Evaluation of glycoproteins purified from adult and larval camel ticks (Hyalomma dromedarii) as a candidate vaccine

In order to identify antigens that can help prevent camel tick infestations, three major glycoproteins (GLPs) about 97, 66 and 40 kDa in size were purified from adult and larval Egyptian ticks, Hyalomma (H.) dromedarii, using a single-step purification method with Con-A sepharose. The purified GLPs were evaluated as vaccines against camel tick infestation in rabbits. The rabbits received three intramuscular inoculations of GLPs (20 µg/animal) on days 0, 14, and 28. In the immunoblot analysis, Sera from the immunized rabbits recognized the native GLPs and other proteins from larval and adult H. dromedarii ticks along with those from other tick species such as Rhipicephalus sanguineus but not Ornithodoros moubata. The effects of immunity induced by these GLPs were determined by exposing rabbits to adult H. dromedarii ticks. These results demonstrated that GLP immunization led to a slightly decreased reproductive index and significantly reduced rates of egg hatchability. These results demonstrated that immunization with the purified GLPs can provide protection against infestation by H. dromedarii and some other tick species. Further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of immunization with GLPs against other tick species.     

ELLA: A Rapid Technique to Estimate Chromium Stress-Induced Modification of E. coli EI19

An enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) was used to differentiatebetween chromium-stressed and unstressed cells of Escherichia coli EI19. The assay is a modification of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that uses Concanavalin A (Con A) conjugated with peroxidase to detect the carbohydrate moiety of the cell envelope glycoconjugates. The ELLA test shows that Con A binds to stressed bacteria much moreefficiently than it does to unstressed bacteria. Effects of heat,phenol and papain treatments on Con A-binding to chromium-stressed bacteria were also studied. Con A-binding to bacteria was sensitive to heat and phenol treatment, but not to treatment with papain. A potential analytical method for estimating the concentration of certain environmental pollutants is outlined.     

Study on furundu, a traditional Sudanese fermented roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seed: effect on in vitro protein digestibility, chemical composition, and functional properties of the total proteins

Furundu, a meat substitute, is traditionally prepared by cooking the karkade (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seed and then fermenting it for 9 days. Physicochemical and functional properties of raw and cooked seed and of furundu ferments were analyzed. Furundu preparation resulted in significant changes in karkade seed major nutrients. Total polyphenols and phytic acid were also reduced. The increase in total acidity and fat acidity coupled with a decrease in pH indicates microbial hydrolysis of the major nutrients; proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. In vitro digestibility of the seed proteins reached the maximum value (82.7%) at the sixth day of fermentation, but thereafter it significantly decreased. The effect of furundu preparation on N solubility profiles and functional properties, such as emulsification and foaming properties and other related parameters, is investigated in water and in 1 M NaCl extracts from defatted flour samples. The results show that cooking followed by fermentation affects proteins solubility in water and 1 M NaCl. The foaming capacity (FC) from the flour of raw seed decreased as a result of cooking. Fermentation for 9 days significantly increased the FC of the cooked seed, restoring the inherent value. Foam from fermented samples collapsed more rapidly during a period of 120 min as compared to the foam from raw and cooked karkade seeds; stability in 1 M NaCl was lower as compared to those in water. In water, the emulsion stability (ES) from the fermented samples was significantly higher than that of the raw seed flour. Addition of 1 M NaCl significantly decreased the ES of the fermented samples.     

The impact of a bio-fertilizer on the soil organic matter status and carbon sequestration—results from a field-scale study

Purpose

The application of bio-fertilizers is one of the management practices that can help to maintain or increase the content of organic matter (OM) and improve soil fertility in arable soils. While some results have been obtained in relation to the influence of bio-fertilizers on organic matter content, less in known about the fractional composition of humus.

Materials and methods

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the bio-fertilizer UGmax on soil total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and the fractional composition of organic matter (C of humic acids (CHAs), C of fulvic acids (CFAs), and C in humins) in the humus horizon of an arable field. Measurements were taken in 2005 before the application of UGmax and in 2008, 3 years after its application, which was done in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Forty soil samples were taken in 2005 (the control year without UGmax), while 20 samples were taken after UGmax treatment and 20 from the control in 2008. Samples were always collected after the plants were harvested.

Results and discussion

After the 3-year period of the experiment, the TOC content was 6.3 % higher in plots on which UGmax was applied in comparison to the control, while the DOC content was 0.19 percentage points lower after 3 years of bio-fertilizer use as compared to the initial year of the experiment. The contribution of DOC to TOC decreased significantly after the application of UGmax in comparison with the control. The content of CFAs and its contribution in the TOC pools in soil without UGmax was higher at the end of the experiment compared to the beginning, while there was an inverse relationship in the soil with the bio-fertilizer. In comparison with the control, organic matter in the soil treated with UGmax had a higher content of C of humic acids, C in humins, and higher CHAs/CFAs ratio.

Conclusions

We conclude that the use of a bio-fertilizer that increases the stable fractions of organic matter provides evidence of an increase in the soil OM stability. In turn, the contribution of the organic matter fractions that are more resistant to decomposition is crucial for increasing soil carbon sequestration.

     

Fatty acid distribution in muscle,liver, and gonads of rays (Dasyatis marmorata,Rhinobatos cemiculus,and Rhinoptera marginata) from the East Tropical Atlantic Ocean

If a great number of rays are fished in the Tropical East Atlantic Ocean for their caudal fins, only a small amount of ray flesh is processed. Among them, three species of rays, Dasyatis marmorata, Rhinobatos cemiculus, and Rhinoptera marginata, from the Mauritanian coast have been investigated for the fatty acid composition of their lipids. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry allowed identification of 50 molecules from muscles, livers, and gonads of these fishes. Principal component analysis, starting from >50 samples, reveals significant differences in various fatty acid distributions, related to the species and sex of the sampled fish. Some of them are preferentially present in one sex or in both species, whereas the occurrence of others characterizes the male and female of one or two species. The results show that rays are potential resources of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and should be used in the diet of local populations. The lipidic fractions contained a high amount of PUFA (up to 30% of the total), mainly composed of docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid, eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid, and eicosa-5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoic acid.     

Effect of treatment of chronic theileriosis with buparvaquone on milk yields

Summary Chronic, undulatingTheileria annulata infection was diagnosed as the cause of severely depressed milk yields in a herd of 44 Friesian cows in Egypt. The herd was divided at random into two groups of 22; one group was injected intramuscularly with a single dose of the experimental antitheilerial drug, buparvaquone, while the other remained untreated. Over the subsequent seven weeks milk yield in the treated group increased to double that of the untreated group (P<0.05). Pyrexia was controlled within two days of injection of buparvaquone and piroplasm parasitaemia was eliminated in one week. It is suggested that treatment of dairy cattle chronically infected withT. annulata using buparvaquone may have the dual beneficial effect of reducing the pathogenic effects of theileriosis, thereby permitting restoration of an impaired immune system, thus increasing resistance to other infections. If a similar effect could be produced inBos indicus cattle inT. annulata endemic areas, treatment of indigenous cattle with buparvaquone could be a useful alternative to the introduction ofBos taurus blood as a way of boosting milk production.

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Efecto Sobre La Produccion De Leche Del Tratamiento De La Theileriosis Cronica Con Buparvaquone

Resumen Se diagnosticó infección crónica ondulate deTheileria annulata, en un hato de 44 vacas Friesian en Egipto; la causa fue, la caida severa de la producción láctea. Se dividió el hato al azár, en dos grupos de 22 vacas cada uno; un grupo se inyectó via intramuscular, con una dosis única de la droga experimental buparvaquone y el otro no se trató. Durante las siete semanas subsiguientes, la producción láctea aumentó el doble en el grupo tratado, en relación con el grupo sin tratar (P<0.05). La pirexia fue controlada, dentro de los dos primeros dias después de la inyección de buparvaquone, y la parasitemia por piroplasmas se eliminó en una semana. Se sugiere, que el tratamiento con buparvaquone del genado de leche infectado crónicamente conT. annulata, podría tener doble efecto benéfico, al reducir el efecto patógeno de la theileriosis, permitiendo la restauración del sistema inmunológico, incrementando así la resistencia a otras infecciones. Si un efecto similar se produjera en ganadoBos indicus, en áreas endémicas deT. annulata, el tratamiento del ganado nativo con buparvaquone, podría convertirse en una alternativa a la introducción de sangreBos taurus, para incrementar la producción láctea.

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Effet Du Traitement De La Theileriose Chronique Par La Buparvaquone Sur Les Rendements Laitiers

Résumé L'infection chronique et à rechutes àTheileria annulata a été diagnostiquée comme étant la cause de rendements laitiers fortement déprimés dans un troupeau de 44 vaches frisonnes en Egypte. Le troupeau fut partagé, au hasard, en deux groupes de 22; un groupe a reçu par voie intramusculaire, une dose unique d'un médicament antitheileriose expériemental, la buparvaquone, tandis que l'autre n'était pas traité. Pendant les sept semaines suivantes, le rendement laitier du groupe traité a doublé par rapport à celui du groupe non triaté (P<0.05). L'hyperthermie a été contrôlée dans les deux jours suivant l'injection de buparvaquone, et la parantémie à piroplasme éliminée en une semaine. Il est suggéré que le traitement du bétail laitier chroniquement infecté parT. annulata à l'aide de la buparvaquone peut avoir le double effet bénéfique de réduire les effects pathologiques de la theilériose, permettant ainsi la restauration d'un système immunitaire affaibli, ce qui augmente la résistance aux autres infections. Si un effet similaire pouvait être produit chez le bétailBos indicus des régions à endémicitéT annulata, le traitement du bétail indigène avec la buparvaquone pourrait être une alternative utile à l'introduction du sangBos taurus dans le but de stimuler la production laitière.

     

Oxfendazole--anthelmintic activity in Egyptian goats artificially infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

The recently developed benzimidazole anthelmintic, oxfendazole, was tested against artificial nematode infestations in Egyptian goats using oral dosing at 4.5 and 2.8 mg/kg. A 100% clearance of mature and immature Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, Ostertagia circumcincta, Coopera curticei, Bunostomum trigonocephalum and Chabertia ovina was obtained at the 4.5 mg/kg level. Very high levels of clearance against the mature worms were obtained at 2.8 mg/kg but the drug was less effective against immature worms at the lower dose rate. PCV, hemoglobin concentration and total erythrocyte counts declined after infection but became significantly (P less than 0.001) raised in treated animal.     

Influence of the cecum, in geese fed diets containing urea, on N-metabolism and digestibility of nutrients and on urea concentration in excrements and blood]

Balance experiments were performed on six normal young geese and on six geese with a ligated caecum. The ration consisted of 43.25% barley, 30% sugar beet slices, 20% cellulose, 1.4% maize germ oil, 3% mineral mixture, 1% concentrate of vitamins and growth factors, 1.25% urea and 0.1% lysine. Daily nitrogen balance was similar in the two groups (average 1051 mg in the controls and 1090 mg in the experimental birds). Crude protein digestibility was 82.4 +/- 1.1% in the controls and 84.9 +/- 1% in the experimental birds (a significant difference). The bacterial flora of the caecum seemed to have no effect on crude fibre breakdown. Digestibility was quite low, averaging 5.7% in controls and 4.6% in experimental birds. The proportion of urea discharged in excreta was 50% in controls and 55.7% in experimental birds. Blood urea veraged 21.7 mg/100 g in controls and 22.8 mg in experimental birds (insignificant difference).