UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
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Host Preference Studies of Giant African Snail, Achatina fulica under Laboratory Condition
No full textThe current study was conducted during Kharif 2024 at laboratory of Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani, Maharashtra. The experiment was structured following a Completely Randomized Block Design with eight treatments, each replicated three times. The objective of the study was to investigate the preferred host of giant African snail. The host preferred by giant African snails were assessed in both no choice and choice condition. Observations were mainly made on the food consumed and number of snails found on the host plants. Among all the eight tested host plants, T5 - Spinach leaves (73.48%), T2 - Mulberry leaves (61.79%), T4 - Papaya leaves (40.32%) and T3 - Soybean leaves (35.77%) were highly preferred. Host plants T1 – Cabbage leaves (28.64%), T6 – Okra fruit (21.22%) and T7 – Potato tuber (18.72%) were moderately preferred and least preferred host was T8 – Custard apple leaves (8.76%). The highly preferred host plant of giant African snail in both no choice and choice test are Spinach leaves and least preferred host plant was Custard apple leaves
Two New Distributional Records of Sponges along the West Coast of India
No full textThe current study reports range extensions of marine sponges to the Indian subcontinent and within it. Stelletta clavosa (Ridley, 1884) is being reported from the Gulf of Kachchh for the first time. Dragmacidon coccineum (Keller, 1891) is being reported to the Indian subcontinent for the first time. The animals were collected by SCUBA diving. The spicules and skeletal structures of the animal were analysed to identify the species. A regional checklist of marine sponges from the Gulf of Kachchh region (formerly known as the Kathiawar or Kathiawad region) has been included as a supplement to the paper, highlighting the importance of new records and distributional records that contribute to the nation\u27s biodiversity
Antidiabetic Activity of Aegle marmelos Fruit Pulp Extract in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats
No full textAims: The present study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of Aegle marmelos fruit pulp extract in alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats, focusing on its antihyperglycemic activity, effects on biochemical parameters, and preservation of pancreatic β-cell morphology.
Place of Work: The experimental work was carried out in the Department of Zoology, Kakatiya University, in a controlled laboratory animal facility, adhering to institutional animal ethics committee guidelines.
Study Design: An in vivo experimental study was conducted using alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats over a 28-day period. The animals were divided into five groups: normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + A. marmelos extract (100 mg/kg), diabetic + A. marmelos extract (200 mg/kg), and diabetic + glibenclamide (standard drug).
Methodology: Fruit pulp was extracted using aqueous methods, and acute toxicity testing confirmed safety up to 2000 mg/kg body weight. Diabetes was induced by alloxan monohydrate in overnight-fasted rats. Treatments were given orally for 28 consecutive days. Parameters measured included fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), urea, creatinine, plasma insulin, liver glycogen, total protein, and body weight. Histopathological examination of pancreatic tissue assessed β-cell integrity.
Results: The diabetic control group exhibited a progressive rise in FBG from 284.8 ± 6.1 mg/dL (day 1) to 293.2 ± 6.5 mg/dL (day 28), indicating worsening hyperglycemia. Both doses of A. marmelos extract significantly reduced FBG, HbA1c, urea, and creatinine while increasing plasma insulin, liver glycogen, total protein, and body weight. Histopathology revealed marked preservation and regeneration of pancreatic β-cells. The antidiabetic effects of the extract were comparable to those of glibenclamide.
Conclusion: Aegle marmelos fruit pulp extract demonstrates potent antidiabetic activity, with biochemical and histological evidence supporting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for managing diabetes mellitus
The Mismanagement of E-waste Governance and its Impacts on Environment and Wildlife: A Global Perspective
No full textThe rapid pace of technological development has resulted in an unprecedented increase in electronic waste generation worldwide, raising urgent concerns about governance, regulation, and environmental sustainability. The consequences of inadequate electronic waste management are alarming, as they lead to environmental degradation, pollution, and associated health hazards. E-waste poses risks to animals through entrapment, ingestion, and inhalation of toxic substances, frequently resulting in physical injury, illness, or mortality. When electronic devices containing hazardous substances are disposed of in landfills or incinerated, they create significant pollution, which disrupts the equilibrium of the ecosystem. The ingestion of these harmful chemicals by birds and marine animals can result in serious internal health issues, digestive complications, and even mortality.
This paper examines the current e-waste management framework in India and contrasts it with regulatory approaches in selected developed and developing countries, including the European Union, the United States, China, Japan, and Brazil. The study highlights critical challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited public awareness, and the dominance of the informal recycling sector in developing economies, alongside contrasting models of extended producer responsibility and consumer accountability in advanced jurisdictions.
By adopting a comparative legal and institutional perspective, this paper underscores how differences in enforcement capacity, policy design, and societal participation shape the effectiveness of e-waste governance. The findings suggest that a hybrid model integrating the strengths of developed country frameworks with the realities of the Global South—can provide more inclusive and sustainable solutions. This manuscript is significant for the scientific community as it addresses the pressing challenge of e-waste governance through a comparative lens, highlighting regulatory gaps and enforcement hurdles often overlooked in prior literature. By juxtaposing diverse governance models, it offers insights into designing hybrid frameworks that can strengthen policy effectiveness in the Global South. These findings contribute to ongoing academic debate while providing practical relevance for policymakers and practitioners working toward sustainable e-waste management
Effects of Ethion (50% EC) on Acetylcholinesterase Activity in the Freshwater Fish Catla catla
No full textThe present study evaluated the toxic effects of the organophosphate (OP) pesticide Ethion (50% EC) on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the freshwater fish Catla catla and assessed its potential as a biomarker of pesticide induced neurotoxicity. An experimental laboratory based toxicological study was conducted at the Department of Zoology & Aquaculture, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India, over a period of three months, involving both acute (lethal) and sublethal exposure trials. Fish were exposed to a lethal concentration of Ethion (2.8 µg/L for 24 hrs) and a sublethal concentration (0.28 µg/L) for 24 hrs, 4 days, and 8 days. AChE activity was measured in brain, muscle, gill, liver, and kidney tissues using standard biochemical assays, and behavioural alterations were also recorded. The results showed significant inhibition of AChE activity in all tissues, exhibiting a clear dose and time dependent pattern. Under lethal exposure (24 hrs), brain tissue exhibited the highest inhibition (44.59%) while the liver showed the lowest (31.83%). Sublethal exposure also resulted in consistent inhibition, with brain tissue (33.60%) being more affected than the liver (15.18%). Prolonged sublethal exposure further intensified enzyme suppression, indicating cumulative neurotoxic effects. In addition, behavioural abnormalities such as hyperactivity, erratic swimming, and impaired coordination were observed, correlating with the extent of AChE inhibition. These findings demonstrate that AChE activity serves as a sensitive and reliable biomarker of Ethion toxicity in C. catla, and they underscore the ecological risks posed by OP pesticide contamination in aquatic ecosystems. The study highlights the potential of integrating biochemical and behavioural endpoints to assess pesticide impacts and emphasizes the urgent need for stricter regulation and sustainable management of pesticide use in agriculture
Effect of Dietary Microbial Phytase Supplementation on the Performance, Bone Status and Nutrient Retention of Broilers Fed with Inorganic Phosphate-Free Diet
No full textA study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of microbial phytase supplementation in broiler chickens fed an inorganic phosphate-free diet and its impact on growth, bone mineralization, nutrient retention, and economic efficiency. Six-week feeding trial was conducted with 300 straight-run, day-old commercial broiler chicks of the Cobb-430Y strain. The chicks were randomly divided into five treatment groups: A, B, C, D, and E, with three replicates of each. Group A was the Positive Control, fed as per nutrient requirements of strain in broiler prestarter (BPS), broiler starter (BS), and broiler finisher (BF). Group B was the Negative Control (NC), with reduced levels of calcium (0.60%, 0.58%, and 0.58%) and Total Phosphorus (TP) (0.42%, 0.43%, and 0.37%) in the BPS, BS, and BF phases, respectively. Groups C, D, and E were offered the NC diet with supplementation of microbial phytase (Natuphos® E 10000 FTU/g) at 1000, 1000, and 1000 FTU for group C, 2000, 2000, and 1500 FTU for group D, and 3000, 3000, and 2000 FTU/kg for group E, respectively, in BPS, BS and BF diets. The overall study revealed that microbial phytase supplementation at 2000, in BPS, BS, and 1500 FTU/kg BF diet with low Ca and TP significantly (P≤0.05) improved body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, and reduced feed conversion ratio, equivalent to the PC. Tibia mineralization (ash, Ca, and P), however, tibia breaking strength was unaffected. Moreover, the retention of nutrients such as Ca and P significantly (P≤0.05) improved with microbial phytase supplementation compared to NC. It can be concluded that the addition of microbial phytase (2000, 2000, 1500 FTU/kg) to a low-Ca and inorganic phosphate-free diet significantly enhanced growth performance, tibia mineralization, nutrient retention and found to be cost-effective
Antibiotic Resistance Studies in Staphylococcus spp Isolated from Bovine Milk
No full textTen samples of raw milk and 10 samples of pasteurized milk samples were collected from Puducherry and Cuddalore. After collection of samples, in case of raw milk, bacterial pre-enrichment was performed in 90ml of Tryptic Soy Broth with 10ml of raw milk sample and in case of pasteurized milk, pre-enrichment was performed in 90ml of tryptic soy broth with 10ml of pasteurized milk sample. After Pre-enrichment, isolation and identification of the target organism, Staphylococcus spp was carried out. The pre-enriched raw milk and pasteurized milk samples were streaked onto Baird Parker agar plate and Mannitol salt agar plates. Then they were incubated at 37℃ for 24-48hrs. Staphylococcus spp was identified by the yellow colour colonies in Mannitol Salt agar, If Baird Parker agar plate contains black colonies, they were considered as positive for Staphylococcus spp. The isolates were sub cultured to get pure culture. The isolates were identified based on morphological and biochemical characterization. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out for the isolates against the selected antibiotics ampicillin, tetracycline, kanamycin, erythromycin, methicillin, streptomycin, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol. Among the ten raw milk isolates and ten pasteurized milk isolates, raw milk isolate RMS 9 showed resistance towards six selected antibiotics. RMS 9 isolate was identified by 16S r RNA sequencing. Blast analysis was carried out and the isolate was confirmed as Staphylococcus aureus with similarity percentage of 99.92%. The isolate was submitted in the GEN bank with the accession number OR24436
Population Growth and Life Table Study of a Generalist Semilooper, Anomis sabulifera, Guenée 1852 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) on two Brassicaceae and two Malvaceae Plants
No full textThe generalist semilooper pest, Anomis sabulifera, Guenée 1852 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is one of the major pests of different economic crops throughout the world. Basic information on insect pest population growth is necessary before deciding any strategy to combat with the pest. The stage-specific life table and population growth of A. sabulifera on two Brassicaceous plants i.e., Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and two Malvaceous plants i.e., Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius) and China rose (Hibiscus rosa sinensis) were observed during their growing season in 2023-2025. Phytochemicals guided host preference (Indian mustard> Oilseed rape> Tossa jute> China rose) of the generalist semilooper, A. sabulifera represent a clear picture through population growth and developmental pattern. It also provides information about the vulnerability of developmental stages of A. sabulifera on the selected host plants. This study had suggested the use of multi-trap cropping by using the most preferred crops (Indian mustard> Oilseed rape) in a defined pattern with Tossa jute and or China rose as main crop which will obviously lead to less infestation of A. sabulifera or other such pests in the field than their sole cropping. Such study will also inform about the susceptibility and or severity of host cultivars towards A. sabulifera for their judicious management by using defined trap cropping system with higher production to promote IPM of such crops in near future
Silver and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Potential Therapeutics against Escherichia coli Isolated from Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Pathogens
No full textCatheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a significant concern due to the formation of biofilms by pathogens such as Escherichia coli. This study evaluates the antibiofilm efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) against clinical E. coli isolates from CAUTI patients. Clinical E. coli isolates were procured from catheterized patient urine samples and identified using HiCrome UTI Agar and VITEK 2 Compact system. AgNPs and FeONPs were prepared in DMSO and tested at concentrations from 5 to 100 µg/mL using a modified crystal violet assay. AgNPs exhibited superior antibiofilm activity compared to FeONPs; at 5 µg/mL, AgNPs achieved 65.35% inhibition, rising to 92.38% at 100 µg/mL. FeONPs exhibited significantly lower inhibition, with a maximum of 63.47% at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. The minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations (MBIC) indicated AgNPs had an MBIC₅₀ of 5 µg/mL, while FeONPs ranged from 40 to 80 µg/mL, highlighting the disparity in efficacy. AgNPs demonstrate promising potential as an alternative or adjunctive therapy for preventing and treating CAUTI-associated infections due to their superior antibiofilm properties
Gut Health Markers to Improve Livestock and Poultry Productivity: A Review
No full textGut health has emerged as a pivotal determinant of livestock and poultry productivity, with markers providing critical insights into the structural and functional status of the gastrointestinal tract. Gut health is synonymous in animal production industries with animal health. Although there does appear to be a direct relationship between animal performance and a “healthy” gastrointestinal tract (GIT), there is no clear definition for “gut health” that encompasses a number of physiological and functional features, including nutrient digestion and absorption, host metabolism and energy generation, a stable microbiome, mucus layer development, barrier function, and mucosal immune responses. Key anatomical indicators such as villus height, crypt depth, mucosal thickness, goblet cell density, rumen papillae morphology, capillary density, and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) development are strongly associated with nutrient absorption, barrier integrity, immune competence, and microbial interactions. Targeted anatomical interventions—including dietary modulation, probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenic additives, and optimized feed structures—have demonstrated measurable improvements in these gut health markers. Enhanced villus architecture and rumen papillae increase absorptive surface area, while strengthened mucosal barriers and tight junction integrity reduce pathogen translocation and metabolic stress. Moreover, the modulation of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid production further influences gut morphology and function. Collectively, these anatomical interventions not only improve feed conversion efficiency, growth performance, and disease resilience but also support sustainable animal agriculture by reducing antibiotic dependence. This review highlights the significance of anatomical markers as reliable tools to assess gut health and underscores their potential in guiding precision-based strategies for improving livestock and poultry productivity