Effect of FMD vaccination on semen quality parameters in Karan Fries and Murrah buffalo bulls

Effect of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) vaccination was studied on semen quality parameters of 19 Karan Fries (KF) and eight Murrah (MU) breeding bulls during the period 2002 to 2004 at Artificial Breeding Complex, NDRI, Karnal. A total of non-vaccinated 155 KF and 72 MU bulls' ejaculates were taken as control, while 169 KF and 51 MU bulls' ejaculates, collected after vaccination, were used to study the effect of vaccination stress. The results showed that FMD vaccination had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on ejaculate volume and total volume per day of semen in both KF and MU bulls. Volume of semen increased slightly during post-vaccination period in both the breeds. After FMD vaccination, there was significant (P < 0.01) decrease in mass activity (2.27 ± 0.06 vs. 1.67 ± 0.07 and 2.49 ± 0.09. vs. 1.75 ± 0.10, for KF and MU, respectively), initial motility (56.89 ± 0.03% vs. 44.62 ± 0.02% and 62.26 ± 0.04% vs. 47.08 ± 0.05%, for KF and MU, respectively), sperm concentration (754.19 ± 23.96 vs. 554.14 ± 22.95 × 10⁶/ml and 848.61 ± 33.65 vs. 571.57 ± 39.99 × 10⁶/ml, for KF and MU, respectively), and total sperm output per ejaculate (3,685.94 ± 158.40 vs. 2,781.54 ± 151.70 × 10⁶ and 2,218.75 ± 133.14 vs. 1,582.84 ± 158.20 × 10⁶, for KF and MU, respectively). Application of FMD vaccine had significantly (P < 0.05) adverse effect on most of the seminal attributes during post-vaccination in KF and MU buffalo bulls. So, the spermiograms affected following vaccination suggest that in bovines, the semen collection and preservation should be suspended till normal fertility of sperm is restored to avoid the failure of conception from artificial insemination using such semen.     

Purification of IgG from serum with caprylic acid and ammonium sulphate precipitation is not superior to ammonium sulphate precipitation alone

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) from bovine serum raised against Aeromonas Salmonicida was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation (ASP) or caprylic acid treatment followed by ammonium sulphate precipitation (CAAS). Purity of IgG samples prepared by both methods were examined by High Performance Gel Permeation Chromatography, electrophoresis and antibody activity assay. Results suggest that IgG prepared by ASP is better than that obtained by CAAS method in terms of the yield of the IgG monomers and the recovery of the antibody activity.     

Age resistance in chickens against infectious bursal disease

The day old broiler chickens possessing IBD precipitating maternal antibody when exposed either to IBD contaminated environment or challenged intrabursally with virulent virus at weekly intervals indicated 100% susceptibility around 4–5 weeks of age. However, chickens lacking maternal antibody upon intrabursal challenge were found susceptible by 2 weeks of age.     

Marek's disease in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica): a study of natural cases

Marek's disease was observed in quails. Gross lesions were confined mostly to the spleen and liver. Microscopic lesions were commonly seen in spleen, proventriculus, liver, and duodenum. Skin, peripheral nerves, and other visceral organs were also involved. Of 123 quails examined, 39 had serum antibodies against Marek's disease. These antibodies were detected from 11 to 17 weeks of age; the highest incidence was recorded at 15 weeks. Feather follicular antigen detected in 30 of the 95 quails was comparable to that of chicken. The disease was experimentally reproduced in susceptible quails. Marek's-disease-tumor-associated surface antigens (MATSA) were demonstrated in the peripheral leukocytes and spleen cells of affected quails. The possible source of infection and its epidemiological importance are discussed.     

Effect of cattle-specific estrus molecules on libido and semen production of zebu bulls under tropical climate

Zebu bulls are a shy breeder and they exhibit optimum libido in the presence of females with estrus phase. Continuous semen collection with the use of male dummy leads to lack of adequate sexual stimulation. Therefore, the present study was designed to test the effect of estrus-specific molecule(s) for effective sexual preparation of donor bulls. The bulls were divided into normal and poor libido group, five bulls in each group by taking 1-month control study data after collecting the information of individual bull’s sexual behaviour during semen collection by regular semen collector. The bulls were never being exposed to female animals and semen was collected by an artificial vagina. The ten animals were exposed to a glycerol-water solution (50/50 v:v) as control and then exposed to estrus-specific molecules one by one. The estrus-specific molecules like squalene, 1-iodoundecane, acetic acid, coumarin, propionic acid, oleic acid, and 2-butanone were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Company, USA, and the molecules were solubilised individually in a non-pressurised aerosol dispenser as 1.0% concentration in glycerol-water solution (50/50, v:v). Identical bulls were used as the control and exposed to each molecule one by one by giving a refractory period of 14 days. A nasal spray of acetic acid or 2-butanone significantly (p < 0.05) reduced reaction time (RT) and total time taken to ejaculate (TTTE) in normal libido bull group. Semen volume, sperm concentration, and the total number of sperm per ejaculation obtained did not show significant improvement in the normal libido group of bulls after the application of estrus-specific molecules as compared to the control. In poor libido group, acetic acid, oleic acid, and 2-butanone application showed significant (p < 0.01) improvement in RT and TTTE as compared to the control group, whereas semen production variables like sperm concentration and total sperm output per ejaculation increased significantly (p < 0.05) except semen volume. There was significant (p < 0.01) reduction in RT (%) and TTTE (%) after the application of acetic acid followed by 2-butanone and oleic acid. The sperm concentration and total sperm output per ejaculation were more after the application of each molecule but significant increase (p < 0.05) in sperm concentration was observed with 2-butanone (11.42%), acetic acid (11.42%), and oleic acid (10.13%), whereas total sperm output per ejaculation increased significantly (p < 0.05) only after the application of acetic acid and 2-butanone (24.75% and 26.84%). Hence, it can be concluded that acetic acid, 2-butanone, and oleic acid are effective for better sexual preparation of Sahiwal bulls and total sperm output per ejaculation.

     

Biochemical analysis of uterine fluid for identification of indicators for subclinical endometritis in the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Alterations in biochemical constituents of uterine fluid have been suggested for diagnosis of subclinical uterine infection in the bovine. This study was undertaken to investigate whether uterine fluid biomolecules could act as tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in the buffalo. Uterine fluid samples from normal (n = 22) and subclinical endometritis (n = 18; diagnosed based on uterine cytology)‐affected buffaloes were subjected to biochemical analysis. Among the different biochemical constituents estimated, urea, urea N, cholesterol, total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in uterine fluid obtained from subclinical endometritis‐affected buffaloes. The extent of difference between normal and subclinical endometritis‐affected buffaloes was highest in ALP (69%) followed by cholesterol (55%), bilirubin (48%), urea (30%) and urea N (30%) concentrations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that the likelihood ratio (LR) was 3.63 for urea, indicating that buffaloes having less than the threshold concentration (47.5 mg/dl) of urea in their uterine fluid were at 3.6 times more risk to be affected with SE. The LRs for urea N, cholesterol, ALP and bilirubin were 2.33, 2.54, 2.12 and 1.65, respectively. It was concluded that ALP, urea, urea N and cholesterol concentrations in uterine fluid may serve as an aid for diagnosing subclinical endometritis in the buffalo.     

Effect of Different Feeding Levels of Plant‐ingredient‐based Feed on Fillet Fatty Acid Profile,Carcass Trait,and Sensory Characteristics of Indian Major Carps in Earthen Pond Polyculture

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of plant‐ingredient‐based feeds on fillet fatty acid profiles, proximate composition, carcass traits, and sensory characteristics of three Indian major carps (IMCs), Catla catla, Labeo rohita, and Cirrhinus mrigala, when fed at different levels of their body weight. An experimental feed was prepared with only plant ingredients. The IMCs were fed twice daily at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5% of their body weight for 150 d in 0.06‐ha earthen pond polyculture systems. The maximum growth and best feed utilization was achieved with feeding at 2% of fish biomass in the ponds. Fillet yield and lipid recovery increased significantly (P < 0.05), with increasing feeding level up to 2% of body weight and plateaued thereafter. In fillets, eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n‐3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n‐3) concentration increased with increasing feeding levels. Carcass traits, sensory characteristics, and consumer acceptance of IMC fillets were not influenced by feeding plant‐ingredient‐based feeds at different feeding rates.     

Influence of feeding habits of fish on the characteristics of their visceral alkaline proteases with special reference to detergent compatibility

Technical characteristics and detergent compatibility of visceral alkaline proteases of three freshwater fish, namely Labeo rohita, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus and Cyprinus carpio of different feeding habits, were studied. Crude enzyme extract was partially purified by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation and dialysis. The molecular weight was in the range of 20–63 kDa. The enzyme purification folds post‐dialysis were found to be 1.55, 1.81 and 2.17 in case of Rohu, Pangas and Common carp respectively. The alkaline protease from Rohu, Pangas and Common carp exhibited maximum activity at pH 10.0, 9.0 and 11.0 respectively. The enzyme temperature optima observed were 60°C (Rohu and Pangas) and 70°C (Common carp). SBTI and EDTA inhibited more than 90% of the activity at conc. of 50 mM. Exposure of the proteases to non‐ionic surfactants like Tween 20–80 retained about 92%–100% and 76%–100% of their activity at conc. (v/v) of 1% and 5% respectively. Proteases were found less stable in the presence of SDS. There was moderate to lesser influence of H₂O₂ and sodium perborate on the proteolytic activity. The alkaline protease from omnivorous fish was found superior compared to the herbivore and carnivore in respect of pH and temperature optima and stability with detergents and oxidizing agents.     

Phenotypic and genetic characterization of Edwardsiella tarda isolated from pond sediments

The extent of genotypic and phenotypic diversity of Edwardsiella tarda isolated from pond sediment was assessed by SDS-PAGE, Plasmid Profiling and ERIC-PCR. SDS-PAGE of whole cell protein extracts reveals 20-23 discrete bands with molecular wt of 14-110 kDa. Several bands with molecular weight range of 38-83 kDa were present in all the isolates. Numerical analysis of protein electrophoregram delineated the isolates into four clusters. Two different types of plasmids having molecular mass of 23 kDa and 29 kDa were obtained by plasmid profiling. About 51% of the isolates carried both the plasmids. ERIC-PCR generates 3-7 bands with molecular mass of 14-1013 bp. Numerical analysis differentiated the ERIC pattern into 5 clusters at 60% similarly level. It was concluded that out of three methods ERIC-PCR was found to be more sensitive for intraspecific typing of E. tarda and can be used as a potential tool for epidemiological studies in the future.