Pronob Das

Beta-glucan: an ideal immunostimulant in aquaculture (a review)

The major hindrance in the development and sustainability of aquaculture industry is the occurrence of various diseases in the farming systems. Today, preventive and management measures are central concern to overcome such outbreak of diseases. Immunostimulants are considered as an effective tool for enhancing immune status of cultured organisms. Among different immunostimulants used in aquaculture practices, β-glucan is one of the promising immunostimulant, which is a homopolysaccharide of glucose molecule linked by the glycoside bond. It forms the major constituents of cell wall of some plants, fungi, bacteria, mushroom, yeast, and seaweeds. Major attention on β-glucan was captivated with the gain in knowledge on its receptors and the mechanism of action. The receptor present inside the animal body recognizes and binds to β-glucan, which in turn renders the animal with high resistance and enhanced immune response. This review highlights β-glucan as an immunostimulant, its effective dosages, and route of administration and furthermore provides an outline on role of β-glucan in enhancing growth, survival, and protection against infectious pathogens pertaining to fishes and shellfishes. Study also summarizes the effect of β-glucan on its receptors, recognition of proteins, immune-related enzymes, immune-related gene expression and their mechanisms of action.

A programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in Tamil Nadu state, India: compliance with annual single-dose DEC mass treatment and some related operational aspects.

Summary This paper reports on DEC distribution and compliance with treatment in a large‐scale annual single‐dose mass treatment programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 76.9% of households (82.5% in rural areas and 58.0% in urban areas) were aware of drug distribution for control of filariasis. DEC was given to 70% (= distribution rate) (range 0–92%) of the population and 53.5% (range 12–89%) complied with treatment. The distribution rate was more than 75% in 74% of the villages and compliance was in the range of 51–75% in 76% of the villages. About 5% of the treated population reported side‐effects. Distribution and compliance were higher in rural than urban areas and similar between males and females. Qualitative data showed that some socio‐economic factors, logistic and drug‐related problems and peoples poor knowledge and perceived benefits of treatment played a role in a proportion of the population not receiving or taking the drug. The Tamil Nadu programme showed that large‐scale repeated annual DEC mass treatment is feasible and that existing health services are capable of delivering the drug to all communities. While even poor to moderate compliance rates can reduce the vector transmission of infection to some extent, improved drug distribution and compliance with treatment are necessary to consolidate the gains of earlier rounds of treatment and achieve the goal of filariasis elimination within a reasonable time frame.

Probiotics in fish and shellfish culture: immunomodulatory and ecophysiological responses

Abstract Aquaculture is emerging as one of the most viable and promising enterprises for keeping pace with the surging need for animal protein, providing nutritional and food security to humans, particularly those residing in regions where livestock is relatively scarce. With every step toward intensification of aquaculture practices, there is an increase in the stress level in the animal as well as the environment. Hence, disease outbreak is being increasingly recognized as one of the most important constraints to aquaculture production in many countries, including India. Conventionally, the disease control in aquaculture has relied on the use of chemical compounds and antibiotics. The development of non-antibiotic and environmentally friendly agents is one of the key factors for health management in aquaculture. Consequently, with the emerging need for environmentally friendly aquaculture, the use of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in fish nutrition is now widely accepted. In recent years, probiotics have taken center stage and are being used as an unconventional approach that has numerous beneficial effects in fish and shellfish culture: improved activity of gastrointestinal microbiota and enhanced immune status, disease resistance, survival, feed utilization and growth performance. As natural products, probiotics have much potential to increase the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture production. Therefore, comprehensive research to fully characterize the intestinal microbiota of prominent fish species, mechanisms of action of probiotics and their effects on the intestinal ecosystem, immunity, fish health and performance is reasonable. This review highlights the classifications and applications of probiotics in aquaculture. The review also summarizes the advancement and research highlights of the probiotic status and mode of action, which are of great significance from an ecofriendly, sustainable, intensive aquaculture point of view.

Functional impairment caused by lymphatic filariasis in rural areas of South India

The functional impairment caused by lymphatic filariasis was assessed through qualitative and quantitative methods in rural areas of Tamil Nadu, South India. About 66% of the patients said that their occupational activities were hampered by the disease. They either work fewer hours or alter their activity. Some had completely given up their job. Domestic chores of most of the female patients were also impeded. Most of those affected try to avoid travel. The disability was worse in patients with acute disease. In view of the results of our and other similar studies, the disability‐adjusted life years lost due to lymphatic filariasis must be revised and the public health importance of the disease reassessed. Considerable functional impairment coupled with recent information on economic burden and productivity loss caused by lymphatic filariasis necessitates paying more attention to the control of the disease.

The effect of six rounds of single dose mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin on Wuchereria bancrofti infection and its implications for lymphatic filariasis elimination

Annual mass treatment with single‐dose diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin (IVM) in combination with albendazole (ALB) for 4–6u2003years is the principal tool of lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination strategy. This placebo‐controlled study examined the potential of six rounds of mass treatment with DEC or IVM to eliminate Wuchereria bancrofti infection in humans in rural areas in south India. Apercentage of 54–75 of the eligible population (≥15u2003kg body weight) received treatment during different rounds of treatment – 27.4% in the DEC arm and 30.7% in the IVM arm received all six treatments, 4.8% and 5.6% received none, and the remainder received one to five treatments. After six cycles of treatment, the microfilaria (Mf) prevalence in treated communities dropped by 86% in the DEC arm (Pu2003<u20030.01) (nu2003=u20035 villages) and by 72% in the IVM arm (Pu2003<u20030.01) (nu2003=u20035 villages), compared with 37% in the placebo arm (Pu2003<u20030.05) (nu2003=u20035 villages). The geometric mean intensity of Mf fell by 91% (tu2003=u20038.11, Pu2003<u20030.05), 84% (tu2003=u20036.91, Pu2003<u20030.05) and 46% (tu2003=u20032.98, Pu2003<u20030.05) in the DEC, IVM and placebo arms, respectively. The proportion of high‐count Mf (>50 Mf per 60u2003mm3 of blood) carriers was reduced by 94% (Pu2003<u20030.01) in the DEC arm and by 90% (Pu2003<u20030.01) in the IVM arm. Among those who received all six treatments, 1.4% in the DEC arm and 2.4% in the IVM arm remained positive for Mf. Two of five villages in the DEC arm and one of five in the IVM arm showed zero Mf prevalence, but continued to have low levels of transmission of infection. The results also indicate that DEC is as effective as or slightly better than IVM against microfilaraemia. Results from this and other recent operational studies proved that single‐dose treatment with antifilarials is very effective at community level, feasible, logistically easier and cheap and hence a highly appropriate strategy to control or eliminate LF. Higher treatment coverage than that observed in this study and a few more than six cycles of treatment and more effective treatment tools/strategies may be necessary to reduce microfilaraemia to zero level in all communities, which may lead to elimination of LF.

Magnetization hysteresis and time decay measurements in FeSe0.50Te0.50: Evidence for fluctuation in mean free path induced pinning

We present results of magnetic measurements relating to vortex phase diagram in a single crystal of FeSe

Development of rapid assessment procedures for the delimitation of lymphatic filariasis‐endemic areas

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Impact of seven rounds of mass administration of diethylcarbamazine and ivermectin on prevalence of chronic lymphatic filariasis in south India.

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Supplementation of microbial levan in the diet of Cyprinus carpio fry (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to sublethal toxicity of fipronil: effect on growth and metabolic responses

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Effect of substituting live feed with formulated feed on the reproductive performance and fry survival of Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens (Regan, 1910)

which displays second magnetization peak anomaly for