Lectin binding of small intestinal goblet cells was examined in newborn, suckling, and weaned pigs. Sections of duodenum, proximal portion of the jejunum, distal portion of the jejunum, and ileum were embedded in a hydrophilic acrylic resin and treated with each of the following lectins: Canavalia ensiformis, Ricinus communis I, Glycine max, Ulex europaeus I, and Triticum vulgaris. Percentages of goblet cells binding each lectin were calculated within intestinal regions. Differences in lectin-binding affinity were detected among pigs of various ages and among various intestinal regions within pig age groups.

Failure to obtain passive transfer of immunity via colostrum can be detrimental to the health and survival of a young pup. It has been stated that pups that do not receive colostrum in the first 2 days after birth, be given adult dog serum as a source of protective immunoglobulins. Twenty-five Beagle pups were obtained by cesarean section from 6 Beagle bitches. The pups were allotted to 3 groups at birth. Group 1 was a control group and was allowed to suckle colostrum. Group-2 pups received 22 ml of pooled adult dog serum/kg of body weight (10 ml/lb) SC at birth. Group-3 pups were given 22 ml of pooled adult dog serum/kg by stomach tube at birth. Pups from groups 2 and 3 were separated from the bitch for 48 hours to prevent colostral antibody absorption and were fed a commercially available milk replacer by stomach tube. After 48 hours, all pups were returned to the bitch until they were weaned at 6 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected from all of the pups at birth and on days 1, 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. The concentration of IgA, IgG, and IgM in serum was determined by radial immunodiffusion and compared by use of a one-way analysis of variance. The control pups had significantly higher serum concentrations of IgA and IgG, than the pups in groups 2 and 3 on days 1 and 2 and 2 and 7, respectively. Group-2 pups had significantly higher serum IgM concentrations on day 1 than either group 1- or group-3 pups.

We compared the frequency and severity of osteochondrosis lesions in young Thoroughbred horses with cervical stenotic myelopathy (CSM) vs that in clinically normal Thoroughbreds of the same age. All lesions of the cervical vertebrae and appendicular skeleton were classified histologically as osteochondrosis or nonosteochondrosis and were measured for severity. Minimal sagittal diameter was significantly smaller in horses with CSM from C2 through C6; no difference was detected at C7. Severity of cervical vertebral osteochondrosis was greater in the horses with CSM, however frequency was not different. Frequency and severity of nonosteochondrosis lesions were not different in cervical vertebrae or appendicular skeleton. Frequency and severity of appendicular skeleton osteochondrosis lesions were both greater in horses with CSM. Osteochondrosis and nonosteochondrosis lesions were more severe on facets at sites of compression than on facets at noncompressed sites in horses with CSM. However, compression was also observed at sites with no articular facet lesions. The association of widespread osteochondrosis and spinal canal narrowing with CSM suggests CSM may represent a systemic failure in the development or maturation of cartilage and bone.

This study was conducted to investigate the high mortality of young lambs in two sheep farms in Pekan, Pahang over a period of 3 years. Samples from postmortem of 1,451 lambs below one year of age by a farm veterinarian were submitted for laboratory diagnosis at the Bacteriology Section of the Regional Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Kuantan. Escherichia coli is the most commonly recorded bacteria with 161 lambs diagnosed in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, there was a decrease in occurrence of E. coli related deaths, with 120 and 75lambs respectively. A total of 25% of the cases showed Escherichia coli positive by culture on blood agar and MacConkey agar, and confirmed by biochemical tests. A total of 21% of the cases were positive for staphylococcus sp, 3% and 6% for Streptococcus sp and Klebsiella pneumonia, respectively. Other bacteria were isolated in 45% of the cases. It was further noted that a total of 285 lambs between the ages of one to four months of age followed by 58 lambs (20%) less than one month old had E.coli isolation. It is also noteworthy that there were 10 lambs with E.coli infection in one to fourteen day-old lambs during the 3-year period from January 2013 to December 2015. This information was collated as a result of routine diagnosis of field cases submitted and with the intention of highlighting the common pathogens causing high mortality in local small ruminant farms so that preventive action may be taken for future farming ventures. E. coli infections or Colibacillosis is an important finding and indicator of poor management including poor nutrition, hygiene and environmental contamination which can reduce animal immunity and render it susceptible to other infections.

Five mature Holstein cows and 6 first-lactation Holstein cows were administered 100 mg of glucose/kg of body weight, IV, over a 20-minute period on postpartum day 30. A series (preinfusion, glucose infusion, and postinfusion) of blood samples was collected at -15, -10, -5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 minutes from the start of the infusion. Serum was obtained and was assayed for glucose, immunoreactive insulin (IRI) growth hormone (GH), and free fatty acid concentrations. Baseline glucose and free fatty acid concentrations were similar in cattle of both groups throughout the sample collection period. Both groups of cattle disposed of the infused glucose in a similar manner. The first-lactation cows secreted significantly (P < 0.0001) more IRI to utilize the glucose load than did the mature cows, 71 +/- 13 microU/ml vs 38 +/- 7 microU/ml, respectively (mean +/- SEM). Preinfusion and glucose infusion GH concentrations were similar in cattle of both groups. In the postinfusion period, GH values were significantly (P < 0.0002) higher in the first-lactation cows (8.7 +/- 1.8 ng/ml) than in the mature cows (5.8 +/- 1.6 ng/ml). Compared with that in the mature cows, the higher IRI concentration required by the first-lactation cows to utilize approximately the same glucose load suggested that first-lactation cows were insulin resistant. The increased insulin response to increased glucose concentration may be one reason first-lactation cows produce less milk than do mature cows. Other factors, such as variation in the ability of the mammary gland to synthesize milk cannot be excluded.

A study was carried out to analyse the efficacy of neem leaf powder, administered in a capsule against coccidiosis in young goats as well as to identify the species of coccidia found in a selected private farm in Sungai Siput, Perak. A total of seven Eimeria spp were found, in faecal samples from the experimental goats, namely; E. arloingi,E. hirci, E. alijevi, E. christenseni, E. jolchijevi, E. ninakohlyakimovae and E. caprina at a rate of 40%, 23%, 14%, 7%, 5% and 2% respectively. Two types of treatment for coccidiosis, herbal and synthetic, were given to 24 young goats for a period of 8 weeks to evaluate the effectiveness of a herbal product, that is the neem leaf powder capsule, a product of the Veterinary Research Institute.Results show that there is no significant differences (p>0.01) between neem capsule treatment and a synthetic drug (sulphurbased) treatment in treating coccidiosis infection. This study shows that neem leaf powder can be an effective substitute for controlling coccidiosis in goats

We compared the frequency and severity of osteochondrosis lesions in young Thoroughbred horses with cervical stenotic myelopathy (CSM) vs that in clinically normal Thoroughbreds of the same age. All lesions of the cervical vertebrae and appendicular skeleton were classifiedhistologically as osteochondrosis or nonosteochondrosis and were measured for severity. Minimal sagittal diameter was significantly smaller in horses with CSM from C2 through C6; no difference was detected at C7. Severity of cervical vertebral osteochondrosis was greater in the horses with CSM, however frequency was not different. Frequency and severity of nonosteochondrosis lesions were not different in cervical vertebrae or appendicular skeleton. Frequency and severity of appendicular skeleton osteochondrosis lesions were both greater in horses with CSM. Osteochondrosis and nonosteochondrosis lesions were more severe on facets at sites of compression than on facets at noncompressed sites in horses with CSM. However, compression was also observed at sites with no articular facet lesions. The association of widespread osteochondrosis and spinal canal narrowing with CSM suggests CSM may represent a systemic failure in the development or maturation of cartilage and bone.

The efficacy of paste and granule formulations of pyrantel pamoate against concurrent infections of Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme in cats was examined in a controlled trial. Three groups of 8 cats received either no medication (controls) or pyrantel pamoate in paste or granule formulations at a dosage of 20 mg/kg of body weight. After administration of the paste formulation, fecal egg counts of A tubaeforme and T cati were decreased by 98.6 and 96.4%, respectively, and 100% of hookworms and 93.5% of ascarids were removed from the intestine. After administration of the granule formulation, fecal egg counts of A tubaeforme and T cati were decreased by 99.4 and 78.2%, respectively, and 100% of adult hookworms and 88.9% of ascarids were removed. All reductions of egg counts and worm numbers were significant (P < 0.01). The clinical safety of pyrantel pamoate was evaluated in 4- to 6-week-old kittens. Three groups of 10 kittens received either no medication (controls) or pyrantel pamoate in paste or granule formulations at the rate of 100 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days. Adverse effects were not observed in young kittens following administration of the high dose of pyrantel pamoate.

Heinz body formation was examined in kittens, in response to consumption of a variety of diets. A commercial salmon-based diet containing 16.5 mg of nitrite, 39 mg of histamine, and 210,000 IU of vitamin A/kg of diet (dry-matter basis) was found to induce Heinz body formation. Purified experimental diets--containing nitrite up to 405 mg/kg; histamine, 50 mg/kg; histamine, 50 mg/kg plus nitrite, 45 mg/kg; or vitamin A, 250,000 IU/kg--failed to induce Heinz body formation. The effect of propylene glycol (PG) on Heinz body formation was examined by giving groups of 6 kittens purified diets containing 5 or 10% PG for 12 weeks. Two additional kittens were fed a commercial soft-moist diet containing PG for 12 weeks. All kittens fed PG developed Heinz bodies, with peak values for erythrocytes containing Heinz bodies being: 28% for kittens of the 10% PG group; 20% for kittens of the 5% PG group; and 36% for kittens of the soft-moist diet group. Kittens did not develop anemia or methemoglobinemia. Heinz body percentage required 6 to 8 weeks to decrease to the pretreatment value of < 1% after diets containing PG were discontinued. 51Chromium-labeled erythrocytes were used to evaluate erythrocyte survival in 4 kittens of the 10% PG-fed group and in 4 control kittens. Kittens with Heinz body formation induced by 10% PG had significantly (P < 0.001) decreased erythrocyte survival, compared with that for controls, with half-life of 8.3 days for kittens of the PG group, compared with 12.6 days for kittens of the control group.