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Clostridium chauvoei, causing myonecrosis in livestock animals, lives in the feces, surface water and soil. The blackleg due to C. chauvoei is very common in dairy animals. Still, no report is available about the pathophysiology of disease in Cholistani cattle kept under tropical and desert conditions of Cholistan, Pakistan. Therefore, in this study, we report for the first time the pathophysiology of a visceral form of blackleg infection in indigenous cholistani cattle breed reared in desert conditions of Cholistan. Clinically morbid animals exhibited different signs of infection including fever, crepitation sounds, gaseous swelling and edematous lesions. Blood was collected for hematological and serum biochemical investigation. Hematological examination indicated a significant increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lower red blood cells, hematocrit, and total white blood cell count. Results on serum biochemistry showed significantly (p<0.02) increased creatine kinase levels, creatinine, urea, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphates, creatinine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase in infected cattle. At necropsy level, light pink color fluid under swelling areas of skin, gas bubbles, dark to black in color of affected muscles and crepitation sounds at palpation were observed. Necropsy showed marked myocarditis, petechial hemorrhages, consolidation and severe pulmonary edema. Spleen showed petechial hemorrhages and congestion. Histological analysis of muscular tissues indicated severe inflammatory reaction comprising of cellular infiltration, marked edema, necrosis and disruption of myofibrils. PCR confirmed the presence of C. chauvoei in muscles, heart and exudates of the lungs. This is the first report on molecular detection of Clostridium chauvoei from a visceral form of Blackleg disease in cholistani breed of cattle naturally infected in the Cholistan desert of Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes some epidemiological and patho-physiological aspects of Trypanosoma evansi (causative agent of "surra") infection in camels (n=255) and Nili Ravi buffaloes (n=233). Clinical ailments like fever, shivering, edema of pads and urticarial swelling were observed in infected animals. Overall prevalence of T. evansi infection in buffaloes was 9.01 and 15.12% based on blood smear examination and PCR, respectively, while in camels, the prevalence was 10.58 and 15.29% based on smear examination and PCR, respectively. Results on epidemiological data did not indicate significant association of different factors of hosts with prevalence of T. evansi. Hematological parameters including hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), leukocyte counts, neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes increased significantly (P<0.05) while erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations (MCHC), and lymphocytes decreased significantly in infected buffaloes. In infected camels, leukocyte counts, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils increased significantly (P<0.05) while erythrocyte counts, Hb concentration, hematocrit, and lymphocytes decreased significantly. Serum biochemical parameters including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in infected camels while ALT and ALP, LDH, and Lipid per oxidation product (LPO) in infected buffaloes increased significantly (P<0.05). Results showed significantly decreased values of AST, total proteins, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus in infected buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring and investigation of different toxic effects of frequently used food additives is of vital importance for public health. Tartrazine is an artificial food coloring compound and is extensively used in numerous food items to enhance their aesthetic value. The mechanism of toxic effects of tartrazine is not clear and is under debate. Hence, present work was planned to evaluate the toxicity of tartrazine and to assess the potential of melon seed oil to alleviate the toxic effects of tartrazine in experimental rats. Therefore, different doses of tartrazine alone and along with melon seed oil were given to experimental rats for a period of 60 days. The rats were killed at 20, 40 and 60 days of experiment and blood was collected and analyzed for various hematological and serological parameters. No mortality and behavioral changes were recorded though out the experiment. The results exhibited significant decrease in hematological parameters (hemoglobin and hematocrit), serum lipid profile (cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein) and serum proteins (albumin, total proteins). Results revealed significantly higher levels of liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin), renal function tests (urea, creatinine), cardiac enzymes (LDH, CPK and CK-Mb) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in response to various treatments of tartrazine. Different doses of melon seed oil used in current experimental research partially reversed the toxic effects of tartrazine in experimental rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is a complex and multifarious disease that adversely affects the physico-chemical properties, composition and yield of milk and risks of premature culling of affected animals. A total of 320 Cholistani cattle were screened for subclinical mastitis using California mastitis test in and around district Bahawalpur. The blood and milk samples were only collected from subclinical infected cattle. Milk samples obtained from cattle with subclinical infection revealed significantly (P<0.05) negative correlation of Na with K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe and Zn while significant (P<0.05) positive correlation with aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. Serum samples from infected animals revealed significant (P<0.05) positive correlation of Ca with P and Zn while significant negative correlation of Zn and P with enzymes. Milk samples from non-infected cows showed a significant (P<0.05) negative correlation between Ca and K while positive correlations between Ca and P. Blood samples from non-infected animals revealed significant positive correlation between zinc, AST and ALP while significant (P<0.05) positive correlation between LDH, ALP and AST. From the present study, it was concluded that correlation of milk and blood electrolytes, trace minerals and enzymes are suitable diagnostic technique to detect sub-clinical mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Necropsies of three Mouflon sheep (Ovis orientalis), died with the history of labored breathing, dyspnea, anorexia, depression, pendulous abdomen, enteritis and sudden death were performed. The animals had a history of consuming diet containing cottonseed cakes made from seeds of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton after ginning. Postmortem examination revealed hydrothorax, hydropericardium, congested and edematous lungs, ascites, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Microscopic examination of the morbid liver revealed severe congestion and centrilobular necrosis with marked atrophy of hepatocytes around the central vein. Histologically, the lungs were congested and edematous. Marked congestion was also observed in splenic parenchyma. The clinical picture, gross and microscopic findings and history of inclusion of cottonseed cake in feeding regime were suggestive of cottonseed cake toxicity in Mouflon sheep and could have led to death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we examined the pathological and genotoxic effects of malathion in Japanese quail. For this purpose, 105 quail were randomly divided in seven equal groups (A-G) and were orally given technical grade malathion @ 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 mg/kg/day for 51 days. Decrease in feed intake, body weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, serum testosterone and different hematological parameters such as leukocytes, erythrocytes, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration started at day 17 in birds given malathion 100 and 120 mg/kg/day. Higher frequency of blebbed nucleated erythrocytes with 50 mg/kg/day, while micronucleus and binucleated erythrocytes with 75 mg/kg/day start appearing at day 34. Grossly, regression of testicles, swollen bursa and congestion in brain tissue was observed in groups given malathion @ 100 and 120 mg/kg/day. Histologically, lesser number of germinal layers in seminiferous tubules with necrotic spermatozoa, vacuolar degeneration in bursa and Purkinje cell necrosis in brain tissues was observed. Moreover, quail given higher doses of malathion showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in blebbed and binucleated erythrocytes along with increased frequency of micronucleus. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that malathion at different doses in food chain poses mutagenesis and gonado-toxic effects in birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the testicular and genotoxic effects of chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide, in adult male Japanese quail. For this purpose a total of 75 sexually mature birds were procured and randomly kept in five equal groups. Chlorpyrifos was given @ 0, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mg/kg BW orally for 36 days to experimental birds present in all groups (A-E). Adverse effects such as gasping, depression, watery droppings, decreased foam production, tremors and less frequency of mounting with pen mates were evident in a dose-dependent manner. Chlorpyrifos decreased feed intake, body weight and relative weight of testes, liver and kidneys as compared to control birds. Histopathological examination of seminiferous tubules of testes at higher concentration of chlorpyrifos (10 and 12 mg/kg BW) revealed less number of spermatogenic cell layers, increased number of degenerated spermatozoa and multinucleated giant cells. Furthermore, histopathological examination of liver tissues indicated extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation. Moreover, mild to moderate congestion with sporadic tubular epithelial cell necrosis was observed in kidneys. Significantly increased comet tail length confirmed DNA damage at higher concentration of chlorpyrifos in isolated lymphocyte and bone marrow cells. It was concluded that chlorpyrifos at 10 and 12 mg/kg BW rendered various clinical, pathological alterations in internal organs and was also involved in genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present study the clinico-pathological findings were recorded in naturally infected cattle and buffaloes due to Pasteurella multocida during an outbreak at different livestock herds. There was no significant difference in mortality among various groups of buffaloes (P>0.78) and cattle (P>0.49). The infected animals showed clinical signs of moderate to acute anorexia, salivation, fever, depression, dysponea, submandibular edema, mucopurulent nasal discharge and respiratory grunts. Few of infected animals died due to septicemia. The necropsy of dead animals was performed and visceral organs lungs, kidneys, heart and lymph nodes were observed for gross and histopathological lesions. The tissue samples from these organs were fixed in formalin for pathological changes. Necropsy of dead animals revealed severe pneumonia, consolidation of lungs and intense pleural adhesions. Serosanguinous fluid was accumulated in pericardium and peritoneal cavities. Histopathologically affected lungs exhibited severe congestion, mononuclear cell infiltration, thick interlobular septae punctuated with macrophages, plasma cells and peri-vascular cuffing. Liver, kidneys and lymph nodes had degenerative changes in histological sections. The specificity of P. multocida was determined by colony characteristics on MacConkey's agar and morphological features with Gram's iodine. The PCR product size approximately 511bp from lung tissues confirmed a total of 82% (19/23) bacterial isolates from dead animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to determine the distribution and genotypic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from naturally occurring mastitis in cattle and buffaloes. For this purpose a total of 1445 lactating cattle (653) and buffaloes (792) present at two experimental livestock farms Okara (Bahadarnagar) and Sahiwal (Qadiarabad), in and around district Faisalabad and slaughtered at an abattoir due to low milk yield and were screened for mastitis. California Mastitis Test (CMT) was used to detect sub clinical mastitis. The positive quarter milk samples were collected for culturing of S. aureus isolates. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified on the basis of growth features, biochemical characteristics, coagulase test and as well as amplification of coagulase (coa) and spa (spa-X) genes specific to its virulence. S. aureus isolates (n=265) were characterized by Polymerase chain reaction to determine the frequency of coagulase (coa) and spa (spa-X) genes. From these isolates the amplification of the coagulase (coa) gene yielded three different PCR products approximately 204bp to 490bp while spa (spa-X) gene produced five different products ranging in size from 190bp to 320bp. PCR revealed that from all the coagulase positive S. aureus isolates 261(98.5%) had spa (spa-X) gene. The results of the present study indicated that S. aureus isolates recovered from bovine mastitis were genetically different within and among the various herds which may provide essential and valuable strategies to control staphylococcal infections in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]