Echinococcus ortleppi and E. granulosus G1, G2 and G3 genotypes in Italian bovines

To increase the knowledge on Echinococcus genotypes infesting cattle and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) born and bred in Italy, the germinal layer of hydatid cysts was collected from the liver and the lungs of 80 animals slaughtered in 2007. Two mitochondrial genes (the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the NADH subunit I) were tested by PCR. Four genotypes were identified: G1 (sheep strain), G2 (Tasmanian sheep strain), G3 (buffalo strain), and G5 (cattle strain). Fertile cysts were detected only in the lungs of 4.5% of the total G1 lung cysts, of 9.4% of the total G3 lung cysts, and in the only G5 infected animal. This is the first report of Echinococcus ortleppi (genotype G5) in Italy.     

Identification of Polyphenolic Compounds in Edible Wild Fruits Grown in the North-West of Italy by Means of HPLC-DAD-ESI HRMS

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The popularity of edible wild fruits has increased in industrialized countries due to their composition and positive effects. The aim of this study has been to...     

The role of floods and droughts on riverine ecosystems under a changing climate

Floods and droughts are key driving forces shaping aquatic ecosystems. Climate change may alter key attributes of these events and consequently health and distribution of aquatic species. Improved knowledge of biological responses to different types of floods and droughts in rivers should allow the better prediction of the ecological consequences of climate change‐induced flow alterations. This review highlights that in unmodified ecosystems, the intensity and direction of biological impacts of floods and droughts vary, but the overall consequence is an increase in biological diversity and ecosystem health. To predict the impact of climate change, metrics that allow the quantitative linking of physical disturbance attributes to the directions and intensities of biological impacts are needed. The link between habitat change and the character of biological response is provided by the frequency of occurrence of the river wave characteristic—that is the event's predictability. The severity of impacts of floods is largely related to the river wave amplitude (flood magnitude), while the impact of droughts is related to river wavelength (drought duration).     

Distribution and phylogenetic analysis of the 3′UTR and coat protein gene of Iranian Beet black scorch virus

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Beet black scorch virus (BBSV) was surveyed in major sugar beet cultivation areas in Iran in 2008–2013 growing seasons. A total of 148 out of 308...     

Vector analysis in the study of the nutritional status of Philodendron cultivated in compost-based media

Compost (CP) made from 70% ligno-cellulosic compounds and 30% sewage sludge was studied as a component of growing media in a 6-month Philodendron cultivation. CP's agronomic viability was evaluated via four plant-growth media containing 25–50–75–100% CP and white sphagnum peat (WP) in comparison to a commercial substrate with white and black peat. Plant nutrition conditions were investigated by determining macro- (TKN, P, K, Ca, Mg and micronutrients (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Na) and heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb) in roots and shoot tissues. Data were compared by vector analysis against control. Even if no leaf injuries were visible after 6-months’ growth, a CP ratio of up to 50% caused growth depression of canopy tissues, as attested by the 37 and 36% reduction in total leaf dry weight and leaf area, respectively. Root growth decline was also notable at 25% CP, where 38% root dry weight reduction implied a significant increase (46%) in shoot–root dry weight ratio. The investigation on nutrient tissue content showed high accumulation of Ni, Fe, Cr, Zn, Cd, Mn, Mg and P in roots; Mg appeared related to K deficiency. Above-ground nutritional status showed a severe lack of P, Mg and Mn. Vector analysis suggests the sewage sludge CP in Philodendron pot cultivation produces many such effects like direct toxic action and antagonistic action, resulting in a general nutrient imbalance in plants.     

The perinatal development of the gastrointestinal tract in piglets can be modified by supplementation of sow diet with bioactive substances

Dietary bioactive substances involving taurine, l-carnitine, polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids and antioxidants were shown to control the perinatal development in mammals. A blend of bioactive substances was used to supplement the diet of sows according to the optimal needs of their offspring. Our study aimed to examine the development of gastrointestinal tract in their offspring as compared to the offspring from control sows fed with standard diet. The supplemented diet was given from the gestation day 80 until the end of lactation period. One piglet from each litter was sacrificed on postnatal days 1 (i.e., unsuckling neonates), 2, 4, 7, 14, and 28 for tissue sampling. At birth, the stomach relative weight was larger in the supplemented group, and the small intestine relative weight was smaller as compared to control. These differences disappeared within 1–4 postnatal days. The stomach weight was larger at postnatal day 28 in the supplemented group as compared to control. Gastric protein content and the proteolytic activity in the offspring of the supplemented sows showed after birth a tendency to increase as compared to control, though the differences disappeared after the fourth postnatal day. In conclusion, the supplementation of sow diet with dietary bioactive substances affected primarily the prenatal development of the stomach and small intestine in their offspring.     

Simazine dynamics in a vineyard soil at Casablanca valley, Chile

Field dissipation, soil movement and laboratory leaching studies were performed to elucidate the effect of two rainfall amounts in the behaviour and environmental fate of simazine under climatic conditions at Casablanca Valley, Chile. Dissipation and soil movement were studied in a field vineyard with a sandy loam soil (Inceptisol; 74.08% sand; 14.87% silt and 11.04% clay). Simazine was applied to bare soil at 2.0 kg AI ha(-1), and its concentration was measured using immunoassay (ELISA) at 0, 10, 20, 40 and 90 days after application under two rainfall amounts, natural field conditions (39 mm) and modified conditions (39 + 180 mm). Simazine leaching was studied using soil core PVC lysimeters (0.9 m height; 0.22 m diameter). Field dissipation data were adjusted with a bi-exponential model. Half-life (DT(50)) values varied between 31.3 (+/-2.5) and 19.0 (+/-4.2) days under natural and modified conditions, respectively. Simazine K(d) varied from 0.42 to 2.15 (K(oc) 32.6-216.2) in the soil profile. Simazine was detected at a 90-cm soil depth in concentrations of 0.0085 (+/-0.0043) mg kg(-1) and 0.0321 (+/-0.001) mg kg(-1) under field and modified conditions, respectively. The maximum simazine leachate concentrations were 0.013 (+/-0.00084) mg litre(-1) (0.012% of total applied simazine) and 0.0084 (+/-0.00082) mg litre(-1) (0.11% of total applied simazine) for field and modified conditions respectively. These data indicate that water quantity has a significant effect on the DT(50) and the amount of simazine that moved through the soil profile, but not on the soil depth reached by this herbicide.     

Pharmacokinetics and cardiopulmonary effects of fentanyl in isoflurane-anesthetized rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

OBJECTIVE: To determine pharmacokinetics and selected cardiopulmonary effects of fentanyl in isoflurane-anesthetized rhesus monkeys. ANIMALS: 6 adult male rhesus monkeys. PROCEDURE: Fentanyl (8 mg/kg of body weight, IV) was administered to 6 monkeys anesthetized with isoflurane. End-tidal isoflurane concentration and esophageal temperature were kept constant, and ventilation was mechanically assisted. Heart rate, rhythm, aortic blood pressure, and blood pH, gas, and fentanyl concentrations were determined before and for 8 hours after administration of fentanyl. Pharmacokinetics of fentanyl were derived by use of noncompartmental methods based on statistical moment theory. RESULTS: Heart rate and mean arterial pressure decreased transiently following fentanyl administration. Maximal decreases were observed 5 to 15 minutes after administration. Arterial pH, Paco2, and Pao2 ranged from 7.46 +/- 0.04 to 751 +/- 0.05 units, 29.2 +/- 3 to 34.6 +/- 4.4 mm Hg, and 412.6 +/- 105.3 to 482.9 +/- 71.2 mm Hg, respectively. The clearance, volume of distribution area, volume of distribution steady state, mean residence time, area under the curve, elimination rate constant, and half-life were 32.5 +/- 2.48 ml/kg/min, 9.04 +/- 1.91 L/kg, 70 +/- 1.2 L/kg, 218.5 +/- 35.5 min, 0.247 +/- 0.019 mg/ml/min, 0.004 + 0.001/min, and 192.0 +/- 33.5 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Transient but potentially clinically important decreases in heart rate and mean arterial pressure were observed following fentanyl administration. Distribution and clearance data were similar to those reported for dogs and humans.