Immunogenicity of experimental live attenuated Japanese encephalitis vaccine viruses and comparison with wild-type strains using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies

A total of 105 hybridomas secreting anti-Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated from six fusions against four strains of JE virus: wild-type strains SA14 and G8924 and live attenuated vaccines SA14-5-3 and SA14-14-2 (PDK-9). Most of the mAbs (87%) elicited haemagglutination inhibition activity while only a minority (24%) elicited neutralization. None of the mAbs prepared against SA14-5-3, parent of SA14-14-2, elicited neutralization while the only mAbs prepared against SA14-14-2 that elicited neutralization recognized flavivirus cross-reactive epitopes. In comparison, mAbs raised against wild-type strains showed that a spectrum of epitopes with different specificities, including JE type-specific epitopes, elicited neutralizing activity. Two mAbs, prepared against SA14-5-3 virus, were found to be vaccine-specific and five, prepared against strains SA14 and G8924, were wild-type-specific.

Can mothers safely prepare labon-gur salt-sugar solution after demonstration in a diarrhoeal hospital?

Home-based salt-sugar solution (SSS) prepared with labon (locally produced sea salt) and gur (unrefined brown sugar) has been recommended as a cheap, locally available and a simple tool to prevent and treat diarrhoeal dehydration. Preparation of labon-gur SSS is demonstrated to the patients and the attendants at ICDDR, Bangladesh. To evaluate performances, 150 mothers were asked to measure labon and gur by finger pinch and first method and 100 mothers measured half a seer of water to prepare labon-gur SSS, shortly after the demonstration sessions. 4.0% of the samples exceeded the upper safety limit while 1.3% exceeded the upper danger limit for salt and 98.7% samples of gur were within safe and effective range. Mothers' performances were not different with regard to their educational status and prior practice at home. 80% knew about the solution before coming to the hospital and 45% had utilized this knowledge. Our study suggests that demonstration of home-based SSS in a diarrhoeal hospital may positively affect health education and that health personnel should actively participate in increasing health awareness.

Assessing homogeneity and association in male and female infant mortality in Bangladesh

"This paper reveals some interesting characteristics regarding the nature of sex differential in neonatal, post neonatal and infant mortality [in Bangladesh]. The association between sex of an infant and mortality appears to be highly significant for neonatal and post-neonatal stages but these associations are not very heterogeneous over time.... The association appears to be nonsignificant for infant mortality but the association in male and female infant mortality is found to be heterogeneous over time." Data cover the period 1966-1981.

Stimulation of cholesterol and lipid synthesis by insulin in familial hypercholesterolemic fibroblasts

Cultured skin fibroblasts from two patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and three normal subjects were preincubated for 24 hours in medium containing 10% delipidated serum with insulin concentrations of 0.4, 4, or 40 ng/mL. [14C]acetate incorporation into total lipids, cholesterol, and phospholipids was significantly increased in familial hypercholesterolemic cells at insulin concentrations of 0.4 and 4 ng/mL, which had no effect in normal cells. When the data were normalized as percent stimulation over control for individual experiments, [14C]acetate incorporation into cholesterol was comparable at 40 ng/mL in both cell types. Similar results were obtained in cells preincubated in serum free artificial medium. Coordinate increases in the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase in response to insulin were not found. These studies show that familial hypercholesterolemic cells have an altered lipogenic response to low concentrations of insulin.

A preliminary study on the ecology of the capped langur

There are little published data on the ecology of the capped langur (Presbytis pileatus), so a study of this species was undertaken at Madhupur National Park, Bangladesh, from December 1977 to July 1978. The langurs spend 32% of their 709-min day feeding, 49% in sitting and resting, and 19% moving, playing and grooming. Feeding occurs in the early morning and late afternoon, and there is a peak of resting in the middle of the day. Leaves form the major part of the diet (61%), with flowers, fruits, and seeds next in importance (30%). On average, groups move about 450 m each day.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ECTOPARASITIC INFESTATIONS IN CATTLE AT BHAWAL FOREST AREA, GAZIPUR

To determine the prevalence of ectoparasitic infestation of cattle in and around the Bhawal forest area in Gazipur district in Bangladesh, an epidemiological investigation was carried out during the period from November 2008 to October 2009. Of 206 cattle examined, 132 (64.07%) were found to be infested with several species of ticks and lice. The prevalence rate was highest in case of Boophilus microplus (45.63%) followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus (36.89%), Linognathus vituli ((23.30%), Haematopinus euysternus (17.96%), Hemaphysalis bispinosa (16.50%), and Damalinia bovis (8.25%). Results revealed that, older cattle aged > 8 years are more (71.11%) susceptible than that of adults aged > 2-8 years (67.74%), and young aged ≤2 years (47.05%). In females, prevalence of ectoparasitic infestation was observed significantly (p< 0.005) higher than that of male. Prevalence of ectoparasitic infestation was significantly (p<0.005) higher in animal reared under free range system than that of semi-intensive system and cattle with malnourished and poor health status were found to be significantly more vulnerable to such parasitic infestation than normal healthy cattle. Seasonal prevalence showed that, significantly (p<0.001) higher prevalence occurred in summer season (78.46%), followed by winter (62.85%) and rainy season (52.11%). Mean parasitic burden were 1.49±0.80 per square inches of heavily infected area. DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v8i1.7399 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2010). 8(1): 27-33

Effect of dose and time of vaccination on immune response of duck plague vaccine in ducks

Effect of dose and time of vaccination on immune response of duck plague vaccine in 90 (45 of 18-day-old and 45 of 35-day-old) Jinding ducklings was studied during the period from October 2002 to March 2003. Each of both age group (18-day-old and 35-day-old) was divided into three groups as A, B, C and D, E, F respectively, consisting of 15 ducklings in each. Each duckling of groups A and B was primarily vaccinated with 0.25 ml and 0.5 ml of duck plague vaccine (LRI, Mohakhali) intramuscularly at 18 days old respectively and could not be boosted due to the death of all the ducklings of both groups within 20 days of primary vaccination. Each duckling of group D and E received 0.5 ml and 1.0 ml of duck plague vaccine (LRI, Mohakhali) intramuscularly at 35 days old respectively and ducks of both the groups boosted with 1.0 ml of vaccine 5 months after primary vaccination. Groups C and F served as unvaccinated control. 14 days after booster vaccination ducks of group D, E and F were challenged with the virulent field isolate of duck plague virus @ 1.0 ml / duck IM (104 EID50 / dose). The ducklings of group D that were vaccinated primarily at 35 days old with 0.5 ml and boosted after 5 months with 1.0 ml of duck plague vaccine had significantly (p< 0.01) higher PHA titres after 2 weeks of primary vaccination (38.4 ± 6.4), booster vaccination (153.6 ± 25.6) and challenge infection (281.6 ± 62.71) in comparison to control group (≤4, ≤4 and 20.0 ± 2.3 respectively) and all the ducks survived (100%) after challenge. The ducklings of group E that were vaccinated primarily at 35 days old and boosted after 5 months of primary vaccination with 1.0 ml of duck plague vaccine had also significantly (p< 0.01) higher PHA titres after two weeks of booster vaccination (76.8 ± 12.8) and challenge infection (153.6 ± 25.6) in comparison to control group, but only 8 (53.3%) ducks could protect the challenge infection with virulent duck plague virus. It may be concluded that ducklings below 30 days of age should not be vaccinated with duck plague vaccine. It also may be proposed that primary vaccination at 35 days old with duck plague vaccine (LRI, Mohakhali) @ 0.5 ml / duckling and booster vaccination after 5 months of primary vaccination @ 1.0 ml could be practiced for better immune response against duck plague.Key words: effect; dose; age; immune response; duck plague vaccine; ducksdoi: 10.3329/bjvm.v2i2.2542Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (2): 117-119

Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cloxacillin for selected isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with their antibiogram

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) represents the concentration of antimicrobial at which there is complete inhibition of growth of organism. In order to determine the MIC of cloxacillin, 10 MRSA were previously detected from 40 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Agar plate dilution test was used to determine the MIC of cloxacillin. The clinical samples were collected from Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh. The study was done in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh from July 2006 to June 2007. The MIC of the cloxacillin for 5 MRSA strains were ≥32 (mg/ml), for 1 MRSA strain was ≥ 128(mg/ml) and for another 4 MRSA strains were above ≥128 (mg/ml). Antimicrobial susceptibility test of the isolated organisms were done by disc diffusion method. On antibiotic susceptibility test, MRSA strains showed 100% resistant against penicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin and amoxycillin. Cent per cent susceptibility of MRSA was found against vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, fusidic acid and rifampicin. Key words: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), antibiotic resistance, cloxacillin, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v6i1.1350 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6 (1): 121-126

On the food and feeding habit of an estuarine catfish (Mystus gulio Hamilton) in the south-west coast of Bangladesh

No Abstract doi:10.3329/ujzru.v27i0.1962 Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 27, 2008 pp. 91-94

ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MICROFLORA FROM APPARENTLY HEALTHY CAGED PARROTS OF DHAKA ZOO OF BANGLADESH

The research work was conducted to isolate and identify the microflora from apparently healthy caged parrots. A total of 45 samples (oral swabs, cloacal swabs and feces) were collected from five types of caged parrots (Gray cockatiels, Rose ringed parakeet, Alexandriane parakeet, Red breast parakeet and Blossom headed parakeet) of Dhaka Zoo during the period from April to August 2009. The samples were cultured on different bacteriological media and the bacteria were identified by their cultural and biochemical properties. All the isolates were allowed for antibiogram study. The bacteria isolated in this study from different types of caged parrots were E. coli (64.44%), Salmonella spp. (46.67%), Staphylococcus spp. (46.67%), Pasteurella spp. (33.33%), Proteus spp. (6.67%) and some unidentified Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Of these isolates, E. coli was the most frequent isolate. The frequency of Gram-negative bacteria was higher in this study. The percentage of bacterial isolates recovered from each type of parrots was almost similar. Irrespective of types of parrots, the higher percentage of different bacteria was isolated from cloacal swab (77.78%) followed by feces (75.56%). The 68.89% isolates were recovered from oral swab. All the suspected isolates of Salmonella spp. were confirmed by slide agglutination test using Salmonella polyvalent ‘O’ antiserum. Among the 21 Salmonella spp. isolated in this study, 4 (19.05%) isolates were identified as S. Pullorum when tested with specific antisera against S. Pullorum. The results of antibiotic sensitivity tests revealed that ampicillin and amoxicillin were completely resistant to E. coli and Pasteurella spp.; ampicillin to Proteus spp.; and furazolidone to Salmonella spp. and Pasteurella spp. However, the antibiotics of fluoroquinolone group such as ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and enrofloxacin showed moderate to high sensitivity against almost all the bacterial isolates. Of these, ciprofloxacin was found to be consistently highly sensitive to all the bacterial isolates. DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v8i1.8349 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2010). 8(1): 05-10

Seroprevalence and mortality in chickens caused by pullorum disease and fowl typhoid in certain government poultry farms in Bangladesh

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and mortality in chickens caused by pullorum disease and fowl typhoid in five different government poultry farms according to three age groups during the period from June 2002 to May 2003. The overall seroprevalence of salmonellosis, especially pullorum disease and fowl typhoid was 26.67%. The mean seropositivity of five farms in three different age groups from each farm was 18.97±2.27%, 33.20±3.53% and 27.84±2.67% on 10th, 24th and 40th week of age, respectively. The mean seropositivity of three different age groups from each farm was 36.77±5.40%, 24.05±3.97%, 26.80±3.90%, 25.77±4.49% and 19.93±3.28% in Mirpur, Savar, Bogra, Kishoregonj and Tangail poultry farm, respectively. Fowl typhoid caused by S. gallinarum was the most predominant organism accounting for 295 isolates, and only 74 isolates were identified as pullorum disease caused by S. pullorum. The highest mean proportion of mortality due to fowl typhoid among five farms was 43.36±2.39% and was highly significant (P < 0.001) in 27-39 weeks age group. The proportion of mortality due to Pullorum disease was highly significant (P < 0.001) in day 0-13 weeks age groups and in respect of age, the highest mean value of pullorum disease was 10.47±1.14 from five farms.Key Words: seroprevalence; mortality; pullorum disease, fowl typhoid, chickensdoi: 10.3329/bjvm.v2i2.2539Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (2): 103-106

Characterization and pathogenicity of duck plague virus isolated from natural outbreaks in ducks of Bangladesh

Characterization and pathogenicity studies on Duck plague virus isolated from natural outbreaks of 170 ducks belonged to the districts of Mymensingh (n = 50), Netrokona (n = 70), and Kishoregonj (n = 50) were carried out during the period from January to June 2002. The collected samples were processed virologically for isolation and identification of Duck plague virus (DPV). Characterization and pathogenicity of the isolated DPV were studied in developing duck and chicken embryo, confluent monolayer of DEF, and experimentally induced infection in ducks. The DPV was identified by using neutralization (NT) and passive haemagglutination (PHA) tests. No remarkable differences were observed in the clinical characteristics, course of the disease and macroscopic lesions between naturally and experimentally infected ducks. The results of NT of DPV showed that all the local virus isolates (DPV-Mymensingh, DPV-Netrokona, and DPV-Kishoregonj) were neutralized by the antisera of duck plague vaccine virus (DLS, Mohakhali) which indicate that the virus isolates are homogenous and specific to the antisera to DPV. The PHA test was also found sensitive for the identification of DPV. Therefore, both the NT and PHA tests could be used for the identification of DPV. In addition, the local isolate of DPV-Netrokona was found to be more antigenic compared to other isolates which could be selected for vaccine preparation to control duck plague under field condition.Key words: duck plague virus; duck plague vaccine; neutralization test; passive haemagglutination testdoi: 10.3329/bjvm.v2i2.2540Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (2): 107-111