Investigation on the influence of nematophagous fungi as feed additive on nematode infection risk of sheep and goats on pasture

Gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants cause high economic losses. Thus on most farms anthelmintic treatment is required. In response to increasing problems with anthelmintic resistance, biological control, for example the use of nematophagous fungi, has received significant attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Duddingtonia flagrans orally applied to small ruminants on natural infection with gastrointestinal nematodes in a field study in Northern Germany. 20 goats and 20 sheep were fed daily for 3 months with 5x105 spores of D. flagrans per kg bodyweight. Differences in body weight, faecal egg count and larval development in faeces and on pasture in comparison with same-sized control groups were analysed. After 3 months the control goats showed significantly higher mean faecal egg count than the fungus-fed group. No significant difference was found between the two sheep groups. The maximum in larval reduction in faeces was 81.3 % in the sheep groups and 67.9 % in the goat groups (not significant). At the end of the study the body weight gain in the fungus-treated groups was 1.7 kg higher in goats and 0.7 kg higher in sheep than in the control groups (not significant). Regarding the first-year-grazing goats only, the bodyweights revealed significant differences (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in pasture larval counts. In the study presented here, no clear effect of fungus could be observed. A modified feeding regimen, perhaps with permanent release boluses or feed blocks, may improve the efficacy. Furthermore, it seems that climatic conditions during the study period could have influenced the results and displayed how sensitive the fungus application may be on such parameters

Establishment of a minor groove binder-probe based quantitative real time PCR to detect Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and differentiation of Borrelia spielmanii by ospA-specific conventional PCR

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Borrelia burgdorferi </it>sensu lato (sl), the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, is transmitted by ticks of the genus <it>Ixodes </it>as vector. For identification of <it>Borrelia </it>infections in ticks a TaqMan™ minor groove binder (MGB) probe-based quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) was established targeting the 5S-23S intergenic spacer. Extension to a duplex qPCR included an <it>Ixodes </it>spp. positive control to verify successful DNA isolation. Besides qPCR, an <it>osp</it>A-specific conventional PCR for species-specific identification of <it>B. spielmanii </it>was established. Afterwards 1000 <it>I. ricinus </it>flagged in the city of Hanover, Germany, were investigated for <it>B. burgdorferi </it>sl infections followed by species identification. Furthermore, <it>I. hexagonus </it>ticks were investigated to proof applicability of the PCRs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) identifying <it>B. burgdorferi </it>sl in ticks was able to detect 1-10 copies per reaction. <it>B. spielmanii osp</it>A-specific conventional PCR was also highly specific and showed no cross reactions with the other tested <it>Borrelia </it>species. From 1000 hanoveranian ticks 24.3% were positive compared to only 7.4% positives by dark-field microscopy. Related to tick stage 1.7% larvae, 18.1% nymphs, and 34.6% adults were positive. The most frequent species was <it>B. garinii</it>, followed by <it>B. afzelii</it>, <it>B. spielmanii</it>, <it>B. valaisiana </it>and <it>B. burgdorferi </it>sensu stricto (ss). 70.6% of <it>I. ricinus </it>were mono-infected, whereas 28.0% and 1.4% were infected with two and three <it>Borrelia </it>species, respectively. From 232 <it>I. hexagonus </it>collected from hedgehogs in different sites of Germany, qPCR detected 5.7% to be infected with <it>B. burgdorferi </it>sl, which were identified as <it>B. afzelii</it>, <it>B. garinii </it>and <it>B. spielmanii</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The evaluated qPCR to detect <it>B. burgdorferi </it>sl in <it>Ixodes </it>spp. is highly specific and sensitive. As a duplex qPCR including detection of <it>Ixodes </it>spp. DNA it is the first DNA based technique incorporating a control for successful DNA isolation from the vector tick. Establishment of a <it>B. spielmanii </it>specific conventional PCR filled the gap in PCR identification of principal European <it>Borrelia </it>genospecies. Practical application showed that all European pathogenic <it>Borrelia </it>spp. were present in <it>I. ricinus </it>flagged in recreational areas of the city of Hanover and confirmed <it>I. hexagonus </it>as reservoir for pathogenic <it>Borrelia </it>spp.</p

Aircraft empennage structural detail design

The purpose of this project is to provide an empennage structural assembly that will withstand the operational loads defined in FAR Part 23, as well as those specified in the statement of work, i.e. snow, rain, humidity, tiedown forces, etc. The goal is to provide a simple yet durable lightweight structure that will transfer the aerodynamic forces produced by the tail surfaces through the most efficient load path to the airframe. The structure should be simple and cost-effective to manufacture and repair. All structures meet or exceed loading and fatigue criteria. The structure provides for necessary stiffness and ease of maintenance

Complete Break Up of Ortho Positronium (Ps)- Hydrogenic ion System

The dynamics of the complete breakup process in an Ortho Ps - He+ system including electron loss to the continuum (ELC) is studied where both the projectile and the target get ionized. The process is essentially a four body problem and the present model takes account of the two centre effect on the electron ejected from the Ps atom which is crucial for a proper description of the ELC phenomena. The calculations are performed in the framework of Coulomb Distorted Eikonal Approximation. The exchange effect between the target and the projectile electron is taken into account in a consistent manner. The proper asymptotic 3-body boundary condition for this ionization process is also satisfied in the present model. A distinct broad ELC peak is noted in the fully differential cross sections (5DCS) for the Ps electron corroborating qualitatively the experiment for the Ps - He system. Both the dynamics of the ELC from the Ps and the ejected electron from the target He+ in the FDCS are studied using coplanar geometry. Interesting features are noted in the FDCS for both the electrons belonging to the target and the projectile.Comment: 14 pages,7 figure

Geometrodynamics of Variable-Speed-of-Light Cosmologies

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Dennis Sciama. Variable-Speed-of-Light (VSL) cosmologies are currently attracting interest as an alternative to inflation. We investigate the fundamental geometrodynamic aspects of VSL cosmologies and provide several implementations which do not explicitly break Lorentz invariance (no "hard" breaking). These "soft" implementations of Lorentz symmetry breaking provide particularly clean answers to the question "VSL with respect to what?". The class of VSL cosmologies we consider are compatible with both classical Einstein gravity and low-energy particle physics. These models solve the "kinematic" puzzles of cosmology as well as inflation does, but cannot by themselves solve the flatness problem, since in their purest form no violation of the strong energy condition occurs. We also consider a heterotic model (VSL plus inflation) which provides a number of observational implications for the low-redshift universe if chi contributes to the "dark energy" either as CDM or quintessence. These implications include modified gravitational lensing, birefringence, variation of fundamental constants and rotation of the plane of polarization of light from distant sources.Comment: 19 pages, latex 209, revtex 3.1; To appear in Physical Review D; Numerous small changes of presentation and emphasis; new section on the entropy problem; references updated; central results unaffecte

A survey of sports drinks consumption amongst adolescents

Background Sports drinks intended to improve performance and hydrate athletes taking part in endurance sport are being marketed to children, for whom these products are not intended. Popularity among children has grown exponentially. Worryingly they consume them socially, as well as during physical activity. Sports drinks are high in sugar and are acidic. Product marketing ignores the potential harmful effects of dental caries and erosion. Objective To investigate the use of sports drinks by children. Method One hundred and eighty-three self-complete questionnaires were distributed to four schools in South Wales. Children in high school years 8 and 9 (aged 12–14) were recruited to take part. Questions focused on use of sports drinks, type consumed, frequency of and reason for consumption and where drinks were purchased. Results One hundred and sixty children responded (87% response rate): 89.4% (143) claimed to drink sports drinks, half drinking them at least twice a week. Lucozade Sport™ was the most popular brand. The main reason for consuming the drinks was attributed to the 'nice taste' (90%, 129/143). Most respondents purchased the drinks from local shops (80.4%, 115) or supermarkets (54.5%, 78). More boys claimed to drink sports drinks during physical activity (77.9% versus 48.6% girls, P <0.001). Whereas more girls claimed to drink them socially (51.4% versus 48.5% boys, NS). Conclusion A high proportion of children consumed sports drinks regularly and outside of sporting activity. Dental health professionals should be aware of the popularity of sports drinks with children when giving health education advice or designing health promotion initiatives