Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Comparative Evaluation of Productive and Reproductive Performances of Indigenous and Crossbred Buffaloes at Bagerhat Buffalo Breeding and Development Farm

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study compared the growth, productive, and reproductive performance of Indigenous, Murrah x Indigenous, and Nili-Ravi x Indigenous buffaloes maintained at the Buffalo Breeding and Development Farm, Bagerhat, Bangladesh. A total of 300 farm records were evaluated for three genetic groups, with unequal numbers of animals among groups. Growth traits included birth weight, weight at six months, and adult body weight for both sexes; productive traits included daily milk yield, lactation milk yield, and lactation length; and reproductive traits included age at sexual maturity, age at first calving, calving interval, and services per conception. The available data were analysed using the t-test. Male adult body weight was highest in Murrah x Indigenous buffaloes (560.52±1.06 kg), followed by Nili-Ravi x Indigenous (503.86±1.11 kg) and Indigenous buffaloes (455.16±1.13 kg). The corresponding female adult body weights were 451.8±1.04, 409.22±1.08, and 355.92±0.95 kg, respectively. Daily milk yield was highest in Murrah x Indigenous buffaloes (2.66±0.06 litres). Lactation milk yield was 888.44±21.83 litres in Murrah x Indigenous, 878.2±17.25 litres in Nili-Ravi x Indigenous, and 784.44±28.33 litres in Indigenous buffaloes. Lactation length was greatest in Nili-Ravi x Indigenous buffaloes (351.06±7.31 days). Age at first calving and services per conception did not differ significantly among genetic groups. Overall, the crossbred groups showed higher growth and productive performance than Indigenous buffaloes, whereas reproductive performance was broadly comparable under the farm conditions studied.

Prevalence of Multidrug Resistant Phenotype in Escherichia coli Isolated from Swine Reared for Human Consumption in Abakaliki, South Eastern Nigeria

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Escherichia coli is a commensal bacterium of the gastrointestinal tract of swine, but it can serve as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance genes that pose significant public health risks through the food chain. This study assessed the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance profiles and multidrug resistance phenotypes of E. coli isolated from the nasal cavities of pigs reared for human consumption in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 200 nasal swab samples were collected from two intensive pig farms (OLUPA Pig Farm and ADCT Pig Farm) in Abakaliki, representing piglets, young/immature pigs and hogs/older pigs. Standard microbiological methods were used for isolation and identification. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and the multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) was calculated.

Results: E. coli was isolated from 36 (18.0%) of the 200 samples, with isolation rates of 16 (8.0%) at OLUPA Pig Farm and 20 (10.0%) at ADCT Pig Farm, and there was no significant difference between farms (p = 0.414). Grower/finisher pigs had the highest isolation rate (52.8%), which was statistically significant compared with other age groups (p = 0.035). All isolates exhibited 100% resistance to colistin, cefoxitin, imipenem, ceftazidime, aztreonam, and cefotaxime. Tetracycline resistance showed significant farm-level variation (p < 0.001): it was observed in all isolates at OLUPA Farm (100%) but in only 50% of isolates at ADCT Farm. High susceptibility (100%) was observed for ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and ofloxacin. MARI values ranged from 0.3 to 0.6, with an overall mean of approximately 0.45 and no significant difference between farms (p = 0.188). However, within OLUPA Farm, adult/breeding pigs exhibited significantly higher MAR indices than piglets (p = 0.020).

Conclusion: The nasal cavities of pigs harboured multidrug-resistant E. coli showing resistance to critically important antibiotics, including colistin and carbapenems. However, colistin resistance was assessed using disc diffusion, which is not the recommended method; confirmation by broth microdilution is required. These findings support the need for improved antimicrobial stewardship, routine surveillance and strict regulations on antibiotic use in pig production to reduce the public health risk posed by antibiotic-resistant E. coli from swine operations.

DNA-Based Analysis of PIT1 Gene Variation Among Chicken Strains in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study aimed to identify and characterise PIT1 gene variation across three chicken strains in Nigeria using DNA-based analysis. Blood samples were collected from three chicken strains: Broiler, Normal-feathered, and Frizzle-feathered. Blood samples were initially collected from 20 birds per genotype (60 in total); of these, 5 samples per strain (15 in total) yielded successful DNA amplification and were used for downstream sequencing and genetic diversity analyses. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using the gene sequences. PIT1 gene sequences were aligned and analysed; the results revealed that the Frizzle-feathered and Broiler chicken populations were closely related, whereas the Normal-feathered chicken population was genetically distinct from the other chicken populations. Regression analysis showed complete D' in both Broilers and Frizzle-feathered chickens (D' = 1), but the reported r² value was lower in Broilers (0.6178) than in Frizzle-feathered chickens (1.0), indicating stronger allelic correlation in the Frizzle-feathered strain. Normal-feathered chickens showed the steepest negative LD-distance slopes, indicating more rapid LD decay within the fitted range; however, these regression slopes do not provide a direct estimate of recombination rate. Based on Table 1, Broilers showed the highest within-strain genetic diversity (H = 3, Hd = 1.0, NS = 3, K = 9.33, Pi = 0.0446), followed by Frizzle-feathered chickens (H = 2, Hd = 1.0, NS = 2, K = 3.33, Pi = 0.0145), whereas Normal-feathered chickens showed no detectable within-strain variation in the reported metrics (H = 0, Hd = 0.00, NS = 0, K = 0.00, Pi = 0.00). Moreover, the molecular marker (PIT1) used was highly polymorphic, informative, and suitable for the genetic characterisation of both Nigerian and exotic chicken populations. The marker results showed that Frizzle-feathered and Broiler chicken populations were closely related, whereas Normal-feathered chickens were genetically distant from Frizzle-feathered chickens. Normal-feathered chickens were genetically distinct from the other chicken populations in the phylogenetic analysis, but the study showed no detectable within-strain PIT1 diversity in the analysed Normal-feathered samples. The study revealed that the PIT1 gene, as a molecular marker, is useful for studying the evolutionary history and relationships among Normal-feathered, Frizzle-feathered, and Broiler chicken breeds and how evolutionary mutation has affected their genetic variation over time. Therefore, the PIT1 gene, as a molecular marker, should be used to study genetic variation and evolutionary relationships among chicken species, as it facilitates genetic improvement and conservation of chicken breeds.

Occurrence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at Selected Livestock-community Interfaces in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Small-scale livestock farmers make a vital contribution to local milk, meat, and egg production in the Central Province. Although antimicrobial use is less common, these farmers use antimicrobials for therapeutic, metaphylactic, and prophylactic purposes. Certain communities have close and frequent contact with livestock and poultry, and locations with high-density human-animal contact are considered community, animal, and environmental hotspots. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance at the human-livestock-environment interface in selected livestock and community hotspots within the Kundasale and Wattegama Government Veterinary Ranges in Kandy District. Kumbukkadura (n = 55) and Ambakotte (n = 61) in the Kundasale Veterinary Range and Madawala (n = 25) in the Wattegama Veterinary Range were selected for the study. Samples (pharyngeal swabs, anal swabs, faeces, cloacal swabs, and other swabs) were collected from cattle, goats, poultry, squatting pans, and household waste outlets. Isolation and identification of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were performed using conventional methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed and interpreted according to EUCAST criteria, and PCR assays for CTX-M and mecA were conducted using previously described methods.

CTX-M-carrying E. coli (n = 7) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (n = 11) were detected in the selected livestock-community hotspots. The findings indicate the presence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria at the human-livestock interface and highlight the importance of appropriate hygiene measures, good animal husbandry practices, and biosecurity standards to reduce the potential dissemination of resistant microorganisms at the selected study sites. Additional veterinary supervision of these communities or hotspots is required to support measures aimed at reducing potential spillover of AMR determinants between animals and humans.

Localized Coagulative Myonecrosis Presenting as a Discrete Thigh Mass in a Captive Red Tegu (Salvator rufescens)

Yash Bhate, Ushma Patel, Soham Mukherjee — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A discrete, firm mass was identified on the dorsal aspect of the right thigh of an adult female Red Tegu (Salvator rufescens) maintained at Sardar Patel Zoological Park, Gujarat, India. The swelling had enlarged slowly over approximately four months, while the animal remained clinically stable with normal appetite, locomotion, and behaviour. There was no recorded history of trauma, intramuscular injection, or recent local treatment. Physical examination showed a well-circumscribed, non-fluctuant, non-painful mass approximately 3 cm in diameter, and radiography demonstrated a hyperdense lesion without orthopaedic involvement. Surgical excision was performed under isoflurane anaesthesia. Gross examination revealed a round, firm, well-demarcated intramuscular mass with a pale white-to-grey, dry, homogeneous cut surface. Microbiological analysis of a surgical-site swab showed no bacterial growth. Histopathological examination demonstrated a sharply demarcated focus of coagulative myonecrosis characterised by intensely eosinophilic, hyalinised myofibres, loss of cross-striations and nuclear detail, preservation of overall tissue architecture, and a thin fibrous capsule. Inflammatory infiltration was minimal, and no neoplastic proliferation, granulomatous reaction, parasitic structures, vascular thrombosis, or significant haemorrhage was identified. The surgical wound healed without complication, and no recurrence was observed during six months of follow-up. This case demonstrates that localised coagulative myonecrosis can present clinically as a discrete tumour-like muscular mass in a captive Red Tegu and supports histopathological examination for definitive lesion characterisation.