Direct Aulacaspis yasumatsui Infestation of Pre-Harvest Cycas Seeds Reduces Germination and Performance of Seedlings

The invasion of numerous countries by the armored scale Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi has caused widespread mortality of host Cycas species. Few studies have looked at reproductive biology responses of host plants to the herbivore. This study was conducted to determine the influence of direct Cycas seed integument infestation of A. yasumatsui on germination and seedling performance. An observational study in a Tinian ex situ Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill garden revealed that germination percentage was reduced two-thirds by heavy pre-harvest integument infestation, and more than half of the seedlings from infested seeds died in the nursery. Multi-year mortality of plants was six times greater for plants from habitats with infested seeds than for plants from minimally infested habitats. Stem height of nine-year-old plants from habitats with infested seeds was 64% of that of plants from habitats with un-infested seeds. A controlled study in a Philippine ex situ C. micronesica and Cycas edentata de Laub. garden corroborated these findings. Germination of infested seeds was about 30% of that for un-infested seeds. Seedling mortality in the nursery following experimental infestation of seed integuments with A. yasumatsui during seed maturation was about 50%, but was minimal for seedlings from un-infested seeds. These results indicate that limitations in regeneration and recruitment of host Cycas plants following A. yasumatsui herbivory may be partly due to the influence of direct seed infestations. Conservationists may use this new knowledge to improve in situ seed selection criteria and use prophylactic treatments to ensure lack of integument infestations for ex situ gardens.

Effect of fenbenzyl and fenbendazole on peroxide intensity oxidation of lipids in the blood of dogs in experimental toxocariasis

Toxocariasis is a chronic helminthic disease caused by the larval stages of the nematode Toxocara canis. The problem of toxocariasis is important for both humane and veterinary medicine. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of fenbenzyl and fenbendazole on the intensity of lipid peroxidation in the blood of dogs during experimental infestation with the pathogen toxocariasis. The experiments were performed on 18 dogs, two to four months of age, and three groups of six animals were formed in each: control and two experimental groups. Puppies of all groups were experimentally infected with the pathogen toxocariasis at a dose of 5.000 invasive T. canis eggs per kg of body weight. The control group of dogs was as untreated control. Puppies of the first experimental group were fed the drug “Fenbendazole” at a dose of 150 mg per 3 kg of animal weight once a day for three days in a single dose. Puppies of the second experimental group were fed the drug “Fenbenzyl” at a dose of 350 mg per 3 kg of animal weight once a day for three days. In the clinical manifestation of the disease, toxocariasis secretes metabolic products that promote the formation of large amounts of free radicals, which in turn enhance the initiation of lipid peroxidation processes. With the use of fenbendazole and fenbenzyl, a probable decrease in these products was found starting from the 15th day of the experiment. It should be noted that the lowest level of diene conjugates and TBA-active products was in the blood of dogs of the second experimental group at 25 and 30 days of the experiment. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation processes in the treatment of dogs with fenbenzyl is due to the activation in animals of metabolic processes involving enzymes, including antioxidant enzymes that catalyze the processes of peroxidation and phosphorylation, as well as enhancing erythropoietic function. On the 30th day of the experiment, the level of diene conjugates in the blood of the second experimental group was 0.29 ± 0.02 IU/ml, and TBA-active products – 25.2 ± 0.40 μmol/l.

The intensity of the processes of lipid peroxidation in the blood of cows in experimental fasciolosis

Among the most common pathologies of parasitic etiology in ruminants, trematode diseases, namely fasciolosis, occupy a prominent place in terms of the degree of damage and economic damage caused. Activation of lipid peroxidation processes plays a significant role in the mechanisms of the development of fasciolosis in animals. The research aimed to investigate the level of lipid peroxidation products in cows' blood in experimental fasciolosis. For the test, 12 cows of 4–5 years of age, black-spotted breed, were selected, from which 2 groups were formed, six animals in each. Animals in the control group were clinically healthy. Animals of the experimental group were experimentally infected with adolescents. During the research, the rules of compulsory experiments were followed – selecting and keeping analog animals in groups. The cows' diet was balanced in terms of nutrients and minerals. Based on the studies, it was found that after the experimental infestation of cows of the experimental group with the causative agent of fasciolosis, an increase in the level of diene conjugates of their blood on the 15th day of the experiment by 30.3 %, and on the 25th day – by 50.4 % relative to the control group. There was also an increased level of lipid hydroperoxides in their blood, where, respectively, on the 10th and 15th day of the experiment, this figure increased by 18.3 and 32.9 % compared with the control group. On the 25th day of the experiment, the level of lipid hydroperoxides in the blood of cows of the experimental group was the highest. Compared with the control group, it increased by 46.6%, respectively. In the study of the final products of lipid peroxidation, it was found that on the 10th day of the test, the level of TBA-active products in infected cows of the experimental group increased by 9.5 %. On the 15th and 20th days of the experiment, the level of end products of LPO in the experimental group's blood of animals was higher by 20.3 and 26.0 % relative to the control group. The increase in TBA-active products' level reflects the activation of peroxide processes in animals with experimental fasciolosis. Therefore, in the clinical manifestation of fasciolosis, parasites secrete metabolic products that promote the formation of free radicals, which in turn enhance the initiation of lipid peroxidation processes.

Comparative analysis of host resistance to Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi in two different rabbit breeds

Background Scabies, caused by infestation of the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is one of the most severe ectoparasitic diseases in rabbits. Scabies seriously affects the commercial rabbit breeding, causing severe economic losses. Host resistance to S. scabiei is an important factor in further development of the rabbit industry. In the present study, we compared the host resistance to S. scabiei var. cuniculi of a new breed of domestic rabbit propagated by the Sichuan Animal Sciences Academy (QiXing rabbit, QX) compared with that of a traditional rabbit breed in the domestic rabbit industry (IRA rabbit, IRA). Methods Both QX and IRA rabbits were experimentally infested with live S. scabiei var. cuniculi mites for 48 h. Then, during the course of four-week experimental infestation period, the body weight of rabbits was recorded every two weeks for calculating body-weight variations in comparison to the non-infested control rabbits. Skin lesions in the foot area were assessed on weekly basis and serum samples were tested weekly for the estimation of changes in the total antibody levels (IgG, IgE and IgM). Moreover, DNA extracted from the blood samples was amplified for analysis of the genetic diversity in the major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ Alpha (MHC-DQA) gene. Results Compared to the IRA rabbits, the QX rabbits showed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) relative body weight gain compared to the non-infested control rabbits and significantly lower (P < 0.05) scores for foot skin lesions and higher levels of IgG, IgE and IgM at weeks 1 to 4, week 2 and week 1 post-infestation, respectively. Furthermore, a polymorphism site at position 103 bp of exon two of MHC-DQA gene and a different gene frequency were found between two rabbit breeds, suggesting the genetic basis for the differential host resistance to the S. scabiei var. cuniculi between two rabbit breeds. Conclusions The QX rabbits showed higher host resistance to S. scabiei var. cuniculi compared to the IRA rabbits at the clinical, immunological and genetic levels. These results provide a reference for the breeding of rabbits with adequately improved and sustained host resistance to scabies in the domestic rabbit industry.

Влияние Sarcocystis Bovicanis на организм телят при экспериментальном заражении

The aim research was to established specific clinical symptoms and changes of hematological and biochemical indices in the experimental bovine sarcocistoza. The results of the tests show that the experimental infestation of calves with Sarcocystis bovicanis sporocysts in dose of 200-250 thousands, disease manifests clinically but more pronounced is on the 25-30 days after infestation, which coincides with the development of schizogonic stages when appearing massively schizonts. On the 64th day (observation period), the condition of the animals improves, which corresponds to the step of introducing the sporochysts into the muscles. Have been established three periods of body temperature increase at the calves: on 5-7, 15-17 and 25-30th days after experimental infestation. At the infected calves have been identified changes in hematological and biochemical indices in blood. From the first days after infestation, a decrease in serum total proteins has been established, hypoalbuminemia - albumin content on the 30th day after infection is reduced with 27.7% compared to baseline (until infestation). The activity of alkaline phosphatase and aldolase increases about 2-times, and aspartataminotransferaza and alanine aminotransferase by- 2-3 times.

Cymothoa indica Schioedte and Meinert, 1884 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) infestation in cage-cultured Asian seabass Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) from the south-west coast of India

Infestation of the isopod parasite Cymothoa indica in Asian seabass Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) fingerlings stocked in low volume cages is reported here. Hatchery produced seabass fry, reared to fingerling size (average size, 7±1 g and 63±12 mm) were used for stocking cages in Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala, south-west India. Instances of mortality were first observed on the 25th day of culture (DOC). By the 35th DOC, cumulative mortality of 84.6% was recorded. Intensity of parasitic infestation was found to be one parasite per fish. Parasites were observed to be latched to the tongue of the host fish. Reddening of buccal cavity, dark pigmentation, tongue degeneration/replacement were observed in the affected fish. On the 35th DOC, surviving fish in the cages were examined and the prevalence of C. indica was 53.08% in the remaining live fish. Though experimental infestation of Asian seabass by C. indica has been reported previously under laboratory conditions, this forms the first report on infestation of C. indica in cage-cultured Asian seabass.

Динаміка біохімічних показників крові курей за асоціативних інвазій

У процесі життєдіяльності білки крові курей відіграють важливу фізіологічну роль у складних процесах обміну речовин. Зміни біохімічного складу крові курей за експериментальної інвазії відображають розвиток патологічних та імунних процесів і свідчать про стресовий стан організму, що дає змогу об’єктивно оцінити вплив різноманітних факторів на організм інвазованих курей. Зміни біохімічних показників крові супроводжувалися гіпопротеїнемією, гіпоальбумінемією, гіперглобулінемією, диспротеїнемією. During the life blood of birds proteins play very important physiological role in the complex metabolic processes. Changes of biochemical composition of chickens blood by experimental infestation reflects the development of pathological and immune processes and demonstrate the stress state of the organism, which allows to objectively assess the impact of various factors on the body of infested chickens. Changes of biochemical parameters in blood were accompanied by hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hiperhlobulinemia, dysproteinemia.