Polymerase Chain Reaction Mediated Identification of Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus parauberis Using Species‐specific Sequences of the Genes Encoding Superoxide Dismutase A and Chaperonin 60*

Streptococcus uberis, a well‐known bacterial pathogen associated with bovine mastitis, appears to be biochemically and serologically almost indistinguishable from the closely related species Streptococcus parauberis. In the present study, species‐specific oligonucleotide primers were designed using internal parts of the genes sodA, encoding superoxide dismutase A, and cpn60 encoding chaperonin 60 of S. uberis and S. parauberis, respectively. The two oligonucleotide primer pairs allowed a rapid and reliable PCR‐mediated identification and differentiation of both species. These studies, performed with S. uberis and S. parauberis reference cultures and clinical isolates from routine diagnostics, revealed that the occurrence of S. parauberis as causative agent of bovine mastitis appears to be rare. In addition the sodA and cpn60 sequence data confirmed that both species could taxonomically be classified to the pyogenic group of genus Streptococcus.     

Epidemiological findings of outbreaks of disease caused by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in poultry in Egypt during 2006

This paper describes the first threats of H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in Egypt recorded from February to December 2006 in commercial and domestic poultry from different species and summarizes the major characteristics of the outbreak. There were 1024 cases from different poultry species (rural and commercial chickens of different breeding types, turkeys, ducks, geese, and quail) either in commercial breeding or in backyards from different locations in Egypt. All tested positive for the H5N1 subtype. From these cases only 12 avian influenza A viruses were isolated and characterized from samples collected during outbreaks. All isolates were characterized, and the data confirmed that the isolated viruses belong to highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N1. Full hemagglutinin (HA) gene (segment 4) sequencing was also done, and the sequences of these isolates were compared with other strains from Russia, Africa, and the Middle East. The data revealed that all Egyptian strains were very closely related and belonging to subclade 2.2 of the H5N1 virus of Eurasian origin, the same one circulating in the Middle East region and introduced into Africa at the beginning of 2006. This study showed evidence of the wide spread of H5N1 virus infection in domestic poultry in Egypt within a short time. The most obvious features of these outbreaks were severe clinical signs and high mortalities as well as very rapid and widespread occurrence within the country in a very short time. The possible causes of its rapid spread and prospects of disease control are discussed.     

Guar meal ameliorates Eimeria tenella infection in broiler chicks

Guar meal contains relatively high levels of saponins, which are known to have antiprotozoal activity and may be effective against coccidiosis. A 2x2 factorial experiment investigated the impact of guar meal (0 or 5%) corn-soy-based starter broiler diets on chicks unchallenged or challenged with Eimeria tenella. At 1 day of age, 120 unsexed RossxRoss broiler chicks were randomly distributed among four treatment groups. Chicks were challenged with 5x10(3) sporulated oocysts of E. tenella in 0.5ml at 10 days of age by oral gavage. Weekly body weight, body weight gains, feed conversion ratio and mortality rate were recorded for chicks fed from 0 to 21 days of age. Oocysts shed per gram feces were recorded from 6 to 10 days post-challenge. Results showed that challenged chicks fed 0% guar meal had significantly higher oocysts per gram shed in feces than the other groups. No significant differences among treatment groups in mortality rate were observed. Body weights of unchallenged and challenged chicks fed 0% guar meal were significantly higher than those fed 5% guar meal at 2 weeks of age. Results indicated that including 5% guar meal in the diet of chicks challenged with E. tenella decreased oocysts shed per gram feces and prevented bloody diarrhea, but without affects on body weight and feed conversion ratio at 11 days post-challenge.     

The side-effects of pesticides onDiaeretiella rapae, a parasitoid of the turnip aphid (Lipaphis erysimi)

Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh.) is an endoparasite of the turnip aphid,Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) with a wide geographical distribution. The four Pesticides Nogos 50 EC at 600 ml per acre, Dimecron 50 WSC, Monofos 40 WSC and Tamaron 600 SL at 500 ml per acre, used in practice for the control of this pest, were tested for their side-effects onD. rapae. The parasitoid was reared on pottedBrassica napus plants infested with aphid under laboratory conditions (22±2°C, 60–70% rel. hum., 16 h light and 8 h dark). In one test, adult female parasitoids were exposed to fresh pesticide residues on glass plates and in another test, the pupae within aphid mummies were directly sprayed. The results revealed that Dimecron 50 WSC, Nogos 50 EC and Monofos 40 WSC were harmful causing 100% mortalitv toD. rapae followed by Tamaron 600 SL (97% moderately harmful) after 24 hours of application, compared to no mortality in control, where only water was sprayed. Directly spraying of pupae with Dimecron 50 WSC and Nogos 50 EC reduced adult parasitoid emergence to 9 and 7%, respectively, Monofos 40 WSC and Tamaron 600 SL to 3% compared to 78% emergence for the control within one week of treatment. The results showed that none of the tested pesticides was safe toD. rapae and according to the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) further testing under semi-field and field conditions is recommended.     

Morphological Traits Associated with Drought Stress Tolerance in Six Moroccan Durum Wheat Varieties Released Between 1984 and 2007

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Drought is one of the main environmental factors affecting grain yield and plant architecture in durum wheat. The present work was conducted to evaluate...     

Validation of Molecular Markers and Haplotype Diversity at the SalTol Locus on Chromosome 1 of Rice

Rice （Oryza sativa L.） is the most important economic activity on earth as it is second largest single use of the land for food production and also consumed by the half of the world＇s population. Salinity is the one of the most common abiotic problem in rice growing areas of the world. Millions of hectares in the tropics, arid and semi arid region could be potential rice growing areas but either left idle or cropped with very low yielding varieties due to the lack of suitable salt tolerant high yielding modem varieties.     

Morphological and oil content variations amongst Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) landraces from different regions of Iran

Forty landraces of Damask rose were collected from 28 provinces (13 origin sites) in Iran and evaluated to determine the diversity among them. The investigated characters were: flower weight, flower diameter, peduncle length, number of petals, number of stamens and oil content. Pearson's coefficients showed that number of petals was positively correlated with flower weight (r = 0.642) and number of stamens (r = 0.630), while its correlation with peduncle length was negative (r = −0.53). A negative correlation was obtained between oil content and number of stamens (r = −0.60) which is useful for indirect selection of landraces with low number of stamens and therefore high amount of oil content. Cluster analysis based on five botanical characters and oil content separated the origin site 12, which included Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces with a specific climate condition of temperate humid, from other origin sites. This distinctiveness was already confirmed by the bi-plot of the principal components. The distribution of Damask rose landraces provided useful information for the future collection and for the genetic resource management in these origin sites.     

Tissue distribution and blood levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase in the horse.

In the horse, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was found to be mainly located in the kidneys, liver and pancreas. As renal lesions are followed by a urinary escape of enzyme, it can be assumed that if there are raised serum enzyme levels then the source will be chiefly from the liver and pancreas. In the blood, GGT can be measured either in plasma or serum. Its mean level in 58 horses was 12 U/L. This level was not affected by moderate dilution or slight haemolysis and its activity was only slightly decreased by storage at--30 degrees C. The relative hepatic specificity of this enzyme and its easy measurement make it a potentially very useful measure of liver dysfunction in the horse.     

The use of blood meal in tropical broiler diets

Summary Sixteen hundred commercial broiler chicks (Cobbs) were used to investigate the food value of blood meal in broiler production under Sudanese conditions. Seven experimental diets, containing various levels of blood meal, were fed to groups of chicks from 0 to 9 weeks of age and the performance was compared with those on a control diet containing 15 per cent meat meal. The results indicated that 6 per cent blood meal can be used in broiler diets without growth rate being adversely affected.

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Sumario Mil seicientos pollos parrilleros de origen comercial (Cobbs) fueron usadospara investigar el valor alimenticio de la harina de sangre en la producción de pollos parrilleros bajo condiciones propias del Sudan. Siete dietas experimentales conteniendo varios niveles de harina de sangre fueron alimentadas a grupos de pollos de 0–9 semanas de edad y el rendimiento fue comparado con aquellos bajo una dieta control conteniendo 15 por ciento de harina de carne. Los resultados indicaron que la harina de sangre puede ser usada economicamente a niveles no mayores de 6 por ciento en la dieta de los pollos parrilleros.

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Résumé Seize cent poulets de chair (Cobbs) étaient utilisés pour étudier la valeur alimentaire de la farine de sang pour la production de poulets dans les conditions du Soudan. Sept régimes expérimentaux, contenant des taux différents de farine de sang, étaient distribués à des groupes de poulets agés de 0 à 9 semaines et les performances étaient comparées avec celles d'un régime témoin contenant 15 p. 100 de farine de viande. Les résultats montrent que la farine de sang peut être employée économiquement jusqu'à 6 p. 100 dans la ration des poulets de chair.

     

Principles for regulatory testing and interpretation of semi-field and field studies with non-target arthropods

This paper is a guidance document for side-effect testing with plant protection products on non-target arthropods under semi-field and field conditions. The principles, methods, endpoints and interpretation of non-target arthropod semi-field and field trials which should be conducted for registration of plant protection products in the European Union are presented and discussed. The recommendations presented reflect the opinions of the experts from authority, academia, industry and consulting which participated at the IOBC (International Organisation of Biological Control), BART (Beneficial Arthropod Regulatory Testing) group and EPPO (European Plant Protection Organisation) Joint Initiative workshop held in Versailles (France) on the 25–26 October, 1999.