Browsing by Author "Wijesundara, R.R.M.K.K."

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    Developing a Spectroscopy Technique to Determine Nitrate in Milk, which can be used as Confirmatory Test for Water Adulteration
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Herath, P.N.K.; Mangalika, U.L.P.; Wijesundara, R.R.M.K.K.
    Cow milk contains numerous nutrients, therefore, it is identified as one of the most important food nutrient source besides breast feeding for infants and babies. Additionally, it is a good source to fulfill the nutrients for adults to meet their body requirements. However, farmers augment milk with water to surge the quantum of yield to get a better income. To mitigate the issue and to maintain the quality of milk, a simple spectrophotometric method was developed to assess the nitrates in milk and to use as a confirmatory test for water adulteration. Preliminary test was conducted at Veterinary Research Institute, Gannoruwa with thirty total milk samples (n=30) from Kandy district. It was observed that in15 ordinary milk samples,nitrate concentration ranged from lOppm 4Oppm. Whereas, pre identified water adulterated 15 samples gave nitrate concentration more than 4Oppm. The concentrations were statistically analyzed using paired t-test with a hypothesis to identify the nitrate difference of ordinary milk and water adulterated milk, this gave ap value of 0.000 which is less than 95% significance level and can conclude that with the water adulteration nitrate concentration in milk samples increase. Correlation between water adulteration and nitrate concentration was identified using Pearson Correlation. As a preliminary step Jaffna deep well water (130.0ppm) and Anuradhapura deep well water (20.18ppm) were added to a nitrate concentration known milk sample (28.96ppm). For Jaffna well water there was a strong positively correlation (R= 0.995). However for Anuradhapura well water, there was a negative correlation (It= -0.898). According to the present study, we were able to identify that, nitrate concentration in milk changes with water adulteration. Therefore, this method can be used as an accurately and prompt method to determine water adulteration in milk. Nitrate has an impact on human health as it is carcinogenic and also can cause bluebaby syndrome in babies. Therefore this technique can be used to determine nitrate in milk throughout the country, with that the government can make a Sri Lankan standard for the nitrate amount in fresh milk. Keywords: Nitrate, Cow Milk, Spectrophotometer, Water adulteration
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    Expression of a Rabies Virus Specific Antigen by Cloning the Glycoprotein Gene into Escherichia con Expression System
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Sewwandi, H.S.; Rodrigo, W.W.P.; Athapaththu, A.M.M.H.; Gunathilaka, P.A.D.H.N.; Bandara, K.G.W.W.; Wijesundara, R.R.M.K.K.; Bulumulla, P.B.A.I.K.
    Rabies is an infectious disease characterized by dysfunction of the central nervous system caused by Lyssavirus of family Rhabdoviridae. Detection of rabies antibodies are used to confirm if people have been successfully immunized. Currently, these detection methods require lots of expertise and are generally carried out in reference laboratories at a high cost. Therefore, it is vital to develop and standardize simple techniques such as Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for determining the level of antibodies against rabies virus at a lower cost. Hence, the aim of the present study was to clone rabies virus specific glycoprotein gene into bacterial expression vector for the production of recombinant protein. Initial attempts were made to isolate plasmid DNA of pET-28a (+) vector and pcDNA3. -RVG recombinant plasmid containing previously cloned Rabies Virus Glycoprotein gene (RVG). Both plasmids were successfully digested with BamHI and XhoI restriction enzymes. The purified Rabies Virus Glycoprotein gene was cloned into pET-28a (+) bacterial expression vector. The pET-28a (+)-RVG plasmids were successfully transformed into TOPIOP competent cells through electroporation. Transformants were screened by rapid screening method. Out of 20 colonies 8 were identified as recombinants. Further screening of recombinant colonies will be carried out by digesting with restriction enzymes. Putative correct recombinant construct will be transferred into bacterial expression system for the expression. Keywords: Rabies, Rabies virus glycoprotein gene, Cloning
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    Study on Milk Composition and Adulterants in Kandy District
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Aruppala, A.L.Y.H.; Mangalika, U.L.P.; Abesinghe, A.M.N.L.; Ranasinghe, M.K.; Wijesundara, R.R.M.K.K.
    Dairy farmers appear to have found four ways to increase their profit margin; (i) dilution (ii) extraction of valuable components, (iii) addition of harmful preservatives (iv) a combination of (i) and (ii) with addition of bulk additives.The adulteration of milk affects the constituents in milk. Hence knowledge on these specific constituents of milk would indeed help to safeguard against adulteration of milk with various adulterants. There are few published literature regarding the milk composition and quality in Kandy district over past two decades, this survey study was carried out around Kandy district to understand milk composition, screen and determine extent of various milkadulterants. Ten chilling centres associated with collecting points were selected for the study. A total of 300 samples were collected from chilling centres. Composition and adulterants (sugar, salt, starch, formalin, neutralizers, urea, and hydrogen peroxide) were analysed following -AOAC procedures and laboratory manual at Dairy Technology Laboratory of Veterinary Research Institute, Gannoruwa. Accumulating evidence has shown that average composition of milk at significance (P<0.01), fat percentage (4.4710.057), protein (3.1910.012), lactose (4.1410.019), solid non-fat (8.1410.046) and total solid (12.6110.063). Minimum and maximum ranges were varied considerably in all constituents. Potassium was the highest mineral in milk with average value of 151.4±6.62mg/100m1 followed by calcium (130.9+4.31 mg/100m1), phosphorus (90.52+2.85mg/100m1), sodium (55.19+2.36mg/100m1) and magnesium (13.8711.44 mg/100m1). Among the other adulterants only water was found in majority of samples (91.60%) followed by sugar (13.7%) and salt (8.7%). Keywords: Milk, Adulteration, Composition
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    A Study on Present Status of Cattle Farming in Badulla District
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Senadhirajah, S.V.; Samaraweera, A.M.; Wijesundara, R.R.M.K.K.
    The present study was conducted to determine the level of technical efficiency and production characteristics of house-hold level dairy cattle farms in Badulla district. A total of 165 cattle farms in seven veterinary regions in Badulla district were randomly selected by applying the stochastic production frontier methodology. Technical efficiency estimates were generated for different categories of collected data. The results of the study indicated that technical efficiency of milk production by most of the house-hold dairy cattle farms in above-mentioned veterinary regions is high. The mean technical efficiency was estimated to be 96%, 82%, and 77% in Welimada, Ridimaliyadda and Uvaparanagama veterinary regions, and 88% for intensive farms, 84% for semi semi-intensive farms, 89% for farms with local breeds and 82% for farms with temperature breeds. The results suggested that farms in the sample could increase their level of milk production to a certain percent using the current input quantities efficiently. To enhance farm efficiency there is a need to improve farmers' access to extension services and government subsidies. Provision of education to the farmers, training and orientation of the farmers toward intensive dairy farming practices and modern technologies are the suitable measures to increase the efficiency of milk production. Keywords: Technical efficiency, Stochastic, Production frontier, Cattle farming, Milk