Anaplasmosis in dogs: the relation of haematological, biochemical and clinical alterations to antibody titre and PCR confirmed infection

Laboratory and clinical parameters of 149 dogs, exposed to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum), and 19 control dogs were evaluated and compared retrospectively. The aim of our study was to determine statistically significant differences of selected parameters between groups of patients, divided according to the immunofluorescence (IFA) titres, in attempt to improve current diagnostic and treatment criteria. Exposure to A. phagocytophilum was confirmed by IFA and infection by PCR. Based on the results, the dogs were divided into 8 groups (6 groups of seropositive dogs according to the antibody titre, 1 group of PCR positive dogs, and a control group). Selected parameters were compared between groups. Thrombocytopenia was confirmed to be the most prominent haematological change in IFA and/or PCR positive dogs. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical and haematological observations between groups of different IFA titre but clear overall differences between each IFA and PCR positive groups compared to the control group. Our results showed the necessity of introducing additional diagnostic procedures in clinical practice, since antibody titre and haematological parameters are not sufficient to confirm the clinical relevance of exposure to A. phagocytophilum in a particular patient.     

Trichinellosis in wolves from Croatia

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Trichinella infection in wolves (Canis lupus) in a 17,468 km² area in Croatia. Muscle samples were collected from 67 wolves between 1996 and 2007 and analyzed by artificial digestion. Muscle larvae were detected in 21 wolves (31%) and genotyped by multiplex PCR. Trichinella britovi was the predominant species confirmed in 90% (19 wolves) while Trichinella spiralis was detected in 9% (2 wolves). The presence of the so called “domestic” Trichinella species was a surprise since, to date, only T. britovi had been reported in wild animals in this region. The larval burdens in infected animals ranged from 0.3 to 45.9 larvae per gram. The prevalence of infected animals varied by geographic region; infected animals were found in the region of Gorski Kotar (20%) which has very similar environment to the region of Lika, where almost all wolves were found infected. Interestingly, this is the first report of infected wolves in Dalmatia.     

The effect of extraction process on polyphenol content, triterpene composition and bioactivity of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) extracts

Crude ethanol extracts from different tissues of Betula alleghaniensis: wood, inner and outer bark, foliage, and twigs were evaluated for their nitric oxide (NO)-radical scavenging activities and inhibitory effects on the production of NO in LPS/INFγ-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. As a renewed interest in plant-derived drugs has led to an increased need for efficient extraction methods, ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) was investigated and compared with conventional maceration. The lower energy consumption by the UAE process compared to maceration determined in our study qualifies also this extraction as an environmentally friendly process. Our results indicate that the foliage extract has the most potent radical scavenging capacity while wood and twigs extracts exert the highest inhibitory effects on the production of NO in LPS/INFγ-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Extracts obtained by UAE present lower cytotoxic activity on RAW cells. Our results also demonstrate that ultrasounds help to selectively extract the bioactive molecules from foliage, twigs and wood, which inhibit the production of NO by macrophages. The highest total phenol content has been determined for the inner bark extracts and the flavonoids are the major phenolics present in foliage extracts. Poor correlations determined between the total phenols and radical scavenging capacity of the extracts indicates to the synergistic or antagonist effects of molecules present, various polyphenols and triterpenes being identified in the extracts studied in this research.     

Phenolic Content and Radical Scavenging Capacity of Berries and Related Jams from Certificated Area in Serbia

Chemical composition and the effects of domestic processing and storage were studied in organically cultivated or wild growing berries, harvested in certificated area in Serbia. The total phenolics content in fresh berries ranged from 380 to 1660 mg GAE/100 g. The phenolic content decreased during the processing to jams, and storage in almost all samples, except in black currant. Among fresh berries, the highest amount of total anthocyanins was found in bilberry (0.61 ± 0.03 %). Processing and storage caused decrease in anthocyanin content. The most ubiquitous anthocyanin aglycone was found to be cyanidin. Ellagic acid was detected in fresh and frozen black raspberries and related jams, and its content increases during thermal processing to jam. Among fresh berries, bilberry showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.82 mg/ml. However, frozen as well as processed berries in our study still showed comparable high values of radical scavenging activity. After 9 months of storage all investigated jams were microbiologicaly correct. Regardless of the losses in the amount of total phenolics, total anthocyanins and radical scavenging activity, frozen berries and related jams are still excellent sources of nutritional substances with antioxidant potential.     

Self-cleaning and handle properties of TiO2-modified textiles

Self-cleaning surfaces based on photocatalysis are an extremely promising nano-technological field of extensive research and development. Recently comprehensive research work has been performed to evaluate the optical, photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of TiO₂ nano-particles and composites thereof. The aim of this study was to obtain self-cleaning properties for regenerate cellulose surfaces by nano-modification, using TiO₂ nano-coating and to define the impact of the modification on fabrics end-use properties. Two different modified fabrics with self-cleaning effect were prepared and analysed, i.e. the modification efficiency was determined. In addition, the influence of fibre modification on several textile properties was determined. However, a soft handle, good appearance and some other surface properties accompanied by appropriate mechanical properties represent the basis for a high quality fabric therefore the influence of the modification procedure on textiles handle was studied.     

Agronomic evaluation of seedlings from crosses between the main Spanish olive cultivar ‘Picual’ and two wild olive trees

Summary

Until recently, olive breeding programmes have been based exclusively on cultivated olive germplasm (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. europaea), in contrast to breeding in other fruit crops where the use of wild relatives has been widely reported. In this study, ten agronomic traits were evaluated in two progenies derived from controlled crosses between the Spanish olive cultivar ‘Picual’ (female) and two wild (O. europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris) genotypes (males). The results of this evaluation were compared with the progenies of crosses between ‘Picual’ (female) and the three cultivars, ‘Sikitita’, ‘Meski’, and ‘Zaity’ (male). The two ‘Picual’ × wild genotype progenies had the highest mean values for vigour traits (i.e., tree height and trunk diameter). Progenies from both ‘Picual’ × wild genotype crossess also showed the highest percentages of trees (53.8% and 37.5%) with a short juvenile period, compared to the progenies from crosses between ‘Picual’ and each of the three cultivars ‘Sikitita’, ‘Meski’, and ‘Zaity’ (0%, 5%, and 3.6%, respectively). Significant differences were also observed between progenies in fruit traits as well as in oil contents and fruit weights. Progenies from both crosses with wild olive showed lower values for the fruit traits evaluated than the cultivated olive progenies. However, significant improvements were achieved compared to fruit traits in the wild parents. The implications of these results for the future use of wild germplasm in olive breeding programmes are discussed.     

Single-atom single-photon quantum interface

A major challenge for a scalable quantum computing architecture is the faithful transfer of information from one node to another. We report on the realization of an atom-photon quantum interface based on an optical cavity, using it to entangle a single atom with a single photon and then to map the quantum state of the atom onto a second single photon. The latter step disentangles the atom from the light and produces an entangled photon pair. Our scheme is intrinsically deterministic and establishes the basic element required to realize a distributed quantum network with individual atoms at rest as quantum memories and single flying photons as quantum messengers.     

Improved Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Potential in Mice Consuming Sour Cherry Juice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus Cerasus</Emphasis> cv. Maraska)

The present investigation tested the in vivo antioxidant efficacy (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase; Gpx), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and anti-inflammatory properties (cyclooxygenase-2; COX-2) of sour cherry juices obtained from an autochthonous cultivar (Prunus cerasus cv. Maraska) that is grown in coastal parts of Croatia. Antioxidant potential was tested in mouse tissue (blood, liver, and brain), LPO (liver, brain) and anti-inflammatory properties in glycogen elicited macrophages. Additionally, the concentration of cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rutinoside, pelargonidin-3-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-rutinoside and total anthocyanins present in Prunus cerasus cv. Maraska cherry juice was determined. Mice were randomly divided into a control group (fed with commercial food pellets) and 2 experimental groups (fed with commercial food pellets with 10% or 50% of cherry juice added). Among the anthocyanins, the cyanidin-3-glucoside was present in the highest concentration. These results show antioxidant action of cherry juice through increased SOD (liver, blood) and Gpx (liver) activity and decreased LPO concentration. The study highlights cherry juice as a potent COX-2 inhibitor and antioxidant in the liver and blood of mice, but not in the brain. Thus, according to our study, Prunus cerasus cv. Maraska cherry juice might potentially be used as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory product with beneficial health-promoting properties.     

Prevalence and genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in dairy and beef cattle in farms around Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in dairy and beef cattle on farms around Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (Canada) was determined by analyzing feces using direct immunofluorescence antibody microscopy. Genotypes were determined by 16S-rRNA sequencing. Fecal samples (n = 892) were collected from adult cattle in dairy tie-stall, dairy free-stall, and beef herds (10 herds each), and from calves (n = 183) from 11 dairy farms. Prevalence rates were 38% and 51% in cows and calves, respectively. Giardia duodenalis was present in all dairy herds, in 9/10 beef herds and in calves from 10/11 herds examined. Prevalence rates were 40% and 41% for cows in tie- and free-stall herds, respectively, and 27% for beef cows. Zoonotic Assemblage A was found in 12.2% of calves concomitantly infected with Assemblage E. All successfully sequenced samples (114/128) from cows corresponded to Assemblage E. Giardia duodenalis is highly prevalent in cattle herds in Prince Edward Island and Assemblage A in calves is a potential public health concern.