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Surface measurements of O 3 , NO, NO 2 and NO x have been made over a semi-arid rural site, Anantapur (14.62°N; 77.65°E; 331 m asl) in southern India, during January-December 2010. The highest monthly mean O 3 concentration was observed in April (56.1 ± 9.9 ppbv) and the lowest in August (28.5 ± 7.4), with an annual mean of 40.7 ± 8.7 ppbv for the observation period. Seasonal variations in O 3 concentrations were the highest during the summer (70.2 ± 6.9 ppbv), and lowest during the monsoon season (20.0 ± 4.7 ppbv), with an annual mean of 40.7 ± 8.7 ppbv. In contrast, higher NO x values appeared in the winter (12.8 ± 0.8 ppbv) followed by the summer season (10.9 ± 0.7 ppbv), while lower values appeared in the monsoon season (3.7 ± 0.5 ppbv). The results for O 3 , NO and NO 2 indicate that the level of oxidant concentration ([OX] = NO 2 + O 3 ) at a given location is the sum of NO x -independent "regional contribution" (background level of O 3 ) and linearly NO x -dependent "local contribution". The O 3 concentration shows a significant positive correlation with temperature, and a negative correlation with both wind speed and relative humidity. In contrast, NO x have a significant positive correlation with humidity and wind speed, and negative correlation with temperature. The slope between [BC] and [O 3 ] suggests that every 1 μg/m 3 increase in black carbon aerosol mass concentration causes a reduction of 4.7 μg/m 3 in the surface ozone concentration. A comparative study using satellite data shows that annual mean values of tropospheric ozone contributes 12% of total ozone, while near surface ozone contributes 82% of tropospheric ozone. The monthly mean variation of tropospheric ozone is similar to that tropospheric NO 2 , with a correlation coefficient of +0.80.

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The life-cycle of Procerovum varium (Digenea: Haplorchiinae) was studied experimentally and the morphology of stages in the life-cycle has been described and illustrated. Infections with adult flukes were found in the pond heron Ardeola grayii and heavy infections with metacercariae were found, attached to the liver of the fish Oryzias melastigma (Oryziatidae) occurring in a freshwater stream situated in Visakhapatnam, India. The cercariae developing in the snail Thiara tuberculata possessed typical haplorchiine features and were characterised by the presence of numerous cystogenous glands. Early stages of metacercarial development occurred free in the muscles of the fish intermediate host. The larvae reached the liver at 5 days post-infection, encystment commenced 2 days later and 15-day-old metacercariae were found to be infective to chicks, ducks and mice that served as suitable experimental hosts. The adult flukes obtained from natural and experimental infections showed many intraspecific variations, especially in the size and shape of the expulsor which depend on the quantity of sperm it contains. The validity of various species described in the genus and differentiated on the basis of differences in the size of the expulsor has been examined. It is concluded that only three species of the genus, namely P. varium, P. cheni and P. calderoni, are valid. "P. sisonli" of Chen (1949) is confirmed as a synonym of P. varium. P. varium is reported for the first time from India.

The life cycle of the heterophyid fluke, Haplorchis pumilio is elucidated for the first time from the Indian region. Various stages in the life cycle were established based on observations made on natural infections found in snails and fish in a freshwater stream at Visakhapatnam, India and experimental infections carried out in the laboratory. The thiarid snail, Thiara tuberculata served as the first intermediate host and a wide range of freshwater fish as second intermediate hosts. Natural infections with adult flukes were found in the piscivorous birds Ardeola grayii and Bubulcus ibis. Adults were raised experimentally in day-old chicks. Distinguishing features of the cercaria of H. pumilio are: a large body size (200-224 x 92-96 micro m), body-tail ratio of 1:2.1 and densely distributed pigment granules in the parenchyma imparting a brownish tinge to the body. Natural infections with metacercariae were found in the freshwater fish Channa punctatus, C. orientalis, Puntius sophore, Gambusia affinis and fingerlings of Cyprinus carpio and Liza macrolepis. Additionally, experimental infections were established in Therapon jarbua, Esomus danricus and Oreochromis mossambica. Metacercariae were embedded in the caudal muscles of fish and heavy infections induced mortality. Metacercariae were infective at about 15 days of age.