Digital infrared thermal imaging of udder skin surface temperature: a novel non-invasive technology to monitor calving process in Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Quantifiable decline in the maternal body temperature during the pre-calving offers the possibilities for predicting the calving that can improve the calving management. As infrared thermography (IRT) is a simple non-contact tool for precise measurement of surface temperature, we investigated the use of IRT to establish thermal signatures around calving in the Murrah buffalo. The IRT of eye, right lateral, left lateral and rear side of udder skin surface temperature (USST) were recorded at 6 h interval from 96 h before the expected date of calving, at the time of calving and 24 h post-calving in Murrah buffaloes (n = 28). In parallel, blood samples were collected for progesterone (P4) assay. The results revealed that the IRT of the eye, right and left lateral and rear side of USST showed a significant decrease in the temperature from 48 h pre-calving till the onset of calving with a ΔT (°C) of 0.56, 0.91, 0.70, and 0.90, respectively. Mean USST significantly declined from 48 h pre-calving with a ΔT of 0.85 °C. The residual temperature of both eye and various ROI of the udder also followed a similar and significant declining trend from 48 to 0 h of calving indicating that circadian influence on the USST was minimum. Plasma P4 concentration significantly decreased from 72 h pre-calving till calving. It is concluded that a marked reduction in the IRT of the USST at 6-12 h pre-calving would be useful in predicting the onset of calving in the Murrah buffalo.

Comparative toxicity studies in birds using nimesulide and diclofenac sodium.

Nimesulide, a sulfonanilide derivative, was compared with diclofenac sodium for toxicity in poultry. In this study, Vanaraja and PB1 birds of 6 weeks old (either sex) were mixed and equally divided into 5 groups of 10 birds each. The birds were inoculated with nimesulide, @ 5 and 2mg; vehicle @ 0.5ml; and diclofenac sodium @ 5mg on kg bwt basis. One group served as untreated control. All the groups were observed for a period of 28days. Forty percent mortality was observed within 12 days in diclofenac-treated group. While birds inoculated with nimesulide remained normal. No significant differences in the weight gain, haematology, total protein contents in the nimesulide and diclofenac groups (survived birds) were observed when compared with the control group of birds. Serum creatinine, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly (P<0.05) high in diclofenac-treated group compared to nimesulide (P>0.05) and control groups. Nimesulide-treated groups did not show any histopathological lesions, where as diclofenac-treated birds showed histopathological lesions in liver and kidney.

Validation of the inactivant binary ethylenimine for inactivating rabies virus for veterinary rabies vaccine production.

The rabies vaccine is produced by inactivation of rabies virus propagated on BHK21 cells. In the rabies inactivation process, BEI is added at a final concentration of 1.6 mM to the viral harvest at 37 degrees C, followed by a second dose of BEI at 24 h post-inactivation. Inactivation was confirmed by the mice innocuity test and tissue culture amplification test as per B.P (Vet) 2004. Validation of test procedure is essential as per cGMP requirement. The dose of BEI was validated by using lower and higher concentrations of BEI in inactivation process. The study indicated that BEI at a lower concentration (0.4 mM) was able to inactivate the rabies virus within 30 h and the routine concentration (1.6 mM) of BEI is effective in inactivating rabies virus within 18 h. The amplification test used for confirming the inactivation of the live virus was validated by spiking the sample with different dilutions of pretitrated live rabies virus. The test revealed that the amplification method is sensitive to detect live rabies virus if present in the inactivated sample. The validation of BEI as an inactivant and the amplification test are discussed.

Validation of binary ethyleneimine (BEI) used as an inactivant for foot and mouth disease tissue culture vaccine.

The complete inactivation of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus is a critical requirement in the production of FMD vaccine to ensure the safety of the product. Binary ethyleneimine (BEI) is an aziridine compound, produced from bromoethylamine hydrobromide (BEA) commonly used for the inactivation of FMD virus during vaccine manufacturing. The validation of BEI, when used as an inactivant, is essential to ensure the quality of the inactivating agent and the validity of the process. In the present study, the inactivation kinetics of Foot and Mouth Disease virus (O, A and Asia-1 serotypes) were determined for different concentrations of BEI (0.4 mM, 0.8 mM, 1.2 mM, 1.6 mM and 2.0 mM). Statistically significant differences in the inactivation kinetics were observed between 0.4 mM and 1.6 mM of BEI. The results indicated that BEI at 1.6 mM was able to inactivate the FMD virus within 8-10 h. Increasing the concentration of BEI beyond 1.6 mM did not appreciably improve the inactivation process. No differences in the inactivation kinetics were found between the various serotypes studied. This study can be used as a guideline for routine procedures for validating the quality of BEA and the inactivation process.

Combined vaccination of cattle against FMD and rabies.

Three groups of crossbred calves were vaccinated with FMD vaccine only, combined FMD + rabies vaccine and rabies vaccine alone. Efficacy of the vaccines was determined by serum antibody assay at different intervals postvaccination. The results of the study indicated that the immune response of animals to a single inoculation of FMD vaccine only as well as combined FMD + rabies vaccine was unsatisfactory due to maternally derived antibodies to FMD virus antigen. However two inoculations elicited a satisfactory antibody response to FMD virus antigens in both group of animals. Rabies antigen alone as well as combined FMD + rabies antigen induced satisfactory serum antibody titres to rabies antigen. There was no significantly different serological responses in animal administered FMD vaccine only, rabies vaccine only or combined FMD + rabies vaccine.