Geographic distribution of MERS coronavirus among dromedary camels, Africa

We found serologic evidence for the circulation of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus among dromedary camels in Nigeria, Tunisia, and Ethiopia. Circulation of the virus among dromedaries across broad areas of Africa may indicate that this disease is currently underdiagnosed in humans outside the Arabian Peninsula

Anthelmintic effect of Halothamus somalensis in Arsi-Bale goats

The root of the medicinal plant Halothamnus somalensis traditionally used to treat endo-parasites of animals and humans was evaluated against endo-parasites in naturally infected goats. The goats were drenched with a crude preparation of the plant at two different doses (0.5 and 2 g/kg live weight [LW]). The dose of 2g/kg LW reduced faecal egg count (EPG) by 50%. Packed cell volume (PCV) was also significantly higher for goats that received 2 g/kg LW. The reduction in faecal EPG and increase in PCV values were negatively correlated. There was no effect on LW change but body condition score was higher for goats that received treatment than goats in the control group. Future research should focus on evaluation of different extracts from different parts of the plant using laboratory animals and small ruminants

Post-partum reproductive function of F1 crossbred cows under smallholder management conditions in central highland of Ethiopia

Post-partum reproductive function of 50 F1 crossbred (Boran X Friesian) cows under smallholder farms around Holetta were monitored using plasma progesterone concentrations and profiles to examine Ovarian activity of cows and accuracy of estrus detection. Experimental cows were observed for signs of estrus twice per day: early in the morning and late in the afternoon by farmers. Blood samples were collected once per week from all cows after day 30 post-partum until pregnancy was determined per rectum or till end of the experiment. A progesterone concentration of less than 1, between 1-2 and greater than 2ng/ml were considered as anestrus, luteal activity and mid luteal phase or conception, respectively. Short luteal phases were considered as luteal cycles less than 17 days. Irrespective of calving data, 60 percent of cows lacked ovarian activity. Normal ovarian activity was observed in 26 percent of cows, of which only one cow commenced ovarian activity and conceived in less than 90 days and three cows conceived between 128-180 days, while the remaining cows conceived more than 180 days post-partum. The median days to first estrus and conception were 273 and 299, respectively. A total of 27 estruses and 25 ovulations were observed during the 18 weeks of study period. Of these estruses, 76 percent were efficiently detected by farmers while 24 percent were either missed or silent. Short luteal phases were observed in 22 percent of the cows. There was significant association between short luteal phases and ovulations without estrus (p<0.01). Short luteal phases observed in this study were not a prerequisite of the establishment of normal ovarian cyclicity

Comparative evaluation of crude preparation of Azadirachta indica leaf and Albendazole(R) in naturally infected goats with internal parasites

A total of 55 goats were divided into 7 treatment groups of 7-8 goats. Five groups received different doses of the crude preparation of A. indica leaf: 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 g/kg body weight. The other two groups were a negative control group (untreated) and a positive control group (treated with 7.5 mg/kg albendazole). Neither the crude preparation of the leaf of A. indica or albendazole were effective for the control of Trichuris

The effect of environmental factors on preweaning survival rate of Borana and Arsi-Bale kids

The effect of environmental factors on preweaning survival rate of Arsi-Bale and Borana kids at the Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center, was investigated. Data collected on 702 kids born between 1999 and 2003 were used to evaluate the effect of year, parity, breed type, sex, season of birth, litter size and birth weight on survival rate of the goats. All the environmental factors significantly influenced the survival rate of kids. The overall preweaning survival rate of kids averaged 69%. Survival of the Arsi-Bale kids was 75% while it was 57% for the Borana kids. Survival of single (70%) and twin (70%) born kids were high compared to survival rate of triplets (43%). Kids born during the wet season had better survivability than kids born in the other seasons. Kidding occurring in the early dry season (September-November) had the highest mortality rate of 42%. A maximum survival rate was found from kids with 3.1-4.5 kg of live weight at birth. The study indicated that by instituting adequate management improvement actions in addition to selection for larger kids at birth and at weaning, the productivity of goats could be improved

Factors affecting hematological profiles in three Ethiopian indigenous goat breeds

Hematological parameters were studied in 163 apparently healthy goats comprised of 3 indigenous breeds at Adami-Tulu Agricultural Research Centre (ATARC) and Sheno, Agricultural Research Centre (SARC), Ethiopia. Data were analyzed for the effect of breed, sex, age, and season. Hemoglobin (Hb) was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) for Arsi-Bale (AB) than Longeared Somali (LES) and Central Highland (CH) goats. Packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) for LES than the other two breeds. White blood cells (WBC) (P < 0.05), neutrophils (P < 0.0001) and basophils (P < 0.0001) were higher in CH than in the other two breeds. Conversely, lymphocytes were lowest (P < 0.0001) in CH goats compared to other breeds. Female goats had significantly (at least P < 0.05) higher red blood cells (RBC), PCV, WBC, lymphocytes and eosinophils than male goats. In contrast, males had higher (P < 0.05) mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and neutrophils than females. There was no significant age difference for the erythrocytic series but the age difference was highly significant (P < 0.0001) for the leukocytic series. WBC and lymphocytes decreased as age increased while the reverse was true for neutrophils and eosinophils. Seasonal variation was also considerable for both erythrocytic and leukocytic series. RBC, Hb, lymphocytes, and neutrophils of the indigenous goat breeds were remarkably different compared to most other exotic goat breeds

Serum enzymes levels and influencing factors in three indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds

Serum enzymes were studied in 163 apparently healthy goats from three indigenous goat breeds of Ethiopia. The effect of breed, age, sex and season on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) / glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) / glutamic oxalacetic transaminases (GOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) levels was assessed. The mean serum enzymes levels of the indigenous Arsi-Bale, Central Highland and Long-eared Somali goat breeds ranged from 14.0-20.2 i L-1 for ALT/GPT, from 43.2-49.3 i L-1 for AST/GOT, from 83.7-98.8 i L-1 for ALP, and from 2.99-4.23 i L-1 for AcP, were within the normal range for goats elsewhere. Breed had significant influence on AST/GOT values. Sex had significant effect on ALT/GPT for Arsi-Bale goats with higher values in males than females. Age was significant on all serum enzymes studied in the Arsi-Bale goats and on ALP in the Central Highland goats. Season had significant influence on all serum enzymes except for ALT/GPT in the Arsi-Bale goats. The serum enzyme levels of these indigenous goat breeds can be used as normal reference values for Ethiopian goat breeds adapted to similar agro-ecology and production system

Innovations for organic Rankine cycle power systems: Current trends and future perspectives

Since the early 2000s, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) technology has experienced rapid development and market uptake. More than 4.5 GW of total ORC power plant capacity has been installed since then. Due to its flexibility, suitability for small- to medium-scale installations, its applicability to low- to medium-temperature heat sources, and compact design, ORC technology is already considered as state-of-the-art. However, to further increase the technical and economic potential of this technology, significant research is needed to further improve efficiency and other key performance indicators, as well as to address environmental and safety aspects. Therefore, it is important to research new technologies and to foster innovations for improving performance; but it is of similar importance to resolve operational challenges with applied research that focuses closer to the market, and the technology provider and user needs. This vision article outlines the current state-of-the-art and presents current research trends. Parts of this article summarize the research progress reported at the 6th International Seminar on ORC Power Systems (ORC2021) and accompanies the associated special issue published following this event. The article highlights research trends at the concept level, but also at the component and system levels and, therefore, provides a holistic overview for the interested reader regarding the current challenges and potential future research activities in this area. Beyond the variety of cycle concepts in Section 2.1, the different heat sources and applications in Section 2.2, rotating device and turbomachinery (pumps and expansion devices) options in Section 2.3, current R&D trends for working fluids are presented in Section 2.4. This editorial concludes with a more applied perspective on ORC systems, covering process control and a general perspective on the technology in Section 2.5. With an increasing number of ORC plants operating in the field, their integration within a wider energy system is also of increasing importance, and this is addressed in Section 2.6. All prior elements are levers toward the grand challenges in ORC technology: increasing efficiency, reducing investment costs, as well as increasing sustainability, environmental performance, and system compactness

Innovations for organic Rankine cycle power systems: Current trends and future perspectives

Since the early 2000s, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) technology has experienced rapid development and market uptake. More than 4.5 GW of total ORC power plant capacity has been installed since then. Due to its flexibility, suitability for small- to medium-scale installations, its applicability to low- to medium-temperature heat sources, and compact design, ORC technology is already considered as state-of-the-art. However, to further increase the technical and economic potential of this technology, significant research is needed to further improve efficiency and other key performance indicators, as well as to address environmental and safety aspects. Therefore, it is important to research new technologies and to foster innovations for improving performance; but it is of similar importance to resolve operational challenges with applied research that focuses closer to the market, and the technology provider and user needs. This vision article outlines the current state-of-the-art and presents current research trends. Parts of this article summarize the research progress reported at the 6th International Seminar on ORC Power Systems (ORC2021) and accompanies the associated special issue published following this event. The article highlights research trends at the concept level, but also at the component and system levels and, therefore, provides a holistic overview for the interested reader regarding the current challenges and potential future research activities in this area. Beyond the variety of cycle concepts in Section 2.1, the different heat sources and applications in Section 2.2, rotating device and turbomachinery (pumps and expansion devices) options in Section 2.3, current R&amp;D trends for working fluids are presented in Section 2.4. This editorial concludes with a more applied perspective on ORC systems, covering process control and a general perspective on the technology in Section 2.5. With an increasing number of ORC plants operating in the field, their integration within a wider energy system is also of increasing importance, and this is addressed in Section 2.6. All prior elements are levers toward the grand challenges in ORC technology: increasing efficiency, reducing investment costs, as well as increasing sustainability, environmental performance, and system compactnes