Prevalence and molecular typing of Giardia spp. in captive mammals at the zoo of Zagreb, Croatia

A total of 131 faecal samples from 57 mammalian species housed at the zoo of Zagreb, Croatia, were tested for the presence of Giardia spp. cysts using epifluorescence microscopy. The overall prevalence (29%) was high, yet all animals were asymptomatic at the time of sampling. Positive samples were characterized by PCR and sequence analysis of both conserved and variable loci, for the identification of Giardia species and G. duodenalis assemblages and genotypes. Assemblages A and C were identified in Artiodactyla, assemblage B in Primates, Rodentia and Hyracoidea, and assemblages A, B, C and D, as well as Giardia microti, in Carnivora. Genotyping at the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region, at the triose phosphate isomerase, glutamate dehydrogenase and beta-giardin genes revealed extensive polymorphisms, particularly among assemblage B isolates. A phylogenetic analysis of concatenated sequences showed that isolates from captive mammals housed at the zoo are genetically different from isolates of human and domestic animal origin. This is the first survey in a zoological garden to include a molecular characterization of the parasite, and provides novel sequence data of G. duodenalis from many previously uncharacterized hosts.     

Accumulation and erosion of Mars' south polar layered deposits

Mars' polar regions are covered with ice-rich layered deposits that potentially contain a record of climate variations. The sounding radar SHARAD on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mapped detailed subsurface stratigraphy in the Promethei Lingula region of the south polar plateau, Planum Australe. Radar reflections interpreted as layers are correlated across adjacent orbits and are continuous for up to 150 kilometers along spacecraft orbital tracks. The reflectors are often separated into discrete reflector sequences, and strong echoes are seen as deep as 1 kilometer. In some cases, the sequences are dipping with respect to each other, suggesting an interdepositional period of erosion. In Australe Sulci, layers are exhumed, indicating recent erosion.     

Correlation of the highest-energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic objects

Using data collected at the Pierre Auger Observatory during the past 3.7 years, we demonstrated a correlation between the arrival directions of cosmic rays with energy above 6 x 10(19) electron volts and the positions of active galactic nuclei (AGN) lying within approximately 75 megaparsecs. We rejected the hypothesis of an isotropic distribution of these cosmic rays with at least a 99% confidence level from a prescribed a priori test. The correlation we observed is compatible with the hypothesis that the highest-energy particles originate from nearby extragalactic sources whose flux has not been substantially reduced by interaction with the cosmic background radiation. AGN or objects having a similar spatial distribution are possible sources.     

The Effect of the Organic Matter Composition on POP Accumulation in Soil

The effect of different humic fractions on polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in soils was tested in the field by means of 53 soil samples from a high-altitude grassland plateau in the Italian Alps. Three humic fractions (humin, humic acids, and fulvic acids) were characterized in parallel by quantifying 12 PCB congeners to establish a direct relationship between PCB levels and humic fraction concentrations. Humin (the most hydrophobic fraction) appears to be the most closely correlated with the amount of PCBs in soil (R ²?=?0.83), while fulvic acid shows the lowest correlation (R ²?=?0.49). The idea of preferential sorption of hydrophobic compounds in the humin fraction is discussed, and the humin carbon content (f _huminC) is proposed as an improved parameter for evaluating the potential for POP accumulation in soils, replacing total organic carbon (f _oc). Congener studies revealed that penta- and hexa-substituted-CBs show the optimal combination of physicochemical properties for equilibrating with the humin content in soil. Moreover, f _huminC/f _oc is conceptually equivalent to the empirical coefficients used in predictive K _sa equations. In our samples, the f _huminC/f _oc was 0.55, a value in between the empirical coefficients proposed in the literature. In predictive equations, the use of f _huminC instead f _oc avoids the necessity of using an empirical parameter for a ??generic?? condition by introducing an experimental parameter (f _huminC) that takes into account local conditions (organic matter composition).     

Estimating bergamot juice adulteration of lemon juice by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of flavanone glycosides

The chemical composition of 30 samples of juices obtained from bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso and Poit.) fruits is reported and compared to the genuineness parameters adopted by Association of the Industry of Juice and Nectars (AIJN) for lemon juice. It was found that the compositional differences between the two juices are distinguishable, although with difficulty. However, these differences are not strong enough to detect the fraudulent addition of bergamot juice to lemon juice. Instead, we found the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the flavanones naringin, neohesperidin, and neoeriocitrin, which are present in bergamot juice and practically absent in the lemon juice, is a convenient way to detect and quantify the fraudulent addition of bergamot juice. The method has been validated by calculating the detection and quantification limits according to Eurachem procedures. Employing neoeriocitrin (detection limit = 0.7 mg/L) and naringin (detection limit = 1 mg/L) as markers, it is possible to detect the addition of bergamot juice to lemon juice at the 1% level. When using neohesperidin as a marker (detection limit = 1 mg/L), the minimal percentage of detectable addition of bergamot juice was about 2%. Finally, it is reported that the pattern of flavonoid content of the bergamot juice is similar to those of chinotto (Citrus myrtifolia Raf) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) juices and that it is possible to distinguish the three kinds of juices by HPLC analysis.     

Influence of pasture on fatty acid profile of goat milk

The effect of pasture on the fatty acid profile of milk was evaluated using 30 pluriparous goats, which were divided into two homogeneous groups (H and P) of 15 goats each after kidding. Group H (control) goats were housed in a stall and received alfalfa hay, while group P was led to pasture. The goats of both the groups received the same concentrate. Average milk yield did not differ statistically between the groups. The goats of the P group had significantly higher fat content in milk than those of group H (53.7 vs. 61.5 g/day, p < 0.01), while lactose content was significantly higher for group H (66.2 and 61.4 g/day, for groups H and P, respectively, p < 0.05). Among milk fatty acids, pasture significantly affected the percentages of C18:1 cis9, C18:1 trans11, octadecadienoic acid, mono-unsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid. Pasture highly influenced the c9 t11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (0.778 and 0.513 g/100 g of fat, for group P and H, respectively, p < 0.01), t10 c12 CLA (0.046 vs. 0.029 g/100 g of fat: p < 0.01, for group P and H, respectively, p < 0.01) and SigmaCLA (0.84 vs. 0.56 g/100 g of fat for group P and H, respectively, p < 0.01) concentrations of milk.