Proteins present in the seminal plasma and sperm influence sperm function and fertilization. The present study was carried out to screen breeding bull semen samples for the presence of fertilityassociated 28-30 kDa heparin-binding protein (HPB) and its effect on in vitro sperm characters and fertility. Semen samples were collected from 22 breeding bulls and the sperm proteins were extracted by Triton X detergent extraction method. HBPs were eluted, and the molecular weight of the proteins was assessed by discontinuous sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel elecrophoresis. Based on the presence/absence 28 kDa HBPs, bulls were categorized into group I and group II. Frozen semen samples were evaluated for in vitro sperm characters at immediate post thaw, 60, 120 and 180 min post-thaw incubation. To assess the field fertility of the bulls, 50 frozen semen straws/bull were used for insemination. Results indicated that only 50% of the bulls screened had 28-30 kDa HBPs in their sperm. Bulls positive for fertility-associated protein had better in vitro sperm characters, better protection against oxidative stress, readily underwent capacitation induction by heparin and had 13% higher conception than the bulls lacking the protein. So, it can be concluded that the bulls positive for of 28-30 kDa HBPs in sperm had higher chance of fertility and screening for its presence can be included in the regular breeding soundness examination for selection of bulls. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Group A rotaviruses can infect both humans and animals and have been recognized as an important cause of diarrhea in porcine. In this study, we report the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of rotaviruses detected in piglets in different regions of India. A total 275 fecal samples (180 diarrheal and 95 non-diarrheal) from piglets were collected from the western (135), southern (60), northern (20), and North-Eastern Hill (NEH) (60) regions of India and tested for rotaviruses. All the samples were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Rotaviruses were detected in 10.18 % of samples by SDS-PAGE and/or RT-PCR with a maximum of 30 % from the NEH region followed by 7.4 % from the western region. Samples from the southern and northern regions were found to be negative. Only 10 isolates were subjected to genotypic characterization using amplification of VP7 and VP4 genes followed by two separate multiplex PCR assays for G genotyping and another two for P genotyping using genotype-specific primers. Of these, three isolates could be typed as G4 specificity, one with G9, and three as P[6] leading to identification of an uncommon strain, G4P[6]. One isolate was further confirmed by nucleotide sequencing. The data demonstrate genetic diversity of porcine rotavirus strains and suggest that pig farms may serve as potential reservoirs for human infections.