A retrospective study on post-arrival mortality rate of Australian boer goats in a breeder farm in Malaysia

Post-arrival mortality pattern and the causes of those mortalities were studied in a Boer goat breeding farm in Malaysia. The farm was established in October 2005, following an importation of 597 breeder Boer goats from Australia. Further importations of 534 Boer goats were made in July 2007, and 166 goats in March 2008. Farm records covering the period between October 2005 and December 2008 were analyzed for monthly mortality pattern with special attention on the post-arrival weeks. Upon arrival, goats were provided with vitamins, anti-stress and antibiotic cover. They were fed with cut grasses and supplemented with goat pellets at 350g/goat/day. Drinking water was also available ad libitum. During the study period of 2005 to 2008, there were significantly (p<0.05) higher rates of annual mortality during rainy months (7%-14%) as compared to dry months (2%- 5%). Meanwhile, the post-arrival mortality showed an average of 27%, ranging between 13% and 43%, of the Boer goats died during the first 6 weeks of post-arrival. In particular, the goats arriving in the rainy months of October 2005 and March 2008 showed higher post-arrival mortality than those arriving in the dry month of July 2007. The post-arrival mortality pattern revealed a gradual but significant (p<0.05) increase as early as week 1, with an average of 5% mortality to reach peak at week 3 with 35% mortality before it gradually decreased to 6% at week 6 and 3% at week 7. The major causes of post-arrival mortalities were pneumonic mannheimiosis and helminthiasis, which were associated with the stresses of handling, loading and unloading during shipment

Clinical human brucellosis in Malaysia: a case report

Clinical human brucellosis is quite rare in Malaysia although seroconverters are relatively more. This report describes a case of clinical human brucellosis in Malaysia. This case involved a 29-year-old research assistant in a veterinary microbiology laboratory. She complained of intermittent fever, anorexia, profuse sweating, malaise, headache, normotensive (110/60 mm Hg), muscle pain, and arthralgia for 3 d. Blood tests against dengue and malaria were negative thus she was prescribed vitamin C, paracetamol and cough syrup for common flu. The complaints, however, persisted on and off for the next 1 month. She eventually developed anemia and hypotension (90/50 mm Hg) and started to show reduced body weight. Abdominal palpations revealed hepatomegaly and splenomegaly with pain. Thus, brucellosis was suspected before the Rose-Bengal plate test was performed, which revealed the presence of high level of antibody against Brucella. The same test was repeated after 14 d and the results confirmed the presence of high antibody level against Brucella. Following serum agglutination test, a diagnosis of brucellosis was made and she was eventually prescribed rifampicine p.o. once a day combined with doxycycline p.o. twice a day for 6 consecutive weeks before she made a full recovery

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

Resveratrol ameliorates pathophysiological changes associated with Brucella melitensis infection in dexamethasone-treated does

Brucellosis has been regarded as the most widespread zoonotic disease. Infected animals have always been the source of human infection. Studies on the influence of stress on the pathological dynamics of this zoonotic disease are uncommon. This study aimed at evaluating serological responses, oxidative status, and pathological derangements associated with Brucella melitensis infection in does treated with dexamethasone. Twelve does were divided into 4 groups designated A, B, C, and D with 3 animals each. Groups A and B were ocularly inoculated with 107 CFU of B. melitensis. From day 21 postinoculation (pi), dexamethasone was administered for 7 days at 2 mg/kg intramuscularly. Group A was further treated with resveratrol for 5 days from day 31 post-B. melitensis inoculation. Group C was inoculated with similar dose of B. melitensis ocularly while group D was inoculated normal saline. Blood samples were collected at regular intervals for PCR, serology, and oxidative stress analysis. The does were sacrificed at day 42 pi. Selected tissues were collected for immunohistochemistry and histopathological examination. Dexamethasone administration induced increase in molondialdehyde level, intensity of immunostaining, and pathological alterations while decreasing superoxide dismutase, and glutathione levels in group A compared to group B. Five-day treatment with resveratrol following dexamethasone administration was observed to significantly ameliorate pathological derangements compared to group A. While stress could exacerbate pathological alterations associated with B. melitensis infection, antioxidants are capable of mitigating the impact of stress associated diseases

Prevalence of chromosome anomalies in a deer farm with fertility decline in Malaysia

Background: A number of factors are known to reduce fertility rate in animals and one of the important categories of such factors is chromosome anomalies. They can occur with or without causing phenotypic abnormalities on animals; in some cases, they may directly affect meiosis, gametogenesis and the viability of conceptus. In many instances, balanced structural rearrangements can be transmitted to offspring, affecting fertility in subsequent generations. Aim: This work investigated the occurrence of chromosome aberrations in Rusa timorensis, Rusa unicolor and Axis axis raised in a nucleus deer farm in Malaysia with a history of declining fertility of unknown origin. Materials & methods: Blood samples were collected from 60 animals through venipuncture, cultured for 72 h and arrested at metaphase. SmartType® and Ideokar® software were used to karyotype the chromosomes. Results: We found 15 out of the 60 animals screened from both sexes harbor some form of chromosome aberration. Chromosomal aberrations exist at the rate of 25% and may not be unconnected with the observed reduced fertility on the farm. Further investigations should be carried out, especially on the offspring of the studied animals to transmission of these aberrations. The animals that are confirmed to transmit the chromosomal aberrations should be culled to arrest the propagation of their abnormalities. Lay abstract: Some genetic problems affect fecundity in animals; they affect reproduction thereby reducing farm output. There are reports regarding these types of problems, which links them to causing enormous economic losses in different types of animal farms. In this work, we collected blood samples from a deer farm where different breeds are kept together and fertility decline has been reported previously to check if these types of genetic problems are present on the farm. Our investigation revealed that 25% of the animals investigated, both males and female, carry a type of genetic problem that was previously reported to be associated with fertility issues. We recommend a more extensive investigation to get to the bottom of the problem, to proffer appropriate solution and to avoid economic losses on the farm

Application of veterinary cytogenetics in domestic animals: a review

Cytogenetics is the study of chromosomes; their structure and properties, chromosome behavior during cell division, their influence on traits and factors which cause changes in chromosomes. Veterinary cytogenetics is the application of cytogenetics to clinical problems that occur in animal production. It has been applied to understand problems such as infertility and its types, embryonic and fetal death, abnormality in sexual and somatic development and hybrid sterility and also prenatal sex determination and other forms of chromosomal abnormalities. These are achieved through conventional and banded karyotyping techniques and molecular cytogenetic techniques. Although conventional techniques are still useful and very widely applied, the nature of cytogenetics has gradually changed as a result of advances achieved in the molecular cytogenetic techniques for example fluorescent in situ hybridization and array-based techniques. These changes are evident in both molecular diagnostics and basic research. The combination of conventional and molecular cytogenetics has given rise to high resolution techniques which have enabled the study of fundamental questions regarding biological processes. It enables the study of inherited syndromes, the mechanisms of tumorigenesis at molecular level, genome organization and the determination of chromosome homologies between species. It allows the ease with which animals are selected in breeding programs and other important aspects of animal production. In this paper we discusseda number of techniques employed in cytogenetics and their methodologies, and recommend where future focus should be for the benefits of animal production

Development and application of dot-enzyme- linked immunosorbent (dot-ELISA) assay for detection of Brucella melitensis and evaluation of the shedding pattern in infected goats

Early and accurate diagnosis of Brucella melitensis is essential for the treatment and control of brucellosis both in animals and humans. The thrust for the development of a rapid diagnostic technique to overcome the limitations of conventional microbiological and serological tests brought about this investigation on the development and application of dot-ELISA for antigen and antibody detection in infected goats. Fifteen apparently healthy Boer aged 2–3 years which tested negative for brucellosis using PCR and ELISA, were grouped into A (10 goats infected intraocularly with 107 CFU of B. melitensis) and B (5 goats) as control. Discharges (ocular, nasal, and vaginal) and blood were collected at days 3, 7, 10, 14, weekly until 42 post-infection (pi) for dot-ELISA, PCR, and RBPT. Dot-ELISA detected B. melitensis antigen and antibody in group A at day 3 and 7 pi, respectively with adequate sensitivity and specificity relative to PCR and RBPT. The bacteria shedding detected from discharges at day 3 pi in the nasal and ocular route with dot-ELISA. Group B were consistently negative. Values such as speed, simplicity, field adaptability, high sensitivity, and specificity make dot-ELISA a rapid and adequate technique for diagnosis of brucellosis in B. melitensis infected goats within few hours

Development and application of dot-enzyme- linked immunosorbent (dot-ELISA) assay for detection of Brucella melitensis and evaluation of the shedding pattern in infected goats

Early and accurate diagnosis of Brucella melitensis is essential for the treatment and control of brucellosis both in animals and humans. The thrust for the development of a rapid diagnostic technique to overcome the limitations of conventional microbiological and serological tests brought about this investigation on the development and application of dot-ELISA for antigen and antibody detection in infected goats. Fifteen apparently healthy Boer aged 2–3 years which tested negative for brucellosis using PCR and ELISA, were grouped into A (10 goats infected intraocularly with 107 CFU of B. melitensis) and B (5 goats) as control. Discharges (ocular, nasal, and vaginal) and blood were collected at days 3, 7, 10, 14, weekly until 42 post-infection (pi) for dot-ELISA, PCR, and RBPT. Dot-ELISA detected B. melitensis antigen and antibody in group A at day 3 and 7 pi, respectively with adequate sensitivity and specificity relative to PCR and RBPT. The bacteria shedding detected from discharges at day 3 pi in the nasal and ocular route with dot-ELISA. Group B were consistently negative. Values such as speed, simplicity, field adaptability, high sensitivity, and specificity make dot-ELISA a rapid and adequate technique for diagnosis of brucellosis in B. melitensis infected goats within few hours

Boer goats appear to lack a functional IgA and eosinophil response against natural nematode infection

Gastrointestinal nematode infection is one of the major diseases affecting small ruminants. Although some breeds of goats are quite resistant, many breeds of goats are relatively susceptible. This study used a combined parasitological, immunological, bioinformatic and statistical approach to examine the role of goat IgA and eosinophils in protection against Teladorsagia circumcincta. Molecular modelling suggested that the transmembrane domain of the high affinity IgA receptor was dysfunctional in goats. Statistical analyses failed to find any association in naturally infected goats between high IgA or eosinophil responses and low faecal egg counts. Together these results indicate that IgA and eosinophil responses against T. circumcincta are less effective in goats than sheep

Feed formulation based on local feed resources and its effects on nutritional-related blood profile in breeder goats

A comparative study was conducted to determine the nutrient composition of different feed formulations and its effect on nutritional related blood profile in breeder goats. Eighteen female adult goats, Capra aegagrus hircus (Boer cross) were selected and allocated into three different groups (n = 6) and assigned according to different feed formulations. Blood sampling was conducted before and after fourth weeks of feeding trial and analysed for selected parameters. Proximate analysis of diets was done and revealed comparable value of crude protein and crude fat. Glucose, total protein and calcium level in serum showed significant difference between groups (P-value 0.05). Fatty acid analysis of feed and serum showed polyunsaturated fatty acid was higher than satureated fatty acid. Overall, diet 3 shows the highest value of all blood parameters analysed in this study. Hence, it is very important to provide animal with nutrient according to production stages as sufficent protein and energy will improve the animal performance in terms breeding efficacy and quality of animal products. This study indicates that different feed formulation affects certain nutritional related blood profile in goat