Prevalence, biology, pathology, and public health importance of linguatulosis of camel in Iran

Linguatula serrata is a cosmopolitan zoonotic parasite with its adult form occurring in the nasal and respiratory passages of canids as the definitive hosts, while its immature stages localize in the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lungs, and, rarely, in other organs, such as the ocular region of herbivorous intermediate hosts. Humans can behave as both intermediate and final host and are infected by visceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis. Consumption of infected, improperly cooked viscera of the intermediate hosts, including sheep, goats, cattle, camels, or other herbivores containing the larval stages of this parasite is a potential source of infection of human beings with the nasopharyngeal form of linguatulosis. However, nasopharyngeal secretions or feces of carnivores containing eggs of Linguatula are the main sources for infecting human beings with the visceral form of this infection. In the present study, the prevalence of infection by nymphs of L. serrata in 101 camels in Yazd Province, central Iran, was estimated based on histopathological studies of samples from two, apparently enlarged, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), together with one sample from a whitish pinpoint spot on the liver and spleen of each animal. Thirteen camels (12.9%) were infected with the nymphal stage of L. serrata. Age and sex did not play a significant role in the prevalence of this parasitic infection. The number of parasites in each MLN ranged from one to six larvae. In view of the consumption of raw or undercooked liver and visceral organs of camel by humans of this region, the importance of careful inspection at slaughter needs to be emphasized.     

Past,present and future suitable areas for the relict tree Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Juglandaceae): Integrating fossil records,niche modeling,and phylogeography for conservation

European Journal of Forest Research - Pterocarya fraxinifolia, native to the southern Caucasus and adjacent areas, has been widely introduced in Europe. In this study, we investigate the following:...     

Assimilate and nitrogen remobilization of six-rowed and two-rowed winter barley under drought stress at different nitrogen fertilization

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation regimes and N levels on assimilate remobilization of two barley cultivars (Yousef_six-rowed and Nimrouz_two-rowed) in 2011 and 2012. There were three levels of water regimes (full irrigation (I₁₀₀), 75% and 50% of I₁₀₀: I₇₅ and I₅₀, respectively) in 2011. Rain-fed treatment (I₀) was included in 2012. Three N levels (0, 60, and 120 kg ha^?1) were used. Grain yield and assimilate remobilization decreased by severe water stress (I₀), however, the reduction of them were intensified by N fertilizer application. The N remobilization was negatively affected by N fertilization and water stress. The two-rowed showed higher N remobilization (10.7%) and contribution of N remobilized to N content of grain (5.8%) than the six-rowed. The two-rowed cultivar showed significantly higher assimilate remobilization and grain yield than the six-rowed under I₅₀ (26.3% and 6.5%, respectively) and I₀ (48.7% and 17.1%, respectively), while the six-rowed had similar or higher performances in terms of these traits under I₁₀₀ and I₇₅. This study showed that optimizing irrigation and N rates (decrease N level with increasing water stress) and selection of the suitable cultivars (Nimrouz_two-rowed) might increase assimilate remobilization and consequently grain yield under drought stress conditions.     

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF RICE SEEDLINGS TO COLD,SALT, AND DROUGHT STRESSES

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most sensitive crops to drought, salt and cold stresses, particularly at post germination stage. The effects of these stresses on some physiological responses of two (a salt tolerant and a sensitive) rice cultivars ‘FL478’ and ‘IR29’ were investigated in this study. Two-day seedlings were transferred to MS media complemented with iso-osmotic concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl; 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM) or mannitol (0, 100, 180, and 275 mM) at 25°C or four and 15°C for 10 days. Experiments were carried out based on completely randomized design, with at least three replicates. All three stresses decreased shoot growth, chlorophylls, carotenoids and root starch while increased shoot soluble sugars. The effect of exerted cold stress on growth, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malonyldialdehyde levels, electrolyte leakage, chlorophylls and carotenoids contents was more than or comparable with drought, but greater than salinity. The results also indicated higher tolerance of ‘‘FL478’’ not only to salinity but also to drought compared to ‘‘IR29’’. Therefore, a mechanism for osmotic stress adjustment is probable in ‘‘FL478’’ in addition to low sodium (Na⁺) to potassium (K⁺) ratio in shoot tissues under salinity.     

Fractionation and Speciation of Manganese in Rhizosphere Soils of Pseudomonas sp. Rhizobacteria Inoculated Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) Seedlings Under Salinity Stress

Enhancement of manganese (Mn) availability in saline and Mn-deficient soils is very important for plant growth. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of Pseudomonas sp. rhizobacteria (P₀ (control), P₁, P₂ and P₃) and Mn (0 and 10 mg Mn kg^?1 soil) on the distribution of Mn in the rhizosphere of pistachio seedlings under salinity stress (0, 1000 and 2000 mg NaCl kg^?1 soil). The results showed that salinity decreased the dry weight, Mn uptake and chlorophyll content of the pistachio seedlings. However, inoculation with rhizobacteria increased these parameters in saline conditions. Application of rhizobacteria increased the availability of Mn in the rhizosphere soil. The use of rhizobacteria decreased the residual-Mn form in the rhizosphere. Inoculation with rhizobacteria increased the percent of Mn²⁺ and MnCl⁺ species in the soil solution. However, pistachio seedlings inoculation with rhizobacteria increased the contents of Mn available forms in the rhizosphere soil.     

Improving the Drought Tolerance in Pistachio (Pistacia vera) Seedlings by Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid

Gesunde Pflanzen - Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is an economically important nut crop that is prone to drought stress since it is mainly produced in arid and semi-arid regions. Considering...     

Effect of short‐term fasting and re‐feeding on growth,digestive enzyme activities and antioxidant defence in yellowfin seabream,Acanthopagrus latus (Houttuyn, 1782)

An 80‐day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the influence of different short‐term fasting and re‐feeding strategies on growth and physiological responses in yellowfin seabream, Acanthopagrus latus (2.4 ± 0.2 g) fingerlings. The fish were subjected to four different feeding regimes, and the control group fed four times daily to apparent satiation throughout the whole feeding period, while the other three groups were deprived for 2, 4 and 8 days followed by 8, 16 or 32 days of re‐feeding (F₂R₈, F₄R₁₆ and F₈R₃₂, respectively) in repeated cycles for 80 days. The fish in the control and F₂R₈ groups had the highest and the lowest total length, respectively (p < .05). Moreover, fish exposed to F₄R₁₆ had the highest hepatosomatic indices, while control fish had the lowest hepatosomatic indices (p < .05). Fish in the F₂R₈ group relatively had higher catalase and glutathione‐S‐transferase activities than other groups (p < .05). Furthermore, total protease, α‐amylase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the F₄R₁₆ and F₈R₃₂ were higher than the F₂R₄ and control groups (p < .05). Overall, this study showed that compensatory growth in weight and length and digestive enzyme activities were observed in the F₄R₁₆ and F₈R₃₂; however, the increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the F₈R₃₂ group indicated that oxidative stress remained after 80 days of re‐feeding in the liver.     

Improvement of reproductive indices,lysozyme activity,and disease resistance in live‐bearing ornamental fish,Poecilia latipinna using Artemia supplementation with treated yeast cell,Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the present study, the effects of Artemia supplemented with 2‐β‐mercapto‐ethanol (β‐ME) treated yeast cell, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on growth and reproductive performance, lysozyme activity, and disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila of freshwater ornamental species, Poecilia latipinna, were investigated. Within 60 days, molly fish were fed with three treatments including commercial food (T1), un‐supplemented Artemia (T2), and Artemia supplemented with β‐ME‐treated yeast cell (at concentration of 4 × 10⁷ CFU/L of water) (T3). After the feeding period, the fish were exposed to 100 μl of a suspension (1.1 × 10⁷ cells/ml) of A. hydrophila (BCCM5/LMG3279) and the cumulative mortality rates were recorded for 12 days. No significant difference was found between survival rate and growth performance of P. latipinna except for weight gain that was higher in fish fed through Artemia supplemented with β‐ME‐treated yeast cell compared to control group. Fecundity rate was significantly improved in fish fed using T3 with the maximum amount of 49.5 ± 2.29 per female (p < 0.05). Besides, lysozyme activity was significantly increased in group 3 (p < 0.05). Moreover, lowest fish mortality was significantly observed in this treatment (p < 0.05). In addition, the number of colonies formed by yeast cell in T3 (634 × 10³ CFU/g intestine) showed significant difference with other treatments (p < 0.05). In sum, Artemia enriched with β‐ME‐treated yeast improved reproductive indices, immune responses, and resistance against A. hydrophila of P. latipinna.     

Factors that influence the level of weed seed predation: A review

Herbicides applied alone have failed to reduce weed populations in agricultural ecosystems. The use of this management strategy has followed other problems such as damage to ecosystems and organisms that live in it. Herbicide resistance in weeds has also occurred more quickly based on the application of herbicides. Today, most scientists are looking for new integrated weed management programs in agricultural ecosystems. Biological control is one of the most effective ways of weed management. In this way, living organisms are used to reduce and control weed species in arable lands. Weed seed predators, including predispersal and postdispersal predators as biological control agents, can be primary factors of weed seed mortality in agricultural ecosystems. This review has discussed factors influencing seed predator populations, activity, and granivory. Knowledge of the interrelations between factors and seed predators can contribute to designing future strategies that augment weed seed predator activity and enhance weed seed consumption as a component of an integrated weed management system.