Assessment of consistency of minimum post-mortem intervals estimated by thermal summation-based methods in medico-legal cases associated with blowflies.

Background: This study is based on blow fly samples collected from 8 medico-legal cases in Tamil Nadu, India. The fly life stages were identified and the consistency of minimum post-mortem intervals (PMImin) estimated by different thermal summation-based methods was assessed.

Methods: PMImin of 8 medico-legal cases was estimated using six different thermal summation constants and lower developmental temperatures that are based on C.

Prognostic markers and their discriminant score in predicting the outcome of Babesia gibsoni infection.

Background: We aimed to identify prognostic markers and their discriminant score in predicting the lethal outcome of canine Babesia gibsoni.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 108 client-owned dogs with clinical signs commensurate with babesiosis to analyze haematological, biochemical, haemostatic, antioxidant profile and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels. Samples were screened for Babesia infection (microscopic and molecular techniques).

Solar tick trap with a pheromone lure - A stand-in approach for off-host control of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), the brown dog tick, transmits several important haemo-protozoan and rickettsial pathogens to dogs.

Retraction Note to: Antigen based detection of cystic echinococcosis in buffaloes using ELISA and Dot-EIA.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1007/s12639-016-0762-9.].

Dirofilaria hongkongensis - A first report of potential zoonotic dirofilariosis infection in dogs from Tamil Nadu.

Dirofilariosisis, is a mosquito borne anthropo-zoonotic disease caused by the filarial nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria. The current paper reports a species of Dirofilaria, which has not been recorded in Tamil Nadu, in addition to differentiating it from the existing species of Dirofilaria spp. through morphological and molecular techniques.

Innovative way to dispense pheromones for off-host control of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks.

Vapour patches dispensing pheromones were evaluated as lures to increase the attractiveness of sticky tick traps for Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.).

Comparison of in-vitro bioassays for evaluation of the response of different stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato to calcium alginate encapsulated pheromone beads.

Tick sex pheromone (SP), assembly pheromone (AP) and their combination (SP + AP) were encapsulated in calcium alginate beads. In vitro bioassays, namely Petri dish and olfactometer assays, were employed to estimate the level of attraction of the various stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, namely unfed and engorged (fed) larvae, nymphs, females, and males to the different pheromones. The study revealed that only the Petri dish assay was suitable to evaluate the response of larval stages whereas the olfactometer bioassay could also be used for evaluating the response of all other stages.

Hypodermosis in cattle translocated to Tamil Nadu from Punjab.

Fifteen apparently healthy Kandari cross-bred cattle aged about 4 years were purchased from Rurki, Patiala district of Punjab by a private dairy farmer in Erode, Tamil Nadu. Four animals showed eruptions on the lateral thoracic and dorsal abdominal regions of the body after 15-day period of quarantine. Manual palpation of the eruptions resulted in the emergence of larval stages of dipteran flies, identified by their morphology as Hypoderma from these animals.

Evaluation of multiplex PCR assay for detection of Babesia spp, Ehrlichia canis and Trypanosoma evansi in dogs.

A multiplex PCR test was evaluated to detect the DNA of three important dog haemoparasites by comparing with singular PCR counterpart on clinical blood samples of dogs in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Initial screening of samples was done by microscopic examination of peripheral blood smear and singular PCR and those found exclusively positive for Babesia spp, Ehrlichia canis and Trypanosoma evansi and concurrent infections were used to standardize multiplex PCR. Amplicons of 619 bp, 377 bp and 227 bp corresponding to Babesia spp (18S rRNA gene), E.

Prevalence and staining characteristics of Blastocystis isolates from food animals in Tamil Nadu.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence and staining characteristics of Blastocystis isolated from food animals. Smears of the duodenal and caecal mucosal scrapings, collected from food animals, were stained with Giemsa, Gram's, modified acid-fast and acridine orange. Blastocystis was identified in 295 samples, including faeces and intestinal contents of animals like small ruminants (95), poultry (170) and pigs (30).

In-vitro trials to ascertain sustained release efficacy of assembly pheromone micro particles for the control of brown dog tick, .

Sustained release micro particles were prepared incorporating assembly pheromone and deltamethrin. Two natural polymers, namely, chitosan and calcium alginate and a synthetic polymer, poly-ε-caprolactone were used for encapsulating the assembly pheromone-acaricide combination. The micro particles were subjected to in vitro evaluation freshly after preparation and then at monthly intervals to assess their sustained release efficacy.

Cat fur mite in India.

A Persian cat with the complaint of lustreless dry coat, salt and pepper appearance was brought to the dermatology unit of Madras Veterinary College, Chennai. Microscopical examination of the tape impression and hair coat brushings revealed mites with eggs adhering to the hair shaft. The cat was treated with Ivermectin @ 300 µg/kg body weight subcutaneously once a week for 5 weeks after getting owner's consent.

Incidence of in subcutaneous nodules of cross bred Jersey cows: case report.

subcutaneous nodules in four cross bred Jersey cows aged 5-6 years brought for post mortem with calcified and caseated skin nodules in the lateral flank region is reported. Examination and dissection of these nodules revealed that they were "worm nests" of of filarid nematodes. The worm nests were carefully dissected and filarid worms were extracted out.

Incidence of fur mite infestation in laboratory rodents.

Incidence of fur mites in laboratory rodents is reported. Among mice, infestation was found to be highest in male Swiss Albino mice followed by female Swiss Albino mice, male Balb C mice and female Balb C mice. Infestation in Guinea pigs was 50 %.

Antigen based detection of cystic echinococcosis in buffaloes using ELISA and Dot-EIA.

Cystic echinococcosis is caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm, . The disease is recognized as one of the world's major zoonoses affecting human beings and domestic animals apart from its economic and public health importance. Development of the cysts in the intermediate host such as buffaloes occurs in the lungs, liver and other organs.

A novel assembly pheromone trap for tick control in dog kennels.

A novel ecofriendly sticky tick trap device for the control of dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus using gold nanoparticle assembly pheromone complex as a bait was developed. Assembly pheromones comprising of guanine, xanthine and adenine in the ratio of 25:1:1 was encapsulated in gold nanoparticle. The response of the different stages of unfed R.

Response of unfed stages of to subtle variations in the composition of assembly pheromone.

Two combinations of assembly pheromone (AP), with and without hematin were utilized as a lure for the unfed larvae, nymph and adults of ticks. In-vitro trials were carried out with the AP encapsulated in calcium alginate beads and the response of different stages of ticks were recorded. Analysis of results revealed that rapid attraction was evident in unfed larvae exposed to beads containing AP without hematin.

Escalations in the incidence of canine babesiosis over a period of 8 years (2006-2013) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Epidemiological studies on the incidence and prevalence of disease will help in the monitoring and surveillance of diseases thus preventing occurrence of an epidemic. This study focuses on the variations in the incidences of canine babesiosis over a period of 8 years in Chennai. Variations have been noticed to in the incidence of the species of affecting dogs.

(Z)-9-Tricosene based Musca domestica lure study on a garbage dump yard using plywood sticky trap baited with fish meal.

A study was undertaken to find out the efficacy of (Z)-9-Tricosene in attracting flies in a garbage dump yard using a plywood sticky glue trap with fish meal as a food bait. (Z)-9-Tricosene was dissolved in acetone or hexane before application on a filter paper strip fixed at the centre of the trap. The traps were left in areas of the garbage dump yard of high fly activity for 6 h and then the trapped flies were counted species wise.

A six year (2006-2011) retrospective study of hemoprotozoan parasites affecting dogs in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

With the changing global scenario there is effect not only on the human survival but also on the prevalence of existing pathogens and appearance of new infectious agents among animal population. This paper emphasises the need for prevalence studies. A retrospective study for 6 years on prevalence of hemoprotozoans in dogs in Chennai showed Babesia gibsoni the predominant parasite of dogs.

A novel approach to control brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus using sustained release poly-ɛ-caprolactone-pheromone microspheres.

Control of brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus was attempted by utilizing sustained release preparations of synthetic analogues of assembly pheromones. The assembly pheromone, in defined ratio, was encapsulated using poly-ɛ-caprolactone by water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion solvent evaporation technique. In the in vitro bioassay, percent mortality with test microspheres was 95.

Field trials to attract questing stages of brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus using tick pheromone-acaricide complex.

Evaluations were made to assess the efficacy of assembly pheromone, attractant sex pheromone and the kairomone carbon dioxide in attracting the questing larval nymphal and adult stages of the brown ear dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Ticks attracted to one location were killed using the acaricide deltamethrin. Initially, simulated field trials were conducted to observe the percentage of attraction of ticks from different distances.

Control of brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus using assembly pheromone encapsulated in natural polymer, chitosan.

In the current study, an attempt was made to encapsulate assembly pheromone using natural polymer, chitosan. Chitosan beads were prepared by incorporating assembly pheromone in conjunction with an acaricide, namely, deltamethrin. In the in vitro bioassay, the test beads attracted and killed 79 % of unfed larvae, 88 % of unfed nymphs and 61 % of unfed adults of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, in 24 h of exposure.

Effect of attractant sex pheromone on immature larval stages of ixodid tick species.

Attractant sex pheromone (ASP) 2,6-dichloro phenol was used in the current study to evaluate the percentage attraction and the behavioural responses of the five ixodid tick species namely Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus microplus (Boophilus microplus), Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and Hyalomma marginatum using petridish bioassay. Two concentrations of 2,6-DCP (0.1 M and 0.

Use of polymerase chain reaction: Restriction fragment length polymorphism to detect acaricidal resistance to synthetic pyrethroids in Boophilus microplus ticks of South India.

Background: Boophilus microplus is an important ectoparasite of livestock. Apart from transmitting diseases, heavy tick burden can decrease production and damage hides. The synthetic pyrethroids which are advantageous over other acaricides for treatment of this infestation are now losing their efficacy due to development of resistant strains of ticks.