Issue 1

The skin, sometimes known as the integumentary System is, in fact, the largest organ of the body. It performs many functions that are important in maintaining homeostasis in the body. Probably the most important of these functions is the control of body temperature. The skin also protects the body from physical damage and bacterial invasion. The skin has an array of sense organs which sense the external environment and also cells which can make vitamin D in sunlight. A study was undertaken of the prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of dermatological disorders in hospitalized dogs at Madras Veterinary College (MVC), Chennai, India from 1^st May to 30^th May, 2017. Total 220 cases were observed and recorded that had a dermatological problem. Among the dog pruritus (86%), alopecia (63%), scaling (77%), maculo-papular-pustular lesion (91%) were the most common presenting sign. A diagnosis or recommendation for treatment was done on the basis of the presenting clinical signs, physical examination and various diagnostic tests. In this study most of the cases were diagnosed by multiple and deep skin scrapings (100 cases) and by dermato-histopathology (70 cases). The most frequently diagnosed cases were Malassezia dermatitis, Demodicosis, Scabies and Tick infestation. Tick infestation accounted for the majority of the diagnoses. Systemic antibiotics were prescribed in 9% cases, systemic antifungal drugs were prescribed in 7% cases, systemic glucocorticoids were prescribed in 10% cases, antihistaminic in 6% cases and treatment with an ectoparasiticide was prescribed in 73% cases.

This study was conducted to find out the comparative growth performance of six color mutants Japanese quail in Bangladesh. Under this experiment the mortality had shown no significant differences among different isolated plumage color mutants (p>0.05). At day- old it is clear that day- old weight was superior in BB- Black than other mutants (p<0.05). At 1^st week the body weight was higher in BB- Black, intermediate in BB-Dhakaya and BB- Tuxedo and the lowest in BB- White, BB- Fawn and BB- Rosseta (p<0.05). At 2^nd and 5^th weeks of age no significant differences in body weight was found among 6 different isolated plumage color mutants (p>0.05). At 3^rd week the body weight is higher in BB- Rosseta, intermediate in BB- White, BB- Fawn, BB- Dhakaya and BB- Black and the lowest in BB- Tuxedo (p<0.05). At 4^th week the body weight was higher in BB- Black and BB- Fawn, intermediate in BB- Rosseta, BB- White and BB- Dhakaya  and the lowest in BB- Tuxedo (p<0.05). The body weight at marketing age (6 weeks) was higher in BB- Black than other mutants whereas other mutants had shown lower values except BB- Fawn (p<0.05). So BB-Black mutants quail is the best one for farming of quail in perspective of growth in Bangladesh.

The research was conducted of a indigenous goat rearing community named “Deshi Chaagol Palon Mohila Somoby Somity Ltd” at three villages namely Pachpai, Borochala and Gangatia under Bhaluka Upazilla, Mymensingh district. Fifty (50) farmers were selected randomly in the study area to conduct baseline survey with help of well organized questionnaire which developed through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Among livestock, 31 % goat, 29% chicken and 28% cattle were reared in the project areas. 49% goats were solid Black and 36% were Black Boiragi. The profession of the farmer was agriculture (80%). The education level of the farmers was 32% illiterate and 36% were also completed primary education (1-5 class). The average family size, annual income and land size were 4.28±0.15, 83910.00±4330.61 Tk. and 45.78±6.12 decimal, respectively. Farmer’s goat rearing experience was 11.70±1.05 years. Maximum farmers (76%) were reared their goats by semi-intensive systems. Development of data based on socio-economic status of farmers during this study might help in decision making on evaluation of performance of goat at farmer’s community.

The present study was performed to investigate the prevalence of multidrug resistant (MDR) food-borne pathogens in raw chicken meat in Dhaka city, Bangladesh: an increasing food safety concern. A total of 100 meat samples (05 from each market) were collected from randomly selected 20 retail markets of Dhaka city using sterile polythene bags in a view to prevent extraneous contamination. The collected meat samples were then processed and inoculated onto nutrient broth and nutrient agar plates for isolation. The isolated organisms were identified based on staining, motility, cultural and biochemical properties according to standard laboratory methods. The isolated bacteria were also subjected to characterize their antibiotic sensitivity. In the present study, it was revealed that 100% of samples were contaminated by at least one species of bacteria belonging to 5 genera such as Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Enterobacter and Bacillus. Out of total 100 meat samples, 56% were contaminated with Escherichia coli whereas 42% were contaminated with Coagulase positive Staphylococcus and 36% were Salmonella species followed by 20%, 14% and 10% were contaminated with Enterobacter species, Coagulase negative Staphylococcus and Bacillus species respectively. A total of 174 bacteria were isolated and identified from raw chicken meat samples inspected of which 29.89% were Escherichia coli, 24.14% were Coagulase positive Staphylococcus, 20.69% were Salmonella species, 11.49% were Enterobacter species, 8.05% were Coagulase negative Staphylococcus and 5.75% were Bacillus species. The antimicrobial sensitivity tests showed that 96.15% of Escherichia coli (50 out of 52), 95.24% of Coagulase positive Staphylococcus (40 out of 42) and 86.11% of Salmonella (31 out of 36) isolates displayed multidrug resistance phenotypes (resistant to more than two antimicrobial agents). All most all the isolates of E. coli, coagulase positive Staphylococcus and Salmonella were more resistant to tetracycline, amoxicillin, ampicillin and streptomycin whereas less resistant to Ceftriaxone and Cefotaxime. The resistance patterns against azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, nalidixic acid and kanamycin were fluctuated from 25% to 71.43% among the isolates. This increasing development of multidrug resistance is alarming for the poultry industry and an increasing food safety concern for human.

 The objective of the study was to characterize of Boer goats and the Jamunapari goat available in Bangladesh under on-station condition. The study was conducted at Goat and Sheep Research farm of BLRI, Savar, Dhaka from January 2014 to June 2015 and animals were reared under standard intensive management system. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS 17.0 Statistical computer programme. The body coat color of Boer goat was white with reddish-brown head, ears and neck and the body coat color of Jamunapari goats was variety of colors. Both of them had horns but polled Jamunapari goats were also found. The body weight significantly (p<0.001) differed between Boer goat (52.36±5.97 kg) and Jamunapari goat (39.26±3.00 kg). Horn length of Boer goat (19.01±1.29 cm) was significantly (p<0.001) higher than Jamunapari goat (7.98±0.71 cm). Head width and teat length of Jamunapari goat (33.82±0.85 cm and 9.15±0.89 cm) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than Boer goat (30.23±0.63 cm and 5.80±0.87 cm). Rump width significantly (p<0.05) differed between Boer goat (17.87±0.61 cm) and Jamunapari goat (15.19±0.59 cm). The body length, height at wither, chest girth and ear length of Boer goat were 69.96±2.09 cm, 67.98±1.19 cm, 78.39±2.04 cm and 19.43±0.90 cm, respectively where as body length, height at wither, chest girth and ear length of Jamunpari goat were 72.13±1.63 cm, 69.69±1.29 cm, 79.18±2.04 cm and 21.23±0.66 cm, respectively. Phenotype wise Boer goats have distinct meat characteristics than the Jamunapari goats.

The study was conducted at the experimental field of the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) to demonstrate the evidence of the suitability of dairy farm’s wastewater on soil properties in a maize field under three fertilizer doses and three irrigation treatments. Irrigation had three treatments - I₁: Irrigation with fresh water, I₂: Irrigation with mixed water (fresh water: dairy farm’s wastewater = 1:1) and I₃: Irrigation with raw wastewater. There were three fertilizer treatments - F₀: No fertilizer, F₁: Half of recommended dose fertilizer and F₂: Full dose fertilizer. Wastewater contained different nutrients and organic matter, which optimistically contributed to the soil in the maize field. Both irrigation and fertilizer treatments employed different degrees of influence on the soil health. For the effect of irrigation treatments, the highest values of EC (0.223 dS/m), pH (8.18), OC (0.3733 %), total N (0.046 %), P (7.65 ppm), K (33 .08 ppm), Ca (297.80 ppm) and Mg (109.9 ppm) were recorded under the treatment of I₃, I₁, I₁, I₁, I₃, I₁, I₂ and I₃, respectively, and the lowest values of the soil quality parameters were counted under the treatment of I₁, I₃, I₃, I₃, I₂, I₂, I_1, and I₂, respectively. In case of fertilizer treatments, the maximum values of the soil quality parameters were obtained under the treatment of F₂, F₂, F₀, F₁, F₂, F₁, F_1, and F₁, respectively, and the lowest values were obtained under the treatment of F₀, F₀, F₁, F₀, F₀, F₀, F₀, F₂, respectively. For the irrigation and fertilizer interactions, the maximum values of EC (0.250 dS/m), pH (8.20), OC (0.38 %), total N (0.059 %), P (8.37 ppm), K (48.0 ppm), Ca (374.9 ppm) and Mg (112.60 ppm) were recorded under the treatment combinations I₃F₀, I₁F₂, I₃F₂, I₁F₂, I₃F₂, I₃F₁, I₂F₀ and I₃F₂, respectively, and thye lowest values were recorded under the treatment combinations of I₂F₀, I₁F₀, I₁F₀, I₁F₀, I₂F₀, I₂F₀, I₂F₂ and I₂F₂, respectively.  Both the irrigation and fertilizer treatments and their combinations did not cause any significant variation in the quality parameters of the soil, except soil pH and phosphorus (P) content of the soil in the maize field.

 The objective of this study was to determine the effect of urea-molasses and di-calcium phosphate additives on silage quality and milk yield of cows. Hence, three types of silages were prepared from Napier fodder namely-Napier silage, urea and molasses added Napier silage (UMN); and di-calcium phosphate added Napier (DCPN) silage. These types of silage fed to the selected nine lactating Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows and divided into three groups considering three of each. Along with 5 kg of respective silages, ad-libitum rice straw and 3 kg concentrate mixture supplied to each group of cows. Physical attributes of all prepared silages were possessing characteristics of good quality silage. Dry matter content in UMN and DCPN silages were 1.67 and 1.01% higher than Napier silage. UMN silage had 1.59 and 2.33% lower ADF from Napier and DCPN silage, respectively. Again, 1.29% higher NH3-N presents in UMN silage than Napier silage. From 1st to 4th fortnight milk yield data it was found that 23.70, 23.19 and 27.06% milk production increased those cows received Napier, UMN and DCPN silage, respectively. Considering above these, it might be concluded that addition of di-calcium phosphate as additive during silage making would be beneficial for the dairy farmers.

This study was undertaken to determine total viable count (TVC), total salmonella count (TSC) and total vibrio count (TVibC) in fresh fishes collected from markets of Mymensingh, Gazipur and Sherpur districts. Isolation and identification of Salmonella spp. and Vibrio spp. was also done from pangas (n=20), tilapia (n=20) and koi (n=20) collected from different markets of Mymensingh, Gazipur and Sherpur districts. Samples were cultured on plate count agar to determine TVC, xylose-lysine deoxycholate agar (XLD) to determine TSC and thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose agar (TCBS) to determine TVibC. The mean value of logarithm colony forming units (CFU±SD/g) of TVC, TSC and TVibC in pangas were log 9.09±0.616, log 5.32±0.391 & log 3.14±0.557CFU/g; log 8.46±0.441, log 5.26±0.589 & log 3.59±0.823 CFU/g and log 7.58±0.466, log 3.28±0.493 & log 2.88±0.386 CFU/g of Mymensingh, Gazipur and Sherpur, respectively. Similarly, the mean values of TVC, TSC and TVibC in tilapia were log 6.60±0.790, log 3.59±0.388 & log 3.75±0.176 CFU/g; log 6.55±0.553, log 3.26±0.502 & log 3.67±0.021 CFU/g and log 6.74±0.372, log 3.44±0.411 & log 3.05±0.609 CFU/g of Mymensingh, Gazipur and Sherpur, respectively and in koi were log 7.51±0.537, log 3.49±0.459 & log 3.35±0.390 CFU/g; log 7.66±0.752, log 3.25±0.465 & log 3.59±0.581 CFU/g and log 7.13±0.393, log 3.27±0.384 & log 3.43±0.297 CFU/g of Mymensingh, Gazipur and Sherpur respectively. The targeted Vibrio spp. and Salmonella spp. were isolated and identified from collected fishes. All the isolates of Salmonella were confirmed by targeting genus specific histidine transport operon gene. Antimicrobial sensitivity test was done for all the isolates of Salmonella and Vibrio species by disc diffusion method. Out of forty five isolates of Salmonella, seven were found multidrug resistant. The bacteria isolated from fish were of public health significance as well as responsible for spoilage of fish.

 The present study was designed to determine the protection afforded by different vaccination programs against the Newcastle disease virus. A serological survey on the prevalence of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was carried out in broilers chicken in Dinajpur districts. For this reason, a total of 75 serum samples were collected form broiler chickens and samples were divided into five groups, each group contain 15 chickens. Group E did not receive any vaccine and served as a negative control group. Groups A-D were vaccinated with different vaccination programs against NDV. From this experimental work the principal objectives of the present investigation it may be stated that production of Hl-antibody was higher in birds of group D vaccinated with CevacVitapest-LR compared to those of group A vaccinated with Medivac NDLaSotaR, group B vaccinated with BCRDV(R) and group C vaccinated with Izovac. B, HitchnerR. Thus, the CevacVitapest-LR was found to be superior to some extent than Medivac ND-LaSota, BCRDVR, Izovac B, Hitchnert. However, as regards vaccination of chicks against NDV in earlier days the use of lentogenic strains are recommended although it should be kept in mind that vaccination with LaSota strains would cause considerately greater problems in young susceptable birds than Hitchner B1 strain and even through LaSota induces a stronger immune response.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of growth promoter (Aviator™) and enzymes (Acinor™) with basal feed. A total of 40 Cobb-500 Broiler day old chicks were reared in an open sided gable type house for a period of 5 weeks from 24^th september to 28^th october, 2017. Body weight and feed intake were recorded on day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35. The experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Birds were randomly distributed into four dietary groups i.e control (T₀) with basal diet, T₁ with basal diet and growth promoter (GP) @ 2 gm/kg of feed; T₂ with basal diet and enzymes (EZ) @ 0.4 gm/kg of feed and T₃ with basal diet and GP plus EZ (2 gm/kg + 0.4 gm/kg). The records were kept on body weight, feed intake and mortality while weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and survivability were calculated. Broiler chicks that received GP and a combination of GP+EZ treatments showed significant improvement in performance (p<0.05) over control with respect to body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield. Cost-effectiveness of GP+EZ treatment higher than all other treatments but GP and EZ had almost similar cost-effectiveness. Feeding EZ alone had comparatively less weight gain and almost similar feed conversion ratio compared with GP groups but it’s performance was significantly better than that of control group. This study indicated that the diet containing GP+EZ offered slightly increased benefits to the growth performance of  broilers and these benefits were almost equal to the GP. It is revealed that growth promoter (Aviator™) supplementation with enzymes (Acinor™) is beneficial for broiler production.

The current study was designed to improve milk production and milk fat percentage by supplemented with black cumin and domperidone for thirteen weeks during lactation in indigenous cows. The experiment was performed in Kaligonjupazila of Lalmonirhat under the department of Physiology and Pharmacology, HSTU, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. At 7 days of lactation 16 deshi cows were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=4 lactating cows in each group). Group T₁ was kept as control, Group T₂ was treated with domperidone (Motigut^®) orally at a dose of 100 mg /day per cow, Group T₃ was treated with Black Cumin Seed Powder (BCSP) at a dose of 80 g orally per cow per day and Group T₄ was treated with combination of domperidone with Black Cumin Seed Powder (BCSP) as above mentioned doses. All the animals were dewormed and vaccinated at initial stage. Over the course of the trial, observations were recorded for milk production and fat percentage in milk. Milk production were increased significantly (P<0.05) in all treated groups compared to the control group and highest was recorded in combined domperidone with Black Cumin Seed Powder (BCSP) group (Group T₄). Production level increased significantly (p<0.05) in all treated groups and highest was recorded in cows of group T₄. The present study reveals that additional supplementation with domperidone plus Black Cumin Seed Powder (BCSP) in feed of lactating cows should better performance over other groups in respect to increase milk production and fat percentage in milk without any health hazard in indigenous cows. This technology may be transferred to farmers since drug (Domperidone) and supplement (BCSP) is available and require minimum stillness.

This study was carried out in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University to evaluate the effect of ipil ipil and calcium supplementation on egg production and live body weight of Japanese quail. Forty two days old “Japanese Quail” were divided into four groups (n=10 birds in each group). Group T₀ was considered as control, fed only with commercial layer ration. Group T₁ was additionally supplemented with 2 g grinded ipil ipil leaves, Group T₂ with 2 g Dietary Ca sources and Group T₃ with 2 g grinded ipil ipil leaves with 2 g dietary Ca sources per kg feed. Observations were recorded for growth performance, egg production and egg quality of Japanese quail. Body weight (g) was increased significantly (p<0.05) in all treated groups in compared to control and best gain was recorded in combined action of ipil ipil and dietary Ca sources supplemented groups (155.6±2.59). In all treatment groups there were significantly increased in egg production, compare to control group. Best result was found in combination of ipil ipil and dietary calcium supplementation. The present study reveals that combine supplementation of ipil ipil and dietary Ca sources gives better effects over other groups in respect to growth performance, egg production and egg quality without any health hazard of Japanese quail.

The present study was carried out for the isolation and molecular detection of duck plague virus (DPV) for the development of inactivated vaccine seed from the local outbreaks. A total of 12 suspected dead duck samples were collected from commercial farms and local market at Sunamganj, Netrokona and Mymensingh districts. Then, the samples were processed and prepared inocula were inoculated into 9-12 days old duck embryonated eggs. In duck embryonated eggs, several passages (3-4) were performed before infection into DEF cell culture. Presence of viral DNA was confirmed by PCR using the primer for DNA polymerase gene. After PCR confirmation, virus cultured in DEF cell was used for the preparation of formalin (0.12%) inactivated and oil based adjuvanted vaccine and was experimentally injected to 18 ducklings and 5 were kept as control. TCID₅₀ of the selected virus for vaccine preparation was 10^8.70/ml. The mean passive haemagglutination assay (PHA) titre of sera of samples at 0 days, 7 days and 14 days post vaccination were 4.0±0, 14.22±1.78 and 44.44±4.4, respectively, which indicated significant (p<0.01) increase of antibody titre. Embryonated duck eggs and DEF cell culture are effective for virus isolation and on the basis of PHA test, it could also be suggested that the experimentally developed DP vaccine can be used successfully for the prevention of DP in Bangladesh.