Distribution of organic matter and adenosine triphosphate after fractionation of soils by physical procedures

A mildly leached soil and a calcareous clay soil were dispersed using ultrasound. In the mildly leached soil, organic carbon, nitrogen and ATP (which was used as a guide of the soil microbial biomass) were concentrated in the finer fractions. In the calcareous clay, organic carbon and nitrogen were concentrated in the silt fraction.When slurries of the same soils were shaken vigourously in a wrist action shaker the soils were more completely dispersed but the recovery of ATP was only 30% compared with 90% after ultrasonic dispersion. It is concluded that the vigorous shaking of a soil slurry is destructive with respect to the biomass and smears cell contents, including ATP, across the colloidal fractions.The use of ¹⁴C showed that organisms, and metabolic products after incubation of [¹⁴C]glucose, existed mainly in larger aggregates (> 250 μm dia), silt and clay sized materials. Following physical dispersion the ¹⁴C shifted to silt and clay fractions.It is concluded that while fine clay may be a source of the metabolic products of organisms, the silt fraction a source of cells, and macroorganic matter contains most of the plant debris, the association of microorganisms with inorganic colloids is such that “clean” fractionations of biological components in soils cannot be realized.     

Enantioselective determination of chiral toxaphene congeners in laying hens and eggs using multidimensional high-resolution gas chromatography

A total of 22 chiral toxaphene congeners were analyzed in organ tissues and eggs of laying hens after they had been fed with food spiked with technical toxaphene. For the analysis, multidimensional high-resolution gas chromatography using a chiral column coated with randomly silylated heptakis(O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-cyclodextrin, electron capture detection, and valveless "live column switching" technique was applied. The analytical results were additionally confirmed with mass spectral data, recorded in electron-capture negative ionization mode with selected-ion monitoring mass spectrometry. During both the feeding period of the laying hens with toxaphene-contaminated food (38 weeks, accumulation phase) and the following subsiding period without toxaphenes (another 14 weeks, decontamination phase), organs (liver, kidney, skin/fat), blood, meat, and eggs of the hens served as model matrices for toxaphene uptake. The enantiomeric ratios (ERs) of congeners 26, 31, 32, 40, 41, 42(a+b), 44, 50, and 62--known as the most important components of technical toxaphene occurring in the environment--could be analytically determined. Significant differences were observed with respect to their initial racemic ratios. On the basis of their chemical structures, the metabolic pathways of some congeners could be explained. Astonishingly, some of the toxaphenes applied as racemates could merely be found as single enantiomers at the end of the feeding program, for example, congener 32 in blood and meat samples or congener 44, especially in organ tissues, which showed ERs of zero or infinity. The findings of this study impressively emphasize that it is essential to isolate and analyze individual toxaphene enantiomers in food and biota tissues to be capable of evaluating their toxicity and metabolization more specifically.     

Possible effect of lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum) extracts encapsulated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles on the immune status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus n)

Using plant extracts as immunostimulants in aquaculture has prove effectiv in resisting infectious disease, in addition to being safe and inexpensive. The present study is concerned about the prospective mode of action of using lesser galangal extract (Alpinia officinarum) encapsulated into amine surface functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) in order to elevate the immune status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish were randomly divided into 6 groups and fed for 4 weeks with commercial diets supplemented with 0% (control), 0.5% and 1.5% of lesser galangal extract, and with previous concentrations encapsulated with MSN (0.5% + MSN, 1.5% + MSN) and MSN (without extract). The effects of the feeding trial on the innate humoural immune parameters (total protein, myeloperoxidase content, lysozyme antiproteases and bactericidal activities) in rainbow trout were examined. Also, the influence of dietary supplement on some immune‐related genes in rainbow trout head kidney (TNF, IL‐8, IL‐1b, LYZ2 and CD4) after challenge with Yersinia ruckeri was examined. The results revealed enhancement in immune parameters in all treatment groups compared to the control, especially in the fish group fed with 1.5% + MSN which showed the highest significant difference (p < .05) in total protein, lysozyme and antiproteases activities. Also, feeding lesser galangal extract encapsulated into MSN led to an increase in myeloperoxidase content and bactericidal activity. An improvement in the expression of immune‐related genes has been recorded in fish groups fed doses of lesser galangal extract and lesser galangal extract encapsulated into MSN compared to the control or to the group fed with MSN only. Particularly, the group fed with 0.5% + MSN showed a significant up‐regulation in most of the immune‐related genes. The current investigation supports using lesser galangal extract encapsulated into MSN in fish diets as a supplement to enhance the immune response of rainbow trout and elevate its resistance to infectious diseases.     

Comparative effectiveness of Sumaq and Neem extract cream,Eniloconazole and glycerine iodine on dermatophytosis in Arabian horses: a randomized clinical trial

Dermatophytosis is a contagious fungal disease among animal communities. The major concerns of dermatophytosis are cost of treatment, difficulty of control, and the public health consequences. The objective of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of Sumaq and Neem extract cream with that of traditional treatments, eniloconazole and glycerine iodine, on dermatophytosis in Arabian horses. For this purpose, 37 Arabian horses with dermatophytosis had been used. Fungal isolation and identification for each horse were carried out by standard microbiological procedures. Sumaq (Rhus coriaria Linn.) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed extracts were selected based on in vitro effectiveness. Horses were randomly allocated into four groups. The first group (n?=?8) was treated with glycerine iodine 10% daily for 7 days. The second group (n?=?10) was treated using eniloconazole 10% emulsified concentrate four times with 2 days interval. The third group (n?=?11) was treated with Neem seeds extract (20% cream) daily for 10 days, and the fourth group (n?=?8) was treated with Sumaq extract (5% cream) daily for 10 days. Clinical and mycological evaluations were assessed at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-treatment. The Sumaq and eniloconazole were more effective on clinical index score after 7 days of treatment followed by Neem seed 20% cream. At 28 days post-treatment, a complete healing was obtained by Sumaq 5% cream and eniloconazole (median clinical sum score?=?zero) followed by Neem (median clinical sum score?=?1.5). Moreover, Dermatophytes spp. was isolated only from two horses, one from Neem group and the other from glycerin iodine group. The present results indicate that Sumaq 5% and Neem seed extract are effective alternative treatment for dermatophytosis in Arabian horses.

     

Administration of ginger and/or thyme has ameliorative effects on liver and kidney functions of V‐line rabbits: Histological and biochemical studies

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zingiber officinale and Thymus vulgaris aqueous extracts as a natural antioxidant on liver and kidney functions and antioxidant status of growing rabbits. A total of 24 V‐line male rabbits, 3 months old, 1.465 ± 0.12 kg average body weight (BW) were used in a complete randomized design. The rabbits were weighed individually and assigned randomly to four groups (6 animals/each). The first group (G1) was taken fresh water and served as control, rabbits of the second group (G2) were taken 100 mg/kg BW in drinking water of the Z. officinale aqueous extract daily. The third group (G3) was taken 50 mg/kg BW in drinking water of the T. vulgaris aqueous extract daily and the fourth group (G4) was taken 100 mg/kg BW of the Z. officinale aqueous extract plus 50 mg/kg BW of the T. vulgaris aqueous extract in drinking water daily. The oral administration of ginger and/or thyme aqueous extracts increased (p < .001) serum protein profile compared with control group. Moreover, results of group 2 showed significant (p < .001) decrease in cholesterol, triglyceride and very low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with group 3 and 4. Serum urea, uric acid and creatinine levels were significantly (p < .001) decreased in treated groups compared with control group. Oral administration of ginger and/or thyme aqueous extracts to growing rabbits increased (p < .001) total antioxidant capacity and glutathione content and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione‐S‐transferase compared with the control group. In conclusion, the current study showed that oral administration of ginger and thyme aqueous extracts to growing rabbits showed no adverse effects on liver and kidney function parameters, histological structures and improved antioxidant status.     

Effect of in ovo glyphosate injection on embryonic development,serum biochemistry,antioxidant status and histopathological changes in newly hatched chicks

This study aimed to investigate the potential toxic effects of pure glyphosate or Roundup^® on hatchability, serum biochemistry and histopathological observation of the liver and kidney of newly hatched chicks. On day six, a total of 225 fertile eggs were obtained from Huafeng breeder hens. The eggs were randomly divided into three treatments: (a) the control group injected with deionized water, (b) the glyphosate group injected 10 mg pure glyphosate/Kg egg mass and (c) the Roundup group injected 10 mg the active ingredient glyphosate in Roundup^®/Kg egg. The results showed a decrease of hatchability rate in chicks treated with Roundup^® (66%). In addition, no significant change was observed in body weights, yolk sac weight and relative weight organs except the liver and kidney were significantly increased with groups treated with glyphosate and Roundup^® compared to the control group. The results showed that serum protein profiles were linearly significantly increased of serum phosphor, uric acid, aspirate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in groups treated with Roundup^®, as well as the serum concentrations of triglyceride altered after treatment with glyphosate. Furthermore, oxidative stress was observed in the treated chicks, the glyphosate and Roundup^® induced changes of the content of malondialdehyde in both the liver and kidney, moreover decrease of glutathione peroxidase, total superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in the kidney tissue and serum. Additionally, changes also happened in the histomorphology of the liver and kidney tissue of the treated chicks. It can be concluded that Roundup^® as a probable decrease of hatchability. Exposure to glyphosate alone or Roundup^® caused liver and kidney histopathological alterations, serum parameters imbalances and oxidative stress, also induced a variety of liver and kidney biochemical alterations that might impair normal organ functioning in newly hatched chicks.     

Leptin inhibits mitogen-induced proliferation of peripheral T lymphocytes from Holstein cows

This study examined the mitogenic response of bovine peripheral T lymphocytes to leptin, a pleiotropic hormone regulating food intake and energy expenditure. Leptin alone slightly suppressed proliferation of T lymphocytes in the presence of concanavalin A (ConA). Leptin also inhibited proliferation of T lymphocytes induced by anti-CD3 antibody. ConA treatment activated some protein kinases, including p44/p42(MAPK) and Akt/PKB, while anti-CD3 antibody treatment increased mRNA expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) 3, interferon (IFN)gamma, interleukin (IL) 2 and IL4 in T lymphocytes. Leptin alone increased only SOCS3 mRNA expression. Simultaneous treatment with mitogens and leptin enhanced IFNgamma mRNA expression but decreased IL2 mRNA expression, without any synergistic effect on phosphorylation of protein kinases or mRNA expression of SOCS3 and IL4. These results suggest that leptin modulates bovine T lymphocyte functions.     

Performance of New Zealand White and Californian male weaned rabbits in the subtropical environment of Egypt

The New Zealand White (NZW) was superior significantly ( P  < 0.05) to the Californian (Cal) breed in final body weight, final total body solids and preslaughter weight. In contrast, Cal showed greater plasma creatinine ( P  < 0.001) than the NZW. The differences in the other traits were not significant. NZW also showed higher dressing percentage and Cal showed higher mortality percentage. The Temperature-humidity Index (THI) values indicated absence of heat stress in the first period (mild period) and exposure to moderate (very close to severe) heat stress in the second one (hot period). The heat stress conditions caused significant ( P  < 0.001, 0.01 or 0.05) decreases in each of final body weight, daily body gain, daily feed intake, final total body solids, solids daily gain, plasma total protein, albumin, globulin, total lipids, glucose, thyroid hormone T3, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and preslaughter weight. At the same time, significant ( P  < 0.001 or 0.01) increases occurred in each of water intake, water/feed ratio, total body water (mL/100 g body solids), blood urea-N, creatinine, respiration rate and rectal, skin and ear temperatures. The interaction of breed x period effects was significant ( P  < 0.01 or 0.05) on plasma creatinine and hind-limb cut. Estimations of 'adaptability' to the subtropical environment of Egypt were found to be 83.1% for NZW and 82.6% for Cal breeds.