The aim of the study was to investigate the ameliorative properties of ascorbic acid against the subchronic effect of co-exposure of fluoride (F) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) on oxidative damage markers such as lipid peroxidation (MDA) and antioxidant defense system in the liver of adult Wistar rats. The animal groups were provided with either vehicle or ascorbic acid (60 mg/kg, b.w.) or NOAEL dose of fluoride (1 ppm) or CPF (1 mg/kg, b.w.) or ten times of such doses orally alone and in combination or pre-treated with ascorbic acid along with co-exposure of F and CPF every consecutive day for 28 days. Hepatic damage marker analysis in blood revealed that aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly (P < 0.05) increased with single or combined exposure of F or CPF at either dose levels. Significant increased oxidative damage of hepatocytes as indicated by increased MDA levels with decrease in tissue ascorbate and free radical scavenging enzymes like catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase was observed in groups treated with either F or CPF as well as in combinedly treated animals as compared to control animals. Supplementation of ascorbic acid restored the hepatic specific marker enzymes in blood following co-exposure of F and CPF at lower doses which were otherwise increased in the F and CPF co-exposed rats. The results show that ascorbic acid supplementation with F and CPF prevents or diminishes the hepatic damage in rats co-exposed to toxicants and may act as a putative protective agent against toxicant-induced liver tissue injury.

The present study was aimed to determine the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) of plasma and renal tissue in cisplatin (cDDP) induced nephrotoxic rats and its protection by treatments with floral extracts of Calendula officinalis Linn. Treatment with cDDP elevated (p < 0.05) the levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine (CR), TOS, OSI and malondialdehyde (MDA) but lowered (p < 0.05) total plasma proteins, TAS, total thiols (TTH), blood glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes compared to the control group. Pre- and post-treatments of ethanolic floral extract of C. officinalis along with cDDP restored (p > 0.05) CR, albumin, TOS, GSH and activities of antioxidant enzymes in blood and renal tissue. Ethanolic extract treatments reduced (p < 0.05) MDA level in renal tissue without restoring the erythrocyte MDA level following cDDP treatment. These observations were further supported by the histopathological findings in renal tissue. Observations of the present study have shown that treatments with ethanolic floral extract of C. officinalis protect cDDP induced nephrotoxicity by restoring antioxidant system of the renal tissue.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the hygienic quality of foods of animal origin. Thus samples from foods of animal origin, viz. mutton, chicken meat, milk and milk products were processed. Materials and Methods:Two hundred samples from foods of animal origin viz., mutton, chicken meat, milk and milk products were processed for isolation of Escherichia coli. The isolates were got serotyped and also subjected to detection of virulence genes viz., stx1, stx2, eaeA and hlyA by PCR.The isolates were also tested against commonly used antibiotics. Results:The prevalence of E. coli was 30% in mutton, 40% in chicken meat, 33.96% in milk and14.89% in milk products samples. All the 60 isolates of E. coli were grouped into 24 serogroups with O60 and O123dominant strains (8.33%) followed by O22 (6.66%). The PCR detected 21(10.5%) of samples possessing stx1, 14(7%) stx2, 3(1.5%) both stx1 and stx2, 16(8%), eaeA and 4(2%) EHEC-hlyA gene. However, the prevalence of Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) was 20% in mutton, 30% in chicken meat, 16.98% in milk and 8.51% in milk products. Whereas the prevalence of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was 2%, in mutton, 4% in chicken meat, 7.54% in milk and 2.12% in milk products samples. The 4 isolates O60, O101, O131 and one untypeable strain possessed the EHEC-hlyA gene. 22 of 50 (44%) of isolates from meat, milk and milk products showed multidrug resistance to four or more antimicrobial comprising ten of 25 (40%) isolates from chicken meat samples and 12 of 25(48%) from milk and milk products were multidrug resistance to four or more antimicrobial. Conclusions:It is concluded that partial cooked or raw milk, meat and their products prepared under unhygienic conditions may not be directly consumed as they may be carrying the pathogenic microbes.

Aim:Brucellosis is a disease of zoonotic importance as it affects both human as well as animal’s health, and therefore, directly affects animal productivity and human efficiency. Therefore, a study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in humans in Jammu and surrounding areas.Materials and Methods:A total of 121 sera samples from humans occupied with professional related to animals were collected and tested for anti-Brucella antibodies by Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT), modified RBPT (mRBPT), standard tube agglutination test (STAT), and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA). Sampling was done keeping in view with the occupation, sex, and age.Results:The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis recorded was 4.96%. The test-wise seroprevalence was 9.91% by RBPT, 9.91% by mRBPT, 9.09% by STAT, and 16.52% by I-ELISA. The prevalence of brucellosis was higher in >35-50 years age group compared to >20-35 years and >50-65 years. Sex-wise seroprevalence was higher in males than females. Taking I-ELISA as standard, the relative sensitivities of mRBPT, RBPT, and I-ELISA were in the order of mRBPT=RBPT>STAT. All the tests revealed high specificity values; however, among different serological tests, I-ELISA detected a maximum number of positive sera samples.Conclusions:The prevalence of brucellosis was found to be approximately 5%. The adult (>35-50 years) age male group was most vulnerable. The routine diagnosis of brucellosis involved the conventional serological tests, viz., RBPT and STAT, but each was associated with drawbacks which could give either false-positive or false-negative interpretation. Therefore, it is always recommended to use a battery of tests in the diagnosis of brucellosis.