Bacillary hemoglobinuria in Japanese black cattle in Hiroshima, Japan: a case study

Three Japanese Black cows housed with 6 other cows exhibited main clinical symptoms of severe hemoglobinuria. Hematological analyses conducted after antibiotic therapy demonstrated severe anemia, and biochemical analyses indicated both severe hemolysis and disruption of hepatic function. One of the three cows died. Based on the above analyses and observation of typical clinical symptoms, a speculative diagnosis of bacillary hemoglobinuria was made, and immediate high-dose antibiotic treatment improved the general conditions of the surviving animals. Blood samples from the other 2 cows were collected sequentially after antibacterial therapy. Clostridium haemolyticum was detected by a nested polymerase chain reaction analysis of the blood samples. The cows were diagnosed with the second recorded occurrence of bacillary hemoglobinuria in Japan.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity among some Iranian wild asparagus populations using morphological characteristics and RAPD markers

An evaluation of genetic diversity in 39 wild asparagus populations was carried out using morphological and RAPD markers. A combination of morphological traits and random RAPD primers was used to examine the level of genetic variation and polymorphisms among the populations. A factor analysis using Ward's method on mean values of morphological characteristics indicated seven main factors resulting in four groups. Analysis of polymorphic bands using Jaccard's similarity coefficient indicated that genetic similarity ranged between 0.71 and 0.29. At a similarity level of 0.64, the populations were divided in three sub-clusters, containing 34, four and one populations, respectively. Significant regression associations were found between 21 morphological characteristics and 18 RAPD markers, revealing some informative markers associated with some traits. The highest R² was related to 18 RAPD markers associated with gender (53.5%) that among them BA-04₂₀₀₀ had a maximum R². The results showed that Iranian wild asparagus with its high levels of genetic variation could be considered as a valuable gene pool for future asparagus breeding programs. Furthermore, it could be inferred that morphological characteristics and RAPD markers are suitable tools to discriminate asparagus populations for the evaluation of genetic diversity.     

Effects of triploidy on the Caspian salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta caspius</Emphasis> haematology

The aim of this study was a comparison of key haematological features of diploid (2n) and triploid (3n) Caspian salmon (Salmo trutta caspius). Morphometric indices of erythrocytes were determined on blood smears by light microscopy. Triploidy significantly (P < 0.001) increased all morphometric indices measured in the erythrocytes including cell size, cell surface area, and cell volume. The increase in cell size was larger for the major (27%) axis than for the minor (22%) axis, thus making erythrocytes of 3n Caspian salmon more ellipsoidal. The estimated increase in erythrocyte nuclear volume (87%) was bigger than the theoretical expected 50% increase. Haematological indices were measured manually by hemocytometry. Triploids had lower numbers of red blood cells (RBC: 1,120,000 cells/mL in 2n vs. 700,000 cells/mL in 3n; P < 0.001) but they were larger in size (mean erythrocytic volume [MEV]: 363.1 nm³ in 2n vs. 483.3 nm³ in 3n; P < 0.001). The decrease in RBC number was not compensated by the increase in MEV and, thus, triploidy affected the haematocrit (Hct: 38.8% in 2n vs. 33.06% in 3n; P < 0.05). Total blood hemoglobin concentration was lower in triploid fish (Hb: 9.9 g/dL in 2n vs. 8.9 g/dL in 3n; P < 0.05). In contrast, mean erythrocytic hemoglobin (MEH: 95 μg in 2n vs. 133.2 μg in 3n; P < 0.001) was higher for 3n Caspian salmon as a result of their larger erythrocytes, although MEH concentration (MEHC: 0.26 g/dL in 2n vs. 0.27 g/dL in 3n) did not significantly differ (P > 0.05). White blood cell (WBC) counts (lymphocytes and neutrophiles) were measured and WBC/RBC ratios were calculated. There were no significant differences in WBC (15,710 cells/mL in 2n vs. 12,683 cells/mL in 3n; P > 0.05), lymphocytes, and neutrophils as %WBC as well as WBC/RBC ratios between two ploidy levels (P > 0.05). Triploid Caspian salmon showed higher erythrocyte abnormalities such as ‘twisted’, ‘tailed’, and ‘anucleated’ cells as well as high portions of immature RBC in blood smears in comparison with diploids (P < 0.001).     

On Increasing Mustard Productivity with an Inexpensive Source of Leaf—applied Phosphorus

A simple randomized field experiment was conducted for two years to test the comparative efficacy of three sources of leaf-applied phosphorus (sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate, diammonium phosphate and monocalcium superphosphate) on the yield performance of mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern. and Coss.) var. Varuna. The quantity of P was 3.5 kg ha⁻¹. In addition, 20 kg N and 2 (or 6) kg S ha⁻¹ were included in the spray applied in two equal splits at 70 and 90 days as supplement to the basal application of 60 kg N, 17.5 kg P and 33.2 kg K ha⁻¹. The two-year data revealed that spray treatments were significantly efficacious in augmenting most of the yield attributing parameters as well as seed and oil yield by about 20% over the water-sprayed control. However, as the three sources of phosphorus proved equally effective, commercial grade monocalcium superphosphate could be preferred over others due to its cost effectiveness and easy availability.     

Sero-prevalence of avian influenza among broiler-breeder flocks in Jordan

Thirty blood samples were collected randomly from each of the 38 breeder-broiler farms in Jordan. Serum samples were examined using indirect ELISA for specific antibodies to avian influenza virus. The overall true flock-level sero-prevalence of avian influenza was 71% (95% CI: 55,83). Positive flocks had 2-30 sero-positive chickens and half of flocks had >20 sero-positive birds. The number of sero-positive flocks varied in the studied localities with more sero-positives in farms located within the migratory route of migratory wild fowl. The examined broiler-breeder flocks had no clinical signs, or noticeable decrease in egg production; mortalities were within the normal range (0.1-1%). The number of positive sera/flock correlated with flock size. There were a no significant (Pearsons r=0.21, p=0.21) correlation between positive flocks and age. A non-pathogenic AI virus infects broiler-breeder farms in Jordan. Wild local and migrating birds might promote the further spread of this virus in Jordan and other countries.     

Inhibitory effect of pyrimidine and purine nucleotides on the multiplication of Babesia gibsoni: possible cause of low parasitemia and simultaneous reticulocytosis in canine babesiosis

The present study was conducted to determine the cause of low parasitemia and simultaneous reticulocytosis in canine babesiosis. The parasitemia was significantly decreased in in vitro cultures of Babesia gibsoni by the pretreatment of host canine erythrocytes with lead acetate, which is a specific inhibitor of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase subclass I (P5N-I). The serum from dogs chronically infected with B. gibsoni did not decrease the activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in canine reticulocytes, although it was previously reported that this serum had inhibitory effects on both the maturation of reticulocytes and the canine P5N-I and purine-specific 5'-nucleotidase activities. Furthermore, the in vitro multiplication of B. gibsoni was significantly inhibited by pyrimidine nucleotides such as cytidine 5'-monophosphate (5'-CMP), which is preferentially catalyzed by P5N-I and also inhibits the morphological maturation of canine reticulocytes. Purine nucleotides such as inosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-IMP) also had an inhibitory effect on the multiplication of this parasite. These results suggest that nucleotides such as 5'-CMP and 5'-IMP might accumulate in young erythrocytes and/or serum in dogs infected with B. gibsoni as a result of the decreased activity of erythrocyte 5'-nucleotidase, and the accumulation of these nucleotides might inhibit the multiplication of this parasite and simultaneously retard the maturation of reticulocytes. The results obtained from the in vitro examinations in the present study may partially clarify the relationship between low parasitemia and simultaneous reticulocytosis in vivo in canine babesiosis.     

Characterization of a factor from bovine intestine that protects against Cryptosporidium parvum infection

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that causes intestinal infection in a variety of mammals. We have previously described a factor in adult rat or adult bovine intestinal mucosa that protects against C. parvum infection when fed to susceptible infant rats. This factor is absent in intestinal mucosa from bovine calves. In the present study we describe the further characterization of the active component of bovine intestinal mucosa. The ability to protect infant rats against C. parvum infection was found to be associated with the extrinsic membrane protein fraction of the intestinal mucosa. Extrinsic membrane preparations from adult cows, adult rats, and calves were separated by SDS-PAGE. A band with apparent molecular mass of 54 kDa was seen in preparations from adult rat and cow, but not calf. Protein was transferred to PVDF membrane and from this the band was excised and subjected to N-terminal sequence analysis using a gas-phase protein sequenator. A 15-amino acid consensus sequence was generated with homology to leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). Purified LAP was purchased from a commercial source and tested for ability to protect infant rats against C. parvum infection. Rats fed LAP from 7 to 11 days of age and challenged with C. parvum at 9 days were significantly less infected than controls upon necropsy at 15 days of age. These data suggest that a protein with N-terminal sequence homology to LAP may reduce susceptibility of infant rats to C. parvum infection.     

Molecular diversity of Egyptian cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium barbadense</Emphasis> L.) and its relation to varietal development

Twenty-eight Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) genotypes (varieties and hybrids) were used for analysis of genetic diversity using DNA based markers (ISSR, SSR, and EST) and to study varietal development of cotton. The ISSR markers gave the highest percentage of polymorphic bands as well as polymorphic information content compared with the other molecular markers (i.e. EST and SSR markers). Using clustering analysis, no general clustering according to the pedigree history of the genotypes was observed. Using principal coordinate analysis (PCOORDA), cotton genotypes were separated by the first three principal coordinates (PC1, PC2, and PC3) accounting for 11.5, 8.6, and 7.2% of the total genetic variance, respectively. The cotton genotypes were distributed into three parts based on the first PC, each part containing a group of varieties having a common ancestor. ‘Giza 12’ variety was the common ancestor for the varieties included in the first part and ‘Ashmouni’ variety was the common ancestor for the varieties included in the second part, while both ‘Sakha 3’ and ‘Sakha 4’ varieties were common ancestors for the varieties included in the third part. The results of the PCOORDA also showed better resolution of the genetic diversity than cluster analysis especially in the illustration of the varietal development of cotton. That means that principal coordinate analysis can be strongly used either alone or in combination with cluster analysis to discuss both genetic diversity and varietal development in the cotton genotypes.