Prevalence and serum protein values of strangles (Streptococcus equi) affected mules at Remount Depot,Sargodha (Pakistan)

The prevalence of Streptococcus equi serovar equi (S.equi) in nasal discharge and pus samples from sub‐mandibular lymph nodes in mules at the Remount Depot, Sargodha was examined and total serum proteins, serum albumin, serum globulin and fibrinogen measured. A total of 250 nasal swabs and pus samples were collected from mules and examined microbiologically: 99 (39.6%) were positive for S. equi. A higher occurrence of S. equi was recorded in foals as compared to adults. The concentrations of total serum protein, serum globulin and fibrinogen were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the concentration of serum albumin significantly decreased (P<0.05) in strangles‐affected mules. It was concluded that increased total serum proteins, serum globulin and fibrinogen along with decreased serum albumin were important indicators of infection by S. equi in mules.     

Digital image analysis to estimate the live weight of broiler

Computer assisted digital image analysis was performed to investigate the possibility of estimating body weight of live broiler. To achieve the stated objective, 100 Arbor acres broiler chicks were reared under standard rearing condition and 1200 digital images were captured from 20 randomly selected broilers during the 7-42 days growing period. The captured images were analyzed by raster image analysis software (IDRISI 32) to determine the broiler body surface area and developed a linear equation to estimate weights of the broiler from its body surface-area pixels. The developed weight predicted equation based on surface-area pixels was log W = 1.060406(log P) + 0.173756(log A) − 2.029268 (W = estimated body weight, P = surface-area pixels and A = age at weighing) and the degree of goodness of fit of this equation was 0.999. The relative error in weight estimation of broiler chicken by image analysis, expressed in terms of percent error of the residuals from surface-area pixels was in between 0.04 and 16.47. On the other hand, the estimated body weights were not significantly (p > 0.05) difference from manually measured body weights up to 35 days of age. Thus, the development of a practical imaging system for weighing live broiler is feasible.     

Development of New Submergence Tolerant Rice Variety for Bangladesh Using Marker-Assisted Backcrossing

Submergence tolerant high yielding rice variety was developed using BR11 as a recipient parent applying foreground, phenotypic and background selection approaches. Recombinant selection was found essential to minimize linkage drag by BC2F2 generation. Without recombinant selection, the introgression size in the backcross recombinant lines(BRLs) was approximately 15 Mb on the carrier chromosome. The BRLs were found submergence tolerance compared to the check varieties under complete submergence for two weeks at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, and produced higher yield compared to the isogenic Sub1-line under control ed submerged condition. The BRL IR85260-66-654-Gaz2 was released as BRRI dhan52 in 2010, which was the first high yielding submergence tolerant variety in Bangladesh. BRRI dhan52 produced grain yield ranging from 4.2 to 5.2 t/hm2 under different flash flood prone areas of Bangladesh in three consecutive seasons. The study demonstrated the efficiency of recombinant selection and better adaptability of the newly released submergence tolerant high yielding variety in flash flood prone different areas of the country with respect to submergence tolerance and yield potential.     

Greening the blue revolution of small‐scale freshwater aquaculture in Mymensingh,Bangladesh

Rapid development of small‐scale freshwater aquaculture in the Mymensingh district of north‐central Bangladesh has been linked to a ‘blue revolution’. Mymensingh is ranked first among districts of pond fish production in Bangladesh. Aquaculture in Mymensingh plays an important role in the local economy, contributing to food production, livelihood opportunities, income generation, poverty alleviation and social transformation. However, a number of challenges, particularly social, economic and environmental issues, will need to be overcome to translate its benefits effectively. We propose a conceptual framework for greening the blue revolution of aquaculture, which links social, economic and ecological aspects for promoting the importance of socio‐ecological, ecological‐economic and socio‐economic interactions. We conclude that active community participation, institutional collaboration and policy support are needed for greening the blue revolution of aquaculture in Mymensingh.     

First report on the autochthonous gut microbiota of brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus)

A study was conducted to characterize the autochthonous gut microbiota present in the pyloric caeca (PC), anterior mucosa (AM) and posterior mucosa (PM) of brown trout (Salmo trutta). Total viable counts (TVC) bacterial populations were enumerated using tryptone soy agar, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) levels were enumerated on de Man, Rogosa & Sharpe agar and PCR‐DGGE was employed as a culture‐independent method to assess the total communities. No significant differences were observed between the different gut regions for TVC or LAB levels. 16S rRNA sequencing identified all LAB isolates as Carnobacterium maltaromaticum. In contrast, the TVC community was more diverse; Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were present but all gut regions were dominated by Proteobacteria, accounting for 88.4–92.6% of the communities. Citrobacter freundii was the dominant species and accounted for 51.0–57.8% of the isolates. Complex bacterial communities were observed using PCR‐DGGE and a trend towards the reduction in the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), microbial richness and microbial diversity was observed from the PC to the PM. The similarity between regions was low (52–68%) and cluster analysis revealed that the communities grouped into two distinct clusters; one dominated by the PM samples and the other contained the AM and PC samples. OTUs from the DGGE were identified as members of the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Many OTUs were detected in all gastrointestinal regions, however, some OTUs showed regional specialization. Further studies are required to elucidate the activity of these genera in situ and how their actions impact the host.     

Image‐based thresholds for weeds in maize fields

Recent development of site‐specific weed management strategies suggests patch application of herbicides to avoid their excessive use in crops. The estimation of infestation of weeds and control thresholds are important components for taking spray decisions. If weed pressure is below a certain level in some parts of the field and if late germinating weeds do not affect yield, it may not be necessary the spray such places from an economic point of view. Consequently, it makes sense to develop weed control thresholds for patch spraying, based on weed cover early in the growing season. In Danish maize field experiments conducted from 2010 to 2012, we estimated competitive ability parameters and control thresholds of naturally established weed populations in the context of decision‐making for patch spraying. The most frequent weed was Chenopodium album, accompanied by Capsella bursa‐pastoris, Cirsium arvense, Lamium amplexicaule, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Poa annua, Polygonum aviculare, Polygonum persicaria, Stellaria media and Veronica persica. Relative leaf cover of weeds was estimated using an image analysis method. The relation between relative weed leaf cover and yield loss was analysed by nonlinear regression models. The competitive ability parameters and economic thresholds were estimated from the regression models. The competitive ability of weed mixtures was influenced by the increasing proportion of large size weeds in the mixtures. There was no significant effect of weeds which survived or established after the first herbicide application, indicating that early image analysis was robust for use under these conditions.     

Different Morphologies of Leishmania major Amastigotes with No Molecular Diversity in a Neglected Endemic Area of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran

Background:

Molecular diversity of Leishmania major and its morphological changes have become a controversial issue among researchers. Some aspects of polymorphic shapes of amastigotes in clinical manifestations along with molecular variation were evaluated among suspected patients of some exceptional zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis locations in Northern Khuzestan, Southwestern Iran.

Methods:

Suspected patients (n = 165) were sampled in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci over two consecutive years during 2012-2014. Prepared smears were stained, scaled and measured by ocular micrometer. DNA was extracted from smears; ITS-rDNA and Cytochrome b (Cyt b) markers were amplified, and PCR products were digested by BsuR1 restriction enzyme. Then the RFLP and sequencing were employed.

Results:

Only L. major was identified in patients containing regular amastigotes'' shapes (oval or round) with a size of 2-4 µm in each of classical wet, dry, mixed lesions. Meanwhile, irregular shapes (spindle, pear, or cigarette) were observed separately in non-classical wet lesions with more than 4 µm. Interestingly, a few amastigotes with an external flagellum were observed in some lesions. All sequenced ITS-rDNA and Cyt b genes of L. major did not show any molecular variation (χ ² P > 0.05), including only one common haplotype (GenBank access no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"EF413075","term_id":"151936076","term_text":"EF413075"}}EF413075).

Conclusion:

Findings proved that unlike other endemic foci, there is not a meaningful correlation between phenotypic and genotypic features of L. major isolates. This study is considered as the first comprehensive report to incriminate morphometric shapes of L. major amastigotes, which enhances our knowledge concerning their relevance with various clinical appearances and genotypic traits. Key Words: Leishmania major, Nuclear gene, Mitochondrial gene, Amastigote shapes, Iran