Ethno-veterinary practices in Southern India for captive Asian elephant ailments

ETHENOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

India has a long tradition of practicing Ayurvedic medicine not only for human ailments, but also for the management of livestock in the form of ethno-veterinary practices. Asian elephant is a significant part of Indian culture, and ethno-veterinary practices have extended to manage and cure various ailments of Asian elephant in captivity. Much of this knowledge has been lost in the light of modern practices.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is aimed at documenting the existing knowledge on ethno-veterinary medicines practiced by elephant keepers (mahouts) in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out between June 2015 and February 2016 employing a questionnaire survey among 50 selected informants (mahouts) with traditional knowledge on plants in veterinary medicine. Information was elicited from the informants on various diseases prevailing among captive elephants and the traditional treatment employed by them.

RESULTS

In total, the study documented 53 plant species belonging to 29 families being used as medicine for 23 types of ailments prevailing among captive elephants. Ferula assa-foetida, Zingiber officinale, Piper longum, P. nigrum, Cuminum cyminum, Trachyspermum roxburghianum and Carum bulbocastanum were the most commonly used plants either independently or in combination. Among them, Ferula assa-foetida (12.4%) and Zingiber officinale (10.4%) had the highest usage. Of the 23 diseases reported, constipation was the most common ailment (14.6%) followed by bloating (8.7%) and flatulence (8.7%).

CONCLUSION

Documentation of this indigenous knowledge is valuable for the communities concerned, both at present and in future and for scientific consideration for wider use of traditional knowledge in treating captive elephants. The study has identified 53 medicinal plants to treat various ailments among captive elephants in southern India. The most frequently used plants in the captive elephant health care practice are F. assafoetida, Z. officinale, P. longum and P.nigrum. Among the 29 families, Apiaceae and Piperaceae are widely used. The leaves are the most useful part of the plants, while paste is the widely used form of preparation. The present findings show that mahouts have wide knowledge about elephant diseases and their treatment using herbal medicine. A more detailed investigation should be designed on priority to document the dying art of ethno-veterinary practices for the long-term conservation of the Asian elephant.

Molecular characterisation of lineage IV peste des petits ruminants virus using multi gene sequence data

Peste des petits ruminants is responsible for an economically important plague of small ruminants that is endemic across much of the developing world. Here we describe the detection and characterisation of a PPR virus from a recent outbreak in Tamil Nadu, India. We demonstrate the isolation of PPR virus from rectal swab and highlight the potential spread of disease to in-contact animals through faecal materials and use of faecal material as non-invasive method of sampling for susceptible wild ruminants. Finally we have performed a comprehensive 'multi-gene' assessment of lineage IV isolates of PPRV utilising sequence data from our study and publically available partial N, partial F and partial H gene data. We describe the effects of grouping PPRV isolates utilising different gene loci and conclude that the variable part of N gene at C terminus gives the best phylogenetic assessment of PPRV isolates with isolates generally clustering according to geographical isolation. This assessment highlights the importance of careful gene targeting with RT-PCR to enable thorough phylogenetic analysis.

Phytofabrication of gold nanoparticles assisted by leaves of Suaeda monoica and its free radical scavenging property

Development of biologically inspired experimental processes for the synthesis of nanoparticles is evolving into an important branch of nanotechnology. An eco-friendly synthesis of inorganic nanoparticle is a fast growing research in the limb of nanotechnology. In the present study, it is reported that Suaeda monoica leaf mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles by the reduction of gold ions. The formation of gold nanoparticle was confirmed by color changes from turbid brown to deep purple violet color and a characteristic peak at 535 nm. The morphology and structure of synthesized gold nanoparticles were characterized on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with a Thermo EDAX attachment, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), (FT-IR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) which reveals that the Au nanoparticles are spherical and the average particle size is 12.96 nm. Crystalline nature of the nanoparticles is confirmed from the XRD pattern. FTIR spectrum indicates that the biomolecules of carboxyl, amine and hydroxyl functional groups involved in the reduction of gold nanoparticles. The biosynthesized gold nanoparticles displayed considerable antioxidant capacity.

Detection and characterisation of rotaviruses from children less than 5 years hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis in Nagercoil

Group A rotavirus continues to be the major cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children in developing countries. In this study, we report the prevalence and genotype of rotaviruses identified from children <5 years of age hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis from Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu from 2007-2010. From the 139 children included in the study, 71 samples (51%) were positive by ELISA and 65 samples were positive by PCR-based methods. G1P[8] (44.6%) was the most commonly identified genotype. In addition, we report detection of rotavirus in two of three CSF samples from children with seizures.

Closing the diarrhoea diagnostic gap in Indian children by the application of molecular techniques

A large proportion of diarrhoeal illnesses in children in developing countries are ascribed to an unknown aetiology because the only available methods, such as microscopy and culture, have low sensitivity. This study was aimed at decreasing the diagnostic gap in diarrhoeal disease by the application of molecular techniques. Faecal samples from 158 children with and 99 children without diarrhoea in a hospital in South India were tested for enteric pathogens using conventional diagnostic methods (culture, microscopy and enzyme immunoassays) and molecular methods (six PCR-based assays). The additional use of molecular techniques increased identification to at least one aetiological agent in 76.5 % of diarrhoeal specimens, compared with 40.5 % using conventional methods. Rotavirus (43.3 %), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (15.8 %), norovirus (15.8 %) and Cryptosporidium spp. (15.2 %) are currently the most common causes of diarrhoea in hospitalized children in Vellore, in contrast to a study conducted two decades earlier in the same hospital, where bacterial pathogens such as Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp. and enterotoxigenic E. coli were more prevalent. Molecular techniques significantly increased the detection rates of pathogens in children with diarrhoea, but a more intensive study, testing for a wider range of infectious agents and including more information on non-infectious causes of diarrhoea, is required to close the diagnostic gap in diarrhoeal disease.

Normal bone mineral density in cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis has been reported as a complication of cystic fibrosis (CF).

AIMS

To measure bone mineral density (BMD) in non-acutely ill adults and bone mineral content (BMC) in children with CF.

METHODS

We analysed data from 28 adults and 13 children with CF. Corticosteroid use was minimal for the year prior to study in both groups. Dual x ray absorptiometry was used to measure total body and regional bone mineral density in adults. In children, whole body BMC was measured. Lean tissue mass (LTM) was also measured in all subjects. There were two control groups: A (matched for LTM and height, in addition to age and gender); and B (matched for age and gender only).

RESULTS

There was no difference in whole body or regional BMD density between adult CF patients and control A subjects. Both whole body and regional BMD were significantly lower in adult CF patients than in control B subjects. Total body BMD was correlated with body mass index, LTM, and percent fat in both CF and control subjects. There was no significant correlation between total body BMD or regional BMD and either NIH clinical status scores, or pulmonary function tests in adults. There was no difference in total body BMC between CF children and control A subjects. Total body BMC was significantly lower in CF children than in control B subjects. There was no correlation between pulmonary function results and BMC in children.

CONCLUSION

Osteopenia and osteoporosis in CF may be caused more by malnutrition and chronic use of intravenous or oral corticosteroids than by a CF related inherent defect in BMD. Appropriate "normal" data should be selected when determining whether or not osteoporosis is present in a CF patient.

Role of Fogarty catheter manipulation in management of migrated, nonfunctional peritoneal dialysis catheters

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter migration to the upper abdomen is not an uncommon cause of catheter failure. We prospectively examined the role of the Fogarty catheter manipulation technique to reposition the PD catheter in the pelvis and regain patency. All patients with PD catheter malfunction caused by migration, confirmed by abdominal radiograph, underwent the same protocol. The patient was placed flat on the back, and the Fogarty was advanced into the PD catheter to a premarked point at which the end of the Fogarty was near the end of the PD catheter. The Fogarty balloon was inflated with 0.5 mL of sterile saline, and manipulation was performed by tugging movements until proper placement of the PD catheter into the pelvis was suspected. Infusion and drainage of dialysate was performed to determine patency. The return of the PD catheter into the pelvis was then confirmed by repeated radiograph. Success rates of Fogarty catheter manipulation, early and late recurrence (remigration < or =90 days or >90 days), and complications were prospectively examined in 232 patients over a 6-year period. Catheter migration occurred in 34 of 232 patients (15% incidence). All patients had curled-end, double-cuffed, non-swan-neck PD catheters. Successful repositioning occurred in 24 of 34 patients (71%). None of the 24 repositioned catheters had early recurrence, and 1 of 24 catheters (4%) had late recurrence. None of the patients had procedure-related peritonitis, bowel perforation, or exit-site trauma. These results show that PD catheter migration is relatively common (15%). The Fogarty manipulation technique is a simple, cost-effective way to prolong PD catheter life and preserve its long-term patency. This eliminates the need for surgical intervention in approximately 70% of patients with PD catheter migration.

Immunosuppressive therapy with microemulsion cyclosporine A shortens the hospitalization of pediatric liver transplant recipients

Intravenous administration of cyclosporine (Sandimmune) to rapidly and effectively achieve therapeutic serum levels in transplant recipients has been the treatment standard in many transplantation centers. With the development of microemulsion cyclosporine (Neoral), that standard is changing. Neoral has greater bioavailability than the oral form of Sandimmune and, consequently, can be more efficacious and cost-effective. To test this hypothesis, we undertook a retrospective study of Sandimmune and Neoral in the treatment of 66 children who underwent uncomplicated orthotopic liver transplantation in the Texas Medical Center between April 1991 and December 1997. Both forms of cyclosporine were evaluated in terms of in-patient treatment cost, recuperative time in the intensive care unit and duration of hospitalization. Twenty-two patients were treated orally with Neoral, and 44 patients were treated intravenously with Sandimmune for a mean time of 14 d. Once the blood concentration of Sandimmune reached a steady state, as confirmed by daily measurements of the trough level, the patients in the Sandimmune group were converted to oral cyclosporine. None of the 22 patients treated with Neoral required intravenous treatment. The mean time spent in the intensive care unit was 4 d for the Neoral group and 5.5 d for the Sandimmune group. The mean duration of hospitalization from the date of transplantation to discharge was 12 d for the Neoral group and 20 d for the Sandimmune group (p < 0.001). Based on these results, we determined that the overall cost per patient in the Neoral group was $3598 less than that per patient in the Sandimmune group.

Serum leptin and IGF-I levels in cystic fibrosis

The role of leptin in states of negative energy balance such as cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been explored. We hypothesized that leptin levels in patients with CF would be low due to correlation with body weight. Despite the importance of IGF-I in normal growth and anabolism, there are few data on IGF-I in CF. We studied 27 CF patients (25+/-5 yrs, 57+/-9 kg, 10M/17F) and 12 control subjects (25+/-4 yrs, 57+/-9 kg, 6M/6F). Each subject underwent analysis of lean body mass (LBM) and percent body fat by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Serum leptin and IGF-I levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum leptin levels were similar both in CF and in controls (CF=5.3+/-4.1 ng/ml, C=4.4+/-3.6ng/ml; p=0.3), and there was no difference in percent body fat between the two groups (CF=26+/-13%, C=21+/-7%; p=0.3). Leptin levels were significantly lower in CF males than females corresponding to lower fat levels in males in both CF and controls. Leptin levels were positively correlated with percent body fat both in CF and controls (CF: r=0.8; p=0.01, CONTROL: r=0.8; p =0.2). Serum IGF-I levels were significantly lower in CF patients than in controls (CF=1.13+/-0.41 ng/ml, C=6.72+/-3.62 ng/ml; p=<0.01). We conclude that the physiological regulation of leptin is maintained in relation to body fat even in chronic illness and that the negative energy balance in CF is not caused by high leptin levels.