Fecal steroid analysis for evaluating ovarian function in the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis)

Seasonal reproductive-endocrine norms have not been described for the genus Tragelaphus, which consists of seven species of African antelope. Longitudinal patterns of progesterone metabolite excretion were assessed by radioimmunoassays in fecal samples collected noninvasively (three to seven samples per week) from greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros, n = 4) and lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis, n = 4). Progesterone metabolite excretion patterns revealed seasonal estrous cycles in both species, and discrimination of pregnant versus nonpregnant females was achieved in lesser kudu. These data reveal the value of fecal progesterone metabolites for establishing reproductive-endocrine norms in both zoo-maintained and free-living antelopes of the genus Tragelaphus.     

Use of ex vitro composite plants to study the interaction of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) with the root parasitic angiosperm Striga gesnerioides

Background

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is an important grain and forage legume grown throughout sub-Saharan Africa primarily by subsistence farmers on poor, drought prone soils. Genetic improvement of the crop is being actively pursued and numerous functional genomics studies are underway aimed at characterizing gene controlling key agronomic characteristics for disease and pest resistances. Unfortunately, similar to other legumes, efficient plant transformation technology is a rate-limiting step in analysis of gene function in cowpea.

Results

Here we describe an optimized protocol for the rapid generation of transformed hairy roots on ex vitro composite plants of cowpea using Agrobacterium rhizogenes. We further demonstrate the applicability of cowpea composite plants to study gene expression involved in the resistance response of the plant roots to attack by the root parasitic weed, Striga gesnerioides. The utility of the new system and critical parameters of the method are described and discussed herein.

Conclusions

Cowpea composite plants offer a rapid alternative to methods requiring stable transformation and whole plant regeneration for studying gene expression in resistance or susceptibility responses to parasitic weeds. Their use can likely be readily adapted to look at the effects of both ectopic gene overexpression as well as gene knockdown of root associated defense responses and to the study of a broader range of root associated physiological and aphysiological processes including root growth and differentiation as well as interactions with other root pests, parasites, and symbionts.     

Outcomes assessment planning: an overview with applications in health sciences

This article provides a brief overview of the process of outcomes assessment and examples of its application in professional health science education. The article is intended to provide a background for other articles in this issue describing ongoing activities in outcomes assessment in veterinary education and for programs considering developing a plan. The focus is on health professions other than veterinary medicine. The paper is not intended to be a comprehensive review of outcomes assessment; rather, it provides examples and models that may help clarify the outcomes assessment movement and identify trends in health care education.     

Non-lethal loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay as a point-of-care diagnostics tool for Neoparamoeba perurans,the causative agent of amoebic gill disease

Neoparamoeba perurans is the causative agent of amoebic gill disease (AGD). Two loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays targeting the parasite 18S rRNA and the Atlantic salmon EF1α, used as internal control, were designed. The N. perurans LAMP assay did not amplify close relatives N. pemaquidensis and N. branchiphila, or the host DNA. This assay detected 10⁶ copies of the parasite 18S rRNA gene under 13 min and 10³ copies under 35 min. Five “fast-and-dirty” DNA extraction methods were compared with a reference method and further validated by TaqMan™ qPCR. Of those, the QuickExtract buffer was selected for field tests. Seventy-one non-lethal gill swabs were analysed from AGD-clinically infected Atlantic salmon. The pathogen was detected under 23 min in fish of gill score >2 and under 39 min for lower gill scores. About 1.6% of the tests were invalid (no amplification of the internal control). 100% of positives were obtained from swabs taken from fish showing gill score ˃3, but only ~50% of positives for lower gill scores. The present LAMP assay could be implemented as a point-of-care test for the on-site identification of N. perurans; however, further work is required to improve its performance for lower scores.     

How commercial fishing effort is managed

Wild capture fisheries produce 90 million tonnes of food each year and have the potential to provide sustainable livelihoods for nearly 40 million people around the world ( http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5555e.pdf ). After decades of overfishing since industrialization, many global fish stocks have recovered, a change brought about through effective management. We provide a synthetic overview of three approaches that managers use to sustain stocks: regulating catch and fishing mortality, regulating effort and regulating spatial access. Within each of these approaches, we describe common restrictions, how they alter incentives to change fishing behaviour, and the resultant ecological, economic and community‐level outcomes. For each approach, we present prominent case‐studies that illustrate behaviour and the corresponding performance. These case‐studies show that sustaining target stocks requires a hard limit on fishing mortality under most conditions, but that additional measures are required to generate economic benefits. Different systems for allocation allow stakeholder communities to strike a locally acceptable balance between profitability and employment.     

Part 1: Treatment of Snial Bait Toxicity in Dogs: Literature Review

Metaldehyde and methiocarb are two snail baits (molluscicides) which are commonly ingested by dogs and cause rapid onset of severe neurological symptoms. Rapid and appropriate treatment is essential for patient survival. This paper summarizes the literature on treatment of metaldehyde and methiocarb toxicity, based primarily on actual case reports from the past 35 years.
There are important differences between metaldehyde and methiocarb in their mechanisms and treatment. Metaldehyde's mechanism is unknown; methiocarb is a carbamate and parasympathomimetic. Pentobarbitone anesthesia and atropine have been the mainstays of treatment in metal-dehyde and methiocarb toxicity, respectively; their limitations and disadvantages are discussed. Other drugs and aspects of treatment, such as acetylpromazine, diazepam, gastric lavage, and hypetihermia, are also discussed.
Clinical signs are similar in both types of toxicity, but treatment may be complicated by the development of hyperthermia and atropine poisoning which also have similar clinical signs.     

Strain-Specific Behavior of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Interruption of Autophagy Pathway in Human Alveolar Type II Epithelial A549 Cells

Background:Autophagy induction has been shown to differ in magnitude depending on the mycobacterial species. However, few studies have investigated the specific autophagic capacity of different Mtb strains in ATs. This study aimed to elucidate the host autophagic response to different Mtb strains in ATs responsible for TB in the capital of Iran, Tehran. Methods:A549 cells were infected with three different Mtb clinical isolates (Beijing, NEW1, and CAS1/Delhi) and the reference strain H37Rv. Following RNA extraction, the expression of eight ATG genes, four mycobacterial genes, and three miRNAs was evaluated using quantitative RT-PCR. Results:The results revealed that all four strains influenced the autophagy pathway in various ways at different magnitudes. The Beijing and H37Rv strains could inhibit autophagosome formation, whereas the CAS and NEW1 strains induced autophagosome formation. The expression of genes involved in the fusion of autophagosomes to lysosomes (LAMP1) indicated that all the studied strains impaired the autophagolysosomal fusion; this result is not unexpected as Mtb can block the autophagolysomal fusion. In addition, the Beijing and H37RV strains prevented the formation of autophagic vacuoles, besides mycobacterial targeting of lysosomes and protease activity.Conclusion:This preliminary study improved our understanding of how Mtb manages to overcome the host immune system, such as autophagy, and evaluated the genes used by specific strains during this process. Further studies with a large number of Mtb strains, encompassing the other main Mtb lineages, are inevitable.Key Words: A549 cells, Autophagy, MicroRNA, Mycobacterium tuberculosis