Veterinary Pathology

Due to high monetary turnover in business, white pigeon keeping for game purposes is gaining more popularity in Punjab. Overcrowding and poor management by undertrained naive farmers make these birds more susceptible to diseases not known so far in this region. A farmer reported that about a hundred pigeons were unable to feed properly and regurgitate feed. Birds lost body condition gradually, and three among these died. Both alive and dead pigeons were presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex (VCC) for detailed examination. All these pigeons were found to be cachectic with wasting of breast muscles. On necropsy, no significant gross lesions were recorded in most of the visceral organs, except mottling of the liver. However, in the oral cavity, gray Turkish towel-like lesions were seen at the opening of the pharynx which continued into the larynx and proximal esophagus. Microscopic examination of material scrapped from lesions revealed a large number of budding yeast-like organisms and pseudohyphae, suggestive of Candida spp. Histologically, marked necrosis and sloughing of oral and esophag e a l m u c o s a l ep i t h e l i u m w i t h t h e p r e s e n c e o f pyogranulomatous inflammation containing a large number of Candida organism were observed. To the authors' knowledge, there seems to be no outbreak of thrush in pigeons in Punjab previously.

The case of a Murrah buffalo of five years and four month of age was presented with a medium sized growth on the skin close to the lateral canthus of the left eye, thereby interfering the natural movement of eyelids. Due to the location of tumor close to the eye, surgical removal was preferred as the treatment of choice. The excised tumor mass was subjected to detailed histopathological analysis. Detailed microscopic evaluation of hemotoxylin eosin stained tissue sections revealed many mature ganglion cells intermixed with neuromatous cells and nerve fibers. On the basis of these gross and histopathological findings, the tumor was diagnosed as cutaneous ganglioneuroma, a rarely encountered tumor in cattle.

Background: Reverse pharmacology for drug development has been highly productive and cost-effective in recent past as it is based on the documented therapeutic effects of plants in ancient texts. Afrodet Plus ® is formulated for the treatment of male infertility, which contains ancient herbo-minerals. Its effi cacy and safety are validated through this animal study in reverse pharmacology mode. Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate effi cacy and safety of an Ayurvedic formulation Afrodet Plus ® in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: Twelve male rats (Holtzman) between 8 and 10 weeks of age were randomly selected and animals were assigned to a control and two treatment groups. Dosing was performed daily. Various parameters such as weekly body weight, hematology, serum testosterone levels, epididymal sperm count, and effi ciency of Daily Sperm Production (DSP) were evaluated. Results: It was found that epididymal sperm count had signifi cantly increased in both low-dose (+27.39%) and high-dose (+40.5%) groups as compared to control group. The DSP also showed an increase of 43.7% at high dose of 180 mg/kg body weight as compared to the control group. An increase in sperm motility and especially progressive motility was observed when evaluated by Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer. Histological evaluation of testicular tissue for spermatogenic index revealed that the index had increased in treatment group as compared to control group. Conclusion: This study revealed that oral administration of Afrodet Plus® resulted in signifi cant increase in DSP in the testis along with increase in epididymal sperm count and progressive motility as compared to control group without producing any treatment-related adverse effects. These fi ndings provide the documentary evidence that the use of Afrodet Plus® at 90 and 180 mg/kg body weight is effective and safe for the treatment of male infertility especially to improve sperm count and progressive motility.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine target organ safety of "Immuforte" to establish relationship between dose or exposure and response and also to identify potential parameters for monitoring adverse effects of "Immuforte" in clinical studies, if any. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 males and 40 females were randomly assigned to the four groups, namely group I (vehicle control; gum acacia), group II (120 mg/kg BW of Immuforte in gum acacia), group III (360 mg/kg BW of Immuforte in gum acacia), and group IV (600 mg/kg BW of Immuforte in gum acacia) consisting of 10 males and 10 females in each group. Additionally, a recovery group (600 mg/kg BW of Immuforte in gum acacia) containing 5 males and 5 females was included. Results: The results showed significant decrease in percent lymphocyte count of high and mid dose groups as compared to control group. The percent neutrophil counts in all the three treated groups of male and female rats were found to be significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). In females MCV values in low dose and mid dose were significantly higher as compared to control (P < 0.05). The males from low dose group showed significant decrease in total serum protein, globulin, electrolytes, direct bilirubin, creatinine levels, whereas in mid dose group along with albumin, globulin. A significant decrease in AST and cholesterol was observed. In females, significant decrease was observed in total protein and globulin of low dose and mid dose of Immuforte-treated rats (P < 0.05). Though few hematological and biochemical parameters were different from control group, no does related response was observed and further, all these values were comparable with historical control data of the colony. Terminal body weight, organ weight, gross, and histopathology did not reveal any toxicity-related any adverse effects. Heavy metal analysis of the blood samples collected from terminally sacrificed animals did not show presence of heavy metals viz. lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As). Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrated that Immuforte does not cause any observable toxicity at doses used in the study when administered for the period of 90 days and is safe for the human use and thus, Immuforte could be used safely for therapeutic use in humans.

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Objective: The present investigation describes in vivo dermal absorption and sub acute dermal toxicity (28 days) study of essential oil from Blumea eriantha DC (Compositae). Methods: The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation using Clevenger type apparatus. The dermal absorption studies were conducted in rabbits at dose of 15% (v/v) while sub acute toxicity was carried out in adult Holtzman rats at doses of 3%, 9% and 15% (v/v). The in vivo dermal absorption of essential oil was examined by means of Head space GC MS. Results: The in vivo dermal absorption did not show presence of any essential oil component in the rabbit plasma samples. Further the sub acute treatment with essential oil did not show significant differences in the body weight, food consumption, hematological and biochemical parameters examined in both female and male groups. Necropsy and histopathological examination did not reveal any treatment related changes in treated groups. However, during the first w...