Analysis of the epitopes on staphylococcal enterotoxin A responsible for emetic activity

To identify which region of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is responsible for the emetic activity, twelve synthetic peptides corresponding to the entire SEA amino acid sequence and their respective anti-peptide antibodies were prepared and tested. The anti-peptide antibodies were tested for neutralization of SEA-induced emesis in Suncus murinus (Shrew mouse). The results indicate that SEA-induced emesis was neutralized by the mixture of three anti-peptide antibodies to A-7 (corresponding to amino acid residues 121-140), A-8 (141-160) and A-9 (160-180). These findings suggest that the regions corresponding to residues 121-180 may be the epitopes responsible for the emetic activity of SEA.     

House fly head GABA-gated chloride channel: [3 H] α-Endosulfan binding in relation to polychlorocycloalkane insecticide action

This study attempts to use [³H] α-endosulfan to examine directly the binding site(s) for cyclodienes, lindane and toxaphene (collectively referred to as the polychlorocycloalkane or PCCA insecticides) in the 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated chloride channel. [³H] α-Endosulfan was prepared by reduction of hexachloronorbornenedicarboxylic anhydride with sodium borotritide, then coupling the labelled alcohol with thionyl chloride followed by HPLC purification (35 Ci mmol^?1, > 99% radiochemical purity). This new candidate radioligand readily partitions into lipid membranes and undergoes indiscriminate adsorption to surfaces resulting in high levels of non-specific binding. This makes it very difficult to differentiate the small portion of specific binding at the site relevant to toxic action. This problem was partially circumvented by incubating [³H] α-endosulfan (0.1 nM) with house-fly head membranes (0.2 mg protein) for 70 min at 22°C giving 23 (±4)% specific binding (40 fmol mg^?1 protein) determined as the difference between the radioligand alone and on preincubation for 15 min with unlabelled α-endosulfan (final concentration 100 nM). This procedure is not appropriate for determination of saturation isotherms and standard binding kinetics. However, the effectiveness of 16 PCCAs (also at 100 nM final concentration) in blocking the specific binding of [³H] α-endosulfan is generally consistent with their relative potencies as inhibitors of 4-[³H] propyl-1-(4-ethynylphenyl)-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2] octane ([³H]EBOB) binding suggesting that the binding site for both [³H]α-endosulfan and the PCCAs is part of the GABA-gated chloride channel. Insecticidal channel blockers of other types (e.g. picrotoxinin, trioxabicyclooctanes, a dithiane, and phenylpyrazoles) and GABA are poor inhibitors of [³H] α-endosulfan binding relative to their potencies as inhibitors of [³H] EBOB binding. It therefore appears that the PCCAs compete directly for the [³H] α-endosulfan site, whereas the other channel blockers bind with different inhibition kinetics or at a site more closely coupled to the EBOB than the α-endosulfan binding domain.     

Sustained-release formulations ofBacillus thuringiensis serotype H-14 and plastic formulations of Abate for long-term control of mosquito larvae

The larvicidal activity of sustained-release formulations ofBacillus thuringiensis H-14 (Bactimos briquets) and controlledrelease plastic formulations of Abate against mosquito larvae ofAedes aegypti (L.) has been evaluated. The test formulations provided continuous effective control with 90–100% larval mortality for several weeks. The presence of suspended soil constituents was associated with a lowering of larval mortality and tended to reduce the durations of effective control of Bactimos and Abate plastic pellets against mosquito larvae by about 1.8 and 2.2 times, respectively. Treatments with such formulations did not appear to prevent hatch of eggs which oviposited after application, but all newly hatched larvae failed to develop beyond the second instar.     

Factors affecting efficacy ofBacillus thuringiensis H-14 against mosquito larvae with special reference to the joint action of the pathogen with three chemical insecticides

In laboratory trials with the pathogenBacillus thuringiensis H-14 (B. t. H-14) against culicine larvae ofCulex pipiens L. andAedes aegypti (L.), the following factors significantly influenced larvicidal activity: larval instars, mosquito species, exposure time and temperature. Variation in water pH, however, did not significantly affected efficacy. Different levels of potentiation and additive effects were also obtained when the bacterial agentB. t. H-14 applied jointly with the chemical insecticides malathion, dursban and fenvalerate against mosquito larvae.     

The slide agglutination test for the diagnosis of filariasis in camels

The slide agglutination test was adapted for the diagnosis of filariasis in camels, using an antigen prepared from the microfilariae by a simple lytic technique. The preliminary results were satisfactory as the test detected 86 per cent of the infected animals. Only 6 per cent of the healthy camels with no blood parasites or microfilariae in their blood gave positive results and no positive reactions were obtained from 18 animals suffering from Trypanosoma infection.     

A mixture of pure cellulase, hemicellulase and pectinase improves broiler performance

1. The effects of a mixture of pure enzymes (cellulase, hemicellulase and pectinase) and a commercial enzyme, Energex, were examined on performance and metabolisabilities in broiler chicks given a maize-soybean meal diet. Composition of the mixed enzyme was similar to Energex except that protease was not present. 2. Chicks were divided into three groups: control, mixed enzyme and Energex with 7 replicates per group. Male broiler chicks were raised at 25 degrees C in wire-floored cages for 12 d from 15 d of age. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. 3. The Energex group gained significantly more weight and the mixed enzyme group tended to gain more than the control. Feed intakes were similar and thus the feed conversion ratio of Energex was significantly improved while it tended to be improved by the mixed enzyme. 4. The mixed enzyme group showed significant improvement in carcase and muscle weight when compared with the control group. The mixed enzyme group also showed significant improvement in organic matter and crude protein metabolisabilities. In the groups given enzyme, abdominal fat weight tended to decrease. 5. It is concluded that a combination of cellulase, hemicellulase and pectinase is effective in improving organic matter and crude protein metabolisabilities and carcase yield of broilers on a maize-soybean meal diet.     

Effect of dietary inclusion of cumin seed oil on the performance,egg quality,immune response and ovarian development in laying hens under high ambient temperature

The objective of the present study was to find the effect of cumin seed oil (CSO, Cuminum cyminum L.) on the laying performance, ovarian follicular development and immune response in laying hens under high ambient temperature. A total of 162 Boven hens were randomly divided into three treatments and were fed, ad libitum, diets containing 0 (control), 250 or 500 g CSO per ton from 24 to 30 weeks of age. The experiment was done during summer season where the average temperate was 30 to 36°C. Feed intake and egg mass were recorded. Egg quality characteristics and egg‐yolk cholesterol content were evaluated. Ovary and oviduct samples were immediately weighted, and ovarian follicles were classified. Plasma total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, HDL‐cholesterol glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were measured. Yolk width, yolk weight, yolk colour, shell weight and shell thickness were increased by feeding CSO. Egg production rate was not affected. However, dietary 500 g CSO per ton had a significantly positive impact on egg weight in comparison with control. The FCR was improved by feeding 500 g CSO per ton; however, feed intake and egg mass were not affected by CSO treatments. Plasma GOT, GPT and triglycerides were significantly decreased, while, plasma HDL‐cholesterol was significantly (p < .05) increased due to CSO treatments. Yolk cholesterol content was significantly decreased; however, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was insignificantly decreased due to dietary treatments. Interestingly, the inclusion of CSO in laying hens’ diets improved the antibody titres against Newcastle disease (ND, p < .05) and against avian influenza H9N1 (p > .05) when compared with the control diet. It could be concluded that dietary inclusion of CSO improved egg weight, FCR, yolk and shell quality characteristics and did not have a negative effect on the reproductive morphology parameters in laying hens.