Incidence of lipolytic and proteolytic fungi in some milk products and their public health significance .Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Abstract :A total of sixty random samples of dairy products (20 of each table butter, cooking butter and kariesh cheese) were collected and subjected to mycological and mycotoxicological evaluation.The mean total mould count/gm were 7.3X 10 ± 6X10 ,1.8 X10 ± 5.4X 10 and 4.1X 10 ±3.1 X 10 fo

Prevalence of ochratoxin in small and large scale produced roomy cheese in Sharkia Governorate

Abstract: A total of 40 random samples of roomy cheese (20 each of small and large scale production) were collected from different supermarkets in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. The samples were subjected to quantitative detection of Ochratoxin A by immunoaffinity column method after extraction of ochratoxin A and reading by VICAM fluorometer. Out of examined 20 small scale manufactured roomy cheese samples, 12 (60%) were contaminated by ochratoxin A, the minimum detected level was 2.0 ppb, the maximum was 7.0 ppb and the mean value was 3.67± 0.22 ppb while only 6 (30%) out of examined large scale manufactured roomy cheese samples were contaminated by ochratoxin A. The level of contamination detected ranged from 2.0 ppb to 5.0 ppb with a mean value of 3.92 ± 0.30 ppb. All positive samples are more than the permissible limits, according to United States standard, European commission limits and Egyptian limits (Permissible Limit Nil).While according to limit established by JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) all positive samples (18) below the permissible limit (10ng/g). The results indicated that large scale produced roomy cheese had low incidence of ochratoxin A. This may be due to vacuum packaging, products are kept at refrigeration temperature, and good hygiene practice during ripening process

Molecular and isotopic evidence for the origin of light oils and associated gases in the onshore northeast Nile Delta

The Nile Delta is a prolific hydrocarbon province in Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean region, particularly for gas resources. However, the origin of discovered hydrocarbons from the onshore Nile Delta has not been comprehensively studied. Fourteen condensates and 10 natural gas samples retrieved from Oligocene–Pliocene pay zones in the onshore northeast Nile Delta were studied for their molecular and isotopic composition to infer origin, source lithology, organic facies, depositional environment, thermal maturity, and reservoir secondary alteration. The isotopic compositions of the analyzed condensates indicate non-marine waxy oils. Results show that these condensates have high Pr/Ph ratios (1.86–6.46), abundant C19 and C20 tricyclic terpane contents relative to the C23 homologue, elevated oleananes, paucity of gammacerane, high hopane/sterane ratios, very low abundance of homohopanes, low dibenzothiophene/phenanthrene ratios and high C29/C27 sterane ratios. Clay-rich source rocks with abundant Type-III terrigenous organic materials deposited in an oxic fluvio-deltaic setting are suggested for these condensates. Light hydrocarbon (C7) compositions indicate that all investigated condensates, except the Allium-1 sample, suffered evaporative fractionation within their reservoirs. Chemometric analysis based on 14 biomarker and isotopic results suggests 3 genetic oil families for these condensates. These oil families have geochemical characteristics that indicate various contributions of terrigenous and marine organic matter and different levels of thermal maturity. The molecular and isotopic results indicate that the onshore Nile Delta natural gases are wet-thermogenic in origin with no signs of microbial biodegradation. These gases were generated by secondary cracking of associated oils derived from Type-III and Type-II/III or Type-II kerogen. The condensate and associated gas samples from Oligocene pay zones have different geochemical signatures than those from Miocene reservoirs, suggesting derivation from different source rocks with variable levels of thermal maturity or the presence of multiple charge systems from a common source in the onshore Nile Delta

Organic geochemistry of the Silurian Tanezzuft Formation and crude oils, NC115 Concession, Murzuq Basin, southwest Libya

Thirty-six Silurian core and cuttings samples and 10 crude oil samples from Ordovician reservoirs in the NC115 Concession, Murzuq Basin, southwest Libya were studied by organic geochemical methods to determine source rock organic facies, conditions of deposition, thermal maturity and genetic relationships. The Lower Silurian Hot Shale at the base of the Tanezzuft Formation is a high-quality oil/gas-prone source rock that is currently within the early oil maturity window. The overall average TOC content of the Hot Shale is 7.2 wt% with a maximum recorded value of 20.9 wt%. By contrast, the overlying deposits of the Tanezzuft Formation have an average TOC of 0.6 wt% and a maximum value of 1.1 wt%. The organic matter in the Hot Shale consists predominantly of mixed algal and terrigenous Type-II/III kerogen, whereas the rest of the formation is dominated by terrigenous Type-III organic matter with some Type II/III kerogen. Oils from the A-, B- and H-oil fields in the NC115 Concession were almost certainly derived from marine shale source rocks that contained mixed algal and terrigenous organic input reflecting deposition under suboxic to anoxic conditions. The oils are light and sweet, and despite being similar, were almost certainly derived from different facies and maturation levels within mature source rocks. The B-oils were generated from slightly less mature source rocks than the others. Based on hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), selected source-related biomarkers and stable carbon isotope ratios, the NC115 oils can be divided into two genetic families: Family-I oils from Ordovician Mamuniyat reservoirs were probably derived from older Palaeozoic source rocks, whereas Family-II oils from Ordovician Mamuniyat?Hawaz reservoirs were probably charged from a younger Palaeozoic source of relatively high maturity. A third family appears to be a mixture of the two, but is most similar to Family-II oils. These oil families were derived from one proven mature source rock, the Early Silurian, Rhuddanian Hot Shale. There is a good correlation between the Family-II and -III oils and the Hot Shale based on carbon isotope compositions. Saturated and aromatic maturity parameters indicate that these oils were generated from a source rock of considerably higher maturity than the examined rock samples. The results imply that the oils originated from more mature source rocks outside the NC115 Concession and migrated to their current positions after generationPeer reviewe

Ameliorative effects of camel milk and silymarin upon aflatoxin B1 induced hepatic injury in rats

Abstract Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) poses a major risk to both human and animal health because it contaminates food, feed, and grains. These dangerous effects can be mitigated using natural components. The purpose of this study was to examine the ameliorative effects of camel milk and silymarin supplementation upon aflatoxin B1 induced hepatic injury in rats. This improvement was assessed by measuring leukocytic and deferential counts, serum biochemical parameters, and gene expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α), antioxidant gene (NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1)), and base excision repair genes (APE1 and OGG1) in the liver tissue, in addition to liver histopathology. Sixty mature males Wister white rats were used to perform the present study; the rats were distributed in six groups (ten rats/group). The control group (without any treatment) received saline by gavage. The camel milk group received 1 ml of camel milk/kg body weight. The silymarin group received 1 ml of silymarin suspension solution at a dose of 20 mg of silymarin/kg of b.wt. The aflatoxin group received an aflatoxin-contaminated diet at a dose of 1.4 mg of aflatoxin /kg of diet and received saline. The camel milk + aflatoxin group received the same previous oral doses of camel milk and an aflatoxin-contaminated diet at the same time. The silymarin + aflatoxin group received the same previous doses of silymarin orally and an aflatoxin-contaminated diet at the same time. The obtained data indicated the deleterious effect of aflatoxin B1 on the leukocytic count, activity of AST and ALT, serum proteins, ferritin, alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, liver pathology, and the expression of the studied genes. However, these deleterious effects were mitigated by camel milk and silymarin supplementation. Thus, we could conclude that the ingestion of camel milk and silymarin mitigated the negative effects of AFB1 on the hematology, activity of AST and ALT, serum proteins, ferritin, alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, liver pathology, and gene expression in the rat model

Organic Geochemistry of the Lower Silurian Tanezzuft Formation and Biomarker Characteristics of Crude Oils from the Ghadames Basin, Libya

The Ghadames Basin of NW Libya contains more than 10 B brls oil-equivalent in Palaeozoic siliciclastic reservoirs which are charged by organic-rich ?hot shales? in the Lower Silurian (Rhuddanian) Tanezzuft Formation. Geochemical analysis of 85 shale samples and ten oils from three fields (NC2, NC4 and NC7) in the central and northern part of the basin provides a robust description of the Tanezzuft ? Mamuniyat/Acacus petroleum system in this region, and of the associated source facies and oil families. The shale samples underwent total organic carbon (TOC) analysis and Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and the ten crude oil samples were analysed by gas chromatography ? flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of the saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions, accompanied by stable carbon isotopic analysis. Organic matter ranges from Type II to mixed Type II/III kerogen with varying oil and gas generation potential in the early to main stages of the oil generation window. The analysed oils are characterised by low sulphur, nickel and vanadium contents, and relatively high API gravity (34.9?46.8oAPI). Biomarkers suggest that they were generated from marine shales containing abundant Type II to mixed Type II/III kerogen deposited in mildly anoxic ? suboxic conditions with a dominance of C29 over C27 or C28 steranes, indicative of a source rich in brown algae and cyanobacteria. Their close stratigraphic association and biomarker characteristics support a Tanezzuft ?hot shales? source for the Mamuniyat and Acacus oils in the three fields. Maturity-related parameters based on terpanes, steranes, aromatic hydrocarbons and low molecular-weight hydrocarbons, suggest generation from marine shales in the early to peak oil-generation window. The ZE3-NC7, A19-NC7 and A20 NC7 oils from the NC7 oil field are significantly more mature than those from the NC2 and NC4 fields. This indicates a difference in expulsion timing and may be related to the presence of two ?hot shales? or to fault-triggered vertical migration preceding and during the NeogenePeer reviewe

Geochemical assessment and hydrocarbon potential of Oligocene–Pliocene source rocks from northeast onshore Nile Delta, Egypt

Recent exploration in the Nile Delta Basin has led to major oil and gas discoveries; however, source–reservoir relationships in the onshore part of the basin are still ambiguous. This work involves a comprehensive geochemical assessment of possible Oligocene–Pliocene source rocks, using TOC/Rock-Eval pyrolysis and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The aim is to investigate quantity, quality, thermal maturity, sources, and depositional paleoenvironment of the disseminated organic matter, and to correlate rock samples with hydrocarbons retrieved from the study area. Moreover, the chemical and isotopic compositions of gases were employed to examine origin, maturity, mixing and secondary alteration processes.Results reveal fair to good organic richness (TOC ∼1 wt%) for the Oligocene–Pliocene rocks, with the highest TOC content from the Oligocene Tineh Formation. The kerogen is generally gas-prone Type-III and to a lesser extent Type-IV and Type-II/III. Molecular and biomarker results indicate mixed source facies with variable contributions from higher plants, algae, bacteria, and plankton, deposited under suboxic to anoxic nearshore marine or lacustrine depositional settings. Significant biomarkers include elevated C26/C25 tricyclic terpane ratios (0.82–3.62), low C31 homohopane (22R)/C30 hopane ratios (0.17–0.63), and low oleanane and gammacerane contents. Maturity-related biomarkers, Rock-Eval Tmax and vitrinite reflectance values are consistent and suggest immature to early mature rock samples.Molecular and isotopic compositions of mud gases indicate complex origins and mixing histories ranging from primary microbial to pure thermogenic, where thermogenic processes dominate the pre-Miocene intervals.Chemometric analysis of 18 source-related biomarker ratios for rock extracts revealed four genetic families. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of biomarker data for rock extracts and condensate oils from the onshore Nile Delta indicates no correlation between Miocene–Pliocene rocks and condensates or oils in the area. Therefore, pre-Miocene source rocks are suggested to be the most probable candidates for hydrocarbons in the onshore Nile Delta