Abstract Background Paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) is a chronic livestock infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis , resulting in major economic losses. Molecular assays targeting the IS900 , ISMav02 , and F57 gene are widely used for detection, but differences in analytical sensitivity and specificity influence diagnostic agreement and prevalence estimation. Methods Fecal DNA from 213 livestock samples were analyzed using molecular PCR assays and culture. The data were compared in pairs for diagnostic agreement. MAP-positive samples were subjected to IS1311 PCR-REA and IS1311 locus-2 PCR-REA for genotyping and sub-genotyping, respectively. The concordance between assays was examined using Cohen’s kappa and Fisher’s exact test. Results Traditional IS900 PCR and ISMav02 PCR comparison showed 54 TP (25.4%) and 157 TN (73.7%) with two FP (0.9%) and no FN. Traditional IS900 PCR vs. F57 PCR, 56 TP (26.3%) and 152 TN (71.4%) were recorded, no FP and five FN (2.3%). Compared to F57 PCR, ISMav02 PCR revealed 54 TP (25.3%) and 152 TN (71.4%) with no FP and 7 FN (3.2%). The greatest apparent prevalence values were obtained using F57 PCR (28.6%), followed by Traditional IS900 PCR (26.3%) and ISMav02 PCR (25.4%). IS1311 PCR-REA showed the most frequent genotype in genuine MAP positives cattle was ‘Indian Bison type’. Conclusion The three molecular tests were highly concordant with F57 PCR identifying a higher MAP prevalence indicating greater analytical sensitivity. The observation of false negatives with the IS900 and ISMav02 tests indicates that the use of these assays alone might result in an underestimating of the true prevalence. The combination of F57 with IS900 and ISMav02 gene based PCRs improves the diagnostic accuracy and boosts the paratuberculosis monitoring in domestic animals.
Abstract Objective This study investigated the ecomorphological variation and trophic specialization of cichlid species in the Cross River, Nigeria, to understand how morphology, diet, and habitat interact to drive ecological diversity. Methodology Eight cichlid species were sampled from three sections of the Cross River (upper, middle, and lower reaches). Morphometric traits (e.g., standard length, gut length, gape width) were measured and analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA). Stomach content analysis was conducted to assess dietary composition, and trophic guilds were defined. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to explore relationships between morphology, diet, and environmental variables such as dissolved oxygen, substrate type, and vegetation cover. Results Morphometric traits differed significantly among species, with Oreochromis niloticus having the highest standard length (145.2 mm) and Sarotherodon melanotheron exhibiting the longest gut length (190.2 mm). PCA revealed that PC1 explained 47.8% of total variance, primarily influenced by standard length and body depth, while DFA showed a 65.1% separation among species based on trophic traits (Wilks’ λ = 0.324, p < 0.001). Diet analysis revealed that detritus (IRI = 6590.4) and algae (IRI = 3128.3) were dominant food items. Trophic guild classification identified omnivores, herbivores, insectivores, and detritivores, with omnivores showing the highest niche breadth (Levins’ index = 0.68) and trophic overlap (mean Pianka’s index = 0.74). CCA explained 68.5% of the variance in diet-morphology-environment relationships, confirming that species distributions were linked to environmental gradients and feeding adaptations. Conclusion Cichlid trophic morphology in the Cross River reflects ecological adaptation to diverse feeding strategies and habitat conditions. Morphological traits are strong predictors of diet and guild membership, and environmental factors further shape their ecological roles. These findings advance our understanding of functional diversity in African freshwater ecosystems and provide a reference point for biodiversity conservation in tropical riverine habitats.
Rodent is a diversified group of mammals and characterized by small body, short limb, long tail and incisor teeth. Majority of mammals fall under this category including mice and rats which are commonly used as laboratory animal. Brain of rodent shows compartmentalization and comprises of cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, hypothalamus and thalamus. Among different brain regions, hypothalamus and preoptic area (POA) specifically are considered as the complex region responsible for sleep, thermoregulation, nest building, maternal behavior and reproductive physiology. Rodents exhibit plasticity in terms of learning, increase in sex hormones, decline in immunity with aging, circadian rhythm drive temperature and neurotransmitter release during maturity. Ovulatory stage in females which involves development of growth follicle and ova is marked as estrous cycle in non-primates. It is usually differentiated into four phase namely: proestrus, metaestrus, estrus and diestrus. Sex steroid hormones are known to be involved in reproductive physiology. All gonadal hormones mainly estradiol, progesterone and prolactin activity has been observed to increase in estrus female rat. The level of cortisol and oxytocin also fluctuates during estrous cycle. The present article attempts at highlighting reported seasonality and function of hypothalamus and POA within rodents.
Abstract Background In agriculture, various chemicals and fertilizers are used to enhance the plant growth; however, their excessive use can cause environmental pollution and adversely affect both invertebrates and vertebrates. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the phytoregulators Chlormequat chloride (CCC) and Paclobutrazol (PBZ) on Substance P immunoreactivity in the neuronal cells of the cerebral ganglion of Semperula maculata and Bellamya bengalensis after 96 hours of exposure. Substance P immunoreactivity was quantified as the percentage area of immunostaining to assess neurochemical alterations induced by these phytoregulators. Results Substance P immunoreactivity increased significantly in both gastropod species following exposure to CCC and PBZ compared with the control group. Among the two phytoregulators, PBZ induced a greater increase in Substance P immunoreactivity than CCC. In Semperula maculata , immunoreactivity increased by 14.35% following CCC exposure and by 16.77% following PBZ exposure. Similarly, in Bellamya bengalensis , immunoreactivity increased by 10.71% and 12.31% after CCC and PBZ exposure, respectively. Conclusion Comparative analysis showed that the relative increase in Substance P immunoreactivity was greater in Semperula maculata , whereas Bellamya bengalensis exhibited higher overall Substance P immunoreactivity under all experimental conditions. These findings indicate that CCC and PBZ induce significant neurochemical alterations in gastropods, suggesting their potential neurotoxic effects on non-target invertebrates. The study emphasizes the need to monitor the environmental impact of these phytoregulators in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Schistosomiasis remains a major global public health concern, necessitating the development of novel and potent vector-control strategies to interrupt the parasite's transmission cycle. In this study, novel Cobalt-Silver (Co@Ag) core-shell nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a facile chemical reduction method, utilizing hydrogen gas generated from the controlled hydrolysis of sodium borohydride to reduce silver nitrate. The successful formation of the core-shell nanostructures was visually confirmed by a characteristic dark yellowish coloration, while UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a sharp surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption peak at 410 nm. The synthesized bimetallic nanoparticles exhibited remarkable colloidal stability in aqueous media, remaining stable for several months without aggregation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the well-defined core-shell morphology, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) demonstrated an average particle size of approximately 170 nm. Furthermore, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy verified the presence of surface-stabilizing functional groups, identifying characteristic stretching vibrations for O–H, C–H, C–N, and N–H bonds. These stable Co@Ag core-shell nanoparticles present significant potential for various catalytic and biomedical applications. This study evaluates the molluscicidal, endocrinological, biochemical, and ultrastructural effects of cobalt-silver core/shell bimetallic nanoparticles against the snail intermediate host Biomphalaria alexandrina and Schistosoma mansoni larval stages. Toxicity assays revealed a significant concentration-dependent molluscicidal activity with an LC 90 value of 134.48 ppm. Exposure to sub-lethal concentrations (LC 10 and LC 25) under combined dark incubation (6 h) and light exposure (3 h) induced marked physiological disruptions in snail homogenized tissues. Specifically, 17β-estradiol, total estrogen, and testosterone levels exhibited significant reductions (p < 0.001), whereas progesterone levels increased significantly (p < 0.001 to p < 0.01). Concurrently, a substantial, concentration-dependent elevation in nitrogen oxide levels (p < 0.001) indicated pronounced oxidative stress. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated severe, time- and concentration-dependent morphological alterations in S. mansoni miracidia and cercariae following short-term exposure (10 min dark, 30 min light), characterized by surface wrinkling, blebbing, tegumental swelling, and catastrophic structural degradation. These findings highlight the potent multi-targeted efficacy of cobalt-silver core/shell nanoparticles as promising agents for schistosomiasis vector and parasite control.
