Fish and fisheries of Bakolori Reservoir

Details are given of fisheries activities carried out in Bakolori Reservoir within the context of many and varied functions of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority. Experimental fishing was conducted for 55 days in 1979 when the reservoir was only one year old and the exercise continued in 1980 and 1981 also for 85 and 52 days respectively. During the exercise, the catch per unit effort showed an increasing trend with increasing efforts by four times to that of the initial. The fish harvest was 1.205 kg/day when 3.8 nets were operated in 1979, this went up to 3.2 kg when the number of nets were increased to 8.37/day in 1980. This increasing trend continued in 1981 season also when 16.15 nets caught 5.756 kg fish per day. A direct relationship was observed in the fishing efforts and catch. Tilapia, Clarias, Labeo, Schilbe and Synodontis spp, were the most predominant fish species in the catch and contributed more than 97% of the total fish harves

Genetic variability in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) genotypes through inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers

In the present study, 14 sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) genotypes were used for genomic diversity analysis based on nineteen inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR). These nineteen sets of ISSR markers generated a total of 164 discernible and reproducible bands including 109 polymorphic and 55 monomorphic bands. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) analysis revealed three distinct clusters: I, II and III within the 14 genotypes. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value per locus ranged from 0.14 (UBC811) to 0.53 (ISSR1) locus with an average of 0.42 for all loci. The range of genetic distance or coefficient of similarity among sugarcane genotypes varied 0.14 - 0.78. The analysis of these similarities matrix revealed that greater similarity between CoS03234 and CoSe1424 (0.78), and lowest similarity between CoS03234 and Co0118 (0.14). The knowledge gained in this study would be useful to future breeding programs for increasing genetic diversity of sugarcane varieties and cultivars to meet the increasing demand of sugarcane cultivation for sugar and bio energy uses

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Off Season Fruits in Poly-houses

47-48IF you are yearning for your favourite vegetable or fruit that is not available during the season, poly-houses could be the answer to your predicament

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Not AvailableIndian gerbil, Tatera indica is a predominant vertebrate pest of different production systems of arid ecosystem. It inflicts incalculable losses to crops, grasslands, afforestation sites etc. besides being a carrier of plague bacillus. Three concentrations of difelhialone, viz., 0.00125, 0.0025 and 0.005% were evaluated for three exposure (one, two, three days) under choice and no-choice condition. In no-choice test single day exposure yielded hundred per cent mortality of the test rodents at 0.0025 and 0.005% cone. in 7.90 and 7.10 days, respectively, whereas, increase in feeding period (2 and 3 days) reduced the mean days to death to 4.30 and 5.60 days, respectively. The lowest conc. (0.00125%) yielded 100% mortality after 2 to 3 days exposure with mean days to death 10.I and 10.0 days, respectively. In choice test the consumption of plain and poison bait was at par for all the three-test concentrations and exposure periods. At the lower test concentration (0.00125%), the mortality after I, 2 and 3 days feeding on poison bait was 50, 70 and 90%, however, at 0.0025 and 0.005% concentration, 80% of the test animals succumbed to the anticoagulant in a single day exposure. Thus the present findings proved that difethialone is a fairly palatable and a potent rodenticide for the control of Indian gerbilsNot Availabl

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Not AvailableRodents, mainly rats and mice inflict incalculable losses to the poultry industry. To address the menace of rodents in poultry anticoagulant rodenticides which are chronic in action and safer to non targets were attempted to check the menace of rodents in poultry. Two second generation anticoagulant rodenticides viz., Bromadiolone (0.005 % ) as ready to use wax block and Difethialone (0.0025 % ) as freshly prepared bait were evaluated for their efficacy in managing rodents in poultry. The trials were conducted in two poultry farms and evaluation ofrodenticide were made by using two census method. The main species responsible for the damage were Rattus rattus and Mus musculus. The infestation level at both the farms were uniform as evident from pretreatment data of trapping (4.67 and 3.67 rodents per day) and census baiting (103'5/' and 1005 g total consumption of bait at two sites). The mean control success as assessed by two method of census (Trapping and census baiting) was 80.6 % with bromadiolone (0.005 % ) and 78.14 % with that of difethialone (0.0025 % ) within two weeks of treatment. The mortality in rodents after treatment with anticoagulant rodenticides started from 4th day and lasted upto 14 days.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIn search for safe and eco-friendly management of rodent pests a number of phyto-chemicals have been evaluated as repellent, antifertility agent, antifeedant and toxicant etc. Protein rich residue of seed of Jojoba (Simmondisa chinensis) known as defatted jojoba meal is reported to possess marked suppressive effect on food intake in a variety of animal species. In present study the defatted jojoba meal at a concentration of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 % in pearl millet bait (w/w basis) was evaluated for its anti-rodent properties against Tatera indica, a predominant rodent pest of Indian subcontinent. Under no-choice condition the bait consumption during treatment period of 7 days was significantly reduced (3.01 ± 0.40–4.76 ± 0.14 g/100 g bwt/day) in comparison to pretreatment plain bait consumption (9.33 ± 0.73–10.37 ±0.29 g/100 g bwt/day). At higher dosages 50 % gerbils died. Besides, weight reduction in the range of 10.63–16.67 % was also observed. In choice test mean consumption of treated food was also significantly reduced (0.64 ± 0.28–1.44 ± 0.20 g/100 g bwt/day) in comparison to plain bait (5.80 ± 0.18–8.80 ± 0.29 g/100 g bwt/day) during 7 days of treatment period. Jojoba treated pearl millet bait when offered with plain sorghum bait, after an exposure period of 5 days left an imprinting effect on Indian gerbil which led to aversion towards plain pearl millet bait for 10–11 days. The findings showed that jojoba defatted meal exert strong dose dependant deterrence in Indian gerbils and also induces condition aversion learning behavior in the gerbils.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableArid Zone being perpetually scarcity biome has low productivity. Bajra, moth and cluster bean (guar) are the major crops grown under rainfed situation in of arid zone. These crops suffer severe infestation of rodents at all stages from sowing to harvest. Critical timing for application of rodenticides to control pest rodents, when the crop suffers more infestation/damage due to population increase is the need of time. Two trials on the field efficacy of zinc phosphide (2%) and bromadiolone (0.005%) as solo and combined treatment was evaluated in mixed rainfed crops at farmers’ field at two different crop growth stage. The pest population consisted of six major rodent species viz., Merions hurrianae, Tatera indica and Millardia meltada, Golunda ellioti, Funambulus pennanti and Rattus rattus. In trial one single treatment with test rodenticides was given at vegetative growth stage. Bromadiolone (0.005%, an anticoagulant rodenticide) yielded 78.67% control success, whereas with the acute Zinc phosphide the success was 68.57% on 14th day after treatment. The combination treatment involving application with zinc phosphide (2%) followed by bromadiolone (0.005%) provided over 60% protection from rodent pests from fourth day and reached upto 82.81% on 14th day. In the second trial two treatments with test rodenticides was given, one at vegetative growth stage and another at flowering stage. The solo treatments recorded significantly higher reduction in pest population with zinc phosphide treatment (71.23%) as compared to the bromadiolone (25.37%) on 4th day after treatment. However, on 14th day bromadiolone registered higher control success (82.09%) over zinc phosphide (72.6%). The combination treatment of zinc phosphide (2%) followed by bromadiolone yielded 84.81% control success on 14th DAT. Second treatment at flowering stage yielded a significantly higher reduction in pest population with bromadiolone (85.71%) as compared to the zinc phosphide (31.57%), whereas, combination treatments proved most effective recording a control success of 90% even upto harvesting stage. Results therefore revealed significantly higher reduction in rodent activity with double treatments, than single treatment. Further when second pulse of treatment administered at flowering stage proved most effective (90% success) in suppression of the pest rodents’ even up to harvest of the crops.Not Availabl