Sero-prevalence of West Nile virus in urban and peri-urban poultry farms of Guwahati, India

West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic, emerging mosquito-borne virus which can cause severe disease in the form of encephalitis and acute flaccid paralysis in humans. In Assam, northeast India, arboviruses seem to be re-emerging, however, WNV has been little studied. The present investigation was carried out from April, 2018 to March, 2019 to study sero-positivity of WNV in chicken in urban and peri-urban areas of Guwahati, the capital city of Assam. Four urban and four peri-urban areas of Guwahati were selected. A total of 864 chicken serum samples (72 samples per month) were screened by ELISA and further confirmed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI), which revealed that 3.13% of the chickens had been exposed to WNV, with 0.69% sero-positivity in urban areas compared to 5.56% in peri-urban. Peak sero-prevalence of WNV were reported during the month of July and August with 8.33% each with lowest sero-prevalence being recorded in November (1.39%) and no sero-positive birds from December to April. These results indicate that WNV is one of the actively circulating flaviviruses in Assam, and human febrile and encephalitic cases should be screened for the disease

High throughput Luminex beads based multiplex assay for identification of six major bacterial pathogens of mastitis in dairy animals

IntroductionBovine mastitis is caused by over 150 different microorganisms. Specific identification and quantification of multiple bacteria in a single milk sample becomes essential for rapid intervention.MethodsIn the present study a Luminex beads based multiplex assay emphasizing on the precise identification of six major bacterial pathogens of mastitis was developed. Assay was developed in two triplex sets, triplex 1 comprised of Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus uberis while triplex 2 consisted of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.ResultsThe analytical sensitivity was 10 6 copies per reaction mixture for all the six bacteria. A 100% analytical specificity was observed for simultaneous detection of these bacteria. Clinical milk samples from 100 bovine quarters were tested for validation.DiscussionThe analytical sensitivity was similar to the findings reported earlier in real time PCR multiplex assay targeting the DNA of the 11 most common bacterial species or groups in mastitis. The analytical specificity of the optimized assay was 100% similar to reported earlier for simultaneous detection of Mycoplasma spp. and for seven entric viruses of humans.The developed assay indicates a concept proof of a rapid, cost effective high throughput diagnostic tool for identification of major bacteria causing mastitis

Cytotoxicity of tin on human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro

The comparative effects of inorganic and organic tin compounds on chromosomes were assessed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy donors 20-40 years of age. The endpoints observed were chromosomal abnormalities, sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and cell cycle kinetics. The maximum concentrations which reduced the replicative index by about 50%, of stannic chloride and trimethyltin chloride were 40 μg and 2 μg per culture respectively. The tested doses were 20 μg and 10 μg of stannic chloride and 1 μg and 0.5 μg of trimethyltin chloride. Both doses of stannic chloride induced a much higher frequency of chromosomal abnormalities (P < 0.05-P < 0.001) and a greater reduction of cell cycle kinetics than the corresponding relative doses of trimethyltin chloride. The frequencies of SCEs/cell induced by the latter were, however, slightly higher than those induced by the former

OPTIMIZATION OF PROCESS PARAMETERS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ANTIBACTERIAL COMPOUND BY A NEWLY ISOLATED NOCARDIA CYRIACIGEORGICA, KD-15 STRAIN FROM KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK OF NORTH EAST INDIA

Objective: An attempt has been made to evaluate the optimal cultural conditions for obtaining high yields of bioactive metabolites.Methods: A strain of actinobacteria was isolated from the soil sample of Kaziranga National Park of Assam. Strain was identified on the basis of biochemical test as well as 16SrDNA sequence. The strain was tested for antibacterial activity using agar well diffusion method and to enhance its growth and metabolite production, the strain was cultured at different carbon and nitrogen sources and at different pH, salinity and temperature.Results: The strain was identified as Nocardia cyriacigeorgica. The secondary metabolites exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against dreaded human pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441), Escherichia coli (MTCC 739) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 2453). The strain utilized glucose as good carbon source for growth and starch for metabolite production. Soybean meal and beef extract were the nitrogen sources for the elaboration of both growth and bioactive metabolites. The optimum temperature, salinity and pH for growth and bioactive metabolite production of the strain were recorded as 28±2oC, 1.5% and 7.5 respectively.Conclusion: As our results showed the potency of N. cyriacigeorgica as an antibacterial agent under these optimal conditions, so further study can be carried out in this regard. This is the first report of production of antibacterial compound from this emerging pathogenic strain N. cyriacigeorgica.Â

Bacteriological quality of raw milk marketed in and around Guwahati city, Assam, India

Background and Aim: Milk is a highly perishable commodity, which is subjected to various types of contamination right from the farm level to the consumers' table. This study aimed to assess the quality of raw milk sold in and around Guwahati city based on the microbial load. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 raw pooled milk samples collected from 25 different locations in and around Guwahati city were subjected to quality evaluation based on the methylene blue reduction test (MBRT), standard plate count, and coliform count as per the standard procedure. Results: Out of the 200 samples evaluated, more than 50% of them were graded as poor to very poor quality based on the MBRT results. None of the samples could be graded as excellent quality and only 14.5% were graded as good quality. The standard plate count and coliform count of all the raw milk samples were found to be significantly higher than the legal standard. A highly significant (p<0.01) difference was observed for standard plate count and coliform count among the different locations in and around Guwahati city. Conclusion: From the present study, it could be inferred that raw milk sold in most parts of Guwahati city do not confer to the legal microbiological standard and may pose a high risk of milk-borne illness among consumers of the city, which needs a systematic series of actions to be implemented properly

Antinociceptive activity of methanolic extract of leaves of <i style="">Achyranthes aspera</i> Linn. <i style="">(</i>Amaranthaceae) in animal models of nociception

817-821Antinociceptive activity of methanolic extract of leaves of A. aspera was studied by peripheral/non-narcotic model of nociception like acetic acid induced writhing syndrome test and central/narcotic models like hot plate and tail flick tests. The methanolic extract of the plant, administered orally (@ 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg, body weight) and the standard drug (piroxicam; 10 mg/kg body weight, po) produced significant analgesic activity in acetic acid induced writhing syndrome as compared to the vehicle treated control group. In the hot plate analgesic test, in A. aspera at the above doses and the standard drug treated group (morphine sulphate @ 1.5 mg/kg, ip), the duration of reaction time (sec) increased dose dependently and significantly compared to the control group. In the tail flick test, the plant extract produced dose dependant increase in reaction time which was significantly higher in the test and standard group compared to the control group. The plant possesses significant antinociceptive property as evidenced in all the animal models of nociception. It might possibly exert its effect through diverse mechanism that may involve both central and peripheral pathways. The preliminary phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of steroids, alkaloids and triterpene in the methanolic extract of leaves of A. aspera which may be responsible for its antinociceptive activity

DataSheet_1_High throughput Luminex beads based multiplex assay for identification of six major bacterial pathogens of mastitis in dairy animals.docx

IntroductionBovine mastitis is caused by over 150 different microorganisms. Specific identification and quantification of multiple bacteria in a single milk sample becomes essential for rapid intervention.MethodsIn the present study a Luminex beads based multiplex assay emphasizing on the precise identification of six major bacterial pathogens of mastitis was developed. Assay was developed in two triplex sets, triplex 1 comprised of Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus uberis while triplex 2 consisted of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.ResultsThe analytical sensitivity was 10 6 copies per reaction mixture for all the six bacteria. A 100% analytical specificity was observed for simultaneous detection of these bacteria. Clinical milk samples from 100 bovine quarters were tested for validation.DiscussionThe analytical sensitivity was similar to the findings reported earlier in real time PCR multiplex assay targeting the DNA of the 11 most common bacterial species or groups in mastitis. The analytical specificity of the optimized assay was 100% similar to reported earlier for simultaneous detection of Mycoplasma spp. and for seven entric viruses of humans.The developed assay indicates a concept proof of a rapid, cost effective high throughput diagnostic tool for identification of major bacteria causing mastitis.</p

<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt">Effect of<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> Alternanthera</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt"> brasiliana </span></i>(L)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i>Kuntze on healing of dermal burn wound </span>

56-60Wound healing activity of methanol extract of Alternanthera brasiliana [5% (w/w) ointment] <span style="color:black;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">was evaluated in experimental burn wound model in rats. Healing potential was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, estimation of anti-oxidants like catalase, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, protein, vitamin C and hydroxyproline, along with histopathological examination on 8th day post wounding. The statistical data indicated that there was significant <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">increase in wound contraction<span style="color:black; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> along with augmented level of antioxidants in<span style="color:black;mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> granulation tissues in A. brasiliana treated group. Histopathological assessment of the granulation tissue revealed formation of epidermis with keratin layer and deposition of collagen fibers after treatment with the plant extract. </span