Voluntary intake by sheep and goats ofGliricidia sepium fed in three states and at three levels of supplementation to a basal diet ofPanicum maximum

Crude protein content andin sacco dry matter (DM) loss after 72 h of incubation in West African dwarf (WAD) sheep and goats of fresh, wilted and dried leaves ofGliricidia sepium were compared. Additionally, voluntary DM intakes by WAD sheep and goats ofG. sepium leaves presented in the fresh, wilted and dried states at 10, 20 and 30% levels of supplementation were investigated in two separate experiments. The crude protein content and DM loss from dried leaves were relatively lower than fresh and wilted leaves. At all levels of supplementation, the voluntary DM intakes of fresh and wilted leaves by WAD sheep and goats were relatively higher than dried leaves. The results suggest thatG. sepium leaves should be fed either in the fresh or wilted states to WAD sheep and goats, at levels between 20 and 30% of the total daily DM allowance.     

Dysidenin from the Marine Sponge Citronia sp. Affects the Motility and Morphology of Haemonchus contortus Larvae In Vitro

High-throughput screening of the NatureBank marine extract library (n = 7616) using a phenotypic assay for the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus identified an active extract derived from the Australian marine sponge Citronia sp. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the CH₂Cl₂/MeOH extract from Citronia sp. resulted in the purification of two known hexachlorinated peptides, dysidenin (1) and dysideathiazole (2). Compound 1 inhibited the growth/development of H. contortus larvae and induced multiple phenotypic changes, including a lethal evisceration (Evi) phenotype and/or somatic cell and tissue destruction. This is the first report of anthelmintic activity for these rare and unique polychlorinated peptides.     

Asperopiperazines A and B: Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Dipeptides from a Tunicate-Derived Fungus Aspergillus sp. DY001

Investigation of the cytotoxic fractions of the ethyl acetate extract of the fermentation broth of the tunicate-derived Aspergillus sp. DY001 afforded two new dipeptides, asperopiperazines A and B (1 and 2), along with the previously reported compounds (+)-citreoisocoumarin (3) and (−)-6,8-di-O-methylcitreoisocoumarin (4). Analyses of the 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data of the compounds supported their structural assignments. Asperopiperazine A (1) is a cyclic dipeptide of leucine and phenylalanine moieties, which are substituted with an N-methyl and an N-acetyl group, respectively. On the other hand, asperopiperazine B (2) is a cyclic dipeptide of proline and phenylalanine moieties with a hydroxyl group at C-2 of the proline part. The absolute configuration of the amino acid moieties in 1 and 2 were determined by Marfey’s analyses and DFT NMR chemical shift calculations, leading to their assignment as cyclo(l-NMe-Leu-l-NAc-Phe) and cyclo(d-6-OH-Pro-l-Phe), respectively. Asperopiperazines A and B displayed higher antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus than Candida albicans. Furthermore, compounds 1–4 displayed variable growth inhibitory effects towards HCT 116 and MDA-MB-231 cells, with asperopiperazine A as the most active one towards HCT 116.     

Genetic nature of phosphorus accumulation in maize

The inheritance of phosphorus accumulation in the ear leaves of maize (Zea mays L.) was investigated. Five inbreds were chosen, two high phosphorus accumulators (Rg‐8 and G‐307), two low phosphorus accumulators (Rd‐2 and Rg‐5), and a moderate one (K‐64). Their parents were used to obtain all possible ten Fl hybrids (in one direction), 10 F2, 10 Bl, and 10 B2 segregational generations. Phosphorus was estimated at 50% tasseling date. Phosphorus accumulation in these genotypes was found to be genetically controlled and is affected by non ‐ allelic gene interaction in addition to the additive and dominance gene effects. The high phosphorus accumulating inbred parents proved to be the best general combiners and the (high x low) hybrids showed the best specific combining abilities. The estimates of the minimum number of segregating genes in the (high x low) crosses revealed the presence of at least 10 segregating factors; however, the possibility of genetic linkage was not rolled out.     

Influence of seed nitrogen content and biofertilizer priming on wheat germination in salinity stress conditions

In order to study the effects of seed nitrogen content and biofertilizer priming on germination indices of wheat seeds under salinity stress, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with four replications was conducted in 2009. Experimental factors consisted of: (1) the application of different nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 55, 110 and 165 kg ha^?1 N) on parent plants; (2) priming of achieved seeds by biofertilizers (Nitragin, Biophosphorus and distilled water); and (3) different levels of salinity produced by NaCl (0, ?0.4, ?0.8 and ?1.2 MPa). Germination percentage, germination rate, mean germination time, germination index, radicle and plumule length, radicle and plumule dry weight and radicle number per seedling were measured. Nitrogen application increased seed nitrogen content in parent plants. All germination indices decreased with increasing in salinity levels. Biofertilizer priming, especially Nitragin, had a positive effect on germination percentage, radicle number and radicle and plumule length in most salinity levels. The highest values for germination factors were related to achieved seeds from parent plants that were treated with 110 kg ha^?1 N. Overall, application of middle levels of N fertilizer (55 and 110 kg ha^?1 N) on parent plants combined with seed priming with Nitragin biofertilizer improved the germination indices of wheat under salinity stress.     

Effect of chronic lead intoxication on the distribution and elimination of amoxicillin in goats

A study of amoxicillin pharmacokinetics was conducted in healthy goats and goats with chronic lead intoxication. The intoxicated goats had increased serum concentrations of liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transferase), blood urea nitrogen, and reactivated δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase compared to the controls. Following intravenous amoxicillin (10 mg/kg bw) in control and lead-intoxicated goats, elimination half-lives were 4.14 and 1.26 h, respectively. The volumes of distribution based on the terminal phase were 1.19 and 0.38 L/kg, respectively, and those at steady-state were 0.54 and 0.18 L/kg, respectively. After intramuscular (IM) amoxicillin (10 mg/kg bw) in lead-intoxicated goats and control animals, the absorption, distribution, and elimination of the drug were more rapid in lead-intoxicated goats than the controls. Peak serum concentrations of 21.89 and 12.19 µg/mL were achieved at 1 h and 2 h, respectively, in lead-intoxicated and control goats. Amoxicillin bioavailability in the lead-intoxicated goats decreased 20% compared to the controls. After amoxicillin, more of the drug was excreted in the urine from lead-intoxicated goats than the controls. Our results suggested that lead intoxication in goats increases the rate of amoxicillin absorption after IM administration and distribution and elimination. Thus, lead intoxication may impair the therapeutic effectiveness of amoxicillin.     

Growth response of Moringa oleifera (Lam) to water stress and to arid bioclimatic conditions

Agroforestry Systems - A major challenge in agroforestry is the selection of the plant species involved in the systems. This issue is drawing more attention lately due to the changing climate...     

Effects of litter quality (moisture, ammonia, uric acid) on development and severity of foot pad dermatitis in growing turkeys

High dietary protein is thought to increase the incidence of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) as a result of increased uric acid and secondary ammonia production in the excreta or litter. This study was conducted on female turkeys over a period of 3 wk to test the effects of water alone, and also of these end products of protein metabolism, independent of the presence of excreta, on the development and severity of FPD. The animals were allocated into four groups, with 20 birds in each, and housed in floor pens on dry, clean wood shavings (changed daily) throughout the experiment. The control group was housed continuously in its pen, whereas the other groups were additionally exposed daily (for 8 hr) to experimentally treated wood shavings, in adjacent separate boxes, enriched with water alone or water with NH4Cl or uric acid. NH4Cl and uric acid were added via water to the litter to achieve the concentrations of ammonia and uric acid in the litter as found in the excreta of turkeys (about 0.50 g ammonia and 20 g uric acid/kg). The wet litter was kept clean by removing the excreta twice daily and by changing the litter twice a week. The foot pads of all birds were examined on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 and scored externally (macroscopically). Three birds were selected from each group on days 0, 7, and 14, while the remaining 11 birds/group were sacrificed on day 21 for histopathologic assessment of foot pads. The severity of FPD was found to be markedly higher (about 3 times) on wet than on dry litter. There were no negative effects of ammonia and uric acid on foot pad lesions. The results indicate that high litter moisture is the most likely factor causing FPD in turkeys. A focus on nitrogenous irritants in the litter was not substantiated. Exposure of birds to wet litter (in the absence of excreta) for only 8 hr/day was sufficient to develop foot pad lesions. The present results suggest that a focus on the protein content of the diet as a cause of FPD may be misplaced, but all dietary factors which increase excreta or litter moisture, or both, should be considered. The prevalence and severity of FPD can be reduced by maintaining dry litter.