Michael Diptee

The University of the West Indies at Mona · School Of Veterinary Medicine

The study was conducted to determine the efficacy of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (RB51) vaccine in preventing abortion in pregnant water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) experimentally challenged using the intravenous route, with a local pathogenic strain of B. abortus biovar 1 (Trinidad 1). Thirty-two female water buffalo calves aged 6-10 months were ra...

The objectives of this study were to (a) determine the number of water buffaloes/buffalypso (WB) in Trinidad, (b) to identify the constraints via an open ended questionnaire, to WB production faced by private farmers and c) to update on the present status of brucellosis in the country. The survey was conducted in 2012 to determine the number of Wat...

The objectives of this study were to (a) determine the number of water buffaloes/buffalypso (WB) in Trinidad, (b) to identify the constraints via an open ended questionnaire, to WB production faced by private farmers and c) to update on the present status of brucellosis in the country. The survey was conducted in 2012 to determine the number of Wat...

Cows (n = 21), dried off for a minimum of 45 days, and nulliparous heifers (n = 26), at ages >18months old, were placed on a 12-day Lactation Induction (LI) protocol. One group of animals (including both cows and heifers) received 3-minute mammary gland stimulation, along with the LI protocol. Another group, again including both cows and heifers, r...

Polyethylene glycol (PEG), a phenol binding agent has been used extensively to measure the biological activity of tannins in forage species. The optimum inclusion rate of PEG, per unit weight of sample varies from species to species. Determining optimum inclusion levels can pre-vent wastage and reduce the cost of diagnosing the biological activity...

In vitro ruminal protein degradation characteristics of protein supplements represent an accurate measure of the quality of protein for ruminant animals. As such, crude protein disappearance of Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Trichanthera gigantea leaves, which are potential sources of supplemental protein for ruminants, was determined...

Thirty-two water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves aged 6-10 months were used to evaluate serological responses to Brucella abortus strain RB51 (RB51) vaccination in a dose-response study and to compare the use of two selective media for the isolation of RB51. The animals were randomly divided into three treatment groups. Groups I-III received the r...

Grasses in the tropics are generally low in nitrogen (N) and this tends to negatively affect their utilization as ruminant feeds. Protein supplementation using tree forage leaves has the potential to increase the feeding value of grasses and animal productivity. The utility of tree leaves as protein supplements varies with chemical composition, whi...

The water buffalo is an important domestic animal worldwide, and the local Buffalypso variety was developed in Trinidad to have improved beef qualities. Brucellosis was diagnosed in Trinidad and Tobago during 1998 in both cattle and domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) populations. Brucellosis in the latter species is caused by infection with B...

One hundred and seven dairy cattle (Group 1, 74 animals ≥ 20 months, and Group 2, 33 animals ≤ 20 months) from a model cattle farm at the University Field Station, in Trinidad, were tested for the presence of antibodies to the gp51 Bovine Leukaemia Virus (BLV) antigens using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were compar...

Serological and bacteriological responses to Brucella abortus biovar 1 following vaccination with B. abortus strain RB51 (RB51) were evaluated in thirty domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) randomly divided into five treatment groups. Groups I to V received, respectively, the recommended dose (RD) of RB51 vaccine once, RD twice 4 weeks apart, d...

Thirty water buffalo were obtained from a brucellosis-free farm in order to evaluate antibody responses, bacterial clearance and safety to Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccine in a dose response study. The animals were randomly divided into five treatment groups. Groups I-V received the recommended dose of RB51 vaccine (RD) once, RD twice 4 weeks a...

Thirty water buffalo, obtained from a brucellosis-free farm, were used to evaluate cell-mediated immune responses and bacterial clearance in response to vaccination with Brucella abortus strain RB51 (RB51) in a dose-response study. The animals were randomly divided into five treatment groups. Groups I--V received the recommended dose (RD) of RB51 v...

Thirty-two young domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) were obtained from a brucellosis-free farm to determine effectiveness of RB51 vaccination for prevention of Brucella infection under natural-exposure conditions in Trinidad. Study animals (20 males and 12 females 5-20 months old) were assigned to vaccination or control groups, using a block...