In this investigation, the immune response of goats to two commercial foot-and-mouth disease vaccines (FMDV) was compared. Highest mean antibody titre was observed on days 60 and 21 in goats vaccinated with two doses of algel (group 1) and oil adjuvant (group 2) quadrivalent vaccines, respectively. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in mean antibody titre between the two vaccine groups. However, the antibody titres for type O fell below the protective titres by day 180 and 270 for groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean maternal antibody titre was 0.610 +/- 0.0 immediately after birth. The highest mean maternal antibody titre was observed at 24 h after birth for all serotypes and then steadily declined. The maternal immunity of kids born to the vaccinated does was persistent up to 90 days after birth. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in mean maternal antibody titre between the two groups of goats for all four serotypes throughout the study period. The protective maternal antibody titre for serotype O was maintained only up to 1 week after birth, where for the other three serotypes A, C and Asia1 the protective maternal antibody titre was maintained up to 4 weeks of birth. Oil adjuvant vaccine may be used for control of FMDV in goats and the animals have to be revaccinated after 9 months, whereas the kids must be vaccinated at around 3-4 months after birth. Goats must be included in the FMDV control programmes and the same schedule for cattle can be followed.

Skin scabs and scrapings from 82 dermatitis cases in dairy cattle were subjected to detailed bacteriological, mycological, parasitological and molecular studies. Microscopical examination of Giemsa or Gram's stained smears of scab material from the lesions revealed characteristic gram positive septate branching filaments with typical tram track appearance suggestive of Dermatophilus congolensis in 72 samples (91.5%). Culture of scab materials in sheep blood agar under anaerobic condition yielded typical beta haemolytic colonies of D. congolensis in 75 samples, which were further confirmed by colony morphology, staining characters and biochemical reactions. Molecular confirmation of the isolates was carried out using polymerase chain reaction with primers based on 16S rRNA which yielded specific band of 500bp. The pathogenicity of the isolates was also proved by experimental inoculation into rabbits.

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The present work has been carried out to study the haemato-biochemical profiles of cattle infected with oriental theileriosis. Theileriosis was diagnosed in 30 cross bred cattle by blood smear examination and confirmed by PCR. Whole blood samples were collected from positive animals and were subjected to estimation of haemato-biochemical parameters. Haematological analysis revealed significant decrease in total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin, volume of packed red cells (VPRC) and granulocyte count, significant increase in total leucocyte count (TLC), lymphocyte count, monocyte count and granulocyte count in T. orientalis infected animals. Non-significant changes were noticed in mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Biochemical analysis revealed significant decrease in albumin concentration and significant increase in blood urea nitrogen level in T. orientalis infected animals. The knowledge on alterations in haemato-biochemical profiles of affected animals will help to assess the severity of infection and to make a tentative diagnosis of the condition.

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In the present study efficacy of single intradermal Johnin test, acid fast staining of faecal smear and IS 900 faecal polymerase chain reaction tests was evaluated in 200 goats for detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis. Two hundred goats comprising 150 goats from an organised farm in Trichur district and 50 goats reared under field condition at farmers premise from Malappuram district of Kerala state formed the study population. Faecal smear from all the 200 goats was stained by Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast stain and faecal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for M. avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP); IS 900 was performed on all samples. All the animals were subjected to single intradermal Johnin test. Out of 200 goats screened for paratuberculosis, six goats (3%), 11 goats (5.5%) and 42 goats (21%) were found positive by Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast staining of faecal smear, single intradermal Johnin test and IS 900 PCR respectively. Results of the present study indicate that amplification of IS 900 insertion element was the most specific and sensitive diagnostic detection method. Single intradermal Johnin test and Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast staining did not show any significant difference.