Occult Dirofilariosis in Dogs of North Eastern Region in India

Background: The North Eastern Region in India is endemic for canine heartworm disease but in clinics accurate diagnosis is some times difficult. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of occult infections for heartworm disease in canine in two geographical regions of North Eastern India. Methods: A total of 782 numbers of three categories of dogs namely, working dogs of military and paramilitary forces, pet dogs and stray dogs were screened for the presence of heartworm infection from August 2011 to July, 2012 in Guwahati (Assam) and Aizawl (Mizoram). Conventional, immunological and molecular techniques were followed for this epidemiological study. The criteria to determine the occult heartworm cases were based on the dif­ferences between heartworm positive cases in PCR test and antigen ELISA test. Results: The findings revealed an overall 22.69 percent occult case. The working dogs had highest prevalence (60%) followed by pet (29.16%) and stray dogs (17.75%). Conclusion: The highest percentage of occult heartworm infection was present in working dogs maintained under military or paramilitary forces.

Prevalence and Molecular Epidemiological Data on Dirofilaria immitis in Dogs from Northeastern States of India

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in stray, pet, and working dogs ( = 413, 266, and 103, resp.) from Guwahati (Assam) and Aizawl (Mizoram), areas located in two Northeastern States of India. Diagnostic methods applied were microscopy (wet film and Knott's concentration technique), immunological test (Ag ELISA by SNAP 4Dx ELISA kit), and molecular tools (polymerase chain reaction and sequencing), which evidenced 11.38, 18.03, and 13.93% of positive animals, respectively. No significant differences were observed by area (18.23% versus 17.68%) nor by sex (18.1% versus 17.9%), whereas stray dogs proved more infected than other groups ( < 0.05). ELISA test evidenced an overall 22.69% of occult infections, mainly in working dogs (60%), and molecular techniques detected Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens in 4 stray dogs from Guwahati. Characterization of D. immitis isolates for ITS-2 region showed close identity with South Asian isolates

Incidence of ecto-and endo-parasitic fauna in small wild ruminants from North Eastern region of India

The present study reports the prevalence of ecto- and endo- parasites in small wild ruminants from various NE region of India. A total of 565 wild small ruminants in captivity were examined between April 2018 to March 2019 without causing harm to them. Faecal samples were examined microscopically for detection of different Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. Animals were also inspected visually for any ectoparasitic infestation and skin scrapping examination was also performed from suspected skin lesion for mite infestation. Overall seven species of endoparasites including three nematodes, two trematodes, one cestode and one protozoan parasite were recorded. The overall prevalence of GI parasites was 28.36%. Prevalence of Strongyle infection was found highest (11.5%) followed by infection with Moniezia spp (4.6%), Paramphistomum sp. (3.53%), Strongyloides spp (2.12%), Trichuris spp (1.77%) and Eurytrema sp. (1.59%) and Eimeria spp (3.25%), A significant difference was observed in wet season as compared to dry season. Similarly, a correlation was observed between sex and age. Female and young animals were more commonly infected than males and older animals. Among ectoparasites, we recorded three genera of hard ticks namely, Boophilus sp., Rhipicephalus sp. and Haemaphysalis sp. and one genius of mite belonging to the genus Psoroptes. The study clearly indicated that season, sex and age and other epidemiological factors play a significant role in parasitism in small wild ruminants. The possibility of cross transmission of parasites between livestock and wild life in NE region of India should deserve attention

Therapeutic evaluation of homoeopathic drug Crotalus horridus 200C against Ehrlichiosis-infected dogs in Mizoram

Objective: To study, the effect of a homoeopathic medicine Crotalus horridus 200C on ehrlichiosis in dogs in an endemic area of Aizawl district of Mizoram state of India. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the efficacy of Crotalus horridus 200C against ehrlichiosis dogs. 12 positive cases confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were divided into two groups comprising six dogs in each group. One group was treated with standard therapy (doxycycline) and other group was treated with Crotalus horridus 200C at 4 pills orally for 20 days. Clinical improvement of affected dogs was recorded after therapy. Important haemato-biochemical parameters before and after therapy such as haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), differential leukocyte count (DLC), platelet count, total protein, albumin, globulin, A:G ratio, total bilirubin, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and liver-specific enzymes namely alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were assessed following standard protocol. All the parameters were compared with a control healthy group (T3). All experiment dogs were from different age with different breeds and bloods were collected at forenoon only. Results: PCR test yielded 13 dogs positive out of 67 suspected samples screened (19.40%) with an amplification of 387 bp fragment from 16S rRNA gene of E. Canis. Off total positive, only 8 (61.53%) could be detected in peripheral blood smear. Crotalus horridus-treated group of dogs showed clinical recovery from fever and temperature to normalcy by the 14th day posttreatment. Haemato-biochemical profiles of affected dogs such as Hb, PCV, TEC, TLC, DLC, platelet count, total protein, albumin, globulin, A:G ratio, total bilirubin, serum creatinine, BUN, and liver-specific enzymes namely ALT and ALP were turned to normalcy within 21 days of post-treatment. Conclusion: Nested PCR assay had been shown to be sensitive and specific for detection of Ehrlichia canis. Crotalus horridus 200C may be an effective and choice of drug for control of canine ehrlichiosis

Heavy vehicle propulsion system materials program semiannual progress report for April 1999 through September 1999

The purpose of the Heavy Vehicle Propulsion System Materials Program is the development of materials: ceramics, intermetallics, metal alloys, and metal and ceramic coatings, to support the dieselization of class 1-3 trucks to realize a 35% fuel-economy improvement over current gasoline-fueled trucks and to support commercialization of fuel-flexible LE-55 low-emissions, high-efficiency diesel engines for class 7-8 trucks