Food habits of indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) (Kerr 1792), in district Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

The Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica) is classified as an agricultural pest species. It feeds on plants and crops; hence, it is responsible for massive financial losses worldwide. The current study was conducted to assess the diet composition of Indian Crested Porcupine in District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). Thus, fecal samples were collected and examined from different sampling sites. Reference slides of the material collected from the study area were prepared for identification of dietary components in fecal pellets. A total of 80 fecal samples were collected and processed. Percent relative frequencies (P.R.F.) were calculated for each plant species recovered from pellets. Data revealed that Indian Crested Porcupine consumed 31 plant species in its diet, among them Zea mays (34.31±7.76) was the most frequently selected species followed by Rumex obtusifolius (15.32±2.57) and Melia azedarach (12.83±4.79). The study revealed that the greatest diversity of (n=20) plant species were consumed in summer season while minimum (n=13) species were used during winter. Among the parts of plants, stem was highly consumed in spring (57.2%) as compared to seed in fall (36.7%) while spikes and leaf were the least recovered parts from the fecal matter. The Berger-Parker diversity index showed highly diversified food (10.92) in the summer time of the year as compared to the autumn season (2.95). This study provides a baseline for the diet preference of this pest in the study area. Based on current findings, a detailed investigation on damage assessment, exploration, habitat use and management of Indian Crested Porcupine in AJ&K has been recommended.

Impact of ergot-contaminated feed on yellow mealworm larvae performance and diet preference

This study aimed to determine if ergot alkaloids (EA) would accumulate in yellow mealworm larvae (YML, Tenebrio molitor) when present in their diets and investigate effects on production and survival. Larvae were reared on one of four diets: a control, low, medium, and high containing 63, 3,863, 8,471 and 15,316 μg/kg total EA, respectively. Each diet had five replicates with 150 YML per replicate totalling 3,000 for the 21-day trial. Initial and final weights of the feed and larvae were collected. Ergot alkaloid concentrations in YML at d 21 were 32.6, 94.0 and 155.5 μg/kg in the low, medium, and high treatments respectively, with none detected in those fed the control diet. The frass from YML fed the control, low, medium and high diets contained 18, 364, 1,094, and 1,424 μg/kg total EA, respectively. Feed intake was reduced in larvae fed the low, medium and high treatments relative to the control at 23.3-24.9 g/21 d compared to 30.1 g in the control (P=0.02). Feed-to-gain ratios, average daily gain, and final body weights did not differ among treatments (P>0.05). The larvae did not display any preference for diets when allowed to choose between the four diets (P>0.05). Larvae accumulated only low levels of EA from their diets and although feed intake was depressed, growth was maintained. Further research is required to determine the safety of yellow mealworm reared on EA-contaminated diets.

Pellets Inoculated with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57 Modulates Diet Preference and Rumen Factors Associated with Appetite Regulation in Steers

This study examined whether the probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain H57 (H57) affects ruminal fermentation parameters that exercise post-ingestive feedback appetite control mechanisms. A 4 × 4 Latin square design was used to separate pre- and post-ingestive effects of H57 in four rumen-fistulated steers. The steers were offered a set amount of feedlot pellets, inoculated with H57 or without H57 (control, C). Half of the total amount of pellets fed were introduced intra-ruminally (r), and then the remaining pellets were orally consumed (o) to make four feeding treatments: H57r/H57o, H57r/Co, Cr/H57o and Cr/Co. Rumen fluid was sampled at 2, 4 and 6 h after feeding. Preference behaviour was tested immediately after the 6 h rumen fluid sampling by simultaneously offering the steers 4 kg of each of H57 and C pellets in adjacent troughs for 5 min. Steers preferred the pellets with added H57 over the C pellets (56:44; p < 0.001) and their preferences were not affected by the treatment protocol imposed to separate post- from pre-ingestive effects (p > 0.05). Steers fed H57 pellets had higher ruminal pH, molar proportions of iso-butyrate and iso-valerate (p < 0.05) and tended to have greater ruminal ammonia concentrations compared to those fed C pellets (p < 0.1). However, post-ingestive signals did not affect diet preference more than pre-ingestive signals.

Feeding preference of herbivorous fish: Family Scaridae

Parrotfish is one of dominant species in Indo-Pacific areas which have 9 genera and 83 species. In ecological perspective, the feeding behaviours of these fish very important, due to control population of algae in coral reef ecosystem. They used their jaw to excavate and scrape alga which living on coral substrata, so sometime resulted on erosion in substrates and coral. The aim of this research to record the diet preference of Scariids fish in NCF Putri Menjangan conservation area, Bali on January to february 2020. Group of Scariids fish was recorded by underwater camera for one minute then the bites scared were calculated manually and photographed. The result of study showed that 10 species from two genera (Chlorurus and Scarus) was dominantly herbivorous fish in this area. The highest number of fish bites at station 1 was obtained from S. qouyi species with a total of 41.27 bpm, while stations 2 and 3 were obtained from S. rivulatus species with a number of 40.96 bpm and 41.59 bpm, respectively. The majority of parrotfish species found chose to forage on dead coral with algae substrates because the water conditions were not optimal for the growth of coral, so many corals died and their skeletons were overgrown by algae.

The association between diet and mental health and wellbeing in young adults within a biopsychosocial framework

Objective Predominantly plant-based diets can co-benefit human physical health and the planet. Young adults appear to be on the forefront of the shift to plant-based diets. However, little is known about the relationship between plant-based diets and mental health in this population even though mental health disorders contribute substantially to the global burden of disease, particularly among this age group. Design In this cross-sectional study we utilize a biopsychosocial framework to assess the association between dietary intake and mental health and wellbeing. Mental health was assessed using self-reported measures of anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9) and quality of life (single-item). Dietary intake in the prior month was assessed using a dietary screener (DSQ) and participants were asked to self-identify a diet preference (e.g., vegan). Setting and participants 339 university undergraduate students. Results A principal component analysis of dietary intake found three dominant dietary patterns (plant-based, animal-based, and ‘junk foods’); 28.1% (n = 95) of participants self-identified as pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, other. The association between dietary patterns, diet preference and mental health was assessed through regression analysis. After controlling for covariables, we found a significant positive association between the junk food component and depression (z-score β = .21, p≤.001; adj. R2 = .39) and anxiety (z-score β = .14; p≤.001; adj. R2 = .32) while no association was found between plant-based, animal-based or self-identified diet preference and the mental health measures. Conclusions We did not find a negative association between predominantly plant-based diet patterns and mental health and wellbeing. It is important to consider dietary composition and to conceptualize diet as a health behaviour that is embedded in a biopsychosocial framework.

Factors influencing IgG response against SARS-CoV-2: A quantitative serological survey among healthcare workers of a COVID-19 dedicated health facility in India

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to explore the factors influencing serum IgG response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) among healthcare workers (HCWs) of a tertiary healthcare facility in India. Material and Methods: It was a monocentric, observational study during the month of September 2020. In the study, a cross-sectional quantitative serological assessment of IgG response against SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, Bihar, was done using a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) platform named “ADVIA Centaur COV2G.” Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 22.0) was used for data analysis. Results: Among the study subjects, 761 (82.8%) had detectable serum IgG traces against SARS-CoV-2 with median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 0.03 (0.01–0.08). Those who were male by gender (spearman rho correlation co-efficient [ρ] = 0.08; P ≤ 0.05), technician (ρ= 0.07; P ≤ 0.05), attendant (ρ= 0.19; P ≤ 0.01), and sanitary staff (ρ= 0.13; P ≤ 0.01) by occupation, posted in laboratories (ρ= 0.09; P ≤ 0.01), had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (ρ= 0.26; P ≤ 0.01), used to take steam inhalation (ρ= 0.10; P ≤ 0.01), preferred non-vegetarian diet (ρ= 0.10; P ≤ 0.01), consumed azithromycin (ρ= 0.13; P ≤ 0.01), zinc (ρ= 0.08; P ≤ 0.05) had significantly higher whereas doctors (ρ= −0.10; P ≤ 0.01), and nurses (ρ= −0.16; P ≤ 0.01) had significantly lower serum IgG response against SARS-CoV-2 compared to others. Conclusion: Gender, occupation, place of posting, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, use of steam inhalation, diet preference, consumption of azithromycin, and zinc emerged as significant attributes of serum IgG response against SARS-CoV-2 among the study subjects.

Understanding of Various Diet Preferences and Cognizance about Zoonotic Diseases

Diet preferences are dependent on one’s culture and habitat and play an indispensable role in the prevention, and management of various health issues. The high prevalence and persistence of food-related diseases are ramifying the human population globally. Although many are preventable through practices of adhering to healthy dietary patterns, and engaging in physical activity. The preponderance of evidence to date suggests that a plant-based diet can be protective and potentially curative for several chronic degenerative diseases and reduces the risk of zoonotic diseases. The present study was designed to analyse various diet preferences and awareness level about their role in the spread of zoonotic diseases amidst covid-19 pandemic. The present cross-sectional study was conducted online with 757 randomly selected subjects residing in Delhi and NCR of India in the month of May-June, 2020. It was observed that 53.9% of subjects preferred a vegetarian diet. For a very high percentage (88.7%) of the subject’s selection criteria for a particular diet, was health quotient. 82.2% of subjects believed that meat consumption increases susceptibility to various infectious diseases including zoonotic diseases. However, only 40.5%, non-vegetarian subjects were willing to adopt a plant-based diet after the Covid-19 outbreak. It was found that majority of vegetarian and non-vegetarian subjects believed that eating animal products lead to spreading of zoonotic diseases. Key words: Covid-19, Diet preference, Health, Vegetarian, Non-vegetarian, Zoonotic diseases.