Parental son preference in seeking medical care for children less than five years of age in a rural community in Bangladesh

We examined drug purchases for children less than five years of age from privately owned pharmacies in Matlab, a rural area in Bangladesh. The male to female incidence rate ratio was 1.71 (95 per cent confidence intervals = 1.27, 2.28) for overall drug purchase, and 2.94 (95% CI = 1.14, 7.73) for purchase of drugs prescribed by physicians. Our findings support and extend previous observations in this community of parental son preference in caring for children.

Amoebiasis and giardiasis in Bangladesh: parasitological and serological studies

To determine the prevalence of infections with Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia in Bangladesh, we screened stool specimens from patients with diarrhoea attending urban (N = 2,246) and a rural (N = 2,791) hospital and a group of healthy urban residents (N = 440). Sera from 200 healthy villagers were also examined for antibody to E. histolytica using the immunofluorescent antibody test. The prevalence of E. histolytica cysts or trophozoites in all groups assessed by examination of a single stool specimen ranged from 0% among infants (less than 1 year) to 34% among healthy adults 30 to 44 years old. G. lamblia was uncommon in infants and found most frequently in urban hospital patients aged five to nine (21%). 12% of one- to two-year-old children had serum antibody to E. histolytica at a titre of 1:40. By age 14 years, 80% of those tested were seropositive, and this prevalence declined thereafter with increasing age. Amoebiasis and giardiasis occur frequently in Bangladeshi populations and the morbidity and mortality associated with these infections need to be assessed.

Antibiotic use in a rural community in Bangladesh

Antibiotic use by 175 000 people in the Matlab rural surveillance area (MSA) of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) was studied to identify practices which might affect microbial drug resistance. We surveyed a 3% sample of drug purchases from pharmacies in the MSA over a four-week period in August and September 1980. Fifty-seven drug purchases were made per thousand Matlab residents per week; 9% of these were of tetracycline and 26% were antibiotics. Forty-eight per cent of the antibiotic tablets or capsules for persons aged 15 years or more were purchased in quantities which represented less than a single day's dose and rarely was a full course of therapy purchased at one time. The rate of tetracycline purchase for young children--in whom it is usually contraindicated--equalled the rate for older children and young adults. These practices have probably not led to improvements in health and may have promoted the emergence and persistence of drug-resistant micro-organisms. To optimize antibiotic use, control measures at government, producer, prescriber and consumer levels need to be pursued.

Mutagenicity studies on irradiated potatoes and chlorogenic acid; micronucleus test in rats

The micronucleus test was used to study possible mutagenic effects of (1) Irradiated potatoes extracted (a) immediately and (b) after 24-h storage following irradiation; (2) Irradiated and unirradiated chlorogenic acid; and (3) Trenimon. It was observed that irradiated potatoes (groups 1 a, b) and chlorogenic acid (group 2) did not cause mutagenic effects in the bone-marrow cells of rats. The Trenimon group (group 3), which was used as the positive control group, did show significant mutagenic effects.

Seasonal status of white spot syndrome virus in broodstocks, nauplii and postlarvae of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) in Bangladesh

Seasonal variation of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) prevalence in broodstocks shrimp, nauplii and postlarvae were investigated from 2004 to 2006 in Bangladesh by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. There was consistent pattern of fluctuation of WSSV prevalence in broodstocks, nauplii and postlarvae. WSSV fluctuation pattern in three stages were more or less similar for each year. Average lowest prevalence in broodstock was 0% in September and highest was 90% in May-June during the monsoon season in Bangladesh. The WSSV fluctuation patterns for nauplius correlated with broodstock patterns with average lowest prevalence of 0% in September compared to the highest of 40% in July. Similarly, average lowest prevalence of WSSV in postlarvae was 0% in December and highest was 14% in July. It was evident from this study that WSSV prevalence in broodstock, nauplius and postlarvae remained high during the monsoon season and low during the winter season when the water current, salinity and tidal flashing remained more or less stable in the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. Key words: Bangladesh; broodstocks; nauplii; postlarvae; seasonal; shrimp; WSSV. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijns.v1i3.8822 International Journal of Natural Sciences (2011), 1(3):56-61

Effects of shade and nitrogen levels on quality Bangladhonia production

A field experiment was conducted to determine the optimum shade level and nitrogen fertilizer for quality Bangladhonia (Eryngium foetidum L.) production at the Bangahandhu Sheikh Mujibar Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) Research Farm during December 2002 to May 2003. The treatments consisted of four shade levels (0, 25, 50, and 75% shades) and five nitrogen rates (0, 115, 138, 161, and 184 kg N/ha). Shades were artificially created by using nylon nets of different mesh sizes and colours. Fifty percent shade and application of 161 kg N/ha independently as well as in combination gave the maximum fresh yield of Bangladhonia. β-carotene and vitamin C contents in Bangladhonia leaves were maximum in full sun light (0% shade) followed by 25 and 50% shade. Application of 161 kg N/ha produced the highest amount of β-carotene and vitamin C followed by 184 kg N/ha. The lowest amount of leaf fibre (1.30%) was recorded from 75% shade closely followed by 50% shade (1.76%), whereas the maximum amount of leaf protein was found at 50% shade. Application of 184 kg N/ha gave the highest amount of leaf protein and less leaf fibre that was followed by 161 kg N/ha. The results revealed that Bangladhonia performed better in terms of fresh yield and quality under 25-50% shade condition. Key Words: Bangladhonia; shade; nitrogen; yield; quality. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v34i2.5791Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 34(2): 205-213, June 2009

In vitro free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of the leaves of Mimusops elengi Linn

In the present study, antioxidant potential of the methanol extract of the leaves of Mimusops elengi Linn. was evaluated by using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, reducing power and total antioxidant capacity. The extract showed significant activities in all antioxidant assays compared to the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid in a dose dependent manner. In DPPH scavenging assay the IC50 value of the extract was found to be 43.26μg/ml while the IC50 value of the reference standard ascorbic acid was 58.92 μg/ml. Total antioxidant activity was also found to increase in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, M. elengi extract showed strong reducing power. These results suggest that Mimusops elengi may act as a chemopreventative agent, providing antioxidant properties and offering effective protection from free radicals. Key words: Mimusops elengi, antioxidant, reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species   doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v6i2.2336 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6 (2): 197-202

Seroprevalence and pathological study of Salmonella infections in layer chickens and isolation and identification of causal agents

The present research work was conducted to study about the seroprevalence and pathology of Salmonella infections in layer chickens of Dhaka and Gazipur regions of Bangladesh and to isolate and characterize Salmonellae from layer chickens during the period from January to May 2006. The used materials were blood sample, cloacal and liver swabs from live and dead birds respectively, and visceral organs (liver, lungs, spleen and intestine). The used methods were serum plate agglutination (SPA) test; necropsy and histopathology; cultural, morphological and biochemical test. The overall seroprevalence was 43.4%. During necropsy, congested and enlarged liver with focal necrosis, haemorrhagic and discoloured ovary with stalk formation and mild haemorrhagic to catarrhal enteritis in intestine were detected. Microscopically, the liver showed congestion, focal necrosis with multifocal infiltration of histiocytes in liver parenchyma. In ovum, infiltration of leukocytes, bacterial colony, RE cell proliferation and fibrinoid necrosis were recorded. The intestinal mucosa exhibited infiltration of mononuclear cells in mucosa, submucosa as well as muscularis mucosa. A total of 33 (21.02%) Salmonellae from live and dead birds were isolated. The isolation rate of Salmonellae was higher in seronegative (31.6%) group than seropositive (3.2%) group. Out of 33 Salmonella isolates, 25 were S. pullorum, 3 were S. gallinarum and the rest 5 were motile Salmonellae. The isolates obtained in the study may be investigated for serotyping, pathogenesis study, antibiogram and vaccine production in future. Key words: Seroprevalence, histopathology, isolation, identification, Salmonella, chickensDOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v4i2.1288Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2006). 4 (2): 79–85

Isolation and Characterization of Enterobacteria Associated with Health and Disease in Sonali Chickens

Bacteriological examination on intestinal swabs of 30 apparently healthy and 30 sick / dead Sonali chickens (Fayoumi hen × RIR cock), aged between 25 to 60 weeks were carried out to determine the enteropathogens associated with health and disease, during the period from March to October 2003. These birds of either sex and reared under semi-scavenging system under the SLDP-2 project area in the district of Feni. The 60 swabs were collected at slaughter / necropsy in sterile nutrient and tetrathionate broth. In addition, the gross tissue changes of the sick / dead birds were recorded. The prevalent bacterial flora in intestinal swabs were Salmonella (33.33%), E. coli (95.0%), Staphylococcus (51.66%), Streptococcus (40%) and Pasteurella multocida (3.33%) of which Salmonella (36.66%) and E. coli (26.66%) were associated with marked pathological lesions. The isolated enteropathogens and their associated gross and histopathological changes are described and discussed. It may be concluded from this study that the enteric bacteria usually remain as clinically overt infection and do not produce clinical disease unless or until other factors are involved. Key words: Enterobacteria; apparently healthy chickens; sick/dead chickens; pathology doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v2i1.1928 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (1) : 15-21

Avian Salmonella Infection: Isolation and Identification of Organisms and Histopathological Study

The Present study was performed in the Department of Pathology, BAU, Mymensingh during the period from January to December 2004. The study was conducted to determine the occurrence and pathology of pullorum disease, fowl typhoid and salmonellosis (paratyphoid infection) in dead chickens at necropsy in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. A total of 70 samples (liver, ovary and intestine) were collected for isolation of bacteria in different media, and identification was performed based on the staining, cultural and biochemical properties of Salmonella spp. Routine histopathological method was used for the detection of tissue level alterations in Salmonella infected cases. Grossly, in all the infected cases the liver was enlarged and congested and in few cases, liver discoloration with focal necrosis. Old raised hemorrhages in the caecal tonsil and congested deformed ova were other important findings. There was catarrhal inflammation in the intestine. Microscopically, the section of livers showed congestion, hemorrhages, focal necrosis with infiltration of mononuclear cells. The pulmonary lesions consisted of sero-fibrinous exudation with mononuclear cell infiltration. The intestinal mucosa exhibited congestion, hemorrhages and infiltration of plasma cells, heterophils and macrophages. Out of 70 samples, 8 isolates were identified as Salmonella (11.42 %). Of them, five isolates were identified as Salmonella gallinarum, causative agent of fowl typhoid, one isolate was characterized as Salmonella pullorum, causative agent of pullorum disease and other two motile salmonella were identified as paratyphoid infection. Keywords: Fowl typhoid, pullorum disease, paratyphoid, histopathology, isolation, identification doi:10.3329/bjvm.v4i1.1518 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2006). 4 (1): 07-12

Effect of high temperature stress on the performance of twelve sweet pepper genotypes

A study on heat tolerance in sweet pepper was conducted at the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre (AVRDC), Taiwan from December 1999 to May 2000. Experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of 29/23°C and 24/18°C stress on 12 sweet pepper genotypes on growth, development, reproductive behaviour and yield potentialities and to verify the results of the phytotron study. Performance of 12 sweet pepper genotypes was evaluated under two different temperature regimes of 24/18° C and 29/23° C in the phytotron. Plant height was found higher at 29/23° C compared to 24/18° C. High temperature reduced percent fruit set as well as size of fruits. Individual fruit weight was higher (7.44-125.00 g) when grown at 24/18°C and lower (5.35-103.80 g) at 29/23°C. Out of 12 genotypes, SP00l, SP002, SP004, and SP012 performed poor in respect of per plant yield at higher temperature compared to the lower temperature. So, these four genotypes were considered to be heat sensitive than the others. Leaf proline content of the sensitive genotypes decreased under the high temperature conditions and the heat tolerant lines produced higher amount of proline indicating the role of proline in expressing the heat tolerant capability of sweet pepper genotypes concerned. Keywords: High temperature stress; performance; sweet pepper. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v35i3.6459Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 35(3) : 525-534

PATHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF LIVER FLUKE INFECTION OF SLAUGHTERED BLACK BENGAL GOAT IN A SELECTED AREA OF BANGLADESH

This study was conducted in Sylhet district of Bangladesh to investigate the pathological effect of liver fluke in Black Bengal goats of different age groups, sex and in seasons. In this study, livers of male and female goats were collected randomly from slaughter house during a period of 1 (one) year (November, 2007 to October, 2008). A total of 325 Black Bengal goat livers were examined, of which 70 livers were found infected with Fasciola gigantica. The common histopathological changes found in this study were the migratory tract with lymphocytic infiltration, atrophy, necrosis and fatty changes in the liver. The study revealed that age of the animal has significant effect on Fascioliasis in goats. Significantly (P<0.01) highest infection rate was found in 2-2.5 years old animals (50%). The sex of the animal was also found as important determinants for Fascioliasis. In this study out of 219 male goat livers 30 (13.70%) were infected with Fasciola. On the other hand, out of 106 female goat livers, 40 (37.73%) were found positive with Fascioliasis. The data of origin of animals also collected which was not statistically significant. DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v8i1.7717 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2010). 8(1): 35-40