Ultrastructural Changes and Bacterial Localization in Buffalo Calves Following Oral Exposure to Pasteurella multocida B:2

This study describes the ultrastructural changes and distribution of P. multocida B:2 in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of buffalo calves following oral exposure and compared with intratracheal exposure. Nine 8-month old buffalo calves were divided into 3 groups. At the start of the experiment, dexamethasone (1mg/kg) was injected intramuscularly into buffaloes of all groups for three consecutive days. Then, calves of Group 1 were exposed orally to 50ml of the inoculum containing 109 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL of live P. multocida B:2. Calves of Group 2 were exposed intra-tracheal to the same inoculum while calves of Group 3 were exposed orally to PBS. Transient and mild clinical signs were observed in calves of Groups 1 and 2. Pasteurella multocida B:2 was isolated from the nasal mucosa for up to 5 days post-infection. Only calf that was killed at 48 h post-infection had P. multocida B:2 in both respiratory and gastro-intestinal tracts showing ultrastructural changes typical of acute cellular injury, with degeneration of endothelium and vascular walls. There were deciliation in the respiratory and microvilli degeneration in the gastrointestinal tracts. The study concludes that oral exposure may not play major role in the development of hemorrhagic septicemia. Nevertheless, the buffalo calf that succumbed to hemorrhagic septicemia carried P. multocida B:2 in the gastro-intestinal organs

Disease Conditions in Farm and Smallholder Buffaloes of Serdang, Malaysia

Analysis of records revealed that there were no significant differences in the number of disease Conditions between buffaloes of the smallholders and Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) farm, and between the calves and adult buffaloes of both groups. Significant differences were, however, observed on the type of disease conditions involved. The differences were probably associated with the system of management

Immunohistochemical evaluation of lesions in the gastrointestinal tract of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves orally exposed to Pasteurella multocida B:2

The gastrointestinal lesions and bacterial distribution of buffalo calves were evaluated histologically using immunoperoxidase, following oral exposure to wild-type Pasteurella multocida B:2 at 109cfu/mL in   phosphate buffered saline. The lesions were basically of mild to severe mucohaemorrhagic abomasitis and  enteritis.The lesions were confirmed to be associated with the inoculated P. multocida B:2, using the   immunoperoxidase technique. P. multocida B:2 antigen was detected not only in the bacterial clusters in  the gastric pits, intestinal epithelia and capillaries, Brünner’s glands and Crypt of Lieberkühn but was also  seen interacting with infiltrating neutrophils and macrophages intracellularly and on the surface of  erythrocyte in congested vessels and haemorrhages. We observed higher localization and distribution of the  immunoperoxidase reaction with increased severity of lesions along the gastrointestinal tract. This suggest intensity increases with increased amount of P. multocida B:2 or antigen in the tissue, which  possibly leads to increase tissue damage.Keywords: Buffalo calves, Gastrointestinal lesions, Immunoperoxidase, Oral infection, Pasteurella  multocida B:

Retrospective Study on Milk Production and Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cattle in a Farm in Selangor, Malaysia

Dairy industry is small in Malaysia and unable to fulfill its dairy self-sufficiency. Therefore, Malaysia has to import most of the dairy products to satisfy its domestic demands. This study was performed to evaluate the performance of a selected dairy farm in Malaysia. A dairy farm in Selangor was selected and the farm records between 2011 and 2015 were analysed for the annual milk yield, calving rate and disease occurrence. It was found that the milk yield was low with average annual yield of 44,967 kg and the average milk production per cow per day was 6.83 kg. Clinical mastitis (67%) and traumatic injury (6.9%) were the most common disease occurrence. The calving rate of 75% was within the farm target. Calving percentage and diseases showed significant (P0.05) positive and negative influences on milk production, respectively

Urolithiasis in boer bucks

This paper describes three cases of urolithiasis in adult Boer bucks. The affected bucks were among the 50 breeders kept under intensive system given cut and carry Napier grass at the rate of 2 kg/animal/day. In addition, the animals were also supplemented with commercial goat pellets at the rate of 300 g/animal/day, 200-300 g of palm kernel expeller (PKE) and mineral block. The affected animals showed clinical signs of stranguria, anorexia, prolonged urination, dribbling urine, tail flagging and abdominal pain. Prior to death, they appeared to be depressed, recumbent, and showed abdominal distension. Supportive treatments in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs and oral drench of ammonium chloride (1%) were attempted. All the animals in this study died within 2 weeks following the onset of depression. Post-mortem examinations revealed swollen testis and severe haemorrhages in the urethra with blackish sandy material deposited within the lumen. There were ascites and swollen kidneys, while cloudy and thick urine filled the bladder. Histological examinations revealed the presence of purplish sandy material, either within the lumen or closely associated with the wall of the urethra. The urethral areas where the calculi were in-contact with the wall showed extensive necrosis with destruction of the epithelial layer and haemorrhages. Urinary calculi have a complex aetiology, but management, nutritional, and anatomical considerations can be helpful. © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press

Control of animal brucellosis: the Malaysian experience

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease characterized by reproductive failure in animals and undulent fever in humans. In cattle, it is caused by Brucella abortus while in goats by Brucella melitensis, the main cause of brucellosis in humans. Brucellosis in livestock has been associated with importation of animals from breeder herd of unknown disease status. The prevalence of bovine brucellosis Brucella abortus in 2014 ranged between 1% and 2% in Thailand and Indonesia, and 4%–5% in Malaysia and Myanmar. Prevalence of goat brucellosis Brucella melitensis is approximately 1% in Malaysia and Thailand. ‘Test-and-slaughter’ is the general policy against brucellosis adopted by most ASEAN countries to eradicate the disease. Under this program, the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) is used as the screening test to identify infected farm/herd while the complement fixation test (CFT) is the confirmatory test. The test-and-slaughter eradication strategy that was implemented since 1979 had managed to keep the prevalence rate to less than 5%, from 3.3% in 1979, 0.23% in 1988, 1% in 1998 and 5% in 2016. The test-and-slaughter program seemed effective in reducing the prevalence of brucellosis but was unable to eradicate the disease due to several factors, which include failure to locate and identify the remaining affected animals and to control their movement, importation of breeder animals from non-brucellosis free countries and lack of participation by the farmers following unreliable test results. To support the eradication policy, research activities since 1980s have suggested combinations of serological tests to improve diagnosis while surveillance should be focused on hotspots areas. The prevalence can be further reduced by strictly sourcing breeder animals from brucella-free areas or countries

Experimental infection of goats by Pasteurella multocida B:2

An experiment was carried out to determine whether goats can be infected by Pasteurella multocida B:2, the causative agent of haemorrhagic septicaemia of cattle and buffaloes. Thirty-six healthy local goats were divided into four groups consisting of nine goats per group. Goats of groups 1 and 3 were inoculated intranasally with 1ml inoculum containing 109 CFU of live P. multocida B:2. Goats of groups 2 and 4 were not infected, but were exposed to the infected animals by keeping goats of group 2 together with group 1 while group 4 together with group 3. Immediately post-infection, goats in groups 3 and 4 were treated with dexamethasone at the rate of 1mg/kg for three consecutive days. Three goats from each of the four groups were killed on days 7,14 and 21 post-infection. One goat from group 3 died percutely on day 2 post-infection, showing lesions typical ofhaemorrhagic septicaemia. Other two goats from the same group were weak. None of the goats in groups 1, 2 and 4 succumbed to the disease but most exhibited signs of mild respiratory tract infection. Post-mortem examinations revealed that 20 (53 %) goats had mild, acute pneumonia affecting less than 7% of the lung, suggesting that P. multocida B:2 is not a primary pathogen of the respiratory tract. Four (11 %) goats of group 3 had pulmonary oedema and congestion, indicating that dexamethasone enhanced chances of goats being infected by P. multocida B:2. P. multocida was successfully re-isolated from lungs and nasal swabs of goats from all groups, and heart blood of goats from group 3 but not from the lymph nodes and tonsils. The re-isolation of P. multocida B:2 was successfully made for up to 14 days p.i, in groups without dexamethasone but for up to 21 days following dexamethasone treatment. Transmission of P. multocida B:2 to the in-contact goats occurred at a rate of 40%

Morphological and histochemical observations of the red jungle fowl tongue Gallus gallus

Morphological and histochemical study of the tongue of ten adult red jungle fowl (RJF), Gallus gallus were carried out at macroscopic and microscopic levels. The tongue was triangular with a wide dorsal and ventrolateral surface with median groove at the rostral part. Between the body and the roots appears a transverse row of the lingual conical papillae which was directed backwards. Behind the laryngeal cleft, there was a single row of pharyngeal papillae. The lingual mucosa showed parakeratinization, while there was a clearly recognizable keratinized band on the ventrolateral surface and the conical papillae. The cell cytoplasm of the medial group (MG) of the anterior lingual glands and the posterior glands contained large amounts of mucin compared with the lateral group (LG). The mucin of the lingual glands contained vicinal diol groups. Moreover, the sulphate containing glycoconjugates indicated in the MG and the posterior glands with a strong acid mucin reaction. Meanwhile, the LG of the anterior lingual glands exhibited carboxylated mucin with weak acid mucin reaction. In conclusion, the differences in the arrangement of the lingual and pharyngeal papillae in the RJF than that in other birds particularly domestic chicken may reflects the changes which occurred for the latter during domestication. The contents of mucins in the medial and lateral groups of the anterior lingual gland were varied, however, no differences histochemistry between the medial group and the posterior lingual gland were observed.Key words: Lingual salivary glands, mucin reaction, red jungle, tongue

Growth and reproductive performances of farmed timorensis deer, Cervus timorensis

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the growth and reproductive performances of timorensis deer, Cervus timorensis, that were kept in farm. All 140 animals were allowed to graze at all times while supplemented feed of approximately 1 kg/animal/day was provided except during the rainy season between October and December when supplementation was 2 kg/animal/day. Available farm records between 2011 and 2014 were collected and analysed for growth and reproductive performances. Most fawning occurred between October and December (average rainfall 413 mm) with an apparent peak in December. Average annual fawning percentage for the past four years was 57% while the average rate of mortality for fawns and adults was 5.4% and 13.5%, respectively. The average daily weight gain for up to one year of age was 0.042±0.02 kg but after one year it was 0.052±0.01 kg. The average body weight of adult timorensis at 24 months old was 48.5±1.4 and 44.5±0.9 kg for male and female, respectively. Monthly rainfall showed significant (p<0.05) negative correlation with the ADG but showed positive correlation (p<0.05) with fawning. Body weight gain was high during the dry months of May and August (average rainfall 150 mm). There seemed to be a clear breeding season for timorensis deer in this study, which was within the moderate months of March to April (average rainfall 236 mm) when body weight started to increase

Seroprevalence and detection of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in northeast states of Peninsular Malaysia

Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Small Colony (MmmSC). It is a disease recognised by OIE that needs to be controlled or eradicated through surveillance system. This study establishes the sero-prevalence of CBPP, as well as attempts to isolate and identify the agent of CBPP from cattle in Kelantan and Terengganu, the northeastern states of Peninsular Malaysia, where cattle movement was high. A total of 3,242 sera from 428 farms were processed between 2011 and 2014 using the competitive ELISA (c-ELISA). The animal-level prevalence ranged between 5% (46/917) in Terengganu and 9% (220/2325) in Kelantan, whereas the herd prevalence ranged between 12% (22/210) in Terengganu and 24% (53/218) in Kelantan. The overall animal-level prevalence was 8% (266/3242), while the herd prevalence was 17% (75/428). Two hundred and four nasal swabs from 18 positive herds in Kelantan and 163 lung and mediastinal lymph node samples were processed for isolation of MmmSc before confirmation by PCR and immunoperoxidase. Forty-one samples showed turbidity in PPLO broth and 15 lung and mediastinal lymph node samples had 'fried-egg colony' growth on the PPLO agar, which were suggestive of Mycoplasma infection. However, all were negative for MmmSC by PCR and immunoperoxidase. Thus, the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia remains positive serology for CBPP without isolation