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Hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) is a highly contagious and fatal disease of cattle and buffaloes caused by P. multocida. Both conventional and molecular methods are applied in parallel for rapid diagnosis of HS outbreaks and the periodical surveillance strategy to identify risk areas for HS is ignored. The current cross-sectional study aimed to estimate sero-prevalence and associated risk factors for HS in cattle and buffaloes in non-vaccinated regions of two Indian states. HS surveillance was carried out through the multi-stage random sampling technique at different strata. The study employed a questionnaire incorporating host factors (species, breed, sex, age, and lactation) and demographic parameters (state, district, block/cluster and village/epiunits, and household). First, two Indian states known for high milk production were selected followed by two districts within each state, subsequently four clusters within each district, finally 5–10 epiunits within clusters and 5–8 households within clusters were randomly selected to collect cattle and buffalo samples. The chi-square/p values and maps were prepared to represent disease prevalence and to correlate disease risk factors at different strata. A total of 692 cattle and buffalo serum samples were sourced from two states of the country (Karnataka-285 and Gujarat-407). In the first strata, antibodies to P. multocida were high in Gujarat (14.49%, CI: 11.22–18.30) compared to Karnataka (3.85%, CI: 1.94–6.80) with significant (p < 0.0001) association between the states. In the second strata, one of the four districts investigated revealed the highest sero-prevalence (18.61%, CI: 13.81–24.24) with statistical significance (p = 0.01) between the districts. Among clusters, one out of eight clusters showed the highest sero-prevalence (23.02%, CI: 16.59–30.54) with statistical significance (p = 0.03) between the clusters in the third strata. At epiunit level (fourth strata), 9 out of 27 epiunits (33.33%) visited in Karnataka and 24 out of 29 epiunits sampled in Gujarat were sero-positive (82.75%) in iELISA. At the household level, out of 306 HH visited, 40 HH had at least one positive animal (13.07%) and the p value between HH in the two states was highly significant (p = 0.0002). Chi-square analysis did not find any association of HS sero-prevalence to species, age, and lactation. However, significantly higher (p < 0.05) sero-prevalence was recorded in indigenous cattle breeds (16.56%) compared to crossbreeds (6.59%). Various immunoprophylactics and antibiotic therapies are effective against HS, but inappropriate disease reporting and failure to implement adequate vaccination control measures are the gaps identified. The present study highlights the current scenario of HS sero-prevalence in two of the high milk-producing states of India, which will be useful for stakeholders for undertaking the implementation of surveillance and control strategies for the regions.

C2H2-zinc finger (C2H2-ZF) genes are involved in various biological processes in plants including stress response; however, they lack characterization in Brassica napus. We identified 267 C2H2-ZF genes in B. napus and deciphered their physiological properties, subcellular localization, structure, synteny, and phylogeny and investigated the expression of 20 genes in response to different stresses and phytohormone treatments. The 267 genes were distributed on 19 chromosomes; phylogenetic analysis categorized them into five clades. They varied from 0.41 to 9.2 kb in length, had stress-responsive cis-acting elements in promoter regions, and their protein length varied from 9 to 1366 amino acids. About 42% of the genes had one exon, and 88% genes had orthologs in Arabidopsis thaliana. About 97% of the genes were located in nucleus and 3% in cytoplasmic organelles. qRT-PCR analysis showed a different expression pattern of these genes in response to biotic stresses (Plasmodiophora brassicae and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) and abiotic stresses (cold, drought, and salinity) and hormonal treatments. Differential expression of the same gene was observed under multiple stress conditions, and a few genes showed similar expression in response to more than one phytohormones. Our results suggest that the C2H2-ZF genes can be targeted for the improvement of stress tolerance in canola. Key words: C2H2-zinc finger genes, Brassica napus, transcription factors, stress response, gene expression, 1. Introduction The genus Brassica includes 39 economically important vegetable and oilseed crop species (for review, see Warwick et al. 2006). Among them, Brassica napus (2n = 38, AACC), commonly [...]

Clubroot disease, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, affects Brassica oilseed and vegetable production worldwide. This review is focused on various aspects of clubroot disease and its management, including understanding the pathogen and resistance in the host plants. Advances in genetics, molecular biology techniques, and omics research have helped to identify several major loci, QTL, and genes from the Brassica genomes involved in the control of clubroot resistance. Transcriptomic studies have helped to extend our understanding of the mechanism of infection by the pathogen and the molecular basis of resistance/susceptibility in the host plants. A comprehensive understanding of the clubroot disease and host resistance would allow developing a better strategy by integrating the genetic resistance with cultural practices to manage this disease from a long-term perspective. Key words: clubroot, Plasmodiophora brassicae, Brassica, disease management, resistance, transcriptomics, next-generation sequencing. La hernie des cruciferes, causee par le Plasmodiophora brassicae, affecte la production de toutes les cruciferes, tant oleagineuses qu'horticoles, a l'echelle mondiale. Cette synthese porte sur divers aspects de la hernie et de son controle, incluant la connaissance de l'agent pathogene et de la resistance chez les plantes hotes. Des avancees en genetique, en biologie moleculaire et en recherches << omiques >> ont aide a identifier plusieurs locus majeurs, tant des QTL que des genes, issus de genomes appartenant au genre Brassica qui sont impliques dans la resistance a la hernie des cruciferes. Des etudes transcriptomiques ont aide a etendre la comprehension des mecanismes d'infection par l'agent pathogene et les assises moleculaires de la resistance/sensibilite chez les plantes hotes. Une connaissance etendue de la hernie des cruciferes et de la resistance chez l'hote permettra de developper une meilleure strategie de lutte en integrant la resistance genetique avec les pratiques culturales pour controler cette maladie d'une maniere durable. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: hernie des cruciferes, Plasmodiophora brassicae, Brassica, controle des maladies, resistance, transcriptomique, sequencage de nouvelle generation., Introduction Brassica is an economically important genus of the tribe Brassiceae (Al-Shehbaz 2012) and includes 39 species (Warwick et al. 2006). Enormous morphological diversity exists among these species, making them [...]

Open and distance learning is getting more dependent on information and communication technology (ICT) and has been playing an important role in the delivery strategies of distance learning. With the advancement in technology in the field education has introduces variety of new techniques for educators and learners to enhance knowledge. Educational technologies (information and communication technology) are replacing direct teacher-student interaction. Anything that helps distance learners to communicate: learner with instructor, learner with learner and learner with the learning materials may be term as information technology. Technological advancements especially in the area of ICT allow teachers to employ various strategies that could actively engage student's interest. This paper focuses the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in open and distance education. This study also explores technology-based media which is very important for distance learners.