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Not AvailableThe magnitude of risk for neonatal mortality (NM) due to non-genetic factors was assessed using data on 5,722 Malpura lambs born during 1991–2016 at ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan. The association of non-genetic factors influencing lamb mortality was obtained by odds ratio (OR). The overall annual NM was 4.07% with around 3 times higher in hebdomadal (3.15%) than post-hebdomadal (0.93%) phase. In comparison to lambs with >3.50 kg birth weight, the OR varied from 2.03 (birth weight 3.01–3.50 kg) to 19.29 (birth weight <2.00 kg). Neonatal mortality was significantly higher (6.51%) in lambs born to younger ewes (up to 2 yr). The parity of dam had significant effect on NM with maximum mortality in lambs born to ewes in 1st (5.59%) parity. Dam’s weight at lambing revealed significantly maximum (32.35%) mortality in lambs born to ewes with <20.0 kg body weight. In comparison to ewes with 30–35 kg body weight at lambing, the OR for NM was maximum (17.28) in lambs born to ewes with <20.0 kg body weight at lambing. The causes of neonatal lamb mortality exhibited predominance of septicaemia/ toxaemia with 25.75% contribution in total deaths followed by neonatal inanition (21.89%), pneumonia (12.02) and enteritis (8.58%). The study revealed that NM during early phase of life wasprimarily influenced by both lamb and ewe factors. Strategies should be adopted for proper nutritional care of primiparous and weak ewes during gestation, intensive monitoring of lamb and ewes during the neonatal period with ensured colostrum or milk replacer feeding and suitable housing facility to minimize the neonatal losses.Not Availabl

Soil-borne septicaemic colibacillosis in neonatal lambs: salient observations

Not AvailableBackground: In sheep, Escherichia coli infection can occur as asymptomatic entity to septicaemic episode. Chiefly, it causes heavy mortality in lambs and devastates the farm economy. With an objective of documenting the salient epidemiological and clinicopathological observations in this naturally occurred outbreak of septicaemic colibacillosis, this communication is made herewith. Methods: In February 2019, sudden death in lambs was observed in three flocks of sheep. Carcasses were subjected for necropsy and histopathological examination. Swab samples from heart, abomasum, intestines, liver and lung were examined for bacteriological and molecular confirmation. Result: The mean (±SE) age of lambs that were affected was 11.00 ±0.49 days (n=404). Lambs of native Malpura breed (87.5%) and other two crossbred sheep were affected. Overall mortality of lambs was 23.76%. Gross pathological observations were pulmonary edema, ecchymotic lesions in lungs, congestion in kidney and liver and presence soil-mixed ingesta in abomasum. From the morbid materials including stomach and intestinal swabs, 45 E. coli isolates were identified and they were also confirmed on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Consequently, virulence genes for shiga toxin (stx2) and intimin (eae) were identified from the isolates. Although antibiotics were administered, only probiotics could control the new infection rateICAR-All India Network Programme on Neonatal Mortality in Farm Animal

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Not AvailableFoot and mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most contagious diseases of cloven footed animals causing significant economic impediment in livestock production system. The immune response to FMD virus (FMDV) infection is regulated by a complex interplay between various cells, cytokines and other immune components. Based on the well established role of Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and Interleukin-21 (IL-21) in viral infections, this study aimed to determine expression level of these cytokines in clinically infected adults and calves; and the results were compared with those in the subclinically infected animals up to 120 days post outbreak (DPO) in a vaccinated cattle herd. The expression level of IFN-γ and IL-21 was assayed on 0, 7, 14, 28, 60, 90, and 120 DPO by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with simultaneous assessment of FMDV structural proteinantibody titer against serotype ‘O’ by liquid phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) and nonstructural protein-antibody, a differential marker of infection, using r3AB3 indirect ELISA (r3AB3 I-ELISA). Although, the peak expression of IFN-γ was observed on 14 DPO across all categories of animals, the clinically infected animals registered a significant increase in IFN-γ level as compared to the subclinically infected population possibly due to the difference in the extent of virus replication and inflammation. The IL-21 level increased significantly during 14˗28 DPO and highest expression was noticed on 28 DPO. The increase in the expression level of IFN-γ and IL- 21 at 28 DPO correlated with the increase in antibody titer as determined by LPBE suggesting the role of these cytokines in augmenting immune response to FMDV infection.Not Availabl