Campylobacter jejuni is associated with, but not sufficient to cause vibrionic hepatitis in chickens

Vibrionic hepatitis is a disease of poultry which is characterised by the presence of focal lesions in the liver, usually 1-2mm in size and greyish-white in colour. The cause of the disease remains unclear, as do the reasons for its recent re-emergence. We examined the livers of commercial broiler chickens taken during processing and found Campylobacter spp. in both normal livers and those displaying signs indicative of focal hepatitis. Livers with signs of hepatitis had significantly more Campylobacter spp. present than those without and other bacterial genera were infrequently present. We were unable to replicate the disease in a healthy host following experimental infection with a Campylobacter jejuni strain isolated from a liver showing signs of focal hepatitis. However, a significant T cell response to C. jejuni was seen in the liver of Campylobacter infected birds. We conclude that the presence of Campylobacter spp. in the liver alone is not sufficient to cause vibrionic hepatitis, but that a predisposing factor, possibly within the host is required. We also provide evidence that chickens mount an adaptive T cell response to systemic C. jejuni.     

Molecular detection of Chlamydia-like organisms in cattle drinking water

A substantial proportion of the causes of infectious bovine abortion remain largely undiagnosed, potentially due to the presence of previously unrecognised infectious agents. Recently, several reports have demonstrated the presence of Parachlamydia sp. in placental and foetal tissues derived from bovine abortions of unknown aetiology but the route of transmission remains undefined. The drinking water from one such recent case study was analysed for the presence of Parachlamydia sp. as a potential source of infection. Chlamydiales sp. 16S rRNA genes were PCR-amplified from the drinking water and a 16S rRNA gene clone library constructed. DNA sequencing of thirty-one clones indicated the presence of organisms belonging to the Parachlamydiaceae, specifically the genera Parachlamydia and Neochlamydia. Seven 16S rRNA gene sequences were identical to a Parachlamydia sp. sequence obtained from placental tissue from an abortion case originating from the same farm. These results raise the possibility that the drinking water is a source of Parachlamydia, which may play a role in infectious bovine abortion.     

Rapid shift from denitrification to nitrification in soil after biogas residue application as indicated by nitrous oxide isotopomers

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is one of the major greenhouse gases emitted from soils, where it is mainly produced by nitrification and denitrification. It is well known that rates of N₂O release from soils are mainly determined by the availability of substrates and oxygen, but N₂O source apportioning, highly needed to advance N₂O mitigation strategies, still remains challenging. In this study, using an automated soil incubation system, the N₂O site preference, i.e. the intramolecular ¹⁵N distribution, was analyzed to evaluate the progression in N₂O source processes following organic soil amendment. Biogas fermentation residue (BGR; originating from food waste fermentation) was applied to repacked grassland soil cores and compared to ammonium sulfate (AS) application, both at rates equivalent to 160 kg NH₄⁺-N ha⁻¹, and to unamended soil (control). The soil cores were incubated in a helium-oxygen atmosphere with 20 kPa O₂ for 43 days at 80% water-filled pore space. 43-day cumulative N₂O emissions were highest with BGR treated soil accounting for about 1.68 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹ while application of AS caused much lower fluxes of c. 0.23 kg N₂O-N ha⁻¹. Also, after BGR application, carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes showed a pronounced initial peak with steep decline until day 21 whereas with ammonium addition they remained at the background level. N₂O dual isotope and isotopomer analysis of gas samples collected from BGR treated soil indicated bacterial denitrification to be the main N₂O generating process during the first three weeks when high CO₂ fluxes signified high carbon availability. In contrast, in the second half after all added labile carbon substrates had been consumed, nitrification, i.e. the generation of N₂O via oxidation of hydroxylamine, gained in importance reaching roughly the same N₂O production rate compared to bacterial denitrification as indicated by N₂O SP. Overall in this study, bacterial denitrification seemed to be the main N₂O forming process after application of biogas residues and fluxes were mainly driven by available organic carbon.     

Lipid evaluation of cultivated and wild carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seed oil growing in Turkey

Studies were carried out on the oil content, fatty acids, tocopherols and sterols in the seeds of two carobs (Ceratonia siliqua), cultivated and wild, from Turkey. The oil yields of cultivated and wild carob seeds were established as 1.73 and 1.82% on a dry weight basis, respectively. The main fatty acids in cultivated and wild carob seed oils are linoleic (49.1% and 51.0%), oleic (30.4% and 26.5%), palmitic (10.3% and 12.0%) and stearic (3.5% and 4.6%), respectively. Tocopherols and phytosterols are important constituents of the unsaponifiable fraction of several seed oils. The major tocopherol in both seed oils was γ-tocopherol. The composition (mg/100 g) was as follows α-tocopherol (69.06 and 70.39 mg/100 g), P8 (22.29 and 24.78 mg/100 g), δ-tocopherol (8.70 and 10.66 mg/100 g), β-tocopherol (2.30 and 1.85 mg/100 g). The total tocopherol contents had 208.45 and 223.14 mg/100 g, respectively. The total content of sterols of both oils were determined as 16400.94 and 30191.55 mg/kg, with β-sitosterol as the predominant sterol that accounted for more than 70% of the total amount of sterols other sterols, campesterol (5.33–5.32%), stigmasterol (0.58–11.43%) 7-avenasterol (3.45–3.03%), 7-stigmasterol (2.16–2.4%), and chlerosterol (1.33–1.0%) were detected in both carob oils. As a result, the accurate quantification of these analyses has very important applications for the nutrition sciences.     

Characteristics of some almond kernel and oils

The proximate properties, the fatty acid and mineral contents of different almond kernel varieties were determined. The crude protein contents of kernels ranged between 12.7% (guara) and 16.3% (cristomorto). The oil yields from these kernels were established between 48.8% (cristomorto) and 55.7% (ferragnes). The acidity value of oils were found between 1.389 and 3.559%. In addition, peroxide values were established between 7.586 (nonpareil) and 15.590 mequiv./kg (cristomorto). The major fatty acids of almond kernel oils were oleic (72.5–79.9%), linoleic (13.5–19.8%) and palmitic acids (5.9–6.7%). The predominant mineral in most kernel was potassium (13.1–15.1 mg/100 g). The mineral contents of the kernels were established as 7.94–9.38 mg/100 g potassium, 2.9–4.0 mg/100 g magnesium and 1.84–2.94 mg/100 g calcium. From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the kernels of almond varieties are being potential sources of valuable oil which might be used for edible and other industrial applications.     

Pathogenicity of four native isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, 1863 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a major pest on stored grains. Chemical pesticides are...     

Functional characteristics of the growth factor receptor family and some ligands in the oropharyngeal cavity of the Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar)

1. The aim of the present study is to describe, immunohistochemically, the expression and cell type localisation of growth factor receptors and some of their ligands in the oropharyngeal organs of the Chukar partridge.

2. The tissue samples from 10 healthy adult partridges were dissected under ether anaesthesia and then embedded in paraffin following routine histological procedures. The immunoreaction for receptors and ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/ligand system was localised in the cell membrane, nucleus and cytoplasm of the luminal and glandular epithelial cells, stromal and striated muscle cells, and vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells.

3. Variations were observed in the avian oropharyngeal organs. The immunostaining for the erbB1/HER1 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 1) and the EGF (epidermal growth factor) and AREG (Amphiregulin) ligands in the luminal epithelial cells was higher than in the glandular epithelial, stromal and striated muscle cells. However, the immunostaining for erbB3/HER3 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 3) and erbB4/HER4 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 4) were similar in the luminal epithelium, stromal and striated muscle cells.

4. Growth factor receptors and some of their ligands were localised in different cell types in the oropharyngeal organs. We suggest that erbB/HERs (human epidermal growth factor receptors) and their ligands play an important role in proliferation, differentiation, growth, survival and migration of the cells.     

Evapotranspiration of orange trees in greenhouse lysimeters

Eight-year-old Murcott orange trees (Citrus sinensis (L.) Murcott) grown in greenhouse lysimeters filled with sandy soil were used to investigate seasonal variations in daily and hourly evapotranspiration. The study was conducted in Japan during the summer of 2000 and the winter of 2001. Weighing lysimeters of 1.5 m diameter and 1.6 m depth (three replications) planted with a tree were irrigated when average soil moisture in 0-120 cm of soil depth was depleted to below 70% of the field capacity (FC). Evapotranspiration (ET) showed significant seasonal variations. Average ET rate exceeded 4.4 mm/day in the summer period, and dropped to 0.6 mm/day in the winter months. The average seasonal crop coefficient (K_C) was 0.91 and 0.75 during the summer and winter periods, respectively. Hourly variations in ET exhibited a time difference with season. The time of maximum ET was 0900 hours for winter and 1200 hours for summer. Moreover, some evaporative losses of soil water occurred even during the night in both summer and winter seasons. Soil evaporation (E) was 33% of ET during the winter period, while E was only 11% of ET during summer. Maximum water uptake by the trees was found at a depth of 30-60 cm, and soil water depletion was observed in the 0-120 cm depth of the profile during the summer period. However, during the winter season, water depletion occurred only from 0-30 cm depth of the soil profile.     

The effects of pine mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) on the growth of Scots pine and Crimean pine in Turkey

In this study, the effect of pine mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) on basal area increment of Crimean pine and Scots pine was investigated. Dendrochronological data were collected from 223 (71 uninfected and 152 infected) Crimean pines and 195 (77 uninfected and 118 infected) Scots pines located in Kastamonu province of Turkey in 2014. Infected sample trees were classified as light, moderate or severe infection levels. Growth trends and basal area increment loses were compared between uninfected and infected trees for the periods of the last 10, 20 and 30 years. In addition, infection status of forest stands was investigated using temporary sample plots; 27 plots in Crimean pine stands and 26 plots in Scots pine. Results demonstrated that basal area increments were negatively affected by pine mistletoe for both species. Mean basal area increment losses of infected trees for the last decade were determined as 24% for Scots pine and 26% for Crimean pine. Basal area increment losses varied by infection levels (light, moderate and severe) as follows: 25%, 20% and 28% for Scots pines and 20%, 32% and 9% for Crimean pines. Scots pine stands were more severely infected by pine mistletoe than Crimean pine stands. There were negative correlations between number of infected trees and stand density for both species, while positive correlation was detected between the number of infected trees and mean diameter for Scots pine. The results of this study indicate that the pine mistletoe infection has negative effect on radial growth of Scots pine and Crimean pine trees. The results can be an important contribution to the forest management and protection activities in mistletoe-infected stands.