This study was conducted at the Patuakhali Science and Technology University Veterinary Clinic, Babugonj, Barisal during the period from January 2008 to December 2011 to report the four years clinical diseases of ruminants. A total of 1241 clinical cases (793 cattle and 448 goats) were recorded and analyzed. Diagnosis of each of the clinical cases was made on clinical history, clinical signs, and faecal examination for parasitic cases. The clinical cases were primarily categorized into three major groups, namely, (1) Medicinal, (2) Gynaeco-obstetrical and (3) Surgical cases. Medicinal cases constituted highest percentage (cattle 84.1% and goats 81.0%) in comparison to gynaeco-obstetrical (cattle 4.7% and goats 1.1%) and surgical (cattle 11.2% and goats 17.9%) cases. Among the medicinal cases in cattle, highest percentage of cases was recorded with parasitic diseases (50.4%), followed by general systemic states (14.8%) and digestive disorders (14.2%). Other cases were respiratory disorders (5.5%), infectious diseases (4.6%), skin conditions (3.4%), eye disease (3.1%), urogenital disorders (1.5%), metabolic diseases (1.3%) and musculo-skeletal disorders (0.9%). In case of goats, the highest cases was recorded with digestive disorders (22.9%), followed by parasitic diseases (20.4%) and respiratory disorders (16.8%). Other Medicinal cases in goats were eye diseases (13.5%), infectious diseases (11.8%), general systemic states (9.6%), musculo-skeletal disorder (3.3%), skin diseases (0.8%) and nutritional deficiency diseases (0.8%). Among the gynaeco-obstetrical cases, anestrus (59.5%) in cattle and metritis (40.0%) in goats were recognized as the major gynaeco-obstetric problems. Traumatic wounds (cattle - 52.8%, goat - 28.8%) and castration (31.3%) in goats were recognized as the main disorders which required surgical interventions. It may be concluded that a number of diseases with various percentages have been occurring in the Babugonj upazila and this report will help to prioritize any control measures against major disease conditions reported in this study. However, it is required to estimate the prevalence of diseases in the population of that upazila to have more comprehensive information on the diseases of cattle and goat.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v10i1-2.15648

The purpose of the study was to identify the potential risk factors for subclinical mastitis (SCM) in lactating dairy cows in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was carried out on randomly selected 212 smallholder dairy farms of Sadar upazilas of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Satkhira districts of Bangladesh during January to October 2011. The direct interview using a structured questionnaire and physical examination of the cows were done to collect data on 15 variables. Milk samples collected from study cows were subjected to California Mastitis Test (CMT). The diagnosis of SCM was based on the results of CMT and physical examination of udder and milk. The bivariable followed by multivariable analysis was done using SPSS 17.0. Of the total cows examined, 20.2 % had subclinical mastitis. In bivariable analysis, eight risk factors were identified. However, in the final model of multivariable analysis, four potential risk factors were identified. These were history of previous clinical mastitis (odds ratio (OR) 10.51, p<0.001), pendulous type of udder (OR 2.26, p=0.008), no grass feeding (OR 1.84, p=0.039), and body condition score (BCS) 2.5 or less (OR 7.25, p=0.054). Four different factors were significantly associated with the occurrence of subclinical mastitis, which need to be considered in the control of the disease. However, particular emphasis should be given on grass feeding and BCS because these traits can be modified or improved to allow prevention of SCM.

Escherichia coli is known as one of the most important foodborne pathogens in humans, and contaminated chicken meat is an important source of foodborne infection with this bacterium. The occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec), in particular, in chicken meat is considered a global health problem. This study aimed to determine the magnitude of E. coli, with special emphasis on ESBL-Ec, along with their phenotypic antimicrobial resistance pattern in frozen chicken meat. The study also focused on the determination of ESBL-encoding genes in E. coli. A total of 113 frozen chicken meat samples were purchased from 40 outlets of nine branded supershops in five megacities in Bangladesh. Isolation and identification of E. coli were done based on cultural and biochemical properties, as well as PCR assay. The resistance pattern was determined by the disc diffusion method. ESBL-encoding genes were determined by multiplex PCR. The results showed that 76.1% of samples were positive for E. coli, of which 86% were ESBL producers. All the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Resistance to 9–11 and 12–13 antimicrobial classes was observed in 38.4% and 17.4% isolates, respectively, while only 11.6% were resistant to 3–5 classes. Possible extensive drug resistance (pXDR) was found in 2.3% of isolates. High single resistance was observed for oxytetracycline (93%) and amoxicillin (91.9%), followed by ampicillin (89.5%), trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, and pefloxacin (88.4%), and tetracycline (84.9%). Most importantly, 89.6% of isolates were resistant to carbapenems. All the isolates were positive for the blaTEM gene. However, the blaSHV and blaCTX-M-2 genes were identified in two ESBL-non producer isolates. None of the isolates carried the blaCTX-M-1 gene. This study provided evidence of the existence of MDR and pXDR ESBL-Ec in frozen chicken meat in Bangladesh, which may pose a risk to human health if the meat is not properly cooked or pickled raw only. This emphasizes the importance of the implementation of good slaughtering and processing practices by the processors.

An investigation was undertaken to determine the general clinical prevalence of diseases and disorders in cattle and goats at the Upazilla Veterinary Hospital, Mohammadpur, Magura during the period from January to December 2010. A total of 536 clinical cases (327 cattle and 209 goats) were recorded and analyzed. Diagnosis of each of the clinical cases was made on general examination, physical examination, clinical examination, microscopic examination and using common laboratory techniques. The clinical cases were divided into three groups on the basis of treatment required viz. (1) Medicinal, (2) Gynaeco-obstetrical and (3) Surgical cases. Among the three types of ruminant cases, medicinal cases constituted highest percentage (cattle 86.5% and goats 90.4%) in comparison to gynaeco-obstetrical (cattle 6.1% and goats 0.9%) and surgical (cattle 7.3% and goats 8.6%) cases. Among the medicinal cases, gastrointestinal nematodiasis (cattle 37.8% and goats 19.6%), diarrhoea (cattle 13.4% and goats 19.6%), fascioliasis (cattle 12.4% and goats 1.6%), paramphistomiasis (cattle 8.8% and goats 2.6%), fever (cattle 7.8% and goats 12.7%) were recorded major disease problems in cattle and goats. Among the gynaeco-obstetrical cases, retained placenta (cattle 30% and goats 50%) and repeat breeding (cattle 70% and goats 50%) were recorded as major gynaeco-obstetrical problems in cattle and goats. Abscess (cattle 45.8% and goats 5.6%), myiasis (cattle 20.8% and goats 20.8%), navel ill (cattle 12.5), urolithiasis (cattle 20.8% and goats 44.4%) and overgrown hoof (goats 33.3%) and gid disease (goats 5.6%) were recognized as the main disorders which required surgical interventions. It may conclude that a number of diseases have been occurring in the Mohammadpur upazila and this report may help to develop control strategies against major diseases reported in this study.

Infections by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are continuously expanding within the community. Chicken meat is usually contaminated by MRSA, and this contaminated chicken meat is an important source of foodborne infections in humans. In this study, a cross-sectional supershop survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of MRSA in 113 domestic frozen chicken meat samples purchased from nine branded supershops available in five divisional megacities of Bangladesh. The study also focused on the determination of methicillin resistance gene in MRSA isolates. S. aureus was identified by standard culture-based and molecular methods, and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. MRSA was screened by cefoxitin disk diffusion test. Methicillin resistance gene was identified by PCR. Of samples, 54.9% were positive for S. aureus, and, of these, 37.1% isolates were identified as MRSA. All the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR): 52.2% were resistant to 6–8 antimicrobial classes, and 47.8% isolates to 9–12 classes. Three (3.2%) isolates of S. aureus were possible extensively drug resistant. The highest rates of resistance were observed against cefoxitin (100%), followed by nalidixic acid, ampicillin and oxacillin (97.7%), colistin (91.3%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and amoxicillin (87%), penicillin-G and cloxacillin (82.6%), oxytetracycline (78.3%), and cefixime (73.9%). Screening of methicillin resistance gene revealed that 43.5% isolates of MRSA were positive for mecA gene. The high prevalence of MDR MRSA in frozen chicken meat samples in this study emphasizes the need for better sanitary education of food handlers in hygienic practices focusing on their potential role as reservoirs and spreaders of MRSA.

Salmonella is an important foodborne pathogen that causes public health problem globally, and chicken meat is considered as an important reservoir of Salmonella dissemination to humans. Furthermore, the increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella has intensified the problem. This study aimed at estimating the burden of Salmonella carrying extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and their AMR pattern in 113 domestic frozen chicken meat samples purchased from supershops available in five divisional megacities of Bangladesh. The study also focused on the determination of β-lactamase-, and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance-encoding genes. All samples were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella using selective media and PCR assay. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by disk diffusion test, and ESBL screening was performed by double disk synergy tests. Resistance genes were detected using multiplex PCR. The results showed that 65.5% samples were positive for Salmonella spp., of which, 58.1% isolates were ESBL producers. All the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Resistance to both 3–5 and 6–8 antimicrobial classes was observed in 40.5% isolates, while 17.6% were resistant to 9–11 classes, and 1.4% isolates to 12–15 classes. The highest rates of resistance were observed against oxytetracycline (100%), followed by trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (89.2%), tetracycline (86.5%), nalidixic acid (83.8%), amoxicillin (74.3%), and pefloxacin (70.3%). Notably, 48.6% of isolates demonstrated resistance to imipenem. One (1.4%) isolate was possible extensively drug resistant. All the isolates were positive for the blaTEM gene while 2.7% were positive for blaCTX-M-1 and 20.3% for blaNDM gene. The prevalence of qnrA and qnrS genes was 4.1% and 6.8%, respectively. This study shows that ESBL-producing Salmonella spp. are widespread in frozen chicken meat in Bangladesh, which puts greater responsibility on food processors, and policy makers to ensure food safety.

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Background and Aim: Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is one of the most prevalent diseases of dairy cows, and somatic cell count (SCC) is widely used to determine SCM and milk quality. However, setting the threshold of SCC is very important. This study aimed to determine the cow-level threshold of SCC to differentiate milk of SCM affected cows from normal milk in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) along with other characteristics of different thresholds of SCC were determined considering the bacterial culture as the gold standard test. Three definitions of intramammary infection (IMI) were set based on the group of pathogens involved. Five categories of SCC thresholds were considered for analysis. Results: Se and Sp of thresholds of SCC greatly varied as definitions of IMI changed. Irrespective of SCC thresholds, Se increased when isolation of major pathogens included in IMI definitions. Se decreased when SCC thresholds increased (from 100 to 300 × 103 cells/mL) for all IMI definitions and ranged from 60.6% to 20.3%. The highest Se was found at low SCC threshold (100 × 103 cells/mL), which resulted in less false-negative outcome. On the other hand, Sp increased with the increment of SCC thresholds giving rise to a less false-positive outcome. Conclusion: The cow-level SCC threshold of 100 × 103 cells/mL was found appropriate to identify subclinical IMI of dairy cows.