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The successful design of strategic control measures against the blood-sucking gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants can be facilitated by revealing its general features from morphology to the molecular level. In the south Gujarat region of India, a total of 2408 H. contortus were collected from 84 slaughtered sheep's abomasum, consisting of 347 males and 2061 females (1:6 ratio) (p95 % and >94 % homology with published sequences of ITS-1 and ITS-2 plus of H. contortus, respectively, with more nucleotide transitions than transversions in the aligned sequences. The reconstructed phylogram of either ITS-1 or ITS-2 plus revealed two major clades, one for H. contortus and another for other nematodes, with Haemonchus placei showing its proximity with the clade of H. contortus. The study established the role of morphological and molecular features in identifying and differentiating H. contortus parasite at the local level.

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Copyright of Crustaceana is the property of Brill Academic Publishers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Changes in biochemical, microbiological and sensory attributes of silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) fish steaks during chilled storage in control, air pack (AP), vacuum pack (VP) and active pack (oxygen scavenger) (OSP) were investigated. For this purpose, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N), TBA values (TBA), free fatty acids value (FFA) and peroxide value (PV), sensory attributes and micro-biological analyses were carried regular interval during chilled storage. Silver pomfret steaks packed with oxygen scavenger (active packaging) was found to be the best in terms of biochemical, microbiological, sensory score and long shelf life compared to others. Instrumental analysis by colour reader (L*-value, a*-value, b*-value), textural analysis also complimented the findings based on microbiological, biochemical and sensory analyses. Active packaging on the silver pomfret steaks exhibited a providing an inert protection from the external environment during chilled storage. As a compare to vacuum packaging, it can said that the active packaging using oxygen scavenger in the packaging of fish may be an alternative to vacuum packaging. A shelf life extension as high as 35 days is economically advantageous in the retail and food services industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To extend the shelf- life and to avoid health hazards, some preservation methods can be applied in which drying is one of the oldest preservation methods. In present, still sun drying method is using for drying of fish and shrimp in most part of the world. The main principle of drying is removal of water from the foods which reduces the water activity by high temperature that decreases the microbial activity and increase the shelflife. The aim was to find out the effect of blanching, salt and sugar on biochemical, microbiological and sensory quality of dried shrimp during long term storage at room temperature and monitored over 120 days at interval of 30 days. Significant difference (p<0.05) in the value of pH, TMA-N, TVB-N, PV, TPC, colour reading and textural parameter were noted. Blanching slows or stops the action of enzymes which can cause loss of flavor, color and texture. There are several ways by which salt and sugar inhibit the microbial growth. The most notable is simple osmosis or dehydration. Dried shrimp with salt treatment was found to be the best in terms of biochemical, microbiological, sensory score and long shelf life compared to others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen morphometric and four meristic characters of Sepiella inermis of Veraval coast were studied and the relationships of morphometric characters with dorsal mantle length (DML) were established. Total 1900 samples were collected and analyzed. The characters compared showed a fair to high degree of correlation. The r value between DML and mantle breadth was 0.805 in male and 0.794 in female showing highest correlation. However the correlation coefficient for number of suckers of four arms against DML was poor in both male and female. The average slope (b) value was found to be 1.886 ± 0.1275. The average intercept (a) value was -3.973 ± 0.5284. The r value was 0.483 in male. In female the average slope (b) value was found to be 2.518 ± 0.1227. The average intercept (a) value was -6.634 ± 0.5124. The r value was 0.532. As per average slope (b) it can be concluded that there was allometric growth. There was differential reproductive growth in male and female. The gut content analysis revealed higher food availability in the month of December. Food and feeding analysis confirm the carnivorous feeding behavior of the species. Condition factor was found good in the month of February. There was a variation in condition factor by size (length) class. Relatively lower condition factors were recorded for smaller size of Sepiella inermis females and higher in medium size of males. Full gut content was observed in the month of May. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this context, combination of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and edible chitosan coating in the microbial, biochemical, texture attributes of a highly commercially important fish silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) steak stored at refrigerated temperature (0-4°C) was investigated. The aim was to find out the best atmospheric packaging and bio-preservative concentration for enhanced shelf life and keeping quality at refrigerated temperature. Silver pomfret steaks was packed in different atmosphere, air pack and modified atmosphere (70% CO2: 30% O2; 40% CO2, 30% N2, 30% O2; 60% CO2, 40% O2; 60% CO2, 40%N2) and stored at refrigerated temperature and monitored over 32 days at interval of 4 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infection in camels. It states that faecal samples of camels from different villages in middle Gujarat, India were collected and examined by direct, sedimentation and flotation methods for eggs presence. Results show that helminthic infection in 68.01 per cent samples and 89.10 per cent camels have nematodes.

The article discusses a study which examined the histological and histochemical changes in naturally occurring canine demodicosis. Results show that the canine demodicosis affected skin showed reduced distribution of elastic fibers and the distribution of mucopolysaccharides in the affected skin was also slightly reduced. It was also found that there was mild and sparse activity of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme in the cells of epidermis and adnexa of the affected skin.

The average hemoglobin level in Cryptosporidium affected calves was significantly lower than the uninfected. The mean total erythrocyte count observed in affected calves (8.12 ± 0.21 million cells/mm3 ) was significantly lowered as compared to apparently healthy one (8.76 ± 0.77 million cells/mm3 ). There was significant increase (P≤0.01) in total leukocyte count in diseased calves. There was significant difference (P≤ 0.05) in differential leucocyte count in affected calves. There was no significant difference in average monocyte count in affected and uninfected calves The PCV% was 31.32 ± 1.48 and 32.97 ± 2.91 (P>0.05) for uninfected and infected calves, respectively. The mean corpuscular volume in uninfected and infected calves was 50.27 ± 4.71 and 51.03 ± 4.78 (P>0.05), respectively. The average corpuscular haemoglobin concentration observed in the diseased calves was significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher when compared with that of uninfected calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on parasitic infections in captive wild animals at the Rajkot Municipal Corp. zoo in Rajkot, India. An analysis of the animals' fecal samples showed positive results for nematode, cestode and intestinal protozoan infections. Cestode infection of Spirometra species was found to be the highest among all parasitic infections. The causes of parasite infection included pasture contamination and close association of captive animals.