Reghu Ravindran

Molecular characterization of Theileria orientalis causing fatal infection in crossbred adult bovines of South India.

The disease condition attributed to have been caused by Theileria orientalis is generally benign. However, it is also thought that the parasite, at least some strains of it, can cause fatal disease. The present communication deals with the clinical signs, postmortem lesions and diagnosis of a fatal disease due to T. orientalis which caused mortality in crossbred adult bovines of South India. High body temperature, lacrimation, nasal discharge, swollen lymph nodes and haemoglobinuria were the symptoms observed. The postmortem lesions observed were punched out ulcers in abomasum, enlargement of spleen, massive pulmonary oedema, frothy exudates in trachea, epicardial and endocardial haemorrhage and haemorrhagic duodenitis. Peripheral blood smear examination revealed rod shaped Theileria sp. organisms. Polymerase chain reaction that amplify the T. orientalis specific P(32/33) gene, followed by cloning and sequencing, revealed maximum homology with Narathiwat (Thailand) and Jingole -1 (Indonesia) isolates which were positioned as isolate type 7 of T. orientalis.

Eclosion blocking effect of ethanolic extract of Leucas aspera (Lamiaceae) on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus.

The crude ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Leucas aspera was tested for its acaricidal properties against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus. The per cent adult mortality, inhibition of fecundity and hatching of laid ova were studied at concentrations of 1.56, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100mg/ml. Adult tick mortality was significant at the highest concentration tested. Inhibition of fecundity of treated groups differed significantly from control and was concentration dependent. L. aspera extract also produced complete failure of eclosion of eggs from the treated ticks even at lower dilutions of the extract.

Low level deltamethrin resistance in ticks from cattle of Kerala, a south Indian state.

The deltamethrin resistance status in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus and R. (B.) microplus ticks collected from cattle of five organized farms of Kerala, south India was evaluated. Resistance was characterized using biological (larval packet test), biochemical (esterase enzyme activity assay) and molecular tools (PCR amplification and sequencing of deltamethrin resistance-associated genes). Characterization of field isolates revealed level I resistance in ticks collected from four out of five farms. Elevated level of α/β esterase activity was not recorded in isolates showing level I resistance. Previously reported point mutations in the carboxyl esterase (G1120A) and sodium channel (T2134A and C190A) genes were not observed in any of the field isolates. The present study showed a low level (level I) resistance is developed in the most economically important ticks infesting cattle of this state and it cautions the development of large scale resistance in future.

Toxic effects of various solvents against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus.

The current need of identification of a new acaricidal agent which is acceptable to public as environmentally safe is a daring task. Use of herbal acaricides is such an alternative. Most of the herbal extracts or fractions are dissolved in polar or non-polar solvents or detergents before tested for acaricidal activity. The solvent or detergent to be used for dissolving the herbal extract should be of little acaricidal activity. In the present study, experimentations were carried out on adult engorged female ticks to detect the toxicity of different solvents, viz. hexane, petroleum ether, n-butanol, isopropyl alcohol, chloroform, glycerol, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, and methanol. The study revealed that methanol was the least toxic solvent against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus.

Acaricidal Activity of Petroleum Ether Extract of Leaves of Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus

The acaricidal activity of the petroleum ether extract of leaves of Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston (family: Vitaceae) against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus was assessed using adult immersion test (AIT). The per cent of adult mortality, inhibition of fecundity, and blocking of hatching of eggs were studied at different concentrations. The extract at 10% concentration showed 88.96% inhibition of fecundity, 58.32% of adult tick mortality, and 50% inhibition of hatching. Peak mortality rate was observed after day 5 of treatment. Mortality of engorged female ticks, inhibition of fecundity, and hatching of eggs were concentration dependent. The LC50 value of the extract against R. (B.) annulatus was 10.46%. The HPTLC profiling of the petroleum ether extract revealed the presence of at least seven polyvalent components. In the petroleum ether extract, nicotine was identified as one of the components up to a concentration of 5.4%. However, nicotine did not reveal any acaricidal activity up to 20000 ppm (2%). Coconut oil, used as diluent for dissolving the extract, did not reveal any acaricidal effects. The results are indicative of the involvement of synergistic or additive action of the bioactive components in the tick mortality and inhibition of the oviposition.

Molecular typing and phylogenetic analysis of classical swine fever virus isolates from Kerala, India

Classical swine fever (CSF) is an economically important disease of pigs caused by CSF virus (CSFV) belonging to the genus Pestivirus within the family Flaviviridae. The disease is endemic in many countries including India. A comprehensive study was carried out to assess the type of CSFV circulating in the South Indian state of Kerala. During the period 2013–2014, clinical samples were collected from 19 suspected CSF outbreaks of domestic pigs in different districts of Kerala. The samples were tested using nested reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) targeting the E2 gene and RT-PCR for 5′UTR of the virus. Partial 5′ UTR and E2 gene regions of six CSFV isolates were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the CSFV isolates belonged to subgroup 2.2. The isolates showed close resemblance to the other CSFV isolates circulating in India. It was also observed that the CSFV viruses from Kannur district were distinct from those circulating in the other districts as evidenced by their divergence from other Kerala isolates in the phylogenetic tree. Close relationship was seen to the CSFV isolates from South East Asian countries.

Retracted: Progress in the Development of Plant Biopesticides for the Control of Arthropods of Veterinary Importance

The authors are retracting their chapter entitled, “ Progress in the Development of Plant Biopesticides for the Control of Arthropods of Veterinary Importance ” published in contributed volume titled “ Advances in Plant Bio pesticides ”. Several expressions of this article were identical to those of previously published paper by Dr. Brooke Bissinger and Dr. Michael Roe in Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 2010, 96th issue, pages 63–79, DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2009.09.010. The authors would like to express their most sincere apology to Dr. Brooke Bissinger and Dr. Michael Roe and the journal Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology and to the editors and readers of the contributed volume “ Advances in Plant Biopesticides .”

First record of Chrysomya albiceps Wiedemann, 1819 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) maggots from a sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in Kerala, South India

Fully grown third stage larvae (LIII) of Chrysomya albiceps were recovered from aberrant sites viz. trachea and rumen during necropsy of a free-range sambar deer that had been observed to bear an inflamed tongue infested with maggots and subsequently died due to starvation. Five dead maggots of C. bezziana were also recovered from rumen. The aberrant locations of the recovery of the maggots indicated that they might have reached these sites accidentally. This is the first report of LIII of C. albiceps from a sambar deer from Kerala, South India.

Ultrastructural analysis of oocytes of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus during postengorgement period as a tool to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of amitraz and deltamethrin on the germinative cells

The present study utilizes the ultrastructural analysis of the fully engorged female Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus ticks, as a tool to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of deltamethrin and amitraz on the germinative cells. The ultrastructural analysis of the ovary of the normal (untreated) R (B.) annulatus revealed, oocytes in different stages of development, attached to the ovary wall by pedicel cells. The attachment site of oocyte to the pedicel cell was characterized by indentations of the plasma membrane. The oocyte was bound by three cell membranes viz., plasma membrane, chorion and basal lamina. The stages of oocytes were differentiated ultrastructurally based on the features of their outer membrane and the number and size of lipid and yolk droplets. Detailed day wise analysis of ultrastructural changes in the ovary during the post-engorgement period revealed the occurrence of the degenerative changes from day five onwards. These appeared first in the oocytes followed by the germinal epithelium. The ovary of ticks treated with methanol (control), revealed similar topographies as that of a normal ovary except for the presence of very few oocytes with ring shaped nucleoli. Ultrastructurally, treatment with deltamethrin produced more prominent and extensive morphological alterations when compared to amitraz. In the case of ticks treated with amitraz, the oocytes of stage IV and V showed wavy and disrupted outer boundaries along with the loss of integrity of the yolk droplets. Uneven nuclear membranes of stage II oocytes and cristolysis of mitochondria of mature oocytes were the other changes noticed. Ticks treated with deltamethrin revealed prominent modifications such as, detachment of the basal lamina, wrinkled boundary, inconsistent nuclear membrane, ring shaped nucleoli and chromatin clumping in the case of the early stage oocytes (I and II), whereas swelling and cristolysis of mitochondria were seen in mature oocytes. The study further indicated that, in addition to the previous proven neurotoxic effects, these compounds act directly on the ovary of tick.

Coprological Survey of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dairy Cattle in Wayanad, Kerala, India

Diseases and feed scarcity are observed as the major constraints of dairy production (Birthal and Jha, 2005). The total estimated economic losses due to all livestock diseases in Kerala amounts to 832.82 crores in the year 2007 (ADSS, 2007). Parasitism contributes to 31 per cent of livestock diseases and were reported more in cattle (13.83 per cent) followed by poultry (9.71 per cent) and goat (5.62 per cent) (ADSS, 2007). Out of the total economic loss of 294.44 Crores due to parasitism, 202.82 crores were attributed to the parasitic diseases of cattle alone (ADSS, 2007). Wayanad district is located 11.27’ to 15.38’ north latitude and 75.47’ to 70.27’ east longitude. The district is divided into three taluks and each taluk has a number of panchayaths. The taluks are Vythiri (consisting of panchayaths viz., Vythiri, Pozhuthana, Thariyoade, Padinjarethara, Meppadi, Vaduvanchal, Kaniyampetta, Kottathara and Vengapally), Sulthan Bathery (consisting of panchayaths viz., Sulthan bathery, Nenmeni, Meenangady, Ambalavayal, Muttil, Pulpally, Mullomkolli, Noolpuzha and Poothady) and Manathavady (consisting of panchayaths viz., Thondarnad, Edavaka, Thalappuzha, Mananthavady, Vellamunda, Thirunelli and Panamaram). International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 2 (2017) pp. 899-903 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com