Campylobacter infection in domestic dogs

Campylobacter jejuni, a recently recognised human enteric pathogen, was recovered from the faeces of 21.7 per cent of domestic dogs with diarrhoea as compared with only 3.1 per cent of normal healthy dogs. The recovery rate from non-diarrhoeic, but unhealthy, domestic dogs was 6.7 per cent. The differences in the incidence of C jejuni between breeds was not statistically significant. The majority of isolations were from puppies between birth and six months old. The incidence of C jejuni in domestic dogs did not appear to be sex specific. Domestic canine infections with C jejuni could possibly be an important source of human infection, especially to those in close contact.     

Development and characterization of light weight plant structured fabrics

Scientists and engineers are increasingly turning to nature for inspiration. Light weight textile fabrics suitable for summer dress material were developed by imitating the branching structure of a plant in order to achieve high water absorption and transportation properties. The absorption property of the fabrics was characterized by using the Moisture Management Tester (MMT) and Transplanar Water Transport Tester (TWTT). The fabrics were analyzed using optical microscopes and Optical Contact Angle (OCA) tester to understand the structure as well as the absorption behavior of these fabrics. The results indicated that plant structured fabrics have a significant faster water absorption and wicking properties over conventional weave structures, makes them highly preferable for summer-wear.     

Factors affecting minimal growth conservation of potato microplants in vitro

Combined effects of sucrose, mannitol and photoperiod on microplant conservation were studied in four potato genotypes belonging to two different groups viz., Tuberosum and Andigena. Minimal growth medium was based on Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 6 different concentrations of sucrose (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 gl^-1) with 4 different concentrations of mannitol (0, 20, 40 and 60 gl^-1). The cultures were conserved under two photoperiod conditions i.e. continuous illumination and 16-h photoperiod at 6 ± 1 °C. There were significant interactions between photoperiod and sucrose, and between photoperiod and mannitol. Maximum microplant survival and desirable microplant growth were observed under 16-h photoperiod. Sucrose alone did not improve culture viability over 30 months of storage. Inclusion of mannitol in the conservation medium increased microplant survival. Sucrose x mannitol interaction showed that sucrose was effective in enhancing microplant survival in combination with 20 or 40 gl^-1 mannitol, but not with 60 gl^-1 mannitol. Combined effect of sucrose, mannitol and photoperiod showed that optimum microplant growth and maximum culture viability were obtained when the cultures were grown in MS medium containing 40 gl^-1 sucrose and 20 gl^-1 mannitol under 16-h photoperiod. Potato microplants can be conserved in this medium and cultural conditions up to 30 months without subculturing. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Observations on the epidemiology of bovine cryptosporidiosis in India

The significance of Cryptosporidium as a causative agent of diarrhea has been assessed in bovine for a period of 2 years. A total of 940 faecal samples (470 samples in each year) both from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic bovine (0-12 months age) were examined during three different seasons (rainy season, summer and winter). Overall Cryptosporidium was detected in 17.46% and 18.04% cases in first and second year, respectively. Out of 50.21% diarrhoeic and 49.79% non-diarrhoeic cases Cryptosporidium was detected in 26.79% and 8.13% in first year and 27.49% and 8.59% in second year. Year did not have any significant effect on the occurrence of cryptosporidiosis in bovine during this study period. The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis, both in diarrhoeic (61.64%) and non-diarrhoeic (47.22%) cases was highest in 0-1-month age group (P<0.01). Such a high percentage of cryptosporidiosis in clinically asymptomatic animals indicated that the particular age group of animals might be reservoir for the parasite. During this study period highest prevalence was recorded in rainy season (27.55%) followed by summer (16.99%) and winter (8.71%) (P<0.01). A total of 166 positive cases were genotyped. Molecular characterization of bovine cryptosporidiosis has been carried out by PCR-RFLP analysis of SSU rRNA gene and results indicated that Cryptosporidium parvum mainly responsible for diarrhea in bovine in India.     

NTFPs and Their Commercialization Issues from the Perspective of Rural Livelihood and the State of Forest Resources: A Study of the Ranibundh Forest Range in West Bengal,India

Forests provide a source of livelihood to all classes of rural people, especially in tribal dominated areas. With the advent of joint forest management concepts and commercial earning prospects from non-timber forest products (NTFPs), it was expected that forests would be best preserved by the villagers who depend on them for a substantial part of their livelihoods. However, in the case of the Ranibundh block in the Bankura district, it was observed that the predominance of private agencies in marketing channels of NTFPs, together with risk of eviction, loss of customary right to access forest resources, low employment prospects, and lack of training about proper management of NTFPs have led to the failure in motivating the forest dwellers to prevent degradation of forest resources. It is suggested that government agencies, producer institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other strong institutional entities can promote forest preservation when complemented by the granting of forest rights to rural people, the extension of training facilities, and alternative employment prospects.     

Endometritis impairs luteal development, function, and nitric oxide and ascorbic acid concentrations in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

A vast majority of the world buffalo resource is concentrated in tropical and subtropical countries. Apart from heat stress and poor nutritional availability, endometritis is one of the most commonly encountered reproductive problems limiting fertility and consequently productive potential of the species. As demonstrated recently, endometritis impairs growth and follicular fluid composition of the largest follicle in buffalo. In the present study, the effect of endometritis on luteal development, function, nitric oxide (NO), and ascorbic acid was investigated. Reproductive tracts were collected from 90 cyclic buffaloes at an abattoir and grouped into endometritic (n?=?36) or non-endometritic (n?=?54) buffaloes based on physical examination of uterine mucus, white side test, and uterine cytology. Samples with pus-containing mucus, positive reaction on white side test, and/or >5 % neutrophils were considered to be positive for endometritis. Corpora lutea were enucleated, weighed, classified into stages I to IV, and assayed for progesterone (P₄), NO, and ascorbic acid concentrations. Endometritic buffaloes had lesser (P?<?0.0001) luteal weight and P₄, NO, and ascorbic acid concentrations than non-endometritic buffaloes. The findings indicated that endometritis impairs corpus luteum development and function in buffalo. Reduced luteal NO and ascorbic acid concentrations during endometritis are novel findings.     

Plant availability of boron in acid soils as assessed by different extractants

Estimation of available‐boron (B) status through conventional methods in B‐deficient acidic Inceptisols and Entisols is often hampered because of their very low B content. In the present study, the extractability of available B by different extractants was tested in relation to soil properties. Plant availability of B was assessed with mustard (Brassica campestris L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in pot experiments. Twelve soils with varying characteristics were extracted for available B with hot water (HW), hot CaCl₂ (HCC), KH₂PO₄ (PDP), tartaric acid (TA), and mannitol‐CaCl₂ (MCC). Mustard (cv. B‐9) and wheat (cv. PBW‐343) were grown with four levels of B (0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg [kg soil]^–1). Dry‐matter accumulation and B concentrations were determined at pre‐flowering and full‐maturity stages for mustard and at panicle‐initiation and maturity stages for wheat. The extraction of B from the soils ranked HCC > HW > PDP > TA > MCC. The higher extractability with HW and HCC was likely due to higher temperature and that of PDP because of its phosphorus content, which facilitated the desorption of B. The low B extraction with MCC resulted from the poor mannitol‐B complex formation in acidic soils. The application of B increased dry‐matter accumulation, plant B concentration, and uptake at all B levels and growth stages in both crops with the responses being more pronounced during the early developmental stage. Based on linear correlations, Mallow's Cp statistics, and principal‐component analyses, HCC and HW were the best extractants for estimating available B in the acidic experimental soils.     

Hydrochemistry of Arsenic-Enriched Aquifer from Rural West Bengal, India: A Study of the Arsenic Exposure and Mitigation Option

The present study aims to understand the hydrochemistry vis-à-vis As-exposure from drinking groundwater in rural Bengal. The characteristic feature of the groundwaters are low Eh (range, ?151 to ?37 mV; mean, ?68 mV) and nitrate (range, 0.01–1.7 mg/l; mean, 0.14 mg/l) followed by high alkalinity (range, 100–630 mg/l; mean, 301 mg/l), Fe (range, 0.99–38 mg/l; mean, 8.1 mg/l), phosphate (range, 0.01–15 mg/l; mean, 0.54 mg/l), hardness (range, 46–600 mg/l; mean, 245 mg/l) and sulphate (range, 0.19–88 mg/l; mean, 7.2 mg/l), indicating reducing nature of the aquifer. The land use pattern (sanitation, surface water bodies, sanitation coupled with surface water bodies and agricultural lands) demonstrates local enrichment factor for As/Fe in groundwater. Among these, sanitation is the most prevailing where groundwater is generally enriched with As (mean, 269 μg/l) and Fe (mean, 9.8 mg/l). Questionnaire survey highlights that ～70% of the villagers in the study area do not have proper sanitation. This demonstrating the local unsewered sanitation (organic waste, anthropogenic in origin) could also cause As toxicity in rural Bengal. In the agricultural lands, higher mean values of alkalinity, phosphate, sulphate, hardness and electrical conductivity was observed, and could be linked with the excessive use of fertilizers for agricultural production. Bio-markers study indicates that the accumulation of As in hair and nail is related with the construction of exposure scenario with time dimension. The strength and weakness of the on-going West Bengal and Bangladesh drinking water supply scenario and achievability towards alternative options are also evaluated.     

Predictive models for dry biomass and carbon stock estimation in Litchi chinensis under hot and dry sub-humid climate

Accurate and reliable predictive models are necessary to estimate above and below ground biomass of plant and biomass carbon stock non-destructively. Different growth models namely viz, Linear, Allometric, Logistic, Gompertz, Richard’s, Negative exponential, Monomolecular, Mitcherlich and Weibull were fitted to the relationship between dry biomass of litchi tree components with collar diameter. Richard’s model outperformed the others and fulfilled the validation criterions to the best possible extent with lowest Akaike information criteria (AICc) of 90.47 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.79. The value of adjusted R² ranged from 0.947 to 0.971 for the Richard’s models fitted on various biomass components and the ‘t’ values for all the components was found non-significant (p > 0.05) indicating the validation of the model. The estimated total dry biomass varied from 0.50 Mg ha^?1 in two year to 5.71 Mg ha^?1 in 10 year old litchi orchards. The estimated stored biomass carbon stock in litchi orchards (branches, bole and roots) varied from 0.10 Mg ha^?1 in two year to 1.85 Mg ha^?1 in 10 year orchards with CO₂ sequestration potential from 0.19–4.63 Mg ha^?1.     

Changes in soil organic carbon pools in a long‐term trial with perennial fodder crops in acid soils of north‐east India

Efficient estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) is vital for understanding and monitoring the effect of perennial fodder crops in conserving SOC. In subtropical regions, there is limited information on SOC accumulation and its allocation into different pools under long‐term grasses and legumes. Therefore, we investigated the dynamics of SOC in a 20‐year‐old field trial with seven perennial grass species and a legume in a Typic Paleudalf soil under subtropical climate in north‐east India by analysing oxidizable organic C (C_oc) and its fractions of very labile (C_VL), labile (C_L), less labile (C_LL) and non‐labile (C_NL), microbial biomass C (C_mic) and mineralizable C (C_min). Growing perennial fodder crops increased SOC in the 0–0.60 m soil depth from 19.9%–39.6% compared with the conventional cultivation with maize (Zea mays). The relative efficacy of the fodder species to SOC accumulation was Setaria sphacelata = Brachieria rosenesis > Panicum maximum cv. Makunia = Arachis pintoi > Panicum maximum cv. Hamil > Paspalam conjugalum = Pennisetum purpureum > Thysanolaena maxima. Among the analysed fractions, C_VL, C_L, C_LL and C_mic were influenced most by the fodder crops and the active pools (C_VL+C_L) constituted 71.6% of the SOC. The results indicate that under the tested subtropical climate, soil under perennial grasses and legumes conserves organic C and that most of the SOC is in labile pools of short residence time.