Molecular detection and characterization of Theileria sp. from hedgehogs (Paraechinus aethiopicus) in Saudi Arabia.

In this study, we conducted molecular detection and characterization of piroplasms that infect the Ethiopian or desert hedgehogs (Paraechinus aethiopicus) in Saudi Arabia. Blood samples from 112 (68 males and 44 females) desert hedgehogs from Unaizah, Central Saudi Arabia were screened for Theileria/Babesia DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) employing specific primers amplifying the partial 18S small subunit rRNA gene. Theileria DNA was detected in 51 samples (45·5%), giving a prevalence of 45·5%. Theileria DNA was found in 33 (48·5%) males and 18 (40·9%) females, and there was no significant difference (P > 0·05) in the prevalence between males and females. Similarly, there was no significant difference (P > 0·05) in the prevalence between juveniles (40%) and adults (46·7%). There was a significant difference in the prevalence of Theileria in hedgehogs collected from May to September and the period from October to April (P = 0·003). Four haplotypes of Theileria sp. in hedgehogs were detected and designated as H1-H4. H1 was the predominant haplotype and found in 80·8% of the positive individuals. Partial sequences of the 18S rRNA of Theileria sp. from hedgehogs grouped with Theileria spp. that are benign. This study is the first report of the occurrence of Theileria spp. in Saudi Arabian desert hedgehogs.

Coprologic and molecular prevalence of Giardia duodenalis from children in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia.

Giardia infection in children has been recognized as a significant cause of diarrhea in school children around the world. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in school children in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. Fecal samples from 200 children with ages ranging from 9 to 12 years (106 boys and 94 girls) were examined for the presence of Giardia cysts using direct microscopy and ELISA. DNA was extracted from fecal samples and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers which amplified the partial 18S rRNA locus. Direct microscopy revealed that 9 (4.5%) were positive for Giardia cysts. ELISA and PCR revealed 20 (10%) and 44 (22%) of the samples were positive respectively. Assemblage A was detected through genotyping of Giardia duodenalis isolates prevalent in Tabuk City through sequencing the fragment obtained as a result of amplifying partial 18S rRNA locus.

Coprologic and molecular prevalence of Giardia duodenalis from children in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia

Giardia infection in children has been recognized as a significant cause of diarrhea in school children around the world. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and genotypes of Giardia duodenalis in school children in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia. Fecal samples from 200 children with ages ranging from 9 to 12 years (106 boys and 94 girls) were examined for the presence of Giardia cysts using direct microscopy and ELISA. DNA was extracted from fecal samples and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers which amplified the partial 18S rRNA locus. Direct microscopy revealed that 9 (4.5%) were positive for Giardia cysts. ELISA and PCR revealed 20 (10%) and 44 (22%) of the samples were positive respectively. Assemblage A was detected through genotyping of Giardia duodenalis isolates prevalent in Tabuk City through sequencing the fragment obtained as a result of amplifying partial 18S rRNA locus.

Insecticide resistance in field populations of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in West Africa.

BACKGROUND: The tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), has developed a high degree of resistance to several chemical classes of insecticides throughout the world. To evaluate the resistance status in West Africa, eight insecticides from different chemical families were tested using the leaf-dip method on four field populations collected from cotton in Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso. RESULTS: Some field populations showed a significant loss of susceptibility to pyrethroids such as deltamethrin [resistance ratio (RR) 3-5] and bifenthrin (RR 4-36), to organophosphates (OPs) such as dimethoate (RR 8-15) and chlorpyrifos (RR 5-7) and to neonicotinoids such as acetamiprid (RR 7-8) and thiamethoxam (RR 3-7). Bemisia tabaci was also resistant to pymetrozine (RR 3-18) and to endosulfan (RR 14-30). CONCLUSION: The resistance of B. tabaci to pyrethroids and OPs is certainly due to their systematic use in cotton treatments for more than 30 years. Acetamiprid has been recently introduced for the control of whiteflies. Unfortunately, B. tabaci populations from Burkina Faso seem to be already resistant. Because cross-resistance between these compounds has never been observed elsewhere, resistance to neonicotinoids could be due to the presence of an invasive B. tabaci biotype recently detected in the region.

Biochemical characterization of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera resistance to pyrethroids in Burkina Faso.

The bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is cotton plant main pest in most parts of the world. The mechanisms of the resistance of the bollworm to the pyrethroid deltamethrin were studied by comparing field strains to the reference and susceptible strain (BK77). Resistance to deltamethrin was studied using bio-assays. Results showed that the field collected strains had susceptibility 11 to 43 fold lower than that of the susceptible standard strain BK77. Activities of two types of enzymes i.e., oxidases and Glutathione-S-Transferases (GST) were significantly higher in field strains, whereas esterase activities were lower compared to that of standard strain. The increase of oxidases and GST activities and the decrease of esterase activity are at least in part, responsible for the development of resistance of H. armigera to pyrethroids.

Cellular and molecular mediators in common pathway mechanisms of chronic renal disease progression.

Injury mechanisms activated by the hemodynamic adaptations to nephron loss are considered to represent a final common pathway that underlies the progressive nature of chronic renal disease. In this article, we review experimental evidence that the induction of cell adhesion molecule, cytokine and profibrotic growth factor gene expression and the resultant renal infiltration by inflammatory cells, especially macrophages, are important components of these common pathway mechanisms. Interventions aimed at inhibiting these mechanisms may offer new treatments for slowing or arresting the progression of chronic renal disease.

Toxicity of Commiphora myrrha to goats.

An investigation was made of Commiphora myrrha used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Twelve 6-mo-old male Nubian goat kids were assigned to 4 groups: undosed controls, C myrrha-dosed at 0.25 g plant resin/kg/d, C myrrha-dosed at 1 g resin/kg/d and C myrrha dosed at 5 g plant resin/kg/d. Results of hepatorenal function tests were correlated with clinical and pathological changes. The use of 1 or 5 g plant resin/kg/d caused grinding of teeth, salivation, soft feces, inappetence, jaundice, dyspnea, ataxia and recumbency. Death occurred between 5 and 16 d. Enterohepatonephrotoxicity was accompanied by anemia, leucopenia, increases in serum ALP activity and concentrations of bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides and creatinine, and decreases in total protein and albumin. The oral dose of 0.25 g plant resin/kg/d was not toxic.

Effects on rats of Commiphora myrrha extract given by different routes of administration.

The effect of an ethanol extract of Commiphora myrrha oleo-gum resin on hematological and pathophysiological parameters of male Wistar rats was examined. The extract was given daily for 2 w at 1000 mg/kg bw per os, 500 mg/kg bw i.m. or 250 mg/kg bw i.p. Depression, huddling together, soft feces, jaundice, ruffled hair, hepatonephropathy, hemorrhagic myositis and patchy peritonitis (at the injection site) and death were accompanied by increases in serum ALP and ALT activities, bilirubin, cholesterol and creatinine concentrations, and decreases in total protein and albumin levels, and macrocytic anemia and leucopenia. When administered at 500 mg extract/kg bw/d per os or 250 mg extract/kg bw/d i.m. for 2 w it was not lethal, and when given daily for 1 w the effect was less marked.

Angiotensin receptor blockers in chronic renal disease: the promise of a bright clinical future.

Pharmacologic interruption of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) is considered a standard therapeutic intervention for patients with chronic renal disease, regardless of whether systemic hypertension is present. The advent of orally active angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) increases the number of therapeutic options for inhibiting the RAS in patients with chronic renal diseases. Clinical studies of ARB that can be compared with large-scale ACEI clinical trials have yet to be completed. More than a dozen experimental studies comparing ARB with ACEI suggest that the two classes of drugs share similar renoprotective properties. Like ACEI, ARB are effective antihypertensive and antiproteinuric agents, which greatly reduce glomerular and tubulointerstitial scarring. Although both reduce stimulation of the AT1 receptor, ARB lack the kinin-potentiating effects of ACEI. ARB may exert antifibrotic actions via the AT2 receptor, through increased levels of angiotensin II resulting from AT1 receptor blockade. Despite these pharmacologic distinctions, recent studies have not detected differences in renoprotection between ARB and ACEI. In the context of RAS inhibition, the magnitude of antihypertensive and antiproteinuric effects achieved appears to be the major determinant of renoprotection, not the class of drug used. Thus, experimental data suggest that ARB will fulfill their promise as effective agents to be used as mainstays in multifaceted clinical strategies designed to slow or arrest the progression of chronic renal disease. Confirmation of this view awaits the results of clinical trials.

Toxicological interactions of Abrus precatorius and Cassia senna in the diet of Lohmann broiler chicks.

The combination of 0.5% Abrus precatorius seed and 2% Cassia senna fruit in the diet of Lohmann broiler chicks caused severe lesions, reduced weight gain, inefficient feed utilization and anemia. Organ lesions correlated with changes in clinical chemistry and hematology. Tissue recovery was not complete 2 w following withdrawal of the test diet. Feeding 0.5% Abrus or 2% Senna diets alone produced decreased growth and tissue lesions that did not return to normal 2 w following return to normal rations.

Experimental Azadirachta indica toxicosis in chicks.

Brown Hisex chicks were fed Azadirachta indica ripe fruit at 2, 5 or 10% of basic diet from their 7th to 35th d of age. Decreased body weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization and hepatonephropathy were most severe in chicks fed the 10% A indica diet. These changes were accompanied by anemia and increases in LDH, GOT and ALP activities and uric acid concentration and by decreased serum total protein. Hepatocytes and renal tubular cells did not completely revert to normal 2 w after removal from the test diets.

On the toxicology of Azadirachta indica leaves.

Brown Hisex chicks were fed diets containing 2% and 5% Azadirachta indica leaf from their 7th to 35th day of age. Thereafter, the chicks were fed control diet for 2 weeks. A depression in body weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization was observed in chicks fed A. indica leaf when compared with the control. The main clinicopathological changes were increases in lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities and uric acid and bilirubin concentrations and decreases in the total protein levels in serum. Changes in the values of erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin were remarkable and associated with yellow discoloration on the legs and combs and hepatonephropathy. Tissue recovery was incomplete 2 weeks after removal from the experimental diets.

The inhibitory effect of intestinal infusions of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids on forestomach motility of sheep.

Emulsions of C18 unsaturated fatty acids (FA) were infused for 2 h into the intestine of conscious sheep while motility of the reticulum and rumen was recorded. Statistically-significant depression of motility was found when 3 or 5 g FA/h were infused. At 1 g/h there were minor disruptions of motility. The inhibitory potency was not related to the extent of unsaturation of the FA. Receptors mediating the inhibitory effect were postulated to be distal to the iliac flexure of the duodenum, but the possible role of bile and pancreatic juice is discussed in relation to this problem. The probability that the effect was hormonally mediated is discussed.