Infection of bovine immunodeficiency virus and bovine leukemia virus in water buffalo and cattle populations in Pakistan

A survey of antibodies to bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) known as bovine lentivirus and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was conducted with samples from water buffalo and cattle populations in Pakistan. A total of 370 water buffaloes and 76 cattle were tested, and 10.3% and 15.8%, respectively, were found positive for anti-BIV p26 antibodies determined by Western blotting, while 0.8% of water buffaloes and no cattle were positive for anti-BLV antibodies determined by immunodiffusion test. BIV-seropositive water buffaloes and cattle were found to have BIV proviral DNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells determined by nested polymerase chain reaction. This is the first report of BIV infections in water buffaloes.     

An Assessment of Variation for Nutritional and Non-nutritional Carbohydrates in Lentil Seeds (Lens culinaris)

The levels of the raffinose family of α-galactosides (raffinose, stachyose, verbascose and ciceritol) and of the nutritional carbohydrates (fructose, sucrose and starch) were determined in the seed of a range of lentil lines from germplasm collections and commercial Spanish cultivars. Significant levels of variation were found for all the measured characters, and particularly for the α-galactosides. The greatest variation was found in verbascose content, which ranged from about 1 % of the seed dry weight to undetectable amounts. The relationship between these chemical components and morphological seed characteristics was assessed. The only significant relationship between the different groups of characteristics was a positive correlation between the level of verbascose and the average seed weight for each genotype.     

N-Source Effects on Temporal Distribution of NO3-N Leaching Losses to Subsurface Drainage Water

Understanding the temporal distribution of NO₃-N leaching losses from subsurface drained ‘tile’ fields as a function of climate and management practices can help develop strategies for its mitigation. A field study was conducted from 1999 through 2003 to investigate effects of the most vulnerable application of pig manure (fall application and chisel plow), safe application of pig manure (spring application and no-tillage) and common application of artificial nitrogen (UAN spring application and chisel plow) on NO₃-N leaching losses to subsurface drainage water beneath corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation systems as a randomized complete block design. The N application rates averaged over five years ranged from 166 kg-N ha^?1 for spring applied manure to 170 kg-N ha^?1 for UAN and 172 kg-N ha^?1 for fall applied manure. Tillage and nitrogen source effects on tile flow and NO₃-N leaching losses were not significant (P?<?0.05). Fall applied manure with CP resulted in significantly greater corn grain yield (10.8 vs 10.4 Mg ha^?1) compared with the spring manure-NT system. Corn plots with the spring applied manure-NT system gave relatively lower flow weighted NO₃-N concentration of 13.2 mg l^?1 in comparison to corn plots with fall manure-CP (21.6 mg l^?1) and UAN-CP systems (15.9 mg l^?1). Averaged across five years, about 60% of tile flow and NO₃-N leaching losses exited the fields during March through May. Growing season precipitation and cycles of wet and dry years primarily controlled NO₃-N leaching losses from tile drained fields. These results suggest that spring applied manure has potential to reduce NO₃-N concentrations in subsurface drainage water and also strategies need to be developed to reduce early spring NO₃-N leaching losses.     

Dietary supplementation with low molecular weight sodium alginate improves growth,haematology, immune reactions and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in Clarias gariepinus

A few studies have illustrated the effects of sodium salt derived from alginic acid on different fish species. However, little is known about the effect of sodium alginate on catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Therefore, this study was performed to assess the use of low molecular weight sodium alginate ( LMWSA) in C. gariepinus. A total of 180 apparently healthy C. gariepinus with a mean body weight of 45 g were randomly divided into three equal groups (D1, D2 and D3). D1 the control group received a control diet, while D2 and D3 received 1% and 3% LMWSA, respectively, for 8 weeks. A challenge test against Aeromonas hydrophila was performed on 15 randomly selected catfish for 15 days. At the end of the experiment, catfish in D3 that received a diet of 3% LMWSA showed significant increases in the final body weight, weight gain and thermal‐unit growth coefficient compared with those in D2 and D1. There was a significant decrease in the erythrogram in D1 after the 4‐day pathogen challenge. A leucogram revealed leucocytosis, heterophilia and lymphocytosis in catfish in D2 and D3 compared with those in D1. After the 4‐day challenge, the following changes took place: lysozyme, nitric oxide, phagocytic activity and the respiratory burst were significantly elevated in catfish that received LMWSA and were more pronounced in D3 than in D1. The mortalities of catfish have been stopped after pathogen challenge from 8‐day in D1 and D2 where at 6‐day in D3. Thus, administration of 1% and 3% LMWSA enhances the growth, immune response and resistance of C. gariepinus against A. hydrophila.     

Barseem (Trifolium alexandrnum) protein concentrate in broiler rations

Animal protein in broiler rations was replaced with Barseem Protein Concentrate (BPC). The standard group having blood, meat and fish meal as sources of animal protein showed an average weight gain of 1655 g. Replacement of blood meal with BPC resulted in a slight decrease in the average weight gain (1541 g) of broilers. Average weight gain of broilers increased to 1775 g and 1671 g when fish or meat meal was replaced with BPC in rations. Complete replacement of animal protein with BPC adversely affected growth and average weight gain decreased to 1443 g. Supplementation with lysine or methionine when animal protein was replaced with BPC did not improve growth of the broilers.     

Combined Application of Biochar and Biocontrol Agents Enhances Plant Growth and Activates Resistance Against Meloidogyne incognita in Tomato

Gesunde Pflanzen - Biochar (BC) is known to enhance plant growth and may activate plant resistance to various soil borne pathogens. In this experiment, the rice husk (RH) BC was combined with...     

Assessment of the impact of dissemination of genetically improved Abbassa Nile tilapia strain (GIANT‐G9) versus commercial strains in some Egyptian governorates

WorldFish initiated a selective breeding program in Abbassa—Egypt to develop and produce the genetically improved Nile tilapia strain known as “Genetically Improved Abbassa Nile tilapia (GIANT)”, adopting the same technology used for the Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT), in Asia. WorldFish provided the Ninth Generation (G9) broodstock of the GIANT to 11 Broodstock Multiplication Centers (BMC’s) in five governorates; these centres then disseminated improved mixed‐sex fry to 160 tilapia hatcheries which supplied all‐male fry to 1,500 fish farms in 2017. We present results of an impact assessment of the G9 of GIANT in 83 of these fish farms in four Egyptian governorates (Kafr El‐Sheikh, Fayoum, Behera and Alexandria). Results indicate that the use of GIANT in all governorates achieved significantly higher (18.8%) fish yields (12.3%–26.4%) and 15.7% lower FCR (feed conversion ratio), reflecting a positive impact on their net profits compared with those who used commercial strains. Overall, fish farmers who stocked GIANT had significantly higher average fish sales (5,567 US$/ha) than those who stocked non‐improved commercial strains (5,192 US$/ha) in all governorates. However, when comparing within governorates, the difference was significant only in Fayoum and Alexandria noting a mixed performance of the GIANT strain. The mixed performance indicates that some hatcheries may have crossed the different strains, which lowered the performance differences. To get an objective analysis of the performance of the GIANT, it is recommended that similar assessment be undertaken with new generations of the strain supported by on‐farm performance trials.     

Alleviating effects of β‐glucan in Oreochromis niloticus on growth performance,immune reactions,antioxidant, transcriptomics disorders and resistance to Aeromonas sobria caused by atrazine

Three hundred Oreochromis niloticus were divided into five groups; the control fish (CNT) were fed a basal diet, beta glucan (βG) group was fed 0.5 g/kg^?1 βG, atrazine (ATZ) group was exposed to 1/5 96‐hr LC₅₀ (1.39 mg/L) ATZ, the (βG/ATZ) group was fed βG while being exposed to ATZ, and the (βG then ATZ) group was supplemented with βG for fifteen days before exposed to ATZ. ATZ exposure caused a decline in growth that was ameliorated by βG. ATZ reduced the levels of total and different types of leucocytes. Additionally, ATZ exposure caused reductions in total proteins, globulins, α 1‐globulin, α 2‐globulin, ?‐globulin, immunoglobulin M, lysozymes, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide and catalase but increases in hepatic transaminases and malondialdehyde without any variations in albumin and β‐globulin. Exposure to ATZ also resulted in a rise in the mRNA level of IL‐8. In contrast, expression of IgM, SOD and CAT were decreased in the tilapias exposed to ATZ. Exposure to ATZ increases the susceptibility response to Aeromonas sobria challenge, as indicated by an increase in cumulative mortality post‐challenge. Supplementation with βG fifteen days before (βG then ATZ group), counteracted the adverse effects of ATZ on the immune, biochemical and antioxidants values, though only slight alleviation was observed with simultaneous treatment (βG/ATZ group). Our results established that ATZ has adverse impacts on immune responses, antioxidant equilibrium and its related genes. While, supplementation with βG before exposure to ATZ may be valuable for counteracting the possible damage caused by ATZ water pollution than its simultaneous treatment with ATZ.