Detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus type O in recovered as well as healthy cattle to study carrier status in Assam

Foot and mouth disease (FMD), one of the most contagious diseases of animals, affects different host species including wild animals. Asymptomatic FMD recovered animals may remain as carrier, which may be threat to other healthy animals. Hence, it is necessary to monitor the carrier status of the FMD recovered animals to effectively prevent further spread of the disease. Out of all the seven serotypes of FMD, O serotype is most commonly found in livestock. Therefore, in the present study, we chose to detect serotype ‘O’ in oropharyngeal fluid (OP) and to quantify cytokines, viz. IL-1?, IL-1? and IL-2. A total of 30 OP fluids and 30 blood samples were collected from 10 animals (1 in-contact healthy animal) for 3 months post infection. FMD O serotype could be detected in all the animals (100%). The RQ values were found to be 0.014 to 63.118 and 0.162 to 46.889 for IL-1? and IL-1? genes respectively, while insignificant RQ values were obtained for IL-2. In the second and third months, two animals showed down regulation for IL-1? gene, while IL-1? and IL-2 genes were down regulated in 7 animals and in all 10 animals, respectively for all the three months.

Cord Blood Nucleated RBC as a Predictor of Perinatal Asphyxia, Severity and Outcome.

Objective: To study the correlation of cord blood nucleated red blood cell (NRBC)/100 white blood cell (WBC) count with perinatal asphyxia in terms of severity and short-term outcome. Material and methods: A prospective, comparative case-control study was undertaken in a tertiary care hospital from January 2011 to December 2012, which included a total of 200 neonates with 100 asphyxiated babies (case group) and 100 normal babies (control group). The cord blood was collected immediately after delivery for measurement of NRBC/100 WBC, and pH. Early neonatal outcome of both groups was also evaluated in relation to the NRBC/100 WBC count. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-square and student t-test. Results: The mean NRBC/100 WBC count was 50.82 ± 23.85 (range from 5 to 106) in case group and 1.67 ± 1.005 (range from 0 to 13) in control group (p < 0.001). Also a statistically significant correlation existed between severity of asphyxia (stage of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy [HIE]), poor outcome and higher number of NRBC/100 WBC count (p < 0.001). Conclusion: It is an inexpensive and easily available procedure to evaluate perinatal asphyxia, specially in a resource poor country like ours, where blood gas analysis facilities are not available in majority of places. Also, it is a good predictor of short-term outcome of asphyxiated babies.