Application of the reverse line blot assay for the molecular de-tection of theileria and babesia sp. in sheep and goat blood samples from Pakistan

The present study was designed to detect the presence of tick-borne parasites [Theileria and Babesia spp.] in 196 blood samples collected from apparently healthy sheep and goats from two provinces, Punjab and Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa, in Pakistan. Reverse line blot [RLB] assay was applied for the parasitic detection by the amplification of hypervariable V4 region of the 18S ribosomal RNA [rRNA] gene. A membrane with covalently linked generic and species specific oligonucleotide probes was used for the hybridization of amplified PCR products. Parasites were detected in 16% of the ruminant blood samples under study. Two Theileria species, T. lestoquardi and T. ovis, were identified in samples. 25, of the total 32, infected animals were from Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa. Sheep were more prone to tick borne haemoprotozans as 81% infected samples were sheep as compared to 19% goats [P > 0.001]. Risk factor analysis revealed that male [P = 0.03], animals infested by ticks [P = 0.03] and herd composed of sheep only [P = 0.001] were more infected by blood parasites.

Comparative study of body composition of four fish species in relation to pond depth

Fish specimen of Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Hypophthalmicthys molitrix and Catla catla were sampled from three ponds of different depths [152 cm, 122 cm and 76 cm] to compare the body composition of these species in relation to pond depth. There was significant [P < 0.001] effect of pond depth on water, ash, organic, fat and protein contents [all% wet and dry body weight]. It was observed that pond depth has significant effect [P < 0.01] on condition factor in pond B [122 cm depth] and no effect in pond A and C. Maximum mean values of body composition were observed in Labeo rohita in all the three ponds. Present study demonstrates that fish cultured in ponds of different depths have different values of protein which can help guide the farmers to select best pond depths to produce protein rich fish

Comparative study of body composition of different fish species from brackish water pond

Seven species of fish [Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala, Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmicthys molitrix, Labeo rohita, Mori-Rahu Hybrid and Thalla-Rahu Hybrid] were collected from a brackish water pond near Muzaffargarh, Pakistan for the comparison of body composition. All the seven species were found relatively well adapted to the saline environment though some of them showed significant differences in body composition. Results obtained did not show any adverse effect of salinity on these fish species. The mean values of body constituents, except for protein content [dry and wet body weight] differed significantly [P<0.05] among various fish species. Minimum amount of water content and maximum amount of lipids, organic content and condition factor were observed in Cyprinus carpio indicating that Cyprinus carpio show overall better growth in brackish water as compared to other species. Cyprinus carpio may be recommended for culturing in such water bodies and farmers may be encouraged to farm this species on mass scale