Taenia saginata cysticercosis is one of the zoonotic diseases that threaten food safety and food security, particularly in developing countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and cyst distribution in infected cattle, and food safety implications of Taenia saginata cysticercosis in Harari People’s National Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. Post-mortem inspection of carcasses and organs of slaughtered cattle in Harar Municipal Abattoir, cyst viability tests and interviews with randomly selected meat consumers were undertaken. The post-mortem inspection showed that of the 898 local zebu cattle slaughtered for human consumption and examined for the presence of cysticerci of T. saginata, 19.7% (177/898; 95% CI = 17.2–22.5) harboured at least one cyst in the muscles or organs inspected. Of the edible anatomical sites with cysticerci, shoulder muscle, liver and heart together represented 65.4%, 66.0% and 65.4% respectively of relative prevalence, total cyst count and cyst viability. These edible sites are preferred above others by local people for preparation and consumption of raw or inadequately cooked meat dishes that are locally served as kurt, kitffo and dullet. The interviews revealed that among the 300 study participants, 182 (60.7%) had been infected by taeniosis at least once during the previous year and of these 99.0% had eaten raw or undercooked beef, the majority (88.3%) obtained from butchers assumed to provide officially inspected meat that was fit for consumption. This indicated that existing meat inspection processes were inadequate to prevent carcasses infected with T. saginata cysticerci from reaching consumers. The high prevalence of viable cysts in the edible parts of beef together with the widespread consumption of raw or undercooked beef indicated the importance of T. saginata cysticercosis as a food safety problem in eastern Ethiopia. The promotion of policies to upgrade existing meat inspection procedures and public education to ensure effective prevention of T. saginata taeniosis in humans were recommended.

Brucellosis has been in South East Asia for many generations affecting both man and animals and responsible for massive economic losses. The threat to the economy and to public health from this zoonotic disease is so great to ignore. Over the years there have been many attempts to control and possibly eradicate this infection but these efforts have not fully yielded the desired results due to many factors mentioned in this paper. Eradication, though expensive,
actually saves a lot of economic resources when properly implemented. In this review, the past and current situation of
brucellosis in South East Asia is explored with particular reference to Malaysia and challenges to the full eradication of the infection are elucidated.

The aim of this study was to test the potential diagnostic usefulness of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 antigen and
excretory-secretory antigen (ESA), with respect to toxoplasmosis detection and infection phase distinction in laboratory mouse by determining specifi c serum IgM and IgG antibodies with the use of indirect ELISA technique. The highest titre at the beginning of infection was demonstrated by immunoglobulin M while the highest titre at the end of the infection was displayed by immunoglobulin G. In contrast, sera of chronically infected mice, positive IgG titre was detected on day 14 p.i. for ESA or day seven p.i. with rSAG1 and increased thereafter until day 70 p.i. after which the titre stabilized. IgA antibody also showed similar kinetics as IgG. Potentially rSAG1 may be a suitable diagnostic antigen than ESA in the diagnosis of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.

In vitro digestibility study was conducted to determine the effectsof supplementing fractionated Refined,Bleached and Deodorized Palm Stearin(RBDPST) on ruminal digestion. Fractionated RBDPST was soaked in incubation medium consisting of distilled water, buffer solution, trace element solution, micro and macro mineral solution, as well as rumen liquor that was collected from slaughtered cattle. This experiment was conducted at 39°C with an incubation period of 24 hours. Dried napier grass was used as control treatment. Gas producedwas recorded and collected to measure the methane gas produced. Methane gas produced from fractionated RBDPST was found to be relatively lower than control. This indicates that fractionated RBDPST had the ability to function as rumen bypass fat as it was not fully digested in the rumen.

Antiviral effect of crude aqueous extracts of Neem leaves and Neem bark (Azadirachta indica) belonging to the family Meliaceae againstvelogenic Newcastle Disease virus was studied. Maximum non- toxic dose and determination of antiviral activity by in vitro and in vivo virus inhibition assay was carried out using embryonated SPF chicken eggs and SPF chickens. Different concentration content of the aqueous neem extract from branches of neem tree storing at 4°C reacted against velogenic ND virus was conducted. Determination of antiviral activity by in vivo assay in SPF chickens was compared to the group of untreated with Neem extract.

A total of 302 faecal specimens from animals of various species including poultry, ruminants, mammals, swine, primates, companionanimals, wild animals, and laboratory animals were examined for the presence of Blastocystis sp. These anaerobic parasites which are environmentally resistant were found in 104 specimens (34.44%), that is, from ostriches, pigs, ruminants and nonhuman primates whereas samples from other animals were completely free of the organism. There is a need to assess the impact of these infections on theproductivity of animals and its importance in human infections.

The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was conducted on local goats in a smallholder farm on the outskirts of Ipoh. Levamisole drug tested for resistance against strongyles, was administered orally at the rate of 10 mg/kg body weight. Results showed that thestrongyle worm population was resistant to levamisole. The percentage reduction was 75% and lower confidence limit less than 90%. The worm population was made up mainly of Haemonchus contortus(71%), followed by Oesophagostomum sp.(18%) and Trichostrongylus sp. (11%). This finding indicates that anthelmintic resistance is an existing problem in Malaysia, even on a small farm. Alternativeapproaches to chemical anthelmintics have been recommended to controlnematodes in goats such as improved grazing management, herbal medication or biological control, to delay the occurrence of chemical resistance and prevent severe helminth infections in goat flocks.

Edible bird's nest (EBN)is made from the saliva of swiftlet from the Aerodramus species. It is one of the most widely consumed traditional health food by the Chinese community due to its claimed medicinal value. EBN contains glycoproteins with abundance of sialic acid (SA). EBN with higher SA content has a potential to command for higher price. The objective of this study was to determine and compare free SA content of EBN collected from Johor and Kelantan. A total of 23 and 30 of raw and unprocessed EBN samples were obtained from Kelantan and Johor, respectively. SA from EBN samples were analysed using LC-MS/MS. Johor showed higher content of free SA with the value of 135.04 ± 29.60 mg/kg compared to Kelantan which has a value of 95.55 ± 25.6 mg/kg. Highest content of free SA was found in EBN from Pontian district, Johor.

Avian haemoparasites are known to exert negative pressures on theirhosts causing considerable pathology and mortalities. The present study reports on the prevalence of haemoprotozoa and microfilaria in various species of wild birds and domestic poultry in Selangor, Malaysia, and contributes to the database on the occurrence of thesepathogens among avifauna in the country. Giemsa-stained thin blood smears were screened from 728 birds representing five avian orders, namely Galliformes, Anseriformes, Phoenicopteriformes, Pelecaniformes and Gruiformes. The most common haemoparasite was Plasmodium, with a prevalence of 8.0%. The aquatic/wetland species of birds (Anseriformes and Gruiformes) were the most common hosts for this pathogen with high infection rates (31.8% – 50.0%). The prevalence of Plasmodium in domestic poultry was moderate (2.7%). Leucocytozoon sabrazesi and L. caulleryi were confined to the Galliformes with relatively low average infection rates of 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively. Haemoproteus was detected for the first time in domestic poultry and Red Jungle fowls in the country, with anaverage prevalence of 0.8%. Trypanosomes and microfilaria were only present in the village chickens and Red Jungle fowls, with high microfilaraemia rates (19.0%) in the latter. The current compilation will contribute to our understanding on avianhaemoparasite transmission in the country.