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2006 - 200912010 - 20121
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Author: Manjusha, A × Start date: 2006 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Investigation on sudden death in pigs
    (Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2006) Manjusha, A; KAU; Baby, P G
    Study of “Investigation on sudden death in pigs’’ was conducted in pigs from various pig farms in Kerala, where cases of sudden death were reported. In these farms around 12.4 per cent of the total pigs were lost due to sudden death. Post mortem examination were carried out in six animals. Clinical materials were collected from the forty-five contact animals and six apparently healthy control animals. Occurrences of sudden death were common in three to six month old piglets. Most of the animals died without any premonitory clinical signs. All these animals were fed with uncooked swill mainly containing chicken waste. Some of the contact animals showed clinical signs like elevated temperature, congested mucous membranes and diarrhoea. On cultural examination of the samples from the two farms growth of the gram-negative organisms were obtained. Transmission of these organisms to these pigs may be from the uncooked swill fed to them. On antibiotic sensitivity testing cefotaxime and ceftriaxone were found to be effective against these organisms. Leukocytoses with neutrophilia were observed in animals of group III where as normal leukogram observed in animals of group II. Serum biochemical studies revealed an elevated level of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransaminase in animals without any obvious clinical sign of illness, indicating involvement of heart in the pathological condition. Animals with obvious clinical signs of illness revealed an elevated level of lactate dehydragenase, indicating damage of the tissues. Gross pathology on post mortem revealed lesions in heart, liver, brain, lymph nodes and kidney. Haemorrhages in the heart were the major findings. Prominent histopathological changes were noticed in heart and brain. Heart showed varying degrees of inflammation, degeneration and necrosis. Stomach, intestine, lung, liver and kidney also showed pathological changes. For all the animals under study supplementation of mineral mixture containing vitamin E and Selenium were advised. Animals with clinical signs of illness were treated with cefotaxime. It prevented further mortality in these farms.
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    Drying and storage studies in kizharnelli (Phyllanthus amarus Schum.& Thonn.)
    (Department of Processing Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2012) Manjusha, A; KAU; Jacob John, P
    In recent years, an increasing interest in medicinal herbs, as natural regrowing raw material could be observed worldwide. After a period of exploding the synthetic chemicals and its ill effects too, the present situation demands a ‘green wave’ to use nature and natural products. Phyllanthus amarus Schum.&Thonn., known in Malayalam as ‘Kizharnelli’ is one of the most important herbs in Indian medicine. Owing to its phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin content, it is widely used as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, chemoprotective, antioxidant etc. The plant has been traditionally used to promote liver functions and used as a remedy for jaundice. The plants are available mostly during the months of July to September and are short living. Therefore an attempt has been made to extend the post harvest storage life of P. amarus with minimum quality deterioration. Two experiments were conducted during the course of study; with the first experiment to evolve a suitable drying and packaging technique for the plant as such and the second to evolve an extraction technique and the storage studies of the extractives. Shade drying of whole plant followed with packaging in aluminium laminated pouches was found to be the best drying and storage technique in terms of colour, phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin content for the storage up to 4 months. Hypophyllanthin content was found to be degrading in a faster rate and very less amount was noticed after 4 months of storage. Comparing the drying of whole plant and chopped materials, no advantage was noticed in terms of drying rate. Therefore this additional step of chopping can be avoided. Sun drying, though a common practice of drying; degradation of alkaloids and colour was observed in drying and storage of Phyllanthus amarus. Studies on extraction techniques revealed that the extraction using ethanol was found to be better and regarding to the storage of extractives, dried ethanolic extracts stored in aluminium laminated pouches retained maximum phyllanthin content after six months of storage. However hypophyllanthin content dropped drastically after 4 months of storage. The techniques thus developed will help to store ‘Kizharnelli’ for an extended period of 3 to 4 months than its normal available period as stored material.