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The aim of this study was to compare serum hormone profiles (progesterone and estradiol-17β) in buffaloes with dystocia and unassisted calving in three agro- ecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan. One hundred and seventy three buffaloes (n=173) with assisted (dystocia) and unassisted calving (normal birth) were sampled for study. The results showed that the buffaloes suffering with dystocia had significantly higher (P<0.05) mean serum progesterone level compared with those having normal calving. The comparison amongst the agro-ecological zones revealed that serum progesterone level of dystocia cases in buffaloes of northern irrigated zone was significantly lower (P<0.05) compared with those in the southern irrigated zone and the arid zone, whereas the latter two did not differ between each other. No difference was observed in serum progesterone levels in normal buffaloes when compared amongst three agro-ecological zones. The serum estradiol-17β profile showed a significant (P<0.05) lower level in buffaloes with dystocia as compared to those with normal calving. Mean serum estradiol-17β level in the buffaloes affected with dystocia in the northern irrigated zone was significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to those in the southern irrigated zone and the arid zone wherein the latter two did not differ between each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women empowerment is one of the most debatable issues in the development circles now-a-days. Pakistan being a democratic and an Islamic state, the issue of women empowerment faces new challenges. Considering its multidimensional nature and to give an empirical aspect to this study, an index is developed about the knowledge of true Islamic teachings and values. In this paper, an attempt is made to remove the miss-conception that 'Islam' as a religion hinders the way of women empowerment, using regression analysis based on the primary data from a district of Southern Punjab. The results show that Islamic concept of women empowerment strengthened by the women's education, education of her household members, access to media, health facilities, less no of household members along with no fear of violence. Finally, it is concluded that Islam as a religion ensures maximum women's rights. It is our typical social norms, old traditions imported from other religions and ignorance from the true teachings of Islam, which has made today's women vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of present study was to know the incidence of pre partum vaginal prolapse in irrigated and rain fed agro-ecological zones of Punjab through field survey. The study was conducted, during 2005-2006, in two agro-ecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan. The area for sample collection comprised of the District of Bahawalpur from the irrigated zone (Zone-1) and the District of Muzaffargarh from the rain fed zone (Zone-2). The highest incidence of pre-partum vaginal prolapse was recorded during the months of summer and the lowest incidence was recorded in the months of spring in both the agro-ecological zones. Buffalo below the age of five years had the highest incidence of pre-partum vaginal prolapse in both the irrigated and rain fed zones. The survey revealed that the incidence of pre partum vaginal prolapse was lowest in animals fed commercially available concentrate. Animals fed cotton seed cake only had a significantly higher incidence of vaginal prolapse in both irrigated and rain fed zones. The buffalo carrying male calves had significantly higher incidence of pre partum vaginal prolapse compared with those carrying female calves in both the zones. It was concluded that the incidence of vaginal prolapse is influenced by the agro-ecological zone and the month of gestation, season of the year, lactation number, milk production, sex of calf are the contributory factors in the incidence of vaginal prolapse in buffalo in Punjab, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 20 antimicrobial agents for 41 isolates of Burkholderia mallei from natural outbreaks of equine glanders were determined by agar dilution. All isolates were intrinsically resistant to ampicillin (MIC90 ≥128). Resistance to other antimicrobials was as follows: 95.1% to amoxicillin and cephradine, 85.4% to cefuroxime and norfloxacin, 68.3% to ceftizoxime and ceftriaxone, 61.1% to ceftiofur, 58.5% to oxytetracycline, 41.5% to ciprofloxacin, 58.5% to roxithromycin, 17.1% cefotaxime, and 12.2% clarithromycin. Overall resistance patterns revealed that 17% of isolates were simultaneously resistant to amoxicillin, cephradine, cefuroxime, ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone and norfloxacin. None of the isolates were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin or trimethoprim-sulphadiazine. Mode MICs for these antimicrobials were 2, 1, 8, 4 and 1 μg/ml, respectively. A majority of the isolates (∼ 94%) were susceptible to both enrofloxacin and ofloxacin. These data provide an updated perspective on susceptibility profiles of current strains of B. mallei in an endemic area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the Rank Correlation between the existing development grants transfer index and the deprivation index among the four provinces in Pakistan. It mentions that the wide range of rank correlation among the provinces shows the varying degree of reliance of existing development transfer system on the existing deprivation level. The article also suggests that the provinces of Punjab and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) allocate their resources based on prevailing deprivation index while the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan do not.

The present study was planned to determine the macro-mineral status (calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) in riverine buffaloes suffering with prepartum vaginal prolapse (n=100) in comparison with control (n=100) buffaloes kept in irrigated and rain fed (Barani) agro-ecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan. Serum macro-mineral status was determined by spectrophotometer using commercially available kits. Mean serum calcium and phosphorus levels were lower in buffaloes suffering with prepartum vaginal prolapse compared with their healthy counterparts (P<0.01), while reverse was true for serum magnesium concentration. Mean serum calcium was significantly higher (P<0.01) and phosphorus was nonsignificantly lower in control and vaginal prolapse affected buffaloes kept in irrigated zone compared to their counterparts in rain fed zone. However, magnesium concentration was non-significantly higher in control buffaloes and significantly lower in vaginal prolapse affected buffaloes belonging to irrigated zone compared to their counterparts in rain fed zone. It may be inferred that deficiency of calcium and phosphorus and higher levels of magnesium may possibly be the contributing factors in causing prepartum vaginal prolapse in buffaloes. The levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were, at least partially, zone dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum progesterone and estradiol-17β levels were estimated in Nili Ravi buffaloes (n=190) with and without fetal membranes retention in three agro-ecological zones of Punjab. The results showed that serum progesterone concentration was significantly higher (P<0.05) in buffaloes with retention of fetal membranes (RFM) compared to buffaloes without retention of fetal membranes (NRFM). The comparison amongst the three agro-ecological zones revealed that the mean serum estradiol-17-β level in buffaloes with RFM in the northern irrigated zone was significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to those in the southern irrigated zone and the arid zone, whereas the latter two zones did not differ (P>0.05) significantly from each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pertaining to reported high prevalence of brucellosis in Pakistan, district Layyah on account of having thick sheep population was selected for this study. A total of 384 sheep blood samples were collected randomly from different selected private herds in the district, and tested through Modified Rose Bengal (mRB) test and Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA) for the serological analysis against the Brucella antibodies. Positive samples from these two tests were further subjected to Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (cELISA). The individual based seroprevalence of brucellosis in sheep was found to be 7.0% by mRB. Herd based prevalence was 42.5%. The highest (P<0.05) seroprevalence (16.8%) was observed in Tehsil Layyah as compared to Tehsils Karor (2.3%) and Choubara (4.5%). Non-significant differences were recorded between breeds, age and sex groups and also for the animals with or without history of abortion. In case of indirect and competitive ELISA, no sheep serum sample was found to be positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]