<div>Background: There is scanty literature available about concurrent infection of Pestes des Petits (PPR) and emerging opportunistic bacterial pathogens in field conditions. Thus, study was conducted to investigate the above based on necropsy.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Systematic necropsy examination was conducted on 50 small ruminant carcasses. Detailed study included virological, bacteriological, gross and microscopic investigation on tissues collected using standard techniques. PPR virus (PPRV) antigen was detected in various samples using sandwich Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (s-ELISA). Bacterial pathogens were isolated on blood agar and identified by VITEK&reg; system. 
 
Result: Eleven goats and nine sheep had concurrent infection. Highest positivity for PPRV antigen was observed in nasal and tracheal swab, lungs and lungs associated lymph nodes. Pasteurella multocida was the major bacteria found to cause fibrinious hemorrhagic broncho-alveolar pneumonia followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae spp. pneumoniae producing suppurative bronchoalveolar pneumonia in the presence of PPR infection. Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Acinetobacter baumannii, human pathogen were also isolated and found to produce severe hemorrhagic interstitial pneumonia and serofibrinous bronchopneumonia respectively in presence of PPR which is novel finding. Our study is the first report of necropsy based investigation on concurrent infection in sheep and goats.</div>

<div>A Necropsy based Investigation on Concurrent Infection of PPR and Emerging Opportunistic Bacterial Pathogens in Sheep and Goat</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) belongs to a member of the Cuculiforme order of birds, the Cuculiformes and like other birds they are prone to many infectious and non-infectious conditions. In the present study, various pathological conditions observed during necropsy of Asian koels were summarized. A total of 15 Asian koels of different age groups were received from the Wild Animals Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Bannerghatta for necropsy during the year 2014 to 2016. Gross and microscopic findings observed were suggestive of various pathological conditions affecting various systems towards the probable cause of death. Most of the avian diseases were also prevalent in Asian koels and hence warrants proper attention towards their prevention and control measures. &nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Diagnosis of various pathological conditions causing mortality in Asian koels (Eudynamys Scolopaceus)&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">In the present study, Mycoplasma gallinaceum was detected by PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene from chronic respiratory disease in village chickens of Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu. Necropsy was performed to find out the etiological agent in desi birds mortality. At necropsy, airsacculitis with caseous exudate were found in the thoracic and abdominal cavity. Caseous material from airsacs was collected aseptically from dead birds for detection of Mycoplasma species. DNA was extracted from caseous material by using tissue DNA extraction kit. PCR was carried out using primers to amplify 16S rRNA gene belonging to Mycoplasma species. The amplified product yielded approximately 700-bp length (703 to 713 bp) of the 16S rRNA gene specific for Mycoplasma species. Further, it was subjected to sequence analysis and confirmed as Mycoplasma gallinaceum by NCBI blast analysis. &nbsp;In the present communication, detection of M. gallinaceum by PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene provides a powerful tool for rapid diagnosis.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Detection of Mycoplasma gallinaceum by PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene from respiratory disease in village chickens</div>

<div>Background: Hepatic lesions in non-domestic felids are poorly characterized. The present study reports multiple hepatic peribiliary cysts in 9 out of 32 lions (Panthera leo) at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru. 
 
Methods: The animals were presented for necropsy after the history of clinical signs of lethargy, anorexia, weakness, debilitated body conditions and all animals are in old age (between 15 to 25 years old). Systematic necropsy with gross and histopathological examination was carried out. 
 
Result: Post-mortem examination grossly revealed multiple cysts in liver (varying in each case) with the cystic masses filled with clear fluid, sometimes mixed with bile. A diagnosis for the presence of spontaneous peribiliary cysts was made on the basis of gross and microscopic lesions. Histologically, the cysts were surrounded and composed of compact collagenous tissue. The inner cystic single layer resembled biliary mucosa and composed of columnar epithelial lining, while the submucosa was composed of connective tissue with loss of hepatic cord structure.&nbsp;</div>

Detection of Multiple Hepatic Peribiliary Cysts in Captive Lions (Panthera leo)

<div>Background: Paratyphoid infection of poultry is caused by non-host adapted motile salmonellae and are responsible for numerous cases of food borne illness worldwide. The present study was carried out from July 2019 to February 2020 in Jabalpur to know the occurrence and pathology of paratyphoid bacteria in poultry. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: Whole blood agglutination test was performed to know the prevalence of salmonellosis in and areas surrounding Jabalpur region and pooled fecal samples were collected from poultry farms to perform microbe culture and biochemical characterization. Serotyping of Salmonella isolates was done using polyvalent antisera. Necropsy examination was conducted to observe gross and histopathological lesions.&nbsp; 
 
Conclusion: Rapid whole blood agglutination test determined the percent prevalence of Salmonella as 28.0% from 25 private poultry outlets. The percent prevalence of salmonellosis by collecting pooled fecal samples from 15 broiler and 11 layer farms was recorded as 20.0% and 45.4% respectively. Salmonellosis was recorded in 1.58% of total necropsy cases of birds examined for gross and histopathological studies. Polyvalent antisera diagnosed 27.27% motile paratyphoid salmonellae, out of which 18.18% tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis while 9.09% tested positive for Salmonella Typhimurium. Birds with paratyphoid infection showed hepatomegaly, discoloration, hemorrhagic and necrotic foci in liver and various grades of hemorrhagic to catarrhal enteritis were recorded.</div>

​Incidence and Pathology of Paratyphoid Infection in Poultry

<div style="text-align: justify;">This study was carried out to investigate the parasitic fauna in Indian cobra (Naja naja) and Indian rock pythons (Python molurus) under captive condition in Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bangalore, Karnataka during 2015-2016. A total of 18 fecal samples from Indian cobra and 8 from Indian rock pythons were collected and screened. From 8 fecal samples of python, 7 were found positive for ova of Ophidascaris nematode, 4 for ova of Bothridia cestode and 3 for coccidian oocysts. From 18 fecal samples of Indian cobra, 5 were positive for Rhabdias ova and 1 for coccidian oocysts. Lung impression smear taken from one Indian cobra after necropsy and stained with Giemsa stain demonstrated Rhabdias larvated ova. From necropsy of 4 Indian rock pythons, granulomatous pneumonia in lungs, haemorrhages, edema, mucosal necrosis and thickening with nodule formation in large intestine was observed due to Ophidascaris nematode, while Bothridia tape worms caused severe congestion and hemorrhage of small intestinal mucosa as well as thickening of submucosa due to inflammatory reaction. Both Ophidascaris and Bothridia are highly pathogenic and cause mortality in Indian rock pythons. The Rhabdias infestation in Cobra though not much pathogenic, heavy infestation may lead to respiratory failure. Confinement induces stress and dysecdysis affecting the health of snakes under captivity. Probably the host diet (live feed) and the hygiene maintained in the enclosures are the most important determinants of the helminthic fauna of snakes. Careful examination of live feed and cleanliness in the enclosure supported by regular deworming can control the parasitic infections in snakes.&nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Demonstration of parasitic fauna in Indian cobra (Naja naja) and Indian rock python (Python molurus) reared in a Biological Park of Karnataka, South India</div>

Background: Duck farming is one of the major income generating enterprise, promoting&nbsp; rural&nbsp; economy in India. The occurrence of infectious diseases is the major bottle neck in the profit generation process of duck rearing. Duck cholera is one of the major bacterial infections, commonly noticed in 4 to 11 weeks age of egg laying ducks caused by Pasteurella multocida, leading to high mortality in ducklings whereas adult as well as meat type ducks are resistant. The present communication describes pathomorphology of acute duck cholera in Vigova Super M meat type breeder flock. 
 
Methods: An investigation was carried out to ascertain the possible cause of increased mortality in an intensively maintained 1000 Vigova Super M meat type breeder flock of 25 week old during the month of July 2023. Necropsy examination conducted on five dead birds and samples collected and subjected for bacteriological and pathological examination. 
 
Result: Affected breeder duck flocks&nbsp; showed cumulative mortality of 18 per cent. Clinical signs of depression, inappetance, mild conjunctivitis and mucus discharge from nostril for one or two days followed by death were noticed. At necropsy, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly with multifocal cream-colored foci randomly distributed throughout the parenchyma, vascular changes in various visceral organs were noticed. Impression smear of visceral organs of dead birds revealed bipolar organisms which was confirmed as&nbsp;Pasteurella multocida by cultural and biochemical examination. Microscopically, there was multifocal splenic and hepatic necrosis with intralesional rod-shaped bacteria. In conclusion, this investigation indicated that the adult breeder ducks susceptible to duck cholera,&nbsp; exhibiting pathomorphological features similar to young ducklings.

Pathomorphology of Acute Duck Cholera Infection in Meat Ducks

Background: The porcine teschovirus (PTV) is common swine pathogen which causes a wide range of illnesses ranging from asymptomatic infection to acute fatal encephalomyelitis, diarrhoea and pneumonia. Despite of its economical importance very limited studies are available on the pathology of PTV. The present study was conducted with the objective to investigate the PTV infection and associated pathology in piglets. 
 
Methods: A total of 78 piglets below 3 months of age were necropsied and representative tissue samples along with intestinal content were collected for histopathological examination and molecular investigation during April 2019 to November 2020. The 5&#39;&nbsp; UTR region of PTV was amplified via RT-PCR and further confirmed by sequencing. Thereafter, genetic characterization of the Indian PTV isolate was done on the basis of 5&#39; UTR gene.&nbsp; 
 
Result: A total of seven out of 78 cases were found positive for the PTV. On necropsy the intestinal wall was thinned and distended with yellowish coloured diarrhoeic content. Congestion of serosal and mucosal vessels along with severe meningeal congestion was observed. Microscopic lesions included congestion of mucosal vessels and destruction of villous structure of jejunum along with perivascular cuffing, focal gliosis, neuronophagia, congestion of meningeal and cerebral vessels and interstitial pneumonia. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate PTV/India/IVRI-381/2020 (MW022462) and PTV/India/IVRI-1093/2020 (MW022463) were clustered with PTV-13 strain wild boar/WB2C-TV/2011/HUN (JQ429405) and PTV-2 strain Vir 6711-12/83 (AF296107) of Hungary and Germany respectively. This study reported the genotypic and pathological investigation of PTV from Indian piglets. Further explorative surveillance along with studies in suitable cell lines and animal model will pave the way for better understanding of PTV among Indian pigs.

Genetic Characterization and Pathology of Porcine Teschovirus (PTV) in India

<div>Background: Salmonellosis is of great concern among the infectious diseases of poultry and has been responsible for serious economic losses to the poultry producers and a shift in Salmonella serotypes has been evident in recent years. Study was carried out to know the occurrence and pathology of Salmonellae infection in poultry along with their multi-drug resistance. 
 
Methods: Samples for study were collected from 26 organized poultry farms. To determine the presence of Salmonella in the farms, microbial culture from fecal swabs and pooled fecal samples was carried out for isolation of bacteria. Molecular detection of Salmonella isolates was also performed using direct PCR. Biofilm producing ability of the bacteria was also assessed and antibiotic sensitivity test was done to detect the resistance of bacterial isolates. 
 
Result: Salmonellosis in broiler and layer farms was recorded as 20% and 45.4% respectively and in 1.58% of the necropsy cases through microbial culture. Molecular detection of Salmonella isolates by PCR targeting invA gene was confirmed in 13.33% broiler farms and 36.3%-layer farms. Further detection of Salmonella Enteritidis was performed by PCR targeting ent gene and 11.11% positivity was determined. Biofilm producing ability of the bacteria was found 40% using biofilm assay. Serological examination using polyvalent antisera diagnosed 27.27% isolates as motile salmonellae. During necropsy of positive cases gross lesions comparable to salmonellosis were noted in liver, intestine, spleen and ovary. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) pattern was observed with highest resistance towards oxytetracycline, streptomycin followed by amikacin, amoxicillin and enrofloxacin. The presence of multiple drug resistant Salmonella in chicken has rendered the food chain unsafe from farm to table and hence continuous surveillance of the disease should be encouraged.</div>

Occurrence of Multi-drug Resistant Avian Salmonellae in Commercial Poultry

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The porcine kobuvirus (PKV) is a single-stranded, positive-sense, RNA virus of the family Picornaviridae which composed of small, non-enveloped viruses. The PKV is suspected to cause large outbreaks of diarrhoea and dehydration along with vomition in suckling piglets with a high morbidity rate. Despite of its economical importance very few studies are available on the pathology of PKV. The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate PKV in naturally infected Indian pigs.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A total of 41 intestinal content and tissue samples from dead pigs were collected from post-mortem facility of, ICAR-IVRI during April, 2019 to July 2020. All the carcasses were subjected to detailed necropsy examination and appropriate tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination and molecular investigation. The amplification of 3D region of PKV was carried out via RT-PCR using the specific primers. The Genetic characterization of Indian isolate of the PKV was done on the basis of viral 3D gene of PKV.&nbsp; 
 
Result: A total of six out of 41 necropsied piglets were found positive for the PKV. The diarrhoea and dehydration were observed as the main clinical signs. The thickening and clouding of brain meninges, congestion of brain, pneumonia along with catarrhal and haemorrhagic enteritis was observed as common gross lesions. Microscopic lesions observed in brain were mild to moderate perivascular cuffing, congestion of meningeal and cerebral vessels, focal gliosis and neuronophagia. Mild to severe interstitial pneumonia and emphysema was noticed in lungs. Intestinal mucosa revealed severe inflammatory changes along with sloughing of villi. The genetic characterization revealed maximum identity of 91-93% with Indian isolate of PKV MH394282 and Chinese strain of PKV FJ459905. This study reported the first pathological investigation of PKV from Indian pigs and described the molecular findings in detail. Further explorative surveillance along with epidemiological studies are highly warranted to find out the real impact of the PKV on Indian pigs.</div>