One Health approach: A platform for intervention in emerging public health challenges of Kerala state

Review (Published online: 01-05-2015)

3. One Health approach: A platform for intervention in emerging public health challenges of Kerala state - A. Sukumaran and A. S. Pradeepkumar

International Journal of One Health, 1: 14-25

Abstract

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The authors, key functionaries in the Kerala state public health system, review the communicable disease scenario of the state for the past 4 years, and in the background of the One Health concept, opines that the re-emerged discipline is perfectly in tune with the current challenges of the state. The unique model of Kerala state is witnessing newer challenges in its public health arena: The rapidly increasing migrant workforce from relatively poorer states of India, rapid urbanization and its consequent stress on public health, unsolved issues of urban waste disposal, reemergence of many communicable diseases like malaria, more so, the falciparum type, emergence of many zoonotic diseases like Lyme disease, scrub typhus, and Kyasanur forest disease etc. Conventional zoonotic infections such as anthrax and brucellosis remain potential threat for human health as well. Rabies continued to cause major concern from mortality point of view, as well as major drainer of state’s budget every year. Leptospirosis has remained major burden among the communicable disease for the past 10 years, and the annual incidence ranged from 2 to 7 per 100,000 population. Having a large section of its people working in various agriculture and animal rearing occupations, the state has all risk factors for propagation of Leptospirosis, but lacks interdisciplinary collaboration in its control and prevention area, the author highlights major avenues for collaboration. Japanese encephalitis appeared as an epidemic in 2011 in two of the southern districts in Kerala, one of the districts being famous tourist spot for both humans, as well as migrant birds. There is ample scope for collaborative research on the source of the virus, and in the subsequent years, the disease had been detected in more districts. Lyme disease was reported for the first time in India, from one of the districts in Kerala, promptly investigated by a joint team from Human Public Health and Veterinary Public Health institutions in 2013, reiterating the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in outbreak investigations. Influenza had been evolving rapidly in the state from the seasonal type earlier, to H1N1 since past few years, now poised for an emergence of MERS Corona and still expected are the more fatal and highly pathogenic types. The migratory bird-pig-domestic birds-human interface being a well-knit network in the state is most suitable for all new variant s of influenza virus evolution. Outbreaks of these infectious diseases need investigations by combined teams from departments such as Human Health, Animal Health, and Wild Life. The One Health concept thus becomes appropriate to address such an eventuality. The authors have concluded by identifying the probable avenues for collaborative works in addressing the public health challenges of Kerala state, India.

Keywords: Emerging challenges, food borne infections, Kerala’s public heatlh, Lyme disease, one health concept, zoonoses.

Status of Taenia solium cysticercosis and predisposing factors in developing countries involved in pig farming

Review (Published online: 01-05-2015)

2. Status of Taenia solium cysticercosis and predisposing factors in developing countries involved in pig farming - Joseph M. Kungu, Michel M. Dione, Michael Ocaido and Francis Ejobi

International Journal of One Health, 1: 6-13.

Abstract

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Taenia solium cysticercosis is a disease of pigs and humans populations considered endemic in many developing countries of Latin America, Africa, and South East Asia having serious impact on public health and agriculture. We conducted an in-depth comparative analysis of literature on the disease situation and predisposing factors in selected countries known to be at the interface of poverty-emerging livestock systems-zoonoses and with a growing small holder pig industry. Transmission, methods of diagnosis and employed control strategies of T. solium infection in pig and human populations in these countries are also discussed. Limited knowledge on porcine cysticercosis (PC) by various stakeholders expected to be key players in its control has undermined efforts for eliminating this potentially eradicable condition. Poor pig production practices, poor hygiene, and sanitation habits have also been important in the maintenance of theT. solium life-cycle. The major gaps identified in this review include scanty current information on PC prevalence in pigs with hardly any reports on the condition in humans in most developing countries. Factors affecting pattern of the infection and how they interact at the different levels of the pig value chain have not been exhaustively studied. Information on socioeconomic and public health impact is inadequate and not current.

Keywords: Cysticercosis, developing countries, eradication, risk factors, Taenia solium.

Evaluation of Yucca schidigera extract as feed additive on performance of broiler chicks in winter season

Research (Published online: 29-04-2015)

24. Evaluation of Yucca schidigera extract as feed additive on performance of broiler chicks in winter season - Sarada Prasanna Sahoo, Daljeet Kaur, A. P. S. Sethi, A. Sharma and M. Chandra

Veterinary World, 8(4): 556-560

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.556-560

Abstract

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Aim: Yucca schidigera extract has been successfully used as feed additives in the poultry industry. It enhances the growth and productivity in broiler production. Hence, the present study was designed to analyze the effect of Y. schidigera extract in growth, carcass quality and behavior along with its economical utility in broiler rearing.

Materials and Methods: Total, 120 numbers of day-old broiler chicks of equal sex ratio were randomly divided into Yucca supplemented treatment and control group, each having 60 birds in three replications of 20 numbers. The feeding management and rearing conditions were similar for all the groups as per the standard except the Yucca supplementation in the treatment group @ 125 mg/kg of feed. The parameters with respect to growth, carcass, behavior, and litter content were recorded as per standard procedures.

Results: The Yucca supplementation can effectively enhance growth of 173 g in 6th week by utilizing lesser feed intake than control group, which ultimately proves better feed conversion rate, protein efficiency ratio, and energy efficiency ratio in broiler production. Eviscerated weight of 58.50% for the treatment group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than 54.10% in the control group. The breast meat yield of Yucca group (32.23%) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than control (30.33%). More frequency of agonistic behavioral expressions was noticed in the control group than the treatment group. A profit of 43.68% was received by usage of Yucca supplementation in the diet on live weight basis. Numerically, lower percentage of moisture was present in Yucca treated group than the control.

Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that Yucca supplementation has an important role in augmenting broiler‘s growth performance, efficiency to utilize feed, protein and energy, and survivability. Hence, use of Yucca powder in broiler ration could be beneficial to maintain the litter quality, which directly enhances the productivity in broiler production without any adverse effect.

Keywords: broiler, feed additives, winter season, Yucca schidigera.

Effect of varying levels of formaldehyde treatment of mustard oil cake on rumen fermentation, digestibility in wheat straw based total mixed diets in vitro

Research (Published online: 29-04-2015)

23. Effect of varying levels of formaldehyde treatment of mustard oil cake on rumen fermentation, digestibility in wheat straw based total mixed diets in vitro - Mahima, Vinod Kumar, S. K. Tomar, Debashis Roy and Muneendra Kumar

Veterinary World, 8(4): 551-555

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.551-555

Abstract

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Aim: The aim of the current study was to protect the protein in mustard cake by different levels of formaldehyde treatment with a view to optimize the level of formaldehyde.

Materials and Methods: Different levels of formaldehyde treatment (0, 1, 1.5 and 2% of crude protein) containing concentrate and roughages diet in 40:60 ratio were tested for their effect on nutrients digestibility, in vitro ammonia release, in vitro gas production and change in protein fractions. Non-significant (p≤0.05) effect on pH, microbial biomass, partitioning factor, total gas production (TGP), TGP per g dry matter and TGP per g digestible dry matter (ml/g) was observed in almost all the treatments.

Results: Total volatile fatty acids at 2% formaldehyde treatment level of mustard cake was lower (p<0.05) as compared to other groups, while in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro organic matter digestibility were reported to be low in 1% formaldehyde treated group.

Conclusion: On a holistic view, it could be considered that formaldehyde treatment at 1.5% level was optimal for protection of mustard oil cake protein.

Keywords: ammonia release, in vitro gas fermentation technique, mustard cake, ruminal fluid, ruminal fermentation, protected protein, protein fractions, volatile fatty acids.

Organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues in fodder and milk samples along Musi river belt, India

Research (Published online: 29-04-2015)

22. Organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues in fodder and milk samples along Musi river belt, India - Korrapati Kotinagu and Nelapati Krishnaiah

Veterinary World, 8(4): 545-550

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.545-550

Abstract

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Aim: The present study was conducted to find the organochlorine pesticide (OCP) and organophosphorus pesticide (OPP) residues in fodder and milk samples along Musi river belt, India.

Materials and Methods: Fodder and milk samples collected from the six zones of Musi river belt, Hyderabad India were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector for OCP residues and pulsated flame photometric detector for the presence of OPP residues.

Results: The gas chromatographic analysis of fodder samples of Zone 5 of Musi river showed the residues of dicofol at concentration of 0.07±0.0007 (0.071-0.077). Among organophosphorus compounds, dimetheoate was present in milk samples collected from Zone 6 at a level of 0.13±0.006 (0.111-0.167). The residues of OCPs, OPPs and cyclodies were below the detection limit in the remaining fodder and milk samples collected from Musi river belt in the present study.

Conclusion: The results indicate that the pesticide residues in fodder and milk samples were well below the maximum residue level (MRL) values, whereas dicofol in fodder and dimethoate in milk were slightly above the MRL values specified by EU and CODEX.

Keywords: fodder, gas chromatography, milk, Musi river, pesticide residues.

Prevalence of classical swine fever in Karnataka, India

Research (Published online: 29-04-2015)

21. Prevalence of classical swine fever in Karnataka, India - Prakash Choori, S. S. Patil, D. Rathnamma, R. Sharada, B. M. Chandranaik, S. Isloor, G. B. Manjunath Reddy, S. Geetha and H. Rahman

Veterinary World, 8(4): 541-544

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.541-544

Abstract

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Aim: The present study was conducted to know the current scenario of classical swine fever (CSF) in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Madikeri, Mandya, Bagalkot, Gadag, Yadgir, Koppal, and Bidar districts of Karnataka with the using of both antigen and antibody ELISA.

Materials and Methods: We collected 218 sera and 121 blood samples from pigs from 10 different districts of Karnataka. Screening of sera for CSF IgG antibody and whole blood for CSF virus antigen were carried out using the CSF virus (CSFV) antibody and antigen ELISA kits, respectively.

Results: The mean seroprevalence was 41% (89/218) and prevalence of CSFV antigen in blood samples was 32% (39/121) for the 10 districts of Karnataka. Seroprevalence of 61%, 29%, 20%, and 21%; and antigen prevalence of 40%, 50%, 13%, and 12% were recorded for Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, and Gulbarga divisions of Karnataka, respectively.

Conclusions: The study revealed an alarmingly high prevalence of CSF, both for the antigen (32%) and antibody (41%) in Karnataka. Southern Karnataka has the highest seroprevalence (61% in Bangalore and 29% in Mysore divisions), which confirms the endemicity of the disease in that region. This could be attributed to the intensive pig farming practices in the region as compared to Northern Karnataka (Seroprevalence of 20% in Belgaum and 21% in Gulbarga divisions), where the commercial pig farming is still in infantile stages.

Keywords: antigen, antibody, classical swine fever, ELISA and prevalence.

Hepatoprotective activity of Moringa oleifera against cadmium toxicity in rats

Research (Published online: 24-04-2015)

20. Hepatoprotective activity of Moringa oleifera against cadmium toxicity in rats - Reetu Toppo, Birendra Kumar Roy, Ravuri Halley Gora, Sushma Lalita Baxla and Prabhat Kumar

Veterinary World, 8(4): 537-540

   doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.537-540

Abstract

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Aim: The present investigation has been conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of Moringa oleifera against cadmium-induced toxicity in rats.

Materials and Methods: For this study, 18 Wistar albino rats were taken. Control group, Group I rats were given cadmium chloride @ 200 ppm per kg and Group II rats were treated with M. oleifera extract @ 500 mg/kg along with cadmium chloride @ 200 ppm per kg (daily oral for 28 days). On 29th day, animals were slaughtered and various parameters were determined. Serum biomarkers, oxidative stress parameters, histomorphological examination were carried out with estimation of cadmium concentration in liver tissues.

Results: Oral administration of cadmium chloride @ 200 ppm/kg for 28 days resulted in a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), significant (p≤0.01) increase of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), and increase in cadmium accumulation in liver. Treatment with M. oleifera @ 500 mg/kg significantly (p<0.01) decreased the elevated ALP, AST, ALT, LPO levels and increase in SOD levels, and as compared to cadmium chloride treated group. However, there was no significant difference in cadmium concentration in liver when compared with cadmium chloride treated group.

Conclusion: The study conclude that supplementation of M. oleifera (500 mg/kg), daily oral for 28 days has shown protection against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity.

Keywords: cadmium, Moringa oleifera, rats, serum bio-markers, toxicity.