A study was conducted to investigate the population density of helminth parasites in domestic ducks (Anas boschas domesticus) in relation to host's age, sex, breed and seasons of the year from March 2002 to May 2003. A total of 300 ducks were collected from different villages of Netrokona and Mymensingh districts of Bangladesh and autopsied to collect the parasites and counted to determine the population density of parasites. Off 300 ducks examined, 290 (96.66%) were infected with 17 species of helminth parasites in which 11 species were trematodes, 4 were cestodes and 2 nematodes. Among the parasites, density of cestodes was the highest (33.15±5.26), followed by trematodes (5.98±1.32); and nematodes (2.95±0.68). Mean density of parasites increased with the increase of age (young: 21.23±1.09, adult: 26.18±2.14 and old: 27.87±2.98) while the mean density of most of the helminth parasites was higher in female ducks (31.35±4.72) than in males (27.52±3.32). Indigenous ducks (33.72±3.61) were infected with the highest load of helminths than Khaki Campbell breed (29.61±4.32) of ducks. Mean density of most trematodes (5.42±0.80) were highest in winter season whereas mean density of all cestodes (48.43±4.85) and nematodes (4.13±1.76) were highest in summer. The present study suggests that age, sex, breed of ducks and seasons of the year influence the parasitic infection to a greater extend. Key words: Population density, helminths, duck, Bangladesh INTRODUCTIONThe duck fulfill a great proportion of protein deficiency in people of Bangladesh in the form of meat and eggs and also acts as a tool of poverty alleviation in Bangladesh. Ducks contribute 1642 million eggs and 163 million ton meat per year (1999)(2000) in our country (Anon, 2001). Although geographical location, sub-tropical climatic condition of Bangladesh is suitable for duck habitation and her water lodged and low-lying areas are also favorable for duck rearing, but this environment also favors the growth, multiplication, development, survival and spread of the parasites. As a result, almost all of the ducks suffer from parasitic diseases (Farjana et al., 2004) which affect the growth and production performance of ducks in Bangladesh (Anisuzzaman et al., 2005). The system of management, the nutritional status, the ecology of the parasites and their host-parasite relationship exert significant effect on the occurrence of the helminth infection in ducks. Ahmed (1969), Fariduddin (1975, Qadir (1979) and Islam et al. (1988) have undertaken a number of studies on parasitism in ducks of Bangladesh. But the population density of helminths of ducks in relation to their age, sex, breed and season of the year in Bangladesh was not studied yet clearly. So, the present study was designed with a view to find out the effect of the age, sex, breed of ducks and seasons of the year on the population density of helminth parasites in ducks.

In vitro efficacy of five indigenous plants namely Bishkatali (Polygonum hydropiper), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Papaya (Carica papaya), Korolla (Momordica charantia) and Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) were studied against the development of Ascaridia galli eggs from July 2007 to May 2008. Fresh juice, extracts and dust of leaves were tested. Fresh juice of leaves were trialed at 5%, 10% and 20% concentrations; aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts were used at 1%, 2% and 4% concentrations and dusts of leaves were applied at 10% and 20% concentration. Among the trials, 4% of methanol extracts of papaya showed the highest efficacy (92.86%) followed by 4% ethanol extract of papaya (92%). Among the selected plants and in all three concentrations of fresh juice of leave, Bishkatali (88.46% at 20% conc.) was the highest effective plant against the development of A. galli eggs. Papaya showed the highest efficacy (71.42%) in 1% aqueous solution, but bishkatali was found as the best (73.33% and 83.33% respectively) in 2% and 4% concentration of ethanol extract of the five selected plants. In vitro screening of 5 plants with ethanol extract revealed that papaya was the highest efficacious plant (92% at 4% conc.) against development of A. galli eggs. Among the plants, in all concentrations of methanol extract of leaves, papaya was observed as best plant (92.86%, 88% and 78.95% at 4%, 2% and 1% of conc. respectively) followed by bishkatali (80% and 75% at 4% and 2% of conc. respectively) and neem (78.57% and 73.08% at 4% and 2% conc. respectively). In two concentrations of dust of leaves, bishkatali was observed as the effective plant (75% at 20% and 73.33% at 10% conc.) among the five plants. The present study suggests that dust of bishkatali leaves can be used with litter for inhibition of development of A. galli eggs and fresh juice and extract of bishkatali, neem and papaya may be impregnated in litter and used after sun dry.

A research work was conducted to observe the beel management of the Dhaka beel situated in Tangail district, Bangladesh. Data were collected through questionnaire survey, discussion and interviewing. Dhaka beel is a 13ha semi-enclosed beel brought under the nursery management project in 2010. The beel was stocked with approximately 100000 fish larvae of 4 days old during May to June. After 60 days of proper management the stocked larvae were sampled and 70,000 of fry were obtained. In the studied beel the annual production was 2.4 mt in 2009 where beel nursery management has increased the production to 7.10 mt in 2010 which also included several non-stocked indigenous fish species. Socio-economic conditions of people were also improved where 80% of the people believed that it was true. Beel management has played an important role to minimize the rapid reduction of many important indigenous species through four to five months of management where fishes got the chance of recruitment. Management, guarding, harvesting, and income were equally shared among the group members. Findings of the present study suggest that beel nursery management can be an excellent scope for improvement of fish production and socio-economic status of the adjacent people.

In vitro efficacy of neem (Azadirachta indica), bishkatali (Polygonum hydropiper), ata (Annona retirulata), sharifa (A. squamosa) and durba ghas (Cynodon dactylon) against Boophilus microplus (tropical cattle tick) was tested during the period from July to December 2004 in the Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. To prepare the paste, aqueous and ethanol extracts, the leaves of neem, bishkatali, ata, sharifa and leaves along with stem of durba ghas were used. Three different types of preparation of plant materials such as paste, aqueous extracts and ethanol extracts were applied in three methods such as thin layer of paste, as spray and as impregnated filter paper (IFP). Extracts were used in 0.5%, 1 % and 2% concentrations and the percent mortality of the ticks were recorded at 12, 24 and 72 hours after treatment. Among them, ethanol extract of ata at 2% concentration showed highest efficacy (100%) followed by aqueous extract of bishkatali (93.33%) at same concentrations and ethanol extract of ata (93.33%) at 1% concentration in spray on method. Among the various methods of application "spray on" method was found to be most effective followed by paste and impregnated filter paper. On the other hand, among the preparations ethanol extract was found to be more efficacious incase of ata plant only. From the study, it is revealed that ata and bishkatali have great acaricidal value against B. microplus.

pressure (MAP), heart rate and 6 min walk distance (6MWT). Based on the change in PWV in hypertensive patients, progressors were defined as individuals with >0.5 m/s PWV increase, over 2 years. 2Results Thus far 200 patients with COPD have completed the 2 year follow-up assessment. At baseline the progressor and nonprogressor were similar in age, gender, BMI, heart rate and 6 MWT. However the progressors had greater airways obstruction, and lower mean arterial pressure and aPWV (Table 1) Conclusions Almost half of the ARCADE subjects with COPD had a significant increase of PWV, the clinical relevance requires investigation using longer-term outcome data. The identification of CV risk phenotypes in COPD and the underlying pathophysiology may help identify novel therapeutic targets and improve CV outcomes for patients.Thank you to all our volunteers and GlaxoSmithKline who funded ARCADE NCT01656421 -2014-206260.439 Introduction The recognised link between plasma nitrite levels and exercise performance suggests a role for the nitrate-nitritenitric oxide pathway in facilitating exercise. Research in healthy individuals has demonstrated a reduction in the oxygen cost of exercise at submaximal workloads following nitrate supplementation. Dietary nitrate administration has been associated with reductions in blood pressure and augmented exercise performance. The effect of acute nitrate dosing on performance and metabolic parameters during cardiopulmonary exercise testing in COPD has not previously been investigated. Objectives To investigate the hypotheses that acute nitrate dosing would improve exercise performance, reduce the oxygen cost of submaximal exercise performance and lower arterial blood pressure in COPD patients (GOLD stage II-IV). Methods We performed a randomised, double-blind, placebocontrolled cross-over study comparing the effect of 140 ml of beetroot juice (containing 12.9 mmol nitrate) with a matched placebo of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice in COPD patients not receiving oral nitrates. Subjects were randomised to consume beetroot juice (BR) or placebo (PL) 3 h prior to endurance cycle ergometry, performed at 70% maximal workload assessed by a baseline incremental maximal, symptom-limited test. Blood pressure measurements were taken at baseline and immediately prior to the exercise test. After a washout period of a minimum of 7 days the protocol was repeated with the crossover beverage. Results 25 COPD patients were recruited of whom 21 successfully completed the study (age 68 ± 7 years; BMI 25.2 ± 5.5 kg/m 2 ; FEV 1 percentage predicted 50.1 ± 21.6%; peak VO 2 during incremental cycle ergometry 18.0 ± 5.9 ml/min/kg). Diastolic blood pressure was significantly lowered by nitrate supplementation (-6.9 ± 7.8 BR vs. -1.4 ± 8.4 mmHg PL, p = 0.008). Nitrate supplementation significantly reduced oxygen consumption during equivalent isotime exercise (60-70% isotime 16.6 ± 5.6 BR vs. 17.1 ± 5.9 ml/min/kg PL, p = 0.017; 70-80% isotime 16.7 ± 5.7 BR vs. 17.2 ± 5.5 ml/min/kg PL, p = 0.010; 80-90% isotime 16...