Farmer's participatory approach for breed improvement in Malpura sheep.

The objective of the study was to propose a model for a community-based breeding programme (CBBP) in Malpura sheep. The study was carried out for nine years (2012-2018) in 31 villages covering 77 flocks. The average flock size was 54.39 ± 0.65. The study revealed that the Malpura sheep is a long-day breeder with 72.1% of lambing during August to January. The higher concentration of lambing in this period is to avoid the stress of harsh summer and scarcity of feed. The disposal pattern of male lambs was stringent due to selection. Only 3.1% of male lambs reach to adult stage. For females, the replacement rate was 34.11%. The live weights (kg) from 8,263 lambs were 3.34 ± 0.01, 14.61 ± 0.04, 20.48 ± 0.07 and 30.01 ± 0.16, for birth, three-, six- and 12-month age, respectively. Non-genetic factors such as sex, season and year of birth and flock significantly influenced growth. The heritability was 0.20 ± 0.03, 0.20 ± 0.008, 0.23 ± 0.004 and 0.17 ± 0.009 for birth, three-, six- and 12-month weight, respectively. This indicated scope for genetic improvement, given a systematic breeding programme, is in place. The present model followed by sheep breeders is highly dependent upon the Government aided Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI) for supply of breeding rams, data collection and health care. Alternate self-sustainable model of CBBP is proposed wherein a breeder's organization leads the way to establish a ram-rearing centre (RRC), teams of experts for ram selection, data collection and market linkage. CSWRI will continue to assist for selection decisions and real-time data entry using a cloud-based "Avimegh" platform. The early selection of 5% male lambs at weaning and rearing them at RRC until final selection at 12-month will provide unbiased selection of rams under CBBP. The surplus rams will be sold by RRC for profit. Several key measures such as micro-finance, co-ordination between stakeholders, market linkage and technical input for data collection and selection have been suggested to make the CBBP self-sustainable.

Molecular characterization of Orf virus isolates from Kodai hills, Tamil Nadu, India.

AIM: The present study was carried out to find out the causative agent of exanthematous skin lesions in sheep maintained by Southern Regional Research Centre, Mannavanur, Kodai hills, Tamil Nadu. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with Orf virus (ORFV) B2L gene-specific primers was carried out by employing the total genomic DNA isolated from the scabs as the template. The ORFV isolates from Kodai hills were characterized by the use of bioinformatics tools. RESULTS: The amino acid identity of ORFV isolate 1 from Kodai hills is having 98.14%, 96.29%, and 83.59% identity with reference strains of ORFV, Pseudocowpox virus, and bovine papular stomatitis virus, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ORFV isolates from Kodai hills clustered with the other ORFV isolates from different geographical areas of India. CONCLUSION: The etiological agent of exanthematous skin lesion among sheep of Kodai hills is ORFV.

Genetic trend for growth and wool performance in a closed flock of Bharat Merino sheep at sub temperate region of Kodai hills, Tamil Nadu.

AIM: The study was conducted at Southern Regional Research Center, ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Mannavanur, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu to estimate genetic trends for birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (3WT), 6 months weight (6WT), and greasy fleece weight (GFY) in a Bharat Merino (BM) flock, where selection was practiced for 6WT and GFY. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data for this study represents a total of 1652 BM lambs; progeny of 144 sires spread over 15 years starting from 2000 to 2014, obtained from the BM flock of ICAR-SRRC (CSWRI), Mannavanur, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India. The genetic trends were calculated by regression of average predicted breeding values using software WOMBAT for the traits BWT, 3WT, 6WT and GFY versus the animal's birth year. RESULTS: The least square means were 3.28±0.02 kg, 19.08±0.23 kg, 25.00±0.35 kg and 2.13±0.07 kg for BWT, 3WT, 6WT and GFY, respectively. Genetic trends were positive and highly significant (p<0.01) for BWT, while the values for 3WT, 6WT and GFY though positive, were not significant. The estimates of genetic trends in BWT, 3WT, 6WT and GFY were 5 g, 0.8 g, 7 g and 0.3 g/year gain and the fit of the regression shows 55%, 22%, 42% and 12% coefficient of determination with the regressed value, respectively. In this study, estimated mean predicted breeding value (kg) in BWT and 3WT, 6WT and GFY were 0.067, 0.008, 0.036 and -0.003, respectively. CONCLUSION: Estimates of genetic trends indicated that there was a positive genetic improvement in all studied traits and selection would be effective for the improvement of body weight traits and GFY of BM sheep.

Status of DDT and pyrethroid resistance in Indian Aedes albopictus and absence of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Aedes albopictus is one of the vectors for dengue and chikungunya and emergence of pyrethroid resistance in this species could be of a major concern in controlling the vector. This study reports insecticide susceptibility status of Ae. albopictus to DDT and pyrethroids in some Indian populations and status of presence of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations. METHODS: Three to four day old adult female Ae. albopictus collected from Delhi, Gurgaon (Haryana), Hardwar (Uttarakhand), Guwahati (Assam) and Kottayam (Kerala) were bio-assayed with DDT (4%), permethrin (0.75%) and deltamethrin (0.05%) impregnated papers using WHO standard susceptibility test kit. Mosquitoes were PCRgenotyped for F1534C kdr-mutation in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene. DDT and pyrethroid resistant individuals were sequenced for partial domain II, III and IV of VGSC targeting residues S989, I1011, V1016, F1534 and D1794 where kdr mutations are reported in Ae. aegypti. RESULTS: Adult bioassays revealed varying degree of resistance against DDT among five populations of Ae. albopictus with corrected mortalities ranging between 61 and 92%. Kerala and Delhi populations showed incipient resistance against permethrin and deltamethrin respectively. All other populations were susceptible for both the synthetic pyrethroids. None of the kdr mutations was detected in any of DDT, deltamethrin and permethrin resistant individuals. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Ae. albopictus has developed resistance against DDT and there is emergence of incipient resistance against pyrethroids in some populations. So far, there is no evidence of presence of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutation in Ae. albopictus.

Electronic and vibrational spectra of some rare earth trifluoromethanesulfonates crystals.

The Raman and infrared spectra of some rare earth (dysprosium and terbium) trifluoromethanesulfonates crystals have been analyzed. Different vibrational frequencies of trifluoromethanesulfonate ions (CF3SO3-) are identified and assigned to different vibrations of the SO3 and CF3 groups. Electronic transitions of R3+ ions (R=Dy, Tb) in these salts have been assigned to transitions from the ground to different energy levels of the ground multiplet. The electronic energy levels of the rare earth ions are also determined theoretically with the help of single electron crystal field theory. They are found to yield results not only in good agreement with the observed spectral data but also in good conformity with those obtained previously from magnetic measurements.

Low efficacy of chloroquine: time to switchover to artemisinin-based combination therapy for falciparum malaria in India.

Drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum poses a major threat to malaria control globally; including India. Chloroquine is still the most widely used drug in the country because of its safety and cost effectiveness. Although chloroquine resistance was first reported in 1973 in North Eastern India, the extent of the problem was realized only after the more intensive 28-day drug efficacy studies were used to monitor drug resistance. In the present study, efficacy of chloroquine in treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria was investigated using standard World Health Organization (WHO) procedures in three distinct epidemiological settings. The prevalence of molecular markers of drug resistance, Pfcrt K76T, Pfmdr1 N86Y, was also studied. A total of 374 children and adults with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were enrolled at six sites in four states, treated with chloroquine and follow-up was done for 28 days. The cumulative incidence of success of chloroquine at Day 28 by the Kaplan Meier analysis in the state of Orissa (District Sundargarh, CHC Bisra and Kuarmunda) was 57 (95% CI 43-68) and 54 (95% CI 40-66); in the state of Jharkhand (District Ranchi, PHC Angara and District Simdega, PHC Jaldega) it was 72 (95% CI 59-81) and 65 (95% CI 50-76); in the state of Goa (District North-Goa, Panaji Town), it was 20 (95% CI 10-2) and in the state of Rajasthan (District Udaipur, PHC Rishabdev), it was 96 (95% CI 85-99). Treatment failure was related to Pfcrt mutations but not Pfmdr mutations. Early treatment failure was observed only in 15.8% out of total failures, probably due to the semi-immune nature of the population. This type of response may give false perception about efficacy of the failing drug to patients, clinicians and National Authorities. In a large country like India it is not feasible to conduct in vivo studies in all districts and lack of direct correlation between molecular markers, in vitro studies and treatment outcome makes it difficult to predict the areas requiring change of policy. In this scenario, it is a challenge for National Programmes to make evidence-based revisions in the drug policy. However, considering the global, especially Southeast Asian, scenario and interpretation of available in vivo data, trends of mutations, availability of effective drugs and support of international donors, India should consider changing the first line treatment, at least for all diagnosed P. falciparum cases.

Molecular characterization, polymorphism and association study of lysozyme gene with milk production and somatic cell trait in Bos indicus × Bos taurus cattle.

Lysozyme, an anti-bacterial enzyme, is mostly found in the body fluids, various tissues and secretions of animals and humans, and confers immunity against a wide range of bacterial species. The present study was carried out to elucidate the gene sequence of this enzyme in Indian Sahiwal × Holstein Friesian crossbred cattle and to explore the polymorphism of the gene as well as their association with milk production and somatic cell traits. The total length of lysozyme cDNA was found to be of 447 bp. The similarity with Bos taurus, human, pig, monkey, gorilla, mice, rat, chicken, dog and sheep was estimated as 99.1%, 85%, 81.0%, 85.2%, 84.3%, 77.9%, 77.9%, 41.4%, 40.5% and 24.6%, respectively. Polymorphism study of two fragments, extended exon1 including promoter, exon1 and partial intron1 (268 bp), and extended exon2 including partial intron1 and 2, and exon2 region (287 bp) of milk lysozyme gene was carried out by employing single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP). In the extended exon1 fragment, three alleles namely A, B and C with frequencies of 0.59, 0.28 and 0.12 were observed while in the exon extended fragment, three different alleles - P, Q and R with respective frequencies of 0.61, 0.38 and 0.01 - were determined in Indian Sahiwal × Holstein Friesian cross. A total of eight haplotypes were found in this population where the most predominant one was h1 (0.52). Genotypes of exon1 extended fragment showed significant association with total milk yield, daily milk yield, peak yield and somatic cell score at P < 0.05 while that of exon2 extended fragment had significant correlation with only total lactational milk yield. Haplotype combinations also revealed significant association with total milk production where h1h1 homozygous showed highest yield during first lactation.

Therapeutic responses of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum to chloroquine, in an area of western India where P. vivax predominates.

In 2003-2005, following an increase in the local incidence of human malaria, the therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine (CQ) in the treatment of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum malaria was evaluated in the Anand district of Gujarat state, in western India. After oral administration of CQ, clinical and parasitological responses were measured over a follow-up period of 28 days, following the standard protocol of the World Health Organization. Most of the recurrent infections were checked, by genotyping, to see whether they were the result of treatment failure or re-infection during the follow-up. At the primary health centre (PHC) in Deva, all 57 P. vivax cases included in the study responded to CQ within 3 days. At the Pansora PHC, however, only 59 [90.8%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 83.7%-97.8%] of the 65 P. vivax cases appeared to respond completely, recurrent infections being observed in the other six cases (9.2%; CI=2.2%-16.3%). Of the four recurrent infections checked by genotyping, however, only two appeared to be the result of true treatment failure. Twenty-seven (81.8%; CI=67.2%-94.4%) of the 33 P. falciparum cases who were enrolled in the study, all from Pansora PHC also showed apparent treatment failure, with one early failure, 17 late clinical failures and nine late parasitological failures. All 23 P. falciparum cases that showed apparent treatment failure and were investigated by genotyping appeared to be true cases of failure, none showing any evidence of re-infection during follow-up. The mean parasite-clearance times for those infected with P. falciparum, both those considered CQ-sensitive and the treatment failures, exceeded 2 days. These results indicate the presence of CQ-resistant P. vivax and P. falciparum in Anand district. The high frequency of CQ failure against P. falciparum observed in this study led to a change in the drug policy at the Pansora PHC, with artemisinin-based combination therapy now being used for the first-line treatment of P. falciparum malaria. Chloroquine remains the recommended first-line treatment for P. vivax infections in the area but the treatment failure seen in at least two P. vivax cases indicates a need for further monitoring of the therapeutic efficacy of CQ against such infections, in central Gujarat and elsewhere.

Detection of in-vivo chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum from Rameswaram Island, a pilgrim centre in southern India.

Resistance to chloroquine (CQ) in Plasmodium falciparum is one of the main causes of the wide-spread resurgence of malaria in India and a challenge to the effective control of the disease. In the pilgrim centre of Rameswaram Island, malaria has persisted despite the various control measures undertaken over the years. When CQ resistance in Rameswaram was investigated in vivo, recrudescent parasitaemias were observed in 25 (58%) of the 43 study subjects who were given CQ and completed follow-up, all occurring between days 10 and 28 (late treatment failures). The results of the msp(1), msp(2) and glurp genotyping of paired samples of P. falciparum, collected on day 0 and the day of recrudescence from 23 of the apparent treatment failures, indicated that 21 (91%) of the 23 were probably true treatment failures. All of the paired samples harboured parasites with the K76T mutation in their pfcrt genes, and subsequent sequencing of nine day-0 samples revealed the SVMNT haplotype in all nine. This is the first report of in-vivo drug resistance in P. falciparum from Rameswaram Island. Such resistance, which is probably the result of the indiscriminate use of CQ and/or the import of malaria from mainland India, warrants a change in the drug regimen used locally for the first-line treatment of uncomplicated, P. falciparum malaria, to make treatment more effective and slow the development and spread of more foci of CQ resistance.

Electronic and vibrational spectra of diphenylmethane.

From the critical analyses of Raman and infrared spectra, different normal modes of vibration of diphenylmethane (DPM) have been identified. The near ultraviolet absorption spectra of the molecule are found to consist of two band systems, one around 220 nm and the other around 270 nm with respective f-values 5.23 x 10(-2) and 6.44 x 10(-3). The first system is broad and shows few diffuse structures, whereas the later one exhibits very well-resolved structure. They are respectively assigned as 1L(a) and 1L(b) bands. The Raman excitation profiles of several normal modes have been analyzed to get structural and other information of different excited electronic states.

Raman excitation profiles and excited state molecular configurations of three isomeric phenyl pyridines.

Contributions of different electronic states to Raman scattering have been studied by critical analyses of Raman excitation profiles (REPs) of several normal modes of vibration of three isomeric phenyl pyridines. In this context, possible structures and other interesting properties of the three molecules in the excited electronic states have been discussed. Normal mode characteristics are also described. Most likely a singlet state, lying in the vacuum ultraviolet region with respect to the ground state, is found to be playing a very significant role in the scattering phenomena.