<div>Background: Occurrence of congenital anomalies are less common in small ruminants, especially in goats compared to sheep. Most common cause for the congenital deformities in new born ruminants is due to the ingestion of toxic plants during gestation. Congenital meningoencephalocoele with associated craniofacial deformities is a rare occurrence in goats. 
 
Methods​: A day old crossbred kid was presented with cranial defects and protrusion of brain through the defect. Detailed examination of the animal revealed cranioschisis in the frontal and parietal region along with presence of cleft lip, cleft palate and accessory ear lobe on the right side. Herniation of meninges and brain was exposed directly and was not covered by skin. There were two parietal cranial defects separated by a plate of bone. 
 
Result: Postmortem examination of the animal showed bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate with lateral deviation of nasal septum and deformation of premaxillary region. On reflection of skin over the frontal region, revealed frontal cranioschisis and the brain was situated subcutaneously. There were total of three cranial defects (two in the parietal and one in the frontal region) separated by small plates of bone in between them. This present study explains the anatomical aspects of cranioschisis, meningoencephalocoele, cleft lip, cleft palate and associated craniofacial abnormalities in a day old kid.</div>

Gross Anatomical Study of Congenital Meningoencephalocoele and Craniofacial Deformities in A Kid

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The development of local Bali cattle in ex-situ areas allow for the formation of new qualitative phenotypic characteristics. The aim of this study is to characterize Bali cattle that have been created in Jambi Province&rsquo;s ex-situ environment in several of rearing areas. 
 
Methods: A research sample of 478 Bali cattle from Muaro Jambi (MJB) district, Sarolangun (SLG) district, Tanjung Jabung Timur (TJT) District, Jambi City (KJB) and PTPN VI were surveyed. The qualitative phenotype characteristic observed were pattern of head color, dominant head color, inner-ear color, forehead color, side-lip color, horn shape, body-color pattern, dominant body color, back-line color, under-belly color, sock color, rump color and tail color. The frequency and percentage of each qualitative characteristic were calculated using the PROC FREQ function of SAS software version 9.0, resulting in a cross-tabulation of the qualitative characteristics observed in Bali cattle at various locations. Then, PROC CORESP performs multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) between the qualitative characteristics of the variables. The resulting plot depicts the graphical relationship between variables.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Research results based on sex showed that only white lower lip and black inner ear were characteristic of the head found to be common, while black backline, light-brown underbelly, white rump&nbsp;and black tail hair were common characteristics for the body. Head phenotype based on district showed that white lower lip and white-black inner ear could be found in male Bali cattle while white lower lip and abnormal horn characteristic could be found in females. Body characteristic analysis showed three-color pattern to be common in male Bali cattle while black backline, white feet&nbsp;and white rump were common characteristics found in females. These characteristics can therefore be seen as differentiating characteristics between sex and district of origin of Bali cattle.</div>

Diversity of Qualitative Characteristics and Their Use to Distinguish the Origin of the Bali Cattle Population

Background: Contagious ecthyma is a viral pustular dermatitis in small ruminants. The disease is of zoonotic importance. Contagious ecthyma usually resolves spontaneously and has low mortality. The Orf virus causes contagious ecthyma, a member of the genus Parapoxvirus in the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae and family Poxviridae. 
 
Methods: The investigated goat farm experienced an outbreak of pustular dermatitis, especially in young goats. Scabs/tissue samples from lip commissures and over the lips of individual goats were collected in sterile eppendorf tubes, separately and stored in a frozen condition. Nucleic acid was extracted from these scabs with commercially available nucleic acid extraction kit. The extracted total deoxyribose nucleic acid was used in the Orf-specific B2L gene amplification in a molecular diagnosis method, polymerase chain reaction. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by using MEGA11 software tool. 
 
Result: Young goats showing clinical signs and overt scabby lesions on the lips were used to collect scabs/tissue samples in sterile containers. Total deoxyribose nucleic acid was used in the polymerase chain reaction to amplify 594 bp product specific to the B2L gene (envelope gene) of Orf virus confirming the outbreak of Contagious ecthyma. The amplified product was confirmed by the sequencing method. Phylogenetic analysis was made using bioinformatic tools. The Orf viral strain in the first such study in this area showed similarity to that of the strain from Hisar at a national level and to that of China at the international level. 
&nbsp;

Molecular Diagnosis and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Orf Virus from An Outbreak of Contagious Ecthyma at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh

Background: Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) is an important viral agent in chicken and turkey production industry and is most commonly associated with acute upper respiratory tract infection and swollen head syndrome. The disease is of significant economic concern as it is highly contagious and can lead to production losses in chicken and turkey flocks, especially when associated with secondary bacterial pathogens. 
 
Methods: Herein, we have performed a survey on layer farms in selected areas of Madhya Pradesh State, India to ascertain the aMPV status in laying birds, choanal cleft swabs and sera samples were collected for ELISA and RT-PCR assay. A total of 263 sera and 169 choanal cleft swabs from five districts of Madhya Pradesh State (Indore, Bhopal, Sagar, Guna and Bhind) from layer birds of age group 20-72 weeks were screened for aMPV antibodies and for genome.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Out of these Indore had maximum sero-postivity (73.33%), followed by Sagar (5.00%) and Bhopal (4.08%), respectively. Other two districts did not show any seropostivity against aMPV. RT-PCR assay using published primers and in vitro transcribed RNA of nucleoprotein (N) gene as positive control was carried out in 169 choanal cleft samples from four districts (Indore, Bhopal, Sagar and Guna). All the samples were found negative for aMPV genome by RT-PCR assay. Overall, 26/263 (9.88%) sera were positive to aMPV antibodies. As the chickens in India are not vaccinated against avian metapneumovirus therefore, this study indicates that layers are exposed to this important poultry pathogen. This study warrants further investigation in wider geographical area and isolation of aMPV to design the control strategies for aMPV.&nbsp;

Serological Evidence of Avian Metapneumovirus Infection in Layer Chicken Farms of Madhya Pradesh, India

<div>Background: Commercial cultivation of bitter gourd is affected by biotic stresses like mosaic disease, fusarium wilt and root-knot nematode as well as abiotic stress like drought. Grafting with resistant rootstocks can be a tool to control these problems. In vegetable production, grafting is exploited commercially in many parts of the world. The cultivated area of grafted solanaceae and cucubitaceae plants has increased tremendously in recent years because of the advantages of grafted plants. Commercial use of vegetable grafting is a relatively recent innovation in India and scientific information on grafting in bittergourd is meager. In this context, identification of suitable rootstocks and standardization of grafting techniques that do not have adverse effect on yield and fruit quality not only lay foundation for further evaluation on tolerance to different biotic and abiotic stresses but also enhance the area and production of bitter gourd especially in sustainable production systems. 
 
Methods: Grafting in bitter gourd was carried out with three grafting methods such as hole insertion grafting, one cotyledon grafting and cleft grafting using growth regulators viz., alar and CCC to control height of rootstocks in order to identify suitable method, growth regulator and its concentration. The grafting experiment was done independently to four cucurbitaceous rootstocks viz., sponge gourd, pumpkin, bottle gourd and bitter gourd using bittergourd var. Preethi as scion. Height and diameter of the rootstocks before grafting were recorded and then the growth regulators alar and CCC each at 10 mgL-1 and 50 mgL-1 along with distilled water as control were sprayed on rootstocks in order to prevent the lodging of the root stocks and then grafted using different methods. Days taken for graft union and percentage success were also evaluated after grafting. 
 
Result: Our study of grafting bitter gourd scion into four cucurbitaceous rootstocks utilizing three methods and two growth regulators at two different concentration along with control exhibited significant difference in graft success among the methods as well as concentration of growth regulator in all four experiments. This work can be further utilized for imparting resistance against abiotic and biotic stresses in bitter gourd by selecting suitable rootstocks.</div>

​Standardization of Grafting in Bittergourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Background: Orf virus (ORFV) is a zoonotic pathogen that infects sheep and goats, causing significant economic losses. The infection results in proliferative and self-limiting crustal lesions, commonly seen on the skin of the lips and around the nostrils of sheep and goats and occasionally on their feet and teats. ORFV infection is prevalent worldwide and endemic in regions where sheep and goats are raised. Vaccines are widely used to protect against ORFV-induced ecthyma in these animals. However, the disease has become increasingly prevalent throughout the year in small ruminants, necessitating the development of new approaches to treat it.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Crust samples were taken from ORFV lesions in the mouth (lips, gingiva) of 29 sheep and 29 goats aged two years or older from various barns in Burdur-Center and its districts. Conventional polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the presence of the ORFV genome in the samples, using seven different types of primers (GIF/IL-2, PPP1-PPP4, Orf1-Orf2, VIR1-VIR2, vIL-10-3, vIL-10-4, B2L and Alpha tubulin). Additionally, samples from oral mucosa lesions were examined using histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. As an alternative treatment approach, PAPILENDTM,&reg;cream was applied and Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously twice every 15 days, along with 10 grams of AlquermoldTM premix powder daily for 10 days to all animals with a detected ORFV viral genome. 
 
Result: The presence of viral genomes was determined in 10 (34.48%) of 29 sheep and 14 (48.28%) of 29 goats using 7 different types of primers, which have been detected intensively in our region before. In sheep the GIF/IL-2, PPP1-PPP4 and B2L primers detected viral genome (10/29 positive) while in goats Orf1-Orf2 and B2L primers (14/29 positive). Histopathological examination showed epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and crust formations at the epidermal layer. Both epithelial and dermal cells expressed orf virus antigen throughout the immunohistochemical investigation. The alternative treatment of PAPILENDTM,&reg;cream + Ivermectin + AlquermoldTM premix powder triple combination applied to sheep and goats with ORFV genome determined was successful in treating oral lesions caused by ORFV. PCR tests provide rapid and reliable results in the diagnosis of ORFV. The use of triple combined alternative treatments, in addition to ORFV preventive vaccinations in sheep and goats, was found to be successful in treating ORFV infections. The animals showed recovery or regression within a range of 5 to 21 days.

Molecular Diagnosis and Application of Combined Alternative Treatment in Lesions Developing in the Oral Region due to Orf Virus in Sheep and Goats

Diprosopus is the condition of occurrence of a single body and neck with a duplication of the structures of the face. In the present case, the calf had four eyes, two oral cavities, but only two ears. The duplication was physically evident from the cranio-facial junction up to the maxillary lip and measured about 9 cm. Just above the eye level the head was united, but cranial width between the lateral borders (in line with lateral canthi) was found to be 34 cm, the value is almost the double as that of a normal calf. This indicates that the separation of the monozygotic twinning got arrested at this position and caudal to the area of frontal bones, there was no signs of twinning, indicated by normal inter-auricular distance.

Diprosopus condition in a newborn calf

A crossbred cow aged 6 year was presented to Teaching Veterinary Hospital of the Institute with the history of fever, tick infestation, anemia and decreased milk yield since last 10 days. Clinical examination revealed fever, pale mucous membrane and nil rumen motility. Hematological examination findings were anemia, leucopenia, relative neutrophilia and lymphopenia and decreased platelets. Blood smear examination revealed Anaplasma Marginale infection. Animal was treated with blood transfusion, oxytetracyclin, oral hematinic and multivitamin. After half an hour of start of transfusion, cow showed transfusion reaction in the form of urticarial eruptions all over the body, edema of eyelids, lips and over the face, frothy discharge from mouth with muscle tremor and shivering. Transfusion reaction was successfully managed with Adrenalin, Dexona, Avil along with normal saline.&nbsp;

Therapeutic management of blood transfusion reaction in a crossbred cow

<div>Grafted vegetable seedlings have been used from the early 20th century. This technique has been utilized extensively in East Asia and the European countries where it has developed as a multimillion-dollar industry. The increase in land area under protected cultivation, intensive use of land, scarcity of production resources and changing climate leading to unpredictable weather has caused a rapid increase in the use of grafted vegetables. However, in Nepal, where the productivity of vegetable crops is quite low and the breeding activities are inadequate, use of grafted vegetables is still unexploited. Therefore, this technique can be an important intervention to improve the overall production system of Solanaceous and Cucurbitaceous vegetables. Methods of vegetable grafting, their current uses, research carried out in Nepal and the possible opportunities are discussed in this review paper. Cleft, splice, tongue approach, hole- insertion and pin grafting are the methods currently in use. Grafting can be used to overcome the problems caused by various soil borne disease and nematodes and abiotic stresses like, low and high temperature stress, water stress, salinity, metal and organic pollutants while increasing the yield and extending crop duration in vegetable production. In Nepal, few research have been carried out on vegetable grafting with majority of them on assessment of tolerance to soil borne diseases. Utilization of this technique in Nepalese conditions provide ample opportunities for researchers and academicians to conduct researches and for breeding companies to develop resistant rootstocks. By implementing this method, vegetable industry can improve the overall yield, its quality and reduce hindrances in production.</div>

Vegetable Grafting: Methods, Uses and Opportunities for Nepal: A Review

<div style="text-align: justify;">Eggshell apex abnormality (EAA) associated with Mycoplasma synoviae is occurring regularly in many commercial layer chicken farms of Tamil Nadu. Choanal cleft swabs were collected from EAA affected poultry farms, subjected for isolation and molecular detection of M. synoviae. Among 16 farms investigated M. synoviae could be isolated in six farms. All the farms were positive for M. synoviae in PCR. Among six isolates three isolates (VC&amp;RI-NKL-SV3, VC&amp;RI-NKL- PV6, VC&amp;RI-NKL-KV2) from severe clinical outbreak were sequenced for vlhA gene and compared with the available sequences from the Gene Bank (NCBI) using multiple sequence alignments software - Clustal Omega and Bio edit programs. Analysis showed that the VC&amp;RI,NKL-SV3 and VC&amp;RI-NKL-KV2 were more similar (94.3%) to each other. Point mutation percentage of isolates VC&amp;RI-NKL-PV6, VC&amp;RI-NKL-SV3 and VC&amp;RI-NKL-KV2 isolates in comparison with reference strain KC506806 were 12, 5.1 and 1.8% respectively. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the VC&amp;RI-NKL-SV3 and VC&amp;RI-NKL-PV6 were closely evolved with VC&amp;RI-NKL-KV2. VC&amp;RI-NKL-KV2 was closely related to sequence of Mycoplasma synoviae from Brazil.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Sequencing and Phylogenetic analysis of vlhA gene from Mycoplasma synoviae field isolates associated with Eggshell apex abnormality</div>