Mathematical Formula of a Cone Model Used for Calculation of Snail Shell Volume

Problem statement: There are many species of Helix snails, each with its own unique exoskeleton shape, or shell shape. Principal analysis of measurement data from snail shells occupied by Helix points out the importance of the description and quantification of the snail shells. The present paper is aimed to compare some of the formulas in the literature used to determine the volume of snail shape. Hypothesis: The methods and formulae which exist do not reflect the real shell volume (at least not precisely enough) but rather use the external measurement and on that basis they draw conclusions for the biomass and the development stage. Organisms: 142 species of the Turkish snail (Helix lucorum). Approach: The purpose of this study is to improve and to offer a much better and accurate formula for calculations of the shell volume. Conclusion: Our results support the usage of the formulae, and confirm some of these formulas while disproving others. As a result we developed a formula which takes into consideration the varying shape and thickness of the shell and reflects the real shell volume in most of the cases

A hepatitis B virus causes chronic infections in equids worldwide

Preclinical testing of novel therapeutics for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) requires suitable animal models. Equids host homologs of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Because coinfections of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV occur in humans, we screened 2,917 specimens from equids from five continents for HBV. We discovered a distinct HBV species (Equid HBV, EqHBV) in 3.2% of donkeys and zebras by PCR and antibodies against EqHBV in 5.4% of donkeys and zebras. Molecular, histopathological, and biochemical analyses revealed that infection patterns of EqHBV resembled those of HBV in humans, including hepatotropism, moderate liver damage, evolutionary stasis, and potential horizontal virus transmission. Naturally infected donkeys showed chronic infections resembling CHB with high viral loads of up to 2.6 × 109 mean copies per milliliter serum for >6 mo and weak antibody responses. Antibodies against Equid HCV were codetected in 26.5% of donkeys seropositive for EqHBV, corroborating susceptibility to both hepatitis viruses. Deltavirus pseudotypes carrying EqHBV surface proteins were unable to infect human cells via the HBV receptor NTCP (Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide), suggesting alternative viral entry mechanisms. Both HBV and EqHBV deltavirus pseudotypes infected primary horse hepatocytes in vitro, supporting a broad host range for EqHBV among equids and suggesting that horses might be suitable for EqHBV and HBV infections in vivo. Evolutionary analyses suggested that EqHBV originated in Africa several thousand years ago, commensurate with the domestication of donkeys. In sum, EqHBV naturally infects diverse equids and mimics HBV infection patterns. Equids provide a unique opportunity for preclinical testing of novel therapeutics for CHB and to investigate HBV/ HCV interplay upon coinfection

Blood serum concentrations of total proteins and main protein fractions in weaning rabbits experimentally infected with E. coli

The objective of the present Study was to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of major blood proteins associated with experimental E. coli infection in weaning rabbits. For that, in the assay group. 12 weaning White New Zealand rabbits (45 days old) were orally infected with a bacteria] suspension of enteropathogenic E. coli strain type O15:H- (6.10(7) cfu) whereas the 6 control rabbits received only 0.9% NaCl solution. Serum total protein. albumin, globulin and lysozyme concentrations as well as plasma fibrinogen concentrations were measured before (0h) and 1, 3, 7, 11 18 and 30 days after oral treatment. In parallel. presence of coliforms was investigated in rectal samples on clays 0, 1, 6, 11, 16, 25 and 30. Infected rabbits began to excrete E. coli strains on (lay 2 after administration, whereas the first signs of diarrhoea were observed on day 5. Between days 11 and 18 severe diarrhoea was found in all rabbits and then clinical signs gradually disappeared although 3 rabbits continue to excrete the bacteria on day 30. In inoculated rabbits, hypoproteinemia and hypo-albuminemia compared to control values were evidenced since the 7(th) day whereas the blood concentrations of lysozyme and fibrinogen at a lesser extend were dramatically increased on days 11 - 18 and on days 3-18 respectively, leading to a significantly lowered albumin/globulin ratio since the 11(th) day. These results confirm that albumin is a negative acute phase protein (APP) while fibrinogen and lysozyme were 2 positive APP in response to an experimental bacterial infection in rabbit

Blood serum concentrations of total proteins and main protein fractions in weaning rabbits experimentally infected with E. coli

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in the concentrations of major blood proteins associated with experimental E. coli infection in weaning rabbits. For that, in the assay group. 12 weaning White New Zealand rabbits (45 days old) were orally infected with a bacterial suspension of enteropathogenic E. coli strain type O15:H- (6.107 cfu) whereas the 6 control rabbits received only 0.9% NaCI solution. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin and lysozyme concentrations as well as plasma fibrinogen concentrations were measured before (0h) and I, 3, 7, 11, 18 and 30 days after oral treatment. In parallel, presence of coliforms was investigated in rectal samples on days 0, 1.6. 11, 16, 25 and 30. Infected rabbits began to excrete E. coli strains on day 2 after administration, whereas the first signs of diarrhoea were observed on day 5. Between days 11 and 18 severe diarrhoea was found in all rabbits and then clinical signs gradually disappeared although 3 rabbits continue to excrete the bacteria on day 30. In inoculated rabbits, hypoproteinemia and hypo-albuminemia compared to control values were evidenced since the 7th day whereas the blood concentrations of lysozyme and fibrinogen at a lesser extend were dramatically increased on days 11-18 and on days 3-18 respectively, leading to a significantly lowered albumin/globulin ratio since the 11th day. These results confirm that albumin is a negative acute phase protein (APP) while fibrinogen and lysozyme were 2 positive APP in response to an experimental bacterial infection in rabbits