The objective of the present study was to investigate the toxico-pathological effects of diclofenac in different avian species including broiler chicks (Gallus gallus, 15 days old), pigeons (Columba livia, 3 months old), Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica, 4 weeks old) and mynah (Acridotheres tristis, independent young). For each species, five groups each containing 10 birds were maintained and administered diclofenac sodium orally at dose rates of 0, 0.25, 2.5, 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for seven consecutive days. Clinical signs in all species included depression, somnolence, decreased body weight and mortality. Severity of clinical disease increased in a dose-related manner and was most severe in broiler chicks, followed by pigeons, Japanese quail, and was least severe in mynah. Serum creatinine levels were elevated in all species. Serum urea levels varied non-significantly in broiler birds, significantly decreased in pigeons and significantly elevated in Japanese quail and mynah. Broiler chicks and pigeons administered 10 and 20 mg diclofenac/kg had visceral gout; however, this was not observed in Japanese quail and mynah. The kidneys and liver were enlarged in all species. Histologically, the kidneys of all species showed acute renal necrosis and the livers had fatty change and necrosis of hepatocytes. The kidneys and liver of broiler chicks and pigeons given 10 and 20 mg/kg diclofenac also exhibited uric acid crystal aggregates (tophi) and associated lesions in the parenchyma.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of administration of lecirelin acetate, hCG and progesterone after AI on ovarian picture, serum progesterone concentrations and first service conception rate in cross-bred cattle. A total of 160 lactating cross bred (Friesian x Sahiwal) cattle were divided into 4 groups after AI. The groups were treated as follows: control (injected i.m with normal saline 2ml, n=40), d 7-LA (injected i.m with lecirelin acetate100 µg, n=40), d 7-hCG (injected with hCG 3300 IU, n=40) and d 7-P 4 (injected i.m with Progesterone 0.5 mg daily for 4 days, n=40) group. The hormonal treatments were given to animals on day 7 after AI. The ultrasonography and blood sampling was done before treatment and then 7 days later. All animals were examined for pregnancy through ultrasonography at 40 ± 1 day after AI. The diameter of SCL on 7 days after treatment was higher (P < 0.01) in group d 7-LA and d 7-hCG group cows as compared to control cows. In contrast, the diameter of SCL in d 7-P 4 treated cows did not differ from control cows. Formation of ACL was observed only in 50 % & 80 % cows in d 7-LA and d 7-hCG group respectively. No ACL was observed in control and d 7-P 4 cattle on day 7 after treatment. The P 4 concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in d 7-hCG treated cattle as compared to control at 7 days after treatment. As compared to 10 percent First Service Conception Rate (FSCR) in controls, an increase (P < 0.05) of 50 percent and 40 percent was observed in each treatment group (d 7-hCG & d 7-LA), non-significant (P > 0.05) difference in FSCR was observed between control and d 7-P 4 group. It was concluded that the use of hCG or LA, 7 days after AI is a beneficial tool to improve conception rate in cross-bred cattle whereas use of parental P 4 post-breeding has no effect on SCL diameter and conception rate.

Orf virus (ORFV) causes an acute, contagious, skin disease of sheep and goats which is economically important. The objectives of this study were to identify ORFV and to explore its pathological and phylogenetic profiles in 350 goats and 91 sheep of 14 districts of Punjab, Pakistan, from July 2020 to July 2021. Skin scrapings (total no of samples=441) of suspected animals were subjected to polymerase chain reactions, phylogenetic analysis and pathological observations. The partial length of GIF/IL-2 gene (408 bp) was successfully amplified in 58/441 samples. Phylogenetic analysis of GIF/IL2 gene showed that the study isolates belonged to ORFV-cluster I, together with the viruses reported in India and China. Pakistan ORFV isolates were shared 97.6-98.7% nucleotide and 97.6-100% amino acid identities with the reference strain (NC_005336). Moreover, Chinese ORFV-isolates were detected unique multiple amino acid substitutions (F11L, Q21H, D27N, I46V, N49S, N82D, D103N, S129G) with study isolates. Naturally infected animals were anorexic, emaciated, dull, and depressed. The macroscopic lesions included multifocal to coalescing, ulceration followed by proliferative papules, pustules, and crust formation on the epidermis of gums, lips, mouth commissure, muzzles, nose and udder. Histopathological examination revealed hyperplasia, anastomosing rete ridges formation and degenerative changes, including spongiosis and vacuolation of epidermal cells. Keratinocytes exhibited eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies with pyknotic and karyorrhexis nuclei. This is the first report on molecular characterization of ORFV from Pakistan, with insight into its pathogenesis and comparative analysis of pathological alterations and genetic diversity between ORFV strains reported in different geographical areas.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) induces colibacillosis, an acute and systemic disease, resulting in substantial economic losses in the poultry sector. This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance pattern associated with frequent virulence gene distribution in APEC O78:K80 that may cause pathological alterations in chickens. The antibiogram profile showed high resistance to erythromycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, ampicillin, and co-trimoxazole, followed by intermediate resistance to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, nitrofurantoin, and doxycycline hydrochloride, and sensitive to amikacin, streptomycin, gentamicin, and colistin. Virulence gene distribution identifies eight (irp-2, iutA, ompT, iss, iucD, astA, hlyF, iroN) genes through a conventional polymerase chain reaction. APEC O78:K80 caused significantly high liver enzyme concentrations, serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in experimental birds. Also, infected birds have hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperglobulinemia. Necropsy examination revealed fibrinous perihepatitis and pericarditis, congested lungs, intestinal ecchymotic hemorrhages and necrotizing granulomatosis of the spleen. Histopathological examination depicted hepatocellular degeneration, myocardial necrosis, interstitial nephritis, intestinal hemorrhages and lymphopenia in the spleen. This study is the first evidence to assess the antibiotic resistance profile linked with virulence genes and clinicopathological potential of APEC O78:K80 in chickens in Pakistan, which could be a useful and rapid approach to prevent and control the disease by developing the control strategies.

Blood and fecal samples of chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), albino pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera), rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were analyzed to check parasitic prevalence. To record parasites these five avian species were placed kept in separate cages at Avian Conservation and Research Center, Department of Wildlife an Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 100 fecal and 100 blood samples for each bird species were inspected to analyze internal parasites. During present study, 17 species of endoparasites 14 from fecal samples and three from blood were examined. Two species of ectoparasites i.e. mite Dermanyssus gallinae 42% and fowl ticks Args persicus 41%were studied. Blood parasites included Plasmodium juxtanucleare 50%, Leucoctoyzoon simond having parasitic prevalence 40%, and Aegyptinella pullorum having parasitic prevalence of 40%. Parasitic species recorded from fecal samples included 6 species of nematodes viz. Allodpa suctoria 2%. Syngamus trachea with parasitic prevalence of 60%, Capillaria annulata 37.5%, Ascardia galli 24%, Capillaria anatis 40% and Heterakis gallinarum 28.3%. Similarly, two species of trematodes viz. Prosthogonimus ovatus having parasitic prevalence of 50% and Prosthogonimus macrorchis 21% were also documented from fecal avian samples . Single cestode species Raillietina echinobothrida having parasitic prevalence of 72% and 3 protozoan species i.e. Eimeria maxima having parasitic prevalence of 21%, Giardia lamblia 41% and Histomonas meleagridis 18% were documented during corpological analysis. In our recommendation, proper sanitation, medication and vaccination of bird’s enclousres are suggested to avoid parasites.