Glutathione (GSH) at concentrations of 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mM was added to chilled bull semen to determine its effects on the keeping quality of semen used for artificial insemination (AI). The semen was preserved with egg yolk citrate extender. All samples were stored at 4-8 degrees C for 5 days. Sperm motility and proportion of abnormal acrosome were assessed daily. Sperm motility was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the semen treated with 0.5 mM glutathione than in untreated semen on each day. The optimum sperm motility (>or=50%) for AI was retained significantly (p < 0.01) for 3 days in 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM glutathione treated semen, whereas in 0.3 mM glutathione-treated semen, sperm motility was 46.8% for 3 days. Acrosomal damage was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced after addition of 0.5 mM GSH in the preserved semen. Bull semen can be preserved in chilled condition for 5 days with 0.5 mM GSH with sperm motility above 40% and 12% acrosome abnormality.

The prevalence of snail-borne trematode (SBT) infections in farm animals on the offshore Saint (St.) Martin’s Island of Bangladesh were 68.9% for cattle, 76.7% for buffaloes, 56.3% for goats, respectively. Examination of fecal samples showed that paramphistomes infection was the most common at 50.5% followed by schistosomes at 23.7% and Fasciola at 2.3%. Fasciola infection was found in cattle (1.9%) and buffaloes (16.7%) but not in goats. Schistosome infection in cattle, buffaloes and goats were 31.1, 6.7 and 17.5%, respectively. Prevalence of SBTs was higher in older animals. Thiara tuberculata (Melanoides tuberculata) were found to serve as vector for paramphistomes and Indoplanorbis exustus for schistosomes and paramphistomes, respectively. Our results suggest that SBT and their vector snails are highly endemic on St. Martin’s Island of Bangladesh, and proper attention is needed to control these infections.

The current study was performed to determine the incidence and trends of clinical diseases and disorders in Black Bengal and Jamnapari goats in order to design a set of strategies to be applied for the prevention and control of these problems in this farm. A total of 739 Black Bengal and 285 Jamnapari goats at BLRI goat research farm, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh were included under this study. The study was performed out during the period from January 2012 to December 2014. Diagnoses and records of clinical diseases and disorders were based on pertinent clinical history, clinical findings and laboratory tests. The major clinical diseases and disorders were determined pneumonia (37.44%), diarrhoea (21.22%), lameness (3.01%), mange (2.99%), malnutrition (2.82%), contagious ecthyma (1.93%) and fever (1.85%). In case of seasons, the highest incidence was found during rainy season (2.26%) followed by winter (5.85%) and summer (4.25%); whereas in respect of age groups, the highest incidence was found in growing goat (26.14%) followed by adults (12.15%) and kids (10.93%). So, we may conclude that although some diseases and disorders occurred in the BLRI sheep research farm, the incidence were not high. In addition, on the basis of these findings measures should be taken for further prevention of such diseases and manifestations. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2018, 4(4): 351-361

Glutathione (GSH) 0 (control), 2, 4 and 8 mM was used in the preservation of chilled goat semen. Treated and control samples were kept at 4 -5°C up to seven days. Sperm motility and acrosome abnormality were assessed daily under phase contrast microscope. The sperm motility was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the semen treated with 8 mM GSH. Optimum sperm motility (≥50%) for artificial insemination was retained for three days with 2 and 4 mM GSH and up to four days with 8 mM GSH. Acrosomal damage was significantly (P<0.01) reduced to ≤ 1.0% after addition of 8 mM GSH. It is suggested that GSH may be used as an antioxidant for better preservation of goat semen for artificial insemination. (Bangl. vet.