Mechanical transmission of Trypanosoma vivax in cattle by the African tabanid Atylotus fuscipes

An experiment was carried out in Burkina Faso to evaluate the potential for mechanical transmission of Trypanosoma vivax by the African tabanid Atylotus fuscipes. The experiment was carried out in a corral (10 m x 10 m) completely covered by a mosquito net (12 m x 12 m and 2.5m high). Eight heifers (cross-bred Zebu X Baoulé), free of trypanosome infection, were kept together with two heifers experimentally infected with a local stock of T. vivax. An average of 539 A. fuscipes per day, freshly captured with two Nzi traps, were introduced into the mosquito net from Day 1 to 20, to allow mechanical transmission of the parasites among cattle. Daily parasitological examinations (BCM) of cattle blood samples indicated that six of the eight receiver heifers were positive from days 9, 10, 15, 16, 19 and 29. Mechanical transmission of T. vivax by A. fuscipes was demonstrated unequivocally in close to natural conditions, at a high rate (75% incidence over a 20-day period) under a mean challenge of 54 insects per heifer per day. These results, in addition to previous demonstration of mechanical transmission of T. vivax by Atylotus agrestis, confirm that mechanical transmission can be a significant route of infection.     

Evapotranspiration,irrigation water requirement,and water productivity of rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) in the Sahelian environment

Rice is the main crop produced in the Senegal River Valley under the semiarid Sahelian climate where water resource management is critical for the resource use sustainability. However, very limited data exit on rice water use and irrigation water requirement in this water scarcity environment under climate change conditions. Understanding crop water requirements is essential for better irrigation practices, scheduling and efficient use of water. The objectives of this study were to estimate crop water use and irrigation water requirement of rice in the Senegal River Valley at Fanaye. Field experiments were conducted during the 2013 hot and dry season and wet season, and 2014 hot and dry season and wet seasons. Three nitrogen fertilizer treatments were applied to rice variety Sahel 108: 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha^?1. Rice water use was estimated by the two-step approach. Results indicated that crop actual evapotranspiration (ETa) varied from 632 to 929 mm with the highest ETa obtained during the hot and dry seasons. Irrigation water requirement varied from 863 to 1198 mm per season. Rice grain yield was function of the growing season and varied from 4.1 to 10.7 tons ha^?1 and increased with nitrogen fertilizer rate. Rice water use efficiency relative to ETa and irrigation requirements increased with nitrogen fertilizer rate while rice nitrogen use efficiency decreased with the nitrogen fertilizer rates. The results of this study can be used as a guideline for rice water use and irrigation water requirement for the irrigation design projects, consultants, universities, producers, and other operators within rice value chain in the Senegal River Valley.     

灌浆期模拟粘虫危害对春玉米产量和品质的影响

为了研究粘虫不同危害程度下玉米"源库"变化特征规律、不同叶位叶片对籽粒贡献率以及虫害对玉米品质的影响。以玉米品种先玉335、郑单958、利民33为试验材料,利用去叶留叶脉的方法对灌浆期粘虫不同危害程度进行了模拟,结果表明,粘虫危害后造成"源""库"关系变化,玉米灌浆期不同部位叶以"穗三叶"对玉米籽粒库的贡献率较大,3个品种"穗三叶"平均贡献率达48.08%,其次是"穗三叶"上部2片叶、再次为玉米顶三叶。相关分析表明,粘虫咬食后"源"的减少率与玉米单株生产力减少率呈显著或极显著的正相关关系,不同危害程度下,"穗三叶"以下叶片吃光(危害较轻)、整株剩顶5片叶(危害较重)、整株剩顶3片叶(危害严重)、整株叶片食完(危害特别严重)分别比对照(未咬食)降低4.22%,26.03%,39.26%,48.82%,粘虫咬食玉米减产幅度可达4.22%~48.82%。对梨树和农安两县市受粘虫危害的30个田间定位点统计,最高减产51.23%,平均减产20.83%,证明粘虫咬食对玉米产量影响较大。方差分析进一步证明,不同模拟处理、不同品种以及处理与品种交互作用均存在极显著差异(P0.01)。另外,粘虫危害可以影响玉米的商品品质,随着玉米源危害程度的加大,玉米籽粒中蛋白和淀粉含量比对照下降幅度较大,分别降低9.73%~15.91%和6.19%~11.11%,而脂肪含量变异相对较小。     

Survey of Anaplasmataceae bacteria in sheep from Senegal

Purpose

The authors studied the role of bacteria belonging to Anaplasmataceae family as the causes of acute illnesses of sheep in West Africa.

Methods

We examined and sampled 120 febrile sheep in two regions of Senegal for this study. The DNA extracted from these blood samples was tested by PCR using two pairs of primers (groEL-based and 16S rRNA gene-based).

Results

In 52/120 samples, the microscopic examination revealed intraerythrocytic and/or intraphagocytic spherical inclusions. In 48/52 cases, we succeeded in identifying the bacterial agent: in 38 cases, it was Anaplasma ovis; in six cases, it was Ehrlichia ruminantium; in two cases, Anaplasma phagocytophilum; in one case, Anaplasma platys; and in one case, a yet uncultured Anaplasma sp. closely related to A. phagocytophilum.

Conclusions

Our studies demonstrated the great variety of pathogenic bacteria from the Anaplasmataceae family in the blood of clinically ill sheep. A. ovis was identified unexpectedly often. For the first time, A. phagocytophilum was found in sub-Saharan Africa, and its further epidemiology may be now reconsidered. The roles of canine pathogen, A. platys, and yet undescribed Anaplasma sp. “Badiouré” in ovine pathology should be more closely studied.     

Rice genotype and fertilizer management for improving rice productivity under saline soil conditions

Paddy and Water Environment - Soil salinity is a threat to crop production in the Senegal River Delta where salt intrusion increases soil electrical conductivity and most of farmers had abandoned...     

Associating chemical analysis to molecular markers for the valorization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus aurantium</Emphasis> leaves: a useful starting point for marker-assisted selection

Variation in metabolite composition and content is often observed in citrus, however, it is poorly understood to what extent this variation has a genetic basis. C. aurantium genotypes originating from Tunisia were evaluated to detect genomic (SSR markers) and chemotypic polymorphisms and to discover possible associations between them. A total of fifteen highly polymorphic SSR markers were selected to screen the genetic variability of the most widespread sour orange genotypes. Targeted secondary metabolite profiling analysis generated twenty-one compounds differentially accumulated in the leaves of sour orange genotypes. PCA analysis revealed that genomic and chemotypic data generated similar pattern of clustering, highlighting the intra-specific variability in C. aurantium species. Both data were integrated, leading to the identification of associated SSR alleles with secondary metabolites. Based on results, a relatively high correlation (r = 0.381; p < 0.0001) between chemotypic patterns and genetic markers was identified. Associations between traits of interest for phenolic compounds and genetic markers were tested using statistical methods including three linear model approaches. These results consolidate the presence of a chemical fingerprint that may be suitable for assessing identity and quality of a particular genotype which will be very useful for citrus breeding programs.     

Host evolution in Mastomys natalensis (Rodentia: Muridae): An integrative approach using geometric morphometrics and genetics

The commensal rodent Mastomys natalensis is the natural reservoir of Lassa arenavirus (LASV), which causes hemorrhagic fever in West Africa. To study a possible effect of the virus on phenotypic and genotypic variation of its persistently infected host, we compared LASV‐positive and non‐infected wild‐caught M. natalensis. The LASV effects on the phenotypic variation were explored using standard external morphometric measurements, geometric morphometric analyses of the cranial size and shape, and brain case volume. The genetic variability of M. natalensis specimens was assessed using 9 polymorphic microsatellite markers. Independent of sex and age, LASV‐infected animals had smaller external body measurements, reproductive organs, skull size and brain case volume. Cranial shape differences between the 2 groups are represented by a lateral constriction of the entire skull. The genetic variability revealed consanguinity only among the LASV‐positive rodents. We hypothesize that growth impairment may result in a selective disadvantage for LASV‐infected M. natalensis, leading to a preferably commensal lifestyle in areas where the LAVS is endemic and, thereby, increasing the risk of LASV transmission to humans.     

灌浆期风灾倒伏对玉米籽粒灌浆特性及品质的影响

为了评估风灾倒伏造成的玉米产量损失,采用田间试验的方法对灌浆期风灾倒伏后捆扶处理、未倒伏以及倒伏上层和倒伏下层玉米籽粒建成和品质形成规律进行研究。结果表明,倒伏后第6 d玉米倒伏覆盖下层植株籽粒灌浆速率和籽粒含水率分别是对照处理(未倒伏)的26.9%和136.0%,倒伏使籽粒灌浆速率显著降低,后期籽粒脱水速度减慢。在产量上,倒伏后捆扶、倒伏上层、倒伏下层单株产量分别比对照减产11.75%、10.51%和29.88%,倒伏对下层被覆盖玉米植株影响较大,倒伏减产原因主要是由于穗粒数的减少,其次灌浆速率降低造成百粒重下降。田间45个定位点,倒伏最高减产29.68%,平均减产14.75%,进一步验证了灌浆期风灾倒伏对玉米产量的影响较大。相关分析表明,籽粒建成过程中籽粒干重与淀粉、脂肪含量呈极显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.618~0.861和0.580~0.797(P<0.01),与蛋白含量呈极显著负相关,风灾倒伏对粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量影响较大,而对淀粉含量影响较小。在倒伏后及时进行捆扶处理对降低玉米产量与品质损失有一定的积极作用。     

玉米种子定向入土方式与叶片空间分布关系

为明确玉米定向叶片分布群体构建的可行性,为播种机械设计提供理论依据,选择紧凑型的先玉335(75 000株·hm-2)和平展型的吉单50(55 000株·hm-2)为试验材料,通过设置种子定向入土方式,测定玉米生长过程中玉米叶片的叶基方位角及果穗方位角,对种子定向入土方式和玉米叶片空间分布之间的关系进行探讨。试验共设4个处理,分别为:(A)胚面平行于地面且朝上,种子长轴方向平行于垄向,种尖朝北;(B)胚面平行于地面且朝上,种子长轴方向垂直于垄向,种尖朝东;(C)胚面垂直于垄向且向北,种尖朝下;(D)随机播种。所有处理均为南北行向种植。结果表明,在试验设计密度下,种子定向入土方式对玉米基部叶片的定向效果明显,但在玉米中上部,叶片的定向率减小,相邻叶片间的夹角未表现出差异。在不同处理中,使叶片垂直于垄向的种子入土方式为处理B,即胚面平行于地面且朝上,种子长轴方向垂直于垄向。因此,通过玉米种子定向入土方式的选择可以在一定程度上实现玉米叶片空间的有序排列。