Objective: This study aims to develop and validate an Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic technique combined with a partial least squares regression (PLSR) model for rapid quantification and monitoring of aflatoxins in chicken feeds and food grains. Materials and Methods: A model of ATR-FTIR-PLSR was developed using ATR-FTIR spectra of mixed aflatoxin standards in 100% acetonitrile (112 samples) and 75% methanol (112 samples), validated by testing its prediction on 125 feed/food samples spiked with variable concentrations of aflatoxins, and applied to screen 660 samples of commercial chicken feeds and food grains from Nigerian and Malaysian markets for total aflatoxins, for which the dietary exposure risks to aflatoxins (DERA) and associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risks were evaluated for both countries. Results: The ATR-FTIR-PLSR model demonstrated excellent prediction power [R2 = 99.59%, p = 0.001, root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) = 1.69, RMSE p = 1.98, bias = −0.26], sensi¬tivity (limit of quantitation and limit of the method < 5.0 ng/gm), precision (coefficient of variation = 0.97–1.72), and accuracy (% recovery of 88%–106%) in all the spiked samples. The model's pre¬diction was statistically reliable (R2 = 99.8%, p < 0.05) when compared with a high-performance liquid chromatography method. Levels of aflatoxins in the commercial samples signify high DERA (0.92–138.2 ng of aflatoxins/kg BW/day) and HCC risk (1.07%–159.91% of HCC/100,000 people/ year) in the exposed populations. Conclusions: Results feature the conceivable implementation of the proposed ATR-FTIR-PLSR model for rapid, accurate determination and monitoring of aflatoxins in commercial chicken feeds and food grains; and the need to strengthen aflatoxin control/prevention strategies in the study populations. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(3.000): 546-564]

Objective: The study was conducted to determine the marbling score, fat and meat color, choles¬terol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and physical–chemical con¬tent of male Bali beef fed fermented pineapple peel. Materials and Methods: Twelve heads of male Bali cattle with an initial weight of 168.46 ± 11.95 kg were put into individual cages at random based on a completely randomized design with three treatments and four heads of Bali cattle as replicates, namely T0 = NG + (39% MC + 61% RB + 0% fermented pineapple peel); T1 = NG + (10% MC + 70% RB + 20% fermented pineapple peel with yeast culture); and T2 = NG + (15% MG + 65% RB + 20% pineapple peel fermented by lactic acid bacteria). The sample of Bali cattle meat used in testing the research variables was the LD muscle, with as many as 24 samples for each treatment. The data were analyzed based on the analysis of variance using the Statistical Product and Service Solutions software program, following Duncan's test with 5% confidence. Results: The results showed that the treatment T2 could increase the marbling quality of the meat from 2.58% to 4.00%. The cholesterol content (80 mg/100 gm), HDL (60 mg/100 gm), LDL (10 mg/100 gm), water-holding capacity (36.10%), cooking loss (29.16%), tenderness/shear force (4.08 kg/cm2), crude protein (22.99%), crude fat (4.23%), and meat collagen (1.65%) were determined. Conclusions: Adding 20% of fermented pineapple peel by lactic acid bacteria to the ration can improve the quality of marbling, produce cholesterol, and the physical–chemical value of meat that meets the Indonesian National Standard. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(3.000): 419-431]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the combination of hairy eggplant (Solanum ferox) and bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) on the production performance and hematological parameters of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Materials and Methods: Four treatments were formulated in the test feed, where P1 (control + commercial vitamin C); P2 (120 ml/l combination of S. ferox and Z. zerumbet); P3 (100 ml/l); and P4 (80 ml/l) 6,000 post-larvae shrimp with an average initial weight of 0.2 gm were randomly stocked in four groups, with three replications per treatment, and 500 were stocked in each pond with a total of 12 pounds. Results: Based on the results, there were significant differences in production performance (survival, absolute weight growth, specific growth rate, and feed conversion ratio). Biologically, the best performance was found in the P3 treatment (100 ml/l). In this treatment, the total number of hemocytes and the number of hyaline hemocytes were much higher, and this was not the case in the control treatment (P1), where the number of semi-granular and granular cells was significantly higher than the treatment group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study confirmed that supplementation of 100 ml/l of S. ferox and Z. zerumbet could improve the production performance and hemato-immunological parameters of whiteleg shrimp, with functional potential to be developed in phytobiotic-based commercial diets for shrimp. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(1.000): 78-86]

Objective: The study aimed to determine the effect of using a combination of cassava tuber (Manihot esculenta) and Indigofera zollingeriana leaf flour as an energy source supplemented with citric acid in the ration on performance, carcass quality, digesta pH, viscosity, and the number of villi in the intestines of broilers. Materials and Methods: The research design was completely randomized with five treatments and five replications, each containing four broilers. The treatment was a substitution of corn in the ration with a combination of cassava tuber and I. zollingeriana leaf (CIF): without CIF, 5% CIF substitute for corn + 0.2% citric acid, 10% CIF substitute for corn + 0.2% citric acid, 15% CIF corn substitute + 0.2% citric acid, and CIF corn substitute + 0.2% citric acid. Each treatment ration was supplemented with 0.2% citric acid. The variables that were looked at were ration consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion, live weight, percentage of the carcass, percentage of abdomi¬nal fat, pH, viscosity, and the number of broiler villi. Results: This study showed that the combination of CIF flour supplemented with 0.2% citric acid had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on body weight gain, ration conversion, live weight, carcass percentage, and the number of villi in broiler intestines. But it did not have a significant effect (p > 0.05) on the amount of feed eaten, the amount of fat in the abdomen, the pH of the digesta, or the thickness of the broilers' blood. Conclusions: The combination of CIF flour at a level of 10% supplemented with 0.2% citric acid can be used as an energy source to replace corn without having a bad effect on production performance, carcass quality, and small intestine characteristics of broilers. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(3.000): 471-480]

Objective: The treatment of syncope depends largely on its possible etiology. Therefore, identifying the cause of syncope is very important in treatment planning. Herein, we report an etiology of syncope caused by pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with canine filariasis, followed by syncope due to bradyarrhythmia 1 year later. Materials and Methods: An 8-year-old male English Cocker Spaniel was referred to our hospital for a second opinion regarding syncope that the dog had started experiencing approximately 2 months prior. Based on the examination findings, we diagnosed that the fainting was due to heartworm disease and associated PH. After increasing the dose of pimobendan (0.50 mg/kg, q12h), the syncope subsided. However, syncope recurred on the 215th day of the first episode. Results: The findings that differed from those during the initial examination were that car¬diac arrest was observed for approximately 5 sec during auscultation, along with sinus arrest. Therefore, to further investigate for syncope, a Holter electrocardiograph was obtained for 3 days. Consequently, sinus arrest was identified as the etiology of the recurrent syncope, and the patient was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome, Rubenstein classification type II. Following cilostazol (10 mg/kg, q12h) administration, the syncope subsided. Conclusion: This case reports syncope in a dog, which typically occurs due to different etiologies. When a dog has PH, it may be important to think about the possibility of arrhythmias caused by a bigger right heart. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(3.000): 440-446]

Objective: Quail production is ranked as an important alternative animal protein source in Cameroon. One of the main constraints of this production is the quality of feed, which lacks pro¬tein that is regularly supplied by fish meal. To avoid disagreements due to the constant shortage of fish meal, alternative protein sources are needed, and among them are crickets (Acheta domes¬ticus). The goal of this study was to find out how well Japanese quails could be raised if fish meal was replaced with cricket meal. Materials and Methods: A total of 192, 4-week-old quails were divided into 12 similar sets of 8 females and 8 males. The Four experimental diets (T00, T15, T30, and T45) were all formulated based on the level (0%, 15%, 30%, and 45%, respectively) of fish meal substitution with cricket meal in the basal diet (crude protein: 20.18% and ME: 3,013.78 kcal/kg) and randomly assigned to three sets in a completely randomized design consisting of four treatments each repeated three times. Growth, carcass, and some reproduction parameters were collected. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and the Duncan test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Cricket meal diets increased body weight in males (204.32 ± 5.69 gm for T45) and regard¬less of the sex (226.72 ± 29.45 gm for T30) compared to 184.17 ± 3.11 gm and 214.55 ± 32.77 gm for the control group, respectively. In females, substitution at 30% increased body weight (253.80 ± 6.48 gm), while 45% induced a reduction (216.67 ± 6.49 gm) when compared to the control group value (244.92 ± 6.07 gm). Carcass yield and the proportion of different parts were not significantly affected by the experimental diets. Liver proportions were significantly higher at 15% and 35% cricket meal incorporation compared to 45%. First songs and egg laying were recorded at 7 weeks with T15, which also led to improved egg laying performance compared to the other treatments. Ovaries were poorly developed in the T45 females compared to the other treatments. Conclusions: Cricket flour might be a good candidate as a locally available protein source to sub¬stitute fish meal in the Japanese quail's diet at the finisher and reproductive stages, and the level of 30% seems to be more efficient. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(2.000): 310-322]

Anthrax is a rapidly fatal infectious disease affecting herbivores and people. In the farm ani¬mals, cattle and sheep are more susceptible, followed by goats and horses, while dwarf pigs and Algerian sheep are relatively resistant. Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, produces spores and persists for decades in the soil, initiating an outbreak through a favorable climate shift. Anthrax is enzootic in many Asian and African countries, and is reported in Australia, some parts of Europe, and America. The clinical courses of this disease in animals are peracute, acute, sub¬acute, and chronic forms. In severely infected cases, the animals are dead without premonitory clinical signs. The blood may fail to clot and can be found in the mouth, nostrils, and anus in the animals that die from anthrax. This bacterium is susceptible to many antibiotics, yet only penicillin and oxytetracycline have the most effective under field conditions. When an outbreak occurs in a defined area, it is necessary to take early steps to break the infection cycle by maintaining strict biosecurity and vaccinating uninfected animals. This disease is still a challenge to farm animal production in many countries. This review intends to give a fair knowledge of the etiology, epi¬demiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and control of this disease. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(2.000): 323-334]

Objective: Many bacteria are involved in causing mastitis in dairy cows. Perfect identification of bacteria is crucial for the appropriate choice of drug for treatment. This study aims to find out the various bacteria that cause mastitis through the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) gene. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 mastitis somatic cell samples were tested with bacterial nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) universal primers, targeting the 16S rRNA gene. The primers had both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial specificities. Inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL-10), IL-4, and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) expression genes were measured and compared in mastitis-free and mastitis-affected animals. Results: Based on the PCR, 70 (46.7%) samples showed positive results. The expression of the IL-10 gene was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in mastitis-affected cows than noninfected animals. Compared to cows diagnosed with clinical mastitis, the IL-4 and IFNγ genes were expressed more strongly in healthy cows (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Mastitis has been linked to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These genes are strong predictors of mastitis in the states analyzed, as evidenced by the differential expression in mastitis and healthy conditions of the IL-4, IL-10, and IFNγ genes. The genes examined here and others will be the subject of additional research. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(1.000): 42-52]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the persistence of oxytetracycline (OTC) residue in common fish species (Catla, Rui, Mrigal, and Pangas) available in local fish markets and the corresponding transport water of the Mymensingh region. Materials and Methods: Live fish and corresponding transport water samples were analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography for qualitative and quantitative detection of OTC residue, respectively. A total of 240 fish samples and 60 water samples were randomly collected from three local fish markets during the summer and winter seasons. Results: OTC residues were detected in 18 samples (13 fish and 5 water samples) in the summer and 8 samples (only fish samples) in the winter. The overall percentage of antibiotic residue positive in fish samples was 5.42%, and in water samples, it was 8.33%. In fish, OTC concentrations of TLC-positive samples ranged from 34.7 to 56.85 parts per billion (ppb) in Catla, 23.45–35.37 in Rui, 11.02–26.80 in Mrigal, and 10.80–77.55 in Pangas during summer. The concentrations were 18.5 ppb in Catla, 15–16.09 in Rui, 10–14.63 in Mrigal, and 21.02–40.11 in Pangas during the win¬ter season. On the other hand, the range of OTC concentrations of TLC-positive samples for water was 12.9–59.18 ppb during summer and below the detection level during winter. The highest prevalence of antibiotic residues among fish samples was found in Pangas (16.67%). The highest percentage of samples (15% in the fish sample and 30% in the water sample) found to be positive were collected from Mechua Bazar. The comparison between the summer and winter seasons showed that the percentage of positive antibiotic residue in the summer season (10.38% for fish and 16.67% for water) is higher than that of the winter season (6.67% for fish samples only). This variation indicates that fish transporters use more antibiotics during the summer than in the winter season. The difference between the means of fish species and water samples was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In addition, no samples exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRL) of OTC (100 ppb) in fish set by the European Commission. Conclusion: Although the concentrations of antibiotic residues in fish edible tissues are below MRL values, the presence of antibiotic residues in transported water may lead to the development of antimicrobial resistance bacteria that are detrimental to humans, animals, and aquatic animals. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(1.000): 104-112]

Objective: The objective was to assess the chemical composition, cholesterol, fatty acid (FAs), and amino acid (AAs) profiles of buffalo cheese, butter, and ghee. Materials and Methods: Buffalo milk (raw) was collected from the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Dairy Farm, BAU, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh. Cheese, butter, and ghee were prepared at the Dairy Chemistry and Technology Laboratory, Department of Dairy Science, BAU, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, and subjected to subsequent analyses. The gross nutritional composition and AAs profile of milk were analyzed prior to the manufacture of cheese, butter, and ghee. The gross nutritional composition of milk and dairy products was analyzed by apply¬ing an automated milk analyzer and the Association of Agricultural Chemists techniques, respec¬tively. The cholesterol, FAs, and AAs contents of cheese, butter, and ghee were determined by the Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Furthermore, atherogenic and thrombogenic indices were also calculated using reference equations. Results: The results indicated that the buffalo milk is a good source of first-rate nutrients (dry matter: 16.50%, fat: 7.50%, protein: 3.75%). Findings indicated that the butter was significantly rich with (p < 0.05) total solids and fat where higher (p > 0.05) protein, carbohydrate, and miner¬als were found in cheese. The saponification, Reichert-Meissl, Polenski, and Kirschner values of buffalo ghee were found to be 225, 30, 1.2, and 25, respectively. A significant (p < 0.05) variation was found in the cholesterol content of buffalo cheese, butter, and ghee. Butter and ghee had 40.14 and 39.57 mg more cholesterol, respectively, than cheese. The results revealed identical FA profiles except for C24:0 among the three dairy products where the major FA compositions were C4:0, C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0 and C18:1 cis-9. The atherogenicity index and thrombogenicity index of cheese, butter, and ghee were statistically similar (p > 0.05). Butter was found with the most conducive anti-atherogenic and anti-thrombogenic characteristics due to lower saturated and higher polyunsaturated FAs. However, all the AAs concentrations were statistically higher (p < 0.05) in cheese than in butter and ghee. Conclusion: To conclude, buffalo cheese is superior to butter and ghee as regards nutrient density, but consumers can choose other foods based on their choice. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2022; 9(1.000): 144-154]