Detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in domesticated ruminants by recombinant truncated SAG2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Tropical Animal Health and Production - An antibody detection recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for Toxoplasma gondii was laboratory standardized using recombinant...     

Cytomorphology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gentiana kurroo</Emphasis>: an important endangered bitter plant of temperate Himalaya

Gentiana kurroo, a potent bitter drug plant of Indian subcon- tinent, is under threat due to over exploitation and destruction of natural habitat. We studied the morphophenology and chromosomes of G. kur- roo on both wild and field grown plants, which is very important for proper identification, conservation and domestication. Results reveal that G. kurroo is a perennial herb, and its shoot is represented by flowering branches only. Stem is modified to rhizome. The older rhizomes split into four parts at collar region appearing to fuse together at the ends and is an important diagnostic feature for crude raw materials. Two types of leaves i.e. radical leaves at the base of the plant and cauline leaves on flowering shoot are present. Flowering occurs during September to Octo- ber with 1-9 inflorescences per plant. Inflorescence is terminal monoca- sial cysome type. Flowers are protrandus. Anthesis starts around 7.30 am and continued till 10.0 am. Ovary is bicarpillary syncarpous unilocular. Fruit is Capsule and takes 18 20 days to mature after fertilization. Seeds are very small elliptical and 1 000 seeds weigh to 0.1275 g. Chromoso- mal studies made by usual squash method reveals the species is a ge- nomic allotetraploid with n = 13. The anaphase-I segregation was normal and in none of the cells at Anaphase-I or Telophase-I could any abnor- mality like laggards, bridges, micronuclei etc. be observed.     

A modified protocol for high-quality DNA extraction from seeds rich in secondary compounds

High-quality DNA is a prerequisite for a range of molecular biology experiments and thus DNA extraction is one of the most important steps for several downstream experiments. DNA isolation directly from seeds could save time and effort, particularly for large-scale experiments where growing and maintaining multitude of genotypes in parallel is cumbersome. However, seeds often contain polysaccharides, polyphenols, mucilage, oils, etc., which cause DNA extraction from seeds difficult and sometimes a research limiting step. In the present study, we have considered many previous protocols and optimized these methods to devise a general method for extraction of DNA from the seeds of diverse plant genera. The new SGS buffer (sucrose, glycerol and sodium dodecyl sulphate) was used to extract intact DNA from seeds with yield and quality better than in the previous protocols. Moreover, the proposed protocol is devoid of hazardous and expensive reagents and can be scaled up.     

Relationships between leaf and fruit minerals and fruit quality attributes of apples grown under northern conditions

Field experiments were conducted during 1994–1995 in seven apple (Malus spp.) orchards located in the southwest of Finland (the mainland and the Åland Islands). The cultivars were ‘Transparente Blanche’, ‘Samo’, ‘Melba’, ‘Raike’, ‘Red Atlas’, ‘Åkerö’, ‘Aroma’, and ‘Lobo’. Leaf samples from branches bearing fruits (BF) and not‐bearing fruits (BNF) were collected two times during the growing seasons. Fruit samples were picked about one week before commercial maturity. Macronutrient concentrations in fruits and leaves, fruit diameter and juice pH, titratable acidity (TA) and soluble solids concentrations (SSC) were determined. Leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were higher, but calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were lower in BNF. Branch types (BF and BNF) were closely related in leaf N, P, and Ca, but not in leaf K and Mg at the first sampling time. Fruit N, P, K, and Mg were closely related to each other but not to fruit Ca. Mean fruit N and Ca and leaf P and Mg were low compared with the recommended levels. Relationships between fruit and leaf nutrient concentrations were found only in P and Mg. Fruit diameter increased and juice SSC decreased with increasing leaf N concentration. Fruit P declined with increasing fruit diameter and juice TA increased and SSC/TA decreased with increasing leaf P and Ca concentrations.     

Land degradation mapping by remote sensing in the arid region of India

Abstract. In arid regions of India, cultivation of marginal areas and overgrazing of pastures have resulted in degradation of land. Accelerated wind erosion on sandy surfaces and water erosion on the shallow soils of piedmont areas are both common. Landsat Thematic Mapper sub-scenes have been used to map the type, extent and degree of degradation. In an area of over 5000 km², 42% was affected by wind erosion and 50% by accelerated water erosion. A quarter of the whole area needs urgent attention for soil conservation.     

Oral transmission of Trypanosoma evansi infection in dogs and mice

A successful attempt has been made to transmit T. evansi orally in dogs and mice by allowing them to feed on infected meat and blood. The infection status was determined by daily examination of blood smears and clinical manifestations of trypanosomiasis.     

Interleukin-2 and interleukin-10 gene expression in calves experimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica

The gene expression of interleukin-2 and interleukin-10 in calves with a primary infection of Fasciola gigantica was studied. Five calves were infected orally with a dose of 1000 viable metacercariae of F. gigantica and five calves served as uninfected control animals. Expression of two cytokine genes i.e. IL-2 and IL-10 (Th1 and Th2) was measured at 10, 30 and 75 days post-infection (PI) by real-time polymerase chain reaction with the double stranded DNA-binding dye SYBR Green. Interleukin-2 was not detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of infected or control animals at 10, 30 and 75 days PI, however, IL-10 was present in detectable levels in PBMCs of infected animals at 10, 30 and 75 days PI, with no expression of this cytokine in the control animals. With an increased expression of IL-10 and no expression of IL-2 cytokine gene, the present study suggests that F. gigantica infection in calves evoked Th2 immune response.     

Cytogenetics of tropical bulbous ornamentals. IX. Breeding systems in Zephyranthes

Summary Zephyranthes is a rather versatile genus and contains self-incompatible and self-compatible taxa coupled with positional barrier between stigma and anthers. The two may augment or run counter to each other. Furthermore, the genus also contains sexual and agamospermous species. The latter are often self-pollinated and pseudogamous. Z. sulphurea (2n=48) when pollinated with Z. candida (2n=40 and 41) has consistently given rise to seedlings with maternal chromosome number and morphology. Z. lancasteri and cv. 20 also behave similarly. This is a strong pointer for their being agamospermous, although a final proof will come from an embryological study. The intraspecific polymorphism within agamospermous taxa in the genus may be the result of autosegregation. On the other hand, the crosses involving sexual species like Z. candida (2n=41) as the female parent have generated a large heterogeneous progeny ranging in chromosome number from 2n=33 to 48 depending upon the number in the male parent. Such versatility of the breeding system together with chromosomal repatterning, hybridization, polyploidy and vegetative multiplication/apomixis explains the origin and preservation of an astonishing range in chromosome numbers from 2n=18 to 96.     

Mentoring within the veterinary medical profession: veterinarians' experiences as proteges in mentoring relationships

Veterinary medicine professionals have recognized the importance of enhancing mentoring of students, as recruitment and retention of students have become prominent concerns. The purpose of the present study was to examine the form and degree of mentoring experienced by practicing veterinarians, as well as to seek to understand the factors that influence effective mentoring relationships. Data concerning their own experiences with mentoring relationships were gathered from practicing veterinarians. Results suggest that most practicing veterinarians had mentors and that the most frequent and effective mentors were initial employers, followed by teachers and advisors. Behaviors aimed at career development and socio-emotional support correlated highly with the perceived effectiveness of the relationship. Perceived similarity between the protege and the mentor also predicted effectiveness. These results are discussed as they relate to veterinary education.     

Detection of Fasciola gigantica infection in snails by polymerase chain reaction

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Fasciola gigantica infection in the snail intermediate host. Fasciola specific primers amplified a 124 bp fragment in PCR when the genomic DNA isolated from F. gigantica infected Lymnaea auricularia snails was used as template. In addition to the 124 bp amplicon, a ladder of DNA fragments representing amplification of the 124 bp repetitive sequences was observed. Genomic DNA of the parasite was used as a positive control, which also gave an amplification of the 124 bp fragment. DNA isolated from non-infected snails was used as a negative control and no amplification of this sequence was observed. This technique is highly specific and sensitive and possesses fairly good prospects of its utility as an epidemiological tool for ascertaining the infectivity status in ubiquitous snail populations.