Toxoplasma infection and abortion in dairy goats

Summary Serological investigation by the indirect haemagglutination test forToxoplasma antibodies was carried out in a flock of dairy goats. Antibody titres ranging from 1:4 to 1:1,024 were found in 34% of 371 apparently healthy animals. High antibody titres of 1:256 suggestive of recent infection were noted in 18 (4.9%) animals including 13 nannies. The occurrence of a number of non-brucella abortions associated with high serological titres and the isolation of the parasite from the brain tissues of an aborted foetus suggestedToxoplasma as a probable aetiologic factor. Sera having significant levels of haemagglutinating antibodies (1:128) were also found positive to the card agglutination test. Epidemiological aspects and the public health potential of subclinical toxoplasmosis in dairy goats are discussed.

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Infecciones Y Abortos En Cabras Lecheras Debido AToxoplasma

Resumen Se realizaron investigaciones serológicas de toxoplasmosis mediante la prueba indirecta de hemaglutinación en un rebaño de cabras lecheras. Se encontraron títulos de 1:4 a 1:1024 en 34% de 371 animales aparentemente sanos. Títulos de 1:256 sugestivos de infecciones recientes, se encontraron en 18 (4.9%) animales, incluyendo 13 hembras paridas. La ocurrencia de un significativo número de abortos no asociados con brucela, títulos serológicos altos de toxoplasmosis y el aislamiento del parásito del cerebro de fetos abortados, sugiere que eltoxoplasma es el factor etiológico más importante. Se discuten aspectos epidemiológicos de importantcia para la salud pública, relacionados con el potencial de la toxoplasmosis (subclínica) en cabras lecheras.

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Toxoplasmose Et Avortement Chez Les Chevres Latiteres

Résumé Des investigations sérologiques par la méthode de l'agglutination indirecte pour rechercher des anticorps toxoplasmiques ont été faites sur un troupeau de chèvres laitières. Des anticorps ont été mis en évidence chez 34 p.100 des 371 animaux apparemment sains à des titres allant de 1:4 à 1:1024. Des titres élevés d'anticorps atteignant 1:256 ont été relevés chez 18 (soit 4,9 p.100) des animaux comprenant 13 chèvres, ce qui fait penser à une infection récente.L'existence de nombre d'avortements non-brucelliques associés avec des titres sérologiques élevés et l'isolement du parasite des tittus cérébraux d'un foetus avorté suggerent que les Toxoplasmes en ont probablement été le facteur étiologique. Des sérums ayant des taux significativement élevés d'anticorps agglutinants (1:128) ont également été reconnus comme positifs par le test d'agglutination en EAT. Les aspects épidémiologiques et le danger potentiel pour l'homme de ces cas subcliniques de toxoplasmose chez les chèvres laitières sont discutés.

     

Laboratory study of phosphorus forms and test procedures on soils under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

The inorganic forms of phosphorus in nine samples of surface soils from the Nainital Tarai of India were determined by a series of extractions with different reagents after incubation for 45 days under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The forms of phosphorus in samples incubated under aerobic conditions and the pH range of 7.2–8.5 indicated that the soils had been subject to slight chemical weathering. Anaerobic incubation to simulate conditions in lowland rice paddies converted part of the inorganic phosphorus into more labile forms, based on changes in amounts of isotopically exchangeable phosphorus. Amounts of the element converted to more labile forms differed among the nine soil samples.A better correlation was found between amounts of phosphorus extracted by 0.5M NaHCO³ (Olsen's method) than by 0.03N NH₄F in 0.25N HCl (Bray's method) and the isotopically exchangeable phosphorus. The better correlation suggests that the bicarbonate extraction would be the better method for estimating “availablelrd phosphorus in soils of lowland rice paddies. Recalibration of the test prior to such use seems desirable to allow for increases in amounts of phosphorus in labile forms after soils have been shifted from aerobic to anaerobic conditions.     

Genetic Analysis of Some Chemotypes in Ocimum basilicum var. glabratum

Screening of a population of Ocimum basilicum var. glabratum Benth., raised from seeds collected from France, West Africa and Kerala (India) was carried out for chemical composition of its essential oils. In all three collections, plants were found to be comprised of 3 chemotypes which were morphologically indistinguishable, but each chemotype was found to be capable of intercrossing freely with the other two. Selfing was carried out during 4 consecutive generations, after which three pure lines were established. Study of the selfed progeny of each collection exhibited an interesting segregation in S₂ and S₃ generations. Along with segregation in F₂ and F₃ generations of various hybrids the results can be explained by assuming a gene ‘M’ existing in 3 (or more) allelic forms: The allele M₀ for biosynthesis of estragole (methyl chavicol) is dominant to allelcs M₁ , for eugenol and M₂ for camphor. Also, allele M₁ is dominant to allele M₂ . The assumption was further confirmed by testcrosses of F₁ hybrids of each cross with their recessive parent.     

Genome-wide association study for spot blotch resistance in Afghan wheat germplasm

Spot blotch (SB), caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, is a devastating disease of wheat globally, especially in South Asia and South America. Understanding the genetics of resistance to SB is important for developing breeding strategies to improve resistance. A panel of 301 genotypes from Afghanistan was phenotyped over two crop seasons using a mixture of virulent B. sorokiniana isolates and genotyped using DArTSeq to obtain genome-wide markers. Fifty genotypes (16.6%) showed disease scores less than the resistant control. Principal component analysis using the genotypic data clustered the genotypes into five different groups. Among models used for genome-wide association mapping, the multilocus mixed model, and fixed and random model circulating probability unification algorithms were most effective in identifying significant marker-trait associations (MTA). Twenty-five MTAs at p ≤ .001 were identified on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 1D, 2B, 2D, 3A, 3B, 4A, 5A, 5B, 6A, 7A, and 7D, indicating the quantitative nature of resistance to SB. Phenotypic variation explained by these markers ranged from 2.0% to 17.7%, and genomic regions on the chromosomes 1D, 2D, 3A, 3B, 4A, 5A, and 5B coincided with loci identified in previous studies. Three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers on chromosomes 1B (SNP 1113207) and 5A (SNPs 5411867 and 998276) were significant in both crop seasons as well as in the combined analysis across seasons. Marker 5411867 is close to Vrn-A1, shown to be associated with SB in previous studies. Furthermore, among known SB resistance genes, Sb2 on chromosome 5B was predicted to be significant in this panel.     

Effects of Partial and Complete Replacement of Synthetic Cryoprotectant with Carrot (Daucus carota) Concentrated Protein on Stability of Frozen Surimi

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of carrot concentrated protein (CCP) as additive on the functional and textural properties of surimi from striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) during six months of frozen storage (?20°C). The CCP (82.22% crude protein) was used as an additive either a lone or with a synthetic cryoprotectant (sucrose-sorbitol-sodium tri-polyphosphate). Control was made with synthetic cryoprotectant only. Molecular weight of CCP was found to be 36 kDa. After six months, the results revealed that up to 50% of synthetic cryoprotectants could be replaced by CCP during frozen storage of surimi. Biochemical parameters such as protein solubility, Ca²⁺ATPase activity, and gel strength decreased significantly (p < .05) during storage. Treatment T-3 (CCP 0.5% + 50% of synthetic cryoprotectant) maintained quality of protein significantly superior (p < .05) in respect to denaturation and other functional and sensory attributes compared to all the treatments. The microstructure images of surimi confirmed that addition of CCP modified the ice crystal growth during frozen storage. This study suggests that CCP can be a potential additive to protect protein from denaturation along with partial replacement of chemical cryoprotectants.     

Heat shock protein 70 expression in different tissues of Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.) following heat stress

Members of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) are highly conserved proteins of about 70 kDa and play important roles in protein folding. Levels of these proteins increase when cells are under stress. Environmental temperature influences both the basal and induced levels of HSPs. However, studies on HSPs in fishes from a tropical country such as India are lacking. In the present study, Indian major carp (IMC) Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.) acclimatized at 25±2°C had high levels of HSP70, viz., 1.2–1.3 ng μg^?1 total protein in kidney and gill and 4.2–5.3 ng μg^?1 total protein in liver and brain tissues, indicating the presence of biochemically significant levels of stress. However, maintenance of acclimatized fish at 17°C for up to 48 h did not lead to a significant decrease in stress protein levels. A heat shock at 37°C for up to 48 h resulted in only two to threefold increase in HSP70 levels in these organs. Although the increase in HSP70 levels was apparent from the first hour of heat stress in all these tissues, the increase was significant from the second hour in the brain, the sixth hour in liver and kidney and the 20th hour in the gills.     

Integrated effect of transplanting date, cultivar and irrigation on yield, water saving and water productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Indian Punjab: Field and simulation study

Individual effect of different field scale management interventions for water saving in rice viz. changing date of transplanting, cultivar and irrigation schedule on yield, water saving and water productivity is well documented in the literature. However, little is known about their integrated effect. To study that, field experimentation and modeling approach was used. Field experiments were conducted for 2 years (2006 and 2007) at Punjab Agricultural University Farm, Ludhiana on a deep alluvial loamy sand Typic Ustipsamment soils developed under hyper-thermic regime. Treatments included three dates of transplanting (25 May, 10 June and 25 June), two cultivars (PR 118 inbred and RH 257 hybrid) and two irrigation schedules (2-days drainage period and at soil water suction of 16 kPa). The model used was CropSyst, which has already been calibrated for growth (periodic biomass and LAI) of rice and soil water content in two independent experiments. The main findings of the field and simulation studies conducted are compared to any individual, integrated management of transplanting date, cultivar and irrigation, sustained yield (6.3-7.5 t ha⁻¹) and saved substantial amount of water in rice. For example, with two management interventions, i.e. shifting of transplanting date to lower evaporative demand (from 5 May to 25 June) concomitant with growing of short duration hybrid variety (90 days from transplanting to harvest), the total real water saving (wet saving) through reduction in evapotranspiration (ET) was 140 mm, which was almost double than managing the single, i.e. 66 mm by shifting transplanting or 71 mm by growing short duration hybrid variety. Shifting the transplanting date saved water through reduction in soil water evaporation component while growing of short duration variety through reduction in both evaporation and transpiration components of water balance. Managing irrigation water schedule based on soil water suction of 16 kPa at 15-20 cm soil depth, compared to 2-day drainage, did not save water in real (wet saving), however, it resulted into apparent water saving (dry saving). The real crop water productivity (marketable yield/ET) was more by 17% in 25th June transplanted rice than 25th May, 23% in short duration variety than long and 2% in irrigation treatment of 16 kPa soil water suction than 2-days drainage. The corresponding values for the apparent crop water productivity (marketable yield/irrigation water applied) were 16, 20 and 50%, respectively. Pooled experimental data of 2 years showed that with managing irrigation scheduling based on soil water suction of 16 kPa at 15-20 cm soil depth, though 700 mm irrigation water was saved but the associated yield was reduced by 277 kg ha⁻¹.     

Kinetics of Interferon-Gamma Production and its Comparison with Anti-Listeriolysin O Detection in Experimental Bovine Listeriosis

The kinetics of the production of interferon gamma (IFN-) in whole blood culture and its comparison with anti-listeriolysin O (ALLO) detection by ELISA were studied during oral infection of calves with Listeria monocytogenes. Culture filtrate antigen (CFA), listeriolysin O (LLO), and sonicated antigen (SA) were used to prime the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the plasma from orally infected calves. IFN- and ALLO appeared as early as day 7 of an oral infection. IFN- was detected earlier with LLO than with SA. The Max50 interleukin (IL-2) activity and IFN- estimated in the culture supernatant from PBMCs primed in vitro with different antigens of L. monocytogenes revealed high induction of IL-2 and IFN- by CFA, LLO and live antigen. IFN- assay and ALLO detection were used for testing cases of repeat breeding in dairy cattle. It appeared that detection of IFN- employing LLO can be used to diagnose listerial infections.