Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitism in pigs of Tripura, India.

Pigs breeds are an important livestock species mostly reared by economically lower incomesection of people in India. Within North-Eastern (NE) states, pig husbandry is very much popular hence maintain the livelihood of the rural native population. Gastrointentinal (GI) parasitic infectionisone of the major constraint in profitable pig production in this area. In the present study, the GI parasitism was investigated in 388 pigs in the three districts of Tripura, NE State of India. The examination of faecal samples revealed 61.65% overall prevalence of parasitic infestation, precisely6 GI parasitic species; including 4 nematodes and 2 protozoa, while 46.91% were the mixed infections.Metastrongylus spp. (17.53%), Strongyloids spp. (19.33%),Trichuris spp. (15.98%), Coccidia spp. (12.37%), and Balantidium coli (10.82%), were detected, however, Ascaris spp. was the most prevalentrecording 32.47%. The epidemiological factors including: age, sex, season, breed, area and farming system wise when considered as markers of study showed the highest prevalence of GI parasites in grower(6-12 months) stage, female, monsoon season, non-descript breeds, Khowai district and free range farming system, recorded 71.52%, 67.27%, 65.78%, 65.71%, 64.57%, and 69.44%, respectively. Overall, our study provides a baseline data for further investigation and formulation of strategies for control of GI parasitism in pigs in Tripura.

Growth, haemato-biochemical, hormonal and disease characteristics in Black Bengal goats: a review.

The goats have been considered one of the noteworthy animals to provide food security and could promote socio-economic upliftment under challenging climatic scenarios in the coming decades, particularly in the tropics. Black Bengal goat (BBG) is one of the recognised native meat-type breeds of hot-humid tropics with distinguished characteristics, including superior-quality meat, excellent skin and high prolificacy. Smaller body mass, lower metabolic rate and efficient utilisation of high-fibre forages enable BBG to adapt to a wide range of harsh climates in the tropics. The BBG can maintain physiological homeostasis efficiently in terms of electrolyte profile, endocrine functions and haemato-biochemical traits in different life phases, including the gestation period, even in high-saline coastal areas of hot-humid tropics. Crossbreeding to improve its growth rate has been attempted, but the prolificacy has been decayed. This review is intended to attract global attention to the adaptive potentialities of Black Bengal goats in terms of growth and production, haemato-biochemical, endocrinological, salt tolerance and disease characteristics that could be an asset of climate-resilient agricultural farming.

Characterization of interferon gamma gene in relation to immunological responses in Haemonchus contortus resistant and susceptible Garole sheep.

Garole sheep exhibits within-breed difference in resistance to natural gastrointestinal nematode infection predominated by Haemonchus contortus. In the present study, interferon gamma gene (IFN-γ) was characterized in relation to parasitological, haematological, and immune response against H. contortus in resistant and susceptible Garole sheep. Resistant and susceptible Garole sheep were selected from the field based on consistent low faecal egg counts (FEC) for one year and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IFN-γ gene. The partial amplification of IFN-γ gene (1282 bp) revealed 4 SNPs exclusively in resistant sheep and 3 SNPs were shared between resistant and susceptible Garole sheep. The selected resistant and susceptible Garole sheep were challenged with H. contortus infection. The parasitological, haematological, immunological responses, and expression of IFN-γ gene were compared between the resistant and susceptible Garole sheep. The FEC of resistant sheep was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the susceptible sheep infected with H. contortus. There was spontaneous elimination of H. contortus from 28 to 33 days post infection (DPI) in resistant sheep. Haemoglobin and packed cell volume were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in resistant sheep than the susceptible sheep. The serum concentration of immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 and IgA and cytokine IFN-γ activity and also the expression of IFN-γ gene were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the infected resistant sheep from 14 to 28 DPI compared to the susceptible sheep. In resistant sheep, IgA and IgG1 and cytokine IFN-γ positively correlated with expression of IFN-γ gene, and the SNPs recorded in the resistant sheep only might play an important role in conferring resistance against H. contortus. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of IFN-γ gene in H. contortus resistance in Garole sheep.

Parasitological and immunological response to Haemonchus contortus infection: Comparison between resistant Garole and susceptible Sahabadi sheep.

Parasitological and immunological responses to the experimentally induced Haemonchus contortus infection were compared between Garole and Sahabadi breeds of sheep. The experiment was conducted in a 2 (breed) × 2 (infection status) factorial arrangement with a completely randomised design. Two breeds of sheep were divided into infected (n = 10) and control (n = 6) groups, and the infected groups were orally infected with H. contortus (500 stage 3 larvae per kilogram of body weight). Faecal egg counts (FEC) were determined from 18 days post infection (DPI) at 3-day intervals until 42 DPI. Average daily body weight gain, packed cell volume (PCV), concentrations of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G1, IgG2, IgE and peripheral eosinophil count were measured at 14-day intervals from 0 to 42 DPI. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to somatic antigen of H. contortus was determined by in vitro lymphoproliferation assay, and concentrations of interferon gama (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) in lymphocyte culture supernatant were measured at 14-day intervals until 42 DPI. Variables were analysed using the repeated measures mixed model procedure over DPI. Faecal egg count was significantly (p < 0.01) lower in Garole sheep than Sahabadi sheep and no faecal eggs were detected in the infected Garole sheep on 30 DPI. Infected Garole sheep had significantly (p < 0.05) higher body weight gain and PCV% than the infected Sahabadi sheep. In the infected Garole sheep, serum Ig except IgE increased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to infected Sahabadi sheep. On 28 DPI, peripheral eosinophil number, in vitro lymphoproliferation as well as concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 in culture supernatant were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the infected Garole sheep than in the infected Sahabadi sheep. Parasitological observations indicated that Garole sheep were resistant to H. contortus and they exhibited greater cellular as well as humoral immune responses compared to Sahabadi sheep.

Antigenic Cross-reactivity among Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum columbianum and Trichuris ovis of Goat.

BACKGROUND: Cross antigenicity is the major problem in developing a reliable tool for immunodiagnosis and immunoprophylaxis of parasitic diseases. Mixed infection due to different types of gastrointestinal parasites is more common than single species infection under field condition. METHODS: The present study was undertaken to detect antigenic cross-reactivity among Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum columbianum and Trichuris ovis of goats by SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis using hyperimmune sera (HIS) rose in rabbit separately against the antigens of the three nematode species. RESULTS: Thirteen, 16 and 14 polypeptides in crude somatic antigen (CSAg) of H. contortus (CSAg-Hc), O. columbianum (CSAg-Oc) and T. ovis (CSAg-To), respectively, were resolved in SDS PAGE analyses. It was revealed that 54 kDa peptide was shared by H.contortus and O. columbianum, whereas 47 kDa peptide was shared by O. columbianum and T. ovis. Western blot analyses revealed that three immunogenic polypeptides (MW 54, 49 and 42 kDa) in CSAg-Hc, five in CSAg-Oc (54, 47, 44, 38 and 35.5 kDa) and CSAg-To and five polypeptides (90, 51, 47, 39.5 and 31 kDa) in CSAg-To cross-reacted with the heterologous HIS. Four species-specific immunoreactive polypeptides (92, 85, 65 and 39 kDa) of H. contortus and two (72 & 26 kDa) in O. columbianum were also identified in the study. CONCLUSION: The shared polypeptides and species-specific polypeptides might be evaluated as protective antigen and subsequently exploitation for developing immunodiagnostic and for immunoprophylactic tools of for these common nematode species.

Effect of isometamidium hydrochloride on Trypanosoma evansi infections in rats.

Effect of Isometamidium treatment of rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi was studied under experimental condition. The infection resulted in 100 per cent mortality by 7 day post treatment (DPT) in the infected untreated rats (Gr.II) and Isometamidium-HCl exerted 90 percent anti-trypanosomal efficacy. Haematological studies of all the groups on 3 day post infection (DPI) and on 7 DPT showed that T. evansi infection significantly decreased haematological values, however Isometamidium treatment significantly (P < 0.05) improved Hb and PCV without any significant changes in TEC and TLC values. Serum AST and ALT activities were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the treated rats compared to healthy rats. Treatment with Isometamidium-HCl significantly improved blood glucose level but decreased creatinine level compared to pretreatment values. There was no significant change in BUN level of treated rats but the value was higher (P < 0.01) compared to healthy rats.