This report describes the parasitological and pathological information retrieved from the samples submitted to Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Bukit Tengah, Penang (MVKBT) followingan episode of histomoniasis in a small scale poultry farm. Liver and ceca from two dead turkey birds, water (n=5) and freshwater snails (Pomacea sp, n=7) were stored between 4°C to 10°C until analyzed. Soil samples (n=7) were preserved in 5% formalin and kept at room temperature prior to further testing. The soil samples were filtered through laboratory test sieves before the filtrates at each level were examined using direct microscopy. Portions of the liver were processed using routine paraffin technique for histopathological examination and found positive for Histomoniasis. Results from direct microscopy of the liver samples revealed Schistosoma mansoni ova, Sarcocystis sporocysts and Fasciola sp. Heterakis sp ova were detected from cecal content. Four out of seven soil samples were positive for Sarcocystis sporocysts, Coccidia oocyst, Strongyles ova and nematod larva. Water and freshwater snail samples were negative for cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni. This case was concluded as Histomoniasis, Sarcocystosis and helminthiasis with incidental finding of Schistosoma mansoni.

The development and availability of follicles is an indicator to predict which of the follicle sizes are suitable to recover the oocytes assisted by means of ultrasonography of transvaginal oocyte retrieval (OPU). Thus, the study was done in order to characterize the follicular recruitment and distribution in response to the repeated removal of follicles, and thus to determine the availability of follicles and immature oocytes harvested repeatedlyfor two consecutive days of OPU in beef cows. Results indicated that 24-h OPU showed significantly greater numbers of medium and large follicles than small categories (P<0.05). However the 48-hr of OPU does not showed any differences of follicles categories (P>0.05). The mean total number of follicles and immature oocytes recovered were higher (P<0.05) in 24-hr OPU (13.76±1.2 and 7.38 ± 1.7) compared to 48-hr OPU (9.08 ± 1.5 and 3.54 ± 1.00) with the oocyte retrieval rate of 51.22% and 38.17%, respectively. The morphological classification indicated the 24-hr oocyte retrieval produced 62% of suitable immature oocytes that can be used for in vitro embryo production. In conclusion, the repeated removal of two consecutive days of OPU has averted the development of dominant follicle, and thus, gave an atmosphere to the subordinate follicles to continue growth relatively to an equal proportion of small, medium and large categories of follicles. Due to the reduction of follicle and recovery rate at 48-hr it is suggested that OPU be carried out later than 48 hour so that the follicle has more time to increase the diameter size.

Seminomas are one of the common testicular tumours that occur mostly in dogs above five years of age. A case of nine-year-old male German Shepherd dog, presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Kokkalai with a history of swelling on the scrotum for the past two months and its successful surgical management is discussed. The right testicle was found to be highly enlarged and hard while the other atrophied. Histopathological examination following its surgical removal, confirmed it as seminoma.

The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) established a subsidy programme to build low cost swiftlet houses, under the auspices ofthe eKasih programme. This programme is aimed at aiding entrepreneurs in the swiftlet industry to produce good qualitybird’s nests. In 2013, eleven swiftlet houses under eKasih Program in Johor, Perlis and Pahang were chosen randomly to be evaluated after a year of completion. The main factors affecting its functionality, such as temperature, relative humidity and light intensity inside the swiftlet houses were recorded and analysed. The results showed that most of the eKasih swiftlet houses built under this programme did not meet the recommended in house conditions due to several reasons. The houses built in this programme failed to attract the birds into the houses to build nests. Although there were some houses that produced bird’s nests, it was found to be substandard in terms of quality. Thus, this study revealed the importance of various factors needed for the successful establishment of swiftlet houses to produce good quality bird’s nests.

Diarrhoea in calves is considering a serious clinical problem inBangladesh. Calf is the back bone of the dairy industry. Diarrhoea in farm animals, especially in neonatal calves is one of the most challenging clinical syndromes encountered by large animal Veterinarypractitioners. The present investigation was conducted with the aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ciprofloxacin and gentamycin in the treatment of diarrhoea in neonatal calves. The studied was carried out for a period of six month from January 2013 to June 2013 in Kanaighat, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Calves (n=60) under 10 days of age with clinical signs of diarrhoea were randomly divided into two groups. One group was treated with intramuscular ciprofloxacin at a dose of 5 mg/kg once daily, while other group was treated withintramuscular (IM) gentamycin (dose of 5 mg/kg) once daily for three consecutive days. Calves evaluated clinically from the treatment and the recovery rates for the ciprofloxacin and gentamycin groups afterthree days of treatment were 73.33% and 66.67%, respectively. This trial revealed ciprofloxacine administered through IM route from the first day of the clinical sign observed was more efficacious in calfdiarrhoea compared to gentamycin.

Natural herbal remedies have been long used to control common parasitic infections in livestock. The effectiveness of two plant products was tested on goats with helminthiasis. A study was carried out in a commercial goat farm near Sg. Siput, whereby Azadirachta indica (neem) decoction and leaf extract as well as Jacaranda filicifolia (Jacaranda) leaf extract were fed orally to 3 groups of goats that previously with strongyle egg counts range from 587 to 1650 egg per gram (EPG) for a period of 5 weeks. In this study, theJacaranda Leaves Water Extract (JLWE) showed the highest number of fecal egg count with 2585 EPG at the end of study. All treatments showed reduced percentage of packed cell volume from 23% to 21%,which was not significant. However, there was no difference in the composition of strongyle larvae in the goats. The results show that neem decoction was effective in reducing faecal egg count but the Jacaranda leaf extract and neem leaf extract were not effective in reducing faecal egg counts in goats. Further work is required to assess the efficacy of these herbal products for worm control in goats.

The first pilot study of Nonsurgical castration of male long tailedmacaque was carried out in the middle of 2010 in Taman Tasik Perdana (National Lake Garden) in Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur. Intraepididymal injections method such as chemical castration wasused as one of the fertility control in adult male long tailed macaques. This method does not require removal of the testis, easy to do and inexpensive and mixture of Ethanol-Formalin was used inthis technique. Outcome from the male macaque castration programme shows this sterilization technique using a mixture of ethanol and formalin to be very effective in controlling new birth. Castrated male macaque doesn’t have any changes in behaviour or physical attributes. These results prove that the breeding of macaques can be reduced.

The characteristic thin skin of the scrotal sac in a rabbit was tornresulting in traumatic exposure of the right testicle. Bilateral orchiectomy through an open scrotal approach was performed undergeneral anaesthesia. The rabbit was premedicated with Acepromazine (0.5 mg/kg, 0.15 ml) and Flunixin meglumine (1 mg/kg, 0.03 ml,) intra-muscularly. Isoflurane was used for induction at 5% with O2flow rate at 0.7 L/min and maintenance Isoflurane, 1.5% - 3%, O2 flow rate = 0.7 L/min) of general anaesthesia. Both right and left testicles were removed and the hemiscrotal incision was closed with 4-0 Vicryl, horizontal mattress suture pattern. Post-operative treatments with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agents wereinstituted and the client was advised about how to safely manage aggressive behaviour of rabbits towards each other. The surgicalsite healed without complication and the neutered rabbit recovered fully within 14 days.