INFECTION RATE AND CHEMOTHERAPY OF VARIOUS HELMINTHS IN GOATS IN AND AROUND LAHORE

The current study was carried out to find out the infection rate of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) helminths and its association with diarrhoea in goats in Lahore, Pakistan. For this purpose, 300 faecal samples from goats suffering from diarrhoea presented at the Outdoor Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, UVAS Lahore and various private as well as government hospitals located in Lahore were examined coprologically for the presence of helminths. The result revealed that an overall infection rate of GIT helminths was 63.33% in goats. When compared the class wise infection rate, highest infection rate of nematodes (42.67%) was observed, followed by trematodes (16.67%) and cestodes (4%). The efficacy of Ricobendazole was observed to be 62, 96 and 98% at day 3, 7 and 14 of treatment, respectively. The efficacy of Ricobendazole was higher than Albendazole (46, 83 and 94% at day 3, 7 and 14, respectively). Lowest efficacy of garlic powder against helminth parasites was observed (13, 28 and 34% at day 3, 7 and 14, respectively). It was concluded that Ricobendazole is the most effective drugs against helminths in goats

Effect of garlic supplementation on zootechnical performance and hepato-renal functions in nitrate-treated rabbits

The effect of garlic supplementation on zootechnical performance and hepato-renal functions of rabbits exposed to experimental nitrate poisoning was evaluated. Adult male 6-8 week-old albino rabbits (n= 24) were randomly divided into four groups (A - D) and subjected to nitrate intoxication through the oral administration of sodium nitrate solution at 2 ml/kg bodyweight per day for 40 days. Group A was a control that received no treatment except sodium nitrate. Rabbits in groups B and C were treated with 1% methylene blue solution (2 mg/kg bodyweight per day) and aqueous garlic extract (500 mg/kg bodyweight per day) through intraperitoneal and oral routes, respectively. Rabbits in group D were treated with both 1% methylene blue solution (2 mg/kg bodyweight per day, intraperitoneally) and aqueous garlic extract (500 mg/kg bodyweight per day, orally). On completion of the treatment period, the groups were compared in growth performance, biochemical profile and histopathological changes of hepato-renal tissues. Although the total feed consumption of the groups remained comparable, Group C showed relatively better weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Likewise, garlic extract significantly increased the serum bilirubin concentration and reduced the level of other biochemical attributes in comparison with control animals. The hepatic and renal tissues of Groups C and D remained normal, whereas those of the control group exhibited distinct histopathological alterations. It was concluded that garlic supplementation ameliorated the deleterious effects of nitrate intoxication on production performance and hepato-renal functions of rabbits

The PTK7 and ROR2 Protein Receptors Interact in the Vertebrate WNT/Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) Pathway *

International audienceBackground: The planar cell polarity pathway plays important roles in morphogenetic processes. Results: PTK7 and ROR2 form a heterodimeric complex and bind to WNT5A, promoting JNK phosphorylation and regulating expression of paraxial protocadherin. Conclusion: PTK7 and ROR2 promote cell movement in mammalian cells and coordinate cell polarity during morphogenetic movements. Significance: We reveal new mechanisms of action of PTK7 in WNT/PCP signaling. The non-canonical WNT/planar cell polarity (WNT/PCP) pathway plays important roles in morphogenetic processes in vertebrates. Among WNT/PCP components, protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) is a tyrosine kinase receptor with poorly defined functions lacking catalytic activity. Here we show that PTK7 associates with receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2) to form a heterodimeric complex in mammalian cells. We demonstrate that PTK7 and ROR2 physically and functionally interact with the non-canonical WNT5A ligand, leading to JNK activation and cell movements. In the Xenopus embryo, Ptk7 functionally interacts with Ror2 to regulate protocadherin papc expression and morphogenesis. Furthermore , we show that Ptk7 is required for papc activation induced by Wnt5a. Interestingly, we find that Wnt5a stimulates the release of the tagged Ptk7 intracellular domain, which can translocate into the nucleus and activate papc expression. This study reveals novel molecular mechanisms of action of PTK7 in non-canonical WNT/PCP signaling that may promote cell and tissue movements

When mTORC2-AKT signaling meets cell polarity

International audienceHyperactivation of the mTOR-AKT pathway frequently contributes to the spread of cancer cells, especially in aggressive breast cancer, to distant organs, promoting the lethal metastatic program. Despite advances in the understanding of this signaling pathway and the development of inhibitors, efforts are still needed to dissect its complexity. This is particularly the case for mTORC2, which constitutes one of the two major branches of the mTOR pathway and whose mode of regulation is poorly defined. The mTORC2 complex consists of RICTOR, an evolutionarily conserved protein associated to mTOR, LST8 and SIN1, which is responsible for the phosphorylation of AGC protein kinases (AKT, SGK1 and PKCα). In a recent report1, we reveal that, in breast cancer cells, the mTORC2 complex, through the RICTOR subunit, can associate with PRICKLE1, a core member of planar cell polarity (PCP) which normally shapes organs during embryogenesis of Metazoans (Figure 1)

Treating Cryptosporidium parvum infection in calves

The present study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of azithromycin, co-trimoxazole and kalvangi (Nigella sativa, also known as Black Cumin) against Cryptosporidium parvum infection in calves under field conditions. The experimental calves were treated with azithromycin (group A) at 1500 mg/calf/day, co-trimoxazole (group B) at 30 mg Kg-1 and kalvangi seeds powder (group C) at 750 mg Kg-1 BW orally for 7 days. Calves in the group D were naturally infected with C. parvum , untreated animals (positive control) while the calves in the group E were uninfected negative control animals. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in oocyst counts for calves in groups A, B and C was observed compared to group D. When the oocyst counts amongst the treatment groups A, B and C were compared, a significant decrease (p < 0.05) was observed in group A. On day 21 post-treatment, the efficacy of azithromycin, co-trimoxazole and kalvangi in calves was 88.2% (95% C.I. ± 15.4), 45% (95% C.I. ± 21.8) and 27.8% (95% C.I. ± 20.7), respectively. This study confirmed previous reports of azithromycin efficacy against C. parvum infection, but found co-trimoxazole and kalvangi to be ineffective for this infection under these treatment regimens.A. Nasir, M. Avais, M. S. Khan, J. A. Khan, S. Hameed, and M. P. Reiche

COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF VARIOUS DRUGS AGAINST GASTRODISCUS IN HORSES

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to workout the prevalence of Gastrodiscus infection in horses in Lahore district and to check the efficacy of oxfendazole, albendazole and ivermectin against Gastrodiscus infection in horses. Five hundred faecal samples were collected and subjected to Coprological examination. From the Gastrodiscus positive horses 28 animals were selected for this study and were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) comprising 7 animals each. The animals of group A, B, and C were treated with albendazole (Farbenda 10%; Farvet) @ 1ml/13kg bwt, oxfendazole (Oxafax; GlaxoWelcome) @ 1ml/2.2kg bwt and ivermectin (Ivomec;Rhone Poulenc) @ 1ml/50kg bwt, respectively while the animals of group D were kept as untreated control. The prevalence of Gastrodiscus infection in horses was found to be 6%. The average efficacy of oxfendazole, albendazole and ivermectin was 56.2%, 69.47% and 9.5%, respectively. Hence oxfendazole and albendazole showed better results as compare to ivermectin

Prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep and goats in Pakistan

The purpose of the present study was to obtain seroepidemiological information on the Neospora caninum infection status of sheep and goats in different areas of Punjab Province and Azad Kashmir (Pakistan). A cross-sectional study, with the use of a competitive ELISA, showed an overall 27.7% (35 of 128) (95% confidence interval [CI] ± 7.7%) and 8.6% (13 of 142) (95% CI ± 4.6%) seroprevalence of N. caninum antibodies in sheep and goats, respectively. The difference in seroprevalence between sheep and goat populations was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The highest prevalence (37.4% ± 13.2%) was recorded in the tailless breed of sheep.A. Nasir, M. Ashraf, M. S. Khan, A. Javeed, T. Yaqub, M. Avais, and M. P. Reiche