Percentage Incidences of Bacteria in Mahseer (Tor putitora), Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Fish Collected from Hatcheries and Local Markets of District Malakand and Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan / Incidências percentuais de bactérias em Mahseer (Tor putitora), carpa-prateada (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), peixes coletados em incubatórios e mercados locais do distrito de Malakand e Peshawar de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão

Abstract Fish is the main source of animal protein for human diet. The aim of this study was to find out prevalence of pathogenic bacteria of two selected economically important fish of Pakistan namely Mahseer (Tor putitora) and Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Live fish samples from hatcheries and dead fish samples from different markets of study area were randomly collected. The fish samples were analyzed for isolation, identification and prevalence of bacteria. The isolated bacteria from study fish were identified through biochemical test and about 10 species of pathogenic bacteria were identified including the pathogenic bacteria to human and fish namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus iniae, Serratia spp. Citrobacter spp. Stenotrophomonas spp. Bacillus spp. and Salmonella spp. The bacterial percentage frequency of occurrence in Silver carp and Mahseer fish showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa 21.42%, Staphylococcus epidermidis 17.85%, Escherichia coli 11.90%, Staphylococcus aureus 9.52%, Citrobacter spp. 9.52%, Serratia spp. 8.33%, Streptococcus iniae 7.14%, Stenotrophomonas spp. 5.95%, Bacillus spp. 4.76% and Salmonella spp. 3.57%. The study revealed that Fish samples of Mahseer and Silver carp that were collected from markets have found more isolates (10 bacterial species) than did the fresh fish pond samples (03 bacterial species) of hatcheries. The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in study fish showed risk factor for public health consumers.

Resumo O peixe é a principal fonte de proteína animal para a alimentação humana. O objetivo deste estudo foi descobrir a prevalência de bactérias patogênicas de dois peixes economicamente importantes selecionados do Paquistão, nomeadamente Mahseer (Tor putitora) e carpa prateada (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Amostras de peixes vivos de incubatórios e amostras de peixes mortos de diferentes mercados da área de estudo foram coletadas aleatoriamente. As amostras de peixes foram analisadas quanto ao isolamento, identificação e prevalência de bactérias. As bactérias isoladas dos peixes do estudo foram identificadas através de testes bioquímicos e cerca de 10 espécies de bactérias patogênicas foram identificadas incluindo as bactérias patogênicas para humanos e peixes, nomeadamente, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus iniae, Serratia spp. Citrobacter spp. Stenotrophomonas spp. Bacillus spp. e Salmonella spp. A porcentagem de freqüência de ocorrência bacteriana em carpa prateada e peixes Mahseer mostrou Pseudomonas aeruginosa 21,42%, Staphylococcus epidermidis 17,85%, Escherichia coli 11,90%, Staphylococcus aureus 9,52%, Citrobacter spp. 9,52%, Serratia spp. 8,33%, Streptococcus iniae 7,14%, Stenotrophomonas spp. 5,95%, Bacillus spp. 4,76% e Salmonella spp. 3,57%. O estudo revelou que as amostras de peixes de Mahseer e carpa prateada coletadas nos mercados encontraram mais isolados (10 espécies bacterianas) do que as amostras de peixes frescos (03 espécies bacterianas) de incubatórios. A ocorrência de bactérias patogênicas nos peixes do estudo apresentou fator de risco para consumidores de saúde pública.

Percentage Incidences of Bacteria in Mahseer (Tor putitora), Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Fish Collected from Hatcheries and Local Markets of District Malakand and Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract Fish is the main source of animal protein for human diet. The aim of this study was to find out prevalence of pathogenic bacteria of two selected economically important fish of Pakistan namely Mahseer (Tor putitora) and Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Live fish samples from hatcheries and dead fish samples from different markets of study area were randomly collected. The fish samples were analyzed for isolation, identification and prevalence of bacteria. The isolated bacteria from study fish were identified through biochemical test and about 10 species of pathogenic bacteria were identified including the pathogenic bacteria to human and fish namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus iniae, Serratia spp. Citrobacter spp. Stenotrophomonas spp. Bacillus spp. and Salmonella spp. The bacterial percentage frequency of occurrence in Silver carp and Mahseer fish showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa 21.42%, Staphylococcus epidermidis 17.85%, Escherichia coli 11.90%, Staphylococcus aureus 9.52%, Citrobacter spp. 9.52%, Serratia spp. 8.33%, Streptococcus iniae 7.14%, Stenotrophomonas spp. 5.95%, Bacillus spp. 4.76% and Salmonella spp. 3.57%. The study revealed that Fish samples of Mahseer and Silver carp that were collected from markets have found more isolates (10 bacterial species) than did the fresh fish pond samples (03 bacterial species) of hatcheries. The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in study fish showed risk factor for public health consumers.

Resumo O peixe é a principal fonte de proteína animal para a alimentação humana. O objetivo deste estudo foi descobrir a prevalência de bactérias patogênicas de dois peixes economicamente importantes selecionados do Paquistão, nomeadamente Mahseer (Tor putitora) e carpa prateada (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Amostras de peixes vivos de incubatórios e amostras de peixes mortos de diferentes mercados da área de estudo foram coletadas aleatoriamente. As amostras de peixes foram analisadas quanto ao isolamento, identificação e prevalência de bactérias. As bactérias isoladas dos peixes do estudo foram identificadas através de testes bioquímicos e cerca de 10 espécies de bactérias patogênicas foram identificadas incluindo as bactérias patogênicas para humanos e peixes, nomeadamente, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus iniae, Serratia spp. Citrobacter spp. Stenotrophomonas spp. Bacillus spp. e Salmonella spp. A porcentagem de freqüência de ocorrência bacteriana em carpa prateada e peixes Mahseer mostrou Pseudomonas aeruginosa 21,42%, Staphylococcus epidermidis 17,85%, Escherichia coli 11,90%, Staphylococcus aureus 9,52%, Citrobacter spp. 9,52%, Serratia spp. 8,33%, Streptococcus iniae 7,14%, Stenotrophomonas spp. 5,95%, Bacillus spp. 4,76% e Salmonella spp. 3,57%. O estudo revelou que as amostras de peixes de Mahseer e carpa prateada coletadas nos mercados encontraram mais isolados (10 espécies bacterianas) do que as amostras de peixes frescos (03 espécies bacterianas) de incubatórios. A ocorrência de bactérias patogênicas nos peixes do estudo apresentou fator de risco para consumidores de saúde pública.

Percentage Incidences of Bacteria in Mahseer (Tor putitora), Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Fish Collected from Hatcheries and Local Markets of District Malakand and Peshawar of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Fish is the main source of animal protein for human diet. The aim of this study was to find out prevalence of pathogenic bacteria of two selected economically important fish of Pakistan namely Mahseer (Tor putitora) and Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). Live fish samples from hatcheries and dead fish samples from different markets of study area were randomly collected. The fish samples were analyzed for isolation, identification and prevalence of bacteria. The isolated bacteria from study fish were identified through biochemical test and about 10 species of pathogenic bacteria were identified including the pathogenic bacteria to human and fish namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus iniae, Serratia spp. Citrobacter spp. Stenotrophomonas spp. Bacillus spp. and Salmonella spp. The bacterial percentage frequency of occurrence in Silver carp and Mahseer fish showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa 21.42%, Staphylococcus epidermidis 17.85%, Escherichia coli 11.90%, Staphylococcus aureus 9.52%, Citrobacter spp. 9.52%, Serratia spp. 8.33%, Streptococcus iniae 7.14%, Stenotrophomonas spp. 5.95%, Bacillus spp. 4.76% and Salmonella spp. 3.57%. The study revealed that Fish samples of Mahseer and Silver carp that were collected from markets have found more isolates (10 bacterial species) than did the fresh fish pond samples (03 bacterial species) of hatcheries. The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in study fish showed risk factor for public health consumers.

You ≠ me: individual differences in the structure of social cognition.

This study investigated the structure of social cognition, and how it is influenced by personality; specifically, how various socio-cognitive capabilities, and the pattern of inter-relationships and co-dependencies among them differ between divergent personality styles. To measure social cognition, a large non-clinical sample (n = 290) undertook an extensive battery of self-report and performance-based measures of visual perspective taking, imitative tendencies, affective empathy, interoceptive accuracy, emotion regulation, and state affectivity. These same individuals then completed the Personality Styles and Disorders Inventory. Latent Profile Analysis revealed two dissociable personality profiles that exhibited contrasting cognitive and affective dispositions, and multivariate analyses indicated further that these profiles differed on measures of social cognition; individuals characterised by a flexible and adaptive personality profile expressed higher action orientation (emotion regulation) compared to those showing more inflexible tendencies, along with better visual perspective taking, superior interoceptive accuracy, less imitative tendencies, and lower personal distress and negativity. These characteristics point towards more efficient self-other distinction, and to higher cognitive control more generally. Moreover, low-level cognitive mechanisms served to mediate other higher level socio-emotional capabilities. Together, these findings elucidate the cognitive and affective underpinnings of individual differences in social behaviour, providing a data-driven model that should guide future research in this area.

Ageing enhances the shedding of splenocyte microvesicles with endothelial pro-senescent effect that is prevented by a short-term intake of omega-3 PUFA EPA:DHA 6:1.

BACKGROUND: Ageing is associated with progressive endothelial senescence and dysfunction, and cardiovascular risk. Circulating endothelial microvesicles (MVs) are pro-senescent and pro-inflammatory endothelial effectors in acute coronary syndrome. Omega-3 PUFA intake was claimed beneficial in cardiovascular prevention. PURPOSE: To investigate whether the intake of the omega-3 formulation EPA:DHA 6:1 by middle-aged and old rats reduces the shedding of pro-senescent microvesicles from cultured spleen leukocytes (SMVs) and clarify the underlying mechanisms in target coronary primary endothelial cells (ECs). METHODS: Middle-aged male Wistar rats (M, 48-week old) received 500 mg/kg/d of either EPA:DHA 6:1, EPA:DHA 1:1, or vehicle (CTL) for 7 days, old rats (72-week old) for 14 days. Spleen-derived leukocytes were prepared and cultured for 24 h and MVs collected from supernatants (SMVs). Cultured ECs were prepared from freshly isolated porcine coronary arteries. Senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity (SA-ß-gal) was assessed by C12FDG, protein expression by Western blot analysis, oxidative stress by dihydroethidium using confocal microscopy, and procoagulant MVs by prothrombinase assay. The pro-senescent potential of SMVs from middle-aged rats (M-SMVs) was analyzed by comparison with young (Y, 12-week) and old (O) rats. RESULTS: The shedding of SMVs significantly increased with age and was inhibited by EPA:DHA 6:1 intake that also prevented ROS accumulation in spleen. Incubation of ECs with 10 nM SMVs from middle-aged and old but not those from young rats induced premature senescence after 48 h. The pro-senescent effect of M-SMVs was prevented by Losartan and associated with endothelial oxidative stress. M-SMVs induced an up-regulation of senescence markers (p16, p21, p53), pro-atherothrombotic (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, tissue factor) and pro-inflammatory markers (pNF-κB, COX-2) and proteins of the angiotensin system (ACE, AT1-R). Conversely, endothelial NO synthase was down-regulated. Intake of EPA:DHA 1:1 and 6:1 by middle-aged rats decreased SMV shedding by 14% and 24%, respectively. Only EPA:DHA 6:1 intake abolished the M-SMVs-induced endothelial senescence and reduced the pro-senescent action of O-SMVs by 45%. Protection of ECs was not observed in response to SMVs from EPA:DHA 1:1 treated rats. CONCLUSION: Ingestion of EPA:DHA 6:1 by middle-aged or old rats, respectively abolished or limited both the shedding of SMVs and their pro-senescent, pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory effects in ECs, most likely by triggering the local angiotensin system. EPA:DHA 6:1 may help to delay ageing-related endothelial dysfunction.

Smells like inhibition: The effects of olfactory and visual alcohol cues on inhibitory control.

RATIONALE: How the smell of alcohol impacts alcohol-related thoughts and behaviours is unclear, though it is well-documented that alcohol-related stimuli and environments may trigger these. OBJECTIVES: The current study, therefore, aimed to investigate the priming effects of both visual and olfactory alcohol cues on inhibitory control. METHOD: Forty individuals (M age = 23.65, SD = 6.52) completed a go/no-go association task (GNAT) which measured reaction times, response accuracy and false alarm rates whilst being exposed to alcohol-related (or neutral) olfactory and visual cues. RESULTS: Alcohol-related visual cues elicited lower false alarm rates, slower reaction times and higher accuracy rates relative to neutral pictorial cues. False alarm rates were significantly higher for those exposed to alcohol as opposed to neutral olfactory cues. CONCLUSIONS: By highlighting that exposure to alcohol-related olfactory cues may impede response inhibition, the results indicate that exposure to such stimuli may contribute to the activation of cognitive responses which may drive consumption.

Expression of low molecular weight proteins in patients with leukaemia.

The current study is conducted to observe the differences in the level of low molecular weight proteins in the sera of patients with leukaemia in comparison to healthy subjects (control group). The sera of patients with leukaemia showed 15 peaks in the densitometric curve in comparison to the seven peaks of the controls. The peaks in the experimental samples that coincide with those in the control were of 134.14, 113.15, 76.06, 63.25, 48.07, 22.85 and 16.47 kDa molecular weights, respectively. Most of the new peaks appeared between the proteins of molecular weight 36-29 kDa in the experimental groups. Mean density of the 134.14 kDa protein band showed an increase in the protein in experimental groups I and II only whereas 113.15 and 22.85 kDa protein were increased in all experimental groups of patients with leukaemia. The expression of 76.06 and 63.25 kDa protein fraction was downregulated in the patients with leukaemia. A decline in the level of the protein of 48.07 kDa was observed in patients with leukaemia except in group I. Unlike the other protein fractions, the level of the protein of 16.47 kDa was significantly (p < 0.05) increased with a maximum density in group II. Intergroup experimental) comparison revealed an increasing pattern of 95.44 and 89.21 kDa with maximum level in group III sera. However the protein fractions of 38.07 and 34.94 kDa varied in the serum with maximum density in Group IV Protein fractions of 32.92 and 31.24 kDa were expressed in all age groups of patients with leukaemia with a maximum density in group III whereas the percentage densities of 14.42 and 13.56 kDa protein were quite different. This preliminary study will provide a basis to study the role of different proteins in patients with leukaemia.

Skin and bone: the pathogenetic relationship between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Our current understanding of the relationship between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis remains incomplete, though the evidence from the clinical setting, response to therapeutics, epidemiology, genetics, imaging, and immunopathologic models suggest that they make likely share a common pathogenesis. Psoriatic disease can no longer be thought of as a condition limited to skin and joints. Rather, it must be considered a multi-faceted disorder in which systemic inflammation plays a central role. There is now convincing evidence that individuals with psoriasis have a higher prevalence of co-morbid disease, particularly cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic disorders, and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. The cutaneous manifestations of psoriasis place dermatologists in a crucial and privileged role--one that affords us the potential for early detection of associated co-morbid conditions through screening and perhaps impact disease course and clinical outcomes.

Diagnoses of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.

A hospital-based inpatient and outpatient study of 1,492 cases of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) was conducted from November 1986 to March 1988 in two hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Specimens of nasopharyngeal aspirate were processed for viral studies in all cases; blood cultures were performed in 1,331 cases; and urine was obtained for detection of bacterial antigen in 378 cases, but 227 of these samples had bacterial contamination and were discarded. Respiratory syncytial virus was identified in 33% of cases, and Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified in 9.6% and 9.9% of cases, respectively. Nonencapsulated H. influenzae accounted for 32% of the Haemophilus isolates, and type b was the only encapsulated H. influenzae strain identified. Of the S. pneumoniae serotypes isolated, 31% are not included in the currently available polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine. No clinical characteristic was demonstrated to be a reliable indicator for bacterial ALRI.

Clonal analysis of Hemophilus influenzae isolated from children from Pakistan with lower respiratory tract infections.

The clonal diversity of 105 Hemophilus isolates from the blood of children with lower respiratory tract infection in Pakistan was analyzed. Ten isolates were identified as H. parainfluenzae and 95 as H. influenzae. Of the H. influenzae isolates, 61 (64%) were serotype b and 34 (36%) were nontypable; 95% of the type b isolates were members of a single clonal group (as defined by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE outer membrane protein profile, and biotype). This clone is rarely observed among type b strains recovered from patients with invasive type b disease in the USA or Europe. The nontypable isolates in Islamabad also were clonally restricted: 9 clonal groups were found among 34 isolates, with just 5 clonal groups accounting for most (82%) of the strains. Children infected with type b strains were hospitalized more often than those with nontypable H. influenzae disease (64% vs. 41%, P = .06), but no other clinical or demographic features distinguished children infected by type b and nontypable strains.

Comparison of immunogenicity of combined DPT--inactivated injectable polio vaccine (DPT - IPV) and association of DPT and attenuated oral polio vaccine (DPT + OPV) in Pakistani children.

Two hundred children aged 2-24 months attending EPI Centre Rawalpindi General Hospital, were randomly assigned to two basic immunization schedules i.e. 3 doses of oral polio vaccine alongwith two doses of DPT (Conventional Schedule) and 2 doses of combined DPT - enhanced injectable polio vaccine (new simplified schedule). Comparison of the seroconversion results showed the presence of protective antibodies against all the 3 types of polio in 100% of the children in both the groups, but there was no statistical difference in the geometric mean antibody titre in the two immunization schedules. After two doses of DPT-IPV or DPT vaccine alone the results demonstrated antibody levels above the protective threshold in both the groups against Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus.

On the fixation of genes of large effects due to continued truncation selection in small populations of polygenic systems with linkage.

The proportion of fixed loci for desirable genes and the time required for fixation is studied in simulated diploid populations, which have initially aHARDY-WEINBERG structure. A symmetric ten-locus system of additive or dominant genes is simulated with linkages between adjacent loci varying as .005, .05, or .5. A constant degree of upper truncation selection within a population is considered over the generations. In different populations the intensity of truncation is varied asN/N,N/N+2,N/N+4, ..., whereN is the parental population size, specified as 2,4,8 or 16. The selection differential in initial generation, i, thereby varies from zero to more than two standard deviations in some cases. The initial mean gene frequency,p, simulated in an initial population is .1 or .5.It is pointed out that when selective advantage of a gene is large and is changing with gene frequency, diffusion approximations assuming constant selective advantage, gives higher values for proportion of fixed genes in the case ofp equal to .1 and lower values forp equal to .5. With parental population size of 16 or less, a relation withN i alone does not give the proportion of fixed genes. Higher order terms ofN i appear to be involved in the relation. For the sameN i, the proportion is much higher for lowN.The depressing effect of low recombinations between loci is of different magnitude for differentN andp for a givenN i. The increase in the proportion of fixed genes due to increasingN is not as large when π is low. High intensity of selection offsets considerably the effects of population size and linkage when gene effects are large. It appears that with increased inbreeding and selection intensity, almost all the genes of large effects and at intermediate frequencies can be rapidly fixed regardless of linkage.Linkage has been shown to cause faster fixation of genes in the absence of selection. With selection, linkage tends to delay fixation. But in the case of very low recombinations, there appears to be a level of population size and selection intensity, below which there is more rapid fixation because of linkage. Selection for dominant genes in the case of very close linkage, delays fixation for a number of generations and this delay results in reducing the depressing effect of linkage.

The role of finite population size and linkage in response to continued truncation selection : I. Additive gene action.

In an attempt to analyse long-term response in finite dioecious populations, selection processes are simulated on a computer with situations of parental population size, linkages between loci, selection intensity, and heritability, specified in a 3(4) factorial design. A diploid polygenic system of 40 loci on 4 chromosomes is considered for additive genes. Linkage levels are specified as free recombinations, adjacent loci 5 map units apart, and as clusters on chromosomes with a distance of only .5 units between adjacent loci. Parental populations of 8, 16, and 64, truncation selection of 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 of the progeny each generation, and initial heritability of 1, 1/3, and 1/9 are simulated for various populations.For these populations, which are initially samples from a theoreticalHARDY-WEINBERG situation, it is shown that an initial linear phase of response, which may last for only 2 or 3 generations in some cases, depends on the intensity of selection alone. The effects and interactions of all the above factors on the curvilinearity of response in later generations are analysed. It appears that linkages between loci have a strong influence in reducing the rate of response and the total response. In the extreme cases of gene clusters in a parental population size of 8 with low heritability, truncation selection is relatively almost completely ineffective in causing change in the mean over generations. The effect of tight linkage is also exhibited in causing more reduction in genotypic variance than can be accounted for by corresponding response.The depressing effect of finiteness of population size on the rate of response and the total response appears to increase in geometric proportion with linkages between loci. The number of generations to fixation appears to be reduced in a similar manner. A strong interaction between population size and linkage is thereby found in various analyses. With parental populations as large as 64, linkage effects on response are negligible when recombinations between adjacent loci are .05 or more. In such situations there is a slower rate of response in later generations with linkage but the total response attained and the rate of fixation of inferior genes is about the same as for free recombinations. Increase in the intensity of selection appears to augment the effects of linkage in reducing the rate of response in later generations. This type of interaction is attributed to the accumulation of gametic disequilibria due to selection which are retained in the population over generations with linkage.

The role of finite population size and linkage in response to continued truncation selection : II. Dominance and overdominance.

In a direct Monte Carlo study, the effects and interactions of parental population size, close linkages between loci, degree of truncation selection and environmental variance are explored in the cases of complete dominance and overdominance with equilibrium gene frequency of .5. The base population simulated has a gene frequency of .5 at all 40 loci and is a state of gametic equilibrium. Response and fixation of genes are studied up to 30 generations.In the case of complete dominance of desirable genes, long term response is described in terms of an initial phase of change and a later phase when there is a very slow approach to the limit and plateaus are established in the case of close linkages between loci. The changes in the initial phase consitutes most of the total response. Increased selection in parental populations of 16 or less is ineffective when recombination value between adjacent loci is as low as .005. Linkage effects in reducing response appear to increase in geometric proportions with restricted population size.Results of the overdominance model provide an interesting study of the effects of population size and linkage on heterozygosity while there is selection for the heterozygotes. These effects are partially explainable in terms of differences in heterozygosity between chromosomes and heterozygosity within chromosomes. The between chromosome component of heterozygosity appears to be rapidly reduced with finite population size and common heterozygosity within chromosomes is conserved due to linkages between loci. In general, however, the effects of selection pressure, linkage and population size interact strongly. With small populations and tight linkage, increased selection pressure causes a decrease in amount of fixation. With the largest population increased selection pressure tends to increase the amount of fixation. It is clear, however, that these conclusions must be regarded tentatively, and an exact picture of what is happening will be obtained only with very extensive simulation. It seems quite clear, also, that single locus finite population theory is essentially ineffective.