Prevalence and molecular characterization of Eimeria species affecting backyard poultry of Jammu region, North India.

The present study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019 to know the prevalence of coccidiosis in backyard poultry in Jammu, Samba, and Udhampur districts of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, North India. A total of 600 pooled fecal samples collected from backyard poultry were examined for presence of Eimeria oocysts. Morphometry and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based amplification of ITS-1 gene was carried to characterize the Eimeria species infecting the backyard poultry of the study area. An overall prevalence of 28.5% Eimeria spp. infection among backyard poultry birds was recorded. Among the seasons, highest prevalence was recorded during rainy season (32%) with significantly (p < 0.05) high oocyst excretion (1.77 ± 0.01) and lowest during summer (19.3%) with low oocyst excretion (0.17 ± 0.006). Young birds up to 3 months of age were found to be more susceptible to infection than older birds, with a significantly (p < 0.05) high prevalence percentage of 38.02. Morphometry with COCCIMORPH software revealed presence of Eimeria tenella, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria acervulina, and Eimeria maxima species with prevalence rates of 27.6%, 21.3%, 16.5%, and 3.6%, respectively. The amplified fragments of ITS-1 gene presented different sizes of Eimeria spp. viz. E. acervulina (321 bp), E. tenella (278 bp), E. maxima (145 bp), and E. necatrix (383 bp). The study concluded that although backyard poultry did not show clinical form of coccidiosis, it may act as source of potential reservoir.

Epidemiology, haematology and molecular characterization of haemoprotozoon and rickettsial organisms causing infections in cattle of Jammu region, North India.

BACKGROUND: The present study was aimed at establishing the prevalence, epidemiology and molecular characterization of major haemoprotozoons (Babesia and Theileria) and rickettsia (Anaplasma) of cattle in Jammu region (North India) using microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Hematology, microscopy and PCR based prevalence studies were undertaken with 278 whole blood samples from cattle. Molecular prevalence studies were followed by genetic characterization of the isolates of Babesia, Anaplasma and Theileria spp. based on 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA and Tams1 gene, respectively. The data related to metrology and epidemiological variables like temperature, rainfall, season, age and type of livestock rearing was analyzed and correlated with occurrence of disease by statistical methods. RESULTS: The prevalence based on microscopy was 12.9% (36/278) whereas PCR recorded 30.22% (84/278) animals positive for haemoparasitic infections. All the samples found positive by microscopy were also recorded positive by PCR. Thus the study revealed prevalence of Babesia bigemina, Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata to be 9.7, 16.5 and 0.7% respectively. The metrological and epidemiological variables made inroads for the propagation of vector ticks and occurrence of infection. Haematological alterations predominantly related to decrease in haemoglobin, red blood cell count and packed cell volume were evident in diseased animals and collaterally affected the productivity. Further the genetic characterization of Babesia bigemina. (MN566925.1, MN567603, MN566924.1), Anaplasma marginale. (MH733242.1, MN567602.1) and Theileria annulata (MT113479) provided a representative data of the isolates circulating in the region and their proximity with available sequences across the world. CONCLUSIONS: Despite holding much significance to the animal sector, comprehensive disease mapping has yet not been undertaken in several parts of India. The present study provides a blue print of disease mapping, epidemiological correlations and genomic diversity of Babesia bigemina, Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata circulating in the region.

Synthetic pyrethroid resistance in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks from north-western Himalayas, India.

In the present study, adult immersion test (AIT) was used for evaluation of resistance against synthetic pyrethroids (deltamethrin and cypermethrin) in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks collected from nine districts of three agro-climatic zones of north-western Himalayan region of India. Resistance factors (RFs) were calculated between 0.94 to 50.71 for deltamethrin and 0.32 to 13.18 for cypermethrin. Resistance to deltamethrin was detected at level I in two, level II in four, level III and level IV in one isolate each while one isolate was susceptible. Against cypermethrin, resistance at levels I and II was detected in three isolates each while three isolates were found susceptible. The low altitude sub-tropical zone revealed higher density of resistant ticks where intensive animal husbandry practices were followed and the synthetic pyrethroid usage was common. Data generated on pyrethroid resistance status of ticks in north-western Himalayan region will provide new insights in acaricidal resistance particularly from remote areas of this region and will help in formulating suitable control measures.