Bovine brucellosis – a comprehensive review

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of great animal welfare and economic implications worldwide known since ancient times. The emergence of brucellosis in new areas as well as transmission of brucellosis from wild and domestic animals is of great significance in terms of new epidemiological dimensions. Brucellosis poses a major public health threat by the consumption of non-pasteurized milk and milk products produced by unhygienic dairy farms in endemic areas. Regular and meticulous surveillance is essentially required to determine the true picture of brucellosis especially in areas with continuous high prevalence. Additionally, international migration of humans, animals and trade of animal products has created a challenge for disease spread and diagnosis in non-endemic areas. Isolation and identification remain the gold standard test, which requires expertise. The advancement in diagnostic strategies coupled with screening of newly introduced animals is warranted to control the disease. Of note, the diagnostic value of miRNAs for appropriate detection of B. abortus infection has been shown. The most widely used vaccine strains to protect against Brucella infection and related abortions in cattle are strain 19 and RB51. Moreover, it is very important to note that no vaccine, which is highly protective, safe and effective is available either for bovines or human beings. Research results encourage the use of bacteriophage lysates in treatment of bovine brucellosis. One Health approach can aid in control of this disease, both in animals and man.     

The role of performance assessment in real time system management

This paper discusses paddy irrigation development in Malaysia in relation to real-time systems management and the role of performance assessment in such a system. The Muda Irrigation Scheme real-time management system is given as an illustration. This system has shown that, with performance assessment, managers are more prepared and able to respond quickly to issues faced in the day to day systems operations. In this system, demand-supply matching can be made faster and with improved utilisation of effective rainfall and uncontrolled flows. Opportunities for saving uncontrolled flows in the paddy fields can be identified in time. With dryseeding method, the system has been successful in sustaining production in severe water shortage situations. Into the 90s and beyond, no major infrastructure investments in irrigation systems are expected. Irrigation managers must be committed towards excellence in performance. This can be achieved through improved real-time performance assessment. Some aspects of performance assessment that could be improved are in its roles in meeting cropping intensity targets, accurate demand-supply matching, meeting water savings target and in alerting managers to potential crisis situations. Carefully designed and installed, performance assessment can also improve organisational and staff management.     

Molecular confirmation of candidate Hsp70 gene associated with heat tolerance in BC3F2 advanced backcross lines and their phenotypic resemblance with recurrent chilli Kulai

ABSTRACT

Domestic production of chilli in Malaysia is insufficient which accounted for 52% self-sufficiency level. Poor performance of local varieties under high temperatures above 42°C is one of the major factors affecting chilli production. This study was conducted with the objective of introgress heat-tolerant gene (Hsps) from AVPP0702 donor into Kulai using marker-assisted backcrossing. A total of 68 SSR markers, including Hsp linked markers that showed polymorphism between the parents were used to assess the generation of backcrossing; BC1F1, BC2F1, BC3F1 and BC3F2 and the average RPG percentage of the recurrent parent was found to be 81, 90, 95 and 97%, respectively. The pattern of Hsp expression in the backcross generations was similar to the donor parent (upregulated with more than 4-fold increase). Twelve improved heat tolerant chilli lines were developed. Most of the morphological and agronomical traits were recovered in the selected improved heat-tolerant genotypes from Kulai such as plant height, number of days to 50% flowering, number of fruits, fruit length and total fruit yield per plant. Improved high-yielding heat-tolerant chilli lines showed tolerance to high temperature as well as did not express any negative effect on agronomic traits in comparison with Kulai variety.     

Inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation and up-regulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor in HepG2 cells by tropical plant extracts

Twelve edible plant extracts rich in polyphenols were screened for their potential to inhibit oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro and to modulate LDL receptor (LDLr) activity in cultured HepG2 cells. The antioxidant activity (inhibition of LDL oxidation) was determined by measuring the formation of conjugated dienes (lag time) and thiobarbituric acid reagent substances (TBARS). Betel leaf (94%), cashew shoot (63%), Japanese mint (52%), semambu leaf (50%), palm frond (41%), sweet potato shoot, chilli fruit, papaya shoot, roselle calyx, and maman showed significantly increased lag time (>55 min, P < 0.05) and inhibition of TBARS formation (P < 0.05) compared to control. LDLr was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) by Japanese mint (67%), semambu (51%), cashew (50%), and noni (49%). Except for noni and betel leaf, most plant extracts studied demonstrated a positive association between antioxidant activity and the ability to up-regulate LDL receptor. Findings suggest that reported protective actions of plant polyphenols on lipoprotein metabolism might be exerted at different biochemical mechanisms.     

Comparison of symbiotic effectiveness of Rhizobium sp. with positive hydrogen-uptake activity compared with negative mutants in relation to nitrogen fixation in mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

H₂ uptake activity was well distributed in Rhizobium sp. strains isolated from nodules of mung-bean (Vigna radiata L.). Two effective strains, RMP1 und RMP2, exhibiting significantly higher H₂ uptake activity were subjected to mutagenesis with nitrosoguanidine. The respective mutation frequencies were 0.18 and 0.19%. Three Hup^- mutants each of RMP1 und RMP2 were compared with the wild-type parent strains under pot culture experiments to evaluate the significance of the H₂ uptake system in biological N₂ fixation. Nodulation capabilities, plant growth characteristics, and the chlorophyll content of the leaves were significantly reduced in the plants treated with Hup^- mutants. Nitrogenase activity in Hup^- nodules was reduced by 8–41%. Similarly, N accumulation was also reduced singificantly.     

Review of clinical aspects,epidemiology and diagnosis of haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis in small ruminants: current status and future perspectives in tropics focusing on Malaysia

Mycoplasma ovis (formerly Eperythrozoon ovis) is an epierythrocytic parasitic bacterium of small ruminants known as haemotropic mycoplasma, which is transmitted mechanically by biting flies and contaminated instruments. Acute mycoplasmosis causes severe haemolytic anaemia and mortality in young animals. At the same time, chronic disease may produce mild anaemia and varying degrees of morbidity depending on several factors, including age, reproductive status, the plane of nutrition, immunological status and the presence of concurrent infection. Haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis is currently recognised as an emerging zoonotic pathogen which is widely distributed in the sheep and goat producing areas of tropics and subtropics, where the disease is nearly endemic. Human infection has been reported in pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and people exposed to animals and arthropods. The current diagnosis of haemoplasma relies on microscopic evaluation of Giemsa-stained blood smear and PCR. Although there are few published reports on the incidence of haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis infection of small ruminants in Malaysia, information on its prevalence, risk factors, severity and economic impacts is grossly inadequate. Therefore, a large-scale survey of small ruminant flocks is necessary to elucidate the current seroprevalence status and molecular characteristics of haemotropic M. ovis infection in Malaysia using ELISA and PCR sequencing technologies. In the future, surveillance programs, including vector forecast, quarantine, monitoring by periodic surveys and public enlightenment, will limit the internal and transboundary spread of M. ovis, enhance control efforts and mitigate production losses in Malaysia.

     

Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA)-typing of Brucella abortus isolates of India reveals limited genetic diversity

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) technique has wide applications in studying phylogenies and short-term epidemiology of pathogens....     

Genetic diversity of Pakistan wheat germplasm as revealed by RAPD markers

Wheat breeding in Pakistan started in 1930s before partition in the United India and so far has released more than 68 cultivars, but no systematic analyses of the genetic diversity of Pakistan wheat have been made. Twenty Pakistan wheat cultivars released from 1933 to 2002 were examined for genetic diversity and relationships using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Forty-two RAPD primers were applied and 184 polymorphic bands were generated for each cultivar. Most of the cultivars were genetically interrelated, although six of them displayed some genetic distinctness. The RAPD variation observed among these cultivars was low. Only 40.7% of the total scorable bands were polymorphic, and 26.1% of the polymorphic bands were observed most frequently (f = 0.95) among the 20 cultivars. The proportions of polymorphic bands for each cultivar ranged from 0.67 in ‘Yecora’ to 0.84 in ‘C-250’ with an average of 0.76. About 1.4% of the RAPD variation might have been fixed over the 69 years of wheat breeding, but such fixation was not statistically significant. These results are significant for future improvement and conservation of Pakistan wheat.     

Distribution and status of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Peninsular Malaysia

Distribution and status of the Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis in Peninsular Malaysia were studied from 1975 to 1981. We compiled information collected from field surveys, interviews with people living near rhino areas, and the literature. Most potential rhino areas were surveyed on the ground to confirm the presence of animals, estimate numbers, and evaluate the status of the habitat. We confirmed that rhinos presently occur in ten isolated areas scattered throughout the Malay Peninsula. The number of rhinos is estimated at 50 to 75 animals with the Endau-Rompin (20–25), Taman Negara (8–12), and Sungai Dusun (4–6) areas containing the largest contiguous populations. The Sumatran rhino appears threatened with immediate extinction in Peninsular Malaysia. Excessive killing of rhinos because of the high commercial value of their body parts has greatly reduced numbers. Habitat destruction from logging and forest clearance has separated and isolated already small populations. We recommend that conservation efforts for this species in Malaysia be concentrated in the Endau-Rompin region because this population has the best chances for survival.     

Menangle and Nipah virus infections of pigs.

Viruses belonging to the family Paramyxoviridae generally have not been recognized as a significant cause of disease in pigs until recently. Between 1997 and 1999, there were large outbreaks of disease in pigs in Australia and Malaysia due to infection with viruses that have been shown to be new members of the Paramyxoviridae family. This article reviews current knowledge of Menangle and Nipah virus infections in pigs, the only major species of domestic animals to experience serious disease after infection with these viruses.