Estimates of (co)variance components and genetic parameters for growth traits in Sirohi goat.

Data were collected over a period of 21 years (1988-2008) to estimate (co)variance components for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT), 6-month weight (6WT), 9-month weight (9WT), 12-month weight (12WT), average daily gain from birth to weaning (ADG1), weaning to 6WT (ADG2), and from 6WT to 12WT (ADG3) in Sirohi goats maintained at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India. Analyses were carried out by restricted maximum likelihood, fitting six animal models with various combinations of direct and maternal effects. The best model was chosen after testing the improvement of the log-likelihood values. Heritability estimates for BWT, WWT, 6WT, 9WT, 12WT, ADG1, ADG2, and ADG3 were 0.39 ± 0.05, 0.09 ± 0.03, 0.06 ± 0.02, 0.09 ± 0.03, 0.11 ± 0.03, 0.10 ± 0.3, 0.04 ± 0.02, and 0.01 ± 0.01, respectively. For BWT and ADG1, only direct effects were significant. Estimate of maternal permanent environmental effect were important for body weights from weaning to 12WT and also for ADG2 and ADG3. However, direct maternal effects were not significant throughout. Estimate of c (2) were 0.06 ± 0.02, 0.03 ± 0.02, 0.06 ± 0.02, 0.05 ± 0.02, 0.02 ± 0.02, and 0.02 ± 0.02 for 3WT, 6WT, 9WT, 12WT, ADG2, and ADG3, respectively. The estimated repeatabilities across years of ewe effects on kid body weights were 0.10, 0.08, 0.05, 0.08, and 0.08 at birth, weaning, 6, 9, and 12 months of age, respectively. Results suggest possibility of modest rate of genetic progress for body weight traits and ADG1 through selection, whereas only slow progress will be possible for post-weaning gain. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between body weight traits were high and positive. High genetic correlation between 6WT and 9WT suggests that selection of animals at 6 months can be carried out instead of present practice of selection at 9 months.

Genetic analysis for growth traits of prolific Garole × Malpura (GM) sheep.

The FecB gene of Garole sheep was introgressed into non-prolific Malpura sheep to evolve a new prolific sheep strain Garole × Malpura (GM), suitable for semi-arid conditions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of breeding program on production profile of GM sheep and to estimate the genetic parameters for growth traits of GM sheep. Overall prolificacy increased significantly in the new strain as compared to the native Malpura sheep. In the GM flock of F2 and F2 onwards generation 35.31% single, 55.83% twins, 8.16% triplet and 0.70% quadruplets were obtained during lambing. Over the years, prolificacy in the flock has increased significantly. Over all least squares means for birth weight, 3, 6, 9, 12 month weight, pre-weaning gain (ADG1) and post-weaning gain (ADG2) were 1.82 ± 0.03, 9.44 ± 0.18, 14.00 ± 0.24, 16.56 ± 0.33, and 19.32 ± 0.35 kg, and 84.08 ± 1.84 and 35.19 ± 0.99 g, respectively. Majority of the fixed effects had significant influence on the performance traits. The heritability estimates for birth, 3, 6, 9, 12 month weight, ADG1 and ADG2 were 0.30 ± 0.11, 0.22 ± 0.09, 0.23 ± 0.10, 0.27 ± 0.10, 0.30 ± 0.11, 0.17 ± 0.08, and 0.17 ± 0.10, respectively. Modest rate of genetic progress seems possible for these traits under selection. The genetic and phenotypic correlations among different body weights were moderate to high and positive. The genetic correlation of pre and post-weaning daily gains with body weight traits were also high and positive.

Estimates of genetic parameters for faecal egg count of Haemonchus contortus infection and relationship with growth traits in Avikalin sheep.

Genetic parameters for faecal egg count were estimated in naturally challenged Avikalin sheep developed and maintained at Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, India, over a period of 4 years (2004-2007). The data on faecal egg count for 433 animals descended from 41 sires, and 151 dams were used for the study. Genetic analyses were carried out using restricted maximum likelihood, fitting an animal model and ignoring or including maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. Direct heritability for the trait was 0.149 +/- 0.096 when maternal effects were ignored. In the model which takes in to account direct genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environment effect together, it was observed that maternal heritability (m(2)) accounts for 0.6% of total variation whereas maternal permanent environmental effect (c(2)) accounts for 6.14% of total phenotypic variation. Effect of faecal egg count on the growth characteristics was observed to be significant. It was seen that wherever FEC was high, body weight or average daily gain declined in active infective stage. After termination of the infection, these effects were found to be non-significant. Result suggests that direct genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects were important for this trait; thus, they need to be considered for improvement in the trait.

Direct and maternal (co)variance components and heritability estimates for body weights in Chokla sheep.

Estimates of (co)variance components were obtained for weights at birth, weaning and 6, 9 and 12 months of age in Chokla sheep maintained at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India, over a period of 21 years (1980-2000). Records of 2030 lambs descended from 150 rams and 616 ewes were used in the study. Analyses were carried out by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) fitting an animal model and ignoring or including maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects. Six different animal models were fitted for all traits. The best model was chosen after testing the improvement of the log-likelihood values. Direct heritability estimates were inflated substantially for all traits when maternal effects were ignored. Heritability estimates for weight at birth, weaning and 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 0.20, 0.18, 0.16, 0.22 and 0.23, respectively in the best models. Additive maternal and maternal permanent environmental effects were both significant at birth, accounting for 9% and 12% of phenotypic variance, respectively, but the source of maternal effects (additive versus permanent environmental) at later ages could not be clearly identified. The estimated repeatabilities across years of ewe effects on lamb body weights were 0.26, 0.14, 0.12, 0.13, and 0.15 at birth, weaning, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, respectively. These results indicate that modest rates of genetic progress are possible for all weights.

Effects of the Booroola (FecB) genotypes on growth performance, ewe's productivity efficiency and litter size in Garole x Malpura sheep.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of FecB genotypes on body weight, average daily gain (ADG), ewe's productivity efficiency (EPE) and litter size in FecB introgressed GarolexMalpura (GM) crossbred sheep. A total of 235 GM lambs were selected randomly and screened for FecB mutation using forced RFLP-PCR. The majority (69.8%) of GM individuals were carriers (BB and B+) for the FecB mutation and frequency of the FecB allele was about 0.40. The FecB genotypes were significantly (P<0.01) associated with the lamb's body weights from birth to 12 months of age. The generation wise (F(1), F(2) and F(3)), lamb's body weight did not differ significantly at birth, 6 and 12 months of the age, while it differed significantly (P<0.05) at 3 and 9 months of age. The ADG1 (0-3 months) was significantly associated (P<0.05), but not the ADG2 (3-6 months) and ADG3 (6-12 months) between genotypes. Type of birth and sex significantly (P<0.01) affected the body weight from birth to 12 months of age; and body weight of single born lambs was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of twins and triplets from birth to 12 months of age. Type of birth significantly (P<0.01) affected the ADG1, but had no significant effect on ADG2 and ADG3. Year of birth did not affect the birth and weaning weights, but it significantly affected (P<0.01) the body weight and ADG's after weaning ages. The EPE was affected significantly (P<0.01) by the FecB genotypes at birth, 3 and 12 months of age. The EPE of B+ and BB ewes were 7.86 kg (36.9%) and 2.32 kg (10.9%) higher as compared to ++ ewes at 12 months of age, respectively. The mean litter size of BB ewes (2.17+/-0.24) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of B+ ewes (1.73+/-0.04) and ++ ewes (1.03+/-0.23). The present study indicated that the body weight and ADG of carrier lambs (BB and B+) was comparatively lower than that of non-carriers (++), while EPE of B+ ewes was comparatively higher than that of BB and ++ ewes. Further, it is interesting to note that heterozygous and homozygous state of individuals increased 0.70 and 1.14 extra lambs as compared to non-carriers (++), respectively.

Sperm motion characteristics of GarolexMalpura sheep evolved in a semi-arid tropical environment through introgression of FecB gene.

The arid and semi-arid tropical climates of India are endowed with vast diversity of non-prolific sheep breeds. The GarolexMalpura sheep has been evolved in a semi-arid tropical environment by introgression of FecB gene via artificial insemination of Malpura ewes using diluted semen of prolific microsheep Garole and subsequently multiplied by inter se mating among GarolexMalpura halfbreds. The aim of the present study was to identify FecB mutation in sexually mature GarolexMalpura rams by forced RFLP-PCR of BMPR-1B gene and evaluate: (i) semen production and sperm motion characteristics of GM rams and (ii) influence of age and FecB genotype on their semen attributes. Semen was collected during autumn season from 12 donor rams by artificial vagina on 8 occasions at weekly interval. The overall means of traits which did not differed significantly with age or FecB genotyping were volume (0.72 ml), mass motility (4.44), sperm concentration (2721.56 x 10(6)ml(-1)), curvilinear velocity (134.51 microm/s), motility (81.3%), amplitude of lateral head displacement (6.24 microm), beat frequency (44.43 Hz), sperm head elongation (48.9%) and sperm head area (10.01 microm(2)). The FecB genotyping had a significant effect (P<0.05) on percent linearity and rapid motile sperms, which did not vary significantly with age. Although sperm concentration was higher in FecB(BB) and FecB(B+), compared to FecB(++) genotypes but the effect was non-significant. The age and FecB genotyping had significant effects (P<0.05) on straightness, average path velocity, straight-line velocity and percentage of medium or slow motile sperms. It is concluded that GarolexMalpura rams with introgressed FecB gene are capable of producing good quality semen in a semi-arid tropical climate.

Estimates of (co)variance components and genetic parameters for body weights and first greasy fleece weight in Bharat Merino sheep.

(Co)variance components and genetic parameters of weight at birth (BWT), weaning (3WT), 6, 9 and 12 months of age (6WT, 9WT and 12WT, respectively) and first greasy fleece weight (GFW) of Bharat Merino sheep, maintained at Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India, were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood, fitting six animal models with various combinations of direct and maternal effects. Data were collected over a period of 10 years (1998 to 2007). A log-likelihood ratio test was used to select the most appropriate univariate model for each trait, which was subsequently used in bivariate analysis. Heritability estimates for BWT, 3WT, 6WT, 9WT and 12WT and first GFW were 0.05 ± 0.03, 0.04 ± 0.02, 0.00, 0.03 ± 0.03, 0.09 ± 0.05 and 0.05 ± 0.03, respectively. There was no evidence for the maternal genetic effect on the traits under study. Maternal permanent environmental effect contributed 19% for BWT and 6% to 11% from 3WT to 9WT and 11% for first GFW. Maternal permanent environmental effect on the post-3WT was a carryover effect of maternal influences during pre-weaning age. A low rate of genetic progress seems possible in the flock through selection. Direct genetic correlations between body weight traits were positive and ranged from 0.36 between BWT and 6WT to 0.94 between 3WT and 6WT and between 6WT and 12WT. Genetic correlations of 3WT with 6WT, 9WT and 12WT were high and positive (0.94, 0.93 and 0.93, respectively), suggesting that genetic gain in post-3WT will be maintained if selection age is reduced to 3 months. The genetic correlations of GFW with live weights were 0.01, 0.16, 0.18, 0.40 and 0.32 for BWT, 3WT, 6WT, 9WT and 12WT, respectively. Correlations of permanent environmental effects of the dam across different traits were high and positive for all the traits (0.45 to 0.98).

Studies on effect of Booroola (FecB) genotype on lifetime ewes' productivity efficiency, litter size and number of weaned lambs in Garole x Malpura sheep.

The FecB gene of Garole was introgressed into non-prolific Malpura sheep. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of FecB genotypes on cumulative lifetime (three lamb crops) litter size (CLS), cumulative number of weaned lambs (CWL) and cumulative ewe's productivity efficiency (CEPE) in 51 Garole x Malpura (GM) crossbred sheep. The GM ewes of F(1) were selected and screened for FecB mutation using forced RFLP-PCR technique. The majority (78.4%) of F(1) GM individuals were carriers (FecB(B+)) for the FecB mutation. In first parity 55% FecB(B+) ewes gave births to multiple lambs. The FecB genotypes were significantly (P<0.01) associated with the CLS and CWL. The FecB(B+) ewes resulted in 65.6 and 62.1% higher CLS and CWL, respectively compared to non-carriers. The CEPE was also affected significantly by the FecB genotypes at birth, weaning, 6 and 12 months of age. The FecB(B+) ewes weaned 20.9% higher total litter weight as compared to FecB++ ewes and at 12 months age the difference was 43.5% in favor of B+ ewes. The study indicated that the CLS, CWL and CEPE of carrier ewes (FecB(B+)) were comparatively higher than that of non-carriers (FecB++).

How important is history of unconsciousness in head injury patients?

A total of 100 patients of head injury were studied. They all underwent thorough clinical and neurological examination, skull radiography and CT scan of head. And with the help of all these parameters an evaluation was done to find out the importance of history of unconsciousness on risk of intracranial complications. A lot of controversies exist about detection of factors that make a patient of head injury a high risk candidate for developing intracranial complications. Young active population was the most commonly affected group in head injury with male preponderance at all ages. Roadside accident found to be the main cause of head trauma in adults while fall from height in paediatric age group. Although Glassgow Coma Index (GCI) was found to be a good predictor for intracranial complications as well as final outcome in patients with total score of 12 or less but it was not equally good in patients of minor head injury (GCI = 13-15). Similarly history of unconsciousness was not found to be correlating well with risk of intracranial complications but longer duration of unconsciousness was found to be a poor prognostic index.

A Rare Case of Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Exophiala Jeanselmei.

An outbreak of black piedra affected 60% of inmates of a women's hostel. One of the inmates who had piedra even before joining the hostel appears to be the source of infection. Use a common comb for dressing the hair and sharing of pillows and bed sheets while sleeping were the probable factors for spread of the disease. An indigenous treatment that consisted of daily exposure of the affected hairs to steam for 20 minutes was found to be beneficial.