1.Toxoplasma gondii infection in native village chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Selangor and Melaka, Malaysia
Sabri, A.R. ; Hassan, L. ; Sharma, R.S.K. ; Noordin, M.M.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(3):604-609
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii
which affects human and animals. Village chickens (Gallus domesticus) most commonly
known as Ayam Kampung or free-range chickens, have been suggested to play a role in the
epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. This study determines the presence of T. gondii in the village
chicken populations in two states of Malaysia. A total of 50 serum samples from the chickens
from Selangor (n=20) and Melaka (n=30) were collected and analysed using commercial
serological kits. T. gondii antigen was detected in 20% (Selangor 30%; Melaka 13%) samples
using ELISA test and anti-T. gondii antibody was detected in all positive ELISA samples using
the indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT). Histopathological examination revealed tissue
changes such as inflammation and degeneration in brain and liver of seropositive chickens.
This is the first report of T. gondii infection in the village chickens in Malaysia.
2.Molecular detection of Haemophilus parasuis serotypes 4, 5 or 12 and 13 in Peninsular Malaysia
Lee, C.Y. ; Ooi, P.T. ; Zunita, Z. ; Noordin, M.M.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(2):482-487
Although the economic importance of Haemophilus parasuis infection causing
Glasser’s disease is prevalent throughout pig farms in Peninsular Malaysia, there is a
dearth of knowledge on its actual nature. In this study, a multiplex PCR was performed to
screen for three major predominant virulent strains of H. parasuis, which are serotypes 4,
5 or 12 and 13. A total of 175 tissues or bodily fluid samples of various parts were collected
from diseased animals from October, 2016 to February, 2018; with total of 62.9% positive
detection of H. parasuis. The highest detection was found to be in the pericardial sac
fibrin (90.9%) followed by pleural fibrin, lung, pleural fluid, tonsil, pericardial sac, peritoneal
fluid, abdominal fibrin, joint fluid, brain and pericardium. Serotype 13 was the highest
(40/110) followed by serotype 4(37/110), serotype 5(31/110) and 12 samples were nontypable
(12/110). The presence of untypable serotype also drives to further identification
of other serotypes in Malaysia.