The suppressive effect of dietary coenzyme Q10 on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress in chickens exposed to heat stress

This study was conducted to determine if dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀), which can act as a potent antioxidant and is an obligatory cofactor of mitochondrial uncoupling protein, suppresses the heat stress (HS)‐induced overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative damage in the skeletal muscle of birds. The carbonyl protein content of skeletal muscle was significantly higher in birds exposed to HS treatment (34°C, 12 h) than in thermoneutral birds (25°C). This increase was suppressed by CoQ₁₀ supplementation (40 mg/kg diet). Succinate‐supported mitochondrial ROS production was increased by HS treatment, and this increase was also suppressed by CoQ₁₀ supplementation. In contrast, CoQ₁₀ supplementation did not affect the HS‐induced decrease in mitochondrial proton leak. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ), to which HS‐induced ROS production was previously shown to be sensitive, tended to be increased by HS treatment, but this rise in ΔΨ was not affected by CoQ₁₀ supplementation. Taken together, these results suggest that dietary CoQ₁₀ supplementation attenuates HS‐induced oxidative damage to skeletal muscle, by preventing the overproduction of succinate‐supported mitochondrial ROS in a manner that is independent of ΔΨ. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Retardation of quality changes in camel meat sausages by phenolic compounds and phenolic extracts

Impact of tannic acid (TA), date seed extract (DSE), catechin (CT) and green tea extract (GTE) on lipid oxidation, microbial load and textural properties of camel meat sausages during 12 days of refrigerated storage was investigated. TA and CT showed higher activities in all antioxidative assays compared to DSE and GTE. Lipid oxidation and microbial growth was higher for control sausages when compared to other samples. TA and CT at a level of 200 mg/kg were more effective in retarding lipid oxidation and lowering microbial count (P < 0.05). Sausages treated with TA and DSE were found to have higher hardness, gumminess and chewiness values compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). Addition of different phenolic compounds or extract did not influence the sensory color of sausages. Furthermore, sensory quality was also found to be superior in TA and CT treated sausages. Therefore, pure phenolic compounds (TA and CT) proved to be more effective in retaining microbial and sensorial qualities of camel meat sausages compared to phenolic extracts (GTE and DSE) over 12 days of storage at 4°C.     

Measuring and enhancing the value of agricultural water in irrigated river basins

This paper provides an overview of the issues in and approaches to measuring and enhancing the value of agricultural water in large irrigated river basins. It develops a framework and a set of indicators for valuing agricultural water by looking into various dimensions and underlying key factors that influence the value of water at micro, meso and macro levels. The indicators are applied to recent, primary- and secondary-level empirical data from the Indus basin Irrigation system of Pakistan. In addition, the paper compiles recent estimates of the value of agricultural water from 40 settings in 23 countries. Finally, the paper outlines measures for enhancing the value of agricultural water. The paper makes four main points: (1) The popular productivity indicators based on crop output do not capture the full range of benefits and costs associated with agricultural water use. (2) The value of agricultural water may not be as low as it is generally perceived or estimated when all major uses and direct and indirect benefits of water at various levels are properly accounted for. (3) The value of water varies across time and space, and the value to stakeholders at various scales (farmer, system manager, basin planner and national policy maker) could be quite different. For example, the estimate of agricultural water value in the upper Indus basin in Pakistan varies from US$0.04/m³ at the farm scale to US$0.22/m³ at the national scale. The farm-scale value is more relevant, e.g., for agricultural water charging policies, but for water-sector investments and allocation decisions, the national-scale value is important. The decision-making processes related to water sector investments, allocations, management, and charging/cost recovery schemes could be potentially misguided if key dimensions of water value that are related to water availability and use, benefits/costs, and temporal and spatial aspects are not properly accounted for in valuation. (4) Efforts should be directed not only at increasing the productivity of water in terms of mass of output per unit of water, but also the overall benefits or value of water at various levels for larger growth and poverty alleviation impacts, considering the sustainability of the systems.

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Fractionation of monomeric and polymeric anthocyainins from Concord grape (Vitis labrusca L.) juice by membrane ultrafiltration

Concord grape juice with 20% polymeric and 60% monomeric anthocyanin (Acy) forms was ultrafiltrated using polyvinylidene fluoride flat sheet membranes ranging from 10 to 1000 K molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) to obtain different permeate and retentate fractions. Permeate flux, membrane resistance, Acy rejection, fouling, Acy content and composition, color properties, and antioxidant activity (AOX) were characterized. Results showed that permeate flux declined with lower MWCO, while membrane resistance increased and related exponentially with fouling. Anthocyanin membrane rejection differed for polymeric and monomeric Acy forms. Polymeric Acy increased (36-66%) and monomeric Acy decreased (12-20%) in retentate fractions with membrane pore size of <100K MWCO, while polymeric Acy decreased (11-28%) and monomeric Acy increased (5-7%) in permeate fractions. Fraction properties showed that AOX related linearly with the total phenolic content, while lightness and chroma color properties related linearly to the monomeric Acy content. These results indicate that ultrafiltration can be used to tailor monomeric and polymeric Acy fractions with potential effects in color and bioactive properties.     

Biochemistry of pyrethroid resistance in German cockroach (Dictyoptera, Blatellidae) from hospitals of Sari, Iran

BACKGROUND: The German cockroach is an important household insect pest mechanically involved in transmission of a variety of diseases to humans. Different classes of insecticides have extensively been used for its control leading to insecticide resistance development. Hence, for an optimal control of this pest, the status and underlying mechanisms of insecticide resistance should be studied in this group of insects. METHODS: Adult German cockroaches were collected from Imam and Bouali Cina Hospitals (Sari, Iran) and subjected to bioassay using jar test method. The results were compared to those of a susceptible laboratory strain. Biochemical assays of esterases, monooxigenases and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels were undertaken on German cockroaches from Imam and Bouali Cina Hospitals and the results were compared to a susceptible laboratory strain. RESULTS: The LT50 values of the three strains were 20.24+/-2.2, 19.87+/-2.3 and 8.89+/-0.26 for permethrin; 19.3+/-3.05, 17.6+/-0.68 and 8.8+/-0.99 for deltamethrin; 19.64+/-2.9, 18.66+/-3.45 and 8.64+/-0.62 min for cypermethrin, respectively. The mean -esterase activity of Imam and Bouali Cina Hospitals and susceptible strains were 6.941x10(-4), 6.940x10(-4) and 8.01x10(-5) nmol/min/mg protein; the mean -esterase activity in those strains were 5.8x10(-4), 4.25x10(-4) and 7.28x10(-5) nmol/min/mg protein; the mean content of p450 in the above-mentioned strains were 5.64x10(-6), 1.89x10(-6) and 1.2x10(-6) nmol/mg protein; the mean GST activity were 6.66x10(-2), 0.102 and 5.72x10(-2) mol/min/mg protein, respectively. CONCLUSION: The LT50 values and also the mean activity of all enzyme groups in field strains were significantly different from those of the susceptible strain, indicating a vigour tolerance to insecticides and pyrethroids in particular. Hence, insecticide resistance monitoring techniques should be put in place and also resistance management strategies and measures should be considered implementing in the area.     

Bovine fasciolosis: Prevalence, effects of treatment on productivity and cost benefit analysis in five districts of Punjab, Pakistan

The present study reports the prevalence, effects of treatment and cost benefit analysis of bovine fasciolosis in five districts of Punjab Province viz Sargodha, Jhang, Muzaffargarh, Lodhran and Layyah. From each of the five districts, 80 animals were selected and fortnightly screened through standard coprological procedures for a period of one year for the presence of eggs of Fasciola species. Of 4800 faecal samples analyzed, 1222 (25.46%) were found positive for fasciolosis. The occurrence of Fasciola (F.) gigantica (22.40%) was higher (P < 0.05) than F. hepatica (3.06%). Highest month-wise prevalence (P < 0.05) of fasciolosis was found in winter (39.08%) followed in decreasing order by spring (29.50%), autumn (20.33%) and summer (12.92%). District-wise prevalence of fasciolosis was highest (P < 0.05) in Sargodha (40.31%) and lowest in Layyah (11.77%) while other districts were having intermediate values of prevalence of fasciolosis. Species-wise prevalence of fasciolosis was found higher (P < 0.05) in buffaloes (30.50%) as compared to cattle (20.42%). However, there were no age and sex-related differences (P > 0.05) in prevalence of fasciolosis. A strong positive association of grazing (OR = 1.81), mixed farming of small and large ruminants (OR = 1.39), stagnant pond bathing (OR = 2.24) and river/canal bathing (OR = 2.06) was found with the prevalence of fasciolosis as compared to stall feeding, separate farming of small and large ruminants and rivers/canal/ tap water bathing, respectively. Post-treatment average milk increase of 0.62 L per animal per day with 0.35% higher fat was observed in fasciolicide-treated animals with the cost benefit ratio of 3.9. The results provided significant data on the epidemiology of five districts of Punjab province which may be helpful for the planners and small holder dairy farmers for control of fasciolosis in the study districts.