Prevalence of major sheep diseases and analysis of mortality in selected model sheep villages of south Gondar administrative zone, Ethiopia

A cross sectional and retrospective case study design were carried out from May 2008 to April 2012 in model sheep villages of Farta and Lay Gaint districts with the objective of identifying major sheep diseases, to assess the magnitude of sheep mortality and recommend disease and mortality control options in the study areas. Retrospective study was employed for 184 (89 from Farta and 95 from Lay Gaint) diagnosed sheep from case registration book of respective woreda and kebele veterinary clinics to collect information about the prevailing sheep diseases in the study areas. Among major sheep  diseases, Respiratory Disease Complex (RDC) (38.6%), Enteritis (22.6%), Fasciolosis (19.6%), Generalized septicemic condition (GSC) (13.0%), Sheep pox (12.0%), Foot rot (2.2%) and Orf (1.1%) were commonly diagnosed ovine diseases in the study areas. Ninety four (94) questionnaires were administered to sheep producers to understand sheep management practices, identifying major sheep production constraints and to assess the magnitude of sheep mortality. A total of 242 fecal samples were collected for the analysis sheep internal parasites. The major identified internal parasites of sheep were Strongyle spp (43.0%), Paramphistmum (21.5%), Fasciola (20.2%),  Tricuris (8.3%), Monezia (8.3%), Coccidia (5.0%) and Schistosoma (1.7%). A significant differences (P<0.05) was observed in Fasciolosis across study districts which showed higher prevalence of Fasciola (14.5%) from Farta and relatively lower (5.8%) from Lay Gaint district. EPG count shown that, 83.6% of sheep positive with nematode was categorized in the range of light infection (50-800 EPG) which depicts the level of  nematode infection in the population was lower. Comparison of sheep mortality over years and breed shown that, higher (26.4%) and lower (6.3%) mortality was recorded from all sheep breeds (Washera, Farta and Cross) in the year 2009 and 2012 respectively. In conclusion, the present high mortality rate and prevalence of sheep diseases were high to cause momentous economic losses in the study area. Therefore, strengthening the control effort was suggested.Key words; Farta sheep, Model sheep villages, Ovine disease, Washera sheep, Mortalit

Comparative study to evaluate the awareness about anemia and its complications, among undergraduate and postgraduate medical students- a cross sectional survey study

Background: Anemia is a condition in which numbers of red blood cells or their oxygen carrying capacity is insufficient to meet the physiologic needs which vary by age, sex, altitude, smoking and pregnancy status. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia in the world. Aim of the study was to compare and evaluate awareness about anemia and its complications among the undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.Methods: A prospective, cross sectional, questionnaire based, survey study was carried out at S.B.K.S. Medical institute and RC, Vadodara. The well-defined, structured questionnaire was prepared, distributed and collected when it was duly filled by undergraduate and postgraduate students. The questionnaire was mainly based upon basic knowledge of anemia, its investigations, treatment, and complications. The answers were evaluated in a structured format and further depending on the scores the participants were grouped as poor (70%). Later, it was subjected to Chi-square test and p value <0.05 were considered to be significant.Results: This study shows that the basic knowledge of anaemia and knowledge pertaining to treatment of anaemia is lacking in undergraduate students as compared to postgraduate students. However it was observed in both the study groups that knowledge about various aspects of anaemia is not optimal.Conclusions: It is a need of hour to impart knowledge of common disorders including anemia to both undergraduate and postgraduate students for the larger benefit of society

New discovery of rhyncholites and conchorhynchs (cephalopod jaw elements) from the Upper Cretaceous Mount Laurel Formation of Delaware (American Museum novitates, no. 3998)

20 pages : illustrations (some color), map ; 26 cm.Rhyncholites and Conchorhynchs are the calcitic elements of upper and lower jaws of cephalopods, respectively. Rhyncholites and conchorhynchs occur in relatively high abundance and are widely distributed, with a long geological range, extending from the Triassic to the Miocene. While rhyncholites and conchorhynchs are relatively common in Europe, there are only a few reports from North America. Here, we document 24 specimens of rhyncholites and 12 specimens of conchorhynchs from the Upper Cretaceous Mount Laurel Formation in Delaware. The specimens were found in isolation and, thus, identifying the taxon to which the rhyncholites and conchorhynchs belong is difficult. However, the Cretaceous nautilid Eutrephoceras occurs in the same formation, suggesting that the rhyncholites and conchorhynchs may belong to this taxon. We performed a morphometric analysis of these structures based on linear measurements. Our results reveal that some morphological parameters in rhyncholites are correlated with size. Additionally, our specimens exhibit high intraspecific variation, which may have been overlooked in previous studies

Genome-Wide Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Local Sudanese Sheep Populations Revealed by Whole-Genome Sequencing

Local Sudanese sheep populations inhabiting diverse environmental conditions and holding opposing morphologies provide opportunities for molecular-genetic research. Characterizing their genome is crucial for sustainable breeding improvement and targeting favorable genes in breeding programs. However, the genome of these sheep populations, which comprises several subtypes, remains uncharacterized using whole-genome sequence data. This study aimed to elucidate genome-wide genetic diversity and population structure of 11 local Sudanese sheep populations, namely, Hammari, Kabbashi, Meidobe, Ashgar, Dubasi, Watish, Bega, Naili, Fulani, Zagawi, and Garag. Ninety whole blood samples were collected, and we extracted DNA using a Qiagen DNeasy® extraction kit. We used the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform to sequence all the DNA samples. We included whole-genome sequence data of three Ethiopian sheep (Doyogena, Kefis, and Gafera) and one Libyan sheep (Libyan Barbary) in the study to infer the genetic relationships of local Sudanese sheep populations from a continental perspective. A total of 44.8 million bi-allelic autosomal SNPs were detected; 28.5% and 63.3% occur in introns and intergenic regions, respectively. The mean genetic diversity ranged from 0.276 for Garag to 0.324 for Kabbashi sheep populations. The lowest FST estimates were observed between Kabbashi and Ashgar and the highest between Bega and Fulani local Sudanese sheep populations. The principal component and population structure analyses of the 11 local Sudanese sheep populations indicated three separate genetic groups categorized following their tail morphotype, geographical distribution, and population subtype. The thin-tailed local Sudanese sheep populations exhibited independent clustering from the fat-tailed Ethiopian and Libyan sheep. We also observed distinct clustering between the fat-tailed Ethiopian and Libyan sheep. The present study’s findings demonstrated the population structure and principal components related to tail morphotype, geographical distribution, and population subtype of local Sudanese sheep populations. A clear signature of admixture was observed among the studied local Sudanese sheep populations

Organotypic Culture of Physiologically Functional Adult Mammalian Retinas

BACKGROUND: The adult mammalian retina is an important model in research on the central nervous system. Many experiments require the combined use of genetic manipulation, imaging, and electrophysiological recording, which make it desirable to use an in vitro preparation. Unfortunately, the tissue culture of the adult mammalian retina is difficult, mainly because of the high energy consumption of photoreceptors. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We describe an interphase culture system for adult mammalian retina that allows for the expression of genes delivered to retinal neurons by particle-mediated transfer. The retinas retain their morphology and function for up to six days— long enough for the expression of many genes of interest—so that effects upon responses to light and receptive fields could be measured by patch recording or multielectrode array recording. We show that a variety of genes encoding pre- and post-synaptic marker proteins are localized correctly in ganglion and amacrine cells. CONCLUSIONS: In this system the effects on neuronal function of one or several introduced exogenous genes can be studied within intact neural circuitry of adult mammalian retina. This system is flexible enough to be compatible with genetic manipulation, imaging, cell transfection, pharmacological assay, and electrophysiological recordings

Effective balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration of the superior mesenteric vein?inferior vena cava shunt in a patient with hepatic encephalopathy after living donor liver transplantation

Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) has become a common and effective procedure for treating hepatic encephalopathy due to a portosystemic shunt related to cirrhosis of the liver. However, this method of treatment has rarely been reported in patients after liver transplantation. Here, we report the case of a 52-year-old patient who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) due to hepatitis C virus-infected hepatocellular carcinoma that was complicated with portal vein thrombosis and a large portosystemic shunt between the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and inferior vena cava (IVC). The SMV-IVC shunt was not obliterated during LDLT because there was sufficient portal flow into the graft after reperfusion. However, the patient was postoperatively complicated with encephalopathy due to the portosystemic shunt. BRTO was performed and was demonstrated to have effectively managed the encephalopathy due to the SMV-IVC shunt, while preserving the hepatic function after LDLT

Whole-Genome Resequencing of Worldwide Wild and Domestic Sheep Elucidates Genetic Diversity, Introgression, and Agronomically Important Loci

Domestic sheep and their wild relatives harbor substantial genetic variants that can form the backbone of molecular breeding, but their genome landscapes remain understudied. Here, we present a comprehensive genome resource for wild ovine species, landraces and improved breeds of domestic sheep, comprising high-coverage (similar to 16.10x) whole genomes of 810 samples from 7 wild species and 158 diverse domestic populations. We detected, in total, similar to 121.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms, similar to 61 million of which are novel. Some display significant (P < 0.001) differences in frequency between wild and domestic species, or are private to continent-wide or individual sheep populations. Retained or introgressed wild gene variants in domestic populations have contributed to local adaptation, such as the variation in the HBB associated with plateau adaptation. We identified novel and previously reported targets of selection on morphological and agronomic traits such as stature, horn, tail configuration, and wool fineness. We explored the genetic basis of wool fineness and unveiled a novel mutation (chr25: T7,068,586C) in the 3 '-UTR of IRF2BP2 as plausible causal variant for fleece fiber diameter. We reconstructed prehistorical migrations from the Near Eastern domestication center to South-and-Southeast Asia and found two main waves of migrations across the Eurasian Steppe and the Iranian Plateau in the Early and Late Bronze Ages. Our findings refine our understanding of genome variation as shaped by continental migrations, introgression, adaptation, and selection of sheep

Pigeonpea improvement: An amalgam of breeding and genomic research

In the past five decades, constant research has been directed towards yield improvement in pigeonpea resulting in the deployment of several commercially acceptable cultivars in India. Though, the genesis of hybrid technology, the biggest breakthrough, enigma of stagnant productivity still remains unsolved. To sort this productivity disparity, genomic research along with conventional breeding was successfully initiated at ICRISAT. It endowed ample genomic resource providing insight in the pigeonpea genome combating production constraints in a precise and speedy manner. The availability of the draft genome sequence with a large‐scale marker resource, oriented the research towards trait mapping for flowering time, determinacy, fertility restoration, yield attributing traits and photo‐insensitivity. Defined core and mini‐core collection, still eased the pigeonpea breeding being accessible for existing genetic diversity and developing stress resistance. Modern genomic tools like next‐generation sequencing, genome‐wide selection helping in the appraisal of selection efficiency is leading towards next‐generation breeding, an awaited milestone in pigeonpea genetic enhancement. This paper emphasizes the ongoing genetic improvement in pigeonpea with an amalgam of conventional breeding as well as genomic research