This study was carried out to assess the effect of storage conditions on the sensory, quality parameters and microbiological status of beef from the muscle “Semitendinosus”. The experiment was design into 4 groups of beef samples, the first was control and the others were unpacked, aerobic packed and vacuum packed chilled meat. The obtained results showed that the mean values of mesophilic counts were 6×10⁷±5×10⁶, 3×10⁷±3×10⁶, 3×10⁷±2×10⁶ and 5×10⁷±5×10⁶ CFU/g, while those of psychrophilic count were 5×10⁷±5×10⁶, 3×10⁶±3×10⁵, 4×10⁶±3×10⁵ and 7×10⁶±7×10⁵ CFU/g, whereas the mean values of coliforms MPN were 10⁵±10⁴, 10⁵±10⁴, 2×10⁴±10³ and 4×10⁷±2×10⁶ MPN/g, the mean values of fecal coliforms MPN were 2×10³±2×10², 4×10⁴±3×10³, 2×10³±10² and 10⁷±10⁶ MPN/g, the mean values of E. coli MPN were 9×10²±9×10, 6×10±6×10², 6×10³±10² and 2×10³±10² MPN/g and the mean values of Staphylococcus count were (9×10⁵±9×10⁴, 10⁶±10⁵, 2×10⁶±10⁵ and 2×10⁶±2×10⁵ CFU/g) for control, unpacked, aerobic packed and vacuum packed chilled stored beef, respectively. The unpacked meat showed increase in shelf life time till four days as the sensory evaluation become excellent till four days also, increased pH, drip, water holding capacity (WHC) and cooking loss at four days. Staphylococcus reach to unsatisfactory level. Area packed meat increase in shelf life time till six days showing excellent sensory evalution at six day, decreasd drip, water holding capacity and cooking loss and slowly increased in bacterial count. Anaerobic meat have the longest shelf life time till 10 days as vacuum packing reduce drip, WHC and cooking loss. Also decrease mesophilic, fecal coliform growth. The quality assurance of cold storage was discussed as well as the vacuum packaged chilled beef has long shelf –life time than aerobic packed and fresh meat. This attributed to that package and cold storage reduce microbiological and physio-chemical alterations in meat. The recommendations to extension of shelf life time were discussed.

This study aimed to replace liquid foot pan in the poultry farm, with a novel model that is used more effectively in biosecurity program convenient with the workers in Egyptian farms that avoid foot pan. This novel model dry foot pan, semiliquid (wet) foot pan and floor mat that enabled the disinfectants to be worked for a longer time. In the present study authors are looking for a durable footbath, stable, fast, easily applied and log acting in the reduction of salmonellae. The efficacy of powder disinfectant (calcium hypochlorite powder, Halamid, Staldren, Virkon S and paraformaldehyde) were tested against salmonellae in a novel form of foot pan dry, semi-liquid and floor mat models. The disinfectants were diluted by calcium carbonate or sodium chloride powder in the dry form, surfactant in the semiliquid form and use of the sponge as a mat in the third form. Daily measurement of the active principle of the tested disinfectants and the log reduction of the Salmonellae were done. The dry form and semi liquid form of the Calcium hypochlorite was successfully effective for 10 days in dry form and 9 days in semiliquid form. However, Halamid and Staldren were successfully effective in dry form for 14 days and 17 days respectively, semiliquid form was worked for 21 day and 3 days and floor mat was effective for 21 days and 3 days respectively. Paraformaldehyde powder was also effective for 6 days in the dry form, but in the semiliquid form was effective for 10 days, floor mat was effective for 12 days. 5% Virkon S could be effective for 3 days in the dry form and semi-liquid form but only 2 days in the floor mat form.

In most countries, poultry are reared by traditional farmers d ue tothe relative minimum capital needed to start off, availability of feed and the fast period of the birds to grow. This research was conducted on turkeys which aims to study the abundance and prevalence of ectoparasites from three localities around Kedah, Malaysia. Atotal of 20 turkeys (eight males and twelve females) were examined for ectoparasites infestation and endoparasites infection.Six species of ectoparasites: five lice and a mite have been discovered. The most prevalent ectoparasite was Menopon gallinae with occurrence of 45%. Other external parasites recorded includeLipeurus caponis and Megninia cubitalis with occurrence of 40%, Menacanthus pallidulus (35%), Goniocotes gallinae (30%) and Chelopistes meleagridis (20%). There was a significant difference between the ectoparasite abundance in Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar and Alor Belat Barat [ANOVA, F(2,17)=6.33, p=0.009]. These lice commonly found in the fluff of the feathers, especially at the neck,abdomen, and wings. Lipeurus caponis was found to have the highest infestation in all male and female turkeys and Menacanthus pallidulus was noted as the less common ectoparasite infesting both the male andfemale turkeys. Endoparasite infection was recorded in two species of parasite eggs of nematodes and protozoa. Oocyst of Eimeria spp. recorded the highest faecal egg count with 7300 epg compared to Capillaria spp. with only 1200 epg. Scavenging and pecking behaviour of turkeys in barn area with unsuitable farm housing environmentwere the major contributing factors to the infestation of ectoparasites as well as endoparasites infection.

Canine hepatozoonosis isa growing tick-borne disease in Punjab.Two canine hepatozoonosis cases, oneclinical and one subclinical, in Punjabwere analyzed by PCR targeting 18S rRNAgene (666 bp). After sequence analysisof the PCR products, both of them werefound almost identical to each other andwere closely related to the Hepatozooncanis strain found in Saint kitts and Nevisand Brazil with 100% (442/442) and 99%(440/442) nucleotide identity respectively.Isolates from Malta and Philippines ofH. canis were distantly related to IndianH. canis with 437/442 and 436/442 matchidentities. These results suggest that H.canis detected in north Indian dogs mighthave closer ancestral relationship with SaintKitts and Nevis followed by Brazil strain.This is the first molecular characterizationof Hepatozoon from Punjab, India.

Decompression sickness, a condition in whales caused by bubble formation in certain body tissues from dissolved inert gases. It occurs during transition from a high pressure environment to one of lower pressure, resulting in a range of conditions from itching to joint pain, convulsions, and death. A carcass of a stranded Sei Whale, Balaenoptera borealis, found on the shores of southern coast of Peninsular Malaysia was presentedfor postmortem. Investigation results showed that the male Sei Whale, named Si Corner showed pathologic lesions as seen from histology with the formation of fibrosis, emphysema and edema in the lungs and hepatic atrophy which indicated chronic starvation. It believedthat he also suffering from “Barotrauma or decompression sickness” which affected the ear or lungs which lead to unbalanced movement due to changes in air pressure.This may have caused the whale to beach and consequent mortality. The pathologic lesions found give an insight into possible causes of death of beached whales inMalaysia.

Goose Parvovirus (GPV) also known as Derzy’s disease is aninfectious viral disease of waterfowl which causes serious economic loss in industrial production of geese and Muscovy ducks. In year 2014, Derzy’s disease was detected in Pekin ducks from Sarawak. The affected farm recorded up to 50% mortality, affecting only young ducklings (starting at the age of 3 weeks). Polymerase chainreaction (PCR) from liver samples were performed based on partial region of VP3 gene of GPV, generated amplicon of 801 bp. Sequence analysis showed that the isolate shared 99% sequence similaritywith goose parvovirus strain YBLJ and YZYZ20130304 from China. Phylogeny based on VP3 showed that this isolate is grouped under Asian strains. This is the first report of GPV in Malaysia focusingon the molecular analysis. Notably, this study revealed that GPV not only can be detected from goose and Muscovy but also from Pekin duck.

This study was conductedon raw cow’s milk collected in seven statesof Malaysia to investigate the compositionof minerals and trace elements in the milk.Raw cow’s milk samples were collectedfrom Kedah, Perak, Johor, Melaka,Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilanfrom January to November 2015. ICPMStechnique combined with microwavedigestion were applied to determine theconcentration of five major minerals (Na,Mg, K, Ca and P) and eleven trace elements(Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Mo,Baand Pb) in the milk samples. The resultof analysis showed relatively constantcomposition of minerals and trace elementsin the samples but some variations wereobserved in certain states. Application ofprincipal component analysis (PCA) in thecomposition data showed different clusterexists between the states of Selangor andNegeri Sembilan as well as Kedah andNegeri Sembilan. There is no significantdifference observed in the compositionsof minerals and trace elements betweenother states. The compositions of mineralsand trace elements in raw cow’s milk inMalaysia are comparable with reports fromother research. Further studies can be doneto investigate the source of nutrient, foodor environmental condition that producedthe amounts of minerals and trace elementsin the milk.

A total of 2803 bloodsamples from ruminant livestock werereceived for diagnosis for parasiticinfections from 2011 to 2015. Theruminant samples were from small holderand commercial farms from the states ofNegeri Sembilan, Melaka, Selangor andthe Federal Territory. The results indicatethe presence of theileriosis, anaplasmosis,babesiosis and trypanosomiasis in theseanimals. The most common parasiteidentified annually is theileriosis in cattle.This information is vital for disease controlstrategies as most blood protozoa causemorbidity and is transmitted by vectorssuch as ticks.

Fascioliasis is an importantparasitic disease caused by the liver flukeFasciola gigantica in Malaysia. Theinfestation of liver fluke in ruminants;cattle, sheep, goats and buffaloes can resultin economic losses to the country mainlydue to the drop in livestock production,reduction in growth rate, condemnationof liver, reduction in draught power andhigh usage of anthelmintics. This paperdescribes a case of liver fluke infestationin a two year old male buffalo that waseventually slaughtered. The buffalowas reported to be emaciated and wasreared in an oil palm plantation for useas draught power in buffalo-drawn cartsloaded with oil palm bunches; alongwith 18 other buffaloes of various ages.Previously, there were two cases of buffalodeaths from the same herd. The organand faecal samples were sent to KuantanRegional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL)for diagnostic work up. The receivedsamples were then sent to parasitology,histopathology and bacteriology sectionsfor laboratory analysis and confirmationon the pathogens. The bacteriology resultshowed Escherichia coli isolated in allinternal organs. Presence of adult flukes(Fasciola gigantica) were observed inthe bile duct of the liver through grossexamination and also histopathologicalevaluation and supported by the positiveresult of Fasciola ova via sedimentationtest conducted from the faecal sample, thusjustifying the final diagnosis as severe liverfluke infestation leading to emaciation andsimultaneously having colibacillosis.

A study was conducted to identify the current status of Fasciolaand Paramphistomum infections in small ruminants in Terengganu. A total of 267 faecal samples from small ruminants were collected and subjected to sedimentation technique. Serum samples were diagnosed for detection of IgG antibody for Fasciola infection using sELISA method. Results showed that there were 4% of the goats positive with Paramphistomum eggs whereas Fasciola egg was not observed in any of the faecal samples. However, it was found that 89% of the serum samples from goats were positive with IgG antibody for Fasciola infection. Small ruminants in Terengganu were not infected with severe Fasciola and Paramphistomum infections yet the results obtained from this study will update the current status of the infections. This information will help the farmers and the Department of Veterinary Services to plan on management to maintain the animals’ health.