Amblyseius swirskii are predaceous mites that feed on phytophagous mites, pollens, and plant exudates and are known as one of the most potent biological pest management agents. Tetranychus urticae is ...a global mite that is difficult to manage because of its high population growth rates, necessitating alternative management measures like biological control. Regarding the functional response, the effects of temperature and prey density are some of the essential behaviors of natural enemies. This study investigates the effect of varying temperatures and prey densities on A. swirskii, a biological control agent for T. urticae. The present results demonstrated the change in the functional response estimates when A. swirskii was reared at various temperatures and different prey densities. The results of the estimates regarding the searching efficiency (a′) showed the highest value (a′ = 0.919) at 26 °C and the lowest value (a′ = 0.751) at 14 °C. The handling time per prey item (Th) for the predatory mites changed with the temperature and prey density, showing the shortest handling time at 26 °C (Th = 0.005) and the highest value at 14 °C (Th = 0.015). The functional response curves matched the type II functional response model, demonstrating the inverse dependence of temperatures and prey density with a positive quadratic coefficient. The predation curves for A. swirskii showed a significant difference between the mean numbers of T. urticae consumed at various prey densities and temperatures, illustrating a relationship between A. swirskii and T. urticae. Therefore, the results of this research may be utilized to forecast the behavior of A. swirskii and its usefulness in controlling T. urticae populations.
The objective of our study was to explore the deleterious effects of diabetes on the visual functions of the retina and to address whether the administration of vitamin A and carrot root extract (CE) ...confer retinal protection in hyperglycemic rats via modulation of oxidative stress, biochemical alternations, and retinal neurotransmission. Fifty male Wistar albino rats weighing 180 ± 12.41 g were randomized into five groups (n = 10): controls, diabetic group (injected with 40 mg/kg dissolved in 0.1 sodium citrate buffer), diabetic group treated with vitamin A (2,500 IU/kg, low dose), diabetic group treated with vitamin (5,000 IU/kg, high dose), and diabetic groups administered CE (200 mg/kg/every other day). Our findings showed that, compared to controls, diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in their retinal thickness, increased apoptotic ganglion cells, and a noticeable degeneration of their synaptic layers. The inner retina displayed increased activity of neovascularization; however, the outer retina exhibited vacuolar degeneration of the photoreceptor cell layer. Our biochemical assessments showed reduced levels of CAT, SOD, and GST along with increased lipid peroxidation. Concurrently, cellular angiogenic and stress markers were significantly elevated associated with increased apoptotic activities as evidenced by increased expressions of annexin‐V and PARP. Furthermore, the neurotransmitter content of the retina was altered in diabetic rats compared to controls and diabetic‐treated groups. Paradoxically, vitamin A and CE supplementation attenuate these retinal insults in diabetic animals and normalized aforementioned assayed parameters; evidencing that both treatments exerted ameliorative impacts and restored visual functions by diminishing oxidative stress and neuronal degeneration.
Practical applications
Diabetes is a complex disease that involves various physiological perturbations especially visual functions. In our study, we showed that vitamin A and carrot root extract (CE) confer remarkable protection against retinal degeneration in STZ‐induced diabetic rats. Our findings showed that the chemical and phytochemical ingredients of the vitamin A and CE substantially attenuated the histopathological changes, oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and cellular death in diabetic rats. These favorable changes are attributable to the high content of retinoic acid, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds that effectively regulates the production of visual pigments, increases the antioxidant defense system, and diminishes the pro‐inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Thus, the nutritional values of vitamin A and CE represent promising therapeutic choices to mitigate the retinal‐induced diabetic insults.
Vitamin A and carrot root extract (CE) confer remarkable protection against retinal degeneration in STZ‐induced diabetic rats.
High content of retinoic acid, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds exerts antioxidant defense and diminishes apoptotic rate.
Vitamin A and CE represent promising therapeutic choices to mitigate the retinal‐induced diabetic insults.
The microstructure of the thyroid gland of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) was described using morphometric, histological, immunohistochemical staining, and ultrastructural standard ...techniques. The follicular secretory units of the thyroid glands displayed comparable and variable sizes where the large follicles were situated at the peripheral margins; however, the small ones were located in the central region. Semisquamous epithelium (low cuboidal) lined the large thyroid follicles, while high cuboidal (columnar) epithelium lined the small ones. Our electron microscopic findings revealed that the low-sized cuboidal follicular cells lack organelles and are hypoactive. The high cuboidal follicular cells are active cells and rich in cellular organelles such as cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, colloid droplets, scrolled Golgi apparatus, and secretory vesicles. A few degenerate follicular cells appeared on rare occasions. The parafollicular cells appeared with a more prominent and conspicuous nucleus than the follicular cells. The follicular cells were classified as active, inactive, or degenerated using transmission electron microscopy. The follicular and parafollicular cells showed calcitonin-positive immunoreactivity. Overall, the presented results showed particular convergences of the morphostructural aspects of the thyroid gland of C. dromedarius to that of other mammals with some distinctive features to cope with their physiology and harsh niche.
Virulent pathotypes of E. coli seriously affect the livestock regarding the misuse of antibiotics. All 180 samples collected from cow's environment and dairy shops in Qena, Egypt were serologically ...and molecularly positive for coliforms. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) pathotypes were isolated from water and milk-related samples. STEC serogroups O26, O55, O111, O113, O145 were also recovered. The non-O157 STEC serotypes were recovered from human diarrheagenic patients contacting cattle or consuming contaminated water/milk products. Bla
CTX-M
and bla
TEM
genes were detected in 25.5% and 100%, respectively. Disinfectants and algal extracts, identified by GC-MS, were evaluated in vitro for antibacterial activities. TH4+® disinfectant and methanol extract of Turbinaria decurrens reduced E. coli at 13 log10 at 1.5% and 3 mg/ml concentrations, respectively. Ag-NPs/T. decurrens showed 8-9 log10 reduction at concentration of 1.6 × 10
5
NPs/ml. Examined water sources, milk and milk products were potential reservoirs for virulent antibiotic-resistant E.coli which may impose animal and public health threats.
Abbreviations: APEC: Avian pathogenic E. coli; bla
CTX-M
: β-lactamase inhibitors-Cefotaximase gene; bla
TEM
: β-lactamase inhibitors-Temoneira gene; CFU: Colony-forming unit; DAEC: Diffusely adherent E. coli; DEC: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli; DEMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; eaeA: Intimin or E. coli attaching gene; EAEC: Enteroaggregative E. coli; EHEC: Enterohemorrhagic E. coli; EIEC: Enteroinvasive E. coli; EOSQC: Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality Control; EPEC: Enteropathogenic E. coli; ETEC: Enterotoxigenic E. coli; ExPEC: Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli; GC-MS: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique; hly: Hemolysin gene; STEC: Shiga like producing E. coli; stx1: Shiga-toxin 1 gene; ESBLs: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases.
Malathion is one of the most used organophosphorus pesticides that is used for many reasons such as agriculture and industry. Human exposure to malathion may occur through various means, such as ...eating food that has been treated with it. Malathion not only increases oxidative stress but also decreases the antioxidant capacity. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant with many pharmacological actions. Curcumin can act as a free radical scavenger and inhibit the activation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Curcumin could combat the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant depletion that trigger the apoptotic pathways. This study aims to examine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects of curcumin. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (six rats each): control, curcumin, malathion, and malathion + curcumin groups. At the assigned time, blood samples were used for the assessment of serum creatinine, and the kidneys were excised and washed; parts of them were used for the assessment of total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and glutathione (GSH) activity, other parts were fixed in formalin for further staining. Histopathological evaluation was performed for the fixed specimens after staining with H&E, sirus red, and the immunohistochemical staining for NF-κβ, TNF-α, Caspase-3, Nrf2, and HO-1. Curcumin significantly decreases the serum creatinine after malathion exposure and significantly restores the oxidant/antioxidant balance by increasing TAC and GSH and decreasing TOS, OSI, and MDA. Curcumin exerts its reno-protective effect and restores the histological architecture of the kidney by downregulating the immune expression of NF-κβ, TNF-α, and Caspase-3 and upregulating the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. This study concluded that curcumin protects against nephrotoxicity caused by malathion by exerting its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic capabilities.
We describe the morphological adaptations of the tongue and gastrointestinal tract of the striped sand snake Psammophis sibilans and discuss their functional importance. Using standard histological, ...histochemical, and scanning electron microscopy techniques, we analyzed 11 adult snakes of both sexes. Our findings showed that the bifurcated non-papillate tongue exhibited chemoreceptive adaptions to squamate foraging behavior. The lingual apex tapered terminally with sensory spines, and the body of the tongue possesses a characteristic central odor-receptor chamber that might serve to trap and retain scent molecules. Furthermore, the intrinsic musculature showed interwoven and well-developed transverse, vertical and longitudinal muscle fibers that control contraction and retraction during probing and flicking. The esophagus displayed highly folded mucosa lined with columnar epithelium with goblet cells. In contrast, the stomach mucosa formed finger-like gastric rugae, encompassing tubular glands with dorsal gastric pits. The intestine is distinct from other vertebrates in lacking the crypts of Lieberkühn in the tunica mucosa and submucosa. The intestine mucosa is mostly arranged in interdigitating villi oriented perpendicular to the luminal surface. We extrapolated subtle variations for both acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides and glycoproteins localization as well as collagen fibers using histochemical analyses. The elaborate histo-morphological and functional adaptation of the tongue and digestive tract plays a pivotal role in foraging and feeding behavior.
The present study was designed with the aim to study morphometric characterization as well as phylogeny and diversity of the local Surguli goat at their breeding tract district Kohat through ...mitochondrial DNA region, i.e., Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit One (CO1) gene. Morphometric data and blood samples were collected from thirty (30) pure goats. Morphometric analysis showed that sex had significant effect (
< 0.05) on body weight, body length, hearth girth and horn length while no significant effect (
> 0.05) was observed for other characteristics. The results also indicated that age had significant effect (
< 0.05) on height at rump, ear length, horn length and tail length while no significant effect (
> 0.05) was observed for other characteristics. The phylogenetic analysis through CO1 nucleotide sequences within nucleotide range 1-767 showed nine polymorphic sites segregating into eight haplotypes. The mean intraspecific diversity and mean interspecific diversity were calculated as 0.23 and 2.36%, respectively. Phylogenetic tree revealed that Capra Ibex and native Surguli goat have common ancestors. The morphometric and molecular results obtained from the present study can be exploited as a selection tool for breeding and overall improvement.
Our study was conducted to characterize the efficacy of barley and/or date palm fruits (10%) in alleviation of hypercholesterolemic endometrial insults in obese rat model. Sixty‐four Wistar albino ...rats were randomized into eight groups (n = 8); control, hypercholesterolemic‐ and hypercholesterolemic‐treated groups. Animals were subjected to treatment for 4 months. After sacrifice, serum and uterine tissues were collected and processed for biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic investigations. In hypercholesterolemic rats, the endometrium displayed hyperplasia with necrotic patches in the surface epithelium and its glandular lining cells. Also, there was a remarkable increase in the endometrial thickness and significant decrease in corresponding glandular numbers. Prompted by these findings, immunohistochemical localization revealed that expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was downregulated, while cleaved caspase‐3 was upregulated in the endometrial cells in hypercholesterolemic group. Accordingly, there was remarkable depletion of antioxidant enzymatic activities associated with increased lipid peroxidation and apoptotic markers. Contradictory, supplementation of barley and/or dates to hypercholesterolemic groups showed intriguing amelioration for the histological architecture of the endometrium and balancing its oxidative redox. In conclusion, the administration of barley and/or dates confers enhanced synergistic effects in attenuation of hypercholesterolemic induced‐endometrial dysfunction. This is clear evidence that endometrial amelioration was directly linked to the implication of highly potential antioxidant capacity of barley and/or dates phytochemicals, β‐glucan, polyphenols, and other trace elements, which can be utilized to establish a phyto‐therapeutic strategy for activating endometrial cell regeneration.
Practical applications
Barley and dates confer both hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic potentials. Therefore, their ingredients would be implicated in the amelioration of uterine functions in obese women. These favorable potentials were directly linked to the restraining of endometrial inflammation and retrieving the oxidative capacity. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that barley and dates substantially diminished the expression of TNF‐α, mitigated DNA damage and prevented leukocytic infiltration in the endometrial tissue; based on their high content of dietary phytochemicals, β‐glucan, polyphenols, and other trace elements.
High cholesterol diets exert deleterious impacts on endometrial functions.
Barely and/or dates phytochemical ingredients diminish endometrial oxidative stress.
Barely and/or dates improve endometrial cyto‐architecture in obese rats.
Barely and/or dates alleviate endometrial apoptosis in hypercholesterolemic rats.
Antibiotic drug resistance is a global public health issue that demands new and novel therapeutic molecules. To develop new agents, animal secretions or products are used as an alternative agent to ...overcome this problem. In this study, earthworm (
) coelomic fluid (PCF), and body paste (PBP) were used to analyze their effects as antibiofilm agents against four bacterial isolates MH1 (
MT448672), MH2 (
MT448673), MH3 (
MT448675), and MH4 (
MT448676). Coelomic fluid extraction and body paste formation were followed by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), biofilm formation time kinetics, and an antibiofilm assay, using heat and cold shock, sunlight exposure auto-digestion, and test tube methods. The results showed that the MIC values of PCF and PBP against
,
,
, and
bacterial isolates ranged from 50 to 100 μg/mL, while, the results related to biofilm formation for
,
, and
strains were observed to be highly significantly increased (
< 0.005) after 72 h.
produced a significant (
< 0.004) amount of biofilm after 48 h. Following time kinetics, the antibiofilm activity of PCF and PBP was tested at different concentrations (i.e., 25-200 μg/mL) against the aforementioned four strains (MH1-MH4). The findings of this study revealed that both PBP (5.61 ± 1.0%) and PCF (5.23 ± 1.5%) at the lowest concentration (25 μg/mL) showed non-significant (
> 0.05) antibiofilm activity against all the selected strains (MH1-MH4). At 50 μg/mL concentration, both PCF and PBP showed significant (
< 0.05) biofilm inhibition (<40%) for all isolates. Further, the biofilm inhibitory potential was also found to be more significant (
< 0.01) at 100 μg/mL of PCF and PBP, while it showed highly significant (
< 0.001) biofilm inhibition at 150 and 200 μg/mL concentrations. Moreover, more than 90% biofilm inhibition was observed at 200 μg/mL of PCF, while in the case of the PBP, <96% biofilm reduction (i.e., 100%) was also observed by all selected strains at 200 μg/mL. In conclusion, earthworm body fluid and paste have biologically active components that inhibit biofilm formation by various pathogenic bacterial strains. For future investigations, there is a need for further study to explore the potential bioactive components and investigate in depth their molecular mechanisms from a pharmaceutical perspective for effective clinical utilization.
The present study investigated the toxic action of acrylamide (ACR) and the abrogative effect of aqueous propolis extract on ACR-induced toxicity in male albino rats. Forty adult male albino rats ...were randomly divided into four groups and administered the treatment doses orally by gavage. Control, treated with a physiological solution (5.0 ml/rat). ACR-treated group, treated with ACR 25 mg/kg. ACR + propolis, treated with 25 mg/kg ACR + 100 mg/kg propolis. Propolis-treated group, treated with 100 mg/kg. The treatment period was 28 days, the treatment doses were administered orally using a gavage stomach tube. The results showed that the presence of ACR increased (
< 0.001) the level of liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (167.2 vs 90.15) and aspartate aminotransferase (120.66 vs 41.52) in the liver tissue serum and lipid peroxidation products (80.11 vs 39.3); also, it decreased (
< 0.001) the total capacity of antioxidants (113.4 vs 189.41) compared to the control group. The histological analysis of the kidney revealed alterations induced by ACR, including atrophy, necrosis, renal glomeruli atrophy, tubular necrosis, enlargement of the glomeruli, hemorrhage, and edema surrounding the blood vessels. Also, the results showed that the rats treated with propolis improved liver and kidney functions because of propolis’s efficiency against the harmful effects of ACR. Moreover, the histological examination of the liver tissue revealed negative changes, with focal necrosis in hepatocytes. Microscopic examination showed tubular necrosis within the seminiferous tubules, sloughing, and desquamation of sperm cells into the lumen. Also, an infiltration of protein substances between the tubules and degenerative vacuolar changes between sperm cells was observed. The renal, hepatic, and testicular tissues appeared almost similar to the control group, except for some minor changes. This study proved that feeding the rats with propolis reduced these pathological effects and restored the tissues to a normal state. It is concluded that using propolis with ACR significantly reduced the biochemical and histological damage caused by ACR, and recommends using propolis as a cytoprotective agent against pathological toxicity of ACR.
