The mRNA from distal ileum of Indian goat was cloned and characterized after purification. cDNA was synthesized using goat ileal epithelial RNA, omniscript and sensiscript reverse transcriptase and amplified by Hotstart Taq DNA polymerase with primers designed by taking conserved regions of cattle enteric _Ò-defensin, cattle lingual antimicrobial peptide(LAP) and goat _Ò-defensin-2 sequences. The amplified cDNA of 253bp was, ligated to linearised TA cloning vector and transformed into XLblue strain of E.coli which was grown overnight at 37oC in a LB plate containing ampicillin, IPTG and X-Gal. The recombinant plasmid was isolated and digested with NcoI. The white colonies showed a release of 253bp insert. The sequence analysis showed 26, 16 and 5-nucleotide substitution having 85.6%, 91.3%, 97.4% homology with reported cattle EBD, buffalo EBD and goat BD2 mRNA respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence encodes for a 64 amino acid precursor peptide showing 12,18 and 4 amino acid substitution having 80%, 70.8%, 93.8% homology with buffalo EBD, cattle EBD and goat BD2 peptide respectively. Both nucleotide and amino acid sequence homology showed that the cloned sequence was closer to goat BD2.

The effect of addition of Melia azedarach (fruit), Pimpinella anisum (seed), Cuminum cyminum linn (seed), Murraya koenigii (leaves), Emblica officinalis (fruit), Allium sativum linn (bulb), Terminalia arjuna (bark), Sapindus trifoliatus (seed), Zingiber officinale (rhizome), Trigonella foenun-graecum (seed) at three dose level (1.5%, 2.0% and 3.0% of DM) on pH, dry matter and organic matter digestibility of feed was studied with rumen liquor of goat. There was no significant change in the in vitro fluid pH, showing no adverse effect of herb addition. The addition of all the herbs at 1.5% level had no significant (P 0.05) effect on in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility. There was slight improvement in dry matter and organic matter digestibility with the addition of Trigonella foenungraecum at 2% level as compared to control. At 3% level of addition of this herb, there was significant (P 0.05) increase in the in vitro dry matter digestibility (%) with Trigonella foenun-graecum (51.97) as compared to control (43.95). Similarly there was significant (P 0.05) increase in the in vitro organic matter digestibility (%) with Trigonella foenun-graecum (54.95) as compared to control (46.87) having with no addition of herbs. So Trigonella foenun-graecum (seed) at 3% dose level can be further explored in in vivo experiment to utilize it as a feed additive to increase the digestibility of feed in goats.

Thirty Staphylococcus aureus isolates used in the study obtained from cattle (20) and goat (10) were haemolytic on blood agar. Twenty one of the isolates (14 from cattle, 7 from goats) produced a-haemolysis, 3 produced b-haemolysis (2 from cattle and 1 from goats), and 6 isolates (4 from cattle and 2 from goats) produced both a- and b-haemolysis. The haemolysins tested against erythrocytes from rabbit, cattle and horse in order to demonstrate a-, b- and d-toxins, respectively revealed that a- and b-toxins were produced by all the isolates but b toxin was produced by only 7 isolates from cattle and by 3 from goats. On titration it was recorded that highest titre was recorded for a-toxins (for cattle, 1:2560 and for goat, 1:1280) whereas the highest titres for b and d-toxins was similar (1:160) for cattle as well as goat isolates. The result obtained for qualitative and quantitative haemolysin assays correlated well with the haemolysis pattern seen on the blood agar plates.

The efficacy of two methods of spraying of acaricides on tick-infested sheep and goats was assessed. Two pyrethroid acaricides, 0.15% sumicidin and 0.20% butox were sprayed on individual animal one by one or on group of ten animals kept in small enclosures at a time, totally involving 40 sheep and 40 goats for each method. The efficacy, as seen from the total efficacy score (TES) of the former method of spraying, was found to be higher than the latter. But the advantages of the group spraying were that it saved the time in spraying and the quantity of acaricidal emulsion.

Survivability of Listeria monocytogenes in clay loam soil was examined at 30° C for a period of 35 days. The microorganism inoculated in soil steadily declined from 3.5 × 10 6 g -1 to 3.9 × 10 4 g -1 (P = 0.05) on 35 th days. Destruction of normal soil microflora by heat treatment resulted in marginal rise in 3.3 × 10 6 g -1 of L. monocytogenes to 4.2 × 10 6 g -1 during the first 7 days, followed by steady decline to 5.6 × 10 4 g -1 on 35 th days. Heat treated soil inoculated with lower concentration of L. monocytogenes (3.6 × 10 4 g -1 ) supported sharp rise in its population to 4.8 × 10 6 g -1 (P=0.05) during the first weak which gradually declined, but remained higher (6.1 × 10 4 g -1 ) than the initial load even on 35 th days. In non-sterile soil, the rise was less appreciable but L. monocytogenes maintained its levels (10 4 g -1 ) during the experimental period. Survivability of the microorganisms was also observed in the soil with added chicken manure, cattle manure or sheep/goat manure.

A total of 281 serum samples collected randomly from goats showing the signs of fever, abortion,repeat breeding and still births as well as from apparently healthy ones were subjected to LAT and MAT based on rLipL32 and rLipL41 antigens. A total of 16 (5.69%) samples were found positive to MAT, whereas rLipL32-LAT and rLipL41-LAT detected 35 (12.45%) and 23 (8.18%) samples as positive, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of rLipL32-LAT was 87.50% and 92.83%, respectively,while rLipL41-LAT yielded 75.00% and 97.35% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. LAT based on rLipL32 and rLipL41antigens could further be evaluated on a larger number of samples to ensure its utility as a screening test for the sero-epidemiological studies.

Haematology and serum chemistry was studied in young (5-6 months) and adult (2-2½ years) changthangi goats (Capra hircus) to investigate the age associated changes in blood constituents. Significant difference was recorded in most of the haematological and biochemical indices between two age groups. Higher values were recorded for total erythrocytes (16.63 ± 0.61 and 12.79 ± 0.56 x 106 / cumm) in young and adult respectively when compared to reference values for goats which speaks of its adaptation to high altitude hypoxic conditions. The total leukocyte count (9.99 ± 0.72 x 103/ cumm) in young was significantly (P0.01) higher as compared to the adults (6.38 ± 0.65 x 103/ cumm). Present study has shown significant (P0.01) age related difference in differential leukocyte count, with neutrophils high in young and lymphocytes in adults. Biochemical studies revealed age associated difference with total proteins (7.48 ± 0.08 g/ dl), cholesterol (108.40 ± 6.26 mg/ dl), triglycerides (99.20 ± 7.79 mg/dl), LDL (20. 20 ± 2.01mg/dl), HDL (68.14 ± 3.65mg/ dl) and creatinine (0.92 ± 0.04 mg/ dl) higher in adults and enzymes like ALP (151.31 ± 10.26 u/l) and AST (165.43 ± 4.7 u/l) higher in young. The study indicated that age be considered while interpreting the clinical and experimental data.

A study was conducted on the epididymis of 30 Gaddi goats, divided into three groups of 10 animals in each viz; Prepubertal (1 day old to 18 months of age), Pubertal (18 months to 5yrs of age)and Postpubertal (5yrs of age). The study revealed that all the structures of epididymis grew gradually and consistently with age; however the differential growth was more appreciable during prepubertal and pubertal stages of life than in the later phases. In one day old kids, the tubular epithelium comprised of simple columnar epithelium, which became pseudostratified columnar at six months of age. The tubular diameter and height of the epithelium and its stereocilia also increased from birth to late prepuberty. It increased further in the pubertal animals and only slightly in postpubertal animals. Histochemically the cytoplasm of epididymis was PAS positive and Sudanophilic. Moderate to strong ACPase and strong AKPase activities were observed in all the segments of epididymis, which increased with age.

Hydatidosis, caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus is considered to be an important condition in herbivores such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats. Due to its presence in the food animals meant for meat purpose, the disease is considered to be of economic and public health significance owing to the impact it produces on the meat industry by condemnation of the affected organs. Food animals such as sheep, goats get infected by accidental ingestion of contaminated feed and water with the eggs of the tapeworm. Development of the cysts in the intermediate host such as sheep and goats occurs in the lungs, liver and other visceral organs. The disease remains asymptomatic in most cases in spite of the presence of the hydatid cysts for a long period. A study was undertaken to find out the incidence of the hydatid cysts in sheep and goats in the Corporation slaughter house by examination of the carcasses of the slaughtered sheep and goats. By the study, an overall incidence of 6.5% in sheep and 5.8% in goats were observed with the sheep harbouring more number of fertile hydatid cysts which plays a major role in dissemination of infection to dogs.