G. K. Gaur

Global gene expression profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells challenged with Theileria annulata in crossbred and indigenous cattle

Bovine tropical theileriosis is an important haemoprotozoan disease associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality particularly in exotic and crossbred cattle. It is one of the major constraints of the livestock development programmes in India and Southeast Asia. Indigenous cattle (Bos indicus) are reported to be comparatively less affected than exotic and crossbred cattle. However, genetic basis of resistance to tropical theileriosis in indigenous cattle is not well documented. Recent studies incited an idea that differentially expressed genes in exotic and indigenous cattle play significant role in breed specific resistance to tropical theileriosis. The present study was designed to determine the global gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from indigenous (Tharparkar) and cross-bred cattle following in vitro infection of T. annulata (Parbhani strain). Two separate microarray experiments were carried out each for cross-bred and Tharparkar cattle. The cross-bred cattle showed 1082 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Out of total DEGs, 597 genes were down-regulated and 485 were up-regulated. Their fold change varied from 2283.93 to -4816.02. Tharparkar cattle showed 875 differentially expressed genes including 451 down-regulated and 424 up-regulated. The fold change varied from 94.93 to -19.20. A subset of genes was validated by qRT-PCR and results were correlated well with microarray data indicating that microarray results provided an accurate report of transcript level. Functional annotation study of DEGs confirmed their involvement in various pathways including response to oxidative stress, immune system regulation, cell proliferation, cytoskeletal changes, kinases activity and apoptosis. Gene network analysis of these DEGs plays an important role to understand the interaction among genes. It is therefore, hypothesized that the different susceptibility to tropical theileriosis exhibited by indigenous and crossbred cattle is due to breed-specific differences in the dealing of infected cells with other immune cells, which ultimately influence the immune response responded against T. annulata infection.

No change in mRNA expression of immune-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells challenged with Theileria annulata in Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) act as carrier to Theileria annulata and show less clinical sign of tropical theileriosis as compared to indigenous and exotic cattle. Differential expression of immune-related genes such as major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ alpha 1 (MHC-DQα), signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPA), prion protein (PRNP), Toll-like receptor 10 (TLR10), c-musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog (cMAF) and V-maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B (MAFB) genes influence host resistance to this disease in exotic, crossbred and indigenous cattle. In the present study we examined the differential mRNA expression of the abovesaid immune-related genes in response to T. annulata infection in buffaloes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) harvested from blood samples of buffaloes were challenged with ground-up tick supernatant carrying T. annulata sporozoites in vitro. After 48h of in vitro challenge qPCR was employed to measure the relative mRNA expression of MHC-DQα, SIRPA, PRNP, TLR10, cMAF and MAFB genes in infected and control PBMCs. In the current study, the selected genes showed no change in mRNA expression after T.annulata infection which indicates that they have little role in providing host resistance to theileriosis in buffaloes.

Factors affecting survivability of local Rohilkhand goats under organized farm

Aim: To study the pattern of mortality as affected by age, season and various diseases in local goats of Rohilkhand region maintained at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly. Materials and Methods: Post-mortem records of 12 years (2000-01 to 2011-12) were used, and total 243 mortality data were collected and analyzed. The causes of mortality were classified into seven major classes viz. digestive disorders, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disorders, musculoskeletal disorder, parasitic disorders, mixed disorders (combination of digestive, respiratory, parasitic, and cardiovascular disorders) and miscellaneous disorders (cold, hypoglycemia, emaciation, endometritis, traumatic injury, etc.). Results: The average mortality was 10.93%. The overall mortality was more during rainy season followed by winter and summer season. The mortality in 4-6 months of age was high (2.52%) followed by 0-1 month (2.34%) and 2-3 months (1.35%). The average mortality among adult age groups (>12 months) was 3.42%. The mortality showed declining trend with the advancement of age up to 3 months and then again increased in 4-6 months age group. The digestive diseases (3.51%) followed by respiratory diseases (1.89%) and parasitic diseases (1.48%) contributed major share to the total mortality occurred and the remaining disorders were of lesser significance in causing death in goats. There is significant (p<0.01; χ2=55.62) association between year with season and age with the season (p<0.05, χ2=16.083) found in the present study. Conclusion: This study confirms that overall mortality rate averaged 10.93% (ranged between 1.10% and 25.56%) over 12 years under semi-intensive farm condition. It was generally higher in rainy season. The mortality remains higher in kids particularly under 1 month of age. The digestive diseases contributed major share to overall mortality.

Effect of Different Heat Ameliorating Measures on Micro-Climatic Variables in Loose Houses During Hot Humid Season in Murrah Buffalo Heifers

The present investigation was conducted to study the effect of heat ameliorating measures on micro-climatic variables in the loose houses during hot-humid season. In the study different heat ameliorative measures viz. control (T0), cooling jacket (T1), cooling jacket + forced ventilation (T2) and sprinkler + forced ventilation (T3) were utilized to ameliorate the thermal stress in Murrah buffalo heifers (n = 24). Daily maximum and minimum temperatures relative humidity (RH) and temperature humidity index (THI) of both micro and macro climate were measured at 10.00 am and 2.00 pm of Indian Standard Time (IST) by using maximum and minimum and dry and wet bulb thermometer. Significantly (P<0.05) lower maximum temperature was observed in T3, T2 and T1 groups (29.93 ± 0.19, 30.43 ± 0.18 and 31.27 ± 0.19°C, respectively) as compared to T0 group (32.25 ± 0.19°C). However, significantly (P<0.05) lowest minimum temperature was found in T3, T2 and T1groups (25.28 ± 0.22, 25.81 ± 0.23 and 26.60 ± 0.23°C, respectively) and higher minimum temperature in T0 group (27.60 ± 0.22°C). We observed significantly (P<0.05) lower RH in T3 and T2 groups (69.84 ± 0.57 and 71.93 ± 0.51%, respectively) than those of T0 (77.18 ± 0.49) at 2.00 pm. During the peak hot period significantly (P<0.05) lower temperature humidity index (THI) was reported in T3, T2 and T1 groups (78.89 ± 0.24 and 79.43 ± 0.25 and 81.39 ± 0.23, respectively) as compare to T0 group (82.36 ± 0.20). Therefore, it can be concluded that forced ventilation with sprinklers or cooling jacket is an important mean to protect animals from thermal stress under loose houses during hot-humid season.

Expression Profile of CXCL3 Gene in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Challenged in vitro with Theileria annulata in Crossbred Cattle

Bovine tropical theileriosis is a major haemoprotozoan disease associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality particularly in exotic and crossbred cattle. Recent studies suggest that a number of immune response genes, expressed differentially in exotic and indigenous breeds play an important role in breed specific resistance to tropical theileriosis. In the present study, expression of CXCL3 gene which has chemotactic activity for neutrophils, controls migration and adhesion of monocytes and ultimately mediates its effects on target cells by interacting with a cell surface chemokine receptor called CXCR2 was studied in crossbred cattle. The in vitro experimental result revealed significant difference in CXCL3 gene expression in Theileria annulata challenged peripheral blood mononuclear cells of crossbred animals as compared to healthy controls and a 2.53 fold increase (p < 0.05) was recorded. The results of current study indicate that CXCL3 may be involved in host-pathogen interaction during tropical theileriosis.