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Background: Ticks are blood sucking ectoparasites that act as host for various pathogens like bacteria, viruses and protozoans that cause a number of diseases in humans and animals. They pose a serious threat to livestock industry because their major hosts are cattle and buffaloes. Present study was conducted in this scenario to find out prevalence and distribution of ticks in specified areas. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted from January 2021 to July 2021. Two hundred large ruminants were examined on monthly basis. In order to find out prevalence area, age, gender, and seasonal parameters were observed. Total one hundred and ninety ticks were collected from different parts of their body. Results: Identified Species: Five species belonging to two genra (Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus) and one sub genus (Boophilus) were identified including Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma excavatum, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decolorates and Rhipicephalus camicasi. Hyalomma excavatum was the most prevalent specie. Percentage Prevalence: Tehsil Gujrat was the most affected by tick infestation (67%) followed by Tehsil Kharian (55%) and Tehsil Sarai Alamgir (39%). This study suggested that cattle were more susceptible to tick infestation (58%) than buffaloes (50%). Effect of Seasonal Variations on Tick Infestation: Seasonal variations has major influence on tick infestation. They were more prevalent in summer followed by spring and winter. Temperature, humidity and rainfall has significant effect on tick infestation (p<0.05). Gender: Males were more susceptible to tick infestation (77%) as compared to the females (40%). Age: Large ruminants at younger age (4years). Predilection Sites: Major predilection sites of ticks were external genitals (42%), followed by the tail (14%), dewlap (11%), udder (9%), thighs (8%) face (5%) and flanks (3%). Breeds: Australian Friesian breed among cows (38%) and Neeli Ravi breed among buffaloes (25%) was more likely to be infested with ticks. Conclusion: Keeping in view prevalence rate and factors influencing spread of ticks further studies should be planned to design management systems in order to minimize the economic losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are various mosquitos borne diseases playing major role of transmission as vector; these include dengue, malaria, filariasis and yellow fever. Various places around us everywhere act as breeding sites for different developmental stages of mosquitoes. Variety of chemicals are being used to control breeding and spread of mosquitoes which include mercuric chloride, phenols, Paris green cresols, naphthalene, Bordeaux mixture, calcium arsenate, rosin-fish oil soap, and nicotine sulfate which are prone to various risks on environment and biodiversity. In present study an alternative approach of control through insectivore fish Poecilia reticulata and Poecilia sphenops was used against mosquitoe's larvae as an alternative approach. The predation effect of insectivore fish on mosquito larvae (200) of culex and aedes was observed at different temperatures including 20°C, 25°C and 30°C for one hour duration and observation was recorded at 5 minutes interval. At 20°C the maximum consumption of larvae was observed at 35 minutes while for 25°C the maximum consumption was observed at 55 minutes similar results are observed at 30°C with increase of time for Poecilia reticulate. Poecilia sphenops also showed significant results at recorded temperatures. Also the morphometric parameters of mosquito's larvae are shown in results which gave significant results. This study gave a useful alternate for control of breeding sites of mosquitoes which can save mankind from various serious mosquitoes' related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenol oxidases (PPOs), belong to the group of oxidoreductases that are copper containing enzymes and are responsible for plant browning. PPOs are extensively distributed in plant kingdom and can oxidize wide range of aromatic compounds of industrial importance. The aim of this study was purification and characterization of PPO isoforms from the fruit pulp of Golden delicious apple. High performance liquid chromatography was used to purify the two novel isoforms of PPO and further their molecular weights (45 and 28 kDa) were determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified isoforms have optimum pH (6.5), optimum temperature (40°C), the Vmax (4.45 μM/min) and Km (74.21 mM) with catechol substrate. The N-terminal microsequences of both PPO isoforms were determined using a pulse liquid protein sequencer and found to be AKITFHG (28 kDa) and APGGG (45 kDa). Polyphenol oxidases are efficiently used in the pharmaceutical, paper and pulp, textiles and food industries. Recently, the PPOs have been used for bioremediation and in the development of biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present study was conducted to investigate prevalence of intestinal parasites and the risk factors related to socio-demographic characteristics of patients admitted in pathology ward, General Hospital, Gujranwala. Methodology: 318 stool samples were collected from patients and examined under light microscope by using wet mount technique. While socio-demographic information was collected in the form of a questionnaire. Results: The results showed seven (n = 7) species of intestinal parasites were prevalent in stool samples of patients. Among them, four (n = 4) were helminth and three (n = 3) were protozoan parasites causing single and mixed infections. Overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 78.3% (n = 249/318) considering both male and female patients. Highest prevalence was recorded for A. lumbricoides (n = 125, 39.3%) followed by H. nana (n = 10, 3.1%), S. stercoralis and T. saginata (n = 6, 1.9%). Among protozoan parasites, higher prevalence was recorded in G. lamblia (n = 23, 7.2%) followed by E. histolytica (n = 21, 6.6%). Among single infections, the most prevalent parasite was A. lumbricoides and less prevalent parasites were S. stercoralis and T. saginata. The factors that had significant effect (p < 0.05) on prevalence of parasitic species were contaminated water, food, soil, and surrounding environment. Conclusions: The present study determined that the parasite helminth (A. lumbricoides, H. nana, S. stercoralis, T. saginata) and protozoan (G. lamblia and E. histolytica) are common that pose an important public health concern in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of present study was to estimate population dynamics of house sparrow and house crow in district Sargodha, Pakistan. This study was conducted from November, 2010 to March, 2011. Population comparison of house sparrows with sex differentiation and house crows without sex differentiation were conducted in rural (98 Chak 'N' and Morre 125 Chak Shaheenabad) and urban (Cheema colony and Awan colony) areas. During this study period, a total 5617 from rural and 3929 birds from urban sampling sites were counted. A statistically significant difference was observed between both populations. In rural areas 2998 house sparrows (1433 male and 1565 female), while 1873 sparrows (848 male and 1025 female were observed from urban study points and significant difference was observed between house sparrows population. Throughout the study period, from rural check points 2619 house crows, while 2056 crows were observed from urban study areas. The present study is very useful in prediction of population dynamics of bird's spp. in other ecological regions of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of trace metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd and Co) in different organs (i.e., liver, kidney, muscles, lungs, stomach, bones, and feathers) of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and black kite (Milvus migrans), from different areas of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan. Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd and Co were significantly higher in black kite as compared to those measured for house sparrow. Bioaccumulation trends of studied trace metals into different tissue were specific-specific Zn was higher in bones (23.5 mg/kg), Mn in stomach (4.8 mg/kg), Pb in liver (4.3 mg/kg), Cu in bones (0.9 mg/kg), Cd in liver (11.2 mg/kg) and Co in feathers (1.9 mg/kg) of black kite. However, Zn was higher in feathers (14.7 mg/kg), Mn in stomach (2.7 mg/kg), Pb in lungs (4.6 mg/kg), Cu in bones (0.63 mg/kg), Cd in liver (6.14 mg/kg), and Co in muscles (2.5 mg/kg) of house sparrow. The present study would be helpful to understand the concentration of heavy metals in birds regarding biomagnifications and bioaccumulation in bird and its organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzimidazole is a synthetic anthelmintic against which nematode resistance especially in Haemonchus contortus, is emerging at a alarming speed. The mechanism of benzimidazole resistance appears to involve mutations in the gene encoding ß-tubulin isotype 1 (ß-tubulin-1). The present study was carried out to find out the variation existing in ß-tubulin-1 which is directly involved with drug binding capacity involving microtubules polymerization. DNA of adult nematode H. contörtus was extracted, amplified and sequenced. Out of 50 worms investigated, 37 showed benzimidazole susceptible gene while 13 were resistant indicating single nucleotide mutation at amino acid 200 TTC/TAC. In addition, 12 worms showed several regions of consistent difference indicating single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) at various positions in coding region. It has been concluded that resistant alleles conferring anthelmintic resistance is prevalent in the local population of H. contortus of north-east Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yersinia pestis is responsible for plague and major pandemics in Asia and Europe. This bacterium has shown resistance to an array of drugs commonly used for the treatment of plague. Therefore, effective therapeutics measurements, such as designing a vaccine that can effectively and safely prevent Y. pestis infection, are of high interest. To fast-track vaccine development against Yersinia pestis, herein, proteome-wide vaccine target annotation was performed, and structural vaccinology-assisted epitopes were predicted. Among the total 3909 proteins, only 5 (rstB, YPO2385, hmuR, flaA1a, and psaB) were shortlisted as essential vaccine targets. These targets were then subjected to multi-epitope vaccine design using different linkers. EAAK, AAY, and GPGPG as linkers were used to link CTL, HTL, and B-cell epitopes, and an adjuvant (beta defensin) was also added at the N-terminal of the MEVC. Physiochemical characterization, such as determination of the instability index, theoretical pI, half-life, aliphatic index, stability profiling, antigenicity, allergenicity, and hydropathy of the ensemble, showed that the vaccine is highly stable, antigenic, and non-allergenic and produces multiple interactions with immune receptors upon docking. In addition, molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the stable binding and good dynamic properties of the vaccine–TLR complex. Furthermore, in silico and immune simulation of the developed MEVC for Y. pestis showed that the vaccine triggered strong immune response after several doses at different intervals. Neutralization of the antigen was observed at the third day of injection. Conclusively, the vaccine designed here for Y. pestis produces an immune response; however, further immunological testing is needed to unveil its real efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The present study has been carried out to evaluate KAP of inhabitants of North Waziristan Agency, KPK province of Pakistan regarding CL. • A cross-sectional study based on community was piloted in new emerging district North Waziristan Agency KPK province of Pakistan from August 2019- February, 2020 to examine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of the community regarding CL. • The study's findings indicate the participants of study areas have limited knowledge related to aetiology, risk factors and treatment facilities of CL. • It is recommended to initiate health education and awareness campaigns to reduce the disease risk and burden in this highly endemic area in near future. Recent outbreaks of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in Waziristan make the disease a public health concern in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Pakistan. The awareness and behavior of local community towards the disease is an important factor towards effective control and management of CL in endemic areas of Pakistan. A cross-sectional community based survey was piloted in new emerging district of North Waziristan Agency (KPK province), Pakistan from August 2019- February 2020. The study aimed to examine the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of the local community members regarding CL. The results revealed that majority of the participants were male. Only 48.2% participants have knowledge about CL and the respondents had a moderate knowledge of CL vector and the disease. Few of the respondents were aware that CL is caused by sand flies, their breeding place, biting time, transmission of CL and control measures. Skin infection and sand-flies were the main disease symptoms and disease vector were known to some of the respondents. Most of the respondents showed positive attitude towards disease seriousness and believed that the disease could be cured and can be treated through modern medicines. Admission to hospitals, cleanliness and use of bed nets were the treatment measures for the disease in suspected patients, whereas some believed that the use of bed nets could be helpful in preventing the leishmaniasis. Moderate knowledge of the CL and its transmission in the study area emphasize the need to initiate health education and awareness campaigns to reduce the disease risk and burden in this highly endemic area in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using excretory-secretory antigen (ESA) and Zinc sulphate sedimentation technique for coprodiagnosis. A comparison was made between both techniques for rapid and accurate diagnosis based on 200 serum and faecal samples from cattle (n=117) and buffaloes (n=83). In the first step, ELISA was standardized by using sera from Fasciola infected and non-infected animals. The level of sensitivity observed was 100%, while 95% specificity against Gigantocotyle explanatum and Paramphistomum spp. or a mixed infection with both parasites was noted. Fasciolosis rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in buffaloes in which 60% prevalence was found for indirect ELISA and 53% in case of coprological analysis, while on other hand in cattle prevalence rate was 50 and 37%, respectively. The results showed a significant (P<0.05) breed difference in cattle. Furthermore, the significant difference was noted in buffaloes with reference to age and sex groups. After contrasting data from ELISA and faecal analysis, 11% of the sera analyzed had positive values of indirect-ELISA and negative by faecal analysis. The findings suggest that indirect ELISA is an efficient diagnostic technique and combination of both techniques could be useful for accurate diagnosis of fascioliasis in endemic areas. It is recommended that both cattle and buffaloes should be screened by applying both serological and coprological techniques in other agro-ecological zones of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]