A study was designed to assess the walking stress and dry seasonal effect on physiological, heamatological and biochemical profiles in indigenous local goat breeds of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). Twelve bucks of adult age of 3 to 4 yr of age with good body condition (score 5-6) were selected and divided into two groups, viz. group-I: control (n=6, not exposed to stress) and group-II: treatment (n=6, exposed to walking and dry season stress). In treatment group, animals were walked upto10 km to and fro from goat farm in undulated area without allowing grazing. Whereas control animals were placed in separate adjacent goat shed covered with asbestos roof and surrounded by natural trees. Walking time was from 0700 to 1200 h. Experiment was conducted during dry season (November to February). These animals were restrained and physiological parameters were measured immediately after stressful walk in dry season. Simultaneously, blood samples were collected for the heamatological study and antioxidant attributes. The result of the present study revealed that the physiological, heamatological profiles as well as the malondialdehyde concentration were significantly (p<0.05) increased and antioxidant profiles were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the treatment stressed goats than in unstressed control group. From the study, it was concluded that the process of walking in dry season has induced walking and thermal stress that has significantly (p<0.05) affected the performance of indigenous local goat breeds of ANI.

ObjectivesThe present study was conducted to detect the occurrence of β-lactamase and biofilm-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Klebsiella in broilers and native fowl reared in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The study also included molecular docking experiments to confirm the nature of the catalytic domains found in the β-lactamase variants obtained and to reveal the clonal relationship of the isolates with human clinical strains from the database.Materials and methodsA total of 199 cloacal swabs were collected from five poultry breeds/varieties (broiler, Vanraja, Desi, Nicobari, and layer) in three districts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. E. coli, Salmonella enterica, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated by standard techniques and confirmed by PCR. Phenotypical β-lactamase producers were identified by a double-disc test. The genes (blaCTX, blaSHV, blaTEM, and blaAmpC) were screened, and selected sequences of β-lactamase variants were submitted to DDBJ. Homology modeling, model validation, and active site identification of different β-lactamase variants were done by the SWISS-MODEL. Molecular docking was performed to identify the catalytic domains of the β-lactamase variants. The selected β-lactamase sequences were compared with the Indian ESBL sequences from human clinical strains in NCBI-GenBank.ResultsIn total, 425 Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated from the collected samples. Klebsiella pneumoniae (42.58%) was found to be the most prevalent, followed by Salmonella enterica (30.82%) and E. coli (26.58%). The phenotypical antibiogram of all 425 isolates showed the highest resistance against oxytetracycline (61–76%) and the lowest against gentamicin (15–20%). Phenotypical production of β-lactamase enzymes was observed in 141 (33.38%) isolates. The isolation rate of β-lactamase producing E. coli, Salmonella enterica, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) in the birds reared in the South Andaman district (25.6, 17.5, and 18.7%, respectively) than in Nicobar (11.5, 7.6, 7.1%, respectively). Genotyping of the β-lactamase-producing isolates revealed the maximum possession of blaTEM, followed by blaSHV and blaCTX − M. The nucleotide sequences were found to be similar with blaCTX − M−15, blaSHV − 11, blaSHV − 27, blaSHV − 228, blaTEM − 1, and blaAmpC in BLAST search. Distribution of studied biofilm-associated genes in Enterobacteriaceae strains from different varieties of the birds revealed that the layer birds had the maximum possession, followed by Vanraja, Desi, broilers, and Nicobari fowls. The phylogenetic analysis of selected sequences revealed a partial clonal relationship with human clinical strains of the Indian subcontinent. Molecular docking depicted the Gibbs free energy release for 10 different macromolecules (proteins) and ligand (antibiotic) complexes, ranging from −8.1 (SHV-27 + cefotaxime) to −7 (TEM-1 + cefotaxime) kcal/mol.Conclusion and relevanceThe study revealed β-lactamase variants circulating in the fowl population of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India), even in remote places with low anthropogenic activity. Most of the strains possessed blaTEM − 1, followed by blaCTX − M−15. Possession of blaSHV − 11, blaSHV − 27, and blaSHV − 228 in poultry Enterobacteriaceae strains was not reported earlier from any part of the world. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a partial clonal relationship of β-lactamase sequences with the human clinical strains isolated from the Indian subcontinent.

Goat constitutes almost 42.1 % of the total livestock population of the A and N islands. Generally the livestock are free from many dreaded diseases which are prevalent in mainland, India. However, in the present study the outbreak of contagious ecthyma (Orf) in goats of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was investigated and confirmed by PCR assay. The outbreak of orf was reported from different villages of the South Andaman. A total of 171 clinical cases of contagious ecthyma were reported during the different outbreak reported during the year 2017. The scab samples from the affected goats were collected and processed for extraction of viral DNA. Nested PCR assay was done by using the forward and reverse primers of parapox virus. The results revealed the confirmation of the outbreak of Contagious ecthyma (orf) virus in the goats of Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the first time.

Background: Transmission of antibiotic resistance from animal food chain to human through animal food-borne pathogens have led to increased public concern. Wider surveillance on prevalence of antibiotic resistance in E. coli will provide information on evolution of resistance in various geographical locations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolates from poultry under various farming system in A and N Islands and resistance genes of tet, ctx-M and aac encoding the isolates. Methods: Isolates were obtained from cloacal swabs in poultry under various farming systems and tested against major antimicrobial derivatives to study multi drug resistance. The presence of genes associated with resistance to tetracycline (tet A), ESBL (CTX-M) and Gentamycin (aac(3)-IV) were determined by PCR. Result: A total of 126 cloacal samples were analysed out of which 31.38% of the E.coli isolates from poultry under various farming systems were producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases and were multiple antimicrobial resistant. Poultry birds of commercial farms showed higher resistance levels (37.5%) than organised farms (24.76%) and desi birds (31.88%). Results indicate a high level of multi-drug resistance is emerging even in desi birds. It is suggested that an antimicrobial resistance surveillance program is needed in A and N Islands in order to detect bacterial resistance among rural poultry production as the 80 percentage of total poultry population belong to desi birds.