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The present investigation was performed to compare the global gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Bos indicus and crossbred (Bos taurus × B. indicus) cattle. Previously, several studies revealed the disease tolerance potential of B. indicus cattle but underlying genetic mechanism is still not fully explored. The PBMCs model was used for this investigation as it plays crucial role in the immune system regulation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed total 6767 significantly differentially expressed transcripts (fold change (absolute) >2.0, p <.05). In addition, 4149 transcripts were upregulated, 2618 transcripts were downregulated and fold change (absolute) of differentially expressed transcript varied from −223.32 to 213.63. Functional annotation analysis of differentially expressed genes confirmed their role in various molecular pathways viz. innate immune response, antigen processing and presentation, MHC protein complex, defense response to bacterium, regulation of immune response, positive regulation of JAK-STAT cascade, cytoskeletal protein binding, etc. Protein–protein interaction network analysis provided understanding of inter-relationship of immune genes with differentially expressed genes. In conclusion, this study could provide comprehensive information about the dysregulated genes and biological pathways in PBMCs which might be responsible for disease tolerance in B. indicus cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is the most common tick species in India infesting cattle and buffaloes and cause significant economic losses to dairy and leather industries by adversely affecting the milk production and quality of hides. Egg hatch assay and larval packet test were used to evaluate the comparative acaricidal efficacy of the market formulations of deltamethrin, cypermethrin and amitraz on eggs and larval stages of R. (B.) microplus. The regression graphs of probit hatchability, % inhibition of hatching (IH) of eggs and probit mortality were plotted against log concentrations of various acaricides. The results revealed that cypermethrin and amitraz were effective and produced complete inhibition of hatching. LC95 values of cypermethrin and amitraz calculated by larval packet test were estimated to be 244.91 ppm and 369.83 ppm, respectively. On the other hand, deltamethrin failed to completely inhibit the hatching. LC95 values by egg hatch assay and larval packet test were estimated to be 42.27 ppm and 39.36 ppm, respectively. The data on field status of acaricide resistance from the area with diversified animal genetic resources will be helpful to adopt suitable strategy to overcome the process of development of resistance in ticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is the highest milk producer of the world and crossbreeding to augment genetic potential of native breeds, has played an important role to achieve this feat. The present study with five microsatellite DNA loci BM1818, BM1443, BM1905, BM1258 and MB026 associated with Somatic Cell Score (SCS) and milk production, was aimed at finding variation in 76 crossbred cows. PCR amplified products were resolved on MetaPhore® agrose. The number of alleles for BM1443, BM1905, BM1258 and MB026 were found to be 7 each while it was 8 in BM1818. The size of alleles ranges from 149-186 bp for BM1443, 178-204 bp for BM1905, 208-252 bp for MB026 and 252-296 bp for BM1818. The data on polymorphism information content, heterozygosity, number of effective alleles of these short tandem repeat loci shows that BM1443 was having lowest and BM1818 was having maximum variability. Microsatellite BM1818 was not found to be associated with SCS in this population. Means of SCS of genotypes 178/192 and 188/188 for marker BM1905, genotypes 228/252 and 238/ 252 for marker MB026, genotype 120/110 for marker BM1258 and genotypes 182/154 and 178/154 for marker BM1443 were found to be higher. Only two markers viz. BM1818 and BM1443 was found to be significantly associated with 305 days milk yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from Mehsana kids born during the period of 2006 to 2012, maintained at Sheep and Goat Research Station (SGRS), Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat, India, were used to evaluate the effect of various non-genetic factors on the different growth traits. The least squares means of body weights at birth, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age were 2.75 ±0.03, 10.33 ±0.16, 13.83 ±0.23, 16.98 ±0.35 and 20.44 ±0.31 kg, respectively. The pre-weaning and post-weaning average daily weight gains were 84.75±1.82, and 35.58±0.92 g, respectively. Although year of birth was having highly significant (P < 0.01) effect on the different growth traits of kids but no concrete pattern could be observed. Season of birth (P < 0.05) and sex of kids (P < 0.01) had significant effect on all the growth traits studied. Both pre and post weaning average daily gains were significantly affected (P < 0.01) by all the non-genetic factors studied except the effect of sex on pre-weaning average daily gain. The heritability estimates of different growth traits under study were found to be moderate to high in magnitude. The phenotypic correlations among the growth traits ranged from low to high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is the most common tick species in India infesting cattle and buffaloes and causing significant economic losses to dairy and leather industries by adversely affecting the milk production and quality of hides. A study to evaluate the acaricide resistance status of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus to deltamethrin, flumethrin, and fipronil was conducted on the samples collected from organized and unorganized farms of North Gujarat state, where treatment failures were reported frequently. Adult Immersion Test (AIT) and Larval Packet Test (LPT) were conducted using field strain for determination of 50 and 95% lethal concentration of deltamethrin, flumethrin, and fipronil. Results obtained by the Adult Immersion Test showed low grade resistance (level I, RF > 5) has been developed against both deltamethrin and fipronil. However, deltamethrin by performing Larval Packet Test showed moderate grade resistance (level II, RF > 25). Larval packet performed by flumethrin also revealed low grade resistance, level I. The data on field status of acaricide resistance from the area with diversified animal genetic resources will be helpful to adopt suitable strategy to overcome the process of development of resistance in ticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 2235 Monthly Test Day Milk Yield (MTDMY) records of 279 Murrah buffaloes from three villages which had calved during 2003-2007 and completed three lactations, of district Karnal (Haryana), were analyzed to study the effect of non-genetic factors on the MTDMY. Study was conducted to see the effect of season of birth, year of calving, effect of floor, wallowing, ventilations, AI practices, education, herd size and village on the MTDMY. Management practices followed in the villages was also studied in order to assess farmer's acquaintance to the modem management practices. It was observed that fair management practices adopted in villages around the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India. Facility of wallowing, herd size and village was having significant effect (P<0.01) on almost all the MTDMY in Murrah buffalo in the field condition. Large herd with regular facility of wallowing was recorded with high MTDMY. Study revealed that for performing an evaluation of Murrah buffalo based on MTDMY in the field conditions different management practices might be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector borne diseases (VBD) are on the rise because of failure of the existing methods of control of vector and vector borne diseases and the climate change. Asteep rise of VBDs are due to several factors like selection of insecticide resistant vector population, drug resistant parasite population and lack of effective vaccines against the VBDs. Environmental pollution, public health hazard and insecticide resistant vector population indicate that the insecticides are no longer a sustainable control method of vector and vector-borne diseases. Amongst the various alternative control strategies, symbiont based approach utilizing endosymbionts of arthropod vectors could be explored to control the vector and vector borne diseases. The endosymbiont population of arthropod vectors could be exploited in different ways viz., as a chemotherapeutic target, vaccine target for the control of vectors. Expression of molecules with antiparasitic activity by genetically transformed symbiotic bacteria of disease-transmitting arthropods may serve as a powerful approach to control certain arthropod-borne diseases. Genetic transformation of symbiotic bacteria of the arthropod vector to alter the vector's ability to transmit pathogen is an alternative means of blocking the transmission of VBDs. In Indian scenario, where dengue, chikungunya, malaria and filariosis are prevalent, paratransgenic based approach can be used effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Records for 10 Monthly test day milk yield (MTDMY) i.e. Test day milk yields (TDMY) at monthly interval (6th, 35th, 65th, 95th, 125th, 155th, 185th, 215th, 245th and 275th days) were collected from Murrah buffaloes maintained at cattle farm, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. These buffaloes were calved between the years 1996 to 2004 and completed three lactations. A total of 4,914 MTDMY records of 533 Murrah buffaloes were analyzed to study the effect of non-genetic factors (seasons and year of calving). The year of calving was having highly significant (P<0.01) influence on all MTDMYs (except 9th MTDMY), while season was having significant (P<0.05) effect only on 2nd MTDMY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]