ExperimentalSchistosoma mansoni infection in sheep

Summary Sheep are partially susceptible toSchistosoma mansoni infection. However, development of worms is slow and they are reduced in size. No anaemia is produced in the infected animals, but a moderate degree of eosinophilia occurs at a late stage. The peculiar pathological lesions observed in the liver of ruminants is recorded and a simple technique suitable for perfusion of adult schistosome worms in large animals is described.

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Sumario Los ovinos son parcialmente susceptibles a la infección conSchistosoma mansoni. Sin embargo, el desarrollo de los parásitos es lento y tambien estan reducidos en tama?o. No se produce anemia en los animales infectados pero si ocurre un grado moderado de eosinofilia en los estadíos finales. Las lesiones patológicas peculiares observadas en el hígado de los rumiantes son descritas y tambien una tecnica simple adecuada para la perfusión de schistosomas adultos en animales mayores.

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Résumé Les moutons sont fablement sensibles à l'infection àSchistosoma mansoni. Toutefois, le développement des vers est lent et ceux-ci ont une taille réduite. Les animaux infectés ne présentent pas d'anémie, mais une éosinophilie modérée se produit à un stade avancé. Les lésions pathologiques spécifiques observées dans le foie des ruminants sont décrites, ainsi qu'une technique simple de perfusion de schistosomes adultes chez les grands animaux.

     

Forest Road Detection Using LiDAR Data

We developed a three-step classification approach for forest road extraction utilizing LiDAR data. The first step employed the IDW method to interpolate LiDAR point data （first and last pulses） to achieve DSM, DTM and DNTM layers （at 1 m resolution）. For this interpolation RMSE was 0.19 m. In the second step, the Support Vector Machine （SVM） was employed to classify the LiDAR data into two classes, road and non-road. For this classification, SVM indicated the merged distance layer with intensity data and yielded better identification of the road position. Assessments of the obtained results showed 63% correctness, 75% completeness and 52% quality of classification. In the next step, road edges were defined in the LiDAR-extracted layers, enabling accu- rate digitizing of the centerline location. More than 95% of the Li- DAR-derived road was digitized within 1.3 m to the field surveyed nor- rnal. The proposed approach can provide thorough and accurate road inventory data to support forest management.     

Validating models of one-way land change: an example case of forest insect disturbance

Landscape Ecology - Validation of models of Land Use and Cover Change often involves comparing maps of simulated and reference change. The interpretation of differences between simulated and...     

Genetic diversity of Pakistan wheat germplasm as revealed by RAPD markers

Wheat breeding in Pakistan started in 1930s before partition in the United India and so far has released more than 68 cultivars, but no systematic analyses of the genetic diversity of Pakistan wheat have been made. Twenty Pakistan wheat cultivars released from 1933 to 2002 were examined for genetic diversity and relationships using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Forty-two RAPD primers were applied and 184 polymorphic bands were generated for each cultivar. Most of the cultivars were genetically interrelated, although six of them displayed some genetic distinctness. The RAPD variation observed among these cultivars was low. Only 40.7% of the total scorable bands were polymorphic, and 26.1% of the polymorphic bands were observed most frequently (f = 0.95) among the 20 cultivars. The proportions of polymorphic bands for each cultivar ranged from 0.67 in ‘Yecora’ to 0.84 in ‘C-250’ with an average of 0.76. About 1.4% of the RAPD variation might have been fixed over the 69 years of wheat breeding, but such fixation was not statistically significant. These results are significant for future improvement and conservation of Pakistan wheat.     

Monitoring Nitrogen Dioxide Levels in Urban Areas in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Nitrogen dioxide is an important gaseous air pollutant. It plays a major role in atmospheric chemistry, particularly in the formation of secondary air pollutants, and contributes to environmental acidification. A comprehensive assessment of NO₂ levels in the atmosphere is required for developing effective strategies for control of air pollution and air quality improvement. Air pollution is a serious problem in all major cities of Pakistan and needs to be addressed to minimize detrimental effects on human health and urban vegetation. In this research, we focused on the monitoring of NO₂ levels in the urban environment of Rawalpindi city. Because of the lack of expensive continuous sampling devices and to get a good spatial coverage of the NO₂ concentrations in the study area, NO₂ passive samplers were exposed at 42 different sites within the city limits of Rawalpindi from January to December, 2008. Samplers were exchanged every 10 days and the associated meteorological conditions like temperature, wind speed, rainfall and relative humidity were also monitored. The average NO₂ concentration was found to be 27.46?±?0.32 ppb. The highest values of NO₂ were measured near to main roads and educational institutions due to intense flow of road vehicles. Moreover, the study showed that the values obtained for NO₂ for all sampling points exceeded the annual limit value set by World Health Organization. So, this is very important to take different steps to control this before it becomes a serious hazard for people living in those areas.     

Sources of resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora</Emphasis> root rot within the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta</Emphasis>

Phytophthora root rot caused by Phytophthora drechsleri Tucker is one of the most devastating sugar beet diseases in tropical areas. To identify genetic resources resistant to this disease, an aggressive isolate of P. drechsleri was selected. Then, a screening method was optimized based on the standard scoring scales of 1–9 (1: no symptoms, 9: complete plant death). Finally, 19 sugar beet lines, three cultivars, and 14 accessions of the wild species Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima, B. macrocarpa, B. procumbens, and B. webbiana were evaluated for resistance to the most aggressive isolate of P. drechsleri by using the optimized method (inoculum included 20 g of rice seed together with superficial wound creation). The isolates of P. drechsleri had significant variation in aggressiveness, and Kv10 was the most aggressive isolate on the susceptible variety Rasoul. The lines O.T.201-15, SP85303-0 (resistant check), and S2-24.P.107 had the lowest disease index with scores of 3.09, 3.13, and 3.27 respectively; they were categorized into the resistant group. The interaction between isolates and genotypes was not significant, which indicated the same response of each genotype to different isolates. Investigating the resistance of different generations of sugar beet revealed that progeny selection would be an effective method for increasing the resistance level of breeding materials to P. drechsleri. Among the wild species, the accession 9402 belonging to B. macrocarpa and the accession 7234 of B. vulgaris subsp. maritima had the lowest disease index (2.29 and 2.60, respectively) and were categorized into the resistant group.     

Biochemical diversity in wild and cultivated pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Pakistan

The present study was conducted to screen out elite pomegranates through determination of biochemical diversity in wild and cultivated genotypes for a breeding program and for fresh/processed use in industry. The results showed high morphological diversity in accessions of wild pomegranate fruits as compared to cultivated genotypes. The first six principal components covered 80.75 and 75.49% diversity in 53 wild and 62 cultivated pomegranate genotypes, respectively. High values of the coefficient of variance (10.78–18.62%), and a high range of minimum to maximum values of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, total soluble sugars, and total phenolic content (0.10–1.25, 5.88–29.96, 9.69–19.85 and 175.05–595.42), respectively, were recorded in the studied genotypes. Ascorbic acid content had a strong correlation with antioxidant activity (0.952%), super dismutase oxides (0.94%), catalase (0.921%), and titratable acidity (0.91%). Peroxides had a strong correlation (0.88%) with catalase, and 0.81% each with super dismutase oxides and antioxidant activity. Wild and cultivated pomegranates were clustered successfully in separate groups, based on biochemical traits. A variety improvement program and selection of high-quality pomegranate genotypes could help to reduce pomegranate-related malnutrition issues in the human diet.     

Incorporated maize residues will induce more accumulation of new POC in HF compared with that in LF soils: a comparison of different residue types

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The distribution and dynamic of residue-derived carbon after incorporation into soil at different fertility levels have been well documented. However, the...     

Immunotoxic responses of chronic exposure to cypermethrin in common carp

In the current study, laboratory evaluations were made to assess the immunomodulatory effect of cypermethrin on fingerlings of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Results showed that 96-h LC50 of cypermethrin in common carp was estimated at 0.85 μg/L. Fish were exposed for 21 days to cypermethrin at three sub-lethal concentrations of 0.042, 0.085, and 0.17 μg/L that represented 5, 10, and 20%, respectively, of the 96-h LC50 of the pesticide for this fish species. Blood samples were taken after 7, 14, and 21 days of exposure. Immunological indices and resistance against bacterial infection were determined. Compared to the control group, the fish exposed to cypermethrin showed a significant increase in neutrophil ratio but exhibited a significant decrease in leukocyte number and lymphocyte ratio in treatments exposed to 0.17 and/or 0.085 μg/L after 21 days of exposure (p < 0.05). Serum protein level was significantly decreased in group exposed to 0.17 μg/L on day 14 and also in groups exposed to 0.085 and 0.17 μg/L on day 21 (p < 0.05). Immunoglobulin value was significantly reduced in groups exposed to 0.085 and 0.17 μg/L after 21 days of exposure (p < 0.05). Serum lysozyme activity and phagocytic activity were significantly decreased following exposure to 0.17 μg/L determined on days 14 and 21, post-exposure (p < 0.05). Mortality rate following the challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila significantly increased in fish exposed to 0.17 μg/L of cypermethrin. Overall, the present results indicate severe immunotoxicological effects of cypermethrin in common carp. Therefore, the use of cypermethrin in the proximities of common carp farms should be carefully considered.     

Bluetongue virus seropositivity in sheep flocks in North West Frontier Province, Pakistan

The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence and distribution of serum antibodies to Bluetongue virus (BTV) in a sample of 38 sheep flocks in northern areas of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan and to identify demographic and productivity variables that are associated with BTV seropositivity. Blood samples were taken from a random sample of ewes in each flock in April 1995. The owners of the flocks were interviewed regarding some demographic, husbandry and productivity variables of the flocks on the day of blood sampling. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to test the serum samples for BTV group-specific antibodies. BTV seropositive reactions were obtained in 184 (48.4%) out of 380 tested sera, and in 89.5% (34/38) of the flocks. In the 34 seropositive flocks, the prevalences ranged from 12.5 to 100% (median = 47). A multivariable logistic analysis was carried out to study the influence of demographic and productivity variables on the BTV serological status of the sheep flocks. Abortion risk in the previous lambing season was mildly associated with the serological status of the flock (adjusted odds ratio = 1.16, P = 0.07). For the seropositive flocks, a linear multiple regression showed that distance travelled by the flock during transhumant movement was significantly associated with percent seropositivity (partial regression coefficient (± SE) = − 0.091 ± 0.045).