Potentiation of malathion by other insecticides against Musca domestica

Twenty-seven insecticides, including organochlorine, organophosphorus compounds and carbamates were tried for potentiation of the toxic effect of malathion. Carbaryl, diazinon, fenthion, gamma-BHC, parathion and tetrachlorvinphos potentiated the action of malathion. Fourteen insecticides gave additive effects while seven proved antagonistic. Insecticides which showed potentiation, were further tested by mixing with malathion in the ratios of 1:9, 3:7, 5:5, 7:3 and 9:1. All the five combinations in the six mixtures gave potentiating effects. Maximum potentiation of 17.6 times was observed in 1:9 combination of malathion and gamma-BHC. The proportions in which the insecticides were mixed had a pronounced effect on the toxic effect of malathion.     

Studies on pesticides based on coumarin. II. Synthesis and antifungal activity of ten 2-alkyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones

A series of 2-alkyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones was synthesised by the condensation of ethyl 3, 4-dihydro-1-oxonaphthalene-2-carboxylate with substituted phenols in the presence of POCl₃. The compounds were characterised and tested for their toxicity towards the mycelial growth of seven phytopathogenic fungi in culture. Drechslera oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani and Colletotrichum falcatum exhibited maximum sensitivity to these compounds whereas Macro-phomina phaseolina, Fusarium solani, Alternaria alternata and Pythium aphanidermatum were less sensitive. 2-Ethyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxy-naphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones possessed greatest toxicity with EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.2 to 2.5 μg ml^?1 against all fungi except A. alternata and P. aphanidermatum.     

Studies on pesticides based on coumarin. III. Synthesis and antifungal activity of substituted 4-methyl-coumarins and related compounds

A series of substituted 4-methylcoumarins was synthesised and the members tested for their toxicity towards mycelial growth of seven phytopathogenic fungi in culture. Rhizoctonia solani, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani exhibited maximum sensitivity to these compounds whereas Pythium aphanidermatum, Colletotrichum falcatum, Drechslera oryzae and Macrophomina phaseolina were relatively less sensitive. 6-Ethyl-3-n- propyl-7-hydroxy4-methylcoumarin ( I ) was relatively toxic towards all fungi except C. falcatum, P. aphanidermatum and M. phaseolina. The 6-n-butyl ( III ) and 6-(1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutyl) ( VI ) derivatives were highly toxic to R. solani with EC₅₀, values of lμg ml^?1.     

Comparative analysis of mechanical properties of size film. I. Performance of individual size materials

Starch has been the most popular and economic size material. Synthetic binders have also been developed to be used as size material to improve weaving loom efficiency. Some synthetic size materials have got restrictions in use mainly because of ecological reasons. In the recent years, many modifications have come up in the starch as a sizing agent. Different modification can give different properties, which can be suited for a particular application. In the present study, for comparative analysis of different varieties of natural starch, modified starch and synthetic size material have been evaluated and mechanical properties like cohesion power, adhesion power, abrasion resistance, bending rigidity etc. were studied. PVA shows best properties among all size material. Among modified starch, starch ester shows better properties.     

Genetics of hyperpigmentation associated with the Fibromelanosis gene (Fm) and analysis of growth and meat quality traits in crosses of native Indian Kadaknath chickens and non-indigenous breeds

1. The study investigated the extent of hyperpigmentation (a trait fixed in native Indian Kadaknath chickens), bodyweight, carcase quality and leanness at 12 weeks of age in F(1) and back-crosses of Kadaknath with White Leghorn, White Plymouth Rock and Aseel Peela chickens. 2. The objective of the study was to determine if hyperpigmentation was affected by the major gene Fibromelanosis (Fm) and to evaluate the effects of different proportions of Kadaknath genes on growth and carcase quality. 3. The pigmentation pattern of skin indicated that Fm behaved as the primary locus affecting dermal-hyperpigmentation and that the sex-linked Id locus produced an epistatic effect. 4. The results suggested that variable allelic forms of Id were acting in different crosses, which resulted in variation in melanosis of the host. However, no conclusive pattern for shank pigmentation could be explained through genotyping of the Id and Fm loci. 5. Analysis of quantitative traits indicated the positive impact of a Kadaknath genomic proportion of 50% or more on meat texture and carcase leanness. Improvement in leanness occurred in White Rock crosses but not in White Leghorn and Aseel Peela crosses. 6. Thigh-meat texture was influenced more by enhanced Kadaknath genomic proportions than the breast-meat. It was concluded that introgression of Kadaknath genomic proportion beyond 50% in a cross with meat-type chickens, irrespective of the impact Fm, brought improvement in meat quality whereas no such advantage was obtained for growth traits. 7. The beneficial impact of the Kadaknath genome on meat quality calls for further studies to identify causative genes for their selective use to improve meat quality in Kadaknath crossbred chickens.     

Effect of immunotherapy with a saline phenol extract of allogeneic tumour on E-rosette counts in horn cancer-affected cattle

The mean percentage of cells forming rosettes with 2-aminoethyl isothiouronium bromide-treated sheep erythrocytes (EAETRFC) in the peripheral blood of 10 horn cancer-affected cattle (40.05 +/- 2.91) was significantly low in comparison to the value in unaffected control animals (58.61 +/- 1.68). Immunotherapy with a saline phenol extract of allogeneic tumour tissue resulted in a gradual increase in the mean percentage of EAETRFC on each subsequent week. The increase was statistically significant from the second week onwards and on the sixth week, the percentage of EAETRFC in horn cancer affected cattle (56.80 +/- 1.38) closely approximated the value in unaffected controls.     

Organ culture of chicken bursa as a model to study the pathogenicity of infectious bursal disease virus isolates.

In vitro study with chicken bursal organ culture was attempted to assess the pathogenicity of locally isolated infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) initially isolated from the bursa of naturally infected birds. In bursal organ culture, lymphoblastic transformation was noticed as early as 24 hr postinoculation and reached maximum at 72 hr postinoculation. The other microscopic changes were increased number of macrophages and formation of plasma cells. The IBDV antigen was detected 24 hr onward by coagglutination test with antibody coated Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I. On the basis of lesion score, the three isolates of IBDV (A, B, and C) were graded as virulent (B isolate) and moderately virulent (A and C isolates). A similar pattern of pathogenicity was also observed in the in vivo pathogenicity studies in chicken based on bursa: body weight ratio and histopathologic lesion score. The bursal organ culture thus provides a useful experimental model to differentiate the IBDV isolates on the basis of their virulence.     

Feed consumption,diet digestibility and mineral utilization in captive blackbuck (Antelope cervicapra) fed different levels of concentrates

A feeding trial was conducted to know the level of concentrates in the diet of Antelope cervicapra at which diet digestibility and mineral utilization were optimum. Fifteen blackbucks (25–33 kg BW) were distributed into three groups of five each. Fresh oat (Avena sativa) and berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) fodders were offered ad libitum to all the animals. In addition, animals in groups II and III received concentrate mixture at the rate of 0.5 and 1% of BW, whereas animals in group I received no concentrates. As the level of concentrates increased, consumption of fodder decreased resulting in decreased consumption of neutral detergent fibre (NDFom), acid detergent fibre (ADFom), hemicellulose and cellulose. However, overall total dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake was not significantly different between the groups. Digestibility of DM, OM and gross energy (GE) increased while that of NDFom and ADFom decreased with increased level of concentrates in the diet. Intake of P, Zn, Cu and Mn increased with increased level of concentrate supplementation; however, consumption of Ca and Fe followed the reverse trend. Absorption of P and Zn increased with increased level of concentrate supplementation. Serum concentration of Zn increased when concentrate was supplemented at the rate of 0.5% BW beyond which there was no further improvement. Increasing the level of concentrates in the diet was resulted in increased serum glucose and cholesterol levels. Forage‐only diet was inadequate in supply of energy, P and zinc. Supplementation of concentrates at the rate of 0.5% BW was able to meet the requirement of these nutrients. Supplementation at the rate of 1% BW supplied energy and P in excess of requirement. It was concluded that the feeding of concentrates to the captive blackbuck fed forage‐based diets should be restricted to 0.5% of BW.     

Cloning and characterisation of the ahpA gene of Pasteurella multocida serogroup b:2 (strain P52): short communication

Pasteurella multocida B:2 is responsible for haemorrhagic septicaemia in cattle and buffaloes, causing severe economic losses in the developing countries. In the present study, the ahpA gene of P. multocida B:2 (P52) was cloned, sequenced and compared with the previously reported ahpA gene sequence in P. multocida A:1, which is responsible for its haemolytic phenotype. E. coli DH5a cells were further transformed with recombinant plasmid carrying the ahpA gene from P. multocida B:2 (P52) but SDS-PAGE analysis failed to show the expression of haemolysin protein. Slight haemolysis was albeit observed in horse blood agar plates streaked with recombinant E. coli carrying the ahpA gene. Our study indicates that there is 99.6% similarity and 0.4% divergence between ahpA gene of P. multocida B:2 (P52) and P. multocida A: 1, while membrane topology analysis has predicted that ahpA is an inner membrane protein with two strong hydrophobic regions at the N and C terminals. The presence of significant homology in ahpA sequence in A: 1 and B:2 perhaps suggests a common mechanism of pathogenesis in different species of animals.     

Expression and localization of adiponectin and its receptors in ovarian follicles during different stages of development and the modulatory effect of adiponectin on steroid production in water buffalo

Adiponectin is an adipocyte‐derived hormone regulating energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity and recently found to regulate reproduction. The current study was carried out to investigate gene and protein expression, immunolocalization of adiponectin and its receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in ovarian follicles of different developmental stages in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and to investigate the effect of adiponectin on steroid production in cultured bubaline granulosa cells. qPCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were applied to demonstrate mRNA expression, protein expression and immunolocalization, respectively. The results indicate that adiponectin, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 were present in granulosa cells (GC) and theca interna (TI) of ovarian follicles and the expression of adiponectin, AdipoR1, AdipoR2 in GC and AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in TI increased with increase in follicle size (p < .05). Expression of adiponectin was high in small and medium size follicles in TI. The adiponectin and its receptors were immunolocalized in the cytoplasm of GC and TI cells. Further, in the in‐vitro study, GCs were cultured and treated with recombinant adiponectin each at 0, 1 and 10 µg/ml alone or with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at 30 ng/ml) or Insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) at 10 ng/ml for 48 hr after obtaining 75%–80%s confluency. Adiponectin at 10 µg/ml increased IGF‐I‐induced estradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P₄) secretion and FSH‐induced E₂ secretion from GC and also increased the abundance of factors involved in E₂ and P₄ production (cytochrome P45019A1 [CYP19A1] and 3‐beta‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase [3β‐HSD]). In conclusion, this study provides novel evidence for the presence of adiponectin and its receptors in ovarian follicles and modulatory role of adiponectin on steroid production in buffalo.