Study on the Comparative Efficacy of Natural Growth Promoter (AV/AGP/10) with Antibiotic Supplements on Overall Growth Performance and Intestinal Micrometry of Broiler Birds.

Aims: The study was conducted to compare the efficacy of natural growth promoter AV/AGP/10 with antibiotic supplements on overall growth performance and intestinal micrometry of broiler birds. Study Design: Total of 150 healthy day old Vencob broiler chicks of nearly similar live body weight were equally divided into 5 groups of 30 birds each with three replicates in each group. All the groups were fed with basal diet. Group-I was positive control without any supplement, Group- II was supplemented with AV/AGP/10 @ 250g/ton of feed, Group- III supplemented with AV/AGP/10@500g/ton of feed, Group-IV supplemented with Bacitracin Methylene Dicyticylate @100g/ton of feed and Group-V supplemented with Oregostim @ 250g/ton of feed. Place and Duration of Study: the study was conducted in the department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal sciences, Udgir, Dist. Latur, Maharashtra, India during the month of April- June 2012 for 42 days. The mean maximum daily temperature recorded at the time of trial was 41±2ºC and relative humidity (RH) 80.57 ± 1.50 %. Methodology: the efficacy of the products was assessed on the basis of feed consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), metabolic trial / nutrient retention trial, intestinal micrometry and carcass yield / dressing percentage. Results: at the end of sixth week, significantly higher live body weight (1874.19, 1921.51, 1720.39 and 1673.58) with more economical FCR (1.74, 1.71, 1.78 and 1.78) along with marked improvement in digestibility of nutrients from supplementation of herbal growth promoter with equal competence as that of synthetic antibiotic was observed. The intestinal micrometry at day 21 and 42 also revealed better results with natural growth promoter as compared to synthetic growth promoter and control group in terms of villous height, width and crypts depth. Conclusion: Considering the overall trial results and harmful effects of antibiotic growth promoter such as bacterial resistance or undesired residues in animal products, the natural product AV/AGP/10 is better option as growth promoter and performance enhancers in broiler birds.

Detection of Pasteurella multocida in experimentally infected embryonated chicken eggs by PCR assay.

Applicability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect Pasteurella multocida in experimentally infected embryonated chicken egg was assessed in the present study. PCR assay rapidly and specifically detected the genome of P. multocida in amniotic fluid, allantoic fluid and homogenates of infected embryo and its membranes. The sensitivity of detection was as low as 20 bacterial cells/ml of allantoic or amniotic fluids. Detection of P. multocida in dead embryos by PCR was possible up to 6 and 30 days or more following storage of dead embryos at 37 degrees C, and at 4 degrees C as well as at -20 degrees C, respectively. The study revealed that PCR assays could be employed directly for detection and confirmation of P. multocida infection in experimentally infected chicken embryos.

Development of pharmacophoric model of condensed pyridine and pyrimidine analogs as hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) has been established on a series of thirty-eight compounds of four different sets of condensed pyridine and pyrimidine analogs, for their hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor activity, in order to understand the essential structural requirement for binding with receptor, in terms of common biophoric and secondary sites employing APEX-3D software. Among several 3D pharmacophoric models with different sizes and arrangements, one model was selected based on r2 = 0.8, chance<0.001, match equivalent to 0.38 and all the 38 compounds were considered. The results suggest that hydrophobicity, hydrogen acceptor and optimum steric refractivity play a dominant role in the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. The information obtained from the present study can be used to design and predict more potent molecules as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, prior to their synthesis.

A status survey of common water-borne diseases in desert city Bikaner (NW Rajasthan, India).

Water is scarce and, in general, a low quality resource in desert areas and the Indian desert is no exception. With this in view, the present study was taken up to survey the status of common water-borne diseases epidemiological trends in the desert city Bikaner (NW Rajasthan). In the city, 15.5 per cent population and 44.5 per cent families were found to suffer from one or more common water-borne diseases including amoebiasis, diarrhoea, dysentery, jaundice and typhoid. No case of fluorosis was recorded. The highest incidence was that of diarrhoea (5.4 per cent population). The worst affected and safe zones in the city were identified and the trends of different diseases in different zones of the city are discussed. The highest incidence of diseases was noted during summer (58.8 per cent) followed by winter (34.1 per cent) and monsoon (7.0 per cent). Relationship of diseases with population attributes like age, education, economy and family size are also discussed. Attributes for contamination of drinking water have been tried to identify and safety measures suggested.

Prognostic factors for persistent diarrhoea managed in a community setting.

Two hundred and five cases (mean age 13.4, SD 9.5) of persistent diarrhoea (PD) of 14-28 days duration, attending an urban slum clinic and treated according to standard WHO guidelines, were monitored at weekly intervals to obtain an estimate of treatment failure rates and to identify its clinical predictors. Vitamin and micronutrients (daily 2RDA) were additionally provided. Only 9 (8.2%) of 109 children with criteria for hospital care accepted in-patient care. Weight gain was considered inadequate if the daily increment between enrollment and day 7 of follow up was < 10 g at age 0-3 months, < 5 g at 4-6 months, and any weight loss for those older than 6 months. Recovery was considered delayed if diarrhoea ceased 7 days after enrollment. Overall, 28.3% cases had inadequate weight gain and 25.6% had delayed recovery. The non-breast milk calorie intake was 11.2% during infancy and 40.6% at later ages of the recommended intakes. In a logistic regression model, initial watery stool frequency greater than median (adjusted OR 2.30, p = 0.01), age < or = 6 months (adjusted OR 2.24, p = 0.04) and low consumption of micronutrient mixture (adjusted OR 2.62, p = 0.01) were associated with an increased risk of delayed recovery. In a Cox proportional hazards model for time to recovery from diarrhoea, low consumption of the micronutrient mixture and age < or = 6 months reduced the chances of recovery by 29% and 37% respectively. Low consumption of the prescribed micronutrient mixture (adjusted OR 2.21, p = 0.04), fever (adjusted OR 1.91, p = 0.05) and diarrhoea continuing beyond study day 7 (adjusted OR 2.29, p = 0.03) increased the risk of inadequate weight gain. Breast feeding status and animal milk consumption did not influence weight gain or recovery. Due to the low compliance for advised hospitalisation, approaches for care at community level itself need to be evolved. Focus should be on increasing the overall dietary intake and provision of generous but safe amount of micronutrients; our findings do not support need for routine elimination of animal milk. The efficacy of individual micronutrients needs evaluation in controlled trials.

Antihistaminic activity of quinethindole: a 2-substituted pyrazinopyridoindole derivative.

Quinethindole, a 2-substituted pyrazinopyridoindole, showed specific antihistaminic (H1) activity in various in vivo and in vitro test models. It also inhibited antigen-induced contraction of ileum of sensitized guinea pig. The antihistaminic activity was of competitive nature.

Studies on the comparative efficacy of mebendazole, flubendazole and niclosamide against human tapeworm infections.

The efficacy of Mebendazole and Niclosamide was studied in two groups of 24 and 38 cases, respectively of patients suffering from taeniasis. Mebendazole with dose schedule of 200 and 300 mg twice daily for 3 consecutive days showed a cure rate of 71.42% and 92.30%, whereas Niclosamide at the dose rate of 200mg per patient was 94.76% effective. Flubendazole showed a cure rate of 66.66% only. Mebendazole and Niclosamide possess high taeniacidal activity, ability to reduce the clinical symptoms of taeniasis without any side effects. Niclosamide with high activity and excellent tolerance, is a drug of choice for the treatment of taeniasis in single dose treatment while for hymenolepsiasis it needs extended course.

Phospholipase A production by isolates of Salmonella species.

The incidence of intra- and extra-cellular phospholipase-A production by Salmonella isolates from human, poultry and environmental material was investigated. Nearly 17 per cent (15/90) of the strains tested produced phospholipase A. Phospholipase production was encountered in S. typhi, S. paratyphi A, S. typhimurium, S. seftenberg, S. bareilly, S. weltevredeen, S. newport, S. adelaide, S. alachua and S. gallinarum. Maximum (10/15) phospholipase producers were isolated from the human material. Phospholipase positive human isolates exhibited a high incidence of simultaneous multiple drug resistance, enterotoxigenicity and cell surface hydrophobicity.

Incidence of klebocinogeny using two indicator systems.

The incidence of bacteriocinogeny among 117 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae was examined using two systems of indicators-K. pneumoniae WC indicator and the Abbott-Shannon set of indicators. None of the isolate tested produced bacteriocin active on K. pneumoniae WC while 23 per cent positivity was observed with the Abbott-Shannon indicators. Most of the bacteriocin producers were urinary isolates (53.8%) followed by 15.3 and 30.7 per cent respectively of faecal and miscellaneous isolates. Our results indicate the advantages of using a set of indicators over a single indicator strain.