Molecular prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in milk in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Q fever is a major zoonotic disease in the world. The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in animal milk in Iran....     

Influence of Exogenous Glycine Betaine on Gas Exchange and Biomass Production in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Water Limited Conditions

This study investigated whether the exogenous application of glycine betaine (GB) could alleviate the adverse effects of water deficit on sunflower. Two sunflower lines, Gulshan-98 and Suncross, were subjected to water deficit at the vegetative or the reproductive stages of plant growth. Three levels (0, 50 and 100 mmol l⁻¹) of GB were applied as a pre-sowing seed treatment or as a foliar spray at the time of initiation of water deficit at the vegetative or reproductive stages. Foliar application of GB at the time of initiation of water deficit treatments showed a marginal increase in shoot biomass in drought-stressed plants. Exogenously supplied GB as a foliar spray also showed a positive role in reducing the effects of water deficit on net CO₂ assimilation rate, transpiration rate and sub-stomatal CO₂ concentration in both sunflower lines. Pre-sowing seed treatment with GB had no effects on the above-mentioned physiological and growth attributes in both normally irrigated and drought-stressed plants. Taken together, foliar application of GB increased net CO₂ assimilation rate which in turn showed a slight increase in growth of water-stressed plants but this increase was not related to stomatal regulation.     

Salt (NaCl)‐Induced Modulation in some Key Physio‐Biochemical Attributes in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Salt (NaCl)‐induced regulation of some key physio‐biochemical characteristics in two okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) cultivars (Nirali and Posa Sawni) was examined under greenhouse conditions. Plants of both cultivars were subjected for 30 days to sand culture salinized with four salt levels [0 (control), 50, 100 and 150 mm NaCl] in Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Salt stress significantly reduced the shoot and root fresh weights, transpiration rate, chlorophyll b content, net CO₂ assimilation (A), transpiration rate (E), while enhanced leaf and root Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations in both cultivars. In contrast, chlorophyll a content, stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf internal CO₂ (C_i), C_i/C_a ratio, water‐use efficiency (A/E) and fluorescence characteristics such as photochemical quenching (qP), non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ), efficiency of PS‐II (F_v/F_m), proline contents, and leaf and root K⁺, Ca^{2 +} and N contents remained almost unaffected in both lines due to salt stress. The efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), A, chlorophyll b, root fresh weight and root N were higher in relatively salt tolerant cv. Nirali, whereas leaf Na⁺ and root Cl^– were higher in cv. Posa Sawni. The relatively more reduction in growth in the cv. Posa Sawni was found to be associated with higher accumulation of Na⁺ in its leaves and Cl^– in roots.     

B cell receptor signal transduction in the GC is short-circuited by high phosphatase activity

Germinal centers (GCs) generate memory B and plasma cells, which are essential for long-lived humoral immunity. GC B cells with high-affinity B cell receptors (BCRs) are selectively expanded. To enable this selection, BCRs of such cells are thought to signal differently from those with lower affinity. We show that, surprisingly, most proliferating GC B cells did not demonstrate active BCR signaling. Rather, spontaneous and induced signaling was limited by increased phosphatase activity. Accordingly, both SH2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) and SH2 domain-containing inositol 5 phosphatase were hyperphosphorylated in GC cells and remained colocalized with BCRs after ligation. Furthermore, SHP-1 was required for GC maintenance. Intriguingly, GC B cells in the cell-cycle G(2) period regained responsiveness to BCR stimulation. These data have implications for how higher-affinity B cells are selected in the GC.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from imported flamingos in Japan

Imported animals, especially those from developing countries, may constitute a potential hazard to native animals and to public health. In this study, a new flock of lesser flamingos imported from Tanzania to Hiroshima Zoological Park were screened for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, integrons and antimicrobial resistance genes. Thirty-seven Gram-negative bacterial isolates were obtained from the flamingos. Seven isolates (18.9%) showed multidrug resistance phenotypes, the most common being against: ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and nalidixic acid. Molecular analyses identified class 1 and class 2 integrons, β-lactamase-encoding genes, bla_TEM-1 and bla_CTX-M-2 and the plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes, qnrS and qnrB. This study highlights the role of animal importation in the dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria, integrons and antimicrobial resistance genes from one country to another.     

Performance assessment of irrigation water management in old lands of the Nile delta of Egypt

This paper provides the methodology and results of a cross-scale diagnostic performance assessment program of the irrigation water management in the old lands of the Nile Delta of Egypt. The analysis was done at three levels; main canal level, branch canals level and on-farm level of the Meet Yazid command (82,740 ha) for the year 2008?C2009 to highlight areas for improvement. At the main canal level the annual average percentage of irrigation water returning to drains and groundwater was 53% of the total water supplied. Since Meet Yazid lies at tail end of the delta, and there is groundwater salinity, opportunities for reuse are increasingly limited moving north to Lake Burullus. This would indicate opportunities for real water savings. The results of monthly relative water supply of the main canal indicated mismatch between demand and supply especially during the winter months, and when supply is low farmers do reuse drainage or groundwater. Also, the assessment of the three branch canals showed non-uniformity of water distribution and mismatch between demand and supply even when comparing improved and non-improved canals. At the on-farm level in paddy fields, the amount of irrigation flows to drains and saline sinks varied from 0.46 to 0.71 of inflow. In spite of these values of non-uniformity and low depleted fraction, the relative evapotranspiration (ratio of actual to potential) evaporation was uniformly high, indicating most crops of most farmers were not water stressed, which is also confirmed by the high yield values. The average values of productivity per unit water depleted by ET_act were 1.04 and 1.05 kg/m³ for rice and wheat fields, respectively, with yields of rice and wheat at 8 and 6 t per ha respectively. On farm and tertiary improvements alone will not yield real water savings, as excess water in the main canal and drains will continue to flow out of the system. Rather the focus should first be on supplies to the main canal, accompanied by more precise on farm and water delivery practices at branch and tertiary levels, and ensuring that environmental flows are met. There is an added advantage of focusing on this tail end region of Egypt that this response would lessen vulnerability to reuse of polluted and saline water.     

Detection of Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, in oviducts and uterine flushing media and in genital tract tissues of the non pregnant goat

The aim of the present study was the detection and quantification of Coxiella burnetii DNA in the flushing media (oviducts and uterine horns) and genital tract tissues of non pregnant goats from 20 goats chosen at random from 86 goats originating from 56 different breeding herds in south-west France. The serological prevalence rate of C. burnetii in the study population was 70.3%.The DNA of C. burnetii was identified using conventional PCR in the flushing media from the oviducts and uterus in 8/20 goats (40%) and in genital tract tissues (oviduct, uterus and ovary) in 5/20 goats (25%). This study clearly shows for the first time that the media used to flush the oviducts or uterine horns, collected using the standard embryo harvesting technique in goats, are susceptible to infection with C. burnetii. The 16 conventional PCR-positive samples were also analyzed using real-time PCR. The bacterial load of the oviduct and uterine flushing media varied from 2.9 × 10⁴ to 7.5 × 10⁶ bacteria per flushing medium, while the bacterial load of the tissue samples varied from 1.0 × 10² to 1.5 × 10⁵ bacteria per mg of tissue. The infection of genital tract flushing media and tissues is a risk factor for the transmission of C. burnetii from donor to recipient during embryo transfer or to the embryo and fetus when gestation is pursued to term.     

Pyrethroid resistance and esterase activity in three strains of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

Microplate assay technique for estimation of esterase activity in a single insect was used in combination with dose mortality bioassays to detect pyrethroid resistance in three strains of Helicoverpa armigera and to study the frequency of pyrethroid resistant individuals within the population of the same strain at two larval stages, third and fifth instar. The third and fifth instar larvae of the field strains i.e., Nagpur strain and Delhi strain that displayed high degree of resistance towards deltamethrin, had higher esterase activity compared to a susceptible laboratory strain. The frequency distribution of individuals with elevated esterase activity above 1.00 absorbance unit was correlated with the resistance level of the strains. The frequency of resistant individuals in the third instar larvae of Nagpur strain and Delhi strain were 29% and 23%, respectively compared to 4% in the susceptible strain. The resistant individuals in the resistant strains have markedly increased in the fifth instar larvae with a frequency distribution of 63% and 90% in Delhi strain and Nagpur strain, respectively, while only 14% of individuals was found to have elevated esterase activity in the susceptible strain. The results demonstrated the role of esterase in pyrethroid resistance in H. armigera. Microplate assay proved to be a rapid and reliable biochemical technique for monitoring of pyrethroid resistance in H. armigera.     

Morphology,ultrasonographic and computed tomography configuration of the dog pelvis and perineum

The current study used topographic anatomy, distribution of arteries and nerves, sectional anatomy of the pelvis, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography examination to describe the canine pelvis and its organs. This study was conducted on twenty male and female baladi dogs, weighing 30–35 kg and aged between 1.5 and 2 years. The pelvis dorsal boundary appeared long and reached to the level of the third caudal vertebra. The vesicogenital pouch in the female extended further caudally than the rectogenital pouch while in the male the two pouches were at the same level and extended to the level of the first sacral vertebra. The plexus lumbosacralis formed from the ventral branches of the last three lumbar nerves and the first three sacral nerves. The obturator nerve arose from the ventral branches of the fifth and sixth lumbar nerves. We developed an anatomical atlas of the pelvis of both sexes of the dog using CT scans compared to anatomical sections. Our study is the first research on the pelvis in both sexes of the dog to compare sagittal CT scan data to sagittal anatomical sections. In the CT slices, the prostate appeared homogenous, relatively hypodense presenting with a soft tissue density. It appeared oval in the longitudinal sections and elliptical to round at the cross sections. It was situated on the floor of the pelvic cavity or the pelvic brim depending on its size. The present study is also the first to describe the fascia diaphragmatic pelvis.     

Field determination of soil hydraulic properties for simulation of the optimum watertable regime

A field experiment to evaluate accurate cost and time efficient methodologies for determining soil hydraulic properties was done at the NIAB Research Station at Faisalabad, Pakistan. The experiment was performed on a freely draining loamy soil. This soil type is representative of 75% of the topsoil in a tile drainage area known as the Fourth Drainage Project. Redistribution of water was monitored at five locations, for seven depths, following a steady state infiltration for prolonged time. The data were analyzed with Darcian flow analysis, three simplified methods, and two parameter optimization programs to calculate unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. The Darcian flow analysis was used as a reference against which the simplified methods were compared. Two simplified methods produced satisfactory results with less effort. The drawback is that the simplified methods alone do not provide enough information for use in simulation models. The advantage of the two optimization programs — SFIT and RETC — is that they are based on a continuous function which describes complete h() and K() curves. This is a requirement for computer simulation of salt and water movement in the unsaturated soil. The results of the optimizations were evaluated by their correspondence to field measurements and to laboratory measurements and by their ability to simulate soil water flow. Both programs fit the observed field data well, but only the SFIT optimized parameters were suitable for soil water flow simulations.Abbreviations IWASRI International Waterlogging and Salinity Research Institute - NRAP Netherlands Research Assistance Project - NIAB Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology - SSP Soil Survey of Pakistan Revised paper from Field determination of soil hydraulic properties presented in ICID, CIID IDW5, Lahore, Pakistan (1–55 — 1–64).