Canine ocular thelaziosis: first report in Andhra Pradesh.

Thelaziosis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution, including in India and reports on canine ocular thelaziosis are very limited. The present case documentation will provide basic information to initiate the geographical epidemiological studies which will help to prevent the spread to these zoonotic diseases in the specified location. This communication reports about the rare case of canine ocular thelaziosis in Andhra Pradesh with the morphological features of the parasite and the management of ocular manifestations with suitable antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory eye drops along with ivermectin injections.

Rare report of orchitis in a bull due to Trypanosoma evansi infection.

A 9 years old bull was presented to the hospital with a history of scrotal swelling for a period of 12 days and progressive emaciation with intermittent fever. Clinical examination revealed the swollen and painful scrotum with fluid thrill, mild abduction and disorientation of hindlimbs were noticed. Ultrasonography of the testes revealed the anechoic fluid in between the visceral and parietal layers of tunica vaginalis of testis with variation in the echogenicity of the testes. Stained peripheral blood smear examination revealed the presence of Trypanosoma evansi organisms. The bull was administered with diminazene aceturate, enrofloxacin, flunixin meglumine, multivitamin injections and dextrose normal saline. Uneventful recovery was noticed following the therapy.

Cystitis due to capillaria infection in a dog and its treatment.

Capillaria spp infection was diagnosed in a 3 year old dog with history of pollakiuria, dysuria and haematuria. Confirmatory diagnosis was done by demonstration of the parasitic ova in the urinary sediment, cystitis by ultrasonography, presence of proteins and leukocytes in the urine. Dog was successfully treated with fenbendazole and ivermectin along with supportive therapy. Recovery was noticed after 2 weeks of treatment with clear and transparent urine and absence of parasitic ova in urinary sediment.

Theileria annulata induced brisket oedema in a bull and its successful treatment.

In the present case, jugular vein engorgement and oedema of the brisket region which mimic the signs of pseudopericarditis due to theileriosis in a bull was reported. An adult Ongole crossbred bull with history of weakness, anorexia and oedema at brisket region was referred to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary Science, Proddatur. Physical examination revealed the presence of ticks over the body, right and left prescapular lymphadenopathy and oedema at brisket region. Blood examination revealed the presence of piroplasms in erythrocytes, schizont in lymphocytes, anaemia and lymphopenia. Bull was treated with injection buparvaquone along with supportive medications. By the 3rd week of therapy improvement was noticed by disappearance of brisket oedema and recurrence was not noticed during the 8  months of observation.

Polypeptide profiles of South Indian isolate of Trypanosoma evansi.

The field isolates of Trypanosoma evansi was collected from the infected cattle and it was propagated in rats. Trypanosoma evansi parasites were separated from the blood of infected rats by using diethylaminoethyl cellulose column chromatography. Whole cell lysate antigen (WCL) was prepared from purified trypanosomes by ultrasonication and centrifugation. The prepared WCL antigen was further purified by 50 % ammonium sulphate precipitation. Protein concentration of WCL antigen of T. evansi was 60 mg/ml. Protein concentration was adjusted to 1.0 mg/ml in PBS, pH 8.0 and stored at -20(0) C.   Polypeptide profiles of WCL antigen of T. evansi was determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A total of eight polypeptide bands of the size ranging from 25 to 85 kDa in WCL antigen of T. evansi were obtained. Five prominent bands with molecular weight of 74, 60, 53, 42 and 37 kDa and three light bands with molecular weight of 85, 34 and 25 kDa were observed.

Clinical and laboratory findings of Babesia infection in dogs.

Canine babesiosis is a worldwide tick borne disease. Dogs with fever, in appetence and enlarged lymph nodes were screened for the presence of haemoprotozoan parasites during the one year period of study at T.V.C.C., C.V.Sc., Proddatur. Based on the stained peripheral blood smears examination, six dogs were found to be affected with babesiosis. Clinical examination of the dogs revealed ticks over the body, congested conjunctival mucus membranes, dullness, fever, tachycardia, tachypnoea in all the dogs. Some of the dogs had icterus, lymphadenopathy, haemoglobinuria. Laboratory examination of the clinical samples revealed reduction in haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte count, platelet count, serum total protein, serum albumin and glucose levels. Increased serum SGPT, creatinine, BUN levels were recorded. Dogs were treated with inj. Diminazene aceturate (Berenil RTU) @ 5 mg/kg body weight, single dose along with supportive and symptomatic therapy in individual cases.

Demodicosis caused by Demodex canis and Demodex cornei in dogs.

Two mongrel dogs aged between 7 and 9 months in a same house were presented to the clinics with a history of chronic dermatitis associated with pruritus. Clinical examination revealed presence of primary and secondary skin lesions on the face, around the ears, chin, neck, fore limbs and lateral abdomen. Examination of skin scrapings revealed Demodex cornei (majority) and D. canis (minority) in both the dogs. By using hair pluck examination D. canis were detected and by tape impression smears examination large number of adult short-tail Demodex mites were found. D. cornei was identified by based on the morphological characters including short opisthosoma with blind and round terminal end. Mean length of total body, opisthosoma of both types of the mites were differed statistically significant (P < 0.01) but gnathosoma and podosoma did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Dogs were treated with daily oral ivermectin @ 500 µg/kg/day, external application of amitraz along with supportive therapy. After completion of 45 days of therapy dogs were recovered completely without any side effects.

Clinical coccidiosis in adult cattle.

Coccidiosis is caused by the protozoan parasite belongs to the genous Eimeria spp. which parasitizes the epithelium lining of the alimentary tract. Infection damages the lining of the gut causing diarrhoea and possibly dysentery. Coccidiosis is primarily a disease of young animals but can affect older animals that are in poor condition. In a farm, seven adult cattle had foul smell bloody diarrhoea, anorexia, emaciation condition, smudging of the perineum and tail with blood stained dung. Laboratory examinations of the dung samples revealed the presence of coccidian oocysts. Animals were treated with 33.33 % (w/v) sulphadimidine, along with supportive and fluid therapy. After completion of 1 week of therapy all the affected cattle were recovered from the diarrhoea.

Haematological and biochemical changes in experimental Trypanosoma evansi infection in rabbits.

New Zealand white rabbits (N = 4) were challenged with the local strain of Trypanosoma evansi. Each rabbit was infected with 5 × 10(5) trypanosomes subcutaneously. The infection was characterized by intermittent pyrexia, undulating parasitaemia, anorexia and emaciation. The infected rabbits were examined daily for development of clinical signs and infection status by wet blood-films made from the ear veins. Thick and thin blood smears were also examined daily until the end of the experiment for description of blood cells. Differential leukocyte count (DLC) was also done. The parasite was observed in the blood during the acute phase only. Leukocytosis in the acute phase followed by leukopenia during the chronic phase was recognized. Haematological studies revealed reduced TEC, Hb and PCV. The main changes in the erythrocytes were macrocytes, hypochromic cells, Howell-Jolly bodies, target cells, stomatocytes and burr cells. Serum chemistry revealed hypoproteinemia, hypocholesterolaemia, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, elevated creatinine, BUN, increased AST and ALT.

Notoedres cati in cats and its management.

Notoedres cati was observed in two domestic cats. Cats exhibited crust formation, hyperkeratosis, alopecia and intense pruritus. Distribution of lesions observed at the ear margins, face, and legs. Owners also had intense pruritus over the hands, small erythematic crusted papules on the wrists and both the legs. Laboratory examination of skin scrapings from the cat revealed the presence of ova, adult mites of N. cati. The infected cats were treated with weekly twice oral administration of ivermectin at 200 µg/kg body weight, oral administration of 2 ml of multi-vitamin and mineral syrup daily. Improvement was noticed by complete clinical recovery along with absence of mites in skin scrapings, after completion of four doses of oral ivermectin along with supportive therapy.

Efficacy of cefpodoxime with clavulanic Acid in the treatment of recurrent pyoderma in dogs.

In the present study on recurrent pyoderma, dogs with a history of more than three episodes of skin infections in a period of one year were selected. The associated conditions and (or) underlying factors revealed upon thorough investigation were demodicosis, Malassezia dermatitis, flea infestation, hypothyroidism, keratinization disorder (seborrhea), combination of Malassezia dermatitis and tick infestation, and a combination of scabies and tick infestation. Therapy was given with cefpodoxime with clavulanic acid along with appropriate simultaneous medication for the underlying associated conditions. In all the cases response to therapy was excellent. Improvement was noticed by 9 to 19 days and 17 to 21 days in recurrent superficial and deep pyoderma, respectively. In one dog, relapse occurred by 45 days due to the associated condition of hypothyroidism which was confirmed through laboratory findings. Cefpodoxime with clavulanic acid proved to be an effective, safe, and convenient antibiotic for the treatment of recurrent pyoderma in dogs without any side effects.