No abstract

Mastitis in goats, analogous to dairy cattle, is one of the most significant diseases of economic importance, worldwide. For the proposed study 25 Beetal Faisalabadi goat farms comprising 10-20 goats in radius of 25 km was included. Sampling was done during two kidding season first in September-October and second in FebruaryMarch. The epidemiological data, including goat breed, age, parity, stage of lactation, amount of milk, length of lactation period, and farming system were recorded. These selected herds were screened out by SFMT and positive milk samples were aseptically collected. Samples from infected goats were subjected to microbiological assays. On the basis of results of sampling, screening and microbiological analysis of milk samples it was revealed that mastitis is more in summer season as compared to winter season. In winter the occurrence of mastitis in beetal Faisalabadi was 21.68% and in summer it was 25.70%. Bacteriological examination of mastitic milk samples revealed that Staphylococcus species was the major etiological agent of caprine mastitis in Beetal Faisalabadi goats during both season. Statistical results of the study has showed that age, teat length, teat end, teat symmetry, distance between teat length and floor, stage of lactation and udder shape has significant effect on caprine mastitis (p<0.05). Parameters like season, udder washing, condition of floor, farm hygiene, milk practices and housing has no significant effect on mastitis (p>0.05).

The present environmental study has been planned to investigate the toxic effects of arsenic on reproductive functions of Teddy bucks as well as to examine whether these toxic effects are ameliorated by vitamin E. Sixteen adult Teddy bucks were divided randomly into four equal groups A, B, C and D with following treatment: A (control), B (sodium arsenite 5 mg kg BW day ), C (vit E 200 mg kg BW day + Arsenic 5 mg kg BW day ) and D (vit E 200 mg kg BW day ). This treatment was continued for 84 days. Semen quality parameters were evaluated weekly. Male testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and cortisol levels were measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after every 2 weeks. The data were subjected to two-way analysis of variance followed by Duncan test for multiple comparisons. Semen evaluation parameters were reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in arsenic-treated animals. The serum hormonal profile of testosterone, LH and FSH was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in arsenic group, while the serum level of cortisol was increased. Vitamin E alleviated the toxic effects of arsenic on semen and hormonal parameters. It may be concluded from this study that sodium arsenite causes major toxicity changes in semen and hormonal profile in Teddy goat bucks and vitamin E has ameliorative effects on these toxic changes.

To cite this paper: Rizwan, H.M., M.K. Khan, Z. Iqbal and F. Deeba, 2016. Immunological and therapeutic evaluation of wheat (Triticum aestivum) derived beta-glucans against coccidiosis in chicken. AbstractThis study was carried out to determine the immunomodulatory and therapeutic effects of wheat derived beta-glucans (purified) against avian coccidiosis. Briefly, beta-glucans from wheat bran were extracted and purified using standard procedures. A total of 250 broiler chicks (day-old) were reared at experimental station, Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad for this study. At 7 th day of their age, birds were subdivided into five equal groups (n=50). Groups A, B and C were orally administered with graded doses of purified beta-glucans (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg of body weight) for three consecutive days; whereas, positive control (group D) was administered with vitamin-E at the dose rate of 87mg/kg; while negative control (group E) was served with phosphate buffered saline (PBS solution). At 14 th day post administration of graded doses, 30 chickens from each group were randomly selected and used to monitor cellular and humoral immune responses, while remaining birds (n=20) in each group were challenged with mixed species of genus Eimeria for therapeutic evaluation. Overall, chickens in group A administered with 50 mg/kg b.wt. purified beta-glucans showed significantly higher immune responses in terms of enhanced humoral and cell mediated immunity as compared to those of other beta-glucans administered and E groups. While, the immune responses showed by group A were comparable with group D. After challenge with Eimeria, the groups A and D also showed maximum weight gains with low oocyst counts and maximum percent protection against lesions in both caecum and intestine. On the other hand, a minimum daily weight gain with increased number of oocysts in chickens was observed in control group (PBS) during therapeutic evaluation. These findings suggest that the beta-glucans derived from wheat may have immunomodulatory and therapeutic effects against Eimeria infection in chickens.

No abstract