Applied Zoology

Solvent extracts of xerophytic plant, Opuntia dillenii Haw were screened for larvicidal, ovicidal and repellent properties against the dengue vector Ae. aegypti L. Five different extracts viz., hexane, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride and distilled water were tested for larvicidal, ovicidal activity in five different concentrations ranging from 62.5, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm. Among the five solvent extracts of O. dillenii, petroleum ether extract showed the highest larvicidal activity at 1000 ppm against the fourth instar larvae of Ae. aegypti. The LC50 and LC90 values of O. dillenii petroleum ether extract were recorded as 323.76 and 829.76 ppm against Ae. aegypti larvae respectively. High ovicidal activity of 64% was recorded at 1000ppm concentration of petroleum ether extract. The petroleum ether extract was also found to be the most effective protectant against the adult female mosquitoes of Ae. aegypti. The mean protection time recorded in petroleum ether extract was up to 107 min at 5 mg/cm2 dosage against Ae. aegypti adults. The potential of petroleum ether extract of O. dillenii could be used in dengue vector control.

The present study intends to evaluate the haematological parameters among the rural population of Vaijapur tehsil. During a period of four months i.e. June 2011 to September 2011.During this period of four month total number of 800 samples was examined for Haemoglobin deficiency (Anaemia), out of which 381 samples of male and 419 samples of female of different age groups. The percentage being about 65.09% and 84% in both male and female population were anaemic in rural population of Vaijapur tehsil.

Salmonellosis, a water and foodborne infection is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its prevalence and mortality has been associated with antibiotic resistance related strains that calls for specific strain identification. Data on prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella in Nandi County of Rift Valley is scarce despite the scourging effect of the disease. 200 stool samples were collected from patients treated for diarrhoea at Kapsabet District hospital between (February – November, 2011). 84%(n=168) were positive for various bacteria isolates as determined by standard microbiological culture techniques. 29%(n=48) were Salmonella. The distribution was; S.typhimurium 56%(n=27),S. enteritidis 29%(n=14),S.paratyphi C 6%(n=3), S. paratyphi A 4%(n=2), S.gallinarum 2%(n=1),S. dublin 2%(n=1). Isolates were confirmed by API 20E biochemical system in addition to invA gene sequencing. All Salmonella isolates were resistant to ampicillin, (19%) were resistant to sulfamethoxazole .Resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin and chloramphenicol was (6%).All ampicillin resistant isolates possessed blaTEM gene while sulfamethoxazole resistant isolates had sul2 gene both genes are associated with class1 integrons. The findings indicated a low antimicrobial resistance in relation to other regions within the country. This situation should be encouraged. Additional safety measures should include training in personal hygiene, sanitation and ensuring water quality.

Thermal tolerances of Coenagrionidae and Libellulidae naiads in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, were determined using the critical thermal maximum (CTM) method. Eighty eight naiads were assessed, 44 from Coenagrionidae with two size classes, small (6.0 – 9.9 mm) and big (10.0 – 19.9 mm) and 44 from Libellulidae with two size classes, small (7.0 – 14.9 mm) and big (15.0 – 22.9 mm). Water temperature was increased at a mean rate of 0.5 ± 0.1ºC per minute until there was loss of locomotor capacity and motion. Temperatures at which the naiads stopped moving and responding to probing were recorded as the critical thermal maxima. The mean thermal tolerances of Coenagrionidae and Libellulidae naiads were 44.33ºC and 46.22ºC respectively. Regression analysis indicated that body size had no effect on thermal tolerance in Coenagrionidae (P > 0.05) but had an effect on Libellulidae (P < 0.05). Both families had high thermal tolerances though Libellulidae had a higher tolerance than Coenagrionidae. Anova revealed significant differences between the two families (P < 0.05). Understanding how temperature affects biological systems is a central question in ecology and evolutionary biology. Determination of upper thermal limits provides insight into the relative sensitivity of organisms to elevated temperatures hence to climate change.

Nutrients are considered as one of the most important parameters in the estuarine environment influencing growth, reproduction and metabolic activities of living beings. The results of an investigation carried out during March 2010 to August 2010 on physico-chemical and diversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton at the Manakkudy estuary (Southwest coast of India) were reported. Presence of Mangrove forest gives a helping hand in the maintenance of biodiversity and increase in fauna and flora of Manakkudy estuary (Brackishwater). Presently, 66 phytoplankton species representing different classes, viz., Bacillariophyceae (25); Chlorophyceae (18); Cyanophyceae (10); Dinophyceae (8) and Euglenophyceae (5) were recorded. Totally 93 species of zooplankton viz., Rotifera (42); Protozoa (24); Arthropoda (12); Cnidaria (11) and Annelida (4) were identified.

The relationship between carapace length/width - body weight of the red ghost crab Ocypode macrocera was studied at the southern proximity of the Sagar island, western sector of Indian Sundarbans (World’s largest mangrove biome) that faces the regular tidal influences of Bay of Bengal. The females were more abundant (54%) than males (46%) considering the overall sample and the length/width-weight distribution pattern did not show remarkable differences between sexes. The carapace length and width are linearly related to body weight and appeared to be highly significant (P < 0.001) in each case. The regression coefficient (b) of length-weight and width-weight relationship found to be in positive allometry. Moreover, the correlation between weight with length and width is strongly positive in male, female and irrespective of sex. The condition factor (K) value of carapace length between two sexes varies significantly and higher in females. Despite of small sample size, the present study is able to predict the morphometric relationship is useful in stock assessment of the Ocypode macrocera and comparing the different stocks of the same species at different geographical locations.

Bivalve and gastropod molluscs undergo large changes in external environmental conditions, as well as in internal state. Cardiac responses to these changing conditions have been recorded in a variety of species. There is a general tendency for heart rate, and presumably cardiac output, to increase in response to situations that would increase the load on respiratory and excretory systems. Changes in molluscan heart function in many cases appear not to be mediated directly by cardiac nerves, but rather by such indirect mechanisms as changes in blood constituents or mechanical, homodynamic affects the endogenous factors but the change in exogenous factors to affects the cardiac response. In the present investigation the heart beat rate was maximum in monsoon and minimum in winter season which is correlated few environmental factors. Key words: heart beat, Lamellidens corrianus and seasons.

Lens of Pteropus giganteus is found to be 2.05mm. The medulla and cortex are well organized. Crystallinity of lens fiber is prominent in both cortex and medulla. Lens fibers show wavy nature when magnified. The presence of fine particles (.3 nm) in lens fibrils indicates the presence of some cylindrical scatters. The collagen fibril diameter is found to be about 30 nm and the center-to-center spacing is about 50 nm. The significance of these micro structural features of lens and its role in visual physiology of P. giganteus is discussed.

A field experiment was carried out at Periyar EVR College, Tamil Nadu, India, in basic soil to study the nutrient availability and mulberry leaf quality. Three groups of mulberry plants of MR2 variety were bio-fertilized with Azospirillum, phosphobacteria and vermicompost respectively. Fourth group of mulberry plants were bio-fertilized with farm yard manure (FYM). The soil and leaves of four groups were analysed for their macronutrient and micronutrient content. The N, P and K content of vermicompost bio-fertilized soil was high 118.5 kg/ac, 4.26 kg/ac, and 178kg/ac respectively. The N, P and K content of vermicompost bio-fertilized mulberry leaves were high 0.89%, 0.54% and 3.48% respectively. The micronutrient like zinc, copper, iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium also were found to be very high in vermicompost bio-fertilized soil and vermicompost bio-fertilized mulberry leaves. The results revealed that the nutrient availability in soil and mulberry leaf quality increased gradually in the order FYM bio-fertilized soil and mulberry leaves, Azospirillum bio-fertilized soil and mulberry leaves, phosphobacteria biofertilized soil and mulberry leaves and vermicompost bio-fertilized soil and mulberry leaves. It was clear that vermicompost is the best bio-fertilizer for mulberry plants. Among the four bio-fertilizer treatments, soil nutrient content, leaf quality traits of mulberry variety(MR2)& reeling performances of silkworms(LxNB4D2) were found to be improved by vermicompost bio-fertilizer. Thus this technology can be recommended to sericulture farmers.

CHROMagar Candida is a new differential culture medium that allows the isolation and presumptive identification of species of yeast of clinical importance. During the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of fungal infections caused by Candida species. The aim of the study was to isolate and identify Candida species from the oral cavity with CHROMagar Candida. This study was carried out in 30 patients with infections aged 21 to 90 years. Swabs samples were taken from oral cavity and were cultured directly on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium. In this study shows that CHROMagar Candida can easily identify four species of Candida on the basis of colonial color and morphology, and accurately differentiate between them i.e. Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. Results showed the prevalence of C.albicans (n = 21, 70%), C. glabrata (n = 5, 16.6%), C. krusei (n = 2, 6.7%), and C. tropicalis (n =2, 6.7%). In this investigation, CHROMagar produced light green colonies and were considered as Candida albicans, Pink with a darker mauve center colonies were identified as Candida glabrata, pink with pale borders colonies were identified as Candida krusei, and dark blue, purple diffusion colonies were identified as Candida tropicalis. CHROMagar is extremely useful in making a rapid presumptive identification of common yeast species. This capability plus the ability to detect mixed cultures of Candida species promises to improve and streamline the work flow in the mycology and clinical microbiology laboratory.