Multiple anthelmintic resistance and the possible contributory factors in Beetal goats in an irrigated area (Pakistan)

This paper presents the first report of multiple anthelmintic resistance in the gastrointestinal nematodes of goats and its possible contributory factors in an irrigated area (Pakistan). A total of 18 privately owned Beetal goat flocks were selected in order to determine the anthelmintic resistance against commonly used anthelmintics. Forty to 48 animals from each flock were selected according to their weight and egg count. The three anthelmintics viz., oxfendazole, levamisole and ivermectin, were given to three groups at manufacturer’s recommended dose while one group was kept as untreated control. Anthelmintic resistance was determined through faecal egg count reduction and egg hatch tests while assessment of the contributory factors of anthelmintic resistance was measured through the rural participatory approach. Faecal egg count reduction test revealed high prevalence of anthelmintic resistance (83.3%) and it was either single (levamisole) or multiple (oxfendazole and levamisole). Egg hatch test confirmed the resistance against oxfendazole as detected with faecal egg count reduction test. None of the goat flocks was resistant to ivermectin. Copro-cultures revealed that Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Teladorsagia circumcincta were the most common species exhibiting resistance to levamisole and oxfendazole. Step-wise logistic regression of the data on worm control practices revealed significant role of under-dosing, low-protein diets, healthcare supervision by the traditional healers and mass treatments.     

Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Composition of Cultured Beluga (Huso huso) of Different Ages

The amino acids (AA) and fatty acids (FA) of Beluga (Huso huso) flesh at different ages were investigated as a source of AA and FA for human consumption. The analysis of Huso huso lipids (chloroform extracted) showed significant differences (p < .05) for specific FA with age. At all ages, the major saturated FA in Huso huso fillets was palmitic acid and the major unsaturated FA were oleic and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). Protein analysis indicated that the Huso huso muscle is well balanced with good levels of essential AA and appears to be a source of high quality protein (tryptophan was not measured) with methionine/cysteine as the first limiting AA. The major AA were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and lysine. The results obtained from the present study show that Huso huso is an excellent protein and fat source when compared with other sturgeons.     

Copper oxide-carbon nanotube (CuO/CNT) nanocomposite: Synthesis and photocatalytic dye degradation from colored textile wastewater

In this paper, CuO/CNT nanocomposite was synthesized and its photocatalytic dye degradation ability for colored textile wastewater was studied. The characteristics of the nanocomposite were investigated by XRD, SEM and FTIR. The photodegradation of Direct Red 31 (DR31) and Reactive Red 120 (RR120) by CuO/CNT in presence of H₂O₂ was investigated. Photocatalytic dye degradation was determined by UV-vis spectrophotometer. Effects of catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration and salt on photodegradation performance were studied. The photocatalytic dye degradation ability of pure CuO and CuO/CNT nanocomposite is 78 % and 89 % for DR31 and 70 % and 87 % for RR120, respectively. The results showed that CNT increased the photocatalytic activity of CuO. The presence of salt decreases dye degradation efficiency. The dye degradation kinetics by nanocomposite followed first-order kinetic model. The reaction rate at 0.005 g catalyst was 0.0137 and 0.0105 min^-1 for DR31 and RR120, respectively. It was found that the CuO/CNT nanocomposite as a photocatalyst could be used to degrade dyes from colored wastewater.     

Evaluation of Plasticizing and Antioxidant Properties of Silver Carp Protein Hydrolysates in Fish Gelatin Film

Physico-mechanical and antioxidant properties of glycerol plasticized fish gelatin films were investigated at different levels of fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) from silver carp muscle (5, 10, 15, and 20 g FPH/100 g gelatin). The films supplemented with FPH, especially at higher concentration showed significant increase in 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 20-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfnic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), elongation at break, difference of color, water vapor permeability and opacity, while tensile strength, elastic modulus, L*, b*, and contact angle decreased markedly (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed for a* and solubility of all samples (p > 0.05). Films prepared using 20% FPH had lower glass transition temperature and more homogeneous structure, compared with control film. Also, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the increase of free groups of hydrolysates and lower interaction between chains of film incorporated with the highest content of FPH. Thus, these results indicate that FPH enhanced the antioxidant activities and affected some characteristics due to less interaction between gelatin and FPH.     

Dietary soybean phosphatidylcholine affects growth performance and lipolytic enzyme activity in Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta Caspius) alevin

The effects of supplemental dietary phosphatidylcholine (PtCho) on the growth performance, survival and digestive enzyme activity of Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler 1877) alevins were investigated in this study. Alevin (initial weight 0.8 ± 0.12 g) was fed for 5 weeks with an isoproteic‐ and isolipidic‐formulated diet with increased levels of PtCho from 0 to 60 g kg^?1 dry matter and decreasing levels of soybean oil. The increase in dietary PtCho up to 4% led to an increase in alevin final weight, suggesting that moderate PtCho levels are needed during this stage of Caspian brown trout. Survival was not affected by the dietary PtCho level. Phosphatidylcholine incorporation into the diet caused higher phospholipase A2‐specific activity. Phosphatidylcholine did not show a beneficial effect on the specific activity of amylase and protease. Lipase‐specific activity was significantly higher in the PtCho groups compared with the control group. The hepatosomatic index (HSI) was significantly influenced by the dietary PtCho level. The results of the present study indicated that the dietary supplementation of PtCho in the diet of Caspian brown trout alevin improved growth and lipolytic enzyme activity.     

Growth response,body composition and fatty acid profile of Caspian brown trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta Caspius</Emphasis>) juvenile fed diets containing different levels of soybean phosphatidylcholine

We investigated the effects of soybean phosphatidylcholine (PtCho) on the growth, fatty acid (FA) profile, and body composition of juvenile Caspian brown trout. Juvenile trout, initial average weight 0.8 ± 0.12 g, were fed semi-purified formulated diets supplemented with 2, 4, and 6% PtCho for 5 weeks. Results showed that fish with diets containing 4 or 6% PtCho had significantly greater growth. The FA profiles of both the polar lipids (PL) and neutral lipids (NL) in juvenile tissues were influenced by dietary FA, although the effects of PtCho supplementation were more marked for PL than for NL. Fish fed PtCho in the diet also had higher levels of 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6 and n-6, and significantly lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in both PL and NL. The lipid contents of whole-body tissues and liver were positively affected by PtCho percentage in the diet. Specific growth rate, hepatosomatic index, visceralsomatic index, and protein efficiency ratio were also significantly influenced by dietary PtCho. The results of our study indicate that dietary PtCho has a growth-promoting effect and that juvenile Caspian brown trout have a relatively moderate PtCho requirement (at least 4% dry weight of the diet).     

Genetic relationships among Iranian and exotic safflower using microsatellite markers

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is mainly grown as an oil seed crop in the semiarid and temperate regions of the world. In this study, microsatellite markers were used to evaluate and characterize genetic relationships among 20 safflower genotypes including six Iranian and 14 exotic ones. Nine primer pairs generated clear scoring bands and yielded 22 alleles ranging from 100 to 400 bp with 2-4 alleles per locus. Polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.11 to 0.62 with an average of 0.33. The Dice similarity coefficients among the genotypes ranged from 0.06 (between Soviet Union 2 and USA) to 0.95 (between Local Isfahan and Indian 2), indicating a relatively high genetic variation among the safflower genotypes studied. Both cluster and principal components analysis (PCA) clearly classified safflower genotypes into four groups. Results indicated that in most cases safflower genotypes were divided into the groups consistent with their country of origin. Clustering some foreign genotypes into the Iranian group was due to their similar genetic basis and it was suggested that Iran may be the origin of these. The findings suggested that microsatellite markers could be efficiently utilized to assess genetic diversity and relationships among safflower genotypes.     

Monitoring of sewage pollution in the surface sediments of coastal ecosystems using linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) as molecular markers

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Molecular organic markers are an effective tool to detect the adverse effects of anthropogenic inputs in the aquatic environment. Linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) are...     

Functional properties of protein isolates extracted from stabilized rice bran by microwave, dry heat, and parboiling

Protein isolates extracted from differently stabilized rice bran were analyzed to work out the food use potential. Bulk density remained higher for isolates obtained from heat stabilized bran, the treatments were found to have positive impact on the oil absorption properties, while the water absorption was slightly impaired owing to some possible configurational changes. Surface hydrophobicity and emulsion properties were improved with bran stabilization. Isolates exhibited better foaming properties owing to the flexible nature of protein molecules, with less intensive disulfide bonding, that were slightly affected by the stabilization treatment. Nitrogen solubility index followed a curved pattern with the least value near isoelectric point that showed an increasing trend toward basic pH, and parboiled protein isolates exhibited better gelling properties among the isolates.