The first identification of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in sheep and goats in Egypt: molecular and pathological characterization

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is one of the most fatal and contagious diseases of goats. To date, the occurrence of CCPP in Egypt has not been...     

Mountainous landscape vegetation and species composition at Wadi Helo: A protected area in Hajar Mountains,UAE

Wadi Helo (WH), in the United Arab Emirates, is a famous archeological site and protected area in the Hajar Mountains in the Arabian Peninsula. We investigated effects of topography, aspect, and altitude on floral diversity and species composition in this heterogeneous, mountainous, and highly arid environment. Using twenty transects distributed from the mountains top to the wadi bed; eighty plots, 100 m² each, were selected for vegetation analysis. Classification of vegetation using TWINSPAN showed three groups in the wadi bed and five in the mountains, each distinguished by different dominant species. Forsskaolaea tenacissima, Rhazya stricta, Tephrosia apolina, Notoceras bicorne, Acacia tortilis, and Fagonia indica were dominants of the microhabitats of the wadi bed. Gorges were dominated with Dodonaea viscosa and Lavandula subnoda. The other four groups were found on the mountain slopes and were associated with particular aspects (being north-, south-, west-, or east-facing). The dominant species for these different aspects were, respectively: Boerhavia elegans; Ochradenus aucheri and Helianthemum lippii; Moringa peregrina; and Euphorbia larica and Cenchrus ciliaris. Altitude showed highly significant positive relationship with species frequency (P < 0.001). South-facing slopes had the highest species richness and concentration of dominance. We concluded that the distribution of dominant species was a reflection of their ecological requirements and adaptations. Seven plant species were recorded as new to the flora of the UAE. These, plus ten additional species that had been reported as rare in only one of the two published floras of the UAE were highlighted as meriting greater priority in conservation.     

Natural co‐infection of cultured Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus with Aeromonas hydrophila and Gyrodactylus cichlidarum experiencing high mortality during summer

Aeromonas hydrophila and Gyrodactylus cichlidarum are common pathogens that induce significant economic losses in farm‐reared Nile tilapia. Nowadays, the sudden appearance of fish mortalities was exaggerated due to mixed and multiple infections. During summer 2016, mass mortality among earthen pond‐farmed Nile tilapia was reported. Clinico‐pathological, bacteriological and parasitological examinations have been demonstrated. As well, the water quality parameters were assessed. The clinical and histopathological findings of the moribund and recently dead fish were characterized by generalized septicaemic signs. The water quality parameters were significantly elevated over the permissible levels, whereas there was an elevation in nitrite (0.04 mg/L), un‐ionized ammonia (0.8 mg/L), hydrogen sulphide levels (153.1 mg/L) and organic matter content (3.79 mg/L). A. hydrophila was identified based on phenotypic characterization, API 20E features and the homology of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. In addition, PCR data confirmed the presence of aerolysin (aerA) and haemolysin (hly) genes in the identified A. hydrophila isolates. Gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequence confirmed that A. hydrophila H/A (accession No. MN726928) of the present study displayed 98%–99% identity with the 16S rRNA gene of A. hydrophila. Furthermore, the monogenetic trematode, G. cichlidarum was identified in the wet mounts from the skin and gills of the examined fish with a high infestation rate. In this context, it was reported that the synergistic co‐infection of A. hydrophila and G. cichlidarum with deteriorated water quality parameters could induce exaggerated fish mortalities during hot weather.     

Sidr honey abrogates the oxidative stress and downregulates the hyaluronic acid concentration and gene expression of TGF‐β1 and COL1a1 in rat model of thioacetamide‐induced hepatic fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a major health concern, which might progress to cirrhosis. To date, treatment trials rely mainly on the removal of the causative factor. The current study investigated the potential ameliorative role of sidr honey on thioacetamide (TAA)‐induced liver fibrosis in rats. Forty‐eight Wistar albino rats were equally allocated into four groups: control; sidr honey (5g/kg body weight (BW), orally); TAA (200 mg/kg BW, IP three times weekly/15 weeks); and sidr honey plus TAA at the same dose and administration rout. Rats co‐treated with sidr honey plus TAA revealed significant reduction in hepatic malondialdehyde, hyaluronic acid (HA), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, direct bilirubin, and hepatic mRNA expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 and collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1a1) compared to TAA‐exposed rats. In addition, the hepatoprotective potential of sidr honey was indicated via improvement of histopathologic picture of hepatocytes and upregulation of total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, total protein, and albumin compared to TAA‐treated rats. In conclusion, daily administration of sidr honey (5 g/kg BW) is a promising natural antioxidant and fibrosuppressive agent that could ameliorate liver fibrosis via downregulation of fibrosis genes including TGF‐β1 and COL1a1 and HA and via enhancement of antioxidant system.