Role of sponge gourd in apical leaf curl disease of potato in Northern India

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the important vegetable crops in the world and its production is seriously affected by apical leaf curl disease in northern India. This paper reveals the role of cucurbits in maintaining Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) and Potato apical leaf curl (PALCD) disease in that region. The affected plants showed severe leaf curling and stunted growth. The begomovirus causing leaf curling and mosaic disease in cucurbits could be easily transmitted by the whitefly to potato crops and develop apical leaf curl disease in northern India. The movement of the virus by whiteflies from cucurbits to potato and tomato is possible because of overlapping of planting and harvesting dates of these crops. The causal virus was identified as a begomovirus on the basis of whitefly transmission, PCR, dot blot hybridization, cloning and sequencing of the coat protein gene. The comparison of full length coat protein gene sequence homology revealed that 90% identity with the coat protein gene of ToLCNDV- [Luffa] isolate and the phylogenetic tree derived from these sequences with other selected begomoviruses formed a close cluster with ToLCNDV isolates. The findings proved that the virus causing disease in cucurbits could easily move to tomato and potato and cause leaf curl disease naturally. This is the first observation on the role of sponge gourd for maintenance of ToLCNDV and serving as a host for PALCD in northern India. The findings indicate that the causal organism is a strain of ToLCNDV.     

Brucellosis in camels

Camels are highly susceptible to brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus. Difficulties can arise in diagnosis of camel brucellosis, especially as this disease provokes only few clinical signs in contrast to its clinical course in cattle. Because none of the commonly used serological test can be perceived as a perfect test for Brucella diagnosis in camel and most serological tests used for camels have been directly transposed from cattle without adequate validation, an incorrect diagnosis may occur when diagnosis is based on serology alone. Of imminent concern is the fact that brucellosis can be easily transmitted from animals or their products to humans mainly via milk. In many developing countries in the arid areas of Asia and Africa, camels are still the most important productive livestock for nomadic populations. Therefore, we reviewed the literatures on camel brucellosis to highlight the epidemiologic, economic and public health impact of camel brucellosis as a basis for designing effective control strategies.     

Evaluation of different diagnostic methods for diagnosis of Lumpy skin disease in cows

Viral isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), dot blot hybridization (DBH), and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) were used for the diagnosis of lumpy skin disease in clinically infected, fevered, and apparently normal dairy cows. Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) was isolated from skin biopsies and blood samples collected from clinically infected cows in percentages of 72% and 20%, respectively. The virus recovered from blood samples collected from fevered cows in percentage of 33.3%. Both PCR and DBH detected viral DNA in 100% of skin biopsies collected from clinically infected cows whereas the detection rates in blood samples collected from clinically infected animals were 100% and 84% using PCR and DBH, respectively. Viral DNA was detected in blood samples collected from fevered cows using PCR and DBH in percentages of 77.8% and 66.6%, respectively. Only 19.1% of blood samples collected from in-contact cows was positive for both of PCR and DBH. Detection rates of antibodies against LSDV using iELISA in serum samples collected from clinically infected and fevered cows were 56% and 11.1%, respectively, whereas all in-contact cows had no antibodies against the virus.     

Different Morphologies of Leishmania major Amastigotes with No Molecular Diversity in a Neglected Endemic Area of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran

Background:

Molecular diversity of Leishmania major and its morphological changes have become a controversial issue among researchers. Some aspects of polymorphic shapes of amastigotes in clinical manifestations along with molecular variation were evaluated among suspected patients of some exceptional zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis locations in Northern Khuzestan, Southwestern Iran.

Methods:

Suspected patients (n = 165) were sampled in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci over two consecutive years during 2012-2014. Prepared smears were stained, scaled and measured by ocular micrometer. DNA was extracted from smears; ITS-rDNA and Cytochrome b (Cyt b) markers were amplified, and PCR products were digested by BsuR1 restriction enzyme. Then the RFLP and sequencing were employed.

Results:

Only L. major was identified in patients containing regular amastigotes'' shapes (oval or round) with a size of 2-4 µm in each of classical wet, dry, mixed lesions. Meanwhile, irregular shapes (spindle, pear, or cigarette) were observed separately in non-classical wet lesions with more than 4 µm. Interestingly, a few amastigotes with an external flagellum were observed in some lesions. All sequenced ITS-rDNA and Cyt b genes of L. major did not show any molecular variation (χ ² P > 0.05), including only one common haplotype (GenBank access no. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"EF413075","term_id":"151936076","term_text":"EF413075"}}EF413075).

Conclusion:

Findings proved that unlike other endemic foci, there is not a meaningful correlation between phenotypic and genotypic features of L. major isolates. This study is considered as the first comprehensive report to incriminate morphometric shapes of L. major amastigotes, which enhances our knowledge concerning their relevance with various clinical appearances and genotypic traits. Key Words: Leishmania major, Nuclear gene, Mitochondrial gene, Amastigote shapes, Iran     

A study of acute and chronic anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of thiamine in mice

Background: Thiamine (VitB1) is a vitamin with various important physiological functions and postulated therapeutic effects. Its use as an analgesic in neuropathic pain has been undergoing in clinical settings. However, there has been little experimental investigation on this effect. In this study, anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of thiamine were investigated in mice. Methods: Three doses of thiamine (50, 100 and 125 mg/kg) were used by intraperitoneal injection in this study. Acute and chronic anti-nociceptive effects were examined using hot plate test alone and after sciatic nerve ligation, respectively. Imipramine (40 mg/kg) was used as positive control. Anti-inflammatory effects of thiamine on acute and chronic inflammation were assessed using xylene-induced edema in ears and granuloma caused by compressed cotton implantation, respectively. Sodium diclofenac (15 mg/kg) was used as positive control. Open field test was performed to differentiate the mice responses in the acute anti-nociceptive tests. Results: All three doses of thiamine showed significant analgesic effects in non-ligated mice and also in neuropathic pain in ligated animals. Increasing the dose of thiamine correlated with a more pronounced and sustained effect. Acute anti-inflammatory investigation showed that thiamine injected 30 or 60 minutes before xylene application reduced the weight of edematic ears. However, the effect of thiamine was less pronounced than diclofenac. Furthermore, when injected once daily for 7 days, all doses of thiamine significantly reduced the weight of the cotton disks, showing suppression of granuloma formation. Conclusion: Taken together, it has been shown that thiamine possesses remarkable analgesic activities and also has significant anti-inflammatory effects, confirming its clinical use in controlling pain and less in inflammation.     

Genetic evaluation of growth in Barki sheep using random regression models

The objective of the current study was to estimate covariance components of growth at different ages from birth to yearling in Barki lambs. A total of 16,496 records for body weights at birth (W0), 3 (W3), 6 (W6), 9 (W9), and 12 (12) months of age for Barki lambs were available. Two statistical approaches were used; multi-trait (MT) and random regression (RR) animal models assuming two random effects only, additive genetic effect (σ²_a) and permanent environmental effect (σ²_pe) of the animal. Regarding the RR model, Legendre polynomials (LP) of different orders for the random parts were compared in order to evaluate the most appropriate model. Bayesian information and Akaike information criteria suggested that the optimal RR model included the third order for fixed effect of lamb age and σ²_pe, and fourth order of LP for σ²_a (LP₃₄₃). Estimates of direct heritability (h²_a) from LP₃₄₃ showed an ascending pattern, as it was 0.06 ± 0.03 for birth weight and reached to the peak at 9 months (0.42 ± 0.02). Thereafter, it declined again at the end of trajectory (12 months of age; 0.27 ± 0.03). The MT model showed a fluctuated pattern and lower estimates of h²_a (0.19 ± 0.03, 0.11 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.11 ± 0.03, and 0.16 ± 0.04 for W0, W3, W6, W9, and W12, respectively). Considerably, similar ascending patterns of the ratio of σ²_pe to phenotypic variance were reported from both RR (from 3 to 50%) and MT models (from 5 to 20%). Of interest, the RR model showed higher predicting ability of the breeding values compared with the MT model, which is an indicator for the suitability of RR models for analyzing the consecutive growth traits in sheep. Results suggested that the Barki sheep has a potential for genetic selection based on weight at different ages with selection likely to be more efficient at 9 months of age.

     

Melatonin can improve viability and functional integrity of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa

Melatonin is known to protect sperm against freezing-inflicted damage in different domestic species. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of semen extender with melatonin on the quality and DNA integrity of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. We also investigated whether the addition of melatonin to the semen extender could improve the fertility of rabbit does artificially inseminated with frozen/thawed semen. Semen samples collected from eight rabbit bucks were pooled and then diluted in INRA-82 supplemented either with (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mM) or without (0.0 mM) melatonin. Diluted semen was cooled at 5°C for 24 hr. For cryopreservation and based on the first experiment's best result, semen samples were diluted in INRA-82 in the presence or absence of 1.0 mM melatonin and then frozen in 0.25 ml straws. Following cooling or thawing, sperm quality and DNA integrity were evaluated. Furthermore, the fertility of frozen/thawed semen was investigated after artificial insemination. Supplementation of semen extender with 1.0 mM melatonin improved (p < .05) motility, viability, membrane and acrosome integrities in cooled semen compared with other groups. Sperm quality and DNA integrity were higher (p < .05) in frozen/thawed semen diluted in 1.0 mM melatonin-supplemented extender than in the control group. Conception and birth rates were higher in does inseminated with 1.0 mM melatonin treated semen compared with the controls. In conclusion, supplementation of semen extender with 1.0 mM melatonin improved the quality of cooled and frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa. Melatonin can preserve DNA integrity and enhance the fertility of frozen/thawed rabbit spermatozoa.     

A Modified DMT-HFO Technique for Investigating the Kinetics of Phosphorus Desorption from Calcareous Soils and its Relationship with Maize Growth

In this research, phosphorus (P) desorption was investigated using DMT-HFO as an “infinite” sink for 10 calcareous soils over a period of 1–35 days and the kinetic data was related to soil properties and P uptake by maize (Zea mays L.). First- and second-order, and simple Elovich equations adequately described P desorption kinetics, however parabolic, exponential and zero order equations provided the best fits to the data. A systematic relationship exists between the second order rate parameter (k₂) and the clay content of the soils. There are positive relationships between P desorption rate constants (for zero order, Elovich and parabolic equations), and both dry matter and P content of maize shoots and also for roots. These relationships indicate that P desorption rate may be a limiting factor for maize growth in these soils. The DMT-HFO technique may be used to assess the long-term availability of P to plants.