Susceptibility to tuberculosis: composition of tuberculous granulomas in Thorbecke and outbred New Zealand White rabbits

We sought to characterize the lung cellular immune responses to inhaled Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) of the susceptible inbred Thorbecke rabbit (the genomically sequenced strain, now unavailable) and compare it to outbred, Mtb-resistant, New Zealand White rabbits. Using Mtb CDC1551, we confirmed that the inbred rabbits allowed establishment of infection with this low virulence strain, compared to poor establishment in outbred rabbits. With a more virulent strain, Mtb Erdman, that establishes infection well in both rabbit strains, we analyzed granulomas from rabbit lungs 5 weeks after aerosol infection. The lung granulomas of inbred rabbits had significantly higher frequencies of cells expressing MHC Class II and CD11b, and lower frequencies of CD8+ T cells than the outbred controls. Macrophage-sized cells expressing MHC Class II in inbred rabbit granulomas showed significantly decreased intensity of expression, suggesting impaired maturation. Although the inbred dermal tuberculin reactions were decreased, the in vitro IFN-gamma mRNA responses of hilar node lymphocytes to tuberculin were higher than those of outbred rabbits. Further delineation of the outbred rabbit's resistant immune response to Mtb infection is warranted.     

Management of fractures near the carpal joint of two calves by transarticular fixation with a circular external fixator

A four-ring circular external skeletal fixation device was evaluated for transcarpal fixation of compound fractures in two calves. Case 1 was an eight-month-old female Holstein-Friesian x indigenous breed calf weighing 72 kg, which had a Salter-Harris type II fracture at the distal metaphysis of the right radius/ulna with an open contaminated wound on the medial aspect of the carpus. Case 2 was an 18-month-old crossbred Haryana heifer weighing 105 kg, which had a comminuted fracture at the proximal end of its left metacarpus with severe soft tissue trauma and an open wound on the medial aspect. In both cases, the fractures were repaired with four-ring circular fixators by fixing the proximal two rings in the distal radius/ulna and the distal two rings in the metacarpus. Postoperatively, both calves were treated with analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotic, and the pin-bone interfaces and the open wound were cleaned regularly with povidone-iodine solution. In both animals weight bearing was good to excellent in the immediate postoperative period. The fixator was well maintained and tolerated by the animals until the fractures healed after 45 to 60 days. The movement of the carpal joint was slightly affected when the fixator was removed on day 60, but a follow-up examination after one year showed that both calves had normal functional usage of the limbs.     

Raised and sunken bed land configuration for crop diversification and crop and water productivity enhancement in rice paddies of the north eastern region of India

Paddy and Water Environment - The crop and water productivity (WP) of monocropped rice in lowland of north-eastern region of India is low mainly due to cultivation of long duration variety, meagre...     

In vitro induction of oocyte maturation and steroidogenesis by gonadotropins,insulin, calcitonin and growth factor in an estuarine flat head grey mullet,Mugil cephalus L.

In this article, an in vitro investigation was carried out to ascertain the roles of hormones and growth factor in the inductions of oocyte maturation and steroidogenesis of the postvitellogenic follicles in an Indian estuarine grey mullet, Mugil cephalus L. Oocyte maturation was evaluated by scoring the germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) percent of the postvitellogenic follicles. All the sex [17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnane-3-one (DHP), estradiol 17β (E₂), progesterone (P), 17α-OH progesterone (17-OH-P) and testosterone] and other [bovine-insulin and salmon-calcitonin, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), luteinizing hormone (LH) or hCG+DHP] hormones and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) significantly increased GVBD% in 9 h culture. DHP had a maximum effect (75 %) compared to other effectors. Some effectors (hCG: 82.14 %, LH: 78.94 %, hCG plus DHP: 81.81 %, E₂: 80 % and IGF-I: 74.19 %) including DHP (79 %) further increased GVBD% in 15-h culture. All the hormones (except DHP) and IGF-I increased DHP, E₂ and testosterone productions by the postvitellogenic ovarian follicles in vitro. DHP and testosterone productions were increased with the increase of incubation time from 9 h through 15 h. E₂ production was not further increased beyond 12 h. DHP production was highest by hCG compared to other effectors. The hCG of all the test compounds was most effective in both the induction of GVBD% and steroid production. DHP is the most potent inducer of oocyte maturation in Indian estuarine flat head grey mullet. Involvement of estrogen in mullet oocyte maturation is indicated. hCG, like DHP, is equally potent and induces oocyte maturation via DHP production in vitro. hCG with DHP has synergistic action on oocyte maturation in mullet ovary. Interplay of several hormones (hCG, LH, and probably E₂ and testosterone) and IGF-I on oocyte maturation is suggested in the mullet.     

Ameliorative effect of Lantana camara biochar on coal mine spoil and growth of maize (Zea mays)

The aftermath of surface mining is a wasteland deprived of vegetation, soil structure and biodiversity. The unearthed overburden material is nutrient deprived and can only support the growth of invasive weeds such as Lantana camera which often cause allelopathy. The aim of the study is to prepare biochar from these noxious weeds and use it as an amendment for the mine spoil reclamation. Lantana biochar (LB) was prepared and applied to mine spoil, and Zea mays L. growth on biochar amended mine spoil was monitored for three months. Biochar application in a coal mine spoil using LB is comparatively de novo approach for reclamation practitioners. LB was prepared at varying temperature (250, 350 and 450℃) and residence times (30, 45 and 60 min) and characterized. After characterization, the most recalcitrant biochar at 450℃ for 60 min was chosen for application for the study. A pot trial was conducted to study the effect of LB at 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 g kg⁻¹ dosage on the yield of Zea mays and mine spoil properties. Significant ameliorative effects were observed with increase in organic carbon content (2.9 times), cation exchange capacity (2 times), water holding capacity (0.13 times) and decrease in bulk density (0.5 times) in the mine spoil. The seedling vigour index and germination also increased significantly (p < .05) at 30 g kg⁻¹ biochar treatment compared to control. The study concluded that LB has the potential to remediate coal mine spoils and promote re-vegetation in degraded land.     

Acellular dermal graft for repair of abdominal wall defects in rabbits

Sixteen clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits of either sex were divided into 2 equal groups (I and II) of 8 animals each. Under thiopental sodium (2.5%) anaesthesia a 2 x 3 cm full-thickness abdominal wall defect in the mid-ventral abdominal wall was created and repaired with an acellular dermal graft (ADG) in all the animals of group I (test group). In animals of group II (control group) a full-thickness linear midline abdominal muscular wall incision was made and repaired with a continuous suture pattern using 2-0 nylon.     

Antibacterial activity of Bergenia ciliata rhizome.

The methanol extract of Bergenia ciliata (tested at 200--1000 microg/disc) showed a wide spectrum of concentration-dependent antibacterial activity.     

Detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in domesticated ruminants by recombinant truncated SAG2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Tropical Animal Health and Production - An antibody detection recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for Toxoplasma gondii was laboratory standardized using recombinant...     

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Edwardsiella isolates from different fish species and geographical areas in Asia: Implications for vaccine development

The genus Edwardsiella is one of the major causes of fish diseases globally. Herein, we examined 37 isolates from ten different fish species from India, South Korea and Taiwan to gain insight into their phenotypic and genotypic properties, of which 30 were characterized as E. tarda with phenotypic homology estimated at 85.71% based on API‐20E biochemical tests. Genotyping using 16S rRNA put all isolates together with E. anguillarum, E. hoshinae, E. tarda, E. piscicida and E. ictaluri reference strains in a monophyletic group. In contrast, the gyrB phylogenetic tree clearly separated E. ictaluri, E. tarda and E. hoshinae reference strains from our isolates and put our isolates into two groups with group I being homologous with the E. anguillarum reference strain while group II was homologous with the E. piscicida reference strain. Hence, our findings point to E. piscicida and E. anguillarum as species infecting different fish species in Asia. Homology of the ompW protein suggested that strains with broad protective coverage could be identified as vaccine candidates. This study underscores the importance of combining genotyping with phenotyping for valid species classification. In addition, it accentuates the importance of phylogenetic comparison of bacterial antigens for identification of potential vaccine candidates.     

Cadmium Induced Inhibition of Type-I Iodothyronine 5′-monodeiodinase in Young Cockerel: The Possible Involvement of Free Radicals

The possible involvement of free radicals in the cadmium-induced thyroid dysfunction with special reference to hepatic type-I iodothyronine 5′-monodeiodinase (5′-D) enzyme activity has been studied in cockerels. Cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) administration (i.m. 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg body weight for 30 days) enhanced hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) but, decreased 5′-D activity and serum triiodothyronine (T₃) concentration. Serum thyroxine (T₄) was decreased only by the highest dose indicating that cadmium (Cd) is thyroid inhibitory only at higher doses. Liver appears to be highly sensitive to the metal as disruption of membrane configuration evidenced by increased hepatic LPO and inhibition of 5′-D enzyme activity were observed by all the three doses. We suggest that, Cd-induced inhibition of extrathyroidal conversion of T₄ to T₃, the major source of the generation of latter hormone, is dose dependent and the free radicals generated due to Cd intoxication could be one of the mechanisms involved in the inhibition 5′-D activity in hepatic tissues.