Therapeutic Efficacy of Zinc Sulphate Used in Clustered Model Treatment in Alleviating Zinc Deficiency in Cattle and Its Effect on Hormones,Vitamins and Production Parameters

A survey was conducted in 10 districts of northern India. Significant deficiency of zinc was observed in soil, fodders and (cattle) serum samples. The animals showed typical signs of zinc deficiency, namely stiff gait, swelling of hocks and knees, subcutaneous fluid accumulation, rough coat, etc. of variable intensity. A clustered model therapeutic trial was conducted and zinc-deficient cattle were divided into three groups. Group A was provided with mineral mixture containing zinc sulphate. Group B was given mineral mixture without zinc sulphate and group C was given no mineral mixture. Significant improvement (p < 0.01) was observed in the haemoglobin (Hb), total white blood cells (WBC) and total erythrocyte count (TEC) levels at the 7th day of treatment in the animals of group A. Significant improvement in enzyme serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) was observed in group A animals at the 7th day, while improvement in asparatate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) was observed after 21 days of treatment. Regarding hormones, significant improvement was observed in thyroxine (T₃) and triiodothyronine (T₄), oestrogen and progesterone in group A animals within 14 days of treatment. The values of vitamin A showed a highly significant (p < 0.01) improvement within 7 days of treatment in group A animals and that of vitamin E on the 21 st day of treatment. The milk yield of lactating cattle and body weight of growing calves in group A showed highly significant (p < 0.01) increases at about 14 and 30 days, respectively. It is concluded that zinc sulphate supplementation is highly effective in alleviating zinc deficiency and improving various biochemical and production parameters in cattle. The clustered model treatment provides a better indicator of the most limiting element under field conditions where simultaneous deficiency of various minerals is prevalent.     

Ribotyping of Indian Isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pasteurella multocida</Emphasis> Based on 16S and 23S rRNA Genes

The applicability of ribotyping based on 16S and 23S rRNA was evaluated for molecular epidemiological studies. Forty-eight isolates of Pasteurella multocida isolated from different hosts and geographical locations and one reference isolate were ribotyped. Only four ribotypes were found. All the isolates including reference isolate from wild carnivores had the same ribotype, though they had different serotypes. The isolate from a tiger had one band in addition to the bands present in the major ribotype. The isolates from lions represented two ribotypes; of these ribotypes, one (r2) had an additional band of 3.6 kbp, which was absent in all other ribotypes. The second ribotype (r4) from a lion had one band missing (6 kbp) that was present in the other ribotypes. These isolates were further typed using ERIC-PCR and REP-PCR. With ERIC-PCR and REP-PCR, higher D values of 0.83 and 0.89 were obtained. The current study revealed that ribotyping is not a very efficient typing tool for use in molecular epidemiology for differentiation of isolates.     

Urinary tract infections-microbial virulence determinants and reactive oxygen species

The human urinary tract is able to combat with the microbial invasion under normal circumstances. To cause urinary tract infection the organism has to evade the host defense mechanisms by possessing distinct properties which contribute to the virulence of the organism hence called virulence determinants Ninety percent of uncomplicated urinary tract infections are caused by Escherichia coli, hence the knowledge of the virulence determinants of this organism can be extrapolated to other uropathogenic organism as well. Virulence determinants of uropathogenic E. coli include adhesins, siderophore production, polysaccharide coating, hemolysin production, outer membrane proteins etc. The intestinal E. coli, which are the reservoir of E. coli for causing UTI, lack these virulence determinants. On the other hand these virulence determinants enable the organism to colonize and invade the urinary tract. In addition these are important in acquiring the nutrients in other wise nutrient deficient environment. Further, they also help the organisms in triggering an inflammatory response and hence bringing about pathological changes which leads to symptomatic UTI. Severity of symptomatic infections and tissue damage during the infective process depends upon the magnitude of the inflammatory response triggered by the uropathogen which in turn is dependent upon the amount of extrcellular release of reactive oxygen species by the phagocytic cells; hence role of antioxidants as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of infective process needs to be evaluated further.     

Pharmacokinetics and dosage regimen of cefotaxime in cross-bred calves following single intramuscular administration

The pharmacokinetics, penetration into erythrocytes and plasma protein binding of cefotaxime were investigated in cross-bred calves. Following a single intramuscular dose of cefotaxime (10 mg/kg), the absorption half-life and elimination half-life were 0.13±0.03 h and 2.97±0.72 h, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution and total body clearance were 3.28±0.72 L/kg and 0.78±0.08 L/kg per h, respectively. The extent of penetration into erythrocytes was 24–40% of the total blood concentration. Cefotaxime was bound to plasma proteins of calves to the extent of 25.5–33.6%. A satisfactory intramuscular dosage regimen for cefotaxime in calves would be 11 mg/kg followed by 10 mg/kg at 7 h intervals.Abbreviations ATCC American type cell culture - MIC minimum inhibitory concentration - PCV packed cell volume     

Stomatal and tree growth characteristics of some crab apples

Fifteen crab-apple species were classified on the basis of their stomatal apparatus (density, length and width) and tree growth (trunk cross-sectional area, height and spread) characteristics. None of the stomatal parameters were correlated with tree vigour.     

Experimental Bubalian Fasciolosis: Kinetics of Antibody Response using 28 kDa Fasciola gigantica Cysteine Proteinase as Antigen

Tropical Animal Health and Production -