Potentiation of malathion by other insecticides against Musca domestica

Twenty-seven insecticides, including organochlorine, organophosphorus compounds and carbamates were tried for potentiation of the toxic effect of malathion. Carbaryl, diazinon, fenthion, gamma-BHC, parathion and tetrachlorvinphos potentiated the action of malathion. Fourteen insecticides gave additive effects while seven proved antagonistic. Insecticides which showed potentiation, were further tested by mixing with malathion in the ratios of 1:9, 3:7, 5:5, 7:3 and 9:1. All the five combinations in the six mixtures gave potentiating effects. Maximum potentiation of 17.6 times was observed in 1:9 combination of malathion and gamma-BHC. The proportions in which the insecticides were mixed had a pronounced effect on the toxic effect of malathion.     

Effect of immunotherapy with a saline phenol extract of allogeneic tumour on E-rosette counts in horn cancer-affected cattle

The mean percentage of cells forming rosettes with 2-aminoethyl isothiouronium bromide-treated sheep erythrocytes (EAETRFC) in the peripheral blood of 10 horn cancer-affected cattle (40.05 +/- 2.91) was significantly low in comparison to the value in unaffected control animals (58.61 +/- 1.68). Immunotherapy with a saline phenol extract of allogeneic tumour tissue resulted in a gradual increase in the mean percentage of EAETRFC on each subsequent week. The increase was statistically significant from the second week onwards and on the sixth week, the percentage of EAETRFC in horn cancer affected cattle (56.80 +/- 1.38) closely approximated the value in unaffected controls.     

Epidemiology of ovine helminthiasis in Haryana,India

Tracer lambs were used to study the pasture contamination with infective stages of helminth parasites during one annual cycle in a subtropical climate. Post-mortem worm counts indicated that low infections with Haemonchus contortus occurred throughout the year except in June. However, twenty five or more H. contortus per lamb were recorded in January, April, May and August. Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection was detected throughout the year and 150 or more worms per lamb were recorded during January to May and in August. Anoplocephalids were recorded from the lambs throughout the year but had no seasonal pattern. Low infections with Oesophagostomum columbianum and Trichuris ovis were observed. The faecal egg counts from the permanent flock with whom the tracer lambs were grazed revealed heavy to mild worm burdens throughout the year. Coproculture indicated that H. contortus predominated from the second fortnight of May to December except in the second fortnight of July. Infection with T. colubriformis was more severe from January to the first fortnight of May and in the second fortnight of July. Negligible infections with O. columbianum, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Gaigeria pachyscelis and Dictyocaulus filaria were also observed. Biohythergraphs prepared for H. contortus and T. colubriformis showed differences between observed and expected results. It is suggested that for realistic biohythergraphs related parameters in addition to rainfall and temperature should also be considered.     

Early body weight of five strains of White Leghorn.

1. The means, standard errors and coefficients of variation for body weight at fortnightly intervals from day 1 to day 90 of five indigenous strains of White Leghorn were estimated. 2. The differences between the strain and body weight were significant at all ages while the differences between sex were significant from day 45. 3. Phenotypic correlations between body weight at day 1 with that of day 30, 60 and 90 were 0-237, -0-007 and -0.07. 4. The heritability by paternal half-sib method ranged from 0-32 to 0-54 for body weights from day 1 to day 90.     

Expression and localization of adiponectin and its receptors in ovarian follicles during different stages of development and the modulatory effect of adiponectin on steroid production in water buffalo

Adiponectin is an adipocyte‐derived hormone regulating energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity and recently found to regulate reproduction. The current study was carried out to investigate gene and protein expression, immunolocalization of adiponectin and its receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in ovarian follicles of different developmental stages in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and to investigate the effect of adiponectin on steroid production in cultured bubaline granulosa cells. qPCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were applied to demonstrate mRNA expression, protein expression and immunolocalization, respectively. The results indicate that adiponectin, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 were present in granulosa cells (GC) and theca interna (TI) of ovarian follicles and the expression of adiponectin, AdipoR1, AdipoR2 in GC and AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in TI increased with increase in follicle size (p < .05). Expression of adiponectin was high in small and medium size follicles in TI. The adiponectin and its receptors were immunolocalized in the cytoplasm of GC and TI cells. Further, in the in‐vitro study, GCs were cultured and treated with recombinant adiponectin each at 0, 1 and 10 µg/ml alone or with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at 30 ng/ml) or Insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) at 10 ng/ml for 48 hr after obtaining 75%–80%s confluency. Adiponectin at 10 µg/ml increased IGF‐I‐induced estradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P₄) secretion and FSH‐induced E₂ secretion from GC and also increased the abundance of factors involved in E₂ and P₄ production (cytochrome P45019A1 [CYP19A1] and 3‐beta‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase [3β‐HSD]). In conclusion, this study provides novel evidence for the presence of adiponectin and its receptors in ovarian follicles and modulatory role of adiponectin on steroid production in buffalo.     

Effect of FMD vaccination on semen quality parameters in Karan Fries and Murrah buffalo bulls

Effect of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) vaccination was studied on semen quality parameters of 19 Karan Fries (KF) and eight Murrah (MU) breeding bulls during the period 2002 to 2004 at Artificial Breeding Complex, NDRI, Karnal. A total of non-vaccinated 155 KF and 72 MU bulls' ejaculates were taken as control, while 169 KF and 51 MU bulls' ejaculates, collected after vaccination, were used to study the effect of vaccination stress. The results showed that FMD vaccination had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on ejaculate volume and total volume per day of semen in both KF and MU bulls. Volume of semen increased slightly during post-vaccination period in both the breeds. After FMD vaccination, there was significant (P < 0.01) decrease in mass activity (2.27 ± 0.06 vs. 1.67 ± 0.07 and 2.49 ± 0.09. vs. 1.75 ± 0.10, for KF and MU, respectively), initial motility (56.89 ± 0.03% vs. 44.62 ± 0.02% and 62.26 ± 0.04% vs. 47.08 ± 0.05%, for KF and MU, respectively), sperm concentration (754.19 ± 23.96 vs. 554.14 ± 22.95 × 10⁶/ml and 848.61 ± 33.65 vs. 571.57 ± 39.99 × 10⁶/ml, for KF and MU, respectively), and total sperm output per ejaculate (3,685.94 ± 158.40 vs. 2,781.54 ± 151.70 × 10⁶ and 2,218.75 ± 133.14 vs. 1,582.84 ± 158.20 × 10⁶, for KF and MU, respectively). Application of FMD vaccine had significantly (P < 0.05) adverse effect on most of the seminal attributes during post-vaccination in KF and MU buffalo bulls. So, the spermiograms affected following vaccination suggest that in bovines, the semen collection and preservation should be suspended till normal fertility of sperm is restored to avoid the failure of conception from artificial insemination using such semen.     

Effect of 12-hour road transportation on physiological, immunological and haematological parameters in bulls housed at different space allowances

The effects of transporting Holstein Friesian bulls (n=72; bodyweight 403+/-3.5 kg) for 12h by road were examined. Adrenal, haematological and immune responses, body temperature and performance were recorded. The animals had been previously housed for 96 days at three space allowances (1.2, 2.7 or 4.2m(2) per bull). The bulls were allocated to one of two treatments: T (transport for 12h; n=16 per space allowance) and C (control; n=8 per space allowance). Basal cortisol plasma concentrations and interferon (IFN)-gamma production from cultured lymphocytes did not show any statistically significant difference (P>0.05) following the housing period. Removing bulls from their home pens and walking them to the pre-loading crush facility, loading onto the transporter, and unloading following the 12h road journey, significantly (P<0.001) increased plasma cortisol concentration. The bulls housed at 4.2m(2) had greater (P<0.05) plasma cortisol concentrations than bulls housed at 1.2m(2) at loading, unloading, or on return to the crush holding facility; those housed at 1.2m(2) had greater (P<0.05) plasma cortisol concentrations than bulls housed at 2.7 and 4.2m(2) in their home pens after transport. There was an increased (P<0.05) plasma cortisol response in the T than in the C bulls following adrenocorticotrophic hormone administration. Transport significantly reduced (P<0.05) IFN-gamma production, lymphocyte % and body weight and significantly increased (P<0.05) neutrophils, eosinophils, packed cell volume, red blood cell numbers and haemoglobin. In conclusion, housing bulls for 96 days in a range of space allowances did not affect basal cortisol response or immune function parameters. Whereas transport increased plasma cortisol and reduced the immune response in the short-term, the changes were transient and within normal physiological ranges, suggesting that 12h road transport had no adverse effect on welfare status over the longer term. Furthermore, transport of bulls housed at increased space allowance (4.2m(2)/bull) resulted in a greater plasma cortisol response, albeit still within normal physiological range.     

Comparative therapeutic efficacy and safety of type-II collagen (UC-II), glucosamine and chondroitin in arthritic dogs: pain evaluation by ground force plate

The investigation was conducted on client-owned moderately arthritic dogs with two objectives: (i) to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of type-II collagen (UC-II) alone or in combination with glucosamine hydrochloride (GLU) and chondroitin sulphate (CHO), and (ii) to determine their tolerability and safety. Dogs in four groups (n = 7-10), were treated daily for a period of 150 days with placebo (Group-I), 10 mg active UC-II (Group-II), 2000 mg GLU + 1600 mg CHO (Group-III), and UC-II + GLU + CHO (Group-IV). On a monthly basis, dogs were evaluated for observational pain (overall pain, pain upon limb manipulation, and pain after physical exertion) using different numeric scales. Pain level was also measured objectively using piezoelectric sensor-based GFP for peak vertical force and impulse area. Dogs were also examined every month for physical, hepatic (ALP, ALT and bilirubin) and renal (BUN and creatinine) functions. Based on observations, significant (p < 0.05) reduction in pain was noted in Group-II, III, and IV dogs. Using GFP, significant increases in peak vertical force (N/kg body wt) and impulse area (N s/kg body wt), indicative of a decrease in arthritis associated pain, were observed in Group-II dogs only. None of the dogs in any group showed changes in physical, hepatic or renal functions. In conclusion, based on GFP data, moderately arthritic dogs treated with UC-II (10 mg) showed a marked reduction in arthritic pain with maximum improvement by day 150. UC-II, GLU and CHO operate through different mechanisms of action, and were well tolerated over a period of 150 days.     

Exogenous DNA internalisation by sperm cells is improved by combining lipofection and restriction enzyme mediated integration

1. Three types of exogenous DNA inserts, i.e. complete linearised pVIVO2-GFP/LacZ vector (9620 bp), the LacZ gene (5317 bp) and the GFP gene (2152 bp) were used to transfect chicken spermatozoa through simple incubation of sperm cells with insert. 2. PCR assay, Dot Blot hybridisation and Southern hybridisation showed the successful internalisation of exogenous DNA by chicken sperm cells. 3. Lipofection and Restriction Enzyme Mediated Integration (REMI) were used to improve the rate of internalisation of exogenous DNA by sperm cells. 4. Results from dot blot as well as Southern hybridisation were semi-quantified and improved exogenous DNA uptake by sperm cells through lipofection and REMI. Stronger signals were observed from hybridisation of LacZ as well as GFP specific probe with the DNA from lipofected exogenous DNA transfected sperm DNA in comparison with those transfected with nude exogenous DNA.