Seroprevalence of canine herpesvirus-1 in Turkish dog population

Canine herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1) is the agent of reproductive and respiratory disorders in adult dogs, and the infection generally results in haemorrhagic disease conditions and neonatal death. In this study, virus neutralisation test that used complement (VNT) as well as in-house ELISA were utilised to investigate the CHV-1 seroprevalence in the Turkish dog population. Among the 560 serum samples, 39.3% of the samples tested by ELISA were CHV-1 positive while 29.4% of the samples tested by VNT were CHV-1 positive. Compared to the individual dogs (39.0%), there was a higher CHV-1 seroprevalence (62.1%) found in the colony dogs (62.1%) (p = 0.0002). However, there was an insignificant difference between male and female dogs. Although the highest antibody prevalence (56.7%) was found in Golden Retrievers, there were no significant variations detected among the dog breeds used in this study. Neutralizing antibody titres were very low (?1:16) in a high portion of the tested animals, confirming the rapid decrease of CHV-1 antibodies after the course of infection. The results of this study show that CHV-1 seroprevalence is moderately high in the Turkish dog population.     

Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil

Hepatoprotective activity of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) essential oil (FEO) was studied using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver injury model in rats. The hepatotoxicity produced by acute CCl(4) administration was found to be inhibited by FEO with evidence of decreased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin. The results of this study indicate that FEO has a potent hepatoprotective action against CCl(4)-induced hepatic damage in rats.     

Coralligenous assemblages along their geographical distribution: Testing of concepts and implications for management

• 1. The coralligenous habitat was studied at the large Mediterranean scale, by applying a standardized, non‐destructive photo‐sampling protocol, developed in the framework of the CIGESMED project.
• 2. The results provided evidence to support the following statements: (a) the assemblage pattern is not homogeneously distributed across the four Mediterranean ecoregions studied (biotic gradients hypothesis); and (b) the assemblage pattern does not change significantly when the information is aggregated to higher taxonomic levels (taxonomic sufficiency hypothesis).
• 3. Surrogate taxonomic categories higher than species, such as genus and family, can be used to reveal the multivariate pattern of the coralligenous assemblages.
• 4. Although preliminary at the pan‐Mediterranean scale, these outcomes set the scene for future comparisons as more data sets become available but also for comparisons between taxonomic and functional patterns.

     

Chemical and antioxidant properties of Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. (cherry laurel) fruit grown in the Black Sea region

Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. is a summer fruit highly characteristic of the Black Sea region. The edible parts of the fruit were tested for chemical composition and antioxidant properties. Total moisture, ash, protein, sugar, pectin, ascorbic acid, phenolic, and mineral contents of the fruit were determined. The antioxidant activity of the fruit was investigated using TLC plate and ferric thiocyanate methods. Its antioxidative character was also tested utilizing hydroxyl, DPPH, and superoxide radical scavenging activity measurements, using BHT, vitamin C, and Trolox as references. Besides being a good source of nutrients, L. officinalis was found to provide a rich source of protective antioxidant compounds. Its antioxidant and radical scavenging activities were comparable to or higher than those of the reference antioxidants. It appeared to have high mineral content. The concentrations of macroelements K, Mg, Ca, and Na were high at 2215 +/- 10.5, 179 +/- 11, 153 +/- 0.8, and 55 +/- 0.3 mg/kg, respectively, and the concentrations of trace elements Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu were 24.2 +/- 1.3, 8.3 +/- 0.8, 1.9 +/- 0.2, and 0.8 +/- 0.1 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the fruit showed very low contents of Pb, Ni, Co, and Cr, below the detection limits, which is considered to be a good food quality. As it is a rich source of protein, sugar, ascorbic acid, minerals, and antioxidants, L. officinalis is well worth further studies regarding its components possessing important health benefits and inclusion in the daily diet.     

Effects of hypotaurine, cysteamine and aminoacids solution on post-thaw microscopic and oxidative stress parameters of Angora goat semen

This study was conducted to determine the effects of cysteamine, hypotaurine and aminoacids solution (BME) on standard semen parameters, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities of Angora goat semen after the freeze–thawing process. Ejaculates collected from four Angora goats were evaluated and pooled at 37 °C. Semen samples, which were diluted with a Tris-based extender containing the antioxidants hypotaurine (5 mM) and cysteamine (5 mM), and an aminoacid solution (13%), and an extender containing no antioxidants (control), were cooled to 5 °C and frozen in 0.25-ml French straws in liquid nitrogen. Frozen straws were thawed individually at 37 °C for 20 s in a water bath for evaluation.Supplementation with cysteamine, hypotaurine and BME caused significant (P < 0.05) increases in sperm motility, and significant (P < 0.05) decreases in total abnormality rates in comparison to the control group. While all in vitro treatments did not affect the acrosomal abnormality rates, hypotaurine and BME but not cysteamine significantly (P < 0.05) increased the HOST results as compared to the control group. Supplementation with antioxidants and BME did not significantly affect MDA levels and CAT activity in comparison to the control group (P > 0.05). The antioxidants hypotaurine and cysteamine decreased SOD activity when compared to the BME group and controls (P < 0.001).     

The effect of irrigation and nitrogen on powdery scab and yield of potatoes

Summary Powdery scab, caused by the fungusSpongospora subterranea, has developed in the Cappodocia region of Turkey because of changes in agronomic practices, such as excessive irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer use and growth of highly susceptible cultivars. The most suitable irrigation and nitrogen application levels were established to maintain powdery scab at minimum levels without affecting potato yield. Three irrigation levels were used in 1998 (673, 897, 1121 mm) and five in 1999 (329, 494, 658, 823, 987 mm). Nitrogen levels were applied 150, 300, 450, 600 kg N ha⁻¹. In 1998, least powdery scab occurred with 673 mm irrigation, which yielded 41 t ha⁻¹ potatoes. The lowest disease severity occurred in 1999 with 494 mm irrigation and 150 kg N ha⁻¹. At these levels, tuber yield was 34 t ha⁻¹ which was not significantly different from the highest yield measured. In 1999 and at two of the three irrigation levels inl998, nitrogen increased disease severity.     

榛实象甲高致病力菌株筛选及侵染过程的显微观察

榛实象甲是目前我国榛园中导致产量损失的首要害虫,生产中以化学防治为主,易导致果品化学残留超标问题。本研究的目的在于筛选榛实象甲的高毒力菌株,以期为其生物学防治提供科学依据。本研究使用2株绿僵菌(CGMCC No.3.7986、3.4607)、1株白僵菌(CGMCC No. 12108)接种榛实象甲成虫,检测其侵染榛实象甲累积死亡率随时间的变化,并用解剖镜与扫描电镜观察了白僵菌侵染榛实象甲成虫的过程。结果表明,白僵菌菌株12108侵染榛实象甲后,在处理后的第4天与第6天累积死亡率分别达到91.67%和100%,远高于同期绿僵菌3.7986的6.67%和17.5%及绿僵菌3.4607的10.0%和22.5%;白僵菌菌株12108的LT₅₀和LT₉₀值分别为2.56和4.42d,远小于绿僵菌3.7986的11.40和17.70d及绿僵菌3.4607的8.80和12.80d;在侵染开始时,白僵菌菌株12108一般从口器、触角、胸足基部、胸足关节等有缝隙的部位开始生长,接种后10d时,该虫表面被浓密的菌丝所覆盖,胸腔内部也充满菌丝,体表开始形成大量分生孢子。以上研究结果确认白僵菌菌株12108对榛实象甲有强致病力,这为榛实象甲生物农药的开发提供了重要依据。