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To determine the prevalence and diversity of Eimeria spp. in dairy cattle present in and around Guwahati, Kamrup district, Assam, India. A total of 2339 fecal samples of calves (535), heifer (641) and adult (1163) cattle were screened for 1 year present in and around Guwahati, Assam for detection of Eimeria oocysts by flotation techniques. Sporulation of the oocyst was done in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution for identification of the Eimeria species. Examination of fecal samples revealed an overall prevalence of 11.97% Eimeria infection in dairy cattle of Guwahati, Assam. Age-wise, 33.2%, 45.4%, and 21.4% infections were recorded in calves (<1 year), heifer (1-3 years) and adult (>3 years) cattle, respectively. Season-wise, infection was recorded highest during post-monsoon (16.29%), followed by monsoon (15%), winter (9.44%), and pre-monsoon (7.49%) season. Seven species of Eimeria were recorded viz. Eimeria bovis, Eimeria zuernii, Eimeria subspherica, Eimeria bukidnonensis, Eimeria auburnensis, Eimeria ellipsoidalis and Eimeria alabamensis. The oocyst count per gram of feces ranged from 50 to 1500 in infected cattle. This study indicates that there is the prevalence of seven species of Eimeria in dairy cattle of Guwahati, Assam and mostly prevalent during the post-monsoon season.

To know the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode larvae (L ) in the grazing land of cattle in Guwahati, Kamrup district, Assam. Pastures were collected and examined for the presence of nematode larvae (L ) from six localities of Guwahati at monthly interval from August 2012 to July 2013. The counted larvae were then expressed as per kg dry matter of herbage (L /kg DM). Examination of pastures revealed presence of nematode larvae (L ) in pastures throughout the year which varied from 4.5 L /kg DM in January to a maximum of 106.33 L /kg DM in August. The L of , spp., spp., spp., and spp. were recovered from pastures. The average pasture larval burden (PLB) was 34.75±3.48 L /kg DM. Season-wise PLB revealed the presence of 23.89±3.01, 67.54±5.41, 26.67±1.92, and 7.28±0.89 L /kg DM during pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter seasons, respectively. Monsoon season has significant (p<0.05) effect on PLB. However, analysis of variance of different locations with respect to season revealed that there was no significant difference but season-wise it was highly significant (p<0.01). Pearson correlation of environmental variables (temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall) with PLB revealed correlation was statistically significant with rainfall (p<0.05). This study reveals the presence of five nematode larvae (L ) in the pastures of Guwahati, Assam throughout the year, statistically significant during monsoon season.

Thirty-one Tocklai vegetative (TV) tea clones contained caffeine and total catechin 44.39 and 227.55 mg/g dry weight of leaves, respectively. The (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was the most abundant (109.60 mg/g) followed by -(−)-epigallocatechin (EGC, 44.54 mg/g), (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG, 41.74 mg/g), (−)-epicatechin (EC, 27.42 mg/g) and +catechin (4.25 mg/g). Total catechins were highest in TV 20 (509.7 mg/g) and lowest in TV 6 (71.7 mg/g). The tea clones that contain high level of total catechin exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity. Among caffeine and flavanol compounds, theaflavins (TF) present in black tea possess a similar antimicrobial potency as EC present in fresh leaves, and that the conversion of catechins to TF during fermentation in making black tea tends to alter their antimicrobial activities. The bioactive molecules other than catechins present in tea leaves may also contribute towards antimicrobial activity.

Aim: Vector-borne infections namely dirofilariosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and lyme borreliosis are being recognized as emerging and/or re-emerging problems in dogs and man due to rapid extension of zoogeographical ranges of many causative agents through international tourism and increase mobility of dogs at national and international level towards meeting the demand for companion animals in the present day society. Anticipating such situation, a serological study was conducted in dogs from North East India to estimate the prevalence of zoonotically important Dirofilaria immitis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi along with Ehrlichia canis. Materials and Methods: Serological study was carried out using enzyme immunoassay in commercial SNAP 4DX® test kit (Idexx Laboratories, USA). The study was conducted in 191 dogs comprising 82 pets, 57 stray and 52 working dogs owned by defence organizations. Results: The study revealed seroprevalence of mosquito-borne D. immitis (17.80%), tick-borne E. canis (22.51%) and A. phagocytophilum (4.71%) with an overall 41.88% prevalence of pathogens in single or co-infection. Serological evidence of tick-borne lyme borreliosis due to B. burgdorferi could not be established in dogs in the present study. Of the zoonotic species, highest prevalence of D. immitis was found in the stray dogs (22.80%) and that of A. phagocytophilum in pet dogs (6.09%). Conclusion: The results of the present serological study serve as baseline information on the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in dogs reported for the first time in India and reaffirmation on the high prevalence of D. immitis and E. canis in the North East India.

Prevalence of Porcine Cysticercosis in three districts of Assam was studied for a period of one year from March 2002 to February 2003. Except certain geographical region of Assam, many districts of this state have yet remained unexplored for this important zoonotic disease, let along the following three districts i.e. Nagaon, Morigaon and KarbiAnglong. Monthly visit to the market places were made in different localities of the three districts. Prevalence of cysticercosis according to age, sex, breed of carcasses and seasonal occurrence were studied. The whole period of observation was divided in to four seasons as per Indian Meteorological Department as pre-monsoon, monsoon, post- monsoon and winter. A total of 978 pigs were examined, out of which 93 pigs (9.50%) were found to be positive for infection. District wise highest (13.70%) prevalence was found in KarbiAnglong and lowest (7.55%) in Nagaon district. Age wise prevalence study showed highest (11.41%) in the age group of 7-12 months and lowest (7.60%) in the age group 19-24 months. Prevalence of C. cellulosae infection in male and female was 9.15 and 10. 39 percent respectively. Breed wise prevalence was found more in cross bred (12.53%) than in local breed (7.49%).Overall seasonal prevalence was highest during pre-monsoon (10.93%) and lowest (7.82%) during monsoon season. Though there were variation in the rate of prevalence of porcine cysticercosis based on age, sex, breed and seasons. The disease was found to exist in the study area throughout the year that ranged from 5.71 to 14.06 percent. Key Words: Zoonosis, Cysticercosis, Porcine

Key Points Pathogenic treponemes are clonal, unculturable, highly invasive bacteria that cause venereal syphilis, yaws, endemic syphilis and pinta — multi-stage infections that have many similarities, but can be differentiated based on clinical, epidemiological, geographical and, most recently, genomic criteria. Only Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum is transmitted through sexual activity. Key to the capacity of the syphilis spirochete for immune evasion and thus 'stealth pathogenicity' is its unusual outer membrane, which lacks lipopolysaccharide and contains an extremely low density of integral membrane proteins and a paucity of surface-exposed lipoproteins. The production of opsonic antibodies against low-abundance surface antigenic targets is believed to be essential for control of syphilitic infection. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in defining the repertoire of β-barrel-forming rare outer membrane proteins of the syphilis spirochete and the mechanisms by which the bacterium seems to limit the exposure of surface molecules to the antibody-mediated defences of the host. During the course of genomic reduction, T. pallidum has undergone adaptations that enable it to acquire all of its required nutrients from its obligate human host and optimize their usage in various niches, while coping with exogenous and endogenous stresses. The genome of T. pallidum encodes several alternative sigma factors and other regulatory molecules or pathways that collectively point to a previously unsuspected capacity to intricately regulate gene expression in diverse microenvironments. Comparative genomics has enabled investigators to identify 'hotspots' for sequence variation that probably explain differences in virulence potential and tissue tropisms among the pathogenic treponemes; many of these hotspots are located in proteins that are known or predicted to reside at the host–pathogen interface. Treponema pallidum , the causative agent of syphilis, is extremely well adapted to its host. In this Review, Radolf and colleagues discuss how this pathogen has streamlined its cell envelope, metabolism and genome to thrive and cause disease in humans. The past two decades have seen a worldwide resurgence in infections caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum , the syphilis spirochete. The well-recognized capacity of the syphilis spirochete for early dissemination and immune evasion has earned it the designation 'the stealth pathogen'. Despite the many hurdles to studying syphilis pathogenesis, most notably the inability to culture and to genetically manipulate T. pallidum , in recent years, considerable progress has been made in elucidating the structural, physiological, and regulatory facets of T. pallidum pathogenicity. In this Review, we integrate this eclectic body of information to garner fresh insights into the highly successful parasitic lifestyles of the syphilis spirochete and related pathogenic treponemes.

The MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey (MALS) has observed 391 telescope pointings at the L band (900–1670 MHz) at δ ≲ +20°. We present radio continuum images and a catalog of 495,325 (240,321) radio sources detected at a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) > 5 over an area of 2289 deg2 (1132 deg2) at 1006 MHz (1381 MHz). Every MALS pointing contains a central bright radio source (S 1 GHz ≳ 0.2 Jy). The median spatial resolution is 12″ (8″). The median rms noise away from the pointing center is 25 μJy beam−1 (22 μJy beam−1) and is within ∼15% of the achievable theoretical sensitivity. The flux density scale ratio and astrometric accuracy deduced from multiply observed sources in MALS are <1% (8% scatter) and 1″, respectively. Through comparisons with NVSS and FIRST at 1.4 GHz, we establish the catalog’s accuracy in the flux density scale and astrometry to be better than 6% (15% scatter) and 0.″8, respectively. The median flux density offset is higher (9%) for an alternate beam model based on holographic measurements. The MALS radio source counts at 1.4 GHz are in agreement with literature. We estimate spectral indices (α) of a subset of 125,621 sources (S/N > 8), confirm the flattening of spectral indices with decreasing flux density, and identify 140 ultra-steep-spectrum (α < −1.3) sources as prospective high-z radio galaxies (z > 2). We have identified 1308 variable and 122 transient radio sources comprising primarily active galactic nuclei that demonstrate long-term (26 yr) variability in their observed flux densities. The MALS catalogs and images are publicly available at https://mals.iucaa.in.

Abstract To reduce the veterinary, public health, environmental, and economic burden associated with anthrax outbreaks, it is vital to identify the spatial distribution of areas suitable for Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of the disease. Bayesian approaches have previously been applied to estimate uncertainty around detected areas of B. anthracis suitability. However, conventional simulation-based techniques are often computationally demanding. To solve this computational problem, we use Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) which can adjust for spatially structured random effects, to predict the suitability of B. anthracis across Uganda. We apply a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) within the INLA Bayesian framework to quantify the relationships between B. anthracis occurrence and the environment. We consolidate a national database of wildlife, livestock, and human anthrax case records across Uganda built across multiple sectors bridging human and animal partners using a One Health approach. The INLA framework successfully identified known areas of species suitability in Uganda, as well as suggested unknown hotspots across Northern, Eastern, and Central Uganda, which have not been previously identified by other niche models. The major risk factors for B. anthracis suitability were proximity to water bodies (0–0.3 km), increasing soil calcium (between 10 and 25 cmolc/kg), and elevation of 140–190 m. The sensitivity of the final model against the withheld evaluation dataset was 90% (181 out of 202 = 89.6%; rounded up to 90%). The prediction maps generated using this model can guide future anthrax prevention and surveillance plans by the relevant stakeholders in Uganda.

Barium bismuth borate sodium (BBBNDy) glasses doped with Dy 2 O 3 (0–0.8 mol%, x = 0.2 mol%) were prepared via the melt quenching approach and examined under gamma irradiation. XRD confirmed the amorphous nature, while density measurements (4.3387–4.4743 g/cm 3 ) revealed composition and irradiation-dependent variations. FTIR and Raman studies indicated Dy 2 O 3 -induced network modification through BO 3 /BO 4 and BiO 3 /BiO 6 units, with minimal structural degradation under irradiation. Optical studies revealed tunable band gaps and low Urbach energies (0.1752–0.2266 eV) reflecting good structural order. Photoluminescence spectra exhibited a strong yellow emission at 575 nm ( 4 F 9/2  →  6 H 13/2 ), with optimal intensity for BBBNDy3 glass. Gamma irradiation induced PL quenching at 575 nm, with intensity reduced by to 66.6% at 5 kGy and 87.2% at 15 kGy; still, Dy 3+ emission remains detectable. These results highlight the dual role of Dy 3+ ions as structural stabilisers and efficient luminescent activators, identifying BBBNDy3 glasses as a strong candidate for photonic devices operating in radiation environments.

Aim: To study the nest architecture and nest components of Tetragonula iridipennis. Methodology: The nest architecture was observed for better understanding under AICRP on Honey Bees and Pollinators during 2021-22. The cumulative effects of seasonal variations on development of individual brood, pollen and honey areas were determined by One-way ANOVA. Results: The length and width of entrance tube varied from 25 to 30 mm and 15 to 20 mm. The average length and breadth of the brood cell was 3.75 mm and 2.55 mm, pollen pot was 7.14 mm and 6.68 mm and honey pots was 7.88±0.03 mm 6.56±0.04 mm, respectively. The results revealed that the highest total brood area (1386.47±42.63 cm sq.) was recorded in 15504 cc hive. Based on the observations, the hives 15504 cc and 14364 cc were considered to have the stronger colonies due to their larger brood areas in comparison to 6664 cc hive. Interpretation: Despite of stingless bees' significance, comprehensive studies particularly in Assam, are lacking. To address this gap, the nest architecture, components, and brood rearing activities of T. iridipennis was studied. Key words: Brood rearing activities, Nest architecture, Nest components, Pollinators, Tetragonula iridipennis