Zoology

Toxoplasmosis is a widely distributed protozoan disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The infective stages of T. gondii are capable of infecting a variety of vertebrates including humans. Domestic and wild felids are capable of serving as definitive hosts and T. gondii oocysts are excreted in their faeces. Toxoplasmosis is caused by ingesting T. gondii oocysts from contaminated water or foodstuff or by consuming T. gondii tissue cysts from infected hosts. However, the impact of oocysts on toxoplasmosis epidemiology needs to be specified because they are suspected to be associated with T. gondii seroprevalence in some emerging outbreaks of acute toxoplasmosis in humans from soil or water. They are probably responsible for a significant part of infections in animals that could be later consumed by humans. Detection of T. gondii oocysts in environmental samples is great challenge as this coccidian parasite can be responsible for severe infections in humans and animals via ingestion of a single oocyst from contaminated water, soil, fruits or vegetables. The present study was designed to develop methods for the detection of oocysts from water, soil and food. The highest prevalence was reported from water around farms (13%) followed by lakes and pools (9%) and water reservoirs (7%). The lowest rates resulted from drinking water and tubewells (6% each). Overall prevalence of T. gondii contamination was higher in vegetables (5.6 %) than fruits (4 %). The highest prevalence of T. gondii contamination was noted in gardens and backyards of homes and gardens, that is, 20 and 20%, respectively. In these places, cats often defecate and become a source of infection. Then followed by public enclosures where infection was 14.3%. The lowest (13.3%) contamination was noted in homes of urban areas. T. gondii infection in rural areas was the highest (20%) in home back yards followed by homes (16.7%) then public enclosure (14.5%) whereas the lowest (13.3%) at gardens of rural areas.

In commercial broiler production, immune status of the birds has direct influence on the morbidity and mortality due to various contagious and infectious diseases of poultry. At different ages, outbreaks of different infectious diseases reduce the profitability of farmers. The obvious cause of such ailments is the depression in antibody titers which may be increased by vaccination. Recently failure of vaccines has been noticed very frequently and to overcome such situations use of herbal polysaccarides has been a routine practice. The present study has been undertaken to validate the role of herbal products. The livol increased immunity (%) and heptoprotective (%) ability in comparison to control group. Compared to the birds in vaccinated groups that were kept without feeding Livol, the sera of Infectious Bursal Disease IBD (Hot), Infectious Bursal Disease IBD (Intermediate) and Newcastle Disease (NDV) vaccinated birds kept on Livol had higher antibody titers on day 42. Amongst various treatment groups the highest haemagluttination inhibition titers was recorded in IBD (Hot) feed with Livol treated birds as compared to the other groups. These findings suggested that Livol (Herbal Polysaccaride) can effectively stimulate/enhance the immunity in broiler chicks and Livol (Herbal polysaccarides) can be potential ameliorator against various vaccines and its adverse/suppressive effects in broiler chicks.

A total of 850 women (history of abortion n=425 and normal parturition n=425) serum samples were collected from labour room, Gynecology Wards of three different hospitals of Lahore-Pakistan. The serum samples were screened for antitoxoplasma antibodies at screening dilutions of 1:16, 1:128 and 1:256 by using a commercial kit "Toxoplasmosis Latex". The women age ranged from 20 to above 40 years. The age group of 31-35 years had highest percentage seropositivity of 75%, followed by 20-25 years age group (68.18%) and the age group 26-30 years showed the least percentage (44.44%). Majority of the women having history of abortion showed antibody titre at the screening dilution of 1:256, 170 gave antibody titre at 1:128 and 153 gave antibody titre at screening dilution of 1:16. Regarding the relationship between anti-toxoplasma antibodies and the number of gestations in women, the higher seropositivity (75%) was found from 8 th gestation onwards. Furthermore, amongst the 425 cases with known history of abortion, 340 (80%) showed seropositivity, compared with 187 (44%) with history of normal parturition. Of the 850 women screened, 374 families were known to have cats as pets. The highest month wise prevalence was noted in the month of July (38%) followed by August (28%) while the lowest in December (0%). Prevalence was highest during high temperature and high humidity season. The overall seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in women was 62%, of this 80% of the women who have aborted showed seropositivity at different screening levels.

The purpose of study was to evaluate the effect of sex over normal physiology of buffalo neonates against induced E. coli antiserum K99 infection. In this study thirty calves were divided into three groups i.e., Group A; the male neonates; Group B; the female neonates and Group C; the control group. Physiological data gathered within first 24 hours, next 12 hours and still next to 28 days of birth. The study revealed significant increase in monosytes and lymphocytes (P<0.05) within 24 hours to 36 hours and 36 hours to 28 days regardless of sex. PCV found significantly increased in female neonates rather than male neonates. The sex plays non-significant role in neonatal buffalo calf immunity against E. coli K99 antiserum induced passively.

Mastitis is one of the most important diseases of high yielding dairy cows and lactating animals. Mastitis is a multietiological complex disease; however, Bacteria constitute the common etiological agents of mastitis. In the present study, bacteria associated with mastitis were investigated and their susceptibility to various antibiotics was tested. Fifty two infected milk samples collected were subjected to California Mastitis Test. The samples found positive were cultured on different media i.e; Nutrient agar, MacConkey's agar, Staph 110 medium, Mannitol agar and Blood agar for bacterial isolation. The isolated colonies were studied for the staining characteristics, morphology and hemolytic activity. Selected isolates were then studied for bio-chemical characteristics and identified as Staphylococci, Streptococci, E. coli, Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium. One isolate was identified as coagulase negative staphylococcus species. The organisms so isolated and identified were subjected to commonly used antibiotics for determination of antibiogram. Gentamicin, Enrofloxacin, Norfloxacin and Kanamycin were found most effective drugs amongst the antibiotics tested in vitro, moderate sensitivity was observed to Cepharidine and Streptomycin, and the least sensitivity was observed to Penicillin and Cloxacillin.

Haematological studies help the poultry consultants to understand the pathological conditions associated with different infections in different age groups. In the current study Comparison of different haematological values i.e.; Hemoglobin Concentration (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Total Leukocyte Count (TLC), Differential Leukocytes Counts (DLC) was made between the birds treated with Livol (a Herbal Polysaccarides) and untreated birds. Treatment related changes in feed intake, general body condition and anaemia were also observed amongst the various groups. The addition of Livol (Herbal Polysaccarides) to feed diminished the adverse effects of different vaccines and antibody titres against Newcastle disease. There was comparatively higher weight gain in Livol treated birds. These findings suggested that Livol can effectively correct the circulatory and immune system in broiler chicks.

Runting stunting syndrome (RSS) is a multifactorial disease with many names and faces that had caused considerable economic losses to poultry through reduced uniformity, reduced livability, decreased body weights, elevated feed conversions, and many secondary diseases. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of stunting syndrome on histopathology in chicks ( = 120) of different ages collected from nine different farms. Grouping was done on the basis of age (G1 = 1-10 days, G2 = 11-20 days, G3 = 21-30 days, and G4 = 31-40 days) including both stunted and normal chicks. Histopathological findings were the intestinal lesions (29%), including degeneration of villi, crypts, epithelial cells and lamina propria. Pancreatic histopathological lesions (16.65%) included the fibrosis, vacuolation, and degeneration of acinar cells. Degeneration of follicles and epithelial cells, of bursa of fabricius (43%) and dilation of glandular cells of proventriculus including lymphocytes infiltration (5.6%) were other histopathological findings. All these changes may interfere with normal digestive processes and normal body functioning resulting in poor weight gain and retarded growth or stunting of chicks.

Kotal wildlife Park and Borraka wildlife Sanctuary in Kohat was studied the behavior and biology of Urial. The population of Urial in Kotal Wildlife Park was ranges from 20-25 in numbers while in Borraka wildlife sanctuary was 3-5. Urial (Ovis orientalis) Shapu, Gad was the local name, order Artiodactyla, Family Bovidae and sub family Caprinae. The climate was dry and subtropical and influenced by monsoon. It was hot in summer and cold in winter. Rain fall was more than 21 inches (525mm).Mostly the grasses, shrubs and branches of Acacia modesta, Monotheca buxifo1ia and Olea spp. were the favorable food. Urial was very shy animal and sensitive behaviors were observed during the study in the park and Sanctuary. It was determined that populations were decreasing due to unfavorable circumstances (illegal shooting and poaching) for Urial inside the Park and Wild Life Sanctuary.

Trematoda) infecting livestock and human populations. Various species of snails which act as the intermediate host of the Schistosomes were collected from the study area. A total of 10418 snails were collected of these 13.51% were found to be infected. Only 14.51% of 2350 snails collected from district Kasur were infected followed by 13.6% of 2882 from district Sheikhupura, then 13.4% of 2709 from district Sargodha and the lowest 12.51% of 2477 from district Lahore.

Sisorid catfish genus Glyptothorax Blyth is represented in Pakistan by six species, viz., Glyptothorax sufii Bashir & Mirza, Glyptothorax cavia (Hamilton), Glyptothorax pectinopterus (McClelland), Glyptothorax stocki Mirza & Nijssen, Glyptothorax kashmirensis Hora, Glyptothorax punjabensis Mirza & Kashmiri. These are recorded from different foot hill streams and adjoining plains. After detailed analysis G. naziri is found to be a synonym of G. kashmirensis Hora; G. telchitta sufii Bashir and Mirza has been validated as full species G. sufii. Presently recognized species are easily identifiable on the basis of general body shape, sucker shape, length of barbels, fin structure, number of serrations on dorsal and pectoral spines and number of gill rakers.

Snow carps of Pakistan were represented by eleven species belonging to four tribes of subfamily schizothoracinae of family cyprinidae. A new species Racoma ramzani has now been described from the river Indus, near Manser, five kilometers upstream of Kabul – Indus confluence. The new species is easily distinguishable from the related species in shape and structure of lower lip, number and position of serrations, structure of dorsal spine and number of lateral line scales.

Among Mahseers, Indus Mahseer Tor macrolepis is the important game and food fish of Pakistan. The meristic and morphometric data of this fish is lacking for the species present in the Pakistan. For the study, one year fish sampling was conducted at various sites of Attock district and adjoining areas from 2008 to 2009. For the purpose, Haro River was divided into four sampling zones: each at a distance of 10 km, from July 2008 to June 2009 in Attock region, Pakistan. Fifth sampling zone was selected in the Hasan Abdaal, Pakistan. A total of 118 specimens were collected from these five sampling zones and more than forty important morphometric and meristic parameters were selected for the study. Collected samples ranged from 12.32- 15.86 in total length (TL), 11.05-14.21 in fork length (FL) and 9.68-12.4 in standard length (SL). In the fish, gill rakers were counted as 2-3/11-13, rostral barbel length (RBL) was found slightly shorter than maxillary barbel length (MBL), no distinct str...