A Ten year old intact dachshund bitch weighing around 13kgs body weight was presented with the history of pendulous swelling on the caudal ventral abdomen for past six months. On palpation, swelling was soft, painless and reducible. On radiographic examination, herniated intestinal loop was noticed. Haematobiochemical values were within normal range except for mild neutrophilia. Based on the clinical examination and radiographic evaluation, it was diagnosed as inguinal hernia. Herniorrhaphy and ovariohysterectomy was performed under general anaesthesia. Postoperatively, antibiotics and analgesics were administered for 7 and 3 days, respectively. No postoperative complication was recorded and the animal recovered uneventfully.

Lantana camara is a weed which affects both livestock production and the growth of other plants near them. It is a sturdy plant with multi-colored flowers which can grow well in diverse climatic and soil conditions. Initially cultivated as an ornamental plant and transferred to various regions of the world; the plant has now become one of the  common weeds in agricultural land and forest regions. It is found in almost all parts of India and its invasion in forest cover of the country is a great concern as the plant has inhibitory effect on growth of other plants. It has been listed among the ten most toxic weed in the world. Although grazing animals primarily do not consume this plant, scarcity of pasture lands cause the animals to eat this plant. Consumption of this plant cause hepatotoxicity and secondary photosensitization in animals. The toxic compound in this plant is ‘Lantadenes’ and is predominantly found in leaves of the plant. The history, phytochemistry, toxicity in animals, toxicopathology, treatment and prevention of toxicity are reviewed in this article.

Twenty four Nellore brown ram lambs (15.32 ± 0.39 kg body weight) of 3-6 months aged were used to assess the effect of different floor types on body condition score (BCS), dirt score, eggs per gram (EPG) count of faeces and hoof condition under intensive rearing system for a period of 120 days. Lambs were assigned randomly to one of three treatments. Treatment groups were mud/gravel floor-control (T1; n = 8), concrete floor (T2; n = 8) and elevated plastic slatted floor (T3; n = 8). Significantly higher BCS observed in experimental groups in first (P<0.01) and eighth (P<0.05) fortnights, whereas the difference observed in other fortnights was not-significant. Significant (P<0.05) difference in dirt score was observed among three floor types and lowest dirt score was observed in lambs kept in T3 group. Higher dirt score indicated that the lambs reared on concrete floor were dirtier than lambs on mud floor whereas, lambs reared on elevated plastic slatted floor (low score) were cleaner than other two groups. There was a significant difference in EPG count of faeces among treatment groups. The EPG count of T3 group was significantly (P<0.05) lower from second to fourth month and T2 group also recorded lower EPG value in third month of the experiment indicating lesser incidences of parasitic infestation. The study also revealed significant (P<0.05) difference in hoof length among three treatment groups. Higher hoof length (cm) was recorded in T3 group throughout the experiment except the first fortnight. It is concluded that, elevated plastic slatted floor is recommended for rearing of ram lambs for higher BCS, cleanliness (dirt) score and lower EPG count of faeces together with a periodical hoof trimming for early marketability of healthy ram lambs.

A comparative study to assess the quantity and quality of milk production in milch cattle using TANUVAS and Commercial (AGRIMIN® FORTE) mineral mixture was conducted in two dairy farms in Ramanathapuram district in the form of On Farm Trials (OFT). Three animals in the same stage of milking were selected from each farm. The animals were divided in to three groups viz. A, B and C with one animal in each group. All the animals were in the same plane of nutrition in the particular farm. Group A was kept as control, Group B supplemented with TANUVAS mineral mixture and animals in Group C were supplemented with AGRIMIN ® FORTE and the study was conducted for a period of 4 months. Although both the treatment groups (B and C) showed elevation in volume of production and fat % and the rate of raise in fat % was found to be higher in group B and the amount of raise in volume of milk produced was found to be higher in group C. The SNF % and Protein % were found to be increased only in group C.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a combination of endocrine and metabolic syndrome contributing to both the terms as a clinical feature in women. The present study was conducted to find the alleviative effect of aqueous extract of Asparagus racemosus against the induced PCOS in Wistar rats. About 60 Wistar rats (n=10) are randomly divided into 6 groups: Group 1 (control group), Group 2 (Asparagus racemosus control), Group 3 (PCOS control estradiol valerate 5 mg/rat), Group 4 (estradiol valerate + 1000 mg/kg Asparagus racemosus Prophylactic treatment from day 1 of induction of PCOS), Group 5 (estradiol valerate + 100 mg/kg Asparagus racemosus treatment, after induction of PCOS), Group 6 (Metformin 100 mg/kg). Haematological parameters such as glucose, total protein, albumin, ALT, AST, ALP, triglycerides, cholesterol, C reactive proteins, BUN and creatinine were studied in polycystic ovarian syndrome. Metformin group showed highly significant (P<0.01) reduction in haemoglobin, Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and significant (P< 0.05) reduction in Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC) compared to prophylactic, therapeutic and PCOS groups while PCOS group showed elevation in platelet count (P< 0.05). Significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum glucose, cholesterol and CRP noticed in the PCOS groups compared to prophylactic, therapeutic and metformin groups. The results indicated that Asparagus racemosus had partial alleviating effect on haemato-biochemical parameters caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome in Wistar rats.

Incidence of candidiasis and its ability to be a primary infection in a native chicken flock of 500 birds reared in cage system was reported. Grossly, pseudomembranous growth giving turkey-towel appearance was noticed in dead birds. Crops from affected chicken yielded Candida albicans was confirmed by culture and germ tube production in poultry serum from the crop samples collected from affected birds. Administration of copper sulphate was found to be effective in containing illness and the signs associated with candidiasis in the affected flock.

Recently calved Jersey crossbred primiparous cow was presented with history of in appetence and scanty voiding of dung for past 3 days. On physical examination vital parameters were within normal range. On per rectal examination, there was distended caecum from the pelvic inlet which extended cranially. Per rectal examination revealed distension of caecum which was extended cranially. Simultaneous auscultation and percussion on the right upper flank revealed clear metallic ping sound which extended up to 11th intercostal space on first day. Transabdominal ultrasonographic examination revealed thick semicircular echogenic caecal wall and contents on mid upper flank, extended up to 11th intercostal space. Bethanechol 0.07 mg/kg SID orally along with parenteral fluid therapy was given for 3 days. On fourth day after initiation of therapy the animal voided dung normally and recovered uneventfully.

Leptospirosis is one of the most important zoonotic disease caused by the pathogenic leptospires Leptospira interrogans. In this study, four pathogenic Leptospira serovars were selected based on the seroprevalence data, their LPS extracted, assessed for its purity and seroreactivity and processed for the determining the fatty acid profiles. The average concentration of the LPS extracted from the cultures across the serovars was 742.75+19.4 µg/ml with the polysaccharides contributing to 77.2 % of the LPS (573.6+18.01 µg/ml). The common fatty acids that were present in all the four serovars included butyric acid (C4:0), capric acid (C10:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:0),  eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n3) and docosapentaenoic acid (C22:6n3). The heptadecanoic acid (C17:1) was present in serovars australis and autumnalis; pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) in canicola and hardjo serovars and caproic acid (C6:0) in the serovars autumnalis and canicola. The fatty acid eicosatrinoic acid (C20:3n3) was unique to the serovar autumnalis and the myristic (C13:0) and docosadienoic acid (C22:2) being unique to the serovar hardjo. Future studies to understand the fatty acid profile of the other common pathogenic circulating Leptospira LPS will add scientific evidence to the minor cross-reactivity observed across the serovars in MAT.

An outbreak of pasteurellosis was recorded in a local Japanese quail farm in Tamil Nadu with a flock capacity of 20,000 birds per batch. Mortality was reported in new arrival of 2000 birds of 14 week old quails. Mortality was recorded to be increasing from third day to 10th day of arrival with a total mortality of 410 birds at the rate of 20 birds per day for three consecutive days and 30 to 60 for seven consecutive days with the history of depression, ruffled feathers, discharge of mucous from the mouth and nostrils, anorexia, diarrhoea and respiratory distress. Necropsy was performed on dead birds which revealed numerous greyish necrotic foci scattered on the entire parenchyma of the liver on gross examination. Heart showed petechial haemorrhages on the pericardium while other organs namely kidney, intestine, spleen and lungs showed only congestion. Impression smear of the liver revealed presence of bipolar organisms on microscopic examination. Cultural examination of heart blood swab and PCR assay carried out on liver tissues confirmed the presence of Pasteurella multocida. Based on the postmortem examination and laboratory findings, diagnosis was confirmed as pasteurellosis and all the other ailing birds were treated with enrofloxacin orally @ 5 mg/kg body weight for 7 days. The treated birds became active with normal feeding habits after 10 days of treatment. 

A study was conducted in Murrah buffaloes belonging to Livestock Farm Complex of Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu, located in cauvery delta region to document the effect of heat ameliorative measures on physiological responses during summer. Twenty four buffaloes were selected and divided into four treatment groups of 6 animals per group. All the animals were maintained under standard managemental conditions with wallowing facility. The treatment group (T1) was control, animals in T2 were provided with cooling jacket, animals in T3 were supplemented with probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and T4 animals received probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and were provided cooling jacket. Physiological parameters viz., respiratory rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature were recorded during the summer season (March 2022 to May 2022) at weekly intervals in animals of all the treatment groups. Measurements were made when animals were at rest and after the exposure to sun light at 9 am and 2 pm respectively. From results it was concluded that the heat ameliorative measures given to the different groups of animals decreased the respiratory rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature during summer.