The study was conducted to evaluate the oxidative stress in the dogs affected with parenchymal, biliary and neoplastic hepatic disorders compared with apparently healthy dogs. Twenty apparently healthy dogs framed the control group. The experimental group consist of twenty dogs in which 9 dogs formed the parenchymal disorder, six dogs with biliary disorder and five dogs with neoplastic disorder based on the serum biochemical and ultrasonographic investigation. The biochemical parameters such as Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were significantly elevated in experimental group whereas glucose concentration was decreased. In the present study Oxidative biomarkers such as Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were significantly reduced and Thiobarbituric Acid Reacting Substance (TBARS) was significantly increased in parenchymal, biliary and neoplastic disorders of experimental group when compared with control group. Results of this study showed that the significant increase in oxidative stress in all three disorders of hepatic dysfunction in dogs could be the cause for the progress of hepatic pathology.

The physiology of maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in cattle is well explored and a better understanding of phenomenon of MRP is needed in order to improve reproductive efficiency in buffaloes. The present work was conducted to study the effect of non-surgical removal of conceptus and expression profile of interferon tau (IFNT) in the conceptus after post insemination in buffaloes. In the experiment I, 15 female buffaloes in estrus were inseminated using frozen semen of Murrah buffalo and the uterine flushing by non-surgical method was carried out on days 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 of post insemination for collection of conceptus. Under experiment II, conceptus tissue collected on different days in the experiment I and conceptus tissue collected from slaughter house pregnant reproductive tracts were used for RNA isolation to study real time expression pattern of IFNT on day 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 30, 40 and 50 of pregnancy by using specific primers (F5’-GCCCTGGTGCTGGTCAGCTA -3’ and R5’-CATCTTAGTCAGCGAGAGTC -3’). The estrous cycle length following non- surgical removal of conceptus on day 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 post-insemination was 23.50±0.96, 36.60±3.35, 41.25±2.67, 42.73 ±2.61 and 45.20±7.03 days, respectively. The mean cycle length increased significantly by 8-47 days following removal of conceptus on day 14, 16, 18 and 20 post-insemination when compared to day 12. The expression of IFNT was found low but at detectable levels as early as on day 12 of gestation. The level of expression increased significantly (P<0.01) on day 14 of pregnancy and remains elevated up to day 16 and  It, thereafter, started reducing significantly (P<0.01) on day 20, 30, 40 and reached undetectable level on day 50 of pregnancy. It may, therefore, be concluded that non- surgical removal of conceptus on day 14, 16, 18 and 20 of pregnancy extended the cycle length up to 8-47 days and strong expression of IFNT during day 14-16 of pregnancy indicating embryonic signal to dam and establishment of Maternal Recognition Pregnancy (MRP) in buffalo.

Bovine visceral schistosomosis is an important economic, chronic wasting blood fluke illness caused primarily by Schistosoma spindale. The abattoir samples of mesenteric veins, mesenteric lymph nodes and mesenteric fat of S. spindale infected cattle were subjected to histopathological studies. Microscopically it was observed that the mesenteric veins had a cross section of Schistosoma spindale adult worms with mild intimal proliferation and slight thickening of tunica media layer. Mesenteric lymph node revealed mild lymphoid cell depletion and thickening of the medullary trabeculae. The macrophage laden with hemosiderin pigment in cortical and paracortical area of lymph node was confirmed by Perl’s Prussian blue staining. Fat necrosis with mononuclear cell infiltration and venous thrombosis were also observed in the mesenteric fat.

The study was conducted to identify the common bacteria leading to dermatitis in canines. The swab samples taken from the dermatitis affected dogs brought to MVC teaching hospital were subjected to Antibiotic Sensitivity Test (ABST). A total of 21 dermatitis affected dogs were screened for the presence of Staphylococcus spp and Escherichia coli, by subjecting swab samples for culture by using MSA and EMB agar respectively. All the samples tested positive for Staphylococcus species while 50% of the samples tested positive for Escherichia coli.   Subsequent ABST of the collected swab samples revealed resistance towards Penicillin-G (100%), Amoxicillin (91%) and Cefalothin (91%). Fluoroquinolones like Ciprofloxaxin and Levofloxacin showed 60% and 82% resistance respectively. Cephalosporins such as Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone were moderately resistant (55% and 45.5% respectively) while Clindamycin and Vancomycin showed high level of resistance (82%) indicating rapid emergence of resistance among Staphylococcus spp and E. coli against a variety of antibiotics tested.

In-vivo follicular developmental pattern was characterized in postpartum anoestrus (PPA) crossbred cows using the ultrasound imaging technology. A total of 12 PPA and six normally cycling cows were selected and investigated. In PPA cows, the ultrasonographic examination of ovaries was initiated randomly on any day and examined every other day continuously for a period of 25 days. In cyclic animals, the ovaries were ultrasonographically monitored every other day from the day of observed oestrus (Day 0) to Day 10 targeting the dominant follicle (DF) of first follicular wave. Ultrasonographic monitoring of the follicular turnover in PPA cows revealed that both the ovaries exhibited dynamic follicular activity. A maximum of two waves could be recorded during the observation period of 25 days, with each wave extending for a period of 8 – 10 days. The follicular wave of PPA exhibited coordinated growth, static and regression phases, with significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged static phase than their counterpart in normally cycling cows. Eventhough the DFs attained >10mm diameter, the animal did not evince any symptom of oestrum which might be due to deficient steroidogenic capacity of the follicular cells as a result of aberrant follicular microenvironment.

Intracellular bacterial diseases cause significant economic losses in livestock industries. Constraints in eradicating infectious diseases indicate the need for selection and breeding of animals based on natural disease resistance. Solute Carrier Family 11 Member 1(SLC11A1) gene expressed in macrophages has significant involvement in innate immune mechanism. Investigation of polymorphism of 3’untranslated region (3’UTR) of SLC11A1 gene was conducted and the Polymerase Chain Reaction - Single-Stranded Conformational Polymorphic (PCR-SSCP) pattern at 3’untranslated region (3’UTR) of SLC11A1 gene in Jersey crossbred cattle was analyzed. A fragment of 175bp encoding 3’UTR was amplified by PCR and the genotyping was done by using PCR-SSCP. SSCP pattern of 3’UTR revealed the presence of four genotypes, viz. AB, BB, CC and CB with a frequency of 0.29, 0.40, 0.17 and 0.13, respectively with allelic frequencies of A (0.144), B (0.615) and C (0.24). The result showed that the population was not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for SLC11A1 gene. SLC11A1 gene was found to be highly polymorphic in the Jersey crossbred cattle population studied.

Bacterial normal flora were identified in handfed psittacine birds (lory, amazons, lorikeet, cockatoo, conure, grey parrot, macaw, eclectus and African love birds) at Cavin estate exotic bird farm, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A total of 54 cloacal swabs were collected fromdifferent species of psittasine birds for bacteriological screening to identify the microorganisms by morphological and biochemical characteristics. In the present study, four Gram positive organisms such as Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Bacillus and Corynebacterium and ten Gram negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Enterobactersp., Klebsiellasp., Yersiniasp., Providenciasp., Erwiniasp., Citrobactersp., Serratiasp., Acinitobactersp.and Buttiauxellasp.,were identified as the normal flora in apparently healthyhandfed psittacine birds. The frequency of occurrence of Staphylococcus sp., and E.coli was higher when compared to others. 

This study was conducted to investigate methane production potential of feed ingredients to develop a database on methane production. Feed ingredients such as cereal grains, cereal by-products and protein supplements were tested for methane production potential using in vitro gas production technique. In vitro true digestibility (IVTD) of cereal grains ranged from 60.1 to 96.7% and oats grain (76.2%) and distiller’s grain (60.1%) had lower (P<0.05) values than other cereal grains. Among the cereal by-products, wheat bran showed highest (P<0.05) IVTD (74.9%) than rice bran (42.7%). IVTD of cottonseed oil cake, black gram and sunflower oil cake was lower (P<0.05) than other protein supplements. Methane production potential of cereal grains at half life (t1/2) ranged from 0.66 to 2.85 ml/100 mg truly digested substrate and the difference was significant (P<0.05), however, maize grain, sorghum grain, bajra and broken rice did not vary among themselves. Average methane production potential of cereal by-products at half life (t1/2) and 24 hrs was 1.27 and 1.81 ml/100 mg truly digested substrate, respectively. Average methane production potential of protein supplements at half life (t1/2) and 24 hrs was 1.39 and 1.75ml/100 mg of truly digested substrate, respectively and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Maximum (P<0.05) methane production potential at half life (t1/2) was recorded for black gram (4.07 ml/100 mg truly digested substrate). Lowest methane production potential both at half life (t1/2) and 24 hrs were recorded in fish meal and spirulina. It can be concluded that among cereal grains, methane production potential was higher (P<0.05) in oats grain at half life (t1/2) and all the cereal grains had similar methane production potential at 24 hrs. Among cereal by-products, wheat bran had higher (P<0.05) methane production potential both at half life (t1/2) and 24 hrs. Among protein supplements, black gram had significantly (P<0.05) higher methane production potential at half life (t1/2) and horse gram had significantly (P<0.05) higher methane production potential at 24 hrs. 

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementing plant metabolites like tannin and saponin through Acacia nilotica plant extract on methane mitigation and rumen fermentation characteristics for dairy cattle by in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) in forage based diet. A highly significant (P<0.01) reduction of methane was observed in Acacia nilotica plant extract supplemented groups than their respective controls. The significant (P<0.05) reduction of methane (ml) per 100 mg of truly digested substrate was found in 0.75 ml of Acacia nilotica extract supplemented group than other treatment groups after eliminating the errorinduced by the extractant. The rumen fermentation characteristics viz. ammonia nitrogen, in vitro true dry matter digestibility (IVTDMD), bacterial and protozoal population was significantly decreased in 0.75 ml and 1.0 ml Acacia nilotica plant extract added groups. The total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and propionic acid were significantly (P<0.05) increased and acetic acid and acetate to propionate (A/P) ratio were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in 0.75 ml and 1.0 ml Acacia nilotica plant extract added groups than their respective control groups. It was concluded that the methane (ml) per 100 mg of truly digested substrate was significantly decreased at the inclusion level of 3.09 % of tannin and 2.34 % saponin through Acacia nilotica plant extract supplemented group than control.

A research was undertaken to enrich the fibre content in milk lollies by incorporating defatted tamarind seed kernel powder (TSKP) at 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 per cent levels in suitable form. The developed products were subjected to sensory, physicochemical, proximate, microbiological and cost analysis. Sensory analysis revealed good overall acceptability. The pH values increased in milk lollies withconsequent decrease in titratable acidity. As the inclusion level of TSKP increased both the specific gravity and viscosity increased from 1.10±0.00 to 1.13±0.00 and 48.35±1.63 to 57.52±1.38 respectively with a highly significant difference (p≤0.01). The melting resistance showed a marked improvement with inclusion of TSKP and the time of first drip was the lowest (2 minutes) for control and the highest (5.5minutes) for milk lollies with 0.75 per cent TSKP. The proximate analysis of milk lollies showed no significant difference among control and treatment milk lollies. Coliforms were absent in all the samples and total viable count for milk lollies were within the acceptable level (5.10 to 5.20 log cfu/ml). Though the cost analysis of milk lollies revealed a slight increase in the rates of treatment groups compared to that of control, the rates were found to be acceptable with added health benefits.