Evaluation of indirect TaSP enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of tropical theileriosis in cattle (Bos indicus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Egypt

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of Theileria annulata surface protein (TaSP)-ELISA, in comparison with traditional microscopic test, for the diagnosis of T. annulata infection among Egyptian baladi cattle (Bos taurus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Molecular confirmation of infection using T. annulata merozoite surface (Tams-1) target amplification by PCR was used as a gold standard. A total of 76 clinically suspected animals including 64 baladi cattle and 12 water buffaloes were investigated in the current study by the three methods. Based on the PCR-confirmed results, the evaluation study revealed higher sensitivity of TaSP-ELISA (72.9% and 75%) as compared to microscopic examination (58.3% and 50%) among cattle and buffaloes, respectively. On the other hand, the specificity of TaSP-ELISA in diagnosis of T. annulata infection was higher (87.5%) in baladi cattle as compared to water buffaloes (37.5%). In conclusion, TaSP-ELISA was shown to be suitable for the diagnosis of T. annulata infection in cattle under field conditions.     

The Zinc and Copper Content of the Plasma of Sudanese Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

A study was undertaken to investigate the variations in the content of zinc and copper in the plasma of Sudanese camels (Camelus dromedarius). A total of 993 Arabi camels, aged 0.5-8 years, were used to assess the effect of season, age, sex and physiological status on the plasma concentrations of copper and zinc. There was an increase in the concentration of Cu and a decrease in the concentration of Zn in the plasma with age. The concentrations of both Cu and Zn in the plasma were higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. The plasma copper concentrations in pregnant, low-lactating and high-lactating camels were 81.3 +/- 4.7, 59.7 +/- 6.1 and 61.3 +/- 5.5 microg/100 ml, respectively. The corresponding values for zinc were 51.0 +/- 8.9, 53.4 +/- 6.4 and 67.1 +/- 5.5 microg/100 ml, respectively. However, there was no effect of sex on the content of these minerals in the plasma.     

Earthworms can modify effects of hydrochar on growth of Plantago lanceolata and performance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a method to produce carbonized material at relatively low temperatures (180–250 °C) under pressure and aqueous conditions. The product is called hydrochar and can be used as a soil amendment. However, applied in high dosages it may have detrimental effects on plants or soil biota. The potential impact of hydrochar amendment on beneficial soil organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms and their interactions are not well understood. The goal of the present study was to determine effects of hydrochar on plant growth and soil biota and to evaluate interactions of earthworms and hydrochar on plant and AMF performance and to identify underlying mechanisms. In a greenhouse experiment, we investigated the effect of hydrochar at different addition rates (control, 1% and 10%, v/v) with or without the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa on the growth of Plantago lanceolata L. and the performance of its AMF. We observed a positive interaction between earthworms and 10% hydrochar on shoot and root biomass: added as a single treatment hydrochar had a negative effect on plant growth at this dosage, but plant biomass increased significantly when hydrochar was added together with earthworms. Root colonization by AMF increased significantly with increasing concentration of hydrochar, but was not affected by earthworms. Contrastingly, extraradical hyphal length of AMF was reduced by earthworms, but not affected by hydrochar. Thus, hydrochar and earthworms affected the performance of AMF, albeit of different AMF structures and in different directions. Our results indicate that earthworms may play an important role in alleviating the negative impacts of high dosages of hydrochar on plant growth; such interactions should move into focus of future research on potential effects of HTC materials.     

Effect of gamma-irradiated entomopathogenic nematodeSteinernema carpocapsae (Fil.) on the larvae of the potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.)

The effect of gamma irradiation on the pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic nematodeSteinernema carposapsae was studied by infecting the larvae of the potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella. Full grown larvae of the host were gamma-irradiated with different doses ranged from 2.5 to 160 Gray (Gy) and subsequently infected with either unirradiated or irradiated infective juveniles (IJs) ofS. carpocapsae using the same doses. For comparison, two groups of unirradiated and irradiated host larvae were left without nematode infection. Another group of larval host was also infected with nematodes either unexposed or exposed to the previous doses.The results revealed that there was a rapid mortality in the irradiated host infected with either unexposed nematodes or nematodes irradiated with different doses similar to the mortality in the nematode treatment alone. On the other hand, the pathogenicity of the nematodes was affected as a result of gamma irradiation with high doses, i. e. irradiation of nematodes delayed their efficiencyvis à vis the unirradiated host. However, lower doses of gamma irradiation exhibited worthily stimulating effect on the pathogenic nematodes, one week post irradiation, as it reduced by half the period of time required for killing all irradiated host larvae with regard to nematode treatment alone. Furthermore, nematode treatment whether applied alone or combined with gamma irradiation appears very promising as compared with single irradiation treatment of the host.With 3 tables     

Experimental and clinical studies on plasma leptin in obese dogs

Leptin is a protein synthesized and secreted primarily by adipocytes, and the circulating leptin concentration is elevated in obese humans and rodents. Recently, we have established a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for canine leptin. In the present study, plasma leptin concentrations were measured in experimentally developed obese beagles and in clinically obese dogs. When 5 male beagles were given a high-energy diet for 3 months, all of them became obese and the plasma leptin concentration significantly increased from 2.4+/-1.2 to 4.9+/-0.9 ng/ml, positively correlating with body fat content estimated by the deuterium oxide dilution method (r=0.87). The leptin concentrations of plasma samples collected from 59 dogs in veterinary practices were compared with their body condition scores (BCS). The plasma leptin concentrations of obese dogs were 9.7+/-0.7 and 12.3+/-1.5 ng/ml at BCS=4 and BCS=5, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of optimal (BCS=3) dogs (2.7+/-0.3 ng/ml). There was no significant effect of sex and breed. A weak positive correlation (r=0.37) was found between the plasma leptin concentration and age, probably due to the lesser content of visceral fat in puppies younger than 1 year old. These results indicate that plasma leptin is a good index of adiposity in dogs regardless of breed, age and sex, and may be useful for quantitative assessment of obesity in small animal practice.     

Virulence factors and markers in Escherichia coli from calves with bacteremia

Relative pathogenicity of 151 Escherichia coli isolates from 36 calves with bacteremia after necropsy was studied by measurement of the LD50 after mice were inoculated IP with E coli isolates. Study of virulence factors and markers revealed that the pathogenicity of E coli was associated with the production of hydroxamate siderophores and with resistance to serum bactericidal effects. Production of colicins, including colicin V, and of surface antigen 31A was correlated with virulence. The close association between phenotypic expression of virulence factors and markers was consistent with a hypothesis of a localization of genes coding for virulence factors and markers on the same plasmid.     

First report of infectious necrotic hepatitis (black disease) among Nubian goats in Sudan.

In a flock of 425 female and male Nubian goats in the Khartoum Province, an outbreak of a disease causing sudden death of 18 apparently healthy goats occurred (11 females and 7 males, 3-6 years old). Adult Fasciola gigantica were found in the livers of all goats and in seven of them Cysticercus tenuicollis cysts. These organs showed necrotic and severe histopathological changes. Clostridium novyi type B was isolated from necrotic areas of all livers and found to be highly pathogenic and toxigenic to laboratory animals. The disease was diagnosed as infectious necrotic hepatitis (black disease). Faecal examination revealed the presence of F. gigantica eggs. Lymnaea natalensis snails were found to be prevalent in the water canals. As the Khartoum Province is regarded as an endemic area for black disease, routine vaccination is highly recommended for its control in goats and sheep.     

Preliminary results with sex pheromones to trap potato tuber worm moths in Saudi Arabia

Summary A mixture of sex pheromone PTM₁ (trans-4,cis-7-tridecadien-1-ol acetate) and PTM₂ (trans-4,cis-7,cis-10-tridecatrien-1-ol acetate) on rubber cap dispensers was used to attract adult male tuber moths to water pan traps. Correlation analysis of daily catches made over a 61-day period showed that temperature and relative humidity accounted for 20.5% and 1.4% respectively of catch variability. Further studies are needed to reveal any major components of the 78% residual variability.