Serodiagnosis of infection withTrypanosoma evansi in camels in the Sudan

Summary Five diagnostic tests for infection withTrypanosoma evansi have been compared in groups of camels experimentally infected or exposed to natural infection in the Sudan. The correlation of positive results obtained by assays of IgM levels, the mercuric chloride test and the formol gel test with the presence of active infection was unsatisfactory, but there was a good correlation between results obtained using IFAT and ELISA and proven infection. Sera from a high proportion of apparently uninfected camels from endemic areas gave positive reactions with all 5 tests, possibly indicating inadequate parasitological diagnosis or persistence of antibody after unsatisfactory chemotherapy. It was concluded that serological tests using trypanosomal antigens to detect antibodies were more sensitive for diagnosis than indirect tests based on raised euglobulin levels. Serodiagnostic tests may therefore have a place in future programmes for surveillance and control ofT. evansi infections in camels.

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Serodiagnostico De La Infeccion PorTrypanosoma Evansi En Camellos En Sudan

Resumen Se compararon cinco pruebas diagnósticas para infecciones porTrypanosoma evansi en grupos de camellos infectados experimentalmente o expuestos a la infección natural. La correlación de los resultados positivos utilizando pruebas de difusión radial aisladas, le niveles de IgM, la prueba de cloruro de mercúrio, y la prueba de agar formol con la presencia de infección activa, fue insatisfactória. Hubo buena correlación entre los resultados obtenidos con IFAT y ELISA con infección comprobada. El suero de una proporción alta de camellos aparentemente sanos, provenientes de áreas endémicas, presentaron reacciones positivas con las cinco pruebas, indicando posiblemente un diagnóstico parasitológico inadecuado, o la persistencia de anticuerpos despues de una quimioterápia inadecuada. Se concluyó, que las pruebas serológicas usando antígenos preparados de tripanosomas para detectar anticuerpos, fueron más sensitovos que las pruebas indirectas basadas en el aumento de euglobulinas. Las pruebas serodiagnósticas posiblemente tendran un lugar en programas futuros de reconocimiento y control deT. evansi en camellos.

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Serodiagnostic De La Trypanosomose AT. Evansi Chez Le Chameau Du Soudan

Résumé Cinq méthodes de diagnostic de la trypanosomose àT. evansi chez le chameau ont été comparées en utilisant des chameaux expérimentalement et naturellement infectés, au Soudan. La corrélation des résultats positifs obtenus par utilisation de la diffusion radiale des Igm, par le test au chlorure mercurique et par le test de la formol gélification à l'occasion des infections en évolution, n'a pas été satisfaisante alors qu'il y a eu bonne corrélation entre les résultats obtenus par IFAT et ELISA et des infections véritables.Les sérums d'une importante proportion de chameaux apparemment non infectés, en provenance de régions à maladie endémique, ont donné des réactions positives aux cinq tests, ce qui peut indiquer soit une insuffisance dans le diagnostic parasitologique soit la persistance d'anticorps résultant d'une chimiothérapie insuffisánte.Les auteurs concluent que les tests sérologiques utilisant des trypanosomes comme antigènes pour mettre les anticorps en évidence sont plus sensibles, en matière de diagnostic, que les tests indirects basés sur la détection des niveaux des IgM. C'est pourquoi les tests faisant appel aux méthodes de sérodiagnostic doivent avoir leur place dans les programmes à venir concernant tant la surveillance que la lutte contre les infections du chameau àT. evansi.

     

Total glutathione and glutathione reductase in bovine erythrocytes and liver biopsy

The goal of the present study was to measure the total glutathione level and glutathione reductase activity in bovine erythrocytes and liver biopsy. Five cows were injected intraperitoneally with DL-ethionine (12.5 mg/kg B.W.), and two control cows were injected with normal saline (0.9% NaCl). Ultrasonography guided liver biopsy, and blood samples were collected at 0, 4, 7 and 10 days after injection. The hepatic total glutathione level was significantly increased on Days 7 (p<0.05) and 10 (p<0.01), and hepatic glutathione reductase activity was significantly increased on Days 4 (p<0.05), 7 (p<0.01) and 10 (p<0.01). There were insignificant changes in the erythrocytic total glutathione level. The present study demonstrated that liver biopsy is a valuable tool for detecting oxidative stress and for diagnosing hepatic dysfunction in cattle from the viewpoint of the status of glutathione and glutathione reductase.     

Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of a functional GSTmu class from the cattle tick Boophilus annulatus

A full-length cDNA of a glutathione S-transferase (GST) was cloned from a cDNA library of the local Egyptian cattle tick Boophilus annulatus. The 672 bp cloned fragment was sequenced and showed an open reading frame encoding a protein of 223 amino acids. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with GSTs from other species revealed that the sequence is closely related to the mammalian mu-class GST. The cloned gene was expressed in E. coli under T7 promotor of pET-30b vector, and purified under native conditions. The purified enzyme appeared as a single band on 12% SDS-PAGE and has a molecular weight of 30.8 kDa including the histidine tag of the vector. The purified enzyme was assayed upon the chromogenic substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and the recombinant enzyme showed high level of activity even in the presence of the beta-galactosidase region on its 5' end and showed maximum activity at pH 7.5. The Km values for CDNB and GSH were 0.57 and 0.79 mM, respectively. The over expressed rBaGST showed high activity toward CDNB (121 units/mg protein) and less toward DCNB (29.3 units/mg protein). rBaGST exhibited peroxidatic activity on cumene hydroperoxide sharing this property with GSTs belonging to the GST alpha class. I50 values for cibacron blue and bromosulfophthalein were 0.22 and 8.45 microM, respectively, sharing this property with the mammalian GSTmu class. Immunoblotting revealed the presence of the GST molecule in B. annulatus protein extracts; whole tick, larvae, gut, salivary gland and ovary. Homologues to the GSTmu were also detected in other tick species as Hyalomma dromedarii and Rhipicephalus sp. while in Ornithodoros moubata, GSTmu homologue could not be detected.     

Vorläufige Untersuchungen über die Virulenz von 13 Bazillus-Präparaten gegenüber 3 Ägyptischen Noctuiden

Zusammenfassung Die Virulenz von 13 Bacilluspr?paraten (2 Handelspr?parate vonBacillus thuringiensis var,thuringiensis Berliner und 11 Laboratoriums-Pr?parate von verschiedenen Arten und Variet?ten) gegen 3 ?gyptische Noctuiden (Agrotis ypsilon Rott.,Laphygma exigua Hbn. undProdenia litura Fab.) wurden untersucht. 50 Raupen von jeder Art (6–7 Tage alt) wurden für jede Behandlung und die Kontrolle verwendet (einen Tag auf behandeltes Laub vonTrifolium alexandrinum gesetzt). Die Resultate ergaben, da?Laphygma in 9 F?llen sehr empfindlich ist, wobei sich ein deutlicher Unterschied zu den beiden anderen Arten ergab. In 7 dieser F?lle folgte aufLaphygma Prodenia und in 2 F?lleAgrotis. Besonders wirksame Pr?parate waren: Biospor 2802 gegenLaphygma, Bacillus thuringiensis var.thuringiensis 2172 gegenProdenia undB. entomocidus var.subtoxicus 1179 gegenAgiotis. In den meisten F?llen wurde kein direkter Zusammenhang zwischen Virulenz und Zahl der lebenden Sporen gefunden.

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Summary The virulence of 13 Bacillus preparations (2 commercial formulations ofBacillus thuringiensis var.thuringiensis Berliner and 11 laboratory preparations of different varieties and species) on 3 Egyptian noctuids (Agrotis ypsilon Rott.,Laphygma exigua Hbn. andProdenia litura Fab.) was tested. Fifty larvae of each species (6–7 days-old) were used for each treatment and for the control (one day voluntary ingestion on foliage ofTrifolium alexandrinum). Results revealed thatLaphygma is most susceptible in 9 cases with marked difference between it and both other species. In 7 of these casesLaphygma was followed byProdenia and in 2 cases byAgrotis. Most virulent preparations were: Biospore 2802 againstLaphygma, Bacillus thuringiensis var.thuringiensis 2172 againstProdenia andB. entomocidus var.subtoxicus 1179 againstAgrotis. In most cases no direct relationship was observed between virulence and number of viable spores in dose.

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Die Autoren sind zu Dank verpflichtet Herrn Dr. A. Burgerjon, Station des Recherches de Lutte Biologique (La Miniere), Herrn Dr. G. Benz ETH-Entomological Institute (Zürich), Herrn J. Wolf, Department of Agriculture (Leeds) und der N. R. R. L. (Illinois) für die Beschaffung der Bakterien-Pr?parate, die in vorliegender Arbeit verwendet wurden.     

An outbreak of neurofilariosis in young goats

An outbreak of cerebrospinal microfilariosis in 23 kids, representing a whole kid crop, occurred on a farm in Qassim, Central Saudi Arabia. The morbidity and mortality rates were 100%. Clinical signs, in kids from the fourth to sixth week of age, manifested as weakness in the hind legs followed by incoordination of movement and feet dragging. Seven to ten days later, the hind legs were completely paralyzed, and within a week the front legs were also paralyzed. The animals continued to feed, drink and suckle normally, and were in good health. Paralyzed kids were helped to suckle by the farm attendants. With time, loss of control of motor functions occurred and the ability to hold the head in upright position was lost, ability to eat or drink was lost. The infected kids health deteriorated and they eventually died. Two dead kids were postmortemed. With the exception of a meningeal haemorrhage seen in one kid, no obvious macroscopic lesions were seen in any of the autopsied animals. Histopathological examination of the spinal cord and brain showed different microfilaria of different sizes between the meninges and the nervous tissue. This indicated that development of the parasite occurred in the nervous tissue. The larger microfilaria contained black deposits, most likely to be digested blood, in their guts. It is likely that the parasites are haematophagus. The main lesions caused by the microfilaria were migratory traumatic haemorrhagic tracts in the spinal cord and the brain. These sometimes contained parts of the microfilariae. In the brain malacic lesions and sporadic aggregates of lymphocytes were also noted.     

Potential of landrace germplasm for genetic enhancement of white lupin in Egypt

Landraces of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) collected in Egypt were evaluated along with locally developed cultivars and selected foreign germplasm for yield and major morphological characteristics in five different locations. These locations represent different soil types and climatic conditions in Egypt. The results showed an outstanding performance of the local cultivar checks across traditional locations for lupin cultivation, which supports the utilization of local germplasm for further improvement of locally adapted lupins in Egypt. The results further suggest that local landrace germplasm may be an important source of alleles for shortening the vegetative period, reducing plant height and stem length, as well as for improving some yield components as number of pods and seeds per plant. The genotype-by-location interaction was significant for all characteristics. Mass selection in the Egyptian germplasm collection of white lupin has the potential for enhancing yield, especially in germplasm adapted to newly reclaimed desert locations.     

The effect of in planta TIBA and proline treatment on somatic embryogenesis of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

The effect of in planta TIBA and L-proline onin vitro seedlings and cell culture of sugar beet was investigated. Sterilized seeds were grownin vitro on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0 or3 mg/l TIBA. Calli obtained on young leaves cultured on MS medium containing 1 mg/l BAP, were used for the initiation of cell suspension cultures using MS basal composition supplemented with 0 or 50 mM proline. Aliquots of 1 ml from cell suspension culture were inoculated onto the first somatic embryo induction MS medium containing TIBA 0.5 mg/l, BAP 1.0 mg/l, and proline at 0 or 50 mM. After three weeks of culture, embryogenic calli were transferred to the second embryo induction medium supplemented with NAA and BAP at 0.2 and 0.5 mg/l, respectively. The frequency of somatic embryos of calli obtained from in plantaTIBA together with proline treatments on average was20 which was higher than that of the other treatments. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Resveratrol Reverses Cadmium Chloride-induced Testicular Damage and Subfertility by Downregulating p53 and Bax and Upregulating Gonadotropins and Bcl-2 gene Expression

This study was performed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of resveratrol (RES) against CdCl₂-induced toxicity in rat testes. Seven experimental groups of adult male rats were formulated as follows: A) controls+NS, B) control+vehicle (saline solution of hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin), C) RES treated, D) CdCl₂+NS, E) CdCl₂+vehicle, F) RES followed by CdCl₂ and M) CdCl₂ followed by RES. At the end of the protocol, serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured in all groups, and testicular levels of TBARS and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. Epididymal semen analysis was performed, and testicular expression of Bcl-2, p53 and Bax was assessed by RT-PCR. Also, histopathological changes of the testes were examined microscopically. Administration of RES before or after cadmium chloride in rats improved semen parameters including count, motility, daily sperm production and morphology, increased serum concentrations of gonadotropins and testosterone, decreased testicular lipid peroxidation and increased SOD activity. RES not only attenuated cadmium chloride-induced testicular histopathology but was also able to protect against the onset of cadmium chloride testicular toxicity. Cadmium chloride downregulated the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 and upregulated the expression of pro-apoptotic genes p53 and Bax. Resveratrol protected against and partially reversed cadmium chloride testicular toxicity via upregulation of Bcl2 and downregulation of p53 and Bax gene expression. The antioxidant activity of RES protects against cadmium chloride testicular toxicity and partially reverses its effect via upregulation of BCl2 and downregulation of p53 and Bax expression.