The first report on serotyping of bluetongue virus in small ruminants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province,Pakistan

Bluetongue virus (BTV), a member of Orbivirus genus (family Reoviridae), is a non-contagious infection of domestic and wild ruminants. The current study was designed to detect various serotypes of BTV in small ruminants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan, along with their effects on hemato-biochemical parameters. A total of 408 serum samples in four districts (Mansehra, Abbottabad, Swabi, and Kohat) of KPK from small ruminants were screened based on competitive ELISA (cELISA). A total of 204 (50%) samples were found positive for BTV group–specific antibodies. The seropositive samples were processed for the detection of BTV serotypes through real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Out of 204 cELISA-positive samples, 60 (29.41%) were found positive through qPCR. Three serotypes [6, 8, 9] were detected from Mansehra District and two from Kohat [2, 8] and Abbottabad [6, 8], while only one from Swabi [8]. The serotype “8” was found consistently in all the four study districts. A significant (p?<?0.05) increase in the level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was recorded in goats, whereas aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in sheep infected with BTV, compared to healthy animals. The hematological parameters showed significantly (p?<?0.05) raised total leucocyte count (TLC) in both sheep and goats, whereas only hematocrit (HCT) value was increased significantly (p?<?0.05) in infected sheep. This is the first report on serotyping of BTV among small ruminants in Pakistan.

     

Responses of testosterone hormone concentration,semen quality,and its related pro-inflammatory cytokines in bucks following Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and its mycolic acid infection

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis, a debilitating chronic disease of sheep and goats. Little is known about...     

Prediction of Major Agricultural Fruits Production in Pakistan by Using an Econometric Analysis and Machine Learning Technique

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to use an econometric analysis to investigate the relationship between agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) and variables such as apple, citrus, pears, grape and banana in Pakistan; data were explored from 1980 to 2015; we used time series data collected from secondary sources, including the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Year Books and the Economic Survey of Pakistan. Data were analyzed by using the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method and Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, and results were interpreted by using the Johansen co-integration test. The machine learning technique was used to examine and predict the future agricultural productivity in Pakistan. We found that output of banana, citrus and pears had a positive and significant influence on AGDP, whereas apples and grapes had a negative but insignificant influence on AGDP.     

Apoptotic Activity of New Oxisterigmatocystin Derivatives from the Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus nomius NC06

Sponge-derived fungi have recently attracted attention as an important source of interesting bioactive compounds. Aspergillus nomius NC06 was isolated from the marine sponge Neopetrosia chaliniformis. This fungus was cultured on rice medium and yielded four compounds including three new oxisterigmatocystins, namely, J, K, and L (1, 2, and 3), and one known compound, aspergillicin A (4). Structures of the compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against HT 29 colon cancer cells, where compounds 1, 2, and 4 exhibited IC₅₀ values of 6.28, 15.14, and 1.63 µM, respectively. Under the fluorescence microscope by using a double staining method, HT 29 cells were observed to be viable, apoptotic, and necrotic after treatment with the cytotoxic compounds 1, 2, and 4. The result shows that compounds 1 and 2 were able to induce apoptosis and cell death in HT 29 cells.     

Antinematodal activity of some Malaysian plant extracts against the pine wood nematode,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Methanolic extracts of 79 Malaysian plants representing 42 families were assessed for antinematodal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using a fungal-feeding assay. Extracts of 27 plants from 19 families showed antinematodal activity, while 52 species were inactive. Five extracts (Sauropus androgynus, Eugenia polyantha, Areca catechu, Piper betle and Piper nigrum) exhibited very strong activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus at a minimum effective dose (MED) of 0·625 mg per ball. Strong antinematodal activity (MED: 1·25–2·5 mg per ball) was shown by the extracts of Spondias cyntherea, Codiageum variegatum, Euodia glabra and Cicca acida. Eleven extracts (Carica papaya, Ipomoea aquatica, Ocimum basilicum, Leea gigantea, Pithecellobium jiringa, Crypteronia paniculata, Myristica fragrans, Murraya koenigii, Leucaena leucocephala, Melastoma malabathricum and Morinda citrifolia) demonstrated moderate activity between MED of 5 and 10 mg per ball, and weak activity was observed in seven extracts (Ipomoea batatas, Cymbopogon citratus, Garcinia atroviridis, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, Tamarindus indica, Allium odorum and Stenochalaena palustris). © 1997 SCI     

Effects of dietary protein on growth performance,nutrient utilization,digestive enzymes and physiological status of grey mullet,Mugil cephalus L. fingerlings reared in inland saline water

A 60 days feeding trial was conducted to illustrate the effect of graded levels of protein on the growth and metabolic enzymes of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) fingerlings reared in inland saline water (ISW). Six isoenergetic (16 MJ/kg) and isolipidic (60 g/kg) diets containing 240, 260, 280, 300, 320 and 340 g crude protein (CP)/kg diet were formulated and fed to triplicate. Weight gain %, specific growth rate, protein utilizing efficiency, feed efficiency and RNA:DNA ratio were significantly higher (p < .05) in 320 and 300 g CP/kg diets. Fish fed with 240 g CP/kg diet showed significantly higher (p < .05) feed intake, whole‐body lipid content, hepatosomatic index value and liver glycogen content. Transaminase enzymes and malate dehydrogenase activities were elevated in fish fed 340 g CP/kg diet. Protease activity increased with increasing dietary CP level, but amylase activities showed an inverse relationship. No significant (p > .05) variations were observed for lactate dehydrogenase, oxidative stress enzymes, blood parameters and serum osmolality among all the treatment groups, but red blood cell count increases with increasing dietary CP levels. Based on the results, feeding dietary protein level of 300 g CP/kg is economically viable for rearing of grey mullet in ISW.     

Antiparasitic activity of the medicinal plant Dillenia suffruticosa against the marine leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Hirudinea) and its phytochemical composition

Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Annelida: Hirudinea), a marine parasitic leech, is currently affecting different species of cultured groupers, hybrid groupers, snappers and sea bass in Malaysia. Dillenia suffruticosa (Dilleniaceae), a medicinal plant found in Sabah, has been selected in our experiment to kill the leeches as a natural control method. The leech‐infested hybrid groupers were collected from aquaculture facilities, and the isolated leeches were challenged against methanol extract of D. suffruticosa leaves. The experiment was carried out using various concentrations of the extracts such as 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml. The methanol extract showed significant antiparasitic activity against Z. arugamensis with 100% mortality at a concentration of 100 mg/ml in 14.39 ± 3.75 min., followed by 50 and 25 mg/ml in 32.97 ± 9.29 and 41.77 ± 5.40 min., respectively. The phytochemical composition of the extract was determined using GC‐MS analysis to understand the nature of the principal compounds responsible for its antiparasitic properties. The leaves of D. suffruticosa demonstrated the presence of different bioactive compounds of various natures with varying percentages. Thus, it could be revealed that the methanol extract of D. suffruticosa mainly contains vital phytochemical compounds and showed an effective antiparasitic activity against the harmful leeches of hybrid groupers.     

Assessment of prebiotic potentials in selected leaf meals of high dietary fibre on growth performance,body composition,nutrient utilization and amylase activities of a tropical commercial carp fingerlings

The performance of selected leaf meals of high dietary fibre in the feed of a tropical commercial carp, hybrid lemon fin barb (Barbonymus gonionotus ♀ × Hypsibarbus wetmorei ♂) was evaluated in a 56‐day feeding trial. The tropical carp juveniles (9.43 ± 0.05 g) were randomly stocked in 60‐L aquaria at 15 fish per aquarium. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets (30% crude protein, 17 kJ/g gross energy) containing no leaf meal and 10% napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), water spinach (Ipomea aquatica) and Gliricidia sepium leaf meals were formulated and tested. Three aquaria were randomly assigned to each experimental diet. The results showed that fish‐fed diets containing leaf meals showed superior growth performance and body composition which was better than those fed control diet. The leaf meal‐treated groups also had higher values of protein, lipid, energy retention and production of digestive enzymes amylase. Conclusively, the results indicated that leaf meal fibre provided better performance showing the inherent prebiotic effect of the utilization of these leaf meal in hybrid lemon fin barb .