Foot-and-mouth disease: Current scenario in Asia and Bangladesh

Foot-and-mouth disease virus is a positive stand RNA virus that causes an acute vesicular disease of bovid wild and domesticated ruminants. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) comprises of 7 antigenically distinct serotypes (Type O, A, Asia 1, C and SAT1-3) that do not provide cross-protection against one another. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a pandemic disease, accounting for a global loss of 6.5-21 billion US$ per annum. The present investigation aimed at the comparison of FMDV in Bangladesh with that of circulatory types in Asian continent. Categorization, estimation and demography of FMD in Asia continent are analyzed. Comparative genome and phylogeography of the FMDV in Asia is discussed. Three serotypes of FMDV are circulating in Asian territory, including mainland Southeast Asia, South Asia and Middle East with predominance of type O, whereas Serotype A and Asia1 are found to be confined to certain geographical regions. Cattle are most susceptible to FMD, whereas Pig serves as mixing vessel that may boost the emergence and re-emergence episode of several lineages/genotypes. Whole Genome and phylogeography analysis revealed that the transboundary movement of FMDVs are responsible for spreading of this disease in Asian regions. In 2013-2015, Saudi Arabia experienced the emergence of Ind-2001 lineage under Middle East South Asia (ME-SA) topotype of FMDV type O and Genotype VII of FMDV type A, which is normally endemic in the Indian subcontinent. Intrusion of type SAT1-3 in Arabian Peninsula occurred due to transboundary animal movement from FMDV enzootic African countries. Transboundary movement of FMDV, inappropriate vaccination and inadequate awareness are the main reasons for FMD spread in most of the Asian Countries.

Cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of ethanolic extract of Leea indica leaves

Leea indica [Burm. f.] Merr. [Family: Leeaceae], a widely available evergreen shrub is traditionally used for different diseases in rural areas of Bangladesh. The ethanolic extract of leaves was investigated for its possible cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. Cytotoxic activity was tested using brine shrimp lethality bioassay and antibacterial activity was investigated by disc diffusion assay with selected bacterial strains. The extract displayed considerable cytotoxicity towards brine shrimps, the LC50 being 15.52 microg/ml. In antibacterial test, it showed substantial inhibition against the tested bacterial strains. The zones of inhibition were in the range between 8 mm and 14 mm at the doses of 400 microg/disc and 600 microg/disc. The results demonstrate that the ethanolic extract of the leaves possesses cytotoxic activity as well as antibacterial activity that justify the traditional uses of the plant