Fractional excretion of electrolytes during pre- and postpartum periods in cows

In this study, fractional excretions (Fe) of sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (PO4) were examined with the aim to demonstrate interactions between fractional excretions of these electrolytes within each period and relate them to electrolyte metabolism in clinically normal cows at different stages of lactation and dry period. The material of this study consisted of 20 clinically healthy Holstein-Friesian cows of the same age and milk yield. Blood and urine samples were collected on 190-200th, 240-250th and 270-280th days of pregnancy and on days 1-7th, 35-45th and 75-85th after calving, altogether 6 times. An increase was observed in FeCa and FeMg during the transition from the lactation to the dry period (p < 0.05), and a decrease in FeCa (p < 0.05), FeMg (p < 0.01) in the 2nd month of the dry period. FePO4 and FeMg, respectively, increased on levels of p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, while FeCa decreased on a level of p < 0.05 after gestation compared to the level before gestation. FeNa and FeK showed a decrease of p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively, between the 1st and 2nd months of the dry period, while after gestation this value showed an increase in FeNa (p < 0.05) and FeK (p < 0.01). FeCl increased significantly (p < 0.05) only from postpartum to the 1st month of lactation. There was a strong positive correlation between FeNa and FeCl in all of the periods. It was concluded that there were significant changes in the Fe of Na, K, Cl, Ca, PO4 and Mg before parturition and during lactation; these changes could have an important role in assessing renal function and electrolyte balance.     

Investigation of haematological and biochemical side effects of tilmicosin in healthy New Zealand rabbits

In this study, the effects of tilmicosin on some haematological and biochemical variables were investigated. Ten male New Zealand rabbits were used as material. The tilmicosin was injected (25 mg/kg body weight, subcutaneously as a single injection), and the rabbits were monitored for 4 days. No negative effects of tilmicosin on haematological and biochemical variables were observed, but it did cause a temporary decrease in red and white blood cell counts.     

Investigation of biochemical and haematological side-effects of enrofloxacin in dogs

In the present study, effects of enrofloxacin on biochemical, haematological and blood gas parameters were investigated. Changes in laboratory parameters were monitored during the treatment period. Enrofloxacin was administered (5 mg/kg intramuscularly, once daily) to 10 healthy dogs for 14 days. Acidosis and temporary increases in aspartate aminotransferase, indirect bilirubin, sodium, partial pressure of CO2 and mean corpuscular volume levels as well as decreased levels of inorganic phosphorus, ionized calcium, potassium, partial pressure of O2 and standard bicarbonate were observed. The results of this study suggest that these observed effects of enrofloxacin on blood gas parameters should be taken into consideration in long-term use of the drug.     

Genetic heterogeneity of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) isolates from Turkey: identification of a new subgroup in BVDV-1

Genetic heterogeneity of Turkish ruminant pestiviruses was investigated by phylogenetic analysis of complete N(pro) encoding nucleotide sequences. A total of 30 virus isolates obtained from 15 provinces around the country between 1997 and 2005 were included in the phylogenetic analysis. Virus isolates mostly originated from cattle with one isolate from sheep. The bovine isolates all belonged to BVDV-1, the sheep isolate to BVDV-2. Fifteen isolates formed a new subgroup within BVDV-1, tentatively named BVDV-1l. The remaining bovine isolates were typed as BVDV-1a (n=4), BVDV-1b (n=4), BVDV-1d (n=3), BVDV-1f (n=2) and BVDV-1h (n=1). The isolates allocated to BVDV-1l originated from various geographical regions in different years. There was no correlation between genetic grouping and locations where isolates were obtained. Viruses originating from one farm in most cases belonged to the same subgroup (n=5). This study indicates that the newly detected subgroup BVDV-1l is predominant and widespread in Turkey. Moreover, an ovine virus isolate was identified as the first member of BVDV-2 reported in Turkey. A serological survey using samples from western Turkey indicated that BVDV-2 is also present in cattle.     

Morphology and quantification of sheep pineal glands at pre‐pubertal,pubertal and post‐pubertal periods

The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ associated with photoperiodic regulation in mammals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pineal gland at the pre‐pubertal, pubertal and post‐pubertal periods by means of morphology and stereology. The study examined at total of 24 ovine pineal glands collected from healthy female Akkaraman breed. Thick sections (40 μm) were cut and treated with synaptophysin. Following each thick section, six consecutive sections at a thickness of 5 μm were cut. Each thin section was stained with one of the following dyes: Crossman’s modified triple dye, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), melatonin marker, periodic acid–Schiff, Von Kossa and AgNOR. The pineal gland volume was measured using Cavalieri’s method. The optical fractionator was used to estimate the total number of pinealocytes. The percentage of parenchyma and connective tissue and degree of vascularization were estimated by the area fraction fractionator method. The pineal gland volumes in the pre‐pubertal, pubertal and post‐pubertal groups were 7.53 ± 1.715 mm³, 11.20 ± 1.336 mm³ and 17.75 ± 1.188 mm³, respectively (p < .5). The number of pinealocytes in the pre‐pubertal, pubertal and post‐pubertal groups was 3,244,000 ± 228,076, 4,438,000 ± 243,610, 7,381,766 ± 406,223, respectively (p < .05). The glands of the post‐pubertal group contained the highest amount of connective tissue (11.49 ± 2.103%; p < .5) and the largest GFAP staining area (p < .05). The melatonin staining density was the highest in the pubertal group. The density of lipofuscin staining was higher in the pubertal and post‐pubertal groups.     

Quality of raisins under different packaging and storage conditions

We determined the effect of different storage systems and packaging on the quality of ‘Sultana Seedless’ raisins. The fruit were packed in plastic boxes and kept under controlled atmosphere (1% O₂ and 3% CO₂) at 0°C and 75–85% RH for 12 months (CA), packed in vacuum bags and kept under normal atmosphere (21% O₂–0.03% CO₂) (NA) and packed in thin plastic bags + carton boxes and kept under ambient condition (semi-refrigeration), at 0°C and 90% ± 5 RH for 12 months (AC). Fruit kept under CA or NA had acceptable fruit quality in terms of general appearance and taste for 10 months, whereas fruit quality was unacceptable at that time under AC. Fruit under NA had less weight loss than fruit under the other conditions. Differences in skin colour were relatively small, apart from the h° values. Concentrations of ochratoxin A were generally higher with AC. External appearance and taste were better with CA and NA. As a result, raisins can be stored for 10 months with good quality in vacuum package in NA (0°C and 90% ± 5 RH) and CA (1% O₂–3% CO₂) at 0°C and 75–85% RH.     

Identification of reference genes for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction based gene expression studies on various Olive (Olea europaea L.) tissues

Reference genes are essential for the normalisation of the expression data of quantitative real-time PCR for the purposes of validation. Although several reference genes have been validated for the olive, comprehensive analyses including an excessive number of candidate reference genes still require study in various olive tissue samples. In this work, a total of 40 candidate reference genes were tested for their stability in 8 different olive tissues (root, apical bud, lateral bud, pedicel, young leaf, mature leaf, fruit mesocarp, and seed) with the utilisation of the most popular software programs including GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔC_t. The analyses of expression stability of candidate reference genes using quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UBC1) as the most stable reference gene for the studied tissues of the olive. The GeNorm software also calculated the optimum reference gene combinations as two which consist of UBC1 and the Clathrin adaptor complex medium subunit (CLATHRIN) genes. This study provides the most stable reference gene combination for normalisation of target genes for quantitative real-time PCR gene expression studies on the olive.     

Physiological Responses of Cherry Rootstocks to Short Term Salinity

The physiological responses of cherry rootstocks were evaluated under moderate salinity in short term. MaxMa 14, CAB-6P and Mazzard rootstocks were treated with 35?mM NaCl solution for 1 month to assess physiological responses. Under NaCl stress, rootstocks’ physiological parameters were compared with their own control, with the greatest alterations in SPAD value, leaf relative water content (LRWC), membrane permeability and stomatal conductivity. SPAD value was reduced by 9.5, 2.17 and 2.27% in saline-treated plants of MaxMa 14, CAB-6P and Mazzard, respectively. MaxMa 14 and CAB-6P exhibited a rapid decrease in stomatal conductivity by 39.90 and 47.60%, respectively compared with their control, while in Mazzard there was a reduction by 5.28% compared with its control. Moreover, LRWC of the plants decreased by 11.24 and 13.75% in salt-treated MaxMa 14 and CAB-6P, respectively. In comparison, a lower reduction of LRWC (6.11%) was observed in NACl-treated Mazzard. As seen in the result of experiment, the inhibitory effects of NaCl were less in Mazzard compared with MaxMa 14 and CAB-6P.     

Polypeptide Alteration During The Cold Stratification In Mazzard Seed

Many seeds of woody plants require low temperature for germination and that’s called seed dormancy has been investigated for relations of proteins by several researchers. We determined polypeptide profiles of cold-stratified Mazzard seeds. Seeds were studied in five different periods: seeds in dormancy (none stratified), 30, 60, 90 and 120 days cold-stratified. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE) of the soluble protein fractions from stratified and none stratified seeds was utilized for determination of changes in polypeptides. SDS-PAGE revealed a decrease in the concentrations of 14 polypeptides and appearance of four low-molecular weight (15.1, 16.3, 17.8 and 19.4?kDa) polypeptides were determined in 90 and 120 day stratified seeds. The study results exhibited the evidences of the involvement of protein changes in response of Mazzard seeds during cold stratification.     

Differences in virulence of genets of Heterobasidion annosum and susceptibility of young plants of different conifer species and origins

Heterobasidion species are the most important pathogens causing root and stem rot on conifers in northern hemisphere forests. The host list of this complex is very wide and includes over 200 species of trees and shrubs. Among the members of this complex, Heterobasidion annosum s. s. has the largest host range. In this study, young plants of Pinus sylvestris, Picea orientalis, Abies nordmanniana, Cedrus libani and Pinus brutia (three different origins) were inoculated on the lower stem with known genets of Heterobasidion annosum s.s. collected from Pinus brutia stands in south-western Türkiye. Infection frequency, assessed as presence of the conidial stage in stem discs following incubation, in the inoculated seedlings was 100%. The Heterobasidion annosum s. s. isolates were re-isolated from all inoculated host species. Control seedlings showed no symptoms of disease. Mortality in inoculated plants was 11.5% of the 735 inoculated plants, which died over an 8-weeks incubation period. The isolates showed greater growth on Cedrus libani, Pinus sylvestris and Picea orientalis seedlings compared to other species tested. On the other hand, it was found that the least affected seedlings were Pinus brutia TB12 and Abies nordmanniana. This study proved that differences occur in aggressiveness of Heterobasidion annosum s. s. to host species. A striking point in the results is that, despite being the host species from which the isolates were obtained, Pinus brutia seedlings showed lower sensitivity to Heterobasidion annosum s. s. than the other conifer species tested. Inoculations of three different Pinus brutia provenances suggested there was no significant difference in mean lesion lengths and fungal growth values in Pinus brutia plants, except in Pinus brutia TB14, which was more susceptible to extension growth of the pathogen.