Ground fresh green leaves of Lucas aspera and Parthenium hysterophorus were screened for their molluscicidal property at dilutions of 1,000,2,500,5,000 and 10,000 ppm in water against fresh water snail, Indoplanorbis exustus at 6, 24 and 48 hr of exposure. Cent percent mortality of snails was noticed in all dilutions except the first one for each exposure time.

Examination of 816 soil samples from different parts of Puducherry city viz. public places, residential areas, some school play grounds revealed overall 2.21% contamination of soil with the ova of Toxocara. Besides Toxocara, ova of non-hookworm strongyles(0.74%), Ancylostoma (1.23%), Trichuris (0.74%), Taenia (0.12%) and Moniezia (0.86%) were also recorded. A few ascarid eggs, mites and their eggs, and larvae of free-living nematodes were also commonly encountered in the soil.

Out of73 washing samples from commonly used vegetable viz. dhania (14), coriander (Coriandrum sativum) (12), pudina (11), spinach (Spinacia oleracea) (9), carrot (15) and raddish (12) collected either from local vegetable markets or residences, only 2 carrot washings and one radish washing were found positive for strongyle ova and one dhania sample was positive for ascarid ova.

First lactation milk yield per day of lactation length of 379 Sahiwal cows, collected from cattle breeding farm, Chak Ganjaria, Lucknow were utilized for the present study. The optimum number of progeny size to achieve the accuracy attained by different methods of sire evaluation (Daughter's average (DA), contemporary comparison (CC), Least-squares (LS), Simple Regressed Least-squares (SRLS) and Best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP» ranged from 47.615 (CC) to 161.069 (BLUP). Similar results were also obtained in the ratio ofoptimum progeny size estimated by different methods with that of actual progeny size per sire available ranging from 5.270 (CC) to 17.828 (BLUP). Present findings revealed that BLUP method showed highest increase in accuracy of 207.72% among all the methods studied.

Comparision of the carcass traits and sensory properties of meat between different genetic groups of guinea fowl and broiler chickens at 16 weeks ofa gerevealed that the dressing and eviscerated weight percentage of broiler chickens were significantly lower from that all the guinea fowl groups, except from that of Pearl, where the differences were not significant. Percent giblet weight was lower (P of weeks 16 at meat raw properties sensory their in chickens broiler than grades higher scored fowls guinea general, In weights. wing and leg cent per for except ofcarcass cuts birds groups between observed were differences No cross. ofLXP that from only significant but (67.77%), lowest also was yield Similarly, fowls.

The study found out the chemical and microbial quality of various milk samples collected from different sources of milk procured from rural areas of Tirupati. Thefat, SNF and protein percentages of milk samples collected from Dairy Experimental Station were higher than the other milk samples collected from commercial dairies of Sangam, Balaji and Heritage and local vendors. The milk samples collected from local vendors showed lower fat, SNF and protein percentages. No significant difference was observed in the milk samples collected from commercial dairies of Sangam, Balaji and Heritage with regard to fat, SNF and protein percentages. None of the milk samples collected from Dairy Experimental Station were found to be adulterated with water, whereas higher percentage of water was observed in the milk samples of local vendors. The Standard Plate Count of milk from local vendors is higher followed by Dairy Experimental Station. Presence of E.coli organisms in the milk samples collected from local vendors and Dairy Experimental Station indicated the extraneous contamination and unhygienic conditions of milking barn.

Abortion, still birth, premature birth and mortality of cross bred dairy cattle (Jersey × Tharparkar/Red Sindhi) were noticed in the organized dairy farm of National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, Nadia, situated in hot and humid climatic area nearer to the river Ganges of West Bengal, India. The history of the farm revealed newly introduction of pure bred dairy cattle and outbreak of FMD during mid March to mid April, affected about 34% cross bred cows. During investigation, intermittent rise of temperature (104°F -108°F), anorexia, rapid respiration, progressive deterioration of health of animals and loss of milk production were also noticed. On the basis of past history, twenty suspected animals were taken for disease investigation. Repeated visit of the farm and repeated examinations of blood smears were done to observe any haemoprotozoan infections. Twenty to thirty percent of those suspected animals were found positive for Brucella antibodies by STAT, plate agglutination test and MRT. After a massive screening of blood smears, during the visit of third time, ultimately one animal (Identification number JT614) was found positive for the presence of Trypanosoma evansi infections in Giemsa stained blood smears. The infected and all suspected animals were successfully treated with single injection of a mixture of quinapyramine sulphate and chloride @ 7.4 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously. As a prophylactic measure, a mixture of quinapyramine sulphate and chloride @ 7.4 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously were also administered to all suspected animals prevented further occurrence of the disease in this dairy farm. It can be concluded that the iAfection with T. evansi in this farm has happened in a condition of intercurrent diseases with environmental stresses.

Thirty five human sputum collected from TB hospital Bareilly were investigated for Mycobacteria based on direct microscopy, culture and by multiplex peR targeting 12.7 kb fragment and IS 611O. DNA was isolated directly forms putums amples. Outof35 samples,25 were smear positive and 18 yielded culture and 16 were positive by the multiplex PeR. 10 samples were negative on smear mircoscopy, culture and PCR.

The donkey population has remained unchanged in the last two decades despite a decrease in the overall population of equids, emphasizing the usefulness of the donkey as a draught and pack animal. Piroplasmosis in donkeys, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, has been recognized as a serious problem of major economic importance as the affected animals manifest decreased working capacity, loss of appetite, etc. In tropical countries, T. equi infections are more wide-spread and pathogenic than those caused by B. caballi. Donkeys usually remain asymptomatic carriers with positive antibody titres throughout life. Transmission of infection occurs from animal to animal through ticks such as Hyalomma spp. Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. The clinical form of the disease is diagnosed by peripheral blood smear examination, but in carrier donkeys it is very difficult to demonstrate the parasite in stained blood smears as the parasitaemia is extremely low. For diagnosis of such low grade infection or carrier animals, serological tests and DNA-based molecular diagnostic techniques, which are discussed in the present review, have become mandatory. Currently, there is no suitable pharmacotherapy available to clear the T. equi infection from affected donkeys, though some new drugs and drug combinations used against this disease condition have been discussed. In the present situation, there is an urgent need for international cooperation and coordination for development of sensitive molecular diagnostic tools and effective pharmacotherapies for curtailment of the disease condition. Hence, it is imperative to develop and exchange reagents and technology developed through human resource sharing in the interest of sustainability of donkey husbandry.

We examined morphological growth variations in skull features between the Kuril harbor seal and the spotted seal in Hokkaido, Japan. Skulls from 80 Kuril harbor seals and 41 spotted seals were collected, and we measured 29 metric and 6 non-metric cranial characteristics. Three growth classes were defined according to the postnatal developmental stage: pups (0 year), subadults (1-4 years old) and adults (more than 5 years old). We detected sexual dimorphism in Kuril harbor seal pups, subadults, and adults. Although interspecies differences were detected in each growth class, Kuril harbor seals were larger and more massive than spotted seals; this feature was already detectable in pups. We did not detect certain cranial characteristics with which to identify the two species, but it was possible to identify any unknown specimens to their species, sex, and growth class using the cranial data generated in this study. Using 6 non-metric cranial characteristics, we identified significant interspecies differences with regard to the shape of the temporozygomatic suture and the extent of the nasal-incisive suture; the shape of the temporozygomatic suture and the shape of the nares were indicators of growth class in Kuril harbor seals. Although non-metric cranial characteristics have a lower discriminating power than metric characteristics, they are easy to use in the field even by inexperienced researchers.