Abstract
Indian White Leghorn N strain (IWN) and Indian White Leghorn P strain IWP are the two strains of White Leghorn maintained at All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Mannuthy centre. The data of 20th generation on age at first egg or Age at Sexual Maturity (ASM), 16 and 40 week body weight (Bw16, Bw40), 28 and 40 week egg weight (Ew 28, Ew40) and egg production up to 40 weeks age (En40) pertaining to 2120 and 2112 of IWN and IWP strains of White Leghorn progeny belonging to 50 sires and 300 dam formed the basis of this study. The mean values of IWN strain for average Age at Sexual Maturity (ASM), 16 & 40 week body weight (Bw 16, Bw40), 28 & 40 week egg weight (Ew28 & Ew40) and En40 & En64 were 143.85 days, 1.116 kg & 1.584 kg, 50.63 g & 54.26 g and 115.99 & 237.13 respectively. The mean values of IWP strain for average age at first egg (ASM), 16 & 40 week body weight (Bw 16, Bw40), 28 & 40 week egg weight (Ew 28 & Ew 40) and En40 & En64 were 137.55 days, 1.131 kg & 1.651 kg, 50.42 g & 54.01g and 121.21 & 246.40, respectively. The production performance of IWP strain is numerically more than IWN strain in-terms of egg production but the egg weight of IWN is higher than IWP, indicates that the egg production and egg weight are negatively correlated. For both the strains, heritability of ASM, egg weight and egg production was low to moderate. Higher heritability was recorded for body weight characters. Positive correlation was observed between both egg weight characters on genetic and phenotypic scale as well as between body weight characters. Negative correlation was noticed between ASM and En40 as well as Egg weight and Egg production traits on both genetic and phenotypic scale.
Keywords: Correlation, Egg production, Heritability, IWN, IWP, White Leghorn

Abstract
We describe the presence of Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) in thirteen pigs necropsied in Department of Biopathological Sciences and Hygiene of Animal and Alimentary Productions in Perugia. Sistemic lymphadenopathy, sometimes haemorrhagic and necrotic, spleen enlarged thymus atrophic, lungs collapse and consolidated, were the principal gross findings. The most consistent histological lesion was a moderate to severe lymphocellular depletion in lymphoid organs, syncytial giant cell formation, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in macrophages. PCV-2 was immunohistochemically detected in all pigs with PMWS. Electron microscopy investigations demonstrated viral particles compatible with Porcine PCV-2.
Keywords: Circovirus, IHC, Outbreak, Pigs, PMWS, Ultrastructure

Abstract
The dragonfly serves as a second intermediate host of some trematodes. Seven species of dragonflies, Sympetrum drawinianum, Orthetrum albistylum, Lyriothemis pachygastra, Sympetrum eroticum, Crocothemis servilia, Pantala flavescens and Sympetrum pedemontanum were surveyed. The most abundant species among these dragonflies were S. drawininanum, S. eroticum and C. servilia (2,118 and 620 and 334 individuals, respectively). And, the least abundant dragonflies were S. pedemontanum, L.pachygastra and O albistylum (25, 57 and 62 individuals, respectively). Among these intermediate hosts, S. eroticum had the highest infestation rate of metacercaria per individual (11.71%). The infestation rates of two dragonflies, S. drawinanum and S. pedemontanum (8.58% and 4.56%, respectively) also were higher than those of the other four species. In artificial infection studies using animal hosts, we could identify the infections of adult P. muris and P. japonicus from only mouse, in which the infestation rates of P. muris and P. japonicus were 90% and 95% among 20-tested individuals, respectively. Interestingly, adult L. liberum was detected from only frog, R. nigromaculata and the rates of the infestation in frogs were 97.5% among 50-tested frogs. These results suggest that the population size of dragonfly is an important factor to carry high burden of metarcercaria. Moreover, we discussed their epidemiological implications for human and animal infections.
Keywords: Dragonfly, Loxogenes liberum, Metacercaria, Plagiorchis muris, Pleurogenoides japonicus, Trematodes

Abstract
This study explains morphological differences among three trematode species collected from dragonflies in the fields. The trematodes were tentatively identified under light microscopy, and then precisely examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the basis of unique features at the tegumental spines, cuticles and internal organs of the worms. Despite the previous investigations regarding the ultrastructural details including the tegumental spines of the trematode Plagiorchis muris, very few efforts have been made in both the trematodes, Loxogenes liberum and Pleurogenoides japonicus, partly because the latter two species cause less damage to host animals compared to the former trematode P. muris. Since the three species of trematodes are readily found in the same dragonflies, correct identification of these species is important to predict and prevent the disease caused by these trematodes. Herein, we characterize by SEM new ultrastructural details in the three trematodes which were not previously described in P. japonicas and L. liberum. Three morphologically different spines, suckers and internal organs (ovary, vitellaria and uterus) were observed and described. Based on these results, we assert that the newly recognized morphological features should be used for species differentiation in the future.
Keywords: Dragonfly, Loxogenes liberum, Metacercaria, Plagiorchis muris, Pleurogenoides japonicus, Trematodes

Abstract
The study was undertaken to isolate and identify suitable species specific probiotic for feeding broiler chicken. Probiotic organisms were obtained from the gastrointestinal tracts of eight broiler chicken. Out of 24 bacterial isolates from gastro intestinal tract, four were identified as Lactobacillus based on morphological, physiological and biochemical tests which are specific for Lactobacillus genus. These four Lactobacillus isolates were further identified at species level as L.acidophilus, L.crispatus, L.salivarius and L.fermentum based on sugar fermentation tests. The identified Lactobacilli species were screened for probiotic properties by in vitro tests like acid tolerance, bile tolerance and antimicrobial activity against E.Coli in agar well diffusion assay. ’Probiotics score’ was considered as yardstick to identify the best species specific among the probiotic organisms for feeding broiler chicken. ‘Probiotic score’ for chicken, among the isolated Lactobacilli species, was formed by considering the better Lactobacillus for acid tolerance at pH 2, bile tolerance at 0.3 per cent bile acid in the MRS medium and antimicrobial activity against E.coli in agar well diffusion assay. The best Lactobacillus species for acid tolerance, bile tolerance and antimicrobial activity were L.acidophilus (optical density 2.000±0.001), L.fermentum (optical density of 0.218±0.010) and L.salivarius (Inhibition zone 26 ±0.30 mm) respectively. Hence, from the results obtained from Probiotic score it is concluded that L. salivarius which has the maximum score (93.4/300) was chosen as best species specific probiotic and can be used for feeding broiler chicks.
Keywords: Broilers, Identification, Isolation, Probiotic score, Species specific probiotic

Abstract
Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (also called extraosseous osteosarcoma or soft tissue osteosarcoma) is a rare primary malignant mesenchymal neoplasm arising in soft tissues with histologic features resembling primary osteosarcoma of bone but without any direct relation to bony structures. It is much rarer than either soft tissue sarcoma or skeletal osteosarcoma. It can produce osteoid, bone or chondroid material. The pathogenesis of this tumor is still uncertain and in humans they are considered both clinically and therapeutically distinct from primary osseous osteosarcoma. In previous studies canine extraskeletal osteosarcoma accounted for 6.09% of all cases of osteosarcoma and was seen only in mammary glands. Very few cases of primary intestinal osteosarcoma have been described in dogs and other species of animals. This report describes a case of primary intestinal osteosarcoma in Cocker Spaniel dog.
Keywords: Dog, Extraskeletal, Intestinal, Osteosarcoma

Abstract
The pharmacokinetic of cefepime (5 mg/kg) was studied following intramuscular administration of cefepime alone and co-administered with ketoprofen (3 mg/kg) in cow calves. The concentration of cefepime in serum was detected by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Following single dose intravenous administration of cefepime, elimination half life (3.90±0.08 h), area under curve (48.68±2.53 ?g.h/mL), body clearance (1.74±0.09 L/h/kg) and volume of distribution (0.52±0.03 L/kg) were determined. Following single dose intramuscular administration of cefepime alone, peak serum concentration (8.93±0.32 µg/mL) was obtained at 45 h. The absorption half life (t1/2K?), volume of distribution (Vdarea), total body clearance (ClB) and elimination half life (t1/2?) of cefepime were 0.17±0.01 h, 0.79±0.05 L/kg, 1.76±0.10 L/h/kg and 5.15±0.09 h, respectively. No significant changes were reported in pharmacokinetic parameters following co-administration of cefepime with ketoprofen. Integration of pharmacokinetic data generated from the present study and minimum inhibitory concentration suggest that the cefepime can be administered intramuscularly (5 mg/kg) with ketoprofen at 12 h interval to combat susceptible bacterial infections in cow calves.
Keywords: Cefepime, Cow Calves, Pharmacokinetic, Ketoprofen

Abstract
An attempt was made to study the renoprotective effect of Terminalia chebula in a model of gentamicin induced toxicity in rats. Gentamicin was administered intraperitoneally at the dose of 80 mg/kg body weight once daily for seven days. Significant elevation of serum biochemical parameters like blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) occurred. Histopathological examination of kidney revealed acute tubular necrosis, protein inclusion and cast in the proximal tubules. Co-treatment with aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula significantly restored the renal hemodynamics. On histopathological evaluation, groups treated with Terminalia chebula showed restoration of kidney architecture towards normal. Thus the results of the present study suggest that Terminalia Chebula plant extract can be used as a protective agent in gentamicin induced renal toxicity.
Keywords: Gentamicin induced, epatotoxicity, Protective effect, Terminalia Chebula

Abstract
Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (BLAD) is autosomal recessive genetic diseases that affects Holstein breed world wide. It is a disease characterized by reduced expression of the adhesion molecules on neutrophils. The disease caused by mutation which replaces adenine at 383 with guanine that change amino acid, aspartic acid to glycine, leading to wrong protein (CD18) that is impaired in function. Blood samples were collected from 126 Holstein phenotypically normal bulls maintained at different sperm stations in India. PCR-RFLP was performed to detect heterozygous (carrier). Results indicate that out of 120 bulls, 2 bulls (1.59%) appear to be carriers for BLAD. The gene and genotype frequency of recessive allele was estimated 0.008 and 0.016 in the 126 samples respectively. The condition is alarming and emphasizes regular screening of Holstein AI bulls and its crossbreds to avoid risk of spreading BLAD in breedable population of India.
Keywords: Artificial Insemination (AI), Autosomal recessive gene, BLAD, CD18 gene, PCR-RFLP

Abstract
The present study describes modification in method of subtotal surgical renal ablation in rat and the advantageous effects of change in method in terms of biochemical and haematological parameters when compared to other established methods of nephrotoxicity. Male rats underwent 5/6 surgical nephrectomy or sham operations in two steps. The animals were divided into 3 groups viz. Group-I (Sham Control; n=6), Group-II (the whole right kidney ablation on day 1 and 2/3 left kidney ablation was done on day 7; n=10) and Group-III (the whole right kidney ablation and 2/3 leftt kidney ablation was done on same day; n=10). The haematological parameters like Haematocrit (HCT), Hemoglobin (Hb) and reticulocytes (%) and biochemical parameters like serum creatinine and urea were measured before surgery and on day 14, 21 and 28 after surgery There were significant increase in serum creatinine and urea levels in day 14, 21 and 28 post surgery suggestive of nephrotoxicity whereassignificantly decreased values of heamatocrit, haemoglobin and significantlyincreased value of reticulocytes suggest anaemia due to renal damage. Changes observed in the present study is comparable to the surgeries performed on the same day. There were more significant results in both surgery performed on the same day (Group –III) when compared to whole right kidney ablation and 2/3 left kidney ablation (Group –II) and Sham control (Group-I). There was only 20% mortality observed in group-III compared to 40 % in groupII. This model will be useful for the researcher tostudy nephotoxicity and anaemia, within short time, with less mortality, less animal suffering as per animal ethical point consideration and better values of biochemical and haematological parameters in comparison to the established models of 5/6 renal ablation.
Keywords: 5/6 Nephrectomy, Anemia, Biochemical parameters, Heamatological parameters, Renal failure