The present study was aimed to investigate the morphology and histomorphometry of stomach and gastric mucosa in western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus). The stomach was composed of three indistinctive separate parts namely sacciform forestomach, tubiform forestomach, and hindstomach. The tubiform forestomach was the main tubular section of the organ. The stomach had a compound lining. The non-glandular mucosa occupied the medial blind sac (MBS) of the sacciform forestomach; the layer covered about one-third of the tubiform forestomach (non-glandular region) and the entire length of the gastric sulcus. The glandular part lined the parietal blind sac (PBS) of sacciform forestomach and the cardiac gland region of tubiform forestomach as well as fundic and pyloric gland regions of the hindstomach. The cardiac mucosa had smooth and folded areas; these were filled with mixed glands. In the fundic glands, the parietal cells outnumbered the chief cells. The pyloric glands were of serous-like in characteristics. In conclusion, gross and histological structures of the stomach of western grey kangaroo are adaptive with its food habitat, which allows thorough mixing of highly fibrous grasses. http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2015.b43

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate three potential complete rations made from locally available ingredients through in vitro digestibility (DM, CP, NDF and ADF) and in vitro total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) production. Three iso-nitrogenous complete rations comprising of maize stover (T1), red gram straw (T2) or black gram straw (T3) and concentrate in 60:40 ratio were prepared and the cost/kg diets were 5.2, 5.5 and 5.7 rupees/Kg diet, respectively. Three fistulated buffalo bulls (5 yrs, 350 ± 9.36 kg BW) used as donors of rumen inoculums were fed the same three complete rations (T1, T2 and T3) after proper adaptation. The three complete rations were iso-nitrogenous with CP content ranging from 12.62 to 12.82, while T3 contained higher EE (1.68 %) and TA (9.75 %) and higher NFE (34.38 %) in T1 than in other complete rations. However, variation was apparent in the fiber fractions of the three complete rations attributable to varying sources of the fibrous crop residues. Overall in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD) % was higher (p<0.05) in T1 (58.59 ± 1.55 and 56.33 ± 0.24) followed by T3 (57.75 ± 0.46 and 54.20 ± 0.64) and in T2 (55.45 ± 0.69 and 53.23 ± 1.25). However, the differences for in vitro CP digestibility (IVCPD) and in vitro ADF digestibility (IVADFD) % were higher in T1 than in other complete rations, the values did not differ statistically. Overall TVFA (meq/L) production was higher in T1 (87.65 ± 7.17) than in T2 (83.00 ± 5.74) and T3 (84.00 ± 5.52).  It is concluded that T1 is superior to T2 or T3 in terms of in vitro digestibility (DM, CP, NDF and ADF), in vitro TVFA production and cost of formulation. http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2015.b50

This study was conducted for the detection of Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum infection in neonatal calves. A total of 220 fecal samples (diarrheic 110 and non-diarrheic 110) of neonatal calves were collected from Mosul city, Iraq over a period of 16 months from November 2010 to March 2012. The age of the calves ranged from 1 to 30 days. All the fecal samples were analyzed by capture direct ELISA. The infection was found in 29.0% (n=32/110) of the diarrheic calves. The infection was mostly prevalent (p<0.001) in the calves of three weeks of age. No C. parvum infection could be detected in the non-diarrheic animals. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.v1i1p8-10 J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(1): 8-10, March 2014

This study was conducted to assess the interaction of specific immune responses produced after vaccination using live attenuated Newcastle disease (ND) LaSota and infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccines in village chickens of Nigeria. After immunization with the vaccines (individually or in different combinations), specific antibody levels in the chickens were measured using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests. The cases of administration of ND LaSota alone, ND LaSota followed by IBD vaccine after one week, and simultaneous use of ND LaSota and IBD vaccines were seroconverted against ND virus. Interference of antibody production against NDV or IBDV was observed when primary vaccination was done by using any one of the two and the remaining one was given after one week. However, simultaneous administration of the vaccines did not interfere with each other in terms of antibody responses. In all the vaccination trials, elicited immunity conferred protection to the chickens challenged with virulent NDV and IBDV. Individual vaccination with ND LaSota followed by IBD vaccines or vice versa giving an interval of more than one week, or simultaneous use of both vaccines are recommended to confer protective antibody levels against NDV and IBDV in village chickens.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.v1i1p16-20 J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(1): 16-20, March 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing maize in quail diets with graded levels of rumen filtrate-fermented cassava meal (FCM) on growth and egg production performances. Cassava meal (CM) was mixed with dried manure of layer at 75 g/kg CM, which was mixed with freshly collected rumen filtrate (at 1 L/5 kg CM), and finally fermented in sealed bags for 14 days. It was then sun-dried and added in grower or finisher diets at 0, 50, 75 and 100%. Then, 84 three weeks-old Japanese quails (Cortunix japonica) were divided into four equal groups; the birds were randomly assigned to 0, 50, 75 and 100% FCM grower/layers diets, and were reared until 56 days of age. Daily feed consumption, weekly body weights, weight gains, feed conversion ratios (FCR), hen-day, and egg weights were monitored. The quails fed with 75% FCM were found to be superior (p<0.05) for body weight, feed intake, weight gain, and egg weights. However, birds fed control diets had higher (p<0.05) hen-day, but lower (p<0.05) in egg weights. Complete replacement of maize with FCM (100%) had similar (p>0.05) effect on feed intake, body weight, and weight gain, as compared to those of fed control diets. Thus, replacing maize with FCM had no deleterious effects on growth performance, but depressed hen-day. However, better growth performance was obtained when maize was replaced at 75% FCM.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2014.a19J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(3): 100-106, September 2014

The present study was conducted to investigate the bony structure (i.e., os cordis) in the heart of mature Dromedary camel. Ten hearts were collected from healthy mature camels of both sexes aging between 7-9 years. Grossly, the heart contained one large, elongated bone that was embedded inside the heart wall where the cardiac muscles were inserted and fixed. The bony structure was located at the adjacent areas between aorta and atria. Also, it was lying in the atrioventricular plane near the junction of the interatrial and interventricular septa, and was extended anteriorly into the atrioventricular valve rings. Histologically, the os cordis was composed of fibrous connective tissue, small foci and pieces of hyaline cartilage, calcified cartilage, and a large piece of spongy bone. The spongy bone contained red and white bone marrows with numerous red blood cells, adipocytes and osteocytes. This is the first detail study on os cordis of Dromedary camel heart with special reference to cartilago cordis.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2014.a26J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(3): 130-135, September 2014

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.   http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2014.a32

The current study was aimed to investigate the influence of housing system on female reproductive traits of Black Bengal goats at rural areas in Bangladesh during the period of July to December 2012. A total of 200 Black Bengal goats reared under semi-intensive (n=100) and extensive conditions (n=100) were selected considering their age, body weight, body shape, and conformation. In semi-intensive condition, average age at puberty was 197.82±12.58 days, and age at first conception was 292.96±0.50 days; whereas, these lengths were 208.82±12.60 days and 287.65±0.52 days in extensive condition, respectively. Age at first kidding was 448.26±25.48 days under semi-intensive condition, whereas under extensive condition it was 450.07±22.43 days. Under semi-intensive condition, average litter size at the first, second and third parity were 1.06±0.13, 1.76±0.12 and 1.96±0.12, respectively. In contrast, under extensive condition, these values were 1.01±0.10, 1.62±0.12 and 1.75±0.11, respectively. The average kidding interval under semi-intensive system was 190.2±20 days, and the length reduced to 178.23±0.50 days (p<0.01) in the case of extensive housing system. It is concluded that rearing under extensive condition provoked better reproductive performance in Black Bengal goats as compared to semi-intensive housing system at rural level in Bangladesh. http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2014.a37

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. http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.2014.a38

Two cases with a history of cessation of feces for 2 weeks, depression, lethargy and anorexia in two different dogs; a Labrador male and a Doberman female, were presented. On physical examination, abdominal distension along with intense pain was observed. Blood samples were collected from the dogs for hematological and biochemical analyses. The examination revealed an increased percentage of packed cell volume (PCV). By radiological examina-tion, radiopaque material was seen in the large intes-tinal tract. The condition was suggestive of fecolith. The cases were managed by means of non-surgical management. Through an 11-day long medicinal treatment, the dogs recovered uneventfully.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/javar.v1i1p21-23 J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 1(1): 21-23, March 2014