Sources and Levels of Trace Elements Influence Some Blood Parameters in Murrah Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Calves.

Sources of supplemental minerals in the diet of animals are of important significance. Bio-availability of organic sources is believed to be more in the body as compared to regularly used inorganic sources and hence environment-friendly due to reduced mineral excretion, which in turn reduces their requirements in the diet as well. Twenty-four male Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves (about 18-20 months of age and 318.54 ± 8.85 kg body weight) were divided randomly into four groups of six animals each. In the control group (C, InOrg100) zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were supplemented through an inorganic source, while in treatment groups, organic source at the rate of 50, 75, or 100% (in groups T1 (Org50), T2 (Org75), and T3 (Org100), respectively) was fed at level as supplemented in the control group. Feeding was continued for a period of 180 days with blood sampling at day 0 followed by a regular interval of 45 days. Plasma samples were analyzed for trace elements Cu, Mn, Zn, and iron (Fe), total antioxidant status, ceruloplasmin, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) with cell-mediated and humoral immune response. Plasma levels of different trace minerals like Fe, Mn, and Cu remained unaffected with two sources and different levels of organic minerals, except the level of Zn, which showed higher (P < 0.05) levels in the group Org100 compared to others, and remained indicative of higher bio-availability through the organic source. The concentration of plasma total antioxidants indicated no adverse effect on the reduction of supplemental levels up to half of these minerals. Also, the level of plasma SOD was high (P < 0.05) at each level of the organic source as compared to the 100% level of the inorganic source. Immune response in respect of cell-mediated as well as humoral immunity did not show any reduction in different groups. The study indicated beneficial impacts of the organic source in the form of superior plasma Zn level as well as SOD concentrations. In addition, no negative effect on most of the studied parameters was observed after reducing supplemental trace minerals to half indicating higher bio-availability of organic trace minerals.

The Hotspot for (Global) One Health in Primary Food Production: Aflatoxin M1 in Dairy Products.

One Health involves the multifaceted environment-animal-human web: nevertheless, the role of toxicological issues has yet to be fully explored in this context. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination of feeds is a risk for the health of several farm animals, including fishes; milk is the only food of animal origin where a significant feed-food carry over may occur. The main AFB1-related compound present in milk is the hydroxy-metabolite aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). Besides contamination of raw milk, AFM1 is of concern for the whole dairy chain; AFM1 may also contaminate the milk of several other ruminants used for milk/dairy production. In a One Health perspective, milk represents a sentinel matrix for AFB1 vulnerability of the agro-food system, that is crucial in a phase when food/nutritional security becomes a global issue and climatic changes may affect agricultural productions. In the global setting, food chain exposure to long-term toxicants, such as AFM1, is a growing concern for economically developing countries, whereas global trade and climatic change makes AFM1 an emerging hot issue in economically developed countries as well. We critically review the state of the art on AFM1 risk assessment and risk management using two scenarios as case studies: a European Union country where the health system aims at ensuring a high-level protection of food chain (Italy) and the world's largest (and economically developing) producer of dairy products by volume (India). The case studies are used to provide building blocks for a global One Health framework.

Lumbar peritoneal shunt in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

AIM: Treatment options for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) are lumbar peritoneal shunt (LP), optic nerve fenestration, ventriculoperitoneal shunt and venous stenting. We report our experience of 24 cases of LP shunt. MATERIAL and METHODS: All the patients had preoperative fundus examination, cerebrospinal fluid pressure estimation and examination, visual field charting, CT scan and MR venography. Postoperative fundus examination and visual field charting was done in all cases. Follow up ranged from 18 to 137 months. RESULTS: Preoperative papilledema, headache, decreased vision, optic atrophy and diplopia were seen in 24, 24, 19, 10 and 11 patients respectively. Shunt failure, CSF leak and temporary over drainage complications in the form of headache were seen in 2, 1 and 15 cases respectively. Vision improved in 10 out of 18 patients. Only one patient, out of 9 who had only perception of light and optic atrophy preoperatively, had improved vision while all patients with vision of finger counting or better without optic atrophy improved after shunt. CONCLUSION: LP shunt is safe and effective in IIH. Results in terms of improvement in vision were better in good pre operatively vision group.

Multiresidue analysis of neonicotinoids by solid-phase extraction technique using high-performance liquid chromatography.

For routine monitoring of pesticides, a multiresidue analysis through solid-phase extraction technique and using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in cotton seed cake (CSC) has been developed. Extraction of fortified samples was carried out with aqueous acetone under vacuum. The concentrated extract was loaded onto the solid-phase extraction units, preconditioned with acetonitrile. The extraction units were then washed with hexane and finally eluted with acetonitrile. The pesticide residues were determined using a multiresidue method by reversed-phase HPLC. The average percentage recoveries were found to range between 65.47% and 110% at spiking levels of 10 to 40 mg/kg. The method developed shows a healthy rate of recovery and can successfully be utilized for the extraction and screening of neonicotinoid residues in CSC. The detection limits for imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid using this method were found to be 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, respectively.