The Impact of Melaka as a UNESCO World Heritage Tourist Area on the Motivations

Malays will not disappear from the world." The oath of Admiral Hang Tuah in the 15th century seemed to have received his "luck". When UNESCO designated Bandaraya Melaka as a World Heritage City on July 7, 2008, The aim of this research is to determine what factors influence the motivation of tourists visiting the Old City area of Bandaraya Melaka. The research methodology uses quantitative descriptive analysis with a sample size of 37 people. Variable (X1): psychological motivation has no effect on tourist motivation (Y), cultural motivation variable (X2) has no effect on tourist motivation (Y), social motivation variable (X3) has an effect on tourist motivation (Y), and fantasy motivation variable (X4) has an effect on tourist motivation (Y). The R2 value is 0.682, meaning that the influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable is 68.2%. While the remaining 31.8%, other variables amounting to 31.8 percent could be from medical treatment, costs, and travel services, which were not examined in this research.

Sero-Epidemiology and Molecular Typing of Bluetongue Virus Orbivirus in Sheep and Goats in Khyberpakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan

Bluetongue virus (BTV), a member of Orbivirus genus (family Reoviridae), is a non-contagious infection of domestic and wild ruminants. BTV infection is an emerging hazard in small ruminants having socio-economic impacts on animals and associated people. The disease dynamics and its potential determinants are not yet studied in Pakistan. Keeping in view the importance of this disease, the sero-epidemiology of BT infection in various areas of KPK province of Pakistan was focused. Moreover, very few data is available in Pakistan on the prevailing serotypes based on the antigen antibody reaction. Molecular typing is sensitive as well as specific method to detect prevailing and novel serotypes of BTV in KPK province of Pakistan. Furthermore, the bluetongue virus infection has quite wide pathophysiological characteristics in small ruminants. BTV infection is responsible for the functional affection in various organ systems like respiratory, hepatobiliary and spleen. Keeping in view the importance of BTV in terms of its significance in creating wide range of pathologies in the animal host, this phase was focused on the evaluation of CBC, LFT and RFT in small ruminants. A total of n=408 sera originating from sheep (n=212) and goats (n=196) were randomly collected for detection of BTV group specific antibodies through competitive ELISA (c-ELISA). Univariable and multiple logistic regressions were applied to assess the potential risk factors responsible for the occurrence of this disease. Results showed an overall prevalence of 50.00% (CI=44.17–54.83) of BTV in both sheep and goats with a significant difference (p < 0.05) among different districts. The prevalence of BTV in sheep was found higher (56.60%, CI=49.6–63.4) than goats (42.86%, CI=35.8–50.1). The risk factors identified based on chi-square test were; 1–2 year of animals, herd size and location in sheep while, milking status, ticks infestation, location and herd size for goats (p < 0.05). On the basis of univariable analysis, 1–2 year of animals, and location for sheep while, ticks infestation and location for goats (OR > 1). Multiple logistic regressions conferred only herd size and location as potential risk factors (OR > 1) for BTV in sheep and goats. The study concluded higher prevalence of BTV in sheep than the goats, the risk factors were significantly associated with the occurrence of disease, and together ascertaining the needs to design appropriate disease management and control strategies in sheep and goats. A total of 408 serum samples of four districts (Mansehra, Abbottabad, Swabi, and Kohat) of KPK from small ruminants were screened based on competitive ELISA (cELISA); 204 (50%) were found positive for BTV group specific antibodies and those samples were processed for detection of BTV serotypes through real time polymerase chain reaction. Out of 204 cELISA positive samples; 60 (29.41%) were found positive through qPCR. Three serotypes [6, 8, 9] were detected from district Mansehra, two from Kohat [2, 8] and Abbotabad [6, 8], while only one from Swabi [8]. The serotype ‘8’ was found consistently from all the four study districts. A significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) was recorded in goats whereas, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) in sheep infected with BTV, compared to healthy animals. The hematological parameters showed significantly (p<0.05) raised Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) in both sheep and goats, whereas, only Hematocrit (HCT) value were increased significantly (p<0.05) in infected sheep. This is the first report on serotyping of BTV among small ruminants from KPK province of Pakistan. Data regarding seroepidemiology and molecular typing were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square (χ2) test while risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression using SPSS version 20. The P value less than 0.05 and odd ratio (OR>1) were considered significant. The data regarding hemato-biochemical study was analyzed by student t-test using SPSS version 22. The P value less than 0.05 were considered significant