Exposure to Imidacloprid under variable conditions disturbs the muscle fatty acid profile of a fresh water non target fish: Labeo rohita.

Economy of Pakistan is heavily dependent upon agriculture and extensive use of pesticide is quiet common to enhance the crop yield. Imidacloprid is among the first choice pesticides in Pakistan and it has been reported that through run off along with water it ends up in water bodies affecting non target aquatic fauna. Through the present investigation, we are reporting the effects of Imidacloprid on the fatty acids composition of a non-target, commercially important carp: Labeo rohita. Fish were exposed to sub lethal concentration of Imidacloprid (120 mgL1) for 2, 4 and 8 days (short term) as well as for 16, 32 and 64 days (long term experimental conditions). Pesticide untreated controls were also maintained for each treatment. Following the specific Imidacloprid exposure, fatty acid composition (%) was determined in the muscle of all experimental groups by using gas chromatography. Fish exposed to Imidacloprid for 8 days had reduced Palmitic acid (p = 0.02) and elevated muscle Arachidic acid (p < 0.001) than control group. Labeo rohita exposed to the pesticide for 32 days had elevated muscle Oleic (p = 0.02) and Linoleic acid (p = 0.02) while fish exposed to Imidacloprid to 64 days had reduced muscle Palmitic (p = 0.04) and Oleic acid (p = 0.03). In conclusion, we are reporting that the exposure to sub lethal concentration of Imidacloprid disturb the muscle fatty acid composition of Labeo rohita that may affect its food quality. The effects were more pronounced under long term experimental conditions and were probably due to potentiating lipid peroxidation and disturbed fish metabolism upon Imidacloprid exposure.

Utility of Placental Laterality and Uterine Artery Doppler Abnormalities for Prediction of Preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether placental laterality and abnormal uterine artery waveform and resistance index, as determined by antenatal ultrasonography and Doppler, can be used as a predictor for the development of preeclampsia. METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted from August 2013 to October 2014. Two hundred and one (201) normotensive, primigravida women with singleton pregnancies attending the antenatal clinics without any high-risk factor for development of hypertension were subjected to ultrasonography at 18-22 weeks of gestation to determine the placenta location. All the subjects with lateral placentas were subjected to Doppler ultrasonography to look for abnormal Doppler waveform and resistance index. They were followed for the development of preeclampsia till 40 weeks of gestation or delivery. RESULT: Out of the total 201 women, 71 (24.5 %) had laterally located placentas and of them 37 (52 %) developed preeclampsia, while the remaining 130 (75.5 %) had centrally located placentas and of them 14 (10.8 %) developed preeclampsia (p < 0.001). In subjects with lateral placentas alone (n = 33), 2 (6 %) developed preeclampsia while as those with lateral placentas with Doppler abnormality (n = 38), 35 (92 %) developed preeclampsia (p < 0.001). The overall risk of developing preeclampsia with laterally located placenta was 9.27 (odds ratio), and 95 % confidence interval was (4.30-19.98). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with lateral placentas are at significant risk for development of preeclampsia. Lateral placentas when associated with uterine artery Doppler abnormality, risk for development of preeclampsia increases significantly as compared to lateral placentas alone.

Effect of subleathal concentrtion of imidacloprid on the histology of heart, liver and kidney in Labeo rohitr.

Randomly selected 500 fingerlings of Labeo rohita were collected from fish seed hatchery Muzaffar Garh. Six groups of 40 fish each were exposed to subleathal concentration of Imidacloprid (120 mg L-1) under short-term (2, 4 and 8 days) and long term (16, 32 and 64 days) conditions to assess the effect of this most extensively used insecticide on the heart, liver and kidney of economically most important fresh water fish, L. rohita, in Pakistan. Separate control groups were used for each Imidacloprid treatment. No drastic histopathological changes were observed in heart structure following short and long term treatment with Imidacloprid. Exposure of liver to Imidacloprid resulted in severe degenerative changes, which were directly related to exposure time. Wrinkling of hepatocyte cell membrane, hepatocyte necrosis and degeneration, dislocation of nucleus, dilation of blood sinusoid and pycnosis of hepatic nuclei were the visible changes in liver histology in various experimental treatments. Comparison of treated and untreated kidney of L. rohita revealed wide Bowman's space, renal tubular lumen enlargement, necrosis and inflammation of cells. Our results are the pioneer report indicating that imidacloprid can act as strong toxic agent for L. rohita.

Detection of Babesia bovis in blood samples and its effect on the hematological and serum biochemical profile in large ruminants from Southern Punjab.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of Babesia bovis (B. bovis) in large ruminants in southern Punjab and its effect on hematological and serum biochemical profile of host animals. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 144 large ruminants, including 105 cattle and 39 buffaloes, from six districts in southern Punjab including Multan, Layyah, Muzaffar Garh, Bhakar, Bahawalnagar and Vehari. Data on the characteristics of animals and herds were collected through questionnaires. Different blood (hemoglobin, glucose) and serum (ALT, AST, LDH, cholesterol) parameters of calves and cattle were measured and compared between parasite positive and negative samples to demonstrate the effect of B. bovis on the blood and serological profile of infected animals. RESULTS: 27 out of 144 animals, from 5 out of 6 sampling districts, produced the 541-bp fragment specific for B. bovis. Age of animals (P=0.02), presence of ticks on animals (P=0.04) and presence of ticks on dogs associated with herds (P=0.5) were among the major risk factors involved in the spread of bovine babesiosis in the study area. ALT concentrations were the only serum biochemical values that significantly varied between parasite positive and negative cattle. CONCLUSIONS: : This study has reported for the first time the presence of B. bovis in large ruminant and the results can lead to the prevention of babesiosis in the region to increase the livestock output.

Detection of Babesia bovis in blood samples and its effect on the hematological and serum biochemical profile in large ruminants from Southern Punjab

Objective:To determine the presence of Babesia bovis (B. bovis) in large ruminants in southern Punjab and its effect on hematological and serum biochemical profile of host animals. Methods:Blood samples were collected from 144 large ruminants, including 105 cattle and 39 buffaloes, from six districts in southern Punjab including Multan, Layyah, Muzaffar Garh, Bhakar, Bahawalnagar and Vehari. Data on the characteristics of animals and herds were collected through questionnaires. Different blood (hemoglobin, glucose) and serum (ALT, AST, LDH, cholesterol) parameters of calves and cattle were measured and compared between parasite positive and negative samples to demonstrate the effect of B. bovis on the blood and serological profile of infected animals. Results:27 out of 144 animals, from 5 out of 6 sampling districts, produced the 541-bp fragment specific for B. bovis. Age of animals (P=0.02), presence of ticks on animals (P=0.04) and presence of ticks on dogs associated with herds (P=0.5) were among the major risk factors involved in the spread of bovine babesiosis in the study area. ALT concentrations were the only serum biochemical values that significantly varied between parasite positive and negative cattle. Conclusions:This study has reported for the first time the presence of B. bovis in large ruminant and the results can lead to the prevention of babesiosis in the region to increase the livestock output.