An investigation on digestive parasites of fishes in Boojagh Wetland, north Iran

Digestive parasites of commercial fish species in the Boojagh wetland were studied in 2002. The fish species included Esox lucius, Cyprinus carpio, Blicca bjoerkna, Tinca tinca, Carassius auratus, Rutilus frisii kutum, Rutilus rutilus and Scardinius erythrophtalmus. Species C. auratus, R. frisii kutum and B. bjoerkna were found free of digestive parasites. The other five species were carrying one of the three digestive parasites Raphidascaris aces, Caryophyllaeus fimbericeps and Asymphylodora tincae. R.acus parasite was isolated from E. lucius and E. erythrophtalmus infecting the species with a mean intensity of 1.1± 11.15 and 1.8±0.83, a prevalence of 15.4% and 20.2% and a mean abundance of 1.69 and 0.38 respectively. C. carpio and R. rutilus were only infected with C. fimbericeps parasite with a mean intensity of 30.30±46.33 and 5±0, a prevalence of 46.5% and 2.78%, and a mean abundance of 15.48 and 0.14 respectively. The parasite A. tincae was observed only in T. tinca infesting the fish with a mean intensity of 20±0, a prevalence of 25% and mean abundance of 5. Infection of Esox lucius with the parasite A. tincae had been reported from other sites, but this is the first record of Scardinius erythrophtalmus being infected with the parasite. This is also the case for infection of C. carpio with the parasite Caryophyllaeus fimbericeps which was reported before, but found infesting R. rutilus in the Boojagh wetland for the first time

Parasites of some bonyfish species from the Boojagh wetland in the southwest shores of the Caspian Sea

The Boojagh international wetland with a surface area of 80 hectares and 25 fish species is located in the southwest shores of the Caspian Sea (Guilan province, Iran), but there is no report about fish parasites in this wetland. In the present study, a total of 553 individuals of 8 fish species including Cyprinus carpio (n=71), Abramis bjoerkna (n=153), Carassius auratus gibelio (n=89), Esox lucius (n=39), Rutilus rutilus caspius (n=36), Rutilus frisii kutum (n=81), Scardinius erythrophthalmus (n=119) and Tinca tinca (n=4), were collected in October 2001 through November 2003. Eight parasite species were identified in the fishes consisting of 1 nematode: Raphidascaris acus (in E. lucius and S. erythrophthalmus); 1 cestode: Caryophyllaeus fimbriceps (in R. rutilus caspius and C. carpio); 2 digenean trematodes: Asymphylodora tincae (in T. tinca) and Diplostomum spathaceum (in all of the fish species except for T. tinca and S. erythrophthalmus); 2 monogenean trematodes:Tetraonchus monenteron (in E. lucius) and Dactylogyrus sp. (in C. carpio, A. bjoerkna and C. auratus gibelio); 1 crustacean: Lernaea cyprinacea (in A. bjoerkna, T. tinca and R. rutilus caspius) and 1 leech : Piscicola sp. (in R. rutilus caspius and C. carpio). The occurrence of R. acus in S. erythrophthalmus and also that of C. fimbriceps in R. rutilus caspius are reported for the first time as new host records

Increasing Vase Life of Cut Gerbera cv. Rosalin Flowers Using Nanocomposites as Preservative Solution

Introduction  Gerbera is one of the most important cut flowers that has a short vase life. Like other cut flowers, one of the main concerns after harvesting this flower is reducing its quality. The application of carbon nanotubes as preservative solutions increase water uptake, balances water relations, and increases the vase life of cut flowers. Agglomeration, lack of proper dispersion, and severe hydrophobicity are the disadvantages of carbon nanotubes that prevent optimal dispersion in the solution. In this study, polymers (polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100) were used to increase the dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Their effect on the longevity of cut gerbera flowers was also investigated. Materials and Methods The experiment was performed as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with four replications. Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii cv. Rosalin) flowers with fully opened ray florets were purchased. During transportation, each cut flower was covered individually with a cellophane sheet and was placed inside a box of paper to minimize water loss. Gerbera stems were placed in a vase solution as pulse treatment for 24h. Treatments included various concentrations of nanocomposite including control (distilled water), MWCNTs-PVP nanocomposite (1 and 2 mg L-1), MWCNTs-PEG nanocomposite (1 and 2 mg L-1), and MWCNTs-Triton X-100 nanocomposite (1 and 2 mg L-1). Distilled water was used for the control treatment. After the cut gerbera flowers underwent pulse treatment, they were placed individually into glass vases filled with distilled water. Throughout the experiment, the vase life, relative fresh weight, water uptake, relative water content of petals and stems, as well as the bacterial population at the end of the stem were measured. Results and Discussion  The study showed that the MWCNTs-Triton X-100 with a concentration of 2 mg L-1 provided the longest vase life of cut flowers, with a duration of 22.5 days, which was an 8-day increase compared to the control. The other nanocomposites (MWCNTs-PVP and MWCNTs-PEG) also improved the longevity of the cut flowers compared to the control. The nanocomposites in the vase solution affected the relative fresh weight and water uptake of the cut stems. The study found that the water uptake pattern was similar to the fresh weight of the flower, and the water uptake capacity of the stem gradually decreased with time. The MWCNTs-Triton X-100 with a concentration of 1 mg L-1 resulted in the highest amount of water uptake. Cut flowers pulsed with this concentration exhibited the highest relative water content in both petals and stems. The application of MWCNTs-PEG nanocomposite (1 mg L-1) in vase solution increased the relative fresh weight of gerbera cut flowers. Our findings suggest that MWCNTs can increase water uptake, resulting in increased fresh weight in the cut stem. SEM analysis revealed that after the evaluation period, MWCNTs were detected in the stem of cut gerbera and deposited on the stem's internal surface. Our finding showed that the bacterial population at the end of the stem in control treatment during the vase life period was higher than the bacterial population at the end of the stem of flowers treated with MWCNTs-Triton X-100 treatment (2 mg L-1). Therefore, reducing bacterial blockages in the xylem vessels improves the water uptake and vase life of cut flowers. Conclusion  When gerbera cut flowers are harvested and kept in vase solutions, they face some challenges including wounding and water stress. Continuity of water flow in cut flower stem after cutting is an important factor in determining postharvest quality and longevity of cut flowers. Applying a solution containing well-dispersed MWCNTs is a novel approach for facilitating the entry of this nanotube into plants. The use of a composite of MWCNTs with X-100, PVP, and PEG exhibits excellent dispersion properties in the aqueous media of vase solution. These nanocomposites were successful compounds in increasing water uptake, maintaining fresh weight, and increasing the vase life of gerbera cut flowers. The findings of the present study showed that nanocomposites inhibit bacterial growth. These results suggest that the elimination of barriers to water flow in the cut stem helps to keep the longevity and delayed senescence

An investigation on fish infection with Diplostomum spathaceum in Amirkalayeh Wetland

Infection with Diplostomum spathaceum parasite is studied in 660 fish specimens from Amirkalaieh wetland of Guilan Province. We collected samples of fish belonging to Esax litchis (78 pieces), Percalluviatilis (163 pieces), Tinca tinca (105 pieces), Cilurtts glanis (64 pieces), Carasshis ouratus 64 pieces, Bliccia bjuericlia (95 pieces) and Rutilus rutilus (91 pieces) since spring to winter 2001. We found the highest infection rate in Rutilus rutihis (63.33%) while the lowest was seen in gialiis (3.13%). The highest and lowest average infection severity were detected in Rutilus rutilus (13.49±10.82), and Tinca tinca .2±0.45), respectively. The highest parasite abundance was related to Rutilus rutihts (7.04±0.93), and the lowest abundance was observed in Tinca tinca (0.06±0.27). Parasite count range was most in Rutilus rutilus (1-49), and least in Tinca tinca (1-2). Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in species, age, sex and season as related to the infection with the parasite

Determination of optimum dosage of Ovaprim injectionon artificial spawning efficiency of Esox lucius

This project was conducted to goal of optimum dosage determination of ovaprim injection to artificial spawning efficiency of Esox lucius. The research implemented by 4 treatments with 3 replicates for each ones. 3 female and 6 male brooders injected in each replicate. The animals in 1, 2 and 3 treatments injected by 10, 20 and 30 µg/kg BW, respectively, and 4th treatment as a control injected with 4 mg/kg BW pituitary gland extract. Average weight of brooders were 1361±521, 1376±954, 1009±160 and 1100 ±422 g in 1, 2, 3 and 4 treatments in females and 689±145, 734±197, 547±118 and 794±238 g in males, respectively. In addition, positive response percent to hormone injection were measured 77.8 ±19.24 , 88.9 ± 19.24 , 55.5 ±50.91 and 55.5 ± 19.24 % in 1, 2, 3 and 4 treatments in female and 94.4 ± 9.58, 88.9 ±19.26 , 83.3±28.86 and 88.9 ± 19.26 % in male brooders, respectively, but there was no significant different between all of treatments (p<0.05). Incubation period from fertilization till hatching step in 7 to 15 ˚C was 5 to 10 days with average of 7±1.5 days. Fertilization content was in 1 to 4 treatments measured 87.1±10, 88.04±7.7, 83.9±5.2 and 72.4±19.7 %, respectively and also the treatments didn’t show any different significantly together (p<0.05). Average percentage of eyed eggs 66.6±15.9 in treat 1, 61.2±22.3 in treat 2, 58.3±10.7 in treat 3 and 56.1±15.04 in treat 4, without any significant different between of them (p<0.05). Hatching of eggs mean were measured 27.41±19.8 in treat 1, 39.53±26.9 in treat 2, 95.18±5.6 in treat 3 and 26.78±12.4 in treat 4, and significant different observed between of them too (p<0.05).In the other hand, mean percent of larvae with active feeding in these treatments were measured 18.77±14.6, 20.1±8.51, 55.6±11.6 and 14.51±7.72 as the treatments had significant different (p<0.05). Also, the best temperature and dosage injection of ovaprim hormone was 9 to 12.5 ˚C and 20µg/kg BW, respectively. The end of trial, from 103740 larvae introduced to earthen pond obtained 8000 fingerlings with weight of 2.68±0.6 g and length of 6.96±0.51 cm

Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018

Anemia is a globally widespread condition in women and is associated with reduced economic productivity and increased mortality worldwide. Here we map annual 2000–2018 geospatial estimates of anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) across 82 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), stratify anemia by severity and aggregate results to policy-relevant administrative and national levels. Additionally, we provide subnational disparity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of anemia prevalence inequalities within these countries and predict progress toward the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) to reduce anemia by half by 2030. Our results demonstrate widespread moderate improvements in overall anemia prevalence but identify only three LMICs with a high probability of achieving the WHO GNT by 2030 at a national scale, and no LMIC is expected to achieve the target in all their subnational administrative units. Our maps show where large within-country disparities occur, as well as areas likely to fall short of the WHO GNT, offering precision public health tools so that adequate resource allocation and subsequent interventions can be targeted to the most vulnerable populations.Peer reviewe

Erratum: Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Interpretation: By quantifying levels and trends in exposures to risk factors and the resulting disease burden, this assessment offers insight into where past policy and programme efforts might have been successful and highlights current priorities for public health action. Decreases in behavioural, environmental, and occupational risks have largely offset the effects of population growth and ageing, in relation to trends in absolute burden. Conversely, the combination of increasing metabolic risks and population ageing will probably continue to drive the increasing trends in non-communicable diseases at the global level, which presents both a public health challenge and opportunity. We see considerable spatiotemporal heterogeneity in levels of risk exposure and risk-attributable burden. Although levels of development underlie some of this heterogeneity, O/E ratios show risks for which countries are overperforming or underperforming relative to their level of development. As such, these ratios provide a benchmarking tool to help to focus local decision making. Our findings reinforce the importance of both risk exposure monitoring and epidemiological research to assess causal connections between risks and health outcomes, and they highlight the usefulness of the GBD study in synthesising data to draw comprehensive and robust conclusions that help to inform good policy and strategic health planning