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.

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection in the chicken population of Bhola district, Bangladesh, during the period from April 2011 to March 2012. A total of 480 blood samples from chickens were collected from different upazilas (sub-districts) of Bhola district. The sampling considered the types of chicken (backyard and commercial layer), age groups (pullet, adult and old) and seasons (summer and winter). On the basis of the serum plate agglutination test, 55.83% (n=268/480) chickens were found positive for MG. The MG infection was higher (62.5%) in backyard chickens as compared to those being reared in commercial farming systems (53.61%). With respect to age groups, the prevalence was highest in pullets (60.63%) followed by adults (55.63%) and old chickens (51.25%). Moreover, chickens reared in winter showed higher prevalence of MG (60.42%) as compared to those reared in summer (51.25%). In conclusion, MG infection is prevalent in the chicken population of Bhola district, Bangladesh. Appropriate strategies should be taken for successful prevention and control of this disease in Bangladesh.

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.

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.

This study was conducted for the detection of Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum infection in neonatal calves. A total of 220 fecal samples (diarrheic 110 and nondiarrheic 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 nondiarrheic animals.

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.

A female Labrador dog presented with a history of distended abdomen was subjected for clinical, physical, hemato-biochemical, eletrocardiographic, and ultrasonographic evaluations. Respiratory distress, weakness, fluid thrill on palpation of abdomen, cough, cyanotic tongue, and syncope were the significant manifestations. Elevated levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine amino transferase, and alkaline phosphatase with normal blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were the common serum chemistry findings. Low voltage QRS complexes were the electrocardiographic abnormalities. Classical ground glass appearance of abdomen, and enlarged heart with increased sternal contact were the radiographic findings of abdomen and thorax. Ultrasonography of abdomen revealed floating viscera in the anechoic effusion with engorged and distended hepatic vasculature. 2-dimensional echocardiography revealed dilated right ventricle both on B- and M-mode. Further, insufficiency in mitral and tricuspid valves were recorded on pulsed and color flow Doppler. Hence, right heart failure due to ascites was confirmed, and the condition was successfully managed with losartas, spiranolactone, co-enzyme Q10 and tricholine citrate, and sorbitol.

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.

Emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has created the necessity of replacement of antibiotic with other products like prebiotics, probiotics, organic acid botanicals, and herbal essential oils. Essential oils (EOs) are important aromatic components of herbs and spices, and are used as natural alternatives for replacing antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry feed as these have antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral properties. Beside, other beneficial effects of EOs include appetite stimulation, improvement of enzyme secretion related to food digestion, and immune response activation. Recently, use of EOs in broiler chickens has drawn attentions. EOs are generally used as blend with a carrier oil or combination with other plant oils in the feed to enhance the productive performance of birds. Conclusively, EOs can be used in poultry feed, but there are still questions concerning their action, metabolic pathway and optimal dosage in poultry, which are to be explored in detail. This mini-review describes the expanding horizons in the research on EOs in poultry nutrition.

The current study was conducted to evaluate the pathogenicity and immunosuppressive effects of GM-97 strain of infectious bursal disease virus in commercial broiler chickens. A total of 500 broiler chickens were vaccinated with the virus through oral route at 10 and 17 days of age (102-103 EID50/dose). Chickens were also vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus (Hitchner B1) orally at 14 and 21 days old. Chickens were euthanized (at 12, 14, 16, 20, 23, 26 days of age) after measuring body weight. Bursa of Fabricius was examined for any gross lesion, weighed and processed for histological investigations. Bursa to body weight ratio and bursal lesion scoring were made to evaluate pathogenicity of the virus. Blood samples were analyzed for antibody response to ND vaccine virus using HI test. Results showed that the GM-97 strain of IBDV induced mild to moderate depletion of lymphoid cells in the center of bursal follicles and non-significant difference in bursa to body weight ratio amongst vaccinated and unvacci-nated chickens. Chickens responded well to ND vaccine by mounting high level of serum NDV specific HI antibody titers. It can be concluded from the present study that GM-97 strain of IBDV has mild pathogenicity but is not immunosuppressive.