Regeneration Problem of Wild Edible Fruits and Impact on Himalayan Langur (Presbytis entellus)

This paper concept was to observe the knowledge about some wild edible fruit species which are consumed by Himalayan langur (Presbytis entellus) and its regeneration in the Nainital district of Kumaun Himalaya. The wild edible fruit species are not only as a source of supplemental food, had nutrionally balanced diet, medicines, fodder for cattle and fuel, but also for income generating potential of rural people in this region.. The diet of the Himalayan langur (Presbytis entellus) was studied for duration of one year. Wild edible fruits were harvested from their natural habitats by local people and sold into the local market for livelihood generation. The regeneration of maximum wild edible tree species is affected and the fruits become insufficient for the langurs diet. Due to this reason, the troupes of Himalayan langurs move towards villages of forest margins and destroy agricultural crops. A total 15 wild edible fruit species were recorded, out of which Quercus spp. Aesculus indica, Careya arborea, Myrica esculenta, Rubus ellipticus etc. were consumed by Himalayan langurs are under threats to regenerate.

Histopathological identification of Coccidioidomycosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo

Dhaka Zoo with 2000 animals of 184 species and five million visitors a year is important from a public health point of view. This study was conducted to investigate coccidioidomycosis in captive animals at Dhaka Zoo. One hundred and two tissue samples were collected and preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin at necropsy of 36 animals of 25 species. Twenty five animals were suffering from granulomatous diseases, of which ten were identified as coccidioidomycosis. Clinical history, nodular lesions at necropsy, granulomatous lesions on histopathology and characteristic spores on special staining confirmed coccidioidomycosis in six rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), one horse (Equus caballus), one common langur (Presbytis entellus), one beisa oryx (Oryx beisa beisa) and one reticulated python (Python molurus). It is suggested that coccidioidomycosis in captive animals threatens human and animal health. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bvet.v30i2.18255 Bangl. vet. 2013. Vol. 30, No. 2, 54-61

Kyasanur forest disease virus: viremia and challenge studies in monkeys with evidence of cross-protection by Langat virus infection

Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV), discovered in 1957, is a member of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) complex. Diseases caused by members of the TBEV complex occur in many parts of the world. KFDV produces a hemorrhagic fever in humans in South India and fatal illnesses in both species of monkeys in the area, the black faced langur (Presbytis entellus) and the bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata). Experimental infection of the langur and the bonnet macaque with early mouse passage KFDV strain P9605 resulted in a viremia of up to 11 days duration, peak viremia titers as high as 109, and death in 82 = 100% of the animals. Prolonged passage of the KFDV strain P9605 in monkey kidney tissue culture resulted in a markedly reduced virulence of the virus for both species; peak viremia titers in monkeys decreased by 2.5 to 4.0 log LD 50 (p= 0.001), and the mortality decreased to 10% (p= 0.001). In challenge experiments, monkeys previously infected with tissue-culture-adapted KFDV, or with the related Langat virus from Malaysia, were fully protected against virulent KFDV. These studies in non-human primates lend support to the idea that a live virus vaccine from a member of the TBEV complex may be broadly protective against infections by other members of the TBEV complex.