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Total 1683 cattle were screened for Theileria infections for one calendar year. The overall incidence was 4.34%. It was highest in summer (7.57%), followed by autumn (3.51%). Cattle above 2 years of age (6.19%) particularly Holstein Friesian Cross (5.81%), followed by Jersey Cross (2.77%) were highly infected. Female (4.49%) were mostly affected as compared to male (3.14%). Affected animals showed persistent high fever, tachycardia, tachypnea and reduced ruminal motility. Other important clinical signs were emaciation, swelling of pre-scapular lymph nodes, inappetence, pale mucous membranes or congested mucous membranes, occulo-nasal discharge, corneal opacity, presence of ticks, salivation, coughing and decreased milk production. The diagnostic efficacy of PCR was highest (100%, 73/73), followed by peripheral blood smears examination (93.15%, 68/73) and lymph node biopsy (49.31%, 36/73). There is a consistent increase in the incidence of bovine theileriosis which may be due climate change and import of carrier animals from the neighbouring states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jammu & Kashmir state, in the context of development, has some inherent economic disadvantages and from past few decades, simultaneously, has been suffering badly due to extremely adverse situations which has not only hampered the size and nature of its developmental scenario, but gave rise to the critical problems like unemployment. Notwithstanding the state is unique tourist destination in the sense as it offers attractions for varied type of tourists, as Jammu being known for pilgrim tourism, Kashmir for scenic and Ladakh for adventurous tourism. This kind of distinctiveness is seen only in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The state has a huge tourist potential while the growth and development of other sectors was restricted due to certain natural limitations. Being a hilly region, the state's peculiar features did not allow its industrial sector to gain momentum. Agriculture, being the mainstay of the state economy, has its own limitations, like single crop season and small size of holdings. With the growth of population, there has been increase in the work force that needs to be engaged. Given the capacity of other sectors in the state, tourism has been the main sector which offers great scope to the growing able body work force. However, the ongoing situation in the state has not only squeezed the space for adjustment but also left already absorbed large chunk jobless and adversely affected macroeconomic variables of the state economy. In this backdrop, the present study tries to evaluate the impact of conflict on the macroeconomic variables and explores that how it affected the physical, social, human and institutional capital of the state. However, the inferences have been drawn on the basis of time series data for 26 years (1990-2016) with the help of Multi Regression Model and Johnsen's Co-integration Test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry is an important perennial crop grown primarily for foliage to rear the silkworm Bombyx mori L. for the production of cocoons. Among many other constituents, moisture content in mulberry leaf and its retention for longer durations play an important role in the successful production of cocoons. The study conducted on seven mulberry genotypes growing as trees under rain fed conditions in Kashmir showed that the genotypes differ in the leaf moisture and its retention, with Goshoerami registering the maximum values. The moisture retention capacity after six hours and 12 hours of harvest in spring and early autumn was also significantly higher in Goshoerami. This may be due to more thickness of upper cuticle cum epidermis, stomata of smaller dimensions and more thickness of leaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven hundred and thirty-five diarrhoeic faecal samples from children were investigated for presence of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) and Salmonella spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial culture. Out of 675 samples from Kashmir, 55 isolates were obtained, which carried at least one virulence gene studied. Out of the 55 isolates, 36 (65.45%) were EAEC, 18 (32.72%) were ETEC while only one isolate (1.81%) was DAEC. All the EAEC isolates were found to be typical as they possessed aggR gene. Six (16.66%) EAEC isolates carried the astA gene. Out of the 18 ETEC isolates, 13 carried the elt gene alone, four possessed both the elt and est genes and the remaining one harboured the est gene alone. Five ETEC isolates also possessed astA gene. Nineteen EAEC isolates belonged to 10 different serogroups. Serogroup O153 was most frequent. The ETEC isolates also belonged to 10 different serogroups of which O159 was most predominant. Out of 224 E. coli isolates from 60 samples of Secunderabad, 27 isolates carried at least one virulence gene. Out of 27 isolates 22 (81.48%) were typical EAEC, three (11.11%) were ETEC and two (7.4%) were DAEC. Fifteen EAEC isolates belonged to seven different serogroups with O86 as most frequent. Four EAEC isolates also possessed the astA gene. All the three ETEC isolates harboured elt gene only and belonged to three different serogroups. Two isolates of Salmonella Worthington were obtained from only two samples in Kashmir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: The "Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra" is an annual congregation in which the devotees trek a difficult route of around 40 km to reach to a cave at a height of approximately 14,000 feet at Pahalgam in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, India. These trekkers are subjected to stress and strain of the long mountainous route and difficult security scenario as a result of which they are prone to develop some surgical disorders. We ascertained the profile of non-traumatic surgical conditions met in these people at the various medical aid centres and the base hospital Pahalgam so that a policy could be framed to prevent these conditions. Methods: This study was conducted at the Government Base Hospital Pahalgam, Kashmir, between June and August 2006. The patients with non traumatic surgical conditions attending the hospital were included in this study. Necessary investigations were done and patients requiring surgical intervention were operated upon. Results: Of the 1,54,000 devotees who undertook the "yatra", in 2006 the personnel of the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, extended medical aid to 40,082 pilgrims. Of these 40,082 pilgrims, 172 were admitted on the surgical side for various non traumatic surgical disorders. The commonest cause for admission was exacerbation of acid peptic diseases. Nine emergency surgical procedures were conducted at the base hospital and the commonest cause for intervention was perforation of a duodenal ulcer. There was no mortality and the patients responded well to conservative ulcer procedures. Interpretation & conclusions: The stress of high altitude trekking and assembly of a large gathering of people during the annual "Amarnath Ji yatra" can pose a number of health related problems especially in the old and infirm people as was observed in the study. Pilgrims who intend taking up the yatra in future should seek medical advice prior to their departure. If a person is diagnosed to have peptic ulcer disease he or she should be put on anti-ulcer therapy to prevent potential complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]