Some enzyme interrelationships in serum and organs of Egyptian camel

In 7 normal healthy Egyptian one-humped camels aged 3-4 years, the relationships were studied between enzyme activities of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), and cholonesterase (CHE) of serum and organs as well as between ACP and ALP and between LDH and CPK. Liver, heart, kidney, and spleen tissue samples as well as serum were analysed for total enzyme activity. The following results were obtained: --The heart was the organ with the highest activities of ALP, LDH, and CPK, and it contained high values of CHE, whereas the lowest activities of all enzymes were recorded from serum. The spleen exhibited of the highest activity of ACP. --Each of the serum enzymes ALP, LDH, and CHE were in strong inverse relationship with the corresponding enzymes in the liver. Strong inverse relationships existed also between serum LDH and kidney LDH as well as between CPK in serum and heart. --Direct relationships were remarkable serum LDH and that of spleen and heart as well as between serum ACP and that of liver and heart. --Interrelationships were inverse between ACP and ALP in liver, kidney, and heart, but weak direct interrelationships were characteristic between the 2 enzymes in serum and spleen. --LDH was inversely interrelated with CPK in serum and heart.     

Immunolocalization of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors (TrkA and p75LNGFR) in the reproductive organs of Shiba goats

The objective of this study was to determine the immunolocalization of NGF and its receptors (TrkA and p75LNGFR) in the reproductive tract of the Japanese Shiba goats. Five adult goats were used in this study and sections of ovaries, uteri and oviducts were immunostained by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method (ABC). The results showed that NGF and its receptors (TrkA and p75LNGFR) were expressed in granulosa cells, theca cells, interstitial cells and lutein cells in ovaries. Immunoreactions for NGF, TrkA and p75LNGFR were also detectable in epithelial cells and muscle cells of the ampulla and isthmus of the oviduct, and in epithelial cells and uterine glands of the uterus. These results strongly suggest autocrine and paracrine regulation of reproductive function by NGF in the reproductive tract of female Shiba goats.     

Fattening performance of purebred and crossbred lambs from fat-tailed Kurdi ewes mated to four Iranian native ram breeds

A crossbreeding experiment was carried out to determine the sire breed effects on fattening performance of fat-tailed lambs. Rams from four Iranian fat-tailed sheep breeds, namely Kurdi (K), Afshari (A), Chaal (C) and Sanjabi (S) were mated to Kurdi ewes producing 454 progeny of four genotype groups (KK, AK, CK and SK). A total of 80 lambs comprising ten female and ten male lambs from each genotype group were used in a fattening experiment during a period of 88 days. Genotype of the lamb had significant effect on average dry matter intake (ADMI) (P < 0.05). SK lambs had the lowest ADMI. Average daily gain (ADG) and food conversion ratio (FCR) were not influenced by genotype of the lamb. Sex of the lamb had significant effect on both ADG and FCR (P < 0.01). Slaughter weight (SLW), hot carcass weight (HCW), cold carcass weight (CCW) and daily carcass gain (DCG) were not affected by lamb's genotype. However, genotype had significant effect on dressing percentage, carcass loss percentage (P < 0.01), carcass length (CL), leg circumference (LC), carcass compactness (CC) (P < 0.01) and carcass density (CD) (P < 0.05). Carcass width (CW) and leg length (LL) were not affected by lamb's genotype. Sex of the lamb had significant effects on CL, CW, LC, CC, CD (P < 0.01) and LL (P < 0.05). The results indicated the existence of sire breed difference for daily dry matter intake and carcass conformation in the fat-tailed sheep.     

Integrated pest management of Tuta absoluta: practical implementations across different world regions

Journal of Pest Science - The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries and is threatening worldwide tomato...     

Earthworms can modify effects of hydrochar on growth of Plantago lanceolata and performance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a method to produce carbonized material at relatively low temperatures (180–250 °C) under pressure and aqueous conditions. The product is called hydrochar and can be used as a soil amendment. However, applied in high dosages it may have detrimental effects on plants or soil biota. The potential impact of hydrochar amendment on beneficial soil organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms and their interactions are not well understood. The goal of the present study was to determine effects of hydrochar on plant growth and soil biota and to evaluate interactions of earthworms and hydrochar on plant and AMF performance and to identify underlying mechanisms. In a greenhouse experiment, we investigated the effect of hydrochar at different addition rates (control, 1% and 10%, v/v) with or without the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa on the growth of Plantago lanceolata L. and the performance of its AMF. We observed a positive interaction between earthworms and 10% hydrochar on shoot and root biomass: added as a single treatment hydrochar had a negative effect on plant growth at this dosage, but plant biomass increased significantly when hydrochar was added together with earthworms. Root colonization by AMF increased significantly with increasing concentration of hydrochar, but was not affected by earthworms. Contrastingly, extraradical hyphal length of AMF was reduced by earthworms, but not affected by hydrochar. Thus, hydrochar and earthworms affected the performance of AMF, albeit of different AMF structures and in different directions. Our results indicate that earthworms may play an important role in alleviating the negative impacts of high dosages of hydrochar on plant growth; such interactions should move into focus of future research on potential effects of HTC materials.     

Experimental and clinical studies on plasma leptin in obese dogs

Leptin is a protein synthesized and secreted primarily by adipocytes, and the circulating leptin concentration is elevated in obese humans and rodents. Recently, we have established a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for canine leptin. In the present study, plasma leptin concentrations were measured in experimentally developed obese beagles and in clinically obese dogs. When 5 male beagles were given a high-energy diet for 3 months, all of them became obese and the plasma leptin concentration significantly increased from 2.4+/-1.2 to 4.9+/-0.9 ng/ml, positively correlating with body fat content estimated by the deuterium oxide dilution method (r=0.87). The leptin concentrations of plasma samples collected from 59 dogs in veterinary practices were compared with their body condition scores (BCS). The plasma leptin concentrations of obese dogs were 9.7+/-0.7 and 12.3+/-1.5 ng/ml at BCS=4 and BCS=5, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of optimal (BCS=3) dogs (2.7+/-0.3 ng/ml). There was no significant effect of sex and breed. A weak positive correlation (r=0.37) was found between the plasma leptin concentration and age, probably due to the lesser content of visceral fat in puppies younger than 1 year old. These results indicate that plasma leptin is a good index of adiposity in dogs regardless of breed, age and sex, and may be useful for quantitative assessment of obesity in small animal practice.     

Effects of salinity level on the survival,growth, feed utilization,carcass composition,haematological and serum biochemical changes of juvenile Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) (Asso, 1801) grown in ground saltwater

A study was performed to examine the effects of salinity on water quality, fish performance, carcass composition and haemato‐biochemical parameters in juvenile meagre, Argyrosomus regius. Fish (5.0 g) were stocked in fibreglass tanks at four salinity levels: 8‰, 16‰, 24‰ and 32‰, and fed a pelleted diet (47/17 protein/lipid) for 56 days. Results indicated that the growth, feed utilization, carcass composition and haemato‐biochemical parameters of meagre gradually improved with the increase in salinity up to 24‰ and then significantly (p ≤ .05) decreased at 32‰. The survival per cent showed a significant decrease when A. regius exposed to 8‰ salinity. An improvement with 32%, 47% and 34.1% of FCR, protein productive value and energy utilization was detected at 24‰ compared with 8‰ salinity respectively. The highest content of protein and the lowest of lipids were recorded in fish carcass at 24‰ compared with the opposite trend at 8‰ salinity. The 24‰ salinity treatment exhibited the highest value of haemoglobin (4.9 g/dl) and the lowest ratio (0.73) of albumin/globulin. The serum total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly higher at 24‰ and 32‰ salinity than those at 8‰ and 16‰ salinity groups. These findings indicate that 24‰ salinity level might be the best for meagre.     

A proposal of clinical breakpoints for amoxicillin applicable to porcine respiratory tract pathogens

In the present position paper, an attempt was made to establish clinical breakpoints of amoxicillin to classify porcine respiratory tract pathogens as susceptible, intermediate or resistant based on their minimum inhibitory concentrations of amoxicillin. For this, a thorough review of the published literature with regard to swine-specific pharmacological data (including dosages of amoxicillin applied and routes of administration used), clinical efficacy, and in vitro susceptibility of the target pathogens was performed. Based on the comparative analysis of the results, the working group "Antibiotic Resistance" of the German Veterinary Medical Society (DVG) proposed to classify porcine respiratory tract pathogens that show MIC values of amoxicillin of < or =0.5microg/ml as "susceptible", those with MICs of 1microg/ml as "intermediate", and those with MICs of > or =2microg/ml as "resistant".     

First report of infectious necrotic hepatitis (black disease) among Nubian goats in Sudan.

In a flock of 425 female and male Nubian goats in the Khartoum Province, an outbreak of a disease causing sudden death of 18 apparently healthy goats occurred (11 females and 7 males, 3-6 years old). Adult Fasciola gigantica were found in the livers of all goats and in seven of them Cysticercus tenuicollis cysts. These organs showed necrotic and severe histopathological changes. Clostridium novyi type B was isolated from necrotic areas of all livers and found to be highly pathogenic and toxigenic to laboratory animals. The disease was diagnosed as infectious necrotic hepatitis (black disease). Faecal examination revealed the presence of F. gigantica eggs. Lymnaea natalensis snails were found to be prevalent in the water canals. As the Khartoum Province is regarded as an endemic area for black disease, routine vaccination is highly recommended for its control in goats and sheep.     

Über die molluscizide Wirkung vonBacillus thuringiensis-Präparaten zur biologischen Bekämpfung vonBiomphalaria alexandrina-Schnecken,den Zwischenwirten des Bilharziose-SaugwurmsSchistosoma mansoni in Saudi Arabia

The comparative molluscicidal activity of different preparations ofBacillus thuringiensis as Thuricide, SAN 401, SAN 402 and SAN 415, onB. alexandrina snails was studied. The results showed that different preparations ofBac. thuring. have a remarkable molluscicidal activity onB. alexandrina snails. However, the obtained results proved thatBac. thuring. with its preparation SAN 415 was the most effective in killing the snails comparing with the other preparations at the same experimental condition. Prolonged exposure ofB. alexandrina to subletal concentration (250 ppm) of SAN 415 delayed its ovipositary activity. Increasing the dose to 500 ppm resulted in a complete loss of egg production. Comparatively exposure of snail groups to the same doses of Thuricide, SAN 401 and SAN 402 resulted only in decreasing its egg laying capacity. These results proved the high potentially effectiveness ofBac. thuring. in its preparation SAN 415 as a biological control agent forB. alexandrina snails. The wayes by which this biological agent acts on the reproductive system of the snails were discussed.