Molecular detection of virulence genes in Campylobacter species isolated from livestock production systems in South Africa

Campylobacter species are a major cause of foodborne bacterial infections in both developed and developing countries worldwide. Campylobacter jejuni is responsible for the majority of infections. This study was conducted to identify virulenceassociated genes in Campylobacter species isolated from livestock production systems in South Africa. A total of 250 fecal samples consisting of cattle(n=50), chickens(n=50), goats(n=50), sheep(n=50) and pigs(n=50) were randomly collected from livestock in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa between April and October 2018. The samples were analyzed for the presence of virulence genes in Campylobacter species using molecular PCR-based methods. It was found that 77 and 23% of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli respectively were isolated from all the livestock samples. There were positive significant(P0.05) correlations amongst all the virulence genes that were investigated. Chisquare and Fisher's exact tests were implemented to test for the effect of livestock species on the presence or absence of virulence genes. The study demonstrated that most of livestock species can potentially cause zoonotic infections and food poisoning due to the high prevalence of Campylobacter. The high prevalence of virulence genes highlights the significance of Campylobacter in livestock production systems in South Africa. This requires the implementation of one-health approaches to reduce the impact of foodborne and zoonotic diseases for the welfare of human and animal health.     

Molecular,biochemical and histopathological studies on the ameliorative effect of vitamin C on the renal and muscle tissues of Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) affected by the usage of engine oil

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of vitamin C on the performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) affected by the usage of engine oil. A total of 120 tilapia fish were randomly divided into four equal groups according to dietary treatments applied for 3 weeks: group I (control); group II was exposed to engine oil; group III was exposed to engine oil and supplemented with vitamin C: and group IV was fed only a diet supplemented with vitamin C. According to our results, the group exposed to engine oil (II) showed an induced elevation of kidney function parameters, an upregulation of CYP1A1 mRNA expression level, a reduction in antioxidant status (SOD, GSH) and severe abnormal histological and ultra‐structural changes in the head kidney, trunk kidney and muscle tissue. Supplementation of group III with vitamin C ameliorated the toxic effect induced by engine oil through improvement of kidney function parameters, elevation of the antioxidant status of tissue and improvement of the histological images of renal and muscle tissues. In conclusion, vitamin C has the ability to ameliorate engine oil oxidative stress toxicity in Nile tilapia.     

Mega‐environment identification for soybean (Glycine max) breeding and production in Brazilian Midwest region

Mega‐environment (ME) identification is the first step for evaluating, selecting and recommending genotypes within a target region (TR). The present study aimed to (a) identify MEs, using GGE biplot methods, in Brazilian edaphoclimatic region (ECR) 402 of soybean cultivation, located in the Mato Grosso State (the TR) and (b) compare the performance of genotypes within the TR and in each ME using fixed and mixed models. Data from three years of soybean yield trials, 19 genotypes and 22 environments were used. The biplots GGE, GGL + GGE and GGS + GGE were implemented to identify the MEs. Two MEs were identified in the TR. ME1 presents a higher altitude, farms which use a higher level of fertilizer inputs and a higher occurrence of the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) than ME2. When selection and recommendation are made based on MEs, genotypes with both broadly and specific adaptation can be selected. This action can improve grain yield in the entire target region.     

Hydrogen radicals, nitrogen radicals, and the production of O3 in the upper troposphere

The concentrations of the hydrogen radicals OH and HO2 in the middle and upper troposphere were measured simultaneously with those of NO, O3, CO, H2O, CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons, and with the ultraviolet and visible radiation field. The data allow a direct examination of the processes that produce O3 in this region of the atmosphere. Comparison of the measured concentrations of OH and HO2 with calculations based on their production from water vapor, ozone, and methane demonstrate that these sources are insufficient to explain the observed radical concentrations in the upper troposphere. The photolysis of carbonyl and peroxide compounds transported to this region from the lower troposphere may provide the source of HOx required to sustain the measured abundances of these radical species. The mechanism by which NO affects the production of O3 is also illustrated by the measurements. In the upper tropospheric air masses sampled, the production rate for ozone (determined from the measured concentrations of HO2 and NO) is calculated to be about 1 part per billion by volume each day. This production rate is faster than previously thought and implies that anthropogenic activities that add NO to the upper troposphere, such as biomass burning and aviation, will lead to production of more O3 than expected.     

Effects of dietary copper nanoparticles and vitamin C supplementations on growth performance,immune response and stress resistance of red sea bream,Pagrus major

A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of copper nanoparticles (Cu‐NPs) and vitamin C (VC) on red sea bream. Besides the control diet (D1), six diets were supplemented with Cu‐NPs and VC [0/800 (D2), 0/1,000 (D3), 0/1,200 (D4), 2/800 (D5), 2/1,000 (D6) and 2/1,200 (D7) mg Cu‐NPs/VC per kg]. Cu‐NP was a significant factor on final weight (FBW), weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI), feed (FER) and protein efficiency ratios (PER), protein gain (PG) and protein retention (PR), body protein and lipid contents, protease (PA) and bactericidal activities (BA) and tolerance against stress (LT50%) (p < .05). In addition, BA and LT50% were significantly affected by either Cu‐NPs or VC (p < .05). Fish fed Cu‐NPs or/and VC‐supplemented diets showed higher FBW, WG, SGR, PG, PR, FI, PA, LA and BA values when compared with the control group (p < .05). FER, PER and body lipid content were significantly enhanced in D4, D5, D6 and D7 groups; meanwhile, body protein and LT50% were significantly enhanced in D5, D6 and D7 groups when compared with D1 group (p < .05). In conclusion, dietary Cu‐NPs or/and VC improved growth and health of red sea bream.     

Estimation of inbreeding and effective population size of full‐blood wagyu cattle registered with the American Wagyu Cattle Association

The objective of this research was to examine the population structure of full‐blood (100%) Wagyu cattle registered in the United States with the American Wagyu Association, with the aim of estimating and comparing the levels of inbreeding from both pedigree and genotypic data. A total of 4132 full‐blood Wagyu cattle pedigrees were assessed and used to compute the inbreeding coefficients (F_IT and F_ST) and the effective population size (N_e) from pedigree data for the period 1994 to 2011. In addition to pedigree analysis, 47 full‐blood Wagyu cattle representing eight prominent sire lines in the American Wagyu cattle population were genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip. Genotypic data were then used to estimate genomic inbreeding coefficients (F_ROH) by calculating runs of homozygosity. The mean inbreeding coefficient based on the pedigree data was estimated at 4.80%. The effective population size averaged 17 between the years 1994 and 2011 with an increase of 42.9 in 2000 and a drop of 1.8 in 2011. Examination of the runs of homozygosity revealed that the 47 Wagyu cattle from the eight prominent sire lines had a mean genomic inbreeding coefficient (F_ROH) estimated at 9.08% compared to a mean inbreeding coefficient based on pedigree data of 4.8%. These data suggest that the mean genotype inbreeding coefficient of full‐blood Wagyu cattle exceeds the inbreeding coefficient identified by pedigree. Inbreeding has increased slowly at a rate of 0.03% per year over the past 17 years. Wagyu breeders should continue to utilize many sires from divergent lines and consider outcrossing to other breeds to enhance genetic diversity and minimize the adverse effects of inbreeding in Wagyu.