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The objective of this study was to develop baseline topographical data of landmarks for locating kidneys and urinary bladder and to generate sonographic calliper measurements along with dynamic parameters of these organs. Ultrasonography was performed on 50 native adult (Spiti horses and Himalayan hill mules) healthy unsedated equines of either sex. The thickness, character and echo-architecture of these organs were recorded. The right kidney was found from 15th (±1) intercostal space (ICS) extending upto first lumbar vertebra, both in horses as well as in mules. The height of right kidney varied from 112.7 to 118.3 mm (Mean± SE= 115.6±1.01 mm) and its thickness varied from 58.4 to 71.2 mm (Mean± SE= 64.3±2.37 mm). While in mules height of right kidney varied from 90.7 to 109.2 mm (Mean± SE= of 101.1±3.14 mm) and its thickness varied from 47.3 to 56.8 mm (Mean± SE= 52.3±1.57 mm). The left kidney in horses was found between 16th ICS to 2nd lumbar vertebra, while in mules it was found from 16th ICS to 3rd lumbar vertebra. The height of left kidney varied from 87 to 107.8 mm (Mean± SE= 99.0±3.67 mm) and its thickness varied from 49.5 to 53.8 mm (Mean± SE= 51.8±0.72 mm). In mules the height of left kidney varied from 85.5 to 111.4 mm (Mean± SE= 95.3±2.36 mm) and its thickness varied from 43.4 to 55.7 mm (Mean± SE= 50.6±2.53 mm). During transrectal ultrasonography urinary bladder was observed as an oval to round structure in the caudal ventral abdomen, the wall thickness of urinary bladder varied from 2.7 to 2.8 mm (Mean± SE= 2.74±0.02 mm), 2.4 to 2.7 mm (Mean± SE= 2.62±0.05 mm) in horses and mules respectively. Hence detailed ultrasonographic examination of these organs helped us to compile baseline data, which will be helpful in future in management of the affections of these organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted on equids of high altitude to develop baseline topographical data of landmarks, sonographic calliper measurements and dynamic parameters of abdominal organs. Ultrasonography was performed on healthy adult spiti horses and Himalayan mules of either sex. The wall thickness, contractility, character and echo-architecture of these organs were recorded for standardization. The stomach was found between 8th-15th and 8th-14th Inter-Costal Space (ICS) with wall thickness of 4.92 ± 0.23 and 4.24 ± 0.06 mm in horses and mules, respectively. Ascending duodenum was found between 11th-13th and 10th-13th ICS with a wall thickness of 2.0 ± 0.00 and 1.96 ± 0.04 mm in horses and mules, respectively. Descending duodenum was found from 16th and 15th ICS to just caudal to the last rib in horses and mules, respectively. Jejunum was found from 12th (±1) to 17th ICS with wall thickness of 2.04 ± 0.04 and 2.02 ± 0.02 mm in horses and mules, respectively. Detailed ultrasonographic examination of these organs helped to compile baseline data, which will be useful in future in management of the affections of stomach, duodenum and jejunum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector-borne haemoparasitic diseases of migratory small ruminants have been less explored to date. Therefore, transhumant migratory sheep and goats of the Himalayas were molecularly screened for various vector-borne pathogens like Anaplasma, Theileria , Babesia , Anaplasma marginale , Theileria luwenshuni , Theileria orientalis, and Trypanosoma evansi using their specific primers. Out of the 171 animals screened, 73.09% of the animals were infected with Anaplasma spp. and 74.85% of the animals with Theileria spp., while no animals were found infected with Babesia spp. and Trypanosoma evansi. In a quest to identify the species, a few positive PCR amplicons representing Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., and Theileria/Babesia spp. were sequenced. The sequences obtained were further BLAST analyzed to reveal maximum identity with Anaplasma capra (100%), Theileria luwenshuni (99.71%), and Theileria sinensis (98.73%). Among them Theileria luwenshuni was further confirmed with their species-specific PCR and the positive amplicons were sequenced and BLAST analysed to reveal their maximumsimilarity with Chinese isolates rather than Indian isolates. Further, phylogenetic analyses of the resulting sequences were conducted to identify their evolutionary history. It revealed that 1100 bp- amplicons of Theileria spp. were showing maximum likeness to Theileria sp. MK, a non-transforming Theileria. This is the first report of zoonotic Anaplasma capra and Theileria sp. MK in small ruminants from India and it could be mostly due to their transboundary migration history through the Indo-Tibetan border during summer seasons as a part of the traditional migratory system of livestock rearing practice in the Himalayas. The high prevalence of haemoparasites in migratory small ruminants calls for the adoption of effective control measures. • First report of Anaplasma capra , Theileria sp. MK from migratory small ruminants of India. • Anaplasma capra is zoonotic and therefore demands utmost attention. • Theileria sp. MK is a non-transforming Theileria closely related to Theileria orientalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]