No abstract

A study was conducted to examine the clinical signs, hematological, biochemical and histopathological changes in vitamin D3 toxicity at a dose rate 2 mg/kg b.wt. of vitamin D3 and to assess the protective effect of Aloe vera in vitamin D3 toxicity. The clinical signs observed were anorexia, progressive weight loss, difficulty in movement and respiration, diarrhea, epistaxis, subnormal body temperature and nervous signs before death. Mortality was observed in treated rats between day 10 and day 19 of treatment. The gross postmortem changes observed were severe emaciation, white chalky deposits on epicardial surface of heart, pin point white deposits on cortical surface of kidneys with pale yellow discoloration and diffused white deposits on serosal surface of stomach and intestine with bloody ingesta in lumen. The hematological changes included non-significant increase in hemoglobin and total leukocyte count and significant increase in relative neutrophil count. The biochemical changes observed were significant increase in plasma concentration of calcium, phosphorus and blood urea nitrogen, whereas a significant decrease in the concentration of albumin and total plasma protein was observed. The histopathological lesions included calcification of various organs, viz., tongue, stomach, intestines, kidney, heart, aorta, larynx, trachea, lungs, spleen, choroid plexus arteries of brain and vas deferens. The Aloe vera juice (2.5% in drinking water) has no protective effect on vitamin D3 toxicity (2 mg/kg b.wt.).

A study was conducted to determine whether a combination of vitamin E and selenium was able to counteract the immunosuppressive effects of chronic toxicity of malathion in chicks. The chicks were divided into three groups. The first group received malathion 10 mg/kg body weight; the second group received the same dose of malathion but was supplemented with vitamin E and selenium for 60 days; and the third group served as the control. The concentration of total immunoglobulins and circulatory immune complexes decreased following the administration of malathion, whereas the supplementation of the diet with vitamin E and selenium partially counteracted this effect. The histopathological changes in the bursa of Fabricius due to malathion were consistent with these findings. Supplementation with vitamin E and selenium partially ameliorated the degenerative changes in the bursa of Fabricius.

Avian Infectious coryza, a highly opportunistic respiratory tract infection caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum is now believed to be evolving as a re-emerging disease of poultry birds. Albeit adoption of strong precautionary/prophylactic measures i.e. vaccine/vaccination practice, the infection continues as complicated pattern of disease course worldwide that results in massive economic and production losses. India, being a major admirer of poultry products suffers tremendously with this insidious infectious insult every year, thus strives for some better optional measures to curtail this curse. This review article blazons some significant development(s) that took place over the period of last decade with regards to its epidemiologic spectrum, characterization of its etiologic agent and important improvement(s)/advancement(s) in its diagnostic as well as prophylactic approach (es). Although, the major achievements to identify and restrict this disease has been carried out in early 80s and 90s, however precarious nature of this organism has largely left scientific and farming community abstruse over its ambit on host specificity and geographic limitation(s). Following strong vaccinal/prophylactic measures, the causative organism(s) further acquired superlative advantages having bypassing host immune surveillance mechanisms acquired through existing vaccine components, besides violating constitutive immunity of host. The plausible reason behind such immunity exclusion is hitherto unknown, when it comes to host's response against pathogen. Resultantly, a detailed study to this effect is highly warranted to avoid further sinister in our poultry operation(s) due to Avibacterium paragallinarum infection. Most of the recent studies endeavoured to work on serovar B of Avibacterium paragallinarum organism which is quite prevalent at the moment at varied places across the globe. This warrants concerted/dedicated diagnostic techniques employing high end bio-molecular approaches for better comprehension of the disease, and to have a blue print with regard to adoption of newer therapeutic strategy towards containment of the infection for fruitful future.

Administration of ground-up tick tissue stabilate (0.75 tick equivalent) by the subcutaneous route to crossbred calves aged 1 week to 1 month led to the development of acute theileriosis. Haematological studies revealed significant progressive decreases in haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and red blood cell count, whereas the total leukocyte count showed an initial non-significant leukocytosis followed by a significant leukopenia. Analysis of serum revealed significant increases in levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine kinase and gamma-glutamyltransferase, and in the concentrations of uric acid, blood urea nitrogen and bilirubin. The concentrations of total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol and calcium showed non-significant decreases, while phosphorus decreased significantly during the terminal stages of the disease.