Freely Dissolved Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) along the Indus River Pakistan: Spatial pattern, Air-water Exchange and Risk Assessment

Freely dissolved OCPs and PCBs were measured by using polyethylene passive samplers, at 15 sites during 2014 throughout the stretch of Indus River to investigate spatial pattern, air−water exchange gradients and risk assessment. Concentrations (pg/L) of dissolved ∑OCPs and ∑PCBs ranged from 34–1600 and 3–230. Among the detected OCPs, dissolved DDTs (p,p′-DDE, followed by p,p′-DDT) predominated with levels of 0.48 to 220 pg/L. The order of occurrence for other studied OCPs was as follows; HCB, Endosulfans, Chlordanes, and HCHs. Spatially, dissolved (pg/L) ∑OCPs varied (p < 0.05) as: surface water of Alluvial Riverine Zone (ARZ) showed highest levels (114) followed by Frozen Mountain Zone (FMZ) (52.9), Low Lying Zone (LLZ) (28.73) and Wet Mountain Zone (WMZ) (14.43) respectively. However, our zone wise PCBs data did not exhibit significant differences (p > 0.05). The PCA/MLR results showed that pesticides usage in crop/orchard fields and health sector, electric & electronic materials, and widespread industrial activities as the main source of OCPs and PCBs along Indus River. Air-water exchange of OCPs at FMZ, o,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDE and o,p′-DDD exhibited net volatilization while p,p′-DDD/o,p′-DDT showed net deposition, while all other studied zones (i.e., WMZ, ARZ and LLZ) showed net deposition of DDTs. Nevertheless, air-water exchange of PCBs showed that, there was net volatilization at the FMZ, WMZ and ARZ and net deposition at LLZ. Our results showed that OCPs and PCBs contaminated water intake, played an important role towards the considerable cancer/non-cancer risk (HI and CR values) along the Indus River Flood-Plain.

DISTRIBUTION AND ORGANOLEPTIC INDICATORS OF PRODUCTS OF SMALL CATTLE SLAUGHTER IN ECHINOCOCCOSIS ON THE MARKETS OF DUSHANBE

This article provides data on the research work carried out to identify echinococcosis among small cattle of different age groups in the Republic of Tajikistan. Echinococcosis of farm animals with a high intensity of invasion is recorded in all areas studied by us, in the valley, foothill and mountain zones. Thus, out of the examined 23 364 organs from slaughtered sheep, 17 850 animals, or 76.40%, were affected by echinococcus. In the farms of the valley zone with distant-pasture sheep breeding, the average prevalence was 72.4%, in the foothill zone with distant-pasture sheep breeding – 90.4%, and in the mountain zone – 59.3%. Slaughtered livestock has a high prevalence not only in the context of zones and districts, but also within farms of the same district, depending on the conditions of keeping the sheep and the number of dogs in the flocks. Thus, in farms with distant-pasture sheep breeding in the valley zone of the same district, the infection rate reached 75.0%, while in the mountain zone only 54.2%. The study for echinococcosis of cattle of different sex and age groups found the same pattern as in sheep, i.e. the prevalence increased with age: from 12% in animals under 2 years old to 39.4% in animals of 3–4 years old and 41.6% in animals older than 5 years.

RESOURCE STUDIES OF SCOTS PINE POLLEN GROWING IN THE MOUNTAIN ZONE OF NORTH OSSETIA-ALANIA

This research work is devoted to resource-based research on the harvesting of Scots pine pollen, as it is known that pine pollen is recognized worldwide as a unique "complete nutrition complex". It is also known that no plant resources can compare with pollen in terms of balance and activity of its constituent elements and BAS (biologically active substances), so its use in official medicine may be promising. In order to identify the possibility of using Scots pine pollen growing in the mountain zone of RSO-Alania on an industrial scale and using raw materials for obtaining broad-spectrum medicines, resource studies of Scots pine growth were conducted and areas forming a forest area that are promising for harvesting were identified, in particular, between the villages of Zintsar and Injinta in the mountain zone of the Alagir gorge of the Republic. A plot of about 3 hectares was taken for research. The operational stock of pine pollen was 117 kg, the volume of possible annual harvesting of pine pollen should not exceed 39 kg. The identified reserves of scots pine pollen growing in the mountain zone of the Alagirsky district of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania allow us to recommend harvesting as a medicinal raw material in reasonable volumes. Of course, for reliable data on the recommended volumes of pollen harvesting, it is necessary to study all the places of growth of scots pine not only in the Alagirsky district of the republic, but also in other areas. Moreover, the research should be carried out both in the mountainous and in the flat part of the territory of the republic. Research in this direction continues.

Numerical and Species Composition of Insects Transmitting Viral Infection in North Ossetia

One of the major tasks in the production of original and elite potato seeds is to prevent the rapid re-infection of the healthy material with viruses in the open field. The high rate of infection with each subsequent reproduction reduces seed productivity and worsens the tuber varietal quality. Currently, about two dozen viruses that infect potatoes have been identified. In the field, most of the harmful viruses of potatoes are transmitted by insects such as aphids, cicadas and bedbugs. The purpose of our research was to study the species composition of transmitters and the intensity of their flight in North Ossetia. Studying the activity of the winged aphid vector is a prerequisite for the implementation of protective measures against re-infection of the sanitized material with viruses. The most important criteria characterizing aphids in transferring potato viruses during the growing season were as follows: the species composition, the dynamics of the potato planting periods, the timing of the critical threshold with regards to the number of aphids, and the total vector intensity during the growing season. There are very few aphid vectors in the mountain zone of the Republic of North Ossetia, which is at and above an altitude of 1,650 meters above sea level. Therefore, mountain regions of this height are a natural insulator against viral infection. In the foothill zone, the most numerous aphid vectors are bean, buckthorn, and alder buckthorn-willowherb aphids, whose number varies from 35 to 280 individuals per year on a Merike trap. Keywords: potatoes, insect vectors, a Merike trap, mountain zone, spatial isolation

FEATURES OF THE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION OF KARACHAY GOATS DEPENDING ON DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF BREEDING

In recent years, goat breeds with a dairy-meat-wool or combined productivity type, represented by local breeds that are bred mainly in the foothills and mountainous regions of the North Caucasus, Altai, Tyva and Khakassia, have become increasingly widespread in Russia. The Karachay goat population is the most interesting for research, since in their breeding was aimed at obtaining animals with a number of unique productive characteristics and capable of producing the required outputs under the harsh conditions of the mountain and foothill zones of the Caucasus. In view of the limited research on these animals, in particular their reproductive functions, the aim of this study was to investigate the natural implementation of the reproductive function of the Karachay goats in different geographical areas of breeding. There are slight differences in some parameters of Karachay goat reproduction in high mountain zone (from 2000 m a.s.l.) and middle mountain zone (1000–1500 m a.s.l.). An important conclusion is that the recognized low fertility of the Karachay goats is not genetically determined. Analyzing the number of ovulations and fresh yellow bodies in the ovaries by laparoscopy using Karl Storz (Germany) endoscopic equipment, the authors found a potential fecundity of 3.1 (2.8 to 3.4).