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2015 - 20165
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Subject: Veterinary and Animal Sciences × Start date: 2000 ×
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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DETECTION OF RICKETTSIAL PATHOGENS OF TICKS OF WILD MAMMALS AND REPTILES
    (Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 2016-05-12) Jeena, K D; Reghu Ravindran
    The present study detected the rickettsial pathogens of ticks of wild mammals and reptiles from five different regions of Wayanad district, Kerala (Vaduvanchal, Vythiri, Noolpuzha, Muthanga and Meppadi). A total of 62 ticks collected from four different wild mammals and one reptile species. The collected species were included Amblyomma integrum from (wild boar, elephant calf and barking deer), Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis spinigera and Amblyomma integrum from (sambar deer) and Aponoma gerviasi from (python).The RNA was isolated from RNA was isolated from individual adult engorged female ticks, by using RNAeasy minikit (Quiagen, Germany). cDNA was synthesized from the isolated RNA samples by using Revertaid H Minus cDNA synthesis kit (fermentas, USA) based on manufacturer`s protocol. The cDNA synthesized subjected to PCR amplification using specific primers. The primers used for the PCR amplification were included, mitochondrial 16S r DNA gene of tick species which amplify a 450 bp product, a pair of oligonucleotide primer sequences which are localized within the coding V4 region in a 18S gene, Rickettsia specific citrate synthase gene (gltA) using CS2d and CSEndr primers which amplify a product of 1234 bp, and Rickettsia specific outer membrane protein A by using ompA F and R primers which amplify a product of 632 bp. The Agarose gel electrophoresis was performed on a 2.0 per cent Agarose (Biogene, USA) gel prepared in 0.5X Tris Borate EDTA buffer (Tris 2.7g, Boric Acid 1.37g, EDTA-0.5M 1ml, Aqua dist. Ad 500ml) using 80V power supply for 90 minutes. The samples were send to sequence analysis and obtained were first BLAST analyzed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ BLAST) to confer their identity. Only Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus spp. of ticks revealed rickettsial organisms. The Rickettsia species identified in these ticks were Rickettsia africae (Amblyomma integrum), Rickettsia parkeri (Amblyomma integrum) and Rickettsia rhipicephali (Rhipicephalus sp).
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DIVERSITY, HABITAT PREFERENCE AND FEEDING HABITS OF CHIROPTERANS IN WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
    (Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 2016-05-12) Nithin Divakar; Arun Zachariah
    Species richness, abundance, roosting habitat and diet composition of bats in different forest types of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary were studied from December 2014 to September 2015. Sampling method included direct observations and mistnetting. A total of ten bat species were reported from six families and eight genera during the study period. Pteropus giganteus was the highest in abundance (538) followed by Megaderma spasma (70), Rhinolophus rouxii (24), Cynopterus sphinx(12) and Kerivoula picta (9). In Muthanga (dry deciduous forest),Cynopterus sphinx, Kerivoula picta, Megaderma spasma and Taphozous species were recorded. In Sulthan Bathery (dry deciduous forest), Pteropus giganteus and Megaderma spasma were found. In Kuruchyad (semi-evergreen forest), only Megaderma spasma was found from just one roost. In Tholpetty (moist-deciduous forest), A total of seven roosts were observed and the roosts were occupied by Rhinolophus rouxii, Kerivoula picta, Pippistrellus sp. and Hipposideros speoris. One road killed Myotis species specimen was also found from this area. Mixed species roosting and seasonal migration was also reported from Tholpetty. Bat species abundance was highest in moist-deciduous forest. Diet composition analysis revealed that guava was the most preferred fruit (37%) of Pteropus giganteus. The analyzed samples also indicated Rhinolophus rouxii to be a generalized insectivorous bat with Lepidoptera forming a major (32%) part of its diet. Diet analysis also revealed that Megaderma spasma fed upon seven insect orders with Coleoptera forming 33% of its prey. This study, although preliminary, provides baseline information of bats found in WWS
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MIXED-SPECIES BIRD FLOCKS IN A FOREST AND COFFEE HABITAT IN WAYANAD, KERALA
    (Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 2016-05-12) Karthika Chandran; George Chandy
    Mixed-species flocks in two different habitats in Wayanad District were studied in order to compare the species composition and organization of flocks in both the habitats- a coffee plantation and a natural forest habitat. Studying the association of Racket-tailed Drongos (RTD) with other species within flocks and checking if there was any influence of the associating species on the occurrence of RTDs in flocks was another objective of the study. Flocks were surveyed along three 500 m trails in both the study sites and the different species, number of species, number of individuals, foraging height and foraging substrate of species within the flocks were recorded. The findings of the study suggested that there were no significant differences in the abundance of mixed-species flocks, mean species richness and mean number of individuals per flock. Though species composition of flocks in both habitats remained almost similar, the organization of species within flocks was different in both the habitats. Also, flocks which comprised of White-bellied Treepie, Dark-fronted Babbler, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Flame-throated Bulbul, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Puff-throated Babbler and Malabar Trogon were found only in the forest habitat. Canopy cover in the forest was higher than that in the coffee plantation and differences in the foraging height of flocking species in both habitats were also noted. Racket-tailed Drongos were found interacting positively with barbets, minivets, woodpeckers, nuthatches and bulbuls. The preferred associates of RTD were mostly same in both habitats. More elaborative studies with greater sample size are required to analyze such interactions to reach proper conclusions about why RTDs associate with or refrain from associating with certain species.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    HOST SPECIES PREFERENCE OF FIG-WASPS IN SOUTH WAYANAD FOREST DIVISION
    (Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 42580) Shilpa K Satheesan; George Chandy
    Figs are keystone plant species, in the genus Ficus with closed inflorescence called Synconium, with hundreds of flowers. Each Fig tree is associated with specific wasp species which is co-evolved mutualism. Selected Ficus species and their respective pollinator and non-pollinator wasps were investigated from Kalpetta and Chedeleth ranges of South Wayanad Forest division for four months (January 2016 to May 2016). A total of 24 species of Ficus of which 14 and 12 species from Kalpetta and Chedeleth range were recorded respectively. The diversity was higher in the Evergreen Forests than Moist Deciduous Forest. The host affinities of fig wasps were studied by rearing wasps from fig synconia that were collected and stored. Each Ficus tree was associated with specific wasp species community. A total 31 different species of wasps and Epichrysomalinae subfamily insects were recorded from nine different Ficus species. Maximum of six species of wasps were recorded in Ficus drupacea and only two species of wasps in F. virens. The pollinator sex ratio was found to be skewed towards the females. Wasp species were differentiated using only two parameters such as body length and ovipositor length distinguished pollinator and non-pollinator. Further investigation based on specific body parts measurements could enable to identify the wasps at species level.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ASSESSING THE GENETIC VARIABILITY IN THE FREE RANGING ASIAN ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus) POPULATION OF WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
    (Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 2015-10-31) Neethu Balakrishnan; Arun Zachariah
    Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) have a high influence in the culture, religion and economy, but are facing extinction in the wild. The selective poaching of male elephants for ivory leads to skewed sex ratios, which result in inbreeding and a drastic decline in population size. In this study, the genetic variability of Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) population of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary was assessed using microsatellites markers. The observed polymorphism was low at the tri and tetra nucleotide loci in the samples analysed (n=28). The observed heterozygosity (0.029) was lower than the expected heterozygosity (0.915) and the mean observed heterozygosity was almost half of the expected heterozygosity indicating very high occurrence of inbreeding.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    The Leverage of Riparian Vegetation and Physical Habitat on Fish Assemblage Structure
    (Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad, 2016-08-22) Thampy, Decin Rons; George Chandy