Castration refers to induced sterility via physical, chemical, or hormonal methods. Chemical castration is an efficient and reliable technique in contrast to other sterilization procedures as it is less painful to physical methods and cost‑effective to hormonal methods. Azadirachta indica (neem), is a charismatic plant as its leaves possess anti-inflammatory, anti‑microbial, and anti-androgenic chattels. To abate the escalating human population in South Asia, neem oil and neem leaf extract have been effectively used as a contraceptive agent. The key determinant of the current study was to evaluate Neem as a chemical sterilizing agent, (either necrotic or apoptotic), in dogs injected intratesticular in comparison to a hypertonic saline solution. Pre- and post-injection testicular width size and blood samples for serum testosterone levels were collected on alternative days. Results disclosed substantial changes in testicular width size, histopathological profile, and serum testosterone level. A non-significant (P > 0.05) pre-injection testicular width readings in contrast to a significant increase (P < 0.05) three days post-injection was noted in all the competitive groups. The mean values recorded for testicular width size at the end of the trial study via neem leaf extract, 30% HSS and, control groups were 27.7362 ± 2.3315mm, 30.9594 ± 4.6861mm, and 24.5023 ± 2.5387mm, respectively. A declining trend, regarding serum testosterone level being statistically significant (P < 0.05) was recorded in treated groups (A, B) in contrast to the control group (C) as the values were 1.5357 ± 0.7819ng, 1.2669 ± 0.9095ng, and 2.4517 ± 0.1827ng in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Histopathological findings advocated the presence of apoptotic bodies in the neem treated group whereas the presence of degenerated interstitial cells, necrosed seminiferous tubules, damaged germinal epithelium, and ceased spermatogenesis was also studied in both competitive groups. Thus, the apoptotic effect and anti-inflammatory property of neem leaf extract resulted in less painful castration and verified Azadirachta indica as a better substitute for chemical castration in contrast to hypertonic saline solution.

Objective: The research was designed to assess the consequences of Azadirachta indica aqueous leaf extract (AILE) on neuropathic pain in Wister rats and the role of the ATP-dependent potassium channel (KATP) as an underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: This experimental layout was conducted on Wistar rats (n = 120) having 150 to 200 gm of body weight. On the foundation of the experimental design, rats were divided into group I (normal saline, 5 ml/kg/body weight) and group II (sham surgery and treatment with NS), group III [chronic constriction injury (CCI) in the sciatic nerve; and treated with NS], group IV (CCI and treated with AILE 400 mg/kg body weight), Group V (CCI, pretreated with Glibenclamide 15 mg/kg followed by treated with AILE 400 mg/kg). All the treatments were given once daily for a consecutive 21 days via the oral route, except Glibenclamide. Glibenclamide was given once through the intraperitoneal route on the day of the experiment. Results: Based on the neuropathic pain evaluation test, all groups were again sub-divided into subgroup "a" (walking tract analysis), "b" (cold tail immersion test), "c" (Von Frey test), and "d" (hot plate test). AILE showed a significantly higher sciatic functional index (p < 0.05) in walking track analysis, tail flick latency (p &le; 0.05) in the cold tail immersion test, and paw withdrawal threshold (p &le; 0.05) in the Von Frey test compared to CCI control. In addition, a nonsignificant difference in all these above-mentioned variables between the rats with CCI plus AILE and the CCI plus AILE plus glibenclamide group indicated that the KATP channel was not involved in the beneficial analgesic effects of AILE. Conclusions: The outcome of the present study indicates that AILE prevented worsening of neu¬ropathic pain after chronic constriction injury in the sciatic nerve of Wistar rats in which the KATP channel was not involved. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(3.000): 359-368]

Mastitis is an infectious disease condition resulting in inflammatory reaction which occurs when a large number of leukocytes migrate into the mammary gland. Mastitis causes significant financial losses for the global dairy industry. The present study aimed at development of transdermal film comprising of Azadirachta indica extract for treatment of mastitis, which is economical, safe and will not emerge multidrug resistance amongst pathogens. Azadirachta indica extract was prepared by sonication method. The extract was evaluated for minimum inhibitory concentration against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Transdermal films with Azadirachta indica extract were prepared with ethylene vinyl acetate and polyvinyl acetate then subjected for the physical characterization, drug content, in vitro dissolution, tensile strength and antibacterial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration of extract displayed 5mg/ml. Based on quantification of azadirachtin by UV spectrophotometer 100 mg of extract was incorporated in each transdermal film. Transdermal films of Azadirachta indica extract possessed desirable physical properties, and exhibited the drug release of 91.54% in 8 hours. Transdermal film of Azadirachta indica showed sensitivity with a zone of inhibition of 19mm, 16mm, 19mm and 22mm against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. Data obtained revealed that transdermal films of Azadirachta indica extract exhibited good drug release profile and desirable physical properties, with good antibacterial activity. The present work reveals that transdermal film of Azadirachta indica extract can be considered for the treatment of mastitis.

A study was carried out to analyse the efficacy of neem leaf powder, administered in a capsule against coccidiosis in young goats as well as to identify the species of coccidia found in a selected private farm in Sungai Siput, Perak. A total of seven Eimeria spp were found, in faecal samples from the experimental goats, namely; E. arloingi,E. hirci, E. alijevi, E. christenseni, E. jolchijevi, E. ninakohlyakimovae and E. caprina at a rate of 40%, 23%, 14%, 7%, 5% and 2% respectively. Two types of treatment for coccidiosis, herbal and synthetic, were given to 24 young goats for a period of 8 weeks to evaluate the effectiveness of a herbal product, that is the neem leaf powder capsule, a product of the Veterinary Research Institute.Results show that there is no significant differences (p>0.01) between neem capsule treatment and a synthetic drug (sulphurbased) treatment in treating coccidiosis infection. This study shows that neem leaf powder can be an effective substitute for controlling coccidiosis in goats

This is a study conducted to test the effectiveness of Azadirachta indica (Neem), Clinacanthus nutans (Sabah Snake Grass) water extracts and neem decoction against natural gastrointestinal helminthsin 4 groups of goats for a period of 4 weeks. This study was done on 24 experimental goats which were randomly chosen from a private farm at Gopeng, Perak. They were divided into four groups; control (n=6) and three treatment groups (n=6). Faecal egg counts and faecal culture to identify the L3 larvae were done and recorded weeklyfrom January until February 2015. Blood parameters such as FAMACHA and PCV were observed and recorded twice at the beginning and end of the study. The FEC results indicated that none of the threetreatments were significantly different to control group (P > 0.05).

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.

Antiviral effect of crude aqueous extracts of Neem leaves and Neem bark (Azadirachta indica) belonging to the family Meliaceae againstvelogenic Newcastle Disease virus was studied. Maximum non- toxic dose and determination of antiviral activity by in vitro and in vivo virus inhibition assay was carried out using embryonated SPF chicken eggs and SPF chickens. Different concentration content of the aqueous neem extract from branches of neem tree storing at 4°C reacted against velogenic ND virus was conducted. Determination of antiviral activity by in vivo assay in SPF chickens was compared to the group of untreated with Neem extract.

Twenty-three crossbred cows with endometritis were randomized into three groups. The animals of group I and II were treated with methanol fraction of neem oil and neem seed powder (25 ml each by intra-uterine route), respectively. Whereas, the control cows (gr III) were administered with groundnut oil at similar times. Efficacy of both neem preparations was assessed by Whiteside test (color reaction to cervico-vaginal mucus) and bacterial load at subsequent estrus. The results indicate that the administration of neem preparations retrieved the cows from endometritis as majority of them showed negative to Whiteside test (100 % in gr I and 62.5% in gr II) following treatment. Reduction in bacterial load was also of higher magnitude in neem-oil (96.02±2.02%) and seed-powder fraction (98.70±0.46%) treated animals compared to controls (24.97±29.64 %). Further, a higher pregnancy rate (71.42%) was obtained in oil fraction-treated cows than seed powder fraction-treated or control cows (25% each). In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of methanol fraction of neem oil appeared superior to neem seed powder in endometritic cows.

The molluscicidal effect of ether extract of different components of neem plant (leaf, seed, bark and whole plant) was evaluated against snails Lymnaea auricularia and Indoplanorbis exustus. The extracts were prepared by cold extraction method. The concentrations of extracts used were 1:10, 1:15,1:20, 1:25, 1:30 and 1:35 and the results were recorded at different period of exposure time (6, 12, 24, 48,72 and 96 h). The different concentrations of ether extract of neem showed variable effect on adult stages of L. auricularia and I. exustus. It showed positive correlation between exposure time and mortality and negative correlation between dilution and mortality. Among the different extracts, the whole plant extract was most effective followed by seed, leaf and bark against snails. I. exustus was found to be more susceptible to methanolic extract of neem as compared to L. auricular.