Objective: The trial was aimed at assessing the effect of phytogenic feed additive (PFA), a natural adaptogen, on growth performance, serum neopterin level, and cutaneous basophil hypersensi¬tivity (CBH) response in heat-induced stress model of broilers. Materials and Methods: One-day-old Ross 308 chicks (N = 360) were randomly distributed among normal control (NOR), heat-stress control (HSC), and PFA treatment (HSC plus PFA at 200 gm/ton of feed) group. HSC and PFA groups were subjected to heat stress (HS) (32°C36°C) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for 35 days. The impact of HS on growth performance, serum neopterin level, and CBH response was assessed. Results: High ambient temperature worsened the performance traits [bodyweight (p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio] and significantly lowered the serum neopterin level and CBH response in the HSC group when compared to the NOR group. However, supplementation of PFA at 200 gm/ ton of feed to birds mitigated the detrimental effects of HS. Conclusion: PFA at 200 gm/ton demonstrated the immunomodulatory effect through the resto¬ration of serum neopterin level, CBH response, and growth performance traits in heat-stressed broiler chickens. Thus, PFA can be used as a natural adaptogen to increase the stress resistance and mitigate the negative consequences of various stressors in broiler chickens. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(1.000): 141-147]

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the molecular characteristics of naturally mutant non-pathogenic O27 strain of Escherichia coli and its efficacy as probiotic in broilers and determine the best age at which it can be administered. Materials and methods: A total of 24 virulence genes using 24 sets of primers were detected using the polymerase chain reaction technique. For probiotics experiments, 60 chicks (day 1 old) were divided into three groups, 20 per group, and reared for 4 weeks. The first group was considered as a negative control. The second group was treated orally with O27 strain at first day of life for three successive days and repeated at day 21. The third group was administered orally with O27 strain at day 10 old, and repeated at day 21 old. Results: The data revealed that type 1 fimbrial adhesion, salmochelin siderophore receptor, and sigma factor-binding protein were detected in O27 strain, but temperature-sensitive hemagglutin, hemolysin secretion gene, pyelonephritis-associated Pili gene, polysaccharide capsule synthesis gene, Shiga-toxin1 gene, Shiga-toxin2 gene, Brain microvascular endothelial cell invasion, E. coli attaching and effacing gene, heat-stable enterotoxin, heat-labile enterotoxin, east 1 toxin, colicin V, verotoxin type 2, necrotizing cytotoxic factor type 1, colonization factor antigen I, colonization factor antigen III, coli surface 2, coli surface 4, serine protease pic autransporter, vacuolating autotransporter toxin, and serine protease EspP precursor were not detected in O27 strain. Group 2 performance parameters were significantly better (p < 0.01) than groups 3 and 1. Hematological and biochemical parameters did not be influenced (p > 0.05) by the administration of O27 strain. Antibody titers of infectious bursal disease virus and Newcastle disease virus in groups 2 and 3 were improved as compared to group 1. Group 2 had significantly higher titers than group 3. Histopathologically, all groups showed normal histopathological pictures. However, jejunum in groups 2 and 3 showed more tall, intact, and densely packed microvilli and more crypt depth than the control group. Conclusion: The O27 strain of E. coli is non-pathogenic bacteria. Its effects on growth performances and enhancement of immunity in broilers match with the same impact of probiotics, and these candidates will fit to be a good probiotic in the future. The results revealed that the effects of O27 strain at the day 1 old of life for three successive days and repeated at day 21 old are better for improving the performance and immunity of the birds. More research works about the characterized non-pathogenic E. coli strain O27 are required for field and commercial use. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(3.000): 374-383]

Objective: Annual health screening inclusive of heart workup is recommended for the detection of heart diseases, especially in asymptomatic patients (no clinical signs). This study determined the occurrences of the common heart disease and the risk factors in apparently healthy cats. Material and methods: This prospective study that screened 59 healthy cats and the status of the heart were evaluated based on a combination of findings from physical examination, electrocar¬diography, blood pressure measurement, routine blood test, urinalysis, and total thyroid level. Results: Approximately 40.7% (n = 24/59) of the apparently healthy cats were diagnosed with heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (62.5%) remains to be the most commonly diag¬nosed. The mean age was 4.9-year old (age range, 7-month-old to 19-year-old). The prevalence was higher in males (45.0%; n = 17/38) cats, especially the domestic shorthairs (46.0%; n = 11/24). Among the healthy cats with vertebral heart scale (VHS) > 8.0, only 52% (n = 12/23) of them were diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. However, 33% (n = 12/36) of the cats with normal VHS ≤ 7.9 were diagnosed with heart disease. Consistently, all healthy cats with abnormal heart sounds were diagnosed with heart disease. About 31.4% (n = 16/51) of these cats with typical heart sound had cardiomyopathy too. Conclusion: The occurrence of cardiomyopathy in apparently healthy cats has no association with the patients age, sex, and VHS, except for the heart sound. Echocardiography remains the best diagnostic tool, as normal heart size and normal heart sound do not exclude cardiomyopathy in this group of apparently healthy cats. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(3.000): 501-508]

Objectives: Antibacterial resistance is a great concern in human and food animal medicine, and it poses a significant concern in pet animals like dogs. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. along with the carryover of some resistance genes in E. coli from dogs in the Chattogram metropolitan area, Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: Rectal swab (n = 50), nasal swab (n = 50), and skin swab (n = 50) sam¬ples were collected from dogs having respiratory infections, skin infections, and/or enteritis, respectively. Three types of bacteria were identified and isolated by conventional bacteriological techniques and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out against 12 antimicrobials by disk diffusion methods. Six resistance genes, namely blaTEM, blaCTX-M, tetA, tetB, Sul-I, and Sul-II, were screened for phenotypically resistant E. coli isolates by the polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total of 39 (78%) E. coli, 25 (50%) Staphylococcus spp., and 24 (48%) Streptococcus spp. isolates were isolated from the rectal swab, nasal swab, and skin swab samples, respectively. In the cultural sensitivity test, the E. coli isolates showed resistance to ceftriaxone (79%) and sulfa¬methoxazole/trimethoprim (64%). Doxycycline (80%) demonstrated the highest resistance among Staphylococcus isolates, followed by sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (60%). Streptococcus iso¬lates showed the highest resistance to penicillin (63%), followed by ceftriaxone (54%), while no isolate showed resistance to gentamycin. The prevalence of blaTEM, blaCTX-M, tetA, tetB, Sul-I, and Sul-II genes in phenotypically resistant E. coli isolates were 100%, 61.29%, 100%, 8.33%, 56%, and 72%, respectively. Conclusions: Spillover of such multidrug-resistant bacteria and resistance genes from pet dogs pose a serious public health risk. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 669-677]

Objective: This study was conducted to establish the normal values and repeatability of pulsed-wave (PW) Doppler ultrasonographic parameters of the hepatic portal circulation in healthy dromedary she-camels. Materials and Methods: According to the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guide¬lines, the sample size and statistical analysis were followed. Ten healthy, non-pregnant, non-lactat¬ing she-camels were selected after physical, hematological, and ultrasonographic examinations. All hepatic ultrasonographic measurements were obtained from unsedated standing she-camels at the 11th right intercostal space using B-mode and PW Doppler. Results: The ultrasonographic measurements were portal vein (PV) diameter 1.76 ± 0.37 cm; por¬tal velocity 12.3 ± 3.2 cm/sec; portal area 2.05 ± 0.57 (cm)²; portal congestion index 0.16 ± 0.04 cms; and portal blood flow volume 0.02 ± 0.05 ml/sec/kg. The intra-assay coefficient of variations (CV)% of the above-mentioned variables were 5.84 ± 4.32, 12.3 ± 7.1, 10.5 ± 5.8, 14.7 ± 7.1, and 15.8 ± 12, respectively. However, the inter-assay CV% were 13.2 ± 5.9, 18.5 ± 8.4, 19.7 ± 7.6, 17.3 ± 8.8, and 31.9 ± 15, respectively. Conclusion: This study provides data that may be used as reference values for Doppler measure¬ments of the PV in she-camels, which may help diagnose some hepatic disorders in camels. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(4.000): 698-703]

Objective: This work was conducted to examine the association between body weight (BW) and biometric traits viz. head width (HW), head length (HL), ear length (EL), body length (BL), rump height (RH), withers height (WH), sternum height (SH), rump width (RW), and heart girth (HG) and to determine the direct and indirect effects of biometric traits on BW. Materials and Methods: Sixty female and twenty male Nguni cattle between the ages of one to four years were used. Pearson correlation and path analysis were used for data analysis. Results: Correlation results recognized that BW had a positive highly significant correlation with RW (r = 0.70**), RH (r = 0.90**), HG (r = 0.90**), SH (r = 0.90**), and WH (r = 0.93**) in male, whereas SH (r = 0.34**), WH (r = 0.55**), RH (r = 0.70**), and HG (r = 0.76**) had a positive highly significant correlation with BW of female Nguni cattle. Path analysis showed that RW (13.35) had the highest direct effect, whereas SH had an indirect effect on BW of male Nguni cattle. In female Nguni cattle, RH (4.87) had the highest direct effect, whereas HL had an indirect effect on BW. Conclusion: Association findings suggest that improvement of RW, RH, HG, SH, HG, and WH might result in the increase in BW of Nguni cattle. Path analysis results suggest that RW and RH might be used as a selection criterion during breeding to increase BW of Nguni cattle. The results of the current study might be used by cattle farmers to estimate BW using biometric traits. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(1.000): 148-155]

Objective: Sheep farming is an important source of livelihood in the southern Khyber Pakhtun Khwa province of Pakistan where they are reared under extensive system (ES). This system has limitations of improper feeding, rearing, and management which negatively affect their productivity. The pres¬ent study compares different rearing systems and their stresses on fertility, behavior, and growth rate potential of two sheep breeds of Pakistan. Materials and Methods: Eighty ewes were selected; forty each from Damani and Balkhi breeds reared in semi-intensive system (SIS) and ES at Paharpur district, Dera Ismail Khan. Blood samples were collected in triplicate on days 0, 14, and 28 of May, and the molecular and behavioral stress, growth, and fertility rates were recorded. Results: The highest growth and fertility rate were observed in both the breeds in SIS than in ES (p < 0.01). The values of stress indicators (cortisol, heat shock protein (HSP-70)) and behavioral stress parameters were found lower in Damani breed as compared to Balkhi breed in both rearing systems (p < 0.01). All the molecular stress and behavioral stress parameters were negatively associated with metabolic hormones (T3 and T4) (p < 0.01). A positive correlation was observed among all the molecular stress and behavioral stress parameters (p < 0.01). Similarly, T3 and T4 were positively interlinked to one another (p < 0.01). Conclusion: It was concluded that both Damani and Balkhi sheep showed lower stress levels and better fertility and growth parameter in SIS than ES system of rearing. Local Damani breed exhibited well tolerant ability and genetic adaptation to the local environment as compared to Balkhi breed. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(1.000): 170-176]

Captive birds in zoological settings often harbor parasites, but little information is available about the potential for free-ranging avifauna to act as a source of infection. This review summarizes the gastrointestinal parasites found in zoo birds globally and in seven common free-ranging avian spe¬cies [mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula), common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian jackdaw (Corvus monedula), house sparrow (Passer domesticus), European robin (Erithacus rubecula), and rock dove (Columba livia)] to identify the overlap and discuss the potential for cross-species transmission. Over 70 references were assessed, and papers spanned over 90 years from 1925 to 2019. A total of 60 studies from 1987 to 2019 met the eligibility cri¬teria. All examined free-ranging avifauna harbored parasite species that were also reported in zoo birds, except for the European jackdaw. Parasites reported in captive and free-ranging birds include nematodes (Capillaria caudinflata, Dispharynx nasuta, Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, Strongyloides avium, Syngamus trachea, and Tetrameres fissispina), cestodes (Dicranotaenia coronula, Diorchis stefanskii, Fimbriaria fasciolaris, and Raillietina cesticillus, Sobolevicanthus gracilis), trematode (Echinostoma revolutum), and protozoa (Cryptosporidium baileyi). Although no study effectively proved cross-transmission either experimentally or by genetic analysis, these parasites demonstrate low host specificity and a high potential for parasite sharing. There is potential for parasite sharing whenever determinants such as host specificity, life cycle, and hus¬bandry are favorable. More research should be carried out to describe parasites in both captive and free-ranging birds in zoological settings and the likelihood of cross-infection. Such information would contribute to evidence-based control measures, enhancing effective husbandry and pre¬ventive medicine protocols. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(3.000): 482-500]

Objective: In Korea, small dogs are more common than large breeds. This study was performed to measure the influence of body weight, sex, breed, age, and cranial cruciate ligament rupture (RCCL) on the tibial plateau angle (TPA) in small-breed dogs. Materials and methods: A total of 274 dogs (221 normal dogs and 53 RCCL dogs) were selected for this study based on medical records. The TPA was measured from stifle joint radiographs. The dogs were divided according to body weight, sex (male and female; normal and neutered), age, breed, and RCCL, and the TPAs of the dogs were compared. Results: In general, the TPAs of male dogs were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of female dogs, and those of healthy neutered dogs were higher than those of healthy intact dogs. The TPA had a tendency to increase along with the animals age but was not significantly different among the four age groups. In general, the TPA of RCCL dogs was 27.12° ± 0.62°, which was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of normal dogs (20.21° ± 0.32°), indicating that an increased TPA is associated with a higher risk for RCCL. Similar results were also observed among dogs with similar body weights, breeds, and ages for male and female RCCL dogs. Conclusion: This study suggested that the sex and neutering status of dogs could affect the TPA. This study also confirmed the use of TPA in the veterinary clinic as a possible indicator of RCCL, as the TPA is higher in RCCL dogs than in normal dogs. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(2.000): 220-228]

Objectives: Avian lymphatic system plays a very significant role in immunity as well as disease control. This research aimed to investigate the histomorphological changes and involution of the thymus of Sonali chicken at different post-natal stages in Bangladesh as the age-related changes of the thymus of Sonali chicken were not described before. Materials and methods: A gross and microscopic investigation was performed on the thymus of 25 healthy Sonali chickens representing different stages of post-natal life: days 1, 14, 28, 42, and 56. Experimental chickens were sacrificed by cervical subluxation, and the thymus was collected and subjected for both the gross and histological studies. The histological changes were examined with light microscopy after H&E staining. Results: The thymus was located in close association of the jugular vein, having a long chain of thy¬mic lobes, 58 lobes on each side. The statistically significant age-related changes were observed (p < 0.05). All gross parameters (weight, length, width, and thickness) found to be increased up to day 42. On day 56, the growth was found to decline from the previous groups. The microscopic observations revealed the same pattern of changes such as gross parameters, i.e., continuously increased till day 42 and then declined (p < 0.05). At day 56, the involutory signs such as partial loss of interlobular septa and accumulation of adipose tissue in connective tissue septa were found. Conclusion: It is well known that in chicken, after a certain period, the thymus got involuted. In Sonali chicken of Bangladesh, the age of involution was notified at day 56/8th week of the post-natal stage, which was correlated both in macro- and microscopic observations. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(2.000): 324-330]