Idris Umar Hambali

Seroprevalence of orf infection based on IgM antibody detection in sheep and goats from selected small ruminant farms in Malaysia

Orf is an infectious disease that affects the skin of sheep and goats resulting in lesions that reduce animal productivity. This study was aimed to determine the status of orf infection among small ruminants from selected farms in the state of the Selangor based on IgM antibody detection. Serum samples were collected from 90 goats and 90 sheep and subjected to qualitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure IgM antibodies followed by chi-square analysis of the data. The result from this study showed that 33 goats (36.7%) and 7 sheep (7.8%) were positive for orf IgM antibodies, indicating higher seroprevalence among goats as compared to sheep. The risk factors such as species, breed, farm location, and history of orf, age, gender, presence of clinical signs, and farm location were shown to significantly affect the seropositivity of IgM antibodies in these species. In conclusion, this study showed that a significant number of goat populations in Selangor, Malaysia, harbor active orf infection in comparison to sheep.

Hemogram responses in goats toward challenged with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and its immunogen mycolic acids

Aim:: This study was conducted to analyze the changes in blood profile of goats inoculated with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and its immunogen mycolic acid (MA) extract. Materials and Methods:: A total of 12 clinically healthy crossbred Boer female goats were divided into three groups; A, B and C (4 goats each per group). Group A was inoculated with 2 ml sterile phosphate buffered saline via intradermal route as the negative control group whilst Group B was inoculated with 2 ml of MA extract (1 g/ml) intradermally and Group C was then inoculated with 2 ml (1×109) colony forming unit of active C. pseudotuberculosis intradermally. Blood sample was collected aseptically from the jugular vein periodically for complete blood count (CBC) analysis throughout the experimental period (3 months). Result:: A significant decrease (p<0.05) was observed in red blood cells, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular Hb concentration in Groups B and C as compared to the control while WBCs, neutrophil, lymphocyte and basophil showed a significant increase (p<0.05) as compared to the control. Conclusion:: The inoculation of C. pseudotuberculosis and MA resulted in a significant change in the CBC, thereby, indicating that MA has a role in caseous lymphadenitis pathogenesis.

Seroprevalence of small ruminant caprine arthritis encephalitis lentivirus among goats from selected small ruminant farms in Selangor, Malaysia

Background and Aim: Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is an important viral disease of small ruminants particularly in dairy goats with severe social and economic implication. Hence, this study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of CAE virus (CAEV) among goat population in selected small ruminant farms in Selangor and the risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from a total of 91 goats selected at random. Blood serum was harvested and used for competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test to detect antibodies against CAE virus. Results: The result obtained showed that 8/91 (8.8%) of the goats were seropositive for CAEV. In addition, biosecurity management, source of origin and sex of the animal were observed to be important risk factors associated with the occurrence of CAE in goats. Conclusion: The findings of this study affirmed that the seroprevalence of CAEV infection among goat population in small ruminant farms in Selangor, Malaysia, is low. However, there is need to institute strict control measures such as testing and culling positive animals or separation of infected animals from those that tested negative to the disease for effective eradication of the disease.

Dermatopathology of Orf Virus (Malaysian Isolates) in Mice Experimentally Inoculated at Different Sites with and without Dexamethasone Administration

Orf is a clinical manifestation of parapoxvirus infection often fatal in goats and sheep especially when they are under stress or influenced by unfavorable environment. This study investigated the pathogenicity of two Orf virus isolates (ORFV UPM1/14 and UPM2/14) and host response in mouse model by using different inoculation sites with/without prior exposure to dexamethasone. Treatments with dexamethasone served as an immunosuppressant that may mimic stress situation in affected animals. Groups of five mice were given intradermal injection of 0.2 mL of tissue culture infective dose 50 (TCID50) of UPM1/14 (Group 1) and UPM2/14 (Group 2) at the dorsum (Group 1A; Group 2A), ear pinna (Group 1B; Group 2B), and labial commissure (Group 1C; Group 2C). An inoculum 0.2 mL of UPM1/14 was administered to animals treated with dexamethasone (n=5; 5 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally) and nondexamethasone (n=5) groups at the dorsum, ear pinna, and labial commissure. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the mean lesion scores among the groups of different inoculation sites or between dexamethasone-treated and nontreated groups. However, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean stratum thickness of affected skin following inoculation with UPM2/14 isolate at the ear pinna and labial commissure. Histopathology examination revealed keratosis, acanthosis, and ballooning degeneration in the skin of affected mice. Orf virus DNA was detected in the skin samples by targeting F1L and B2L virus-specific genes in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Intradermal inoculation with UPM1/14 or UPM2/14 isolate produced a mild skin lesion in mice, and there was no significant difference in orf disease manifestation despite variation of inoculation sites. Similarly, short-term dexamethasone administration gave no adverse effects on pathogenicity of orf virus isolates.

Assessment of Mucosal and Systemic Immune Responses against Staphylococcus aureus in Ruminants

| Staphylococcus aureus is the most important human and animal pathogen responsible for a wide spectrum of morbidity and acute clinical infections, in addition to tenacious chronic forms of diseases. The pathogen sophisticated virulence, and its abilities to abate or elude the host immune responses by the myriad of processes makes it the most dreaded organisms, both in the communities, hospital setups and the dairy industries worldwide. S. aureus vaccines have revealed a significant challenge because of plentiful virulence physiognomies. For these reasons, numerous protein particles and several potent transporters of these proteins called adjuvants were proposed as ideal vaccines contrivances for the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infections. Furthermore, for the formulation of these vaccine contraptions nascent technologies which include the Bioinformatics, Proteomics, Metagenomics, Metabolomics, Transcriptomics and Nanotechnology and its ability in the deliverance of vaccines in research are similarly advocated, an intact procedure employed for the evaluation of the vast proteins and genes that were disclosed by a microorganism is currently available. Likewise, existing are marvellous expectation in these burgeoning expertise in understanding the microbial and host affiliations. In view of this, the blossoming facts may perhaps tremendously assure to the headway of immunogenic vaccines as anti-Staphylococcus aureus contagions in both hominids and animals. This periodical highlights and explicates on the up-to-date eminence of mucosal and systemic immune responses by the application of Transcriptomics, Metabolomics, Metagenomics, Proteomics and Nanotechnology techniques for their prominence in the evaluation of refined proteins for use as systemic and mucosal immunogenic vaccines for forefending of Staphylococcus aureus contagions in goats, sheep and cattle.

Clinico-Pathological Findings of Septicaemic Colibacillosis in a Calf

Colibacillosis is one of the major cause of mortality among young calves due to severe diarrhoea associated with calf scour and septicaemia. A two weeks old male Friesian cross calf weighing about 50 kg was presented to the large animal clinic of the University Veterinary Hospital with complains of yellowish-watery diarrhoea for the past two days, lethergy and recumbency. The calf was dull and depressed, diarrhoeic, dehydrated with bilateral sunken and congested eyes. Three other calves had recently died of recurring similar symptoms in the same herd. Antibiotic and fluid therapy with analgesic as adjunct treatment plan, but the calf died while being treated.The blood biochemical analysis revealed hyperkalaemia, hypocalcaemia, slightly elevated urea, creatinine and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Necropsy findings were congestion and haemorrhage in the abomasum, jejunum and colon with sloughing off of the mucosa. The liver was pale, kidneys and heart were congested and haemorrhagic. Bacteriological examination revealed that E. coli was consistently isolated in biopsy samples of the visceral organs. Improved sanitation and provision of adequate colostrum to new-born calves have forestalled the occurrence of the disease in the herd.

Therapeutic Management of Stage II Milk Fever With Retained Placenta in a Cow

Milk fever is a condition where the animal’s body fails to maintain the calcium homeostasis following an upsurge demand of calcium during gestation or lactation. This case reports the clinical management of suspected stage II milk fever with retained placenta in a Friesian cow after parturition of twin calves. A four-year-old Friesian cow weighing 400kg was presented with primary complaint of weakness and inability to stand a day after parturition of two calves. Physical examination revealed that the cow was on sternal recumbency and unable to stand, while the placenta was seen hanging from the vulva region. All vital parameters were normal but the cow was having a weak cardiac rythm. The differential diagnoses at this point of time were milk fever, downers’ cow syndrome and hypophosphatemia. The cow was diagnosed with suspected milk fever based on the history of parturition of two calves and thus leading to hypocalcaemia. The cow was treated with flunixin meglumine 1.1mg/kg once intravenously as anti-inflammatory, anti-pyrexic and analgesic. Then, 500mL of calcium borogluconate (23%) was administered intravenously slowly at the rate of 1drop/second as a source of calcium. The cow responded well to treatment after 10 minutes of administration. In addition, 0.9% normal saline was lavaged into the uterus to irrigate the retained placenta. Subsequently, 20mL of oxytetracycline (20mg/kg) was infused into the uterine body as the final lavage. Finally, broad spectrum long acting oxytetracycline (20mg/kg) antibiotic was given once intramuscularly to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Therapeutic treatment to restore the calcium level in the blood should be the main focus during the management of milk fever.

Predatory Capacity of Anabantoids Indigenous Fishes (Beta Pugnax and Beta Anabatoides) on the Mosquito’s Larvae

A study was carried out to determine the maximum intake of mosquitoes’ larvae within a twenty four hours period by two species of indigenous Anabantoids. The species used were Betta pugnax and Betta anabantoides and for each species five adult male fish were used. The feeding of the mosquito larvae every twenty four hours period was observed continuously for three days for each species. The mean standard length of the Betta pugnax and Betta anabantoides were 3.8cm and 3.7cm respectively and for the mosquitos’ larvae, the length varies from 5 – 6mm. The mean intake of mosquitoes larvae counted for every twenty four hours for 3 days was 24.5 larvae for Betta pugnax and 16.7 larvae for Betta anabantoides. From this study it was concluded that Betta pugnax has a significantly (P<0.05) higher predatory capacity as compared to Betta anabatoides.