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The prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs from shelters in Constanța County-Romania
Get PDFThis study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in shelter dogs from Constanța, a southeastern
county from Romania. In order to assess, in 2022 and 2023, individual and pooled fecal samples, were collected
from 611 dogs from 9 shelters. Fecal samples were examined using standard flotation and sedimentation methods. The
overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 74.63%. Eggs of hookworms (Ancylostoma sp. and Uncinaria sp.)
were the most frequently detected (55.97%), followed by Cystoisospora sp. (31.91%), Trichuris vulpis (27.33%),
Toxocara canis (21.27%), %), Capillaria sp. (2.78%) and Toxascaris leonina (1.96%). Cases of single infestation
were found in 217 (35.51%) of the tested dogs. Mixed infestations with two or more species of parasites were observed
in 239 samples, representing 39.11% of the total samples analyzed. These results will be useful for establishing health
care programs in dog shelters and for implementing effective strategies in controlling the intestinal parasites, in order to
restrain the spread of zoonotic parasites and to raise awareness of their impact on public health
Effect of Leucaena leucocephala leafy biomass and NPK fertiliser on the growth and yield of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench
No full textOkra, Abelmoschus esculentus
(L.) Moench, is a multipurpose vegetable
crop grown in tropical and subtropical
regions of the world for its immature seed
pods and leaves. The crop seldom reaches its
yield potential in most of these areas,
primarily due to a decline in soil fertility. As
a result, a field experiment was carried out at
the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources
Demonstration Farm, KNUST-Kumasi to
assess the effect of NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser
and Leucaena leucocephala leafy biomass
application on the growth and yield of okra.
The treatment combinations were laid out in
a 3 × 3 factorial randomised complete block
design with 9 treatments replicated 4 times
for a total of 36 experimental units.
Leucaena leafy biomass and NPK were
evaluated solely and in combinations at a
rate of 75 kgN/ha on a weight basis. The
treatment combinations were applied as
follows: T1 = Control; T2 = 0.14 kg NPK
(15:15:15); T3 = 0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15);
T4 = 0.5 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass;
T5 = 0.25 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass;
T6 = T2 + T4; T7 = T3 + T5; T8 = T2 + T5;
T9 = T3 + T4. The number of days from
planting to the first anthesis of okra differed
significantly (p ˂ 0.05). T3 showed the least
number of days to the first anthesis
observation (47 days), while T9 had the
highest number of days to the first anthesis
(49.3 days). On a weekly basis (starting with
5 weeks after planting, WAP), height was
not significantly different among the various
treatments. Stem diameter followed a
sequence similar to plant height, starting
from 5 to 10 WAP, where no significant
differences occurred between treatment
means. However, mean values revealed that
okra plants varied significantly in height; T9
had the tallest plants (27.2 cm), while T2 and
T8 had the shortest plants (21.2 and 21.2 cm,
respectively). There was a significant
difference between the treatment means and
stem diameter. In the same advanced line, T9
had the highest stem diameter (9.9 mm),
with T5 having the lowest stem diameter (6.9 mm). Fruit yield was also significantly
different, with T4 having the most fruit
(39,259 fruits per ha) and T8 having the least
(19,259 fruits per ha). The fruit dry weight
was significantly different, as the highest
weight was recorded in T7 (12.5 tonnes/ha)
and the lowest was recorded in T9 (5.3
tonnes/ha). The combination treatment T9
[0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser + 0.5 kg
L. leucocephala leafy biomass per plot] had
a significantly improved height and diameter
compared to the other treatments. The
highest fruit yield of okra was recorded in
T4 (0.5 kg L. leucocephala leafy biomass per
plot), and the highest dry weight of okra was
registered in T7 (0.07 kg NPK (15:15:15)
fertiliser + 0.25 kg L. leucocephala leafy
biomass per plot). Therefore, it is
recommended that sole L. leucocephala
leafy biomass (T4) and its combination with
NPK (15:15:15) fertiliser (T9) be adopted by
smallholder farmers to cultivate okra in the
tropics
Preliminary Results Regarding the Behavior of Some Camassia Species in Iaşi Ecological Conditions (Northeastern Romania)
No full textCamassia genus (Asparagaceae family) includes bulbous herbaceous plants native to North America where they have been cultivated for over 7000 years, especially for food purposes. In this paper, the behavior of two species of Camassia (C. quamash and C. leichtlinii), cultivated in the experimental field of University of Life Sciences of Iasi, Romania, was evaluated. The data obtained in the period 2021-2022 indicate the appropriate adaptation of the two Camassia taxa in the ecological conditions of Iași. A greater vigor of the C. leichtlinii plants was evident, respectively taller flower stems, with longer inflorescences, larger and numerous flowers. The correlations between the different morphological characters highlighted the existence of the positive correlation in most cases, stronger being between the height of the stems and the length of the inflorescences, and between the length of the inflorescences and the number of flowers/ stem. Negative correlations in both species were recorded between the number of flower stems/ plant and the number of flowers/ stem. From the phenological point of view, the initiation of vegetation and the appearance of flower stalks took place approximately simultaneously, instead, flowering was about 14 days earlier in C. quamash
What s happen when pigs or poultry are delivred to slaughter prior to the end of withdrawal period?
Get PDFThe withdrawal period after treatment with microbials is established to minimize the concentration of residues in meat
of treated pigs or poultry.
Even Food Chain has very precise rules about sending or not animals to slaughter before withdrawal period thus human
errors may occur. In a prior study two questionnaires was distributed to food business operator (FBO) and competent
authority (CA) involving 28 countries in and outside Europe (Romania included), involving pig meat production. Then
in the second part of the study, the questionnaires were distributed for poultry meat production. The models developed
in the previous study were applied for poultry industry and Romanian study case
A Search for Tick-Associated, Bronnoya-like Virus Spillover into Sheep
No full textTick-borne diseases are responsible for many vector-borne diseases within Europe. Recently, novel viruses belonging to a new viral family of the order Bunyavirales were discovered in numerous tick species. In this study, we used metatranscriptomics to detect the virome, including novel viruses, associated with Ixodes ricinus collected from Romania and France. A bunyavirus-like virus related to the Bronnoya virus was identified for the first time in these regions. It presents a high level of amino-acid conservation with Bronnoya-related viruses identified in I. ricinus ticks from Norway and Croatia and with the Ixodes scapularis bunyavirus isolated from a tick cell line in Japan in 2014. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the Bronnoya viruses’ sub-clade is distinct from several Bunyavirales families, suggesting that it could constitute a novel family within the order. To determine if Bronnoya viruses could constitute novel tick-borne arboviruses, a Luciferase immunoprecipitation assay for detecting antibodies in the viral glycoprotein of the Romanian Bronnoya virus was used to screen sera from small ruminants exposed to tick bites. No positive serum was detected, suggesting that this virus is probably not able to infect small ruminants. This study represents the first serological investigation of mammalian infections with a Bronnoya-like virus and an initial step in the identification of potential new emergences of tick-borne arboviruses
Retained surgical sponge in a dog: clinical aspects and surgical approach
No full textAlthough retained surgical sponges are rarely reported, their clinical aspect can sometimes vary and therefore, the diagnosis can be challenging. An eight-year-old mixed breed dog was brought in for a skin lesion on the lateral abdominal wall that appeared nine weeks previously, which could not be treated even though both local and general therapy had been carried out. During antibiotic administration, the dog’s condition improved, but once the treatment was completed, the wound and secretions started to reappear. Diagnosis of a retained surgical gauze was based on history, clinical signs, radiological examination and confirmed by surgical exploration. This article aims to describe the clinical and surgical findings of this pathology, which appeared four years after the surgical procedure, in order to disseminate knowledge about the complications that may occur if negligence, disorganisation or lack of emergency protocols exists
Analysis of the interrelationships of stakeholders involved in the management of transhumance in southern Benin
No full textThe management of pastoral mobility is a stakeholder-centered approach for the integration of resource conservation and agricultural development. This study aimed to characterize the stakeholders of transhumance and to analyze their influence in the municipality of Djidja in southern Benin. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 300 stakeholders involved in transhumance and pastoral resource management. The Likert scale (1 to 5) was used to assess the levels of influence and focus groups were conducted. The results showed that several stakeholders (transhumant herders, agro-pastoralists, farmers, hunters, fishermen, loggers, gendarmerie, Garso, CTAF, cattle farmers’ associations, farmers’ associations, SCDA, and communal transhumance committee) were involved in transhumance with diverse interests, backgrounds, knowledge, and power (P < 0.05). More than half of the farmers (72%) blame transhumant herders whose practices are source of multiple conflicts among (please mention what kind of conflicts and with whom by providing example). Statistical analysis indicated a strong influence with significant differences (P < 0.001) in the pastoral resources by four stakeholders including the communal transhumance committee, the association of herders, the Garso (scout and intermediary for transhumant herders), and the transhumant herder. This research demonstrates how the systematic analysis of the activities carried out by the stakeholders, the interconnected activities between them, and their relationships can offer insights for a better coordination of transhumance. For effective pastoral management, it is therefore important to build a dialogue between the different stakeholders involved in transhumance in southern Benin
Effects of High Doses of Selenate, Selenite and Nano-Selenium on Biometrical Characteristics, Yield and Biofortification Levels of Vicia faba L. Cultivars
No full textFaba bean (Vicia faba L.) has spread worldwide as an excellent source of proteins. To evaluate the efficiency of Se biofortification, four cultivars of V. faba (Belorussian, Russian Black, Hangdown Grünkernig, and Dreifach Weiβe) were foliar treated with 1.27 mM solutions of nano-Se, sodium selenate, and sodium selenite. Yield, protein, and Se contents were greatly affected by genetic factors and chemical form of Se. Selenium biofortification levels were negatively correlated with Se concentration in control plants and increased according to the following sequence: nano-Se < sodium selenite < sodium selenate. Contrary to selenate and selenite, nano-Se showed a growth-stimulating effect, improving yield, seed weight, and pod number. Pod thickness decreased significantly as a result of nano-Se supply and increased by 1.5–2.3 times under selenate and selenite supply. The highest Se concentrations were recorded in the seeds of Se-fortified cv. Belorussian and the lowest one in those of Se-treated Hangdown Grünkernig. Protein accumulation was varietal dependent and decreased upon 1.27 mM selenate and selenite treatment in the cvs. Hangdown Grünkernig and Dreifach Weiβe. The results indicate the high prospects of nano-Se supply for the production of faba bean seeds with high levels of Se
Sensory characterisation of emulsified sausages incorporating celery powder and obtained with different technological parameters
No full textThis study aimed to evaluate and sensorily describe membrane-emulsified poultry and pork meat products (frankfurter sausages) manufactured in the USV Iași Meat Processing Workshop, products to which celery powder was added. Six technology sheets were developed to obtain six batches of products (three chicken and three pork): C1 (66% chicken breast, 17% pork backfat, 1.8% celery powder) and P1 (66% pork, 17% pork backfat, 1.8% celery powder), C2 (56% chicken breast, 24% pork backfat, 3.5% celery powder) and P2 (56% pork, 24% pork backfat, 3.5% celery powder) and C3 (48% chicken breast, 31% pork backfat, 4.5% celery powder) and P3 (48% pork, 31% pork backfat, 4.5% celery powder). The samples were evaluated in terms of instrumental colour and sensory evaluation (acceptability test and CATA – check-all-that-apply). The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the samples regarding the instrumental colour, chicken meat frankfurter sausages having significantly higher lightness values (L*) compared to pork frankfurter sausages, and in terms of the proportion of raw materials: the lightness increased significantly in direct proportion to the percentage of fat added. According to the CATA analysis, the evaluators associated a pink colour and meaty flavour with batch 1 products and attributes such as uniformity of colour, characteristic flavour, the right amount of seasoning and smooth texture were identified in all six batches of products. However, the batches with the highest scores on the hedonic scale, considered acceptable by the evaluators, were C1, P1 and C2
Pullulan/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels Loaded with Calendula officinalis Extract: Design and In Vitro Evaluation for Wound Healing Applications
No full textThe therapeutic efficiency of plant extracts has been limited by their poor pharmaceutical availability. Hydrogels have promising potential to be applied as wound dressings due to their high capacity to absorb exudates and their enhanced performance in loading and releasing plant extracts. In this work, pullulan/poly (vinyl alcohol) (P/PVA) hydrogels were first prepared using an eco-friendly method based on both a covalent and physical cross-linking approach. Then, the hydrogels were loaded with the hydroalcoholic extract of Calendula officinalis by a simple post-loading immersion method. Different loading capacities were investigated in terms of the physico-chemical properties, chemical composition, mechanical properties, and water absorption. The hydrogels exhibited high loading efficiency due to the hydrogen bonding interactions between polymer and extract. The water retention capacity as well as the mechanical properties decreased with the increase in the extract amount in hydrogel. However, higher amounts of extract in the hydrogel improved the bioadhesiveness. The release of extract from hydrogels was controlled by the Fickian diffusion mechanism. Extract-loaded hydrogels expressed high antioxidant activity, reaching 70% DPPH radical scavenging after 15 min immersion in buffer solution at pH 5.5. Additionally, loaded hydrogels showed a high antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and were non-cytotoxic against HDFa cells