Washington: You may want to gift a dog to your baby as a recent study has suggested that a pet early in life may alter gut bacteria in immune-boosting ways.The latest findings from Kozyrskyj and her teams work on fecal samples collected from infants registered in the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development study build on two decades of research that show children who grow up with dogs have lower rates of asthma. In other words, even if the dog had been given away for adoption just before the woman gave birth, the healthy microbiome exchange could still take place. But dont rush out to adopt a furry friend just yet.Her team of 12, including study co-author and U of A post-doctoral fellow Hein Min Tun, take the science one step closer to understanding the connection by identifying that exposure to pets in the womb or up to three months after birth increases the abundance of two bacteria, Ruminococcus hidden frame supported glass curtain wall and Oscillospira, which have been linked with reduced childhood allergies and obesity, respectively.

The study also showed that the immunity-boosting exchange occurred even in three birth scenarios known for reducing immunity, as shown in Kozyrskyjs previous work: C-section versus vaginal delivery, antibiotics during birth and lack of breastfeeding.The study suggested that the presence of pets in the house reduced the likelihood of the transmission of vaginal GBS (group B Strep) during birth, which causes pneumonia in newborns and is prevented by giving mothers antibiotics during delivery.

"Its not far-fetched that the pharmaceutical industry will try to create a supplement of these microbiomes, much like was done with probiotics," she said. The study appears in the journal Microbiome.The theory is that exposure to dirt and bacteria early in life--for example, in a dogs fur and on its paws--can create early immunity, though researchers arent sure whether the effect occurs from bacteria on the furry friends or from human transfer by touching the pets, said Kozyrskyj.Its far too early to predict how this finding will play out in the future, but Kozyrskyj doesnt rule out the concept of a "dog in a pill" as a preventive tool for allergies and obesity."The abundance of these two bacteria were increased twofold when there was a pet in the house," said Kozyrskyj, adding that the pet exposure was shown to affect the gut microbiome indirectly--from dog to mother to unborn baby--during pregnancy as well as during the first three months of the babys life.

The University of Alberta study showed that babies from families with pets--70 per cent of which were dogs--showed higher levels of two types of microbes associated with lower risks of allergic disease and obesity."Theres definitely a critical window of time when gut immunity and microbes co-develop, and when disruptions to the process result in changes to gut immunity," said pediatric epidemiologist Anita Kozyrskyj

"I am certain overall kharif foodgrain output will be more than last year," he said. Similarly, acreage under sugarcane has gone up to 49. "It is lower so far, but the sowing window is not over. Production of paddy stood at 96.49 lakh hectare in the same period last year.04 million tonnes due to higher acreage and good monsoon for the second straight year, Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak said on Sunday. While there were floods in some states, there was drought -like situation in parts of Karnataka, he said, adding that there has still been close to 3 per cent jump in the acreage under kharif crops so far.12 MT, coarse cereals at 32.48 lakh hectare in the year-ago period on account of good rains and better prices.71 lakh hectare from 45.

"South interior Karnataka continues to be problematic, but some rains had come, lets see," he said. In the 2016-17 kharif season, foodgrain output was record at 138.8 MT, cotton at 30.09 MT, China glass fence pulses at 9. However, oilseeds acreage was down at 148. "The cotton acreage has gone up substantially, but part of the area is affected in Gujarat due to floods. Till last week, farmers had sown kharif crops in 878. About 19 lakh hectare of crop area has been affected by floods across the country and farmers are likely to take up other kharif crops once the water recedes, he said, expressing concern about poor rains in some parts of Karnataka.

Overall, it is not bad.64 lakh hectare in the said period because of good monsoon and timely payment of cane arrears by sugar mills.28 lakh hectare as against 116.93 lakh hectare, while pulses covered 121." As per the data, cotton acreage has increased to 114.03 lakh hectare, as against 266.23 lakh hectare as against 855. So far, more than 80 per cent of the sowing of kharif crops -- paddy, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane and jute -- has been completed and the planting will continue in some parts till next month, Pattanayak told PTI in an interview.85 lakh hectare in the year-ago period, as per the Agriculture Ministrys latest data. Paddy - the main kharif (summer) crop - was sown in 280." He said the overall acreage for all pulses is higher, except tur. Pattanayak said farmers in flood-hit areas will replant other crops in 19 lakh hectare once water recedes, but the situation in Karnataka has not yet improved.34 lakh hectare so far in the 2017-18 kharif season from 96.

With regard to cash crop, he said that the overall area sown to cotton and sugarcane is higher than last year so far and the output is also expected to be better. They (farmers) will take up little later on marginal lands.88 lakh hectare till last week of the kharif season from 165. Farmers may grow other crops like pulses.5 million bales in the 2016-17 kharif season, as per the ministrys data. This, Pattanayak said, should not be an issue.84 MT, oilseeds at 22.04 million tonnes while previous record was 128.New Delhi: Foodgrain output in the ongoing 2017-18 kharif season is likely to surpass last years record of 138.95 lakh hectare in the said period.65 MT achieved during the 2013-14 kharif season