Equine glanders in Turkey

In the course of an epidemiological study of glanders on a number of Turkish islands in the Sea of Marmara, 1128 horses were examined by using the intracutaneous mallein test. Thirty-five (3-1 per cent) developed an increase in rectal temperature and a swelling at the point of injection. Ten of these horses were killed and glanders was confirmed in five cases by the presence of lesions and by the immunohistological demonstration of the causative agent, Burkholderia mallei. Clinical and pathological findings indicated that in all cases the infection was restricted to the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity with its parasinus, the nostrils and the upper lips. It was confirmed that equine glanders is endemic in Turkey.     

A multipronged approach for the detection of leptospirosis in captive sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) in Agra and Bannerghatta sloth bear rescue centers in India

Leptospirosis is an exacerbating factor responsible for the drastic decline of sloth bear population in India. In this study, a multipronged approach based on antigen detection using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) employing G1/G2 and LigBF/LigBR primers, antibody detection using Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) and recombinant LigBCon1-5 antigen based Latex Agglutination Test (rLigBCon1-5 LAT), serum biochemistry using hepatic (serum glutamate oxalo acetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and renal biomarkers (blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine) and gross/histopathological evidence in liver and kidneys were employed to investigate leptospirosis in captive sloth bears. A total of 133 serum samples collected from Agra (n=113) and Bannerghatta (n=20) sloth bear rescue centers were screened using MAT and rLigBCon1-5 LAT. A total of 87 and 78 sera tested positive by MAT and LAT respectively. Pyrogenes was the leading serovar obtained using MAT followed by Icterohaemorrhagiae, Javanica, Grippotyphosa, Canicola and Tarassovi. The relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of rLigBCon1-5 LAT in comparison to MAT were 89.66%, 100% and 93.23% respectively. PCR performed on hepatic and renal tissues showed amplicon of 285 and 219 base pairs for G1/G2 and LigBF/LigBR primers respectively. Gross evidence (icteric liver, severely engorged hepatic sinusoids, congested kidneys with necrotic white spots on sub capsular surface), histopathology (severe hepatic degeneration and tubulointerstitial nephritis) and elevated hepatic/renal biomarkers were suggestive of leptospirosis. This study suggests that rLigBCon1-5 LAT can be employed as a pen-side test for detecting leptospirosis in sloth bears.     

Mixed feeding schedules in semi‐intensive pond culture of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,L.: is it necessary to have two diets of differing protein contents?

Two semi‐intensive grow‐out trials of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), each consisting of seven mixed feeding schedules (rhythmic presentation of high and low protein) and two constant, a high‐protein and the other low‐protein feeding schedules, were carried out simultaneously for 60 days. Mixed feeding schedules were achieved, in Trial 1, by alternating the presentation of a high feed ration (H; 2.3% body weight (BW)) with a low feed ration (L; 1.5% BW) of a single diet A (crude protein content 33%), and in Trial 2, by alternating the presentation of diet A with diet B of a relatively low protein content (crude protein content 22%). In both trials, significant improvements in protein utilization parameters, such as apparent protein conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio against continuously high protein feeding were obtained because of the adoption of mixed feeding schedules without any significant decline in the growth parameters such as net fish yield or daily weight gain. In both trials, the mixed feeding schedule ensuring 2 days of high followed by 3 days of low protein presentation, viz. 2H/3L of Trial 1 and 2A/3B of Trial 2 performed the best. Improvement in nutrient utilization in both trials was comparable; however, at existing market prices cost saving because of adoption of mixed feeding schedules was greater in Trial 1.     

Modulation of digestive enzymes,GH, IGF-1 and IGF-2 genes in the teleost,Tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis mossambicus</Emphasis>) by dietary curcumin

Aquaculture is faced with the challenges of the use of synthetic compounds as growth enhancers and the presence of several contaminants in water. These factors severely deteriorate the quality and quantity of aquaculture products. Phytochemicals play a major role by working as antioxidant agents of which curcumin has become the gold standard. Curcumin, from Curcuma longa shows a wide spectrum of biological activities which include anticancerous, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antidiabetic, antistress, hepatoprotective and gastroprotective effects. Curcumin in 0.5 and 1 % doses were given as feed additive to Oreochromis mossambicus for 35 days. After feeding trial, activities of digestive enzymes such as α-amylase, protease and lipase were analysed. There was a significant increase in the activities of α-amylase, protease and lipase with 0.5 and 1 % curcumin supplementation in feed. Real-time quantification of GH in brain, and IGF-1 and IGF-2 genes in muscle revealed that curcumin significantly increased the expression of these genes. This is the first study to report that curcumin supplementation at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 % in the feed improved the activities of digestive enzymes and also modulates the expression of GH in brain and growth factors such as IGF-1 and IGF-2 in muscle of O. mossambicus.     

Evaluation of dietary protein requirement for the growth performance of minor carp,Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings

An experiment was designed to evaluate the requirement of dietary protein for Reba carp, Cirrhinus reba fingerlings using semi‐purified diet. Five isocaloric diets were prepared containing 20%, 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% level of protein using casein, gelatin as a major protein source. The experiment was conducted for 105 days in triplicates to evaluate the growth, survival, feed utilization, carcass composition of C. reba. Mean weight gain was highest (p < .05) in T3. Specific growth rate was highest in T3 and lowest in T1. Similarly, significantly (p < .05) highest net fish yield were recorded in T3. No significant difference was recorded in survivability. Feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, feed conversion efficiency and protein conversion efficiency were significantly (p < .05) higher for T3 compared with other treatments. Highest carcass protein and lipid values were recorded in T3. So, conclusion can be drawn that 30% crude protein is optimum for overall performance. Furthermore, broken‐line analysis for specific growth rate, final biomass and net fish yield indicated that dietary protein level of 28.148 to 28.253% is optimum for the best growth performance of fingerling C. reba.     

Drying Kinetics and Quality Characteristics of Slightly Salted Grass Carp Fillets by Hot Air Drying and Vacuum Microwave Drying

Salted grass carp fillets were dried by hot air drying (HD, at 35 and 45°C) and vacuum microwave drying (VMD, at 1, 4, and 7 W/g) to a final moisture content. Compared with hot air drying, the vacuum microwave drying greatly reduced drying time. The rehydration rate constant of salted grass carp fillets dried by microwave vacuum drying at 7-W/g microwave intensity was significantly higher than that of the hot air drying at 35 and 45°C. Compared with hot air drying, the vacuum microwave dried samples had a higher crude fat content (dry basis). The lightness of the samples dried by vacuum microwave drying was higher, and the yellowness was lower than those dried by hot air drying. The drying methods had no significant effect on the hardness and springiness.     

Restructured Crispy Fish Cubes Containing Salicornia bigelovii Torr. Developed with Microwave Vacuum Drying

Restructured crispy fish cubes containing Salicornia bigelovii Torr. (S. bigelovii) were developed using microwave vacuum drying. A series of drying experiments and optimization experiments were conducted to optimize the process conditions of microwave vacuum drying. The quality parameters of fish cubes such as crispness, expansion ratio, and sensory score were measured. The optimal expansion ratio and crispness were decided on the basis of optimization experiments by response surface analysis. The results showed that the optimum microwave vacuum conditions were: initial moisture content of surimi was controlled at 60.5% (wet basis, w.b.) and microwave heating for 20 min at the vacuum pressure of 0.090 MPa and microwave power of 11 W/g. The final product had a uniform shape, homogenous texture, pleasant color, and delicious flavor.     

Detection of human filarial parasite Brugia malayi in dogs by histochemical staining and molecular techniques

Human filariasis caused by Brugia malayi is still a public health problem in many countries of Asia including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted to eliminate filariasis by the year 2020 by Mass annual single dose Diethylcarbamazine Administration (MDA). Results of the MDA programme after the first phase was less satisfactory than expected. Malayan filariasis caused by B. malayi is endemic in the south of Thailand where domestic cat serves as the major reservoir host. There is no report about the occurrence of B. malayi in dogs. The present work was carried out to find out the incidence of microfilariasis in dogs and also to detect the presence of human filarial infection in dogs, if any. One hundred dogs above 6 months of age presented to the veterinary college Hospital, Mannuthy, Kerala, with clinical signs suggestive of microfilariasis - fever, anorexia, conjunctivitis, limb and scrotal oedema - were screened for microfilariae by wet film examination. Positive cases were subjected to Giemsa staining, histochemical staining and molecular techniques. Results of the study showed that 80% of dogs had microfilariasis; out of which 20% had sheathed microfilaria. Giemsa and histochemical staining character, PCR and sequencing confirmed it as B. malayi. High prevalence of B. malayi in dogs in this study emphasized the possible role of dogs in transmission of human filariasis.     

Changing governance of the world's forests

Major features of contemporary forest governance include decentralization of forest management, logging concessions in publicly owned commercially valuable forests, and timber certification, primarily in temperate forests. Although a majority of forests continue to be owned formally by governments, the effectiveness of forest governance is increasingly independent of formal ownership. Growing and competing demands for food, biofuels, timber, and environmental services will pose severe challenges to effective forest governance in the future, especially in conjunction with the direct and indirect impacts of climate change. A greater role for community and market actors in forest governance and deeper attention to the factors that lead to effective governance, beyond ownership patterns, is necessary to address future forest governance challenges.     

Dyeing behavior of chemically modified poly(1,4-phenylene sulfide) fiber towards disperse,anionic, and cationic dyes

Poly(1,4-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) exhibits good dimensional stability and flame retardant characteristics but its commercial development as fibers is highly limited due to lesser dyeing and finishing characteristics. Hence in the present study, we focused on the anionic and cationic modifications of PPS to enhance its dyeing ability towards disperse, cationic, and anionic dyes. Novel sulfonation and chloromethylation-quaternization of PPS fiber were carried out to achieve an industrially viable dyeing process methodology. The chemically modified PPS fiber is dyed with disperse, cationic, and anionic dyes, and the dyeing adsorption efficiency is quantitatively studied using a dye-o-meter equipped with UV-visible absorption spectroscope. The ideal parameters for dye adsorption were determined as a function of dyeing time, material-toliquor ratio, dyeing temperature, carrier concentration, sulfonation, and chloromethylation. The fastness properties of the dyed fabrics were also studied. Overall, with a maximum dye uptake of 99 % and 90 % achieved for sulfonated PPS and quaternized PPS respectively, the optimized conditions can be readily scaled-up to the commercial dyeing of PPS fiber with disperse, anionic, and cationic dyes.