Prevalence of Leptospira serogroup-specific antibodies in cattle associated with reproductive problems in endemic states of India

Tropical Animal Health and Production - In this study, the seroprevalence and distribution of Leptospira in dairy cattle in endemic states of India were investigated in association with...     

Rotavirus-associated diarrhoea in buffalo calves in Sri Lanka

Faecal samples from 150 buffalo calves, one to 150 days old, located in various districts of Sri Lanka, were examined for group A rotavirus antigen by a screening enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive samples were confirmed by the blocking ELISA. In the calves studied 27·3 per cent were diarrhoeic, and the rest were non-diarrhoeic but were in contact with the animals showing diarrhoea. Antigen was detected in 36·6 per cent of the diarrhoeic animals and in 11·9 per cent of the nondiarrhoeic animals. There was a strong association between the presence of antigen in faeces and diarrhoea in these animals (ξ² = 46·98; P<0·001). Of the 146 serum samples examined for antirotaviral antibodies, by the blocking ELISA at a single serum dilution (1:20) against a constant dose of antigen (8 units), 68·5 per cent were positive indicating a widespread infection with the virus in the population studied. This is the first record of the detection of rotavirus and its association with diarrhoea in buffalo calves in Sri Lanka.     

Analysing genetic control of cooked grain traits and gelatinization temperature in a double haploid population of rice by quantitative trait loci mapping

Cooking quality in rice grains is a complex trait which requires improvement. Earlier reports show varying genetic influence on these traits, except for a common agreement on waxy (Wx) and alkali degeneration (Alk) loci on chromosome 6. The present study involved 86 doubled haploid lines derived from an indica × japonica cross involving IR64 and Azucena. Grain parameters viz., raw grain length (RGL), raw grain breadth (RGB), cooked grain length (CGL), cooked grain breadth (CGB), gelatinization temperature (GT), grain shape (RGS), length elongation ratio (LER) and breadth expansion ratio (BER) were subjected to mixed model mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL). Segregation data of 175 markers covering a distance of 2395.5 cM spanning the entire genome were used. Fifteen main effect QTLs were detected spread over the genome, except on chromosomes 4, 8 and 11. Thirty epistatic interactions significantly influencing the traits were detected. Twelve of the main effect QTLs were involved in epistatic interactions. One main effect QTL associated with LER was detected near Alk locus. QTLs located for grain length on chromosomes 9 and 10 are reported for the first time. Detection of many epistatic loci and involvement of main effect QTLs in interactions demand for judicious selection of QTLs in marker-assisted selection programmes.     

Bulked segregant analysis to detect main effect QTL associated with grain quality parameters in Basmati 370/ASD 16 cross in rice Oryza sativa L) using SSR markers

In the present study a population consisting of 247 F₂ individuals from the cross between Basmati 370, a superior quality basmati variety and ASD16, a non-basmati high-yielding variety was analyzed for their segregation pattern of grain length (GL), grain breadth (GB), cooked grain length (CGL), cooked grain breadth (CGB), and gelatinization temperature (GT). Except GT, all other traits showed normal distribution indicating the polygenic control over the traits. The correlation analysis between traits indicated that GT had positive significant association with GL (0.125), and CGL (0.243). To identify main effect QTL (MQTL) for the above grain quality traits, both the parents were surveyed with 86 primer pairs of simple sequence repeats (SSR). The parental survey revealed 63.95% polymorphism between parents. In order to detect the MQTL associated with grain quality traits, a strategy of combining the DNA pooling from selected segregants and genotyping was adopted. The number of individuals forming the bulk influenced the identification of putative marker(s) for each of the traits. The association of putative markers identified based on DNA pooling from selected segregants was established by Single Marker Analysis (SMA). The results of SMA revealed that SSR markers, RM225 on chromosome #6 and RM247 on chromosome #12 showed significant association with GB and CGB respectively. It is established that molecular marker analysis involving DNA pooling of phenotypic extremes and selective genotyping helps to detect MQTL for complex traits involving early segregating generations. The molecular marker analysis involving the DNA pooling of phenotypic extremes could be a useful strategy to detect the genetic loci with major effects of other complex grain quality traits in rice.     

Salivary luteinizing hormone: An open window to detect oestrous period in buffalo

Silent oestrus is an unsurmountable problem in the management of buffalo reproduction. In addressing this issue, we have earlier reported variation in the levels of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) through the different phases of oestrous cycle with an extended window during the mid-oestrous phase. Based on this report, the present study is designed to assess the salivary LH levels in buffalo during the different phases of oestrous cycle. Bovine LH ELISA kit was used to determine the level of salivary LH. We observed a notable variation in salivary LH levels during the different phases of oestrous cycle. The maximum LH level, 39.07 mIU/ml, observed during oestrus, which was significantly (p < .05) higher than other consecutive phases. Altogether, the results showed a significant (p < .05) fold variation during oestrus compared with other phases. Therefore, the study convincingly shows that salivary LH has the potential of application in development of a modality for non-invasive oestrous detection in buffalo.     

Protective effect of melatonin administration on abamectin-induced immunotoxicity in Spodoptera litura (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

In vertebrates, many studies verified the immunomodulatory effect of melatonin in various tissues. Its exact role in lower organisms like insects has been very sketchy. The present study deals with understanding the immunomodulatory effect of melatonin in pesticide exposed insects. Total hemocyte count, Differential hemocyte count, Prophenoloxidase activity, and nodulation mechanism at different time intervals were studied. Results showed the abamectin results in significant increase (p < 0.01) in haemocytes numbers at 6, 48, and 72 h. Abamectin toxicity was counteracted by melatonin, with decreasing the hemocytes at 2, 4, and 12 h. Prophenoloxidase activity and protein content (p < 0.001) at 48 and 72 h of Melatonin + abamectin were slightly decreased. There was a significant decrease in nodule formation in 12–24 h in melatonin treated groups and it was clearly visible at 6 h. Increased Prohemocytes, Plasmatocytes, and Oenocytoids numbers decline in melatonin treatment. Melatonin treatment increased the survival rate on pesticide exposed insects. Results suggest that melatonin exposure significantly reduces the toxicity in pesticide exposed larvae which in turn brings back immunological profile in a time dependent manner.     

Breaking the intergeneric hybridization barrier in Carica papaya and Vasconcellea cauliflora

The present investigation was undertaken to develop PRSV (Papaya ringspot virus) resistant hybrids through intergeneric hybridization. Intergeneric hybridization was done involving nine Carica papaya cultivars as female and Vasconcellea cauliflora as male. To break the intergeneric hybridization barrier, various nutrient combinations were used. Among the combinations used, sucrose 5%, sucrose 5% + boron 0.5% and sucrose 5% + CaCl₂ 0.5% improved the fruit set and seed set percentage. A total number of 1197 flowers were pollinated and 308 fruits were obtained. On extraction, 721 seeds were obtained from CO 7, Pusa Nanha and CP 50. Out of 721 F₀ seeds (crossed seeds) sown, 419 seeds germinated and artificial screening for PRSV was carried out 27 days after sap inoculation. Out of 29 F₁ hybrid plants from CO 7 x V. cauliflora cross, only six plants namely CO 7V1 to CO 7V6 were found free from PRSV symptoms. Similarly, out of 55 F₁ hybrids from cross involving Pusa Nanha x V. cauliflora only 23 plants namely PNV1 to PNV23 were found free from the symptoms and 70 plants namely CPV1 to CPV70 out of 335 plants of CP50 x V. cauliflora cross were found free from PRSV symptoms. Among the crosses, Pusa Nanha x V. cauliflora had higher yield under PRSV infected conditions, however, total soluble solids and total sugars were found lesser than the CO 7 x V. cauliflora cross. The hybridity of the progenies were confirmed by using ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) primers by the amplification of DNA from progenies and their parents. ISSR primers UBC 856, UBC807 and ISSR primer combinations UBC 856-817, UBC 810-817, UBC 861-817, UBC 856-810, UBC 861-810 and UBC 856-817 clearly amplified specific bands of the male parent, which were present in F₁ progenies, but it was absent in female parents.     

Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry for Cost-Effective and Rapid Screening of Pearl Millet Germplasm and Breeding Lines for Grain Iron and Zinc Density

Comparison of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP) for iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) densities in pearl millet grain samples from 11 trials showed significant differences between these two methods for both micronutrients. XRF values were more often higher than the ICP values for both micronutrients, but the differences were significant in only 15–38% genotypes for Fe and in 7–25% genotypes for Zn across the trials. In 82% genotypes the differences between these two methods were ≤6 mg kg^?1 for Fe; and in 88% genotypes, the differences were ≤4 mg kg^?1for Zn. There were highly significant and high positive correlations between ICP and XRF for both micronutrients. Selection of genotypes above the XRF trial mean for Fe/Zn included at least 30% top-ranking genotypes based on ICP. Therefore, XRF can be used for cost-effective and rapid screening of a large number of grain samples in pearl millet biofortification programs.