2012. Growth performance of cobb broilers given varying concentrations of malunggay (Moringa oleifera Lam.) aqueous leaf extract

ABSTRACT: A study was conducted to determine the growth performance of Cobb broilers supplemented with varying concentrations of Moringa oleifera Aqueous Leaf Extract (MoALE) via the drinking water. A total of four hundred day-old chicks were randomly distributed into four treatment groups, replicated four times with twenty-five broilers per replicate. The growth performance of broilers was evaluated based on their feed consumption, live weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and return of investment (ROI). Results of the study showed that at 90 mL MoALE (T3), the feed consumption of broilers was consistently lower than the control group (T0) and this was statistically significant (P<0.01). The live weight of broilers given 30 mL (T1), 60 mL (T2) and 90 mL (T3) MoALEs were significantly higher than the control group (T0) and this was also statistically significant (P<0.01). In terms of feed conversion ratio (FCR), the MoALE treated broilers (T1-T3) were more efficient converter of feeds into meat than the control group (T0) and this was statistically significant (P<0.01). Furthermore, the return of investment (ROI) of MoALE treated broilers (T1-T3) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the control group (T0) with a revenue per peso invested o

Artemisinin exposure at the ring or trophozoite stage impacts <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> sexual conversion differently.

--- - Malaria transmission is dependent on the formation of gametocytes in the human blood. The sexual conversion rate, the proportion of asexual parasites that convert into gametocytes at each multiplication cycle, is variable and reflects the relative parasite investment between transmission and maintaining the infection. The impact of environmental factors such as drugs on sexual conversion rates is not well understood. We developed a robust assay using gametocyte-reporter parasite lines to accurately measure the impact of drugs on sexual conversion rates, independently from their gametocytocidal activity. We found that exposure to subcurative doses of the frontline antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) at the trophozoite stage resulted in a ~ fourfold increase in sexual conversion. In contrast, no increase was observed when ring stages were exposed or in cultures in which sexual conversion was stimulated by choline depletion. Our results reveal a complex relationship between antimalarial drugs and sexual conversion, with potential public health implications

Reporter lines based on the gexp02 promoter enable early quantification of sexual conversion rates in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Transmission of malaria parasites from humans to mosquito vectors requires that some asexual parasites differentiate into sexual forms termed gametocytes. The balance between proliferation in the same host and conversion into transmission forms can be altered by the conditions of the environment. The ability to accurately measure the rate of sexual conversion under different conditions is essential for research addressing the mechanisms underlying sexual conversion, and to assess the impact of environmental factors. Here we describe new Plasmodium falciparum transgenic lines with genome-integrated constructs in which a fluorescent reporter is expressed under the control of the promoter of the gexp02 gene. Using these parasite lines, we developed a sexual conversion assay that shortens considerably the time needed for an accurate determination of sexual conversion rates, and dispenses the need to add chemicals to inhibit parasite replication. Furthermore, we demonstrate that gexp02 is expressed specifically in sexual parasites, with expression starting as early as the sexual ring stage, which makes it a candidate marker for circulating sexual rings in epidemiological studies

The private life of malaria parasites:Strategies for sexual reproduction

Malaria parasites exhibit a complex lifecycle, requiring extensive asexual replication in the liver and blood of the vertebrate host, and in the haemocoel of the insect vector. Yet, they must also undergo a single round of sexual reproduction, which occurs in the vector’s midgut upon uptake of a blood meal. Sexual reproduction is obligate for infection of the vector and thus, is essential for onwards transmission to new hosts. Sex in malaria parasites involves several bottlenecks in parasite number, making the stages involved attractive targets for blocking disease transmission. Malaria parasites have evolved a suite of adaptations (“strategies”) to maximise the success of sexual reproduction and transmission, which could undermine transmission-blocking interventions. Yet, understanding parasite strategies may also reveal novel opportunities for such interventions. Here, we outline how evolutionary and ecological theories, developed to explain reproductive strategies in multicellular taxa, can be applied to explain two reproductive strategies (conversion rate and sex ratio) expressed by malaria parasites within the vertebrate host

Targeting Malaria Transmission: A Transdisciplinary Approach

[eng] To achieve malaria elimination, great emphasis must be put on targeting the parasite’s transmissible stages, so that along with effective treatment of clinical malaria caused by asexual stages, complete interruption of the life cycle can be achieved. However, the sustainable goal of interrupting malaria transmission is more complex than previously thought, as demonstrated by the many failed attempts to eradicate the parasite. One of the various reasons why interrupting malaria transmission is challenging is that the transmissible gametocytes are resilient and complex in nature. The adaptable nature of the malaria parasite suggests that enhanced gametocyte production is a response to adverse environments. Although gametocytes are constitutively formed at a very low frequency, mounting evidence supports that external factors modulate the rate of sexual conversion by increasing or decreasing gametocyte production. However, whether the most effective antimalarial drug artemisinin can stimulate sexual conversion, which would result in increased production of functional gametocytes in P. falciparum, remains to be clarified both under laboratory culture conditions and in field settings. We addressed this research question by first creating a robust assay that measures the sexual conversion rate. With our new reporter parasite lines, we were able to shorten the sexual conversion assay, dispensing the need for anti-asexual multiplication compounds. Our new gexp02 promoter-based lines showed the ability to distinguish sexual rings at a single-cell level. We then tested the impact of artemisinin on sexual conversion and the transmissibility of artemisinin-induced gametocytes to mosquitoes. Our results revealed that exposure to subcurative doses of DHA at the trophozoite stage, but not at the ring stage, upregulated the expression of pfap2-g, the master regulator of sexual commitment, and increased the rate of sexual conversion and the total gametocyte numbers. Gametocytes from artemisinin-induced cultures were infectious to the mosquito vector. We extended the scope of our study beyond the laboratory format by looking into how treatment affects the sexual conversion of parasites from naturally-infected patients. Here we observed a clear upregulation of transcript levels for pfap2-g and other sexual ring biomarkers after treatment, suggesting an induced sexual conversion. Artemisinin resistant parasites (PfK13 mutants) from Vietnam showed significantly lower levels of pfap2-g induction, whereas sensitive parasites from African cohorts displayed higher pfap2-g induction immediately after treatment. Lastly, we examined the malaria perception of the community in the Magude district of Southern Mozambique. We identified potential constraints and opportunities that might affect the deployment of interventions for the malaria elimination initiative. Malaria awareness, trust in health institutions and openness for new chemoprophylaxis may positively influence the elimination effort. A lack of awareness of asymptomatic carriers, inadequate understanding of residual transmission and barriers to care-seeking might jeopardize the uptake of malaria interventions

Targeting Malaria Transmission: A Transdisciplinary Approach

To achieve malaria elimination, great emphasis must be put on targeting the parasite’s transmissible stages, so that along with effective treatment of clinical malaria caused by asexual stages, complete interruption of the life cycle can be achieved. However, the sustainable goal of interrupting malaria transmission is more complex than previously thought, as demonstrated by the many failed attempts to eradicate the parasite. One of the various reasons why interrupting malaria transmission is challenging is that the transmissible gametocytes are resilient and complex in nature. The adaptable nature of the malaria parasite suggests that enhanced gametocyte production is a response to adverse environments. Although gametocytes are constitutively formed at a very low frequency, mounting evidence supports that external factors modulate the rate of sexual conversion by increasing or decreasing gametocyte production. However, whether the most effective antimalarial drug artemisinin can stimulate sexual conversion, which would result in increased production of functional gametocytes in P. falciparum, remains to be clarified both under laboratory culture conditions and in field settings. We addressed this research question by first creating a robust assay that measures the sexual conversion rate. With our new reporter parasite lines, we were able to shorten the sexual conversion assay, dispensing the need for anti-asexual multiplication compounds. Our new gexp02 promoter-based lines showed the ability to distinguish sexual rings at a single-cell level. We then tested the impact of artemisinin on sexual conversion and the transmissibility of artemisinin-induced gametocytes to mosquitoes. Our results revealed that exposure to subcurative doses of DHA at the trophozoite stage, but not at the ring stage, upregulated the expression of pfap2-g, the master regulator of sexual commitment, and increased the rate of sexual conversion and the total gametocyte numbers. Gametocytes from artemisinin-induced cultures were infectious to the mosquito vector. We extended the scope of our study beyond the laboratory format by looking into how treatment affects the sexual conversion of parasites from naturally-infected patients. Here we observed a clear upregulation of transcript levels for pfap2-g and other sexual ring biomarkers after treatment, suggesting an induced sexual conversion. Artemisinin resistant parasites (PfK13 mutants) from Vietnam showed significantly lower levels of pfap2-g induction, whereas sensitive parasites from African cohorts displayed higher pfap2-g induction immediately after treatment. Lastly, we examined the malaria perception of the community in the Magude district of Southern Mozambique. We identified potential constraints and opportunities that might affect the deployment of interventions for the malaria elimination initiative. Malaria awareness, trust in health institutions and openness for new chemoprophylaxis may positively influence the elimination effort. A lack of awareness of asymptomatic carriers, inadequate understanding of residual transmission and barriers to care-seeking might jeopardize the uptake of malaria interventions

Prevalence and risk factors associated with gastrointestinal nematode infection in goats raised in Baybay city, Leyte, Philippines

Aim: Gastrointestinal parasitism is a serious constraint affecting goat production in the Philippines. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal nematode infection in goat-populated barangays of Baybay City, Leyte. Materials and Methods: A total of 81 households or farms were interviewed, and 450 goats were sampled for fecalysis. Fecal egg count along with egg morphological identification and coproculture for third stage larvae identification were conducted. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the farm- and animal-level prevalence and risk factors. Results: Fecalysis revealed the presence of strongyle and Trichuris spp. with a farm-level prevalence of 100% and 4.94%, respectively; and animal-level prevalence of 96.22% and 4.44%, respectively. The identified strongyle genera per barangay were Haemonchus spp. (34.79%), Trichostrongylus spp. (33.29%), Oesophagostomum spp. (24.21%), Cooperia spp. (6.93%), and Chabertia spp. (0.79%). Goats older than 12 months were four times more likely to present high strongyle burden when compared to goats <6 months. With each month increase in goat’s age, the odds of acquiring strongyle infection also increased by 1.07 times. Animals kept in goat house with cemented flooring have lower odds of acquiring strongyle (odds ratio=0.12). Goats raised for leisure purposes and fed with carabao grass (Paspalum conjugatum) were 8.12 and 5.52 times more likely to acquire Trichuris, respectively. Conclusion: Most of the backyard goat raisers in Baybay City, Leyte, do not practice sound helminth control measures as shown by the high prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes. The most relevant risk factors for gastrointestinal nematode infection were the age of the goat, type of goat house’s flooring, purpose of raising goats, and feeding practices

Two potentially zoonotic parasites infecting Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus desmarest, 1822) in Leyte Island

This case report describes the necropsy findings of two potentially zoonotic parasites infecting the Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus) in Leyte Island, Philippines. A female deer aging approximately 5-year was presented for necropsy to the Diagnostic Laboratory at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Visayas State University. Gross pathology was recorded and the selected organs having lesion were collected for histopathological studies. Results showed severe necrotizing lesions in the nasal and palatal areas, infestation of calliphorid maggots, hepatic fibrosis, cholangitis, cholecystitis, lung atelectasis and duodenitis. Heavy ruminal fluke infection was also observed. Two potentially zoonotic parasites namely Fasciola gigantica and Sarcocystis spp. were identified. The Philippine brown deer appears to have a role in transmission and amplification of zoonotic parasites, and can also be threatened by diseases caused by the parasites

Reporter lines based on the gexp02 promoter enable early quantification of sexual conversion rates in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Transmission of malaria parasites from humans to mosquito vectors requires that some asexual parasites differentiate into sexual forms termed gametocytes. The balance between proliferation in the same host and conversion into transmission forms can be altered by the conditions of the environment. The ability to accurately measure the rate of sexual conversion under different conditions is essential for research addressing the mechanisms underlying sexual conversion, and to assess the impact of environmental factors. Here we describe new Plasmodium falciparum transgenic lines with genome-integrated constructs in which a fluorescent reporter is expressed under the control of the promoter of the gexp02 gene. Using these parasite lines, we developed a sexual conversion assay that shortens considerably the time needed for an accurate determination of sexual conversion rates, and dispenses the need to add chemicals to inhibit parasite replication. Furthermore, we demonstrate that gexp02 is expressed specifically in sexual parasites, with expression starting as early as the sexual ring stage, which makes it a candidate marker for circulating sexual rings in epidemiological studies