Frequency of Conjunctivitis among Farmers of District Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan Conjuntivitis among farmers of Vehari

Conjunctivitis is a globally prevalent ocular and/eye infection. The basic motivation of the current study may be traced back to the association of conjunctivitis with unhygienic situations and sunlight exposure. The daily routine of farmers, overwhelming poverty, and illiteracy ratio may have further enhanced the incidence ratio of conjunctivitis. The ocular infection and/or conjunctivitis is caused by various pathogens, if not managed properly and appropriately may lead to corneal perforation or blindness. Objective: The study has been designed to find out the prevalence of various pathogenic and allergic conjunctivitis among farmers in the district Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: It was a community-based and cross-sectional descriptive studyfrom October- November 2019. The study involved the quantitative analytical method. Anterior segments of eyes followed by posterior segments were examined by using an ophthalmoscope and torchlight for the diagnosisof conjunctivitis. Data on pathogenic and allergic conjunctiva was collected. Result: Our study indicated that 33(16.5%) farmers were found with the symptoms ascertained with conjunctivitis. Among the studied subjects, 29(14.5%) and 4(2%) farmers were found with bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, respectively. As far as the tendency of seeking medical help and ophthalmic consultation is concerned, 31(15.5%) and 19(9.5%) patients preferred to get examined by an eye specialist and traditional treatment, respectively. However, 150(75%) patients neglected to seek any medical aid. It was found 27 (13.5%), and 55 (27.5%) farmers were using glasses and traditional eye protective measures, respectively. However, almost sixty percent 118(59%) of farmers were not using any type of eye-protective measures. It was found that 59%, 30%, and 11% farmer population was exposed to sunlight for almost six, four, and two hours, respectively on daily basis. Conclusions: The use of prevalent traditional protective measures and lack of treatment or medical aid seeking trendby farmers has been found responsible for the high incidence of bacterial conjunctivitis. Moreover, long working hours and sunlight exposure alongwith the predominant unhygienic conditions may further quadruple the frequency of viral and bacterial conjunctivitis. The high prevalence ratio of conjunctivitis, eye infections, and ocular injuries highlight the need of observing universal eye safety and precautionary measures. Keeping in view the downtrodden economic conditions of the farmers and agriculturalists in the country and the financial repercussions associated with the infection, a state-ownedmedical awareness and relief process must be ensured and encouraged for the Pakistani community.

Partial Replacement of Fish Meal With Sunflower Meal in Labeo Rohitta Diet Through Acidification and Phytase Supplementation

Labeo rohita (Rohu) is one of the commercially important carp of south Asia due to its consumer’s preference. It is being traditionally cultured extensively and semi-intensively under poly and composite culture systems. Efforts are always required to introduce it in intensive culture system to achieve highest productivity. The byproducts of plant sources such as cotton seed meal, sunflower meal and corn gluten have great potential to replace expensive fish meal. The presence of antinutritional factors in these by- products chelates with nutrients which ultimately make them unavailable to the agastric and monogastric animals like fishes. The availability of nutrients of byproducts can be increased by acidification and supplementation with microbial enzymes. This present project was planned with the objective to replace the fish meal by sunflower meal in the diets of Labeo rohita. Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets containing different levels of fish meal and sunflower meal percentage were prepared. These diets were further supplemented with three levels of microbial phytase and citric acid each in 4×3×3 factorial experiment. This experiment was conducted in Fish Nutrition Laboratory and diets were fed to L. rohita till satiation. The samples of diets, feces and whole body were processed for various minerals and proximate analyses. Fish growth parameters such as weight gain, FCR, FCE, SGR and digestibility of nutrients were determined and compared statistically to reach to certain conclusions. The partial replacement of fish meal by sunflower meal negatively affected the growth of fish (weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion rate). The supplementation of 1000 FTU/kg phytase and 3% citric acid in diets significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) the growth parameters (weight gain, FCR, specific growth rate), apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, gross energy and minerals (Na, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, P). The significant improvement was observed in the dry matter, protein, fat, energy and ash contents of whole body of L. rohita. The interaction of citric acid and phytase significantly (p<0.05) affected the body composition of rohu. The cost benefit analysis revealed that 13 % fish meal based diet was economically feasible and the farmers could overcome the financial challenges by lowering the feed cost and it will also contribute in the sustainability of aquaculture.