Ginger, about one year old domestic shorthaired cat with paresis was reported with constipation. Enema and laxatives prior to presentation was not effective. On palpation of the abdomen, a long tubular mass was palpated in the left caudal abdomen. Radiographic diagnosis of the megacolon was made and a subtotal colectomy was planned for the cat. A ventral mid-line celiotomy was made to explore the abdomen. Exploration revealed ascending, transverse and descending colon including the caecum found to be markedly distended due to faecal stasis. Following standard technique, a subtotal colectomy was performed. The cat recovered well after surgery without any complication. The owner reported that Ginger was doing well but died about seven months after surgery. Carcass was not available for necropsy. By clinical examination, diagnostic investigation and surgical exploration, other causes of megacolon were ruled out. The cat was about one year old with a short duration of illness. Without a definite history and by ruling out other causes, neurologic trauma was attributed as the probable cause of constipation and megacolon in the present case.

This case report describes paramphistomosis from the rumen ofan infected 3-year-old Bos indicus or also known as Zebu cattle that was sent to the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Ipoh,Perak for post-mortem examination with a history of a sudden death. On post-mortem, it was found that the rumen contents hada large number of pink, pear shaped flukes, which measured about 1 cm in length attached to the rumen wall. On performing the sedimentation technique on the rumen contents, operculated eggs with germ cells were observed microscopically under compound microscope with a magnification of 100×. Regular screening of cattle for flukes is an important part of parasite controlprogrammes especially in endemic areas as it can cause anaemia and deterioration in body condition.

Palm kernel cake (PKC) has long been known to be an importantingredient for the formulation of animal feeds. However the recommended levels of inclusion seem to vary from one reporter to another. This factor is considered important especially when formulating feeds for nonruminant diets. The variation of its major constituents such as protein, fibre and fat contents is said to depend on the sources, oil removal technology and the efficiency of oil extraction from the kernel. For comparison,a set of compilation data of 300 local PKC samples from the past years on these basic nutritional constituents were studied.Majority of the samples analysed were from southern region of Peninsular Malaysia meant for animal feeds. Mean percentagevalues and their respective standard deviations were as follows; crude protein 16.1±1.65, crude fibre 19.3±4.22, crude ash5.9±2.48, ether extract 5.6±3.36, dry matter 91.3±2.65, and metabolisable energy 7.75 MJ/kg. The objective of the study was to observe the distribution pattern of these values compared to other surveys. From this study, the highest relative standarddeviation (RSD) reached 60% for ether extract, followed by ash 42.1%, and crude fibre 21.8%. From the variation point of view,periodical results for quality control of PKC must be initiated as an useful indicator for its accuracy of each diet formulation.

Parasitic nematode infection in animal is one of the main causes for the mortality of animals and most of the treatment relies on the use of the anthelmintic drugs to overcome such a problem. However, the heavy use of anthelmintic contributed to the problem of multidrug resistance. This study was carried out to investigate the infectiveness of Punica granatum (aqueous leaf and peel extracts) as an alternative treatment. This study utilised the in-vitro assay technique (motility assayand larval migration inhibition assay) to determine the effect of the extracts on the survival of L3 stage of parasitic nematodes.The results showed that incubation of L3 in different concentrations (5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mg/ml) of extracts paralysed and killed the worms after 24 hours and 48 hours ofincubation periods. The same results were obtained from larval migration inhibition assay, showing that both extracts of Punicagranatum inhibited the migration of the L3. After 2 hours of incubation in the leaf extract (5 mg/ml), the migration of nematode larvae was inhibited to 56±12.29% as compared tothe control. While for the peel extract the percentage of migration was reduced to 53 ±3.33%. Further reduction of the migration was observed at 10, 20 and 50 mg/ml of leaf extract.

In Malaysia, helminthiasis due to strongyles such as Haemonchuscontortus and coccidiosis caused by Eimeria sp. have been reported to cause severe economic losses in small ruminants livestock industry. This paper reports the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasite infections on small ruminants situated in Seberang Perai Selatan district, Penang. Faecal samples were obtained from a total of 193 animals,randomly selected from 14 ruminant farms. The results of this survey indicates that helminthiasis and coccidiosis is rampant insheep and goat farms. The most common infections diagnosed were helminthiasis (77.72%) and coccidiosis (60.10%) followedby Moniezia sp. (5.18%). From this study, it shows that parasitic diseases can be managed by good animal husbandryin farms since high parasitic infections were observed in farms that were poorly managed based on nutrition, hygiene andbasic animal husbandry practices. The smallholders depended on health and extension services from the State Veterinary Department. A continuous monitoring of small ruminant farms by the Department of Veterinary Services will provide important information for assisting farmers with managing the spread of parasitic infections and maintaining the productivity of animals.

As of 2016, a total of 38 research projects have been undertaken, with the involvement of 38 principal researchers and 266 co-researchers from various Malaysian universities, research institutes and government agencies, in collaboration with industry partners, to help solve some of the issues faced by EBN industry. In the early stage, research areas were focused onfundamental works which are important to provide the scientific basis for some of the claims made by producers, assisting in issues raised by ranchers and industry, and to gather new knowledge in swiftlet and EBN. The researchers worked mainly based on the problems faced by the industry. Besides publications in journals, proceedings and books, more than 30 Masters, PhDs and technical experts have been trained under these projects. In addition, several patents have been filed, social innovations and ideas have been shared with the community and industry. A few products are ready to go to the next level for commercialisation. Industry partners are involved in many of these stepsand outputs. Some of the issues faced by the industry have been partially solved and are in the process of refinement. The engagement with the industry will be further strengthened by getting more industry partners to be involved in the relevantprojects specific to problems faced by the industry, for the benefits of EBN industry and nation’s wealth creation.

A rare case is presented of a 58-year-old woman who developed ahepatic-bronchopleural fistula following a hydatid hepatic cyst complication. The hepatic-bronchopleural fistula was diagnosed when patient complained of severe repetitive attacks of productive cough of brown yellow to dark colour sputum biliptysis (bile in cough) with vomiting associated with night sweating and fever, for the past one month. She also complained of right side chest and abdominal pain for the past 3 years. This paper describes a unique case of hepatic-bronchopleural fistula caused by hydatid disease, emphasising the clinical feature and its surgical management. Hydatid disease is a zoonotic infection dueto the damage caused by Echinococcus granulosus. E. granulosus, also called the hydatid worm, hyper tape-worm or dog tapeworm, is a cyclophyllid cestode that parasitises the small intestine of canids as an adult, but which has important intermediate hosts such as livestock and humans, where it causes cystic echinococcosis, also known as hydatid disease. It is hoped thatthis case report will add to the meagre case management reports of hepaticbronchopleural fistula in literature.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is caused by influenza virus A from the family Orthomyxoviridae. It is a severe, systemic disease with high mortality in avians. The mortality can be as high as 100% in a few days. On 28 February 2017, HPAI virus of H5N1 subtype was confirmed in village chickens at Kampung Pulau Tebu, Batu 5, Tunjong Kota Bharu, Kelantan. It wasthe second outbreak of HPAI in Kelantan after the first reported case at Tumpat Kelantan on 17 August 2004. Most of the dead poultry showed similar clinical signs of sudden death with high mortality, cyanosis and oedema of head, comb, wattle and snood as well as red discolouration of shanks and feet. Post-mortem was performed on dead poultry and there were generalised haemorrhages of all internal organs, congested mesenteric blood vessels andpinpoint haemorrhages on proventriculus. Histopathological examination revealed generalised pulmonary haemorrhages with moderate interstitial pneumonia, generalised hepatic haemorrhages and hepatitis with multifocal area of hepatic necrosis, generalised haemorrhagic myocarditis and generalised haemorrhagicnephritis. Confirmation test was performed using RT-PCR and viral isolation at Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh. 36 foci wereaffected involving five districts (Kota Bharu, Tumpat, Bachok, Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah) causing depopulation of 56,953 poultryand 17,531 eggs. Surveillance and control measures were taken by Department of Veterinary Services to contain the disease from spreading to other areas.

Malin sheep is the indigenous sheep breed of Malaysia and mainlykept for meat production. A total of 48 individuals from the National Institute of Veterinary Biodiversity (NIVB) in Jerantut,Pahang were used. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic diversity in the Malin using microsatellite markers.Eleven microsatellite loci were successfully amplified in 48 Malin sheep. All loci were polymorphic. A total of 66 alleles were detected. The number of observed alleles per locus varied from 12 to 21, with mean observed number alleles per locus of15.18±4.58. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity were 0.0189±0.01 and 0.8989±0.01, respectively. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) value was 0.8970±0.01, indicating that the used markers were highly informative and could be used in parentage identification. Tests of genotype frequencies for deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), at each locus revealed depature from HWE due to loss in heterozygotes by high levels of inbreeding. The average inbreeding value for the 11 markers investigated was0.9797±0.01 indicating a more homozygous nature of the population. This is the first report of microsatelitte based variations in Malin sheep breed and can be useful for development of a rational breeding strategy for genetic improvement of sheepin Malaysia which may benefit future conservation programmes.

In Malaysia, Guinea grass (Megathrysus maximus) and Napier grass(Pennisetum purpureum) are considered as good palatable fodder for goats and have been used widely. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential grasses for goats to have optimum growth performance and optimum feeding cost. Fourteen male Jamnapari goats with an average age of five months were used in this experiment. All animals were individually weighed anddivided equally (seven goats) into two treatment groups. Group 1 was fed with cut and carry Guinea grass while group 2 animals were fed cut and carry Napier grass, and both groups were given the same quality and quantity of PKC and molasses. There was no significant difference observed in the average final weight (AFW), average weight gain (AWG) and average daily gain (ADG) among the two dietary treatment group. However, dry matter intake (DMI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a significant difference. The group fed with Napier grass showed lower ADMI and FCR. From the viewpoint of economic evaluation, feeding Guinea grass and Napier grass as an animal feed is economincally viable for local farmers.