Development and characterization of a cell line TTCF from endangered mahseer Tor tor (Ham.)

Tor tor is an important game and food fish of India with a distribution throughout Asia from the trans-Himalayan region to the Mekong River basin to Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. A new cell line named TTCF was developed from the caudal fin of T. tor for the first time. The cell line was optimally maintained at 28°C in Leibovitz-15 (L-15) medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The propagation of TTCF cells showed a high plating efficiency of 63.00%. The cytogenetic analysis revealed a diploid count of 100 chromosomes at passage 15, 30, 45 and 60 passages. The viability of the TTCF cell line was found to be 72% after 6 months of cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). The origin of the cell lines was confirmed by the amplification of 578- and 655-bp sequences of 16S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) respectively. TTCF cells were successfully transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter plasmids. Further, immunocytochemistry studies confirm its fibroblastic morphology of cells. Genotoxicity assessment of H?O? in TTCF cell line revealed the utility of TTCF cell line as in vitro model for aquatic toxicological studies.     

Expression and localization of angiopoietin family in corpus luteum during different stages of oestrous cycle and modulatory role of angiopoietins on steroidogenesis,angiogenesis and survivability of cultured buffalo luteal cells

The objective of this study was to document the expression and localization of angiopoietin (ANGPT) family members comprising of angiopoietin (ANGPT1 and ANGPT2), and their receptors (Tie1 and Tie2) in buffalo corpus luteum (CL) obtained from different stages of the oestrous cycle, and the modulatory role of ANGPT1 and ANGPT2 alone or in combinations on progesterone (P₄) secretion and mRNA expression of phosphotidylinositide‐3kinase‐protein kinase B (PI3K‐AKT), phosphoinositide‐dependent kinase (PDK), protein kinase B (AKT), Bcl2 associated death promoter (BAD), caspase 3 and von willebrand factor (vWF) in luteal cells obtained from midluteal phase (MLP) of oestrous cycle in buffalo. Real‐time RT‐PCR (qPCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry were applied to investigate mRNA expression, protein expression and localization of examined factors whereas, the P₄ secretion was assessed by RIA. The mRNA and protein expression of ANGPT1 and Tie2 was maximum (p < .05) in mid luteal phase (MLP) of oestrous cycle. The ANGPT2 mRNA and protein expression was maximum (p < .05) in early luteal phase, decreased in MLP and again increased in late luteal phase of oestrous cycle. ANGPT family members were localized in luteal cells and endothelial cells with a stage specific immunoreactivity. P₄ secretion was highest (p < .05) with 100 ng/ml at 72 hr when luteal cells were treated with either protein alone. The mRNA expression of PDK, AKT and vWF was highest (p < .05) and BAD along with caspase 3 were lowest (p < .05) at 100 ng/ml at 72 hr of incubation period, when cultured luteal cells were treated with either protein alone or in combination. To conclude, our study explores the steroidogenic potential of angiopoietins to promote P₄ secretion, luteal cell survival and angiogenesis through an autocrine and paracrine actions in buffalo CL.     

Gastrointestinal nematode infections of goats in a sub-tropical and humid zone of India

Twelve hundred and twenty-eight goats (Capra hircus L.) from a sub-tropical and humid zone of India were examined for gastrointestinal nematodes. The species encountered in the region were: Haemonchus contortus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Oesophagostomum columbianum, Trichuris globulosa, O. aspersum, and T. ovis. The overall infection rate was 86.8%. Among various species found, H. contortus emerged as the most prevalent, although B. trigonocephalum and O. columbianum were also significantly in evidence. The seasonal fluctuation in infection was assessed by monitoring the faecal egg count of 1638 goats slaughtered during the 1-year period. The maximum values for the prevalence and overall mean eggs g-1 of faeces (EPG) were observed after the heavy rainfall season and remained at a relatively high level from July to December. H. contortus and O. columbianum appear to be of major importance as parasites in the goats of this climatic zone; the role of climatic factors in their prevalence is discussed.     

Genetic diseases of sheep and goats

Congenital malformations and inherited disorders constitute a substantial proportion of the afflictions seen in sheep and goats. Of these, malformations tend to be similar in both species, whereas the genetic diseases encountered to date, with the exception of a few, are different. Of the 28 genetic diseases of sheep and goats described in this review, 60% and 62.5%, respectively, are monogenic disorders. For a majority of the monogenic recessive disorders encountered in these species, the carrier state is not detectable at present, whereas in others, in which a biochemical lesion is known (dermatosparaxis, erythrocyte glutathione deficiency, globoid cell leukodystrophy and glycogen storage disease), the carrier state is detectable with the aid of enzyme and surface protein markers. The latter group and the dominant disorders (anury, cataract, glomerulonephritis, and lethal grey in sheep; gynecomastia and anotia-microtia complex in goats) are easy to eliminate through selective breeding. The polygenic disorders (entropion, epidermolysis bullosa, hereditary chondrodysplasia, and muscular dystrophy of sheep, and udder problems in goats) are more difficult to eradicate, because the mutant genes responsible for these traits generally do not declare themselves until inbreeding brings together a critical concentration to create a health crisis in some, whereas others, which are only short of a few of these mutant genes, might go totally unaffected and therefore undetected. Chromosome defects of the structural nature (translocations) seen in sheep and goats generally create meiotic disturbances, which in a majority of cases lead to subfertility, whereas sex chromosome aneuploids are generally sterile.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Neurological trypanosomiasis in quinapyramine sulfate-treated horses—a breach of the blood–brain barrier?

Trypanosoma evansi infection typically produces wasting disease, but it can also develop into a neurological or meningoencephalitis form in equids. Trypanosomiasis in horses was treated with quinapyramine sulfate, and all the 14 infected animals were recovered clinically. After clinical recovery, four animals developed a neurological form of the disease at various intervals. Two of these animals treated with diminazene aceturate recovered temporarily. Repeated attempts failed to find the parasite in the blood or the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but all of the animals were positive in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The calculation of the antibody index (AI) in the serum and the CSF and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the CSF and brain tissue were carried out to confirm the neuro-infection. We found PCR and AI analyses of the CSF to be useful tools in the diagnosis of the neurological form of trypanosomiasis when the organism cannot be found in the blood or CSF. The increased albumin quotient is indicative of barrier leakage due to neuroinflammation. The biochemical changes in the CSF due to nervous system trypanosomiasis include increases in the albumin quotient, total protein, and urea nitrogen. It seems to be the first report on relapse of the nervous form of trypanosomiasis in equids even after quinapyramine treatment in endemic areas.     

Genetic diversity among pearl millet maintainers using microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity among 70 maintainers and two pollinators of sub-Saharan and Indian origin was studied for simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci using 34 primer pairs. A total of 213 alleles were detected with an average of 6.26 alleles per locus. Polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.05 to 0.96 with a mean of 0.58 for the SSR loci. Mean PIC across the linkage groups and number of alleles in dinucleotide motifs varied significantly. The lowest PIC (0.239) for linkage group 6 indicated comparatively conserved nature of this linkage group. Genetic similarity estimates ranged from 0.05 to 0.73 with an average value of 0.29. This indicated sufficient diversity among the maintainer and pollinator lines. The 72 lines fell in five clusters, and the clustering pattern corroborated with their pedigree and characteristic traits. Pollinator ICMR 356 was more diverse from the maintainer lines analysed, and can be a potential parent for pearl millet hybrid development.     

Comparative efficiency of acid phosphatase originated from plant and fungal sources

A study was conducted to demonstrate the comparative efficiency of acid phosphatase generated by plants or fungi towards the hydrolysis of different organic P compounds present in soil. The results revealed that acid phosphatases were most efficient in the hydrolysis of glycerophosphate followed by lecithin and phytin. The P release increased with increase in enzyme concentration. Acid phosphatase generated from fungal sources showed three times greater efficiency in the hydrolysis of phytin, two times greater efficiency in hydrolysis of lecithin than plant phosphatase. Both sources were at par in hydrolyzing glycerophosphate. The results suggest that acid phosphatase generated from plant and fungal sources is different and microbial acid phosphatase to be more efficient than that from plant sources.     

The implications of land preparation, crop establishment method and weed management on rice yield variation in the rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic plains

The implications of adopting alternative seeding methods for rice and wheat establishment were examined at three geographically separate sites in the rice-wheat system of the Indo-Gangetic plains, across northern India. Rice yields in cultivated plots, established by either wet or dry seeding methods, were evaluated in comparison to yields from zero-tillage plots and under conventional transplanting methods. In the same trials, the effects of crop establishment methods in wheat were assessed both on wheat yields and rice yields. Rice crop establishment methods markedly influenced the emerging weed flora and attainable yields were measured in relation to intensity of weed management. Over four years, average rice grain yields in the absence of weed competition were greatest (6.56 t ha⁻¹) under wet seeding (sowing pre-germinated rice seed on puddled soil), and similar to those from transplanted rice (6.17 t ha⁻¹) into puddled soil, and dry seeded rice after dry soil tillage (6.15 t ha⁻¹). Lowest yields were observed from dry seeded rice sown without tillage (5.44 t ha⁻¹). Rice yield losses due to uncontrolled weed growth were least in transplanted rice (12%) but otherwise large (c. 85%) where rice had been sown to dry cultivated fields or to puddled soil, rising to 98% in dry seeded rice sown without soil tillage. Weed competition reduced multiple rice yield components, and weed biomass in wet seeded rice was six-fold greater that in rice transplanted into puddled soil and twice as much again in dry seeded rice sown either after dry tillage or without tillage. Wheat grain yields were significantly higher from crops sown into tilled soil (3.89 t ha⁻¹) than those sown without tillage (3.51 t ha⁻¹), and also were elevated (5% on average) where the soil had been dry cultivated in preparation for the previous rice crops rather than puddled. The method of wheat cultivation did not influence rice yield. Soil infiltration rates in the wheat season were least where the land had been puddled for rice (1.52 mm h⁻¹), and greater where the soil had been dry-tilled (2.63 mm h⁻¹) and greatest after zero-tillage (3.54 mm h⁻¹).These studies demonstrated at research managed sites across a wide geographic area, and on farmers’ fields, that yields of dry seeded rice sown after dry cultivation of soil were broadly comparable with those of transplanted rice, providing weed competition was absent. These results support the proposition that direct seeding of rice could provide an alternative to the conventional practice of transplanting, and help address rising costs and threats to sustainability in the rice-wheat rotation. Further, analysis of patterns of long-term rainfall data indicated that farmers reliant on monsoon rainfall could prepare fields for dry direct seeded rice some 30 days before they could prepare fields for either transplanting or seeding with pre-germinated seed. Dry, direct seeding of rice contributes a valuable component of an adaptive strategy to address monsoonal variability that also may advance the time of wheat establishment and yield. Whilst the results illustrate the robustness, feasibility and significant potential of direct seeded rice, they also highlight the critical nature of effective weed control in successful implementation of direct seeding systems for rice.     

Community water management to intensify agricultural productivity in the polders of the coastal zone of Bangladesh

Paddy and Water Environment - Most of the lands of the southern coastal zone of Bangladesh are protected from tidal flooding and storm surges by embankments constructed during the 1960s and 1970s,...