The study was carried out to know the effects of probiotics (Protexin® Boost) supplementation on growth performances and haemato-biochemical parameters of "Shaver Star Bro" broiler chickens during the period from September to October 2003. A total of 20, day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned into four equal groups (n = 5) as A, B, C and D. Group A was considered as control fed with commercial ration while group B, C and D were fed with commercial ration with the addition of 1 g, 2 g and 3 g probiotics / 10 litres drinking water respectively up to 35 days of age. The results showed that the body weight gains corresponding to the different treatments were differed significantly (p < 0.01) at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks of age. The meat yield characteristics corresponding to the different treatments did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) whereas bursa weight differed significantly (p < 0.05) among the different groups. The mean values of Hb, PCV and ESR corresponding to the different treatments were significantly (p < 0.01) differ. Triglycerides, HDL, LDL, SGPT and SGOT values corresponding to the different treatments were also differed significantly (p < 0.01). The findings suggest that supplementation of probiotics has significant effects on live weight gain and haemato-biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Key words: Probiotics; effects; growth; haemato-biochemical parameters; broiler chickens doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v2i1.1933 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (1) : 39-43

Background: The non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and asthma are emerging as a major health problem in Bangladesh. Recently, these are given high research priority by the Government of Bangladesh. The prevalence of hypertension is increasing rapidly, but there is no current study on prevalence of hypertension in rural population of Bangladesh. There are some studies conducted on prevalence of hypertension from mid 70's to late 90's. Those studies showed the prevalence of hypertension is increasing significantly in both urban and rural population. In rural population the prevalence of hypertension was in 23.6%1 . After that there is no population based study was conducted on prevalence of hypertension in rural population of Bangladesh. Methods:We measured blood pressure, body weight and height of 532 individuals at and above the age of 20 years (age range 20-70 years) of both sexes accept pregnant and those who were under medication of hypertension. We collected information about smoking, family history of hypertension, status of physical activity, diabetes, annual income etc. Result:The overall prevalence rate of hypertension was 30.64% (male 31.53% and female 29.36%). In the study, the blood pressure was measured in all study subjects. The mean blood pressure was higher in hypertensive participants than that of non hypertensive. The prevalence of hypertension (30.64%) observed in this study was higher than the previous study. In this study showed that with the increasing age more the prevalence of hypertension. The similar funding also observed in recent Indian study. Our study showed that the hypertension prevalence was high among people with high BMI and obesity, positive family history, smoking and less physical activity. Conclusion:The prevalence of hypertension in the rural population was found to be on the increased compare to previous reports of Bangladesh and other Asian studies. Advanced age, obesity, higher incomes, family history of hypertension, smoking and reduced physical activity were proved significant risk factors for hypertension, whereas, sex, occupation, showed no association with hypertension.

The growth performance of Scenedesmus obliquus was studied in the laboratory in different concentration of sweetmeat factory waste media (SFWM). Four different concentrations viz. 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0% of SFWM and Bold basal medium (BBM) as control was used with three replications for a period of three months. Each trial was done for a period of 14 days in the laboratory. The initial density of Scenedesmus obliquus was 2.1×105 cell/ml which attained a maximum density of 136.30×105 cell/ml in BBM followed by 97.05, 83.21, 65.19 and 51.21 (×105 cell/ml) in 2.5, 0.3, 2.0 and 1.5 % SFWM respectively on the 10th day of culture. Highest chlorophyll a content was also observed on the 10th day of culture with value of 6.14 and 5.52 mg/l in BBM and SFWM, respectively. The specific growth rate (SGR, m/day) and total biomass were significantly (P<0.05) higher in BBM than all other treatments. The overall growth performance of the alga Scenedesmus obliquus was significantly (P<0.05) higher in 2.5% SFWM than other concentrations of SFWM. The cultured microalgae were found nutritionally rich. During the whole culture period the pH range was 7.03 to 8.05. The other physico-chemical parameters of the culture media were found within the suitable range of the microalgae culture. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v37i1.9874 BJAS 2008; 37(1): 86-93

Seasonal influence on the occurrence of Haemonchus contortus parasite was studied on 672 slaughtered Black Bengal goats during one year period from July 2002 to June 2003. An overall 65.63% goats had H. contortus infection and significantly (p < 0.01) higher infection rate was recorded in female (70.43%) than male (58.61%) goats. A positive correlation between the occurrence of H. contortus infection and climatic factors was recorded. Significantly (p < 0.01) highest infection rate of H. contortus was recorded during rainy (72.57 %) season in comparison to summer (66.46%) and winter (51.54%) seasons. The infection was recorded at the peak in July (84.42%) and lowest in January (46.15%). The load of H. contortus per abomasum varied significantly (p < 0.05) in different months of the year and an average maximum number of parasites per abomasum was recorded in July (41.25) and the minimum in March (5.52). In case of sex ratio of the parasites always the female (60.73%) were found to be dominated over the males (39.27%) parasites.     Key words: Seasonal influence; Haemonchus contortus; Black Bengal goat; Bangladesh DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v1i1.1917 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2003). 1(1) : 45 - 48

The focus of this research was to analyze the yield, physico-chemical and nutritional quality of a cabinet dried tomato powder as affected by three (3) chemical treatments (KMS, CaCl2 and both). Dehydration process was carried out using a cabinet dryer at a constant air flow velocity of 0.7 m/s and air temperature in the range of 60-65oC based on preliminary tests by dipping in 0.2% (w/w) potassium metabisulphite (T1) and 1% (w/w) calcium chloride (T2) independently and 1% (w/w) calcium chloride (CaCl2) along with 0.2% (w/w) potassium metabisulphite (KMS) in water solution (T3) for 10 minutes. The effect of 3 pre-drying treatments on quality of cabinet dried tomato powder was analyzed by determining moisture content, rehydration ratio, total sugar, total acidity, fat, protein, ash, crude fiber, pH, total caroteniods, vitamin-C, minerals (calcium, iron, phosphorus) and sensory analysis. The results expressed that the treatment T3 achieved the highest yield of tomato powder (4.6 g/100 g). The control sample showed highest moisture content (6.9 g/100 g) and dipping in 1% CaCl2 along with 0.2% KMS presented the lowest moisture content (5.9 g/100 g). Sample T3 showed highest total sugar content (49.1 g/100 g). The study also depicted that the total carotenoids content in tomato powder was 0.21 mg/100 g which was lower than that of fresh tomato (2.1 mg/100 g). Micronutrients such as vitamin-C, Calcium, phosphorus and iron were found to be 35.30 mg/100 g, 336.72 mg/100 g, 105 mg/100g and 12.23 mg/100 g, respectively in case for T3 sample. Sensory analysis (color, texture, flavor and overall acceptability) of tomato powder was carried out by trained and untrained panelists and their interpretation was done by using statistical ANOVA Test. There was no significant difference between control and treated samples regarding to their texture, flavor and overall acceptability but significant difference was observed in case of color. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11590 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 253-265, 2012