Comparative analysis of conventional and real time PCR for detection of haemoparasites in dogs

9-15Ehrlichiosis and babesiosis are the most pathogenic tick-borne diseases of dogs worldwide. The present study reports that the development of SYBR green based real time PCR (RT-PCR) protocols with novel primers targeting small subunit ribosomal RNA genes to detect natural infections of Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli and B. gibsoni in dogs and its comparison with conventional PCR. Statistical analysis revealed that RT- PCR is more superior to conventional PCR assay to detect low level rickettsaemia (p < 0.05). The high prevalence of these pathogens in the study population also warrants immediate attention to the adoption of efficient and sustainable control strategies

Polymorphism study of TLR4 gene in crossbred cattle of Kerala

The present study was conducted to identify single nucleotide variations in exon 3 region of the bovine Toll-Like Receptor gene (TLR4) associated with somatic cell score (SCS) in crossbred cattle of Kerala using polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformational polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP) technique. Blood samples were collected from 200 lactating crossbred cattle in different farms of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) and field centres of ICAR- FPT scheme, KVASU. Genomic DNA was isolated and polymorphisms were identified by SSCP analysis. The 231 bp fragment of exon 3 in TLR4 gene was found to polymorphic and two genotypes viz. CC and CD were obtained with frequencies 77 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. The frequencies of C and D allele in crossbred were found to be 0.88 and 0.12. On sequencing, C to T transition had led to one non-synonymous change at 2021th position of ORF. Cattle with CC genotype were associated with significantly lower SCS (p≤0.05) as compared to CD genotype. The association between TLR4 polymorphism and SCS described in this study suggests the possible role of SNP during mastitis infection. Thus, could be employed as a useful marker for genetic selection to promote mastitis resistance in dairy cattle

Present status of exploitation of fish and shellfish resources: Prawns

The Prawn fishery of the west coast of India is reviewed with particular reference to monsoon season and related management problems based on observations at Cochin, Calicut, Mangalore and Bombay. With an estimated average annual production of about 25,000 tonnes for the period 1984-88, the monsoon season contributes only 15% to the total prawn landings of this coast. While shrimp trawling remains almost completely suspended in most of the centres during this period, it is very active at Cochin and Sakthikulangara in Kerala Coast and moderately active in Bombay Coast

Characterization of promoter sequence of toll-like receptor genes in Vechur cattle

Aim: To analyze the promoter sequence of toll-like receptor (TLR) genes in Vechur cattle, an indigenous breed of Kerala with the sequence of Bos taurus and access the differences that could be attributed to innate immune responses against bovine mastitis. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from Jugular vein of Vechur cattle, maintained at Vechur cattle conservation center of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, using an acid-citrate-dextrose anticoagulant. The genomic DNA was extracted, and polymerase chain reaction was carried out to amplify the promoter region of TLRs. The amplified product of TLR2, 4, and 9 promoter regions was sequenced by Sanger enzymatic DNA sequencing technique. Results: The sequence of promoter region of TLR2 of Vechur cattle with the B. taurus sequence present in GenBank showed 98% similarity and revealed variants for four sequence motifs. The sequence of the promoter region of TLR4 of Vechur cattle revealed 99% similarity with that of B. taurus sequence but not reveals significant variant in motifregions. However, two heterozygous loci were observed from the chromatogram. Promoter sequence of TLR9 gene also showed 99% similarity to B. taurus sequence and revealed variants for four sequence motifs. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that significant variation in the promoter of TLR2 and 9 genes in Vechur cattle breed and may potentially link the influence the innate immunity response against mastitis diseases

Environmental Conditions of Some Paddy-cum-Prawn Culture Fields of Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India

24-30Temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, inorganic phosphate, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite of seasonal and perennial prawn culture fields from 3 areas of Cochin backwaters are studied. Area 1 is a region least affected ecologically and the salinity values 10 x 10-3 occur here during December to June. Area 2 which is near to the location of effluent discharge from a fertiliser factory shows high concentration of nutrients with low prawn production. Area 3 is most favourably situated to resist ecological distortions because of its proximity to the sea. The results indicate that the fields in areas 1 and 3 have environmental conditions highly suited for prawn culture whereas in area 2 the salinity conditions are not very conducive for prawn growth

Pathways and determinants of sustainable energy use for rice farms in India

Rice cultivation in the Western Indo-Gangetic plains of India is often blamed for higher energy use. Thus, a bootstrapped meta-frontier approach with a truncated regression approach was used on a database of 3832 rice farms from the input-intensive rice production tracts of western Indo-Gangetic Plains for sustainable energy-use assessment. Farms were classified based on efficiency scores to screen the inefficient practices and farms in Indo-Gangetic Plains. The district-specific technical-efficiency scores ranged between 0.68 and 0.99, with a mean of 0.86–0.90, suggesting average improvement in energy-use efficiency by 10–14% within the district. The mean meta-frontier technical-efficiency score ranged between 0.60 and 0.81. On average, the energy-use-efficient farms had 42% or higher energy-use efficiency in the districts of Ambala, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Karnal. In contrast, in other districts, the efficient farms had 5-19% higher energy-use efficiency. There is evidence of a higher number of tillage, irrigation, and fertilizer application among the inefficient farmers, specific to some districts. The efficient as well as inefficient farmers in Kapurthala and Ludhiana spend similar energy in tillage, whereas, the energy output from both efficient and inefficient farms are similar in Kurukshetra. Thus, there is a need of differential attention specific to district and practices. The evidence provided in this study can help to identify pathways toward sustainable energy use for future rice production in other ecologies too. Similar type of analysis can be carried out for other parameters like profitability and carbon footprint to explore where farmers are spending extra monetary and carbon inputs, and not getting additional yield benefits