Discovery of novel alphacoronaviruses in European rodents and shrews

Eight hundred and thirteen European rodents and shrews encompassing seven different species were screened for alphacoronaviruses using PCR detection. Novel alphacoronaviruses were detected in the species Rattus norvegicus, Microtus agrestis, Sorex araneus and Myodes glareolus. These, together with the recently described Lucheng virus found in China, form a distinct rodent/shrew-specific clade within the coronavirus phylogeny. Across a highly conserved region of the viral polymerase gene, the new members of this clade were up to 22% dissimilar at the nucleotide level to the previously described Lucheng virus. As such they might represent distinct species of alphacoronaviruses. These data greatly extend our knowledge of wildlife reservoirs of alphacoronaviruses

Shared common ancestry of rodent alphacoronaviruses sampled globally

The recent discovery of novel alphacoronaviruses (alpha-CoVs) in European and Asian rodents revealed that rodent coronaviruses (CoVs) sampled worldwide formed a discrete phylogenetic group within this genus. To determine the evolutionary history of rodent CoVs in more detail, particularly the relative frequencies of virus-host co-divergence and cross-species transmission, we recovered longer fragments of CoV genomes from previously discovered European rodent alpha-CoVs using a combination of PCR and high-throughput sequencing. Accordingly, the full genome sequence was retrieved from the UK rat coronavirus, along with partial genome sequences from the UK field vole and Poland-resident bank vole CoVs, and a short conserved ORF1b fragment from the French rabbit CoV. Genome and phylogenetic analysis showed that despite their diverse geographic origins, all rodent alpha-CoVs formed a single monophyletic group and shared similar features such as the same gene constellations, a recombinant beta-CoV spike gene, and similar core transcriptional regulatory sequences (TRS). These data suggest that all rodent alpha CoVs sampled so far originate from a single common ancestor, and that there has likely been a long-term association between alpha CoVs and rodents. Despite this likely antiquity, the phylogenetic pattern of the alpha-CoVs was also suggestive of relatively frequent host-jumping among the different rodent species

Elemental composition of vegetables cultivated over coal-mining waste

ABSTRACT We assessed elemental composition of the liver in mice subjected to one-time or chronic consumption of the juice of vegetables cultivated in a vegetable garden built over deposits of coal waste. Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce), Beta vulgaris L. (beet), Brassica oleracea L. var. italica (broccoli) and Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala (kale) were collected from the coal-mining area and from a certified organic farm (control). Elemental composition was analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method. Concentrations of Mg, S, and Ca of mice subjected to one-time consumption of broccoli and concentrations of these same elements plus Si of mice receiving kale were higher in the coal-mining area. Concentrations of P, K, and Cu were increase after chronic consumption of lettuce from the coal-mining area, whereas the levels of Si, P, K, Fe, and Zn were higher in the group consuming kale from the coal-mining area. Our data suggests that people consuming vegetables grown over coal wastes may ingest significant amounts of chemical elements that pose a risk to health, since these plants contain both essential and toxic metals in a wide range of concentrations, which can do more harm than good

Monitoring and assessment of sediment contamination with toxic heavy metals: case study of industrial effluent dispersion in Alaro River, Nigeria

Abstract The influx of effluents from industrial area into the Alaro River in Ibadan has made the investigation of the sediment quality of the river an important environmental issue for discussion. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of toxic heavy metals in surface sediment of the river in order to evaluate the impact of the effluent and spatial distribution of the metals downstream. pH, total organic carbon and grain-sized particles of the sediment samples were determined according to standard methods of analysis, while heavy metal concentrations were determined by AAS. Linear least square regression (LLSR) model was employed to describe the distribution pattern of heavy metals along the river network. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to locate the heavy metals contamination source and interpret the association between the metal concentrations upstream and downstream, which were found to be significantly different (p = 0.05) The concentrations of Ni, Zn, Cr, Co, Cu, Cd and Pb in downstream sediments were 7.74 ± 0.97, 19.5 ± 4.6, 5.78 ± 0.47, 9.6 ± 1.6. 7.36 ± 0.61, 0.47 ± 0.03 and 7.76 ± 0.80 mg/kg, respectively. The enrichment factor (EF > 1.5) and pollution load index (PLI > 1.0.) showed that the sediment was contaminated with these heavy metals. The toxicity estimation carried out suggested that the sediment was slightly toxic. Metal distribution as shown by LLSR was such that the concentration decreased with distance downstream with R 2 ranging from 0.8810 to 0.9990. The LLSR models obtained are useful to predict the metal concentrations based on the known distance of the river

Assessment of Trace Metals Concentration in Tree Barks as Indicator of Atmospheric Pollution within Ibadan City, South-West, Nigeria

Tree bark species were randomly collected from 65 sites having different anthropogenic activities, such as industrial, high traffic commercial, residential high and residential low traffic volume areas of Ibadan City, Nigeria. Levels of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, and Cr of the dry-ashed bark samples were determined by AAS. The mean metal concentrations (mg kg−1) in samples from industrial zone were found as Pb: 3.67±1.97, Cd: 0.10±0.07, Zn: 30.96±32.05, Cu: 7.29±5.17, Co: 0.91±0.58, and Cr: 2.61±1.84. The trend of mean trace metal concentrations at high traffic commercial zone follows the order: Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Co > Cd. Residential high traffic and low traffic zones revealed the same trend as Cd < Co < Cr < Pb < Cu < Zn. Relatively strong positive correlation between the heavy metals at ρ<0.05, such as Zn versus Cu (r=0.79) and Co versus Cu (r=0.77), was observed. The results of the study suggest that tree bark samples could potentially serve as bioindicators for Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, and possibly Co and Cd. Furthermore, interspecies variation of heavy metal concentrations in plants barks is recommended

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in soil and selected food crops cultivated in Kogi State, north central Nigeria

Abstract Background Heavy metal contamination in Nigeria soils is well documented. However, there is dearth of information on the intake of toxic heavy metals by some food crops cultivated in Nigeria soil. Accumulation of toxic heavy metals in edible food crops is a potential threat to human and animal health. Hence, a study on soil to food crop relation in terms of heavy metals accumulation is expedient. In this study, the levels of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in soils and food crop samples from nine major commercial and individual farms were investigated for their contamination in soil and accumulation in food crops. Methods Soil samples were collected from thirty-two farmlands at two depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm in each farm and control site, to make 320 composite samples. A total of 640 edible food crop samples (pumpkin 64, passion fruit 96, maize grain 96, sugar cane stem 64 and tubers of cassava 320) were collected. Results The results revealed that the levels of Cd ranged from 0.07 to 9.80 mg/kg, Co 0.05–38.1 mg/kg, Cu 0.33–16.9 mg/kg, Ni 3.81–93.1 mg/kg, Pb 4.45–47.7 mg/kg and Zn 5.02–81.4 mg/kg in topsoils. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the levels of these heavy metals in subsoils and among farms. Except in pumpkin, nickel concentration in all the investigated food crops exceeded regulatory limits set by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Similarly, the concentration of Cd and Co in pumpkin exceeded regulatory limits. Soil–plant transfer factors indicated low accumulation into crops except Co in maize and Ni in cassava. Conclusion Therefore, soil may require mild remediation action to minimize possible sources of Co and Ni contamination such as irrigation and fertilizer application practices. The concentration of Cd in food crops could be of health concern if such crops are ingested