S. K. Uppal

Transplacental transmission of Babesia equi (Theileria equi) from carrier mares to foals

This article communicates the first per-acute and fatal clinical report of transplacental transmission of Theileria equi from carrier mothers to foals from Punjab, India. Two cases of equine piroplasmosis due to T. equi were diagnosed in neonatal foals borne to Throughbred mares. High degree of parasitemia with annular and maltese cross shaped parasites in erythrocytes was seen in both cases. Blood cellular changes revealed leucopenia and neutropenia with mild degenerative left shift. Anaemia was macrocytic normochromic type. Intense yellow discoloration of mucous membranes indicated jaundice. In areas endemic for equine piroplasmosis, jaundice in neonatal foal can be easily misdiagnosed as neonatal isoerythrolysis. Foals with post-partum jaundice should always be screened for equine piroplasmosis.

Retrospective study of clinical and hematological aspects associated with dogs naturally infected by Hepatozoon canis in Ludhiana, Punjab, India

OBJECTIVE To evaluate clinical and hematological aspects of dogs naturally infected with Hepatozoon canis (H. canis) presented at the Small Animal Clinics of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana. METHODS Blood films of 34 naturally infected dogs were examined for haematological alterations and parasitaemia. Signalment and clinical signs were recorded from the animals. Clinical histories were filled out during the consultation. RESULTS Of the 34 positive dogs by Giemsa stained peripheral blood films, 88.23% presented parasitaemia by H. canis only, while 11.77% had the combination of H. canis, Babesia sp. and Ehrlichia sp. Young male dogs less than one-year-old, of non-descript breed, were the most commonly affected. And 26.47% were presented with anorexia/inappetence as the only clinical symptom. Other clinical symptoms were mild to moderate fever, pale mucosae and lethargy; a few were also showing the signs of vomiting and diarrhoea. Haematological alterations showed mainly normochromic-normocytic anaemia, leukocytosis and neutrophilia. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study substantiate that H. canis caused clinical and haematological alterations of the varied intensity in dogs, even with low parasitaemia, should be taken into consideration.

Isolation and phylogenetic characterization of Canine distemper virus from India

Canine distemper (CD), caused by canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious disease that infects a variety of carnivores. Sequence analysis of CDVs from different geographical areas has shown a lot of variation in the genome of the virus especially in haemagglutinin gene which might be one of the causes of vaccine failure. In this study, we isolated the virus (place: Ludhiana, Punjab; year: 2014) and further cloned, sequenced and analyzed partial haemagglutinin (H) gene and full length genes for fusion protein (F), phosphoprotein (P) and matrix protein (M) from an Indian wild-type CDV. Higher sequence homology was observed with the strains from Switzerland, Hungary, Germany; and lower with the vaccine strains like Ondersteport, CDV3, Convac for all the genes. The multiple sequence alignment showed more variation in partial H (45 nucleotide and 5 amino acid substitutions) and complete F (79 nucleotide and 30 amino acid substitutions) than in complete P (44 nucleotide and 22 amino acid substitutions) and complete M (22 nucleotide and 4 amino acid substitutions) gene/protein. Predicted potential N-linked glycosylation sites in H, F, M and P proteins were similar to the previously known wild-type CDVs but different from the vaccine strains. The Indian CDV formed a distinct clade in the phylogenetic tree clearly separated from the previously known wild-type and vaccine strains.

Clinical and hematobiochemical response in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis seropositive dogs of Punjab

Aim: As in India especially, the Punjab state sero-prevalence and distribution of ehrlichiosis in relation to clinico-hematobiochemical response remains largely unexplored. Thus, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of vector (tick)-borne tropical canine pancytopenia caused by Ehrlichia canis through enzyme labeled ImmunoComb® (IC) assay in dogs from in and around Ludhiana, Punjab. Correlation of prevalence was made with various clinico-hematobiochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: Seroprevalence study was carried out using IC® test kit (Biogal, Galed Labs). The study was conducted in 84 dogs presented to the Small Animal Clinics, Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab. Results: Out of 84 suspected dogs for ehrlichiosis, based on peripheral thin blood smear examination 12 (14.28%) cases were positive for the morulae of E. canis and 73 (86.90%) dogs were found positive to E. canis antibodies through IC® canine Ehrlichia antibody test kit, respectively. Among the different age groups 1-3 years of aged group showed highest prevalence (41.09%), followed by the 3-6 years age group (32.87%), infection levels were lower in the <1 year of age group dogs (13.69%) and more than 6 years age group dogs (12.32%). The highest prevalence was seen in Labrador retriever. This study indicates that season plays a very important role in the prevalence of ehrlichiosis. The most common findings observed were anemia, leukocytosis, neutropenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia followed by hyperbilirubinemia, increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinaemia, decrease in albumin and globulin ratio, increase in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Conclusions: Serological techniques like IC® are more useful for detecting chronic and subclinical infections and are ideally suited to epidemiological investigations.

Bovine intestinal obstruction: blood gas analysis, serum C-reactive protein and clinical, haematological and biochemical alterations

The present study was conducted on six cattle and two buffaloes with intestinal obstruction. Four cases had intestinal volvulus, three had intussusception and one case could have been volvulus or torsion. The haemato-biochemical parameters of these eight animals were studied, together with 10 healthy cows and 10 buffaloes as control. Rectal examination was helpful in subjective assessment of volvulus and intussusception but could not help in definitive diagnosis. Multiple dilated intestinal loops in pelvic cavity could be a diagnostic feature of intestinal volvulus. Complete anorexia, colic, loss of defecation, rumen atony, dehydration, tachycardia and tachypenia were the most pronounced clinical symptoms. The animals with intestinal obstruction had significantly higher packed cell volume, neutrophil count and significantly lower lymphocytic count. Reversal of neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio and moderate to marked left shift along with moderate to severe toxic changes in the neutrophils was a consistent finding. Serum biochemical analysis showed significant increase of aspartate aminotrasferase, fibrinogen, lactate and C-reactive protein levels and significant reduction in albumin, fibrinogen ratio, potassium, chloride, calcium and phosphorus levels. However, fibrinogen and fibrinogen ratio may be misleading and need to be interpreted cautiously.The rumen chloride level was increased. Peritoneal fluid changes were consistent with septic peritonitis, increased specific gravity, total protein, total cell count and number of neutrophils. Blood gas analysis revealed hypochloremic hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis with compensatory respiratory acidosis. So these biochemical changes should be taken into consideration while dealing with intestinal obstruction in cattle and buffaloes.

Evaluation of Efficacy of Propylene Glycol in the Treatment of Subclinical Ketosis and its effect on Plasma Concentration of Various Metabolic Parameters

Sub clinical ketosis is the excessive production of ketone bodies in blood leading to reduced reproductive performances and decreased milk yield without showing any clinical sign of ketosis. Since a lot of metabolic parameters are affected during the subclinical ketosis, which are having their roles in normal functioning of the body. Therefore the study was conducted to check the efficacy of Propylene glycol (PG) which was given @ 200 ml per day orally for 5 days in the treatment of subclinical ketosis and to study its effect on various metabolic parameters. A significant decrease was noted in the mean plasma Beta Hydroxyl Butyric Acid (BHBA) and Non Esterified Fatty Acid (NEFA) values, along with a significant increase in the mean plasma glucose, calcium and total plasma proteins levels after treatment. The mean plasma inorganic phosphorus levels were within the normal range. A non significant decrease was observed in the mean plasma copper and zinc levels, where as a increase was noted in iron levels from the late pregnancy upto the early lactation period. However, a increase was noted in the mean values of copper and zinc after treatment with PG. Marked improvement was recorded in the oxidative stress parameters after feeding of PG It was concluded from the present study that Propylene glycol (PG) was given @ 200 ml per day orally for 5 days results in decrease in plasma NEFA and BHBA levels, indicating its effectiveness for treatment of sub clinical ketosis.

Trace Minerals and Biochemical Profile in Buffalo Calves Manifesting Coat Colour Depigmentation in the Fluoride Endemic South-West Punjab

The present work aimed to study trace minerals and haemato-biochemical profile of buffalo calves manifesting depigmentation of coat colour (depigmented calves: DC) in comparison to calves having normal coat colour (normal calves: NC) in the fluoride endemic zone of the South-West Punjab. Plasma fluoride concentrations in NC and DC were higher than the normal but it did not vary between the groups. Plasma copper concentration in DC was lower than the critical limit of 0.70 μgml−1 and it was significantly (p<0.05) lower as compared to NC. Hair copper and plasma ceruloplasmin activity did not vary between the groups. Plasma molybdenum, and plasma and hair zinc and manganese concentrations were normal and did not vary between the groups. Plasma iron concentrations in both the groups were higher than the physiological limit of 2.50 μgml−1. The hair iron concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) higher in DC. The Hb, PCV, TEC, serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, plasma urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, ALP, AST, CK and GGT were normal in both the groups. It is concluded that depigmentation of coat colour in buffalo calves from the fluoride endemic South-west Punjab is due to deficiency of copper.