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The prevalence of snail-borne trematodes (SBTs) of cattle and their vector snails in Rajshahi district in Bangladesh were determined. A total of 380 faecal samples of cattle were collected and examined using Modified Stoll's Ova Counting Technique. Of the smaples examined, 130 (34.2%) animals were found affected with SBTs, and the mean egg per gram of faeces (EPG) was 180.3 ± 0.8. The trematodal infections by Fasciola gigantica (1.1%), different amphistomes (32.9%), and Schistosoma spindale (0.8%) were detected among the infected cattle. The effects of age, sex, breed, and body condition of the cattle on the prevalence of SBTs were determined. The infection rate was higher in young (> 2-4 years) cattle (46.5%), followed by calves of ≤ 2 years (35.3%), and the lowest in older (> 4 years) cattle (20%). The prevalence of trematode infections was significantly (P<0.0001) higher in females (36.5%) than in male (28.3%) cattle. The prevalence was higher in cattle with poor body condition (48.7%) than in cattle with normal body condition (24.8%). Significantly (P<0.008) higher prevalence of trematode infection was recorded in indigenous cattle (41.2%) than in cross-bred cattle (26.9%). It is suggested that SBT infection is a common problem in cattle in Rajshahi district of Bangladesh. Particular emphasis should be given to proper management and regular deworming, and sustainable control measures should be developed for the prevention of SBT infection in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social support plays an important role in the nursing of patients at a terminal stage. A literature review explored the influential link of social support in coping with chronic disease, but patients with chronic liver disease have not been studied in this context. The current study examined the lived experiences of social sources of social support, patients’ expectations and the role of social support. Furthermore, it explored the importance of support for patients, coping effect and whose support matters for nursing of terminal chronic liver disease patients. A total of 21 terminally ill patients with chronic liver disease were selected through an appropriate screening process. Subsequently, in-depth detailed interviews were conducted to gather experiences of the hepatitis patients. Researchers fulfilled all the ethical considerations during the process of data collection. Social support exerts multiple beneficial effects that help in coping with chronic diseases of terminally ill patients. It was found that patients with hepatitis expected emotional, instrumental and informational support from social relations. Social support was a source of emotional gratification and a buffer in psychological distress, and helped in enabling a peaceful death for patients with chronic diseases. Among all social sources of support, spousal and child support were the most important for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats of the genus Pteropus (P.) under the class Mammalia are important ecologically as pollinators, but little is known about their basic physiology. For this, serum biochemical values of healthy wild captured frugivorus bats (P. giganteus) were determined for providing baseline information and health care assessments in zoological setting. Ninety clinically healthy large frugivorous bats were captured from the wild and anesthetized for 2 hours following capture for blood collection from brachial vein. Serum glucose, total protein (TP), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), urea, uric acid, calcium and phosphorus were determined using biochemical analyzer. No major differences were observed in the serum biochemical values between male and female bats, juvenile and adults or fair and good health-state bats except significant variation in the AST (p < 0.05), ALP (p < 0.05) and CPK (p < 0.05) between adult and juvenile bats, calcium (p< 0.01) and phosphorus (p < 0.01) between the good and fair health-state bats. The values from this study can be used to create reference intervals of serum biochemistry of bat found in Indian subcontinent, and they can make up the first comprehensive biochemical study for this highly endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]