Usability of Water-Sensitive Papers (WSPs) for Assessing Splash Erosion

Eurasian Soil Science - Splash erosion, the first step in water erosion process, occurs because of raindrops collusion with soil aggregates and pushing soil particulates into the air. The objective...     

Clinical and serological follow-up in dogs with visceral leishmaniosis treated with allopurinol and sodium stibogluconate

Seven dogs with parasitologically proven clinical visceral leishmaniosis (Leishmania infantum infection) were treated with a combination of allopurinol and sodium stibogluconate. The dogs received first orally 15 mg/kg of allopurinol every 12 h until the clinical signs improved, in the following 1 month period allopurinol at same dose and subcutaneously 30 mg/kg of sodium stibogluconate combination were given daily and at the end of the combined treatment, allopurinol was continued alone at the same dose till the end of 8 months. During the treatment period, dogs were supported by additional proteins, vitamins, and minerals. A long acting insecticide (collar or drop) was also used in order to prevent further parasite transmission. Follow-up was maintained by clinical, clinicopathological evaluation, and parasitological examination of lymph node, serology using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Before treatment commenced, the most important clinical signs were exfoliative dermatitis, ulcerations, peripheral lymhadenopathy, pale mucous membranes, weight loss, and ocular lesions. Clinicopathological findings included commonly anaemia, hyperproteinaemia, hyperglobulinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. Before the treatment, amastigotes were seen in six of the seven dogs by examination of lymph node aspiration, and IFAT-titers were positive in all dogs. At the end of 8 months treatment, remission of clinical signs, restoration to normal of clinicopathological abnormalities were noticed. Lymph node aspiration was performed on three out of the seven dogs at the end of the treatment because of the very small sizes of the lymph nodes, and no amastigotes were observed. Although the mean IFAT-titer of the dogs were significantly (P < 0.001) lower compared with pretreatment, IFAT-titers of dogs were still positive. No relapses occurred during treatment period and a 6-24-month duration after the end of therapy. Based on the above results, long-term use of allopurinol combined with sodium stibogluconate together with support treatment concluded to have enough therapeutic efficacies in the treatment of dogs with visceral leishmaniosis. Observations of the cases for possible relapses were still going on and insecticide application was carefully carrying on in order preventing a possible re-infection.     

Expression of Genes in the Canine Pre‐implantation Uterus and Embryo: Implications for an Active Role of the Embryo Before and During Invasion

The aim of the present study was to assess genes expressed in maternal uterine tissue and pre‐implantation embryos which are presumably involved in maternal recognition and establishment of canine pregnancy. For this purpose, 10 pregnant bitches were ovariohysterectomized between days 10 and 12 after mating. Four non‐pregnant bitches served as controls. Early pregnancy was verified by flushing the uterine horns with PBS solution. The collected embryos (n = 60) were stored deep‐frozen (?80°C). Uterine tissue was excised, snaps frozen in liquid nitrogen and homogenized using TRI Reagent. All embryos from one litter were thawed together and also homogenized in TRI Reagent. RT‐PCR was performed to prove mRNA expression of progesterone receptor, key enzymes of the prostaglandin synthesis pathway, selected growth factors, cytokines, immune cell receptors, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and matrix‐metalloproteinases (MMP). Only pregnant uteri revealed the presence of mRNA for interferon (IFN)‐γ, IL‐4 and CD‐8, which resembles the milieu in humans and other mammalians. Similarly, in day 10 embryos, mRNA for transforming growth factor‐β, insulin‐like growth factor‐1,‐2, hepatocyte growth factor, leukaemia inhibitor factor, tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β,‐6,‐8, cyclooxygenase‐2, CD4⁺ cells, and MMP‐2 and ‐9 were detected, but not MHC‐I or ‐II. We therefore suppose that the canine embryo, like its human counterpart, actively initiates measures to prevent attacks from the maternal immune system to prepare its own adhesion, nidation, growth and further development.     

Control of the mushroom phorid fly, Megaselia halterata (Wood), with plant extracts

BACKGROUND: The most serious insect pest problems affecting the cultivation of mushroom [Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach] in Turkey are mushroom flies (sciarids, cecids and phorids). Mushroom phorid fly, Megaselia halterata (Wood), is the most common insect pest species during April‐October. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for eight botanical materials (two commercial neem‐based products and six hot‐water plant extracts) to control M. halterata populations in three successive growing periods. RESULTS: Treatment efficacy was evaluated by assessing adult emergence and sporophore damage rates compared with that of a standard insecticide, chlorpyrifos‐ethyl (positive control). All plant extracts caused significant reductions in the mean number of emerging adults and sporophore damage rates compared with the water‐treated control (negative control). Reduction in adult emergence in both neem treatments, Neemazal and Greeneem oil, was greater than that in the positive control. While Neemazal and Origanum onites L. extract had significantly lower sporophore damage rates than the positive control, there were no significant differences between the chlorpyrifos‐ethyl, Greeneem oil and Pimpinella anisum L. extract treatments. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that both neem products and hot‐water extracts of O. onites and P. anisum may be potential alternatives to conventional pesticides for the control of mushroom phorid fly. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Annual Change of the Testosterone Hormone in Male White Goats

In this research, changes of testosterone hormone in the blood serum of 9 male (3 of age 2 and 6 of age 4) White goats have been studied for a duration of one year. Analyses performed show that the general monthly averages of the testosterone hormone of the male White goats in the period of 12 months starting in January were (2.11±0.73), (2.22±0.52), (2.44±0.59),(2.10±0.41),(2.35±1.00), (3.42±1.48), (4.77±1.32), (5.61±1.40), (7.91±1.24), (10.84±1.59), (7.82±1.60), and (2.63±0.61) ng mL-1,respectively (P<0.05). The effect of the age factor on the testosterone production in White goats (age 2 and 4) was generally significant (P<0.05) for differences among months in each age group, but not significant for differences between age groups in each month. The testosterone hormone levels of male White goats encountered significant changes (P<0.05)with respect to the season.     

新疆克里雅绿洲土壤盐分、pH和盐基离子空间异质性分析

以克里雅绿洲盐渍化土壤为研究对象,以野外调查与实地数据为基础,采用空间自相关分析与径向基函数插值法,定量分析了克里雅绿洲土壤的含盐量、pH及盐基离子的空间异质特征。结果表明:绿洲盐渍土表聚性强、呈碱性,土壤含盐量从南至北呈现逐渐增大趋势。土壤含盐量、Na~+、Ca(2+)、K~+、Mg2~+、Cl–、SO_4~(2-)均属于强空间变异,HCO_3~–属于中等强度的空间变异,而pH属极弱变异。土壤盐分含量、pH和盐基离子的Moran’s I指数均通过了显著性检验,研究区土壤含盐量、p H与盐基离子在空间上呈现低聚集性。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,土壤盐分含量与Na~+、K~+、Cl~–和SO_4~(2-)含量具有强正相关性(P0.01),与Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)含量中等程度正相关(P0.05);土壤pH与土壤含盐量及盐基离子含量极弱相关。该研究结果可为绿洲水资源合理开发与农业可持续发展提供科学依据,同时可作为盐渍土改良和沙漠化防治等环保工作的决策支撑。     

Does serum anti‐Müllerian hormone levels always discriminate presence of the ovaries in adult bitches? Comparison of two ELISA kits

Anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced in the ovary, and thus, it is an excellent marker of follicle pool in females. Current interest is the clinical use of this parameter as a biomarker to assess presence or absence of an intact ovary and to diagnose ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) following incomplete ovariohysterectomy (OHE) in bitches. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum AMH concentrations in bitches (n = 34) before and after OHE using two different commercial ELISA kits, one of which is based on detecting human AMH and the other is based on detecting human AMH and the other specified for canine AMH. Furthermore, serum AMH levels were also measured in six ORS cases to compare the diagnostic utility of the two different ELISA kits. Serum AMH concentrations measured using the human and canine kit prior to and after OHE were 0.32 ± 0.24, 0.006 ± 0.22 ng/ml (p < .001) and 12.08 ± 22.81, 9.55 ± 15.42 ng/ml (p = .868), respectively. Thus, the canine‐based kit was not able to reveal the significant drop in serum AMH levels. In conclusion, the human‐based ELISA kits successfully detected the drop in serum AMH concentrations. Reliable results can only be achieved from well‐designed ELISA kits, and AMH levels might be a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of presence or absence of ovaries as well as for the detection of ORS cases in bitches.