EVALUATION OF THE HAEMOLYMPH OF THE GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS Achatina achatina AND Archachatina marginata FOR BACTERIA STERILITY AND INHIBITORY PROPERTIES

An experiment was conducted to examine bacteria sterility and bacteria inhibitory properties of haemolymph of two species of Giant African Land Snails. A total number of 18 A. achatina and A. marginata snails each were used for this experiment. The shell and foot of the snails were washed with distilled water for isolation of bacteria flora and bacteria load. The experiment was a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement with 3 replicates in a completely randomized design. To isolate bacteria, a sterile inoculating loop was used to pick a portion of each dissimilar colony and transferred into another appropriate fresh sterile medium in a culture plate and streaked in a quadrant streak plate method to obtain pure cultures of the isolates. The method was aimed at trimming down the microbial load to allow for isolates to grow in pure cultures. The plates were incubated at 37 0C for 24 hours, after which the pure isolates were observed and inoculated into McCartney bottles containing nutrient agar slants. The bottles were incubated for 24 hours at 37 0C and stored in the refrigerator for further biochemical analysis. Haemolymph of the two species studied was not sterile irrespective of the type of haemolymph. To test for haemolymph inhibitory properties, Haemolymph was collected from each snail into sterile and labeled containers in the laminar flow chamber. Microorganism was seeded into the agar plate, after the agar has solidified, holes were bored into the agar using a sterilized hole borer. One ml of the haemolymph collected was poured into each well in agar plates and incubated at 37 0C for 24 hours observing for zones inhibition. Equally, there was no evidence of bacteria inhibition by the haemolymph despite the three methods of bacteria inhibition used: agar diffusion method, disk diffusion method and serial diffusion method. It could be concluded from this study that the haemolymph of the two snail species did not exhibit bacteria sterility and inhibition.Â

EFFECTS OF AESTIVATION DURATION ON TESTOSTERONE, HAEMOLYMPH BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND REPRODUCTIVE TRACT DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT OF GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL (Archachatina marginata) DURING DRY SEASON

Aestivation is a process of metabolic inactivity under which energy reserve are manipulated for survival. Reproductive apparatus and haemolymph biochemical agents also undergo phase manipulation as the duration continues. To determine the physiological influence on key hormone of reproduction and reproductive apparatus, seventy five A. marginata snails were used for this study. The snails were divided into five treatments with fifteen replicate each. Treatment include: Zero (0) week, Three (3) weeks, Six (6) weeks, nine (9) weeks and six (6) weeks post-aestivation. Parameters measured were: Testosterone concentration, haemolymph biochemical parameters (Total protein, albumin, globulin, Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT), dimensions (length) and weight of the organs and tissues of the reproductive tracts (Ovo-testis, penis, vaginal, oviduct, little hermaphrodite duct, common hermaphrodite duct, vas deferens and albumen gland) gonado-somatic index and percentage mortality. Result showed that level of testosterone at three and six weeks of aestivation significantly reduced compared to the control. Also, at nine weeks of aestivation, the reduction was significantly greater than what was recorded at both three and six weeks of aestivation. But the testosterone levels were reversed at nine weeks post aestivation. Total protein and globulin were significantly influenced with both reaching a peak value at 9 weeks of aestivation while ALT, AST and albumin were not significantly affected. So also, of all the reproductive tract parts measured, organ weight, ovo-testis weight, penis weight and length were significantly influenced (P<0.001; P<0.001; P<0.05; P<0.001). Similarly, vaginal weight, oviduct weight, little hermaphrodite duct weight and length were also significantly affected  together with vas deferens  length and albumen gland length while aestivation duration had no significant influence on reproductive tract weight, ovo-testis length, vaginal length, oviduct length, little hermaphrodite duct length, vas deferens weight and albumen gland weight. Similarly, gonado-somatic index was also not significantly affected by aestivation duration. It was also obvious from this study that the highest mortality was recorded at 6 weeks of aestivation, followed by 9 weeks of aestivation while 3weeks and 6 weeks post-aestivation had the least mortality with the control intact. In conclusion, it is clear from this study that aestivation duration significantly influenced testosterone concentration, haemolymph biochemical parameters and some selected reproductive apparatus of A. marginata.       &nbsp

COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF HAEMOCYTE FROM TWO SPECIES OF GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS (Archachatina marginata AND Achatina achatina)

A study was conducted to evaluate the presence and types of haemocytes inherent in haemolymph of two species of giant African land snails (Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina). Haemolymph samples were obtained from three liveweight groups of snails (< 100 g, 101-150 g and >150 g) after removal of the first three whorls of the shell. Smears were made from thin layer of settled portion of the haemolymph after six hours. Staining was carried out after air drying at room temperature with MayGrünwald-Giemsa stain.  Four replicates per liveweight per species were used. Representative slides were selected after viewing under microscope. Dimensions of haemocytes identified were taken followed by photomicrograph. Results showed that four haemocyte types were present in the haemolymph of both species. Those haemocytes identified in Archachatina marginata had significantly (P<0.001) higher dimensions than those found in Achatina achatina. Morphologically, the haemocytes were different in terms of shapes, nucleus position and cytoplasm types. It can therefore be concluded from this study that four circulating haemocytes types are present in both Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina. Furthermore, in terms of dimension, Archachatina marginata had higher values compared to Achatina achatina. Also, morphologically, those four haemocyte types are different from each other in both specie of giant African land snails.Â

Gas exchange during storage and incubation of Avian eggs: Effects on embryogenesis, hatchability, chick quality and post-hatch growth

Embryonic development is a dynamic process that requires a fine balance between several factors in order to achieve an optimum hatchability and chick quality. These factors include the background of the embryo, such as genetic line of the breeders, the age of the breeder, egg weight, and factors related to the environment in which the egg is stored and incubated, such as temperature, humidity, gas levels and altitude. Gas exchanges are of fundamental importance for embryonic development during incubation and may affect the livability of the embryo. This paper reviews the roles of the gaseous environment (i.e. O 2 and CO2) around hatching eggs during storage and during incubation and the effect it might have on the survival of the developing embryos and the chicks that hatch. The state of the art on the different attempts to establish the optimum requirements of different gases that promote the optimal developmental trajectories at different periods during incubation is presented. The roles and consequences of different levels of O2 and CO2 during storage and incubation on hatchability, incubation duration, hatching process, embryo growth, embryo mortality, organ development and morphology, metabolism, blood acid-base balance, chick quality and chick post-hatch growth are reviewed. © 2007 World's Poultry Science Association

Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in people with established psychotic illnesses: baseline data from the IMPaCT randomized controlled trial

The National Institute for Health Research funds the IMPaCT programme at King's College London and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (ref. RP-PG-0606-1049)

The GTPase Activating Rap/RanGAP Domain-Like 1 Gene Is Associated with Chicken Reproductive Traits

BACKGROUND: Abundant evidence indicates that chicken reproduction is strictly regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis, and the genes included in the HPG axis have been studied extensively. However, the question remains as to whether any other genes outside of the HPG system are involved in regulating chicken reproduction. The present study was aimed to identify, on a genome-wide level, novel genes associated with chicken reproductive traits. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING: Suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH), genome-wide association study (GWAS), and gene-centric GWAS were used to identify novel genes underlying chicken reproduction. Single marker-trait association analysis with a large population and allelic frequency spectrum analysis were used to confirm the effects of candidate genes. Using two full-sib Ningdu Sanhuang (NDH) chickens, GARNL1 was identified as a candidate gene involved in chicken broodiness by SSH analysis. Its expression levels in the hypothalamus and pituitary were significantly higher in brooding chickens than in non-brooding chickens. GWAS analysis with a NDH two tail sample showed that 2802 SNPs were significantly associated with egg number at 300 d of age (EN300). Among the 2802 SNPs, 2 SNPs composed a block overlapping the GARNL1 gene. The gene-centric GWAS analysis with another two tail sample of NDH showed that GARNL1 was strongly associated with EN300 and age at first egg (AFE). Single marker-trait association analysis in 1301 female NDH chickens confirmed that variation in this gene was related to EN300 and AFE. The allelic frequency spectrum of the SNP rs15700989 among 5 different populations supported the above associations. Western blotting, RT-PCR, and qPCR were used to analyze alternative splicing of the GARNL1 gene. RT-PCR detected 5 transcripts and revealed that the transcript, which has a 141 bp insertion, was expressed in a tissue-specific manner. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings demonstrate that the GARNL1 gene contributes to chicken reproductive traits

Localization of oestrogen hormone receptors in the reproductive tract of giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata) and potential role of Mucuna pruriens on level of expression

This study determines localization of oestrogen hormone receptors in selected parts of the reproductive tract of giant African land snail (Archachatina marginata) and potential role of Mucuna pruriens on levels of expression. Thirty (30) snails were used for this experiment, with average weight of 100-150g. The snails were allotted to three dietary treatments which includes concentrate (CON), concentrate + Mucuna pruriens (CON+MSP) and Mucuna pruriens seed powder only (MSP). Each treatment contains 10 Replicate each. After eight weeks, five snails were randomly selected from each dietary treatment and dissected. Organs removed were oviduct, albumen gland, ovo-testis and the spermatheca. RNA and DNA extractions were carried out with commercial kits. Gel electrophoresis on 1% agarose was also carried out to evaluate the expression. Primers sequence used were the forward and reverse β oestrogen primer which was designed to detect the expression of the gene encoding oestrogen receptor in the reproductive tract of the giant African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata) were: Forward: 5’-GCT TCG AGC TCA GCC TG-3’ Reverse: 5’-AGG ATC ATG GCC TTG ACA CAG A-3’. Result showed that receptors for estrogen were present in oviduct, albumen gland, ovo-testis and spermatheca for both RNA and DNA analysis considering CON and MSP. While oviduct was also moderately expressed for CON and MSP. But combination of concentrate and Mucuna seed powder (CON+MSP) showed no visible expression for estrogen receptor. It was however concluded that combination of concentrate and mucuna seed powder (CON+MSP) down-regulate expression of estrogen receptor gene expression. It was recommended that feed to be combined for snail production must be free from substance(s) that has the potential to block the expression of reproductive hormone function