Circulating oxidative stress caused by Psoroptes natalensis infestation in Indian water buffaloes.

The present study reports the circulating oxidative stress associated with Psoroptes natalensis infestation in Indian water buffaloes. Three non-descriptive water buffaloes, age ranging between 4 and 9 years, presented to Referral Veterinary Polyclinic, IVRI, for treatment served as clinical subject. The infested animals were treated with Ivermectin subcutaneously and Amitraz topically along with antioxidant like ascorbic acid, Vitamin E and selenium. The level of lipid peroxidase was significantly higher (3.94 ± 0.34) in Psoroptes infested buffalo and was reduced significantly (P ≤ 0.05) after treatment (1.56 ± 0.40). The significantly higher levels of MDA before treatment signify the role of lipid peroxide mediated skin lesions in P. natalensis infested buffaloes. Similarly the activities of the body antioxidant like GSH and CAT were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) after treatment. The less level of the body antioxidant (GSH) and reduced activities of the antioxidant enzymes like CAT and SOD before treatment imply that Psoroptes mite-infested buffaloes were in a state of significant oxidative stress. The study provides information on oxidative stress indices in P. natalensis infested buffaloes and gives additional insight regarding the pathogenesis of the disease and its management.

Cryptosporidiosis in a buffalo calf at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and its successful therapeutic management.

Cryptosporidium spp. are recognized as one of the most important enteric pathogens causing enteritis and severe diarrhoea in calves up to 1 month of age. Although the infection may be responsible for some mortality, its impact is mainly associated with the impairment of gastrointestinal functions and lower performance of animals. A female buffalo calf of 25 days old was presented to OPD section, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, SVPUA&T, Meerut, with the symptoms of severe voluminous watery cholera like diarrhea with mucous and blood tinge since 4-5 days. On physical examination, calf was dehydrated, weak, and emaciated with normal temperature. Parasitological examination of the faeces by the direct smear and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique revealed presence of high number of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. The affected female buffalo calf was treated with azithromycin and provided supportive care. Diarrohoeal symptoms were stopped from 3rd day and animal returned to normal condition by 7th day post treatment.

Cloning and sequencing of beta-tubulin and internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) of Eimeria tenella isolate from India.

Beta-tubulin is an important multifunctional protein of eukaryotes abundant in the cytoskeleton and responsible for the formation of tubulin, structures responsible for cell morphology and which aid in motility and intracellular transportation. It has been used as a genotypic marker for studying the evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships between eukaryotic organisms. Internal transcribed spacers of the ribosomal RNA genes have been widely used for typing inter-species and intra-species variation. An Indian isolate of Eimeria tenella was genotyped following the cloning and sequencing of beta-tubulin and internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) and compared with other reference isolates of E. tenella. The ß-tubulin has 99 % intra-species similarity at the gene level and the functional homology of the protein is very high with more than 95 % amino-acid similarity across the Apicomplexa. The ITS-2 sequence had a similar pattern of nucleotide base arrangement with 99 % homology to Houghton and Nippon strains of E. tenella.

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections in chickens of upper gangetic plains of India with special reference to poultry coccidiosis.

Studies on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of chicken reared under backyard and intensive systems were carried out in two north Indian states viz., Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Out of 58 poultry farms screened for gastrointestinal parasites, 81.03 % were positive for Eimeria spp., 15.52 % for Ascaridia galli, 3.45 % for Hetarakis gallinarum, 1.72 % for Syngamus trachea, 5.17 % for Capillaria spp, 1.72 % for Raillietina spp., 1.72 % for Trichostrongylus tenuis, 1.72 % for Choanotaenia infundibulum and 1.72 % for Strongyloides avium. In broiler farms, the prevalence of Eimeria spp. was higher (88.24 %) as compared to layer farms (71.43 %) and backyard poultry (70 %). Identification of Eimeria spp. using COCCIMORPH software revealed prevalence of E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. necatrix, E. mitis and E. praecox in 94.3, 17.14, 31.44, 85.7 and 2.86 % farms, respectively. However, E. maxima and E. brunetti could not be identified in any of the farms using this software. The prevalence of helminthic infections was higher in poultry farms of Uttarakhand (40.0 %) as compared to Uttar Pradesh (11.62 %) with higher prevalence in backyard poultry (36.4 %), followed by layer farms (28.6 %) and lowest in broiler farms (9.1 %). A. galli was the most common G.I. helminth and it was recorded in free-range (backyard poultry) as well as intensive systems (broiler and layer farms).

Nasal Oestrosis in a Jamunapari goat.

Oestrus ovis is a well-known parasite of the nasal cavities and adjoining sinuses in sheep and goats. A 3-year-old female Jamunapari goat was presented with a history of anorexia, weight loss, in-coordinated movements, nasal discharge since 10 days and two nasal bots expelled during sneezing 3 days back. Upon clinical examination the animal was dull, dysphonic, unsteady gait and having blocked nostrils with thick mucoid discharge along with an increased respiratory rate. Parasitiological examination revealed it as an O. ovis (nasal bots). The occurrence of nasal bots in a goat and its successful therapeutic management and public health significance have been reported and discussed in the present communication.

Prevalence of canine toxocariasis in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Toxocara canis is one of the most common parasitic helminth worm of dogs and also a causative agent of zoonotic disease in humans. This pilot study was conducted to determine the presence of T. canis infection in dog population in and around Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 558 faecal samples both from stray and owned dogs were screened and overall 24.3 % dogs were found positive for T. canis. A comparison between owned and stray dogs suggests that the higher prevalence was observed in the latter group. The age of the dogs had a considerable influence on prevalence, with a much higher proportion of younger dogs being infected. Among the stray dogs, the infection rate is much higher (62.79 %) in pups, as compared to 7.8 % in adult. Similarly, of the owned dogs screened 41.74 % pups were infected while the infection rate in adults was only 3.38 %. The higher rate of prevalence of this parasite in dogs could be the source of soil contamination for transmission of Toxocariasis which is of public health importance in this region.