Alteration of metabolic biomarkers and oxidative stress indices in pashmina (Changthangi) goats under climate change

The main aim of this study was to evaluate climate change induced variation of metabolic biomarkers and oxidative stress indices in different age groups of pashmina goats. Adult animals in comparison to young and old animals had significantly higher levels of glucose, glycated haemoglobin (GHb), fructosamine and total protein during summer and significantly higher levels of glucose, fructosamine and haemoglobin (Hb) during winter. Significantly reduced levels of these biochemicals were noted in winter than summer in all age groups except for glucose in young and old, GHb in young and Hb in adult animals. Urea and acetoacetate levels were significantly higher in young animals than adults during winter. Higher betahydroxybutyrate and lower propionate levels were noted during winter than summer in all age groups. Significantly higher levels of insulin, T3, T4 and lower levels of TSH and cortisol in adult animals were noted in both seasons. Significant rise of insulin in adult, T3 and T4 in young and old, cortisol in young and TSH in all animals occurred during winter. Level of GSH in summer, CAT and SOD in winter were significantly higher in adult animals whereas, that of LPO were in young animals. Decrease in levels of antioxidants and increase of oxidants during winter was significant in all age groups. Hence, young and old age groups of pashmina goats are more vulnerable to metabolic alterations under climatic stress than the adult group

Safeguarding a national asset: A review on problems faced by Pashmina farmers in Changthang and their amelioration

Pashmina is our national asset. It is one of the finest natural fibers of the world found in our country. This valuable commodity belongs to few far flung and remote areas of Changthang region of Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir). It is the main source of livelihood of the people of Changthang rearing Pashmina goats. But because of the prevailing circumstances of fodder scarcity and nutrient deficiency, death due to harsh climate (snowfall) and diseases, lack of knowledge and facilities, overcrowding and poor yield, people especially youth are losing interest in this traditional and valuable venture and are joining other fields like Government jobs, business, tourism etc. To preserve this natural fiber and to save our national asset besides making Pashmina rearing a productive industry, the cause of concern should be addressed with special focus on fodder production and conservation on local basis, health and housing management of Pashmina goats and nutrient supplementation. This will also help in improving socio-economic status of Pashmina farmers of Changthang region. This review is based on our field survey in the Changthang region and the review of the researches of other research scholars related to this area

Marburg Virus Disease – A Mini-Review

Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a highly fatal disease caused by the Marburg virus (MARV) which belongs to the family Filoviridae. The disease has been recently reported from Ghana, an African country, and nearly 15 outbreaks of MVD have been reported in the past five decades. Various species of bats viz., Rousettus aegyptiacus, Hipposideros caffer, and certain Chiroptera act as the natural source of infection. Pathophysiology of the disease reveals severe antiviral suppression due to changes in gene expression and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) production in the hepatic cells. With the progression of the disease, there may be the development of pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomition, pharyngitis, and diarrhea along with the onset of hemorrhagic manifestations which may lead to the death of a patient. The advent of molecular detection techniques and kits viz., reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit has greatly aided in the diagnosis of MVD. Identification of the virus in the specimen with great accuracy can be done by whole viral genome sequencing. The use of a combination of MR-186-YTE (monoclonal antibody) and an antiviral drug named remdesivir in the NHP model is greatly effective for eliminating MARV. The protective effect of a Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) (recombinant) - based vaccine expressing the glycoprotein of MARV has been revealed through animal model studies, other vaccines are also being developed. Proper health education, personal hygiene and precautions by health care workers while handling patients, good laboratory facilities and service along with the establishment of enhanced surveillance systems are the need of the hour to tackle this highly fatal disease. This article presents an overview of different aspects and salient features of MARV / MVD, and prevention and control strategies to be adopted

Monkeypox: An Update on Current Knowledge and Research Advances

The resurgence of the disease in humans that is very similar to smallpox called monkeypox (MPX) disease, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), is the dominant topic of discussion in the scientific and popular press around the world right now. This is taking place as the world celebrates the historic accomplishments made in the fight against the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic MPX is currently thought to pose a risk to the general public's health, particularly in areas with high rates of MPXV infection and close human-wild animal contact. Despite the rarity of MPX outbreaks, they are often caused by human-to-human transmission, especially in households and healthcare settings. Recent decades have seen recurrent outbreaks of the MPX after the smallpox disease was declared eliminated and the consequent cessation of smallpox vaccination programs. MPX has presently spread to several countries throughout the world and posed a global public health emergency, with nearly 45000 confirmed cases in 96 countries and locations, and 12 deaths as of August 24, 2022. Even though this viral illness is thought to be self-limiting, its consequences and feasible pandemic potential seriously jeopardize public health. The main approach to avoiding MPX is to adopt appropriate prevention and control measures, increase awareness of risk factors, and inform the public of the steps they may take to reduce viral exposure. Scientific studies are currently looking at the viability and suitability of the MPX vaccination. This article presents a general introduction to MPXV / MPX along with progress in diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, and prevention and control strategies for tackling this global health emergency

Potential effects of essential oils in safeguarding the health and enhancing production performance of livestock animals: The current scientific understanding

The food sector competes in a cutthroat environment, and it constantly struggles to maintain or even grow its market share. For customer confidence and consumption to remain strong, consistent animal products are needed. The qualitative attributes of the derived goods appear to be improved by the addition of bioactive substances to food, such as essential oils (EOs), and consumers are shielded from the impacts of bacterial and oxidative deterioration. Due to the current controversy surrounding synthetic chemicals and their alleged carcinogenic potential, a substantial study has been done to find effective and safe substitutes. Aromatic plants and the corresponding EOs from them are considered natural products and are typically employed in ruminant nutrition. Since dietary supplementation has been demonstrated to be an easy and practical method to successfully suppress oxidative processes or microbial deterioration at their localized sites, the addition of EOs in animal diets is now becoming a regular practice. However, there is just a little amount of evidence supporting the notion that these compounds may improve nutrient absorption and gastrointestinal health. Additionally, a variety of factors affect how well EOs works in animal diets. These variables can be, on the one hand, the erratic composition, and the many additions to the diet, and, on the other hand, erratic animal genetic elements. Maximizing the use of EOs and creating high-quality products require a deeper understanding of the composition and activity of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota. Numerous EOs contain bioactive substances with the potential to serve as multifunctional feed supplements for animals, with impacts on growth performance, the digestive system, the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and lipid oxidation, among others. To establish their regular use in animal production and to determine their precise mechanism of action, more research is required. The potential advantages of EOs for livestock health and production are highlighted in the current article

Major Advances in Monkeypox Vaccine Research and Development – An Update

Monkeypox (MPX) is a zoonotic disease that is endemic to the western and central regions of Africa and it is caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is classified as a member of the Poxviridae family, specifically the Chordopoxvirinae subfamily, and the Orthopoxvirus genus. The current multiregional outbreak of MPX, which started in May of 2022, has since swiftly spread across the globe and thus has been declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Protective immunity against MPXV can be achieved by administering a smallpox vaccination, as the two viruses share antigenic properties. Although smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, the vaccine campaign was halted the following year, leaving the population with significantly less immunity than it had before. The potential for human-to-human transmission of MPXV has grown as a result. Due to the lack of a particular treatment for MPX infection, anti-viral medications initially designed for the smallpox virus are being employed. However, the prognosis for MPX may vary depending on factors like immunization history, pre-existing illnesses, and comorbidities, even though the majority of persons who develop MPX have a mild, self-limiting illness. Vaccines and antiviral drugs are being researched as potential responses to the latest 2022 MPX epidemic. The first-generation smallpox vaccinations maintained in national stockpiles of several countries are not recommended due to not meeting the current safety and manufacturing criteria, as stated by the WHO. Newer, safer (second- and third-generation) smallpox vaccines, such as JYNNEOSTM, which has been licensed for the prevention of MPX, are indicated as potentially useful in the interim guideline. Studies on vaccines and antiviral drugs are still being investigated as possible remedies to the recent MPX outbreak. This mini-review article serves as a retrospective look at the evolution of smallpox vaccines from their inception in the 1700s to the current trends up to the end of year 2022, specifically for developing monkeypox vaccines

Emblica officinalis (Amla) with a Particular Focus on Its Antimicrobial Potentials: A Review

Emblica officinalis Gaertn. or Phyllanthus emblica Linn., popularly called as Indian gooseberry or Amla, is among main herbal plant in Indian traditional medicine. Different parts of E. officinalis are beneficial for curing various ailments but the fruits especially show tremendous pharmacological and medicinal applications. Phytochemical analysis revealed important bioactive chemical compounds such as tannins, alkaloids, polyphenols, gallic acid, ellagic acid, emblicanin A and B, phyllembein, quercetin, ascorbic acids, vitamins and minerals. Different extracts of amla possess potent antimicrobial activities to counter different bacterial pathogens. Amla phytochemicals also possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory, hypolipedemic, memory enhancing, anticancer, antidiabetic, antidepressant, anti-ulcerogenic, insecticidal, larvicidal, and wound healing activities. All of these well-established activities can have broad applications in managing most of the diseases affecting human and animal patients. It can either replace the conventional therapeutic agents due to its superior efficacy and lack of side effects or can act an adjunct therapeutic agent thereby enhancing the total efficacy of conventional agents. The biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles from E. officinalis is getting popularity due to the low cost factor along with the enhanced antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles produced. The current review emphasizes on the phytochemical constituents, mechanisms behind the antimicrobial activity and also briefly summarizes other medicinal and therapeutic usefulness of the E. officinalis

Plant-based vaccines and antibodies to combat COVID-19: current status and prospects

Globally, researchers are undertaking significant efforts to design and develop effective vaccines, therapeutics, and antiviral drugs to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Plants have been used for the production of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, immunomodulatory proteins, drugs, and pharmaceuticals via molecular farming/transient expression system and are considered as bioreactors or factories for their bulk production. These biological products are stable, safe, effective, easily available, and affordable. Plant molecular farming could facilitate rapid production of biologics on an industrial scale, and has the potential to fulfill emergency demands, such as in the present situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to describe the methodology and basics of plant biopharming, in addition to its prospective applications for developing effective vaccines and antibodies to counter COVID-19

Evaluation of serum mineral status and hormone profile in goats and some of their inter-relations

Aim: The present study was carried out with the objective to estimate the serum mineral status, and hormonal profile of goats in Kashmir valley. Materials and Methods: Thirty female goats (n=30) were selected randomly from three districts (ten from each district) of Kashmir valley. Serum minerals were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and hormones by radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique using gamma scintillation counter (I125 calibrated), at Nuclear Research Laboratory, IVRI, Izatnagar. Results: Mean&#177;SE value of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) was 10.46&#177;0.76, 5.12&#177;0.31, 2.11&#177;0.24 mg/dl respectively, whereas copper (Cu,) iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and cobalt (Co) was 0.548&#177;0.094, 1.548&#177;0.173, 0.864&#177;0.211 and 0.027&#177;0.003ppm, respectively. Non-significant (p<0.01) difference was found in the serum mineral concentrations between and within the goat of different districts. Serum mineral concentrations in goat were in slightly deficient range. Mean&#177;SE value of serum estrogen (E2 ) in pg/ml, progesterone (P4), triiodothyronin (T3) and tetraiodothyronin (T4) in ng/ml of goat was 19.35&#177;0.45, 1.37&#177;0.141, 1.16&#177;0.163 and 31.09&#177;1.15, respectively. Steroid and thyroid hormone levels were towards the lower side of the normal range. Wide variations were noted in the correlations between serum minerals and steroid and thyroid hormones indicating diverse interrelations between minerals and hormones. Conclusion: Most of the animals showed deficient serum mineral status. Mineral deficiency affects hormone status and impairs production potential of animals. Based on these findings supplementation of mineral to goat of Kashmir valley is imperative. [Vet World 2013; 6(6.000): 318-320

Role of trace elements in animals: a review

Trace elements, though required in minute quantities (less than 100 mg/kg dry matter), are essential for maintaining health andimmunity. They are involved in growth, production and reproduction. Trace elements act as cofactors of enzymes which areimportant to the immunity of animal. Superoxide dismutase , glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxinreductase, ceruloplasmin and catalase are important enzymes that have trace elements as cofactors. These enzymes act asantioxidants and prevent oxidative stress by neutralizing oxidants produced under different stresses. Besides, trace elementscontribute to general health of animal thereby enhancing disease resistance. Trace elements are important for properfunctioning of a number of enzymes and proteins which are involved in many physiological, biochemical and metabolicprocesses that contribute to growth and production. Overall, trace elements improve immune competence and productiveperformance