Issue 2

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the important enteric diseases in poultry caused by Clostridium perfringens which leads to considerable economic losses for poultry raisers. The present research was carried out to estimate prevalence, risk factors and to confirm molecular pattern, antimicrobial susceptibility status of Clostridium perfringens in layer flocks in Mymensingh and Gazipur districts of Bangladesh, where a total of 287 samples were collected that comprised of water (30), workers’ hand washing (30), and feed (30) as environmental pooled samples; cloacal swab (150) and post mortem sample (intestine) (47) as individual samples, and evaluated by basic (culture, biochemical test), and finally toxinotyping multiplex PCR assays. The flock-level data on potential risk factors were collected through semi-structured interviews with the farm owners and evaluated via univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses where a p-value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Overall flock-level prevalence of Clostridium perfringens was confirmed to be 6.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8-9.7%). The occurrence of C. perfringens was found to be higher in the intestine samples (12.8%, 95% CI: 4.8- 25.7%) followed by feed (6.7%, 95% CI: 0.8-22.1%), cloacal swabs (6.0%, 95% CI: 2.8-11.1%) and workers’ hand washing (3.3%, 95% CI: 0.1- 12.2%). History of immune-suppressive disease (like New castle disease/egg drop syndrome/infectious bursal disease) [Odds Ratio (OR) = 22.16, 95% CI: 1.40-349.36, P = 0.027] and flock size more than 3000 birds (OR = 11.16, 95% CI: 1.26-98.25, P = 0.029) were found to be associated with C. perfringens infection status in the layer flocks. In this study, C. perfringens toxinotype A is circulating in layer flocks with 72.2% of isolates were established as multidrug-resistant as they demonstrated resistance between 3 to 6 antimicrobial agents. Evidence-based control measures  to be taken namely use of probiotics, prebiotic, organic acids, and plant extracts as natural alternatives including control of immune-suppressive diseases are needed to minimize the NE infection and antimicrobial resistance in low biosecurity layer flocks.

The study was conducted to examine the gastro-intestinal parasite infestation of animal at Gopalganj district in Bangladesh during July 2020 to June 2021. Total collected sample were 151, among them 32 cattle and goat 119. Parasites were collected directly from viscera then preserve for further analysis. Age, sex and species of the examined animals were recorded as far as practicable. Overall prevalence of nematodes, cestodes and trematodes were 62.25%, 9.27% and 50.33% respectively. The prevalence of parasites was variable with Paramphistomum spp. (58.29%), Fasciola spp 62.91%, Moniezia spp. (5.3%), Haemonchus spp. (41.06%), Trichuris spp. (3.31%), Oesophagostomum spp. (10.59%), Strongyloides spp. (2.64%), Trichostrongylus spp. (5.29%), Bunostomum spp. (5.96%), Toxocara spp. (25.17%). Parasitic in male and female exhibited no significant variations (p>0.05) between them. The infection was significantly higher in young than in adult. No significant (p>0.05) variation was observed in infection rates between cattle and goats.

In response to unwise and inappropriate antimicrobial drug (AMD) use, antimicrobial drug resistance (AMDR) is rising globally. The present research was performed to find out and evaluate the perceptions, practices, and knowledge (PPK) of the farmers regarding AMD use and AMDR propagation in rural households. The study was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire upon 200 respondents with a duration of 5 months in selected areas of Cumilla district, Bangladesh. The correlation analysis showed a significant (p<.01) relationship between farmers’ knowledge and practicing proper administration of drugs in the animal. The sex of the respondents was also found to be correlated with the understanding of Antibiotic Resistance (AR) (p<.01), AR transmission (p<.05), and propagation from livestock to humans (p<.01). Additionally, through the qualitative analysis, we found the powerful impacts of media availability and accessibility, participation in the training program, and good quality education on the improvement of farmers' PPK. Therefore, the government must need to emphasize this topic and educate the farmers about AR to control the spread of AR in order to secure both animal and public health.

Buffalo semen collected from Murrah bull were cryopreserved and evaluated for different motility parameter, kinematics and plasma membrane integrity. Buffalo bulls were maintained uniform standard management and nutritional practices. Semen was collected regularly twice a week semen collection schedule from four (04) Murrah bull. Collected semen was immediately transported to laboratory and evaluated for different macroscopic parameter (color, volume and thickness). Fresh semen was then diluted with saline solution and evaluated for sperm concentration, motility, sperm kinematics and morphology. Semen samples that fill all the standard were selected for freezing and diluted with Tris-egg yolk citrate diluter. Diluted semen was equilibrated, cryopreserved and finally evaluated for post thaw sperm quality. Different motility parameter (total, progressive, static and slow motility) varied significantly (p<0.01) irrespective of different freezing stages. Significantly higher progressive sperm motility and viability of buffalo spermatozoa were observed at fresh semen whereas lower progressive sperm motility and viability was found at post thaw stage. Total and progressive motility reduced by 2.5 and 2.12% following equilibration, whereas following cryopreservation, total and progressive motility reduced by 35.7 and 28.51% and static motility increases accordingly (35.4%). Significantly higher plasma membrane integrity of sperm was observed at fresh semen followed by pre freeze and post thaw semen. Following freezing, integrity of plasma membrane reduces at the rate of 10.81% and 26.7% at pre freezing and post thaw stages. Significantly higher average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straightness (STR), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat cross frequency (BCF) were found for fresh semen followed by pre-freeze and post-thaw semen. Frozen buffalo semen with higher progressive motility and motion characteristics may be produced if motility losses can be reduced during freezing stage as this stage results higher motility losses.