Treatment of chenevotte, a co-product of industrial hemp fiber, by water or hydrochloric acid: impact on polymer mobility in the lignified cell walls

The impact of water- and of mild acid impregnation with hydrochloric acid (HCl) on the viscoelastic and breaking properties of woody hemp core (chenevotte) was studied from the polymer to the macroscale level. We have shown that transition temperature (T _g) values of lignin and hemicelluloses were not affected by the acid treatment, whereas the relaxation mechanism of hemicelluloses, expressed by the apparent activation energy, was modified. The opposite impacts were observed in the water extraction. Changes in the sample strength were also noted, as the chenevotte treated with mild HCl became more brittle, as opposed to the samples extracted with water. It is suggested here that the moderate HCl treatment impacts chenevotte micro- and macro-properties through acid depolymerization of polysaccharides and extraction of low molecular mass entities, whereas water immersion contributes solely to the later mechanism.     

Study of the risk factors associated with Neospora caninum seroprevalence in Algerian cattle populations

Bovine abortions due to Neospora caninum infection were reported worldwide. The situation in Algeria was unknown. For the evaluation of the prevalence of N. caninum and its associated risk factors, 799 cattle belonging to 87 farms of the north and northeast of Algeria were analyzed. The cattle were divided into imported cattle, local cattle and improved cattle corresponding to breeding between imported and local cattle. Sera were examined for the presence of N. caninum antibodies by indirect fluorescence antibody test. The overall seroprevalence for the 87 farms was 52.87% (41.28-62.71%). The overall animal seroprevalence was 19.64% (16.82-22.45%). The seroprevalence of N. caninum in local cattle (34.28%) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in modern (16.04%) and improved (18.64%) cattle. The risk factors analysis indicated that cattle population, geographical location, dog presence, season, global farm hygiene or the presence of abortion were significantly associated with seroprevalence.     

Changes in soil organic carbon fractions in a tropical Acrisol as influenced by the addition of different residue materials

Residues of Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (L), Senna siamea (S) and maize stover (M) were tested to evaluate their effect on soil organic matter accumulation and composition under sub-humid tropical conditions. On an Imperata cylindrica (I) dominated grass fallow, a total amount of 30?Mg?ha^?1 DM were applied within 18?months. Two months after the last application, changes in the light and heavy soil organic carbon fraction (LF and HF) and in the total soil organic carbon content (LF?+?HF) in the topsoil were observed. All organic materials increased the proportion of the LF fraction in the soil significantly. The increase in HF was 39 to 51% of the increase in total organic carbon, depending on the source of the organic material. The potential of the tested organic materials to increase total soil organic carbon content (including all soil organic carbon fractions) was in the order L?>?S?>?M?>?I, whereas the order of increase of the HF fraction was L?=?S?>?I?>?M. Cation exchange capacity of the newly formed heavy soil organic carbon was highest with L and lowest with M. Ranking of the transformation efficiency of applied plant residues into the heavy soil organic carbon fraction was I?>?L?=?S?>?M. Transformation efficiency of the residues could neither be explained by lignin nor lignin/N ratio, but rather by extractable polyphenols (Folin?CDenis extraction). The results show that accumulation of the HF fraction in tropical soils is feasible through the application of large quantities of plant residues, but depends strongly on the composition of the applied materials.     

Spatial spreading of Echinococcus multilocularis in Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) across nation borders in Western Europe

The occurrence of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis in Red foxes was studied in Belgium and a neighbouring region in The Netherlands. A total number of 1202 foxes were analysed (1018 in Belgium and 184 in The Netherlands) of which 179 were infected with E. multilocularis (164 in Belgium and 15 in The Netherlands). Further, the spatial distribution of infection among sampled foxes was analysed with an ellipsoidal gradient, demonstrating a decreasing prevalence in northwestern direction. Using this gradient, we showed that the spatial patterns of infection in Belgium and the neighbouring region in The Netherlands correspond, indicating a continuous distribution of E. multilocularis across the nation borders. Part of the Belgian data allowed investigating temporal changes in the spatial distribution of E. multilocularis. This revealed a northwestern spread of E. multilocularis.