Effects of dietary tannic acid and vaccination on the course of coccidiosis in experimentally challenged broiler chicken

An experiment was carried out to assess the influence of tannic acid (TA) on integrity of the intestine in broiler chicks vaccinated against coccidiosis and challenged with the disease. In a 2 × 2 factorial design, the trial had five groups of 10 chickens each, including positive (group 2) and negative (group 1) controls. The chickens were kept on wood shavings and fed a commercial maize and soybean-based starter-grower diet. From day 1, groups 3 and 5 received TA (10 g kg(-1)) in their diet. On day 4, birds of groups 4 and 5 were vaccinated orally against coccidiosis with anti-coccidial vaccine, Livacox T?. Each dose of the vaccine contained 300-500 sporulated oocysts of each of Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria tenella. On day 18, all experimental groups except for the negative (group 1) were challenged with 10-fold dose of Livacox T? to produce a mild coccidiosis infection. Faecal samples of individual birds were collected on day 23, and the number of faecal oocysts was determined. d-Xylose absorption test was also carried out on all birds on day 23. Immediately after d-xylose absorption test, all birds were killed humanely and the intestinal tract was removed, weighed and examined for gross lesions. Results showed that negative (group 1) and positive controls (group 2) had the highest and lowest levels of plasma d-xylose post-ingestion of the substrate, respectively. Vaccination and/or feeding TA raised the level of plasma d-xylose in infected birds, although this was not significant for TA-fed birds. Vaccination reduced but TA increased the total number of oocysts per gram of faeces. Birds of groups 2-5 had distinct intestinal lesions when compared with group 1. However, vaccination prevented intestinal lesions. Relative weights of intestinal parts were the lowest in group 1 and the highest in group 2. Vaccination but not TA reduced the relative weights of intestinal parts in infected birds. It was concluded that dietary tannins may reduce the efficacy of anticoccidial vaccines and alter the proper development of immunity against the disease.     

Mycoplasmas from donkeys and horses in the Sudan

Seventeen isolates (4.27%) were recovered from 398 samples. Twelve isolates (4%) were obtained from 300 donkey nasal swabs, three (4.3%) and two (6.89%) isolates were recovered from 69 horse nasal swabs and 29 mare uterine washings, respectively. Nine isolates were lost during storage at -20 degrees C and the remaining eight were identified as mycoplasmas and their biological, biochemical and serological reactions were investigated. The isolates could be divided into two groups on the basis of glucose fermentation and arginine hydrolysis. The first group neither fermented glucose nor hydrolysed arginine. Organisms in the second group hydrolysed arginine only.     

Morphological evidences for onion-induced growth inhibition of Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes

The antifungal activity of onion (Allium cepa L.) on two important dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, with special reference to morphological aspects was studied. Growth of both fungi was found to be strongly inhibited by aqueous onion extract (AOE) as a dose-dependent manner. The extract showed fungicidal effect for both fungi at concentrations >3.12% (v/v). The fungus T. mentagrophytes was more affected by the onion as compared to T. rubrum at all concentrations used. Morphological effects of onion exposure were examined in correlation with fungal growth. Corresponding to the growth inhibition, light and electron microscopy observations revealed morphological anomalies in hyphal compartments. The results demonstrated that AOE targets the cell membrane of the fungi as breaking down of both inner and outer membranes with consequent extrution of materials into the surrounding medium. Cytoplasmic membranes and other membranous structures of organelles, such as nuclei and mitochondria, were also disrupted. In correlation to the fungal growth, morphological alterations occurred to a less content for T. rubrum compared with T. mentagrophytes. The hyphae of T. rubrum were found to be mainly affected by converting to resistant forms, i.e., chlamidospores as a consequence of phenotype switching response to AOE. Plasmolysis accompanied by an almost complete depletion and disorganization of cytoplasmic structures were found to be the final event which led to cell death. Ultrastructural evidences obtained from this study strongly support that morphological changes of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes caused by AOE are associated with its fungistatic and fungicidal activities. With respect to the morphological results and the preliminary data on fungal biochemistry, a mechanism of action by interacting of AOE with thiol (-SH) groups present in essential compartments of the fungal cells was postulated.     

Snow damages on trees of an uneven age in mixed broadleaf forests:effects of topographical conditions and tree characteristics

Snow damage on natural stands is an important problem concerning mountainous forest management.In the present research,the frequency and intensity of heavy snow damage on natural stands and the relationship of damages with characteristics of trees,stand and topography were studied in mountainous forests of northern Iran.A systematic sampling design was applied to the study area(140 ha),with 122 circular plots.The grid dimension was100 m and each plot area was 1000 m^2.The four types of snow damage to trees include:crown damage(8.6%),stem breakage(5.4%),uprooting(3.2%),and bending(1.4%).The frequency of crown damage grew with an increase inthe diameter at breast height(DBH),while the frequency of stem breakage,uprooting and bending decreased with an increase the DBH.The frequency of crown damage,stem breakage,and total damages was related to tree species(p<0.01).Not all tree species were equally susceptible to snow damage.The amount of damage grew with increasing elevation and slope angle and decreased with increasing soil depth.Young trees(DBH<25 cm)were more susceptible to snow damage than other trees.Snow damage decreased by as the trees in the stand became more mixed in age.The susceptibility of trees to snow damage increased by height and slenderness coefficient.With adequate silvicultural operation,snow damage can be reduced to a minimum level in these natural forests.     

Suitability of Immobilized Pseudomonas fluorescens SM1 Strain for Remediation of Phenols, Heavy Metals, and Pesticides from Water

Immobilized microbial cells for the biological treatment have the potential to degrade toxic chemicals faster than conventional wastewater treatment systems. In the present study, suitability of immobilized Pseudomonas fluorescens SM1 strain in calcium alginate beads for remediation of the major toxicants in Indian water bodies was tested by means of GC/HPLC and AAS techniques. Roughly 80% reduction in the concentration of phenols was observed by immobilized SM1 cells compared with 60% by the free cells. Also, in the case of the bioremediation of heavy metals, immobilized SM1 cells were found to be more efficient compared with the free cells. Suspension of P. fluorescens SM1 cells in the test model water for 24 h brought down the concentrations of Cu⁺⁺, Cd⁺⁺, Ni⁺⁺, and Pb⁺⁺ by more than 75% under free cell state and 7?C9% better efficiency under the immobilized conditions. However, Cr(VI) could show only 44% removal by the cell immobilized system, whereas a mere 35% reduction in the Cr(VI) levels was shown in the test model water by the free SM1 cells under the same conditions. Moreover, a model water containing 2,000 ppb of BHC, 1,248 ppb mancozeb, and 312 ppb 2,4-D passed through the cell immobilized column resulted in the decline in their concentrations up to 362 ppb, 750 ppb, and 126 ppb, respectively. Generally, AAS, HPLC, and GC analyses of treated test model waters with the free and immobilized SM1 cells exhibited high potential of immobilized SM1 in detoxification of test water. From the results, we conclude that immobilized cells of P. fluorescens SM1 strain were quite effective in bioremediation of major toxicants present in Indian water bodies, and we also recommend the use of immobilized bacterial cells rather than the free cells for the bioremediation/detoxification process.     

Hyperlipidemia in Caspian miniature horses: Effects of undernutrition

The susceptibility of Caspian miniature horses to hyperlipidemia was followed in a study of healthy Caspian miniature horses in which food but not water was withheld for 48 hours. Two months before the study, the horses were fed a high-energy diet. The mean of weight gain was 26.46 kg per horse during this period. All horses had a normal rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and pulse throughout the experiment. During the period of food deprivation, levels of serum triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase significantly (P < .05) increased and glucose concentration decreased. As a conclusion, Caspian miniature horses were susceptible to hyperlipidemia, but they did not show classic hyperlipemia syndrome.     

Naringin-loaded Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Gelatin Electrospun Mat as a Potential Wound Dressing: In vitro and In vivo Evaluation

In the present study, naringin, a flavonoid isolated from the grape and citrus fruit species, was incorporated with poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin composite mats in order to develop a potential wound dressing. The composite mats were prepared by electrospinning of poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin (1:1 (w/w)) solution incorporated with 1.50 %, 3 % and 6 % (w/w) of naringin. The electrospun mats were evaluated regarding their morphology, contact angle, water-uptake capacity, water vapor transmission rate, tensile properties, drug release, cellular response and in vivo wound healing activity. The study showed that after 2 weeks, the full-thickness excisional wounds of Wistar rats treated with the naringin-loaded dressings achieved a wound closure of higher than 94 % and the dressing containing 6 % (w/w) naringin had almost 100 % wound closure. The sterile gauze, as the control group, showed nearly 86 % of wound closure after this period of time. Our results provided evidence that supports the possible applicability of naringin-loaded wound dressing for successful wound treatment.