An outbreak of duck viral enteritis (duck plague) in domestic Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domesticus) in Illinois.

Duck viral enteritis (DVE) was diagnosed in an outbreak of the disease in a resident population of Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domesticus) on a privately owned multispecies game bird production facility in Illinois, where it claimed 625 ducks. This disease condition had not been reported previously in domestic ducks in Illinois. Although other varieties and age groups of domestic waterfowl (i.e., black ducks, rhumen ducks, Pekin ducks, ducklings, and geese) were present on the game bird farm, the morbidity and mortality (100%) in this epornitic was solely limited to adult ducks of the Muscovy lineage. The clinical signs in the affected ducks were lethargy, diarrhea, dehydration, and death within 2-3 hr of onset of symptoms. Gross pathologic changes were nonspecific and included ecchymotic hemorrhage, effusion of fluid and blood within body cavities reflective of an acute systemic infectious disease. Light microscopic findings were necrosis of primarily digestive lining epithelium and variable lymphohistiocytic infiltration within mucosal and serosal connective tissues. Intranuclear inclusions resembling characteristic herpetic (i.e., Cowdry type A) inclusions were observed primarily in the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive tracts; liver; and spleen. Esophageal candidiasis, bacteriosis, and systemic Pasteurella anatipestifer infections, thought to be concurrent or opportunistic infections, were present in several ducks. DVE virus was demonstrated in infected Muscovy duck embryo fibroblast cells by direct DVE virus-specific fluorescent antibody staining.     

Development of interspecific somatic hybrid cell lines in cultivated jute and their early characterization using jute chloroplast RFLP marker

A strong sexual incompatibility barrier that exists between the two cultivated jute species, Corchorus capsularis and Corchorus olitorius, limits the scope for improvement through genetic introgression. Protoplast fusion was carried out to generate interspecific hybrid cell lines. Cotyledonary cell protoplasts of C. capsularis and anthocyaninpigmented hypocotyl protoplasts of C. olitorius were used in the fusion experiments, which appeared to be visually useful in the early selection of the fused products. A chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) marker was developed in jute, which showed species‐specific hybridization patterns with EcoRI‐digested total genomic DNA of C. capsularis and C. olitorius. This cpDNA marker was used in the characterization of the somatic hybrid cell lines at their early stages of growth. Evidence for the presence of both types of cpDNA in the hybrid cell lines was obtained when the total genomic DNA of 4‐ to 7‐month‐old hybrid cell lines was challenged with the chloroplast DNA marker through Southern analysis. It was shown that the early segregation of the parental chloroplasts did not occur in jute, although this is common in other plant species. The hybrid nature of the fused cell lines could also be identified through peroxidase isozyme analysis. Isozyme banding patterns were complex and varied among the hybrid cell lines.     

Attempted immunisation of crossbred calves (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) by repeated natural attachment of ticksHyalomma anatolicum anatolicum Koch (1844)

Summary Crossbred calves (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) were repeatedly infested with the ixodid tick,Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. The parameters of engorgement, pre-oviposition period, oviposition period, engorged weight, egg batch weight, and per cent hatch of eggs all showed statistically significant differences between first to tenth infestation. Only the time to engorgement did not change. It is concluded that repeated infestations of this tick stimulate acquired resistance.

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Resumen Terrneros cruzadosBos taurus × Bos indicus se infestaron de manera natural. Con la grrapata ixodes,Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. Los parámetros medidos de ingurgitación, período de pre-oviposición, período de oviposición, peso de ingurgitación, peso del bache de huevos puestos y el porcentaje de eclosión de los mismos, presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la primera y décima infestación. Lo único que no cambió fue el tiempo de ingurgitación. Se sugiere que la infestación repetida de esta garrapata, estimula la resistencia adquirida.

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Résumé Des veaux issue de croisementsBos taurus × Bos indicus ont été soumis à une infestation répétée parHyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. Les paramètres suivants: gorgement, périodes de préet d'oviposition, poids en fin de gorgement, poids du lot de ponte et pourcentage d'oeufs éclos, ont tous montré des différences significatives entre la première et la dixième infestation; seule la durée de gorgement n'a pas varié. Les auteurs concluement que les infestations répétées par cette tique stimulent la résistance acquise des veaux.

     

Studies on Maize-Legume Intercropping and their Residual Effects on Soil Fertility Status and Succeeding Crop in Upland Situation

To examine the advantages of cereal-legume intercropping system with maize as main crops, field studies conducted for two years on sandy upland loamy soils in Bihar plateau, India, indicated maize-groundnut as the best system. Yield advantages were noticed between 22–44 % over sole maize cropping. Different production indices largely indicated the same pattern in ranking intercropping treatments. Of the other legumes used, mung also showed potential whereas cowpea and soyabean did not. Increasing cropping intensities through use of interspace by legume did not significantly reduce maize yield, particularly in combination with groundnut and mung. Soil nitrogen enrichment through legume cultivation could be noted through examination of soil test values and yield of succeeding wheat crop. Wheat, however, did not show its promise as a follow-up crop without input of water and fertilizer.     

Association analysis of yield and fibre quality characters in interspecific population of cotton (Gossypium spp.)

Seed cotton yield and fibre quality are controlled by polygenes and highly influenced by the environment. Hence, selection merely based on yield is not effective. In order to enhance the yield potential of the cotton varieties, an understanding of the relationship among different characters is of more importance. Knowledge on the direct contribution of different characters to yield would be highly important for formulating a selection programme. Correlation and path coefficient analysis were carried out using 62 progenies of an interspecific backcross population (Gossypium hirsutum L. var. KC 3 x Gossypium barbadense L. var. Suvin) x KC 3. Genotypic correlation studies revealed that number of bolls per plant, boll weight, number of sympodia per plant, number of seeds per boll, seed index, lint index, days to first flowering, and plant height have a significant positive association with seed cotton yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis showed that number of bolls per plant contributed maximum direct effect to seed cotton yield per plant followed by boll weight and lint index. The highest positive indirect effect on seed cotton yield per plant was also observed through number of bolls per plant. This indicated that seed cotton yield per plant was highly influenced by number of bolls per plant directly and indirectly. Thus, a greater emphasis should be given to number of bolls per plant, boll weight, and lint index for increasing seed cotton yield per plant.     

QTL identification for molecular breeding of fibre yield and fibre quality traits in jute

In jute (Corchorus olitorius), quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis was conducted to study the genetics of eight fibre yield traits and two fibre quality traits. For this purpose, we used a mapping population consisting of 120 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) and also used a linkage map consisting of 36 SSR markers that was developed by us earlier (Das et al. 2011). The RIL population was derived from the cross JRO 524 (coarse fibre) × PPO4 (fine fibre) following single seed descent. Using single-locus analysis involving composite interval mapping, a total of 21 QTLs were identified for eight fibre yield traits whereas for fibre quality (fibre fineness), only one QTL was detected. The QTL for fibre fineness explained 8.31–10.56% of the phenotypic variation and was detected in two out of three environments. Using two-locus analysis involving QTLNetwork, as many as 11 M-QTLs were identified for seven fibre yield traits (excluding top diameter) and one M-QTL was identified for fibre fineness which accounted for 4.57% of the phenotypic variation. For six fibre yield traits, we detected 16 E-QTLs involved in nine QQ epistatic interactions. For fibre fineness, four E-QTLs involved in two QQ epistatic interactions and for fibre strength, six E-QTLs involved in three QQ epistatic interactions were identified. Eight out of the 11 M-QTLs observed for the fibre yield traits were also involved in QE interactions; for fibre fineness and fibre strength, no QE interactions were observed.     

Immunization of Crossbred Cattle (Bos indicus×Bos taurus) with Fractionated Midgut Antigens against Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum

Crossbred calves (Bos indicus×Bos taurus) were immunized with a fractionated midgut supernate antigen (GS-F Ag from Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum). The first inoculation on day 0 was given intramuscularly after emulsification with Freund's complete adjuvant; the second was given subcutaneously on day 14 in incomplete Freund's adjuvant; and the third on day 35 was given subcutaneously without adjuvant. Each injection comprised 1 mg of antigen protein. Ten days after the last inoculation, the immunized calves were challenged simultaneously with 1000 larvae and 20 pairs (20 males and 20 females) of adult H. a. anatolicum on one ear and a similar number of Hyalomma dromedarii ticks on the other ear. There was a significant decrease in the percentage larval engorgement and larval rejection of up to 34% on the immunized calves. A significant increase in the engorgement and preoviposition periods and a significant decrease in the engorged weight, egg mass weight and reproductive index were observed for adult female ticks when fed on the immunized calves. The GS-F Ag also induced a considerable degree of cross-protection in calves against H. dromedarii larval ticks.     

Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus, a New Begomovirus Species Causing a Severe Leaf Curl Disease of Tomato in Varanasi, India

ABSTRACT The biological and molecular properties of Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus from Varanasi, India (ToLCGV-[Var]) were characterized. ToLCGV-[Var] could be transmitted by grafting and through whitefly transmission in a persistent manner. The full-length genome of DNA-A and DNA-B of ToLCGV-[Var] was cloned in pUC18. Sequence analysis revealed that DNA-A (AY190290) is 2,757 bp and DNA-B (AY190291) is 2,688 bp in length. ToLCGV-[Var] could infect and cause symptoms in tomato, pepper, Nicotiana benthamiana, and N. tabacum when partial tandem dimeric constructs of DNA-A and DNA-B were co-inoculated by particle bombardment. DNA-A alone also is infectious, but symptoms were milder and took longer to develop. ToLCGV-Var virus can be transmitted through sap inoculation from infected tomato plants to the above-mentioned hosts causing the same symptoms. Open reading frames (ORFs) in both DNA-A and DNA-B are organized similarly to those in other begomoviruses. DNA-A and DNA-B share a common region of 155 bp with only 60% sequence identity. DNA-B of ToLCGV-[Var] shares overall 80% identity with DNA-B of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-Severe (ToLCNDV-Svr) and 75% with ToLCNDV-[Lucknow] (ToLCNDV-[Luc]). Comparison of DNA-A sequence with different begomoviruses indicates that ToLCGV-[Var] shares 84% identity with Tomato leaf curl Karnataka virus (ToLCKV) and 66% with ToLCNDV-Svr. ToLCGV-[Var] shares a maximum of 98% identity with another isolate of the same region (ToLCGV-[Mir]; AF449999) and 97% identity with one isolate from Gujarat (ToLCGV-[Vad]; AF413671). All three viruses belong to the same species that is distinct from all the other geminivirus species described so far in the genus Begomovirus of the family Geminiviridae. The name Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus is proposed because the first sequence was taken from an isolate of Gujarat, India.     

Pharmacokinetics and distribution of ampicillin in plasma,milk and uterine fluid of female buffaloes

A pharmacokinetic study of ampicillin (6 mg/kg intravenous) revealed that the peak concentrations of 17.81±1.25, 5.64±2.24 and 1.09±0.10 g/ml of the drug were attained at 15 min, 30 min and 2 h in plasma, milk and uterine fluid respectively. A therapeutic concentration of 0.1 g/ml was maintained from 15 min–8 h, 15 min–6 h and 30 min–6 h in plasma, milk and uterine fluid. Hence, the drug may be used effectively in mammary gland and uterine infections apart from its use in other systemic infections.