain cranial characteristics with which to identify the two species, but it was possible to identify any unknown specimens to their species, sex, and growth class using the cranial data generated in this study. Using 6 non-metric cranial characteristics, we identified significant interspecies differences with regard to the shape of the temporozygomatic suture and the extent of the nasal-incisive suture; the shape of the temporozygomatic suture and the shape of the nares were indicators of growth class in Kuril harbor seals. Although non-metric cranial characteristics have a lower discriminating power than metric characteristics, they are easy to use in the field even by inexperienced researchers.

Firfty serum and fifty semen samples collected from cattle and buffalo bulls were subjected to ELISA and gB gene based PCR, respectively to detect antibodies in serum and viral DNA in the semen against BHV 1. Out of 50 bulls, 15 (30%) serum samples were detected positive by ELISA while 21 (42%) semen samples were positive by gB gene based PCR. While correlating the results of ELISA and PCR, some seronegative bulls revealed presence of viral genome in semen whereas few seropositive bulls could not reveal viral genome in semen, thus, suggesting application of combined serological assay and PCR assay to detect the presence of BHV-1 infection in bulls.

The seroprevalence of Mycoplasma equigenitalium among indigenous equines was determined by an indirect ELISA. One thousand thirty nine sera samples from apparently healthy indigenous equines from seventeen States of the country were subjected to indirect ELISA. The overall seroprevalence in the country was found to be 5.96% with a range of 0% to 19.0% in different States of India (Haryana, 9.6%; Rajasthan, 7.2%; Uttaranchal, 2.0%, Karnataka, 2.3%; Punjab, 10.4%; Uttar Pradesh, 3.4%; Gujarat, 0%; Andhra Pradesh, 0%; Maharashtra, 2.9%; West Bengal, 0%; Tamil Nadu, 0%; Meghalaya, 19.0%; Jammu and Kashmir, 7.8%; Delhi, 0%; Himachal Pradesh, 5.5%; Bihar, 3.3%; Madhya Pradesh, 4.0%).

One hundred thirty one samples (nasal, faecal, soil, tissue from dead foal) were tested for presence of Rhodococcus equi. These samples included 58 nasal swabs including 45 from foals with respiratory problem and 13 from in contact apparently healthy foals. Faecal samples were 54 including 41 from foals with respiratory problem and 13 from in contact apparently healthy foals. Faecal and nasal samples were from same foals, soil samples from infected premises were 15, besides tissues from foals (4) which died due to respiratory problems. Fourteen isolates of Rhodococcus equi were obtained from foals with respiratory problems, which were subjected to in vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing to 17 antimicrobial agents which were amoxycillin, gentamycin, ampicillin, trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, sulphadiazine, cloxacin, oxytetracycline, amikacin, streptomycin, cotrimoxazole, cephalexin, kanamycin erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, neomycin and rifampicin. All the isolates were found sensitive to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin, neomycin and rifampicin.

The canines affected with skin affections were subjected to blood biochemical profile assay. The affections included dermatitis, sarcoptic mange, demodectic mange, eczema, flea allergy dermatitis, skin allergy and bacterial dermatitis. The blood profile of serum iron, triglyceride, cholesterol, uric acid, urea, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase were compared with the blood of healthy dogs. The serum iron, urea and creatinine were comparable in both the groups. It was concluded that stress of dermatosis reflected in enzyme (higher in GGT) and lipid profile (higher in triglyceride, cholesterol) of patients, while renal parameters (urea and creatinine) remain unaffected on account of skin ailments.