Prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis in broiler-chicken farms in the municipality of Mashhad, Khorasan, Iran

A survey of the prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis in broiler-chickens was conducted in the municipality of Mashhad, Khorasan, Iran. Eighty-four chicken farms were randomly selected; from each farm, five birds per 10 000 were sampled (as was litter). Serial scraping of the intestinal lining was done in chicks at 3rd and >6th week of age.

The farm-level prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis was 38% (95% CI: 28, 48.47%). Uni- and multi-variable associations were tested between each variable. An increased risk of infection in the broiler was associated with the larger farm, with older chickens, and if the chicken farm were sampled in the winter or spring, using coccidiostat in the food was not associated. The peak oocyst score in the litter occurred at >6th week of age. Most farms (97%) had E. acervulina; (41%) had E. maxima and (12%) had E. tenella.     

Effect of animal age,postmortem chilling rate,and aging time on meat quality attributes of water buffalo and humped cattle bulls

The study was aimed to investigate the influence of animal age, post‐slaughter chilling rate, and aging time on meat quality of M. longissimus dorsi (LD) of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and humped cattle (Bos taurus indicus) bulls. After slaughtering, one side of carcasses was subjected to rapid chilling (RC) (0 ± 2°C) and other side was hanged in controlled room temperature (25 ± 2°C) for 3 hr, then allowed to the chiller (0 ± 2°C). The meat quality traits were analyzed at 1, 7, and 14 days of storage. It was noted that rapidly chilled carcasses from the younger animals of both species missed the ideal pH/temperature window, which affects the toughness of the meat. Buffalo meat presented higher shear force, color L* values, and lower b* value as compared to the cattle meat. Moreover, meat shear force values decreased while all color coordinates and cooking loss values increased with lengthening the storage time in both age groups of cattle and buffalo. In conclusion, the tenderness of cattle meat was superior to that of buffalo and RC adversely affect the shear force values of young cattle and both age groups of buffalo bulls.     

PCR‐based identification of cacao black pod causal agents and identification of biological factors possibly contributing to Phytophthora megakarya's field dominance in West Africa

Among the Phytophthora species that cause black pod of cacao, P. megakarya is the most virulent, posing a serious threat to cacao production in Africa. Correct identification of the species causing the black pod and understanding the virulence factors involved are important for developing sustainable disease management strategies. A simple PCR‐based species identification method was developed using the species‐specific sequences in the ITS regions of the rRNA gene. A phylogenetic tree generated for 119 Phytophthora isolates, based on the 60S ribosomal protein L10 gene and rDNA sequence, verified the PCR‐based identification assay and showed high interspecific variation among the species causing black pod. Phytophthora megakarya isolates were uniformly virulent in an assay using susceptible cacao pod husks inoculated with zoospores, while the P. palmivora isolates showed greater divergence in virulence. The virulence of P. megakarya was associated with earlier production of sporangia and an accelerated induction of necrosis. While zoospore germ tubes of both species penetrated pods through stomata, only P. megakarya produced significant numbers of appressoria. A hypersensitive‐like response was observed when attached SCA‐6 pods were inoculated with P. palmivora. SCA‐6 pods became vulnerable to P. palmivora when wounded prior to zoospore inoculation. Phytophthora megakarya was more aggressive than P. palmivora on attached SCA‐6 pods, causing expanding necrotic lesions with or without wounding. Phytophthora megakarya is predominant in the Volta region of Ghana and it remains to be seen whether it can displace P. palmivora from cacao plantations of Ghana as it has in Nigeria and Cameroon.     

Tyrosine Ameliorates Some of the Clinical,Biochemical and Haematological Effects of Acute Stress Associated with Transportation of Desert Sheep

We studied some clinical, biochemical and haematological variables in Desert (Najdi) sheep acutely stressed in the course of individual road transportation, and the influence thereon of pretreatment with tyrosine. Transportation for 30 min resulted in variable but statistically insignificant increases in heart, pulse and respiratory rates. It also caused significant increases in the plasma concentration of cortisol (from 43.5 to 101.7 mmol/L) and glucose (from 3.1 to 4.5 mmol/L), and a decrease in that of magnesium (from 0.85 to 0.72 mmol/L). The endogenous thiocyanate level was unaffected. The transportation stress also decreased the haematocrit (PCV) and the number of lymphocytes, and increased the concentration of haemoglobin. Pretreatment of sheep with tyrosine at a dose of 100 mg/kg by the intravenous route significantly ameliorated the stress-induced clinical, biochemical and haematological changes. The treatment caused no overt adverse effects.     

Detection of Antibodies Against Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus in Sera of Cattle,Camels, Sheep and Goats in Sudan

Detection of antibodies against peste des petits ruminants virus in sera of cattle, camels, sheep and goats in Sudan.     

Zur Sch?dlingsvertilgung einiger Singvogelarten in einem Schwarzkiefern/Eichen-Mischbestand im Beynamer Wald bei Ankara

Analysis of nestling food in four species of Parus and one species of Ficedula using the 'Halsringmethode' showed a high quota of adults and caterpillars of the important forest pests: Tortrix viridana, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, Diprion pini, and Lymantria dispar. These four major pest species amounted in the nestling food of Parus major to 50%, P. coeruleus to 52.6%, P. ater to 40.9%, and Ficedula hypoleuca to 30.2%.     

The fluorescent antibody and indirect fluorescent antibody assays for diagnosing stunting syndrome of turkeys

The fluorescent antibody (FA) assay was developed for detecting the stunting syndrome agent (SSA) from intestinal tissue. Similarly, the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay was developed for detecting serum antibodies to SSA. Convalescent antiserum from turkeys orally immunized with SSA was found to be the primary antibody of choice for the FA assay. Intestinal jejunal samples from poults inoculated 3-4 days postinoculation (DPI) was found to be the best antigen source for the IFA assay. SSA was detected from the intestinal tracts of experimentally inoculated birds at 2 DPI with highest level of reactivity at 3 DPI by the FA assay. After 4 DPI the level of SSA infectivity of the intestines waned to low levels. Serum antibody was detected from experimentally inoculated birds as early as 7 DPI with all birds tested seroconverting by 12 DPI. These assays should prove useful for future studies concerning stunting syndrome.     

Rapid detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peste des Petits Ruminants</Emphasis> (PPR) virus antigen in Sudan by agar gel precipitation (AGPT) and haemagglutination (HA) Tests

AGPT and HA tests were employed for rapid diagnosis of PPRV infection in sheep and goats in Sudan. Forty lymph nodes and spleen samples from suspected cases of PPR in both sheep and goats were examined by AGPT and HA tests for detection of PPRV antigen. Viral antigen was detected from (77.5%) of the samples tested by AGPT and (92.5%) tested by HA test. The results of both tests revealed that HA test was more sensitive than AGPT for detection of PPRV antigen (Kappa statistics 0.4366). Another advantage of the HA test over AGPT was that it can differentiate PPRV from RPV. Thus the HA test represents a quick, easy, simple, cheap and reliable confirmatory test for the diagnosis of PPR and differential diagnosis of PPRV and RPV. The HA test was carried out using chicken, goat and pig RBCs. Chicken RBCs were found to be the most sensitive for detection of PPRV antigen, followed by goat then pig RBCs. The HA time when using chicken RBCs was 20–25 minutes, using goat RBCs was 25–30 minutes and using pig RBCs was 40–45 minutes. The distribution of PPR infection in four different regions of Sudan was investigated.     

Maternal age influence on diapause induction in sexual and asexual Trichogramma brassicae

In this study, the effect of maternal age on prepupae diapause of progeny in sexual (Wolbachia free) and asexual (Wolbachia infected) Trichogramma brassicae was studied at two temperatures. Maternal generation (G₁) of both populations was reared at 10L:14D photoperiod, 14 and 20 °C, separately. Mated females from G₁ were supplied with eggs of Ephestia kuehniella, each 48 h from one day after emergence to death. The tendency to diapause in progeny (G₂) was determined by rearing at 10 °C. According to the results, reproductive modes, maternal temperature and age have significant effect on the mean number of eggs laid by G₁ and the diapause percentage of G₂. Offspring whose maternal generation was reared at 20 °C had higher diapause percentage than those reared at 14 °C. Diapause percentage in sexual population was higher than the asexual, which demonstrates a negative effect of Wolbachia on this process. Wolbachia infection modifies the effect of maternal age on the diapause percentage in the offspring at 20 °C but not at 14 °C. The result can be due to lower Wolbachia density at 14 °C and greater Wolbachia density at 20 °C.