Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of MspI polymorphism in the calpastatin (CAST) gene on hematology and selected serum biochemical parameters in Awassi lambs. Materials and Methods: CAST genotypes of 31 Awassi lambs were determined using polymerase chain reactionrestricted fragment length polymorphism method. Hematology, serum biochem¬ical analyses, serum levels of triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and cortisol were determined using rou¬tine laboratory procedures. Results: Two CAST genotypes were detected with frequencies of 0.65 and 0.35 for MN (three major bands of 622, 336, and 268 bp) and NN (two major bands of 336 and 268 bp), respectively. Allele frequencies were 0.49 and 0.51 for M and N alleles, respectively. Animals with MN MspI CAST genotype had significantly (p < 0.05) higher neutrophil percentage and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio but, significantly (p < 0.05) lower lymphocyte percentage and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio than NN MspI CAST genotype. Serum T3 and cortisol concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in MN MspI CAST genotype than the NN MspI CAST genotype. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that CAST gene heterozygous individuals are healthier than homozygous individual, which may explain the superiority of the CAST gene heterozygous animals in growth performance. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(2.000): 193-196]

Objective: This study was designed to determine and compare the serum glucose, urea nitrogen, cholesterol, and total protein (TP) level in crossbred repeat breeder (RB) and normally cyclic cows to find out the relationship of these metabolic factors with repeat breeding syndrome (RBS). Materials and Methods: A total of 592 breedable cows from 34 farms were examined from Mymensingh and Chittagong districts. Seventy cows were identified as RB cows and another 10 cows were randomly selected as normally cyclic control cows for this study. Blood sample from each cow was collected and the serum was separated. The serum samples were analyzed by auto blood analyzer. Results: Cows affected with RBS had significant variation in their glucose, urea, and cholesterol levels. Serum glucose (43.00 gm/dl) level was significantly lower than in normally cyclic cows. On the other hand, serum urea and cholesterol levels were significantly higher than in normally cyclic cows. However, the TP concentrations did not differ between RB and cyclic cows. RB cows had a lower trend (6.815 mg/dl) of serum TP than in normally cyclic cows. Conclusion: This research might help scientists and veterinarians to understand that the high serum urea and cholesterol level along with low glucose and TP level could have some effect in the development of RBS in crossbred cows. It will potentially help veterinary practitioners and farmers to take preventive measures against RBS of crossbred cows. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(1.000): 82-85]

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the effect of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) to the lactating sows diet on piglet development at lactation and post-weaning. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four litters of hybrids sows were evaluated in this study. The sows were divided into two groups: Control (CG), sows fed conventionally and experimental (EG), sows fed with commercial fed plus cactus. Post-weaning, the piglets of both groups were moni¬tored up to the 20 kg liveweight (LW). It was evaluated, lactation (in sows): feed intake (FI), milk production (MP), and quality (MQ) and LW of the piglet. Post-weaning (in piglets): FI, LW, and length of intestinal villi (LIV) at 0, 24 h, and 42 days post-weaning. Results: FI sow-1 was higher in EG (p < 0.05). MP, MQ, and LW piglet-1 at weaning were equal (p > 0.05). FI piglet-1 in the sixth and eighth week of age was higher in EG (p < 0.05); at the end of weaning phase, EG presented higher LW (p < 0.05): 8.4% more. LIV of the jejunum were higher (p < 0.05) in EG at 48 h (28.8%) and 42 days post-weaning (29.9%). At day 0, post-weaning LIV of the descending portion was higher (p < 0.05) in CG (1,571.0 μm) versus EG (1,058.0 μm). At day 42, post-weaning LIV of the transverse portion was higher (p < 0.05) in EG: 23.7% higher. Conclusion: Cactus intake in lactating sows does not affect the piglet development. However, post-weaning piglets present higher LIV in jejunum and transverse portion, aspect that improves LW. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(3.000): 290-299]

Objective: The objective of the study was to ascertain the feasibility of fortifying composite poul¬try feed from food and agricultural waste material with the probiotic organism Lactobacillus fer¬mentum and determine the efficiency of formulated probiotic-fortified feed via animal feeding tests. Materials and Methods: Probiotic-fortified feed (G3) was formulated using proximate analy¬sis values of waste materials. Alternative diets were G1Feed Mill of Nigeria starter mash and G2Ground corn. For growth comparison test, 30 1-day-old Agricol broiler chicks were ran¬domized into three groups of 10 chicks each with each group being placed on a separate diet (G1, G2, and G3). Probiotics antimicrobial efficacy feeding assay consisted of the treatment diets T1Feed Mill of Nigeria starter mash and T2probiotic-fortified feed. Twenty 1-day-old unvac¬cinated chicks were placed into two groups of 10 chicks each and fed 0.5 ml of 9.0 × 108 CFU/ml Escherichia coli 0157:H7 on day 1 after which they were placed on treatment diets. Data collected were analyzed and interpreted using the SPSS Statistical tool version 25. Results: Chicks fed G1 and G3 diets performed similarly (p < 0.05) in terms of measured param¬eters (weight, height, and wingspan) and had better performance compared to chicks on G2. In the E. coli treatment group, chicks placed on treatment diets T1 and T2 showed similar levels of E. coli cell reduction every week. Performance based on measured parameters was also similar (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Feasibility of fortifying composite animal feed with the probiotic organism L. fermen¬tum was ascertained and the efficiency of the feed via animal feeding tests was proven. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(4.000): 544-548]

Zika virus, a member of Flaviviridae is the etiology of Zika or Zika fever or Zika virus (ZIKV) disease characterized by mild symptoms similar to very mild form of Dengue or Chikungunya. The virus transmits through Aedes mosquitoes, particularly by Aedes aegypti. The most dangerous effect of ZIKV infection is the ability of the virus to cause microcephaly and congenital malformation to the newborn baby if the mother is infected. The neurological disorders including Guillain-Barre syndrome might be associated with adults and children due to ZIKV infections. Zika has emerged as a serious global public health problem as it has been found in 87 countries, particularly in Africa, America, and Asia and has no vaccine and treatment so far. Bangladesh is at a high risk of ZIKV infection and we consider ZIKV as a possible emerging threat for Bangladesh. This short review summarizes the insights of ZIKV infection, present status of the disease in Bangladesh and its neighboring countries, and recommendations for necessary preparations and strategies to be taken for effective controlling of the ZIKV infection in Bangladesh before getting any havoc. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(4.000): 575-582]

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the correlation among prolactin gene (PRG), growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9), and calpastatin (CAG) genes polymorphism with growth traits in Awassi lambs. Materials and Methods: Records of 779 Awassi lambsfrom 264 dams and 15 sires were used. The sex, type of birth (single versus twins), weight at birth, average daily gain (ADG), and the adjusted weight at 60 days of age were determined for each animal. Blood samples were collected from all lambs to determine PRG, GDF-9, and CAG polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: Three PRG genotypes (AA, AB, and BB) were determined with a frequency of 0.88, 0.05, and 0.07, respectively. The frequency of each allele was 0.84 and 0.16 for A and B alleles, respectively. For GDF-9, there were only two genotypes detected (AB and BB) with a frequency of 0.96 and 0.04, respectively. The frequency of each allele was 0.92 and 0.08 for A and B alleles, respectively. For CAG, two genotypes were also detected (AB and BB) with a frequency of 0.92 and 0.08, respectively. The frequency of each allele was 0.96 and 0.04 for A and B alleles, respectively. A significant (p ≤ 0.04) effect of PRG genotype on birth weight was detected but this effect was not significant on ADG and weight at weaning. There were no associations between any of the pre-weaning growth traits and GDF-9 and CAG variants. Conclusion: The results of this study show that PRG could be used to select dams with a high frequency of dystocia to reduce birth weight of newborn lambs and therefore conserve the dams reproductive functions and improve lamb survivability. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(1.000): 86-91]

Despite the significant progress in the recent efforts toward developing an effective vaccine against toxoplasmosis, the search for new protective vaccination strategy still remains a challenge and elusive goal because it becomes the appropriate way to prevent the disease. Various experimental approaches in the past few years showed that developing a potential vaccine against the disease can be achievable. The combination of multi-epitopes expressing different stages of the parasite life cycle has become an optimal strategy for acquiring a potent, safe, and effective vaccine. Epitope-based vaccines have gained attention as alternative vaccine candidates due to their ability of inducing protective immune responses. This mini-review highlights the current status and the prospects of Toxoplasma gondii vaccine development along with the application of epitope-based vaccine in the future parasite immunization as a novel under development and evaluation strategy. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(2.000): 174-182]

Meat-based food such as meatball and sausages are important sources of protein needed for the human body. Due to different prices, some unethical producers try to adulterate high-price meat such as beef with lower priced meat like pork and rat meat to gain economical profits, therefore, reliable and fast analytical techniques should be developed, validated, and applied for meat traceability and authenticity. Some instrumental techniques have been applied for the detection of meat adulteration, mainly relied on DNA and protein using polymerase chain reaction and chromatographic methods, respectively. But, this method is time-consuming, needs a sophisticated instrument, involves complex sample preparation which make the method is not suitable for routine analysis. As a consequence, a simpler method based on spectroscopic principles should be continuously developed. Food samples are sometimes complex which resulted in complex chemical responses. Fortunately, a statistical method called with chemometrics could solve the problems related to complex chemical data. This mini-review highlights the application of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with numerous chemometrics techniques for authenticity and traceability of meat and meat-based products. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(1.000): 9-17]

Objective: To analyze the presence of selective antibiotic residues (oxytetracycline, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin) in milk during the antibiotic treatment course, and to evaluate the thermal effect on antibiotics residual status in milk of antibiotic-treated cows. Materials and Methods: The raw fresh milk was collected from 18 lactating cows before antibiotics treatment, which were brought to the veterinary hospital and suffered from either mastitis, foot and mouth disease, fever, local wound, or non-specific diarrhea, and so on. Out of the 18 lactating cows, six were treated with oxytetracycline, six were treated with amoxicillin, and six were treated with ciprofloxacin parenterally. Milk samples were also collected at 2nd day during treatment and final collection was done after maintaining the withdrawal period. Since milk is heated before con¬sumption, it was boiled at 100°C for 20 min to evaluate the thermal effect on antibiotics residual status. Thin-layer chromatography was done for screening of antibiotics residue before and after boiling of the milk. Results: At day 0 (before antibiotic treatment), no antibiotics (oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin) residue was detected in raw milk of antibiotic treated cows. In contrast, on day 2 (during antibiotic treatment), 100% raw milk samples showed positive for antibiotics residue. After boiling, all milk samples showed positive for such specific antibiotics residue. On the other hand, no antibiotics residues were detected on day 9, which indicates the completion of the withdrawal period of the respective antibiotic. The intensities of bands for antibiotic on thin-layer chromatography plate of antibiotic residues in milk samples (oxytetracycline, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin) expressed that the respective antibiotic residual status was higher in the boiled milk compare to the raw milk. Conclusion: Proper maintenance of withdrawal period after antibiotic treatment would mini¬mize the risk of antibiotic residues in milk, and boiling does not change these specific antibiotics residual status in milk. Therefore, awareness regarding the proper maintenance of withdrawal period after antibiotic treatment in lactating cows is one of the best strategies that may positively reduce the risk of antimicrobial drugs residue in milk. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(4.000): 516-520]