Risk factors, clinical indicators, and pathological findings of abomasal ulcers in tropical dairy buffaloes.

The current study aimed at identifying the risk factors and initial diagnostic aids for abomasal ulcers. The risk factor analysis confirmed a significant association (P < 0.05) of abomasal ulcers with concentrate-rich diets (OR, 4.795; CI, 1.212-15.974) and concurrent disorders (OR, 2.978; CI, 0.987-8.980), while the buffaloes in early lactation (OR, 2.777; CI, 0.703-10.972) showed a higher tendency (P = 0.078) for the disorder. The depressed demeanour, dark or black manure (melena), anemia, tachycardia, decreased milk production, anorexia, tachypnea, absence of rumination, abdominal guarding, kyphosis, and tachypnea were the most frequent clinical signs. Subjecting the abomasal fluid for cultural isolation, gram staining, and stormy clot fermentation test identified the presence of clostridium perfringes, while screening through uniplex PCR detected cpa toxin. The buffaloes affected with type-3 and 4 abomasal ulcers exhibited a higher peritoneal fluid to serum ratio of total protein, albumin, and glucose with a low (P < 0.01) serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) concentration compared to reference values of healthy buffaloes. The first two principal components of PCA explained 54.50% of the total variances with lymphocytes, creatine kinase, and rumen chloride levels as the top contributors to dimension I, and albumin, total protein, sodium, and methylene blue reduction time (MBRT) for rumen liquor as the major contributors to dimension II. The vector plot revealed lymphocytopenia, decreased hemoglobin, hypoalbuminemia, hypokalemia, decreased rumen pH, neutrophilia, eosinophilia, leucocytosis, greater MBRT, and higher rumen chloride, serum creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen as the major indicators for abomasal ulcers. Histopathological studies revealed infiltration of inflammatory cells in the mucosa along with multifocal areas of necrosis, degeneration, and eroded muscle structure. The study projected a few high-scored clinical signs and extremely variable clinical indicators as initial diagnostic aids of abomasal ulcers, which can be confirmed by ultrasonography and peritoneal fluid examination.

Abomasal impaction in buffaloes: Risk factors, clinical indicators, necropsy findings, and histology studies.

The present study aims to identify potential risk factors and most possible clinical indicators of abomasal impaction in buffaloes. Among the screened buffaloes (n = 636), the logistic model was fitted for 491 buffaloes because of the non-availability of parity-related data for 145 buffaloes. Third-trimester pregnancy, feeding paddy straw alone, and concurrent disorders were identified as the potential risk factors using multivariate regression analysis. The buffaloes reared by farmers devoid of land tended to have a higher incidence of abomasal impaction. Depressed demeanour, absence of rumination, abdominal guarding, scleral congestion, sunken eyeballs, anorexia, reduced dung output, abacus beads-like faeces, colic signs (straining to defecate, frequent lying down, and kicking at abdomen), tachypnea, and tachycardia were the most repeatedly noticed clinical signs in buffaloes diagnosed with abomasal impaction. Further, the principal component analysis revealed increased rumen fluid sedimentation time and chloride content, serum creatine phosphokinase, and blood neutrophil and eosinophil content along with decreased blood lymphocytes proportion, potassium, and chloride as the greatest indicators for abomasal impaction. Next to them, a higher rumen fluid methylene blue reduction time, serum urea nitrogen, and blood total leucocyte count, along with a lower serum albumin and blood haemoglobin were the best possible indicators for diagnosis. The necropsy findings of the buffaloes that died with abomasal disorders revealed an abomasum with increased dimensions and constant pitting on pressure. Furthermore, the histopathological studies showed degeneration and necrosis of the abomasal wall with infiltrated mononuclear cells. The results of the study help in designing a comprehensive evaluation mechanism for diagnosing abomasal impaction in buffaloes.

Clinical, haemato-biochemical, and ultrasonographic findings of abomasal impaction and abomasal ulcers in buffaloes.

The current study evaluated the clinical, ruminal, haemato-biochemical, and ultrasonographic findings of abomasal disorders' affected buffaloes grouped as abomasal impaction (n = 18) and abomasal ulcers (n = 15). The abomasal disorders' screening was based on clinical examination and confirmed by ultrasonography. The most common clinical findings of the buffaloes affected with abomasal disorders include depressed demeanour (96.97%), absence of rumination (87.88%), abdominal guarding (87.88%), sunken eye balls (81.82%), tachycardia (78.79%), tachypnea (72.73%), and kyphosis (63.64%). The average rumen motility, respiratory rate, and pulse rate for abomasal impaction and abomasal ulcers were 0.28, 33.37, and 83.44, and 0.33, 35.87, and 92.60, respectively. The faecal occult blood test (benzidine test) revealed the presence of melena in all the buffaloes diagnosed with abomasal ulcers (100%). The ultrasonographic examination of the abomasal impaction group revealed increased abomasal size with no movement of the abomasal contents. The ultrasonographic imaging of abomasal ulcer-affected buffaloes showed irregularity in the abomasal wall-outline with moderately echogenic abomasal contents and a layer of fibrin at the affected area. Nine buffaloes had ultrasonographic evidence of peritonitis. The abomasal contents of buffaloes with positive benzidine test (n = 15) were screened for Clostridium perfringens by a polymerase chain reaction and were found positive for cpa toxin yielding 900-bp length. The rumen protozoal count was higher in healthy buffaloes, while the sedimentation test, (time) methylene blue reduction test, (time) and chloride levels were higher (P < 0.01) in the buffaloes affected with abomasal disorders. Haematological findings revealed a higher haematocrit, total leucocyte count, neutrophils, and eosinophil proportion and lower haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, and lymphocyte proportion without affecting the fractions of monocytes and basophils. Furthermore, the buffaloes affected with abomasal disorders showed lower albumin, phosphorus, and potassium and higher aspartate transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine kinase, creatinine, and chloride concentrations. The present study projects clinical signs, ruminal parameters, and haemato-biochemical parameters as better indicators of abomasal disorders; however, ultrasonography is the sole diagnostic aid for the confirmation of abomasal disorders in buffaloes.

Investigation on Toxocara spp. eggs in hair coat of dogs in YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Present study was aimed to record the Toxocara spp. eggs in dog's hair and to analyze the incidence in breed and age wise along with incidence variations in the anatomical locations of hair over the body. Dogs presented to the hospital were screened for enteric parasitic ova and hair samples were collected from the different body regions including head and neck region, ventral and lateral abdomen, perianal and hindquarters and tail region. Out of the 236 dogs, 124 (52.54%) dogs showed Toxocara spp. eggs in the faecal samples and 60 (25.42%) showed the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs on their hair. It was noticed that the dogs with long hair showed (36.73%) more incidence than the short hair breeds (17.39%). The incidence of the Toxocara spp. eggs were varied with the presence of the hair at different anatomical locations and it was 36.67% in the head and neck region, 51.67% ventral and lateral abdomen, 86.67% in perianal and hindquarters, 56.67% in the tail region. 25.35% of the dogs were under 1-year-old, 25.98% dogs were between 1 and 6 years old and 23.68% dogs were more than 6 years had the Toxocara spp. eggs in their hairs. In conclusion, the presences of Toxocara spp. eggs in the hair of different breeds of dogs were recorded in the present geographical location and it is a zoonotic alert for the pet owners.

Clinical management of demodicosis in Ongole cattle.

Demodicosis was diagnosed in a cattle based on dermatological lesions and examination of skin scrapings. The cattle had anaemia, leucocytosis, eosinophilia and neutrophilia. Cattle was treated with strepto penicillin, ivermectin, amitraz along with supportive therapy. After 2 months of therapy clinical cure and regrowth of hair was noticed.

Lousicidal effect of deltamethrin in domestic pigeons.

Present study reports the effect of deltamethrin against louse infestation in domestic pigeons. In this study, twelve pigeons infested with Columbicola columbae louse were sprayed with deltamethrin (12.5 %) and another twelve pigeons were kept as control group. The lice intensity was reduced 89 %, 98 % and 100 % on 1st, 7th and 14th day of post treatment in treatment group. Out of twelve pigeons, four pigeons showed sneezing and temporary ocular inflammations after spraying.

Study on impression smears of hepatic coccidiosis in rabbits.

Hepatic coccidiosis is a contagious and lethal disease condition in rabbits. The disease was recorded in six rabbits suffering with watery diarrhoea. Clinically, affected rabbits showed decreased growth rate, anorexia, debilitation, diarrhea and rough hair coat. Examination of the faecal samples revealed the presence of unsporulated oocysts of Eimeria spp. After sporulation Eimeria stiedae oocysts were identified. Postmortem examination revealed hepatomegaly with presence of discrete yellowish-white nodules on the surface of the liver. Impression smears from the liver revealed the presence of numerous developmental stages of E. stiedae corresponding with the stage of the liver lesion and also represent the histological changes of the liver. Rabbits were treated with a combination of sulphaquinoxaline and diaveridine for five days.

Haemato-biochemical and thyroxin status in Trypanosoma evansi infected dogs.

In one year period of study, dogs with inappetence, fever, ocular discharges, dullness, enlarged lymph nodes were screened for the presence of haemoprotozoans at College Hospital of College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati. Wet blood film examination and stained blood smear examination was done to confirm the condition. Peripheral blood smears of dogs revealed the presence of Trypansomes. Trypanosoma evansi was confirmed based on the morphology and measurements of the organisms in the stained blood smears.  Haematology revealed decreased total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin and total leucocyte count values. Total serum proteins, albumin and glucose levels were decreased significantly (P < 0.01), but a significant increase (P < 0.01) in cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum aspartate aminotransferase and serum alanine aminotransferase levels were observed. Decreased total T4 and free T4 were also observed in the T. evansi infected dogs.