Rapid detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peste des Petits Ruminants</Emphasis> (PPR) virus antigen in Sudan by agar gel precipitation (AGPT) and haemagglutination (HA) Tests

AGPT and HA tests were employed for rapid diagnosis of PPRV infection in sheep and goats in Sudan. Forty lymph nodes and spleen samples from suspected cases of PPR in both sheep and goats were examined by AGPT and HA tests for detection of PPRV antigen. Viral antigen was detected from (77.5%) of the samples tested by AGPT and (92.5%) tested by HA test. The results of both tests revealed that HA test was more sensitive than AGPT for detection of PPRV antigen (Kappa statistics 0.4366). Another advantage of the HA test over AGPT was that it can differentiate PPRV from RPV. Thus the HA test represents a quick, easy, simple, cheap and reliable confirmatory test for the diagnosis of PPR and differential diagnosis of PPRV and RPV. The HA test was carried out using chicken, goat and pig RBCs. Chicken RBCs were found to be the most sensitive for detection of PPRV antigen, followed by goat then pig RBCs. The HA time when using chicken RBCs was 20–25 minutes, using goat RBCs was 25–30 minutes and using pig RBCs was 40–45 minutes. The distribution of PPR infection in four different regions of Sudan was investigated.     

New technique of sex preselection for increasing female ratio in boar sperm model

In this study, we tried to optimize the porcine semen extender conditions to maximize the differences between live X chromosome-bearing (X) spermatozoa and to Y chromosome-bearing (Y) spermatozoa without a decline in the fertility rate at different pH conditions during storage. We observed the viability of X and Y boar spermatozoa in acidic (pH 6.2), original (pH 7.2), and alkaline condition (pH 8.2) for 5 days to investigate the effect of storage conditions on the X to Y spermatozoa ratio. The functional parameters of spermatozoa were also examined to evaluate sperm quality. Sperm motility was preserved at pH 7.2 and pH 6.2 for 3 days, while sperm motility at pH 8.2 decreased significantly after 2 days. Non-capacitated spermatozoa increased while capacitated spermatozoa decreased during storage. Sperm viability decreased significantly duration-dependent under all pH conditions, but there was no significant difference during storage at pH 6.2 and 7.2. The X: Y ratio of live spermatozoa in acidic condition was maximized (1.2:1) without affecting the sperm function and fertility-related protein expression after 2 days compared to original conditions. Moreover, insemination of sows using acidic extender increased the number of female pups on days 1 and 2 of preservation. These results indicate that the production of female offspring may increase when acidic BTS is used for 2 days without affecting the success rate of AI. Above all, this method is simple and economical compared to other methods.     

Broadening the genetic base of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> canola by interspecific crosses with different variants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. oleracea</Emphasis>

Broadening the genetic base of the C genome of Brassica napus canola by use of B. oleracea is important. In this study, the prospect of developing B. napus canola lines from B. napus?×?B. oleracea var. alboglabra, botrytis, italica and capitata crosses and the effect of backcrossing the F₁’s to B. napus were investigated. The efficiency of the production of the F₁’s varied depending on the B. oleracea variant used in the cross. Fertility of the F₁ plants was low—produced, on average, about 0.7 F₂ seeds per self-pollination and similar number of BC₁ seeds on backcrossing to B. napus. The F₃ population showed greater fertility than the BC₁F₂; however, this difference diminished with the advancement of generation. The advanced generation populations, whether derived from F₂ or BC₁, showed similar fertility and produced similar size silique with similar number of seeds per silique. Progeny of all F₁’s and BC₁’s stabilized into B. napus, although B. oleracea plant was expected, especially in the progeny of F₁ (ACC) owing to elimination of the A chromosomes during meiosis. Segregation distortion for erucic acid alleles occurred in both F₂ and BC₁ resulting significantly fewer zero-erucic plants than expected; however, plants with?≤?15% erucic acid frequently yielded zero-erucic progeny. No consistent correlation between parent and progeny generation was found for seed glucosinolate content; however, selection for this trait was effective and B. napus canola lines were obtained from all crosses. Silique length showed positive correlation with seed set; the advanced generation populations, whether derived from F₂ or BC₁, were similar for these traits. SSR marker analysis showed that genetically diverse canola lines can be developed by using different variants of B. oleracea in B. napus?×?B. oleracea interspecific crosses.     

The establishment and development of Haemonchus contortus in goats

Twelve goats were inoculated with 40,000 third-stage Haemonchus contortus larvae and two were killed on each of Days 4, 7, 11, 14, 18 and 21 after inoculation (DAI). The number of worms that established, and the site of development were recorded. More worms established in the fundic, than in the middle or pyloric thirds of the abomasum. Early development occurred within the mucosa; emergence into the lumen started between 7 and 11 days after infection. By 4 DAI, all worms had completed the third moult to the L4 stage. At 11 DAI the majority of the worms were adults. A mean of 13.2% of the female worms had eggs in their uteri at 18 DAI; by 21 DAI more than half of the female worms had eggs in their uteri. The development of H. contortus was essentially similar to that described in sheep.     

孟加拉涝原地区村林居住的宗教社团偏爱的乔木和灌木树种及使用的造林材料研究

2002年1月至6月对孟加拉涝原地区两个不同的宗教部落(印度教和穆斯林教)的传统家园森林进行了探索性研究，包括印度教和穆斯林教社团对树种(乔木和灌木)的偏爱度、类似性、造林材料及来源、植树地点和间距。研究发现Mangifera indica作为乔木树种，Ocimum sanctum作为灌木树种为印度教社团最喜爱的树种；Artocarpus heterophyllus和Lawsonia inermis分别为穆斯林社团最喜爱乔木树种和灌木树种。两中不同宗教社团选择乔木数种的相同性为86．57％，灌木树种为78．48％。两个宗教部落使用种子和苗木作为造林材料最多。乔木树种的造林材料主要来自家园(39％)灌木树种主要来自自然界(40％)。表3参27。