Development of the body condition score system in Murrah buffaloes: validation through ultrasonic assessment of body fat reserves

The body condition score (BCS) system is a subjective scoring method of evaluating the energy reserves of dairy animals to provide better understanding of biological relationships between body fat, milk production and reproduction. This method helps in adopting the optimum management practices to derive maximum production and maintain optimum health of the livestock. In this study, a new BCS system was developed for Murrah buffaloes. The skeletal check points were identified by studying the anatomical features and amount of fat reserves in slaughtered animals. The scores were assigned from 1 to 5 based on the amount of fat reserves in slaughtered animals. A score of 1 represents least and 5 represents most amount of fat. The skeletal check points identified were ordered based on the amount of carcass fat reserves and scores assigned to prepare a preliminary BCS chart on a 1 to 5 scale at 0.25 increments. The BCS chart was further modified by eliminating the skeletal check points at which the fat reserves were less evident on palpation in most of the buffaloes and a new BCS chart on a 1 to 5 scale at 0.5 increments examining eight skeletal check points was developed. The new BCS system developed was tested for precision in 10 buffaloes for each point of the 1-5 scale by ultrasonographic measurements of body fat reserves. Ultrasonographic measurements showed that as the BCS increased, the amount of fat reserves also increased (p < 0.01), indicating that the BCS adequately reflected the amount of actual fat reserves. BCS was significantly correlated (r = 0.860) with the carcass fat reserves as well as the ultrasonographic fat reserves (r = 0.854)

Qualitative Assessment of the Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptability of a Mobile Client Data App for Community-Based Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Care in Rural Ghana

Mobile phone applications may enhance the delivery of critical health services and the accuracy of health service data. Yet, the opinions and experiences of frontline health workers on using mobile apps to track pregnant and recently delivered women are underreported. This evaluation qualitatively assessed the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of a mobile Client Data App for maternal, neonatal, and child client data management by community health nurses (CHNs) in rural Ghana. The mobile app enabled CHNs to enter, summarize, and query client data. It also sent visit reminders for clients and provided a mechanism to report level of care to district officers. Fourteen interviews and two focus groups with CHNs, midwives, and district health officers were conducted, coded, and thematically analyzed. Results indicated that the app was easily integrated into care, improved CHN productivity, and was acceptable due to its capacity to facilitate client follow-up, data reporting, and decision-making. However, the feasibility and usability of the app were hindered by high client volumes, staff shortages, and software and device challenges. Successful integration of mobile client data apps for frontline health workers in rural and resource-poor settings requires real-time monitoring, program investments, and targeted changes in human resources

Nevirapine Resistance and Breast-Milk HIV Transmission: Effects of Single and Extended-Dose Nevirapine Prophylaxis in Subtype C HIV-Infected Infants

Daily nevirapine (NVP) prophylaxis to HIV-exposed infants significantly reduces breast-milk HIV transmission. We assessed NVP-resistance in Indian infants enrolled in the "six-week extended-dose nevirapine" (SWEN) trial who received single-dose NVP (SD-NVP) or SWEN for prevention of breast-milk HIV transmission but who also acquired subtype C HIV infection during the first year of life.Standard population sequencing and cloning for viral subpopulations present at > or =5% frequency were used to determine HIV genotypes from 94% of the 79 infected Indian infants studied. Timing of infection was defined based on when an infant's blood sample first tested positive for HIV DNA. SWEN-exposed infants diagnosed with HIV by six weeks of age had a significantly higher prevalence of NVP-resistance than those who received SD-NVP, by both standard population sequencing (92% of 12 vs. 38% of 29; p = 0.002) and low frequency clonal analysis (92% of 12 vs. 59% of 29; p = 0.06). Likelihood of infection with NVP-resistant HIV through breast-milk among infants infected after age six weeks was substantial, but prevalence of NVP-resistance did not differ among SWEN or SD-NVP exposed infants by standard population sequencing (15% of 13 vs. 15% of 20; p = 1.00) and clonal analysis (31% of 13 vs. 40% of 20; p = 0.72). Types of NVP-resistance mutations and patterns of persistence at one year of age were similar between the two groups. NVP-resistance mutations did differ by timing of HIV infection; the Y181C variant was predominant among infants diagnosed in the first six weeks of life, compared to Y188C/H during late breast-milk transmission.Use of SWEN to prevent breast-milk HIV transmission carries a high likelihood of resistance if infection occurs in the first six weeks of life. Moreover, there was a continued risk of transmission of NVP-resistant HIV through breastfeeding during the first year of life, but did not differ between SD-NVP and SWEN groups. As with SD-NVP, the value of preventing HIV infection in a large number of infants should be considered alongside the high risk of resistance associated with extended NVP prophylaxis.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00061321

Performance of Broilers Fed with Crude Rice Bran Oil

An experiment was conducted to study the inclusion of crude rice bran oil on production performance, carcass characteristics and biochemical parameters for a period of seven weeks with two hundred and sixteen commercial, straight run day-old Vencobb broiler chicks. These chicks were randomly grouped into six treatments with three replicates of twelve chicks each. The treatment groups consisted of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% crude rice bran oil included in the broiler diet on isocaloric and isonitrogenous basis. The results revealed that there was no significant difference in body weight and body weight gain between treatment groups from first week to end of the experiment period except at second week (P&lt;0.05). Similarly, no significant difference was recorded in feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and carcass yields, but in feed conversion ratio significant (P&lt;0.05) difference was recorded at second week of age. Livability was 100% in all the treatment groups except in 5% crude rice bran oil group wherein mortality of one bird was observed during 7th week of age.The abdominal fat percentage revealed no significant difference among various treatment groups by inclusion of crude rice bran oil. The breast muscle cholesterol revealed no significant difference between treatment groups. Whereas, the mean thigh muscle cholesterol of other treatment group birds was significantly (P&lt;0.05) lower than those of control group. The serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides level did not differ significantly between treatment groups. The return over feed cost did not differ significantly between treatment groups except at second week of age. Based upon this study, it is concluded that the inclusion of crude rice bran oil up to 3% in broiler ration is recommended for better growth and high return over feed cost

Additional file 4: Figure S3. of Mobile Technology for Community Health in Ghana: what happens when technical functionality threatens the effectiveness of digital health programs?

Proportion of messages sent out of those expected across the continuum of care by district. Trends in system generated data on message delivery. (DOCX 73 kb

Additional file 2: Table S1. of Mobile Technology for Community Health in Ghana: what happens when technical functionality threatens the effectiveness of digital health programs?

Summary metrics for assessing program effectiveness including technological and behavioral components. (DOCX 31 kb

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Mobile Technology for Community Health in Ghana: what happens when technical functionality threatens the effectiveness of digital health programs?

Data flows through the MOTECH system reproduced with permission from [1]. (DOCX 150 kb