We isolated and identified Salmonella organisms from ovaries of dead layer birds and from inner content of laid eggs of different poultry farms. The thirty eight ovarian swabs for bacteriology, visceral organs (liver, lung, spleen, egg follicles and intestine) of 38 dead birds for pathological study from 15 layer farms and 45 laid eggs (5 eggs/farm) from reported 9 Salmonella infected farms constituted samples of the study. Samples were subjected to isolation and identification of the causal agent followed by gross and histopathological study of the affected visceral organs. Seventeen of 38 ovarian swabs (44.7%) were Salmonella positive. The percentage of Salmonella Gallinarum, Salmonella Pullorum and paratyphoid causing Salmonella were 70.6%, 17.6% & 11.8%, respectively. About 53% livers of Salmonella affected birds were enlarged, congested, friable and bronze coloured with white necrotic foci. About 59% egg follicles were congested, hemorrhagic, discoloured with stalk formation and 70.6% intestines showed hemorrhagic to catarrhal enteritis. At histopathology, 76.5% livers were congested with formation of multifocal nodules and 82.4% egg follicles were congested with huge leukocytic infiltration. Infiltration of heterophils in intestinal mucosa was found in 47.1% cases. Four Salmonella isolates were found from 9 laid egg samples (5 eggs content comprised as 1 sample) and isolation rate was 44.4% reporting transovarian transmission in poultry Salmonellosis.

The aim of the present study was to detect the pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) through pathological study of the colibacillosis affected birds. These isolated E. coli were further confirmed by PCR using specific primer. For this purpose, a total of 20 swabs (10 from lung and 10 from intestine of 10 dead birds) were collected in sterile nutrient broth. The histopathological samples were collected in 10% buffered neutral formalin. The used methods were histopathology, isolation and identification of E. coli by conventional methods and as well as by PCR method. A total of 10 isolates of E. coli from 20 swabs of lung and intestine was characterized by conventional routine methods of bacteriology. Gross pathological lesions of all lungs in the present investigation were congested and consolidated. Duodenum showed congestion and hemorrhages with excess mucus in the luminal surface of it. Microscopically, all the lungs showed severe congestion, infiltration of heterophils, macrophages and lymphocytes in the wall of bronchus as well as in the peribronchial alveoli. E. coli infected all the duodenum showed severe infiltration of leukocytes mainly heterophils, lymphocytes and macrophages in the submucosa of the duodenal wall. In this study, DNA of 8 isolates out of 10 isolated E. coli organisms was amplified by PCR using ECO-f and ECO-r primer targeting 16S ribosomal DNA and found 585 bp amplicon which is specific for E. coli with enteroinvasive type confirmed by histopathological lesions in duodenum. Further investigation should be focused on serotyping and detection of genes of E. coli which are responsible for pathogenicity of the organism.DOI = http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v9i1.11205Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2011). 9(1): 17-25

On-farm participatory varietal selection (PVS) trials are often of two types: mother trials (with all of the entries) and baby trials (each having one, or very few of the entries from the mother trials). We conducted PVS trials on 17 wheat varieties in 12 villages of four districts of Bangladesh over three years but the data were highly unbalanced. Both quantitative and qualitative traits were measured in the on-farm trials. The factors in the trials were both fixed effects (varieties and districts) and random (years and farmers). We used the residual or restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analysis for the mixed model for quantitative traits. For qualitative data on farmers' perceptions, logistic regression procedures were used that are equally applicable to balanced and unbalanced data sets. The REML analysis provided adjusted mean values for quantitative traits for all the varieties, for the mother and baby trials separately, using the data from all years and all locations. It identified varieties BAW 1006 and BAW 1008 that yielded 19-30% more than the control Kanchan and also had a higher 1000-grain weight, were at least as early to flower and had a high overall ranking by farmers in the mother trials. The logistic regression analysis of perception data agreed with the results of the REML analysis as these varieties were most preferred by farmers for grain yield, earlier maturity and better chapatti making quality. The less labour-intensive method of recording qualitative perceptions can usefully replace actual yield measurements, particularly when validated by other participatory measures such as intended and actual adoption. In 2005, BAW 1006 was released as BARI Gom 23 or Bijoy and BAW 1008 as BARI Gom 24 or Prodip for the whole of Bangladesh. The validity of the results of the REML analysis was confirmed by the high early adoption trends of the identified varieties. Since REML is an effective analysis for unbalanced PVS trial data using a mixed model, its wider use by researchers would increase the value of the PVS process.

The seroprevalence, cultural prevalence and pathological study of Salmonella infections in chickens of selected layer farms of Birgonj Upazila (Sub-district), Dinajpur were determined. A total of 175 blood samples were tested randomly by locally prepared Salmonella coloured antigen for seroprevalence study. Out of 96 cloacal swabs, 80 samples from live birds (36 from seropositive and 44 from seronegative) and 16 samples from dead birds were collected to determine the cultural prevalence of Salmonella organisms. Postmortem examination was done in 16 dead birds. Using whole blood agglutination test (WBA) with locally prepared Salmonella Pullorum coloured antigen, the overall seropositive prevalence was 46.2%. The seroprevalence decreased with age of birds. The cultural prevalence in seropositive was 33.3% and in seronegative 22.7%. In dead birds, the cultural prevalence using cloacal swab was 25%. A total 26 Salmonella were isolated, 27% Salmonella Pullorum, 58% Salmonella Gallinarum and 15% paratyphoid group of Salmonella. Isolation rate of Salmonella from cloacal swabs was significantly higher in seropositive than seronegative group. Grossly, the livers were friable, with bronze discolouration and necrotic foci, there was severe congestion in the lung, congested haemorrhagic egg follicles with stalk formation and enlarged discoloured spleen. Microscopically, there was focal necrosis and degeneration with leukocytic infiltration in liver, congestion and pneumonic lesions in the lung and various degrees of catarrhal to haemorrhagic enteritis in the intestine. In the egg follicles, congestion and haemorrhage with leukocytic infiltration and enlarged spleen with white necrotic foci were detected. In future, isolated Salmonella organisms may be used for vaccine production, serotyping and antibiotic sensitivity test. (Bangl. vet.

There are many socioeconomic and technological constraints that aVect the production of wheat and other staple cereals in South Asia. Wheat production is one of the economic mainstays in South Asia, but the yield gap between farmers' Welds and experimental yields is wide across the region. For the last 3 years, CIMMYT and the CAZS-NR have been collaborating with farmers, NARS, and other South Asian partners to promote improved wheat varieties and new resource conservation technologies (RCTs) in farmers' Welds. Participation fostered among farmers, scientists, extension specialists, NGOs and the private sector included variety selection (PVS), and evaluation of agronomic practices. Through PVS, several farmer-preferred technologies have been identiWed including wheat varieties for adverse conditions in eastern Uttar Pradesh (India) and for boron deWciency in parts of Nepal. There has been considerable improvement in the access of farmers to new varieties and technologies in the rural areas. Yield increases (15-70%) have been achieved by resource-poor farmers over the existing varieties through the adoption of new varieties and RCTs. The farmers have also made substantial cost savings and achieved higher yields through resource-conserving agronomic techniques such as zero till. Seed of the new farmerselected cultivars has been multiplied by groups of collaborating farmers and widely distributed.