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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immunodiagnosis of bovine gastrothylacosis using coproantigens
    (Department of parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Kandasamy, A; KAU; Devada, K
    A study was conducted on the prevalence of paramphistomatidosis in Thrissur from June 1999 to May 2000, feasibility of coproantigen detection by ELlSA and comparison of sensitivity of ELlSA using coproantigens and ELlSA using serum antibodies in diagnosis of gastrothylacosis, caused by Gastrothy/ax crumenifer, in cattle. It was noted from the registers maintained at the University Veterinary Hospitals at Kokkalai and Mannuthy and that at the Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, that out of a total number of 1534 faecal samples from bovines examined, 253 (16.5 per cent) animals were found to be positive for amphistome eggs with the maximum prevalence (23 per cent) in June and July. Generally the infection was prevalent throughout the year. An indirect ELlSA using rabbit hyperimmune serum against somatic antigens of G. crumenifer was performed to detect coproantigens in faecal samples collected from 100 known G. crumenifer infected cattle. Seventy four samples were found to contain detectable levels of coproantigen indicating a sensitivity of 74 per cent. Serum samples collected from the same infected cattle were tested for antibodies to G. crumenifer by an indirect ELlSA using somatic antigens. Fifty one samples were found positive for antibodies indicating a sensitivity of 51 per cent. It was seen that when 43 cattle were positive for both coproantigens and serum antibodies, 18 cattle were negative for both of them. Although 31 cattle which were negative for serum antibodies were found positive for coproantigens, eight cattle negative for coproantigens were found positive for serum antibodies. The results showed that coproantigen detection, which revealed a higher sensitivity than the detection of serum antibodies by ELlSA, is feasible for the diagnosis of gastrothylacosis in bovines.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immune response of cattle to Boophilus annulatus (Acari : Ixodoidea)
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Sreekrishnan, R; KAU; Rajamohanan, K
    A study was undertaken to assess the nature and degree of development of acquired resistance in calves against the cattle tick Boophilus annulatus. Observations were made mainly on the development of natural resistance against repeat infestations and the effect of artificial immunization using the tick antigen. Tissue reactions induced by the ticks at the site of bite were also studied. The results indicated the development of resistance in the host, which was gradual and varying in degrees. Immunodiffusion test failed to reveal the presence of tick antibodies in the sera of calves after repeated infestations, indicating that easily demonstrable quantities of antibodies are not developed even after repeated infestations. The cellular reactions at the site of tick – bite revealed the development of a resistant reaction at the site of bite. Studies made on artificial immunization using the whole – tick extract gave varying results. However, the immunodiffusion test using sera of immunized calves revealed that there is a steady maintenance of antibody level throughout the infestation period. Thus, the results obtained in the present study indicate that antibodies are developed against the tick Boophilus annulatus in calves on natural infestations and using the tick antigen, and that there is a clear possibility of immunizing calves against B. annulatus artificially.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Helminth parasites of mammals in Thrissur Zoo
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Varadharajan, A; KAU; Pythal, C
    An investigation on the prevalence of helminthic infections among the wild mammals in captivity in the Thrissur Zoo and also the variations thereof on account of season, age and sex were carried out by regular faecal examination using the concentration method of centrifugation-cum-sedimentation technique, over a period of one year from May-'98 to April-'99. Non-specific symptoms like general ,weakness, debility, occasional diarrhoea, dehydration and respiratory distress with cough were observed in a variety of mammals. The overall prevalence of the helminthic infection among the mammals was 68.05 per cent. Carnivores had the highest prevalence of infection (75.34%) when compared to herbivores (67.47%) and omnivores (65.35%). Strongyle, Strongyloides spirurid, ascarid, amphistome, Fasciola, Trichuris and Parascaris infections in a variety of herbivores; strongyle, Strongyloides, spirurid, Ancylostpma, Capillaria, Toxocara, Trichuris, Metagonimus, Artyfechinostomum and Hymenolepis infections in a variety of omnivores and Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Toxascaris, Strongyloides, Capillaria, spirurid, Diphyllobothrium, Hymenolepis and Paragonimus infections in a variety of carnivores were observed. A few specimens of Haemonchus contortus were recovered from the abomasum of a 6 year old female balckbuck during post-mortem examination. The overall prevalence of infection among the mammals was higher in the rainy seasons (South-West and North-East monsoons) than in the dry season. The prevalence of, infection was higher in the adults of herbivores and omnivores than in the young ones of both the groups. The prevalence was also higher in the males of herbivores and carnivores than in the females and was more or less equal in both sexes of omnivores. Treatments with Fenbendazole and Pyrantel Pamoate were effective against gastro-intestinal nematodes in camels and in Asiatic lions respectively. Control measures for the helminthic infections in the zoo < mammals have also been suggested.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Intertransmissibility of the common nematode parasites of pigeon (Columbolivio domestico) and domestic fowl (Gollus gollus domesticus)
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1996) Senthilvel, K; KAU; Madhavan Pillai, K
    An investigation was made on the prevalence of nematode infections in pigeons for a period of one year by faecal and postmortem examinations and the percentage prevalence was 35.24 and 46.74 respectively. The species of nematodes collected from pigeons were Ascaridia columbae, Capillaria obsignata, Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, Acuaria spiralis and Strongyloides avium. Capillaria obsignata had the highest prevalence. The development of egg and the time taken to reach the infective stage in egg cultures of Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinae, Syngamus trachea, Ascaridia columbae, Capillaria obsignata and Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus maintained at different room temperature were studied and recorded. The cross transmission trials with fowl nematodes; A. galli, H. gallinae and S. trachea and pigeon nematodes; A. columbae, C. obsignata and 0. quadriradiatus were conducted in pigeons and chicks respectively. Syngamus trachea and C. obsignata were found to be transmissible between pigeons and chicks. The detailed life cycles of A. columbae, S. trachea and 0. quadriradiatus in pigeons were worked out in detail. The prepatent period for these species was 46, 28 and 7 days respectively. The infective larvae of 0. quadriradiatus were seen to be phototropic and hydrotactic. They remained viable for 47 to 52 and 60 to 67 days in dry and wet seasons respectively. The clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions produced by the nematodes in pigeons were recorded. Moderate infections of O. quadriradiatus produced anaemic changes in pigeons.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pathogenesis and treatment of immature Ascaridia galli infection in experimentally infected chicken
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Padmaja, P B; KAU; Sathianesan, V
    In a study conducted on the pathogenesis and treatment of Ascaridia galli in experimentally infected chicken at different developmental stages of the worm, it had been found that droopiness, whitish diarrhoea, marked reduction in body weight gain, haemorrhage and congestion at different parts of the intestinal mucosa and frothy or blood tinged intestinal contents were the main clinico pathological changes. Histopathological observations in the small intestine were signs of enteritis, jcatarrhalj changes, villar proliferation, desquamation of sub epithelium and villar tips and mild congestion and haemorrhage. A tissue phase was observed in the life-cycle of the nematode at 20th day post infection indicated by the presence of cut sections of the larvae-in the mucosal and submucosal regions. Haematologically, a decrease in the total erythrocyte count, an initial leucopenia followed by leucocytosis, reduction in packed cell volume and percentage of haemoglobin, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, percentage of heterophils, eosinophils, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin values and a reduction in the percentage of lymphocytes, monocytes and "mean corpuscular .haemoglobin concentration and an initial basopenia followed by basophilia were observed in infected chicks. For treatment, out of the four anthelmintics tried, namely piperazine hydrate, albendazole, morantel citrate and ivermectin against the infection, albendazole at 50 mg/kg body weight was found to be the most effective, closely followed by morantel citrate at 50 mg/kg body weight and then piperazine hydrate at 500 rag/kg ' body weight. I I Ivermectin at 1 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously was found to be the least effective. The present study with morantel citrate appeared to be the first of its kind as far as it's use against ascairidiasis in poultry was concerned
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of anthelmintic treatment on milk production in subclinical nematode infections of cows
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Rajasekharan, Nair K G; KAU; Rajmohan, K
    A study was conducted on the incidence of subclinical gastrointestinal namatodiasis in diary cows and heifers, and the effect of anthelmintic treatment on their milk production. It was found that all the animals examined in the two livestock farms of Kerala Agricultural University were harbouring the infection. Faecal culture was found to be the method of choice for detection of nematode infection when compared to microscopical examination of faeces.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pathogenicity of Ascaridia Galli infection in broiler chicken with special reference to weight gain
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Arunachalam, K; KAU; George, Varghese C
    A study carried out to assess the pathogenic effect of the developmewntal stages of Ascaridia galli in broiler chicks for a period of eight weeks, revealed clinical signs like general weakness, unthriftiness, ruffled feathers and loss of appetite, besides the delayed development of comb, wattles and feathers. On post – mortem examination of the experimentally infected chicks, large numbers of larvae were recovered from 2nd day PI onwards and the lumen larvae were detected from 14th day PI. The intestinal contents were frothy, mucus mixed and had many immature worms. In the small intestine the worms embedded in the mucosa with their anterior extremities. Histopathological studies revealed disruption of villi, desquamation of epithelium, infiltration with monocular cells, focal necrosis, congestion and haemorrhage in the mucosa and cystic changes of mucosal glands. Sections of larvae in the mucosa at different histological locations were detected on 4th, 10th, 14th and 17th days PI. In addition, cut sections of degenerated larvae were also observed. Haematological studies indicated a statistically significant increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total leucocyte count, total heterophil and eosinophil counts. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin content and total erythrocyte count were significantly decreased. Lymphocyte count was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in all the infected groups upto 37th day PI; later the count was gradually increased in all the infected groups. The mean body weight and mean body weight gain in the infected groups of chicks were significantly lesser than the control group chicks (P <0.01). The mean weekly feed intake and mean weekly feed conversion ratio were lesser in the infected groups of chicks than control ones, although the difference was not statistically significant. The morbidity rate was high in all the infected chicks, but mortality was not recorded during the experimental period. Coprological study confirmed the maturation period for A. galli in groups A, B, C and D as 59, 59,50 and 44 days respectively.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Prevalence, immune response and control of Stomoxys spp. of flies
    (Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 2000) Basker, N; KAU; Subramanian, H
    A detailed study on the prevalence, biology, immune response and control of Stomoxys spp. of flies was conducted. The prevalence study on Stomoxys fly infestation on cattle of Thrissur, during June 1999 to May 2000 showed a higher incidence (>90 per cent) during the months of June, July, August and September than in other months. The prevalence increased as temperature decreased and humidity and rainfall increased. The fly infesting cattle was identified. as Stomoxys calcitrans. The biology of the fly was studied in laboratory and were fed with citrated bovine blood. The use of horse dung as oviposition and larval development medium was found to be satisfactory. The life cycle parameters of the fly were also noted. The thoracic muscle antigen prepared from pharate adult fly was used for immunization. Agar gel precipitation test and counter immuno electrophoresis revealed a single clear precipitation line. The passive haemagglutination assay revealed an antibody titre of 1024, on days 21 st and 28th of immunization. Feeding the normal flies with blood from immunized rabbit produced a cumulative mortality of 100 per cent on day 20 against 66.7 per cent mortality in flies fed with control rabbit blood. Abnormal effects like wing paralysis was noted in test group. The insecticidal property of Deltamethrin, Diazinon, Carbaryl and Ethofenprox were evaluated against stable fly infestation and was found that Deltamethrin (0.0025 per cent) was highly effective in controlling flies. At 0.005 per cent concentration Deltamethrin gave better protection. Diazinon (0.3 per cent) and Carbaryl (0.1 per cent) failed to provide good protection after one day post treatment. Ethofenprox (0.002 per cent) was found to be least effective.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Prevalence and treatment of bovine coccidiosis
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Sreevidya Nambiar, K; KAU; Devada, K
    A detailed study on the prevalence, clinical pathology and treatment of coccidial infections in cattle belonging to all age groups was undertaken at the Veterinary Hospitals, University Livestock Farm, Buffalo Breeding Station, Cattle Farm, Pattambi, Kerala Agricultural University and other localities in Thrissur during the period from June 1999 to May 2000. The prevalence of the infection was found to be 2.2 per cent. On the whole, the incidence of coccidiosis was found to be high in animals below one year, and female animals, during the rainy and humid months. Clinical signs; predominantly blood tinged or foul smelling diarrhoea and the microscopical examination of the faecal samples from suspected cases were made use of for diagnosis. Eight Eimerian species causing coccidial infections in cattle were identified and they were Eimeria bovis (35 per cent), E. zuernii (55 per cent), E. subspherica (10 per cent), E. ellipsoidalis(60 per cent), E. cylindri ca (fi ve per cent), E. bareillyi (five per cent), E. brasiliensis (five per cent) and E. wyomingensis (10 per cent). The most commonly encountered species were E. ellipsoidalis, E. bovi s, and E. zuernii. Haematological studies of clinically infected animalsrevealed reductio in the values of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts. A reduction in serum total protein and globulin fractions was also observed during the assay of serum protein fractions in these animals. Treatment trials against bovine coccidiosis using drugs, Sulphadimidine sodium (125 mg per kg body weight for three days), Amprolium hydrochloride (20 mg per kg body weight for five days) and Salinomycin (2 mg per kg body weight for 21 days) orally resulted in nearly cent per cent efficacy in the clinically affected animals. All the three drugs were found to be equally effective.