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.

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.

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.

This study was done to evaluate the status of resistance to nematode populations on four major groups of anthelminthics. Nematode faecalegg count reduction tests (FECRT) were conducted on six free grazing small holder goat farms (namely Farms A-F) in Perak.The four drug groups tested in this study were Benzimidazoles, Imidazothiazoles,Macrocyclic Lactones and Salicylanilides. Faecal samples were subjected to the standard procedures of McMaster for worm egg estimation and also larval cultures for third stage larvae identification. Results of Farm A, Farm C and Farm D showed resistance to all 4 drugs groups of anthelminthic that were tested and the major worm population of this farm were Haemonchus contortus (49.75%), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (47.71%) and Cooperia sp. (2.53%). The results of Farm B and Farm F showed resistance to all the 3 groups of anthelminthics except Levamisole and the worm population of this farm was Haemonchus contortus (47.30%), Trichostrongylus sp. (38.44%), Oesophagostomum columbianum (13.50%) and Cooperia sp. (0.76%) Farm E was resistant to Benzimidazoles andsuspected resistance to 3 drugs groups; Levamisole, Macrocyclic Lactones and Closantel. The worm population for Farm E was Haemonchus contortus (71.35%), Trichostrongylus sp. (27.6%) and Oesophagostomum sp. (2%). These farms have a history of using the same anthelminthics over the past few years, thus leading to the severe case of anthelminthic resistance. Recommendations have beenmade to control helminths using alternative approaches such as cut and carry feeding, herbal medication using Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) and rotational grazing as well as improvement in management of animals to increase their immunity.

Limited information is available regarding gastro-intestinal (GI)parasitic infections in Malaysian swine populations. Hence, the present study aims to determine the prevalence of GI parasites in two swine populations in Malaysia, using formalin-ether concentration technique. In the present study, three helminths and two protozoa were detected in 91 swine rectal fecal samples. The zoonotic transmissible protozoan, Balantidium coli (22.0%) had the highest infection rate, followed by strongyle (4.4%), Entamoeba spp. (2.2%), Fasciolopsis spp. (1.1%) and Trichuris suis (1.1%). The co-infection between T. suis and B. coli was also found in this study.