Efficiency of tick biotherapic on the control of infestation by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Dutch dairy cows.

Background: cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus poses serious problems for farmers in Brazil, especially because the parasite easily develops resistance to pesticide agents. For this reason, together with other factors including environmental, human and animal contamination and costs, alternative approaches have been sought for. Aims: this study sough to evaluate the efficiency of a tick biotherapic on tick-infested cows. Methods: 34 dairy Dutch cows were divided in 2 groups: one group received 100g/day of mineral salt supplement impregnated with tick biotherapic 12cH for 6 months, and then in alternate days with tick biotherapic 30cH to complete 28 months of treatment; the other group (control) received only the mineral salt supplement. After 28 months of treatment, engorged Rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus females were collected in both groups, counted and weighed; in vitro tests were carried out to assess mass of ticks; egg mass; egg-hatching rate; and reproductive efficiency. Results: There was significant difference between both groups for all parameters evaluated; tick-mass (p = 0.0008); egg mass (p=0.0044); egg-hatching rate (p= 0.0017); and reproductive efficiency (p = 0.0044). Conclusion: treatment with tick biotherapic significantly decreased the mass of engorged females, deposition and hatching rate of eggs, resulting consequently in the decrease of the reproductive efficiency of ticks.

Isolation and Identification of Anthracene Utilizing Proteus vulgaris from Oil Spill Contaminated Soil at NNPC Depot Kano State Nigeria

Microbial biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like Anthracene, represent an efficient, time, and cost-effective way for bioremediation of the polluted environment. This study was aimed at isolating, identifying and characterizing bacteria with potential to degrade and utilize anthracene as a sole carbon source. A bacteria was isolated from oil spilled contaminated site located in Kano, using an enrichment method on mineral salt media (MSM) following serial dilution (10-1-10-6). Characterization was done by studying the effects of temperature and pH on mineral salt media (MSM) containing anthracene. The isolate was then identified morphologically, biochemically and molecularly based on 16S rRNA partial gene sequence analysis. The morphological and microscopic examination of the isolate from this research shows that the isolate was creamy in color, motile, gram negative, short rod and non-spore forming respectively. The biochemical test of the isolate was found to be positive for these parameters (methyl red, catalase, motility, indole and urease) and negative for (citrate and oxidase). The 16S rRNA sequence and Phylogenetic analysis using neighbor joining tree and 1000 boos trap revealed that, the isolate was closely related (on the same clade) to Proteus vulgaris with accession number MW766369. Characterization was done by studying the effects of temperature and pH. The isolated bacterium was optimal at a temperature of 35ºC and pH 7.5. This isolate is a promising strain that could be used in bioremediation of polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons polluted environment.

Effect of Mineral Salt Blocks Containing Sodium Bicarbonate or Selenium on Ruminal pH, Rumen Fermentation and Milk Production and Composition in Crossbred Dairy Cows

Ruminal pH is an important physiological parameter that regulates microbe activity; optimizing ruminal pH may improve rumen fermentation and milk production. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or selenium (Se) in mineral salt block (MSB) supplementation on ruminal pH, rumen fermentation, milk yield and composition in Holstein Friesian crossbred dairy cows. Four crossbred dairy cows with an initial weight of 456 ± 6 kg in mid-lactation were assigned at random using a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The experiments were divided into four periods, each lasting 21 days. Each cow was fed a basal diet supplemented with a different type of mineral salt block: a control with no MSB supplementation, and MSB groups with MSB containing NaHCO3 (MSB-Na), MSB containing Se (MSB-Se), and conventional commercial MSB (MSB-Com). MSB-Na contained NaHCO3 (500 g/kg) to prevent acidosis, MSB-Se contained organic Se (15 mg/kg) as an antioxidant, and MSB-Com was a positive control mineral salt block. The results show that there was no significant difference in feed intake between treatments, but there was a significant difference in mineral salt intake between treatments (p < 0.05). Supplementing mineral blocks had no effect on nutrient intake or apparent digestibility (p > 0.05). Ruminal pH was not different between treatments at 0 and 1 h post-feeding, but at 2 and 4 h post-feeding, ruminal pH in cows fed MSB-Na and MSB-Se was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than it was in cows fed MSB-Com and the control. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetic, propionic, butyric, and ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen were not influenced by mineral blocks supplementation. Milk yield, milk composition and energy-corrected milk (ECM) were not affected by supplementing mineral blocks. However, compared with the control, the somatic cell count (SCC) in the milk was reduced (p < 0.05) by supplementation with the mineral salt block. Based on the results of the experiments, it was concluded that MSB-Na or MSB-Se supplementation improved ruminal pH while having no effect on feed intake, rumen fermentation, milk yield, or composition, though it did reduce SCC in milk. However, additional research should be conducted to investigate the effect of MSB on rumen ecology and milk production in dairy cows fed a high-concentrate diet.

Bacillus megaterium Biodegradation Glyphosate

The Bacillus megaterium ability was evaluated in this paper to degrade the Glyphosate. organophosphorus pesticides, The bacteria re-cultured that isolated from other researches of Baghdad soils and morphological identification and biochemical tests besides by selectivity media. The (5 and 25) ppm showed the highest growth results were within two days to two months on mineral salt media. The highest glyphosate degradation ratio % were (70) % per 25 ppm/two months. Incubation period Increasing led to highest glyphosate degradation ratio% at (25) ppm led to conclusion that bacteria digestive the pesticides as carbon and nitrogen sources and will be well harvest it form contaminated areas.

Low-Density Polyethylene Film Biodegradation Potential by Fungal Species from Thailand

Accumulated plastic waste in the environment is a serious problem that poses an ecological threat. Plastic waste has been reduced by initiating and applying different alternative methods from several perspectives, including fungal treatment. Biodegradation of 30 fungi from Thailand were screened in mineral salt medium agar containing low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films. Diaporthe italiana, Thyrostroma jaczewskii, Collectotrichum fructicola, and Stagonosporopsis citrulli were found to grow significantly by culturing with LDPE film as the only sole carbon source compared to those obtained from Aspergillus niger. These fungi were further cultured in mineral salt medium broth containing LDPE film as the sole carbon source for 90 days. The biodegradation ability of these fungi was evaluated from the amount of CO2 and enzyme production. Different amounts of CO2 were released from D. italiana, T. jaczewskii, C. fructicola, S. citrulli, and A. niger culturing with LDPE film, ranging from 0.45 to 1.45, 0.36 to 1.22, 0.45 to 1.45, 0.33 to 1.26, and 0.37 to 1.27 g/L, respectively. These fungi were able to secrete a large amount of laccase enzyme compared to manganese peroxidase, and lignin peroxidase enzymes detected under the same conditions. The degradation of LDPE films by culturing with these fungi was further determined. LDPE films cultured with D. italiana, T. jaczewskii, C. fructicola, S. citrulli, and A. niger showed weight loss of 43.90%, 46.34%, 48.78%, 45.12%, and 28.78%, respectively. The tensile strength of LDPE films cultured with D. italiana, T. jaczewskii, C. fructicola, S. citrulli, and A. niger also reduced significantly by 1.56, 1.78, 0.43, 1.86, and 3.34 MPa, respectively. The results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) reveal an increasing carbonyl index in LDPE films culturing with these fungi, especially C. fructicola. Analysis of LDPE films using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the biodegradation by the presence of morphological changes such as cracks, scions, and holes on the surface of the film. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from LDPE films cultured with these fungi were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). VOCs such as 1,3-dimethoxy-benzene, 1,3-dimethoxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-benzene, and 1,1-dimethoxy-decane were detected among these fungi. Overall, these fungi have the ability to break down and consume the LDPE film. The fungus C. fructicola is a promising resource for the biodegradation of LDPE which may be further applied in plastic degradation systems based on fungi.

Phân lập và tuyển chọn một số dòng vi khuẩn từ lá thực vật có khả năng kích thích sinh trưởng cây trồng

Nghiên cứu thực hiện nhằm phân lập vi khuẩn kích thích sinh trưởng cây trồng từ lá thực vật. Môi trường nuôi cấy ammonium mineral salt (AMS) được sử dụng để phân lập vi khuẩn. Kết quả đã phân lập được 28 dòng vi khuẩn từ lá của 6 loài thực vật khác nhau gồm mồng tơi (Basella rubra L.), hoa hồng (Rosa chinensis Jacq.), chiều tím (Ruellia brittoniana), cỏ đậu (Arachis pintoi), cơm nguội (Ardisia quinquegona Blume) và bình bát dây (Coccinia grandis (L) Voigt) dựa trên hình thái và màu sắc của khuẩn lạc. Các chỉ tiêu về tỉ lệ nảy mầm, chiều dài rễ, chiều cao chồi và số rễ của hạt bắp được khảo sát để đánh giá khả năng kích thích sinh trưởng của các dòng vi khuẩn phân lập. Các dòng vi khuẩn phân lập có hình thái khuẩn lạc và tế bào rất đa dạng. Hai dòng vi khuẩn ký hiệu HH5 và MT6 làm gia tăng tỉ lệ nảy mầm và sinh trưởng của hạt bắp tốt nhất trong các dòng vi khuẩn phân lập. Bên cạnh đó, nghiên cứu còn cho thấy ở mật số 106 CFU.mL-1 cả hai dòng vi khuẩn giúp gia tăng tỉ lệ nảy mầm và sinh trưởng của cây bắp tốt hơn so với mật số 107, 108 và 109 CFU.mL-1. Kết giải mã trình tự đoạn gene 16S rRNA cho thấy hai dòng vi khuẩn HH5 và MT6 lần lượt có mối quan hệ gần...

Sugar Transport in a Merging Phloem Vessels: A Hydrodynamic Model

Green plants are the major tappers of the energy from the sun. The collected solar energy in the form of light is used to activate the chemical reaction occurring in matured leaves between carbon dioxide and water, leading to the synthesis of sugar (chemical energy). Two main transport processes are involved in the transport of mineral salt water from the soil through the roots, via the trunk and branches to the leaves where photosynthetic activity occurs, and the translocation of sugar from the leaves to where they are needed and possibly, stored. The xylem vessels bear the absorbed mineral salt water while the phloem vessels bear the manufactured sugar. In this study, neglecting the effects of occlusion and clogging of the phloem channels, we investigate the transport of sugars in the merging phloem vessels using the hydrodynamic approach. The model is designed using the Boussinesq approximation and solved semi-analytically using the regular perturbation series expansion solutions and Mathematica 11.2 computational software. Expressions for the concentration, temperature, and velocity are obtained and presented quantitatively and graphically. The results show among others, that increase in the merging angle causes a reduction in the concentration, temperature, and velocity profiles. However, there exists fluctuations in the concentration and temperature structures.

Energy-protein supplementation before and after parturition of Nellore primiparous cows in the Brazilian tropical savannah

Reproduction is associated to the profitability of beef herds, which affects the level of productivity and is influenced by nutritional level. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of protein and energy supplementation, before and after parturition, on reproductive variables of Nellore primiparous cows extensively raised in the Brazilian tropical savannah. Eighty pregnant heifers with parturition estimated for a 45 d period during the dry season were randomly divided into four treatments: Control, received a mineral salt and urea mixture pre and postpartum; PRE, protein-energy mixture from the 210th gestational day until parturition; POS, protein-energy mixture from parturition until 90 d afterwards; PREPOS, protein/energy mixture from the 210th gestational day until the 90th day after parturition. Number of days to complete uterine involution (UI) was 37.0 (Control); 31.3 (PRE); 33.1 (POST) and 25.3 (PREPOST) with differences (P<0.05). Calving Interval (CI) was 370.4 (Control), 369.5 (PRE); 365.9 (POST) and 343.7 (PREPOST) days, with differences (P<0.05). Pregnancy rate (PR) was 64.7%; 76.5%; 65.0%; and 55.0%, respectively, for CONTROL PRE, POS, PREPOS, without difference (p>0.05). In conclusion, energy-protein supplementation of Nellore primiparous cows raised in extensive systems under tropical conditions, before and after parturition, reduces days to uterine involution and calving interval.