Prevalence and molecular characterization of bovine Cryptosporidium in Qazvin province, Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, variability with host age, and the genotypes of species of Cryptosporidium in cattle from 15 dairy farms in Qazvin province, Iran. Fecal samples, collected from 272 cattle during May 2006 to December 2007, were characterized microscopically. Oocysts from 51 positive samples were analyzed using PCR assay of 18S SSU rRNA, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing. We identified 72.6% of the positive samples as Cryptosporidium parvum, 17.7% as Cryptosporidium andersoni, 7.8% as Cryptosporidium bovis and 1.9% as a novel genotype of C. parvum possessing a single mutation on MboII restriction. An infection rate of 19.5% of C. parvum among 174 pre-weaned calves was significantly higher than the 3.1% among 98 post-weaned calves (P < 0.0006). This is the first report of C. bovis and the new subgenotype of C. parvum in Iranian cattle.     

Physiological responses to feed restriction and starvation in juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii (Brandt, 1869): Effects on growth,body composition and blood plasma metabolites

An 8‐week study was applied to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and starvation on growth, proximate composition, haematological and biochemical factors in juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii with an average weight of 54 ± 0.6 g. Fish were randomly divided into nine indoor tanks (1,050 L volume) with 30 fish per tank in a flow‐through system at 18 ± 0.4°C. Three feeding strategies were considered: I) fed at satiation (F), II) restricted feeding at the rate of 1% body weight per day (R) and III) starvation (S) each with 3 replicates. Fish were fed with commercial pellets 4 times daily, but no feed was considered for S group throughout the trial. Basal level at the start, 4 and 8 weeks after initiation of the experiment, blood samples were taken from 5 fish/tank to measure the haematological and biochemical parameters. Moreover, growth performance was recorded every 2‐week interval. At the end of the experiment, the growth parameters and proximate composition were significantly different among the treatments. As expected, the highest weight (164.7 ± 2.1 g) was observed in F group compared to R (101 ± 1.7 g), or S (42.4 ± 0.8 g) groups. The highest (12.07 ± 0.14%) and lowest (5.37 ± 0.42%) fat contents were observed in F and S groups, respectively, while the protein was not affected in R group compared with F group. In addition, most haematological and biochemical indices of Siberian sturgeon were affected by starvation at week 4 and 8, while few changes were observed in restricted feeding. The highest mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, plasma total protein, cholesterol and triglyceride was found in S group, while the lowest value of plasma glucose was observed in this group. It can be concluded that Siberian sturgeon adjusts the physiological condition in short‐term (4 weeks) feed restriction using stored metabolites to have basal metabolism and due to this, a short period of feed restriction strategy recommends to the optimum nutritional management of Siberian sturgeon to cost‐saving during unsuitable conditions.     

Humoral and cellular immune responses against Type I cysteine proteinase of Leishmania infantum are higher in asymptomatic than symptomatic dogs selected from a naturally infected population

Canids are natural reservoirs of Leishmania infantum and have been promoted as experimental hosts to decipher the pathogenesis of human visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In this study, the presence of IgG antibodies as well as the presence of mononuclear leukocytes reactive to different cysteine proteinases (CPs) were examined in 13 L. infantum-infected dogs (six with symptoms, seven asymptomatic). Cysteine proteinases which belong to papain-like enzymes known as clan CA are the most studied CPs of parasite protozoa. These molecules are expressed by the intracellular stages of the parasite and could be immunogenic. We studied Type II CP (CPA) and Type I CP (CPB) with its long C-terminal extension (CTE) which could be highly immunogenic. We showed that the level of antibodies reactive to rCPA is low in both symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. In contrast, when CPB and CTE were used as antigens, the level of total IgG (with IgG2 superior to IgG1) reached higher values in asymptomatic dogs than in dogs with VL. While the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) reactivity was significant when cultured in the presence of freezed/thawed (F/T) lysate, it remained low in presence of CP although always higher for PBMC recovered from asymptomatic dogs. We showed the importance of CPB and CTE in particular as a target of immune response and their potential use for serodiagnosis in asymptomatic dogs.     

Large-scale assessment of agricultural practices affecting Fusarium root rot and common bean yield

The relationships between a number of agronomic practices, Fusarium root rot (FRR) measurements and yield variables were characterized at different growth stages in 122 commercial bean fields in Zanjan, Iran. Mean FRR incidence, severity and index differed among growth stages and years. A lower FRR index at growth stage R9 and higher yields were detected in Red beans compared to Pinto and White beans. FRR severity affected the number of pods and seeds per plant. Despite the lack of an impact of initial drought on FRR and yield factors, FRR levels were higher following frequent irrigations at 2–3 days intervals than at longer intervals at R6-7. The highest FRR index at R6-7 (51.9%) and incidence at R9 (69.1%) were associated with the densest category of plant populations. Yield components differed significantly between the levels of plant density at R9. FRR levels at V3 were lower for June plantings than for May-second-week plantings. Lower FRR ratings and higher yields were detected at a seeding depth of 0–5 cm in comparison to 10–20 cm. At R9, FRR levels on beans following maize were lower than those following barley, bean, tomato or wheat. At V3, FRR severity was greater in fields that received 50–500 kg/ha of urea compared to non-fertilized fields. Greater mean FRR index at R6-7 and lower yield levels were associated with the greatest weed density compared to weed-free fields. This new information benefits the systematic understanding of interactions between bean yield, FRR and various agronomic variables at large-scale.     

Motor disorders and impaired electrical power of pallidal EEG improved by gallic acid in animal model of Parkinson's disease

The aim of this study was evaluation the effect of Gallic acid on movement disorders and pallidal electrical power in animal model of Parkinson's Disease (PD). PD is clinically characterized by development of motor disturbances, such as bradykinesia, resting tremors, rigidity and a later loss ofpostural reflexes. Oxidative stress is a hallmark factor where the oxidation of dopamine generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and an unbalanced production ROS induces neuronal damage, therefor leading the neuronal death. Gallic Acid (GA) and its derivatives are present in the plant kingdom and acts as a potent antioxidant. Wistar male rats divided into seven groups randomly with 8 in each. Animals in all groups except control received 8 microg/2 microL 6-hydroxydopamine dissolved in normal saline contains 0.01% ascorbate or vehicle in right Medial Forbrain Bundle (MFB) and a bipolar wire electrode was implanted in the left globus pallidus nucleus of all animals under stereotaxic surgery. Two weeks later PD was approved by contralateral rotation signs induced by apomorphine and then movements and electrical power of pallidal were evaluated. Motor functions and pallidal electrical power were impaired and GA could improve motor dysfunctions and gamma wave power in parkinsonian rats' significantly with higher dose of GA (200 mg kg(-1)). Present result showed that GA may act as a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger to reverse motor disorders and pallidal gamma wave power after 6-OHDA neurotoxicity in brain.     

Arginine effects on biochemical composition of sperm in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

The present study investigated the effect of arginine on seminal plasma composition in rainbow trout. Male rainbow trout broodstocks (2500 ± 200 g) were fed five practical diets (each consisting of three triplicates) supplemented with Arginine at 0.50%, 1.50% and 2.00%. The control group were fed without arginine. Broodstock feeding lasted for 90 days, and then fish semen was sampled. Results indicated no significant differences in LDH, ALP, Fe²⁺ and phosphorous content among the different treatments. The lowest levels of AST and ALT and the highest levels of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions were observed in the treatment fed with 1.50% arginine, which showed significant differences from other treatments (P < 0.05). Moreover, the amount of Cl^?, Na⁺ and K⁺ ions was significantly increased in the seminal plasma in fish fed diets containing arginine in comparison with the control. As the amount of arginine was increased, the levels of uric acid became significantly greater in contrast to urea and glucose levels. The highest amounts of cholesterol, fructose and total protein were observed in treatments fed on 2.00%, 0.50% and 1.00% arginine, respectively, showing significant differences from other treatments (P < 0.05). The highest pH value was assayed in the 1.50% arginine treatment. Results indicated that arginine had a potential efficacy on semen quality in rainbow trout broodstocks.     

The vibration-rotation emission spectrum of free BeH2

The gaseous BeH2 molecule has been synthesized by means of an electrical discharge inside a high-temperature furnace and identified with infrared emission spectroscopy. The antisymmetric stretching mode nu3 has been detected near 2179 reciprocal centimeters. The BeH2 molecule has a linear, symmetric structure with an r0 BeH bond length of 1.333761(2) angstroms.     

Decolorization of dyes using immobilized laccase enzyme on zinc ferrite nanoparticle from single and binary systems

In this paper, laccase enzyme was immobilized onto zinc ferrite nanoparticle and the characteristics of enzyme immobilized nanoparticle (EIN) were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). Enzymatic decolorization of dyes using EIN from single and binary systems was studied. Direct red 31 (DR31) and Acid blue 92 (AB92) were used as model dyes. The effects of several parameters such as EIN dosage, pH, and dye concentration on decolorization of dyes from single and binary systems were evaluated. The optimized amount of EIN, reaction time, and pH for decolorization of dyes from single and binary systems were 0.2 g (for DR31) and 0.3 g (for AB92), 40 min, and 3 in single systems and 0.2 g (for DR31 and AB92), 40 min, and 3 in binary systems, respectively. Dye decolorization kinetics followed Michaelis-Menten model. The results showed that enzymatic process using EIN was effective method to decolorize dyes from single and binary systems.