Molecular detection of important abortion-causing microorganisms in preputial swab of breeding bucks using PCR-based assays

Infectious diseases and aetiological agents related to female reproductive systems were extensively covered compared to its male counterpart. There needs a proper study to bridge this gap, where microflora and infectious agents of both male and female reproductive are mutually intelligible. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination of the preputial cavity and also screened for abortion-causing agents which are zoonotic as well. In goats, such types of abortions are caused by Brucella melitensis, Chlamydophila, Campylobacter and Coxiella etc. One of the major sources of contamination of semen is the preputial cavity, which is exposed to the external environment leading to spread of infection into the female via semen straws or by natural service. In the current study, good quality bucks (n = 32, Barbari = 12, Jamunapari = 10, Jakhrana = 10) which were routinely used for semen collection were screened for their preputial swabs, for the presence of the above pathogens. For detection of Brucella melitensis, OMP31 based TaqMan® probe real-time PCR assay was used, and for Chlamydia, 16srRNA gene based SYBR® green real-time PCR assay was employed for detection of Chlamydophila abortus. While for Campylobacter spp. and Coxiella burnetii, 16srRNA gene based conventional PCR and Trans-PCR were used, respectively. In the current study, of the screened preputial swabs, none of them showed positive for Brucella and Coxiella, but of the screened 32 samples 17 showed positive for Chlamydia (53.13%) and two (6.25%) showed positive for Campylobacter spp. The current study emphasizes on the farms and laboratories which were regularly involved in screening of brucellosis also often overlook the other potential non-brucella pathogens, causing abortions eventually incurring severe economic losses to the goat keepers.     

Effects of supplemental‐nitrogen on the quality of rice proteins

A study was conducted on the effect of supplemental nitrogen (N) (20 hg/ha) applied as a foliar spray or to the soil on seed production, protein percentage, and protein fractions of rice. Plants were grown in a greenhouse over two different periods of time, i.e., August 1988 to January 1989 (Period I), and December 1988 to April 1989 (Period II). Nitrogen was applied to the leaves 10 and 20 days after anthesis (DAA), and to the soil at anthesis and at 15 DAA. Average temperature was 28.7°C during Period I and 32°C during Period II, corresponding to 18.7 and 22.0 growing degree‐day/day (GDD/day), respectively. The difference in GDD/day reduced the plant cycle from 130 days during Period I to 109 days during Period II. Plants grown during Period II had larger numbers of spikelets, a higher percentage of “full grown grains”;, and higher grain weight. Although percentage crude protein was about the same for the two periods, prolamin content was increased and the albumin+globulin fraction was decreased during Period II, but with no difference in glutelin content. The increase in number of spikelets, percent full grains, and grain weight appeared to result in a greater energy demand for plants grown during Period II. This may explain the increase in prolamins, since prolamin synthesis requires less energy than globulin or albumin synthesis. There was a simultaneous decrease in albumin and globulin synthesis during Period II. The content of glutelins, which represent the major reserve proteins in rice grains, was constant during both periods.     

Climatic Drivers of Revegetation Management Practices in Australia: Analysis of a Social Survey

Investment in small and large-scale revegetation in Australia is growing in response to concerns regarding the sustainability and productivity of agricultural landscapes. Site preparation and management––such as soil cultivation, weed control, fertilising, mulching, use of treeguards and watering––are major costs associated with small-scale revegetation. The aim of this study has been to investigate local revegetation knowledge and practices to determine the usefulness of each management practice for achieving success and to determine whether some practices are more suited to particular climatic zones. A national online revegetation survey was conducted to ascertain current small-scale revegetation practices and the factors that drive these choices. Management practices were found to be strongly associated with climate. Mulch, fertiliser, weed control and watering were applied more frequently in higher rainfall and higher temperature zones. Soil cultivation and treeguards were used more frequently in lower rainfall and lower temperature zones. These findings suggest that there may be some benefit in modifying existing revegetation guidelines to reflect climatic zones and management flexibility.

Flux partitioning in an old-growth forest: seasonal and interannual dynamics

Turbulent fluxes of carbon, water and energy were measured at the Wind River Canopy Crane, Washington, USA from 1999 to 2004 with eddy-covariance instrumentation above (67 m) and below (2.5 m) the forest canopy. Here we present the decomposition of net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE) into gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (R(eco)) and tree canopy net CO(2) exchange (DeltaC) for an old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco)-western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) forest. Significant amounts of carbon were recycled within the canopy because carbon flux measured at the below-canopy level was always upward. Maximum fluxes reached 4-6 micromol m(-2) s(-1) of CO(2) into the canopy air space during the summer months, often equaling the net downward fluxes measured at the above-canopy level. Ecosystem respiration rates deviated from the expected exponential relationship with temperature during the summer months. An empirical ecosystem stress term was derived from soil water content and understory flux data and was added to the R(eco) model to account for attenuated respiration during the summer drought. This attenuation term was not needed in 1999, a wet La Ni?a year. Years in which climate approximated the historical mean, were within the normal range in both NEE and R(eco), but enhanced or suppressed R(eco) had a significant influence on the carbon balance of the entire stand. In years with low respiration the forest acts as a strong carbon sink (-217 g C m(-2) year(-1)), whereas years in which respiration is high can turn the ecosystem into a weak to moderate carbon source (+100 g C m(-2) year(-1)).     

Ontogenetic changes in stomatal and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis of two co-occurring Mediterranean oaks differing in leaf life span

A quantitative analysis was applied to the stomatal and biochemical limitations to light-saturated net photosynthesis under optimal field conditions in mature trees and seedlings of the co-occurring evergreen oak, Quercus ilex L., and the deciduous oak, Q. faginea Lam. Stomatal limitation to photosynthesis, maximal Rubisco activity and electron transport rate were determined from assimilation versus intercellular leaf carbon dioxide concentration response curves of leaves that were subsequently analyzed for nitrogen (N) concentration, mass per unit area, thickness and percent internal air space. In both species, seedlings had a lower leaf mass per unit area, thickness and leaf N concentration than mature trees. The root system of seedlings during their third year after planting was dominated by a taproot. A lower leaf N concentration of seedlings was associated with lower maximal Rubisco activity and electron transport rate and with assimilation rates similar to or lower than those of mature trees, despite the higher stomatal conductances and potential photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiencies of seedlings. Consequently, stomatal limitation to photosynthesis increased with tree age in both species. In both seedlings and mature trees, a lower assimilation rate in Q. ilex than in Q. faginea was associated with lower stomatal conductance, N allocation to photosynthetic functions, maximal Rubisco activity and electron transport rate, and potential photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency but greater leaf thickness and leaf mass per unit area. Tree-age-related changes differed quantitatively between species, and the characteristics of the two species were more similar in seedlings than in mature trees. Despite higher stomatal conductances, seedlings are more N limited than adult trees, which contributes to lower biochemical efficiency.     

Thinning intensity and growth response in SW-European Scots pine stands

The effect of different thinning intensities on growth and yield was studied in Pinus sylvestris L. stands at the south-western limit of its distribution area (Central Spain), using five long-term thinning trials. Data were analysed collectively considering several factors (trial, block, plot and period) as random effects. Total volume and volume increment decreased with thinning intensity, this loss being more significant in the case of moderate and heavy thinning. No difference was found among treatments for total basal area or the increment in basal area. The results revealed an optimum basal area (Assmann’s definition) between 85 and 100% of the basal area in unthinned plots. Volume growth loss associated with heavy thinnings (reduction of 18% in volume increment) was smaller than that reported in Central and Northern European regions (greater than 25%). Height increment was not influenced by thinning, whereas dominant and quadratic mean diameter increments increased with the thinning intensity. The response of diameter growth to thinning was greater at younger ages (less than 50 y) and in medium-sized trees.     

Cocoa Flavanols Protect Human Endothelial Cells from Oxidative Stress

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Oxidative stress may cause functional disorders of vascular endothelia which can lead to endothelial apoptosis and thus alter the function and structure of the...     

Fibrosarcoma adjacent to the site of microchip implantation in a cat

A 14-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat presented with an interscapular mass. A computed tomography scan, biopsy, and histological examination revealed a fibrosarcoma adjacent to a pet identification microchip. Because the cat was previously vaccinated at this site, it is not possible to establish definitive causation of the fibrosarcoma, but this is the first report of a tumor in the vicinity of a microchip in a cat. Microchip-associated tumors have been reported in rodents and dogs. Veterinarians should be aware that because inflammation may predispose felines to tumor formation, separation and observation of vaccination and implantation sites are indicated. Adherence to American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) vaccination guidelines and monitoring of microchip implantation sites are recommended.     

Hematology of the Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) and the southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis)

Turtle populations are decreasing dramatically due to habitat loss and collection for the food and pet market. This study sought to determine hematologic values in two species of turtles to help assess health status of captive and wild populations. Blood samples were collected from 12 individuals of the Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) and seven individuals of the southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (South Carolina, USA). The hematologic data included hematocrit, total solids, erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, and differential and percentage leukocyte counts. Low hematocrit values and high basophil counts were found in both species. The basophil was the most abundant leukocyte in the Pascagoula map turtle (median = 0.80 x 10(9)/L), whereas in the Southeast Asian box turtle the most abundant leukocyte was the heterophil (median = 2.06 x 10(9)/L).     

Hepatic endogenous defense potential of propolis after mercury intoxication

Exposure to mercuric chloride (HgCl₂; 5 mg kg^?1 body weight; i.p.) induced oxidative stress in mice and substantially increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, decreased the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and various antioxidant enzymes in liver and also increased the activities of liver marker enzymes in serum. Therapy with propolis extract, a resinous wax‐like beehive product (200 mg kg^?1 orally, after mercury administration), for 3 days inhibited LPO and the formation of GSSG and increased the level of GSH in the liver. Release of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly restored after propolis treatment. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, that is, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione‐S‐transferase and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, were also concomitantly restored towards normal levels after propolis administration. These observations clearly demonstrate that propolis treatment augments antioxidant defense against mercury‐induced toxicity and provide evidence that propolis has therapeutic potential as a hepatoprotective agent.