Goat farming is important for the livelihood of millions of rural people because it contributes to food security and creation of assets. However, infection of goats with Toxoplasma gondii could be a source of parasite transmission to humans. The information on T. gondii infection of goat was not reported yet in Myanmar. A total of 119 goat serum samples were collected from three cities in the central region of Myanmar for T. gondii antibody survey. With the occurrence value obtained in this first study, a second one, more complete, with larger number (162) of animals and properties, was carried out and the risk factors and prevalence were determined. In both studies the samples were analyzed by the LAT. Of these, 32 (11.4%) samples were showed to be positive. The infection was associated with the presence of cats at the farm (odds ratio [OR] = 4.66, 95% confidential interval [CI] = 1.03–21.06), farming with different animal species (sheep, cattle, and pigs) (OR = 4.33, 95% CI = 1.57–11.94), and farming without good management practices (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.06–0.83). This is the first T. gondii prevalence study in goats in the country.

Cross-sectional surveys were conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs within Nay Pyi Taw area, Myanmar. Meat inspection in three slaughterhouses, ELISA test, and questionnaire surveys were conducted in this study. Three hundred pigs were inspected in slaughterhouses and 364 pigs were randomly selected and examined from 203 households from three townships in Nay Pyi Taw area. The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in meat inspection was 23.67% (71/300). Seroprevalence of T. solium cysticercosis in pigs in the study area was 15.93% (58/364). Significant associated risk factors with T. solium cysticercosis were gender (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.7–5.4), increased age (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.2–4.2), husbandry system (OR = 5.1; 95% CI = 2.4–11.2), feed type (OR = 16.9; 95% CI = 2.3–124.3), not using anthelmintics in pigs (OR = 11.9; 95% CI = 5.0–28.5), not using anthelmintics in owner (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.4–4.4), no hand-washing before feeding (OR = 31.5; 95% CI = 4.3–230.9), and pork consumption of owner (OR = 37.4; 95% CI = 9.0–156.1) in the study area. This is the first report of porcine cysticercosis in Myanmar.

To investigate the bacterial content and risk factors associated with the hygienic quality of raw milk, a cross‐sectional study was conducted in four townships of Mandalay Region, Myanmar. From April to October 2017, bulk tank milk samples ( n = 233) were collected from 233 dairy cattle farms located in Tada‐U, Pyin Oo Lwin, Meiktila, and Patheingyi Townships. From each farm, approximately 100 ml of bulk tank milk was collected and examined for bacterial content. Total bacterial count (TBC) and coliform count (CC) in milk samples were determined using milk agar and violet red bile agar. Of 233 milk samples, 68.2% (159/233) showed TBC higher than 1.0 × 105 cfu/ml, and 78.4% (183/233) showed CC higher than 100 cfu/ml. The mean value of TBC among 233 farms was 2.55 × 107 cfu/ml, ranging from 6.0 × 103 to 3.0 × 109 cfu/ml, whereas the mean value of CC was 1.59 × 105 cfu/ml, ranging from 10 to 8.4 × 106 cfu/ml. TBC tended to increase as CC increased in milk samples. The number of precautionary measures for milking operation, choice of cleaning materials, training experience of the farmers, cleanliness score of milking cows, and CMT scores of milk were significantly associated ( p < 0.05) with TBC in bulk tank milk. Similarly, the number of precautionary measures for milking operation, choice of cleaning materials, training experience of the farmers, cleanliness scores of milking cows, CMT scores of milk samples, herd size, and type of milking practice showed significant association ( p < 0.05) with CC in bulk tank milk. The effects of these potential risk factors should be minimized, farmers should be trained properly, and technical support should be provided, so that the quality of raw milk produced in Myanmar can be improved.

Antimicrobials are used to support livestock health and productivity, but might pose a risk for the development of antimicrobial resistance; in particular, when multiple livestock species are raised together in production systems. On integrated chicken-fish farms, chickens are raised over fish ponds and poultry faeces is excreted into the ponds. We investigated antimicrobial usage and the antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli cultured from poultry faeces on 301 integrated farms in Ayeyarwady Delta of Myanmar. Antimicrobials were used by 92.4% of farmers for chickens, but they were not applied to fish. The most common antimicrobials used were Octamix (amoxicillin and colistin sulfate) on 28.4%, enrofloxacin on 21.0% and amoxicillin on 16% of farms. Overall, 83.1% (152/183) of the E. coli were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. The highest level of resistance was to amoxicillin (54.6%), tetracycline (39.9%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (35.5%) and enrofloxacin (34.4%). Multidrug resistance was identified in 42.4% of isolates. In general, we found similar levels of antimicrobial resistance in non-users of antimicrobials as in users of antimicrobials for more commonly applied antimicrobials. Overall, antimicrobial resistance was lower in chickens on these integrated farms in Myanmar, compared to poultry farms in other countries of South East and East Asia.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Helicobacter pullorum in broiler chickens and their farm environment. Materials and Methods: The ceca from 100 broiler chickens from ten farms were sampled from processing sites or markets. The cecal contents were aseptically collected from each cecum and cultured. The farms were visited, and environmental samples were collected which included water, house flies, floor swabs and soils in chicken houses. Results: H. pullorum was present in 51% of the broilers; 17.5% of the flies were found to carry H. pullorum and Campylobacter spp., 30% of house floors were positive, while all water samples were negative. Conclusion: Flies could have picked up the organisms from the chickens' feces and/or the environment of the chicken houses or they could be one of the sources in the spread of the organisms. This study also showed that broiler chickens are potential reservoirs for H. pullorum and may serve as a source of infection for humans through the food chain.