Development and validation of the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index,a scale for the rapid scoring of lesion severity in canine atopic dermatitis

Background – The third iteration of the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI‐03) is the only tool rigorously validated for canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) lesion scoring. The CADESI‐03 requires 248 evaluations, limiting its widespread use. Hypothesis/Objectives – The goal of the study was to develop and validate a practical method of grading CAD lesions that requires scoring only the frequently affected body regions. Animals – Fifty‐seven privately owned atopic dogs were used in the study. Methods – The Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index (CADLI) was evaluated in an open, multicentre reliability study. Validity was assessed with expert opinion (content validity) and comparison of CADLI with existing disease severity measures (construct and criterion validity). Reliability was evaluated by analysing repeated observations of each dog. Convenience was assessed in terms of the time required to complete the scale. Results – The CADLI scores correlated with overall assessment scores (r = 0.60, P < 0.001, linear mixed model) and pruritus severity scores (r = 0.53, P < 0.001, linear mixed model), establishing construct validity. The CADLI was strongly correlated with CADESI‐03 (r = 0.84, P < 0.001, linear mixed model), establishing criterion validity. The CADLI values obtained by two observers correlated very strongly (r = 0.91, P < 0.001), as did the repeat values for the same observer (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). The mean time to complete the CADLI was less than that required for CADESI‐03 (1.9 and 12.6 min, respectively), a highly significant difference (P < 0.001). Conclusion and clinical importance – The CADLI was found to be an effective measure of CAD lesion severity, strongly correlating with CADESI‐03. The convenience of CADLI makes it suitable for use in both clinical research and practice.     

Meta-analysis of seminal traits affecting bull fertility

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The pedigree information on bulls was collected from Frozen Semen Bank (FSB). Male reproductive data on seminal characters (semen volume (SV), sperm...     

Gene introgression in assessing fitness costs associated with phosphine resistance in the rusty grain beetle

Journal of Pest Science - The current study investigates the fitness cost associated with phosphine resistance in the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), a problematic pest in...     

Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of isolates of the rice false smut pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens in India

Genetic diversity assessment and population structure analysis are essential for characterization of pathogens and their isolates. Markers are essential tools for exploring genetic variation among the isolates. False smut of rice caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, formerly Villosiclava virens, is a major emerging disease of rice in India. A high level of variability is observed at the field level, but no information is available from India on genetic diversity and population structure. This is the first report of genetic diversity and population structure of U. virens from India that included 63 isolates distributed across the vast geographical area of eastern and north-eastern India (18.9 to 26.7°N and 82.6 to 94.2°E). Seventeen RAPDs and 14 SSRs were identified as polymorphic and a total of 140 alleles were detected across the populations. The average number of alleles per locus for each primer was 4.5. All the isolates were grouped into two major clusters, with partial geographical segregation that was supported by principal coordinate analysis. Mantel test suggested genetic distance within the isolates increased with increasing geographical distance. Analysis of molecular variation showed more genetic variation within populations and less among populations. This outcome will help in understanding genetic diversity of U. virens from eastern and north-eastern India and in planning effective management strategies.     

Micronutrients (Fe,Mn, Zn and Cu) balance under long-term application of fertilizer and manure in a tropical rice-rice system

Purpose

The balance of micronutrients in soils is important in nutrient use efficiency, environmental protection and the sustainability of agro-ecological systems. The deficiency or excess of micronutrients in the plough layer may decrease crop yield and/or quality. Therefore, it is essential to maintain appropriate levels of micronutrients in soil, not only for satisfying plant needs in order to sustain agricultural production but also for preventing any potential build-up of certain nutrients.

Materials and methods

A long-term fertilizer experiment started in 1969 at Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India. Using this experiment, a study was conducted to analyze the balance of micronutrients and their interrelationship. The experiment was composed of ten nutrient management treatments viz. control; nitrogen (N); N + phosphorus (NP); N + potassium (NK); nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); farmyard manure (FYM); N + FYM; NP + FYM; NK + FYM; and NPK + FYM with three replications. Micronutrients in soil (total and available), added fertilizers and organic manures and in rice plant were analyzed. Besides, atmospheric deposition of the micronutrients to the experimental site was also calculated. A micronutrient balance sheet was prepared by the difference between output and input of total micronutrients.

Results and discussion

Application of FYM alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer increased the diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA)-extractable Fe, Mn and Zn over the control treatment. The treatment with NPK + FYM had the highest soil DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu after 41 years of cropping and fertilization. Application of chemical fertilizers without P decreased the DTPA-extractable Zn over the control while the inclusion of P in the fertilizer treatments maintained it on a par with the control. The application of P fertilizer and FYM either alone or in combination significantly increased the contents of total Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in soil mainly due to their micronutrient content and atmospheric depositions. A negative balance of Zn was observed in the N, NP, NK and NPK treatments, while a positive balance observed in the remaining treatments. The balance of Mn was negative in all the treatments, due to higher uptake by the rice crop than its addition.

Conclusions

Long-term application of chemical fertilizers together with FYM maintained the availability of micronutrients in soil and, thus, their uptake by rice crop.

     

Pesticides and nitrogen fixation in a paddy soil

The influence of six pesticides, applied singly or in combination, on ¹⁵N₂ incorporation and C₂H₂ reduction in a submerged paddy soil was studied under laboratory conditions. While the application of diazinon had no marked effect, benomyl, carbofuran, parathion, nitrofen and γ-HCH, at concentrations close to recommended field application rates (5μg ^?1) significantly stimulated N₂ fixation. Synergistic stimulatory effects of the pesticides on N₂ fixation were evident particularly in combinations of carbofuran with benomyl, nitrofen and γ-HCH. On the contrary, diazinon slightly retarded the stimulatory effect of benomyl and carbofuran. Results indicated that the differential effects of pesticides on N₂ fixation could be attributed partly to fluctuations in the population of certain groups of N₂ fixers in submerged soil.     

Spatial distribution of soil physical properties of alluvial soils: a geostatistical approach

Knowledge of spatial variation of soil is important in site-specific farming and environmental modeling. Soil particles size and water distribution are most important soil physical properties that governing nearly all of the other attributes of soils. The objectives of this study were to determine the degree of spatial variability of sand, silt and clay contents, and water content at field capacity (FC), permanent wilting point (PWP), and available water content (AWC) of alluvial floodplain soils. Data were analyzed both statistically and geostatistically to describe the spatial distribution of soil physical properties. Soil physical properties showed large variability with greatest variation was observed in sand content (68%). Exponential and spherical models were fit well for the soil physical properties. The nugget/sill ratio indicates except clay all other soil physical properties were moderate spatially dependent (37–70%). Cross-validation of the kriged map shows that prediction of the soil physical properties using semivariogram parameters is better than assuming mean of observed value for any unsampled location. The spatial distribution of water retention properties closely followed the distribution pattern of sand and clay contents. These maps will help to planner to develop the variable rate of irrigation (VRI) for the study area.