Photoperiod manipulation improves growth performance, haematological indices and economic returns of Indian butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794).

Photoperiod manipulation is emerging as an effective approach for regulating physiological functions in fish. This study aimed to assess the impact of photoperiod on the growth performance, haematological responses, and economic returns of the endangered and highly valued Indian butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus. Fish with an average body weight of 28.60 ± 4.78 g were randomly placed in six FRP tanks, each measuring 120 × 45 × 60 cm3. Each tank contained 20 fish exposed to a light intensity of 1500 lx under different photoperiods [24:0 light: dark (L: D), 15 L: 9D, 12 L: 12D, 9 L: 15D, 0 L: 24D and a natural photoperiod (control)], and fed at a daily rate of 2% of their body weight twice daily for 60 days. The fish in the 15 L: 9D photoperiod exhibited the highest final weight (g), percentage weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR) and survival rate, while the lowest was displayed in 24 L: 0D photoperiod group. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was at its lowest in the catfish subjected to the 15 L: 9D photoperiod. Regarding haematological parameters, the 15 L: 9D photoperiod group showed higher total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, haemoglobin levels, and haematocrit values compared to the other groups. Conversely, the 0 L: 24D group, which experienced prolonged darkness, exhibited the lowest values in these parameters. Moreover, the 24 L: 0D, 9 L: 15D, and 0 L: 24D groups displayed a lower mean corpuscular volume (MCV) but higher mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) when compared to the control group. The economic analysis revealed that O. bimaculatus reared in a moderate photoperiod (15 L: 9D) displayed better growth, feed utilization, and overall health. This finding suggests that adopting a 15 L: 9D photoperiod can lead to enhanced production and improved economic returns for farmers culturing this high-value catfish in the future.

Prevalence and determinants of utilizing skilled birth attendance during home delivery of pregnant women in India: Evidence from the Indian Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16.

BACKGROUND: Utilization of skilled birth attendance during home delivery of pregnant women is proven to reduce complications during and after childbirth. Though the utilization of skilled birth attendance (SBA) during home delivery has increased significantly in recent times, the rate of utilizing skilled birth attendance is still low in several regions across India. The objective of this study is to analyze the prevalence and to identify the determinants of the utilization of skilled birth attendance during home delivery of pregnant women in India. METHODS: To conduct this study, data and information from the Indian Demographic and Health Survey 2015-16 have been utilized. The sample size for this study is a weighted sample of 41,171 women. The sample consisted of women who had given a live birth in the three years preceding the survey. For women with more than one child, only the first live birth was considered. The binary logistic regression model and the log-binary logistic regression analysis have been applied as the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals for identifying the determinants of home-based skilled birth attendance during delivery. That allows us to select the most appropriate model for our study objective by ensuring that the determinants of skilled birth attendance for home delivery are accurately assessed based on the characteristics of the data. RESULTS: The analyses show that only 18.8% of women had utilized skilled birth attendance during delivery. Women residing in urban areas are more likely to utilize skilled birth attendance during home delivery (AOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.08-1.20). Women having higher education levels are associated with increased use of SBA during home delivery (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04-1.28). Exposure to media is associated with increased utilization of SBA (AOR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.11-1.23). Overweight women are also more likely to avail the SBA during home delivery (AOR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03-1.19). Women belonging to affluent households have higher odds of utilizing skilled birth attendance (AOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.33-1.49). Having 3+ tetanus injections is associated with the utilization of SBA (AOR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.43-1.69). Women having 4+ antenatal care visits were more likely to utilize SBA (AOR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.71-1.92). Women belonging to the Hindu religion were 1.12 times more likely to utilize SBA (AOR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.07-1.18). Women with 1 to 3 birth orders were 1.40 times more likely to utilize skilled birth attendance during home delivery (AOR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.30-1.51). CONCLUSION: The percentage of women utilizing skilled birth attendance during home delivery is still very low which is a matter of serious concern. Several factors have been found to be associated with the utilization of SBA during home delivery in India. As skilled birth attendance has significant positive health outcomes for pregnant women and newborns, efforts to increase the rate of SBA utilization during home delivery should be undertaken.

Effect of photoperiod on serum biochemistry, electrolytic balance, acute phase response and histopathology of butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794).

The present study was executed to evaluate the effect of photoperiod on serum biochemical parameters (glucose, cortisol, ALT, AST and LDH), electrolytic balance (Sodium and potassium), acute phase response (CRP) and histopathology (liver, kidney and skin) of an endangered high valued catfish, Ompok bimaculatus. Catfish (21.00 ± 1.53 cm and 30.00 ± 2.31 g) from the acclimatized stock were randomly distributed to six 120 × 45 × 60 cm3 FRP tanks (n = 20 fish per tank) and exposed to 1500 lx light intensity under different photoperiods [24:0 light: dark (L: D), 15L: 9D, 12L: 12D, 9L: 15D, 0L: 24D and a natural photoperiod (control)], and fed at a daily rate of 2% of bodyweight, twice a day for 60 days. Serum glucose, cortisol and enzymes including aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine transaminase (ALT), and acute phase reactant, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) increased significantly (P < 0.05) in continuous light (24L: 0D), continuous dark (0L: 24D) and short day (9L: 15D) photoperiods, whereas in 15L: 9D and 12L:12D photoperiods, those were in decreasing trend. Serum electrolytes, i.e. potassium level was elevated and sodium level was declined in 24L: 0D, 0L: 24D and 9L: 15D photoperiod groups. Moreover, significant histological alterations in the liver, kidney and skin tissue were also evidenced in the experimented catfish. Typical polygonal hepatocytes with normal blood vessels in liver and normal organization of kidney were seen in catfish of 15L: 9D group. Histological analysis of other groups displayed nuclear degeneration, karyorrhexis, karyolysis, melanomacrophages, nuclear hypertrophy, sinusoid dilation and vacuolar degeneration in liver and hyaline droplets accumulation, granular degeneration, fragmentation of glomerulus and focal necrosis of epithelial cells in kidney. Additionally, general structure of the skin was observed in control group as well as in 15L: 9D group. Contrarily, in 24L: 0D group increased number of mucous cells and vacuoles was observed in the skin of butter catfish. In 9L: 15D and 0L: 24D photoperiods, O. bimaculatus exhibited ruptured epithelial cells, enlarged alarm cells, fat cells, necrotic cells and vacuoles in the skin tissue. The present study depicted that 15L: 9D photoperiod can induce better health of catfish, O. bimaculatus, which, in turn, can help farmers to increase the production of this high valued catfish in future.

Effects of dietary supplementation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa FARP72 on the immunomodulation and resistance to Edwardsiella tarda in Pangasius pangasius.

Edwardsiella tarda is one of the serious bacterial pathogens infecting both cultured and wild catfish urging an immediate need for effective protection strategies. This study assessed the effects of dietary supplementation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa FARP72 at 108 cells/g feed (PA diet) for 30 days on the innate immunity parameters, viz., respiratory oxidative burst (ROB) activity, lysozyme, ceruloplasmin, myeloperoxidase, in-vitro nitric oxide (NO) production in addition to the expression of immune genes encoding interleukin-1ß, C3 and transferrin in yellowtail catfish Pangasius pangasius and their resistance to Edwardsiella tarda challenge at a sub-lethal dose of 1.50 × 107 cells/fish. A significant increase in the innate immunity parameters was noted in PA diet-fed catfish on 30 dpf compared to the control. Post E. tarda challenge, the levels of immune parameters increased significantly and peaked at 5 dpi irrespective of feeding to confer protection against E. tarda. Their levels, however, decreased on and from 10 dpi. The results on the expression of immune genes encoding interleukin-1ß, C3 and transferrin in the kidney and liver tissue samples of PA diet-fed P. pangasius upon challenge with E. tarda further confirmed the ability of P. aeruginosa to stimulate primary immune organs at the gene level. The effects of feeding P. aeruginosa FARP72 on the immune functions of catfish as examined by the functional immune assays, thus, demonstrating the innate immune responses of catfish that are differentially stimulated by the PA diet. The findings of our study would help evolve management strategies to confer protection against E. tarda infection in commercial catfish aquaculture.

Adhesion and colonization of potential probiont Pseudomonas aeruginosa FARP72 in the intestine of yellowtail catfish, Pangasius pangasius.

Adhesion is recognized as the first important step of a probiont for intestinal colonization. This study assessed the ability of an antagonistic Pseudomonas aeruginosa FARP72 to adhere and colonize the intestine of yellowtail catfish, Pangasius pangasius both in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro assay, the whole intestines of each of two starved P. pangasius were introduced separately into tubes containing bluish-green pigment-producing P. aeruginosa FARP72 at 8.00 log10 CFU/mL and physiological saline (0.85% sodium chloride) and incubated for 1 h at 30 ± 1 °C. The homogenate mucus solutions from the intestine samples were serially diluted and plated onto Pseudomonas isolation agar to determine the counts of bluish-green pigment-producing P. aeruginosa (BPPAC). The difference between the numbers of BPPAC and presumptive Pseudomonas counts (PPC) in the treated and control intestines was attributed to the adherence of P. aeruginosa FARP72. The levels of BPPAC and PPC in the treated intestines were 6.09 ± 0.59 log10 CFU/g. Similarly, following 30 days of feeding P. pangasius with P. aeruginosa FARP72 supplemented diet, the intestine of catfish recorded the BPPAC of 5.83 ± 0.64 log CFU/g. In control samples, the BPPACs were recorded as < 3.00 log10 CFU/g. The scanning electron micrograph of the intestines of P. pangasius following the in vitro and in vivo adhesion assays confirmed the ability of this bacterium to strongly adhere to the intestine, thus making it most suitable candidate probiont for use in freshwater catfish aquaculture.

HIV infection and multidrug resistant tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in HIV infected individuals is a serious threat to global efforts to combat tuberculosis. Inconsistent findings on the association between HIV infection and MDR-TB were present in many studies. We aimed to review existing data on the relationship between HIV infection and MDR-TB systematically to assess the contribution of HIV on MDR-TB worldwide. We also investigated the patterns of MDR-TB by age, country-wise income, study designs, and global regions. METHODS: We utilized PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases to select eligible studies for meta-analysis that were published between January 12,010, and July 30, 2020. The random-effects model was used to obtain the pooled odds ratio of the crude association between HIV and MDR-TB with a 95% confidence interval. We investigated the potential publication-bias by checking funnel plot asymmetry and using the Egger's test. Moreover, we assessed the heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. Sensitivity analysis was performed based on sample size and adjustment factors. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO-CRD42019132752. RESULTS: We identified 1603 studies through a database search, and after subsequent eliminations we selected 54 studies including 430,534 TB patients. The pooled odds of MDR-TB was 1.42 times higher in HIV-positive patients than HIV-negative patients (OR=1.42,CI=1.17-1.71, I2=75.8%). Subgroup analysis revealed that the estimated pooled odds for South-East Asian countries was 1.86, which is the highest in WHO regions (OR=1.86,CI=1.30-2.67, I2=0.00%), followed by Europe and Africa. The effect estimate was found to be higher for primary MDR-TB (OR=2.76,CI=1.70-4.46, I2=0.00%). There was also a trend towards increased odds of MDR-TB for HIV patients older than 40 years (OR=1.56,CI=1.17-2.06). The association was found to be significant in high-burden TB countries (OR=1.75, CI=1.39-2.19) and in high-income countries (OR=1.55, CI=1.06-2.27). CONCLUSION: Such findings indicate that HIV infection raises the risk of MDR-TB, and after contrasting it with the results of the earlier pooled study, it appeared to be an upward risk trend. Moreover, we found that the risk is the highest in the South-East Asian region. A balanced allocation of resources is needed to halt both primary and secondary MDR-TB, particularly in HIV infected people with 40 years of age and older.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa FARP72 Offers Protection Against Aeromonas hydrophila Infection in Labeo rohita.

Use of probiotics as the biocontrol agent for disease prevention in aquaculture is gaining importance as an alternative to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and other chemotherapeutics. In view of this trend, the probiotic properties of a potent antagonistic bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa FARP72, was characterized in terms of safety, antagonistic activities, in vitro immunomodulation, and in vivo disease resistance. Immunomodulatory activity was ascertained by measuring the production of intracellular superoxide anion, nitric oxide, total leukocyte peroxidase content, and the leukocyte proliferation in head kidney leukocytes. The bacterium isolated from the skin mucus of freshwater catfish Clarias batrachus was harmless to Labeo rohita. It showed inhibitory activity against Aeromonas caviae, A. hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda, Pseudomonas putida, and Streptococcus agalactiae as revealed by cross and parallel streaking methods. Significantly higher superoxide anion and nitric oxide production, peroxidase content, and proliferative responses of leucocytes delineated the strains' ability to interact with immune cells to activate the immune system in vitro. Significant growth inhibition of A. hydrophila from 1.55 × 105 CFU/mL was observed when co-cultured with P. aeruginosa FARP72 in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at levels ranging from 2.61 × 107 to 2.61 × 109 CFU/mL in 10 days. P. aeruginosa FARP72 increased the survival rate of rohu fingerlings against pathogenic A. hydrophila challenge in biocontrol study in vivo as determined by cohabitation challenge. These results suggest that P. aeruginosa FARP72 is a potential probiotic strain and can be used in aquaculture to improve the health status and disease resistance of fish.