Textile industries are one of the major backbones of Indian economy. They are the major reason for contamination of water bodies and their toxicity to ecosystem is an alarming environmental issue. The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatotoxic effects of C.I. Direct Green 6 (DG 6), a commercially used textile azo dye on Labeo rohita fingerlings. For this, L. rohita fingerlings were exposed to three sublethal concentrations (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/l) of DG 6 for 15 days. After 15 days of exposure period, liver tissues were dissected out and processed further for histopathological and biochemical observations. For biochemical study, liver alanine amino transferase (ALAT; E.C.2.6.1.2) and aspartate amino transferase (AST; E.C.2.6.1.1) were assayed. Histopathological result showed mild changes such as disposition of hepatic cords, hemorrhages in sinusoids with focal necrosis, depletion of cytoplasmic material from the hepatocytes, karyorrhexis etc. A marked decrease was noticed in ALAT and AST activity in the liver. Present findings revealed that DG 6 exerts toxic effects even in sublethal concentrations. Hence, histopathological and biochemical parameters of liver proved to be sensitive biomarkers to evaluate the effect of any xenobiotics such as textile or other industrial pollutants, on aquatic lives.
Performance evaluation of Lohmann commercial layer breed was conducted in peri-urban and urban areas of Cheha woreda. The objectives of the present study was to evaluate the performance of Lohmann layer breeds in urban and peri-urban areas of Cheha woreda and to determine the economic feasibility under farmers management condition to promote and disseminate the approved technology packages to the users. Participant farmers were selected purposively on the basis of willingness to construct poultry house and cover all the associated package costs. Training was given on poultry husbandry practice and data recording. A total of 500 day-old chicks were distributed with two month chicken ration. All chicks were vaccinated for Newcastle disease, Marek's disease, Gumboro disease and Fowl pox disease. Survival of chicks during the first eight weeks of age brooding by using electric light under farmers’ management condition was 83.3%. Mean egg at first laying date was 147.3±13.44 days and egg production performance of chicken was found to be 58.5–81.2% in the study area. Mean egg weight of Lohmann chicken was 43.92±1.50 g/egg, 51.67±4.23 g/egg and 56.93±2.86 g/egg at 5%, 50% and at peak production period, respectively . The partial budget analysis result indicated that Lohmann chicken breed production was profitable with an average benefit of 15618.3 Ethiopian Birr/ participant on an average. The major challenges were lack of skill to manage the chicks, disease and predator attack (wild cat and shelemetmat) . Even though farmers’ skills were observed to be less appropriate to manage the brooding, healthcare and feeding; Lohmann chicken breed showed good performance under farmers management condition.
The presence of honey bees in the environment has a significant impact on global food production. Honey bees pollinate 71 crops out of 100 most common crops that account for 90% of the world's food supply, which makes them efficient pollinators of crops. While searching for pollen and nectar, the bee is often unprotected from several chemical toxins such as plant protection products. These chemicals enter their body via a different route and cause lethal as well as sub-lethal effects. Farmers use pesticides on crops with no or little attention to their effect on honeybees due to which the use of pesticides is harmful to pollination service, behavior service, communication, forage resource, poisoning, and contaminated hive products. Although several studies have been put forward about pesticide toxicity to honey bees, a proper management plan is still lacking. Nevertheless, all pesticide applications should be done in a way to minimize their exposure to honey bees, to prevent the further debility of the honey bee population throughout the biosphere. The present review should focus on the impact of pesticides and the measures of reducing their impact on commercial bee farming.
Alpha-cypermethrin is a type II synthetic pyrethroid. Synthetic pyrethroids are used extensively for the control of insect pest and public health purpose. A fresh water fish was exposed to lethal concentration and sub lethal concentration of alpha-cypermethrin, respectively to observe the enzyme activity in functionally two different tissues—gills and liver. The present article focusses on non-target organism in fresh water environment and critically evaluates the toxicity of these pyrethroids in terms of growth inhibition, neurotoxicity, effect of reproductive physiology, enzymatic dysfunction, haematological alterations, metabolic disorders and tissue damage.
Bacteriophages are viruses that can specifically kill certain bacteria. This property of phages can be exploited for therapeutic application in treating bacterial infections in domestic animals. Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease which is endemic in several countries. Antibiotics are not very effective against bovine brucellosis and the cost of this treatment is very high. Lytic phages against Brucella have been isolated and have been tried for therapy of bovine brucellosis with encouraging results. The present study reviewed the studies on bacteriophages with special reference to Brucellaphage and their application in the therapy of bovine brucellosis.
