Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common skin diseases of dogs. Defects in the skin barrier and overproduction of inflammatory cytokines may be the pathogenesis of canine AD. Therefore, the present study was aimed to quantify the gene expression of certain skin barrier proteins and inflammatory cytokines in dogs with AD. Eleven dogs with AD and three healthy dogs were included in the present study. The skin barrier proteins, namely Filaggrin (FLG) and Involucrin (IVL), gene expression was quantified by Real-time PCR in the lesional skin tissues of the atopic dogs and normal skin of the healthy dogs. In addition to the skin proteins, the gene expressions of the interleukin (IL)-13, IL-31, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were also quantified in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of these dogs. Compared to the healthy dogs, significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) FLG gene expression and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower expression of the IVL gene were quantified in the skin of atopic dogs. Further, the dogs with AD revealed significantly higher expression of TNF-α (P ≤ 0.01), IL-31 (P ≤ 0.05), and IL-13 (P ≤ 0.05) as compared to the healthy dogs. The findings of our present study evidently suggest significantly increased and decreased expressions of FLG and IVL genes, respectively, which may be responsible for disruption of the skin barrier in dogs with AD. While, the over-expressions of TNF-α, IL-31, and IL-13 genes might be attributed to the clinical pathology and manifestations of AD in dogs. However, further studies are warranted to substantiate our hypothesis about pathogenesis and clinical manifestation of AD in dogs by including a large number of animals.

The present study aimed to evaluate the pathology of the exophthalmia and the host‐immune response in naturally Theileria annulata‐infected calves. The newborn calves detected positive for theileriosis were grouped into calves with theileriosis and absence of exophthalmia (n = 30), and calves with theileriosis and the presence of exophthalmia (n = 13). Sixteen healthy calves, free from any haemoprotozoal infection, were kept as healthy controls. A significantly (P ≤ .001) higher circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) were estimated in diseased calves with and without exophthalmia as compared to healthy controls. Contrarily, significantly (P ≤ .01) lower interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) level was estimated in diseased calves. The diseased calves with exophthalmia revealed significantly higher levels of TNF‐α (P ≤ .001) and IL‐10 (P ≤ .006) as compared to the diseased calves without exophthalmia. The diseased calves were not found to have an elevated intraocular pressure; rather they had significantly (P ≤ .001) lower intraocular pressure compared to the healthy controls. An elevated systemic TNF‐α level might be attributed to the exophthalmia in calves with tropical theileriosis. The elevated circulatory IL‐10 and reduced IFN‐γ levels could be one of the strategies of Theileria annulata to escape the host immunity.

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Banana is the most important fruit crop in India which requires the various cultivation practices. For carrying out those cultivation practices various energies are required to meet sustainable production. The main aim of this study was to find out the resource use efficiency estimation for banana production in Erode District of Tamil Nadu. Primary data was collected from 100 sample farmers using well structured interview schedule. The empirical results shows that except human labour, nitrogen, phosphorus and diesel remaining all other variables included in the model were positive and human labour, machine labour, nitrogen, potassium, FYM, plant protection chemicals, irrigation water, sucker and electricity were significant among other variables. Subsequently, increase in 1% use of inputs such as machine labour, potassium, electricity, sucker and plant protection chemicals would increase the yield of banana 0.15 per cent, 0.20 per cent, 0.02 per cent, 0.01 per cent and 0.01 per cent respectively and 79 per cent of the variations in banana yield were influenced by the explanatory variables. Likewise price fluctuation plays a major constraint among the banana farmers. This study suggested the banana farmers to use more amount of potassium and to reduce the usage of human labour and as well as nitrogen fertilizer for sustainable use of resources.