With 109.85 million heads, India ranks first in world buffalo population. Because of its extremely nutritive milk, leaner meat and top draught power for wet conditions, buffalo proposes extreme ability for the enhancement of living standard of mankind. Buffaloes are well known for their diet versatility, remarkable defiance to disease and flexibility to a wide range of dwelling, feeding and managemental circumstances. Meat of buffalo calf; have no religious prohibitions and is lean and liked by most of the segments of populations. The meat obtained from young male buffalo calves has more tenderness than that from higher age and connective tissue in the meat contributes to its toughness. Despite, the little toughness of buffalo meat than corresponding beef owing to existence of substantial proportion of connective tissue in buffalo, yet emulsified products like sausages, patties, loaf, nuggets, patties etc. can be nicely prepared from buffalo meat. The deliciousness of buffalo calf meat is almost identical to that of buffalo meat. Thus, rescue of buffalo calf for meat production can enhance the employment, revenue and export prospective.

Study was conducted to explore immune response to decellularised porcine small intestinal sub-mucosa (DPSIS) graft though clinical evaluation and mRNA expression of selected genes of ocular surface epithelium after corneal surface reconstruction in dogs suffering from Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Sixteen client-owned dogs that underwent deep lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and DPSIS graft for corneal surface reconstruction were selected; seven dogs with corneal ulcer were included in group A as control and nine dogs with corneal ulcer as a complication of KCS were included in group B as treatment group. Healing of corneal ulcer under graft was evaluated clinically and by digital photographs. Gene expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PD-L1 and FASL before and after grafting was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) at definite intervals post graft. DPSIS graft promoted effective healing of corneal defect of partial/full thickness in group A and preserved corneal integrity whereas fibrosis and corneal pigmentation ensued in group B post DPSIS graft. Gene expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were found elevated in group B before and after PSIS grafting. PD-L1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in group B. Protein and gene expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 varied with severity of inflammation in corneal surface post DPSIS grafting. Enhanced mRNA expression of PD- L1 and inflammatory mediators ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the ocular surface epithelial cells suggested an altered immune response to DPSIS graft and warranted strategies to modify them for successful repair of corneal epithelial defects in KCS affected dogs.

The present study was designed with the aim to identify the polymorphism of bovine leptin receptor gene and their association with production and reproduction traits in population of Sahiwal cows. Blood samples were collected from 69 Sahiwal cows and genomic DNA was harvested for analyzing the genetic polymorphism in LEPR gene by PCR-RFLP (LEPR/BseGI) method. The results revealed three genotypes CT, CC, and TT in the population with 47.83, 36.23 and 15.94% gentotypic frequency, respectively and two alleles C and T with 0.60 and 0.40 allelic frequency, respectively. The LEPR/BseGI assay revealed significant association of genetic polymorphism on LP, TMY, MY300, and PY in third lactation in Sahiwal cows while PCR-RFLP assay did not reveal association of genetic polymorphism on reproductive traits. In conclusion, SNP identified in the LEPR gene and its association with production traits advocates that this gene might serve as a candidate genetic marker for selection of Sahiwal cattle with better milk yield. However, further studies are needed to validate this SNP of the LEPR gene in another breed and population of dairy cattle and its association with other production and reproduction traits further needed to be verified.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major contagious pathogen responsible for both the clinical and subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle all over the world. The ability of S. aureus to form biofilm is considered to be a major virulence factor influencing its pathogenesis. In addition, it often creates intricacy in treatment of bovine mastitis using conventional antibiotics and produce recalcitrant drug resistant infections. This indeed demands urgent remedial measures as outbreaks of livestock associated methicillin resistant S. aureus (LA-MRSA) and community associated methicillin resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) are on the rise and currently being implicated as a rapidly emerging cause of numerous life threatening and therapy refractory human infections as well. In this study, a total of 22 S. aureus isolates from bovine clinical mastitis were evaluated for their ability to form biofilm by using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Using Congo red agar method, 9.09 per cent and 22.72 per cent of S. aureus were considered as strong and intermediate biofilm producers respectively. The presence of icaA and eno genes associated with biofilm formation was confirmed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study indicates a high prevalence of the ica (63.63 per cent) and eno (100 per cent) genes among S. aureus isolates from bovine mastitis.

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an economically important viral respiratory disease in poultry. Recently, re-emergence of Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) has been reported in several countries. This study reports the severe form of ILTV outbreak in a breeder flock located at Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Morbidity and mortality rate observed in the current outbreak were 70% and 12% respectively. On post mortem examination haemorrhage and caseous plug were noticed in the trachea. PCR for ICP4 gene was targeted for initial screening and ILTV was isolated from positive samples. Molecular characterization was carried out by gJ gene sequencing, one of the virulent gene responsible for viral egress. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the study isolate is genetically related to Australian virulent virus, Italy virulent virus, Russian virulent virus, USA virulent virus and CEO vaccines.

Foodborne illness caused by multidrug resistant STEC is one of the most important global public health problems in the world. So, the present study was undertaken to know the prevalence of β-lactamase (ESBL and AmpC) producing STEC in retail meats and chicken cloacal swabs by PCR. A total of 183 samples (135 foods of animal origin and 48 chicken cloacal swabs) collected from retail meat shops and poultry farms in and around Krishna district were subjected to cultural isolation and confirmation of β-lactamase producing STEC by different PCR assays. The overall prevalence of E. coli was found to be 37.15% (68/183) by species-specific PCR. The STEC specific virulence genes stx1, hlyA and stx2 were detected in 10.29%, 2.941% and 1.470%, of E. coli isolates, respectively and no eae A gene was identified. ESBL and/or AmpC-producing E. coli were found in 80.88% (55/68) of isolates with blaTEM being the predominant gene (87.27%) followed by blaCTX-M-2 (9.09%), blaOXA (7.27%), bla DHA (3.63%) and CIT (1.81%). β-lactamase activity was detected in 66.66% of STEC isolates. These findings revealed that retail meats are the potential source of ESBL and/or AmpC-producing E. coli.

Differentially expressed tear proteins after corneal reconstruction with decellularized porcine small intestinal sub mucosa (DPSIS) in Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) affected dogs was explored through Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) followed by Peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF). Anterior lamellar keratoplasty followed by DPSIS graft was performed in seven dogs with corneal ulcer (group A) and in nine dogs with corneal ulcer as a complication of KCS (group B). Tear was also collected from 12 healthy dogs with no ocular pathology. PMF based protein identification was performed on tryptic peptides of tear film trapped in major bands of ID-SDS PAGE (in duplicate) using MALDI-TOF/MS. PMF revealed 432 unique tear proteins from major gel bands of DPSIS treated dogs (group A and B) and normal tear from healthy dogs. Based on MOWSE score, relative abundance of proteins in both groups were compared with that in normal tear. Proteins USP37, KRT1, Major allergen Can F1, CCDC39, PRKCD, Serum albumin, TERT and CD163 were found to be significantly (p<0.001) down-regulated in group A and group B compared to normal tear from healthy dogs. Protein INVS was found significantly up regulated (p<0.001) in Group B post DPSIS graft compared to pre-operative tear. ZNF252 was found significantly up regulated (p<0.001) in Group A tear film post-operatively compared to pre-operative tear. Intrinsic cellular stress disrupting DNA replication and cell division, cellular senescence and apoptosis were found as key events underlying corneal pathology in KCS which needs consideration while attempting surgical reconstruction of cornea using DPSIS graft.

The study was undertaken to assess the level of trace minerals, antioxidants and semen quality in normo, oligo and ashthenozoospermic breeding frieswal bulls. Semen samples were collected from breeding bulls (47) maintained at bull rearing unit of ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut. Trace minerals (Zn, Cu, Co and Fe) and oxidative stress parameters (SOD, Catalase and MDA) were determined in semen samples of breeding bulls. Sperm motility and concentration were measured in fresh ejaculates. The mean zinc and copper concentrations were significantly lower in blood and semen (p<0.05) in oligozoospermic and ashthenozoospermic bulls as compared to normozoospermic bulls. Cobalt and iron concentrations did not vary significantly in different group of breeding bulls. Significantly higher MDA and low SOD and catalase activities were present in seminal plasma of oligo and ashthenozoospermic bulls as compared to normozoospermic bulls. The MDA had significant negative correlation with motility (p<0.05, r = -0.303) and sperm concentration (p<0.001, r = -0.473) while SOD and Catalase had significant positive correlation with initial sperm motility (p<0.05, r = 0.273; p<0.001, r = 0.435) and sperm concentration (p<0.001, r = 0.575; p<0.001, r = 0.631). The study concluded that oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia are associated with an increased MDA concentration and decreased activities of SOD and Catalase in the seminal plasma of breeding bulls. Present findings suggested that determination of antioxidant status of semen during infertility investigation seems to be useful.

Two trials were conducted to assess the blood biochemical and immunity parameters in WL layers (25-44 weeks) at low protein and amino acid supplemented diets. First one is for assessment of digestible lysine and 2nd one is for digestible threonine at constant ratio of other essential amino acids at low protein levels. In experiment –I WL pullets (n=528) were randomly allotted into 11 treatment groups each with 6 replicates of 8 birds and fed with 2 levels of protein (13.36 and 15.78%) with five concentrations of d. lysine (0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.65 and 0.70%) and a control group with 17% CP and 0.70% lysine. In 2nd experiment pullets of 390 numbers were distributed into 13 treatment groups with 5 replicates of 6 birds. Basal diets with two d. lysine concentrations (0.65% and 0.60%) at two protein levels (from the experiment –I) and each lysine concentration was supplemented with 6 graded concentrations (60, 63, 66, 69, 72 and 75%) of crystalline threonine, and a control with 17 % CP, 0.70 % lysine and 66% threonine were fed to the birds. Results of these experiments revealed that there was no significant variation in total proteins, albumin globulin, A:G ratio, cholesterol, Alkaline phosphotase, Calcium, Phosphorus and HI titres in both the trials. It indicates that the levels of proteins 13.36 and 15.78% with 0.65%,0.60% lysine at 60% lysine as threonine are optimum for WL layers for production without altering health status.

Bovine mastitis is a frequent cause of economic loss to dairy farmers. This study is aimed at investigating the biofilm formation ability and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococci from bovine mastitis. Among a total of 125 Staphylococcal isolates obtained from cows and she buffaloes with clinical and subclinical mastitis, 45 were coagulase positive (CPS) and 80 were identified as coagulase negative (CoNS) by tube coagulase test. Considerably high proportion of Staphylococcal isolates (56/125, 45%) formed biofilms on Congo red agar and when these isolates were screened for biofilm genes (icaA, bap, icaAB, aap), only four (7.2%) were found to possess bap gene. The icaA, icaAB and aap genes were not detected in any of the isolates. Majority of the CPS and CoNS isolates from our study (around 96%) were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone, but most of them were resistant to gentamicin (100% of CPS and 92.5% of CoNS). The isolates (49/125, 39.2%) that showed resistance to cefoxitin were phenotypically identified as methicillin resistant, out of which 10 were MRSA and 39 were CoNS. In PCR for mecA and mecC genes, only eight isolates (8/125, 6.4%) of Staphylococci were found to possess mecA gene. None of the isolates carried mecC gene. The results suggest that the CoNS isolates (44.8%) from bovine mastitis had the potential to form biofilms and has considerably high (49%) methicillin resistant phenotype though only 6.25 per cent of them carried mecA gene and could be confirmed as MRCoNS.

Nano selenium was synthesized by wet chemical method at laboratory level. In this study particle size, particle shape, zeta potential and selenium content were characterized by using particle size analyser (PSA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The result revealed that selenium nano particle is spherical in shape with mean particle size of 31.8 ± 2.31 nano meter (nm) and concentration of selenium is 98.34 ± 2.8 per cent selenium that ensured the purity of nano selenium. The toxicity was analysed by MTT assay against Vero cell line. The nano selenium effectively inhibited the growth of Vero cells in a dose dependent manner. In vitro digestibility and microbial biomass production also evaluated on different form of selenium on basal diet at different levels. We used sodium selenite, selenocysteine and nano selenium. Based on the calculations, IC50 for nano selenium derived from selenium powder was 89.11 μg/ml. when selenium is added at graded level to the basal diet in any form resulted in significant increase (P<0.05) in digestibility parameter such as in vitro apparent dry matter digestibility, in vitro true dry matter digestibility and microbial biomass production at all levels of addition compared to when no selenium was added. From the results it can be inferred that spherical shaped, nano-selenium particles of size ranging 31.8 nm could be produced by wet chemical method at laboratory level.

The tissues from the small intestine containing jejunum were collected from six young goats and processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies. The jejunum villi were of different heights having a broad base with tapering to blunt ends. The surface of the villi showed slight corrugation in the initial part of the jejunum. These corrugations were very faint in this region and also showed orifices for goblet cells. The caudal segments of the jejunum showed some structural changes in the form of more prominent corrugations on the villi surface. The villi surface showed orifices with irregular boundaries for openings of goblet cells in between the dense areas of the microvilli. Whereas the transmission electron microscopy revealed that the epithelium of the jejunum was of a columnar type having goblet cells and no Paneth cells were observed in the villous part of the jejunum. A very few goblet cells were interspersed in between the columnar cells. The glandular epithelium consisted of different cell populations consisted of columnar, Paneth, endocrine and goblet cells.

Endophytes are ubiquitous organisms that live within the host plants without causing any apparent symptom of disease. The aim of the study was to identify the various morphological characteristics of endophytic bacteria from leaves of Tamarindus indica. The preliminary identification of the endophytic bacterial isolates was done based on various morphological features of isolated endophytic bacteria from leaves of Tamarindus indica. Growth characteristics of endophytic bacteria isolated from Tamarindus indica on King’s B media showed that colonies were either irregular or circular in shape, either flat elevation on petri plate or of raised elevation, margin of colonies were either undulated or entire, the surface of the growth opaque and white in colour. All the endophytic bacterial isolates from leaves of Tamarindus indica were non-haemolytic in nature. Growth characteristic of isolated endophytic bacteria from Tamarindus indica in BHI broth showed turbidity and pellicle formation, either they form sediment or ring. The microscopic examination of endophytic bacterial isolates had shown that all endophytic bacterial isolates from Tamarindus indica were gram positive rods. Isolated endophytic bacteria were tested for various biochemical tests also. Based on the findings the endophytic bacteria were characterized and providing insights on the nature of microbiome present in the leaves of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica).

Gestational age estimation in small ruminants helps in nutritional management of pregnant ewes and optimizes the lamb survival. Nellore Brown ewes (n = 20) were subjected to short day estrus synchronization protocol and weekly once transabdominal ultrasonography from day 8 onwards until parturition. The biparietal diameter and occipito nasal length of fetal head measured from day 43 until day 113 of gestation. A positive correlation was obtained between gestational age and BPD (r = 0.9687) and ONL (r = 0.9873) and regression equations generated as y = 15.94x + 28.43 and y = 9.471x + 25.66 respectively for BPD and ONL where y is GA and X is respective head measurements. For validation of equations, BPD and ONL were measured in 21 and 12 pregnant ewes respectively, in field test. For linear relationship 61.9 and 71.4% of pregnant ewes delivered within ±7 and ±14 days of expected parturition dates for BPD and 58.3, and 100% of pregnant ewes delivered within ±3 and ±11 days of expected parturition dates for ONL. It was concluded that the ultrasonic measurements of fetal head diameters were well correlated with gestational age and can be used for estimation of pregnancy duration, however, ONL was precise over BPD in predicting parturition dates in Nellore Brown ewes.