Animal rabies situation in Sultanate of Oman (2017–2019)

Successful preventive and control measures of zoonotic diseases require updated epidemiological data. Sylvatic rabies is endemic in Oman since 1990. Studying of the prevalence of animal rabies in Oman (2017–2019) was the goal of the current study besides the clinical–histopathological investigations of rabies in different animal species. A total of 117 whole brains of different animal species from different regions of Oman were examined by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and histopathology for rabies during 2017–2019. Sixty-four samples (54.7%) were positive for rabies by FAT. The most affected species were goat (53.1%) followed by camel (18.8%), which pose a great risk to farmers and veterinarians. Positive fox cases were (10.9%). Most confirmed cases of animal rabies were submitted from Northern regions of Oman. Rabies was reported recently in Al Wusta among wild ruminants, Central Oman. The seasonal cycle of animal rabies in Oman was year-round with the peak from December to April. The clinical signs and neuropathological findings were nearly similar in different animal species. Histopathology-positive cases had Negri bodies in pyramidal and purkinje neurons, non-suppurative encephalitis features, and neuronal degeneration and necrosis. The sensitivity and specificity of histopathological diagnosis of rabies in different animals were 76.47% and 100.00%, respectively. Finally, sylvatic rabies remains a major challenge to the public and animal health in Oman. Although of the value of histopathological diagnosis of rabies if no other technique is available, other complementary tests must be employed to confirm negative results.

     

Evaluation of bone healing in canine tibial defects filled with cortical autograft,commercial-DBM,calf fetal DBM,omentum and omentum-calf fetal DBM

The present study was conducted to compare the effects of xenogenic bovine fetal demineralized bone matrix (DBM), commercial DBM, omentum, omentum-calf fetal DBM, cortical autograft and xenogenic cartilage powder on the healing of tibial defects in a dog model to determine the best material for bone healing. Seven male adult mongrel dogs, weighing 26.2 ± 2.5 kg, were used in this study. Seven holes with a diameter of 4-mm were created and then filled with several biomaterials. Radiographs were taken postoperatively on day 1 and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8. The operated tibias were removed on the 56th postoperative day and histopathologically evaluated. On postoperative days 14, 42 and 56, the lesions of the control group were significantly inferior to those in the other group (p < 0.05). On the 28th postoperative day, the autograft group was significantly superior to the control and omentum groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, calf fetal DBM was significantly superior to the control group. There was no significant difference between the histopathological sections of all groups. Overall, the omentum and omentum-DBM groups were superior to the control group, but inferior to the autograft, commercial-DBM, calf fetal DBM and calf fetal cartilage groups.     

In ovo injection of flavanone on bone quality characteristics,biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzyme status of blood in daily chicks

In ovo injection (IOI) of Naringin (N), flavanone was examined on post‐hatch blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant status and bone characteristics. Fertile eggs (n = 700) were distributed in seven groups with 100 eggs. On 14th and 17.5th days of incubation, four groups were injected using 15 or 30 mg active ingredient levels of naringin/0.5 ml saline/egg, low and high level, into amnion sac. Controls include sham (injected normal saline, 0.5 ml/egg on day 14 and 17.5th) and un‐injected group. IOI of high naringin and saline on 14th day of incubation resulted in lower hatchability and then higher mortality in last week of embryonic life. On day hatch, high levels of injected groups more body weight compared to the control. Chick length was increased at high levels of naringin on day 17.5th compared to control and saline injected. Quality traits of bones were improved in naringin‐injected groups compared to control. IOI of naringin influenced thyroid hormones on 14th day of incubation. Naringin groups influenced the Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Calcium (Ca), superoxide dismutase (SOD), blood biochemical and lipids. Totally, amniotic IOI of naringin in last days of developing embryo may be useful for hatched chick, development of leg long bone or effect on biochemical metabolites by levels of flavanone that it needs more research.     

Effects of soil moisture content on CO2 triggered soil physicochemical properties in a near-surface environment

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been frequently discussed as a strategy for meeting CO2 emission reduction and its targets. However, some critical issues have...     

Effect of Different Drying Methods on the Physicochemical Properties and Bioactive Components of Saffron Powder

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world; so, determining optimum conditions for its processing is crucial. The most important processing stage of saffron...     

Successful Biodegradation of a Refractory Pharmaceutical Compound by an Indigenous Phenol-Tolerant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> Strain

This study provides an alternative solution for the bioremediation of a recalcitrant pharmaceutical micropollutant. Clofibric acid (CLA) was chosen as target molecule, because of its environmental persistence and resistance to wastewater treatment technologies. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a phenol-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain isolated from the activated sludge to degrade CLA. In order to evaluate the effect of acclimation process with glucose as carbon co-substrate, two protocols were performed, in which the transfer of the inoculum is carried out either in the exponential growth phase or in the decline phase. The results showed a removal efficiency of CLA of 35% when cells in the decline phase were used for inoculation. In contrast, a very low removal yield (10%) was achieved when cells harvested in the exponential phase were used as inoculum. This work is the first one reporting on the capability of this bacterium to remove this drug. The obtained data showed that the isolated strain is able to degrade target molecule and might be a promising agent for the elimination of this refractory compound.     

Molecular and morphological investigation in Hymenocrater: species delimitation,relationship, divergence time and DNA barcoding

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Hymenocrater comprises of 11 species throught the world. The genus is an Irano-Turanian elements, which has several usages in traditional medicine. Northeast...     

Effects of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl on the larval ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor

Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an ectoparasitoid that is used for inundative biological control of various lepidopteran insect pests. Lethal and sublethal effects of two biorational insecticides, methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl, were evaluated on H. hebetor under laboratory conditions. The adults were exposed to dry insecticide residues that were applied on glass plates. Bioassays showed that the LC₅₀ values of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl were 155 and 1,226 μg a.i./ml, respectively. The LT₅₀ values of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl were 2.1 and 3.3 days, respectively. The effects of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl on larvae were tested using a dip method with field-recommended concentrations of either insecticide. The emergence rates were reduced by 24.4 and 29.3 % for methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl treatments, respectively. In order to assess the sublethal effects of low-lethal concentrations of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl, adult wasps were exposed to the LC₃₀ concentration of each insecticide, and demographic parameters of live wasps were recorded. Exposure of adults to low-lethal concentrations (LC₃₀) negatively affected the fecundity, fertility, and sex ratio, and also the intrinsic rate of increase (r _m), finite rate of increase (λ), generation time (T), and doubling time (DT). The longevity and net reproductive rate (R ₀) of H. hebetor were not affected by sublethal exposure to these insecticides. The results showed that despite low acute toxicities of both insecticides on larval and adult stages of H. hebetor, they may negatively affect the population of the parasitoid and interfere in IPM programs.