A total of 206 ducks were subjected to routine postmortem examinations from July 2007 to June 2008. Of the ducks examined, 167 (81.1 %) were infected by one/more species of gastro-intestinal helminths. A total of ten species of helminth parasites were recovered from gastrointestinal tract, of which four species were trematodes namely: Echinostoma revolutum, Notocotylus attenuatus, Hypoderaeum conoideum and Echinoparyphium recurvatum; two were nematodes, namely, Amidostomum anseris, Capillaria contorta; two were cestodes, viz, Hymenolepis coronula and Fimbriaria fasciolaris and two species belonged to acanthocephala such as, Arythmorhynchus anser and Filicollis anatis. Single double and mixed infections were found in 78 (46.7%), 46 (27.5%) and 43 (25.8%) ducks, respectively. Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth was significantly (P<0.05) higher in female ducks (82.7 %) than male ducks (77.6%). Ducks above six month to one year of age were more affected (53.9%) than the ducks < 6 month (15.0%) and > 1 year of age (31.1%). Helminth infection was significantly (P<0.05) lower in rainy season (64.9%) in contrast to summer (75.7 %) and winter season (91.1 %). In heavy infections of E. revolutum haemorrhagic enteritis were noticed and parasites were firmly attached with the mucosa. E. recurvatum caused thickening of the serosal surface of intestinal wall. N. attenuatus produced catarrhal tryplitis characterized by thickening of the villi and formation of oeosinophilic granulomas. Massive infections with H. coronula produced inflammatory changes in the small intestine. Grossly petechial haemorrhages to ulcerative lesions were produced by A. anseris. In proventriculus circular ulcerative and necrotic areas with degeneration of the glandular tissues were seen. A. anser was also found in between the horney and muscular layer of the gizzard where they produced pin pointed haemorrhagic lesions and in severe case parasites were embedded into the mucosal layers of gizzard. For the control of helminths infections mass deworming is necessary.

To study the parasitism in goats in relation to different feeding systems, 1110 goats from different areas of Jaypurhat, Tangail, Netrakona and Mymensingh districts were examined. By fecal sample examination, 76.5% goats were found to be infected with one or more species of endoparasites. In this study, 9 types of helminths' ova were identified such as (3.7%). Two types of protozoa were also detected, namely, Eimeria sp. (7.1%) and Balantidium coli (5.5%). Along with these, five species of ectoparasites were found: two species were lice such as Damilinia caprae (13.9 %) and Linognathus vitulli (4.2%), and two species were ticks namely, Haemophysalis bispinosa (21.2%), Rhipicaphalus (Boophilus) microplus (3.6%) and one species was mite, namely, Demodex sp. (2.9%). Mean parasitic burden of Paramphistomum sp. (259.81 ± 3.35) was the highest followed by Eimeria sp. (224.1 ± 16.9) and Moniezia sp. (204.9 ± 19.7). Prevalence of helminths and protozoa was significantly (P<0.01) highest in extensive system (86.1%) followed by semi-intensive (76.3%) and intensive system (57.5%). Ova of Schistosoma indicum was absent in the fecal sample of goats of intensive system. Goats of extensive and semi-intensive systems were 4.6 and 2.4 times more susceptible to helminth infection than those of intensive system. Ectoparasitic infestation was the highest in semi-intensive system (59.7%) followed by extensive system (33.5%) and intensive system (8.2%). In conclusion, the present study suggests that feeding system has a great impact on the prevalence of parasites in Black Bengal goats. Further study can be carried out to determine the effect of parasitism in the production performance of Black Bengal goats.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects on growth, survival and anti-inflammatory cytokine (Interleukin-10) using with Nannochloropsis concentration in diets of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. In the first experiment, 60 days feeding trail was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and survival of the sea cucumber fed on six experimental diets containing different inclusion level of Nannochloropsis oculata (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%) in recirculating aquaculture system. Specific growth rate (SGR) and food conversion efficiency (FCE) of sea cucumber fed diet containing 8% Nannochloropsis oculata algae was significantly higher than that of other diets (P<0.05). Results of the experiment suggest that dietary inclusion with 8% Nannochloropsis oculata may improve growth of sea cucumber. The second experiment was conducted to determine IL-10 gene expression where mice splenocytes were stimulated with 10 µg/ml of each diet fed sea cucumber extracts for 2 hours. The result showed that IL-10 gene expression levels were significantly increased in 6% and 8% Nannochloropsis oculata algae containing diets fed sea cucumber extracts. This result suggests that proper combination of Nannochloropsis oculata could up-regulate of IL-10 gene expression. Such detailed information could be helpful in further development of more appropriate diets for sea cucumber culture.

As a consequence of river bank erosion, every year a huge number of people displace from their native houses to some other areas in Sirajganj district. This study was conducted to measure the economic losses and also assess the status of food security of the displaced people of Sirajganj by using primary data collected from respondents of four Upazilla (sub-district) of Sirajganj, namely, Shahjadpur, Kazipur, Belkuchi, and Sirajganj Sadar. In evaluating the food security, direct calorie intake (DCI) and protein intake method had been applied. The study has shown that 58.3% and 15% of the total respondents are found to be food secure on the basis of calorie and protein intake respectively. In addition of assessing food security, the single-level binary logistic regression model and also multinomial logistic regression were fitted to find out the important determinants of food security of the displaced people living in Sirajganj and also in the other regions of Bangladesh where people shift their houses to other places because of river erosion. The level of income was found as positively significant, however, the age of the family head and the family size were found as negatively significant determinant of the food security both on the basis of calorie and protein intake. The other significant determinants that had been identified are-duration after shifting, losses due to shifting, and education of the family head. The study has recommended some actions to the government, concerned stakeholders, GOs or NGOs and others to ensure the food security of the displaced people. They are-preventing river erosion, increasing level of education, controlling of the population, initiating improved agricultural farming, ensuring vocational training for the affected people, encouraging women empowerment et cetera.

1. One hundred and forty four Shaver broiler chicks (Starbro 15) were reared from 4 d to 56 d of age on 4 types of litter: sawdust, paddy straw, sand and rice husk each spread to a depth of 75 mm. 2. Birds reared on rice husk litter showed the greatest food consumption, greatest weight gain, best food conversion efficiency and scored highest in production number. 3. Survivability was also highest with rice husk group (94.4%) but differences in this variable were not thought to be attributable to types of litter. 4. Breast blisters were found only in birds reared on sand (8.3%). 5. It was concluded that rice husk is a suitable litter for rearing broilers on the floor, particularly in paddy-growing countries.

Haemonchus contortus Rudolphi, 1803, a blood-sucking worm living in abomasum, poses possibly the greatest threat to the livestock production. Here, we studied the effects of various environmental and nutritional factors on the development and hatching of eggs, development and survival of larvae of H. contortus. We incubated eggs at different temperature gradients, humidity and pH in phosphate buffer saline (PBS), tap water (TW) and normal saline (NS) using serum and/or liver extract at different concentrations. We obtained maximum hatching of eggs (39.73%) at 26ºC by day 5. Moulting started from day 4 and maximum number of L 2 (23.11%) developed at day 5 at 26ºC and the highest number of L 3 (26.81%) were detected at day 7 at 26ºC. No developments of eggs were observed, and hatching did not occur at pH 2. Better hatching of eggs (43.84%) were recorded in the relative humidity (RH) of ≥ 80-90%. Light had no significant effects on the development and hatching of eggs of H. contortus. Maximum eggs hatched in PBS containing 15% serum and 10% liver extract. Besides, in this medium survival rate of larvae was the highest (39.51%). The present study suggests that PBS containing 15% serum and 10% liver-extract may be used as a suitable medium for the incubation of eggs of H. contortus.

Hilsa shad (Tenulosa ilisha) is Bangladesh’s most important single-species fishery that contributes to 11% of total catch and employment for millions of people. However, heavy metals (HMs) toxicity in the edible organs of T. ilisha and their plausible public health threats have received weak attention. To provide insights on this issue, we determined, using ICP-MS, the concentration of Zn, Cu, Cr (VI), Pb, and Cd in the edible organs of five different sizes of T. ilisha and the surface water collected from the Padma–Meghna River confluence, Chandpur (Bangladesh). Multivariate analysis indicated that T. ilisha gills and liver contained higher HMs than muscle, and the surface water was below the safety limits. The study revealed that only Cr crossed the safety limits and bioaccumulated in the smaller-sized gills and liver. To assess the public health risks, target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ (TTHQ) and carcinogenic (CR) risks were calculated. Only Cr imposed non-carcinogenic risks to consumers, while TTHQ showed higher chronic health risks. There was no CR risk measured for consumers, except for the largest-sized gills for children. Randomly positive relations between HMs and sizes were found; whereas, consistently positive relations were found among the tissue types. The outcomes of our study may aid policymakers in managing pollutants, especially the Cr sources in the greater Chandpur regions.

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