Učinkovitost in vivo detoksifikacije ohratoksina A pomoću visokoporoznog nanokompozita ugljika pripravljenog od ostataka šećerne repe

The aim of this study was to develop highly porous carbon nanocomposites for detoxification of ochratoxin A (OTA) in broilers. One-day-old chicks were divided into six groups (A to F). Group A was given pure feed. Group B was given 400 μg/kg of OTA contaminated feed, while the rest of the groups were fed on 400 μg/ kg of OTA contaminated feed plus a different level of the adsorbent. The clinical signs of the positive control (group B) such as depression, diarrhea, increased water intake, low body weight, a high degree of genotoxicity, and swollen and hemorrhagic kidneys and liver, were compared with the other groups. In group B chicks, the serum ALT (alanine transferase), ALP (alkaline phosphatase), creatinine and urea levels were significantly higher, while albumin, globulin and total proteins levels were significantly lower than in negative control group A. The adsorbent treated groups showed almost normal clinical signs. Group C and D were affected to some extent, however, groups E and F showed undamaged DNA, normal behavior and blood biochemistry, and well- maintained histological structure, like that of the negative control group.Cilj je ovoga istraživanja bio razviti visokoporozne nanokompozite ugljika za detoksifikaciju ohratoksina A (OTA) u brojlera. Jednodnevni pilići podijeljeni su u šest skupina (A do F). Skupina A hranjena je čistom hranom. Skupini B davana je hrana kojoj je dodano 400 μg/kg OTA-e, dok su preostale skupine hranjene hranom kojoj je uz 400 μg/kg OTA-e dodane različite razine adsorbensa. Klinički znakovi kod pozitivne kontrole (skupina B), poput depresije, proljeva, povećanog unosa vode, niske tjelesne mase, visoke genotoksičnosti, natečenih i krvavih bubrega i jetre, uspoređeni su s ostalim skupinama. Skupine tretirane adsorbensima pokazale su gotovo normalne kliničke znakove. Skupine C i D do neke su mjere zahvaćene, dok su skupine E i F pokazale neoštećenu DNA, normalno ponašanje, normalne biokemijske krvne pokazatelje i dobro održanu histološku strukturu kao i brojleri u negativnoj kontrolnoj skupini

A search for post-translational modifications required for normal meiosis

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A case study on illegal reptile poaching from Balochistan, Pakistan

The southwestern part of the Balochistan Province is a faunal extension of the Iranian Plateau in Pakistan, harboring more than one-third of Pakistan’s known amphibian and reptile species. We carried out field visits in five districts of southwestern Balochistan during 2013–2017 to investigate the scale and hotspots of reptile poaching. We encountered 73 illegal collectors possessing 5,369 live reptiles representing 19 species in ten families. Overall, Teratoscincus keyserlingii, T. microlepis (both Sphaerodactylidae), Phrynocephalus maculatus and P. luteoguttatus (both Agamidae) were the most collected lizards, having a relative abundance of 22.4%, 13.5%, 11.9% and 11.3 %, respectively. Eumeces schneiderii zarudnyi (Scincidae) was among the least collected lizard. Similarly, Lytorhynchus maynardi (Colubridae) and Eryx tataricus speciosus (Erycidae) were the most abundant snakes in the total collection (4.4% and 3.0%, respectively). Among the poached reptiles were internationally protected species: Varanus griseus caspius (Varanidae; CITES Appendix-I), E. t. speciosus (Appendix-II), Naja oxiana (Elapidae; Appendix-II), and Saara asmussi (Uromastycidae; Appendix-II). We found that the overall trend of illegal reptile poaching steadily decreased during the study period (from 1,724 individuals in 2013 to 633 in 2017). According to collectors, poached reptiles were largely destined for the local and international pet trade but also targeted other markets including folk medicines and snake charmer shows. One particular hotspot for the collection of reptiles was identified and should be a focus of law-enforcement activities. This particular case study partly demonstrates the effectiveness of strict enforcement of recently amended provincial wildlife protection legislation in the less studied regions of Asia

Out of the blue: The first record of the genus Heremites Gray, 1845 (Squamata, Scincidae) from Pakistan

The genus Heremites Gray, 1845 is endemic to the Western Palearctic region, containing morphologically similar species with a not well resolved taxonomy. The genus has a broad distribution from North Africa to Central Asia, with the only known record from northeastern Afghanistan. Three species are currently recognized in the genus with one, H. septemtaeniatus (Reuss, 1834), representing populations at the eastern edge of the genus range. During extensive fieldwork, we discovered H. septemtaeniatus from northwestern Pakistan and provisionally suggest that this population could be morphologically defined as H. septemtaeniatus transcaucasicus (Chernov, 1926). This important contribution to the knowledge regarding the family Scincidae in Pakistan, however, needs further investigation using an integrative approach

A new species of Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Pakistan

Masroor, Rafaqat, Khisroon, Muhammad, Khan, Muazzam Ali, Jablonski, Daniel (2020): A new species of Microgecko Nikolsky, 1907 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Pakistan. Zootaxa 4780 (1): 147-164, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4780.1.

Appearances often deceive in racerunners: integrative approach reveals two new species of Eremias (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Pakistan

Masroor, Rafaqat, Khan, Muazzam Ali, Nadeem, Muhammad Sajid, Amir, Shabir Ali, Khisroon, Muhammad, Jablonski, Daniel (2022): Appearances often deceive in racerunners: integrative approach reveals two new species of Eremias (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Pakistan. Zootaxa 5175 (1): 55-87, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5175.1.

Monitoring Bioaccumulation (in Gills and Muscle Tissues), Hematology, and Genotoxic Alteration in Ctenopharyngodon idella Exposed to Selected Heavy Metals

Health and environmental problems arising from metals present in the aquatic ecosystem are very well known. The present study investigated toxicological effects of LC15 of metals such as copper, chromium, and lead for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h on hematological indices, RBC nucleus and cell morphology, and gill and muscle tissues of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Experimental dose concentrations of copper were 1.5, 1.4, 1.2, and 1 mgL−1. Similarly, dose concentrations of chromium were 25.5, 22.5, 20, and 18 mgL−1 while those of lead were 250, 235, 225, and 216 mgL−1, respectively. Maximum decrease in the concentration of Hb, RBCs, and monocytes was observed against chromium, while maximum increase in the concentration of lymphocytes was reported against lead. Abnormalities such as single and double micronuclei, deformed nucleus, nuclear shift, irregular nucleus, deformed cells, microcyte cells, and vacuolated and swollen cells were observed. Gill tissues absorbed maximum concentration of lead followed by chromium and copper. Muscle tissues also absorbed maximum concentration of lead followed by chromium and copper, respectively. Histological alterations such as epithelial lifting, interlamellar spaces, club gill filaments, gill bridging, curling filaments, swelling and fusion of cells, irregular cells, destruction of epithelial cells, cellular necrosis, and inflammatory cells were observed in gill tissues while inflammation and necrosis of muscle fibers, degeneration of muscle fibers, edema of muscle bundles, zig-zag of muscle fibers, and lesions were observed in muscle tissues of fish exposed with different doses of these heavy metals, indicating the toxicity of metals to aquatic fauna as well as to human being via food chain