Prospective evaluation of the diagnostic potential of LipL32 based latex agglutination test for Bovine leptospirosis

@#The Livestock Sector of India plays an important role in livelihood security and socioeconomic development of rural households. Leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease responsible for septicaemia, interstitial nephritis, jaundice, abortion, reproductive problem in most of the animal species. Reproductive disturbances in bovine population is most often restricted to investigation of brucellosis, however apart from brucellosis, there are many undiagnosed diseases like leptospirosis that takes a toll in the reproductive anomalies of cattle and buffalo. Hence, the present study was elucidated to screen the seroprevalence of Leptospira in cattle and buffalo in various hamlets of North India using a user friendly screening test i.e. LipL32 latex agglutination test. The overall seropositivity was found to be 26.01% (230/884) in case of bovine in this study and the LipL32 LAT showed a profound sensitivity and specificity with level of 94.97% and 99.53% respectively.

Intestinal parasitic infections frequency in referred patients to a large teaching hospital, Khuzestan, Southwest, Iran, 2017

@#Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the most important infectious diseases in Iran. A cross sectional study was designed to determine frequency of intestinal parasites among referrals to a large teaching hospital in Khuzestan, Southwest of Iran, 2017. A total number of 5613 stool samples were examined through direct smear and formalin-ether concentration methods to detect possible parasitic infections. Samples consisted of 2643 (47.09%) male and 2970 (52.91%) female. A total of 1468 (26.15%) samples were positive (13.11% male and 13.4% female) and 4145 (73.85%) were negative. The results also showed that 255 of samples had more than one type of parasite (mix infections). Counting single and mix parasite infections, the total number of positive cases reached to 1723. Helminthes parasites were present in 12 (0.7%) cases, while intestinal protozoan parasites were in 1711 (99.3%) cases. Almost equally, pathogenic and nonpathogenic parasites infected 860 (49.91%) and 863 (50.09%) of patients, respectively. The frequency for helminthes was determined at 0.52% with Hymenolepis nana and Enterobius vermicularis however, Giardia lamblia in 38.54% and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar at 10.68% were concluded as protozoa elements. The IPIs frequency was recorded in female and male patients at 49.16% and 50.14%, respectively. According to the current results the infection rate of intestinal parasites has been significantly reduced especially for helminths infections in this region possibly due to public attention to health issues such as; increased awareness of people, improvement of sanitation, seasonal variations, health education and personal hygiene.

Chemical constituents of Argyreia speciosa Fam. Convolvulaceae and its role against hyperglycemia.

The present work on the aerial parts of Argyreia speciosa Sweet (Convolvulaceae) has led to the isolation of a new lipid ester (1) and four coumarin compounds (2-5). The new compound has been characterized as stigmasteryl formate. The coumarins were identified as 7- hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin; 6, 7-dihydroxycoumarin; furanocoumarin and scopoletin-7-O-β- glucopyranoside. Isolation of these constituents was performed using chromatographic techniques. Their structures were established through chemical and spectral analysis. Our aim was to demonstrate the antidiabetic activity of the ethanolic extract obtained from Argyreia speciosa, and investigated in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Glibenclamide was used as a reference drug. Hypoglycemic activity was assessed by a significant reduction in blood glucose and elevation of Liver glycogen content in diabetic rats, a significant decrease in LDH, while glucose-6-phosphatase enzyme showed significant increase. The lipid profile of diabetic group revealed a significant increase in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C, while HDLC showed significant decrease. Antioxidant status in liver was determined by measuring the activity of lipid peroxides which revealed a significant rise in it’s level, while glutathione level was depleted. Argyreia speciosa showed recovery in hyperglycemia and successfully prevented the alterations of other biochemical parameters. Histopathological study of liver, kidney, pancreas and spleen was also carried out to confirm the protection offered by the ethanolic extract. Data showed that Argyreia speciosa possessed strong antioxidant activity, remarkable antidiabetogenic effect comparable to glibenclamide, a well known liver protecting herbal formula.

Epidemiological and etiological study of oral submucous fibrosis among gutkha chewers of Patna, Bihar, India.

An etiological and epidemiological study of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) has been done in Patna, Bihar. Total 157 cases of OSMF and 135 control subjects were selected for study in the period of 2002-2004. It was observed that Male:Female ratio was 2.7:1. The youngest case of OSMF was 11 year old and the oldest one was 54 years of age. Maximum number of cases were belonging to 21-40 years of age and they were belonging to low or middle socioeconomic class. Most of the OSMF cases used heavy spices and chillies, where as control mild spices and chillies. Gutkha was the most commonly used by the OSMF cases only 3 per cent did not use any gutkha or other areca nut product where as 80 per cent control did not have any chewing habit. The OSMF cases used gutkha and other products 2-10 pouches per day and kept in the mouth for 2-10 minutes and they were using since 2-4 years. Most of the OSMF cases kept gutkha in the buccal vestibule or they chewed and swallowed it, only a small number of patients chewed and spitted it out. It was also observed that OSMF developed on one side of the buccal vestibule where they kept the chew and other side was normal.

Effect of histaminergic drugs on integumental melanophores of adult Bufo melanostictus.

Histamine and 2-methyl histamine caused dose-dependent aggregation of melanophores in toad B. melanostictus. The effects were effectively antagonised by mepyramine, a specific H1 histamine receptor antagonist, and metiamide a specific H2 receptor antagonist. On the other, hand 4-methyl histamine, a specific H2 receptor agonist dispersed the melanophores. The results suggest that adult Bufo melanophores have H1 histamine receptors which mediate melanophore aggregation, however, dispersion of melanophores may be controlled by undifferentiated histamine receptors of H2 type.

Effect of histaminergic drugs on tail melanophores of tadpole, Bufo melanostictus.

The H1 and H2 receptor agonist histamine caused a powerful aggregation of B. melanostictus tail melanophores, which was completely blocked by metiamide, a specific H2 receptor antagonist, while mepyramine an H1 receptor blocker partially blocked the aggregating response. The strong melanin aggregating effect of 4-methyl histamine a specific H2 receptor agonist and its complete blockade by metiamide further supports the conclusion that there exists a dominant population of H2 type of histamine receptors along with sparse population of H1 receptor on the tail melanophores of the toad, which mediate centripetal movement of melanin granules within the pigment cells leading to blanching of the animal.