Effects of Fasciola gigantica infection on growth and nutrient utilisation of buffalo calves

The effects of Fasciola gigantica infection on bodyweight gain, dry matter intake, digestibility of nutrients and feed conversion efficiency in buffalo calves were investigated. Nine male buffalo calves of the Murrah breed, aged 12 to 15 months with a mean (se) bodyweight of 166 (12.5) kg, were randomly assigned to groups of five (group 1) and four (group 2). The animals in group 1 were given 1000 viable, mature metacercariae of F gigantica orally, while the animals in group 2 served as uninfected controls. They were stall fed on diets containing a concentrate mixture and ad libitum wheat straw and were maintained by standard management practices for a period of 165 days after infection. The average daily liveweight gain of the infected animals was 110.6 g, compared with 439.4 g in the uninfected controls, and was associated with the appearance and establishment of immature flukes in hepatic bile ducts. The feed conversion efficiency declined significantly (P<0.01) from 41 days after infection and was lowest at the end of the experiment. F gigantica infection did not influence the digestibility of the nutrients. The impaired feed conversion efficiency was mainly due to a reduction in dry matter intake due to inappetence.     

Prevalence of fenbendazole resistance in ovine nematodes in north west india

Summary A survey was undertaken between March and September 1992 to assess the prevalence of fenbendazole resistance in sheep nematodes in 32 traditionally managed rural flocks and 22 intensively managed flocks on 3 farms. Fenbendazole, a commonly used anthelmintic was used at the recommended dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. Efficacy was determined on the basis of percentage reduction in strongyle faecal egg counts (FECR%) and larval cultures before and between 7 and 10 days after treatment. None of the traditionally managed rural flocks showed resistance and all had greater than 99% reduction in faecal egg counts after treatment.Of the 22 intensively managed flocks, however, 15 had slight fenbendazole resistance (between 60 and 90% reduction in egg counts) and 4 had severe resistance (less than 60% reduction).

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Prevalencia De La Resistencia A Fenbendazole En Nematodos Ovinos En El Noroeste De India

Resumen Se llevó a cabo un estudio entre marzo y septiembre de 1992, para determinar la prevalencia de resistencia a fenbendazole de nemátodos ovinos en 32 rebaños con un manejo tradicional y 22 con un manejo intensivo en 3 fincas. El fenbendazole, un antihelmíntico comunmente usado, se dosificó a la dosis recomendada de 5 mg/kg de peso vivo. La eficacia fue determinada sobre la base del porcentaje de reducción en el conteo de huevos de estróngilus y los cultivos de larvas antes y entre 7 y 10 días después del tratamiento. Ninguno de los apriscos manejados tradicionalmente mostraron resistencia y todos tuvieron más del 99% de reducción en el conteo de huevos después del tratamiento.De los rebaños manejados intensivamente, 15 tuvieron una ligera resistencia al fenbendazole (entre 60 y 90% de reducción en el conteo de huevos) y 4 tuvieron resistencia marcada (menos de 60% de reducción).

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Prevalence De La Resistance Au Fenbendazole De Nematodes Chez Des Ovins Du Nord-Ouest De L'Inde

esumé Une enquête a été entreprise de mars à septembre 1992 pour évaluer la prévalence de la résistance au fenbendazole de nématodes dans 32 troupeaux de moutons conduits en élevage traditionnel et 22 en élevage intensif appartement à 3 fermes. Le fenbendazole, anthelminthique communément utilisé, a été administré à la dose recommandée de 5 mg/kg de poids vif. Son efficacité a été déterminée à partir de la réduction du pourcentage du nombre d'oeufs de strongles dans les fèces et à partir de cultures de larves avant et entres le 7e et 10e jours après le traitement. Aucun des troupeaux en élevage traditionnel n'a montré de résistance au médicament et tous ont présenté une réduction de 99 p.100 du nombre d'oeufs dans les féces après le traitement. Une légère résistance au produit (entre 60 et 90 p.100 de réduction du nombre d'oeufs) a cependant été démontrée dans 15 des 22 troupeaux en élevage intensif et une résistance grave (réduction de moins de 60 p.100) dans 4 autres.

     

Pathogenic 'Bison-type' Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis genotype characterized from riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in North India

Despite low per-animal productivity of ruminants in developing countries, Johne's disease has not been investigated in buffaloes, which are primarily found in these countries. This is due to lack of expertise, diagnostic kits and priority to production diseases like Johne's disease. Presence of pathogenic Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) was investigated by screening of target tissues (mesenteric lymph nodes and large intestine) by culture and IS 900 PCR, in 50 sacrificed buffaloes. Indigenous ELISA kit originally developed for goats and sheep was standardized in buffaloes and used to estimate sero-presence of Map in 167 serum samples representing population of buffaloes in Agra region of North India. In culture, 48.0% buffaloes were positive from 50 tissues each from mesenteric lymph nodes (34.0%) and large intestine (36.0%). IS 900 PCR was standardized using specific primers (150 C and 921) and 229 bp-amplified product was characteristic for Map. Of the 25 mesenteric lymph nodes, 40.0% were positive in IS 900 PCR. Genomic DNA from Map cultures was successfully amplified from all the 24 isolates (100.0%). Map was further genotyped as 'Bison type' using IS 1311 PCR-REA. Culture of tissues showed high presence of Map in target tissues, despite high culling rate in buffalos in view of high demand of buffalo meat. Specific tissue-PCR provided rapid confirmation of Map infection in sacrificed buffaloes. In tissue-PCR, all the cultures were positive as compared to 40.0% detected directly from tissues. ELISA kit using indigenous protoplasmic antigen was highly sensitive as compared to commercial antigen in detecting Map infection therefore, could be used as 'Herd Screening Test' in buffaloes against Johne's disease. This pilot study first time reports a highly pathogenic 'Bison-type' genotype of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis from the riverine buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) of Agra region in North India.     

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.     

Enhanced weed‐crop competition effects on growth and seed production of herbicide‐resistant and herbicide‐susceptible annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus)

Enhanced crop competition could aid in the management of annual sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.), a dominant weed of Australian cropping systems. A two‐year pot study was conducted to evaluate the effect of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) planting densities (0, 82, and 164 wheat plants/m²) on growth and seed production of glyphosate‐resistant (GR) and glyphosate‐susceptible (GS) biotypes of annual sowthistle. Without competition, both biotypes produced a similar number of leaves and biomass, but the GS biotype produced 80% more seeds (46,050 per plant) than the GR biotype. In competition with 164 wheat plants/m², the number of leaves in the GR and GS biotypes was reduced by 62 and 61%, respectively, in comparison with the no‐competition treatment, and similarly, weed biomass was reduced by 78 and 77%, respectively. Compared to no‐competition treatment, the seed production of GR and GS biotypes was reduced by 33 and 69%, respectively, when grown with 82 wheat plants/m², but increasing wheat density from 82 to 164 plants/m² reduced the number of seeds only in the GS biotype (81%). Both biotypes produced greater than 6,000 seeds per plant when grown in competition with 164 plants/m², suggesting that increased crop density should be integrated with other weed management strategies for efficient control of annual sowthistle.     

Potassium nutrition for improving stubble bud sprouting,dry matter partitioning,nutrient uptake and winter initiated sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid complex) ratoon yield

A field experiment was conducted for two crop cycles during 2003–2005 and 2004–2006 at Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow to improve bud sprouting, dry matter accumulation (DMA), nutrient uptake and ratoon yield by using potassium fertilizer. Potassium (K) fertigation in standing plant cane increased the number of buds per stubble and number of stalks in ratoon cane. K content of stubble increased by 16.7% with K fertigation. The content of reducing sugars in buds at the time of ratoon initiation improved significantly with K fertigation. It improved dry matter accumulation, number of millable canes, individual cane weight, ratoon cane and sugar yields. Thus, it could be concluded that application of 66 kg K ha^?1 with irrigation water in standing plant cane before harvest improved bud sprouting, dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake in ratoon crop. Irrigation in standing plant cane increased ratoon cane (69.9 t ha^?1) and sugar yields (7.6 t ha^?1). This increase for ratoon cane and sugar yield was 8.7 and 5.55%, respectively over the control. Further, it increased ratoon cane yield by 15.21% (74.1 t ha^?1) and sugar yields by 13.9% (8.2 t ha^?1) with K fertigation over the control. Thus, K nutrition holds great promise for improving growth of ratoon cane and sugar yields.     

Long-Term Effects of Fertilizers on the Soil Fertility and Productivity of a Rice–Wheat System

Rice–wheat cropping system to which graded levels of NPK fertilizers had been applied for 20 years were compared for yield trends, and changes in response function, soil organic-C and available N, P, K and S status. This study of system in which only chemical fertilizers had been used over a long period enabled long-term yield declines of rice and wheat at different levels and combinations of NPK fertilizers to be evaluated. The highest rate of yield decline in both rice and wheat was found when 120 kg ha⁻¹ N was applied alone. The lowest rate of decline was observed when all three nutrients (N, P and K) were applied, at 40, 35 and 33 kg ha⁻¹ for N, P and K, respectively, followed by 120, 35 and 33 kg ha⁻¹ (currently recommended levels). The yield response of rice and wheat to N fertilizer declined over the 20 years, with a higher rate of decline in wheat. In contrast, the response to applied P and K increased with time in both crops, with a higher response rate in wheat. With continuous application of N and P fertilizers, there was a marginal change in available N and K in the soil over time, but an approximately 3-fold increase in available P and an approximately 2-fold increase in available S were obtained by regular dressing of P fertilizer (SSP: 7 % P, 12 % S) over 20 years. The results revealed that balanced, high doses of NPK fertilizers are required to maintain soil fertility and raise grain yields.     

Humoral immune response against Fasciola gigantica fatty acid binding protein

Recombinant fatty acid binding protein of Fasciola gigantica was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by nickel chelating affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein along with native fatty acid binding protein (FABP) isolated from the parasite were evaluated for their potential in the diagnosis of F. gigantica infection in sheep, cattle and buffaloes, both by ELISA and western blotting. Results of this study indicate that there is no humoral immune response generated against this protein in the experimental infection of these ruminants with F. gigantica, thereby limiting the usefulness of this antigen in the early diagnosis of fasciolosis in these animals. Also, the paper discusses the probable reasons for the failure of this protein in detecting humoral response in these animals by ELISA and immunoblotting.