Acaricidal activity of extract of Artemisia absinthium against Rhipicephalus sanguineus of dogs

The objective of the study was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of different concentrations of chloroform extract obtained from the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium in comparison to amitraz on adults, eggs and larvae of the dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus using the adult immersion test (AIT), egg hatchability test (EHT) and larval packet test (LPT), respectively. Five concentrations of the extract (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 %) with three replications for each concentration were used in all the bioassays. A control group was established (water + dimethylsulphoxide) together with a positive control group (amitraz), with three repetitions each. In AIT, the mortality rates were 0.0, 13.3, 16.7, 33.3 and 93.3 % in concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 %, respectively, and the variation was significant (p=0.0151). The LC50 (CI) and LC95 (CI) values were calculated as 8.793 % (8.217-9.408) and 34.59 % (29.71-40.26), respectively. The egg production was reduced by 6.6, 6.6, 18.3, 42.5 and 85.1 % in the concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 %, respectively, and it was statistically significant (p=0.0274). In EHT, hatching was completely inhibited at 5, 10 and 20 % displaying 100 % ovicidal action while at the concentrations of 1.25 and 2.5 %, the inhibition rates were 20 and 60 %, respectively. In LPT, the extract caused 100 % mortality of larvae in the concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 % after 24 h while at the concentrations of 1.25 and 2.5 %, the mortality rates were 54.3 and 96.7 %, respectively. The LC50 (CI) and LC95 (CI) values were determined to be 1.11 % (1.099-1.121) and 2.37 % (2.328-2.423), respectively. The results show that the extract of A. absinthium has acaricidal properties and could be useful in controlling R. sanguineus which is an efficient vector of pathogens both in dogs and humans.

Occurrence of Setaria digitata in a cow

The present investigation reports the occurrence of filarial worm, Setaria digitata, recovered during the surgery of a cow suffering from intussusception. The worms were thread like, milky white, long with tapering ends especially towards the hind end with an average size of 62.8 ± 9.89 mm in length. On examination of anterior end, the cuticular rings surrounding the mouth region with dorsal, ventral and lateral prominences were observed. The posterior end had few spines along with a pair of appendages near the tip of the tail. On the basis of morphological characteristics the worms were identified as female S. digitata.

Sustained virological response after treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection--a five year follow up

Peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin combination therapy achieves a sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Little is know about long-term durability of hepatitis C virus--Ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) negativity in patient treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy. Aim of this study was to evaluate the durability of virologic response in patients with SVR to anti-viral therapy treated at our centre. A total of 52 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who had obtained SVR after Peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin combination therapy were followed up to 5 years with annual HCV-RNA testing. During this follow up period, 4 of 52 patients with initial SVR developed late relapse of hepatitis C virus infection. Relapse was more common in patients who has cirrhosis (3/6 [50%]) vs (1/46 [2.17%]) without cirrhosis. In conclusion, SVR is durable in most patients, but some patients do have late relapse; long-term follow up may be particularly important in a subset of patients with hepatitis C virus infection who have liver cirrhosis.

Comparison of physico-chemical parameters and zooplankton diversity in two perennial ponds at Aligarh, India

Investigations were carried out on the diversity of zooplankton in relation to physico-chemical parameters of two perennial ponds (Chautal Pond and Medical Pond) of Aligarh, India. Thirty nine species of holoplankton were identified belonging to copepoda (2 species), rotifera (28 species), cladocera (6 species) and protozoa (3 species). Other forms; like as meroplankton (insects) and tychoplankton (nematodes and ostracodes) were also recorded. Higher values of physico-chemical parameters and low zooplankton diversity were recorded in the Chautal Pond, whereas low values of physico-chemical parameters and high diversity were recorded in the Medical Pond. Ostracods considered to be the most dominant group in Medical Pond (32.16% of the total zooplankton) while Cladocerans are considered to be the most dominant group in Chautal Pond (38.83% of the total zooplankton). Rotifera contributed more in Medical Pond (16.42%) as compared to Chautal Pond (15.81%). Five species of Brachionus was recorded during study. Out of five, four Brachionus species were recorded in Chautal Pond while only two species were recorded in Medical pond. This indicates that Chautal Pond is more eutrophic than Medical pond. In addition, higher carbon dioxide values (37-105 mg l(-1)), low dissolved oxygen (0.7-3.3 mg I(-1)) and higher electrical conductivity values (1069-1691 mg l(-1)) were also indicative of eutrophic nature of Chautal Pond. Present study also revealed that total zooplankton species, species richness and diversity indices (Evenness, Shannon-Winner and Simpson) were comparatively higher in Medical pond. The rotifer species Philodina roseola (146 Org. l(-1)) and Monstyla closterocerca (109 Org. l(-1)) was dominated in Medical Pond while the rotifers Brachionus urceolaris (512 Org. l(-1)) and the cladocern species Ceriodaphnia cornuta (1540 Org. l(-1)) dominated in Chautal Pond during post-monsoon season. This might be due to the effect of rain water which played an important role in replenishment of the ponds. Also, the abundance of cladoceran C. cornuta in Chautal Pond might be due to the higher vegetation in this pond. The abundance of these zooplankton species in these ponds suggests that these taxa can be considered as pollution indicators.

Chlorine inactivation of nonresistant and antibiotic-resistant strains of salmonella typhimurium isolated from chicken carcasses

A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that strains of Salmonella Typhimurium that are resistant to antibiotics are more resistant to chlorine in chilled water than strains of Salmonella Typhimurium that are not resistant to antibiotics. To test this hypothesis, strains (n = 16) of Salmonella Typhimurium with four antibiotic resistance profiles were tested for their inactivation kinetics in chlorinated (30 ppm, pH 6) water at 4°C. The four antibiotic resistance profiles were (i) none; (ii) tetracycline-sulfisoxazole (T-Su); (iii) tetracycline-ampicillin-amoxicillin-cefoxitin-ceftiofur-sulfisoxazole (T-A-Am-C-Ce-Su); and (iv) tetracycline-ampicillin-amoxicillin-cefoxitin-ceftiofur-sulfisoxazole-kanamycin (T-A-Am-C-Ce-Su-K). Inactivation of Salmonella Typhimurium in chlorinated water displayed nonlinear kinetics with a concave downward curve that fit well (R(2) = 0.964) to the power law model, with a shape parameter of 1.37. The time for a single log reduction (D-value) of Salmonella Typhimurium from an initial concentration of 5.36 log/ml did not differ (P > 0.05) among the four antibiotic resistance groups and ranged from 3.8 to 4.3 min for n = 4 strains per group. Thus, the hypothesis was rejected, and it was concluded that expression of an antibiotic resistance phenotype does not confer cross-protection in Salmonella Typhimurium to chlorine inactivation in chilled water.

An assay to screen bacterial adhesion to mucus biomolecules

AIMS

To develop an assay for rapid screening of bacterial adhesion to various groups of biomolecules present in fish mucus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A novel assay was developed for investigation of bacterial adhesion to various groups of mucus biomolecules from fish. Lipid-, protein-, carbohydrate- and nucleic acid-rich constituents of mucus were separated using isopycnic density gradient centrifugation techniques. Separated mucus fractions were assayed for bacterial adhesion using a blotting apparatus. The assay was validated using Vibrio vulnificus and skin mucus from hybrid tilapia.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel assay was developed for the screening of bacterial adhesion to major groups of mucus biomolecules. Adhesion of V. vulnificus MLT403 positively correlated with lipid- and protein-rich mucus constituents and negatively correlated with carbohydrate-rich mucus constituents.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The assay can be used as an initial approach in a systematic identification of mucus constituent(s) exhibiting the most favourable adhesion properties for bacteria.

Zooplankton population in relation to physico-chemical parameters of Lal Diggi pond in Aligarh, India

Physico-chemical parameters and zooplankton were assessed Lal Diggi pond from January to December, 2008. Four groups of zooplankton were recorded. Rotifera constituted the main dominant group in this pond contributing 44.89% of the total zooplankton population followed by Cladocera (30.41%), Copepoda (15.51%) and Ostracoda (4.68%). The highest density of zooplankton was recorded during January and February being 197 and 182 no l(-1) respectively, while the lowest density was recorded during May and June being 64 no l(-1) each could be due to the negative and significant value of correlation between zooplankton and water temperature (r = -0.700). These data is supported by similarity indices which recorded high values during January and February while the lowest values recorded during June and July.

Adult and Torted Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumour

NJOG 2011 Nov-Dec; 6 (2): 62 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njog.v6i2.6764

Metastatic adenocarcinoma of the mandible-a rare entity

Metastasis of the liver and lung malignancies to the jaw bones is very rare and the mandible is the commonest site of involvement. The frequent primary sites for metastasis to jaw bones are breast in females and lungs in males. This is a case report of the metastatic adenocarcinoma of the mandible which originated from liver or lung. Diagnosis of such metastatic lesions is difficult and challenging to identify the primary site.

Anthropometric measurements of the arm span and their correlation with the stature of bangladeshi adult muslim females

Anthropometry is the science that deals with the measurement of size, weight and proportion of the human body. Stature is natural heights of a person in an upright position. This can be estimated from arm span length. In the last 50 years of the 20th century various mass disasters such as different powerful storm, flood, plane crash, train accident was increased. Very recently in Chittagong and southern Bangladesh many people were killed through land slides and Seder. As so many disasters were occurring it is possible to identify a missing person if a part of his or her body is available. The arm span lengths can be used as a basis for estimating age-related loss in stature and as an alternative measure to stature. The study was done for the estimation of stature from the arm span on one hundred and fifty Bangladeshi adult Muslim females. Subject was collected from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka and some urban region of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The present study showed significant (p<0.001) positive correlation between the stature and the arm span.

Qualitative map of Salmonella contamination on young chicken carcasses

Salmonella contamination of poultry is a global public health problem. The objective of this study was to map the distribution of Salmonella on the young chicken carcass, to improve poultry inspection and food safety. Young chickens (n = 70) in the Cornish game hen class were obtained at retail over a 3-year period. Carcasses were aseptically sectioned into 12 parts, and then Salmonella was isolated from whole-part incubations by conventional culture methods. Isolates were characterized for serotype and antibiotic resistance, and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Salmonella incidence was 21.5% (181 of 840) for parts and 57.1% (40 of 70) for carcasses. The number of contaminated parts per carcass ranged from 0 to 12, with a mean of 4.5 among contaminated carcasses. Chi-square analysis indicated that Salmonella incidence differed (P < 0.05) among parts, with rib back (38.6%) and sacral back (34.3%) being the most contaminated. Among the 40 contaminated carcasses, there were 37 different patterns of contamination among parts. Of the 33 carcasses with more than one contaminated part, 12.1% contained two serotypes, 33.3% contained two or more antibiotic resistance profiles, and 100% contained two or more PFGE patterns. The most common serotype was Typhimurium (94.5%), and most (97.2%) isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics. These results indicated a diverse pattern of Salmonella contamination among carcasses and that multiple subtypes of Salmonella were often present on contaminated carcasses. Thus, whole-carcass incubation succeeded by characterization of multiple isolates per carcass is needed to properly assess and manage this risk to public health.

Anthropometric measurements of the forearm and their correlation with the stature of Bengali adult Muslim females

Stature or body height is one of the most important and useful anthropometric parameter that determine the physical identity of an individual. The study was done to estimate stature from the forearm length on one hundred and fifty Bengali adult Muslim females. This descriptive cross sectional study was done in the department of Anatomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. One hundred and fifty Bengali adult Muslim female was collected from BSMMU & some urban region of Dhaka. Measurement of stature and forearm length of right and left side was taken with a standard anthropometer and a slide caliper respectively. The present study showed significant (p<0.001) positive correlation between the stature and forearm length.

Is affluent society aware of their health status?

Our study was done on 111 participants of different government institutions who were involved in the highest most responsibilities in their respective jobs. Their higher educational level, job stress, type1 personality affect a lot on their health status. Therefore, it was our concern to investigate the various health risk factors and their impacts on the health status of this study group. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, physical activity level and smoking status among the subjects. This cross-sectional study was done from July 2006 to June 2007. 2.7% of the subjects were newly diagnosed as hypertensive as well as urinary sugar was present in 3.6% of the subjects. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 24.32% and diabetes was 11.71%. Subjects who adopted regular physical exercise were less likely to develop hypertension. No significant association was found between BMI and hypertension as well as diabetes mellitus. In spite of their higher educational level, 30% of the subjects were smokers. So, regular check up of health status even in a year is necessary.

Iodized salt induced thyrotoxicosis: Bangladesh perspective

The effects of iodized and non-iodized salt on the thyroid gland and its hormones T3, T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were studied in 200 individuals who were the residents of plain areas of greater Mymensingh district. The subjects were collected from the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Mymensingh. Out of 200 individuals 150 were using iodized salt and 50 were using non-iodized salt. The iodized and non-iodized salt users were marked as study and control groups respectively. Blood samples were taken from both the groups and T3 and T4 in blood serum were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) while TSH was determined by immunoradiometricassay (IRMA). The mean concentration of T3 were 2.633 nmol/L and 2.223 nmol/L and T4 concentration were 122.444 nmol/L and 110.355 nmol/L in study and control group respectively. The mean TSH concentration was 5.044 mIU/L and 9.622 mIU/L in study and control group respectively. The data indicated that continuous and long term use of iodized salt increased both T3 and T4 and decreased TSH in study group. The results were significant (p<0.05) when compared to that of the control. The results suggested that mandatory mass consumption of iodized table salt without T3, T4 and TSH screening of blood may produce iodinated salt induced thyrotoxicosis (ISIT) in peoples living in plain areas of Bangladesh. We suggest close regular monitoring of T3, T4 and TSH and urinary excretion of iodine of individuals who are using iodized salt for better management of iodinated salt program in our setting.

Morphological study of levator glandulae thyroidea in Bangladeshi cadaver

The study was done to see the incidence of levator glandulae thyroidea including its association with pyramidal lobe and its morphological variation regarding its craniocaudal attachment in Bangladeshi people. Sixty postmortem tissue blocks containing thyroid gland and its neighbouring structures were collected from 48 male and 12 female cadavers of different age groups and fixed in 10% formol-saline solution. Gross and fine dissection was carried out to study the incidence of levator glandulae thyroidea, its attachment and its association with pyramidal lobe. In the present study, observed findings were compared with those of Western and Bangladeshi researchers. It was evident that, in the present study, in 43.33% cases levator glandulae thyroidea was present. Among them 84.65% was associated with the pyramidal lobe and in all of these cases it extended from the apex of the pyramidal lobe to hyoid bone. In most of the cases (92%) of this study the levator glandulae thyroideae were cranially found to attach with hyoid bone. Only four muscles those were not associated with pyramidal lobe arise from isthmus. Two of them cranially attached with hyoid bone and remaining two levator glandulae thyroideae cranially was found to be attached with the corresponding oblique line of thyroid cartilage.

Use of a commercial probiotic supplement in meat goats

Sixty-three Boer crossbred goats were used in 5 separate experiments (Exp. 1 to 5) to evaluate the effects of a commercial probiotic supplement on growth performance (Exp. 1 to 4), diet digestibility (Exp. 5), carcass traits (Exp. 3), and fecal bacterial populations (Exp. 4). Goats were either fed a commercially pelleted concentrate diet and supplemented with a commercial probiotic (PRO) that had shown anecdotal positive effects on goat growth and performance according to local goat producers, or they remained as controls. The dose of PRO used was within the labeled dose for sheep for all studies. For Exp. 1, goat BW and feed intake were measured and G:F was calculated every 7 d for 56 d. For Exp. 2 to 4, BW and feed intake were measured and G:F was calculated every 14 d. The first day of supplementation was considered d 0. Carcass traits were also collected at slaughter on d 57 for Exp. 3, and fecal samples were collected every 14 d for microbial culture for Exp. 4. For Exp. 5, which was a digestibility trial that lasted for 10 d, animals were placed in metabolic pens for collection of feces and orts. Growth performance of goats was not affected by probiotic supplementation, with the exception of performance in Exp. 2, in which ADG and G:F were improved (P < 0.03) in PRO goats compared with control goats on d 56 only (treatment x day interaction; P < 0.05), averaging 0.21 +/- 0.02 kg/d for PRO goats and 0.11 +/- 0.02 kg/d for control goats for ADG and 0.17 +/- 0.02 for PRO goats and 0.10 +/- 0.02 for control goats for G:F. Carcass weights and weights of fabricated cuts (shoulder, loin, leg, rack, shank, and total parts) as well as carcass length, leg circumference, loin eye area, and backfat were not influenced by PRO supplementation. Apparent digestibilities of OM, DM, NDF, ADF, CP, and GE (on a DM basis) were similar for the PRO and control treatments. Fecal culture analysis of Escherichia coli and coliforms, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium populations were not influenced by the PRO treatment. Overall, although the PRO treatment affected goat ADG and G:F in Exp. 2, no PRO treatment effects were noted on growth performance for Exp. 1, 3, and 4. Furthermore, the PRO treatment did not affect diet digestibility, carcass traits, or fecal microbial populations in goats. In conclusion, no consistent benefits were noted from supplementing healthy, growing meat goats with PRO.

Effects of long term iodized table salt consumption on serum T3, T4 and TSH in an iodine deficient area of Bangladesh

The effect of iodized and non-iodized table salt in goiter hyper-endemic area on the thyroid gland and its hormones T3, T4 and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) were studied in two hundred subjects from the Center for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Mymensingh. Iodized and non-iodized salt users were called study and control groups respectively. The mean concentration of T3 were 2.38 nmol/L and 2.22 nmol/L & T4 concentration were 128.67 and 123.72 nmol/L in the study and control group respectively. The mean TSH concentration was 1.52 mIU/L and 1.62 mIU/L in study and control group. The data indicated that continuous and long term use of iodized salt increased both T3, T4 and decreased TSH in such a limit which was not statistically deferent at P< 0.05 level as compared to the control group. There was no significant change in occurrence of (hypo and hyper thyroidism or iodinated salt induced thyrotoxicosis) adverse effect, following iodine supplementation. The study shows that, mandatory mass iodination of table salt consumption in a hyper-endemic iodine deficient area is safe and does not cause any side effect. We suggest close regular monitoring of T3, T4, and TSH and further evaluation by specifically designed studies for any probable link between iodine induced hypo or hyperthyroidism and mass iodination of table salt consumption.