Browsing by Author "Sreekumar, K P"
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ThesisItem Open Access Certain physiological studies on the Indian elephants(Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Sreekumar, K P; KAU; Nirmalan GClinically healthy 44 Indian elephants, of varying ages and both sexes, maintained under ideal conditions of management formed the subjects for the study. Prediction equations to estimate body weight and height at shoulder from linear measurements had been derived. True body surface area in elephants was measured. Formulae for computation of total body surface area from areas of individual regions of the body and from body weight and height had been presented and its usefulness discussed. Normal values for haematological parameters viz., specific gravity, viscosity, icterus index, pH, coagulation time and erythrocyte sedimentation rates had been established. At 15 minutes, 50 per cent of erythrocytes had settled. Use of erythrocyte sedimentation rate as a clinical test is discussed. Elephants had low albumin and high globulin levels and the A/G ratio was less than one. The electrophoretic fractionation of total proteins and lipoproteins have been discussed. Polymorphism in albumin was observed but no variant of haemoglobin could be detected. Levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase have been assayed. The mineral status of elephants had been established. Normal levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc as well as the iron: copper ratio had been worked out.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of antistress and growth promoting effect of aswagandha (Withania somnifera) in broiler chicken(Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2009) Rekha P, Raghavan; KAU; Sreekumar, K PThe purpose of the study was to asses the antistress and growth promoting effect of Withania somnifera in broiler chicken. Sixty numbers of day old broiler chicks (vencob) procured from a commercial hatchery were reared under standard managemental conditions. At day old they were randomly divided into six groups (G1 to G6) with ten birds in each group. The study was conducted upto sixth week of age. The birds in various groups were as follows, G1- Normal , G2- Normal +5 g W. somnifera per kg feed, G3- Normal + 10 g W. somnifera per kg feed, G4- Stressed, G5- Stressed + 5 g W. somnifera per kg feed, and G6- Stressed + 10 g W. somnifera per kg feed. Production parameters such as body weight, weekly weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency were evaluated on weekly basis. All birds were immunized with 1ml of 7 per cent sheep red blood cells intravenously five days before subjecting to stress, for the evaluation of immune status. Stress was induced from four weeks to six weeks of age by reducing the floor space for a bird 1/3rd (372 cm2/ bird) of the optimum requirement (1116 cm2/bird). Blood samples were collected from wing vein, five days and one day before the induction of stress as well on day one, three, six, nine, twelve and fifteen days after the induction of stress. Haematological parameters such as total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), haemoglobin (Hb), heterophil lymphocyte ratio (H:L), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and volume of packed red cells (VPRC) were determined. Serum was utilized for analysis of total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and total cholesterol. The A:G was derived. The immunological status was studied by haemagglutinin assay (HA). Tissues from liver were used for estimating tissue lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. The mucous membrane of proventriculus and duodenum were used for protease and amylase estimation respectively. The whole pancreas was used for pancreatic lipase estimation. Slaughter weights, carcass weight, giblet weight, weight of organs (spleen, bursa and adrenal) were also studied. The result of the present study revealed that supplementation W. somnifera did not affect the normal growth of broiler chicken. There was not much variation in slaughter weight, carcass weight and weight of organs between W. somnifera supplemented and not supplemented group. In stressed birds supplementation of W. somnifera ameliorated the stress related reduction in organ weight. Supplementation of W. somnifera did not affect the haematological parameters such as Hb, VPRC, TEC, TLC, MCV, MCH, MCHC and H:L in normal birds. Supplementation of W. somnifera to stressed birds reduced the stress induced increased TEC, MCV and H:L in birds. The supplementation of W. somnifera did not affect the serum total protein, albumin, globulin and A:G in normal birds. But in stressed birds the increased total protein was decreased by supplementation of W. somnifera. The supplementation of W. somnifera did not cause a sustained increase in ALT values revealing that it was not hepatotoxic to broilers. Supplementation of W. somnifera to stressed birds reduced the stress related hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia. The increased level of C-reactive protein in stressed birds was reduced through supplementation of W. somnifera. Supplementation of W. somnifera increased the GSH and decreased LPO levels in birds. Supplementation of W. somnifera ameliorated the stress related oxidative damage through the reduction of LPO and increase of GSH levels. W. somnifera improved the immune status of normal birds as well as that of immunosuppressed stressed birds. Besides, it also improved the activities of gastrointestinal enzymes in normal and stressed birds.ThesisItem Open Access Haematological studies of alpine crossbreds from birth to puberty(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Chitra, Joseph; KAU; Sreekumar, K PGoat (Capra hircus), one of the small ruminant, forms an important economic and ecological niche in small farm systems and agriculture The blood constituents differ among animals due to variety of factors viz., species, genetic, sex, age, growth, environmental and disease conditions. Clinical haematology is an indispensable adjunct to study the functions of the body in both health and disease. Haematological parameters are indicators of normal physiological and health status of an animal. The paucity of information on the haematology of goats is one of the major constraints in the physiological evaluation including the adaptability and health status. Besides very little information is available on the variation of the blood parameters of Alpine crossbred kids from birth to puberty. Physiological factors like age, sex and the type of management affect haematological parameters of an animal. Thyroid hormones viz., thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are the major regulators of various metabolic functions in the body. Hence the present study was undertaken to evaluate the .relationship of age, sex and body weight on these haematological parameters and serum levels of T, and T3 in healthy Alpine crossbred kids from birth to puberty (six months). The present study was conducted in 48 Alpine crossbred kids (24 males and 24 females) of the University Sheep and Goat Farm, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy for a period of six months from day old (on the day of birth) to six months (puberty) period. The animals were maintained under . standard managemental conditions. Body weight of all the animals was recorded on the day of birth and thereafter at fortnightly during the entire period of study. Blood samples were collected from all the animals at monthly interval during the six month period. The blood samples collected with anticoagulant were analysed for haematological parameters like haemoglobin content (Hb), volume of packed red blood cell (vpRC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total erythrocyte (RBC) count, total leucocyte (WBC) count, differential leucocyte count (DLC), osmotic fragility of erythrocytes and specific gravity (whole blood) using standard procedures and erythrocytic indices were calculated. The serum separated from whole blood without anticoagulant was subjected for the estimation of icterus index and hormonal parameters like thyroxine (T 4) and triiodothyroxine (T3) using radioimmuno-assay technique. Clinical health status (respiration rate, pulse rate and body temperature) of all the animals were monitored at fortnightly intervals. On age-wise comparison both male and female kids showed significantly higher values for Hb concentration, VPRC and RBC count at day old which may be due to the transfusion of placental blood from the dam to the infant there by a compensatory reduction in plasma volume, leading to higher RBC count, Hb concentration and VPRC at day old. As the age advanced RBC count, Hb concentration and VPRC were decreased. Even though the value of ESR did not reveal any significant difference between age groups an increasing trend was observed as the age advanced. The velocity of sedimentation of the red blood ceIIs was inversely proportional to the number of red blood cells. The higher RBC count at day old may be the reason for a lower ESR value in day old kids in both sexes. At day old MCV showed lower value in both male and female kids. As the age advanced MCV showed an increasing trend and finally remained stable in both sexes. As the kids grew older it is likely that the requirement for oxygen may be more and with no appreciable change in the number of erythrocytes, the increased demand for oxygen is met by increased size of the erythrocytes. The value of MCR did not show any significant difference between age groups while MCRC value foIlowed a fluctuating trend throughout the six month period. Minimum and maximum osmotic resistance of erythrocytes did not show any significant difference between the sex and age groups except for the females where some differences in maximum osmotic resistance was evident during the second month. The capacity of erythrocytes to resist osmotic dilution is related directly to the corpuscle size or MCV. This is in agreement with the results of present study, that as goats having the smallest RBC, showed signs of minimum osmotic resistance even in 0.63-0.68 per cent Nacl solution. The erythrocytes absorb water from the surrounding hypotonic solution and swell until they reach a maximum size known as critical haemolytic volume after which haemolysis occurred. The smaller the erythrocyte, the earlier the initial volume reached. Eventhough specific gravity and icterus index followed a decreasing trend with age did not reveal any significant difference with age and sex. Age-wise comparison of total WBC count in both male and female kids showed an increasing trend with age except the lower value reported at day old age, though Iymphocyte and eosinophil count were decreased as the age advanced. In contrast neutrophil count showed an increasing trend as the age advanced, with the lowest value at day old. The number of monocyte followed a fluctuating trend without any significant influence of age and sex. As the age advanced the serum concentrations of T 4 and T 3 hormone showed an increasing trend with highest value at birth. The level of T4 in the blood represents the algebraic sum of thyroxine secretion and peripheral utilization. Thyroid hormones stimulate basal metabolic rate via metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. The increased metabolic demand for oxygen, associated with the increased body size might have resulted in an increased synthesis and release of thyroid hormones. On sex-wise, comparison male kids had higher bodyweight than female kids throughout the six months period. In the early growing period female kids possessed higher values for RBC count and Hb content but towards puberty male kids had the higher values. In male animals testosterone, which has erythroid stimulating activity led to higher RBC count and Hb content at fifth and sixth month of age. In female kids, oestrogen might have suppressed the erythroid activity therefore lower values were observed for the above parameters in the same age. Erythrocytic indices did not reveal any sex-wise significant difference. Osmotic fragility of erythrocytes, specific gravity (whole blood) and icterus index also did not reveal any significant difference between male and female kids. Lymphocyte count during day old age and first month of age showed significant difference between sex, while total WBC count and number of monocytes and neutrophils did not reveal any significant difference between sex. But the eosinophil count showed significantly higher count for males on the day of birth only. No basophil could be detected in the blood smear of male and female kids. The serum hormonal profile of T4 and T3 of male kids showed significantly higher values than their females throughout the six months period, justified that the onset of rapid growth was closely related with the onset of increased serum concentration of T, and T3. In both male and female kids effect of body weight showed a negative relationship with RBC count, Hb concentration, VPRC values and lymphocyte number. In the present study, at birth body weight of male and female kids were lower. As the age advanced, male and female kids showed a gradual increase in body weight in all age groups. However, the values of RBC count, Hb concentration, VPRC, specific gravity (whole blood) and lymphocyte number showed a higher value on the day of birth and followed a decreasing trend as the age advanced. This decreasing trend of all the above parameters with an increasing trend of body weight resulted in a negative correlation between them. But in both male and female kids effect of body weight showed a positive relationship with the values of ESR, MCV, WBC count, neutrophil number and serum T4 and T3 concentration. The increasing trend of all the above parameters with increasing trend of body weight resulted in a positive correlation.ThesisItem Open Access Hypoglycaemic efficacy of scoparia dulcis and costus species in albino rats(Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Balaji, S; KAU; Sreekumar, K PThe present study was undertaken to assess the hypoglycaemic activity of aqueous and alcoholic extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus @ 500mg/kg body weight orally in alloxan induced diabetic rats and also in combination and to compare their efficacy with a standard oral hypoglycaemic drug, glibenclamide. The experiment was conducted in seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats for a period of 60days, with eight animals in each group (Group I to IX). Group I served as normal control and Group II is diabetic control. Aqueous leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus @ 500 mg/kg b.w orally were given to Group III and IV, respectively for 60 days. Group V and VI were given alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus @ 500 mg/kg b.w orally, respectively for 60 days. Group VII and VIII received combination of aqueous and alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus @ 500 mg/kg b.w orally, respectively for 60 days. Glibenclamide @ 0.5mg/animal/day was fed to Group IX. Body weight was recorded and RBC, WBC, total haemoglobin and glycosylated haemoglobin content were estimated on zero day, 7th, 14th, 28th, 56th, and 60th day of the experiment. Plasma glucose, plasma total lipids, plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, plasma HDL-C, plasma total protein, plasma albumin, plasma ALT and AST were also estimated. The liver glycogen and plasma copper, iron and zinc content were estimated at the end of the experimental period. Body weight was gradually increased during the experimental period in all treated group except the diabetic control, which showed a significant (p0.001) reduction in body weight. The RBC and WBC values did not show any significant change during the entire course of the experiment and maintained a normal level. The total haemoglobin content was increased in the animals treated with combination of alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus by two months of experiment. Glycosylated haemoglobin level also significantly decreased in all the treatment groups, which is comparable to that of the animals treated with glibenclamide. The animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis produced a marked reduction in plasma glucose level, which was higher than the reduction produced by the animals treated with glibenclamide at the end of the experiment. The plasma total lipids and plasma total cholesterol content were markedly reduced in the animals treated with a combination of alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus, which is comparable to that produced by glibenclamide treated group. The plasma triglyceride, plasma LDL-C and VLDL-C level were markedly reduced in the animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis.. The HDL-C level was increased in the animals treated with combination of alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus than the animals treated with glibenclamide. The plasma total protein and albumin content was increased in the animals treated with aqueous leaf extract of Costus pictus. The globulin content and A/G ratio was increased in the animals treated with a combination of aqueous leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis and Costus pictus. The liver enzymes such as ALT and AST were reduced in the animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis. The liver glycogen content was increased in animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Costus pictus, which is comparable to that of animals treated with alcoholic leaf extract of Scoparia dulcis. The plasma copper and iron content did not show any change but the zinc content was increased in all the treated groups than the diabetic control animals.ThesisItem Open Access Physio-biochemical evaluation of broiler chicken fed with processed fish wastes(Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2008) Darsana, M G; KAU; Sreekumar, K PThe present study was undertaken to study the effect of dietary incorporation of processed fish wastes; acid silage (fish waste) and surimi waste powder on the physio-biochemical parameters in broiler chicken. The experiment was conducted on forty five, day old broiler chicken of Vencob strain for a period of seven weeks. After three weeks of age, they were randomly divided into three groups G-I, G-II and G-III of 15 birds each. During the first three weeks, they were fed with standard broiler starter ration of BIS specification. After three weeks, G-I was fed with the standard broiler finisher ration, G-II was fed with the standard broiler finisher ration in which there was 100 per cent replacement of unsalted dried fish with acid silage (fish waste) and G-III was fed with the standard broiler finisher ration in which there was 100 per cent replacement of unsalted dried fish with surimi waste powder. The rations of G-I, G-II and G-III were made isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded at weekly intervals from fourth to seventh weeks of age. Blood samples were collected fourth to seventh week from the three groups at weekly intervals and haematological and biochemical parameters were analysed. Haematological parameters like Hb, VPRC, TEC, TLC, serum protein profile like total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin globulin ratio, serum lipid profile like total lipids, triglycerides, HDL,VLDL, NEFA, total cholesterol, serum enzymes like ALT,AST antioxidants like blood catalase, blood SOD, serum GSH, serum LPO, serum electrolytes like Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe were estimated. At the end of the experiment, the birds were sacrificed and giblet weight was assessed. The meat of three representative samples from each group was used for analysing meat cholesterol and the proximate principles like crude protein, ether extract and total ash. There was no significant difference between the three groups in body weight and feed consumption and they were gradually increasing during the experimental period in all the three groups. The haematological parameters also were comparable between the control and experimental groups. No significant difference was observed between the groups in the concentrations of total protein, albumin and albumin globulin ratio throughout the study. The concentration of globulin was significantly higher in the control group at the start of the study but later, the values were significantly comparable between the three groups. The concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides, NEFA, VLDL and total cholesterol maintained a similar trend between the control and experimental groups but at the seventh week, the concentration of HDL in the acid silage (fish waste) fed group was lower than that of the control group. The concentrations of serum enzymes and minerals (Na, K, Ca and Fe) did not show any significant change between the three groups during the entire study. Though the Mg level showed a fluctuating trend at fifth and sixth weeks of age, at the end of the study, there was no significant difference between any of the groups. The antioxidant status was also significantly comparable between the groups. The meat parameters like giblet weight, meat cholesterol and the proximate principles were also significantly similar in the three groups. It is obligatory to use animal protein source in broiler chicken for obtaining better growth performance. Fish meal is rich in certain amino acids essential for the proper growth of chicken that are limiting in the vegetable protein supplements. Unconventional protein sources like fish wastes are to be used in the ration due to the high cost and low availability of fish meal. In the present study, physio- biochemical effects of using processed fish wastes in the ration of broiler chicken instead of fish meal were assessed and they induced a growth similar to that of the standard normal ration which contain fish meal as animal protein. Thus the incorporation of the two fish wastes could be advocated to the farmers to reduce the feed cost and improve the profit without affecting the growth and meat quality of broiler chicken and also as a measure to minimize environmental pollution.