Background and Objective: Snails in the forskalii group act as intermediate host of schistosomes and the availability of these snails in freshwater bodies increase the risk of schistosome infection.In tropical and sub-tropical countries, schistosome infection is still common among people living in rural and urban communities.Radular teeth of freshwater snails are often specific to a species or genus and are widely used for species identification.Hence, this study compared the radula structures of Bulinus species in the forskalii group with the aim of providing observable differences within the species.Materials and Methods: The snail species were collected from schistosome endemic rural areas and preserved in ethanol for this study.Shell morphometrics was measured using a Vernier caliper while permanent slides of the radulae were dissected and stained using Mallory.Descriptive statistics, One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and LSD post hoc tests were performed on shell characters.Results: The means shell length (mm) of B. camerunensis, B. senegalensis and B. forskalii were 5.8±0.9,7.4±0.2and 7.1±1.2,respectively.The radula of each species had a ratio of 18:17:1:17:18.The marginal teeth of B. forskalii possessed seven cusps, B. camerunensis possessed six cusps while B. senegalensis possessed twelve cusps.Conclusion: The differences observed in shell characteristics and radulae morphology in the three species could be used to differentiate these species in middle and low-income areas.
Background and Objective: There is a need for sensitive bio-monitoring tools intoxicant impact assessment to indicate the effect of toxicants on fish health in polluted aquatic ecosystems.Histological aberrations were evaluated in Clarias buthupogon and Heterobranchus longifilis sampled from Asa River Nigeria.Materials and Methods: The fish required for this investigation were sampled from the downstream portion of the river which was chosen for their suspected levels of toxicants.A quantitative and qualitative histology-based health assessment protocol was employed to determine the adverse health effects in fish gills.Results: The most notable alterations were congestion of blood vessels, desquamation, swelling of pillar cells, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the gill epithelium.Epithelial lifting of the basement membrane was common in virtually all sampled fish species, while circulatory disturbances were slightly pronounced.Conclusion: However, the observed histological aberrations in the gill tissue could be due to increased concentrations of chemical pollutants in the water body.Therefore, proper assessment of the Asa River is necessary with strict vigilance because of ensuring the protection and conservation of the organisms therein.
Background and Objective: Fish are an important group of vertebrates and are frequently challenged by different types of infectious disease, some of which are caused by helminth parasites.The main aim of this study was to study the prevalence of helminth parasites in Schizothorax plagiostomus and Cyprinus carpio communis which is an important source of dietary protein for people in Kashmir and plays an important role in this regionʼs local economy.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to study the helminth infection of 768 fishes belonging to 574 Schizothorax plagiostomus and 194 Cyprinus carpio communis fishes collected from different sites of Nallah Sukhnag in Budgam, Kashmir.Results: Helminths recovered from S. plagiostomus were Diplozoon kashmirensis (trematoda), Adenoscolex oreini (cestoda) and Pomphorhynchus kashmirensis (acanthocephalan) with prevalence of 10.27%, 11.84% and 12.54% respectively.Helminth parasites reported from C. carpio communis were Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (cestoda) with prevalence of 4.63% and P. kashmirensis (acanthocephalan) with prevalence of 6.18%.Gender wise and size wise prevalence in S. plagiostomus and C. carpio communis showed maximum prevalence percentage of helminths in males and larger fishes in comparison to females and smaller ones, respectively.Conclusion: Based on the observations as gathered in the present study, the occurrence of maximum infection in larger fishes could be due to accumulation of larvae from year to year.This study also concluded that helminth prevalence in fish is mainly dependent on fish feeding habits, pollution of water body, type of fish as well as on their defence system.
Background and Objective: The effective control of malaria through larva source management requires the information on the breeding sites and the physico chemical parameters that affects their abundance.This study investigated the ecology of mosquito larva in relation to the physico chemical parameter in the Niger Delta University campuses.Materials and Method: Five breeding sites of mosquitoes were identified.Mosquito larva in each breeding sites was collected into labeled containers using standard procedures.Morphological identification of larva followed standard procedures.The physico chemical parameter: temperature, turbidity, salinity and conductivity, pH , CL and alkalinity of each of the mosquito breeding sites were determined following standard techniques.The relationship between larva productivity and physico chemical parameters were analysed using t-test and correlation matrix at 0.05 level of confidence.Results: Three hundred and fifty mosquito larva were collected from five microhabitats such as motor tyres, gutter, containers, water pools and block holes.A significantly high proportion of Culex quinquefasciatus larva were more productive in all the breeding sites than and A. gambiae (t = 2.966, p<0.05).Except for alkaline, Culex quinquefasciatus larva productivity showed significant positive correlation with temperature, Turbidity, salinity and conductivity.Anopheles gambiae larva productivity showed a significant positive correlation with temperature and alkalinity but were negatively correlated with Turbidity, salinity, conductivity and CL.Conclusion: The breeding adaptability of culex mosquitoes to wide range of microhabitats and tolerance to varied physico chemical parameter is an indication that there are increase transmission foci for filariasis in rural communities of Amassoma.
Background and Objective: The ecophysiological relationship between reproductive parameters and environmental variables is mostly unknown in wild temperate species of small rodents, inhabiting mid-latitude, temperate forests.Here the goal was the relationship between testicular function, testes and body weight to seasonal variations of daylight length and temperature in adult males of the Rock Mouse (Peromyscus difficilis felipensis), in a two-year study.Materials and Methods: Spermatogenesis, spermatogenic function, content and production of testosterone and body and testicular weight were monthly evaluated in free-living P. d. felipensis, using standard, histological and biochemical (ELISA) techniques.Results: Although the presence of sperm in both testes and epididymis was found all year round, there was a seasonal pattern with a spring peak in testis volume and testosterone content and production; though, the testicular function was maintained until fall and winter.Conversely, bodyweight decreased during spring-summer, while it increased in fall-winter.There was an ecophysiological positive correlation of reproductive parameters with environmental gathered data, especially with daylight length (i.e., increased correlation during spring, p<0.001) and there was a slight or no participation of environmental temperature.Conclusion: In addition to daylight length, the seasonal pattern of testicular function in these temperate populations of mice, indicates that other environmental factors, waiting to be elucidated (e.g., phytochemicals intake through food), also contribute to its regulation.
Gram-negative bacteria produce endotoxins in the form of lipopolysaccharides (LPS).The direct effect of LPS itself has not been well studied.Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are potential receptors for LPS in Drosophila and likely other arthropods whereas in mammals the Toll receptors mediate a response by LPS.In larval Drosophila the myogenic heartbeat is dampened by LPS.The LPS exposure at larval Drosophila glutamatergic neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) depresses the amplitude of evoked and spontaneous release, potentially blocking glutamate receptors on the muscle.In contrast, LPS increases evoked response but not quantal events at the crayfish glutamatergic NMJ.In both mentioned invertebrate NMJs, the muscle transiently hyperpolarizes to exposure of LPS and effects on evoked release are reversible with short exposures to LPS.No effects of LPS on primary sensory neurons of crab or crayfish occur.Evoked responses at the cholinergic frog NMJs were depressed but spontaneous quantal events were not.No hyperpolarization of the muscle was observed for frog or rat skeletal muscle from exposure to LPS.The hippocampus of the rodent displayed a rapid depression in evoked responses but is reversible with short exposures.This was also mimicked for sensory-CNS-motor nerve evoked responses in crayfish and larval Drosophila.The RNAi expression for PGRP-LC and PGRP-LE in Drosophila did not alter the responses to LPS.The same dosage of LPS (500 µg mLG 1 ) from Serratia marcescens was used in all animal models.Thus, the effects of LPS on synaptic function and skeletal/cardiac muscle is species and receptor subtype specific but not transmitter subtype specific.
Background and Objectives: Marine algae, especially brown algae (Sargassum sp.), is a natural compound plant capable of being prophylactic and immunostimulant.This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of seaweed (Sargassum sp.) extract to improve resistance and immune response of juvenile white shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) infected by Vibrio algynolyticus. Materials and Methods:The ethanolic extract of seaweed was used to evaluate its antibacterial effect by immerse the juvenile shrimp at a dose level of 0 (control), 150, 250 and 350 ppm for 3 h.Shrimp immune response was observed based on total haemocyte count (THC) and differential haemocyte count (DHC).Moreover, the bacterial challenge test was used for the evaluation of shrimp resistance.Results: The immersed shrimp in 150 ppm extract showed a significant increase in the number of THC and improve DHC value.During bacterial challenge test, shrimp juveniles immersed in 150 and 250 ppm had a 100% relative percent survival (RPS) which was higher than those in 350 ppm that had only 50% survival.Moreover, there were no significant histological changes of the hepatopancreas organ following infection in shrimps immersed in 150 and 250 ppm seaweed extract groups, whereas shrimps in control group showed hyperplasia and necrotic in nucleus cells.In addition, changes in the form of excess fat infiltration occured in tissues indicates the vulnerability of shrimp in control group.Conclusion: The study indicates that extract of brown seaweed Sargassum sp. is a potential immunostimulant to be used in juvenile white shrimps culture to control vibriosis.
Background and Objective: More recently, wildlife exploitation as bushmeat and other by-products have been recognized as having serious impacts in the ecosystem with the impact more pronounced in the Savannah biomes.This high exploitation of wildlife resources is done without considering their conservation and as such leads to extinction of these animals in the wild.This study was carried out to determined the level of exploitation of wildlife as bushmeat and how this could be a threat to the ecosystem of the area.Materials and Methods: A survey of wildlife use as bushmeat in Lokoja Government Area of Kogi state was carried.The study was aimed at documenting the species of wildlife exploited for bushmeat and the danger to conservation.Visits were made to local markets, villages, roadsides and bushmeat traders within Lokoja Local Government.Data was collected through visual observation and identification of encountered species, questionnaires and oral interviews with 60 respondents.Results: The result showed 19 animals species being exploited for bushmeat.The most exploited species were Hippo tragus equinus with 103 individuals followed by giant snails with the total of 95 individuals and Civettictis civetta was the lowest with 7 individuals.The month of April had the highest exploitation rate with 357 individuals, while May had the least exploitation rate with 158 individuals.Shannon-Wiener diversity index for the month of March was the highest (H'= 1.1626) followed by April with H' = 1.116.Conclusion: The study observed high rate of exploitation of wild animals for bushmeat in the area which is a threat to conservation if actions are not put in place to reduce the exploitation.
Background and Objectives: Alopias vulpinus is one of the common large sharks recorded in various regions of the Mediterranean Sea .The objective of the present study was the first confirmed reports of the young and pregnant female A. vulpinus specimen with newborn four individuals first time photographed in the Northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey.Materials and Methods: On 09 March 2019, a young specimen of Alopias vulpinus with a total length (TL) of 2.5 m TL and 180 kg was captured by longline at a depth around 38 m off the Erdemli coast.Another specimen, which was a pregnant female caught (5.5 m and weight 400 kg) by a trammel net at a depth of 30 m in the vicinity of Taşucu (North-Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey) on 11 March, 2019.Results: This ichthyologic note presents a pregnant female and juvenile records of A. vulpinus for Mersin Bay, Mediterranean coast of Turkey.Measurements of the specimens given and the previous records information and geographical distribution of the sample of A. vulpinus in the Turkish Mediterranean waters were documented.Although, A. vulpinus has been distributed in the Mediterranean Sea coast of Turkey and reported from the eastern Mediterranean.Conclusion: If the necessary precautions are not taken, this species may be considered as "Endangered" in the Turkish Mediterranean waters soon.Thus, the required legal arrangements for the protection of these species in the region should be given priority.
Background and Objectives: Parasitic communities of Rhizoprionodon acutus were investigated from Nellore Coast (14.43EN 79.97EE), Bay of Bengal during January, 2014 and December, 2015.Special focus was given to helminth infracommunities and effect of host size and sex on its structure.Material and Methods: The parasites obtained from the host samples were enumerated and preserved for morphological analysis and ecological study using standard protocols.Results: A total of 11 taxa including 3 ectoparasites and 8 endoparasites were identified.Only, 59.2% of the fish were parasitized by one or more than one parasitic species, with an average of 2 parasites/fish.Endoparasites represented 86% of the total parasites collected with cestodes overwhelming the other parasites within the parasitic community.The number of ecto and endoparasites species per individual host ranged from 1-15 and 1-17, respectively while the mean numbers of parasite specimens per individual host were 0.38 and 1.8, respectively.There were no core and secondary species in the community and all the parasitic species occupied the rank of satellite species.Relationship between host size and parasitization revealed that medium sized (Group 2) fishes were more infected than other classes of fishes.The aggregated or over-dispersed nature of parasitic infection was exhibited by only P. floraformis (5.12), K. minuta (4.50), L. sturionis (15.1) and L. secundus (6.41).Considerable interspecific associations were shown by only those parasites occupying the same niche i.e., copepod and monogenean in gills and different species of cestodes in spiral intestine of the host.Though, there is no significant relation between host sex and overall parasitization in the host but individually, only, L. secundus, H. peridareus, N. lingualis and larva of Hysterothylacium sp.showed a significant relation between host sex and parasitization.Conclusion: The communities of metazoan parasites in R. acutus are depauperate and are close to the isolationist extremity of the continuum with only 11 species.
The direct action of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) endotoxin was shown to enhance synaptic transmission and hyperpolarize the membrane potential at low doses, but block glutamatergic receptors and decrease observable spontaneous events at a high dosage. The dosage effects are LPS type specific. The hyperpolarization is not due to voltage-gated potassium channels or to activation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The effects are induced directly by LPS, independent of an immune response.
Background and Objective: Protection of proteins is essential for productive ruminants, this study aimed to obtain optimal level of gambier leaf residue (GLR) that can protect the protein of cattle feed supplement (CFS) from rumen microbial degradation.Materials and Methods: Gambier (Uncaria gambir Roxb.) leaf residue containing 9.96% condensed tannin was added to CFS containing 29% crude protein with a mixture of brown sugar, soybean meal, coconut cake, tapioca, urea and minerals at level 0 (control), 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5%.Condensed tannin content in CFS: 0, 0.68, 1.17 and 1.60% then which were tested in rumen digestion in vitro.Results: The addition GLR in CFS can protected protein in CFS with decreased ruminal protein degradation 16.84% compare control.Rumen undegraded dietary protein (RUDP), TCA-soluble N and peptide N was increase by addition GLR in average 42.38% compared control.The optimum level of GLR in CFS was obtained 4.88% with the minimum rate of protein degradation in 1.05% hG 1 .Conclusion: The addition of GLR in CFS can protected protein from microbial degradation in rumen with optimum level of 4.88%.
Background and Objective: Pesticides induced direct and indirect effects on natural enemies so that, this study was aimed to evaluate six pesticides and two plant extracts to choice less toxic one for natural enemy and more toxic for mite.Materials and Methods: The toxicity of tested pesticides and plant extracts on Tetranychus urticae and predacious mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis evaluated using leaf dipping and spraying methods in laboratory and the number of dead adults recorded after 1-7 days of treatment.Results: The spraying method was more effective than leaf dipping one.Abamectin 1%+Thiamethoxam 9% were very toxic on T. urticae and was less toxic for P. persimilis.Moreover, khaya and pomegranate extracts were more toxic for T. urticae and were very safer for P. persimilis after treated with leaf dipping method.As for spraying method, Fenpyroximate was very toxic to T. urticate, where it was safer for P. persimilis.Conclusion: From this study it was concluded that Abamectin 1%+Thiamethoxam 9%, Fenpyroximate, khaya and pomegranate extracts were toxic to T. urticae and safer for P. persimilis.
Background and Objectives: Aspartame is a popular artificial sweetener used by a wide range of consumers as an alternative sweetener to reduce the calorie intake.Uncontrolled used of aspartame may have many unknown deleterious effects on the population.The objectives of the present study were to investigate the adverse effects of aspartame (ASP) on biochemical and hematological parameters of female Swiss albino mice.Materials and Methods: Adult female mice (n = 5 each group) were divided into two groups viz.control and treatment.Treatment group received aspartame orally (40 mg kgG 1 or 0.04 mg gG 1 b.wt./day), while control group received double distilled water only.Animal care and handling was performed according to the standard guidelines.After 30 days mice were sacrificed for estimation of alkaline phosphates, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvate transaminase and hematological parameters. Results:The results indicate that ASP exposure significantly (p<0.05)elevated alkaline phosphates (ALP), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT), while as a significant (p<0.05)decrease was observed in hematological parameters (i.e.) white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb) percentage as well as total protein content, in case of ASP treated mice compared to the control group.Creatinine content was increased in case of ASP treated mice as compared to control. Conclusion:The observed changes show that ASP consumption may have deleterious effects.Therefore, the current study indicates that consumption of ASP was harmful to mice in relation to hematological and biochemical analysis and needs more scientific research to investigate its effects on other parameters.
Background and Objective: Insect vectors, especially mosquitoes are responsible for spreading serious human diseases like malaria, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue and filariasis.The various synthetic products and devices designed to combat such vectors are not successful because of increased resistance developed by various mosquito species.The usage of plant extracts is one of the possible methods of pollution free method in insect control.The objective of this study was to find new method for controlling adult of Aedes aegyptii using extract seeds of Nigella sativa.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from July, 2016-August, 2017 at Laboratory of Toxicology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.The crude extract was obtained by powdered seed of Nigella sativa and extracted by n-hexane solution for 72 h.Bioassays was conducted using both Y-Olfactometer and wind tunnel condition.Identification of Nigella sativa has been conducted by injecting crude extract into GC-MS.Results: Dual choice bioassay showed that 64% females mosquito significantly (p<0.001)avoided black seed within 3.2 min whereas the longest time was 10.29 min for female mosquito to avoid the black seed at concentration 5000 ppm.In the wind tunnel, single mosquito was tested against 250-5000 ppm for 100 cm in wind or no wind conditions.In wind tunnel assays the threshold for single mosquito to exhibit avoidance behavior was 1000 and 5000 ppm in the presence of wind within 100 cm whereas it was 5000 ppm in the presence of no wind condition within 100 cm.The result of this study showed that the compounds of styrol, thymoquinone and p-cymene in the black seed were confirmed to be effective disturbing the behavior of mosquito.Conclusion: The black seed Nigella sativa has a potential to managing behavior of mosquito Aedes agyptii and can be used in term of integrated management system of pest control.
Background and Objective: Limnonectes blythii population in west Sumatra sharply decline because of its trading activity and damaged habitat.Conservation effort is necessary to protect the species.One of important information that needs to be done is to understand the species genetic variation.The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic variety of Limnonectes blythii of west Sumatra using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD).Materials and Methods: Thirty frogs were collected from three location of wildlife sanctuary in west Sumatra.Genetic variation analysis using RAPD with 11 OPA primer.The electrophoresis results were marked as 1 if a band founded and 0 if thereʼs no band.Results: Genetic variation of three population were low and the highest founded on Malampah population , next on Sijunjung and lastly Harau .However, genetic differentiation inter-population was considered moderate, which of half of overall genetic variation generated from differentiation inter-population and also a half from differentiation of intra-population which supported by lower heterozygosity inter-population than intra-population heterozygosity.Gen flow value of inter-population was observed moderate.Conclusion: Genetic variation of L. blythii intra-population is lower than inter-population and the gene flow between L. blythii population considered moderate.
Background and Objective: Cockroaches have been long hated by people due to their creepiness and considered as pests.Since mites share the same environment as cockroaches, there are a number of possibilities for mites to be found on the cockroaches.Hence, the study aimed to identify the occurrence of mites carried by cockroaches from two food stalls and two restaurants in Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.Materials and Methods: A total of 179 cockroaches from the species of Periplaneta americana were caught and processed for identification of mites.The mites were observed under light microscope.Results: Microscopic evidence showed that 102 cockroaches carried mites.The percentage of mitesʼ occurrence was higher in the food stalls as compared to the restaurants.Conclusion: Overall, the study found that cockroaches potentially serve as mechanical vectors for mites.By reducing the cockroach infestation in food premises, the risk of transmission of dangerous mites via cockroaches also can be reduced.
Background and Objective: Watermelon is grown for food and as summer water source for both humans and animals.It is considered a multi-purpose crop that has many economic benefits but is susceptible to several insect pests.Specifically, the black watermelon bug Coridius viduatus, a very harmful agricultural pest.The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Imidacloprid and Azadirachtin on the black watermelon bug Coridius viduatus, specifically assessing the acute toxicity, mortality and sublethal effects while determining the lethal concentration (LC 50 ) and lethal time (LT 50 ).Materials and Methods: Study the effect of Imidacloprid and Azadirachtin at varying concentrations (0, 0.2, 1, 5, 6 ppb).During specific time intervals (1,3,6,10,12,24 h) the number of dead the number of dead individuals was calculated, thus calculating the death rate.Results were compiled to calculate the lethal concentration of individuals (LC 50 ) and then calculate the lethal halftime (LT 50 ).As was followed up during specific time periods (1, 3, 6, 10, 12, 24 h).Results: This study showed that Imidacloprid had a stronger effect in the elimination and mortality of black bugs Coridius viduatus compared to Azadirachtin, where the concentration of 1.658 ppb of Imidacloprid leads to 50% mortality compared to the Azadirachtin dosage of 3.085 ppb.Also, the Imidacloprid pesticide needs less time in the elimination and death of the black bug population when using the half-lethal concentration.It takes 14.779 h to achieve 50% mortality, compared to Azadirachtin, which takes approximately 28.3 h to achieve 50% mortality.Conclusion: The results concluded that the Imidacloprid was very toxic against the black bugs, in terms of both mortality and longevity.A botanical insecticide group such as Azadirachtin is environmentally friendly and is effective for controlling the insect.
This review emphasizes how ectothermic animals respond physiologically to environmental temperature changes and cold stress. Generally ectothermic animals cannot generate heat to maintain their body temperature but they can still survive in various temperature zones. Various organisms have been analyzed anatomically and physiologically in the attempt to understand the underlying mechanisms of this temperature adaptation. A few of the changes in the metabolic and molecular function of proteins are discussed. The potential of how hormonal modulation of cardiac and nervous systems which influences responses during exposure cold exposure is also addressed. The focus of this review is on the effect of cold exposure on synaptic transmission and cardiac function in crustaceans and insects.
