EVALUATION OF FROZEN SEMEN BY A CROSOMAL INTEGRITY AND SPERM CONCENTRATION - TWO VITAL QUALITY PARAMETERS OF MALE FERTILITY IN BOVINES

Acrosomal integrity and sperm concentration are two important parameters to assess the quality of frozen semen doses which in terms validates the fertilizing capacity and conception rate. The present study was undertaken to evaluate acrosomal integrity by Giemsa’s stain and sperm concentration of FSS using improved neubauer chamber in Exotic pure Jersey, Crossbred Jersey, Indigenous Gir cattle and Indigenous Murrah buffalo prior to the field use. The overall values of Giemsa’s stain were observed as 73.74±0.31, 18.65±0.33 and 7.79±0.25 percent for Intact Acrosome, Partially Damaged Acrosome and Fully Damaged Acrosome, respectively. Overall values of sperm concentration were 21.98±0.28 million per straw. The study indicated that there was no significant difference (P<0.05) among the breeds and the values mostly correlates with the guideline of Minimum Standard Protocol for Production of bovine semen, 2012 of Govt. of India

Physiological and behavioral risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural India

BACKGROUND: The dynamics of physiological and behavioral risk factors of diabetes in rural India is poorly understood. Using data from a health and demographic surveillance site of Birbhum district in West Bengal, India, this study aims to assess the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 7674 individuals aged ≥18 years participated in a cross-sectional study. Venous plasma glucose method was used for measuring and reporting glucose concentrations in blood, categorized as individuals with diabetes, pre-diabetes or impaired, and normoglycemic. Aside from a set of physiological and behavioral risk factors, a range of socioeconomic confounders of diabetes was computed. Bivariate analysis with χ(2) test, and multivariate ordered logit regression methods were deployed to attain the study's objective. RESULTS: Overall 2.95% and 3.34% of study participants were diagnosed as individuals with diabetes and pre-diabetes or impaired, respectively. Compared to the poorest, the richest have higher probability (β: 0.730; 95% CI 0.378 to 1.083) of being diagnosed with diabetes. As compared to people with normal body mass index, overweight/obese people are more prone to being diagnosed with diabetes (β: 0.388; 95% CI 0.147 to 0.628). With a decreasing level of physical activity, people are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: To curb the level of diabetes, this study recommends a culturally sensitive, focused intervention for the adoption of physical activity with more traditional dietary practices, to control the level of overweight/obesity. Attention should be paid to relatively older patients with diabetes or adults with pre-diabetes

ANALYSIS OF AFLATOXIN IN DUCK AND POULTRY FEED IN WEST BENGAL

Aflatoxin is a major metabolite of Aspergillus species which is liberated in feeds and feed stuff. The B1 component of aflatoxin is more mutagenic, hepatogenic and nephrotoxic to poultry. A total number of eighteen samples from different parts of West Bengal have been analyzed by Lateral Flow Immuno-Chromatographic Assay (LFICA) and followed by detection in HPLC in 2475 multi fluorescence detector system. The samples were tested for presence of total aflatoxin by LFICA which detected seven samples positive with a cut off level ≥ 4 ppb (55.56%), ten sample between 1-4 ppb (38.89%) and one sample negative (5.55%). The positive samples were further confirmed by HPLC system using C18 column (5 µm and 4.6x 150 mm in length), methanol: water as mobile phase (45:55) and standard for B1 prepared from 2 ppb- 1000 ppb. All seven samples showed presence of B1 in permissible limit ranging from 6.25 ppb to 12.50 ppb. Therefore, it was concluded that the presence of aflatoxin in the tested feeds are within permissible limit and regular detection and monitoring of aflatoxin in feed samples of all the farms may be an important control measure of aflatoxicosis in the poultry farms

SERO-PREVALENCE OF BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA: A 15 - YEARS STUDY

Bovine brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by Brucella abortus. The distribution of bovine brucellosis in West Bengal has not been reported so far. Here, a longitudinal epidemiological study was conducted from April 2002 to March 2016 to determine the distribution, pattern and trend of bovine brucellosis in different organized and unorganized farms of West Bengal, India. Bovine serum samples were examined for identification of brucellosis by Rose Bengal Plate Test and indirect ELISA. Results envisaged that the prevalence of brucellosis is 11.12 times higher in organized farm (average 6.6%) compared to rural areas (average 0.6%) with overall prevalence was 3.9%. The highest and lowest level of sero-positivity was observed in 2015 and 2011 with 9.8% and 0.5% respectively. In reference to the year 2002, trend of brucellosis was decreasing up to 2013 in a fluctuating manner (odd ratio ranging from 1.7 to 2.3); however, it again increased in 2014 and 2015 with final decrease in 2016. In organized farms, highest (12.6%) and lowest (0.6%) level of prevalence was recorded in 2015 and 2011 respectively. In rural areas, the highest and lowest level of prevalence was observed in 2010 and 2008 with 1.8% and 0.15% respectively. Chi square statistics revealed that location of cattle (χ2 =713.8, df=1, p<0.001) and year of sample collection (χ2 = 468.6, df=14, p<0.001) contributed significantly to increasing or decreasing sero-positivity. A univariate logistic regression analysis also revealed that location of the animals either in organized farm or in rural areas and year(s) of sampling have statistically significant (p<0.001) effect on individual animal level sero-positivity. The results suggested that brucellosis is endemic and moderately distributed in different regions of West Bengal including Burdwan, Nadia, Paschim Medinipur, Murshidabad and Hoogly districts

Ferulic Acid Protects Hyperglycemia-Induced Kidney Damage by Regulating Oxidative Insult, Inflammation and Autophagy

Oxidative insult, inflammation, apoptosis and autophagy play a pivotal role in the etiology of diabetic nephropathy, a global health concern. Ferulic acid, a phytochemical, is reported to protect against varied diseased conditions. However, the ameliorative role and mechanisms of ferulic acid in averting STZ-mediated nephrotoxicity largely remains unknown. For in vivo study, a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg kg-1 body wt.) was administered in experimental rats to induce diabetes. The diabetic rats exhibited a rise in blood glucose level as well as kidney to body weight ratio, a decrease in serum insulin level, severe kidney tissue damage and dysfunction. Elevation of intracellular ROS level, altered mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular redox balance impairment shown the participation of oxidative stress in hyperglycemia-triggered renal injury. Treatment with ferulic acid (50 mg kg-1 body wt., orally for 8 weeks), post-diabetic induction, could markedly ameliorate kidney injury, renal cell apoptosis, inflammation and defective autophagy in the kidneys. The underlying mechanism for such protection involved the modulation of AGEs, MAPKs (p38, JNK, and ERK 1/2), NF-κB mediated inflammatory pathways, mitochondria-dependent and -independent apoptosis as well as autophagy induction. In cultured NRK-52E cells, ferulic acid (at an optimum dose of 75 μM) could counter excessive ROS generation, induce autophagy and inhibit apoptotic death of cells under high glucose environment. Blockade of autophagy could significantly eradicate the protective effect of ferulic acid in high glucose-mediated cell death. Together, the study confirmed that ferulic acid, exhibiting hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic activities and role in autophagy, could circumvent oxidative stress-mediated renal cell damage

Cardiovascular Aspects of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a globally recognized public health concern. Multiple studies have shown the association of CKD with cardiovascular mortality that persists after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. CKD causes accelerated coronary artery disease (CAD). In this chapter, we discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms that play a role in increasing CVD risk in patients with CKD. Further we delve into some commonly encountered challenges related to CVD in patients with CKD. These include revascularization challenges, contrasted induced nephropathy and alterations in traditional risk factors for CVD in renal transplant patients

DETECTION OF RABIES VIRAL ANTIGEN IN CATTLE BY RAPID IMMUNOCHROMTOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSTIC TEST

In recent years, improved quality, accuracy and speed for diagnosis of rabies has been adopted for rabies control strategies in developing countries. In field condition, rapid immunochromtographic diagnostic test (RIDT) is a true requirement for rapid epidemiological surveillance of rabies. In the present study, a total of ten numbers of rabies suspected cattle brain sample form different parts of West Bengal, India were examined through RIDT. The results revealed that one sample was found to be positive. The test was established as powerful screening tool for rabies with high sensitivity and specificity. Thus, RIDT can be employed as a reliable and quick approach for diagnosis and control of rabies under field condition

PREVALENCE OF BOVINE HERPES VIRUS - 1 IN ORGANIZED FARMS OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, caused by Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BoHV-1) maintains latency in trigeminal nerve ganglia of bovine. The sero-positive bull infected with BoHV-1 secretes the virus through semen intermittently, when the immune system is compromised. Sera from bulls housed at different bull stations were analyzed using gE protein specific IDEXX Kit, which showed 78.69% positivity. Each batch of semen from sero-positive bull was investigated further for presence of virus in semen by Real Time-PCR technique for validation of presence of virus in the frozen semen doses using gB specific primers and probe, which showed 0.968 % semen batches positive. This study showed that despite high sero prevalence in bull, the semen excretes very negligible amount of the virus indicating the subtypes circulating in farms of West Bengal, India is assumed to be respiratory type