1.Seroprevalence and molecular detection of leptospirosis from a dog shelter
Tropical Biomedicine 2016;33(2):276-284
A study on seroprevalence and molecular detection of canine leptospirosis was
carried out in a dog population (randomly selected
n
=80 dogs) from an animal shelter X. All
the dogs in Shelter X appeared clinically healthy. Eighty blood samples were obtained and
their serum were serologically examined using Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) against
10 Leptospira serovars. Plasma samples obtained were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction
(PCR) assay. Three out of 80 dogs (3.8%) tested positive for
L. bataviae
based on MAT at a
titer of 1:80. The seroprevalence of 9 other Leptospira serovars was not evident in this study.
All the dogs tested negative against leptospirosis with PCR assay. In conclusion, canine
leptospirosis was detected in dogs in this animal shelter.
L. bataviae
was identified as the
infecting serovar. To our knowledge, this is the second report of serovar Bataviae infection in
dogs in Malaysia. The 3 dogs in our study could possibly be a source of leptospiral infection
to other dogs and may shed the bacteria into the environment. This serovar is not available in
canine vaccination programs, therefore the dogs are not protected from this disease. Further
investigation is warranted to determine whether the infected dogs are carriers of this serovar.
2.Adjunctive buccal and palatal corticotomy for adult maxillary expansion in an animal model.
My Huy Thuc LE ; Seng Fong LAU ; Norliza IBRAHIM ; Abu Kasim NOOR HAYATY ; Zamri Bin RADZI
The Korean Journal of Orthodontics 2018;48(2):98-106
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the usefulness of adjunctive buccal and palatal corticotomy for adult maxillary expansion in an animal model using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: Twelve adult sheep were randomly divided into two groups (each n = 6): a control group, where no treatment was administered, and a treatment group, where buccal and palatal corticotomy-assisted maxillary expansion was performed. CBCT scans were taken before (T1) and after (T2) treatment. Differences in all transverse dental and alveolar dimensions, alveolar width at crest level, hard palate level, horizontal bone loss, interdental cusp width and inter-root apex were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U-tests. Kruskal-Wallis tests and pairwise comparisons were used to detect the significance of differences among the inter-premolar and inter-molar widths. RESULTS: CBCT data revealed significant changes in all transverse dental and alveolar dimensions. The mean interpremolar alveolar width showed an increase of 2.29 to 3.62 mm at the hard palate level, 3.89 to 4.38 mm at the alveolar crest level, and 9.17 to 10.42 mm at the buccal cusp level. Dental changes in the vertical dimension were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings based on an adult animal model suggest that adjunctive buccal and palatal corticotomy can allow for both skeletal and dental expansion, with the amount of dental expansion exceeding that of skeletal expansion at alveolar crest and hard palate levels by two and three folds, respectively. Therefore, this treatment modality is potential to enhance the outcomes of maxillary expansion in adults.
Adult*
;
Animals*
;
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
;
Humans
;
Models, Animal*
;
Palatal Expansion Technique*
;
Palate, Hard
;
Sheep
;
Vertical Dimension
3.Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Stray Dogs from Various Locations in West and East Malaysia
Malaika WATANABE ; Mohammed Babatunde SADIQ ; Nazrul Iqbal Abdul MULOP ; Konto MOHAMMED ; Puteri Azaziah Megat RANI ; Lau Seng FONG ; Nor Azlina AZIZ ; Juriah KAMALUDEEN ; Siti Zubaidah RAMANOON ; Rozaihan MANSOR ; Tan Li PING ; Sharifah Salmah SYED-HUSSAIN
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2020;58(5):487-492
Toxoplasmosis is caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite; Toxoplasma gondii, which is one of the most important zoonotic parasite worldwide. In dogs, the sexual reproductive cycle of T. gondii is lacking, and the animals are not widely consumed as food, but they are vital in the mechanical transmission of the parasite. However, there is no present data on the exposure of stray dogs to T. gondii in Malaysia. The objective of this serological survey was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies (IgG) and associated factors in stray dogs in East and West Malaysia. Antibodies to T. gondii were determined in serum samples from 222 stray dogs from 6 different states in East and West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia) using an Indirect ELISA. The seroprevalence for T. gondii was 23.4% (Confidence interval: CI 17.8-29.2%). Stray dogs from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur had the highest seroprevalence (32.4%; CI 13.2-45.5%) and lowest in those from Penang and Kedah (12.5%; CI 1.3-23.5%). Gender and breed were not associated with T. gondii seropositivity. However, adult dogs were more likely to be seropositive for T. gondii (OR=2.89; CI 1.1-7.7) compared with younger dogs. These results revealed that T. gondii is prevalent in stray dogs in the studied areas in Malaysia, and indicative of the level of environmental contamination of this parasite especially in urban areas.
4.Effect of Systemic Administration of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor on Rate of Fracture Healing of Bone Defect in Goats as Animal Model
Collin S. K. Looi ; Nurul H. Khairuddin ; Hui Cheng Chen ; Rajesh Ramasamy ; Seng Fong Lau ; Sharifah A. Roohi
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2022;18(No.4):211-217
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) serves as an important cytokine in haematopoiesis; released at both
physiological and pathological conditions by a range of cells. We hypothesized that the systemic administration of
G-CSF would produce an accelerated fracture-healing rate in non-union bone defects; thus, potentially leading to
useful clinical applications. Ten male adult Katjang goats, weighing about 15-26 kilograms were randomly chosen
and a tibial bone defect was induced in each animal. The defect was maintained by internal fixation with a titanium
plate and reinforced by an external fiberglass cast. Post-operative radiographs were performed twice weekly and
radiographic assessments were performed by evaluating the bridging and union measurements through a validated
method. In the treatment group, the time for bridging and union exhibited statistically significant differences when
compared with a control group. The outcomes of the present study establishing a notion that administration of G-CSF
besides inducing haematopoiesis, promotes healing of fractures and non-union bone defects as well.