Firfty serum and fifty semen samples collected from cattle and buffalo bulls were subjected to ELISA and gB gene based PCR, respectively to detect antibodies in serum and viral DNA in the semen against BHV 1. Out of 50 bulls, 15 (30%) serum samples were detected positive by ELISA while 21 (42%) semen samples were positive by gB gene based PCR. While correlating the results of ELISA and PCR, some seronegative bulls revealed presence of viral genome in semen whereas few seropositive bulls could not reveal viral genome in semen, thus, suggesting application of combined serological assay and PCR assay to detect the presence of BHV-1 infection in bulls.

The seroprevalence of Mycoplasma equigenitalium among indigenous equines was determined by an indirect ELISA. One thousand thirty nine sera samples from apparently healthy indigenous equines from seventeen States of the country were subjected to indirect ELISA. The overall seroprevalence in the country was found to be 5.96% with a range of 0% to 19.0% in different States of India (Haryana, 9.6%; Rajasthan, 7.2%; Uttaranchal, 2.0%, Karnataka, 2.3%; Punjab, 10.4%; Uttar Pradesh, 3.4%; Gujarat, 0%; Andhra Pradesh, 0%; Maharashtra, 2.9%; West Bengal, 0%; Tamil Nadu, 0%; Meghalaya, 19.0%; Jammu and Kashmir, 7.8%; Delhi, 0%; Himachal Pradesh, 5.5%; Bihar, 3.3%; Madhya Pradesh, 4.0%).

One hundred thirty one samples (nasal, faecal, soil, tissue from dead foal) were tested for presence of Rhodococcus equi. These samples included 58 nasal swabs including 45 from foals with respiratory problem and 13 from in contact apparently healthy foals. Faecal samples were 54 including 41 from foals with respiratory problem and 13 from in contact apparently healthy foals. Faecal and nasal samples were from same foals, soil samples from infected premises were 15, besides tissues from foals (4) which died due to respiratory problems. Fourteen isolates of Rhodococcus equi were obtained from foals with respiratory problems, which were subjected to in vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing to 17 antimicrobial agents which were amoxycillin, gentamycin, ampicillin, trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, sulphadiazine, cloxacin, oxytetracycline, amikacin, streptomycin, cotrimoxazole, cephalexin, kanamycin erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, neomycin and rifampicin. All the isolates were found sensitive to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin, neomycin and rifampicin.

The canines affected with skin affections were subjected to blood biochemical profile assay. The affections included dermatitis, sarcoptic mange, demodectic mange, eczema, flea allergy dermatitis, skin allergy and bacterial dermatitis. The blood profile of serum iron, triglyceride, cholesterol, uric acid, urea, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase were compared with the blood of healthy dogs. The serum iron, urea and creatinine were comparable in both the groups. It was concluded that stress of dermatosis reflected in enzyme (higher in GGT) and lipid profile (higher in triglyceride, cholesterol) of patients, while renal parameters (urea and creatinine) remain unaffected on account of skin ailments.

The present study reports the concentration of Copper, Zinc, Iron and Manganese in the blood plasma of male kutchi camels during their breeding season. The respective concentrations of the plasma trace minerals were 112.94 ±O.44, 105.65±2.08, 117.65±1.72 and 160.29±0.75 µ/dl.

A total of six clinical cases of snake bite were examined clinico-haematologically. The clinical examination revealed the normal rectal temperature but increased respiration as well as heart rates. The hematological values showed decreased Hb and PCV but increase in polymorphonuclear cells. All these snake bite dogs had been successfully treated with slow i.v. administration of antivenin along with corticosteroids i.m., adrenaline (1: 10,000 dilution in i.v. fluid), inj. DNS (5%), i.m. administration of antibiotic(s) and local antiseptic dressing with povidone Iodine after irrigation or washing the affected area(s) with soap water. Out of six dogs, four dogs survived and two died even after treatment.

A dead calf with cranial duplication removed by cesarean section under local infiltration anaesthesia. The cow made uneventful recovery after surgery without complication.

A total of 128 faecal samples of dogs suspected for canine parvovirus infection were examined by Haemagglutination (HA) and Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests. The prevalence of canine parvovirus infection was 45.30% (58/128) and the age wise maximum (70.20%) prevalence was found in dogs upto 6 month. The breed wise maximum (56.90%) prevalence was in Non-descript dogs and sex wise prevalence revealed no significant difference in male (45.9%) and female (43.3%).

Effect of strain (Khaki Campbell, Indigenous) and age (224 and 280 days) of ducks on the physical egg quality and presence of off-flavour in eggs was studied. The average of egg weight, yolk index and percent yolk weight for the two ages under study were significantly (P0.05) higher in Indigenous duck eggs whereas the same average value for albumen index, Haugh Unit score and percent albumen were higher in Khaki Campbell eggs. However, shape index, yolk colour score, shell thickness and percent shell weight of eggs were comparable for the two strains. Age of ducks had an insignificant influence on shape index, albumen height, shell thickness and yolk index as evident from the least difference between average values of two strains under study. But, the average values of the two strains under study were significantly affected by age for A.I., H.U. score, % albumen weight, % shell weight and % yolk weight. Presence of off-flavour was more pronounced in Khaki Campbell eggs than that of indigenous eggs.

Rabies virus (RV) is highly neurotropic and migrates to the neuronal soma by retrograde axonal transport from nerve terminals, after which it is taken by anterograde axonal transport to be finally released into the central nervous system (CNS) from which it disseminates, resulting in lethal encephalitis. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are crucial in the initial events of the infection by RV since they can act as a gate for the viral entrance into the CNS. In the present study, we examined cell tropism of RV and the roles of neuronal cytoskeletal components in the production of viral nucleoprotein (N protein) using cultured nerve cells and non-neuronal cells from DRG of newborn mice. Our in vitro study demonstrated a low propagation rate of RV in nerve cells, susceptibility of non-neuronal cells to RV, and independence of cytoplasmic synthesis of viral N protein from the neuronal cytoskeleton. The present study also suggests that Schwann cells should be considered as another possible candidate supporting RV propagation.