Sixty five dogs belonging to five different breeds were subjected to dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 test to assess the occurrence of dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 in Kerala state, India. Of the animals tested 51 were found positive for the antigen with considerable variation across breeds. Results of the present study indicate that the expression of DEA 1.1 in the Indian canine population may at the higher end of the international prevalence.

Limited information is available regarding gastro-intestinal (GI)parasitic infections in Malaysian swine populations. Hence, the present study aims to determine the prevalence of GI parasites in two swine populations in Malaysia, using formalin-ether concentration technique. In the present study, three helminths and two protozoa were detected in 91 swine rectal fecal samples. The zoonotic transmissible protozoan, Balantidium coli (22.0%) had the highest infection rate, followed by strongyle (4.4%), Entamoeba spp. (2.2%), Fasciolopsis spp. (1.1%) and Trichuris suis (1.1%). The co-infection between T. suis and B. coli was also found in this study.

Edible bird's nest (EBN)is made from the saliva of swiftlet from the Aerodramus species. It is one of the most widely consumed traditional health food by the Chinese community due to its claimed medicinal value. EBN contains glycoproteins with abundance of sialic acid (SA). EBN with higher SA content has a potential to command for higher price. The objective of this study was to determine and compare free SA content of EBN collected from Johor and Kelantan. A total of 23 and 30 of raw and unprocessed EBN samples were obtained from Kelantan and Johor, respectively. SA from EBN samples were analysed using LC-MS/MS. Johor showed higher content of free SA with the value of 135.04 ± 29.60 mg/kg compared to Kelantan which has a value of 95.55 ± 25.6 mg/kg. Highest content of free SA was found in EBN from Pontian district, Johor.

A total of five species of the nematodes, Acuaria spiralis, Gonyglonema ingluvicola, Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and Oxyspirura mansoni were recovered from the Malaysia domestic chicken, Gallus domesticus and studied for their morphology. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study and observe the outer surface of the nematodes. The morphological of the five species ofnematodes were described and compared.

Avian haemoparasites are known to exert negative pressures on theirhosts causing considerable pathology and mortalities. The present study reports on the prevalence of haemoprotozoa and microfilaria in various species of wild birds and domestic poultry in Selangor, Malaysia, and contributes to the database on the occurrence of thesepathogens among avifauna in the country. Giemsa-stained thin blood smears were screened from 728 birds representing five avian orders, namely Galliformes, Anseriformes, Phoenicopteriformes, Pelecaniformes and Gruiformes. The most common haemoparasite was Plasmodium, with a prevalence of 8.0%. The aquatic/wetland species of birds (Anseriformes and Gruiformes) were the most common hosts for this pathogen with high infection rates (31.8% – 50.0%). The prevalence of Plasmodium in domestic poultry was moderate (2.7%). Leucocytozoon sabrazesi and L. caulleryi were confined to the Galliformes with relatively low average infection rates of 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively. Haemoproteus was detected for the first time in domestic poultry and Red Jungle fowls in the country, with anaverage prevalence of 0.8%. Trypanosomes and microfilaria were only present in the village chickens and Red Jungle fowls, with high microfilaraemia rates (19.0%) in the latter. The current compilation will contribute to our understanding on avianhaemoparasite transmission in the country.

This study was performed to investigate the reproductive performanceand spontaneous malformations of female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats obtained from the Animal Resource Unit, Institute for Medical Research for their use in reproductive toxicity assessment. Onehundred and thirty-five virgin female rats with a body weight ranging between 190 g and 210 g were randomly caged overnight with 60 fertile male rats in 1:1 basis. Vaginal smear was performed the next morning and the day of sperm positive was considered as estational day (GD) 0. On GD21 caesarean hysterectomy was performed to examine the outcome of each pregnancy. The female fertility index (sperm positive) was 90.5% and the pregnancy index was 100%. Thepercentage of pre and post-implantation loss were 1.96 and 7.48 respectively with the number of early resorption out numbered the late resorption (0.56 ± 1.0 and 0.36 ± 1.5 respectively). Out of1,234 foetuses examined, only 5 foetuses (0.41%) presented with gross congenital malformation. The female SD rats obtained from the Institute demonstrated high fertility and pregnancy indexes with lowincidence of resorption and malformation, therefore suitable to use for reproductive toxicity assessment.

A total of 302 faecal specimens from animals of various species including poultry, ruminants, mammals, swine, primates, companionanimals, wild animals, and laboratory animals were examined for the presence of Blastocystis sp. These anaerobic parasites which are environmentally resistant were found in 104 specimens (34.44%), that is, from ostriches, pigs, ruminants and nonhuman primates whereas samples from other animals were completely free of the organism. There is a need to assess the impact of these infections on theproductivity of animals and its importance in human infections.