Pharmacokinetics of toltrazuril and its metabolites in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes and determination of their concentrations in milk,allantoic fluid,and newborn plasma

The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetics of toltrazuril and its metabolites in pregnant and nonpregnant ewes following a single oral dose and to determine the plasma concentrations of these compounds in milk, allantoic fluid, and newborn plasma. Eighteen healthy ewes were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6 each): pregnant ewes at 12–13 weeks of gestation (group A), nonpregnant ewes (group B), and pregnant ewes at 1–2 weeks before expected lambing date (group C). Ewes in all groups received a single oral dose of toltrazuril at 20 mg/kg body weight. In groups A and B, blood samples were collected at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18 hr, every 6 hr to day 3, every 12 hr to day 7 and thereafter every 24 hr to day 14 post-toltrazuril administration. In group C, parturition was induced 24–36 hr after toltrazuril administration then milk, allantoic fluid, and newborn plasma samples were collected immediately after birth. Drug metabolites were assayed using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection method (UHPLC-UV). The maximum concentration (C_max), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC_0–t), AUC to 24 and 48 hr (AUC_0–24), and (AUC_0–48) were significantly higher in pregnant ewes. Longer apparent half-life (T_1/2), significantly higher apparent volume of distribution (Vd/F) and total clearance (Cl/F) were observed in nonpregnant ewes. The time to maximum plasma concentration (T_max), mean residence time (MRT) and elimination rate constant (K_el) were similar in both groups. The AUC_0–24 and AUC_0–48 were significantly higher in nonpregnant ewes. The AUC_0–t was significantly higher in pregnant ones. The ratio of plasma toltrazuril concentrations in ewes and toltrazuril concentrations in newborn lambs' plasma, allantoic fluid, and milk were 68%, 2.3%, and 5.3%, respectively. Results of this study showed that toltrazuril is well absorbed after a single oral dose in ewes with widespread distribution in different body tissues.     

Influence of boron concentrations on some meta‐bolites of date palm and sorghum seedlings

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv Khedhri) and sorghum (sorghum Sudan grass hybrid cv sugar Graze 11) plants were grown in vermiculite in a controlled environment and watered with a nutrient solution containing eight different concentrations of boron (B) (0 to 500 ppm), six months for date palm and four weeks for sorghum. The chlorophyll (Chl) content of the seedlings increased significantly with low concentrations of B for both date palm and sorghum, but no further significant increases were observed at higher concentrations. Generally, there was a positive correlation between B and calcium (Ca) content in the tissues of both seedlings when B concentrations were increased in the media. A negative correlation was found between B concentration in the media and the tissue content of phenolic compounds and the activity of some enzymes, such as polyphenol oxidase, IAA‐oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase in the tissue, while there was a positive correlation in the case of peroxidase. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) increased significantly in date palm with the increase of B in the medium, but for sorghum, the increase occurred at 10–100 ppm and decreased at 300 and 500 ppm B in the media.     

Absorption and emission of CO2 by ponded water of a paddy field

In the daytime, the CO₂ concentration in the air close to the water surface of a ponded paddy field was lowest and it increased with the distance above the water surface, while an inverse relation was observed in the nighttime. On the other hand, the pH of the ponded water changed significantly throughout a day and was expected to affect atmospheric CO₂ in the vicinity of the water surface, because the solubility of CO₂ in water depends on the pH. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the changes in the pH of the ponded water and the response of the CO₂ concentration in the air above the water. The pH of the ponded water of the paddy field increased in the daytime and decreased in the nighttime, so that the water was alkaline in the daytime and weakly acidic in the nighttime. We found that the daily changes in the atmospheric CO₂ concentration gradient almost corresponded to the daily changes in pH. The increase of the pH of the ponded water in the daytime was due to the absorption of dissolved CO₂ by photosynthetic bacteria and micro-algae within the ponded water. Furthermore, we compared the pH with RpH, defined as the pH at which the CO₂ concentration of the water is in equilibrium with that of the air, to determine whether CO₂ was absorbed by or emitted from the ponded water. In the daytime, the pH value of the ponded water was higher than that of the RpH, and the water could therefore absorb CO₂ , whereas during the nighttime, since the pH value of the ponded water was lower than that of the RpH, the water was expected to emit CO₂. These results show that the ponded water absorbed CO₂ from the air above the water surface in the daytime and emitted CO₂ in the nighttime.     

Effect of N. sativa oil on impaired glucose tolerance and insulin insensitivity induced by high-fat-diet and turpentine-induced trauma

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of N. sativa oil on impaired glucose tolerance and insulin insensitivity induced by high-fat diet and trauma. Three dietary groups were used in this study; Rat-Chow (RC), N. sativa oil diet (Combination 4% N. sativa oil and 16% butter oil) (NSOD) and 20% Butter Oil Diet (BOD). Each group was subdivided in two groups; control and trauma. Diets were supplemented for five consecutive weeks body weight increase per week was calculated. At end of the dietary treatments, single dose (2 mL kg(-1) body weight) of turpentine was injected in the dorso-lumber region. Intravenous glucose tolerance test (i.v. GTT) was performed, insulinogenic index and insulin sensitivity was measured. The results showed butter oil diet significantly increased the body weights and visceral fats compared other two groups, respectively. Fasting glucose levels did not change in trauma induced rats while insulin levels increased significantly and it found highest in butter oil diet fed animals. Impaired glucose tolerance was found sever in BOD fed traumatized rats. N. sativa oil diet protected impaired glucose tolerance and insulin insensitivity induced either via saturated fatty acids or injury. In conclusion, N. sativa oil may be used in post surgery diabetic patients to prevent the long going adverse effects from surgical trauma.     

孟加拉无机肥料对几种农林作物生物固氮和种苗生长的影响(英文)

比较了不同浓度无机肥料(尿素和重过磷酸钙)对四种农林作物(楹树、雨豆树、相思树和印度田菁)生物固氮和种苗生长的影响。种子萌发一个月后利用不同浓度肥料(尿素:40kg·hm-2,80kg·hm-2;重过磷酸钙:40kg·hm-2,80kg·hm-2;(尿素 重过磷酸钙)40kg·hm-2和(尿素 重过磷酸钙)80kg·hm-2)处理种苗。结果表明:中等浓度无机肥料促进了种苗的生长,但较高浓度无机肥料也不利于种苗的生长。当施加尿素时根瘤菌的数量大小明显受抑制,但随着增加磷肥(重过磷酸钙)根瘤菌的数量大小增加。本研究有助于农业人员利用无机肥料改善土壤提高农林作物的生物固氮和种苗生长。图2表6参33。     

The effect of indoxacarb and five other insecticides on Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae), Amblyseius fallacis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and nymphs of Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

A laboratory study assessed the contact toxicity of indoxacarb, abamectin, endosulfan, insecticidal soap, S-kinoprene and dimethoate to Amblyseius fallacis (Garman), Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and nymphs of Orius insidiosus (Say). Amblyseius fallacis is a predacious phytoseiid mite and an integral part of integrated pest management (IPM) programmes in North American apple orchards. The other two beneficials are widely used in greenhouses to manage various arthropod pests infesting vegetable and ornamental crops. Indoxacarb is a slow-acting insecticide, so toxicity data were recorded 7 days post-treatment when the data had stabilised. It showed no toxicity to O. insidiosus nymphs or to A. fallacis or P. persimilis adults. The LC50 values for O. insidiosus nymphs and P. persimilis could not be estimated with their associated confidence limits, because the g values were greater than 0.5 and under such circumstances the lethal concentration would lie outside the limits. The LC50 for A. fallacis was 7.6x the label rate. The fecundity of P. persimilis was reduced by 26.7%. The eclosion of treated eggs from both species of beneficial mites was not affected adversely. Among the other pest control products, S-kinoprene and endosulfan affected adversely at least one species of the predators, whereas dimethoate, abamectin and insecticidal soap were very toxic to all three beneficials. Indoxacarb should be evaluated as a pest control product in IPM programmes.     

Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium muris in soil samples

 The flotation procedure for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium muris oocysts in feces was adapted for use on soil samples. Soil samples were seeded with known amounts of purified C. parvum or C. muris oocysts and Cryptosporidium spp.-free bovine feces. The limit of detection for this procedure was determined at different levels of inoculation for each species. At each level of inoculation, 30 control samples were processed and the observer was blind to the status of the sample. All samples were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts using phase-contrast microscopy. The samples were seeded with the following estimated counts of C. parvum oocysts: 1000/g, 1250/g, and 1500/g. These levels had sensitivities of 88%, 90%, and 93%, respectively. All inoculation levels had a specificity of 100%. Thirty additional samples were inoculated with C. muris and the limit of detection was found to be 76 oocysts/g sample, with a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 100%. Received: 4 October 1999     

Influence of organic phosphorus on reproductive performance and metabolic profiles of anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics at the end of breeding season

The effect of organic phosphorus on metabolic, haematological and hormonal status, restoration of ovarian functions and conception rate in anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics were evaluated. Anoestrous Farafra ewes (n  = 24; 34.72 ± 0.52 kg body weight) were allocated into two equal groups: control and phosphorus groups. The ewes of phosphorus group were treated with sodium 4‐dimethylamino‐2‐methyl‐phenyl‐phosphonate as an organic bound phosphorous twice a week for successive 3 weeks. Ovarian follicle development and corpora lutea were checked three times a week till occurrence of oestrus using ultrasonography while pregnancy was confirmed at 30 days post‐service. Plasma metabolites, reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones and minerals were detected at weeks ?2, ?1, 0 (mating day) and + 4 weeks post‐oestrus. Phosphorus group had significantly (p  < .05) short interval to oestrous resumption if compared to control ewes (2.1 ± 0.8 weeks vs . 4.6 ± 1.1 weeks). In addition, phosphorous supplementation significantly (p  < .05) increased the number of antral follicles (developed and their sizes in addition to sizes of corpora lutea (8.72 ± 0.3 mm vs . 7.46 ± 0.9 mm) as well. Number of services per conception (2.6 vs . 1.4; p  < .01) was higher in control group than that of phosphorus group. Pregnancy rate (80 vs . 50%) was significantly (p  < .01) higher in phosphorus group when compared to control. White blood cells in treated ewes (10.8 ± 0.44; p  < .05) and monocytes (2.93 ± 0.13; p  < .01) were higher than that of control group (white blood cells; 9.53 ± 0.50 and monocytes; 2.24 ± 0.14). Metabolic parameters did not differ between phosphorus and control groups during different times of treatment. It could be concluded that phosphorous administration to anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics could improve reproductive performance and restore ovarian activity at the end of spring and early summer.     

Genotype dynamics of Campylobacter jejuni in a broiler flock

We investigated the genotype diversity and dynamics of Campylobacter in a commercial broiler flock during rearing and slaughter. In total, 220 Campylobacter jejuni isolates collected on four sampling occasions during rearing and from routine sampling during slaughter were subtyped by SmaI macrorestriction and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, PFGE. Eight different SmaI types were found. During rearing, a subsequent addition of genotypes occurred, with two SmaI types found at 2 weeks of age and six types on the day before slaughter. All types that were detected in more than one isolate were also found on all succeeding sampling occasions, including the slaughter sampling. Two new types were found in the slaughter samples. In two-thirds of the individual birds sampled the day before slaughter, more than one SmaI type were found, although there was a clear tendency for dominance of one type in individual birds. Our results show that multiple genotypes of C. jejuni may be present in a commercial broiler flock during rearing and even in gastrointestinal tracts of individual birds. Both recurring environmental exposure and genetic changes within the population may explain the genotype diversity. Although the distribution of genotypes varied between different sampling occasions, we found no indication that any subtype excluded another during the rearing of the broiler flock.     

In vivo and in vitro protein digestibility in juvenile bagrid catfish Mystus nemurus (Cuvier and Valenciennes 1840) fed soybean meal‐based diets

In vivo and in vitro protein digestibility of 0% to 60% soybean meal protein (SBM) substitution from fishmeal protein was conducted for bagrid catfish Mystus nemurus juveniles. Seven experimental diets containing 35% protein and 15% lipid were fed to bagrid catfish to determine the in vivo protein digestibility. In vitro methods were determined using pH stat, pH shift, spectrophotometric assay and sodium dodecyle sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) with different enzyme mixtures (crude intestinal extract of bagrid catfish, Lazo 1‐enzyme, Hsu 3‐enzyme, Saterlee 4‐enzyme). In vivo and in vitro protein digestibility decreased with increased SBM protein substitution with highest tolerance level of 10% (in vivo). pH stat and pH drop methods showed the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) and relative protein digestibility (RPD) using Saterlee 4‐enzyme system. However, pH stat method showed highest correlations (r² = 0.9263) with the in vivo results using crude intestinal enzyme extract compared to other enzyme systems. The highest correlation of the in vitro methods using crude intestinal enzyme extracts of bagrid catfish was determined using spectrophotometric assay (r² = 0.9284) followed by pH stat (r² = 0.9263), SDS‐PAGE (r² = 0.8348) and pH drop (r² = 0.6777). All the in vitro methods tested are suitable to rapidly determine protein digestibility for bagrid catfish except for pH drop.