Molecular detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in different poultry breeds of Abbottabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan / Detecção molecular de Mycoplasma gallisepticum em diferentes raças de aves de Abbottabad e Rawalpindi, Paquistão

The poultry sector in Pakistan is contributing mainly in bridging gap between demand and supply for protein. Mycoplasma gallisepticum is an emerging bacterium causing serious problems in poultry industry of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the M. gallisepticum load in poultry populated regions of Pakistan. Total 600 serum and 600 swab samples were collected, 200 from each broiler, layers and breeders poultry in Rawalpindi and Abbottabad districts. Serum samples were analyzed through ELISA for seroprevalence. Swabs were cultured on Frey’s medium followed by PCR and partial mgc2 gene sequencing. Results of seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum showed that layers (75%, n=150) are more positive as compared to breeders (70%, n=140) and broilers (50%, n=100). Typical colonies of the M. gallisepticum were observed in breeder (26.5%), followed by layer (21%) and broilers (9%). A total of 37.1% (n=42) samples were identified positive through PCR out of total 113 cultured based positive samples. A total of six M. gallisepticum isolates of current study showed 98-99 percent similarity with previously reported isolates on the basis of mgc2 gene partial sequencing. The M. gallisepticum was found highly prevalent in different poultry breads. Results of this study would add into basic data and provide a direction for livestock sector to strengthen a control strategy for mycoplasmosis in poultry farms.

O setor avícola do Paquistão está contribuindo principalmente para preencher a lacuna entre a demanda e a oferta de proteína. Mycoplasma gallisepticum é uma bactéria emergente que causa sérios problemas na indústria avícola do Paquistão. Um estudo transversal foi conduzido para avaliar a carga de M. gallisepticum em regiões de avicultura do Paquistão. Um total de 600 amostras de soro e 600 amostras de esfregaço foi coletado, 200 de cada frango de corte, poedeiras e aves reprodutoras nos distritos de Rawalpindi e Abbottabad. Amostras de soro foram analisadas por ELISA para soroprevalência. As zaragatoas foram cultivadas em meio Frey, seguido de PCR e sequenciação parcial do gene mgc2. Os resultados da soroprevalência de M. gallisepticum mostraram que as poedeiras (75%, n = 150) são mais positivas em comparação com matrizes (70%, n = 140) e frangos de corte (50%, n = 100). Colônias típicas de M. gallisepticum foram observadas em reprodutoras (26,5%), seguidas de poedeiras (21%) e frangos de corte (9%). Um total de 37,1% (n = 42) das amostras foi identificado como positivas por PCR de um total de 113 amostras positivas baseadas em cultura. Um total de seis isolados de M. gallisepticum do estudo atual mostrou 98-99% de similaridade com isolados relatados anteriormente com base no sequenciamento parcial do gene mgc2. O M. gallisepticum foi encontrado com alta prevalência em diferentes pães de aves. Os resultados deste estudo acrescentariam dados básicos e forneceriam orientação para o setor pecuário fortalecer uma estratégia de controle da micoplasmose em granjas avícolas.

Molecular detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in different poultry breeds of Abbottabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract The poultry sector in Pakistan is contributing mainly in bridging gap between demand and supply for protein. Mycoplasma gallisepticum is an emerging bacterium causing serious problems in poultry industry of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the M. gallisepticum load in poultry populated regions of Pakistan. Total 600 serum and 600 swab samples were collected, 200 from each broiler, layers and breeders poultry in Rawalpindi and Abbottabad districts. Serum samples were analyzed through ELISA for seroprevalence. Swabs were cultured on Freys medium followed by PCR and partial mgc2 gene sequencing. Results of seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum showed that layers (75%, n=150) are more positive as compared to breeders (70%, n=140) and broilers (50%, n=100). Typical colonies of the M. gallisepticum were observed in breeder (26.5%), followed by layer (21%) and broilers (9%). A total of 37.1% (n=42) samples were identified positive through PCR out of total 113 cultured based positive samples. A total of six M. gallisepticum isolates of current study showed 98-99 percent similarity with previously reported isolates on the basis of mgc2 gene partial sequencing. The M. gallisepticum was found highly prevalent in different poultry breads. Results of this study would add into basic data and provide a direction for livestock sector to strengthen a control strategy for mycoplasmosis in poultry farms.

Resumo O setor avícola do Paquistão está contribuindo principalmente para preencher a lacuna entre a demanda e a oferta de proteína. Mycoplasma gallisepticum é uma bactéria emergente que causa sérios problemas na indústria avícola do Paquistão. Um estudo transversal foi conduzido para avaliar a carga de M. gallisepticum em regiões de avicultura do Paquistão. Um total de 600 amostras de soro e 600 amostras de esfregaço foi coletado, 200 de cada frango de corte, poedeiras e aves reprodutoras nos distritos de Rawalpindi e Abbottabad. Amostras de soro foram analisadas por ELISA para soroprevalência. As zaragatoas foram cultivadas em meio Frey, seguido de PCR e sequenciação parcial do gene mgc2. Os resultados da soroprevalência de M. gallisepticum mostraram que as poedeiras (75%, n = 150) são mais positivas em comparação com matrizes (70%, n = 140) e frangos de corte (50%, n = 100). Colônias típicas de M. gallisepticum foram observadas em reprodutoras (26,5%), seguidas de poedeiras (21%) e frangos de corte (9%). Um total de 37,1% (n = 42) das amostras foi identificado como positivas por PCR de um total de 113 amostras positivas baseadas em cultura. Um total de seis isolados de M. gallisepticum do estudo atual mostrou 98-99% de similaridade com isolados relatados anteriormente com base no sequenciamento parcial do gene mgc2. O M. gallisepticum foi encontrado com alta prevalência em diferentes pães de aves. Os resultados deste estudo acrescentariam dados básicos e forneceriam orientação para o setor pecuário fortalecer uma estratégia de controle da micoplasmose em granjas avícolas.

Molecular detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in different poultry breeds of Abbottabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan / Detecção molecular de Mycoplasma gallisepticum em diferentes raças de aves de Abbottabad e Rawalpindi, Paquistão

Abstract The poultry sector in Pakistan is contributing mainly in bridging gap between demand and supply for protein. Mycoplasma gallisepticum is an emerging bacterium causing serious problems in poultry industry of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the M. gallisepticum load in poultry populated regions of Pakistan. Total 600 serum and 600 swab samples were collected, 200 from each broiler, layers and breeders poultry in Rawalpindi and Abbottabad districts. Serum samples were analyzed through ELISA for seroprevalence. Swabs were cultured on Frey's medium followed by PCR and partial mgc2 gene sequencing. Results of seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum showed that layers (75%, n=150) are more positive as compared to breeders (70%, n=140) and broilers (50%, n=100). Typical colonies of the M. gallisepticum were observed in breeder (26.5%), followed by layer (21%) and broilers (9%). A total of 37.1% (n=42) samples were identified positive through PCR out of total 113 cultured based positive samples. A total of six M. gallisepticum isolates of current study showed 98-99 percent similarity with previously reported isolates on the basis of mgc2 gene partial sequencing. The M. gallisepticum was found highly prevalent in different poultry breads. Results of this study would add into basic data and provide a direction for livestock sector to strengthen a control strategy for mycoplasmosis in poultry farms.

Resumo O setor avícola do Paquistão está contribuindo principalmente para preencher a lacuna entre a demanda e a oferta de proteína. Mycoplasma gallisepticum é uma bactéria emergente que causa sérios problemas na indústria avícola do Paquistão. Um estudo transversal foi conduzido para avaliar a carga de M. gallisepticum em regiões de avicultura do Paquistão. Um total de 600 amostras de soro e 600 amostras de esfregaço foi coletado, 200 de cada frango de corte, poedeiras e aves reprodutoras nos distritos de Rawalpindi e Abbottabad. Amostras de soro foram analisadas por ELISA para soroprevalência. As zaragatoas foram cultivadas em meio Frey, seguido de PCR e sequenciação parcial do gene mgc2. Os resultados da soroprevalência de M. gallisepticum mostraram que as poedeiras (75%, n = 150) são mais positivas em comparação com matrizes (70%, n = 140) e frangos de corte (50%, n = 100). Colônias típicas de M. gallisepticum foram observadas em reprodutoras (26,5%), seguidas de poedeiras (21%) e frangos de corte (9%). Um total de 37,1% (n = 42) das amostras foi identificado como positivas por PCR de um total de 113 amostras positivas baseadas em cultura. Um total de seis isolados de M. gallisepticum do estudo atual mostrou 98-99% de similaridade com isolados relatados anteriormente com base no sequenciamento parcial do gene mgc2. O M. gallisepticum foi encontrado com alta prevalência em diferentes pães de aves. Os resultados deste estudo acrescentariam dados básicos e forneceriam orientação para o setor pecuário fortalecer uma estratégia de controle da micoplasmose em granjas avícolas.

Spectrum of Cyanotic Heart Defects and Their Modes of Presentation at Cardiology Clinic in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background: Cyanotic Congenital heart defect (CHD) is the high risk group which requires prompt medical attention. Immediate management can drastically alter the natural history otherwise most of the children will succumb to their defect very early in infancy. It is thus important to have reliable information of the profile of various cyanotic CHDs as well as their mode of presentation for the early detection. Methods: The study was carried out in Department of Pediatrics and Center of Cardiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh. All patients referred with complaints or clinical examination suggestive of congenital heart defects were further evaluated with echocardiography. On echocardiography patients having congenital heart defects were included as cases which were further divided into cyanotic and acyanotic heart defects, preterms having PDA and PFO and those with acquired heart defects were excluded. The profile and mode of presentation of various cyanotic CHDs was further described in detail. Results: Acyanotic heart defects were 290(72.50%) of the total heart defects, while the contribution of cyanotic heart defects was 110 (27.50%). Out of all CHDs, VSD was the most common lesion with contribution of 152 (38.00%) cases, while among the cyanotic heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) was the most common lesion (18% of total cases). Spectrum of various cyanotic lesions were TOF 65.45%, Single Ventricle 12.72%, TAPVC (Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection) 8.18%, TGA(Transposition of Great Arteries) 7.27%, Tricuspid Atresia 3.63%, Ebsteins malformation 1.81% and Truncus Arteriosus 0.90%. Conclusion: Profile of various cyanotic CHDs was similar to the previous studies, however spectrum of various CHDs was quite wide, a large number of cases were missed in infancy and presented late.

Profile of Acyanotic Congenital Heart Defects

Background: Acyanotic CHD constitute majority of heart defect with significant morbidity, Profile of various defects is essential for identifying children who need urgent intervention and who need to be medically followed. Methods: The study was carried out in Department of Pediatrics and Center of Cardiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh. All patients referred with complaints or clinical examination suggestive of congenital heart defects were further evaluated with echocardiography. On echocardiography patients having congenital heart defects were included as cases which were further divided into cyanotic and acyanotic heart defects, preterms having PDA and PFO and those with acquired heart defects were excluded. The profile and mode of presentation of various acyanotic CHDs was further described in detail. Results: Acyanotic heart defects were 290(72.50%) of the total heart defects, while the contribution of cyanotic heart defects was 110 (27.50%). Out of all CHDs, VSD was the most common lesion with contribution of 152 (38.00%) cases, followed by ASD (20.34%) , PDA (13.10%), PS (6.90%), Subaortic Membrane (2.00%), AV Canal valve defect (1.00%), RSOV (1.00%), Bicuspid Aortic Valve (1.00%), PAPVC (0.66%), Cortriatriatum (0.33%), Coarctation of Aorta(0.33%), ALCAPA(0.33%) and Aortic stenosis (0.33%). Age of presentation for most of the children was between 1 to 5 years. Conclusions: The profile and mode of presentation of various acyanotic heart defects was similar to other studies but diagnosis was delayed in majority of cases. The prevelance of various obstructive lesions like AS, coarctation and bicuspid aortic valve was much lower.

Profile and Clinical Spectrum of Congenital Heart Defects in NICU

Introduction: Congenital heart defects are commonest birth defects and is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns. The current study was done aiming at determining profile and clinical spectrum of various congenital heart diseases (CHD) in neonatal period. Methodology: An observational study was carried out in the NICU, Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh from Feb 2014 to Aug 2015 with the objective to determine profile of various congenital heart defects. All patients with clinical suspicion of congenital heart defect were further evaluated with echocardiography.  Patients who were preterm having PDA and PFO were excluded from cases. Prevalence of various congenital heart defects was calculated. Clinical Spectrum of various congenital heart defects was observed. Observations: Total newborns screened 238 and 52 congenital hearts defect were detected. Acyanotic heart defect contributed 67% while cyanotic heart defect contributed 23%. VSD was the most common lesion while TOF (11.5%) was commonest among cyanotic heart defects. Most of the cyanotic heart defects were detected on screening as murmur on auscultation while PDA of bigger size presented as fast breathing. In cyanotic heart, defect classical TOF presented with only murmur while TOF with PA presented as cyanosis. Conclusion: VSD was the most common congenital heart defect detected while Tetralogy of Fallot was commonest among the cyanotic heart defects.

A Study on Ventricular Late Potentials by Signal Averaged Electrocardiogram in Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Fifty patients who presented with Myocardial Infarction (MI), diagnosed by history, ECG, enzymes were subjected to late potential analysis between 7-10 days post MI by Signal Averaged Electrocardiography (SAECG). There were 42 male and 8 female patients. 34 had anterior wall MI and 16 had inferior wall MI, and all of them had Q wave infarction. History of previous MI in 12, diabetes in 14, hypertension in 34, smoking in 24 and hypercholesterolemia in 8 was noted. Patients were followed up for one year. Late potentials were positive in 10 patients (62.5%) of inferior wall MI and 6 patients (17.5%) of anterior wall MI. Those with episodes of ventricular tachycardia had increased incidence of late potentials. There was no correlation of late potentials and LV function assessed by echocardiography. Thrombolysed group had decreased incidence of late potentials.

Genetic diversity associated with agronomic traits using microsatellite markers in Pakistani rice landraces

Genetic diversity underlies the improvement of crops by plant breeding. Land races of rice (Oryza sativa L.) can contain some valuable alleles not common in modern germplasm. The aim here was to measure genetic diversity and its effect on agronomic traits among rice land-race genotypes grown in Pakistan. Diversity was measured using thirty-five microsatellite markers and seventy-five genotypes. Among the markers used a total of 142 alleles were detected at 32 polymorphic SSR loci, while three loci were monomorphic in Pakistani rice landraces. The number of alleles identified by each marker ranged from 2 to 13 with a mean of 4.4. Size differences between the smallest and largest alleles varied from 11bp to 71bp. Polymorphism information content ranged from 0.124 to 0.836, with an average of 0.569. At nine microsatellite loci, basmati-type landraces amplified more different alleles than those in the coarse-type. DNA markers RM70 and RM72 divided the rice landraces on the basis of days to flowering. A dendrogram based on total microsatellite polymorphism grouped 75 genotypes into four major clusters at 0.40 similarity coefficient, differentiating tall, late maturing and slender aromatic types from the short, early and bold non-aromatic ones. It inferred that Pakistani landraces have diverse genetic bases and can be utilized in future breeding programs. The DNA markers developed will assist in genotype identification, purity testing and plant variety protection.

Smoking enhances age related brain atrophy--a quantitative study with computed tomography.

This is a prospective study done on Bangladeshi people during the period from January 1999 to December 2002. Cases were collected from the department of Medicine in Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka; Sher-e-Bangla Medical College, Barisal and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. We examined the chronic effect of smoking on brain atrophy quantitatively with Computed Tomography (CT). Study was performed on 219 smokers and same numbers of non-smokers from 40 to 70 years old with neither neurological nor focal abnormality in brain CT. Brain atrophy index (BAI) which was a quantitative marker of brain atrophy reported previously, was calculated from each brain CT. Smokers showed a significant increase in BAI compared to non-smokers in groups 50-54 years (p<0.01), 55-59 years (p<0.01), 60-64 years (p<0.05) and 65-70 years (p<0.05). It was suggested that age-related brain atrophy was increased by chronic smoking through advanced atherosclerosis.

Depression after stroke-analysis of 297 stroke patients.

Stroke is commonly followed by some form of psychiatric disturbance. Association and severity of depression at the 3rd and 12th months after stroke in patients and controls were compared. Two registers of stroke patients were maintained over 2 years period in two different centers--one in Barisal Town and other in Mitford Hospital, Dhaka. A total of 297 first-ever strokes were registered. These patients were called back at the 3rd and 12th month interview and assessment. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), with 10 as the cut off point for depression, was applied to 161 of 212 survivors at the 3rd month and to 156 of 195 survivors at the 12th month. At the 3rd month, 41% of patients and 18% of controls were depressed (P<.001) and the difference was maintained at the 12th month 42% versus 19% (P<.05). Univariate risk factors for depression at the 3rd month were female sex, severe prognostic score at the onset of stroke, age more than 70 years, family history of stroke and living alone after stroke. Depression was common among stroke survivors at the 3rd months and its rate did not decrease at 1 year follow-up. Depression could be decreased if post-stroke rehabilitation services are improved. After the development of depression earlier diagnosis and management help a lot to the patients and care givers.

Analysis of psychiatric morbidity of outpatient children in Mitford Hospital, Dhaka.

The objective of this study was to describe the pattern of psychiatric morbidity among 97 child patients who, for the first time attended the psychiatric outpatient department of Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, in the year 1994. Dissociative disorder (Hysteria) comprised the largest group (21.65%), followed by epilepsy (19.59%). Majority of the cases were within 7-10 years age group with mean age 9.74 (+/- 2.39) years. Male outnumbered female patients and 53.61% cases came from rural background. The findings of the study indicate the need for establishment of child psychiatric treatment centres in different parts of the country including rural areas.