Journal of Basic and Applied Research International

Histopathological and Morphometric Evidence of Cadmium-induced Testicular Damage in Syrian Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Ravikash Maurya, Jitendra Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Satyendra Kumar Verma — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cadmium (Cd) is a persistent environmental pollutant known to impair male reproductive function following bioaccumulation. This study evaluated the histopathological and morphometric effects of acute cadmium exposure on the testes of adult Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Animals (n = 5 per group, with each group assessed in triplicate) received intraperitoneal cadmium chloride at 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg/kg body weight for 10 consecutive days; control animals received saline. Histological examination revealed dose-dependent seminiferous tubule degeneration, pyknotic nuclei, germ-cell exfoliation, luminal cellular debris, widening of the interstitial spaces, epithelial thinning, and reduced luminal spermatozoal density, with the most severe changes observed at 2.0 mg/kg. Morphometric analysis using ImageJ corroborated these findings: seminiferous tubule area decreased from 579,418.6 ± 35,325.6 µm² in the control group to 389,477.6 ± 53,283.5 and 294,111.8 ± 52,149.5 µm² in the low- and high-dose groups, respectively (P < 0.05); tubule diameter decreased from 889.2 ± 62.8 to 615.2 ± 68.0 µm, and epithelial height decreased from 292.2 ± 49.6 to 140.0 ± 25.5 µm, with significant reductions only at the high dose; the spermatogonia count decreased from 381.4 ± 21.1 to 249.4 ± 31.6, 226.8 ± 22.3, and 140.2 ± 25.3 across the treated groups (P < 0.05). These findings indicate progressive, dose-related disruption of testicular architecture and spermatogenesis and support the suitability of the Syrian golden hamster as a model for heavy-metal-induced reproductive toxicity.

Effects of Feeding System (Pelleted Diet vs. Forage-based diet) on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus)

K. J. B. Alla, Y. M. Yapi, K. S. Kouadio, M. Kimsé, D. Soro — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: To evaluate the effects of a pelleted diet, compared with a forage-based diet supplemented with concentrate, on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and technological properties of meat in captive grasscutters.

Study Design: Completely randomised controlled feeding trial.

Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Animal Science and Animal Production, Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY National Polytechnic Institute, Yamoussoukro, between September 2018 and January 2019.

Methodology: Eighteen weaned male grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus; 45 ± 7 days old; 528 ± 190g) were randomly assigned to a pelleted diet (growing: 19% ADF; finishing: 17% ADF) or a forage-based diet supplemented with concentrate (n = 9 per treatment). Animals were reared individually until six months of age. Growth performance, carcass traits, and technological properties of meat were assessed after slaughter.

Results: Grasscutters fed the pelleted diet had a significantly higher final body weight (2,693g), exceeding that of the forage-fed group by 968g, and a greater average daily gain during the finishing phase (17g/day; P = .01). The pelleted diet significantly increased hot (2,172g), chilled (2,155g), and commercial carcass weights (2,109g) (P ≤ .002), as well as the weights of the forequarter (506g), loin (444g), and hindquarter (833g) (P < .001). Dressing percentage (80.7%), net carcass yield (92.3%), commercial carcass yield (78.4%), meat proportion (92.0%; P = .04), and muscle-to-bone ratio (11.7; P = .02) were also higher, whereas cooking loss was lower (15.4%; P = .03).

Conclusion: A complete pelleted diet improved growth performance, carcass traits, and technological properties of meat in growing grasscutters. This feeding strategy could shorten the fattening period and improve the productivity of grasscutter farming systems.

In vitro Antagonistic Efficacy of Trichoderma viride Culture Filtrates Against Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., the Causal Agent of Groundnut Stem Rot

K. Balamurugan, K. Vigneshwaran, R. Livitha — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed crop, but its productivity is affected by stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. Biological control using antagonistic fungi offers a potential approach for reducing dependence on chemical disease management. The present study evaluated the in vitro inhibitory activity of cell-free culture filtrates from ten native isolates of Trichoderma viride against S. rolfsii. The pathogen was isolated from infected groundnut stem tissues and identified based on colony morphology and sclerotial characteristics. T. viride isolates were obtained from rhizosphere soil samples and maintained as Tv₁ to Tv₁₀. Culture filtrates were prepared from 10-day-old potato dextrose broth cultures and incorporated into potato dextrose agar at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% concentrations using the poisoned food technique. All isolates reduced radial mycelial growth of S. rolfsii compared with the control and inhibition generally increased with filtrate concentration. Among the isolates tested, Tv₄ showed the greatest inhibitory effect, restricting pathogen growth to 27.79 mm, 19.56 mm, 12.26 mm and 0.00 mm at 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% concentrations, respectively. Complete inhibition was observed with Tv₄ at a 40% concentration. Tv₆, Tv₇ and Tv₈ also showed high inhibition at the highest concentration. These results indicate that T. viride culture filtrates can suppress S. rolfsii growth under in vitro conditions.

Parenting Stress and Psychological Health among Staff Nurses in Selected Hospitals of Sasaram, Bihar: A Descriptive-correlational Study

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Staff nurses who are parents must balance demanding clinical responsibilities with childcare and family roles, which may contribute to parenting stress and psychological distress. This study assessed parenting stress and psychological health and examined the relationship between them among staff nurses working in selected hospitals of Sasaram, Bihar. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was used, involving 100 married staff nurses with at least one child who were selected through non-probability sampling. Data were collected using a socio-demographic proforma, the 18-item Parental Stress Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and chi-square tests. Moderate parenting stress was reported by 64% of participants, while 18% had low and 18% had high parenting stress; the mean score was 56.82 ± 11.34. Mild psychological distress was observed in 47%, moderate distress in 25%, severe distress in 7%, and good psychological health in 21%; the mean GHQ-28 score was 12.76 ± 4.95. Parenting stress was positively correlated with psychological distress (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). Age, number of children, family type, and duty pattern were significantly associated with both outcomes. The findings indicate a need for counselling, stress-management support, family-friendly scheduling, and workplace measures that promote psychological wellbeing among parent nurses.