A cross sectional survey was carried out in dairy farms in four States of Sudan to determine prevalence of reproductive health disorders that affect dairy cattle industries in the country. A total of 575 adult female cows in dairy farms located in Khartoum, Gezira, Sennar, and White Nile States were investigated using questionnaire survey and face-to-face interviews with the owners. The results indicated that 24.4% of the animals were affected with one or more reproductive health disorders. Abortion (57.1%) represented the major health problem affecting calf yield, followed by infertility (34.3%) and neonatal death (8.6%). Other health problems included stillbirth, vaginitis and retained placenta, anomalies, metritis and repeat breeder. Most of the abortion cases were detected during third trimester (76.25%) followed by first (12.5%) and second (11.25%) trimesters. Finally, countrywide investigations of reproductive disorders and increasing awareness to the owners are recommended for designing successful control strategies of reproductive disorders in Sudan.

Buffaloes mostly suffer from delayed puberty, anestrus, sub–estrus, summer infertility, prolonged inter-calving interval and postpartum uterine disorders. Nesfatin-1 and Leptin are directly or indirectly related with body weight (BW), feed parameters and regulation of puberty. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Nesfatin-1 and Leptin in pubertal and non-pubertal Murrah buffalo heifers. The Murrah buffalo heifers (n=13) were randomly selected and divided into two groups; pubertal group (PG) and non-pubertal group (NG). Heifers with plasma progesterone (P4) level of ≥1 ng/mL were classified as PG. Blood samples were collected at fortnight intervals for analysis of plasma Nesfatin-1, Leptin, P4, glucose and non-esterified fatty acids. Body weight, dry matter intake and feed conversion efficiency were recorded at fortnight intervals. The mean (±SEM) plasma Nesfatin-1, Leptin, P4, BW and feed conversion efficiency (%) were significantly (P<0.01) higher in PG as compared to NG. Dry matter intake by the heifers was also significantly (P<0.001) higher in PG than NG. Plasma metabolites (glucose and NEFA) did not differ significantly between the groups. The findings of this study suggest that Nesfatin-1 and Leptin have indispensable role in the onset of puberty in buffalo heifers by affecting BW and feed parameters.

The study was conducted to evaluate the prebiotic effects of Spirulina as a growth and immunity promoter for broiler chickens. Birds (n=100) were randomly and equally distributed into four groups (T0, T1, T2 and T3) and fed on a diet containing 0, 2, 4 and 8 g Spirulina/kg feed respectively for 4 weeks. The body weight was significantly (P<0.05) increased in the treatment groups fed with Spirulina diet from 7th days to 28th days old. FCR was also significantly (P<0.05) decreased among the treatment groups. Hematological parameters were significantly (P<0.05) increased except ESR which was decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the treatment group. Aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine aminotransferase (AST) level were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in all the treatment groups. The study suggests that, Spirulina is a good natural feed additive which has a tremendous effect to improve the broiler production and thereby may reduce the production cost. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 304-309]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the association of hs-CRP levels with environmental risk factors of diabetic nephropathy like smoking, drinking alcohol, diet, age of diabetic patient, duration of diabetes, medication of diabetes, and blood pressure medication. A hospital-based quantitative study was conducted at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry of Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH) Pokhara, Nepal, with 89 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. Blood samples (n=89) from the patients were collected and the serums were separated. On the other hand, data on environmental risk factors of nephropathy were collected by using standard questionnaire. In this study, serum hs-CRP level was not found to be correlated with smoking (p=0.111), alcohol consumption (p=0.722), diet (p=0.496), duration of diabetes (p=0.519), age of diabetic patient (p=0.369), medication of diabetes (p=0.734), and blood pressure medication (p=0.625). Hence, our study concludes that serum hs-CRP value in type 2 diabetic patients is insignificantly correlated with the risk factors especially smoking, drinking alcohol, diet, duration of diabetes, age of diabetic patient, medication of diabetes, and medication of blood pressure.

Arsenic is a major water pollutant that may cause serious health hazard (e.g., infertility) in human and animal. We evaluated the changes in histoarchitecture of testes and ovaries of adult Black Bengal goats (n=10) reared in arsenic affected areas in Bangladesh. Grossly, we found insignificant variations among the testes and ovaries, but histological evaluation revealed an extensive alteration in morphology of both testes and ovaries in the arsenic affected goats. In testes, the thickening of tunica albugenia and trabeculae, widening of intertubular space between seminiferous tubules, and narrowing in diameter of seminiferous tubules were observed. In ovaries of arsenic affected goats, significant decrease in number of primary follicles and antral follicles were observed. The diameters of secondary and antral follicles were significantly reduced. The granulosa layer of antral follicles showed marked thickening. The findings indicate that chronic arsenic exposure alters the histoarchitecture of both male and female gonads in Black Bengal goat, and thereby may affect their reproductive performance.

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 process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is generally characterized by distinct morphological characteristics and energy - dependent biochemical mechanisms. Apoptosis is a widely conserved phenomenon helping many processes, including normal cell turnover, proper development and functioning of the immune system, hormone dependent atrophy etc. Inappropriate apoptosis (either low level or high level) leads to many developmental abnormalities like, neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic damage, autoimmune disorders and many types of cancer. To use cells for therapeutic purposes through generating cell lines, it is critical to study the cell cycle machinery and signalling pathways that controls cell death and apoptosis. Apoptotic pathways provide a fundamental protective mechanism that decreases cellular sensitivity to damaging events and allow proper developmental process in multi-cellular organisms. Major mediator of apoptosis is a family of proteins known as caspases. There are mainly fourteen types of caspases but out of them only ten caspasese have got essential role in controlling the process of apoptosis. These ten caspases have been categorized into either initiator caspases (caspase 2, 8, 9, 10) or executioner caspases (caspase 3, 6, 7). Although various types of caspases have been identified so far, the exact mechanisms of action of these groups of proteins is still to be fully understood. The aim of this review is to provide a detail overview of role of different caspases in regulating the process of apoptosis.