Experimental treatment ofBrucella melitensis infection in sheep with oxytetracycline alone or combined with streptomycin

The efficacy of oxytetracycline (OTC) alone or combined with streptomycin in the treatment of 118 Najdi ewes believed to have been naturally infected with Brucella melitensis, was evaluated by culture of selected tissues and organs at slaughter. Groups of sheep were given 250, 500 or 1,000 mg of OTC intraperitoneally (i/p) daily for six weeks and in the respective groups at necropsy 52, 69 and 100% of sheep were found to be Brucella-free. Treatment with 250 mg OTC (daily for six weeks i/p) combined with 1,000 mg streptomycin (daily for three weeks intramuscularly) increased the percentage of Brucella-free sheep to 82%. When a group of sheep were each inoculated i/p with 1,000 mg of long-acting OTC every three days over a period of six weeks, 75% of them were Brucella-free at necropsy. B. melitensis was isolated from all (24) non-treated (control) sheep. The results showed that long-term treatment with a high dose of OTC alone had succeeded in eliminating B. melitensis from a group of 16 naturally infected sheep.     

Primary in vitro stimulation of antibody production by lizard splenocytes

Single-cell suspensions of adult lizard (Chalcides ocellatus) spleen have been induced, in vitro, to produce a primary immune response. Using rat red cells (RRBC) as antigen and the culture conditions normally used in most vertebrate species but new for reptilia, it has been found that, in vitro at 37 degrees C, lizard spleen cells produce an antibody-forming response optimal at day 10. The response depends on the number of cultured cells and the dose of antigen, and parallels that obtained in vivo. Leibovitz (L-15) medium supplemented with 10% normal adult lizard serum was a satisfactory culture medium. 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), an ingredient used in mammalian cell culture, enhanced antibody production in lizard cells.     

Molecular characterization of Mycoplasma gallisepticum isolates from Jordan

Two groups of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) isolates (n = 24) from Jordan were analyzed by molecular methods and compared with other Middle Eastern isolates, related international isolates, and reference strains. The first group (n = 19) was isolated from July 2004 to January 2005 (isolation period A), and the newer group (n = 5) from June 2007 to April 2008 (isolation period B). The groups of isolates are from chicken flocks from northern Jordan, but are not from the same farms. None of the flocks were vaccinated for MG. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, targeted sequencing of the partial MG cytadhesin 2 (mgc2), and the MG 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (IGSR) divided the Jordanian isolates into two groups. All of the 19 isolates from time period A, in addition to two isolates from time period B, were indistinguishable from the F strain. Three of five isolates from time period B were characterized as wild types and were indistinguishable from each other. The wild-type field strain was readily distinguished from the F strain. It was 91% and 96.4% similar to the F strain based on Clustal-W alignments of sequences of mgc2 and IGSR, respectively. Sequence similarity of mgc2 gene of the Jordan wild-type strain to isolates from Israel and Egypt ranged from 96.5% to 100%, whereas for IGSR it was 99.4%-100%. We theorize that the F-strain live MG vaccine, commonly used in Jordan prior to 2007, was transmitted to nonvaccinated poultry in the region and was a predominant genotype during time period A.     

Acidifying and yeast extract in diets for adults cats

This study evaluated the effects of adding an acidifying agent based on phosphoric acid (A), a yeast extract from a specific strain (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (Y) and the combination of these two additives in food for adult cats. A test was conducted with 24 animals (mean 3.5 years old), mixed breed, weighing 3.72 ± 0.74 kg, kept in individual metabolic cages and distributed in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial design (with or without A 0.6% of dry matter, with or without Y 1.5% of dry matter) totalling four treatments and six replicates of each condition. The experimental period was 15 days. The A or the Y reduced (P < 0.01) the dry matter intake, but the effect was not observed when they were associated. The association improved (P < 0.05) the digestibility of dry matter and ashes. The A reduced urine pH (P = 0.05) regardless of the presence of the Y. There was no effect (P > 0.09) on other parameters evaluated. Results of this study show that the isolated use of 0.6% A or 1.5% Y in diets for cats is not recommended. However, the association of these two additives was beneficial in increasing nutrient digestibility.     

Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Pythiosis in Draft Horses: Report of 33 Cases in Egypt

A total of 33 draft horses suffering from cutaneous pythiosis were referred to Mansoura Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Egypt, between October 2008 and January 2011. The animals presented ulcerative, granulomatous lesions located at the ventral aspect of the thorax (n = 10), abdomen (n = 14), forelimbs (n = 5), hind limbs (n = 2), and presternal region (n = 1) and at withers (n=1). The animals suffered from ulcerations composed of whitish yellow tissue having numerous draining tracts that discharge serosanguineous or bloody exudates. Initial diagnosis was based on location, gross lesion, and presence of kunkers. Histopathological evaluation revealed an eosinophilic granulomatous reaction associated with intralesional hyphae characteristic of Pythium insidiosum visualized by Gomori methenamine silver stain. The outcome of surgical excision revealed complete cure in 24 cases. Euthanasia was indicated in 9 cases.     

Investigation of irrigation performance at the tertiary canal level in the Nile Delta of Egypt

Paddy and Water Environment - One of the objectives of the Irrigation Improvement Project (IIP) in the Nile Delta, Egypt, is to facilitate equitable water distribution and improve on-farm...     

Biology of the gametes of some teleost species

Our knowledge of the biology of fish gametes is still limited. Up to now research was short-term, aiming at solving practical questions connected with gamete storage and artificial insemination. More information on gamete biology is now available and has been summarized in this minireview.In vivo storage of gametes in the genital tract after ovulation or spermiation may be influenced by the osmotic environmentvia changes in the ionic composition of the companion fluid. There is great inter-individual variability in gamete survival bothin vivo andin vitro. Mechanisms involved in the initiation of trout sperm motility have been analysed; after dilution in water or NaCl solution (125 mM) at pH > 7, Ca⁺⁺ entry due to changes in membrane potential have been observed. The involvement of cAMP and protein phosphorylation has been reported. The morphological, physical and biochemical changes in eggs that have been studied after fertilization and the corticol reaction lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of polyspermy blockage.     

Phenotypic differences among three clonal lineages of Phytophthora ramorum

There are three major clonal lineages of Phytophthora ramorum present in North America and Europe named NA1, NA2, and EU1. Twenty‐three isolates representing all three lineages were evaluated for phenotype including (i) aggressiveness on detached Rhododendron leaves and (ii) growth rate at minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures. Closely related species P. foliorum and P. hibernalis were included in phenotypic tests since these species are encountered in nursery surveys for P. ramorum. Isolates from the NA2 and EU1 lineages were the most aggressive and isolates from the NA1 group were the least aggressive. The NA1 lineage of P. ramorum was the most variable in aggressiveness and growth rate. The variability in the NA1 lineage was due to the presence of non‐wild type (nwt) isolates. There was no significant difference in growth rate among NA1 wild type (wt), NA2, and EU1 lineages at any temperature tested. The difference between wt and nwt P. ramorum isolates is discussed.     

Flavonol Polymer Technology for Encapsulation of Liquid Phosphorus Fertilizers for Enabling A Slow-Release Process in Soil to Extend Usability and Reduce Leaching

A proprietary Flavonol Polymer Technology (FPT), designed by AgroLiquid, is an agent for encapsulating different chemistries on the polymer by impregnation to provide extended release of nutrients and optimize yield. Based on FPT, FPT-Product (Pro-Germinator®) a 9-24-3 (% N, % P₂O₅, and % K₂O w/w) manufactured to slow the phosphorus release process in soil and extends its usability by the plant. Phosphorus release was evaluated using micro-lysimeters installed in soil and used as a tool for the collection of the plant-usable phosphorus dissolved in the soil solution. A rate of 22 kg of P₂O₅/hectare of liquid formulations was banded in-furrow with four phosphorus liquid fertilizer treatments: (1) orthophosphate (9-18-9), (2) ammonium polyphosphate (10-34-0), (3) FPT-Product (9-24-3), and (4) a control. In-field measurements were collected at 20–60 days after the application for two successive years (2015 and 2016). In both years, averages of measured dissolved phosphorus in the soil solution and exchangeable soil phosphorus at 10-cm soil depth, 20–60 days after planting reported higher values in the FPT-Product treatments while lower values were measured in the other treatments. The results proved that the FPT extended the release mechanism for phosphorus in the FPT-Product at 10 cm depth in the soil, and rendered phosphorus in both the soil and the solution to be used by plants for an extended period after corn planting.