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Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) is a member of the genus lentivirus causing caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE), a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the lungs, joints, udder and central nervous system of small ruminants such as sheep and goats. CAE is distributed worldwide and is recognised as a significant cause of morbidity and decreased milk production in dairy goats. Earlier studies highlighted the clinicopathological features and supplied preliminary serological evidence for the existence of CAE among selected goat herds in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to provide further insights into the seroprevalence and contributing factors of CAE among sheep and goat herds in two states of Peninsular Malaysia. The blood samples and biodata were randomly collected from a total of 262 individual sheep (40) and goat (222) in seven smallholder farms. Blood sera were tested for specific anti-CAEV antibodies using Qayee-Bio CAEV sandwich-ELISA test kits according to standard procedures. Our results of the study revealed 21.4% (95% CI: 15.8-28.6) apparent and 20.6% (95% CI: 14.5-27.8) true seroprevalence with significant differences (Virus Kaprin Artritis Ensefalitis (CAEV) merupakan ahli kumpulan dalam genus virus lentivirus dimana akan menyebabkan penyakit kaprin artritis ensefalitis (CAE) di mana penyakit ini akan menyebabkan keradangan kronik pada paru-paru, sendi, kelenjar mamari dan sistem saraf pusat bagi haiwan ruminan kecil seperti bebiri dan kambing. CAE telah merebak ke seluruh dunia dan penyakit ini akan menyebabkan penularan wabak pada kadar morbiditi yang tinggi dan mengurangkan kuantiti penghasilan susu bagi kambing tenusu. Kajian terdahulu memberi penekanan kepada dapatan klinikal patologi dan data bukti serologi kewujudan penyakit CAE dalam kalangan gerompok kambing di Malaysia. Maka, kajian kini bertujuan memberikan pendedahan awal berkaitan kadar kelaziman serologi dan faktor yang menyumbang penyakit CAE dalam kalangan bebiri dan kambing bagi dua negeri di Semanjung Malaysia. Sampel darah dan data biologi telah dikumpulkan secara rawak dengan jumlah sampel 262 ekor (40 ekor bebiri dan 222 ekor kambing) daripada tujuh buah ladang peternak kecil. Serum yang telah dikumpul diuji dengan antibodi spesifik anti-CAEV dengan menggunakan prosedur piawai kit elisa daripada Qayee-Bio CAEV. Keputusan kajian ini menunjukkan kadar kelaziman serologi 21.4% (95% CI: 15.8–28.6) jelas dan 20.6% (95% CI: 14.5–27.8) kadar kelaziman benar dengan perbezaan ketara (

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic extract of Clausena excavata in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages (J774A.1) and the effect on skin wound in a rat model through determining cytokine levels and gene expressions. Methods: The effects of methanolic extract of Clausena excavata on in vitro viability and TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and nitric oxide release by LPS-activated J774A.1 cells were determined. In addition, relative expressions of BAX, BCL-2 and COX-2 genes were examined in healed wounds of rats. Results: The methanolic extract of Clausena excavata was not toxic to J774A.1 cells at the highest dose of 400 μg/mL. It decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-6, while increasing IL-10 level in LPS- activated J774A.1 cells and in the healed wounds of rats. The methanolic extract of Clausena excavata also inhibited nitric oxide production in LPS-activated J774A.1 cells. The BAX and COX-2 genes were downregulated while the BCL-2 gene was upregulated in the healed wound of rats. Conclusions: The methanolic extract of Clausena excavata promotes wound healing via its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.

Sudden death is usually the main finding in field animals during haemorrhagic septicaemia outbreaks caused by Pasteurella multocida type B:2 that causes acute, fatal and septicaemic disease in cattle and buffaloes. This situation may be due to failure in early detection of the disease where early treatment of antibiotics may improve the prognosis of the animal and other surviving animals. Thus, there is a grey area on the knowledge on the potential usage of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins as early biomarkers in the diagnosis of haemorrhagic septicaemia. In addition, exploration of the cerebrospinal fluid during infection has never been studied before. Therefore, this study was designed to fill up the grey areas in haemorrhagic septicaemia research. Twenty-one buffalo calves were divided into seven treatment groups where group 1 was inoculated orally with 10 mL of sterile phosphate-buffered saline pH 7 which act as a negative control group. Groups 2 and 3 were inoculated orally and subcutaneously with 10 mL of 1012 colony-forming unit of P. multocida type B:2. Group 4 and 5 buffaloes were inoculated orally and intravenously with 10 mL of lipopolysaccharide broth. Groups 6 and 7 were administered orally and subcutaneously with 10 mL of outer membrane protein broth. During the post-infection period of 21 days, blood and cerebrospinal fluid were sampled for the analyses of pro-inflammatory cytokines, acute phase proteins and cytological examination. Buffalo calves infected with P. multocida and its immunogens via different routes of inoculation showed significant changes (p

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is an economically important disease of poultry that also serve as model for the understanding of other coronaviruses associated diseases. IB is considered as a major challenge to the poultry industry worldwide as a result of its effect on egg production, weight gain as well as mortality. Different IBV genotypes continue to emerge, thus, the need for broad based vaccines to curb the disease. Based on bioinformatic data obtained in this study, sets of monovalent (either M41 or CR88) and bivalent DNA vaccines encoding the S1 glycoprotein from two different strains namely, M41 and CR88 were developed. The candidate vaccine was further encapsulated with a chitosan-saponin nanoparticle with the view to enhance its immunogenicity. Following in vitro characterization of the constructs, the vaccine candidates were tested in specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens. Analysis of humoral responses revealed a significant increase in anti-IBV antibody after immunization with the bivalent DNA plasmid (pBudCR88-S1/M41-S1). Likewise, cell mediated immune (CMI) response was significantly higher in vaccinated groups as compared to the unvaccinated chickens. Vaccinated chickens exhibited milder clinical signs as well as tracheal and kidney lesion scores following virus challenge as compared to the control groups. Additionally, encapsulation of the bivalent DNA vaccine with chitosan-saponin nanoparticles was found to improve protection against challenge with IBV strains M41 and CR88 as revealed by a significant reduction (p, Highlights • DNA vaccine could offer promising advantage against infectious bronchitis in poultry. • Vaccination with IBV S-1 gene based DNA vaccine leads to improved antibody and T cell responses. • Encapsulation of the vaccine with chitosan and Saponin enhances the immune response and abrogated the need for multiple booster administration. • The vaccine offered protection to vaccinated chickens as revealed by reduction in oropharyngeal and cloacal virus shedding as well as reduced tracheal and kidney lesion score following challenge.

Flaviviruses (FVs) are arthropod-borne viruses of medical and veterinary importance. Numerous species of FVs have been isolated from various host; mainly humans, animals, ticks, and mosquitoes. Certain FVs are extremely host-specific; at the same time, some FVs can infect an extensive range of species. Based on published literatures, 11 species of FVs have been detected from diverse host species in Malaysia. In humans, dengue virus and Japanese encephalitis virus have been reported since 1901 and 1942. In animals, the Batu Cave virus, Sitiawan virus, Carey Island, Tembusu virus, Duck Tembusu virus, and Japanese encephalitis viruses were isolated from various species. In mosquitoes, Japanese encephalitis virus and Kunjin virus were isolated from Culex spp., while Zika virus and Jugra virus were isolated from Aedes spp. In ticks, the Langat virus was isolated from Ixodes spp. One of the major challenges in the diagnosis of FVs is the presence of sero-complexes as a result of cross-reactivity with one or more FV species. Subsequently, the distribution of specific FVs among humans and animals in a specific population is problematic to assess and often require comprehensive and thorough analyses. Molecular assays such as quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and digital droplet RT-PCR (ddRT-PCR) have been used for the differentiation of flavivirus infections to increase the accuracy of epidemiological data for disease surveillance, monitoring, and control. In situations where sero-complexes are common in FVs, even sensitive assays such as qRT-pCR can produce false positive results. In this write up, an overview of the various FV sero-complexes reported in Malaysia to date and the challenges faced in diagnosis of FV infections are presented.

This study investigated if increased doses of La Sota vaccine can increase antibody response to Newcastle disease without any serious adverse effect on the bursa. One hundred broilers aged four weeks were randomly assigned into four groups of 25 each: ZD, each drenched with phosphate-buffered saline, SS, DD and TD broilers were each drenched with single, double and triple dose of La Sota vaccine, respectively. The broilers were examined for signs and lesions. At weekly intervals, serum samples were collected post-vaccination (PV) and assayed for haemagglutination inhibition antibody. Groups DD and TD antibody titres were significantly (p 0.05) difference between titres of DD and TD groups. Groups DD and TD geometrical mean titres were more than two times higher than that of SD group on day 21 PV. The bursa of all the vaccinated groups appeared reduced in size, with mild depletion of lymphocytes on day 10 PV. Generally, the integrity of the bursa was intact. This suggests that doubling the dose of La Sota vaccine may be considered in improving the performance of the vaccine in the control of velogenic Newcastle disease.

Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is a globally renowned disease that affects cattle and buffaloes. Its effects on the reproductive system have not been previously studied. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the pathological responses in pre-pubertal female buffalo infected with immunogens; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane protein (OMP) derived from P. multocida type B: 2. Fifteen healthy pre-pubertal female buffaloes of approximately 8 months old were selected and divided into five equal groups of 3 buffaloes each. Buffaloes in groups 1 and 2 were intravenously and orally inoculated with 10 mL of P. multocida LPS at 1× 1012 colony forming unit (cfu) ,while those in group 3 and group 4 were subcutaneously and orally inoculated with10 mL of P. multocida OMP at 1× 1012 colony forming unit (cfu). Buffaloes in group 5 were inoculated with 10mL of sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS) PH7 and served as the negative control. During the post infection period, all buffaloes were examined for clinical signs throughout 21 days and surviving buffaloes were euthanized for postmortem evaluation. Histopathological evaluation of buffaloes inoculated with LPS showed a significantly higher occurrence (p

Alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) localization was investigated in the utero-vagina of the one-humped camel during the follicular and luteal phases. A total of 86 dromedary she-camels brought to the Maiduguri municipal abattoir for slaughter were used for this study. Blood was collected prior to slaughter, and the corresponding genitalia was also collected immediately after slaughter. The ovarian structures and serum progesterone levels were evaluated and used to categorize the animals into the follicular (FP) and luteal phases (LP). The utero-vaginal tissues were also subjected to immunohistochemistry for the localization of alpha smooth muscle actin. The serum P4 levels ranged from 0.6 to 2.5 ng/ml with means of 0.89 ± 0.16 and 1.61 ± 0.81 ng/ml for camels in the follicular and luteal phases, respectively. Immunohistochemistry result demonstrated the localization of α-SMA in the smooth muscle cells of the uterus and vagina during both reproductive phases. Alpha-SMA reactions were intense in the tunica muscularis and the smooth muscles of the blood vessels, with mild evidence of α-SMA localization within the epithelial linings of the vagina and uterine glands. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the distribution of high positive, low positive, and negative percentages in both uterine and vaginal sections. However, there were differences (p

Contagious ecthyma (Orf) is a viral skin condition caused by a parapoxvirus. It results in cutaneous lesions that destroy the hides and skin of the infected host. In this study, the pathogenicity of Malaysian isolates of Orf virus (UPM 1/14 and UPM 2/14) was evaluated in a rat model using different inoculation sites with/without dexamethasone administration. A total of 50 rats were used in this study. For the first part of the study, 35 rats were divided into three groups; group 1 (n = 15) was inoculated with 0.5 mL of UPM 1/14 (tissue culture infective dose 50% (TCID50) 108.1/mL) while group 2 (n = 15) was inoculated with 0.5 mL of UPM 2/14 (TCID50 107.2/mL) each at the dorsum (n = 5), ear pinna (n = 5), and labial commissure (n = 5). Group 3 (n = 5) served as the control and was administered 0.5 mL of phosphate-buffered saline in all the sites mentioned above. In the second study, 15 rats were divided into three groups: a dexamethasone group (n = 5) which was given 10 mg/kg of dexamethasone once daily for 3 days, a non-dexamethasone group (n = 5), and a control (n = 5). Intradermal inoculation of 0.5 mL of UPM 1/14 was administered to each rat in the dexamethasone and non-dexamethasone groups at the dorsum, ear pinna, and labial commissure, respectively. Clinical signs and histopathological changes were evaluated for 14 days post inoculation for the first experiment and 7 days for the second experiment. Mild hyperemia was observed in the dorsum, ear pinna, and labial commissures of all inoculation groups. Group 1 (ORFV UPM 1/14) had a higher (P 0.05) in the mean thickness of the stratum basale of the ear pinna and labial commissure between the dexamethasone and non-dexamethasone groups. Orf virus was detected by PCR from the skin tissues of rats with lesions using F1L and B2L viral genes. In conclusion, Malaysian isolates of Orf virus were seen to be mildly pathogenic to rats. The difference in inoculation sites and the induction of immune suppression were observed to present varying pathological responses in rats.

Background and Aim: Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is an important viral disease of small ruminants particularly in dairy goats with severe social and economic implication. Hence, this study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of CAE virus (CAEV) among goat population in selected small ruminant farms in Selangor and the risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from a total of 91 goats selected at random. Blood serum was harvested and used for competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test to detect antibodies against CAE virus. Results: The result obtained showed that 8/91 (8.8%) of the goats were seropositive for CAEV. In addition, biosecurity management, source of origin and sex of the animal were observed to be important risk factors associated with the occurrence of CAE in goats. Conclusion: The findings of this study affirmed that the seroprevalence of CAEV infection among goat population in small ruminant farms in Selangor, Malaysia, is low. However, there is need to institute strict control measures such as testing and culling positive animals or separation of infected animals from those that tested negative to the disease for effective eradication of the disease.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is vector-borne zoonotic disease which causes encephalitis in humans and horses. Clinical signs for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection are not clearly evident in the majority of affected animals. In Malaysia, information on the prevalence of JEV infection has not been established. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted during two periods, December 2015 to January 2016 and March to August in 2016, to determine the prevalence and risk factors in JEV infections among animals and birds in Peninsular Malaysia. Serum samples were harvested from the 416 samples which were collected from the dogs, cats, water birds, village chicken, jungle fowls, long-tailed macaques, domestic pigs, and cattle in the states of Selangor, Perak, Perlis, Kelantan, and Pahang. The serum samples were screened for JEV antibodies by commercial IgG ELISA kits. A questionnaire was also distributed to obtain information on the animals, birds, and the environmental factors of sampling areas. The results showed that dogs had the highest seropositive rate of 80% (95% CI: ± 11.69) followed by pigs at 44.4% (95% CI: ± 1.715), cattle at 32.2% (95% CI: ± 1.058), birds at 28.9% (95% CI: ± 5.757), cats at 15.6% (95% CI: ± 7.38), and monkeys at 14.3% (95% CI: ± 1.882). The study also showed that JEV seropositivity was high in young animals and in areas where mosquito vectors and migrating birds were prevalent.

Orf is an infectious disease that affects the skin of sheep and goats resulting in lesions that reduce animal productivity. This study was aimed to determine the status of orf infection among small ruminants from selected farms in the state of the Selangor based on IgM antibody detection. Serum samples were collected from 90 goats and 90 sheep and subjected to qualitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure IgM antibodies followed by chi-square analysis of the data. The result from this study showed that 33 goats (36.7%) and 7 sheep (7.8%) were positive for orf IgM antibodies, indicating higher seroprevalence among goats as compared to sheep. The risk factors such as species, breed, farm location, and history of orf, age, gender, presence of clinical signs, and farm location were shown to significantly affect the seropositivity of IgM antibodies in these species. In conclusion, this study showed that a significant number of goat populations in Selangor, Malaysia, harbor active orf infection in comparison to sheep.

Captivity of non-venomous snakes such as python and boa are common in zoos, aquariums and as pets in households. Poor captivity conditions expose these reptiles to numerous pathogens which may result in disease conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the common bacteria isolated from necropsied captive snakes in Malaysia over a five year period.A total of 27 snake carcasses presented for necropsy at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) were used in this survey. Samples were aseptically obtained at necropsy from different organs/tissues (lung, liver, heart, kindey, oesophagus, lymph node, stomach, spinal cord, spleen, intestine) and cultured onto 5% blood and McConkey agar, respectively. Gram staining, morphological evaluation and biochemical test such as oxidase, catalase and coagulase were used to tentatively identify the presumptive bacterial isolates.Pythons had the highest number of cases (81.3%) followed by anaconda (14.8%) and boa (3.7%). Mixed infection accounted for 81.5% in all snakes and was highest in pythons (63%). However, single infection was only observed in pythons (18.5%). A total of 82.7%, 95.4% and 100% of the bacterial isolates from python, anaconda and boa, respectively were gram negative. Aeromonas spp was the most frequently isolated bacteria in pythons and anaconda with incidences of 25 (18%) and 8 (36.6%) with no difference (p 0.05) in incidence, respectively, while Salmonella spp was the most frequently isolated in boa and significantly higher (p 0.05) than in python and anaconda. Bacteria species were most frequently isolated from the kidney of pythons 35 (25.2%), intestines of anacondas 11 (50%) and stomach of boa 3 (30%).This study showed that captive pythons harbored more bacterial species than anaconda or boa. Most of the bacterial species isolated from these snakes have public health importance and have been incriminated in human infections worldwide.

Objective: In this study, a serological survey was conducted in unvaccinated sheep and goat populations at Pyawbwe and Meikhtila townships of Mandalay region in Myanmar to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of foot and mouth disease (FMD). Materials and methods: A total of 110 sheep and 107 goat sera samples were randomly collected from Pyawbwe. Similarly, 108 sheep and 109 goat sera were collected from Meikhtila. All samples were tested for the presence of non-structural protein (NSP) specific antibodies to FMD virus (FMDV) by Ceditest FMDV-NSP Enzyme-lined Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and were confirmed by Liquid Phase Blocking ELISA (LPB ELISA) . Results: Overall seroprevalence was 42.4%(n=184/434) by Ceditest-NSP ELISA, and 46.8%(n=203/434) by LPB ELISA against FMDV serotype O. The presence of antibodies against FMDV serotype O was higher (P

The in vivo antibacterial and burn wound healing potency of Persian shallot bulbs (Allium stipitatum) were explored in a mice burn model infected with methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Hexane (ASHE) and dichloromethane (ASDE) extracts were tested. Female BALB/c mice were inflicted with third-degree thermal injury followed by infection with MRSA. ASHE and ASDE formulated with simple ointment base (SOB) at concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 5% (w/w) were topically applied to burn wounds twice a day for 20 days. Silver sulfadiazine (1%) served as drug positive control. Microbiological analysis was carried out on 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days postwounding (dpw) and histopathological analysis at the end of the experiment (20 dpw). Both ointments demonstrated strong antibacterial activity with complete elimination of MRSA at 48–72 h after infection. The rate of wound contraction was higher (95–100%) in mice groups treated with ASHE and ASDE ointments after 15 dpw. Histological analysis revealed significant increase (p<0.05) in epithelialization and collagenation in treated groups. The ASHE and ASDE were found to be relatively noncytotoxic and safe to Vero cell line (383.4 μg mL−1; 390.6 μg mL−1), suggesting the extracts as safe topical antibacterial as well as promising alternatives in managing thermal injuries.

Apparently healthy male Nigerian Sahel goats (n = 125) aged 18–30 months old and weighing 10–25 kg were selected at slaughter by stratified quota sampling, into 5 groups of 25 each with varying testicular sizes, in order to investigate the occurrence of dyspermatogenesis. Testicular sizes were categorized as very small, small, medium, large and very large using gonadosomatic index values of 1–2, >2–3, >3–4 and >4 g/kg, respectively. Left testes and epididymides were homogenized with formalized normal saline for sperm cell count by manual cytometry. Right testes were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed for histopathological examination. Cauda epididymal sperm counts of zero and

Lead acetate (LA) is a toxic compound that has detrimental effects on the male reproductive system, such as decreased testicular size and function, low androgen hormone concentration, and altered testicular histology. While Nigella sativa (NS) has been shown to possess a handful of therapeutic benefits, few studies have shown its effect on damage caused by lead acetate toxicity in the male reproductive system. In this study, 75 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups of 25 rats, which were further subdivided into 5 subgroups each. Group 1 (negative control) was given distilled water, group 2 (positive control (PC)) administered 10 mg/kg of lead acetate (LA) orally/daily, while groups 3 (T1), 4 (T2), and 5 (T3) were given LA 10 mg/kg and graded concentrations (100, 150, and 200 mg/kg) each of NS. One group each, comprising of 25 rats, was euthanized at days 30, 60, and 90 for collection of blood plasma, epididymis, and organ tissues fixed in 10 % buffered formalin at each time interval. The right caudal epididymis was homogenized and used for the determination of spermiogram. Plasma was used for the determination of testosterone (TS), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (EST) using radioimmunoassay kits. There was reduced number of spermatogenic cells and epididymal sperm reserves in the PC group in comparison to the treatment groups. The level of TS was lower (p

Objective: This case report describes the management of a clinical case of trypanosomosis in an adult Friesian Sahiwal cow. Materials and methods: An adult cow aging 3 years was presented with a complain of wound infection, weakness and inappetence. Physical examination was carried out and samples were collected for laboratory investigations. Results: The clinical history revealed generalised enlargements of the pre-scapular and pre-femoral lymph nodes, pale mucous membrane and weight loss. Laboratory investigation showed that the cow had normocytic normochromic anemia with hyperproteinemia. Thin blood smear examination revealed the presence of Trypanosoma evansi . Treatment was instituted with Diminazene aceturate dosed at 3.5 mg/kg bwt through intramuscular (IM) route for 3 days, 20 mL of Fercobsang for 3 days, IM, Flunixin meglumine dosed at 1.1 mg/kg bwt, IM, and Oxytetracycline dosed at 20 mg/kg bwt, IM once. The wounds were cleaned daily for one week. Examination of the blood film after therapy showed no parasite. Conclusion: The findings of this case report demonstrate the importance of an effective treatment regimen in managing bovine trypanosomosis in an endemic farm. http://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2016.c164

Iridovirus is the causative agent of grouper iridovirus infection (GIV), which causes severe epizootics resulting in large-scale mortalities and huge economic losses in cultured and marine fishes worldwide. The current study evaluated the gross and histopathological lesions, and molecular detection of GIV in naturally infected grouper farms in Malaysia. A total of 150 moribund fish showing different clinical signs, presented to the Aquatic unit were used for this study. The fish were necropsied and visceral organs (spleen, kidney, heart, liver, intestine, brain, eyes, gills, and some parts of skin with ulcer) were collected and fixed in 10 % buffered formalin for histopathological processing and evaluation. Molecular detection of the virus was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Grossly, the groupers had ulceration on the operculum and close to the caudal fin with hemorrhages on the margin of the caudal fin. In some fish, there was necrosis of the caudal fin, sloughing of the epidermis, dermal ulceration and popeyes Histological sections showed large basophilic cytoplasmic inclusions and vacuolations in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Basophilic or eosinophilic enlarged cells with the presence of mononuclear cellular infiltrations were seen in the kidney, liver, eye and gills, which is the distinctive feature of this disease. PCR detection showed positive amplification from 27 groupers. Based on the gross, histopathological and molecular detection GIV infection was established.

Aim: Gastrointestinal helminthosis is a global problem in small ruminant production. Most parasites have developed resistance to commonly available anthelminthic compounds, and there is currently an increasing need for new compounds with more efficacies. This study evaluated the in vitro effects of ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa (EECL) as a biological nematicide against third stage Haemonchus larvae (L3) isolated from sheep. Materials and Methods: Haemonchus L3 were cultured and harvested from the feces of naturally infected sheep. EECL was prepared and three concentrations; 50, 100, and 200 mg/mL were tested for their efficacies on Haemonchus L3. Levamisole at concentration 1.5 and 3 mg/mL were used as positive controls. Results: EECL showed anthelmintic activity in a dose-dependent manner with 78% worm mortality within 24 h of exposure at the highest dose rate of 200 mg/mL. There was a 100% worm mortality rate after 2 h of levamisole (3 mg/mL) admisntration. However, there was a comparable larvicidal effect between when levamisole (1.5 mg/mL) and EECL (200 mg) were administered. Conclusion: The study shows that EECL does exhibit good anthelmintic properties at 200 mg/mL which is comparable with levamisole at 1.5 mg/mL.

Background Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biotype ovis is a bacterium that causes caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a chronic disease of sheep and goats characterized by the formation of suppurative abscesses in superficial and visceral lymph nodes and internal organs of small ruminants. This study was designed to evaluate the reproductive hormonal changes (estrogen and progesterone) and histopathology in the reproductive organs and associated lymph nodes of does challenged with C. pseudotuberculosis biotype ovis and its immunogen; corynomycolic acid. A total of 12 healthy non-pregnant female goats were grouped into three: A, B and C consisting of four does each. Group A was intradermally inoculated with 2 mL of sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS) pH 7 (negative control group); group B was intradermally inoculated with 2 mL of corynomycolic acid extract (CMAs), while group C was intradermally inoculated with 2 mL of 10⁹ colony-forming unit (cfu) of live C. pseudotuberculosis. Blood samples were also collected at predetermined intervals for estrogen and progesterone hormonal assays. The does were euthanized 90 days post challenge and tissue samples of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix and associated lymph nodes were collected and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathological processing. The result showed various degrees of histopathological changes (hemorrhage, congestion, degeneration, necrosis, edema, leucocytic infiltrations) in the reproductive organs and associated lymph nodes of both inoculation groups. Increases in estrogen hormone concentration were observed in both inoculation groups in comparison to the control group. However, progesterone concentration was only increased in group C. This study highlighted that corynomycolic acid extract from C. pseudotuberculosis biotype ovis resulted in significant histopathology in the reproductive organs and associated lymph nodes of does and increase estrogen concentration.

Hemotropic Mycoplasmosis is common in sheep and goats worldwide, which leads to huge economic losses. In this study, ten goats each were sampled from five herds belonging to the Ladang Angkat, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FVM) for the assessment of Mycoplasma ovis infection and concomitant intestinal parasites burden. Giemsa stain and Modified McMaster techniques were used to study the hemotropic mycoplasmosis and gastrointestinal parasite burden, respectively. Questionnaires were equally administered to each farmer and a fly trap was used to trap biting flies around the goat herds. Out of 50 samples analyzed, 94.0% (n=47/50) were positive for M. ovis infection. Among the positive samples, 93.6% (n=44/47) were mild infection while 6.4% (n=3/47) were moderate infection, with highest infection rate of 38.5% parasitemia. There was a significant association (P

Pasteurella multocida is responsible for one of the major animal diseases with economic importance in both developed and developing countries. P. multocida B:2 causes haemorrhagic septicemia (HS) in cattle and buffaloes, which result in heavy economic losses through direct effect, resulting in high mortality rates and indirect effects through impairment of the animal productivity. It is well known that HS affects mainly the respiratory and digestive tracts of host animals. However, involvement of the reproductive system in the pathogenesis of HS has not been reported previously. This study was designed to present detailed detection and histopathological changes of the reproductive system and mammary glands of buffaloes experimentally infected with P. multocida B:2. Briefly, nine healthy buffalo calves aged 8-month-old were divided into three groups of three calves each. Calves from groups 1 and 2 were inoculated subcutaneously and orally with 10 mL of 1 × 1012 cfu/mL of P. multocida B:2, respectively, while calves of group 3 were inoculated orally with 10 mL of phosphate buffer saline as a sham control. All the calves in group 1 had to be euthanized after 12 h post-infection, while calves in group 2 were euthanized after day 21 post-infection. Successful isolation and PCR confirmation of P. multocida B:2 was achieved from different parts of the reproductive system, including ovary, oviduct, uterine horn, uterine body and vagina as well as mammary glands and supramammary lymph nodes of the buffaloes in group 1 after 12 h post-infection. However, P. multocida B:2 was not detected in the reproductive organs of buffaloes in group 2 and group 3 after 21 days post-infection. Significant differences (P

Orf virus is a DNA virus that causes contiguous ecthyma in goat and sheep. Infection of animals with this virus cause high mortality in young animals resulting in huge economic losses. In this study, we investigated an outbreak of Orf in a goat farm in Malaysia. Samples were collected from infected animals and viral isolation was done using both LT and MDCK cell lines. Molecular detection was done by conventional PCR for specific primers; B2L and F1L genes and phylogenetic analysis was done on the sequence data obtained. Cytopathic effects (CPE) were observed in both cell lines after 3 days of inoculation and were 50 % by the sixth day. PCR showed positive bands for both B2L and F1L genes and phylogenetic analysis showed that the Malaysian strain had close homology to the Chinese and Indian Orf virus isolates. This study gives more insight into the existing Orf viral strains in Malaysia and their relationship with other strains globally.

Gonado-hypophyseal lesions and reproductive hormonal changes in Brucella melitensis-infected mice and its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were investigated. Forty-eight mice (24 males and 24 females) were used as infection models in this study, and they were divided into three equal separate groups of eight mice based on their sex: M1, M2, and M3 and F1, F2, and F3 (M = Male, F = Female). Groups M1 and F1 were orally inoculated with sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and served as the negative control. Groups M2 and F2 were orally inoculated with 0.4 ml of 109 colony-forming units (cfu) of B. melitensis, while groups M3 and F3 were orally inoculated with 0.4 ml of LPSs from 109 cfu of B. melitensis. All the groups were observed for 10 days for changes in clinical signs or signs of mortality and then euthanized. Whole blood was collected via cardiac puncture, while tissues were fixed in 10 % formalin for histopathological processing. Histopathological lesions in the male and female reproductive tracts ranged from mild to moderate degenerative, inflammatory, and necrotic lesions. These changes were moderate in M2 than in M3 in males and in F3 than in F2 groups in females. Lesions in the pituitary gland ranged from mild to moderate inflammation and necrosis with astrogliosis. F2 and M2 groups had more lesion distribution in the pituitary gland than F3 and M3 groups. There was a 13 % decline in progesterone concentration in F2 and a 44 % decline in F3. Estradiol level declined by 33 % in F2 and slightly increased by 4.2 % in F3. Progesterone-estrogen ratio (P/E) increased by 31 % in F2 and declined by 46 % in F3. Testosterone concentration increased by 74 % in M2 and decreased by 56 % in M3. The study showed that oral administration of B. melitensis affects the pituitary gland and may alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Aim: This study examined the effects of creep feed (CF) supplementation (with or without Alfalfa) on the pre-weaning growth performance of nursing goat kids. Materials and Methods: A total of forty eight (48), 7 days old, single born kids (live weight 4.4±0.09 kg) were divided into three treatment groups, each containing eight males and eight females. All three groups had access to their dams’ milk (DM). The kids from the first treatment group had free access to CF containing alfalfa (CFA) while those from the second group had free access to CF without alfalfa. The third treatment group (control) had access to their DM only. All three groups were kept isolated from the dams from 800 to 1200 h and from 1400 to 1800 h while having access to CF. Results: Total weight gain and average daily gain of kids from CFA group (11.2±0.36 kg, 145.2±4.64 g) was significantly higher (p

Next generation sequencing technologies has revolutionized genomic research by producing a large volume of sequence data and lowest per base cost compared to the traditional sanger method. Although this technology offers many advantages, gap occurrences are commonly found in draft assemblies. The same problem was observed with Rat Cytomegalovirus (RCMV) ALL-03 (Malaysia strain), where a complete genome sequence could not produce the complete genome due to the presence of gaps in the draft genome. This restrains our ability to take full advantage of genome data. This study aimed to identify the sequence data present in the gap regions and close these gaps in order to produce a complete genome sequence for RCMV ALL-03. Twenty sets of specific primers were designed between two adjacent contigs and PCR was carried out to obtain the appropriate sequences in respective gap regions. Sanger sequencing was employed in the PCR product to get the gap sequences. Out of the five identified gaps in the RCMV ALL-03 genome sequence, only three were confirmed to be true gaps, while the other two were due to sequence repeats. In conclusion, all the gaps were closed successfully and complete genome sequence of RCMV ALL-03 can now be explored in further studies.

Pasteurella multocida was first shown to be the causative agent of fowl cholera by Louis Pasteur in 1881. Since then, this Gramnegative bacterium has been identified as the causative agent of many other economically important diseases in a wide range of hosts. Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) is a disease, caused by Pasteurella multocida serotypes B2 and E2 that causes acute, highly fatal septicaemia with high morbidity and mortality in cattle and more susceptible in buffaloes. In this review, we aim to determine the host cell and antibody response towards Pasteurella multicoda B2 infection causing Haemorrhagic septicaemia.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most commonly studied members of the Herpesviridae family. So far several strains have been identified but human CMV (HCMV) remains the most important due to its ability to infect humans and also cross the placenta causing neonatal infection and mortality. However, there are several limitations in the study of this strain which includes availability and use of model animals. Although strains such as Rhesus CMV (RhCMV), Guinea pig CMV (GPCMV) and Rat CMV (RCMV ALL-03) have been shown to cross the placenta and exhibit similar pathogenesis to HCMV, only RCMV ALL-03 can be conveniently used without much limitations as guinea pigs are resistant to antiviral drugs, while rhesus monkeys are seropositive, considered costly and have ethical use restrictions. We therefore propose the use of RCMV ALL-03 as a model for the study of CMV infection.

Orf is a clinical manifestation of parapoxvirus infection often fatal in goats and sheep especially when they are under stress or influenced by unfavorable environment. This study investigated the pathogenicity of two Orf virus isolates (ORFV UPM1/14 and UPM2/14) and host response in mouse model by using different inoculation sites with/without prior exposure to dexamethasone. Treatments with dexamethasone served as an immunosuppressant that may mimic stress situation in affected animals. Groups of five mice were given intradermal injection of 0.2 mL of tissue culture infective dose 50 (TCID50) of UPM1/14 (Group 1) and UPM2/14 (Group 2) at the dorsum (Group 1A; Group 2A), ear pinna (Group 1B; Group 2B), and labial commissure (Group 1C; Group 2C). An inoculum 0.2 mL of UPM1/14 was administered to animals treated with dexamethasone (n=5; 5 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally) and nondexamethasone (n=5) groups at the dorsum, ear pinna, and labial commissure. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the mean lesion scores among the groups of different inoculation sites or between dexamethasone-treated and nontreated groups. However, there was a significant difference (p

The gram-negative bacterium Pasteurella multocida serotype B: 2 is an important veterinary and opportunistic human pathogen that causes deplorable welfare problems and colossal economic production losses in bovine and other animal species throughout the world. Pasteurella multocida type B: 2 and its LPS are associated with Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) in mice as animal model. Sixty healthy Balb c mice were placed in twelve plastic cages each one containing five mice. The mice were divided into three major groups (A, B and C). Group A is the control group (n = 10) and these were inoculated with 0.4 mL of PBS pH 7.4 orally. The treatment groups (B; n = 25 and C; n = 25) were inoculated with P. multocida type B: 2 and lipopolysaccharide respectively. The mice in group B and C were further divided into five subgroups. The subgroups were designated based on the graded doses as B101, B103, B105, B107 and B109 for Pasteurella multocida and C101, C103, C105, C107 and C109 for LPS respectively. The mice were observed for 120 h post-inoculation. The concentration of IL-1I² was significantly higher (p

Oral infections of mice as animal model with Pasteurella multocida type B: 2 and its lipopolysaccharides is liable to cause detrimental alterations in the pituitary glands, which results in disruption of reproductive hormonal levels as well as organ functions in the male and female animals; thereby impeding the fertility of at risk animal population. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the histopathological modifications in the pituitary glands, reproductive organs and the associated hormonal levels in male and female mice inoculated orally with P. multocida type B: 2 and its lipopolysaccharides. Forty eight mice were divided into three groups consisting of sixteen mice each (8 male and 8 female in separate cages). Group 1 served as the control group and were inoculated orally with 0.4 mL Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS), group 2 were inoculated orally with 0.4 mL of 109 Colony Forming Unit (CFU) of P. multocida type B: 2 while group 3 were inoculated orally with 0.4 mL of LPS from 109 of colony P. multocida type B: 2. There were significant differences (p

Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) is a fatal systemic disease of bovines typified by an acute, highly fatal septicaemic disease with high morbidity and mortality. In this study, sixty five adult ICR mice were used for the study. In the first phase, 5 mice each were inoculated with 109 cfu of P. multocida type B:2 through the intraperitoneal route. After development of classical signs of HS, the mice were euthanised and dropped into a tank of river waterfor 24, 48 and 72 h. Contaminated water from the tank were collected at the three different times (24, 48 and 72 h) and was used for intraperitoneal, oral and aerosol inoculation of 15 mice each with a dose of 1 mL-1 109 cfu (intraperitoneal and aerosol) and 0.4 mL-1 109cfu (oral). The control group (n = 5) was given phosphate buffered saline. All mice in the three groups and control were culled after 72 h post inoculation and the vital organs (liver, spleen, lung, kidney, heart, brain) were collected in 10% buffered formalin, procesed, sectioned and stained with H&E. Degeneration and necrosis, hemorrhage and infiltration of inflammatory cells were the most observed lesions in all the organs, while thrombosis and oedema were least observed. The lesion severity was moderate to severe using contaminated water at 72 h post contamination and mild to moderate when inoculated with water 24 and 48 h post contamination. Mice inoculated through the oral and intraperitoneal routes recorded more severe lesion compared with those inoculated through the aerosol route. However, using contaminated water at 24 h, mice inoculated through the aerosol route had the highest distribution of inflammatory cells in the lungs, which declined following inoculation with contaminated water at 48 and 72 h, respectively.This study has shown that contamination of water bodiesby carcasses of HS infected animals is a likely source of infection to heathy animals in the wild and that development of lesions severity is time dependant and significantly higher using contaminated water at 72 h than water contaminated for 24 and 48 h. This further indicates the danger of leaving decomposing carcasses in water bodies for prolonged periods.

This study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence and bacteriological assessment of subclinical mastitis and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial isolates from dairy cows in different farms around Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 120 milk samples from 3 different farms were randomly collected and tested for subclinical mastitis using California Mastitis Test (CMT), as well as for bacterial culture for isolation, identification and antimicrobial resistance. The most prevalent bacteria was Staphylococcus sp. (55%), followed by Bacillus sp., (21%) and Corynebacterium sp., (7%), Yersinia sp. and Neisseria sp. both showed 5% prevalence, other species with prevalence below 5% are Acinetobacter sp., Actinobacillus sp., Vibrio sp., Pseudomonas sp., E.coli, Klebsiella sp. and Chromobacter sp. Selected Staphylococcus sp. showed a mean antimicrobial resistance of 73.3% to Ampicillin, 26.7% to Penicillin, Methicillin and Compound Sulphonamide each, 20% to Oxacillin, Amoxycillin and Cefuroxime, 13.3% to Polymyxin B, Erythromycin, Ceftriaxone and Azithromycin and 6.7% to Streptomycin, Clindamycin, Lincomycin and Tetracycline each. This study indicates the need for urgent and effective control measures to tackle the increase in prevalence of subclinical mastitis and their antimicrobial resistance in the study area.

Fertility of unilateral cryptorchid Sahel buck in uncontrolled breeding depends on sperm output of the scrotal testis. Semen evaluation and testicular and epididymal sperm head counts of cryptorchid and normal bucks were carried out at comparable age, body weight and testicular size. Mean semen volume and sperm cell count of the cryptorchids were not different from those of normal bucks, but the percentage of sperm cell abnormalities in semen was higher than normal consisting of narrow and big sperm heads, bent mid-piece, curved tails and tailless heads. Scrotal testes and epididymides of the cryptorchids had comparable mean size parameters and sperm head counts as those of the normal bucks. In conclusion, the scrotal testis of the cryptorchid produces as much sperm as the testis of the normal buck, but probably contributes more sperm to the ejaculate than normal with increased sperm cell abnormalities that may reduce fertility of the cryptorchid.

Mastitis is a widespread disease of the dairy goats associated with alterations in the physical, chemical, pathological and bacteriological quality of milk and glandular tissues. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of clinical mastitis on hematological and serum biochemical parameters of Sahel Goats in Nigeria. Twenty six Sahel goats with clinical mastitis and ten normal goats taken as the control group were used for the study. Blood samples were collected via the jugular vein for hematological and biochemical analysis. A significant increase (p

Background Rat cytomegalovirus ALL-03 (Malaysian strain) which was isolated from a placenta and uterus of a house rat, Rattus rattus diardii has the ability to cross the placenta and infecting the fetus. To further elucidate the pathogenesis of the Malaysian strain of Rat Cytomegalovirus ALL-03 (RCMV ALL-03), detailed analysis on the viral genome sequence is crucial. Methods Genome sequencing of RCMV ALL-03 was carried out in order to identify the open reading frame (ORF), homology comparison of ORF with other strains of CMV, phylogenetic analysis, classifying ORF with its corresponding conserved genes, and determination of functional proteins and grouping of gene families in order to obtain fundamental knowledge of the genome. Results The present study revealed a total of 123 Coding DNA sequences (CDS) from RCMV ALL-03 with 37 conserved ORF domains as with all herpesvirus genomes. All the CDS possess similar function with RCMV-England followed by RCMV-Berlin, RCMV-Maastricht, and Human CMV. The phylogenetic analysis of RCMV ALL-03 based on conserving genes of herpes virus showed that the Malaysian RCMV isolate is closest to RCMV-English and RCMV-Berlin strains, with 99% and 97% homology, respectively. Similarly, it also demonstrated an evolutionary relationship between RCMV ALL-03 and other strains of herpesviruses from all the three subfamilies. Interestingly, betaherpesvirus subfamily, which has been shown to be more closely related with gammaherpesviruses as compared to alphaherpesviruses, shares some of the functional ORFs. In addition, the arrangement of gene blocks for RCMV ALL-03, which was conserved among herpesvirus family members was also observed in the RCMV ALL-03 genome. Conclusion Genomic analysis of RCMV ALL-03 provided an overall picture of the whole genome organization and it served as a good platform for further understanding on the divergence in the family of Herpesviridae.

Boid inclusion body disease (BIBD) is a viral disease of boid snakes believed to be caused by reptarenavirus belonging to the family Arenaviridae. Unlike most mammalian arenaviruses, the reservoir host for reptarenavirus is still unknown. In this study, the pathological responses were evaluated in a mouse model for a period of 28 days. Blood and tissue samples (lung, liver, spleen, heart, kidney and brain) were collected for evaluation of hematology, biochemistry, histopathology and oxidative enzyme levels at six time points (1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days), after viral infection (2.0 × 106 pfu/mL) in the infected and normal saline in the control groups. An initial increase (p < 0.05) in white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were observed in the infected group at day 3 post infection, and a decline (p < 0.05) on day 7 and 4 post infection. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatinine, total protein and globulin levels were also observed in the infected group. An increased (p < 0.05) level of hydrogen peroxide, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and catalase activity (CAT) were frequently observed on different days in the infected group. The MDA activity was increased (p < 0.05) in the infected group on day 7 and 14. Histopathological changes observed in the liver, kidney, spleen, brain and lungs were mainly associated with degeneration, necrosis and infiltration of lymphocytes. Viral counts were low on days 7 and 14 but surged in both the liver and spleen on day 21 and 28. This study has shown that reptarenavirus replicates in mammalian host and induces oxidative stress. Furthermore, the resultant hematobiochemical and histopathological changes observed in infected mice were similar to what has been reported in mammarenavirus infections. This suggests that rodents may serve as potential reservoir hosts for reptarenavirus.

Shaymaa Fadhel Abbas Albaayit,1,2 Yusuf Abba,3 Rasedee Abdullah,4 Noorlidah Abdullah1 1Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2Department of Biology, Collegeof Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq; 3Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, 4Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Abstract: Clausena excavata is a natural herb with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for decades in folkloric practice for the amelioration of various ailments. In this study, the gastroprotective activity of methanolic extract of C. excavata leaves (MECE) was determined in the Sprague Dawley rat ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Rats were pretreated with a single dose of vehicle (5% Tween 20), 20 mg/mL omeprazole, 400 and 200 mg/mL of MECE dissolved in 5% Tween 20. Ulcer was induced with 5 mL/kg of ethanol and stomach tissue was obtained after 1 hour. Histological examination was done on hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and immunochemically stained gastric mucosal tissues. Prostaglandin E2, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and lipid peroxidation levels of the gastric tissue homogenates were also determined. Significantly (P

Background Hemorrhagic septicemia is a fatal disease of cattle and buffaloes caused by P. multocida. Although the pathogenesis of the bacteria has been well established in literature, there is a paucity of information on the possible role of the bacteria and its immunogens; lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins (OMPs) on the reproductive capacity of buffalo heifers. Methods In this study, twenty one healthy prepubertal female buffaloes aged 8 months were divided into seven groups of 3 buffaloes each (G1-G7). Group 1 (G1) served as the negative control group and were inoculated orally with 10 mL sterile Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS), groups 2 (G2) and 3 (G3) were inoculated orally and subcutaneously with 10 mL of 1012 colony forming unit (cfu) of P.multocida type B: 2, while groups 4 (G4) and 5 (G5) received 10 mL of bacterial LPS orally and intravenously, respectively. Lastly, groups 6 (G6) and 7 (G7) were orally and subcutaneously inoculated with 10 mL of bacterial OMPs. Whole blood was collected in EDTA vials at stipulated time points (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 120, 168, 216, 264, 312, 360, 408, 456 and 504 h), while tissue sections of the pituitary glands were collected and transported to the histopathology laboratory in 10% buffered formalin for processing and Hematoxylin and eosin staining. Plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone (PG), estradiol (EST) and gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) were determined. Results The histopathological lesions observed in the pituitary gland included hemorrhage, congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, hydropic degeneration, necrosis and edema. These changes were higher (p

Testicular sizes of animals are important for identification of those with adequate sperm production. The aim of this study was to define the testicular and related size estimates that would be associated with optimal cauda epididymal sperm counts (ESC) in Sahel goats based on postmortem evaluations. A stratified quota sample population of 125 male goats inclusive of all testicular sizes was taken at a slaughterhouse in Maiduguri, Nigeria. The bucks were aged 18-30 months and weighed 17.04 ± 2.99 (12-25) kg. Body, testicular and epididymal weights of each goat with other related size measurements were estimated. ESC was determined from homogenized tissue using a manual cytometer. At the cut-off ESC of >1.1 × 109 sperm heads, 66 (52.5%) of the goats had optimal ESC which was associated with testicular weight of 59.90 ± 16.10 (31.4-86.2) kg, gonado somatic index of 3.51 ± 0.69 (2.0-4.5) g/kg and scrotal circumference of 19.07 ± 1.29 (17.0-21.8) cm. The ESC correlated better with age than body weight of the animals and correlated also with testicular and scrotal size variables and epididymal weights. The size variables of the scrotum and testis correlated with one another. These findings provide data that may be used to anticipate adequate antemortem sperm reserve based on testicular size during preliminary selection of sires for breeding from a sexually mature Sahel buck population.Keywords: Optimal sperm output, testicular size, scrotal size, Sahel goat, Nigeria

Boid inclusion body disease (BIBD) is a viral disease of boids caused by reptarenavirus. In this study, tissue from naturally infected boid snakes were homogenized and propagated in African Monkey kidney (Vero) and rat embryonic fibroblast (REF) cells. Virus replication was determined by the presence of cytopathic effect, while viral morphology was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Viral RNA was amplified using RT-PCR with primers specific for the L-segment of reptarenavirus; similarly, quantification of viral replication was done using qPCR at 24–144 h postinfection. Viral cytopathology was characterized by cell rounding and detachment in both Vero and REF cells. The viral morphology showed round-to-pleomorphic particles ranging from 105 to 150 nm which had sand-like granules. Sanger sequencing identified four closely associated reptarenavirus species from 15 (37.5 %) of the total samples tested, and these were named as follows: reptarenavirus UPM-MY 01, 02, 03, and 04. These isolates were phylogenetically closely related to the University Helsinki virus (UHV), Boa Arenavirus NL (ROUTV; BAV), and unidentified reptarenavirus L20 (URAV-L20). Comparison of deduced amino acid sequences further confirmed identities to L-protein of UHV, L-polymerase of BAV and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of URAV-L20. Viral replication in Vero cells increased steadily from 24 to 72 h and peaked at 144 h. This is the first study in South East Asia to isolate and characterize reptarenavirus in boid snakes with BIBD.