Lactation Performance of Small Ruminants in the Maghreb Region

Maghreb areas are characterized by rainfall seasonality and scarcity resulting in a low fodder potential. In these arid and semiarid regions areas, small ruminant production is the main source of income of farmers living where sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus) are generally confronted with severe nutritional deficits during feed scarcity period which exacerbate disease and health troubles and consequently low performances. Interestingly and despite the importance of the milk performance to the dairy industry, very few works studied the potentialities of the mammary gland through the lactation period both in sheep and goats elevated in the Maghreb areas. Nevertheless, understanding the different mammary gland patterns throughout lactation is essential to improve dairy production and to reduce poverty and vulnerability in rural farming systems in these developing areas. The main objective of this review is to analyse the lactate processes as well as to underline the mammary gland morphological patterns, health and physiology traits and to evaluate milk potentialities of the main breeds of goats and sheep raised in Maghreb

Flexible bronchoscopy contribution in the approach of diagnosis and treatment of children’s respiratory diseases: the experience of a unique pediatric unit in Tunisia

Objective: Our study aimed at assessing the role of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in improving diagnosis and management of children’s respiratory conditions in the pediatric unit of FB, newly created and unique in Tunisia.Methods: Retrospective study including all the FB achieved in our pediatric unit from 2009 to 2014.Results: We performed 365 FB in 333 patients aged 46 months on average (1 month - 15 years), often under conscious anesthesia (81.6%). FB was performed for diagnostic purposes in 341 cases and for therapeutic purposes in 24 cases. Eight anatomical abnormalities were revealed in 22 patients. An intraluminal bronchial obstruction was found in 71 FB, mainly due to a foreign body (n=36). A vascular anomaly was responsible for nine cases out of 17 extraluminal obstructions. Airways malacia was observed in 60 FB. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 196 cases. It was determinant in 43.9% of the cases. FB was of great diagnostic value in 74.8% of the cases. It influenced the management of the patients in 58% of the cases. The FB for therapeutic purposes was beneficial in all cases. Few complications occurred (5.5%).Conclusion: FB is a safe tool providing precious diagnostic and/or therapeutic help for the clinician.Keywords: Flexible bronchoscopy, child, bronchoalveolar lavage, foreign body aspiration, pulmonary alveolar proteinosi

Insects as an alternative protein source for poultry nutrition: a review

This review summarizes the most relevant scientific literature related to the use of insects as alternative protein sources in poultry diets. The black soldier fly, the housefly, the beetle, mealworms, silkworms, earthworms, crickets, and grasshoppers are in the spotlight because they have been identified as an important future source of sustainable animal proteins for poultry feeding. Insect meals meet poultry requirements in terms of nutritional value, essential amino acid composition, nutrient digestibility, and feed acceptance. Furthermore, they are enriched with antimicrobial peptides and bioactive molecules that can improve global health. Results from poultry studies suggest equivalent or enhanced growth performances and quality of end-products as compared to fish meal and soybean meal. To outline this body of knowledge, this article states established threads of research about the nutrient profiles and the digestibility of insect meals, their subsequent effects on the growth and laying performances of poultry as well as the quality of meat, carcass, and eggs. To fully exploit insect-derived products, the effects of insect bioactive molecules (antimicrobial peptides, fatty acids, and polysaccharides) were addressed. Furthermore, as edible insects are likely to take a meaningful position in the feed and food chain, the safety of their derived products needs to be ensured. Some insights into the current knowledge on the prevalence of pathogens and contaminants in edible insects were highlighted. Finally, the effect of insect farming and processing treatment on the nutritive value of insect larvae was discussed. Our overview reveals that using insects can potentially solve problems related to reliance on other food sources, without altering the growth performances and the quality of meat and eggs

Potential of Rhizobia in Improving Nitrogen Fixation and Yields of Legumes

Strong demand for food requires specific efforts by researchers involved in the agricultural sector to develop means for sufficient production. While, agriculture today faces challenges such as soil fertility loss, climate change and increased attacks of pathogens and pests. The production of sufficient quantities in a sustainable and healthy farming system is based on environmentally friendly approaches such as the use of biofertilizers, biopesticides and the return of crop residues. The multiplicity of beneficial effects of soil microorganisms, particularly plant growth promotion (PGP), highlights the need to further strengthen the research and its use in modern agriculture. Rhizobia are considered as PGP comes in symbiosis with legumes taking advantage of nutrients from plant root exudates. When interacting with legumes, rhizobia help in increased plant growth through enriching nutrients by nitrogen fixation, solubilizing phosphates and producing phytohormones, and rhizobia can increase plants’ protection by influencing the production of metabolites, improve plant defense by triggering systemic resistance induced against pests and pathogens. In addition, rhizobia contain useful variations to tolerate abiotic stresses such as extreme temperatures, pH, salinity and drought. The search for rhizobium tolerant strains is expected to improve plant growth and yield, even under a combination of constraints. This chapter summarizes the use of rhizobia in agriculture and its benefits

Biochemical analysis of induced resistance in chickpea against broomrape (Orobanche foetida) by rhizobia inoculation

This study examined the capacity of Rhizobium sp. strain PchAZM to reduce parasitism of chickpea by Orobanche foetida under greenhouse conditions, and assessed the relative impact of rhizobia on the expression of chickpea defense response against broomrape. Growth chamber experiments using Petri dishes revealed that rhizobia infection on chickpea roots reduced broomrape seed germination, and restricted the broomrape attachment to host roots while retarding tubercle formation and development by the parasite. In pot experiments, chickpea roots inoculated with rhizobia reduced the total number of broomrape by up to 90%. Broomrape necrosis was observed both before and after parasite attachment to inoculated chickpea roots in Petri dishes and pot experiments. Reduction in infection was accompanied by enhanced levels of the defence-related enzymes phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POX). Increased levels of phenolics were recorded in the roots of rhizobia-inoculated plants grown in the presence of broomrape. The results suggest that rhizobia could be used for protection of chickpea against O. foetida

Cystic fibrosis in Tunisian children: a review of 32 children

Background: Cystic fibrosis is rare in Tunisia.Its diagnosis requires experienced specialists. Its prognosis is poor in developing countries.Objectives: To study the epidemiologic, clinical, genetic features and the therapeutic challenges of cystic fibrosis in Tunisian children.Methods: Covering a period of 21 years, this retrospective study included all patients with a definite diagnosis of cystic fibrosis from the Pediatrics Department B of The Children’s Hospital of Tunis.Results: Data from 32 children (14 boys and 18 girls) were collected. The diagnosis was made during the first year of life in 28 cases. Meconium ileus was found in 5 cases, respiratory manifestations in 22 cases, chronic diarrhea in 19 cases, faltering growth in 17 cases and a pseudo Barter syndrome in 2 cases. The sweat chloride test was positive in all cases. The most frequent mutation was F508del (56% of cases). Respiratory complications marked the outcome. Among our 32 patients, 15 patients (50%) died at an average age of 5 years and 3 months, mainly due to respiratory failure. The mean age of the surviving patients was 5 years.Conclusion: Cystic fibrosis prognosis is poor in our series compared to developed countries due to the longer diagnostic delay and the limited therapeutic options.Keywords: Cystic fibrosis, children, Tunisia

Stratégie de désassemblage d'un modèle CAO basée sur le concept de « sous-assemblage »

De nos jours, suite aux exigences croissantes des clients, les produits mécaniques deviennent de plus en plus complexes. Les outils de CAO doivent être capables de suivre cette évolution et offrir par conséquent les fonctionnalités requises pour assister les concepteurs dans les choix et la validation de ces produits. Les outils de calcul par la méthode des éléments finis, les outils de simulation des mouvements sont parmi les outils d'assitance au concepteur et totalement intégrés à la CAO. Dans cet article, une méthode de génération des séquences de désassemblage (SD) des produits mécaniques est proposée afin d'aider le concepteur durant le cycle de vie des produits. Cette méthode est basée sur le concept de sous-assemblage. Ainsi, une SD du produit en des sous-assemblages est proposée. Ensuite, à chaque sous-assemblage, une SD est générée. Pour mener à bien les propositions, une solution de co-simulation Solidworks-Matlab est détaillée. Un exemple concret est présenté afin de mettre en évidence la faisabilité et l'efficacité de l'approche proposée

Acute Pesticide Poisoning in Children: A Review of 50 Cases

Background: Pesticide poisoning is very common in Tunisia. Various factors are involved in the analysis of the clinical presentations and the severity of this condition. Major factors are the chemical nature of the pesticides and the quantity entered the body. Methods: This is a retrospective study, reporting the pediatric cases that presented to us with signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning. Fifty cases pesticide poisoning were admitted to the hospital between January 2013 and October 2016. Results: A total of 50 pediatric cases were included in this study with the mean age of 3 years and 4months. The poisoning was accidental in 49 cases and self-inflicted in one, with the mode being oral (N=45), respiratory (N=2) and cutaneous (N=3). The average duration of hospital care for these patients was 2 hours and 30 minutes (range: 30 min-24 hr). The clinical manifestations of poisoning noted were due to muscarinic and nicotinic receptors inhibition. Upon clinical examination, 29 patients had no pesticide in the gastric lavage fluid and urine and demonstrated no abnormal cholinesterase activity. The therapeutic management was mainly symptomatic with antidote medications prescribed (atropine and oxime). All patients had favorable outcomes and no death occurred. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the frequency of pesticide poisoning in a pediatric setting and the importance of early management. Optimal therapeutic approaches were evaluated, demonstrating that prevention still remains the best solution in such cases

Flexible bronchoscopy contribution in the approach of diagnosis and treatment of children\u2019s respiratory diseases: the experience of a unique pediatric unit in Tunisia.

Objective: Our study aimed at assessing the role of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in improving diagnosis and management of children\u2019s respiratory conditions in the pediatric unit of FB, newly created and unique in Tunisia. Methods: Retrospective study including all the FB achieved in our pediatric unit from 2009 to 2014. Results: We performed 365 FB in 333 patients aged 46 months on average (1 month - 15 years), often under conscious anesthesia (81.6%). FB was performed for diagnostic purposes in 341 cases and for therapeutic purposes in 24 cases. Eight anatomical abnormalities were revealed in 22 patients. An intraluminal bronchial obstruction was found in 71 FB, mainly due to a foreign body (n=36). A vascular anomaly was responsible for nine cases out of 17 extraluminal obstructions. Airways malacia was observed in 60 FB. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 196 cases. It was determinant in 43.9% of the cases. FB was of great diagnostic value in 74.8% of the cases. It influenced the management of the patients in 58% of the cases. The FB for therapeutic purposes was beneficial in all cases. Few complications occurred (5.5%). Conclusion: FB is a safe tool providing precious diagnostic and/or therapeutic help for the clinician. Keywords

Cystic fibrosis in Tunisian children: a review of 32 children

Background: Cystic fibrosis is rare in Tunisia.Its diagnosis requires experienced specialists. Its prognosis is poor in developing countries. Objectives: To study the epidemiologic, clinical, genetic features and the therapeutic challenges of cystic fibrosis in Tunisian children. Methods: Covering a period of 21 years, this retrospective study included all patients with a definite diagnosis of cystic fibrosis from the Pediatrics Department B of The Children\u2019s Hospital of Tunis. Results: Data from 32 children (14 boys and 18 girls) were collected. The diagnosis was made during the first year of life in 28 cases. Meconium ileus was found in 5 cases, respiratory manifestations in 22 cases, chronic diarrhea in 19 cases, faltering growth in 17 cases and a pseudo Barter syndrome in 2 cases. The sweat chloride test was positive in all cases. The most frequent mutation was F508del (56% of cases). Respiratory complications marked the outcome. Among our 32 patients, 15 patients (50%) died at an average age of 5 years and 3 months, mainly due to respiratory failure. The mean age of the surviving patients was 5 years. Conclusion: Cystic fibrosis prognosis is poor in our series compared to developed countries due to the longer diagnostic delay and the limited therapeutic options