Development of Chemical Index as a Measure of In-Stream Water Quality in Response to Land-Use and Land Cover Changes

Water pollution in response to accelerated land-use/land cover changes has drawn concerns because of public health and environmental impacts. The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of land use/land cover changes, seasonal, and location on water quality of streams within the Wheeler Lake Watershed basin in northern Alabama. Temporal water samples from 18 sheppard streams were randomly collected in 2000 and 2001, processed and analyzed for pH, and total nitrogen (TN), dissolved (Dp), particulate (Pp) and total phosphorus (Tp), dissolved oxygen (DO) and soluble lead (Pb) concentration, employing standard methods of analysis. The data were normalized and integrated into a simple index (WQC_Index) to evaluate stream water quality. Results showed that the urban proportion of the total watershed basin had increased from 2.9 to 14.7% with an associated loss of agricultural (8.9%) and wetland (4.8%) covers from 1992 to 2000. A change in land-use/land covers in association with seasonal and location variation significantly affected stream water quality. Total nitrogen concentration in stream water had a peak during the summer at 34% above the annual mean. While both Pp and Tp concentrations peaking during the summer at 24% above the annual mean and about 25% below the annual mean during spring, the DO concentrations were 46% above the annual mean during the fall and 18 to 26% below annual mean during summer. The WQC_Index had responded very seasonal and showed significant identical trends, with 21% degradation in water quality during the summer above the annual mean and improvement during the spring at 20% above the annual mean. Upstream water had a significantly greater Pp and Tp (21 to 28%) concentration than at down- and middle streams water. Location and seasonal variations had significant interactive effects on Pp, Tp and DO concentration of stream water. Total amount of seasonal rainfall significantly accounted 99.6% of the variations in WQC_Index. Increasing seasonal mean relative humidity, air and soil temperature, evaporation and solar radiation had positive relationship with the variations in WQC_Index. Among the water quality parameters, both Pp and Tp were correlated (r ² = 0.998^?*?) to each other, and accounted for more than 80% variability of the WQC_Index. Highly significant positive linear relationship between Pp and Tp concentration suggested that 99.8% of the P in stream water is in Pp form which probably transported with sediments in surface runoff. In other words, Pp is the main pollutant responsible for degradation of stream water quality in the Wheeler lake basin. Routine measurement of either Pp or Tp concentration could be used as sensitive and early indicator of temporal changes in stream water quality even when the other parameters changed negligibly or remain unchanged.     

Unilateral leiomyoma in the mesosalpinx of a dog

Routine ultrasonographic evaluation of the genital organs of a 3-year-old terrier bitch revealed a mass at the level of the left ovary. The mass was located next to the caudal pole of the left kidney and ventrocaudal to the left ovary. Ultrasonographically, the uterus was not enlarged and had no luminal contents. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a mass attached to the left ovarian bursa with a small and thin pedicle. The mass had smooth margins, was whitish in color, and was lobulated on cut surface. The histopathological diagnosis of the mass was leiomyoma associated with the mesosalpinx.     

Distribution of eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells in the reproductive tract of female goats in the preimplantation phase

Changes in eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells post-insemination may affect conceptus implantation, but information regarding the numbers of such cells in the mammalian reproductive tract is limited. This study investigated the preimplantation distribution of eosinophil granulocytes and mast cells (MCs) in the reproductive tract organs of female goats. Uterus, uterine cervix and uterine tubes samples were obtained at slaughter. Cornu uteri were washed in phosphate buffer solution (each animal contained at least one embryo). Tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formol, Carnoy solution and Mota’s fixative (basic lead acetate) for 48 h and embedded in paraffin. Six-micrometre-thick sections were stained with Congo red (for eosinophil granulocytes) and toluidine blue in 1% aqueous solution at pH 1.0 for 5 min (for MCs). In the uterus, MCs occurred in highest numbers in the myometrium. Higher MC numbers were observed in uterus, uterine and uterine tubes in the preimplantation (experimental) group (cycle synchronised through 7 days intravaginal sponge with 0.3 g P₄) compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Eosinophil granulocyte numbers were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). These results indicate preimplantation-related changes in numbers of eosinophil granulocytes and MCs in goat reproductive tract organs.     

Antimicrobial activity of some endemic plants growing in the Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey

The Eastern Black Sea Region has an extensive flora because of ample rainfall lasting all year. In this study, antimicrobial effects of 74 crude extracts of 22 endemic plants were investigated. Among the 30 active crude extracts, water-insoluble crude extracts from Betula medwediewii, Heracleum platytaenium, Primula longipes, Anthemis cretica ssp. argaea and Centaurea helenioides were the prominent ones with their MIC values.     

Major causes of mastitis and associated risk factors in smallholder dairy farms in and around Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2008 to May 2009 in smallholder dairy farms in and around Hawassa to estimate the prevalence of mastitis, to isolate and characterize major bacterial pathogens, and to identify possible associated factors. The study involved a total of 201 milking cows randomly drawn from smallholder farms. The prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis was determined through clinical examination of the udder and using mastitis indicator paper (Bovivet indicator paper, Kruuse, Denmark). The prevalence of mastitis at cow and quarter level was 30.3 (61/201) and 10.3 (79/766), respectively. Subclinical mastitis was 25.4% and 5.0% was clinical. Stage of lactation significantly affected (P < 0.05) the prevalence of mastitis, with the highest prevalence observed in the late stage of lactation (41.3%) as compared to early (25.0%) and mid (22.1%) stages of lactation. Floor type and bedding had association (P < 0.05) with mastitis prevalence. Cows housed in concrete-floored houses had lower prevalence (19.0%) of mastitis compared to cows kept in soil-floored houses (47.6%). Mastitis prevalence was low in farms which do not use bedding (23.5%) as compared to farms using hay/straw bedding (37.4%). However, age, parity, and history of mastitis had no association (P > 0.05) on the prevalence of mastitis. The pathogens isolated from mastitic cows were Staphylococcus aureus (48.6%), other staphylococci species (15.7%), Streptococcus agalactiae (11.4%), other streptococci (17.1%), Bacillus species (2.9%), and coliforms (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species) (4.3%). Strict hygienic measure of housing and bedding should be considered, in reducing the prevalence of mastitis.     

Prevalence and epidemiological aspects of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs from Kayseri Province, Turkey

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis infection and to investigate the risk factors related to heartworm disease in dogs from Kayseri, Turkey. Blood samples were collected from 280 dogs from May 2005 to March 2006 and were examined by membrane filtration-acid phosphatase histochemical staining and antigen Elisa techniques to detect circulating microfilariae and antigens of D. immitis, respectively. Of the total of 280 dogs, 27 were positive for D. immitis with a prevalence value of 9.6%. In addition 29.6% of positive dogs determined to have occult D. immitis infections. D. immitis was the only canine filarial parasite present in the study area. The mean number of microfilariae in infected dogs was 4730+/-5479 per ml of blood. The highest heartworm prevalence were observed in 7-10 age group (28.6%) followed by 4-6 (17.1%) and 0.5-3 (4.8%) age groups. The differences between 0.5-3 and other age groups were found significant, whereas no statistically significant difference was observed between 4-6 and 7-10 age groups. The infection was more prevalent in males, larger breeds and the dogs not on prophylaxis. No statistically significant difference was observed between stray and owned dogs. Our results suggest that heartworm treatment and prophylaxis should be considered in Kayseri Province.     

Extractability of 2,4-D,Dicamba and MCPP from Soil

The adsorption of herbicides on soil colloids is a major factor determining their mobility, persistence, and activity in soils. Solvent extraction could be a viable option for removing sorbed contaminants in soils. This study evaluated the extractability of three herbicides: 2,4 dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D), 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxypropanoic acid (mecoprop acid or MCPP), and 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba). Three solvents (water, methanol, and iso-propanol) and three methods of extraction (column, batch, and soxhlet) were compared for their efficiencies in removing the herbicides from three soils (loamy sand, silt loam, and silty clay). Both linear and non-linear Freundlich isotherms were used to predict sorption intensity of herbicides on soils subjected to various extraction methods and conditions. High K_dand K_fr, and low N values were obtained for all herbicides in silty clay soil by batch extraction. Methanol was the best solvent removing approximately 97% of all added herbicides from the loamy sand either by column or soxhlet extraction method. Isopropanol ranked second by removing over 90% of all herbicides by soxhelet extraction from all three soils. However, water was ineffective in removing herbicides from any of the soils using any of the three extracting procedures used in this study. In general, the extent of herbicide removal depended on soil type, herbicide concentration, extraction procedure, solvent type and amount, and extraction time.     

Supplementation of Farta sheep fed hay with graded levels of concentrate mix consisting of noug seed meal and rice bran

The study was carried out at Woreta, Ethiopia, to determine feed intake, digestibility, body weight (BW) change, and profitability of Farta sheep fed pasture hay alone or supplemented with graded levels of concentrate mix (CM) consisting of noug seed meal (NSM) and rice bran in 2:1 ratio. Twenty yearling intact male Farta sheep with BW of 16.9 ± 1.68 kg (mean ± SD) were used in randomized complete block design arranged into five blocks of four animals. The dietary treatments consisting of sole natural pasture hay (T1, control), hay +200 g of CM dry matter (DM) (T2, low), hay +300 g of CM DM (T3, medium), and hay +400 g of CM DM (T4, high) were randomly assigned to sheep within each block. Common salt and water were available to animals all the time. The supplements were offered twice daily in equal portions at 0800 and 1600 h. Supplementation with the CM increased (P < 0.001) DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber intake and digestibility. The final BW and daily BW gains were higher (P < 0.001) for the supplemented compared to the control treatment. The study also revealed supplementation improved feed conversion efficiency and profitability. Among the supplemented treatments, the high level of supplementation resulted in better (P < 0.001) nutrient utilization, animal performance, and profitability. Thus, the high level of supplementation is recommended based on biological performance and profitability under conditions of this study.