Ophthalmic examination of the captive western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).

This study examined the captive western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) eye as compared and contrasted with the human eye. Bilateral ophthalmic examinations of western lowland gorillas (n = 5) while under general anesthesia were performed opportunistically, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundus examination, cycloplegic retinoscopy, Schiotz tonometry, corneal diameter and thickness measurements, A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography, keratometry, and cultures of the eyelid margins and bulbar conjunctiva. Mean spherical equivalent refractive error by cycloplegic retinoscopy was +1.20 +/- 0.59 diopters. Mean intraocular pressure by Schiotz tonometry was 12.0 +/- 4.3 mm Hg. Mean optic nerve head cup to disc ratio was 0.42 +/- 0.11. Mean horizontal corneal diameter was 13.4 +/- 0.8 mm, and mean vertical cornea diameter was 12.7 +/- 0.8 mm. Mean central corneal thickness by ultrasound pachymetry was 489 +/- 52 microm. Mean axial length of the eye by A-scan was 22.75 +/- 0.71 mm. Mean lens thickness by A-scan was 4.23 +/- 0.34 mm. Mean anterior chamber depth by A-scan was 4.00 +/- 0.26 mm. Mean keratometry reading was 44.38 +/- 1.64 diopters. Eyelid margin and bulbar conjunctival cultures isolated Candida sp. (n = 5), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 4), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 3), Staphylococcus saccharolyticus (n = 3), and Micrococcus sp. (n = 3). This study suggests important similarities between western lowland gorilla and human eyes. These similarities may allow diagnostics, techniques, and equipment for human eye surgery, such as those used for cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation, to be successfully utilized for gorillas.     

Targeted surveillance to assess the presence of BSE in the age risk population of cattle slaughtered in Bursa, Turkey: preliminary results of an immunohistochemical detection study for the 2004-2005 period

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a member of the transmissible spongiform encepahlopathies, has been a notifiable disease in Turkey since 1997. In 2002, the BSE status of Turkey was assessed by the EU Scientific Steering Committee as "it is likely but not confirmed".This study presents the results of a targeted surveillance study to assess the presence of BSE in the age risk population of Bursa, Turkey. In the assessment procedure, the immunohistochemical detection of protease-resistant prion protein (PrP-Sc) was aimed at and applied to 420 brain tissues of cattle slaughtered in Bursa at an age of 30-months and older. None of the samples were positive for BSE.     

Macroanatomic,light and scanning electron microscopic structure of the pecten oculi in northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita)

Eyes are the most primarily required sensory organs during the migration of migratory birds and Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) are known to make long migrations. This study examined for the first time the structure of pecten oculi in northern bald ibises by using macroscopic anatomy as well as light and electron microscopic methods. In the study 20 eye globes from 10 adult bald ibises were used. The pecten was of pleated type. As in most bird species, it was located on the optic nerve head and projects into the vitreous from the optic nerve head. The wider basal part was observed to attached to retina and its free apical part was found in camera vitrea bulbi embedded in corpus vitreum. The pecten had 13–14 accordion like pleats lying between the basal and apical parts. In addition to arterial and venous vessels, numerous capillary vessels as well as melanocytes were observed within each pleat. The bridge binding the pleats at the apical part showed a stronger pigmentation compared to other parts of the pecten. The results of the study indicated that the general morphology of pecten oculi in northern bald ibises which is a migratory bird species were similar to that in other diurnal bird species.     

SynCAM,a synaptic adhesion molecule that drives synapse assembly

Synapses, the junctions between nerve cells through which they communicate, are formed by the coordinated assembly and tight attachment of pre- and postsynaptic specializations. We now show that SynCAM is a brain-specific, immunoglobulin domain-containing protein that binds to intracellular PDZ-domain proteins and functions as a homophilic cell adhesion molecule at the synapse. Expression of the isolated cytoplasmic tail of SynCAM in neurons inhibited synapse assembly. Conversely, expression of full-length SynCAM in nonneuronal cells induced synapse formation by cocultured hippocampal neurons with normal release properties. Glutamatergic synaptic transmission was reconstituted in these nonneuronal cells by coexpressing glutamate receptors with SynCAM, which suggests that a single type of adhesion molecule and glutamate receptor are sufficient for a functional postsynaptic response.     

Effects of bioenergy production on environmental sustainability: a preliminary study based on expert opinions in Italy and Turkey

In future decades, initiatives on biomass-based energy development in Europe should reduce fossil fuel dependence and help to combat climate change as required by the conference of the parties 21. In this context, forest biomass can play a key role within the bioenergy sector due to its high growth potential. The use of forest biomass for energy has positive and negative effects on other ecosystem services, on stand characteristics, and on forest management practices. The aim of this study is to analyse the effects of forest bioenergy production on six ecosystem services (biodiversity, recreation, landscape aesthetics, carbon sequestration, soil erosion protection, water quality). These effects have been assessed by 80 experts in two countries (Italy and Turkey), considering two different forest management practices (clear-cutting of coppices and woody residue removal after felling in high forests). The results show that coppice clear-cutting has negative effects on almost all ecosystem services according to the experts’ opinions. The highest negative effects are on landscape aesthetics and soil protection. The effects of woody residue removal on biodiversity, carbon sequestration, soil erosion protection, and water quality are considered negative by the experts, while the effects on recreation activities and landscape aesthetics are considered positive. The highest negative effects of this forest management scenario are on soil protection and biodiversity. The experts’ opinions about the effects of forest management practices on ecosystem services can provide information to understand the environmental sustainability of bioenergy development in future years.     

Gut and Gill-Associated Microbiota of the Flatfish European Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa): Diversity,Metabolome and Bioactivity against Human and Aquaculture Pathogens

Similar to other marine holobionts, fish are colonized by complex microbial communities that promote their health and growth. Fish-associated microbiota is emerging as a promising source of bioactive metabolites. Pleuronectes platessa (European plaice, plaice), a flatfish with commercial importance, is common in the Baltic Sea. Here we used a culture-dependent survey followed by molecular identification to identify microbiota associated with the gills and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of P. platessa, then profiled their antimicrobial activity and metabolome. Altogether, 66 strains (59 bacteria and 7 fungi) were isolated, with Proteobacteria being the most abundant phylum. Gill-associated microbiota accounted for higher number of isolates and was dominated by the Proteobacteria (family Moraxellaceae) and Actinobacteria (family Nocardiaceae), whereas Gram-negative bacterial families Vibrionaceae and Shewanellaceae represented the largest group associated with the GIT. The EtOAc extracts of the solid and liquid media cultures of 21 bacteria and 2 fungi representing the diversity of cultivable plaice-associated microbiota was profiled for their antimicrobial activity against three fish pathogens, human bacterial pathogen panel (ESKAPE) and two human fungal pathogens. More than half of all tested microorganisms, particularly those originating from the GIT epithelium, exhibited antagonistic effect against fish pathogens (Lactococcus garvieae, Vibrio ichthyoenteri) and/or human pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Proteobacteria represented the most active isolates. Notably, the solid media extracts displayed higher activity against fish pathogens, while liquid culture extracts were more active against human pathogens. Untargeted metabolomics approach using feature-based molecular networking showed the high chemical diversity of the liquid extracts that contained undescribed clusters. This study highlights plaice-associated microbiota as a potential source of antimicrobials for the control of human and the aquaculture-associated infections. This is the first study reporting diversity, bioactivity and chemical profile of culture-dependent microbiota of plaice.