LAND USE/LAND COVER CHANGE ANALYSIS AND ITS IMPACT ON SOIL PROPERTIES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF GADARIF REGION,SUDAN

Several decades of intensive dry land farming in the Gadarif region, located in the Eastern part of Sudan, has led to rapid land use/land cover (LULC) changes mainly due to agricultural expansion, government policies and environmental calamities such as drought. In this paper, an attempt has been made to analyse and monitor the LULC changes using multi‐temporal Landsat data for the years 1979, 1989 and 1999 and ASTER data for the year 2009. In addition, efforts were made to discuss the impact of LULC changes on the selected soil properties. For this, a post‐classification comparison technique was used to detect LULC changes from satellite images. Primarily, three main LULC types were selected to investigate the properties of soil, namely, cultivated land, fallow land and woodland. Moreover, soil samples were also collected at two depths of surface soil from ten sample plots for each of the LULC type. For these soil samples, various soil properties such as texture, bulk density, organic matter, soil pH, electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, phosphorous and potassium were analysed. The results showed that a significant and extensive change of LULC patterns has occurred in the last three decades in the study area. Further, laboratory tests revealed that soil properties were significantly affected by these LULC changes. The change of the physical and chemical properties of the soil may have attributed to the changes in the LULC resulting in land degradation, which in turn has led to a decline in soil productivity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Immune complex-mediated glomerulopathy in Marek's disease

Chickens infected with Marek's disease (MD) virus developed immune complex (IC)-mediated glomerulopathy. Fluorescent antibody staining technique using antichicken globulin and antichicken complement was used to demonstrate IC in the kidney glomeruli. During the initial stages of MDV infection, IC deposits were seen on the glomerular basement membrane, but subsequently the entire glomerulus was involved. Mesangial cells also had IC deposits. Chicken complement was demonstrated in the glomeruli which had IC deposits. The number of glomeruli with IC deposition was higher in tumor-bearing birds than in non-tumor-bearing birds. Histologically, kidney lesion were characterized by thickening of basement membrane and proliferation of mesangial cells. It is suggested that IC-mediated glomerulopathy might be one of the major causes of death in MD.     

Isolation of useful variants in alloplasmic crop brassicas in the cytoplasmic background of Erucastrum gallicum

Alloplasmic Brassica juncea was synthesized by repeatedly backcrossing amphidiploid of Erucastrum gallicum × B. juncea with pollen of B. juncea. The E. gallicum cytoplasm was also transferred to B. napus and B. carinata through alloplasmic (E. gallicum) B. juncea. RFLP analyses of organelle DNA confirmed the presence of E. gallicum cytoplasm in all the alloplasmics. The cytoplasm of E. gallicum, though alien, did not induce stable cytoplasmic male sterility in any of the oilseed brassicas. Many useful variants such as early flowering and dwarf phenotypes were isolated in the alloplasmics of B. napus and B. carinata. These morphotypes provide useful genetic variability for the improvement of crop brassicas. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Caudal anaesthesia of the infraorbital nerve for diagnosis of idiopathic headshaking and caudal compression of the infraorbital nerve for its treatment,in 58 horses

Reasons for performing study: Idiopathic headshaking is often a facial pain syndrome, but a diagnostic protocol has not been described. In a previous study, caudal compression of the infraorbital nerve for treatment offered a fair success rate, but low case numbers and short follow‐up time were limitations. Objectives: To describe a diagnostic protocol for headshaking, examining the role of bilateral local analgesia of the posterior ethmoidal nerve (PET block). To report longer‐term follow‐up after surgery of the original cases and further cases and to determine whether changes to the technique influence success rates and complications. Methods: Records of horses that had undergone PET block and caudal compression surgery at 3 hospitals were reviewed. Modifications to the surgical technique included placing additional coils into the infraorbital canal and/or performing concurrent laser cautery of the nerve. Follow‐up information was obtained by telephone contact with owners. Results: The PET block was performed in 27 horses, with a positive result in 23 of 27 (85%). Surgery was performed in 58 horses. A successful outcome was initially achieved in 35 of 57 (63%) horses, but recurrence occurred between 9 and 30 months later in 9 (26%). Surgery was repeated in 10 of 31 (32%) horses. Final success rate, considering only response to the last performed surgery, was 28 of 57 (49%) horses with median follow‐up time of 18 months (range 2–66 months). Nose‐rubbing was reported post operatively in 30 of 48 (63%) horses. This resolved in all but 4 horses, which were subjected to euthanasia. Response to PET block or change in surgical technique did not appear to influence outcome or complications. Conclusions and potential relevance: The diagnostic protocol described is recommended for the investigation of headshakers. Caudal compression offers the best prognosis for a successful outcome compared with other treatments, for horses in which the only alternative is euthanasia. Surgical treatment of the disorder requires refinement, and the pathogenesis of the disorder requires investigation.     

Detection and localization of regucalcin in spermatozoa of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): A calcium‐regulating multifunctional protein

Regucalcin (RGN) is a calcium‐regulating, anti‐apoptotic, antioxidative and antiproliferative multifunctional protein predominantly seen in liver and kidney. All these functions are very crucial during spermatogenesis and sperm maturation process until fertilization of the ovum. Although many studies have reported the wide distribution of regucalcin in the male reproductive tract of the rat, human and bovine, its presence in spermatozoa is yet to be demonstrated wherein calcium has a pivotal role in the transport, capacitation, acrosomal reaction and further fusion with ova. Here, we detected the expression of regucalcin mRNA and protein in buffalo spermatozoa using real‐time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The study detected two new regucalcin isoforms of 44 kDa and 48 kDa size along with the reported 34‐kDa, 28‐kDa and 24‐kDa isoforms, wherein the 34‐kDa isoform was found to be membrane associated in spermatozoa. Further, immunocytochemistry study localized the regucalcin protein in the acrosomal region of the caudal and ejaculated buffalo spermatozoa while it was detected in both cytoplasm and acrosomal region of testicular spermatozoa. This discovery of RGN in spermatozoa and localization in the acrosomal region will help to focus researchers to see its role in calcium‐related functions like capacitation, acrosomal reaction and membrane fusion. Overall, regucalcin may be a new fertility marker in buffalo and can be utilized for infertility treatments.     

Antisperm antibodies in repeat‐breeding cows: Frequency,detection and validation of threshold levels employing sperm immobilization,sperm agglutination and immunoperoxidase assay

Antisperm antibodies have been found in repeat‐breeding(RB) cows, and those causing agglutination and/or immobilization of sperm are considered to be closely related to unexplained infertility. However, a standard protocol for identifying antisperm antibodies (ASA) in cattle is not validated. Therefore, an investigation was undertaken to evaluate sperm immobilization (SIT), sperm agglutination (SAT) and immunoperoxidase (IPT)assays for detection of ASA in serum and their respective threshold levels for confirmation. Animals (heifers, normally breeding, repeat‐breeding and pregnant animals) that were free from IBR, brucellosis and uterine infections (screened by clinical examination) were included in the study. Sperm agglutinating, sperm immobilizing and antisperm antibodies evaluated by respective assay were significantly higher (p < .05) in RB cows compared to other groups. The SIT assay was able to identify 61% of RB caused by ASA, more than those employing SAT and IPT. Furthermore, a dilution rate of 1:5 and 1:80 (confirms 59.0 and 57.0% RB+ve)were sufficient to diagnose ASA by SAT and IPT, respectively. Results indicate the presence of __12.6% clumped spermatozoa and __ 2.6%(cut‐off value) peroxidase‐positive spermatozoa at 1:5 and 1:80 dilutions diagnosed with SAT and IPT, respectively, may be considered as repeaters arising out of ASA. Furthermore, study also showed the presence of lower incidence of ASA positivity in other groups of animals (heifer<normal breeder<pregnant animals) compared to repeaters. Study results show that although IPT is more specific and accurate but SAT and SIT are comparatively simple and cost‐effective assays suitable for detecting ASA under field conditions and thus can be recommended for screening of repeaters.     

Nitrogen Fixation Establishment during Initial Growth of Grain Legume Species

Atmospheric nitrogen fixation as a result of the symbiosis between bacteria and legume species, can result in major advantages in providing host plants with organic nitrogen. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the physiological potential during early seedling development for initiation of nodulation and nitrogen fixation activity of four grain legumes species: soybean [Glycine max (L.)], cowpea [Vigna unguiculate (L.) Walp], common bean [Phaseolus vulgaris (L.)], and peanut [Arachis hypogaea (L.)]. Seedlings were grown on a hydroponic solution so that nodule development could be readily observed until about 3 weeks after germination. Nodules developed in all cases. Acetylene reduction activity (ARA) by soybean and cowpea was also found early in seedling development. In contrast, peanut and common bean showed little or no development of ARA during seedling development. The results provided insight into differences in physiological potential among grain legumes in establishing symbiotic nitrogen fixation during crop establishment. These results indicate those species/cultivars that are candidates for readily establishing nitrogen fixation activity during the seedling stage of plant development.     

Protection against Plasmodium berghei yoelii in chloroquine- and pyrimethamine-treated mice

The antimalarial drugs chloroquine and pyrimethamine were observed to afford protection to mice treated with these agents. This protection was observed in mice when given a subsequent challenge infection after they had been radically cured of P. b. yoelii infection.