Effect of supplementing sulphate-reducing bacteria along with sulphur on growth performance, nutrient utilization and methane emission in goats.

A competitive relationship exists between sulphate-reducing bacteria and methanogens in the anaerobic environment including rumen for hydrogen where sulphate is not limiting growth and consequently inhibit enteric methane emission as thermodynamically energetic sulphate reduction (∆Go = - 21.1 kJ/mole of H2) is more favourable than methanogenesis (∆Go = - 16.9 kJ/mole H2). To validate this hypothesis, a study was designed to investigate the effect of supplementation of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) identified as Streptococcus caviae RM296 as microbial feed additives alone or along with sulphur (as sodium sulphate) on methane production, live weight gain, feed intake, nutrient digestibility and energy metabolism in goats. The experiment was conducted on growing kids (n = 36, 5-6 months of age) with average body weight of 10.08 ± 0.21 kg, divided into six groups (n = 6). The duration of the feeding trial was of 150 days. The six treatments were control fed a basal diet (T1), SRB 0.5 ml/kg BW (T2), sulphur (as sodium sulphate) 0.095% of DMI (total sulphur level in the diet 1.5 times the requirement) (T3), sulphur (as sodium sulphate) 0.095% of DMI + SRB 0.5 ml/kg BW (T4), sulphur (as sodium sulphate) 0.19% of DMI (total sulphur level in the diet 2 times the requirement) (T5) and sulphur (as sodium sulphate) 0.19% of DMI + SRB 0.5 ml/kg BW (T6). Duration of study was 150 days and goats were fed as per ICAR (2013) feeding standard. Methane (CH4) production (l/kg DMI) was reduced by 11.8% (P = 0.052) in T6 where sulphur (0.19% DMI) was supplemented along with SRB4 (at the rate 0.5 ml/kg BW) as compared to T1 (un-supplemented group). However, the dry matter intake (DM), total weight gain (TG), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), excretion of purine derivatives (allantoin, uric acid, xanthine and hypoxanthine) and digestibility of organic matter (OM), dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were similar (P > 0.05) among all the groups. The experimental data revealed that feeding of SRB as a microbial feed additive along with sulphur (as sodium sulphate) is capable of reducing enteric CH4 emission without any adverse effect on rumen fermentation and digestibility of the nutrients.

Selection and characterization of probiotic lactic acid bacteria and its impact on growth, nutrient digestibility, health and antioxidant status in weaned piglets.

The present study was aimed to develop an effective probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from piglet feces and in vitro characterization of probiotic properties. To confirm host-species specificity of probiotics, the efficacy of isolated LAB on growth, nutrient utilization, health and antioxidant status was observed in early weaned piglets. A total of 30 LAB were isolated from feces of five healthy piglets (28d old). All isolates were Gram positive, cocco-bacilli and catalase negative. Out of thirty LAB isolates, twenty were shortlisted on the basis of their tolerance to pH (3.0, 4.0, 7.0 and 8.0) and bile salts (0.075, 0.15, 0.3 and 1.0%). Whereas, fourteen isolates were selected for further in vitro probiotic characterization due higher (P<0.05) cell surface hydrophobicity to toluene (>45 percent). These isolates fermented twenty-seven different carbohydrates but were negative for ONPG, citrate and malonate. Also enabled to synthesize amylase, protease, lipase and phytase. They were sensitive to penicillin, azithromycin, lincomycin, clindamycin, erythromycin, cephalothin and chloramphenicol and resistant to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, gatifloxacin, vancomycin and co-trimoxazole. Except three isolates, all showed antagonistic activity (>60% co-culture activity) against Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella serotype (ser.) Typhimurium, Staphylococcus intermedius, Staph. chromogenes, Proteus mirabillis, Areomonas veonii, Bordetella bronchioseptica and Klebsialla oxytoca. The isolate Lacp28 exhibited highest tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts (up to 0.3%), phytase activity, cell surface hydrophobicity, antagonistic activity and co-culture assay (>80% growth inhibition). Host specificity of Lacp28 was further confirmed by heavy in vitro adhesion to pig intestinal epithelium cells compared to chicken. Hence, Lacp28 was selected and identified by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA as Pediococcus acidilactici strain FT28 with 100% similarity (GenBank accession nos. KU837245, KU837246 and KU837247). The Pediococcus acidilactici FT28 was selected as potential probiotic candidature for in vivo efficacy in weaned pigs. Thirty-six crossbred piglets (28d) were randomly distributed into three groups (four replicates of three each) namely, basal diet without probiotics (T0) or with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC15 (conventional dairy-specific probiotic; T1) or Pediococcus acidilactici FT28 (swine-specific probiotic; T2). At end of the experiment, six piglets of similar body weight were selected to conduct digestion trial for estimation of nutrient digestibility. Results of the study indicated that supplementation of both probiotics improved (P<0.001) FCR compared to control without significant effect in average daily gain and DM intake. However, the apparent digestibility of crude protein and ether extract was better (P<0.01) in pigs fed P. acidilactici FT28 compared control and L. acidophilus fed groups. The total WBC and RBC count, serum glucose, total protein, albumin and globulin concentration was higher (P<0.05) in P. acidilactici FT28 fed group with better (P<0.05) catalase and superoxide dismutase activity measured in erythrocyte. It is concluded that species-specific Pediococcus acidilactici FT28 isolated with potential in vitro probiotic properties and also hold probiotic candidature by showing the potential capabilities with higher nutrient digestibility, heamato-biochemical and antioxidant status compared to control and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCDC15.

Effect of feeding tannin-degrading bacteria Streptococcus gallolyticus strain TDGB 406 on meat quality of goats fed with Quercus semicarpifolia leaves.

The effect of feeding tannin-degrading bacteria (Streptococcus gallolyticus strain TDGB 406) on carcass characteristics of goats fed with oak (Quercus semicarpifolia) leaves was studied on 18 male goats (4 months old, average body weight 9.50 ± 1.50 kg), distributed into three groups of six animals each. The animals of group 1 served as control, while the animals of groups 2 and 3 were given (at 5 ml/kg live weight) autoclaved and live culture of isolate TDGB 406 (10(6) cells/ml), respectively. The animals were fed with oak leaves as a basal roughage source and maize hay along with fixed quantity of concentrate mixture. After 4 months of feeding, the animals were slaughtered for carcass studies. The feeding of live culture of isolate TDGB 406 did not cause any effect (P > 0.05) on pre-slaughter weight, empty body weight, carcass weight, dressing percent, and yield of wholesale cuts (neck, rack, shoulder, breast, shank, loin, leg, and flank) of the goat meat. The chemical composition of longissimus dorsi muscle was comparable (P > 0.05) among the groups. The organoleptic evaluation of pressure-cooked meat in terms of tenderness and overall palatability was increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the meat of group 3 where live culture was supplemented. The other attributes were similar among the groups. It was concluded that supplementation of tannin-degrading bacteria S. gallolyticus strain TDGB 406 to goats fed with oak leaves did not affect the carcass characteristics and meat quality.

Leishman-Giemsa cocktail: an effective Romanowsky stain for air-dried cytologic smears.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an economical, quick, readily available and simple alternative to May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) stain and so to explore the combination of Leishman and Giemsa stain (LG cocktail). STUDY DESIGN: One wet-fixed and 2 air-dried smears were prepared from 720 cases during the period January 2003-November 2004. The LG cocktail and MGG stain were used on the air-dried smears and Papanicolaou stain in wet-fixed smears. Diagnoses of the cases were made using the LG cocktail-stained smears, and then its diagnostic efficacy was cross-checked with the MGG- and Papanicolaou-stained smears by the same cytopathologist. A comparative study of the LG cocktail and MGG-stained smears was done. RESULTS: The results achieved with the LG cocktail-stained smears were comparable to or even better than those with the MGG-stained smears, with excellent diagnostic efficacy. CONCLUSION: As compared to MGG stain, the 1-step LG cocktail is cheaper, easier to standardize and quicker.

Myeloma in young age.

Total 14 cases of myeloma in young age group (<40 years) have been reported out of 178 cases of myeloma in a time period of 7 years (1993-1999). Males predominated overfe males. Like adult myeloma, patients presented mostly with the backache, pain in pelvis, lower spine and weakness in about 60% of cases followed by swelling of bone in 40% of cases. One case presented with bleeding gum, malena and hepatosplenomegaly and was diagnosed as plasma cell leukemia. Radiological examination revealed lytic lesion in almost all the cases with fracture femur and rib in 28.57% of cases. Anaemia and raised ESR was noted in all the cases. Myeloma typing revealed IgG myeloma in 10 cases, light chain myeloma in 3 cases and IgA myeloma in one case. None of the patient was traceable after 2 years. Thus our study concludes that myeloma in the young age in India occurs in increased frequency and clinically presents just like adult and elderly myeloma, but serologically are predominantly of IgG type. There is also an increased frequency of solitary plasmacytoma as compared to adult myeloma.