International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology

1-6

Authors: Sadikshya Lamsal, Deepak Subedi, Krishna Kaphle

Buffalo rearing is major part of Nepalese agriculture and they are reared for milk, meat, draft power and manure. Buffaloes are the main source of milk production in Nepal producing about 65.3% of the total annual milk in the country. Different indigenous breeds such as Lime, Parkote and Gaddi as well as Indian Murrah and Nili Ravi are recorded in Nepal and they are raised in different management and production system. Different genetic and non-genetic factors cause variation in production and reproduction performance between these breeds and within these breeds also. Non genetic factors affecting the performance of these buffaloes are season of calving, parity, management practices, nutrition etc. In this paper, effect of parity on production traits such as colostrum period, lactation length, lactation yield and days to reach peak milk yield as well as reproduction traits such as calving interval, dry period and service period are reviewed. Thus, this paper after reviewing related articles from various journals, proceedings and magazines is aimed to evaluate the effect of parity on reproductive and production efficiency of buffaloes of Nepal. Though the performance of indigenous breed is generally considered low, there is high potential of these breeds under proper breeding and management programs.

14-20

Authors: Shraddha Patrabansh, Niranjan Parajuli, Vinay Kumar Jha

Antibiotic residues in meat are a serious public health concern as a result of its harmful effects on consumer health. This study aimed at estimating the residues levels of commonly used antibiotics (Tetracycline) in chicken samples using two analytical methods; Rapid Screening Kit and HPLC. Twenty chicken samples were collected from various meat shops of Kathmandu valley. Qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses with Quicking Tetracycline rapid Test kit, which detect tetracycline above 100 ppb in tissue revealed that two samples were positive for antibiotic residues in the chicken for tetracycline. The concentration of residues of tetracycline, which were positive in rapid test kit was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a UV detector (HPLC-UV). One muscle sample and one liver sample of chicken have found the concentration of tetracycline as 229 and 339 μg/kg, respectively while chlortetracycline was not detected. This result confirmed widespread misuses of antibiotics especially tetracycline in farm and lack of application of recommended withdrawal times. Antimicrobial assay of chicken extracts was also performed by using the disc-diffusion agar method.The plates were incubated overnight at 37 °C for 18-24 hours, butmicrobial growthwas not observed in all the samples tested.

29-32

Authors: Saddiqa Hassan, Sana Ali, Sajid Hussain Sherazi

Background: Pregnancy outcomes of a borderline oligohydramnios versus normal relatively comes to be slightly increasing meconium‐stained fluid, low Apgar scores and hyper bilirubinemia on follow up as perinatal outcomes and increased risk of C section as maternal outcome. There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend additional perinatal and maternal testing based on a borderline oligohydramnios. Clinical determination is considered in evaluating meconium‐stained fluid, low Apgar scores and hyper bilirubinemia. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes in uncomplicated late preterm pregnancies with borderline oligohydramnios. Setting: A total of 38 patients were studied, 19 were with normal AFI and 19 patients were of borderline AFI. Patients with normal AFI were referred as Group 1 and the other as Group 2. This study was conducted at Niazi Medical and Dental College, Sargodha. Population: Pregnant women with normal AFI at term and borderline patients with late preterm pregnancy and borderline oligohydramnios. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at Niazi Medical and Dental College, Sargodha. This study comprised of 38 patients with normal AFI and border line AFI. Data of 19 patients with normal AFI and 19 patients with border line AFI was collected. The Inclusion Criteria was 19 singleton pregnancies of 36+6 weeks, with AFI ≤ 8 cm and 19 singleton pregnancy 37+ weeks with upto 24 cm AFI. In both groups, Maternal and perinatal outcomes were assessed. The results of both groups were compared in the end. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that borderline AFI was not a risk for adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes in uncomplicated, late preterm pregnancies.

45-51

Authors: Kabita Giri, Bijay Kumar Shrestha, Jenish Shakya, Shiv Nandan Sah, Hemanta Khanal

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by drug resistant (DR) Uropathogenic Escherichia coli have become a significant worldwide public health problem. Green tea (Camellia sinensis), has been reported to have antimicrobial activities against various pathogenic bacteria. The main aim of our study was to estimate the antibacterial effect of green tea extract against drug resistant Uropathogenic E. coli isolated from urine samples of patients visiting in tertiary care hospital from eastern Nepal. During the study 360 urine samples were collected from UTI suspected patients visiting a tertiary care hospital of Biratnagar. Urine samples were cultured by using semi-quantitative culture technique and bacteria was identified by standard microbiological procedure. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion method according to NCCLS (2011) guidelines. The antibacterial effect of green tea extract was performed by preparing the 95% ethanol extract in Soxhlet apparatus which was dispensed in DMSO solution and sterilized by membrane filtration. Antibacterial activity of Green Tea Extract against MDR Uropathogenic Escherichia coli was performed by making different concentration of green tea. The overall prevalence of E. coli was 27.22% in study population whereas the prevalence of MDR E. coli was 21.08%. All the isolated E. coli exhibited 100% sensitivity towards Nitrofurantoin and it was still a drug of choice for the treatment of Urinary tract infection caused by E. coli. The green tea extracts exhibited effective antibacterial activity against MDR E. coli. The MIC of Green Tea Extract was found to be 600µg/ml for 24 MDR isolates and 1000µg/ml for remaining 11 isolates. Based on the present study it is concluded that Green Tea extracts have great potential as an antimicrobial agent against E. coli.

61-64

Authors: Ajaya Karkee, Dhanik Lal Mandal

An in-vitro experiment was carried out for testing the efficacy of various fungicides by adopting poisoned bait method against Rhizoctonia solani (isolated from large cardamom) in Agricultural Research Station, Pakhribas. The experiments were conducted with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) during 2016 with four replications. Two level of concentration of the fungicides (10 ppm and 100 ppm) were used and concentration was calculated based on active ingredients (a.i.) of the pesticides. At lower concentration (10 ppm), Nativo (Tubeconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25 WG) and Dhanustan (Carbendazim 50 % WP) whereas at higher concentration (100 ppm), Folicure (Tubeconazole 25.9 %) and Saaf (Carbendazim 12 % + Mancozeb 63 % WP) found effective for the inhibitions of mycelia growth of R. solani. For the control of R. solani, Nativo and Dhanustan showed greatest inhibition of mycelia growth at 10 ppm concentration as compared to other fungicides. The fungicides containing Tubeconazole and Carbendazim as active ingredients, shows highest degree of mycelia inhibitions as compared to others. The fungicides found effective for inhibition of mycelia growth of R. solani in this study should be further tested in field conditions to verify their efficacy as well as to determine their optimum doses of application.

71-77

Authors: Pratiksha Sharma, Rishi Ram Kattel, Ananta Prakash Subedi

This research was conducted to assess farmer’s adaptation strategies of climate change in maize cultivation among Chepang and Non-Chepang communities in Chitwan. Pre-tested questioner, direct observation and secondary data were collected and used. Data analysis was done by using descriptive statistics, time series regression, Logit and seemingly unrelated regression model. Productivity of study area was found to be positively affected by total rainfall whereas negatively affected by average temperature. Majority of respondents (86.7%) were found to adopt any one of the climate change related adaptation strategies on maize cultivation. Among various adaptation strategies, mix cropping (66.3%) was found major in the study areas. Head of household, knowledge about climate change and economically active members in the family were positive determinant on adoption of climate change adaptation strategies.SUR model showed that education of household head, economically active member in the household, an involvement in extension/ training and maize production were major positively significant explanatory variables whereas age, gender of household head and involvement in an organization were major negatively significant explanatory variables in farmer’s decision for adaptation of different climate change combating strategies. The study concluded that farmers of Chitwan perceived change in climate with negative effect on their maize cultivation practices. In comparison to Non-Chepang, Chepang farmers had less knowledge and adaptation practices. More focus from government and Nongovernment sector through proper policy implementation and technology intervention is needed to support this backward community.

83-95

Authors: Padam Lal Bhandari, Rishi Ram Kattel

Beekeeping is a low investment and low input business enterprise with immediate return. However, very few researches has been done on value chain analysis of honey sub-sector in Nepal. Such a backdrop, this research gauges the value chain of honey in Nepal focusing value chain function, actors/products flow and enabling business in 2018. Both primary and secondary information were collected using different research instruments in 2018. This study revealed that Apis cerana was the major honey-bee reared in Pyuthan district and about 50% youth were engaged in beekeeping business. Each household have an average of 32 hives ranging from 15 to 80 hives. Average 32 kg honey was consumed at HHs level and 239 kg was sold. The average wholesale rate of honey at farm gate was about NPR 400-450 (USD 3.6-4.1) per kg with the retail price rate was NPR 500 (USD 4.5). An average income earned from honey sale was NPR 60000 (USD 545) per annum ranging from NPR 20000 to 120000. Majority of the beekeepers received training whereas none of them have done insurance. About 55% of the beekeepers have taken loan from saving groups and cooperatives or MFIs. There has not any provision of grading, processing and labelling of the product at producer’s point in the study area. The main threats of beekeeping came from loss of habitat, disease, pest and enemies. This research suggests to develop upgrading practices with facilitation of basic value chain practices for promotion of high-quality Nepali honey at global markets.

102-107

Authors: Deepak Subedi, Milan Kandel, Shrijana Khanal, Prem Lal Mahato, Ramchandra Acharya

This study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of diseases in broilers age group 1-14 days at Chitwan district, Nepal. This subjective study was carried out using the secondary data retrieved from National Avian Disease Investigation Laboratory (NADIL). Chitwan and Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur, Chitwan in last two years viz. June 2016 to June 2018. The cases recorded were categorized and those up-to age 14 days old broiler chicks (n=1112) were selected for the study. Data and Informations were entered in Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed using SPSS ver. 22. Results illustrates that the average flock size was 913.51± 918.49 with a range from 30 to 10000 chicks. The case was reported highest in 14th day followed by 12th and 10th day. The prevalence of bacterial disease was found to be highest (57.46%) followed by mycoplasma infection (10.61%) and metabolic diseases (10.16%). Prevalence of Colibacillosis was highest (43.25%) followed by Salmonellosis (12.85%) and Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) (10.61%). The level of chicks’ average mortality was 2.14% of total flock size. The Pearson’s correlation between flock size and mortality was found to be 0.82, which was highly significant (p<0.01). The mortality varies significantly (p<0.01) with change in seasons, the prevalence of disease was higher in summer (32.28%) followed by winter (29.13%). Prevalence was recorded as 65.19% among age group 8-14 days and followed by 1-7 days age group (34.80%). Thus, disease management during second week followed by the first week can decrease the disease prevalence and mortality of chicks and increase the efficiency of farm.