Study on spatio-temporal prevalence and hematological attributes of bovine Babesiosis in cattle population of Layyah, Southern Punjab, Pakistan

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to investigate the spatiotemporal prevalence of bovine babesiosis in cattle population (n=376) of Layyah, Pakistan as affected by location, age, breed, gender, and seasons. Blood samples were collected aseptically and assessed for babesiosis through microscopy and PCR, and through automated analyzer for hematological attributes. Overall results of prevalence through PCR in cattle population showed significantly (P≤0.05) lower prevalence of 19.4% (n=72/376) as compared to 37.2% (n=140/276) through microscopy. None of the studied cattle from Cholistani breed were Babesia-positive. However, significantly (P≤0.05) higher prevalence was noticed for crossbred cattle (46.7%, n= 50/107) followed by that in Friesian (16.1%, n= 10/62), Jersey (7%, n= 5/71) and Sahiwal (6.9%, n= 7/101) cattle breeds. Female cattle (19.5%, n= 55/281) and age group 1 (Up to 2 years) (40%, n= 42/105) had higher prevalence of Babesia as ascertained through PCR in comparison to their counterpart groups. Significantly (P≤0.05) higher prevalence of 35.9% (n=60/167) was shown in summer as compared to that in winter season (5.7%, n= 12/209). All the positive samples produced the 490bp amplicons specific and typical for Babesia bigemina. Hemoglobin concentration, erythrocytic count, hematocrit and mean corpuscular volume were significantly (P≤0.05) lower in babesia-positive cattle as compared to healthy ones

Higher acid recovery efficiency of novel functionalized inorganic/organic composite anion exchange membranes from acidic wastewater

In this work, the synthesis of a series of the functionalized inorganic/organic composite anion exchange membranes (AEMs) was carried out by employing the varying amount of inorganic filler consist of N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (TMSP-TMA+Cl-) into the quaternized poly (2, 6-dimethyl-1, 4-phenylene oxide) (QPPO) matrix for acid recovery via diffusion dialysis (DD) process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy clearly demonstrated the fabrication of the functionalized inorganic/organic composite AEMs and the subsequent membrane characteristic measurements such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), linear swelling ratio (LSR), and water uptake (WR) gave us the optimum loading condition of the filler without undesirable filler particle aggregation. These composite AEMs exhibited IEC of 2.18 to 2.29 meq/g, LSR of 13.33 to 18.52%, and WR of 46.11 to 81.66% with sufficient thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. The diffusion dialysis (DD) test for acid recovery from artificial acid wastewater of HCl/FeCl2 showed high acid DD coefficient (UH +) (0.022 to 0.025 m/h) and high separation factor (S) (139-260) compared with the commercial membrane. Furthermore, the developed AEMs was acceptably stable (weight loss < 20%) in the acid wastewater at 60 C as an accelerated severe condition for 2 weeks. These results clearly indicated that the developed AEMs have sufficient potential for acid recovery application by DD process.Scopu

In situ dry matter, protein and neutral detergent fibre degradation kinetics of Cholistan Desert grasses

Global climate change is evident and poses serious threats to the sustainability of traditional rangeland livestock production systems. This study tested the feeding potential of perennial grasses of Cholistan Desert for various species of ruminants at different physiological stages. Eight common and nutritionally important grass species (Cenchrus ciliaris, Stipagrostis plumose, Panicum antidotale, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Cenchrus pennisitiformis, Lasiurus scindicus, Ochthochloa compressa and Vetiveria zizanioides) were investigated for in situ degradation parameters according to Nordic feed evaluation system (NorFor) standards. The collected, dried and milled grass samples were incubated for 0, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hours to determine dry matter and crude protein biodegradation and additionally for 96 and 168 hours for neutral detergent fibre degradation in the rumens of lactating Nili-Ravi buffalo and Cholistan Desert cows and heifers (two from each species and from each physiological stage). All of these grass species influenced the dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre degradation fractions significantly. The overall effective degradability of dry matter for asymptotic extent of degradation did not differ. However, the potentially degradable but insoluble fraction and rate of degradation were influenced significantly by the species of the animals. All the proximate parametric characteristics of perennial desert grasses were within the nutrient range for typical ruminant diets except for crude protein. It was concluded that rumen availability of grasses was highly influenced by grass species. However, these grasses are equally nutritionally important for various species of ruminants for example buffalo versus cattle at different physiological stages and heifers versus lactating animals.Keywords: buffalo, Cenchrus ciliaris, desert cows, desert forage, feeding valu

Removal of copper ions from aqueous solution using NaOH-treated rice husk

The present study investigates the removal of copper ions (Cu (II)) from aqueous solution using chemically treated rice husk (TRH). The chemical treatment was carried out using NaOH solution and the effect of contact time (tc), adsorbent dosage (Dad), initial Cu (II) concentration ([Cu]i), and temperature (T) on the percentage removals of Cu (II) (%RCu) were investigated. Different analytical techniques (FTIR, SEM, and EDX) were used to confirm the adsorption (ads) of Cu (II) onto the TRH. The ads kinetics was tested against pseudo-first-order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models as well as Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Treating RH with NaOH altered the surface and functional groups, and on the surface of RH, the ionic ligands with high electro-attraction to Cu increased and thus improved the removal efficiency. The %RCu decreased by increasing the [Cu]i and increased by increasing the ct, Dad, and T. Up to 97% Cu removal was achieved in ct of 30 min using Dad of 0.3 g [Cu]i of 25 mg L?1 and T = 280 K. The ads of Cu on TRH is endothermic, spontaneous, follows Langmuir isotherms, and exhibited a PSO kinetics. Moreover, the TRH was successfully regenerated and used for further adsorption cycles using 1 M HNO3.Higher Education Commission, PakistanScopu

Efficacy of Mannan-Oligosaccharides as Alternatives to Commonly Used Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Broilers

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) in broiler diets. Two hundred day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were randomly placed in twenty floor pens of ten chicks each. Dietary treatments consisted of a corn-based basal diet having 21% CP with 2750 kcal/kg ME in starter (1 to 7 d), 20% CP with 2775 kcal/ kg ME in grower (8 to 21 d), and 19% CP with 2800 kcal/kg ME in finisher (22 to 35 d) period (Control group); and the same diet supplemented with 0.1% MOS (MOS), 0.05% zinc bacitracin (ZB), 0.001% furazolidone (FUR) and 0.001% enramycin (ENR). Each experimental diet was assigned randomly to four replicate-pens. The growth performance was not different among treatments during any growth period except in grower period where weight gain and feed conversion ratio were improved (P<0.05) with AGP as compared to control. No difference was observed in carcass characteristics including carcass yield, breast meat yield, abdominal fat, liver and heart weight of broilers fed different diets. Similarly, cecal and ileal bacterial populations (total bacterial count, total coliform count, Clostridium perfringens, Lactobacillus, E.coli, Salmonella) and serum concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, Alanine aminotransferase and Aspartate aminotransferase were not affected due to MOS or AGP supplementation. Economic evaluation showed that use of MOS in feed was not cost effective as compared to other groups. In conclusion, although, there was no difference among groups fed MOS and various AGP; their supplementation did not improve the performance, lipid profile or intestinal bacterial ecology of broilers. © 2021. All Rights Reserved

Use of laser-induced break spectroscopy for the determination of major and trace elements in Zanthoxylum armatum

Zanthoxylum armatum (ZA) is a medicinal plant (MP) that is widely distributed in hilly and moist areas and has a different medical effect on human curative functions. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed as a simple, easy, and accurate method to analyze the elemental profile of Zanthoxylum armatum (ZA) (timur). Various elements present in different parts of ZA were identified including sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, titanium, iron, barium, aluminum, lithium, and silicon. The proposed method accuracy was found to be comparable with high technical complicated lab equipment The concentrations of these elements were determined and were found to be below the toxic level.Higher Education Commission, PakistanScopu

Kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies for adsorption of nickel ions onto husk of oryza sativa

This research focus onto batch adsorption of nickel ions (Ni(II)) onto husk of Oryza sativa (HOS) from aqueous solution at room temperature. Several techniques such as Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray were employed to confirm adsorption of Ni(II) onto HOS. The effect of operational parameters such as contact time, amount of adsorbent, initial concentration of metal ions, temperature and pH on the percentage removal of Ni(II) was evaluated. The removal of Ni(II) was 62.32% under optimum amount of adsorbent (0.3 g) at room temperature. Adsorption kinetics study has exhibited that experimental data fitted-well to pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Linear and nonlinear forms of Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevivh isotherms were used to analyse experimental data and results showed that adsorption data fitted well to nonlinear and linear form of adsorption isotherms. Adsorption thermodynamic study has indicated that adsorption of Ni(II) onto HOS was an endothermic and spontaneous process. - 2019 Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.The authors are highly thankful to Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan for financial support.Scopu