The effect of natural exposure toAnaplasma andBabesia infections on native calves in an endemic area of Colombia

Summary The age at which native calves first became infected withAnaplasma marginale andBabesia bigemina and the effect of the infections as characterised by anaemia was determined by the biweekly examination of newly born calves on four ranches located in an endemic area of anaplasmosis and babesiosis on the north coast of Colombia. All of the calves examined became infected withA. marginale at 4–24 weeks of age and withB. bigemina at 2–34 weeks of age. The mean age at first infection with both haemoparasites was 11 weeks. A significant decrease occurred in the mean packed cell volumes of the calves following infection. However, the packed cell volumes returned to preinfection levels within 4 weeks following infection and most calves recovered from their first natural infections without apparent serious consequences. The mild clinical response and rapid recovery indicated that the protection of native calves through immunisation or other procedures prior to natural exposure would be of questionable value.

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El Efecto De La Exposicion Natural A La Infeccion Por Anaplasma Y Babesia En Terneros Nativos En Un Area Endemica De Colombia

Resumen Se determinó la edad a la cual terneros nativos recien nacidos se infectaron por primera vez con Anaplasma marginale y Babesia bigemina en un área endémica de la Costa Norte de Colombia. El efecto de las infecciones, medido por el estado anémico de los animales se determinó mediante la evaluación de parámetros sanguineos. Todos los terneros examinados se infectaron con A. marginale entre 4 y 24 semanas y con B. bigemina entre 2 y 34 semanas de edad. El promedio de edad para la infección con ambos protozoarios fué de 11 semanas. Hematológicamente se observó un descenso significativo en el volumen de glóbulos rojos en centímetros cúbicos por 100 ml de sangre (PCV) al iniciarse la infección. Sin embargo, este parámetro volvió a la normalidad dentro de las cuatro semanas de iniciarse la infección, recuperándose la mayoría de los terneros de la infección primaria sin mayores consecuencias. La respuesta clínica inicial moderada y la recuperación rápida a la infección causada por ambos hemoparásitos indicaron, que la protección de terneros nativos a través de la inmunización o de otros procedimientos afines, tendría un valor dudoso antes de la exposición natural.

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Infestation Naturelle Des Veaux ParAnaplasma EtBabesia Dans Une Region Contaminee De Colombie

Résumé L'âge auquel les veaux locaux sont infestés parAnaplasma marginale etBabesia bigemina et l'anémie que ces parasites provoquent ont été déterminés par l'examen bihebdomadaire de veaux nouveau-nés élevés dans quatre ranches de la Côte Nord de la Colombie où l'Anaplasmose et la Babésiose sont endémiques.L'infestation se produit entre 4 et 24 semaines dans le cas d'Anaplasma marginale, entre 2 et 34 semaines dans le cas deBabesia bigemina et, en moyenne, pour les deux parasites, 11 semaines après la naissance.On observe une diminution du nombre d'hématies aussitôt après l'infestation, diminution qui disparaît quatre semaines plus tard. La plupart des veaux guérissent sans séquelles apparentes.Des signes cliniques discrets et la guérison rapide des animaux atteints laissent planer un doute sur la nécessité d'une immunisation préventive des veaux nouveau-nés.

     

Characterization of sublethal microcystin-LR exposure in mice

Microcystin-LR (MCLR) is a potent hepatotoxin produced by the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The histology of acute lethal toxicity has been well characterized, but histology is limited regarding sublethal exposure. Balb/C mice were given a single sublethal dose of MCLR (45 microg/kg) and euthanized at 2, 4, 12, and 24 hours after exposure. Centrilobular to midzonal hepatocellular hypertrophy with loss of cytosolic vacuolation consistent with glycogen depletion occurred at 2 hours. At 4 hours, central lobular hepatocytes exhibited eccentric areas of eosinophilic cytoplasmic condensation that were partially aggregated around the outer nuclear membrane. The areas were weakly positive for cytokeratin and somewhat resembled the Mallory bodies of alcoholic human hepatitis. Small numbers of apoptotic hepatocytes were seen at 24 hours. The toxin was detectable by immunohistochemistry (IHC) as early as 2 hours and was colocalized with the areas of hepatocellular hypertrophy. Intense nuclear staining occurred at 4 hours; this was no longer evident after 12 hours. Strong staining of apoptotic bodies occurred at 24 hours. Mice that received two daily doses had a marked increase in apoptotic hepatocytes in the centrilobular areas. Lesions at four and seven doses consisted of marked hepatocytomegaly and karyomegaly with parenchymal disarray and cytosolic vacuolation. IHC revealed diffuse staining throughout the liver parenchyma consistent with toxin accumulation. An anti-MCLR monoclonal antibody detected bands at the 40-kDa mark in nuclear extracts that were identified as protein phosphatases 1 and 2A by western blotting, consistent with a covalent interaction between MCLR and nuclear protein phosphatases.     

Simultaneous extraction and quantitation of carotenoids, chlorophylls, and tocopherols in Brassica vegetables

Brassica oleracea vegetables, such as broccoli (B. oleracea L. var. italica) and cauliflower (B. oleracea L. var. botrytis), are known to contain bioactive compounds associated with health, including three classes of photosynthetic lipid-soluble compounds: carotenoids, chlorophylls, and tocopherols. Carotenoids and chlorophylls are photosynthetic pigments. Tocopherols have vitamin E activity. Due to genetic and environmental variables, the amounts present in vegetables are not constant. To aid breeders in the development of Brassica cultivars with higher provitamin A and vitamin E contents and antioxidant activity, a more efficient method was developed to quantitate carotenoids, chlorophylls, and tocopherols in the edible portions of broccoli and cauliflower. The novel UPLC method separated five carotenoids, two chlorophylls, and two tocopherols in a single 30 min run, reducing the run time by half compared to previously published protocols. The objective of the study was to develop a faster, more effective extraction and quantitation methodology to screen large populations of Brassica germplasm, thus aiding breeders in producing superior vegetables with enhanced phytonutrient profiles.     

Strategic use of Iranian bread wheat landrace accessions for genetic improvement: Core set formulation and validation

Iranian wheat landrace accessions (IWAs) were collected from country‐wide farm fields and market places in 1935 by a professor at the University of Tehran and shared with University of California at Davis, California. IWAs were further submitted to the genebank of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico. 2,403 IWAs from CIMMYT’s genebank were assayed by DArT‐seq technology to assess genetic diversity. No apparent ecogeographic patterns related to genetic diversity were detected, probably due to long‐term transport and frequent interchange of landraces among farmers. A multivariate clustering procedure combining genotypic and phenotypic information was used in selecting a core‐set, which represented 15% of the hexaploid wheat accessions included in this study. This subset captured an estimated 93% of rare (frequency <0.05) alleles. Multisite phenotypic data (India, Mexico) validated the ability of the core‐set in detecting useful variants. Potential donor accessions for multiple traits (disease resistance, zinc concentration) were identified from the core‐set for wheat‐breeding. This report illustrates a breeder friendly robust core‐set formulation strategy for harnessing the useful genetic variation stored in the genebanks.     

Fisheries and conservation assessment of sharks in Pacific Panama

1. In Panama, shark fisheries were initially developed in the 1980s and progressively increased in production in the 1990s mainly due to the high demand for shark fins and meat from the international Asian market. Since then, and despite the exploitation rate (average 3,514 t year^–1) and endangered status of some species, shark fisheries have seldom been studied, and official statistics are general or incomplete and not suitable for the development of appropriate conservation and management strategies.
2. To understand the dynamics of shark fisheries in Panama, field surveys were conducted between 2007 and 2009 at several landing ports of small‐scale and industrial fisheries, at fish processing plants and on‐board fishing vessels in Pacific Panama, where most of the fishing vessels of the country operate.
3. In general, it was found that the artisanal and industrial fisheries of the Pacific coast of Panama regularly exploit at least 18 species of sharks, which are also being exploited by neighbouring countries in the eastern Pacific, suggesting the importance of coordinated conservation initiatives across the multiple jurisdictions. A large number of the individuals caught were immature, implying a certain level of impact on recruitment rates. This pattern was particularly evident in species such as Sphyrna lewini, for which immature individuals represented at least 99% and 63% of the total catch by small‐scale and industrial fisheries, respectively. Catch per unit of effort analyses showed that Carcharhinus and Sphyrna species were the most exploited (representing ~80% of the catches) by industrial fisheries in Panama between 2006 and 2009, suggesting that fishery management should provide special attention to these groups.
4. It is expected that the information presented here provides a baseline to develop new regulations, including the implementation of annual quotas and fishing seasons and the protection of nursery areas, for the long‐term sustainability and conservation of sharks in Panama.