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Schistosomosis is a prevalent zoonotic parasitic disease affecting both humans and animals on a global scale, with an estimated 165 million cattle and 200 million people impacted worldwide. Eventhough, serological methodologies designed for the identification of specific antibodies targeting parasitic antigens are esteemed for their high sensitivity, there are criticisms due to their incapacity to reliably indicate active infection, inability to correlate with the intensity of infection and lack of specificity. Enhancing the specificity of serological assays presents a significant challenge, primarily attributable to the identification and synthesis of specific antigens. In addressing these limitations, recombinant technology with specific immunogenic proteins as candidate antigens emerges as a viable alternative. In this study, induction of 22.6 kDa recombinant tegument protein of Schistosoma spindale was achieved using 0.6 mM concentration of IPTG at 37°C for four hours. Nickel chelating affinity chromatography was employed for protein purification, yielding maximum protein concentration at 75mM elution. Subsequently, the dialysis technique was employed to remove contaminants, while lyophilisation method was employed for protein concentration. The protein concentration post dialysis was measured at 0.220 mg/mL, while lyophilisation resulted in a concentration of 2mg/m Keywords: 22.6 kDa tegumental protein, Schistosoma spindale, dialysis, lyophilisation

Schistosomosis is a prevalent zoonotic parasitic disease affecting both humans and animals on a global scale, with an estimated 165 million cattle and 200 million people impacted worldwide. Eventhough, serological methodologies designed for the identification of specific antibodies targeting parasitic antigens are esteemed for their high sensitivity, there are criticisms due to their incapacity to reliably indicate active infection, inability to correlate with the intensity of infection and lack of specificity. Enhancing the specificity of serological assays presents a significant challenge, primarily attributable to the identification and synthesis of specific antigens. In addressing these limitations, recombinant technology with specific immunogenic proteins as candidate antigens emerges as a viable alternative. In this study, induction of 22.6 kDa recombinant tegument protein of Schistosoma spindale was achieved using 0.6 mM concentration of IPTG at 37°C for four hours. Nickel chelating affinity chromatography was employed for protein purification, yielding maximum protein concentration at 75mM elution. Subsequently, the dialysis technique was employed to remove contaminants, while lyophilisation method was employed for protein concentration. The protein concentration postdialysis was measured at 0.220 mg/mL, while lyophilisation resulted in a concentration of 2mg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the incorporation of wheat bran into semi-dry fermented carabeef sausages, analysing their physico-chemical properties, sensory properties and microbiological quality, with an emphasis on the impact of refrigerated storage. Utilizing buffalo meat, which is prominent in India's meat industry due to its health benefits and minimal religious consumption restrictions, this research focused on enhancing the dietary fiber content of sausages-a product traditionally low in fibers. Wheat bran, known for its high fiber content and health benefits, was integrated at varying levels (6%, 8% and 10%) into sausage formulations. The treatment that included 8% wheat bran emerged as the optimum choice based on cooking yield and sensory attributes, exhibiting significant improvements in moisture retention and overall acceptability compared to the control. Over 60 days of refrigerated storage, both control and most accepted treatment sausages demonstrated a reduction in pH and moisture content, with an increase in microbial counts and indices of oxidative and nitrogenous degradation. Despite these changes, the sensory parameters of treatment sausages with 8% wheat bran were maintained at acceptable levels throughout the storage period. This study concludes that the incorporation of fibre into fermented carabeef sausages can improve sensory attributes and extend the product's shelf life, suggesting a promising approach for enhancing the nutritional profile and storage stability of meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) caused by Infectious Bursal Disease virus (IBDV), poses a significant threat to the poultry industry, causing immunosuppression and economic losses since its discovery in 1957. To understand the host response to IBDV infection, this study examined the modulation of MAP2K3 and IL12B in chickens infected with IBDV. A local IBDV isolate propagated in embryonated chicken eggs was inoculated into 18-day-old chicken. The mRNA transcription levels of MAP2K3 and IL12B in bursal tissue were quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction on day two post-infection and compared with those of uninfected, age-matched control birds (sham inoculated). The study revealed increased expression of the MAP2K3 and IL12B genes, indicating their role in inflammatory response during IBDV infection. Thus, the present investigation sheds light on the involvement of MAP2K3 and IL12B in the inflammatory response to IBDV infection in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in dogs in Kerala and to identify the most prevalent serovar. Materials and Methods: A total of 205 sera collected from dogs were screened for the presence of antibodies against leptospirosis by Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). Results:Aseroprevalence rate of 71.12 per cent was observed. Leptospira interrogans serovar Autumnalis was found to be the most prevalent serovar followed by Australis, Pomona, Canicola, Pyrogenes, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Javanica and Patoc. Conclusions: The results revealed the high prevalence of anti leptospiral antibodies in dogs in Kerala. The emergence of serovars other than the vaccinal serovars necessitates the incorporations of these in the vaccines beacuase the immunity against leptospirosis is serovar specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primers capable of amplifying the gene coding for the outer membrane protein Lipl 41 of Leptospira sp. were used in a PCR for the rapid diagnosis of leptospirosis in cattle. This gene was found to be conserved among the pathogenic serovars of Leptospira interrogans viz., Australis, Autumnalis, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Hebdomadis, Icterrohemorrhagiae, Javanica, Pomona and Pyrogenes as the amplicon of 1077 bp were obtained. Blood and urine samples from six cows suspected of leptospirosis were subjected to PCR using the above primers. Two blood samples and one urine sample were found to be positive. The specificity of the primers was checked was by using the cultures of Pasteurella, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and the saprophytic Leptospira biflexa and it was found that these were not amplified by these primers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among canines in Thrissur, Kerala in India. Among the 91 samples tested, 63 or 69% were seropositive for leptospira agglutinins. The high prevalence of the serovar Autumnalis suggests the necessity of incorporating this serovar in the future vaccines to control the infection.

The article presents a study on the prevalence of serovars involved in canine leptospirosis in Thrissur, India. The researchers collected 114 canine serum samples suspected for leptospirosis presented at University Veterinary Hospitals of Mannuthy in India from September 2009 to January 2010. They also used dark field microscopy to observe agglutination of leptospires. They found that serovar Australis should be included in the vaccine for effective protection against leptospirosis.

The article presents research which examined the candidate antigens among the leptospiral outer membrane proteins (OMP) exhibited during the acute stages of canine leptospirosis. The researchers collected samples of paired serum from eight canines that are suspected to be suffering from leptospirosis and presented for microscopic agglutination test (MAT). They found that OMP fractions of 21, 32 and 36 kDa could be expressed as recombinant antigens.

Aim: To clone the virulent gene LipL32 of Leptospira interrogans serovar Autumnalis and to analyze the sequence with LipL32 gene of other pathogenic serovars of Leptopsira. Materials and Methods: Leptospira interrogans serovar Autumnalis procured from Leptospira research laboratory, Chennai was used in the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out for amplifying LipL32 gene using the reported primers of Leptospira Kirschnerii. The PCR product was cloned into TA cloning vector and the vector was transformed into E.Coli DH5á cells. The plasmid was isolated from E.Coli and sent for sequencing with universal primers. The sequence was submitted in genbank with accession number JQ861883. Results: The PCR product revealed an amplicon of 790 bp. The LipL32 gene sequence of Leptospira interrogans serovar Autumnalis showed 99 % similarity with most of the pathogenic Leptospires. Conclusions: LipL32 gene of Leptospira is highly conserved in most of the pathogenic Leptospires. The study concludes that this gene could be used as a target for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in animals and humans and could be tested as an important candidate antigen for vaccine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]