Abstract The present study was carried out with the objective to characterize Haemonchus contortus inhabiting the abomasum of sheep being maintained at the Southern Regional Research Centre-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (SRRC, ICAR-CSWRI), Mannavanur, Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu, India by analyzing the cytochrome-c-oxidase subunit I (COI) and cysteine proteinase (CP) genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The worms were collected from an Avikalin sheep at SRRC. The nucleotide sequences encoding COI and cysteine proteinase of H. contortus were analyzed using the standard bioinformatics tools. Based on the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, the H. contortus isolate present in Avikalin sheep was characterized. Wider studies involving multiple isolates from domestic as well as wild ungulates sharing the pasture is warranted for better understanding of the genotype of H. contortus circulating in the region.

Abstract The present investigation was carried out to identify the breeding preferences of necrophagous flies to fresh, cooked, salt and turmeric treated, frozen beef and pork. On the first day of the experiment (0-24 hrs), the adult flies were attracted to fresh pork alone. The first appearance of flies was noted on the 24-48 hrs of the experiment on fresh and frozen beef samples. Adult flies, fly eggs and first larval instars were observed on all the beef samples on 72-96 hrs of the experiment. On the last day of experiment (144-168 hrs), the third stage larval forms were recorded on all the beef and pork samples. Based on the morphological features of the posterior spiracles, five species of dipteran fly larvae were observed on the beef and pork samples, i.e., Calliphora spp., Chrysomya spp. Musca spp. Lucilia spp., and Sarcophaga spp. In conclusion, it is observed that necrophagous fly attraction and diversity were observed towards the beef and pork substrates.

Abstract Thelazia callipaeda is a parasitic nematode and the most common cause of “thelaziosis” (oriental eye worm infestation) in dogs, cats and humans. Animals living in unhygienic conditions are at greater risk of thelaziosis. The present case was reported from a two-year-old German shepherd dog. The worms appeared creamy/white in colour, ranging from 9 to 12 mm in length, and had tapering ends. The parasites were removed under general anaesthesia. Based on morphometrics, they were identified as T. callipaeda. This is the first case reported in dogs from Karnataka and fourth case reported from India. These eyeworms are emerging as multi-host parasites with zoonotic potential in different parts of the world. These worms need to be identified and reported in the health care system to determine its prevalence and endemicity and to take necessary preventive measures.

Abstract A study was undertaken to develop a paper-based colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the diagnosis of bovine tropical theileriosis. The hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB) wet LAMP assay was standardized for diagnosis of Theileria annulata in cattle. Further, the optimized wet LAMP assay was performed on a suitable paper substrate for the standardization of HNB paper LAMP with required modifications. The drying of colorimetric LAMP reagents on paper substrate allowed the transport of the ready-to-use LAMP kits to areas where the cold chain is not available and it can be employed for point-of-care diagnostics because of its single step operation.

Abstract Houseflies are one of the important pests throughout the world. They are commonly encountered in poultry farms, dairy farms, slaughter houses and also in human households. The challenges in the chemical control of houseflies include insecticide resistance and adverse effects on the environment. Mechanical control can be employed to overcome these problems. In the present study, efficacy of a mixture of fatty acid esters as a bait to attract female houseflies was evaluated using in vitro bioassays. Single cage dual port glass olfactometer and cage test were used to evaluate the attractiveness and ovipositioninducing/enhancing properties of the mixture of fatty acid esters in laboratory-reared flies. Female flies were attracted to the fatty acid esters mixture in the no-choice olfactometry bioassay with more than 70 % of flies choosing the fatty acid esters mixture and only 27 % of flies attracted towards control. Flies also spent more time with an average of 96 seconds/fly in the arm with a mixture of fatty acid esters compared to 38 seconds/fly in the control arm. The cage test was conducted using poultry manure and cotton moistened with skimmed milk as substrates. In the cage test using 50 pairs of flies in each cage, more eggs were observed in cages containing substrate with a mixture of fatty acid esters compared to control cages. Results revealed that the oviposition attractant mixture evaluated in the study can be used in housefly traps to attract flies.

Abstract A two-year-old domestic male cat was presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal, with the history of intense itching, hair loss, and chronic crusty lesions on the head for the last one month. On examination of deep skin scrapings, Notoedres cati could be detected. The cat was treated with ivermectin @ 200 µg/kg body subcutaneously, followed by ivermectin tablets orally once weekly for three weeks, along with supportive therapy with multivitamin and mineral syrup. The possible zoonotic manifestations on the owner were also discussed.

Abstract The objective of this work was to identify the Rhipicephalus sanguineus species prevalent in dogs in Tamil Nadu by using polymerase chain reaction assay followed by sequencing. In this study, 300 semi-engorged ticks were collected each from three different agro-climatical zones such as north (Chennai), west (Namakkal) and south (Madurai) zones of Tamil Nadu, India. All these ticks were identified as R. sanguineus based on morphological keys. Five ticks from each place were dissected out to separate the midgut and the genomic DNA was extracted. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing were carried out to obtain a 400 bp fragment of the mitochondrial 12S rDNA sequences. The nucleotide sequence showed homology of 99.71% to the sequences of other isolates of R. sanguineus sensu lato available in the GenBank. The analysis confirmed the identity of ticks from three agro-climatical zones of Tamil Nadu as R. sanguineus sensu lato, which has been reclassified as R. linnaei.

Abstract The present study was aimed to evaluate the phytochemicals, antioxidant ability and in vitro anthelmintic effect of Dryopteris filix-mas whole plant against Haemonchus contortus. Phytochemical analysis in methanol extracts was done by chemical tests and gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrophotometer detector (GC-MS). An in-vitro free radical scavenging activity of the different extracts was determined by 2,2-azino bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) method. Crude aqueous, methanol, ethanol, hydro alcohol and acetone extracts (@ 0.01 to 10.0 mg/ml) were evaluated for their anthelmintic activity against eggs and larvae of H. contortus using egg hatch assay (EHA) and larval mortality assay (LMA). The methanol extract of the plant was rich in phenols, tannins and saponins. Geraniol and 1’-Hydroxy-4,3’-dimethyl-bicyclohexyl-3,3’-dien-2-one were the main phytochemicals found in methanol extract of D. filix-mas. The antioxidant activity was high (89.63%). Addition of powder to the faecal culture (@ 300 mg/g of faeces) resulted into 96% reduction in larval development. On EHA, the hydro alcohol and methanol extracts showed excellent ovicidal activity. In LMA, all the extracts (except aqueous) showed excellent larvicidal activity, which needs more investigation, especially through in vivo trials for their use as an anthelmintic.