The morphology of the abducent nucleus of the buffalo has been described by materials collected from eight buffalos. Nissl and myelin stained serial and semi serial sections of brain stem were used for the study. The abducent nucleus in the buffalo extended from the cranial pole of the rostral cochlear nucleus to the caudal pole of the motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. An accessory abducent nucleus which is present in amphibians, reptiles, birds and some mammals could not be identified in the buffalo. The nucleus appeared as a rounded body in its caudal pole and was roughly triangular at rostral pole in transverse sections. The average length of motor nucleus of abducent nerve in the buffalo was 2.4 mm. The average maximum width and height of the nucleus was 1.48mm and 1.75 mm respectively.

The present study was carried out to optimize the space and height for placement of baited delta traps to lure and kill house flies in Japanese Quail layer unit at Poultry Research Station, Madhavaram, Chennai where birds were raised in Californian caged system. Red acrylic delta traps with Z-9-Tricosene-Fish meal pellet baits were used for the optimization study. Height optimization of placement of traps was estimated by placing the traps at four different heights in poultry units, viz., ground level, 0.3 m above ground level, 0.6 m above ground level and 0.9 m above ground level. The optimal distance for placement of the acrylic delta trap was estimated by placing the traps at four different distances within poultry units, viz., close to each other, 0.3 m distance between two traps, 0.6 m distance between two traps and 0.9 m distance between two traps. Trap height optimization trial results revealed that maximum number of flies were trapped at ground level, followed by 0.3 m above ground level, 0.6 m above ground level and 0.9 m above ground level in the descending order of preference. Trap distance optimization trials revealed that more flies got trapped when the distance between two traps was 90 cm followed by 0 cm, 60 cm and 30 cm distance between traps. Results revealed that house fly delta traps deployed at ground level at a trap distance of 90 cm could be effective in house fly trapping and can play a vital role in integrated house fly management strategies. 

In the present study, the expression pattern of OAS-1 and MX-2 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was associated with the early pregnancy in cattle. A total of 60 animals were selected and divided into 2 groups, treatment (50) and control (10) group and synchronized using double PGF2α protocol by 11 days apart followed by insemination at 72 and 96 hrs after second dose of PGF2α. The cows were subjected to blood collection on day 0, 14, 18, 20 and 25 post insemination and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) were harvested using Histopaque® solution, followed by RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis. A significantly (P≤0.01) higher expression of OAS-1 and MX-2 gene was observed on days 18 and 20 post oestrum by quantitative real-time PCR and concentration of MX-2 protein in serum were significantly higher (P≤0.05) on day 18, 20 and 25 in pregnant cows when compared with that of non-pregnant cows. Hence, the present study is concluded that the expression of OAS-1 and MX-2 genes and their encoded proteins may be used to develop a marker for early pregnancy diagnosis in cattle.

A five-year-old intact male non-descript dog was referred to the Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with a history of blindness, persistent fever, inappetence, lethargy and corneal opacity for a week. Clinical examination revealed pale mucous membrane, pyrexia, and enlarged superficial lymph nodes and ophthalmic examination confirmed bilateral corneal opacity (5/5) and related vision loss. Hemato-biochemical profile revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and elevated creatinine levels. The wet film examination was positive for Trypanosoma evansi (+++) and following which the animal was treated with Diminazene aceturate @ 3.5 mg/kg deep IM, tab. Prednisolone @0.5 mg/kg, oral hematinics and evaluated after 2 weeks. Corneal opacity cleared After 14 days of treatment; haemato-biochemical parameters were back to normal range, and after one week of clinical recovery, the dog showed neurological signs. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed mild splenomegaly, ocular ultrasonography revealed normal ocular structure. CSF was positive by PCR for Trypanosoma evansi upon which the animal succumbed to death.

Sound plays an important role in animal behaviour, welfare and production. It also helps the animal attendant in communicating with and controlling the animal. When sound becomes unpleasant and disturbing it is termed as noise and causes sound pollution. The threshold of bearing sound is different among animals and is affected by several factors such as age, shape of the ears, species and breed of the animal and health condition. Noise pollution affects behaviour, breeding, growth and well-being of birds. Noise was noted to cause sleep disturbances and affect the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, in laboratory animals. A review is presented on the effect of noise on animals based on the work of various researchers. Methods on how to keep animals safe from sound pollution has also been suggested.

The present study was undertaken to understand the present status of adoption of TANUVAS SMART mineral mixture, viz, complete adoption, partial adoption, discontinuance and rejection and its perceived attributes, namely, relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, observability and trialability using the schedule developed for the purpose and the economic impact. Partial budgeting was done to assess the economic impact of adopting TANUVAS SMART mineral mixture. Personal cosmopolite and personal localite communication channels had contributed majorly to the awareness of the dairy farmers followed by mass media. Majority of the dairy farmers (78%) discontinued the adoption of the innovation. Sixty six per cent of them had medium level of adoption behaviour followed by high (28%) and low (6%) level of adoption behavior. The reasons attributable were that the technology was perceived relatively less advantageous and not observable. However, it was perceived as highly compatible, less complex and trialable. Net income of the dairy farmers had increased by Rs. 2,216.80 per dairy animal per lactation due to the adoption of TANUVAS SMART Mineral Mixture. The status of adoption of TANUVAS SMART Mineral Mixture, its adoption behaviour and change in net income were found to be significantly associated with land holding, area under fodder cultivation, dairy animal possession, extension agency contact and mass media exposure of the dairy farmers.

Uterine prolapse in cats of twelve clinical cases brought to the Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with a history of cats queened recently, severe straining, anorexia, pyrexia and round red swollen edematous mass protruding through the vulva were used for the present study. Based on the clinical examination, the cases were diagnosed as uterine prolapse either unilateral or bilateral horns. Ovariohysterectomy (n=6) was performed in six delayed cases and manual reduction (n=6) was done in six fresh cases. Cats that underwent surgery recovered uneventfully after one week of postoperative management. Manually reduced cases also recovered after one week of medical management. 

Fracture comprises one of the major surgical cases having serious impinge on small ruminants causing lameness. A retrospective study was undertaken on incidence of long bone fractures in reference to metacarpal and metatarsal in goats. Among 893 cases, 344 (38.5%) cases had fracture. Incidence according to the bone involved; metacarpal (28.4%), metatarsal (22.9%), tibia (15.9%), femur (14.2%), radius and ulna (11%) and humerus (8.13%). Fractures with special reference to the age, sex, nature, type, location in metacarpal and metatarsal were taken for the study. The age of animals with metacarpal fracture ranged from twenty days to 3 years and had a mean age of 9 months whereas metatarsal fracture ranged from one month to 2.5 years and had a mean age of 1.2 years. Out of 176 goats with metacarpal (98) and metatarsal (76) fractures, male goats (65.3%) and (68.4%) were mostly affected than female. Open fractures were 33% whereas closed fractures were of 67%. Fracture due to automobile accident in metacarpal (45.9%) and metatarsal (31.5%) was found to be the most common cause of fracture in goats.

The efficacy of estrus synchronization for improving the fertility and fecundity was studied in 428 non-descript goats in Kanchipuram district (Tamil Nadu) selected based on clinical and ultrasound examination for synchronization. Non pregnant does were inserted with intravaginal progesterone sponge containing 300 mg of progesterone on day 0 and administered Inj. Cloprotenol sodium (Pragma) 125µg on day 10. The sponge was removed on day 11 of insertion followed by intramuscular injection of 200 I.U. of eCG (Inj.Folligon). Timed Artificial Insemination was done twice at 12 and 24 h interval using Tellicherry frozen semen. Among the synchronized does,359 does were confirmed pregnant by 30-45 days post insemination using transrectal ultrasonography with a conception rate of 83.87% and fecundity rate of 2.038. The study concludes that the progesterone based intravaginal sponge in combination with eCGcan be effectively used for estrus synchronization programme to improve conception rate and fecundity in non-descript goats at farmers flocks.

Hymen normally appears as a circular constriction between vagina and vulva. However varying degrees of persistence, from thin band to complete imperforate structure, may occur in all species due to segmental defects of paramesonephric ducts (Roberts, 1971). Complete obliteration of vaginal canal due to imperforate hymen was reported earlier in crossbred (Kumar et al., 2017), pure bred (Kumar et al., 2020) and buffalo heifers (Singh et al., 2010 and Kumar et al., 2016) with varying degrees of mucus accumulation. The present report places on record a case of persistent hymen with voluminous mucus accumulation in a crossbred heifer. Vaginal speculum was passed and held in position against the septum. A sterile intrauterine catheter was passed through the septum and thick cloudy mucus started flowing out following the catheterization. To facilitate easy and complete evacuation, suction pump was employed and about 15 litres of mucus was removed. After the fluid evacuation, per rectal examination revealed that the uterine contours palpable within the pelvic cavity. Ultrasonographic examination showed a clear band of tissue across the vaginal canal posterior to cervical region.