Cryptosporidium spp. and other zoonotic enteric parasites in a sample of domestic dogs and cats in the Niagara region of Ontario

To determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and other zoonotic enteric parasites in a sample of domestic dogs and cats in the Niagara region, Ontario, 5 of 26 clinics invited by mail survey reported their parasitological findings over 24 months. Stool samples collected by 1 clinic over 68 days were investigated for parasites by using several techniques (fecal concentration, acid-fast staining, and a Cryptosporidium immunoassay). The 5 clinics that provided data indicated Toxocara spp. as the most frequent finding. Parasitological study of 111 stool samples showed a high overall positivity rate in samples from both dogs (40%) and cats (36.6%). Cryptosporidium spp. antigen was detected in 7.4% and 7.3%, Toxocara spp. in 14.2% and 12.2%, and Giardia spp. 7.1% and 2.4% of dog and cat samples, respectively. The high prevalence of zoonotic parasites in the Niagara region is important, and increased awareness of their potential threat to human health is necessary. Additionally, further research into the zoonotic capacity of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. is necessary.     

Variation in Selenium Tolerance,Accumulation, and Growth Parameters of Different Wheat Cultivars

In a greenhouse experiment, wheat cultivars PDW 291, PBW 550, and TL 2908 were grown in alkaline sandy-loam soil treated with sodium selenate at 0, 2, and 4 mg selenium (Se) kg^?1 soil. Selenate-treated wheat plants accumulated greater Se in roots, stems, leaves, and grains and showed growth retardation, snow-white chlorosis, decreased shoot length and chlorophyll, and reduced leaf area and produced less number of grains as compared to control plants. Maximum reduction in these parameters was observed in selenate-treated TL 2908 plants and most of the plants died before maturity with almost no grain formation with 4 mg Se kg^?1 soil. Selenium accumulation resulted in decreased reducing sugar, starch, and protein contents in grains whereas total free amino acids increased significantly in all the three cultivars. Selenium accumulation in wheat showed metabolic disturbances and its accumulation in grains was beyond toxic levels, thus making it unfit for consumption.     

Genetic closeness of Zanskari and Spiti ponies of India inferred through microsatellite markers

The Zanskari and Spiti ponies were characterized for genetic variation using a set of 25 equine microsatellite markers. The DNA was isolated from the 42 blood samples of Zanskari and 32 blood samples of Spiti ponies collected from their respective breeding tracts. The DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction at the studied microsatellite loci and amplified product was resolved for alleles by denaturing urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The allelic frequency data so obtained was statistically analyzed using POPGENE computer program. The PCR product size-range varied from 84 to 102 at locus HTG6 to 238 to 244 at locus UCDEQ425. The observed number of alleles ranged from four to nine with a mean (± standard deviation) of 5.80 ± 1.32 alleles per locus in Zanskari and 5.40 ± 1.04 alleles per locus in Spiti ponies. The mean observed heterozygosity was found to be 0.61 ± 0.06 and 0.56 ± 0.09 for Zanskari and Spiti ponies, respectively. The Nei's standard and unbiased genetic distance were found to be 0.11 and 0.09, respectively, indicating close genetic relatedness of Zanskari and Spiti ponies.     

Linseed oil in boar's diet improved in vivo fertility and antioxidant status

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are produced during storage of boar semen are causing oxidative stress and leads to poor fertility. Also, tropical and sub-tropical weather condition adversely impacts the physicomorphological quality and fertility of boar sperm. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of feeding linseed oil to boar on its seminal attributes, sperm kinetics, biomarkers of antioxidant, fatty acid profile of seminal plasma (SP) and sperm and in vivo fertility. Six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed with 90 ml linseed oil (LIN) whereas six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed 90 ml canola oil (CON) for 16 weeks. Sperm quality was evaluated (60 ejaculates for each group; a total of 120 ejaculates) for motility, livability, abnormal morphology, acrosomal membrane integrity, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) and sperm kinetic parameters by computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) at 0 h and at 72 h of storage at 17°C. Biomarkers of antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase; GPx, catalase; CAT, total antioxidant capacity; TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in SP and serum. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used for the estimation of fatty acid composition of SP and sperm. Boars fed with linseed oil had higher semen volume (p < .01) and more total sperm numbers (p < .01). Feeding linseed oil to boar enhanced seminal attributes (p < .05) at 0 h as well as at 72 h of storage. Linseed oil feeding (p < .01) improved biomarkers of antioxidants and significantly (p < .01) lowered the lipid peroxidation in serum and SP. Linseed oil feeding (p < .05) increased the proportion of alpha linolenic (ALA), arachidonic and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids in SP. The ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids in sperm increased significantly (p < .01) in treatment group. Farrowing rate was significantly (p < .05) higher in treatment group. In conclusion, feeding linseed oil to boar improved the in vivo fertility, enhanced antioxidant capacity and increased the DHA content of SP and sperm.     

City–forest relationship in Nagpur: One of the greenest cities of India

There are sporadic reports on urban forests in Indian cities. Nagpur is one of the greenest cities of India with 18 per cent of its area under forests and plantations, 17 per cent under cultivation and 2 per cent under water bodies. The present study showed that natural vegetation of the city is very well diversified with a representation of 59 per cent vegetation including 124 trees species belonging to 38 families as compared with the overall district vegetation statistics. Air quality in the city is relatively better with lower SO₂ (6 μg/m³), NO₂ (18 μg/m³) and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matters (RSPM, 53 μg/m³) as against National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2009) for cities in India of 80, 80 and 100 μg/m³, respectively. It was also noted that the diversity in natural forests which are being protected is greater than the plantations undertaken by the civic authorities and private sector efforts. The study thus demonstrated the positive relationship of the city with diversified vegetation cover for cleaner environment. The analysis is expected to guide formulation of strategies for maintaining green space in the city.     

Immunogenicity of a Salmonella Enteritidis mutant as vaccine candidate and its protective efficacy against salmonellosis in chickens

A novel Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine candidate strain, JOL919 was constructed by deleting the lon and cpxR genes from a wild-type SE using an allelic exchange method. The study was carried out to evaluate the strain as a vaccine candidate against salmonellosis. The strain showed the enhanced macrophage invasion, early bacterial clearance and higher immune responses as compared to the other mutants, JOL917 (Δlon) and JOL918 (ΔcpxR), and the wild type. In further analysis, the chickens immunized with JOL919 showed a significant increase in plasma IgG and intestinal secretory IgA levels, which was an indication of robust humoral and mucosal immune responses induced by the candidate. The lymphocyte proliferation response and CD45(+)CD3(+) T cells, associated with an activation of T helper and cytotoxic cells, were also significantly increased in the immunized group, which indicated that the candidate also induced cellular immune responses. The immune cell influx into caecal tissues analyzed by immunohistochemistry showed that CD8(+) T cells were predominated in the immunized group, suggesting that the candidate can clear the invaded pathogen in the intestines by a more direct way involving cytotoxic activity. By the examination of the protection efficacy measured by observations of gross lesions in the organs and bacterial recovery, the candidate can provide an efficient protection upon virulent challenge.     

Early effects of COVID‐19 on US fisheries and seafood consumption

The US seafood sector is susceptible to shocks, both because of the seasonal nature of many of its domestic fisheries and its global position as a top importer and exporter of seafood. However, many data sets that could inform science and policy during an emerging event do not exist or are only released months or years later. Here, we synthesize multiple data sources from across the seafood supply chain, including unconventional real‐time data sets, to show the relative initial responses and indicators of recovery during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We synthesized news articles from January to September 2020 that reported effects of COVID‐19 on the US seafood sector, including processor closures, shortened fishing seasons and loss of revenue. Concerning production and distribution, we assessed past and present landings and trade data and found substantial declines in fresh seafood catches (?40%), imports (?37%) and exports (?43%) relative to the previous year, while frozen seafood products were generally less affected. Google search trends and seafood market foot traffic data suggest consumer demand for seafood from restaurants dropped by upwards of 70% during lockdowns, with recovery varying by state. However, these declines were partially offset by an increase (270%) in delivery and takeout service searches. Our synthesis of open‐access data sets and media reports shows widespread, but heterogeneous, ramifications of COVID‐19 across the seafood sector, implying that policymakers should focus support on states and sub‐sectors most affected by the pandemic: fishery‐dependent communities, processors, and fisheries and aquaculture that focus on fresh products.     

Combined use of cationization and mercerization as pretreatment for the deep dyeing of ramie fibre

In order to produce deep shades of colour, ramie fibre was subjected to pretreatment by cationization, caustic mercerization (slack and tension condition), and liquid ammonia mercerization. The untreated and pretreated samples were dyed with 0.5 to 7 % concentrations (on mass of fiber (o.m.f)) of Liyuansol Red FL-2BL reactive dye. The dyeing properties of dye exhaustion, fixation, colour uniformity, wash fastness, and rubbing fastness were investigated. The results indicated that these pretreatments improved dye exhaustion and fixation on ramie fibre, with no loss of fastness. For the untreated and treated substance, the amount of dye mass absorption increased linearly with increased dye o.m.f. Cationic treatment improved performance, with 89 % and 98 % for exhaustion and fixation, respectively, and the maximum K/S values of all fibers receiving pretreatment. The colour uniformity was acceptable and similar for the untreated and treated ramie fibers, with the exception of cationic-treated fabric dyed at 7 % dye o.m.f that showed a high standard deviation value of colour uniformity. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models were also used to study the adsorption of dye on ramie fibre; all of the adsorption processes fit the Freundlich model.     

Remote sensing-based assessment of impact of Phailin cyclone on rice in Odisha,India

Assessing the nature and extent of damage due to natural calamities remains one of the thrust areas in monitoring resource inventory through remote sensing. The effect of the cyclone Phailin and the post-incessant rains during second fortnight of October 2013 on coastal Odisha was studied in terms of rice area flooded, submerged and damaged. Multi-temporal SAR data were analysed to obtain the rice mask, and from this rice mask, the flood affected rice area was determined. Taluka-wise and district-wise crop loss proportion was estimated, and the overall production loss has been estimated. SAR data aided in delineation of flooded regions, while AWiFS NDVI data of subsequent dates showed both continued inundation and crop vigour status post-flood time period. The ground truth indicated that a major portion of the inundated region was not rice but was typha grasses and harvested rice field which should not be accounted as damage to rice crop. The damage on crop yield was difficult to assess; however, the inundation of the crop at panicle initiation and flowering would have impact on grain filling (results in chaffiness) and was considered as completely damaged. Most of the current inundated rice regions fall in this category. It was estimated that a total of 0.167 million hectares and 0.37 million tons of rice crop was lost in the cyclone and floods. The district-level percentage area of rice flooded was communicated to State Remote Sensing Centre in four days timeframe. The overall accuracy obtained for the validation of the ground truth sites was 91.5 %.     

Dicyema sphyrocephalum (Phylum Dicyemida: Dicyemidae) isolated from Korean common octopus Callistoctopus minor in Korea

BackgroundDicyemids are parasites found in the renal sac of cephalopods. The first species of dicyemid was found from kidneys of the Korean common octopus Callistoctopus minor.ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify the dicyemid and investigate the effect on renal sac of host.MethodsIn this study, we compared the morphological characteristics of isolate to dicyemids (Dicyema sphyrocephalum, Dicyema clavatum, and Dicyema dolichocephalum) reported from C. minor in Japan. We compared the 18S ribosomal RNA (rDNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of isolate to the sequences of D. shyrocephalum and D. clavatum. The infected octopuses renal tissues were histologically compared with the tissues of uninfected individuals.ResultsThe morphological characteristic of this isolated species corresponds to D. sphyrocephalum. The sequences similarities of 18S rDNA and COI gene of isolate are 99.7% and 98.1% with D. sphyrocephalum. We observed morphological changes in the epithelia folds of kidney at the dicyemids attached areas.ConclusionsThe present study identified the isolate as D. sphyrocephalum and this is the first report of dicyemid species from Republic of Korea. Further studies on the effects of dicyemids on growth and health status of cephalopods will be needed.