The study was conducted to identify the major reproductive health problems and its associated risk factors in indigenous Borena breed cows in Borena zone in Southern Ethiopia between September 2013 and February 2014. Out of the total 409 cows examined, 195 (47.7%) were having at least one of the reproductive problems identified by either questionnaire interview (n=329) or regular follow up (n=80) of individual cows. The major reproductive health problems identified in the present study were mastitis (21.3%; n=87/409), abortion (12.2%; n=50/409), repeat breeder (10.3%; n=42/409), anestrus (10.3%; n=42/409) and retained fetal membrane (RFM; 7.6%; n=31/409). The rate of abortion increased significantly (p=0.001) with the increase in the stage of gestation. Laboratory findings indicated that brucellosis and mastitis had great roles in reproductive health problems of dairy cows in the study area with prevalence rates of 2.91% and 68.41%, respectively. In conclusion, the study revealed that several reproductive health problems such as mastitis, abortion, repeat breeder, anestrus and RFM are mostly prevalent in dairy cows in Borena zone in southern Ethiopia.

In this study, efficacies of different therapeutic regimens along with 10% zinc-sulfate footbath for the treatment of acute foot rot in adult sheep were evaluated. The research work conducted on the adult sheep (n=104) of both sexes which were presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex during April 2013 to May 2014. Foot rot was confirmed based on clinical and physical examinations. The sheep were divided into four equal groups; G-I, G-II, G-III, and G-IV. The animals of the G-I, II and IV were treated with a mixture of amoxicillin and cloxacillin at 15 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) through intramuscular (IM) route, oxytetracycline at 20 mg/kg b.wt., IM, and enrofloxacin at 5 mg/kg b.wt., IM, respectively. The animals of G-III were treated with gamma benzene hexachloride cream. Along with the above treatments, all four groups were given footbath with 10% zinc-sulfate. Mean recovery time (days) was recorded as lowest in G-II (3.83±0.64) followed by G-I (4.17±0.31), G-IV (4.38±0.0.79) and G-III (5.67±0.98), respectively. The mean±SE values of rectal temperature and ruminal motility that were recorded before and after the treatment showed significant (p<0.05) differences. In conclusion, administration of parenteral antibiotics in combination with footbath was highly effective to treat combination with footbath was highly effective to treat the acute foot rot in sheep.

The objective of current study was to evaluate the effects of Lepidium sativum (LS) on liver histopathology and serum biochemistry in rats fed with high cholesterol diet. A total of 32 rats were divided into four equal groups. The rats of first group (control group) were fed with basal diet, whereas the rats of second group were fed with basal diet mixed with cholesterol (1%). The rats of third and fourth groups were fed with high cholesterol (1%) diet mixed with Lepidium sativum powder at 3 g and 6 g/kg diet, respectively. Total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity were increased significantly in the rats fed with high cholesterol diet as compared to control group. LS reduced total cholesterol and ALT; however, higher dose (6 g/kg diet) was found better than lower dose (3 g/kg diet) in reducing serum triacylglycerol. Histopathological findings revealed that liver of cholesterol-treated rats showed varying degrees of vacuolar degeneration, fatty changes, fatty cysts, and lobular disarray. Livers of the LS-treated rats revealed mild to moderate degree of recovery. Conclusively, high dose of LS is recommended as hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidemic agent in rats.

A total of 186 samples comprising of poultry feed ingredients (n=114) and finished poultry feeds (n=72) were analyzed for the detection of total aflatoxin (TA) and ochratoxin A (OTA). The concentrations of TA and OTA in the samples were determined using direct competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Overall incidence of TA was recorded as 80.64% (n=150/186); whereas, in the feed ingredients, it was 86.84% (n=99/114), and in the finished feeds, the incidence of TA was 70.83% (n=51/72). Corn, cotton seed meal, sunflower meal, and cotton gluten meal were found to be highly (100%) contaminated with TA. The OTA was determined in 63.15% (n=72/114) and 29.17% (n=21/72) feed ingredients, and finished feed samples, respectively, with an overall incidence of 50% (n=93/186). Maximum level of OTA contamination (100%) was recorded in corn gluten meal. However, no feed contained OTA above the acceptable level as set by the European Union on OTA contamination in poultry finished feed. On the other hand, a number of samples contained TA above the acceptable limit. Thus, immediate control measures should be taken to ensure safe poultry for human consumption.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) causes Johne's disease (JD) in cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants, and Crohn’s disease in humans. MAPs are shed to external environment through feces and milk. The present study was aimed to evaluate the utility of milk as a non-invasive sample in stage II MAP infections in goats using IS900 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing analysis. A total of 32 milk samples from lactating does were collected. Within these 32 milk samples, 15 were collected from pre-confirmed JD positive goats. By IS900 PCR, all the 15 (100%) known JD positive goat milk samples revealed the presence of MAP. However, no unknown goat was identified as MAP positive. The results of this study established the usefulness of milk as a non-invasive sample in screening and confirmation of stage II MAP infection in goats.

Regional perfusion with Triple sulpha was used to treat a severe abscess in a 7-year old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) housed at a temple in Tamil Nadu, India. The cow elephant was presented with an acute swelling at left shoulder that persisted despite 4 days of anti-inflammatory therapy. There was a 3-cm-deep, 5-cm-diameter abscess pocket that was subsequently debrided. Regional perfusion was performed by using 7% Tincture iodine for 15 days, and Triple sulpha in the wound pocket. Besides, the elephant received Enrofloxacin (dosed at 10 mg/kg b.wt.) and Meloxicam (dosed at 0.2 mg/kg b.wt.) intramuscularly. Within 2 days of administering the first perfusion, the swelling reduced dramatically. After 7 days of successive treatment, the elephant showed marked improvement. The affected skin area became normal after 60 days post-treatment.

This study was conducted to evaluate potential extinction risk of Turkish native cattle breeds using Mantel and AMOVA tests and Bottleneck analysis. A total of 271 DNA samples were isolated from Anatolian Black, Anatolian Grey, South Anatolian Red, Native Southern Anatolian Yellow, East Anatolian Red, and Zavot cattle. In this study, genotypes of 20 microsatellites were determined by capillary electrophoresis and fragment analysis. A total of 269 different alleles were detected. The maximum and minimum numbers of total alleles were observed in TGLA122 (n=26) and INRA005 (n=7) loci, respectively. The highest average observed and expected heterozygosity values were determined as 0.619–0.852 and 0.669–0.877, respectively. The average FIS value was 0.068. Results of AMOVA and Mantel tests illustrated statistically significant differences in populations (p<0.001) and correlation (p<0.01). Bottleneck analysis revealed a normal distribution of L–shaped curve indicating that there was no recent risk of extinction for these breeds.

The study was aimed at assessing the prevalence and distribution of bovine Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) serotypes in Ilesha Baruba, Kwara state-Nigeria. To identify the source of epidemics, geo-spatial analysis was done on the FMD outbreak locations (n=15) using Global Positioning Service (GPS) device (EtrexR). Randomly sampled bovine sera (n=64) from herd representatives were subjected to FMD 3ABC enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (FMD 3ABC ELISA) and solid-phase competitive ELISA (SP-cELISA), for the screening and serotyping of FMD virus, respectively. Through ELISA, the FMD serotypes detected in this study were- serotype O (83%; n=53/64), serotype A (7.8%; n=5/64), serotype vaccine O (1.6%; n=1/64)), and serotype vaccine SAT2 (1.6%; n=1/64). Multiple serotypes were observed in two different combinations; these were O and A (4.7%; n=3/64), and O and SAT2 (1.6%; n=1/64). FMD multiple serotype infections were associated with absence of cross-immunity between serotypes and cross reactivity enhanced by clustered herds, highland study area topography, road and river interconnectivity, possible human settlements, activities and traffic. This study provides baseline information on geo-spatial distribution, and identification of prevalent FMD serotypes in Ilesha Baruba, Kwara state-Nigeria.

Many human diseases relating to central nervous system (CNS) are mimicked in animal models to evaluate the efficacy of stem cell therapy. The therapeutic role of stem cells in animal models of CNS diseases include replacement of diseased or degenerated neuron, oligodendrocytes or astrocytes with healthy ones, secretion of neurotrophic factors and delivery of therapeutics/genes. Scaffolds can be utilized for delivering stem cells in brain. Sustained delivery of stem cells, lineage specific differentiation, and enhanced neuronal network integration are the hallmarks of scaffold mediated stem cell delivery in CNS diseases. This review discusses the therapeutic role, challenges and future perspectives of stem cell therapy in animal models of CNS diseases.

A 5-year old Holstein Friesian cross breed cow was presented to Madras Veterinary College Teaching Hospital with the history of reduced milk yield. Clinical examination of udder revealed normal milk color and soft udder. The milk pH was 7.0, with California Mastitis Test score 3+, Electrical Conductivity 270U, and Somatic Cell Count as 328,000. Isolation and identification of causative agent revealed Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from the sub-acute mastitis sample. Agar disc diffusion method for antimicrobial susceptibility revealed that the MRSA was sensitive to Enrofloxacin, Gentamicin, Oxytetracycline and Amoxicillin+Sulbactam. On the other hand, the isolate was resistance to Amoxicillin, Penicillin G, Ceftriaxone and Methicillin. The isolate was positive for β-lactamase resistance by Nitrocefin test. The MRSA was confirmed for the presence of mecA and blaZ target genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cow was treated with Enrofloxacin, Vitamin E and inorganic Selenium, and was recovered after 5 days of post-treatment.