peer reviewed

Oestrosis is a worldwide myiasis infection caused by the larvae of
the fly Oestrus ovis (Diptera, Oestridae), that develops from the first to the third stage larvae. This is an obligate parasite of the nasal and sinus cavities of sheep and goats. The Oestrus ovis larvae elicit clinical signs of cavitary myiasis seen as a seromucous or purulent nasal discharge, frequent sneezing, incoordination and
dyspnea. Myiasis in an incidental host may have biological significance towards medical and public health importance if
the incidental host is man. This infection can result in signs of generalized disease, causing serious economic losses in sheep and goat reared for meat and dairy production. Due to the large numbers of small ruminants imported into Malaysia from countries which are endemic with oestrosis, precautionary measures should be exercised to prevent this infection from establishing here. In 2009, there was a report of respiratory distress (pneumonic sign) accompanied by high mortality in Damara sheep that was imported from Australia. Investigations showed the presence of Oestrus ovis larvae in affected
sheep. The post mortem was conducted in the field and the larvae were discovered in the tracheal region. The larvae was confirmed as Oestrus ovis using the appropriate keys for identification by Zumpt. The carcass showed pulmonary edema with severe congestion of the lungs accompanied by frothy exudation in the bronchus. There were also signs of serious atrophy (heart muscle) and mild enteritis
(intestine histopathological examination showed, there was pulmonary congestion and edema, centrilobular hepatic necrosis, renal tubular necrosis and myocardial sarcocystosis. The sheep also showed chronic helminthiasis and Staphylococcus spp. was isolated from organ specimens.Oestus ovis infection is rare in Malaysia, as such this case posed as an unusual case for investigation.

One hundred and sixteen cattle sera were randomly selected from 17
farms in five different states of Malaysia (Perak, Terengganu, Johor, Melaka and Sabah). All serum samples were tested by Indirect Flourescent Antibody Test (IFAT) using specific conjugates (from MRD). The results showed that only 2.6% were positive for Toxoplasma gondii.

A monitoring program for melamine in milk and feed was conducted in response to global melamine alertness in the year 2008. Two screening methods were adopted i.e., a liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The liquid chromatography method developed by several international research centers was adapted. This method consisted of an initial extraction with 10%trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for milk samples or 60% methanol/water for feed samples, followed by a series of centrifugation, dilution and filtration steps. Melamine was analysed in the chromatographic program using a zwitterionic HILIC LC column. Electrospray ionisation in positive ion mode was used. The quantity of melamine
present was determined with a calibration curve consisting of sample extracts from milk or feed fortified from 25 to 50 ppb that were taken through the extraction procedure. The ranges of recovery from
fortified raw milk samples (n=20) and feed samples (n=21) was 70–80% and 68%, respectively. The limit of detection was estimated at 10 ppb for both matrixes. Milk samples were found negative for melamine,
however 4.5% of feed samples were found to contain the compound at concentrations between 1 to 5 ppm.

A case of idiopathic tetanus in a horse was treated with large doses of long acting penicillins along with tetanus anti toxins, tetanus toxoid, muscle relaxants and metronidazole. Supportive medication included parenteral dextrose saline, antioxidants, nervine tonics and restoratives. The successful treatment ofthe case over a period of fifteen days was recorded.

An experiment was conducted on 100 day in old broiler chicks to study the immunosuppressive potential of Argemone mexicana seeds toxicity. Toxicity was induced by administrating crushed Argemone seeds @ 5, 10,20 and 30 grams per Kg of feed in treatment groups Tl, T2, T3 and T4 respectively whereas the Control group was maintained on the normal feed. The birds in the treatment groups showed the symptoms like dullness, depression and ruffled feathers. The body weight gain (BWG) was poor in comparison to control. The lymphoid organ to body weight ratio, HI titers and percentage of active macrophage were found significantly reduced. The histopathological lesions revealed marked lymphoid depletion indicaive of immunosuppressive potential ofArgemone seeds.

The response of Japanese quail to supplementation of Morinda citrifolia truit juice with reference to growth, production and immune response was studied. The Japanese quail were fedMorinda citrifolia ITuitjuice @5% from 0-7 weeks during growing period and from 8-14 weeks during laying periods. The body weight gains, feed conversion ratio, performance index and immunity status were recorded in both control and treated groups. The result revealed better growth performance in theMorinda fed groups compared to the control group. Overall performance index of Morinda group was also better than control group. The humonil immune response ofthe Morinda group was significantly better than control group. The Morinda fed birds produced 30.90 eggs / hen housed during 8-14 weeks of age. While only 20.9 eggs/hen housed produced by control groups. The overall analysis of the growth and production performance of both the groups revealed that supplementation of M. citrifolia crude truit juice @ 5% daily enhanced the body weight gain and egg production performance in the Japanese quail.

The scarcity of green during summer months imposes nutritional stress on farm animals. In this study we examined the effect of nutritional stress on various biochemical parameters of rabbits.Control and green deprived groups each of 20, weaned New Zealand White rabbits, of either sex, were randomly placed and observed for two months. Then green was re-introduced in deprived group for again two months. Blood sera harvested at every 15th day and analyzed using RA 50 Chemistry auto analyzer. Significant (p0.05) decrease of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and increase in gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and serum cholesterol was observed in rabbits green deprived group.

The present study was designed to evaluate the longevity of canine cauda epididymal sperm in vitro at 40C. The testes were collected from 30 mixed breed dogs of average weight of 20-25Kg,presented to the clinics for sterilization. The testes were stored at 40C in normal saline in a refrigerator.The sperms were collected from the epididymis at different intervals of time (0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hr) by taking 6 testes in each interval of time. The sperm quality was accessed at different intervals of time.The data analysed was analysed by ANOVA and the significant level was 5% (P= 0.05). The sperm concentration at different interval of time and storage at 40C did not show significant difference. On the other hand the sperm motility revealed significant difference between all the time intervals of sperm collection except at 8 and 12 hr of collection. There was significant difference of live sperm (%) at different intervals of sperm collection except at 8-12 hrs of sperm collection. The percentage of normal sperms was significantly different in between 0 to 24 hr interval of time but there was no significant difference either at 4 and 8hr or 12 and 24 hr of sperm collection. The acrosomal integrity was found statistically significant between 0-24 hrs of sperm collection and storage at 40C. There was significant difference in percentage of hypo- osmotic swelling between 0 hr (66.67 ± 2.11%), 4 hr (40.50 ± 6.21%), 8 hr (26.27 ± 2.25), 12 hr (11.50 ± 1.38%) and 24 hr (6.67 ± 1.05%). However, there was no difference between 8 and 12 hr of sperm collection from testes and storage at 40 C. The study concluded that the cauda epididdymal spermatozoa can be effectively stored and utilised for the purpose of assisted reproductive technology during emergency. These findings can be applied to the endangered wild canines and felines.

The present study was conducted on six crossbred calves below one year of age. The lead acetate was given @ 25 mg/ kg body weight orally for 7 days. After the completion of the experimental period, the lung tissues were collected in liquid nitrogen and cryostat sections of 10 ìm thickness were incubated for the demonstration of phosphatases and dehyrogenases. The positive and negative controls were carried out wherever possible. The lungs showed moderate AKPase, ATPase and G-6-Pase activity whereas the SDH and LDH activity varied from weak to moderate in alveolar septae.ACPase activity was increased in histiocytes of alveolar septae. The alveolar ducts showed negligible activity of all the enzymes studied. The results may be correlated with cellular damage and lysis of macrophages of the alveoli.