Prevalence and genetic diversity of Babesia and Anaplasma species in cattle in Sudan

Disease prevalence studies are one of the most valuable tools to demonstrate the risk or impact of certain infections in local and global economies. The data obtained in these studies contribute to develop strategies for disease control. The present study aims to provide information about the prevalence of babesiosis and anaplasmosis in the northern regions of Sudan. Blood samples from four different states of Sudan were collected from apparently healthy cattle (n=692), DNA was extracted and the prevalence of Babesia and Anaplasma species was analyzed by PCR. The results confirmed the presence of Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis and Anaplasma marginale in cattle in northern Sudan with overall prevalence rates of 4.0%, 1.9% and 6.1%, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that the prevalence of B. bigemina, B. bovis and A. marginale varies significantly between Sudanese states as well as in different age groups, while gender seems not to have a significant effect on the prevalence of these pathogens among Sudanese cattle. The highest prevalence for B. bigemina was found in the Aljazirah State while the highest number of A. marginale positive samples was reported in River Nile.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of Astragalus membranaceus,Codonopsis pilosula,and Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract mixture on growth performance,haematological parameters and hepatopancreatic performance in juvenile Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

Pacific white shrimp is the major farmed shrimp species in the world. It is known to be very sensitive to the environmental and management changes such as intensification, which is one of the primary necessities to increase shrimp production, but represents a stressful condition, and needs to be managed properly to diminish its negative effects in aquaculture. In this study, juvenile Pacific white shrimp were fed diets supplementing with equal quantities of Astragalus membranaceus, Codonopsis pilosula and Glycyrrhiza uralensis extracts in different concentrations (0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg) for 8 weeks. We subsequently estimated the effects of supplemented diets on growth performance, haematological parameters, and histological changes of hepatopancreas. Results revealed that the supplemented mixture had no benefits on growth and survival rate, but had favourable effects on haemocyte count, number of granulocytes, and hemocyanin concentration in the haemolymph (p > 0.05). We observed that R cells and B cells were increased in hepatopancreatic tubules of shrimps fed on supplemented diets. Besides, a diet containing 2.0 g/kg of extract mixture maintained the decreased levels of alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.05) and aspartate aminotransferase (p > 0.05). Among the used concentrations, 2.0 g/kg seemed to be the most suitable concentration.     

Enhancing the growth of Nile tilapia larvae/juveniles by replacing plant (gluten) protein with algae protein

Diets incorporating different levels of corn gluten meal replacement using biofuel algae or Spirulina protein at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% were evaluated for larval/juvenile stage of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fish averaging 0.02 g were divided into groups of 50. There were three replicates per every dietary treatment that were fed one of six diets for 11 weeks. Corn gluten protein was replaced with algae on the protein basis. All diets were supplemented with 1.5% lysine and 0.5% methionine. The experimental diets were formulated to contain 37 ± 2.8% protein and 14 ± 4.3% lipid in the form of fish oil and soybean lecithin (phospholipids source). The results indicated that algae positively affected feed consumption and fish growth up to the 50% replacement and then performance was depressed. Significant differences in concentration of individual minerals (Al, Fe, Zn and Cu) in the whole fish body were found. Mineral composition of algae might have affected growth when diets which contained more than 75% of plant protein were replaced with microalgae. These findings suggest that up to 50% of dietary corn gluten meal protein can be replaced with microalgae which significantly enhance fish growth.     

Chemical composition variations of tissues and processing characteristics in ten potato cultivars grown in Jordan

Ten certified potato cultivears (Ajax, Crystal, Kennebec, Labelle, Liseta, Mondial, Norchip, Signa Gold, Spunta and Vital) were grown at Jordan University Experimental Station in 1993. At harvest, tuber subsamples of each plot were analyzed for physical properties and chemical composition. Processed chips and fries were evaluated for appearance, color, aroma, texture, taste and overall acceptability. There was significant variation in tuber weight which ranged from 108.8 (Kennebec) to 148.7 g (Labelle), specific gravity which varied from 1.022 (Mondial) to 1.191 g/ml (Spunta), total solids which ranged from 18.9 (Ajax) to 23.9% (Vial), and chemical composition. Cultivars Liseta, Signa Gold, Mondial, Kennebec and Crystal produced highly acceptable chips and fries, while Ajax, Kennebec, Norchip and Spunta produced excellent fries only. All other cultivars produced less acceptable chips and fries.     

Constituents of plants growing in Qatar III — Nutritive constituents of Garawah (Glossonema edule)

Both the pericarp and the unripe seeds of the unripe fruits ofGlossonema edule were separately analysed. The crude protein content of the unripe seeds is double that of the pericarp. Investigation of the amino acids of both parts revealed slight quantitative differences with chemical scores of 40, 40 for each of methionine and tryptophan and 65 for lysine. The ratio of essential total: amino acid averages 34.5, compared to a corresponding value of 47.4 for the reference egg proteins. The analysis of the fatty acids showed that the ratio of saturated to non-saturated fatty acids averaged 73:27; palmitic acid makes up 60% of the total fatty acids. The soluble carbohydrate content of the pericarp is slightly higher than the corresponding value in the unripe seeds. Paper chromatography of the free sugars of both parts revealed qualitative differences. The oligosaccharide reffinose was detected in both parts. The ash was analysed for its content in four trace minerals: iron, zinc, manganese and copper.     

鸡Apo VLDLⅡ基因内含子Ⅰ的多态性研究

本研究根据鸡Apo VLDL-Ⅱ基因内含子Ⅰ的基因序列设计3对引物,分别采用PCR-RFLP、PCR-SSCP技术对文昌鸡、如皋黄鸡、丝羽乌骨鸡、安卡肉鸡及红色原鸡5个鸡种进行多态性研究。结果表明,鸡Apo VLDL-Ⅱ基因内含子Ⅰ存在4处突变,分别为:1950处G/A、2522处A/C、2705处A/C及2793处C/T。统计结果显示:安卡肉鸡基因型频率的分布与如皋黄鸡、红色原鸡存在显著差异,文昌鸡基因型频率的分布与乌骨鸡差异不显著,除安卡肉鸡外所有鸡种均处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态。     

Chemical immobilisation of giraffe to facilitate short procedures

Objective To describe the chemical immobilisation of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) for short procedures at Taronga Zoo. Design A clinical report. Animals Five giraffe. Procedure The weight of each animal was determined and pre-immobilisation fasting, careful preparation of the site, and planning were carried out prior to each procedure. Etorphine and acetylpromazine were used as the sole immobilising agents. During immobilisation, elevation of the head and constant monitoring of the heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature were employed; blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation (Sp₂) were monitored in one case 5. Intravenous fluids were administered. None of the animals was intubated, and supplemental oxygen was administered via an intranasal cannula in case 5. At the end of the procedures, diprenorphine was administered to reverse immobilisation. Results Induction times were 8 to 15 min. The mean heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were 58.6 beats per min, 12.2 breaths per min and 37.1°C₂ respectively. SpO₂ in case 5 increased to over 90% with the administration of supplemental oxygen. Recovery to standing after reversal of immobilisation was rapid (2 or 3 min) in three cases, but took 30 and 31 min in the other two. Conclusions Successful immobilisation of giraffe relies on consideration of all variables prior to and during the procedure. Careful selection and preparation of the venue and presence of sufficient numbers of adequately trained personnel are essential. Body weight determination allows accurate calculation of immobilising agent dose. Pre-immobilisation fasting followed by elevation of head and neck help preclude regurgitation and aspiration. Relevant vital signs monitoring, fluid replacement and oxygen supplementation promote cardiopulmonary homeostasis. Preoperative planning to ensure efficient performance of the procedure helps minimise recumbency time and increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.     

Biology and pathophysiology of Toxocara vitulorum infections in a rabbit model.

Ten female New Zealand rabbits were infected via stomach intubation with eggs of Toxocara vitulorum at a dosage of 10 embryonated eggs per gram of body weight on Days 0, 35 and 72. Ten or 4% of the administered parasites passed in the feces during the 3 days following the first or second infection, but 32% after the third infection. Many larvae were passed in the third infection, but not in the first or second. Tissue parasite yields were 4.1% on Day 5, 2% on Day 15, 0.8% on Day 30, 0.1% on Day 65 and 0.06% on Day 101. Five hundred and ninety-three larvae were recovered from liver, 243 from lungs and 0 from muscles on Day 5; 282 from liver, 138 from lungs and 21 from muscles on Day 15; 151 from liver, 21 from lungs and 50 from muscles on Day 30; 0 from liver, 26 from lungs and 15 from muscles on Day 65; 0 from liver, 0 from lungs and 9 from muscles on Day 101. No larvae were found in other tissues. The size of the muscle larvae at 30, 65 and 101 days indicated that the parasites did not develop beyond the infective stage and suggested that they were probably hypobiotic organisms. Erythrocytes, packed cell volume and monocytes decreased, but eosinophils and basophils increased, after each infection. Serum enzyme levels indicated that liver damage occured only after the first infection, but muscle injury occurred after each infection and was increasingly more precocious after each infection.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND BIOMETRIC EVALUATION OF SHEEP AND CATTLE EYES

The normal ultrasonographic anatomy and biometry of 60 adult sheep and 60 adult cattle eyes were evaluated by saline immersion technique. Five intraocular dimensions were taken: corneal thickness, aqueous chamber depth, lens diameter, vitreous chamber depth and axis bulbi. The eyes were then frozen and cut in a sagittal plane and the same dimensions were measured directly. A- and B-mode measurements were compared with each other and with that of direct measurements. There was no difference between A- and B-mode measurements. However, there was a difference between ultrasound and direct measurements.     

Selectivity, acetylcholinesterase inhibition kinetics, and quantitative structure-activity relationships of a series of N-(2-oxido-1,3,2-benzodioxa-phosphol-2-yl) amino acid ethyl or diethyl esters

The inhibitory effects of a recently introduced series of the titled compounds on insect and mammalian acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were examined, where the median inhibition concentration (I₅₀) and the inhibition kinetic parameters, bimolecular inhibition rate constant (k_i), affinity constant (K_a), and phosphorylation rate constant (k_p), were determined for each compound. Results indicated that all examined dioxaphospholenes had less inhibitory effects on mammalian AChE than fenitrothion, a commercial pesticide with moderate mammalian toxicity. The highest selectivity was obtained with compounds containing glutamic and leucine moieties (2.70 and 2.18, respectively) while selectivity of fenitrothion was 0.93. The low inhibitory effects of the examined dioxaphospholenes on mammalian AChE were attributed to their low phosphorylation rates (k_p < 2.2 min⁻¹) compared to that of fenitrothion (k_p = 4.84 min⁻¹). QSAR equations indicated that the inhibition process is controlled mainly by both the phosphorylation rate (direct effect) and the affinity of compounds toward the enzyme (inverse effect). Although the compounds’ hydrophobicity had no effects on the inhibition process, it affects the compounds’ toxicity since it affects the ability of compounds to penetrate insects to reach the enzyme active site.