A four month old calf weighing 69 kg was attended at door step in the position of lateral recumbency with a history of anorexia, dyspnoea and voiding coffee coloured urine. Physical examination revealed subnormal temperature, pale mucous membrane, tachycardia with haemic murmur, tachypnoea and pounding femoral pulse. Examination of the blood smear revealed Babesia bigemina and complete blood count findings were reduced haematological parameters RBC–(1.5x10 6 ), PCV–(14%) and Hb–(3.5mg/dL). Based on the clinical and laboratory findings, the case was confirmed as Babesiosis and the calf was treated with Inj. Diminazene aceturate (Berenil) @ 3.5 mg/kg deep IM, Inj. Oxytetracycline @ 22 mg /kg IV and Inj. Ferritas 3 ml I/M on day 1. Subsequently on day 2 calf was transfused with two units (700 ml) of fresh whole blood as emergency treatment with dexamethasone @ 0.2 mg/kg BW IV, Avil 0.25 mg/kg IM. The calf was completely cured on day five and day 10 blood smear was negative for Babesia bigemina.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary supplementation of calcium, carnitine, zinc and their combinations for 5 weeks in eighty adult crossbred cocks which were divided into eight treatment groups each consisting of ten cocks. Cocks were fed with treatment diets. The treatment groups consisted of control (T1), control + calcium 2 per cent (T2), control + carnitine 250 mg/kg (T3), control + zinc 100 mg/kg (T4), control + calcium 2 per cent + carnitine 250 mg/kg (T5), control + calcium 2 per cent + zinc 100 mg/kg (T6), control + carnitine 250 mg/kg + zinc 100 mg/kg (T7) and control + calcium 2 per cent + carnitine 250 mg/kg + zinc 100 mg/kg (T8). Semen volume revealed no significant difference between treatment groups during five weeks period. Overall sperm motility was significant (P<0.01) between treatment groups except between T4 and T5 groups. Overall sperm concentration was significantly (P<0.01) higher in all treatment groups compared to control. Inclusion of calcium, carnitine, zinc and their combinations had significantly (P<0.01) reduced the overall dead and abnormal of sperms when compared to the control group. The results revealed that inclusion of 2 per cent calcium, 250 mg/kg of carnitine, 100 mg/ kg of zinc and their combinations in feed improved the sperm motility and concentration in cross-bred cocks. 

An investigation among fifty each tribal and non-tribal dairy farmers in four dairy dominated development blocks of Cachar district of Assam revealed that, among tribal and non-tribal farmers attitude towards dairy farming, economic motivation and source of motivation for dairy communication were found to have favourable scores with positive and significant correlation with communication behaviour. Regression analysis revealed that source of motivation for dairy communication crucially influenced communication behaviour of dairy farmers. Further, there louid significant difference between the tribal and non-tribal dairy farmers indicating sensitive strategies for dairy development in the area involving the veterinarians. 

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of curcumin on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant levels in DMBA (7, 12 Diemthyl Benanthracene) induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats. Twenty four Sprague-Dawley rats were equally distributed to control, DMBA, Tamoxifen (Standard drug) and curcumin groups. DMBA group showed significant (P<0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation and antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels besides reduced glutathione (GSH). Whereas, curcumin and Tamoxifen treated groups did not show any significant difference in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status when compared to the control. Selective growth advantage of tumour cells was evident in the DMBA group and curcumin was able to prevent lipid peroxidation.

The giant lizard mantis of Lysiosquilla sulcirostris Kemp, 1913 was recorded for the first time from Thoothukudi waters while investigating the biodiversity of the Gulf of Mannar during September, 2013. One specimen of the said species was collected as an incidental by-catch in the trawl fisheries off Thoothukudi coast of Gulf of Mannar, between 08º 35’ 22.5" N lat. 78º 27’ 40.9" E long and 08º 31’ 91.2"N lat. 78º 25’ 32.7"E long at a depth of 150-160 m.

The present study was conducted to elucidate the growth performance changes in Wistar rats given cadmium chloride in different doses at various intervals. Wistar rats (n=12/group) were divided into four groups viz, group I (Control) given normal drinking water whereas group II, III and IV rats were given CdCl2 @ 100, 250 and 500 ppm, respectively for 12 weeks. Animals of all the groups were closely observed through out the period of experiment thrice a day for clinical signs. Daily Feed intake (FI), Body Weights (BW), Body Weight Gain (BWG) and Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR) were recorded. Clinical signs observed upto first 5 weeks were less prominent in all the treatment group rats. After 5 weeks PE, rats of all treatment groups showed varying degree of toxic signs, which included inappetence, dullness, weakness, depression, lethargy, reduced feed intake, decrease in body weight, poor fur condition, loss of hair, change in behaviour, disinclination to move, increased thirst and dehydration. In addition, group IV rats also showed nervous disorders from 9th week onwards. The average values of feed consumption, body weight and body weight gain were significantly lower in all treatment group rats as compared to control group rats in dose and duration dependent manner. Moreover, FCR increased significantly in all treatment groups from 4th week PE than control group rats upto the end of trial.

Data relating to 130 sows, 19 boars from 400 farrrowings spread over a period from 1984 to 1992 were utilized to study genetic and non-genetic effects in variation of litter size and weight at birth and at weaning. The overall mean litter size at birth (LSB)was 6.83 ± 0.13 piglets. The effects of period, season of farrowings and inbreeding on litter size at birth were not significant (P>0.05).The overall least squares mean of litter size at weaning(LWW) was 4.83 ± 0.12 and was significantly (Pd”0.05) affected by in breeding. Litter weight at birth (LWB) had a least square mean of 7.81 ± .16 kg and it was significantly (Pd”0.05) affected by period of farrowing. The mean LWB of non-inbred sows was 8.22 ± 0.19kg and that of inbred sows was7.41 ± 0.29 kg. The overall least squares mean for litter weight at weaning (LWW) was 39.36 ± 1.25 kg and inbreeding of sow exerted significant effect on LWW. The LWB and LWW were significantly affected by period of farrowing. The litter size at birth and at weaning and litter weight at birth and at weaning was not significantly affected by season of birth. The heritability estimates of litter size at birth and litter size at weaning were 0.096 ± 0.09 and 0.816 ± 0.27 respectively. The corresponding heritability values for LWB and LWW were 0.41 ± 0.18 and 0.53 ± 0.21 respectively. 

In animal breeding, genetic disorders are one of the most important issues for breeders. The present study was carried out to genotype HF crossbred cattle for FXI deficiency and CVM using PCR and PCR-RFLP using 50 blood samples. Amplicons of 244 bp for FXI gene and the 287 bp for SLC35A3 gene were successfully amplified. Analysis of amplicons of FXI gene revealed single 244 bp fragment which indicates absence of mutant allele. The amplicons of 287 bp of SLC35A3 gene was digested with Pst I RE which revealed two fragments of size 264 bp and 23 bp  for normal animals. In the present study, out of fifty HF crossbred animals screened neither carrier nor affected animals were found for FXID and CVM.

The research was carried out to study the effects of dietary supplementation of Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) and selenium on ALT and AST enzyme levels in broiler chicken. A total of forty-two broiler chicks of day old divided into six groups of seven each were used for this study. Ocimum sanctum leaf powder (0.25% and 0.5%), organic selenium (0.3 ppm) and their combinations were added to the basal diet. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded at weekly intervals. Blood samples were taken at the end of 6th week for enzymological assay from each treatment. The enzymes assayed were alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Dietary supplementation of Ocimum sanctum leaf powder at 0.25%, 0.5% levels and its combination (0.5% level) with selenium (0.3 ppm) reduced the levels of ALT and AST significantly (P<0.05). It was concluded that Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) has hepato-protective properties.

Odontotermes formosanus termites are recognized as one of the major ecosystem engineers in tropical soils. This termite depends on intestinal microorganisms for cellulose digestion. Nine bacterial isolates from termite gut were identified using sugar fermentation and biochemical tests and confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The aerobes isolated from the termite gut were Bacillus sp., Citrobacter freundii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The facultative anaerobes isolated were Salmonella entrica, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Staphylococcus gallinarum and Serratia marcescens. DNA from these bacterial cultures was extracted for molecular identification by 16S rRNA gene amplification. The cellulolytic activities of these bacteria were assessed by congo red assay. This study revealed the presence of cellulolytic aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria in the gut of termite Odontotermes formosanus which could be manipulated for their cellulose digestion in rumen.