Interactive effect of ethanolic extract of Coccinia indica leaves with glibenclamide (oral hypoglycemic agent) on hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect in alloxan induced diabetic rats was studied. The diabetic rats were administered with C. indica leaf extract at the dose of 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight in combination with glibenclamide at the rate of 0.125 mg/kg. Blood glucose, serum cholesterol and triglyceride were estimated at 15 days intervals and liver glycogen, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxides in tissues at the end of the experiment. All the treatment groups showed significant lowering of blood glucose after 45 days of treatment when compared to the diabetic control. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides also returned to normal levels after 45 days of treatment. Reduced glutathione and lipid peroxide levels were also comparable with that of normal control at the end of the treatment. None of the treatment group showed any severe hypoglycaemia or other toxic effects and the combination of C. indica at the rate of 200 mg/kg with glibenclamide produced the most significant antidiabetic effect. The results suggested that interaction of C. indica with glibenclamide can produce significant hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect in diabetic rats and can be used safely in the treatment of diabetes.

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Pasteurella multocida strain P52 were purified by immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) using pre-challenge serum from HS vaccinated cattle-calves. IgG antibody titers of pre-challenge sera from HS vaccinated calves surviving and succumbing to direct challenge with virulent culture were determined against formalized P52 cells, P52 crude cell lysate, and OMPs of P52 purified by IAC. It was observed that OMP antigens were involved with protective response in calves and indirect ELISA test using lAC purified antigens can be developed for in vitro potency determination of Haemorrhagic septicemia (HS) vaccines.

The scarcity of green during summer months imposes nutritional stress on farm animals. In this study we examined the effect of nutritional stress on various biochemical parameters of rabbits.Control and green deprived groups each of 20, weaned New Zealand White rabbits, of either sex, were randomly placed and observed for two months. Then green was re-introduced in deprived group for again two months. Blood sera harvested at every 15th day and analyzed using RA 50 Chemistry auto analyzer. Significant (p0.05) decrease of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and increase in gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and serum cholesterol was observed in rabbits green deprived group.

A study was conducted on the epididymis of 30 Gaddi goats, divided into three groups of 10 animals in each viz; Prepubertal (1 day old to 18 months of age), Pubertal (18 months to 5yrs of age)and Postpubertal (5yrs of age). The study revealed that all the structures of epididymis grew gradually and consistently with age; however the differential growth was more appreciable during prepubertal and pubertal stages of life than in the later phases. In one day old kids, the tubular epithelium comprised of simple columnar epithelium, which became pseudostratified columnar at six months of age. The tubular diameter and height of the epithelium and its stereocilia also increased from birth to late prepuberty. It increased further in the pubertal animals and only slightly in postpubertal animals. Histochemically the cytoplasm of epididymis was PAS positive and Sudanophilic. Moderate to strong ACPase and strong AKPase activities were observed in all the segments of epididymis, which increased with age.

The present study was conducted on six crossbred calves below one year of age. The lead acetate was given @ 25 mg/ kg body weight orally for 7 days. After the completion of the experimental period, the lung tissues were collected in liquid nitrogen and cryostat sections of 10 ìm thickness were incubated for the demonstration of phosphatases and dehyrogenases. The positive and negative controls were carried out wherever possible. The lungs showed moderate AKPase, ATPase and G-6-Pase activity whereas the SDH and LDH activity varied from weak to moderate in alveolar septae.ACPase activity was increased in histiocytes of alveolar septae. The alveolar ducts showed negligible activity of all the enzymes studied. The results may be correlated with cellular damage and lysis of macrophages of the alveoli.

Clinico-therapeutic studies were made on thirty clinical cases of lantana toxicity in cattle. The affected animals showed anorexia, constipation, icteric mucous membranes, lachrymation, oligurea,cracks on muzzle, dehydration and rumen stasis. Biochemical analysis revealed that 61.53 % of early presented cases and 100 % of late presented cases were having biphasic Vanden Bergh reaction. Hypoglycemia and increased total protein level were present in late presented cases. Markedly elevated values of total bilirubin, BUN, AST and alkaline phosphatase in both the early and late cases of lantana toxicity indicated hepatic and renal dysfunction.

A total of 281 serum samples collected randomly from goats showing the signs of fever, abortion,repeat breeding and still births as well as from apparently healthy ones were subjected to LAT and MAT based on rLipL32 and rLipL41 antigens. A total of 16 (5.69%) samples were found positive to MAT, whereas rLipL32-LAT and rLipL41-LAT detected 35 (12.45%) and 23 (8.18%) samples as positive, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of rLipL32-LAT was 87.50% and 92.83%, respectively,while rLipL41-LAT yielded 75.00% and 97.35% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. LAT based on rLipL32 and rLipL41antigens could further be evaluated on a larger number of samples to ensure its utility as a screening test for the sero-epidemiological studies.

Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 3 cows from rectal pinch
samples. Direct smear stained with Acid Fast and Kinyoun stain was used to detect the organism. Subsequent samplings also indicated positive for Cryptosporidiosis, whereby one of the animals died due to dehydration and severe clinical signs of diarrhea. The farm had contaminated water supply where two out of the four ponds were
positive for Cryptosporidium spp. whereas the municipal water supply was negative. The management of the farm was poor in terms of nutrition and cleanliness which led to Cryptosporidium spp. infection in the cattle compounded by stress factors. The mortality of the adult dairy cattle and calves was also high reaching up to
40%. The most common cause of death was leg weakness, severe dehydration and pneumonia in calves as a result of severe infections. Cryptosporidiosis is zoonotic and thus needs to be controlled to prevent outbreaks in the human population.

Anthelmintic resistance which is escalating in Malaysia and other
countries is forcing farmers worldwide to look at alternative, green technologies to improve productivity and reduce diseases caused by helminths in livestock. One such method is the use of effective microbes or Useful Microbes (UM) for worm control. Therefore, a preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the anthelmintic effect of UM on nematode parasites of goat in a government farm. Fifteen Boer goats were randomly selected and fed with UM Bokashi mix (effective microbes in the form of granules) with commercial goat
pellets and UM fluid in drinking water. UM used in this study was produced by Department of Veterinary Services Penang by fermenting UM stock culture with a fruit base and molasses. Faecal egg counts
(FEC) using the modified McMaster technique was carried out weekly for 5 weeks. The results show that the UM used for animal feeding (5% Bokashi with commercial goat pellet) and ad lib UM fluid in drinking water, fed over a period of 1 month showed Faecal Egg Count
reduction from 3240 e.p.g. to 677 e.p.g. (79% reduction). The general packed cell volume also increased in a majority of the animals indicating better general health. Further studies are necessary to establish the systematic use of UM in smallholder farms as well as large commercial establishments and to determine its mode
of action in the pathophysiological aspects in the face of common limitations such as poor nutrition and other stress factors.

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