ANALYSIS OF AFLATOXIN IN DUCK AND POULTRY FEED IN WEST BENGAL

Aflatoxin is a major metabolite of Aspergillus species which is liberated in feeds and feed stuff. The B1 component of aflatoxin is more mutagenic, hepatogenic and nephrotoxic to poultry. A total number of eighteen samples from different parts of West Bengal have been analyzed by Lateral Flow Immuno-Chromatographic Assay (LFICA) and followed by detection in HPLC in 2475 multi fluorescence detector system. The samples were tested for presence of total aflatoxin by LFICA which detected seven samples positive with a cut off level ≥ 4 ppb (55.56%), ten sample between 1-4 ppb (38.89%) and one sample negative (5.55%). The positive samples were further confirmed by HPLC system using C18 column (5 µm and 4.6x 150 mm in length), methanol: water as mobile phase (45:55) and standard for B1 prepared from 2 ppb- 1000 ppb. All seven samples showed presence of B1 in permissible limit ranging from 6.25 ppb to 12.50 ppb. Therefore, it was concluded that the presence of aflatoxin in the tested feeds are within permissible limit and regular detection and monitoring of aflatoxin in feed samples of all the farms may be an important control measure of aflatoxicosis in the poultry farms

SERO-PREVALENCE OF BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA: A 15 - YEARS STUDY

Bovine brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease caused by Brucella abortus. The distribution of bovine brucellosis in West Bengal has not been reported so far. Here, a longitudinal epidemiological study was conducted from April 2002 to March 2016 to determine the distribution, pattern and trend of bovine brucellosis in different organized and unorganized farms of West Bengal, India. Bovine serum samples were examined for identification of brucellosis by Rose Bengal Plate Test and indirect ELISA. Results envisaged that the prevalence of brucellosis is 11.12 times higher in organized farm (average 6.6%) compared to rural areas (average 0.6%) with overall prevalence was 3.9%. The highest and lowest level of sero-positivity was observed in 2015 and 2011 with 9.8% and 0.5% respectively. In reference to the year 2002, trend of brucellosis was decreasing up to 2013 in a fluctuating manner (odd ratio ranging from 1.7 to 2.3); however, it again increased in 2014 and 2015 with final decrease in 2016. In organized farms, highest (12.6%) and lowest (0.6%) level of prevalence was recorded in 2015 and 2011 respectively. In rural areas, the highest and lowest level of prevalence was observed in 2010 and 2008 with 1.8% and 0.15% respectively. Chi square statistics revealed that location of cattle (χ2 =713.8, df=1, p<0.001) and year of sample collection (χ2 = 468.6, df=14, p<0.001) contributed significantly to increasing or decreasing sero-positivity. A univariate logistic regression analysis also revealed that location of the animals either in organized farm or in rural areas and year(s) of sampling have statistically significant (p<0.001) effect on individual animal level sero-positivity. The results suggested that brucellosis is endemic and moderately distributed in different regions of West Bengal including Burdwan, Nadia, Paschim Medinipur, Murshidabad and Hoogly districts

Fluorescent Pigment and Phenol Glucosides from the Heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium

The fluorescence shown by extracts of the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium is attributed to salts of the new compound 1, whose structure was elaborated using detailed spectroscopic/ spectrometric studies. The plant material also contains the nonfluorescent compounds 2 and 3. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by experimental and theoretically calculated electronic CD spectra, while that of 3 was deduced from ECD comparison with reported results in the α-hydroxydihydrochalcone series

Wireless Controlled Wide Range Tuneable CCT Lighting System Using Three Component Colour Mixing

This paper proposes a novel approach of wireless controlled, tenable correlated colour temperature (CCT) lighting system with high colour rendering index (CRI) using the concept of colour mixing. Using Grassmann’s colour mixing theory, phosphor coated warm white LED source (CCT 2800 K) is mixed with the blue and green LED light sources to meet the requirement of high CRI and high value of red object identification parameter R9. A detailed mathematical formulation is derived for easy controlling of variable CCT and illuminance and a flowchart of wireless control scheme is incorporated and experimentally validated in this article. As a result, the locus of the blended light source is very close to the Planckian locus on CIE1931 chromaticity diagram with a minimum uv D value of +0.0005. This proposed system provides a very wide range CCT starting from 2800 K to 15000 K with a high CRI value of 94 at CCT 5000 K. Another feature of this blended light source is the true colour identification parameter of red object (R9), which is also increased to 93 at CCT 8000 K. This system has very wide application in industries like textile, food processing etc., in museum, art gallery, and medical application like surgical lighting for its high CRI and R9 value with wide range of CCTs.</jats:p