The local river terrapins (Batagur affinis) are an important aspect of the river ecosystem. The Turtle Conservation Centre in Bota Kanan noted morbidity and mortality in its terrapin population and some were sent for full laboratory investigationto diagnose cause of death. The faecal samples were subjected to faecal floatation technique whereby ascarid eggs were observed indicating that the turtles had helminth infection. Ascarid eggs had thick walls and measured at 140.6 μm to 149.7 μm in diameter. Apart from this, post-mortem examination of intestinal contents also showed presence of nematodes identified as Oesophagostomum sp. Treatment and control have to be instituted to prevent further morbidity and losses.

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.

The present study describes the use of electrochemiluminescenceimmunoassay (ECL) with the specific human kit for measuring plasma testosterone and progesterone in ovine. This study wascarried out on 16 mixed age animals of the local breed. They were divided into two groups of both sexes, namely Male-1 Group,Male-2 Group, Female-1 Group and Female-2 Group. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein into tubes containing EDTAand centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 20 min. Plasma was rapidly separated and stored at -20° C until assayed. The reproducibilityinter- and intra-assay of the P4- and T-ECL is satisfactory (2.11-7.3 %). The accuracy (93-102 %) and the test of parallelism were largely acceptable. No cross-reaction was observed with the different hormones including PMSG,hCG, progesterone,testosterone, oxytocin and PGF2α when concentrations of 10 UI/ml and 10-3 UI/ml were used. T concentrations were higher in Male-1 Group than in Male2 Group (1.67 ± 1.15 and 0.38 ± 0.45 ng/ml, respectively). The female-1 Group showed very high P4 concentrations (15.17 ± 4.91 ng/ ml) compared to the Female-2 Group (0.08 ± 0.04 ng/ml). The results obtained clearly show that human ECL system can be used to measure progesterone and testosterone in plasma ovine

Ever since infectious bursal disease (IBD) was recognised in Nigeria over forty years ago, it continues to pose a threat to poultry production with limited information on the likely role of other avian species especially those raised in close proximity with chickens. For this study, blood samples were obtained from184 unvaccinated apparently healthy birds comprised of Japanese quails (63) andindigenous chickens (60) on smallholdings as well as pigeons (61) in a live-bird market in Osun and Oyo states, southwest Nigeria.Sera from these birds were analysed for IBD virus antibodies using a commercial ELISA kit. Overall, 69 (37.5%) sera were positive for IBDV with 52.8% (65/184) and 6.6% (4/184)from birds on smallholdings and live-bird market, respectively. These findings indicate that these birds were sub-clinically infected and could serve as reservoirs shedding the virus into the environment and perhaps, corroborate the suggestion that the inability to effectively control or eradicate the disease from poultry flocks in Nigeria may be due to limited information on the contributions of other avian species other than chicken in the spread of IBD virus.

Zoonotic parasitic gastroenteritis has been well-known as a serious limitation to humans as well as livestock productivityin terms of man-power, pathology and fiscal losses, as human infection with these helminths from cattle can resultfrom consumption of meat containing the infective stage of the worm. This study therefore investigates the presence ofzoonotic helminth infections among cattle in Minna metropolis, and scientific basis for their potential transmission to humanpopulation. A total of 184 diarrhoeic faecal samples from cattle were collected from September 2014 to June 2015 in Minna,Niger state and processed using the direct faecal microscopic examination techniques. The obtained results showed that a total of 81 (44%) samples were positive including Ascaris sp, Fasciola gigantica, Trichuris sp. and Taenia sp. with infection rates of 22.3%, 12%, 2.2% and 0.5% respectively, and mixed infections of Fasciola gigantic with Ascaris sp. (4.3%) , and Ascaris sp. with Trichuris sp. (2.7%). Poor human hygiene, inadequate livestock husbandry managements and restriction of animals to residential areas are the major factors responsible for the high prevalence of zoonotic helminths and geo-helminths in the study area. Therefore veterinarians, animal handlers and livestock owners should practice personal hygienic and safe management practices for animal rearing and treatments.

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.

Chromobacterium violaceum is a facultative anaerobic, gram-negative rodshaped bacteria normally found in soil and stagnant water of tropical and subtropical countries. Infections of Chromobacterium violaceum are rare among mammals, but the first human infection were reported in Malaysia in 1927. This clinical case reports two separate cases of Chromobacterium violaceum infection in two sub-adult male Black-handed Gibbon (Hylobates agilis). Both animals were presented with the history of diarrhea, pyrexia and inappetance. From the physical examination, the findings were high body temperature, dull, inactive, soft fecal stained at the rectum and small open wound at lower limb of one of the case. The treatment given was antipyretic and multivitamin. Unfortunately, due to poor prognosis both patients died within 48 hours after presentation and treatment. Autopsy examinations wereperformed to find out the cause of death. Post mortem examination findings revealed hepatomegaly with multiple size whitish-yellow spots on the liver surface, congestion and enlargement of spleen and lymph node, congestion of lung and loss of demarcation between renal cortex and medulla of the kidney. The cellular changes via histopathological findings of kidney, spleen, lung and liver were suggestive of septicaemia. The gross and histopathologicalfindings were supported by the isolation of Chromobacterium violaceum via bacterial isolation and identification from lung, liver, spleen and kidney. Thus, the cause of death of the two sub-adult male Black-handed gibbon in this case are due to septicaemiadue to Chromobacterium violaceum infection.

This study was done to assess oxidative stress and haematologicalparameters of twenty male goats aged between eight and 22 months of the West African Dwarf breed reared under twomanagement systems. Ten bucks were reared under an intensive system, and another 10 bucks reared under an extensivesystem were used. The Hb concentration obtained in both groups was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the intensively managedgoats (12.39±0.02 gm %) compared to the extensively managed group. The total erythrocyte count in intensive goats, 35.34±1.36×106/μl, was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the value recorded in the extensive group (30.01±1.41×106/μl). Therecorded leucocytes counts in intensive goats of 10.26±0.70×103/μl was significantly (p<0.05) lower than 12.38±1.23×103/μlrecorded in the extensively managed goat, while the calculated value of MCV in intensive goat (9.8±0.73 fl) was significantly(p<0.05) higher than the recorded value in extensive group. The obtained value of MCH was significantly higher (p<0.05) in theextensively managed goats. The recorded neutrophil value of 5.00±0.50×103/μl in extensively raised goats was significantly(p<0.05) higher than 3.70±0.20×103/μl obtained in the intensively raised group likewise the lymphocyte count of 5.60±0.08 ×103/μl in intensively raised goats was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the value obtained in the extensively raised goat. The neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the extensive versus the intensive group viz. 0.75±0.03 asagainst 0.67±0.04. In the extensive group a higher malondialdehyde (MDA) value of 2.30±0.07 ng/ml was recorded and this was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the corresponding value of 1.28±0.11 ng/ml obtained in the intensively managed goats. The recorded value of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase was significantly (p<0.05) higher in theextensive group than those on the intensive group. The fragility test of the extensively managed goats shifts more towards rightand was significantly (p<0.05) highest at a sodium chloride concentration of 0.2-0.7% in extensively managed goats. It can beconcluded from the present study that the biomarkers of oxidative stress were higher in the extensively than the intensively managed goats.