The present study was designed to elaborate on the morphometry of the skull of non-descript goats in Mizoram state of India. The study was conducted on the skull of twelve (n=12) adult goats of either sex (n=6 males and n=6 females) collected from the local slaughterhouses. Altogether, forty-one different measurements were taken morphologically. In the present study, the cranial and facial bones were the major components of the skull with a total of thirty-two bones. There were three single and four paired cranial bones with a total of eleven bones. There were one single and the rest were paired facial bones with a total of twenty-one bones. The cranial bones were occipital, parietal, interparietal, sphenoid, ethmoid, frontal and temporal. The facial bones were maxilla, premaxilla (incisive), palatine, pterygoid, nasal, lacrimal, zygomatic (malar), vomer, turbinate, mandible and hyoid. The skull measurements showed that the skull of the goat was elongated and dolichocephalic as per the cephalic index (47.82±0.05). The length and width of the skull was 19.28±0.03 cm and 9.22±0.04 cm, respectively. There were two supraorbital foramina on both sides of the frontal bone. The prominent facial tuberosity lies dorsally to the third superior premolar tooth. Single infraorbital foramen was located dorsally to the junction of the first and second superior premolar teeth on maxilla bone. The orbits were round and complete and situated on a frontolateral oblique plane. It can be concluded that the findings of this study would assist the comparative studies with other domesticated animals in the future and would be applicable in clinical veterinary practice and even in zooarchaeology.

No abstract

Since commencement of COVID-19 pandemic, several SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged amid containment efforts via vaccination. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2), discovered in October 2020, was designated as a VOC by the WHO on May 11, 2021. The enhanced transmissibility of Delta variant has been associated with critical mutations such as D614G, L452R, P681R, and T478K in the S-protein. The increased affinity of the S-protein and ACE2 has been postulated as a key reason for decreased vaccine efficacy. As per evidence, the Delta variant possesses increased transmissibility and decreased vaccine efficacy compared to other VOCs like Alpha and Beta. This has led to concerns regarding the acquisition of novel mutations in the Delta variant and outbreaks in vulnerable communities, including vaccinated people. In this mini-review of Delta variant, we have explained its evolution and characteristics, the impact of spike mutations on infectivity and immune evasion, and measures to combat future outbreaks.

No abstract