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. 

The present study was conducted to study the vitreous humor between eye differences and baseline values of potassium, sodium, calcium and glucose immediately after death in dogs. Eight canine carcasses brought for necropsy formed the material for collection of vitreous humour in the present study. The information regarding time of death was gathered from dog owners, clinicians and clinical records. Eyes were enucleated as soon as possible after receiving carcass for postmortem. Sampling of vitreous humor was done using 16 gauge needle and 20 ml syringe. The needle was inserted at the lateral angle of eyeball so that the tip of needle was placed at the center of the eyeball. About 50 µL vitreous humour was gently aspirated from each eye and transferred to eppendorf tubes. Sampling of vitreous humour was done within 1-4 hours after death. The aspirated vitreous humour samples were centrifuged at 13,000 rpm for 15 min at 50C temperature and the supernatant was used for analysis. The average vitreous humour concentrations of potassium, sodium, calcium and glucose estimated within 1-4 hours after death were 8.18±0.31 mEq/L, 152.55±4.46 mEq/L, 9.52  ±0.20 mg/dL and 21.70±4.50 mg/dL respectively. The results of this study indicated that there were no significant differences between left and right eye  for all of the vitreous biochemical constituents that were studied in present study (estimated within 1-4 hours after death).

A study was conducted to analyse the migratory sheep production system in southern agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu. Reproductive performance of the rams and ewes was recorded through the questionnaire both in migratory and non-migratory flocks. Mean lambing percentage, twinning percentage, livability at birth percentage, age at first mating (months) in ewes, age at first mating (months) in rams, age at first lambing (months) and weaning percentage in migratory and non-migratory flocks were 93.56 and 91.50; 1.87 and 1.52; 98.32 and 98.73; 12.34 and 13.22; 19.64 and 21.44; 18.54 and 19.68; 85.98 and 87.15, respectively. The weaning period for ram and ewe lambs were 2.94+0.96 and 5.03+0.13 in migratory flocks and 4.82+0.13 and 6.06+0.17 in non-migratory flocks, respectively. Reproductive performance of sheep in migratory flocks was significantly better than nonmigratory flocks. The months of October,  November and December were main lambing season and the months of April and May were second lambing season.

A 3 months old goat kid presented to Veterinary Dispensary, Chetiyur, Salem district Tamil Nadu   with case history of ring like patches on the body complete alopecia, frequent itching with thick and scaly skin . Dermatophytes are cited among the most frequent causes of dermatological problems in domestic animals. The superficial mycoses caused by dermatophytes are called dermatophytosis- Trichophyton are usually the cause of dermatophytosis in domestic animals. Trichophyton verrucosum is the major fungal agent encountered in case of goats. Direct microscopic examination of skin scrapping with 20% KOH revealed long chains densely packed chlamydiospore found with swollen hyphae. The skin scrapping materials cultured in thiamine inositol nutrient supplement selective culture medium. Long chains of densely compacted chlamydospores present in lactophenol cotton blue staining. The goat kid recovered within a week by external antifungal and systemic antibiotic and nutritional therapy with good hygienic management.

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of sprouted green gram, selenium and vitamin E and their combinations on reproductive performance like semen quality and fertility for a period of five weeks with forty two adult White Leghorn cocks and seventy White Leghorn hens which were divided into seven treatment groups containing six cocks and ten hens for each treatment. The treatment groups consisted of control (T1), sprouted grains 50g/kg (T2), selenium 0.5mg/kg (T3), vitamin E 500mg/kg (T4), sprouted grains 50g/kg + selenium 0.5mg/kg (T5), sprouted grains 50g/kg + vitamin E 500mg/kg (T6) and sprouted grains 50g/kg + selenium 0.5mg/kg + vitamin E 500mg/kg (T7). Significant (P<0.05) difference was observed between treatment groups. The overall sperm motility of treatment and control groups did not differ significantly. The sperm concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in all treatment groups compared to control.  Inclusion of sprouted green gram, selenium and vitamin E had significantly reduced the overall dead (P<0.01) and abnormal (P<0.05) sperms when compared to the control group.