A report of mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium marinum in bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana)

The occurrence of mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium marinum in a commercial breeding farm of bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is described. Ten animals presented skin lesions on the head and extremities. These and 38 other asymptomatic adult animals from various tanks were killed and at necropsy disseminated granulomatous lesions were observed in the 10 clinically affected animals and in 16 (42.1%) of the asymptomatic frogs. Acid-fast bacilli were observed in all smears of the 10 symptomatic frogs and in all but one from the 16 asymptomatic animals with visceral lesions. Ten samples from the 25 positive animals were randomly selected for culture which yielded four isolates of fast-growing (<7 days) mycobacteria. Those purified isolates were characterised by biochemical traditional means as M. marinum. Identification of the strains was confirmed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction enzyme analysis assay. It is suggested that M. marinum is an important agent of granulomatous disease in bullfrogs and that infected animals, even when asymptomatic, could act as reservoirs spreading the disease and contaminating other frogs in the farm.     

Preventive factors related to brucellosis among rural population using the PRECEDE model: an application of path analysis

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The purpose of this model-based study was to identify behavioral and environmental prevention factors for brucellosis and to determine the causal linkage...     

Role of selenium in mitigation of cadmium toxicity in pepper grown in hydroponic condition

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans but is not considered as essential for plants. However, its beneficial role in improving plant growth and stress tolerances is well established. In order to study the role of Se in cadmium (Cd) toxicity in pepper (Capsicum frutescens cv. Suryankhi Cluster), this experiment was carried out in greenhouse conditions. Treatments comprised Cd [0, 0.25, and 0.5 mM cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)] and Se [0, 3, and 7 µM sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃)] with three replications. The result showed that Cd decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids, whereas Se supplementation diminished Cd toxicity on photosynthetic pigment. Selenium at 7 µM significantly increased the leaf area in the plants grown at 0.25 mM Cd. The application of Se at 3 µM with 0.25 mM Cd and Se at 3 µM and Se at 7 µM with 0.5 mM Cd increased the activity of catalase (CAT). Selenium at 7 µM decreased the proline content of pepper leaves exposed to Cd at 0.5 mM (30%). Selenium significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity of leaves, which was diminished by Cd toxicity. In general, Se has a beneficial effect on plant growth and is an antioxidant enzyme of pepper cv. Suryankhi Cluster under Cd stress and non-stress conditions.     

An atypical Bacillus anthracis infection in a bull—A potential occupational health hazard

Bacillus anthracis infecting cattle is usually identified based on the typical symptom: sudden death. Bacillus anthracis causing atypical symptoms may remain undiagnosed and represent a potential occupational health hazard for, that is veterinarians and producers, butchers and tanners. In the year 2004, one case of sudden death in a dairy farm in southern Finland was diagnosed as bovine anthrax. Four years later 2008, an atypical case of anthrax was diagnosed in the same holding. The bull was taken to the Production Animal Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki because of fever, loss of appetite and a symmetrically swollen scrotal sac. Penicillin treatment cured the fever but not the swollen scrotum. Before the intended therapeutic castration, a punctuate consisting of 10 ml fluid collected into a syringe from the scrotal sac was cultivated on blood agar at 37°C. After 24 hr, an almost pure culture of a completely non‐hemolytic Bacillus cereus‐like bacteria was obtained. The strain was identified as B. anthracis using Ba‐specific primers by the Finnish Food Safety Authority (RUOKAVIRASTO). After the diagnosis, the bull was euthanized and destroyed, the personnel were treated with prophylactic antibiotics and the clinic was disinfected. In this particular case, treatment with water, Virkon S and lime seemed to be effective to eliminate endospores and vegetative cells since no relapses of anthrax have occurred in 10 years. This case is the last reported anthrax case in Finland.     

Molecular genetic diversity and population structure of Iranian honey bee (Apis mellifera meda) populations: implications for breeding and conservation

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The honey bee (Apis mellifera), as one of the most important pollinating insects, plays a critical role in biodiversity conservation and global food...     

Environment-friendly short-term protection of palm wood against mould and rot fungi

Felled palm trunks are susceptible to fungi as long as their moisture content is above fibre saturation. During this period, palm wood has to be protected against mould and rot fungi. The study was aimed at testing environment-friendly organic acids for their protecting efficiency. Small samples of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) wood were treated with weak organic acids and subsequently infected by moulds and wood-decay fungi. Short dipping of the samples in solutions of 5% acetic acid and propionic acid, respectively, protected all samples for two months from colonization by Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp. and by a natural infection. Boric acid (4%) used in practice for protection was ineffective. Decay tests with the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, the brown-rot species Coniophora puteana and the soft-rot fungus Chaetomium globosum showed that both acids prevented most samples from fungal colonization for three weeks and reduced the decay considerably during two months.     

Natural regeneration of oriental beech(Fagus orientalis Lipsky)trees in canopy gaps and under closed canopy in a forest in northern Iran

For developing nature-based silvicultural practices in a beech forest to promote, abundance, height,vitality, and preferred growth form, regenerated trees growing in gaps were compared with those under closed canopies.A systematic 50×50 m grid was plotted in a beech stand in the Kheyrud Experimental Forest for selecting trees to measure variables in gaps and under closed canopies.Abundance and mean height of regenerated beech trees were significantly higher in closed canopies than in canopy gaps.Beech seedlings with excurrent growth were significantly taller within regeneration patches under closed canopy.Moreover, regenerated trees with high vitality were more abundant in closed canopy areas than in gaps.Thus, beech regeneration should improve under closed canopies; hence, gaps in a near natural forest should be created only after adequate regeneration and appropriate growth under the parent tree in a closed canopy area is ensured.The results of this research have profound implications for the sustainable management of the forest and for ensuring sustainable beech regeneration.The presence of a closed canopy cover likely will reduce potential stresses on oriental beech regeneration.     

High selfing rate inferred for white fonio [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Digitaria exilis</Emphasis> (Kippist.) Stapf] reproductive system opens up opportunities for breeding programs

In a context of the global major changes, it is mandatory to enlarge the range of crops supporting food security and pay great attention to neglected and underutilized species. However, basic knowledge of the biology of many neglected and underutilized species is still lacking to increase their yields. In this study, the mating system of white fonio [Digitaria exilis (Kippist.) Stapf], a West African minor and promising cereal, is assessed. Progenies arrays from both homozygous and heterozygous mothers were genotyped with microsatellites markers. The rate of genotyping errors in the experiments was assessed and a likelihood framework was used to determine the probability of different mating systems: outcrossing, self-fertilization and apomixis. The results suggested that white fonio has a highly selfing reproductive system with a possible outcrossing rate of 1.7%. Understanding the reproduction system of white fonio opens up opportunities for more effective breeding programs and a wider use of this cereal for food security improvement.     

Dietary diversity score and cardiovascular risk factors in Tehranian adults

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between dietary diversity score (DDS) and cardiovascular risk factors in Tehranian adults. METHODS: In this population-based cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 581 subjects (295 males and 286 females) aged over 18 years, residents of Tehran, participated. Hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose concentration > or = 126 mg dl(-1) or 2-h post challenge glucose concentration > or = 200 mg dl(-1). Hypertension was defined on the basis of the sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Dietary diversity was defined according to the Diet Quality Index revised. RESULTS: Mean (+/- standard deviation) DDS was 6.15 +/- 1.02. The probability of having diabetes (odds ratio (OR) among quartiles: 1.45, 1.26, 1.11 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.04) and hypertriglyceridaemia (OR = 1.41, 1.23, 1.05 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend=0.04) decreased with increasing quartile of the diversity score for whole grains. The probability of having obesity (OR among quartiles: 1.39, 1.06, 1.03 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.03), hypercholesterolaemia (OR = 1.46, 1.28, 1.11 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.03), hypertension (OR = 1.32, 1.17, 1.13 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.03) and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (OR = 1.25, 1.12, 1.07 and 1.00, respectively; P for trend = 0.04) decreased with increasing quartile of the diversity score for vegetables. The probability of having hypercholesterolaemia, high LDL-C, hypertension and diabetes decreased with quartile of the DDS. But the probability of being obese increased with quartile of the DDS (P for trend = 0.03). CONCLUSION: DDS was inversely associated with cardiovascular risk factors in this cross-sectional study. Increased diversity scores of diets, to increase the variety score for vegetables, may be emphasised in programmes attempting to bring about changes in lifestyle.