The Malaysian Pangolin (Manis javanica) is an endangered species,
but is widely hunted for its medicinal value in body parts. A total of sixteen pangolins were screened for blood protozoa and six
pangolins were confi rmed to be positive for eperythrozoonosis infection based on morphology from blood smears stained with 8% Giemsa. The causative organism, Eperythrozoon sp., with a size of 0.3 μm were observed under a compound microscope at 100× magnification on the surface of red blood cells as blue coloured dots. This is the fi rst report of Eperythrozoon infection from pangolins in Malaysia. Further identifi cation using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is necessary to confi rm E. ovis or wenyonii,
which is uncultivatable in artifi cial media.

Sixty five dogs belonging to five different breeds were subjected to dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 test to assess the occurrence of dog erythrocyte antigen 1.1 in Kerala state, India. Of the animals tested 51 were found positive for the antigen with considerable variation across breeds. Results of the present study indicate that the expression of DEA 1.1 in the Indian canine population may at the higher end of the international prevalence.

This paper reports the relationship between mixed infections ofstrongyles with fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV) of the blood and FAMACHA in experimental sheep in VRI. The third larval stage (L3) of strongylid nematode were fed orally to two experimental sheep. Each animal was given 3 ml L3 or equivalent to 3000 larvae. Faecal samples were then collected weekly for a 10 week duration. The FAMACHA scale for anemia estimation was used and blood collection through ear tip was also done twice a week to measure the packed cell volume (PCV) of the blood. The results show that the PCV decreases while faecal egg counts increase over the study period.The FAMACHA scale also increases with time indicating a progressive anemia with the decreasing PCV. As helminth infections are common in small ruminants, the effects of anemia are critical parameters to be monitored in any flock as this will determine its productivity in terms of mortality and morbidity.

A case of a cestode parasite (Choanotaenia infundibulum) egg wasfound in the intestine of chicken which was sent to the Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh in February 2014 for post-mortem. Other parasites found in the intestine were adult tapeworm and oocyst ofcoccidia. The examination of the chicken intestine for helminth ova was undertaken using direct examination of a simple wet smear of the intestinal content which was observed under compound microscope.The cestode parasite was identified based on helminthological keys by Soulsby, 1982.

Blastocystis is considered to be a zoonoses and it is believed that animals such as chicken constitute large reservoirs for human infection via the faecal-oral route. Therefore, Blastocystis infection was surveyed in free-range chicken and cage reared chicken comprising broiler birds for consumption as well as jungle fowls andsilkie chicken kept for recreation. Fresh faecal samples collected were examined by wet smear preparation and were cultured in Jones medium supplemented with 10% horse serum. Out of 107 chickens, it was found that most of the free-range chicken was positive for Blastocystis sp. with a high prevalence rate of 80%–100% in village chicken, jungle fowl and white silkie chicken. However, the cage-reared chicken, consisting of broiler chicken had no infection. The vacuolar form was the most common Blastocystis cell form found in cultures, similar to B. hominis.These cells were usually spherical and vary greatly in size, ranging from 10 μm to 30 μm in diameter. Owing to the free ranging and scavenging habits, the likelihood of acquiring the infection fromthe environment contaminated with the faecal material of animals with Blastocystis is high in free-range chicken as compared to caged chicken.

A study carried out on the presence of parasites, both internal andexternal, in 29 stray and 38 pet dogs in Ipoh, Perak indicated that four species of ectoparasites and four species of endoparasites were identified. Samples collected were diagnosed at the VeterinaryResearch Institute (VRI) whereby it was found that a higher percentage of stray dogs were infected (76%) with parasitesas compared to pet dogs (16%) that were presented at the government veterinary clinic. Parasitic infections in dogs are especially important as Demodex sp., Giardia sp., Toxocara sp. and Ancylostomasp. are zoonotic and can cause skin infections, mange, diarrhoea and anaemiain humans. Regular screening of pets is important to stave off unwanted infections. As for stray dogs, strict enforcement tocontrol stray dog population and public awareness campaigns on uncontrolled breeding of dogs needs to be emphasised.

A total of five species of the nematodes, Acuaria spiralis, Gonyglonema ingluvicola, Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum and Oxyspirura mansoni were recovered from the Malaysia domestic chicken, Gallus domesticus and studied for their morphology. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study and observe the outer surface of the nematodes. The morphological of the five species ofnematodes were described and compared.

This study was performed to investigate the reproductive performanceand spontaneous malformations of female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats obtained from the Animal Resource Unit, Institute for Medical Research for their use in reproductive toxicity assessment. Onehundred and thirty-five virgin female rats with a body weight ranging between 190 g and 210 g were randomly caged overnight with 60 fertile male rats in 1:1 basis. Vaginal smear was performed the next morning and the day of sperm positive was considered as estational day (GD) 0. On GD21 caesarean hysterectomy was performed to examine the outcome of each pregnancy. The female fertility index (sperm positive) was 90.5% and the pregnancy index was 100%. Thepercentage of pre and post-implantation loss were 1.96 and 7.48 respectively with the number of early resorption out numbered the late resorption (0.56 ± 1.0 and 0.36 ± 1.5 respectively). Out of1,234 foetuses examined, only 5 foetuses (0.41%) presented with gross congenital malformation. The female SD rats obtained from the Institute demonstrated high fertility and pregnancy indexes with lowincidence of resorption and malformation, therefore suitable to use for reproductive toxicity assessment.