Effect of cyclodextrin diallyl maleate on methane production, ruminal fermentation and microbes in vitro and in vivo

Effects of β‐cyclodextrin diallyl maleate (CD‐M) on methane production, ruminal fermentation and digestibility were studied both in vitro and in vivo. In in vitro study, diluted ruminal fluid (30 mL) was incubated anaerobically at 38°C for 6 and 24 h with or without CD‐M using hay plus concentrate (1.5:1) as a substrate. The CD‐M was added at different concentrations (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 g/L). The pH of the medium and numbers of protozoa were not affected by the addition of CD‐M. Total volatile fatty acids were increased and ammonia‐N was decreased, molar proportion of acetate was decreased and propionate was increased (P < 0.05) by CD‐M. Methane was inhibited (P < 0.05) by 14–76%. The effect of CD‐M on methane production and ruminal fermentation was further investigated in vivo using four Holstein steers in a cross‐over design. The steers were fed Sudangrass hay and concentrate mixture (1.5:1) with or without CD‐M (2% of feed dry matter) as a supplement. Ruminal proportion of acetate tended to decrease and that of propionate was increased (P < 0.05) 2 h after CD‐M dosing. Total viable counts, cellulolytic, sulfate reducing, acetogenic bacteria and protozoa were unaffected while methanogenic bacteria were decreased (P < 0.05) by CD‐M. The plasma concentration of glucose was increased, whereas that of urea‐N was decreased (P < 0.05). Methane was inhibited (P < 0.05) from 36.4 to 30.1 L/kg dry matter intake by the addition of CD‐M. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber were not affected while that of crude protein was increased (P < 0.05) in the medicated steers. These data suggested that dietary supplementation of CD‐M decreased methane production and improved nutrient use.     

First report of a geminivirus causing leaf curl disease on Trigonella corniculata evidenced by PCR using degenerate primers

A leaf curl and mottle disease was observed naturally affecting plants of Trigonella corniculata. A geminivirus was detected in infected plants by PCR using degenerate geminivirus primers and by Southern hybridization with a probe specific to tomato leaf curl begomovirus. This is the first report of a member of the Geminiviridae naturally occurring in T. corniculata.     

Adsorption-desorption behaviour of flufenacet in five different soils of India

Adsorption-desorption of the herbicide flufenacet (FOE 5043) has been studied in five soils from different locations in India (Delhi, Ranchi, Nagpur, Kerala and Assam) varying in their physicochemical properties. The organic matter (OM) content varied from 0.072 to 0.864%, clay content from 2.5 to 43.7% and pH from 4.45 to 8.35. The adsorption studies were carried out using a batch equilibration technique. Ten grams of soil were equilibrated with 20 ml of aqueous 0.01 M CaCl2 solution containing different concentrations (0-30 mg litre-1) of flufenacet. After equilibration, an aliquot of supernatant was taken out for analysis. During desorption, the amount withdrawn for analysis was replenished with fresh 0.01 M CaCl2 solution and further equilibrated. Desorption studies were carried out with the 30 mg litre-1 concentration of flufenacet only. The adsorption studies revealed that there was moderate to high adsorption of flufenacet considering the comparatively low organic carbon content in the five test soils. Average Kd values ranged from 0.77 to 4.52 and Freundlich KF values from 0.76 to 4.39. The highest adsorption was observed in Kerala soil (OM 0.786%; clay 25%; pH 4.45) followed by Ranchi, Nagpur and Delhi soils, and the lowest in Assam soil (OM 0.553%; clay 2.5%; pH 6.87). The trend in adsorption could be attributed to the chemical nature of flufenacet and the physicochemical properties of the soil such as pH, OM and clay contents. OM and clay contents were positively correlated whereas pH was negatively correlated. Soils having low pH, high OM and high clay contents showed higher adsorption. Desorption studies revealed that there was a hysteresis effect in all the soils. Hysteresis coefficient values (ratio of n(ad) and n(des)) varied from 0.09 to 0.45. The study implies that, because of its moderate to high adsorption, flufenacet is likely to persist in soil for some time. However, the possibility of its movement by leaching or surface run off is less.     

Association of induction of protease and chitinase in chickpea roots with resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri

To improve the breeding of chickpea varieties with resistance to Fusarium wilt, an attempt was made to analyse the biochemical basis of disease resistance by measuring levels of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, protease and proteinase inhibitor activities in dry and soaked seeds and in root and shoot tissues of wilt-resistant and wilt-susceptible cultivars. Marginal variation was observed in the levels of the candidate proteins in dry or soaked seeds. Chitinase activity was higher in roots than in shoots or cotyledons. No proteinase inhibitor activity was detected in root and shoot tissue of any of the cultivars. When the levels of these proteins were analysed in resistant (Vijay) and susceptible (JG-62) cultivars during development of wilt by growing plants in soil infested with F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri , race 1, both cultivars showed induction of chitinase activity in the roots. However, the induced activity in JG-62 (3.82 U g⁻¹) was equivalent to the constitutive level in Vijay (3.90 U g⁻¹) and much lower than that induced in Vijay (5.18 U g⁻¹). Induction of protease activity was observed only in root extracts of Vijay when challenged by the pathogen. The root extract of Vijay showed in vitro antifungal activity in a plate assay. Simultaneous induction of proteolytic and chitinolytic activities specifically in the resistant cultivar was correlated with antifungal properties of root extracts effective in conferring resistance.     

Epidemiology of ovine helminthiasis in Haryana,India

Tracer lambs were used to study the pasture contamination with infective stages of helminth parasites during one annual cycle in a subtropical climate. Post-mortem worm counts indicated that low infections with Haemonchus contortus occurred throughout the year except in June. However, twenty five or more H. contortus per lamb were recorded in January, April, May and August. Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection was detected throughout the year and 150 or more worms per lamb were recorded during January to May and in August. Anoplocephalids were recorded from the lambs throughout the year but had no seasonal pattern. Low infections with Oesophagostomum columbianum and Trichuris ovis were observed. The faecal egg counts from the permanent flock with whom the tracer lambs were grazed revealed heavy to mild worm burdens throughout the year. Coproculture indicated that H. contortus predominated from the second fortnight of May to December except in the second fortnight of July. Infection with T. colubriformis was more severe from January to the first fortnight of May and in the second fortnight of July. Negligible infections with O. columbianum, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Gaigeria pachyscelis and Dictyocaulus filaria were also observed. Biohythergraphs prepared for H. contortus and T. colubriformis showed differences between observed and expected results. It is suggested that for realistic biohythergraphs related parameters in addition to rainfall and temperature should also be considered.     

Evaluation of cell-mediated immunity during chronic organophosphate pesticide intoxication in mice and goats

The status of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) after pesticide exposure was assessed in mice with the help of skin sensitivity and graft versus host reaction tests. It was observed that at 24 hours post-challenge CMI values did not differ significantly from the control, indicating no effect of quinalphos treatment in mice. Goats receiving monocrotophos at a dose rate of 1.0 mg kg-1 body mass for 40 days gave a similar result when CMI was tested with the help of the chemical sensitizer dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Thus the results clearly indicate that the tested organophosphates do not interfere with cellular immunity in the intoxicated animals.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium in the biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes in female bovines bred in the semiarid region

Brazil has a herd of 212 million cattle and 171 million hectares of pastures that produce approximately 96 % of Brazilian beef. The Brazilian production system enables animal infection by endoparasites, which are considered one of the main obstacles for the development of this industry and are responsible for considerable economic losses. The control of parasitic diseases is performed via the administration of antiparasitic drugs, but they leave residues of the products in the treated animal, affect non-target organisms and select resistant strains of the parasites. The species D. flagrans and M. thaumasium are promising and sustainable alternatives for controlling gastrointestinal helminths of ruminants and other herbivores. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of isolates of these species, formulated in a sodium alginate matrix and administered twice a week, to reduce the number of environmental infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes that affect prepubescent zebu females. The treated animals presented fewer eggs and a lower number of infective larvae per gram of faeces (p?<?0.05). The pastures occupied by treated animals showed a statistically significant reduction (p?<?0.05) of the number of L₃ and, furthermore, the genera Cooperia sp., Haemonchus sp., and Oesophagostomum sp. were the most prevalent. The average weight of the animals did not differ statistically (p?>?0.05) among the treated and control groups. The use of sodium alginate pellets as vehicle for delivery of the fungus mycelia D. flagrans (isolate AC001) and M. thaumasium (isolate NF34A) proved effective in controlling trichostrongylids in prepubescent cows bred in the semi-arid region, with an effective reduction in the number of infective larvae in the pastures.     

Strangulation of the small intestine by an anomalous congenital band in a yearling

Strangulating obstruction of the small intestine by anomalous mesenteric bands is an uncommon cause of colic in horses. The most commonly reported bands are mesodiverticular bands that are embryological remnants of the vitelline arteries. Despite the congenital nature of the anomaly, a wide age range of horses can be affected. This report describes a case of small intestinal strangulating obstruction caused by an unusual, anomalous congenital band attached to the ileocaecal fold in a yearling colt. Information including case background, history, clinical, laboratory, surgical and pathological findings is described.     

A case study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> fingerprinting for breeding

• Introduction  

Tree genetic improvement programs usually lack, in general, pedigree information. Since molecular markers can be used to estimate the level of genetic similarity between individuals, we genotyped a sample of a Portuguese Eucalyptus globulus breeding population—a reference population of 125 individuals—with 16 microsatellites (SSR).