Isolation and characterization of Mycoplasma arginini from camels (Camelus dromedarius) with pneumonia

Post-mortem examinations of 100 camels with pneumonic lesions were made at a local abattoir for Mycoplasma species. Sixteen isolates with indistinguishable biochemical and immunological characters were identified. The biochemical profile of these isolates showed that they were sensitive to digitonin, negative for urease production, glucose fermentation, and phosphatase activity but were positive for arginine hydrolysis. The identity of these isolates was further confirmed by disk growth inhibition test using a panel of specific antisera against selected reference Mycoplasma spp. Based on the biochemical profile and growth inhibition results, the camel isolates were identified as M. arginini. The pathological findings associated with M. arginini isolation consisted mostly of chronic interstitial pneumonia. The isolation rate of M. arginini from these specimens was 8.8%. These results suggest that the role of M. arginini in pneumonia in camels should be explored in greater detail.     

Molecular based assessment of genetic diversity within Barbary fig (Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill.) in Tunisia

In this work, we report for the first time on the analysis of genetic diversity within a set of 36 Tunisian Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. ecotypes using RAPD markers.     

Nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress of single large dose or two divided doses of gentamicin in rats

Gentamicin (GS) is a potent antimicrobial exhibiting concentration dependent bacterial killing. A high dose ofgentamicin (10 mg kg(-1)) is required to reach sufficient concentrations in specific fluids as cerebrospinal fluid and to be effective on antibiotics resistant bacteria as well as treatment of acute and dangerous illness. Using a rat model, the renal toxicity and oxidative stress of administering gentamicin (10 mg kg(-1) daily for 7 days) either in a single dose or divided into 2 doses was investigated. The safety of dose regimens was assessed through oxidant-antioxidant parameters as well as renal function tests. Typical renal damage and high oxidative stress were evident in the control group receiving 100 mg kg(-1) gentamicin daily for 7 days. This was verified by high serum urea, uric acid, creatinine as well as increase in the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers as malondialdehyde, NO, total antioxidant capacity and decrease in reduced glutathione level. At any of the used regimen, 10 mg kg(-1) gentamicin did not provide high compromise for renal functions nor significantly increased the oxidative stress and tissue damage. Based on microscopic lesions scores and biochemical analysis, there were no significant differences between single or two divided dosages of gentamicin at dose rate of 10 mg kg(-1) day(-1). Further studies are required for applications in other animals of human subjects.     

Strawberry Shelf Life,Composition, and Enzymes Activity in Response to Edible Chitosan Coatings

A series of active biodegradable coatings based on chitosan, gelatin, starch, and sorbitol with or without monoterpenes (geraniol and thymol) were prepared and applied on fresh strawberry fruit as postharvest treatments. The coated fruits were inoculated with fungal spores of Botrytis cinerea and stored for 7 days at 4 °C. Decay incidence, weight loss, anthocyanins, total soluble solids (TSS), total soluble phenolics (TSP), polygalacturonase (PGase), pectin-lyase (PLase), antioxidant activity, guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and catalase (CAT) were elucidated in the fruits of experimental sets and they were compared with that of controls. The coatings showed a significant effect on the development of quality variables, with the additional effect of geraniol and thymol as a function of the polysaccharide matrix. The coatings inhibited decay incidence, reduced weight loss, delayed changes in the contents of anthocyanin, TSS, and total soluble phenolics; inhibited the increase in G-POD and PPO activities; and retarded the reduction in CAT activity. Compared to the controls, all of the coatings had positive effects on the inhibition of cell wall degrading enzymes (PGase and PLase) and among all the tested coatings, T5, chitosan (1%) + starch (1%) + sorbitol (0.5%) + tween (0.05%) + thymol (0.02%) was the best. This formulation showed also the highest antimicrobial activity and the greatest effect on other physiochemical parameters and it can be suggested to use it as a useful coating agent for extending the shelf-life and maintaining quality of strawberry fruit.     

The haematological and biochemical effects of the gastrointestinal nematodes prevalent in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in central Saudi Arabia

Coprological examinations on 1200 Najdi camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Gassim region of central Saudi Arabia between October 1992 and September 1993 revealed the presence of strongyletype, Nematodirus and Strongyloides eggs. In addition, examination of the gastrointestinal tracts of 240 camels slaughtered in different abattoirs in the Gassim region from March to August 1994 revealed 11 species of helminths. Infection with gastrointestinal trichostronglyes resulted in normocytic, normochromic anaemia. Adult infected camels showed leukocytosis, a decrease in total serum protein concentration and increases in blood urea concentration and in serum creatine phosphokinase activity.Abbreviations ALP alkaline phosphatase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - CPK creatine phosphokinase; epg, eggs per gram - GGT gamma-glutamyl transferase - Hb haemoglobin - MCV mean corpuscular volume - MCHC mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration - PCV packed cell volume - RBC red blood cell     

Age variations in the prevalence of sarcocystosis in sheep and goats from northern and central Jordan

Awassi sheep and mountain goats slaughtered in northern and central Jordan were examined for Sarcocystis cysts by post-mortem examination, trichinoscopy of muscle samples taken from esophagi and diaphragms and serologically by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) during the period June 1986–May 1988. Macrosarcocysts were found in 11.3% (70/620) of sheep and 11.7% (46/393) of goats aged over 1 year old. Microsarcocysts were found in 50.1% (1185/2693) of the sheep diaphragm samples and 56.4% (711/1261) of the same organs of goats. The prevalences were lower in the esophageal muscles (26.4%, 348 of 1319 and 25.1%, 97 of 386) than the diaphragmal muscles (29.0%, 383 of 1319 and 34.2%, 132 of 386) in the younger age groups (less than 7 months) of sheep and goats, respectively. The prevalences in both the esophagus and the diaphragm increased with age. The seroprevalences of anti-Sarcocystis antibodies in sheep and goats were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the prevalence of Sarcocystis cysts detected by trichinoscopy. The seroprevalence of sarcocystosis increased with age in sheep and goats.     

Induction of defence related enzymes and phenolic compounds in lupin (Lupinus albus L.) and their effects on host resistance against Fusarium wilt

Two different biotic inducers [Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida] and three different abiotic inducers [copper sulphate, indole butyric acid and potassium chloride] were tested for their efficacy in inducing resistance in lupin plants against Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupini. Application of the biotic and abiotic inducers as seed treatments significantly reduced wilt disease incidence under greenhouse and field conditions. Potassium chloride and Pseudomonas fluorescens were superior. A time course of defence-related enzymes showed substantial increases in enzyme activities in induced infected seedlings compared with untreated healthy plants or infected controls. However, the magnitude of the increase varied among treatments. The maximum increases in chitinase and ??- glucanase activities were recorded at 12 and 8?days after inoculation with the pathogen, respectively. Also, the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase increased dramatically 8?days after inoculation. Greater accumulation of phenolic compounds and specific flavonoids upon infection with the pathogen was found in induced and/ or infected seedlings compared with healthy plants. In addition to inducing disease resistance, the treatments were accompanied by significant increases in crop parameters and seed yield compared with untreated controls.     

Potent antiviral flavone glycosides from Ficus benjamina leaves

Crude ethanol extracts from Ficus benjamina leaves strongly inhibit Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1/2) as well as Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) cell infection in vitro. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract demonstrated that the most efficient inhibition of HSV-1 and HSV-2 was obtained with the flavonoid fraction. The present study was aimed to further isolate, purify and identify substances with potent antiviral activity from the flavonoid fraction of F. benjamina extracts. Flavonoids were collected from the leaf ethanol extracts through repeated purification procedure and HPLC analysis. The antiviral activity of each substance was then evaluated in cell culture. Three known flavone glycosides, (1) quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, (2) kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside and (3) kaempferol 3-O-robinobioside, showing highest antiviral efficiency were selected and their structure was determined by spectroscopic analyses including NMR and mass spectrometry (MS). These three flavones were highly effective against HSV-1 reaching a selectivity index (SI) of 266, 100 and 666 for compound 1, 2 and 3, respectively, while the SI of their aglycons, quercetin and kaempferol amounted only in 7.1 and 3.2, respectively. Kaempferol 3-O-robinobioside showed similar SI to that of acyclovir (ACV), the standard anti-HSV drug. Although highly effective against HSV-1 and HSV-2, these flavone glycosides did not show any significant activity against VZV.     

Beneficial impacts of bee pollen in animal production,reproduction and health

Bee pollen (BP) is one of the most useful therapeutic products favoured by natural medicine scientists because of its possible nutritional and medical applications. It exhibits many impacts such as antimicrobial, immunostimulating, antioxidants and hepatoprotective. Furthermore, BP has some useful therapeutic features in numerous pathological situations such as its impact to normalize wound healing. Based on previous literatures, the level of BP supplement in livestock and poultry ranged from 0.1 to 20 g/kg diet. This variation depends on the species, physiological status, age and purpose of addition; so far generally, it accepted to use the level with no side effects. It has been observed that BP enhanced growth performance, immunity responses and blood variables and had hypoglycaemic activity by reducing the lipid in the blood and carcass. Also, BP contains more nutrients, which stimulate faster differentiation and proliferation of the cells of immune system of birds. Therefore, the present review recommends that BP supplementation (up to 20 g/kg diet) had possible beneficial impacts, antioxidants and protective activities on most of the production, productive and health patterns of livestock.