Mysore State Research Articles

Hosts and Life Cycle of Ixodes ceylonensis Kohls, 1950, with Descriptions of Its Male, Nymph, and Larva

Host records of Ixodes ceylonensis Kohls, 1950 in Shimoga District, Mysore State, India, based on extensive collections during 1963-64, are given. This tick is an ectoparasite of several species of small mammals, with the immature stages showing a predilection for the shrew, Suncus murinus. The life cycle of the species as worked out in the laboratory is detailed. The hitherto unknown male and immature stages of this species are illustrated and described. Ixodes ceylonensis was described by Kohls (1950) from two females, one from a mongoose, Herpestes smithii zeylanicus Thomas, and the other from Rattus rattus kandianus Kelaart, in Namumkula, Uva Province, Ceylon. Since 1957 host records concerning a limited number of females of this species and, recently, extensive numbers of the immature stages have been accumulated in India during studies on the epidemiology of Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) in Sagar, Shimoga District, Mysore State. (This area has been described by Work, 1958 and by Trapido et al., 1964.) In addition, moderate numbers of I. ceylonensis have been collected from ground drags in the forest during the monsoon season. Laboratory rearing was accomplished in September 1963, and it then became possible for the first time to differentiate the immature stages from those of I. petauristae Warburton, 1933, which also occurs commonly in the study area. Thus far, no males of I. ceylonensis have been taken on any host in this area. The present paper reports the host relationships and seasonal prevalence of I. ceylonensis in the Sagar area, gives details of the life cycle of the species as worked out in the laboratory, and describes and illustrates the hitherto unknown male, nymph, and larva.

Kaisodi virus, a new agent isolated from Haemaphysalis spinigera in Mysore state, South India.

Summary Kaisodi virus was initially isolated in 1957 from ticks, Haemaphysalis spinigera, collected in the Kyasanur Forest disease area of Shimoga District, Mysore State, India. Twenty-eight additional strains were recovered from H. spinigera in the same area from 1960 through 1964. No positive information on vertebrate host involvement has been obtained.

Kaisodi virus, a new agent isolated from Haemaphysalis spinigera in Mysore State, South India. I. Isolation of strains.

SummaryKaisodi virus was initially isolated in 1957 from ticks, Haemaphysalis spinigera, collected in the Kyasanur Forest disease area of Shimoga District, Mysore State, India. Twenty-eight additional strains were recovered from H. spinigera in the same area from 1960 through 1964. No positive information on vertebrate host involvement has been obtained.

Aegirine from a tinguaite dyke near Harohalli, bangalore district, mysore state

Chemical and optical study of the green sodic pyroxene from a tinguaite dyke of the Harohalli area show that it is aegirine, rich in NaFe+3Si2O6 molecules (71%) having Nβ=1·776,γ−α=0·047, X Λ C=4–7°, 2Va=68°–73° and pleochroic with X=olive green, Y=pale green and Z=brown. The calculated chemical composition on the basis of 6 oxygen atoms is (Na, Ca, K)0.99 (Fe+3, Ti, Fe+2, Mn, Mg, [Al]0.98 Si2O6) which corresponds very closely with the ideal formula XYSi2O6.

Viral infections of monkeys in their natural habitat in southern India. I. Some properties of cytopathic agents isolated from Bonnet and Langur monkeys.

Summary Rectal swabbings were collected from a total of 70 live trapped, 324 shot and 52 spontaneously dead Macaca radiata or Presbytis entellus monkeys in the forest of Shimoga District, Mysore State, India during the period from June 1959 through May 1961. From the swabbings of 75 animals, agents cytopathic for bonnet monkey kidney cell cultures were isolated. In the frequency of recovery of viral agents, no significant differences were observed to be associated with the sex or maturity of the monkeys. There was a suggestion of seasonal variation in the frequency with which isolates of a given cytopathic effect (CPE) group were obtained. Negative results were obtained when 362 salivary glands, 157 brain, 159 lung and 161 kidney tissues from monkeys in the same groups were examined for presence of cytopathic agents. When tested in rhesus kidney tissue cell cultures 37 isolates fell into CPE group 1, 28 into CPE group 2 and 6 into group 4 of Hull et al.; data were not available on 4 isolates. The salivary glands of 2 spontaneously dead monkeys yielded viruses of the same CPE group 2 as were recovered from their rectal swabs. All of the isolates were chloroform-resistant. All but one of the CPE group 1 isolates were shown to possess complement-fixing (CF) antigen common to the adenovirus group and most of them agglutinated rat erythrocytes; a minority clumped the erythrocytes of humans, monkeys or guinea pigs as well. Among the group 1 isolates there were at least 4 antigenic varieties including 3 which were related to simian adenoviruses M3 (SV22-P7), M10 (SV33-P10), and SV30 (P5) respectively. Most of the CPE group 2 isolates did not show hemagglutination (HA) activity against rat, human, monkey or guinea pig erythrocytes. In our collection there appeared to be at least 3 antigenic varieties, one of them related to enterovirus strain 2600 (SV49-P19) previously recovered from a captive monkey. The 6 isolates of CPE group 4 did not show HA activity with the erythrocytes used and were antigenically heterogeneous. Three antigenically distinct agents of CPE group 1 (simian adenoviruses) were isolated from rectal swabbings collected on a single occasion from members of the same band of free-living monkeys.

Petrology of the Rocks of St. Mary Islands, Near Malpe, South Kanara District, Mysore State

Abstract The rocks of St. Mary Islands consist of dacite, rhyodacite and granophyre, showing close similarity in texture, mineralogy and petrochemistry, to similar rocks described from the islands of Salsette and Bassein, near Bombay. Based on the petrological study, it is surmised that the rocks of these islands are genetically connected with the Deccan Trap igneous activity. The study suggests a wider Deccan Trap igneous activity extending to several hundred kilometres south of the now known outcrops of trap. It also hints the association of a rhyolite magma with Deccan Trap igneous activity.

A calciferous hornblende from amphibolite of Kushalnagar, Coorg district, Mysore state

Hornblende from an amphibolite, occurring near Kushalnagar, has been studied in detail for its optical characters and chemical composition. Based on these characters, it has been identified as Pargasite with a negative optic sign. The mode of origin is also discussed.

Vedānta or the Science of Reality. By K. A. Krishnaswamy Iyer. Holenarsipur (Mysore State, India): Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya, 1965. 544, Index. $8.00.

Vedānta or the Science of Reality. By K. A. Krishnaswamy Iyer. Holenarsipur (Mysore State, India): Adhyatma Prakasha Karyalaya, 1965. 544, Index. $8.00.

Prakasa Rao, V. L. S., "Towns of Mysore State" (Book Review)

Prakasa Rao, V. L. S., "Towns of Mysore State" (Book Review)

Role of pectinolytic yeasts in the degradation of mucilage layer of Coffea robusta cherries.

Pectinolytic yeasts, Saccharomyces marxianus, S. bayanus, S. cerevisiae var. ellipsoideus, and Schizosaccharomyces sp., predominated in the natural fermentation of coffee cherries of Coffea robusta variety grown in Chikmagalur district of Mysore State, India. These yeast species were found on the cherry surfaces, and evidence was adduced to show that the natural fermentation of coffee was the result of activity of microflora from the cherry surface itself rather than that of flora of air or water. Incorporation of pure cultures of Saccharomyces species was shown to aid the process when a mixture of all three species was used. An enzyme preparation from the Saccharomyces species was observed to hasten the mucilage-layer degradation.

Role of Pectinolytic Yeasts in the Degradation of Mucilage Layer of Coffea robusta Cherries

Pectinolytic yeasts, Saccharomyces marxianus, S. bayanus, S. cerevisiae var. ellipsoideus, and Schizosaccharomyces sp., predominated in the natural fermentation of coffee cherries of Coffea robusta variety grown in Chikmagalur district of Mysore State, India. These yeast species were found on the cherry surfaces, and evidence was adduced to show that the natural fermentation of coffee was the result of activity of microflora from the cherry surface itself rather than that of flora of air or water. Incorporation of pure cultures of Saccharomyces species was shown to aid the process when a mixture of all three species was used. An enzyme preparation from the Saccharomyces species was observed to hasten the mucilage-layer degradation.

The Occurrence of Bauxite Along the West Coast of Mysore State, South India

Abstract The occurrence of bauxite analysing between 45 to 55 per cent alumina is recorded at several places along the West Coast of Mysore State. Bauxitic concentrations are restricted to certain patches and zones in laterite which occurs as a cover over detrital clays of Tertiary age. The bauxites are siliceous with silica content ranging from 5 to 10 per cent. The deposits have the advantage of being located close to sources of hydroelectric power. Preliminary investigations have indicated a reserve of 2.5 million tons.

Observations on some abnormal foliage in the sandal trees of hangal forest range of mysore state

Observations on some abnormal foliage in the sandal trees of hangal forest range of mysore state

Criconemoides Citricola N. Sp. (Nematoda: Criconematidae), With a Redescription of Criconema Murrayi (Southern, 1914)

Criconemoides citricola n. sp. from Mysore State, India, has an attenuated tail end, 73-78 body annules, 48-51 μ long spear and vulva located on 8-9th annule from posterior end. Criconema murrayi obtained from strawberry soil, Woodleigh, Devon, England is redescribed because the original description is poor and insufficient.

TICKS ECTOPARASITIC ON MONKEYS IN THE KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE AREA OF SHIMOGA DISTRICT, MYSORE STATE, INDIA.

SummaryThe species composition and seasonal incidence of ticks on two species of monkeys (Presbytis entellus and Macaca radiata) occurring in the Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) epizootic area of Shimoga District, Mysore State, India, are presented.The bulk of the ticks were larvae or nymphs even though a substantial number of monkeys were examined during the monsoon when adults are prevalent on vegetation in the forest. The dominant genus of ticks on monkeys was Haemaphysalis and the commonest species, H. spinigera, from which KFD virus has repeatedly been isolated. Altogether, 9 of the 14 species of Haemaphysalis known from the area were found on monkeys. Other genera taken were Dermacentor, Amblyomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus.There was a wide seasonal variation in the infestation rate of monkeys, with a peak in November when ticks (predominantly larvae) were found on almost all monkeys, and a period during the monsoon from June to September when ticks were rare or absent on monkeys.In a series of monkeys collected in approximately equal numbers in each month of the year, mixed infestations of Haemaphysalis spinigera larvae and nymphs were found on individual hosts during November, December and January.

A guide to the identification of all stages of the Haemaphysalis ticks of South India

Investigations of the natural history of the virus of Kyasanur Forest disease since its discovery during 1957 in Shimoga District, Mysore State, south India have concentrated much attention on ticks of the genus Haemaphysalis in the region, as virus has repeatedly been isolated from them.Keys are provided for larvae, nymphs and adults of both sexes of the 14 species of Haemaphysalis that have been taken in the area, with supplementary comments on six other species of the genus recorded, or likely to occur, elsewhere in south India. Illustrations are given showing the characters of the larvae and nymphs that are used in the keys.

A bio-ecologial study of Nuggikari lake in Dharwar, Mysore State, South India

The bio-ecological conditions of a perennial piece of water, called Nuggikari lake in Dharwar, Mysore State, were investigated for one year from the view-point of regional limnology of South India. The lake is filled with rain water during the south-west monsoon and a part of the north-east monsoon season from a lateritic catchment area containing cultivated land. The inter-relationship existing between the physico-chemical variables and the biological conditions are discussed. The water is turbid and reddish during June to November when the majority of the algal organisms found is Chlorophyceae with a dominance of Desmids. Later, the water becomes pale-green to dark-green when blue-green algae become abundant in summer. The figures for albuminoid nitrogen and oxygen are then highest.

Recognition and Correlation of Erosion Surfaces In and Around the Southern Part of Cuddapah Basin

Abstract A study of the morphological features in and around the southern part of the Cuddapah Basin brought to light for the first time the existence of erosion surfaces in this area. Two methods were adopted in an attempt to arrive at quantitative data on these, namely (i) collection of data on summit heights (about 1800 in number) over an area of about 8000 sq. miles and (ii) construction of a large scale laboratory model covering an area of about 13500 sq. miles showing 30 north-south profiles taken from 60 one-inch toposheets. As erosion surfaces usually extend across different geological horizons, the study was made to cover both the southern part of the Cuddapah Basin and the Archaeans to the west and south of it. On the basis of the above studies substantiated by field observations, it is concluded that there are two major erosion surfaces, one around 3000-2700 feet and the other around 2000-1600 feet above mean sea level in this area both having a gentle inclination due north and north-east. The erosion surfaces seem to have been arched along an east-west axis south of the basin. The two surfaces are correlated with two others already suggested in the former Mysore State. The age of the higher surface is considered to be post-Miocene.

Cosmic-ray intensity measurements deep undergound at depths of (800÷8400) m w.e.

An experiment has been carried out to investigate the variation of vertical cosmic-ray intensity with depth in the range (800÷8400) m w.e. Counter telescopes with plastic scintillator layers and Geiger counter trays, kept in the horizontal plane and in coincidence, were employed. The experiment was carried out in the Kolar Gold Fields (Mysore State, India). The results obtained at depths of 816, 1812, 3410, 4280, 6380 and 8400 m w.e. are given.

Evolution of the Sharavati Drainage, Mysore State, S. India

Abstract The Sharavati river in Mysore, owes its importance as a potential source for the generation of hydroelectric power to the circumstance of river piracy. A swift flowing consequent stream, draining the western slopes of Western Ghats has pushed its way up the divide by rapid headward erosion and has captured the well graded mature drainage on the plateau surface at a higher base level. The origin of the Falls and the carving of the gorge below the Falls are the result of down-cutting and recession aided by the increased erosive power of the captured stream. The observed drainage anomalies are indicated to be the result of rejuvenation and uplift of the ancient peneplaned surface of the Peninsula in recent times. The Western Ghats represent the precipitous western edge of this uplifted plateau.