Status of biosecurity and prevalent parasitic diseases in finfish hatcheries of Jessore, Bangladesh

The present study was conducted to know the status of biosecurity and prevalent parasitic diseases in finfish hatcheries of Jessore district. The peak season of seed production was found April to May. Management of biosecurity has been practiced to prevent disease outbreaks and exert quite satisfactory. It was observed; hatchery owners cleaned their hatchery units regularly and maintained hygiene (76.66%), water quality (56.66%), disinfected equipments (76.00%), stocked disease free broods (76.00%) and quarantine (56.66%). Prevalence of diseases were- lernaeasis (34.10%), argulosis (23.86%), leeches (11.36%), dactylogyrosis (7.95%), gyrodactylosis (10.23%) and others (12.50%) in brood fish and fry. In broods, average prevalence was 16.67% with 9.25% mortality. Besides average prevalence was 10-15% with 10% mortality in fry. The epizootiological pattern showed the highest frequency of parasitic diseases during winter because of loss of appetites. The study demonstrated that sumithion was used by (93.32%), magic (46.33%), depterax (56.67%), lime with KMnO4 (80.00%), lime with salt (66.67%) and lime- salt- KMnO4 (50.00%) by hatchery owners respectively for treatments. Lack of assistance, proper knowledge and suitable therapeutics with its proper use were the major problems in the hatcheries

Management and socio-economic conditions of fishermen of the Baluhar Baor, Jhenaidah, Bangladesh

This study was conducted on the management of the Baluhar Baor and fishermen’s socio-economic conditions of the baor in Jhenaidah district, Bangladesh. Data were collected by interviews, FGDs and CIs with key informants. This baor was managed under Oxbow Lake Project-1 of Department of Fisheries of Bangladesh government. Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Cirrhina cirrhosus, Cyprinus carpio and Ctenopharyngodon idella were commonly stocked at the composition of 34%, 13%, 12%, 12%, 15% and 14%, respectively. Kochal, komor and chack fishing were used for harvesting and yearly production was 750 kg/ha. While studying the socio-economics, 58% fishermen were lived in joint families. 78% fishermen used kancha sanitary latrine which reflects their poor hygienic condition but they used tubewell for drinking water. 58% fishermen were with 0.041 hectare lands and 74% lived in kancha house. The annual income varied from BDT 15,000 to 60,000. Education level was found very low and only 18% completed their primary education. Majority fishermen (82%) visited village doctor for health services due to low income and lack of knowledge. All fishermen were fully dependent on baor fishery for their livelihood. It is possible to uplift their socio-economic by managing the baor with improved technology

Associations between childhood malnutrition, socioeconomic inequalities and sanitation in the coastal regions of Bangladesh

This study aimed to identify critical risk factors for childhood malnutrition and inform targeted interventions. Childhood malnutrition remains a pressing concern in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. Data were extracted from the latest Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017–2018 and children aged 0–59 months and their mothers aged 15–49 years from 17 coastal districts were included as study population in this study. We performed multivariable logistic regression model to determine the risk factors and a total 2153 children were eligible for the analysis. Stunting, wasting and underweight prevalence was 31.4%, 8.5% and 21.1% respectively. Stunting was more common in children aged 24–35 months with compared to their younger counterparts [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.35–4.67]. Children to mothers with higher education exhibited 69% (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.18–0.52) lower risk of stunting compared to those with no education. Similarly, children in poorest and poorer households had 2.2 and 1.83 times higher odds of stunting respectively than those in the richest households. Children born to obese mothers (compared to normal) were 34% less likely to be stunted (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51–0.85). Children who had fever and underweight mothers reported wasting. Increasing child age, low maternal education, poorest wealth index, unimproved toilet facilities and childhood morbidity were identified as significant risk factors for underweight. Results support the requirement of effective and appropriate interventions for this particular region considering the identified risk factors to reduce childhood malnutrition in Bangladesh

Effects of freezing periods and polythene packaging with or without turmeric powder paste on proximate composition of Labeo bata fish

The study was designed to investigate the effects of freezing periods and the combination of packaging with or without turmeric on the proximate composition of whole and sliced Labeo bata. The samples were subjected to 28 days of frozen (-20 °C) storage periods and analyzed for proximate composition such as moisture, protein, lipid and ash at intervals of 0, 14 and 28 days. Data obtained was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 95% significant level. Different preservation periods and methods significantly affected the nutritional composition of fresh fish. Moisture, protein, lipid and ash content decreased with increasing storage periods when compared to the fresh fish as control. The highest percentage of protein was found in turmeric-treated whole fish preserved in polythene, C4, after the 14th (15.70±0.14) and 28th (15.27±0.21) day. On the other hand, the lowest percentage (14.01±0.10 and 13.22±0.18 for the 14th and 28th day, respectively) was found in sliced fish preserved without polythene, C5. In conclusion, the turmeric-treated whole fish preserved in polythene retained fish nutrients and ensured its good quality and composition longer than other treatments, thereby extending the shelf life during frozen storage