A 7-year-old, intact female Domestic Shorthair cat was referred to University Veterinary Hospital (UVH), UPM for diagnostic workup of a hepatomegaly observed on abdominal radiographs. Physical examination revealed no significant findings except for a distended abdomen. Hematology and serum biochemistry findings included a regenerative anaemia, left shift neutrophilia and a 10-fold elevation in gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT). Abdominal ultrasound revealed heterechoic liver lobes with irregular margins and presence of nodular and cyst-like structures predominantly affecting the left lobes. A mild ascites was also noted. A fine needle aspiration of the liver was performed and cytology results confirmed a cholangiocarcinoma. Generally, the outcome for cholagiocarcinoma is poor and there is limited information regarding the prognosis for patients with cholangiocarcinoma following chemotherapy or surgery.
An adult female Elephant Trunk Snake (Acrochordus javanicus) was reported to have been weak and inappetent for five days. The following morning the snake found dead, while in the process of shedding its skin. On post mortem examination, there were multiple circumscribed caseous nodules of various sizes distributed all over the liver, along the respiratory tract and on the lungs. Bacteriological analysis of the lungs and liver swab samples yielded Burkholderia pseudomallei, which was confirmed by PCR amplification of specific 16S rRNA. The condition was diagnosed as melioidosis and the organism was genotypically characterized as sequence type 51, a genotype that has been previously characterized in humans in Malaysia. Antibiotic susceptibility by both Disc diffusion or Kirby Bauer and E-test minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed that the organism exhibited susceptibility to meropenem, imipenem, ceftazidime, cotrimoxazole and co-amoxyclav; the antibiotics recommended in the treatment of melioidosis.
The complement cascade is a unique sequence of molecular events occurring within the vascular system in which inactive plasma proteins synthesised by the liver are activated following tissue injury (Figure ) (McGavin and Zachary, 2007). The increase permeability of blood vessels during inflammation is stimulated, at least in part, by the complement system. The complement system is a complex system of 30 serum proteins. Many early components are serine proteases that are activated sequentially to form a cascade. The complement cascade is activated through any one, or more, of four pathways: the classical, the mannan-binding lectin (MBL), the alternative and the extrinsic protease pathways (Guo and Ward, 2005; Monk et al., 2007; Ricklin and Lambris, 2007). For further information, refer (Manthey et al., 2009). (Copied from article)
Thin does or very over-conditioned does and does carrying with multiple pregnancies are more likely to develop pregnancy ketosis (pregnancy toxaemia). Pregnancy ketosis is one of the metabolic disorders in ruminant animal such as does and ewes during the last weeks of pregnancy (5 – 6 weeks before gestation) and beside high ketone body levels characterised by free fatty acids levels (FFA). These FFA are derived from the adipose tissue. The ability of adipocytes to respond to changes in the energy balance, by secretion of FFA makes this parameter a main indicator for disorder that coincide with changes in energy balance. It is biochemically and endocrinologically characterized by ketosis, hypoinsulinemia and an elevation of B- hydroxybtyrate concentration in the plasma, free fatty acids (FFA), and cortisol. However, the effect of plasma free fatty acid on pathophysiology, metabolites and histological changes of this disorder remain poorly understood. Clinical signs, often with a slow onset, are characterised by neuorological signs like teeth grinding, stress and dull eyes. Ketosis also affected on pathological part which characterized by fatty liver. In this review, we are focusing various key aspects of the disease with special reference on the clinical, biochemical and histological changes during development of pregnancy ketosis in goat population.
Pelvimetry is the measurement of the dimensions of the pelvis, measured internally or externally, and is typically conducted with the aid of a pelvimeter. Intrapelvic dimensions, namely the intrapelvic height and width, are used to calculate pelvic area which has a moderate to high degree of heritability. Pelvic area measurements are associated with calving difficulty and have been used by producers to select for heifers to be included in their breeding herd.
Rats are the maintenance host for leptospirosis and are the source of the infection to humans and animals. To eradicate leptospirosis, then the maintenance hosts should be eliminated. This is not possible, particularly when it involved wildlife like rats. A good alternative then is to impose biological control on the rat population which is a safe and pragmatic approach. The environment is the indirect source of infection and in tropical countries; recreational areas are often the place foroutbreaks of leptospirosis. Claims that leptospires survive for months in the environment probably is not true. The “top up” or daily excretion of leptospires from the maintenance hosts particularly rats make it appears that the leptospires survived for months in the environment. The good news is that although there are many infected rats in the cities, there were hardly any reports of outbreaks of leptospirosis in urban areas. Outbreaks of leptospirosis tend to be in the countryside particularly in recreational areas, where infection is easily transmitted through the conjunctiva or mucous membrane of the upper respiratory or gastro-intestinal tract through water activities.
This study was designed to characterise the lameness cases in cattle reported to the University Veterinary Hospital (UVH) of
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor. Medical records from 2013 to 2017 were reviewed and 136 cases of cattle
diagnosed as lameness were retrieved. Information concerning signalment, location of lesions, and cause of lameness was analysed.
Majority of the cases were reported in dairy (77%) compared with beef cattle (23%) with 73% being under semi-intensive
management system. Foot lesions accounted for about 51% of cases, while lesions were more on the hindlimbs than the forelimbs
(p0.05) between foot
lesions categorised either as infectious or non-infectious causes. A higher proportion (p
This study focuses on investigating the difference in Warner Brazler Shear Force (WBSF) values of pork meatand
its reliability between roasting and boiling cooking methods. Ten samples of longissimus dorsi (LD) whole cuts from
commercial three-way crosswere trimmed to a length of 4 cm thickness each. Each sample was then separated into 2
groups: Group 1:Roasted with convection oven to internal temperatures of 70°C, and Group 2: Boiled in a water bath of
80°C for 30 min until internal temperature of 70°C. A total of 57 pairs of cylindrical cores (6-7 cylindrical cores) were
obtained from each cooked LD for analysis. Difference between the two cooking methods for both the shear force
values were compared using pairwise student T test statistical analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was
used to establish and quantify reproducibility for reliability of the measurements. The WBSF values for roasted pork is
significantly lower (p
Fifteen (15) guinea pigs were experimentally infected with Leptospira icterohemorrhagiae serovar Lai strain
Langkawi, a new strain that was isolated from a human leptospirosis patient. Hematoxylin and Eosin ((H&E) staining
showed haemorrhages, congestion and oedema in all internal organs examined (lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys) with
inflammatory cell infiltration characterized by neutrophils, lymphocytes and macrophages. Hydropic degeneration and
cell necrosis were also common in our findings. Leptospires were detected starting Day 2 p.i by silver staining and
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Rise in antibody titres started on Day 5 p.i and leptospiral DNA was
detected beginning Day 3 in the kidneys and Day 5 in the liver by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay. The
findings illustrated the pathogenesis of leptospirosis in guinea pigs which disclosed them as a suitable animal model for
demonstration of clinical symptoms of leptospirosis and pathological changes after being infected with Leptospira
icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai strain Langkawi, particularly pulmonary haemorrhages, a leading cause of mortality
in human leptospirosis.
Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease is a degenerative condition of the mitral valves leaflets. A 10-year-old
male castrated Shih Tzu was presented with primary complaint of coughing. Clinical examination revealed normal
heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature. Systolic murmur Grade IV/VI was heard at the left heart apex.
Thoracic radiographic findings were cardiomegaly with the vertebral heart score of 11.0 and had evidence of
cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Echocardiographic examination revealed thickening mitral valves with evidence of
moderate regurgitation observed. Based on the findings obtained, the dog was diagnosed with Myxomatous Mitral
Valve disease stage C2. Dog was treated with benazepril (0.5mg/kg), pimobendan (0.2mg/kg) with a combination of
furosemide (2mg/kg). Frusemide was gradually removed from the treatment regime as coughing improved over time.
The dog was no longer lethargy and even gained weight.
The aim of this study was to assess the carcass characteristic of male Dorper sheep weaned at three different ages.
A total of 27 newborn male Dorper sheep (average body weight, 3.06 ± 0.74 kg) were selected randomly and divided
into three groups. Animals in group 1 (n=9) were weaned at day 30, while animals in group 2 (n=9) and 3 (n=9) were
weaned at day 60 and 90, respectively. Group 3 was acted as a control group. Creep feed and grower feed were given to
the animals based on 3.5% of body weight. There were no significant differences (P
The mirror self-recognition (MSR) is a behavioral technique to determine whether an animal has the ability to
identify themselves in front of a mirror. A Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) was selected from Zoo Negara
Malaysia and an acrylic mirror is placed outside of the cage to observe interaction of the animal to the mirror. This
study showed that the bear’s behaviour was inconsistent due to the inability of the animal to recognize its own
reflection after exposure to the close and open mirror tests. These results suggest that when keeping Malayan sun bears
in captivity, putting a mirror as enrichment may promote communication and familiarity between conspecific.