Copper, zinc, iron and manganese in sediments and in the rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata in Mumbai coast

Sediment and oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) samples were collected at Dhanda, a fishing village in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The samples were analysed for copper, zinc, iron and manganese contents. Metal concentrations in the sediments and bioaccumulated levels in oysters were correlated. There is no positive correlation between the total sedimentary levels of metals analysed and the bioaccumulated levels of respective metals in oyster. A positive correlation between the bioavailable fractions of zinc, iron and manganese, and the bioaccumulated levels exists. Copper, however, shows a negative correlation with respect to the bioaccumulated levels

An epizootic of infectious hepatopancreatic and lymphoid organ necrosis disease in cultured Penaeus monodon: a case study

Shrimp disease of viral origin have caused large production losses worldwide. This paper presents a case study of shrimp (Penaeus monodon; Penaeus indicus) epizootic disease, covering an area of 1,050 ha in Andhra Pradesh, India. The disease struck shrimp farms in the area in July 1994. Samples from 26 shrimp farms were studied in the laboratory, and the pattern of the disease and of mortality recorded. The disease was classified as infectious hepatopancreatic and lymphoid organ necrosis disease (IHLN)

US Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in Dark Matter 2017: Community Report

This white paper summarizes the workshop "U.S. Cosmic Visions: New Ideas in Dark Matter" held at University of Maryland on March 23-25, 2017

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Not AvailableLevel of variation in tail weight and its degree of dependence on different morphometric traits were estimated in Penaeus monodon. The data on morphometric traits of a total of 165 P. monodon of four different weight groups, were subjected to stepwise regression analysis. The coefficient of variation of tail weight in all the groups was found to be higher. Correlation matrices revealed a significant relationship between the morphometric traits and tail weight, particularly in the broodstock animals. The order in which different morphometric traits entered the regression equation differed among the wieght groups. In broodstock animals, partial carapace length and carapace width determine the tail weight with high degree of accuracy (R^= 99%). Therefore, these easily measurable traits can be used as criteria in the selection of P. monodon broodstock.Not Availabl

Lessons from business school teaching

Non-PRIFPRI4; A.3 Science, Technology, and innovation PolicyPI

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Not AvailableEnterocytozoon cytopenaei (EHP) belongs to a group of microbes called microsporidia classified as fungus, and was first reported in tiger shrimp in 2009 in Thailand. There are no specific signs and symptoms in shrimp due to EHP infection. However, EHP has been reported to be associated with growth retardation and white faeces syndrome (WFS) in shrimp (needs to be proved). The target organ of EHP is hepatopancreas and affects its digestive and absorptive functioning resulting in poor growth and immunity. EHP can be detected microscopically and by polymerase chain reaction technique. There is no drug for the control of EHP infection in shrimp. SPF broodstock, live feed such as polychaete worms, clams, oysters, Artemia and other inputs have to be screened and ensured free from EHP. The EHP spores in fecal pellets or dried cadavers can remain viable up to six months and retain infectivity for over a year under aqueous conditions. Application of lime and maintaining the soil pH to 12 has been suggested for the disinfection of ponds. Better management practices (BMPs) and proper biosecurity is the only way to keep this parasite away from the aquaculture ecosystem.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableEpizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS), caused mainly by the fungus Aphanomyces invadans, is one of the most destructive diseases among fresh-and brackishwater fish in the Asia-Pacific region. It is very common in northern and southern India, causing considerable losses to fish farmers. Ulcerative disease syndrome has been used to describe a group of cutaneous diseases of finfish (Hargis 1985). Among different ulcerative diseases, an EUS-like condition was first reported in the summer of 1971 in farmed ayu Plecoglossus altivelis in Oita Prefecture, Japan (Egusa and Masuda 1971). A similar disease was also reported in March 1972 from central Queensland, Australia, where several species of estuarine fish developed large shallow circular or irregular skin lesions termed 'red-spot disease' (Rodgers and Burke 1981). India witnessed the first major outbreak of EUS in 1988 in the states of Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal. It gradually spread, until 1992, to the states of Orissa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Haryana (Das 1997). It is very common in India and has spread through rivers, reservoirs and paddy fields (Muthukrishnan et al. 2008). In India, the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) has been monitoring the disease since early 1988. Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome is the most commonly occurring deadly fish disease in northeast India, especially during the winter when water levels in fish ponds are reduced considerably. It occurs as a result of poor water quality in ponds. In winter, because of low water temperature, EUS spreads very easily. Control of EUS in wild populations is impossible in most cases. Selection of resistant species for culture purposes currently appears to be the most effective means of farm-level control. Where changing culture species is not an option, measures should be taken to eradicate or exclude the fungus, such as drying and liming of ponds prior to stocking, exclusion of wild fish, use of prophylactically-treated, hatchery-reared fry, use of groundwater, salt-bath treatments and disinfection of contaminated nets and equipment.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableDactylogyrus is one of the major parasites ubiquitously present in the aquatic environment causing severe economic loss. The present study documented a new species of Dactylogyrus from India infecting the Indian major carp, i.e. rohu (Labeo rohita) both in natural and experimental conditions. The 18 s and 28 s rDNA sequence analyses revealed the present isolate of having 99.29% and 96.21% sequence homology, respectively with D. scorpius belonging to African Dactylogyrus lineage III. A co-habitational challenge study further confirmed that catla (Catla catla) and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), two other species of Indian major carps, were resistant to this parasite in a 20-day infection trial. On the other hand, co-habitational challenge study showed 100% prevalence in rohu from 1-day post-infection (dpi) onwards with a gradual increase in average parasitic load of 4.8, 40.84, 61.50, 91.20 and 81.40 numbers on 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 dpi of sampling, respectively. This study forms the first report of D. scorpius infection in India and rohu was found to be the preferred host of this parasite. The gill tissues collected from rohu fingerlings at the above time points were also subjected to expression analysis of different immune-related genes viz., genes involved in specific immunity (IgM, IgZ, MHC I), recognition molecule (TLR 22), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, TNF α), anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), antioxidant molecules (MnSOD, GPx, catalase) and antimicrobial peptides (apolipoprotein A-I, lysozyme G). A significant up-regulation of all immune-related genes except MHC I and IL-15 was observed in gill tissues of infected rohu at different time points, thus indicating the role of both specific and non-specific immune responses against D. scorpius infection. The progressive rise in parasitic load in gill tissues corresponding to days of infection clearly indicated immune evasion mechanism for its co-existence in the advent of up-regulation of an array of immune-related genes in the host. The results obtained in this study could be useful for understanding host-pathogen interaction and further development of any prophylactic measures against this important parasite.Not Availabl