The Impact of Cl ?? Cd Interrelationship on Planning Wastewater Reuse in Cabbage

Two greenhouse pot experiments were conducted in Agrinion, Greece, using a randomized block design in four replications, respectively, as follows: The first one included five levels of treated municipal wastewater (TMWW), being used as an irrigation water source. The second one, five levels of applied Cl at a constant soil applied Cd level of 10.36?mg/kg soil, the plants being irrigated with fresh well water. The purpose of these experiments was to study the impact of the Cl ?? Cd interrelationship on planning TMWW reuse, for the irrigation of Brassica oleracea var. Capitata (cabbage) cv F1 Gloria, ehich was used as test plant, in both of these experiments. It was found that the TMWW Cl content, originating mainly from the procedure of wastewater chlorination, was synergistically interrelated with the toxic heavy metal Cd, increasing its soil availability and cabbage plant leaf uptake (edible plant part). As this increase is directly associated with the consumer??s health, it was suggested that the TMWW be subjected to dechlorination process or the disinfection be made by ozonation or UV, which do not include Cl.     

Biosorption Capacity for Cadmium of Brown Seaweed Sargassum sinicola and Sargassum lapazeanum in the Gulf of California

Brown algae Sargassum sinicola and Sargassum lapazeanum were tested as cadmium biosorbents in coastal environments close to natural and enriched areas of phosphorite ore. Differences in the concentration of cadmium in these brown algae were found, reflecting the bioavailability of the metal ion in seawater at several sites. In the laboratory, maximum biosorption capacity (q _max) of cadmium by these nonliving algae was determined according to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm as 62.42?±?0.44 mg g^?1 with the affinity constant (b) of 0.09 and 71.20?±?0.80 with b of 0.03 for S. sinicola and S. lapazeanum, respectively. Alginate yield was 19.16?±?1.52% and 12.7?±?1.31%, respectively. Although S. sinicola had far lower biosorption capacity than S. lapazeanum, the affinity for cadmium for S. sinicola makes this alga more suitable as a biosorbent because of its high q _max and large biomass on the eastern coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Sargassum biomass was estimated at 180,000 t, with S. sinicola contributing to over 70%.     

Influence of control parameters in VOCs evolution during MSW trimming residues composting

The influence of control parameters (aeration, moisture, and C/N ratio) during composting of a municipal solid waste (MSW)-legume-trimming residue (LTR) mixture was studied at a pilot plant scale. Factors measured included the composition of the main volatile organic carbons (VOCs) emitted including limonene, β-pinene, 2-butanone, undecane, phenol, toluene, and dimethyl disulfide. Polynomial models were found to reproduce the experimental results with errors at less than 10%. The relative influence of the independent variables on temperature and selected VOCs followed the order: aeration > moisture > C/N. A high aeration rate results in higher (strong negative effect) values on selected VOCs emissions (41-71% on emitted VOCs variation). Moisture had a positive and negative effect depending on the selected VOCs. A high C/N ratio caused lower production of VOCs except for undecane and 2-butanone. Providing an aerobic environment (0.05 Lair kg(-1) min(-1)), high C/N ratios (>50), and medium moisture (55%) minimize emitted VOCs during MSW composting, ultimately resulting in less odors in the surrounding environment.     

Dose-response effect of fish oil substitution in parturition feed on erythrocyte membrane characteristics and sow performance

The present study aimed to investigate whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) incorporate into erythrocyte membranes of peripartal sows in a dose-responsive manner and whether the altered fatty acid profile affects the cell membrane characteristics. At day 109 of gestation (day 0), 51 sows were divided into five treatment groups. Each group received a diet with a different ratio of fish oil to pork lard for nine consecutive days. Blood samples were taken at day 0 and 10 days later. The fatty acid profile of erythrocytes was determined, as well as the osmotic fragility and oxidative stability of erythrocytes. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were determined in plasma samples. Finally, reproductive and performance parameters of both sows and piglets were recorded until weaning. Supplementation of fish oil during the peripartal period changed the fatty acid profile of erythrocyte membranes in a dose-responsive manner. Although the n-3 PUFA content of erythrocyte membranes increased with increasing amounts of fish oil in the diet, no significant effect on erythrocyte osmotic fragility could be recorded. In contrast, oxidative stability of erythrocytes decreased linearly with increasing amounts of fish oil in the diet. Similarly, both TBARS and FRAP linearly increased with increasing percentages of fish oil in the diet. Neither piglet nor sow performance was influenced by dietary treatments, except for a decrease of both piglet survival and weaning weight with increasing quantities of fish oil supplemented. It is concluded that changes in dietary lipid sources can affect the membrane's fatty acid profile within days, and mainly influences oxidative stability of the cells.     

A Survey of Infectious Diseases and Parasites of Penaeid Shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico

A histopathological survey of wild and cultured shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico was carried out to determine the prevalence and severity of infectious diseases and parasites, affecting four species of penaeid shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus, Farfantepenaeus aztecus, F. duorarum, and L. vannamei). Around 60 shrimp were obtained from each of 10 sampling stations during different months in 1999 and 2000. One station was a shrimp culture farm from Tamaulipas State, and nine were wild stations from Tamaulipas (five), Veracruz (one), and Campeche (three) States. Thirty shrimp from each station were used for histological analysis. The remaining shrimp were frozen and kept at ?20 C to carry out PCR techniques to determine the presence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Some in situ hybridization analyses were applied to ascertain cases of WSS viral disease. Fresh analysis was carried out in shrimp from only one station for parasite identification. The histopathological survey performed on 688 shrimp showed no evidence of viral diseases. Two shrimp from one station were histologically diagnosed as having presumptive WSSV. Tissues from the same shrimp were processed for in situ hybridization and another 20 samples from the same station were processed to run PCR techniques. In each case, the results were negative. The same PCR procedure was applied to the rest of the frozen samples and none of them showed the presence of the WSSV. No important bacterial infections were observed in any of the wild or cultured shrimp analyzed. Fresh analysis demonstrated the presence of the cestode Prochristianella hispida and the gregarines Cephalolobus penaeus and Nematopsis penaeus. Histological analysis showed that the abundance of P. hispida varied from 7 to 90%, and G1 to G4 grades of severity were observed, with G1 being the most common. Gregarines were commonly observed in the histological slides, with a prevalence varying from 3 to 56% and G1 severity in most cases. Haplosporidan infection was observed in one sample of F. duorarum, which is the first report of this parasite in this host. Two invasive epibionts, the filamentous bacteria Leucothrix sp. and the ciliate Ascophrys sp., were found in four sampled stations. The study showed that in ten stations sampled from 1999 to 2000 in the Gulf of Mexico, shrimp populations had no serious infectious diseases.     

Presence of an emerging pathogen of amphibians in introduced bullfrogs Rana catesbeiana in Venezuela

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging fungal disease of amphibians responsible for mass mortalities and population declines globally. One hypothesis for its recent emergence is anthropogenic introduction of the causative agent Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis through trade in amphibians for pets, food and biocontrol. In this study, we examined histological samples from apparently healthy American bullfrogs Rana catesbeiana that have been introduced into the Venezuelan Andes. B. dendrobatidis was present in 96% (46/48) of the individuals examined. In contrast to cases of chytridiomycosis outbreaks, the majority (44/46) of frogs had few, small lesions consistent with little or no clinical disease and no unusual mortality was observed. These findings have implications for amphibian declines in Venezuela and elsewhere. First, the high prevalence of Batrachochytrium but lack of clinical signs or chytridiomycosis-related mortality suggests that R. catesbeiana may be a good reservoir for this parasite in Venezuela. Second, the presence of this emerging pathogen in an introduced amphibian species suggests that trade and introduction of amphibians should be monitored and controlled to halt the spread of this pathogen nationally and internationally.     

Effect of halofuginone lactate on treatment and prevention of lamb cryptosporidiosis: an extensive field trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of halofuginone lactate (100 mug/kg BW) on treatment and prevention of cryptosporidiosis in lambs. It consisted of three field trials. The first trial was designed to assess the efficacy of halofuginone in treating lamb diarrhoea caused by cryptosporidiosis, and in preventing the disease, using two schemes; halofuginone given for seven and for three consecutive days respectively. Halofuginone was effective in the treatment of diarrhoea caused by cryptosporidiosis (P < 0.01). In addition, halofuginone administered as a 7-day treatment was significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than a 3-day treatment in preventing diarrhoea in the infected flocks. The second trial was designed to evaluate the preventive effect of halofuginone, which was administered for 7 days in lambs infected with cryptosporidiosis, on diarrhoea incidence, oocyst shedding and body weight gain. Halofuginone significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the diarrhoea incidence, the time of oocyst shedding and the mean intensity of shedding, but did not affect body weight gain. The third trial was designed to examine the ability of halofuginone to reduce the death rate in flocks with cryptosporidiosis. Halofuginone treatment was effective in preventing and in reducing the death rate of cryptosporidiosis in these flocks.     

Comparative genomics and proteomics to study tissue-specific response and function in natural Mycobacterium bovis infections

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an established zoonotic disease which affects cattle and wildlife worldwide and new strategies are required to control and eradicate the disease. The European wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a major reservoir of bTB in Spain. The objective of this paper was to review tissue-specific response and function of mandibular lymph nodes (MLN) and oropharyngeal tonsils (OT) in European wild boar naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Genomics and proteomics data were used to compare differential gene expression and global protein patterns in OT and MLN of M. bovis-infected and uninfected European wild boar and the results were analyzed considering previous reports of experimental infections in laboratory and domestic animals. The results showed tissue-specific differences in OT and MLN in response to M. bovis infection. Tissue-specific differences in gene expression and protein profiles suggested different functions for OT and MLN during mycobacterial infection and provided information to characterize the pathobiology of M. bovis infection in European wild boar with important implications for the control of bTB in Spain. The characterization of molecular events in tissues that play different roles during mycobacterial infection in naturally infected individuals may be relevant to understand the pathobiology of M. bovis infection and to design effective strategies for the control of bTB in wildlife reservoirs.     

Gastrointestinal parasites of shepherd and hunting dogs in the Serres Prefecture, Northern Greece

A total of 281 faecal samples from owned shepherd and hunting dogs were collected in the Serres Prefecture, Northern Greece and were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites. The overall prevalence of parasitism was 26% and the 11 species found were: Toxocara canis (12.8%), Trichuris vulpis (9.6%), Giardia spp. (4.3%), Isospora (Cystoisospora) spp. (3.9%), Ancylostoma/Uncinaria spp. (2.8%), Cryptosporidium spp. (2.8%), Alaria alata (2.5%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.8%), Angiostrongylus vasorum (1.1%), Toxascaris leonina (0.7%) and Dipylidium caninum (0.3%). The prevalence of T. canis and Isospora (Cystoisospora) spp. was significantly higher in young than in adult dogs (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in prevalence between genders, except for T. canis, which was more common in male dogs (p < 0.05).     

Isolation of free-living pathogenic amoebae from thermal spas in N.W. Spain

We tested for the presence of free-living amoebae in water from 12 thermal spas in northwest Spain; 8 tested positive. No relationship was observed between temperature, pH or bacterial contamination and either the presence of amoebae or the, number of strains per sample. A total of 13 strains were found: 5 of Vahlkampfia, 2 of Naegleria, 3 of Acanthamoeba and 3 of other genera. Those Naegleria and Acanthamoeba strains which survived at 37 ? were tested for pathogenicity by intracerebral and intranasal inoculation of mice; only 2 strains (both of the species Acanthamoeba polyphaga) caused death.