This study compares the effects of sodium selenite, selenium yeast, and enriched bacterial organic selenium protein on antioxidant enzyme activity, serum biochemical profiles, and egg yolk, serum, and tissue selenium concentration in laying hens. In a 112-d experiment, 144 Lohman Brown Classic hens, 23-wks old were divided into four equal groups, each has six replicates. They were assigned to 4 treatments: 1) a basal diet (Con), 2) Con plus 0.3 mg/kg feed sodium selenite (SS); 3) Con plus 0.3 mg/kg feed Se-yeast (SY): 4) Con plus 0.3 mg/kg feed bacterial enriched organic Se protein (ADS18) from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteria. On d 116, hens were euthanized (slaughtered) to obtain blood (serum), liver organ, and breast tissue to measure antioxidant enzyme activity, biochemical profiles, and selenium concentration. The results show that antioxidant enzyme activity of hens was increased when fed bacterial organic Se (ADS18), resulting in a significant (P
Although Brachiaria decumbens was not toxic when fed to cattle, the infusion of rumen liquor from B. decumbens intoxicated sheep into the rumen of cattle produced evidence suggesting hepatic and renal dysfunction. Several biochemical changes were observed including increases in serum aspartate amino transferase, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen and a marked reduction in the plasma bromosulphthalein clearance.
The disposition kinetics and cumulative urinary excretion of sulfamethazine were compared in goats fed normally (control) and following a 72-hour period of starvation (fasting). The only pharmacokinetic parameter which showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups was the body (systemic) clearance. This decreased from 2.26 +/- 0.28 ml/min.kg (means +/- SD, n = 6) in the control group to 1.16 +/- 0.54 ml/min.kg in the fasting group (p less than 0.01). Since the apparent volume of distribution was not affected by starvation, the decreased clearance was attributed to slower metabolism of the drug. Because of the analytical method used to measure sulfamethazine concentrations in plasma and urine, no conclusion could be drawn as to whether the rates of hydroxylation or of acetylation, or both metabolic pathways were decreased in the starved condition.
This paper reviews the literature on leptospirosis in Malaysia from its first description in 1928 until the present day. Most of the early reports were on investigations of leptospirosis in wildlife and man and up-to-date, thirty-seven leptospiral serovars from thirteen serogroups have been bacteriologically identified. The thirteen serogroups are: Australis, Autumnalis Bataviae, Canicola, Celledoni, Grippotyphosa, Hebdomadis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Javanica, Pomona, Pyrogenes, Sejroe and Tarassovi. Rats have been ascribed as the principal maintenance host of leptospires in Malaysia. However, serovars from the Pomona, Pyrogenes and Sejroe serogroups have yet to be isolated from rats. It is considered that the majority of leptospirosis cases in man were due to association of man with an environment where rats were plentiful. Recent investigations on domestic animals disclosed a high prevalence of infection in cattle and pigs and they were suspected as being the maintenance host for serovar hardjo and pomona respectively. There is ample scope for research in leptospirosis, particularly in the epidemiology and control of the disease in domestic animals. The strategy to control the infection in domestic animals and man in Malaysia is bound to be different from that of the temperate countries, basically due to the presence of a large number of leptospiral serovars in wildlife, further confounded by geographical and financial constraints.
Strains of Taenia taeniaeformis were shown to possess markedly differing infectivities for Sprague-Dawley rats and CFI mice. Strains from Scotland, Belgium and Iraq were more infective for mice than rats while this situation was reversed with a Malaysian strain. There were also differences in their ability to infect hosts of different ages within the range 3-12 weeks of age.
Government-owned small-ruminant breeding farms in Malaysia provide the source of sheep and goats to smallholder farmers in the country. In the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, high-level stock losses have been recorded on these farms for several years, frequently accompanied by clinical signs indicating pathogenic levels of infections with the nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus. This suggests that their dependence on chemotherapy to control parasite infections had failed. Accordingly, tests for anthelmintic efficacy using the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) on the range of drugs used to control nematode parasites were carried out on the five government small-ruminant breeding farms in Sabah. These tests showed a total failure of the benzimidazole, imidothiazole, macrocyclic lactone and salicylanilide groups of anthelmintics to control H. contortus infections of sheep and goats on all farms. Drastic changes in animal management need to be made in an attempt to deal with this situation, for which suggestions are made.
Sixteen 8- to 9-week-old Pasteurella multocida-free rabbits were divided into two equal groups. Eight rabbits in one group were inoculated intranasally with P. multoida type A:3. The other eight were inoculated intranasally with phosphate-buffered saline and used as controls. Nasal swabs taken before and after inoculation were cultured for bacterial isolation. Post-mortem nasal swabs and lung samples were cultured for bacteriological isolation. Nasal mucosa and lung samples were collected and processed for transmission electron microscopy. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from the nasal cavity of all infected rabbits and from the lungs of four infected rabbits. Degenerative ultrastructural changes in epithelial cells and endothelial cells were seen in the infected rabbits. Deciliation of the ciliated epithelium and hyperplasia of the goblet cells in the nasal mucosa were noted. Thickening of the alveolar septa due to hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes, swelling of the endothelial lining of capillaries and infiltration of inflammatory cells were also observed. Intracellular invasion of the nasal epithelial cells and of type II pneumocytes by the organism was observed. Coccobacilli were observed in membrane-bound vacuoles in the cytoplasm of these cells. The vacuoles were adjacent to the host-cell mitochondria and some of these vacuoles appeared to be fused to the mitochondrial membrane. Some type I pneumocytes with intracellular membrane-bound vacuoles containing bacterial cells showed protrusions, which appeared to detach into the alveolar lumina. These results indicated that P. multocida serotype A:3 in rabbits can invade the epithelial cell and cause structural changes in the interstitium, epithelium and endothelium. Heterophils and macrophages appear to play important roles in tissue injury.
A trial was conducted to observe the immediate and chronic effects in goats of dexamethasone administration on the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) response to intranasal administration of formalin-killed Pasteurella haemolytica A2. Twenty-four goats were divided into four groups. Those in group 1 were injected intramuscularly with 1 mg/kg dexamethasone on three consecutive days, followed by intranasal exposure to formalin-killed P. haemolytica A2 one day after the last dexamethasone treatment. The goats in group 2 were similarly injected with dexamethasone followed by intranasal exposure to formalin-killed P. haemolytica A2 21 days after the last dexamethasone treatment. The animals in group 3 were exposed intranasally to formalin-killed P. haemolytica A2 without prior dexamethasone treatment. The animals in group 4 were untreated controls. The intranasal exposures to formalin-killed P. haemolytica A2 were repeated 2 weeks later. Intranasal exposure to formalin-killed P. haemolytica 1 day after dexamethasone treatment further reduced the number and size of BALT compared to the untreated control. Significantly (p < 0.01) more reduction of BALT occurred in goats exposed to formalin-killed P. haemolytica A2 21 days after dexamethasone treatment. On the other hand, intranasal exposure of goats without prior dexamethasone treatment stimulated the BALT compared to the untreated controls.
Box-traps for capturing wild cats are widely used by researchers since it is one of the most effective methods for trapping these species. Although they are extensively utilised, the effects on the physiology of trapped felids remain unclear. Researchers frequently make judgements regarding the safety of such capture devices by examination of external injuries but often fail to take into consideration other physiological parameters. To assess the effects of capture events on selected serum biochemistry values of free-ranging Bornean leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis borneoensis) six free-ranging leopard cats (four males, two females) were trapped by using box-traps in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Blood was collected by jugular venipucture after chemical immobilization with a mixture of tiletamine and zolazepam. Blood was analysed for 17 serum biochemistry parameters. The most consistent and significantly higher value found in both sexes was aspartate aminotransferase (AST), followed by high mean value of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Both mean values exceeded the upper limit of the reference range for captive leopard cats. These results demonstrate that captured leopard cats by box-traps undergo physical exertion and consequently some type of muscle injury/damage. Researchers and wildlife managers should be aware of the physiological response of trapped felids when using box-traps. Devices that facilitate the prompt removal of leopard cats from the traps would be useful for researchers to avoid further damage while live trapping this species.
The objective of this study was to investigate association between GDF9 and BMP15 gene polymorphism and litter size in fat-tailed sheep, a total of 97 mature ewes from four breeds (Afshari=19; Baluchi=18; Makui=30 and Mehraban=30) were genotyped for the BMP15 HinfI and GDF9 HhaI polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP technique. The highest and lowest mutant allele frequencies were found in Makui (0.27) and Afshari (0.10) sheep for the BMP15 gene and in Afshari (0.24) and Mehraban (0.18) sheep for the GDF9 gene, respectively. Litter size was significantly influenced by genotype of the ewe for two genes (P < 0.01). Heterozygous genotypes for both loci showed higher litter size than homozygous genotypes (P < 0.01). None of the individuals carried homozygous genotype for both of the GDF9 and BMP15 variants in these breeds. The individuals carrying the mutant allele for one of the investigated candidate gene still showed fertile phenotype. Thus, existence of homozygosity at one of the BMP15 and GDF9 variant is not probably able to block normal hormonal pathway of reproduction in fat-tailed sheep.
Slipper oyster Crassostrea iredalei is a species of good demand for its sweet flavor and white coloured flesh. The filter feeding nature predisposes oysters to accumulation of pathogenic and heavy metals in waters impacted by sewage pollutions and may thus render the oysters unfit for human consumption. A study was undertaken to investigate the presence of bacteria flora and heavy metal concentrations in cultivated oysters Crassostrea iredalei at Setiu Wetland, Terengganu, the only source of cultivated oysters in East Coast of Malaysia. A total of 200 slipper oyster samples were analyzed. The bacteria were isolated using non selective agar such as TSA agar and selective agars before they were then identified using conventional methods in combination with BBL Crystal identification kit. Heavy metals such as zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results showed that the oysters harbor predominantly Shewanella putrifaciens followed by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio cholerae, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli and Chromobacterium violaceum. They also contain high concentration of Zn (785.68 +/- 285.88 microg/g) with the lowest heavy metal was Pb (0.17 +/- 0.15 microg/g), whilst the concentrations of other heavy metals were Cu (38.9 +/- 13.2 microg/g) and Cd (1.60 +/- 0.28 microg/g). The study is very useful to evaluate the type of bacteria and heavy metal present in oyster meat for human consumption.
Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of formaldehyde vaporization of a hatcher on the tracheal epithelium of chick embryos, and on the production performance and behaviour of commercial broiler chicks. In experiment 1, chick embryos were exposed to 23.5 ppm of formaldehyde vapour during the last 3 days of incubation. Tracheal samples were taken at 0, 6, 30 and 54 h after exposure to formaldehyde and examined by scanning electron microscopy for pathological changes. Observable lesions included excessive accumulation of mucus, matted cilia, loss of cilia and sloughing of the epithelium. The lesions were more severe in chicks exposed for 54 h as compared to those exposed for 6 or 30 h. In experiment 2, 60 chicks that had been exposed to formaldehyde vapour as above and 60 control chicks were used to investigate the effect of formaldehyde fumigation on production performance and behaviour. Formaldehyde vaporization resulted in higher weekly (days 0-6 and 21-27) and total (days 0-41) feed intake and poorer weekly (days 0-6, 7-13, 21-27 and 28-34) and overall (days 0-41) feed conversion ratios. Body weight, mortality and behaviour (eating, drinking, sitting and standing activities) were not affected by formaldehyde fumigation.
Twenty goats of about 7 months of age were divided into five groups. The goats in groups 1 and 2 were exposed once, using an intranasal spray to 2 ml of an inoculum containing 10(6) colony-forming units/ml of living or dead Pasteurella haemolytica A2, respectively. The goats in groups 3 and 4 were similarly exposed twice at a 2-week interval. Group 5 was the untreated control. The number and size of the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in goats exposed twice to either living or dead organisms were significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared with those exposed once and with the unexposed control. In vitro colonization by living P. haemolytica A2 onto the lung tissue in which the BALT had been stimulated by two exposures of either living or dead organisms was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced. The study indicates that stimulation of the respiratory mucosal immunity may prevent P. haemolytica A2 infection.
This study aimed to assess antibacterial activity of Knema retusa wood extract (KRe) against antibiotic resistant staphylococci which are causative agents of bovine mastitis. From 75 cases of intramammary infections in dairy cows, 66 staphylococcal isolates were collected, including 11 Staphylococcus aureus isolates (17%) and 55 coagulase-negative staphylococci (83%). Sixty isolates (91%) formed strong biofilms. KRe had minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) against the isolates ranging 32-256 ug/mL and 64-512 ug/mL, respectively. Two-hour KRe exposures at 4×MIC, viabilities of S. aureus and S. haemolyticus decreased by 3 log10 compared to the control. Scanning EM (SEM) showed that KRe disrupted the bacterial cells of both species. KRe at 1/16×MIC significantly inhibited biofilm formation (P
An edible bird nest is a product of the solidified saliva secretion from a few different swiftlet's species, during the breeding season. But the high impurities in A. maximus and C. esculent nests make them less ideal to be consumed. Eggshells and guano are the major contaminants contributing to the nitrite and nitrates contents. However, recent studies have shown significant medicinal and cosmetic applications of edible bird nest like anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, enhancing bone strength, and anti-aging. Thus, the high demand for edible bird nest in the global market to explore its potential application has improved from swiftlet farming activities to the cleaning process. Recent studies have shown the use of immobilized enzymes like keratinase for the removal of contaminants. The current review discusses the importance of Swiftlet bird nest, its application, and commercialization.
Aflatoxin contamination in feed is a common problem in broiler chickens. The present systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of aflatoxin-contaminated feed and the efficacy of various feed additives on the production performance of broiler chickens fed aflatoxin-contaminated feed (AF-feed). A total of 35 studies comprising 53 AF-feed experiments were selected following PRISMA guidelines. Feed additives included in the analyses were toxins binder (TB), mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), organic acid (OA), probiotics (PRO), protein supplementation (PROT), phytobiotics (PHY), and additive mixture (MIX). Random effects model and a frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA) were performed to rank the efficacy of feed additives, reported as standardized means difference (SMD) at 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Overall, broiler chickens fed AF-feed had significantly lower final body weight (BW) (SMD = 198; 95% CI = 198 to 238) and higher feed conversion ratio (SMD = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.13 to 0.21) than control. Treatments with TB, MOS, and PHY improved the BW of birds fed AF-feed (P
Rachycentron canadum (cobia) is a marine fish species of high economic value in aquaculture due to its fast growth rate and good feed conversion efficacy. Regrettably, the industry has been affected by significant setbacks from high mortality due to diseases. Consequently, an improved perception of innate immunity correlated to each mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in teleost fish is necessary to understand hosts' response towards infections better. The utilization of polysaccharides in seaweed to stimulate the immune system has gathered unprecedented attention. The present study examined the immunostimulatory effects of Sarcodia suae water extracts (SSWE) on in vivo gill-, gut- and skin-associated lymphoid tissues (GIALT, GALT, and SALT) via immersion and oral ingestions. The GIALT genes (TNF-α, Cox2, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17 A/F1-3, IL-11, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, MHCIa, IgM, and IgT) except IL-10 recorded positive upregulations in a dose-dependent manner post 24 h immersion in SSWE, indicating the algae extract contained bioactive compounds that could stimulate the immune genes. The upregulation of IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18 in the gills and hindgut post-SSWE immersion indicated that the extract could promote Th1-related responses in the MALTs. The modulation of immune gene expressions in the feeding trial was less potent than in the SSWE immersion. These findings indicated that the SSWE stimulated robust immune responses in both the GIALT and GALT of cobia. This suggests that the SSWE could be further explored as an effective immersive stimulant for fish, enhancing their immune system against pathogens.
Data and geographical trend of Salmonella serovars infecting poultry in Malaysia is limited. In this study, the trend of Salmonella serovars infection was presented for the past ten years from 2011 to 2020 and the predominant serovars were mapped based on geographical distribution. Analysis of passive surveillance data demonstrated a shift of Salmonella serovars that infected poultry in Malaysia. The Salmonella serovars varied within ten years of registered cases with the Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh, Malaysia involving samples from live and dead birds. Total number of cases found from the year 2011 to 2020 were 391 cases, involving 73 Salmonella serovars with an additional one group of unclassified serovars known as Salmonella spp. Further analysis revealed that eight serovars were found predominant throughout the ten-year period. These included S. Albany, S. Braenderup, S. Brancaster, S. Corvallis, S. Enteritidis, S. Kentucky, S. Typhimurium and S. Weltevreden. Salmonella spp. (Salmonella that is incapable to be identified based on serotyping) were also one of the major groups observed throughout the years. This study could help the authorities to improvise policies for better disease control programs through the establishment of diagnostic tools for rapid Salmonella screening in poultry.