Effect of Citrate Concentration on the Extraction Efficiency of Selected Micronutrients from Soil

This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effect of citrate concentration on the extraction efficiency of some micronutrients from soil. Composite surface soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected from Eastern Harage Zone (Babile and Haramaya Districts), Wolaita Zone (Damot Sore, Boloso Bombe, Damot Pulasa and Humbo Districts) and Dire Dawa Administrative Council in purposive sampling. The treatments were arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. A greenhouse pot experiment with soybean plant was conducted to determine the correlation between soil test methods and the selected micronutrients, such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in the leaves of the plant. The results showed that, among the different citrate concentrations with strontium chloride (SrCl₂) tested for the determination of available Fe, Mn and Zn, the highest correlation coefficients (r = 0.82, p < 0.05), (r = 0.96, p < 0.001) and (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) were found between the diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) method and 0.02 M strontium chloride (SrCl₂)-0.025 M citric acid extractant, respectively. Therefore, 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.025 M citric acid extractant is considered to be the most effective for the determination of Fe, Mn and Zn in soils of the studied areas. Similarly, high correlation coefficients (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) were found between DTPA and 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.05 M citric acid and (r = 0.88, p < 0.01) between DTPA and 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.025 M citric acid extractants for the determination of available Cu from soils. Hence, the 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.05 M citric acid extractant was shown to be the best for the determination of Cu in soils of the studied areas. However, considering the use of universal extractant, the 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.025 M citric acid extractant could easily be adopted as a procedure for the determination of Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn for both agricultural and environmental purposes. The greenhouse experiment confirmed the result.     

Boron and ectomycorrhizal influences on indole-3-acetic acid levels and indole-3-acetic acid oxidase and peroxidase activities of Pinus echinata Mill. roots

The level of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) roots was increased by inoculation with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch. Indole-3-acetic acid oxidase activity was also increased suggesting that the increased level of IAA was the result of increased synthesis. Boron fertilization reduced IAA levels in roots inoculated with P. tinctorius but not in noninoculated roots.     

Boron fertilization and carbohydrate relations in mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal shortleaf pine

Eight-week-old shortleaf pine seedlings (Pinus echinata Mill.) with and without ectomycorrhizae formed by Pisolithus tinctorius were treated for two to eight weeks with 25 microg borate ml(-1) solution applied either to the soil, or as a foliar spray, or in both ways. Control seedlings were fertilized only with modified Hoagland's solution containing 0.03 microg ml(-1) borate. Five sugars (pinitol, fructose, glucose, myoinositol and sucrose) were quantitated in both mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal roots by gas-liquid chromatography. Fertilization with boron increased the total carbohydrate content of mycorrhizal roots except in seedlings receiving foliar applications of boron. Foliar + soil fertilization yielded a 24% increase in total carbohydrates in mycorrhizal roots, whereas foliar fertilization alone decreased the total carbohydrate content. Carbohydrate content of nonmycorrhizal roots was significantly increased only by soil fertilization with boron. Individual sugars were affected less by boron fertilization in nonmycorrhizal roots than in ectomycorrhizal roots. However, significant increases in sugars in response to boron fertilization were observed in both ectomycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extract of Hippomarathrum microcarpum (Bieb.) from Turkey

Hippomarathrum microcarpum grows wild in eastern Anatolia, Turkey, and is a plant utilized as food by people. In this study, the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extract from H. microcarpum and its essential oil composition were investigated. The essential oil, which has bornyl acetate, caryophyllene oxide, and beta-caryophyllene as its main components, exhibited activity against eight bacteria, nine fungi, and a yeast, Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 62.50 to 125 muL/mL; the methanol extract showed weak activity. The antioxidant activity of these extracts was assessed by the beta-carotene bleaching test and the 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test. The inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation was very weak for both extracts tested. The inhibition percentages were found to be 22.9 and 33.5% for methanol and essential oil, respectively, at the concentration of 2 g/L. The oil scavenged DPPH at higher concentrations (IC50 = 10.69 +/- 0.05 mg/mL), but the methanol extract exhibited no activity. The total phenolic content of the methanol extract was found to be 4.7 +/- 0.1%.     

Evaluation of some coagulation parameters in hepatic coccidiosis experimentally induced with Eimeria stiedai in rabbits

The objective of this study was to evaluate some coagulation parameters in hepatic coccidiosis experimentally induced with Eimeria stiedai in rabbits. Fourteen healthy New Zealand rabbits were equally divided into two groups. One group received no treatment, the other group was orally inoculated with 40 000 sporulated oocysts of E. stiedai in a 1 ml inoculum using a catheter. At day 24 after inoculation, blood samples were collected into sodium citrate-containing tubes to evaluate some coagulation parameters. Although statistically not significant, infected rabbits had prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time compared with rabbits in the control group. A significant reduction (P < 0.05) was observed in the level of fibrinogen of infected rabbits compared with that of the controls. A slight decrease in thrombocyte counts of infected rabbits was not statistically significant.     

Pleural mesothelioma in a nine-month-old dog

This paper reports on an unusual case of pleural epitheloid mesothelioma in a nine-month-old male, mixed breed dog. The dog was presented in-extremis and, on post mortem examination, multiple, exophytic, frequently pedunculated, yellowish-red, soft to firm masses ranging from 3 mm to 6 cm in diameter were diffusely distributed over, and attached to, the pericardial and parietal pleural surfaces. Microscopically, these masses consisted of round to partially polygonalshaped, anaplastic cells with minimal cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei covering papillomatous projections or as part of more densely cellular masses. A supporting fibrovascular stroma and mitotic figures were also evident. Constituent tumour cells were labeled positively with antibodies against both vimentin and cytokeratin. In contrast, the same cells exhibited equivocal labeling with an antibody directed against calretinin antigen and did not label with antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and milk fat globule-related antigen (MFGRA). Such tumours are rare in dogs, particularly in such a young animal.     

Cross-sectional study on Contagious Caprine Pleuro Pneumonia in selected districts of sedentary and pastoral production systems in Southern Ethiopia

A study to estimate the seroprevalence of Contagious Caprine Pluropneumonia (CCPP) in southern Ethiopia was conducted from November 2005 to June 2006. Two districts from sedentary (Arbaminch and Boreda) and pastoral (Hammar and Bena-Tsemay) production systems were included in the study. Sera samples were collected from 913 goats (234 from sedentary and 679 from pastoral) to check for CCPP serostatus. The animals were sampled from 155 flocks (44 pastoral and 111 sedentary). Five clinically suspected CCPP cases were also sacrificed and attempt was made to isolate Mycoplasma capricolum capripneumoniae (MccP) from lung tissue, nasal swab and plural exudates. Sera samples were tested for the presence of CCPP antibodies using CFT. The overall seroprevalence recorded in the study was 18.61%. The corresponding seroprevalences for sedentary and pastoral production systems were 27.78% and 15.46% respectively. Regarding districts, the prevalence in Hammar was 15.63% while that of Bena-Tsemay 15.29%. In Arbaminch and Boreda the percent of seroreactors were 23.01 and 32.23% respectively. Out of 44 pastoral and 111 sedentary flocks, 50.45% of pastoral and 65.91% of sedentary flocks had at least one seroreactor goat per flock respectively. Both in the univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis, seropositivity was found to have strong association with sedentary production system (P < 0.05, OR = 2.24) and adult age (P < 0.05, OR = 1.77). In microbiological study, two broth cultures from thoracic fluid and two broth cultures from lung tissue samples were found to be positive for Mycoplasma capricolum capripneumoniae (MccP). In conclusion, both the serological study and bacteriological isolation confirmed the disease CCPP being an important disease that demands serious attention in both production systems.     

Anthelmintic resistance of nematode parasites of small ruminants in eastern Ethiopia: exploitation of refugia to restore anthelmintic efficacy

Faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) were conducted in May 2003 to determine the efficacy of anthelmintics used for treatment against nematode parasites in separately managed sheep and goat flocks at Alemaya University in eastern Ethiopia. These tests revealed high levels of anthelmintic resistance to albendazole, tetramisole, the combination of these two drugs, and to ivermectin in the goat flock (predominantly infected by Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp.), whereas all drugs were highly efficacious in the sheep flock. A second FECRT confirmed these observations. Following this, a new management system was implemented on the goat flock for a period of 9 months (January-September 2004) in an attempt to restore the anthelmintic efficacy. This involved a combination of measures: eliminating the existing parasite infections in the goats, exclusion from the traditional goat pastures, and introducing communal grazing of the goats with the university sheep flock and livestock owned by neighbouring small-holder farmers. A second series of FECRTs (Tests 3 and 4) conducted 7 months after this change in management, showed high levels of efficacy to all three drugs (albendazole, tetramisole and ivermectin) in the goat flock. This is the first field study to demonstrate that anthelmintic efficacy in the control of nematode parasites of small ruminants can be restored by exploiting refugia.     

Neospora caninum versus Brucella spp. exposure among dairy cattle in Ethiopia: A case control study

This case-control study aimed at assessing the relative association of Neospora caninum and Brucella species exposure with reproductive disorders. The study was carried out between October 2011 and June 2012 on 731 dairy cows sampled from 150 dairy farms in selected 17 conurbations of Ethiopia. Two hundred sixty-six of the cows were categorized as cases based on their history of abortion or stillbirth while the remaining 465 were controls. The presence of antibody to N. caninum was screened using indirect ELISA, while Brucella spp. exposure was assayed serially using Rose Bengal Plate Test and Complement Fixation Test. Exposure to N. caninum was more frequently observed among cases (23.8 %) than controls (12.7 %), while no significant difference (p?>?0.05) was noted for Brucella exposure between the two groups. Moreover, the proportion of cows with disorders like retention of fetal membrane, endometritis and increased inter-calving period were significantly higher (p?<?0.05) among Neospora seropositive cows. In conclusion, the finding discloses the strong association of N. caninum with reproductive disorders compared to Brucella spp. exposure. However, neither N. caninum nor Brucella spp. could explain the majority (73.2 %) of the reported abortions and stillbirths in cattle. Hence, this observation underscores the need for more intensive investigation on the identification of causes of the aforementioned disorders in dairy cattle of Ethiopia.     

Evaluation of untreated and urea molasses–treated finger millet (Eleusine coracana) straw and lowland bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) leaf hay on nutritive values and the performance of Gumuz sheep in Ethiopia

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of untreated and urea molasses–treated finger millet straw and lowland bamboo leaf hay feeding on...