Abstract

The effect of different bedding materials on the performance was studied in eighteen adult female broiler rabbits in three kindlings at Small Animal House, Veterinary College Bangalore. Based on bedding material, rabbits were divided into coconut coir group (T1), ragi straw (T2) and wire mesh group without any bedding material (T3). Litter size and litter weight at birth were6.22±0.37 and 246.30±10.74 in T1 group, 5.66±0.37 and 223.70±11.49 in T2 group and 5.77±0.27 and 224.80±8.242 in T3 group respectively. The average litter size and weight at weaning were 5.72±0.28 and 1488±38.73 in T1 group, 4.94±0.26 and 1202±35.45 in T2 group and 4.50±0.27 and 991±39 in T3 group respectively. The highest litter size and weight at weaning were recorded in T1 group which was significantly different (P<0.05) from other two groups. The results indicate that coir can be suitably used as a low-cost bedding material alternative to ragi straw.

Abstract

Bovine mastitis in an economically important disease of dairy cattle and caused by multi etiological factors. In the present study, milk viable bacterial count in mouse mastitis induced by Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. chromogenes, S.haemolyticus and S. aureusisolated from apparently normal bovine milk was studied. The 2 x 10⁴CFU organisms in 50 µl per teat were inoculated through intramammary route in 4^th and 5^th pairs of abdominal mammary gland in mice. The mouse milk ranging from 50 to 200 µl per mice wascollectedat 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs after intramammary inoculation. The milk was diluted with sterile PBS and subjected to bacterial countby pour plate method. The viable bacterial count in mice milk showed significant (P<0.05) increase in bacterial colonies at 12, 24, 48 and 72hrs after S. aureus infection in mice.The three coagulase negative staphylococci(CNS) species showed initial increase in bacterial counts at 12 and 24 hrs but declined from 48 to 96 hrs after IMI in mice. Thus, CNS species can increase the mice viable bacterial count moderately but ten to fifteen fold increase was observed in S. aureus infected mice mammary gland.This indicated the subclinical nature of CNS intramammaryinfection in mice and also the host ability to overcome and eliminate the CNS infection. Mouse is a suitable model to study coagulase negative staphylococcus species induced bovine subclinical mastitis.

Abstract

Health monitoring in laboratory animals provides health status of the colony and helps in providing clean animals which plays a pivotal role in the outcome of the experimental results. The assessment of microbial status of the laboratory animals is considered as part of the animal care program. The primary objectives of the survey included were as follows: a) To understand the health status of the animals and health monitoring programs in India, b) To create a platform to share the ideas and practices followed among the laboratory animal care professionals, c) To provide solution to uplift the standards of these programs. The institutions that participated in this program were approved by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision on Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) and some of them certified by Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) of the National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority of Dept.of Science and Technology, Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The response from each institution was obtained unanimously and the compiled results were maintained confidentially prior to disclosure in an appropriate forum. The responses showed that most of the institutions were following health monitoring programs and are required to harmonize testing methods and frequency based on the duration of experiments as well as the integrity of the facility.

Abstract

Contagious agalactia is a disease predominantly of milking sheep and goats caused mainly by Mycoplasma agalactiae, clinically manifested as mastitis, arthritis, keratoconjunctivitis and pneumonia. Pathological changes in the mammary gland of rabbits following intra-mammary inoculation of M. agalactiae were studied. Clinical mastitis developed within 24 hpi. It was initially acute but became chronic by the end of the experiment at 9 dpi. The disease was characterized by atrophy of the infected mammary glands, resulting in marked agalactia. Histopathology revealed that the mastitis was acute and purulent initially, followed by infiltration of mononuclear cells with fibroplasia in the interacinar tissue, and later by massive fibrosis by 9 dpi.

Abstract

Bedding and nesting material provided in cages for laboratory rats has important consequences on welfare, directly through the comfort and utility in behaviour such as nest building, and indirectly through properties such as air quality. A study was conducted at Small Animal House, Veterinary College, Bangalore to find out effect of different bedding materials on the reproductive performance of laboratory rats. Thirty Wistar female rats were divided into three groups and subjected to the different bedding material used – paddy husk (PH), corncob (CC) and wood shavings (WS). Litter size and litter weight were recorded at birth and at weaning (day 21). Bedding material significantly (P<0.05) influenced litter size at birth, where it was significantly higher in WS (8.06±0.31) and PH (8.03±0.31) than in CC (6.8±0.3). Litter weight was higher in WS at all times, though not significantly (P>0.05) different from the other groups. The results indicate that wood shavings and corncob may be suitably used as alternative to other bedding materials for laboratory rats.