Bangladesh Journal of Veterinary Medicine (BJVM)

Evaluation of sperm motility across varying thawing temperatures in Jersy, Holstein Friesian, and Murrah Bulls

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The heating rate during the thawing of frozen semen significantly impacts the functional activation of mitochondria, which affects sperm motility assessment.

Methods: This study examined the effect of thawing temperature on the motility of spermatozoa in cryopreserved semen. A total of 240 semen straws (0.25 ml each) from 24 bulls (8 Jersey, 8 Holstein Friesian (HF), and 8 Murrah breed), aged 2 to 6 years, were used. Semen was collected, analyzed, processed, frozen, and stored in liquid nitrogen using a standard protocol with a tris-citrate-egg yolk extender. Samples were thawed for 30 seconds in a water bath at temperatures T1: 32°C, T2: 34°C, T3: 36°C, T4: 38°C, and T5: 40°C. Sperm motility, progressive motility, fast motility, slow motility, and immotile percentage of the frozen semen were evaluated. A computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA) was used for analysis. The data was entered into MS-Excel and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), with the significance between treatments assessed using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) post hoc test.

Results: Jersey semen showed the best motility percentage at T3 (p<0.05) (T1: 53.025±6.73, T2: 60.01±3.81, T3: 74.33±1.40, T4: 65.59±3.17, T5: 59.92±3.58). HF semen also showed the best motility percentage at T3 (p<0.05) (T1: 60.67±6.31, T2: 55.93±6.31, T3: 76.6±2.28, T4: 72.93±2.10, T5: 57.69±2.28). Murrah semen showed the best motility percentage at T4 (p<0.05) (T1: 56.63±3.93, T2: 58.58±4.34, T3: 77.09±1.59, T4: 82.72±4.03, T5: 72.87±4.00). Progressive motility (%) was highest at T3 for Jersey (52.41±2.97), T3 for HF (56.29±4.65), and T4 for Murrah (63.94±6.37) (p<0.05). Fast motility (%) was highest at T3 for Jersey (12.71±2.04), T3 for HF (18.43±1.63), and T4 for Murrah (12.589±2.74) (p<0.05). Slow motility (%) was lowest at T3 for Jersey (27.8±3.43), T3 for HF (34.23±2.72), and T4 for Murrah (31.32±4.72) (p<0.05). Immotility (%) was lowest at T3 for Jersey (25.73±1.37), T3 for HF (23.4±2.28), and T4 for Murrah (17.27±4.03) (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Thawing at T3 (36°C) enhances motility, progressive motility, and fast motility while reducing slow motility and immotile percentage in Jersey semen. Similarly, thawing at T4 (38°C) improves motility, progressive motility, and fast motility while reducing slow motility and immotile percentage in Murrah semen.

Commercial broiler farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding poultry nutrition and health Management

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of commercial broiler farmers regarding poultry nutrition and health management have a significant impact on the productivity and sustainability of poultry farming. This study was conducted between June and August 2022, involving a total of 150 farms- 75 each from the districts of Kathmandu and Rupandehi in Nepal.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was developed to assess farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to nutrition and health management in commercial broiler farming.

Results: The findings reveal that only 30% of respondents had received training in poultry farming practices, while 73.3% relied on poultry farming as their primary source of income. Despite 56.67% acknowledging good government policies on nutritional feeding, 60% reported inappropriate antimicrobial use in feed formulation. Similarly, 60% admitted to adding antimicrobials to feed at any time to prevent illness in birds. Furthermore, 76.67% admitted to skipping one or two doses of prescribed medication. The study also found that 46.67% of respondents believed that routine feed was sufficient for poultry, while 36.67% thought that the use of probiotics and feed supplements was equivalent. Additionally, 46.67% of respondents added feed additives when birds failed to reach average weight. Likewise, 40% agreed on using probiotics and feed supplements at any age. Although all respondents were aware of who is authorized to prescribe medications, only 73.3% consulted veterinarians.

Conclusion: The study identifies significant gaps between knowledge and practice, particularly in areas such as antimicrobial resistance, feed management, and disease prevention. These findings highlight the need for effective training and targeted policy interventions. The results will help inform educational programs for farmers, aiming to standardize production practices and support the sustainable growth of both the farming community and the poultry industry in Nepal.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. in domestic and stray cats in Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Sheikh Arafatur Rahman, Noorjahan Begum, A. K. M. Anisur Rahman — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Trypanosoma spp. infection is a significant disease affecting both humans and animals, including cats. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Trypanosoma spp. in domestic and stray cats in the Mymensingh district, Bangladesh.

Methods: A total of 36 blood samples were collected from cats (16 males and 20 females), prepared as thin blood smears, and examined under a microscope at the Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Results: Out of the 36 samples, 3 (8.00%) were infected with Trypanosoma spp. Both young cats (<1 year old) and adult cats (>1 year) had an equal infection rate of 8.33% with Trypanosoma spp. The odds of infection were 1.66 times higher in females (10.0%) than in males (6.25%). Trypanosoma spp. was prevalent throughout the year, with rates of 7.6%, 8.33%, and 9.1% during the summer, rainy, and winter seasons, respectively. The odds of infection were 1.1 times higher in the rainy season compared to the summer, and 1.2 times higher in the winter season compared to the summer.

Conclusion: This study suggests that Trypanosoma spp. infection in domestic and stray cats is a persistent issue regardless of age, sex, or season.

Effects of xylazine-ketamine anesthesia with atropine premedication on hematological parameters in puppies

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Background: General anesthesia can alter hematological parameters, influencing clinical interpretation of laboratory results. Understanding these effects in pediatric animals is crucial for safe anesthetic management.

Methods: Nine clinically healthy local-breed puppies, approximately 4 weeks old, were administered atropine (0.05 mg/kg, IV), followed by xylazine (1 mg/kg, IV) and ketamine (10 mg/kg, IV). Blood samples were collected before anesthesia, during anesthesia, and after recovery. Hematological parameters (WBC, Lym%, Gran%, Mid%, RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, PLT, MPV, PDW, PCT, P-LCR, and P-LCC) were analyzed using a Dymind Automated Hematology Analyzer. Data were expressed as mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA, with p-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Statistically significant decreases were observed in RBC (p = 0.0037), HGB (p = 0.0109), HCT (p = 0.0063), MCH (p = 0.0251), RDW-SD (p = 0.0135), and platelet count (p = 0.0072) during anesthesia, followed by partial recovery post-anesthesia. Other parameters, including WBC, lymphocyte percentage, granulocyte percentage, MCV, MCHC, MPV, and RDW-CV, showed no significant variation. The puppies showed induction average 1.49 minutes, duration average 34 minutes, and recovery 76.66 minutes with suitable depth and muscle relaxation.

Conclusion: Xylazine-ketamine anesthesia with atropine premedication induces transient but significant hematological alterations, mainly affecting red blood cell indices and platelet counts in puppies. These findings are important for interpreting hematological results during the perioperative period in pediatric canine patients. The given combination of anesthetics produces suitable anesthesia for major surgery.