Showing papers by "University of Veterinary Science published in 2018"

Genetic homogeneity of goat malaria parasites in Asia and Africa suggests their expansion with domestic goat host

Abstract: Plasmodium was first identified in a goat in Angola in 1923, and only recently characterized by DNA isolation from a goat blood sample in Zambia. Goats were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent approximately 10,000 years ago, and are now globally distributed. It is not known if the Plasmodium identified in African goats originated from parasites circulating in the local ungulates, or if it co-evolved in the goat before its domestication. To address this question, we performed PCR-based surveillance using a total of 1,299 goat blood samples collected from Sudan and Kenya in Africa, Iran in west Asia, and Myanmar and Thailand in southeast Asia. Plasmodium DNA was detected from all locations, suggesting that the parasite is not limited to Africa, but widely distributed. Whole mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed that there was only one nucleotide substitution between Zambian/Kenyan samples and others, supporting the existence of a goat-specific Plasmodium species, presumably Plasmodium caprae, rather than infection of goats by local ungulate malaria parasites. We also present the first photographic images of P. caprae, from one Kenyan goat sample.

First molecular detection of Theileria luwenshuni from goats in Myanmar

Abstract: Tick-borne intracellular protozoan parasites of the Theileria genus infect a wide range of both domestic and wild animals. In the present study, we describe the first PCR detection of Theileria luwenshuni in the blood of goats in Myanmar. Nested PCR targeting the Theileria 18S rRNA gene resulted in seven positive goats in central and northern Myanmar. Nucleotide sequencing of the PCR products revealed that all seven sequences were identical and showed 100% identity with T. luwenshuni sequences in GenBank from goats and sheep in China. Since T. luwenshuni parasites have recently been discovered and shown to have nationwide distribution in China, they might have been introduced into Myanmar via transboundary movement of infected domestic small ruminants and/or wild animals from China.

A Holstein-Friesian dairy farm survey of postparturient factors influencing the days to first AI and days open in Hungary

Abstract: The authors monitored the postpartum period during the first seven weeks after calving at a Holstein-Friesian dairy farm in Hungary. Calvings occurred between 2013 and 2015 in three periods from June to November each year (n = 314). Data were collected from the farm record and ultrasonographic examinations were performed between 22 to 28 and 43 to 49 days in milk (DIM), respectively. The animals were followed until successful artificial insemination (AI), i.e. until becoming pregnant or until culling, but at most at 365 DIM. The prevalence of dystocia, twin calving, stillbirth rate and retained fetal membranes (RFM) was 23.2%, 3.8%, 3.5%, and 34.4%, respectively. Altogether 38.9% of the cows (n = 122) had bacterial complications of involution in the first 49 DIM. The prevalence of Grade 2 clinical (puerperal) metritis (CM) was 20.1% within 5 DIM, 10.5% between 6 to 10 DIM and 13.1% from 11 to 20 DIM, while 9.9% of the cows had clinical endometritis (CEM) between 21 and 28 DIM and 1.3% of the cows between 42 and 49 DIM, respectively. Pyometra was diagnosed in 1% of the cows between 21 and 28 DIM and 0.3% between 42 to 49 DIM, respectively. About 80% (80.6%) of the cows were inseminated at least once (n = 253). The success rate of the first AI was 26.9% (n = 68). Dystocia, twin calving, RFM, CM, CEM and cyclicity had no significant effect on the days between calving and first AI, however, according to the Kaplan-Meier analysis stillbirth significantly increased the number of days from calving to first AI (P = 0.039). According to the Kaplan- Meier analysis dystocia, twin calving, stillbirth, RFM, and cyclicity had no effect on the days open. In cows with CM developed within 5 DIM or with CEM diagnosed between 21 and 28 DIM the number of days open significantly decreased (P = 0.009 and P = 0.007, respectively), which confirms the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of uterine diseases. Similar surveys should be conducted to discover the risk factors for reproductive diseases in order to decrease the reproductive losses in dairy farms.

Microbes as Indicators of Water Quality and Bioremediation of Polluted Waters: A Novel Approach

Abstract: Water is the most important commodity in the world. Over the large parts of world, humans have inadequate access to potable water. Since the inception of industrial revolution different toxic compounds have entered in the water bodies due to leakage, improper disposal or accidents and caused great harms to rivers and various water bodies and imposed major health risks on human beings. Water pollution is measured by variety of physical, biological and chemical methods. Microbiological tests have proven to be indispensable part of environmental contamination detection. The main suggested criteria for selecting a microbial indicator for water potability should be: it should be suitable for the analysis of all types of water, present wherever enteric pathogens are present, survive longer than enteric pathogens, must have easy procedure for detection, should be harmless to humans and the level of indicator bacteria in contaminated water should have direct relationship to the degree of pollution.

A Simple, Practical Method for Measurement of Fat in Milk, Applied to Mid- to Late-Lactating Working Elephants in Myanmar

Abstract: Determining nutrient composition of milk is not only of interest to dairy industry, but may play a key role improving maternal well-being and offspring health and survival in a range of species, including endangered populations of mammals managed in captivity. However, in field conditions, lack of transportation, reagents, equipment, and electricity may limit the applicability of methodologies developed for dairy livestock species to wildlife. One example of a population benefitting from a practical method to assess milk quality in the field is that of Asian elephants employed in timber industry in Myanmar. A third (~15,000) of the remaining, endangered population of Asian elephants lives in captivity in range countries [1]. The largest (~5000) such captive population is employed in the timber logging industry in Myanmar of which over half belong to the government-owned Myanma Timber Enterprise. However, high calf mortality poses a risk to the population viability: of the identified causes of calf mortality, malnutrition caused by agalactia (lack of or deficient milk production of mothers), was the death reason for 26.3% of calves dying before age 5 years [2]. Seasonal variation in climate, body condition and mortality rate may exacerbate such effects [3].

Evaluation of optimal lysine level in Myanmar local breed and DYL crossed breed pig

Abstract: A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was comprised 2x3 factorial arrangements of two breeds (DYL and local breed) and three different lysine levels. The 12 weeks old, nine castrated DYL and nine castrated local breed were randomly allocated in each individual pen to six treatment groups with three replicates into 18 pens. Two breeds of pigs (DYL and local breed) were exposed to the three different dietary treatments, L1- basal diet without lysine supplementation, L2- basal diet with 1.15% total lysine for grower and L3- basal diet with 1.65% total lysine for grower. The growth performance and feed intake were determined for growing pigs. In this study, no significant difference (p>0.05) was found in feed intake among the three different treatments. However, significantly better body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in pigs fed L2 and L3 but were not significantly (p>0.05) differ from each other. Otherwise, diets without lysine supplementation (L1) showed no better effect on the growth performances of both DYL and local breeds. It could be noted that L2 was the best level to obtain optimal growth performances and farm efficiency. Between the two breeds, body weight of DYL was superior over that of local breed. The interactions were observed between lysine levels and different breeds regard for body weight and cumulative weight gain. To wrap up, it was noticeable that crystalline lysine supplementation helped to improve growth performance in both breeds.

Bilateral corneal dermoids and eyelid malformation in a colt – a case report

Abstract: A 4-month-old colt was presented to the Department and Clinic of Equine Medicine, University of Veterinary Science, Hungary for the evaluation of chronic bilateral mucopurulent discharge and mild blepharospasm. On ophthalmic examination, pigmented skin with long hairs located ventrotemporally on both corneas, a cluster of aberrant long hairs protruding from both caruncles and medial canthi, and a duplicated inferior eyelid of the left eye were identified. Surgical excision of limbic dermoids on both eyes and blepharoplasty appeared curative at the 6-month post-operative follow-up. This case report describes unusually located bilateral limbic dermoids in a horse. In addition, the dermoid on the left eye was accompanied by eyelid malformation. This unique combination of ocular congenital lesions has not been described in a horse so far. Blepharoplasty, cornea, horse, superficial keratectomy Choristomas are congenital lesions representing normal tissue in an abnormal location. Ocular examples of choristomas are epibulbar dermoid, ectopic lacrimal gland or episcleral osseous choristoma (Mansour et al. 1989). Ocular dermoids are non-progressive, unilateral or bilateral lesions consisting of epithelial and dermis-like components on the cornea, limbus, conjunctiva or the third eyelid (Cook 2007; Clode and Matthews 2011). They are found in all species and known to be inherited in Hereford cattle and occasionally familial in humans (Barkyoumb and Leipold 1984; Mansour et al. 1989; Maggs 2008). Ocular dermoids in horses have been reported in a group of related Quarter Horses in association with iridal hypoplasia and cataracts, in a Standardbred colt with no other ocular abnormality, and as a third eyelid dermoid in a Gypsy Vanner gelding causing chronic recurrent corneal ulcers (McLaughlin 1983; Joyce et al. 1990; Greenberg et al. 2012). To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report describing bilateral dermoids combined with an eyelid malformation in a horse.