Normal reference ranges of ocular physiology and sonographic biometry of Latvian Hunting dogs

Research (Published online: 28-04-2020)

29. Normal reference ranges of ocular physiology and sonographic biometry of Latvian Hunting dogs

Līga Kovaļčuka and Gundega Mūrniece

Veterinary World, 13(4): 807-811

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The Latvian Hunting dog is the only national dog breed in Latvia and so far, there are no data on the important ophthalmological data pertaining to clinical tests and ocular biometry. The aim of this study was to improve the ocular examination and to document normal reference ranges of the globe axial length (AXL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and Schirmer tear test (STT).

Materials and Methods: Sixteen Latvian Hunting dogs (32 eyes) of varying age and sex were included in this study. All dogs underwent an ophthalmic examination followed by tear production (STT) and IOP (TonoVet®) measurements. Biometric examination using A-mode ultrasonography was done under topical corneal anesthesia using 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride. The eyes were scanned using A-mode ultrasonography with a 10 MHz transducer by transcorneal approach. The reference values of IOP, STT, AXL, ACD, and LT are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD).

Results: Statistical analysis using the SPSS v.23 and Microsoft Excel 2013 showed no statistically significant differences between the right and left eyes for either of the tests. The mean±SD value of STT and IOP values was 20.9±3.2 mm/min and 17.7±3.2 mmHg, respectively. The mean±SD of the AXL, ACD, and LT obtained by A-mode ultrasound was 2.21±0.1 cm, 0.35±0.1 cm, and 0.42±0.06 cm, respectively.

Conclusion: This study documents the normal reference ranges of important ophthalmological clinical tests (IOP and STT) and ocular biometry (AXL, ACD, and LT) in Latvian Hunting dogs.

Keywords: anterior chamber depth, axial length, intraocular pressure, Latvian Hunting dogs, lens thickness, Schirmer tear test.

Assessment of the nutritive value of corn stover and king grass in complete feed on Ongole steer calves productivity

Research (Published online: 28-04-2020)

28. Assessment of the nutritive value of corn stover and king grass in complete feed on Ongole steer calves productivity

Ronny Agustinus Victor Tuturoong, Sjenny Sutryaty Malalantang and Sony Arthur Ely Moningkey

Veterinary World, 13(4): 801-806

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study aimed to assess the nutritional values of corn stover and king grass (Pennisetum purpupoides) in complete feed on the productivity of male Ongole steer calves.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in two steps: Cattle adaptation and data collection. Cattle adaptation was carried out for 2 weeks, and the cattle were fed the experimental feed. The experimental feed was formulated into five combinations: R1 (50% king grass); R2 (12.5% corn stover +7.5% king grass 50% concentrate); R3 (25% corn stover+25% king grass); R4 (37.5% corn stover+12.5% king grass); and R5 (50% corn stover). All experimental feeds were added with 50% concentrate. Data were collected in five intervals, and each interval was of 4 weeks. In every interval, weight gain and digestibility were measured every day, beginning from the 4th week by collecting feces. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) digestibility, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), body weight gain, and feed conversion data were analyzed.

Results: R4 and R5 treatment significantly increased (p<0.05) the feed nutritional value and weight gain of male Ongole steer calves. Interestingly, treatment with R4 had the maximum increase (p<0.05) on the digestibility value of each variable: DM, 68.85%; OM, 71.89%; CP, 73.90%; NDF, 59.10%; ADF, 55.35%; and weight gain, 0.61/gr/day.

Conclusion: R4 treatment found to be the best nutritional value for improving the productivity of male Ongole steer calves.

Keywords: complete feed, corn stover, king grass, Ongole breed.

Effect of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) peel extract as an antibiotic growth promoter on growth performance and antibiotic resistance in broilers

Research (Published online: 27-04-2020)

27. Effect of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) peel extract as an antibiotic growth promoter on growth performance and antibiotic resistance in broilers

Okti Herawati, Tri Untari, Marla Anggita and Sidna Artanto

Veterinary World, 13(4): 796-800

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Antibiotic resistance poses a risk to human health and has therefore been the focus of research. One of the causes of this resistance is the use of antibiotics as feed additives for animal nutrition. The development of antibiotic resistance in poultry through nutrition feed has drawn attention to the need for alternative antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.), as a natural source of bioactive phytochemicals, is a potential AGP, but the effect of mangosteen-based treatment on antibiotic resistance in poultry has not been reported to date. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of mangosteen peel extract as an AGP on body weight gain, feed conversion rate (FCR), and the antibiotic resistance in broilers.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 1-day-old broiler chicks were divided into three groups. Group A (control) was not administered any treatment in the feed, Group B was treated with 0.3 g/kg colistin as the AGP in the feed, and Group C was treated with 2% mangosteen peel extract as the AGP in the feed; the treatments were administered for 30 days. The observed parameters included the effect of the treatments on body weight gain, feed intake, FCR, and the presentation of antibiotic resistance before and after the treatments (pre-treatment and post-treatment, respectively).

Results: Post-treatment, the body weight gain, and feed intake in the broilers were not significantly different among all the groups; however, the body weight gain and FCR were significantly different between the control group and the treatment groups in the 3rd week of treatment and were not significantly different between Groups B and C. The rate of antibiotic resistance to chloramphenicol increased significantly by 40% in Group B post-treatment, but no such increase was observed in Groups A and C.

Conclusion: The findings of our study indicate that compared with using colistin as an AGP using mangosteen peel extract as a natural AGP did not have any significantly different effect on body weight gain, feed intake, and FCR (p>0.05) but had a significantly different effect on the rate of antibiotic resistance in broilers (p<0.05). This study indicates the usefulness of mangosteen for improving the overall growth and production performance of broilers without increasing their antibiotic resistance.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance, antibiotics, broiler, growth promoters, mangosteen.

Effects of using essential oil of Lavandula stoechas in quail feed on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and health status

Research (Published online: 26-04-2020)

26. Effects of using essential oil of Lavandula stoechas in quail feed on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and health status

Ouafa Laghouati, Fodil Arbouche and Yasmine Arbouche

Veterinary World, 13(4): 789-795

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of essential oil of Lavandula stoechas (Lavender) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and health status of quails.

Materials and Methods: A group of 600 1-day-old Japanese quail chicks (Coturnix japonica), with an average weight of 6.8±0.2 g and a 1:1 sex ratio, were randomly assigned to four groups (150 chicks/group): three experimental groups which depend on the incorporation of lavender oil (LO) in the different phases of breeding and one control group. The experimental groups received a supplement of 1 g LO per kg of feed distributed sequentially throughout the entire 42-day breeding period.

Results: No deaths were recorded throughout the breeding period. Highly significant differences were observed among the groups with regard to body weight measured on day 20 and day 42 (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). The addition of LO was accompanied by reductions in liver weights; furthermore, LO had a significant effect on the pH, water content, and fat content of the meat (p<0.05). Administration of LO had a measurable effect on the endogenous intestinal population of Lactobacillus, and the bacterial load (including those of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) was significantly reduced.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that supplementing quail feed with LO has a profound effect on their growth as well as antimicrobial effects.

Keywords: fat content, Japanese quail, lavender oil, microbial load, water content, zootechnical performance.

Lice infestation and diversity in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia

Research (Published online: 25-04-2020)

25. Lice infestation and diversity in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia

Joko Prastowo, Dwi Priyowidodo, Wisnu Nurcahyo, Defriana Lutfi Chusnaifah, Lu'lu' Sahara Wusahaningtyas, Lintang Winantya Firdausy and Ana Sahara

Veterinary World, 13(4): 782-788

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Biting lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera and Ischnocera) are ectoparasites that play important roles in the transmission of disease agents that infect turkeys and impact turkey productivity. This study aimed to determine the diversity of lice that infest turkeys in the Central Java Province and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: Lice sampling was conducted at 16 different locations from April 2019 to June 2019 in turkeys aged 4 months to 2 years. The samples were stored in 70% alcohol and were identified using avian louse keys. The morphology of the specimens was macroscopically and microscopically evaluated, and the resulting data were descriptively and qualitatively analyzed.

Results: A total of 2505 lice were collected, and two families and five genera of lice were identified. Three lice genus members of the Philopteridae family (Lipeurus, Oxylipeurus, and Chelopistes) and two genera of the Menoponidae family (Colpocephalum and Menacanthus) were identified. Lipeurus was the most frequently identified genera in turkeys, whereas Menacanthus was the most rarely identified one. The White Holland breed had the highest number of lice infestations, whereas the Jersey Buff breed exhibited the highest diversity of lice genera. The average number of lice infestations was higher in male turkeys than in female turkeys.

Conclusion: The occurrence of ectoparasites in domestic turkeys indicates that the existence and diversity of lice genera in the study location can be influenced by turkey type, turkey maintenance system, enclosure sanitation measures, lack of strategic ectoparasite control, and environmental factors.

Keywords: central java, lice, Phthiraptera, turkey, Yogyakarta.

Clinical and structural changes in reproductive organs and endocrine glands of sterile cows

Research (Published online: 24-04-2020)

24. Clinical and structural changes in reproductive organs and endocrine glands of sterile cows

Evgeny Skovorodin, Ravil Mustafin, Svetlana Bogoliuk, George Bazekin and Valian Gimranov

Veterinary World, 13(4): 774-781

ABSTRACT

Aim: The study aimed to determine both macroscopic and microscopic changes in the reproductive organs of sterile cows.

Materials and Methods: Careful clinical and gynecological examinations (using histological and histochemical methods) of organs of culled sterile cows, such as ovaries, oviducts, the uterus, pars anterior adenohypophysis, thyroid body, and adrenals, were performed.

Results: It was found that 20% of the examined cows in the farms of the Republic of Bashkortostan had pathology of reproductive organs. Ovarian dysfunction was diagnosed in 31% of sterile cows. Histological and histochemical studies revealed that high atresia of all types of ovarian follicles is associated with hypofunction of the ovaries. This was related to stromal vascular dystrophy and was accompanied by atrophy of thecal endocrine elements, resulting in decrease of endocrine and generative function of ovaries.

Conclusion: Essential elements of the ovarian dysfunction pathogenesis are disorders of the functional system "ovary-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid gland" and the abnormality of utero-ovarian relationships, which differ significantly during hypofunction, in case of follicular cysts, and in case of persistent corpora lutea. This difference in abnormalities of utero-ovarian relationships should be considered when developing diagnostic and treatment methods and determining preventive measures.

Keywords: cows, endocrine glands, morphology, ovaries, reproductive organs, sterility.

Growth performance and hematological changes in growing pigs treated with Cordyceps militaris spent mushroom substrate

Research (Published online: 23-04-2020)

23. Growth performance and hematological changes in growing pigs treated with Cordyceps militaris spent mushroom substrate

Waewaree Boontiam, Chalong Wachirapakorn and Suchat Wattanachai

Veterinary World, 13(4): 768-773

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of dietary Cordyceps militaris spent mushroom substrate (CMS) on growth performance, immunity, metabolic profiles, and antioxidant capacity in growing pigs.

Materials and Methods: Seventy-two crossbred growing pigs (Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire) with an average initial body weight (BW) of 25.78±0.33 kg were allotted into two dietary treatments in six pens (six growing pigs each). Dietary treatments were (i) control and (ii) supplemented group with 2 g/kg CMS.

Results: Growing pigs fed with 2 g/kg CMS showed improvements in final BW (p=0.034) and average daily weight gain (p=0.039). Moreover, there were positive changes in immunoglobulin A (p=0.013), immunoglobulin G (p=0.019), total antioxidant capacity (p=0.001), and glutathione peroxidase activity (p=0.003), whereas decreased leukocyte percentage (p=0.002), cholesterol (p=0.023), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (p=0.002) were noted in the CMS supplemented treatment. Average daily feed intake, gain-to-feed ratio, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein were unaffected by the treatments.

Conclusion: Supplementation of CMS at 2 g/kg of diet increases growth performance, immunoglobulin secretion, and antioxidant capacity, whereas it lowers leukocyte percentage, cholesterol, and MDA concentrations in growing pigs.

Keywords: antioxidant capacity, blood metabolites, Cordyceps militaris spent substrate, growing pigs, growth performance, immunoglobulins.