Acute dengue infection in the western terai region of Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Dengue fever is an emerging mosquito borne disease in Nepal claiming substantial morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to find out frequency of acute dengue infection in patients from the hospitals of the western Nepal. METHODS: The study was conducted between August 2007 and July 2008 in patients visiting hospitals of the western terai of Nepal with chief complains of fever. The sero-diagnosis of acute dengue infection was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay among 239 patients visiting Lumbini Zonal Hospital, Butwal; Bheri Zonal Hospital, Nepalgunj; Bardiya District Hospital, Bardiya and Mahakali Zonal Hospital, Mahendranagar. RESULTS: The anti-dengue IgM positivity was 29.3%. There was slight male preponderance with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Out of the total positive cases, the highest positive cases (75.7%) were from the age group 15 - 50 years followed by < 15 years old (15.7%). Out of four hospitals, the highest positive cases (54.3%) were in Lumbini Zonal Hospital, Butwal. The age and gender were independent predictors to dengue virus infection. The highest numbers of dengue positive cases were in October (52.6%). The association between dengue disease and the month was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The dengue positivity was estimated in acute patients from hospitals of western Nepal by enzyme immunoassay. Therefore, the serological marker can be used to diagnose acute patients of dengue during outbreaks.

Genetic analysis of growth traits in Muzaffarnagari sheep.

Data on 4112 Muzaffarnagari sheep, maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India, and recorded between 1976 and 1999, were analysed to study the growth-related traits and their genetic control. The average weights at birth, and at 12 months of age were 3.1 +/- 0.2 and 28.0 +/- 0.6 kg, respectively. The pre- and post-weaning average daily weight gains were 127.8 +/- 3.3 g and 49.4 +/- 1.6 g. and the associated growth efficiencies were 3.59 +/- 0.08 and 0.95 +/- 0.03. Significant differences associated with the year of lambing were observed in body weight, weight gain and efficiency in weight gain at different stages of growth. The lambs born in the dam's second parity were generally of heavier weight and higher daily weight gain than those born in other parities. Males were heavier and had a higher weight gain than females at almost all stages of growth and the differences tended to increase with age. Single-born lambs had a distinct advantage over those born in multiple births at all stages of growth. The heritabilities of all body weights, weight gains and efficiency in weight gains at different stages of growth were moderate (0.18-0.26), except for birth weight, which was of low heritability (0.068 +/- 0.01). The phenotypic and genetic correlations among the different body weights were positive and high, except for birth weight. The genetic correlation of the pre- and post-weaning average daily weight gains with body weights were high and positive.

Abscesses and caseous lymphadenitis in goats in tropical semi-arid north-east Brazil.

This study reports the incidence of abscesses in relation to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in goats in north-east Brazil. Among 656 goats examined periodically over almost two years 41.6% were found with superficially palpable abscesses. Most of the infected areas were in the anterior half of the body in front of the pre-scapular region; the inguinal region formed the other prominent area. Among 486 dead or slaughtered goats, 56 (11.5%) revealed abscesses in the internal organs. Lungs and epididymis were affected most, liver, spleen, udder and lateropharyngeal nodes were next in order and kidneys and mediastinal nodes were least affected. Thus the overall incidence of external and internal abscesses was 28.8%; of all the abscesses 27.7% were due to C. pseudotuberculosis and the rest due to infections of Corynebacterium pyogenes and several species of streptococci or staphylococci. The growth of C. pseudotuberculosis-infected and non-infected goats was of the same order and it seems that caseous lymphadenitis is not the cause of much financial loss in north-east Brazil but in view of its high incidence remedial measures should be considered necessary in regions where the goat meat industry is likely to become more intensive and important.

Seasonal variation in seminal and testicular characteristics of Brazilian Somali rams in the hot semi-arid climate of tropical northeast Brazil.

The seasons in the 1 year study were classified as rainy, transitional rainy-dry, dry, and transitional dry-rainy. Semen pH and the consistency of the testes did not vary between seasons or among rams. All other characteristics of semen and testis varied between rams. Significant seasonal differences were observed for ejaculate volume, mass, % motility, forward motility score and concentration of spermatozoa, and linear testis measurements. The total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate did not vary seasonally. The magnitude of the seasonal effects was not sufficient to prevent the rams being used for breeding throughout the year.

Evaluation of sheep breeds for early growth in tropical north-east Brazil.

Three breeds of sheep, Brazilian Somali, Morada Nova and Santa Inês which are indigenous to hot tropical semi-arid north-east Brazil were studied for their early growth. There were large breed differences in size at birth, at the 86th day and at 6 months. The Santa Inês was the largest and the Brazilian Somali the smallest. The type of birth (single vs. multiple) had a profound effect on weight at virtually all stages of growth which was similar for male and female lambs. Sex effects tended to become significant at around the 86th day, female lambs slightly outweighing males but marked sex differences appeared around 6 months when males outweighed females. The 7-day variation in age of lambs when the weights were taken around the 15th day had a marked effect on weight and correction for age would be necessary in future studies. However, the 7-day variation in age around the 86th day and thereafter did not affect the weights. The birth weight and weights at the 15th, 86th and 112 days and at 6 months were significantly correlated.