Advances in BioScience
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Prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia in Water Samples from Jeddah and Makkah Cities
Get PDFWater contamination by Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium is one of the causes of diarrhoea throughout the world. A total of 161 and 84 samples were collected from Jeddah and Makkah cities, respectively. Each sample was concentrated by double centrifugation and the sediment was examined as a wet smear and after staining with Trichrome and Kinyoun stains. The results showed that 56 (35%) and 1 (0.62 %) samples of Jeddah were positive for the oocyst of Cryptosporidium and cyst of Giardia, whereas only 21 (25%) and 2 (2.4 %) samples of Makkah showed positivity for oocysts and cyst of these parasites. Overall Cryptosporidium contamination in bottled water and water from filling stations was 6.8% and 17.4%, respectively. Maximum contamination for Cryptosporidium was recorded in tap water which was 51% and 25% in Jeddah and Makkah, respectively
Assessment of Immunotoxic response in Albino Rats following Nickel Nitrate Treatment
Get PDFNickel nitrate affects body physiology and immunology following its absorption through food, water, air. Predetermined doses of nickel nitrate (Ni(NO3)2] in acute (1 d) and subacute (7, 14, 21 ds) treatments revealed a significant increase in IgG concentration and lymphocyte number, whereas, neutrophils and eosinophils registered significant fall. These alterations indicated heavy metal stress in Immunological parameters that become targets
Studies on endophytic fungi associated with medicinally important aromatic plant Artemisia nilagirica (C.B. Clarke) Pamp. and their antagonistic activity against Phytophthora infestans
Get PDFAntagonistic activity of endophytic fungi associated with medicinally important aromatic plant Artemisia nilagirica was studied against the pathogen Phytophthora infestans that causes late blight of potato. The study has a dual purpose, firstly identification of endophytic fungi isolated from Artemisia nilagirica; secondly, to evaluate their antagonism against Phytophthora infestans using the dual culture method. Altogether 23 fungal endophytes were isolated from root, stem and leaf of which 14 fungal endophytes were isolated from roots, 10 from stem and 6 from leaf. Among the isolates, 4 fungal species, namely Trichoderma viride, Penicillium atrovenetum, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cladosporium cladosporioides were selected to study the antagonistic effect against Phytophthora infestans. T. viride was found to have the highest percentage of inhibition of 67.0% followed by A. fumigates (59.6%), P. atrovenetum (56.7%) and C. cladosporioides (33.0%). Among the test organisms, a zone of inhibition was produced only by T. viride and P. atrovenetum. T. viride showed the maximum inhibition zone of 1cm against P. infestans while that of P. atrovenetum was 0.4cm. This study shows that out of the four test organisms, Trichoderma viride may be recommended as a good source of biocontrol agent against P. infestans the causal organism of potato late blight
Utilization of Water Hyacinth and Banana Wastes Compost in Reclamation of Sandy Soils for increasing Growth, Yield of Cowpea
Get PDFPot experiments were carried out in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, to study the effect of water hyacinth and banana wastes compost (0, 10, 15 and 20 ton/fed) combined with inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers namely ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate and urea (in the rate of 60 kg N/Fed and this rate was 50% of the recommended dose), on the growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea plants. All pots received P and K as recommended. The addition of various rates of water hyacinth and banana wastes composts (H.B.C.) under study significantly increased all plant growth parameters under the study, i.e., plant height, plant fresh weight and dry weight of both shoots and roots, the number of root nodules as well as the nutrient content of the different plant organs compared with the control and the chemical fertilizer application of the recommended dose (100%). There was a marked increase in pod characters, yield and its components, i.e., number of pods per plant, length, diameter and weight of pods per plant. The highest values of growth characters of yield and its components and the contents of nutrient elements were noticed when applying compost at the higher rates (20 ton/fed.) followed by 15 and 10 ton/fed., in a descending order as compared with the control. The best combination of nitrogen forms and the compost is considered to be one of the primary factors for high yield production and quality as well as yield components of cowpea. The highest significant increase in growth characters, yield and yield components, as well as the total carbohydrates and crude protein content of the seeds, were obtained via the application of compost in combination with ammonium sulphate at the rate of 20 ton/fed
Vegetative growth, fruit set, yield and fruit quality of "Le-Conte" pear grown under calcareous soil conditions as affected by different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
Get PDF"Le-Conte" pear fruiting trees grown in newly reclaimed soils were fertilized with different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization during three successive seasons of 2006, 2009 and 2010. However, results were calculated for the two seasons of 2009 and 2010. Tree vegetative growth (shoot length and diameter and leaf area), fruit set, yield increased significantly with increasing fertilization level. Fruit quality was increased significantly with increasing fertilization rate. The results also indicated that increasing N, P and K fertilization level lead to a gradual increment in leaf N, P and k content. Total sugars in fruits increased significantly with increasing the fertilization levels. On the other hand, starch decreased gradually with increasing the fertilization levels. The most effective level (650g. Ammonium nitrate + 325g. Potassium sulphate + 600g. Calcium superphosphate) leads to the highest vegetative growth, mineral leaf content, fruit yield and the best fruit quality as compared with other levels of fertilization. The lowest vegetative growth, yield and fruit weight and dimensions were recorded at the lowest level (250g. Ammonium nitrate + 125g. Potassium sulphate + 200g. Calcium superphosphate)
Short-term exposure to quinalphos induced biochemical and haematological changes in freshwater fish, Oreochromis mossambicus
Get PDFThe toxic impact of quinalphos, an organothiophosphate, on the biochemical as well as haematological parameters was studied in the adult freshwater fish, Oreochromis mossambicus. In the present study, 0.5µl/ L quinalphos was chosen to represent sublethal concentration for 48 and 96 hours as short-term exposure and respective control animals were maintained. Quinalphos induced toxic stress to the exposed fishes, which is obvious by the reduction in the oxygen consumption of the fishes at the time of exposure and this could be due to shrinkage of the respiratory epithelium or possibly due to mucus accumulation on gills. Decrease in the haemoglobin content was observed and this may be due to either an increase in the rate at which the haemoglobin is destroyed or decreased rate of haemopoietic potential of the fish. In the present study, the significant increase in WBC count indicates hypersensitivity of leucocytes to quinalphos and these changes may be due to immunological reactions to produce antibodies to cope up with the stress. Decrease in the level of RBC count indicated decrease in erythropoietic activity or severe anemic state. Reduction in the plasma and tissue protein of quinalphos exposed fishes may be due to its utilization to mitigate the energy demand when the fishes are under stress. Increase of plasma glucose and the total glucose content in tissues like liver, muscle and gill might have resulted from gluconeogenesis to provide energy for the increased metabolic demands imposed by quinalphos stress. Thus the biochemical and hematological alterations due to acute short-term exposure to quinalphos were due to the toxic stress of the toxicant
Water Quality Assessment of Some Well Water in Erbil City by Quality index, Kurdistan Region-Iraq
Get PDFThe present work is aimed at assessing the water quality index (WQI) for the six well in Erbil city. This has been determined by collecting groundwater samples and subjecting the samples to a comprehensive physicochemical analysis. For calculating the WQI, the following 8 parameters have been considered: EC, TDS, pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, NO3, Ca+2, Mg+2. The WQI for these samples ranges from 24.825 in Rizgari well No. 1 to 84.048 in Azadi well No. 8. The results indicated that water quality of wells (Azadi 8, Ankawa 9, Ronaky 1 and Badawa 13) remains Good and Tayrawa well No. 1 remains excellent in the years 2004, 2005, and 2012. But well of Rizgari No. 1 changed from good in year 2004 and to excellent in 2012
The effect of Sprouting on the in vitro Digestibility of Maize and Cowpea
Get PDFDespite the high protein content of cowpeas, their maximum contribution to nutrition has not been fully exploited in many parts of the world because of the following problems: the presence of anti-nutritional factors, such as trypsin inhibitor, which are common with legumes; flatulence factors; low level of sulphur amino acids, particularly methionine; and, in many instances, the inconvenience involved in their long preparation into local dishes. Moreover, there is the problem of the beany off-flavour. Grinding treatments that break most of the cells and release the cell contents of raw legumes prevent the subsequent development of the characteristic beany flavor on cooking. An off-flavour develops when ground raw legumes are suspended in water probably because of mixing of the cell contents enzyme lipoxygenase and could be controlled by adjusting the pH of the slurry towards the acid side.
Germination is widely claimed as a means of correcting nutrient deficiencies of particular seeds, especially through alterations in the amino acid balance of the proteins and enhancement of the content of vitamins. This wide belief is emphasized and investigated in this research. In maize, however, the various food enzymes exited during germination had already played vital roles in breaking down the higher molecular components to simple molecules especially protein, which eases the digestibility as depicted in this investigation
Utilization of Wild Edible Mushrooms for Rural Livelihood in Zaria and its Environs
Get PDFA survey was carried out in some rural communities of Zaria and its environs and mushrooms were collected from the wild during the rains (July-August). The edible mushrooms collected were identified with the help of mushroom guides and some mushroom eaters living in those localities. Information was obtained from consumers, traders, other collectors/hunters and cultivators on their income generation; consumption and other uses of the collected Mushrooms to determine the improvement of the rural livelihood. Mushrooms are sources of food, income and medicinal values. The age range for consumers of edible mushrooms in Zaria and its environs increase with age. This is basically due to lack of adequate knowledge about edible mushrooms. It also gave priority to individuals consuming edible mushrooms, trading and cultivating edible mushrooms. Only few traders of edible mushrooms and few of cultivators of edible mushrooms for commercial purposes were observed, except the wild mushroom hunters that utilized the raining season and generate income for their improve livelihood. The result showed that most individuals in Zaria communities and their environs do not have an interest in eating mushrooms due to the fear of collecting poisonous mushrooms that are much alike with the edible ones. The weather condition is not much favorable for mushroom growth
Leaves polymorphism and fruit shapes variation of Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz in Hyrcanian forest
Get PDFSorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz as a rare native species in Iran which grows between 70 to 2400 meters high sea level in Guilan province. Sorbus torminalis with yellow autumn color and edible fruit make it as a multipurpose tree for future. The objective of this study was to investigate the morphology type of leaves and fruits shape. Four observation sites were selected in different elevation. The leaves samples were collected at 6 meters height of tree in north and south aspect. Leaves width, leaves length and petiole were measured. Due to scarce fruit, nearly 2 Kg fruit were collected from 6 trees in each site. Fruit shape was distinguished through visual examination of 600 fruits. Length and width of fruit was measured. Obtained results were showed that the Sorbus torminalis revealed high polymorphism in leaves shape. Two distinct Sorbus torminalis fruit type were observed spheroid (apple shape) and ellipsoid (pear shape) rounded. The highest mean value of fruit length was 12.47mm from Gardelehposht site was significantly different with the other studies sites. The highest mean value of fruit width was 9.97mm from Janbehsara site which was highly significant difference with other studies site. This study was the first step in fulfilling the criteria enabling characterization and assessment of variability which facilitate Sorbus torminalis germplasm recognition and exchange