Biology subjects

Rabbi, M. R. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Rabbi, M. R. R..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Cat Owners Towards Flea Infestation and Flea-Borne Diseases (FBDs) in Selected Regions of Bangladesh

Background: Flea infestation is an important companion-animal health problem and a prime source of zoonotic exposure. However, information on cat owners awareness and preventive behavior regarding fleas and flea-borne diseases (FBDs) in Bangladesh is limited. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of cat owners regarding flea infestation and flea-borne diseases in selected areas of central Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2025 to July 2026 among 238 cat owners attending veterinary clinics in Savar, Dhamrai and Manikganj Upazila. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire covering respondent characteristics, flea biology and transmission, perceived risks, and flea-prevention and control practices. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings, and respondents were classified according to their overall KAP scores. Results: Of the respondents, 47.1% owned cats with outdoor access and 77.7% reported that their pets had previously experienced flea infestation. Although 65.5% used flea-control treatments, awareness of zoonotic and disease-transmission risks was limited. Only 14.7% recognized that fleas can parasitize humans, while 17.6% knew that fleas can transmit infectious agents. Overall, 83.2% of respondents had poor knowledge, whereas 69.7% demonstrated moderate attitudes and 63.9% showed moderate practices. Good knowledge and good practice were uncommon, accounting for only 3.8% and 4.6% of respondents, respectively. Veterinary recommendation was the most frequently reported motivation for using flea-control products. Conclusions: Cat owners attending in the surveyed areas frequently reported flea exposure and treatment use, but substantial gaps remained in their understanding of flea biology, zoonotic potential and comprehensive control. Targeted veterinary education emphasizing routine prevention, treatment of all susceptible household animals and environmental management is needed. These findings provide regional baseline evidence and should not be interpreted as nationally representative. Keywords: Bangladesh; cat owners; ectoparasites; flea-borne diseases; flea control; knowledge, attitudes and practices; One Health.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2026

First report on Chicken Pediculosis in Modern Battery-Cage Layer Farms in Bangladesh: Behavioral, Pathological and Production Performance Impacts

The recent shift in Bangladesh from tradition backyard rearing system to modern commercial layer farming has made the birds immune to infectious diseases. Pediculosis, however, continues to pose a challenge in modern production system due to its invasive nature, often going unnoticed and neglected as it is typically non-lethal, yet capable of causing significant production losses. Lice infestation is a persistent threat in poultry production; however, its implications in battery-caged commercial layer hens in Bangladesh remain insufficiently characterized. The study aimed to identify the causative louse species and evaluate its associations with clinical pathology, hematological alteration and productive performance in 30 white-feathered (15 infested + 15 non-infested) and 30 brown-feathered (15 infested + 15 non-infested) laying birds from two commercial farms in Tangail. Morphological characterization confirmed the parasite as Menacanthus stamineus, distinguished by a dorsoventrally flattened body, parabolicallly rounded head wider than long, concealed club-shaped antennae, an oblong-oval abdomen with fine setae and three pairs of short legs each bearing paired claws. Infested birds exhibited consistent clinical pathology, including pale combs, petechial hemorrhages around the vent, severe feather damage with alopecic and exudative areas and incidence of irregular and broken-shelled eggs. Production performance analysis revealed significant reduction in hen-day egg production, egg weight, and feed intake, accompanied by significantly increased feed conversion ratios. Hematological evaluation demonstrated significantly reduced hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and erythrocyte counts in infested hens, indicating mild anemia and compromised oxygen-carrying capacity. Collectively, pediculosis was strongly associated with lice-induced self-inflicted injury and cannibalism, systemic physiological stress, impaired erythropoiesis, reduced production efficiency and compromised welfare in caged laying hens. To best of our knowledge, it was the first integrative reports from Bangladesh documenting M. stramineus infestation in battery-caged commercial layer system with concurrent evidence of hematological disruption and measurable productivity losses, underscoring its epidemiological and economic significance and urgent need for targeted, evidence-based ectoparasite control strategies.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2026

New host and geographic range expansion of Lemuricola nycticebi in the Bengal slow loris

PurposeThe Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) is a globally Endangered nocturnal primate with limited health data across its South and Southeast Asian range. MethodsDuring necropsies of two deceased individuals from northeastern Bangladesh, numerous live adult pinworms were recovered. ResultsMorphological examination combined with mitochondrial cox1 gene sequencing identified the parasites as Lemuricola (Protenterobius) nycticebi. Both hosts exhibited severe gastrointestinal and peritoneal lesions consistent with high-intensity helminth infection. This represents the first confirmed record of L. nycticebi in the Bengal slow loris and extends the parasites known geographic range by approximately 3,400 km. ConclusionOur findings highlight an overlooked parasitic threat to slow lorises. Given that many Bengal slow lorises are rescued or confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and forest-edge areas in Bangladesh every year and subsequently released into the wild, the results underscore the need for systematic health assessments, including parasitic screening, before repatriation into the wild.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2025

Modulation of serotonergic, dopaminergic and tubulin-associated pathways by tannin-free natural products in Caenorhabditis elegans reveals effective anthelmintic drug targets

Despite of the Southeast Asias rich medicinal flora, Bangladesh behinds in utilizing the Caenorhabditis elegans model for lead anthelmintic compound discovery. Moreover, target-specific resistance (TSR) and non-target-specific resistance (NTSR) surge have influenced the lead compounds bio-discovery over the past decades. To date, prior researches are limited to basic efficacy tests and conventional extraction protocol. Therefore, the study was designed to assess the anthelmintic potency of 19 tannin-free natural products (NPs) induced alterations of neurotransmission in C. elegans. The anthelmintic activity was assessed by examining the motility (head thrashes and body bends), mortality, egg hatch inhibition (EHI) and expression of cat-1, ser-1, dat-1, and tba-1 genes. Eleven (11) plant extracts, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Cassia alata L., Portulaca oleracea L., Saraca asoca (Roxb.) W.J.de Wilde, Eleusine indica L. Gaertn., Persicaria hydropiper L. Delarbre, Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Clerodendrum infortunatum L., Linum usitatissimum L., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., and Vitex negundo L. revealed a significant neurobehavioral and developmental impairments in C. elegans. Persicaria hydropiper L. Delarbre @ 1{square}mg/mL, caused the lowest body bending (31{square}{+/-}{square}1.7, p{square}<{square}0.01), while Eleusine indica L. Gaertn. reduced head thrashing (66.3{square}{+/-}{square}3.0, p{square}<{square}0.01). L. usitatissimum L. exhibited the highest lethality (87.3{square}{+/-}{square}1.8%, p{square}<{square}0.01) and the LD{square}{square} values of Eleusine indica L. Gaertn. (0.40{square}mg/mL) and Linum usitatissimum L. (0.411{square}mg/mL) were the lowest. Interestingly, C. infortunatum L. exhibited the strongest EHI (97.5{square}{+/-}{square}3.0%, p{square}<{square}0.01). Gene expression analysis revealed a significant down-regulation of the dopaminergic and serotonergic pathway indicating the metabolic and reproductive disruptions. This pioneering study underscores the anthelmintic potency of native plant extracts, highlighting their neuromodulatory and developmental impact on C. elegans. Altogether, these findings suggest that the selected genes may serve as potential drug targets, paving the way for lead compounds identification and development to the advance anthelmintic drug discovery from the NPs.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

Insights into the genetic diversity and population structure of prevalent Theileria orientalis in Bangladesh

Theileria orientalis, an obligatory intracellular blood protozoon, which causes the substantial economic losses to the cattle industry and is widely prevalent throughout Bangladesh. The study was aimed to assess the nationwide prevalence, genetic diversity and evolutionary divergence of T. orientalis parasites in Bangladesh analyzing bovine blood samples. The genetic characterization, haplotype network analysis and Codon-based evolutionary divergence was conducted by targeting the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene. The overall prevalence of T. orientalis was 63.75% (n = 800), as determined by MPSP-PCR across the eight divisions of Bangladesh with significant regional variation. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis showed that the query MPSP sequences were clustered into two genotypes namely 5 and 7. Genetic diversity indicated high haplotype and moderate nucleotide diversity but consistent with contrasting demographic and selective pressures across regions. The evolutionary divergence analysis revealed the complex genetic landscape of T. orientalis population which shaped by historical expansion, ongoing gene flow and localized diversification. The haplotype network analysis identified total 29 distinct haplotypes, highlighting substantial diversity within the two genotypes. These findings demonstrate the occurrence and genetic richness of T. orientalis in cattle of Bangladesh. Although the pathogenic impact could not be assessed in this study, the presence of diverse genotypes suggests a need for continued surveillance and future research to determine the clinical and economic relevance of this parasite.

molecular biology↗