Physiological and morphological response of tomato plants to nano-chitosan used against bio-stress induced by root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and Tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV)

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) have been reported to be responsible for large economic losses of agricultural crops due to their wide host range and...     

Effect of starch gelatinisation on nutrient digestibility and plasma metabolites in pigeons

Feed manufacturing exerts physical and chemical changes in ingredients, including the gelatinisation of starch. Studies on the effect of the degree of starch gelatinisation on nutrient digestibility, metabolism and subsequent performance show inconsistent results, and no data are available in pigeons. In a cross‐over trial, fourteen adult pigeons were randomly divided into two groups, in which two extruded pellet diets were tested. Both the diets were similar in ingredient composition and nutrient content, but differed in extrusion conditions, resulting in a different degree of starch gelatinisation: pellets with high gelatinisation degree (HG; 73.6% gelatinisation) and low gelatinisation degree (LG; 53.1% gelatinisation). After a 14‐day adaptation period, all excreta were gathered per bird during a 5‐day collection period. Coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), crude ash (CA) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) as well as apparent nitrogen retention were calculated from proximate analyses of feed and excreta. Further, excreta consistency was subjectively scored. Blood samples were taken at the end of each period and plasma samples were analysed for glucose, fructosamine and triglycerides. Feed intake and body weight changes were recorded weekly. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of DM, OM, CP, EE, CA and NFE were significantly higher in the LG group (p ≤ 0.05). The ADC of crude fibre was numerically higher in the LG group but not significant, and no significant differences were found in starch digestibility. Excreta consistency score tended to be higher in the LG diet group. Neither plasma glucose nor plasma fructosamine values were significantly different between the two test diets. The results of this study show that lower degree of starch gelatinisation in extruded diets can enhance digestibility in pigeons.     

Comparative therapeutic effect of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on pro-inflammatory cytokine production in water buffalo calves (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>) naturally infected with bronchopneumonia: a randomized clinical trial

In the current study, we compared the therapeutic effects of a non-steroidal and a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the blood of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves naturally infected by bronchopneumonia. Twenty-seven buffalo calves (7 ± 2-month-old, 163 ± 12 kg) reared in smallholder farms in El-Dakahlia province in Egypt were identified to have bronchopneumonia and randomly allocated into three equal groups. Ten clinically healthy buffalo calves with negative bronchoalveolar lavage results were served as negative control. Diseased calves were treated with tulathromycin alone, a combination of tulathromycin with dexamethasone (steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) or tulathromycin with flunixin meglumine (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). The results revealed significant elevations (P < 0.05) in the production of selected cytokines in all diseased calves in comparison with healthy animals. Six days post-treatment, a significant inhibition (P < 0.05) in the production of all assessed cytokines was observed in the blood of all treated calves. Interestingly, the serum concentrations of IL-1β and IL-12p40 were returned to the normal levels in pneumonic calves treated with the combination therapy of tulathromycin and flunixin meglumine. A strong significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) was detected between clinical sum scoring and IL-12p40 and TNF-α concentrations. The obtained results indicate the selectively potent anti-inflammatory effect of flunixin meglumine on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in pneumonic buffalo calves and highlight the efficacy of flunixin meglumine in the treatment of bronchopneumonia in buffalo calves when used in combination with tulathromycin.     

Status of autophagy,lysosome activity and apoptosis during corpus luteum regression in cattle

Corpus luteum (CL) regression is required during the estrous cycle. During CL regression, luteal cells stop producing progesterone and are degraded by apoptosis. However, the detailed mechanism of CL regression in cattle has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate autophagy, lysosome activity, and apoptosis during CL regression in cattle. The expression of autophagy-related genes (LC3α, LC3β, Atg3, and Atg7) and the protein LC3-II was significantly higher in the late CL than in the mid CL. In addition, autophagy activity was significantly increased in the late CL. Moreover, gene expression of the autophagy inhibitor mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was significantly lower in the late CL than in the mid CL. Lysosome activation and expression of cathepsin-related genes (CTSB, CTSD, and CTSZ) showed significant increases in the late CL and were associated with an increase in cathepsin B protein. In addition, mRNA expression and activity of caspase 3 (CASP3), an apoptotic enzyme, were significantly higher in the late CL than in the mid CL. These results suggest simultaneous upregulation of autophagy-related factors, lysosomal enzymes and apoptotic mediators, which are involved in regression of the bovine CL.     

The role of forskolin as a lipolytic stimulator during in vitro oocyte maturation and the in vitro embryo production of livestock

Cryopreservation is a modern technique which assists in the preservation of genetic material from oocytes and embryos for a long time. However, elevated vulnerability to cryopreservation due to the large accumulation of intracellular lipids within oocytes or embryos avoids success of this method. These lipids remain the main crucial factor limiting survival rates of oocytes and embryos after thawing. Lipid ingathering in the oocyte cytoplasm augments lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidative stress increases the apoptosis process, declines the viability after thawing, declines cytoskeleton actin filament injuries, lowers the blastocyst rates and reduces cryotolerance in the early stages of embryo development. There have been several attempts to reduce the ingathering of intracellular lipids in oocytes or embryos during the cryopreservation process, in that way enhancing the competence of cryopreserved oocytes or embryos and increasing their viability. One of the most applied agents for chemical delipidation is forskolin. Forskolin exhibited a possible part in improving the oocytes cryopreservation through stimulating cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production. The main purpose of cAMP modulation is to provide energy to sustain the mammalian oocytes´ meiotic arrest. The purpose of the existing article is to assess and offer more evidence concerning the forskolin utilization as a modulator of cAMP during the cryopreservation of oocytes and its influence on meiosis completion and the reorganization of cytoplasm, which are prerequisites for the development of oocytes in addition to the contribution to fertilization and subsequently, the development of embryos.     

Efficacy of an inactivated recombinant vaccine encoding a fimbrial protein of Pasteurella multocida B:2 against hemorrhagic septicemia in goats

This study was carried out to determine the antibody responses and protective capacity of an inactivated recombinant vaccine expressing the fimbrial protein of Pasteurella multocida B:2 following intranasal vaccination against hemorrhagic septicemia in goats. Goats were vaccinated intranasal with 10⁶ CFU/mL of the recombinant vaccine (vaccinated group) and 10⁶ CFU/mL of pET32/LIC vector without fimbrial protein (control group). All three groups were kept separated before all goats in the three groups were challenged with 10⁹ CFU/mL of live pathogenic P. multocida B:2. During the course of study, both serum and lung lavage fluid were collected to evaluate the antibody levels via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was found that goats immunized with the inactivated recombinant vaccine developed a strong and significantly (p < 0.05) higher specific IgA and IgG responses in both serum and lung lavage fluid samples compared to the control and unvaccinated groups. Following intratracheal challenge, the rate of isolation was 17% for the vaccinated group, 67% for the control group and 100% for the unvaccinated group. However, none of the goat from the vaccinated group had P. multocida B:2 in the liver, tonsil and heart. Therefore, the study revealed that an inactivated recombinant vaccine significantly provides significant protection against high dose challenge and enhances the stimulation of the local and systemic immunities.     

An evaluation of the effect of repeated doses of oral activated charcoal on the depletion of enrofloxacin residual levels in chicken breast muscles

The purpose of this study was to determine whether concurrent oral administration of activated charcoal has an affect on the depletion of the residual concentrations of enrofloxacin (ENRO) in chicken breast muscles. Sixty-four broiler chickens were divided into four groups (n = 16 per group), one given a daily oral dose of enrofloxacin with feed at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days (control group) and the others given the same dose of enrofloxacin simultaneously with activated charcoal at a dose rate of 0.5, 1, and 2 % of daily feed for 5 days (treatment groups). At the end of treatment, 2 hens were sacrificed at each of the sampling time points (6,12, 18,48, 72,96,120 and 144 h after completion of dosing), breast muscles were collected and analyzed. Supercritical fluid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography methods were used to determine the enrofloxacin residue levels in chicken breast muscles.The limit of quantification (LOQ) 16.5 microg/kg, was lower than the maximum residue levels (MRL) fixed by the Commission of the European Union. For all the time periods, charcoal treatment did not affect enrofloxacin tissue concentrations except at 12 and 48 h post treatment.To our knowledge, no studies on the depletion of enrofloxacin in the presence and absence of activated charcoal in chicken muscles have been performed. Although our current understanding is incomplete, multiple dose activated charcoals may play a role in the therapy of overdose.To prove this, further investigation is warranted.     

Pharmacokinetics and tissue residue profiles of erythromycin in broiler chickens after different routes of administration

This study investigated the disposition kinetics and plasma availability of erythromycin in broiler chickens after single intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.), subcutaneous (s.c.) and oral administrations (p.o.) of 30 mg kg(-1) b. wt. Tissue residue profiles were also studied after multiple intramuscular, subcutaneous, and oral administration of 30 mg kg(-1) b. wt., twice daily for three consecutive days. Plasma and tissue concentrations of erythromycin were determined using microbiological assay methods with Micrococcus luteus as the test organism. Following intravenous injection, plasma concentration-vs-time curves were best described by a two compartment open model. The decline in plasma drug concentration was bi-exponential with half-lives of (t(1/2alpha)) 0.19 h and (t(1/2beta)) 5.3 h for distribution and elimination phases, respectively. After intramuscular, subcutaneous and oral administration erythromycin at the same dose was detected in plasma at 10 min and reached its minimum level 8 h post-administration. The peak plasma concentration (Cmax) were 5.0, 5.3, and 6.9 microg x ml(-1) and were attained at 1.7, 1.4, and 1.3 h (Tmax), respectively. The elimination half-lives (T(1/2el)) were 3.9, 2.6, and 4.1 h and the mean residence times (MRT) were 3.5, 3.2, and 3.6 h, respectively. The systemic bioavailabilities were 92.5, 68.8, and 109.3%, respectively. In vitro protein binding percent of erythromycin in broiler plasma was ranged from 21 to 31%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for the assay was 0.03 microg x ml(-1) in plasma and tissues. The tissue level concentrations were highest in the liver, and decreased in the following order: plasma > kidney > lung > muscle and heart. No erythromycin residues were detected in tissues and plasma after 24 h except in liver and kidney where it persisted during 48 h following intramuscular and oral administrations.     

Ovarian hormones and antioxidant biomarkers in dromedary camels synchronized with new and re-used controlled intravaginal drug release (CIDR)/GPG (Ovsynch) program during breeding season

This study aimed to investigate the effect of CIDR, re-used wCIDR, and Ovsynch protocols for the synchronization of follicular waves on ovarian hormones, oxidative stress, and antioxidant biomarkers during the breeding season. Dromedary camels (N?=?18) were divided into three equal groups. The first group received CIDR. The second group received previously used wCIDR after thorough cleaning and disinfection. The third group was subjected to GPG protocol. Progesterone (P₄), estradiol (E2) l, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxide product (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione reduced (GSH) were measured. Days during CIDR affected P4 (P?= 0.0001), E2 (P?= 0.047), TAC (P?= 0.01), NO (P?= 0.028), and GSH (P?= 0.005). Days during re-used wCIDR effected P4, TAC, CAT, NO, GSH, and MDA (P?≤ 0.001). Days during GPG effected P4, E2, TAC, GSH (P?= 0.0001), MDA (P?= 0.036), and NO (P?= 0.02). CIDR-treated camels had high P4 (P?= 0.0001), E2 (P?= 0.0001), TAC (P?= 0.012), and NO (P?= 0.0001), with low GSH (P?= 0.001), and MDA (P?= 0.003). Exogenous progesterone improved ovarian hormones and the antioxidant capacity and minimized the oxidative stress than the GPG treatment and is recommended for future reproductive management of camels.