Effect of seasonal variations and different housing systems on physiological responses and hematological parameters of buffaloes

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of 2 housing systems and seasonal variations on physiological responses and haematological parameters of buffaloes. Twelve buffaloes were selected and randomly divided into 2 equal groups. Animals of group A were housed in shade with net and animals of group B in shade without net. The experiment was conducted for 2 seasons i.e. monsoon and winter. The physiological responses were recorded weekly. Blood samples were aseptically collected fortnightly and were analyzed for hematological studies. All the parameters of physiological responses viz. respiration rate, rectal temperature, heart rate, and pulse rate were non significantly higher in group B as compared to group A in monsoon and winter seasons. Highly significant increase in mean values of Hb, TEC, TLC and PCV was observed in group A than the group B values in monsoon and winter seasons. Significantly higher values of lymphocytes and neutrophils was observed in group A during monsoon and non-significantly lower values in group B during winter season. Eosinophils and monocytes were non significantly higher in group B during monsoon and winter season as compared to group A. The temperature humidity index (THI) showed significantly lower in group A as compared to group B in both the seasons

DETERMINATION OF IN VITRO EFFICACY OF AQUEOUS AND CHLOROFORM EXTRACTS OF ADHATODA VASICA AGAINST RHIPICEPHALUS MICROPLUS TICKS

: The aqueous and chloroform extracts obtained from leaves of Adhatoda vasica were evaluated for acaricidal activity against engorged females of Rhipicephalus microplus and their larvae. No significant mortality of adult ticks was observed in the tested concentration of aqueous extract except at 80%. Whereas, chloroform extract showed a dosedependent increase in adult mortality, and LC50 and LC90 values were determined as 10.47% and 11.74%, respectively. A significant difference in egg hatching of laid eggs was observed at all concentrations tested and 98.55% inhibition of hatching was observed at 12.5% concentration. Dose-dependent larval mortality was observed in larval immersion test with various concentrations of chloroform extract with LC 50 and LC 90 values of 0.51%, and 1.09%, respectively. The results indicate that the chloroform extract of Adhatoda vasica could have very good in vitro acaricidal activities on adult and larval stages of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks

Projected economic losses due to vector and vector-borne parasitic diseases in livestock of India and its significance in implementing the concept of integrated practices for vector management

Broadly, species of arthropods infesting livestock are grouped into flies (biting and non-biting), fleas, lice (biting and sucking), ticks (soft and hard), and mites (burrowing, non-burrowing, and follicular). Among which, biting and non-biting flies and ticks are the potent vectors for many bacterial, viral, rickettsial, and protozoan diseases. Vectors of livestock are having economic significance on three points (1) direct losses from their bite and annoyance, worries, and psychological disturbances produced during the act of biting and feeding, (2) diseases they transmit, and (3) expenditure incurred for their control. Flies such as Culicoides spp. and Musca spp. and various species of hard ticks play important role in disease transmission in addition to their direct effects. For control of vectors, recent concept of integrated pest management (IPM) provides the best solution and also addresses the problems related to acaricide resistance and environmental protection from hazardous chemicals. However, to successfully implement the concept of IPM, for each vector species, estimation of two monitory benchmarks, i.e., economic injury level (EIL) and economic threshold level (ETL) is essential prerequisite. For many vector species and under several circumstances, estimation of EIL and ETL appears to be difficult. Under such scenario, although may not be exact, an approximate estimate can be accrued by taking into account several criteria such as percent prevalence of vectors in a geographical area, percent losses produced, total livestock population, and current prices of livestock products such as milk, meat, and wool. Method for approximate estimation is first time described and elaborated in the present review article

Fungal biological control agents for integrated management of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of livestock

Aim: Entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana had wide host range against insects and hence these are being exploited as fungal bio-pesticide on a large scale. Both fungi are proved pesticides against many crop pests and farmers are well acquainted with their use on the field. Thus, research was aimed to explore the potency of these fungal spores against larval and adult Culicoides midges, a pest of livestock. Materials and Methods: In-vitro testing of both fungal biological control agents was undertaken in Petri dishes against field collected Culicoides larvae, while in plastic beakers against field collected blood-engorged female Culicoides midges. In-vivo testing was undertaken by spraying requisite concentration of fungal spores on the drainage channel against larvae and resting sites of adult Culicoides midges in the cattle shed. Lethal concentration 50 (LC50) values and regression equations were drawn by following probit analysis using SPSS statistical computerized program. Results: The results of this study revealed LC50 values of 2692 mg and 3837 mg (108 cfu/g) for B. bassiana and M. anisopliae, respectively, against Culicoides spp. larvae. Death of Culicoides larvae due to B. bassiana showed greenish coloration in the middle of the body with head and tail showed intense blackish changes, while infection of M. anisopliae resulted in death of Culicoides larvae with greenish and blackish coloration of body along with total destruction, followed by desquamation of intestinal channel. The death of adult Culicoides midges were caused by both the fungi and after death growth of fungus were very well observed on the dead cadavers proving the efficacy of the fungus. Conclusion: Preliminary trials with both funguses (M. anisopliae, B. bassiana) showed encouraging results against larvae and adults of Culicoides spp. Hence, it was ascertained that, these two fungal molecules can form a part of biological control and alternative to chemical control and, therefore, can be inducted in integrated management programs