Epidemiological studies on somatic cell count and subclinical mastitis in buffaloes of Puducherry, India

The present study was conducted to investigate the normal somatic cell count (SCC), associated factors in hygienic management and to define subclinical mastitis in buffaloes in Puducherry. Samples were collected from 50 clinically normal buffaloes stationed at different farms of Puducherry region. Somatic cell count was measured for all the milk samples using Newman-Lampert staining technique. The upper limit of SCC was determined as ≥2, 00,000/ml of milk based on the mean ± 2SD of a total SCC. California mastitis test (CMT) was conducted for all the animals. In the present study subclinical mastitis was diagnosed on the basis of samples with SCCs ≥ 2, 00,000/ml. In the present study 96% of the milk samples were negative for California mastitis test (CMT). The SCC of CMT positive quarter was significantly higher (P<0.01) than CMT negative quarters. Subclinical mastitis was found only in three buffaloes in the present study. Somatic cell counts were significantly higher in the buffaloes with subclinical mastitis. Regarding the hygiene, all the farms had poor management and improper housing. Proper education on hygienic management is need of the hour for buffalo owners of Puducherry region

Nematicidal activity of fervenulin isolated from a nematicidal actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. CMU-MH021, on Meloidogyne incognita

An isolate of the actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. CMU-MH021 produced secondary metabolites that inhibited egg hatch and increased juvenile mortality of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in vitro. 16S rDNA gene sequencing showed that the isolate sequence was 99% identical to Streptomyces roseoverticillatus. The culture filtrates form different culture media were tested for nematocidal activity. The maximal activity against M. incognita was obtained by using modified basal (MB) medium. The nematicidal assay-directed fractionation of the culture broth delivered fervenulin (1) and isocoumarin (2). Fervenulin, a low molecular weight compound, shows a broad range of biological activities. However, nematicidal activity of fervenulin was not previously reported. The nematicidal activity of fervenulin (1) was assessed using the broth microdilution technique. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the compound against egg hatch of M. incognita was 30 μg/ml and juvenile mortality of M. incognita increasing was observed at 120 μg/ml. Moreover, at the concentration of 250 μg/ml fervenulin (1) showed killing effect on second-stage nematode juveniles of M. incognita up to 100% after incubation for 96 h. Isocoumarin (2), another bioactive compound produced by Streptomyces sp. CMU-MH021, showed weak nematicidal activity with M. incognita

Global Publication Productivity on Goat Research: A Scientometric Analysis

This paper evaluates the output of world literature on goat research based on the publications indexed in CAB Direct Online Database for the period from 1912 to 2013. The present study revealed that the total number of publications on goat research is 37,485. The average papers published per year is 367.50. India is the largest producer of publications on goat research with 2,381 papers which is 6.35% of the total publications followed by Brazil with 1000 papers (2.68%). As far as goat research is concerned, India has produced 359.12% more publications than China and 357.50% than USA. The top 20 countries have contributed 10,413 papers which is 27.78% of global research output. 'Small Ruminant Research' is the leading journal in publishing papers on goat research as it has published 1,389 papers which is 3.71% of global research output followed by the Indian Journal of Animal Sciences which has published 1,162 papers which is accounted for 3.19%. Among the top 20 journals, three journals are published from India and they collectively published 2,464 papers which is 6.57% of global publication output on goat research

CYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF JUSTICIA BEDDOMEI AND ITS ENDOPHYTIC ASPERGILLUS SP

Abstract Introduction; Endophytic fungi are mutualistic symbionts of plants producing bioactive secondary metabolites. Objective; The study was carried out to screen for phytochemicals and demonstrate the cyotoxicity, the ethyl acetate extracts of the plant Justicia beddomei and its endophytic fungi. Methods; Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried by standard procedures. The MTT assay of the extracts was carried out on A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Results; The endophytic Aspergillus had an IC 50 of 22.73µg/ml, while the plant extract had an IC 50 of   6.25µg/ml. The phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. Conclusion; The present study indicates the presence of anticancer compounds in the plant and its endophytic Aspergillus sp. The endophyte was shown to possess bioactivity three times than that of the host plant