Prevalence and risk factors for subclinical coccidiosis in broiler chicken farms in Mazandaran province,Iran

Coccidiosis is a disease of almost universal importance in Poultry production. The subclinical form of coccidiosis has most significant economic impact due to impaired growth rate and feed conversion. Some factors such as: age, size of flock, season, etc., may effect on severity of this disease. In this study, the relationships between some major risk factors and prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis were investigated. This study was done in 120 broiler farms in five different cities of Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Five chicks (3–8 weeks of ages) were taken randomly from every 120 farms and post-mortem and parasitological examinations were performed. Five Eimeria spp. were recognized: Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, and Eimeria necatrix. The prevalence rate of subclinical coccidiosis among them is 75% (90 farms out of 120). E. acervulina was the most prevalent species (65.5%) followed by E. maxima (17.7%), E. tenella (15.5%), E. brunetti (10%), and E. necatrix (5.5%). According to what the results approve, the occurrence of subclinical coccidiosis is significantly related to the age and size of flock, whereas the other factors such as the season of year, industrial strains, chicken’s keeping system, and anticoccidial drugs do not affect this phenomenon remarkably.     

Measurement of Radionuclides and Gamma-Ray Dose Rate in Soil and Transfer of Radionuclides from Soil to Vegetation, Vegetable of Some Northern Area of Pakistan Using ��-Ray Spectrometry

The analysis of gamma emitters natural radionuclides, i.e., ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, has been carried out in soil, vegetation, vegetable, and water samples collected from some Northern area of Pakistan, using gamma-ray spectrometry. The ??-ray spectrometry was carried out using high-purity Germanium detector coupled with a computer-based high-resolution multi-channel analyzer. The activity concentrations in soil ranges from 24.7 to 78.5 Bq?kg^?1, 21.7 to 75.3 Bq?kg^?1, and 298.5 to 570.8 Bq?kg^?1 for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K with the mean value of 42.1, 43.3, 9.5, and 418.3 Bq?kg^?1, respectively. In the present analysis, ⁴⁰K was the major radionuclide present in soil, vegetation, fruit, and vegetable samples. The concentration of ⁴⁰K in vegetation sample varied from 646.6 to 869.6 Bq?kg^?1 on dry weight basis. However, the concentration of ⁴⁰K in fruit and vegetable samples varied from 34.0 to 123.3 Bq?kg^?1 on fresh weight basis. In vegetation samples, along with ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were also present in small amount. The transfer factors of these radionuclides from soil to vegetation, fruit, and vegetable were also studied. The transfer factors were found in the order: ⁴⁰K?>?²³²Th????²²⁶Ra. The analysis of water samples showed activity concentrations values for all radionuclides below detection limit. The internal and external hazard indices were measured and found less than the safe limit of unity. The mean value of outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rate in air was found 64.61 and 77.54 nGy?h^?1, respectively. The activity concentrations of radionuclides found in all samples during the current investigation were nominal. Therefore, they are not associated with any potential source of health hazard to the general public.     

Effect of different pre-sowing treatments on seed germination percentage and growth performance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia auriculiformis</Emphasis>

Seed morphology, germination and seedlings growth of Acacia auriculiformis were studied. The experiment was conducted in the nursery of Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh. Matured seeds of the species were collected from healthy trees of road side plantation from different areas of Khulna District, Bangladesh and treated with five pre-sowing treatments (control, immersion in cold water, immersion in hot water, scarification with sand paper and immersion in concentrated H₂SO₄). The average length, breadth and thickness were found to be (0.58±0.017) cm, (0.44±0.007) cm and (0.20±0.089) cm, respectively. Germination was conducted in polybags with a mixture of top soil, coconut husk, coarse sand, and fine sand in a ratio of 3:4:1:1. Results reveal that pre-sowing treatments influences the germination rates of seeds that significantly increase the percentage germination compared with those in control (43%) and cold water treatment (52%). The highest germination success rate was found 83% in hot water treatment followed by 78% in scarification with sand paper, and 75% with immersion in H₂SO₄. Germination started from 7 to 12 days and completed between 28 and 35 days period in all treatments. ANOVA showed the significant difference (p<0.05) among the treatments in seed germination, but no significant difference among treatment with regard to starting day, closing day and total germination period. In case of height and diameter growth, seedlings originated from the seeds with hot water treatment shows significantly higher in wet season (from May to July). Hot water treatment can be recommended on seed germination of the species in rural Bangladesh.     

Nutrient dynamics associated with leaf litter decomposition of three agroforestry tree species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Azadirachta indica,Dalbergia sissoo</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melia azedarach</Emphasis>) of Bangladesh

Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Dalbergia sissoo Roxb., and Melia azedarach L. are little studied species in nutrient return capabili- ties from leaf litter decomposition to maintenance of the soil fertility despite their importance in agroforestry practices of Bangladesh. A leaf litter decomposition experiment was conducted using a litterbag tech- nique to assess the nutrient return efficiency of these species. The de- composition rate of leaf litter was highest for M. azedarach and lowest for D. sissoo. Rainfall and temperature of study sites showed a signifi- cant (p<0.05) positive relationship with the rate of leaf litter decomposi- tion. The highest decay constant was observed for M. azedarach (6.67). Nitrogen and Phosphorus concentration in leaf litter showed a decreased trend sharply at the end of the first month, whereas rapid decrease of Potassium concentration was reported within 10 days. Conversely, higher concentration of nutrient was observed at the later stages of decomposi- tion. All three species showed a similar pattern of nutrient release (K > N > P) during the decomposition process of leaf litter. Among the studied species, D. sissoo was best in terms of N and P return and A. indica was best in terms of K return.     

Effect of irrigation frequency and amount on water use efficiency and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under field conditions

The water-use characteristics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) were studied in the field under furrow irrigation. Irrigation water quantities were based on pan evaporation (E_pan) from a screened class-A pan. Treatments consisted of three irrigation intervals (I₁: 7 days; I₂: 14 days, I₃: 21 days), and four pan coefficients (K_cp 1: 0.60; K_cp 2: 0.80, K_cp 3: 1.00 and K_cp 4: 1.20). Average irrigation values for each treatment varied from 467 to 857 mm in 2003 and 398 to 654 mm in 2004. The highest seasonal evapotranspiration was obtained from the I₃K_cp 4 treatment in 2004 (1019 mm); the lowest value was observed in the I₁K_cp 1 treatment in the same year (598.0 mm). Data collected in 2003 and 2004 showed that the amount of irrigation water applied significantly the affected seed yield. However, the effects of irrigation interval on yield were not significant. On average, the K_cp 3 treatment gave the highest seed yield (1.915 t ha⁻¹), whereas K_cp 1 treatment gave the lowest (1.538 t ha⁻¹). Seasonal yield response factors (k_y) were 1.01 and 0.54 in 2003 and 2004, respectively. ET/E_pan ratios for each treatment varied from 0.3 to 1.3 in 2003 and from 0.1 to 1.1 in 2004. In conclusion, the K_cp 3 plant-pan coefficient is recommended for sesame grown under field conditions in order to maximise yield.     

Effectiveness of melatonin on aflatoxicosis in chicks

The efficacy of melatonin co-administration on aflatoxicosis in chicks was investigated. Ross PM3 breed chicks were divided into groups of 10 and given conventional feed. One of the groups was kept as a control (C), and the others were given 150 ppb aflatoxin (AF1), 300 ppb aflatoxin (AF2), 150 ppb aflatoxin plus 10 mg/kg/bwt melatonin (AF1+M), 300 ppb aflatoxin plus 10 mg/kg/bwt melatonin (AF2+M), 10 mg/kg/bwt melatonin (M), and 1% ethanol (E). After 21 day-treatment period, the chicks were sacrificed, liver and kidney tissues were collected, processed for immuno-histochemical staining, in situ TUNEL method, and biochemical analyses. Vacuolar degeneration, necrosis, bile duct hyperplasia in liver, and mild tubular degeneration in kidney were detected in AF groups. Pathological changes were markedly reduced in AF+M groups, and a microscopic view similar to group C was observed. Increased immunoreactivity against inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine was detected in AF groups compared to weak immunoreactivity in group C. Immunoreactivity in AF+M groups was markedly reduced compared to AF groups and was similar to group C in liver and kidney. Many apoptotic cells were detected in the livers of AF groups, whereas there were no apoptotic cells in AF+M groups. While reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in liver and kidney of AF groups were greatly reduced, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased. With melatonin co-administration, the levels of GSH and MDA approached to the values of group C. These results indicated that nitrosative tissue degeneration caused by aflatoxin could be greatly reduced by melatonin supplementation in chicks.     

DYNAMICS OF FABA BEAN GROWTH AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH GRAIN YIELD

Growth parameters and nutrient uptake of faba bean with 12 different genotypes were studied at the end of four subsequent growth periods, viz. first vegetative (V1), second vegetative (V2), first reproductive (R1) and second reproductive (R2) periods for two years and correlated with final grain yield. All parameters including plant height, leaf number, leaf area index (LAI), above ground plant dry matter (DM) and root DM, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) uptake and concentration of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg showed different patterns with advancement of the growth period. All the mentioned parameters were fitted in either quadratic or linear equations. Significant correlations were found among nutrients, growth parameters and grain yield during different growth stages. On the basis of these experiments it was clear that nutrient uptake was directly related to biomass. In V2 and R1 biomass production was greatest resulting in high nutrient uptake. Among the growth parameters, biomass and LAI showed the highest significant correlation with grain yield. The findings especially models derived from two year data across twelve genotypes can be used for better fertilizer management of faba bean.     

Evaluation of the physiological quality of wheat seed as influenced by high parent plant growth temperature

To examine the effect of high temperature during seed development and maturation on seed quality of wheat, seeds of four heattolerant and two heat-sensitive wheat genotypes obtained normal and high temperature growing conditions were tested for quality. High parent plant growth temperature during seed development and maturation resulted in poor seed quality. The effect of parent plant growth temperature on seed germination and speed of germination was inconsistent between heat tolerant and heat-sensitive wheat genotypes. Seed vigor as indicated by seed density, conductivity of seed leachates, seedling dry weight, production of normal seedlings, seed reserve utilization efficiency, and seedling emergence were reduced in all wheat genotypes due to higher parent plant growth temperature but heat-sensitive wheat genotypes were affected more than the heat-tolerant genotypes.     

Checklist of agromyzidae (Diptera) of Turkey,with a new record

The first checklist of Turkish leafminers of the family Agromyzidae (Diptera), comprising 78 species, is presented.Melanagromyza cunctans (Meigen, 1830) is recorded as new for the Turkish leafminer fauna. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 2, 2002.