Mycoflora and trichothecene toxins of paddy grains from Egypt

120 species and 38 genera were collected from 64 samples of paddy grains on glucose- and cellulose-Czapek's agar at 28 °C. The total count of glycophilic and cellulose-decomposing fungi fluctuated between 216–29760; and 124–11320 colonies/g paddy grains on the two media, respectively.On glucose agar, the most common species were Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. sydowi, A. terreus, A. fumigatus, A. ochraceus, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. corylophilum, Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Trichoderma viride and Mucor racemosus.On cellulose agar with pH 5.5 & 8.0, the most prevalent fungi were Stachybotrys chartarum, S. bisybi, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, Drechslera sativus and Acremonium strictum.Extracts from 64 paddy samples were tested against brine shrimp larvae (Artemis salina). Of these 9 displayed varying degrees of toxicity. Trichothecene-toxins were detected in the extracts of three paddy samples only. Diacetoxyscirpenol and T-2 toxin were detected in two samples and only T-2 toxin in the other.     

Mycoflora and mycotoxin-producing fungi of air-dust particles from Egypt

Using the dilution-plate method, 27 genera and 64 species were collected from 20 air-dust samples on glucose — (24 genera and 57 species) and cellulose — (21 genera and 45 species) Czapek's agar at 28 °C. There are basic similarities between the mycoflora of air-dust on the two media and the most prevalent species were Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. ochraceus, A. terreus, A. versicolor, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. funiculosum, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Trichoderma viride. Chaetomium globosum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Humicola grisea and Arthrobotrys oligospora were common only on cellulose agar plates.Extracts of mycelium from 25 isolates were tested with brine schrimp (Artemia salina); of these 23 displayed varying degrees of toxicity. Thin layer Chromatographic analysis of 12 isolates of Aspergillus flavus revealed that 4 strains were producing detectable aflatoxin. Zearalenone production was noted for 3 out of 5 strains of Fusarium oxysporum and 2 out of 5 strains of F. solani.     

Mycoflora of mangroves of red sea in Egypt

Nine species in addition to two unidentified species belonging to 8 genera of zoosporic fungi were recovered from 12 mangrove water and mud samples on hemp and sesame seeds,Pinus poolen grains and onion skin as baits at 22°C.Saprolegnia ferax, S. furcata andPhlyctochytrium sp. were recovered only from water samples;Allomyces arbuscula, Pythium aphanidermatum, P. thalasium andThraustochytrium roseum were recovered only from mud samples.     

25-Hydroxycholecalciferol levels in camel, sheep and goat.

1. The plasma levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol were measured in female dromedary camels, female sheep and Sinai desert goats. 2. The camels had levels of 443 +/- 96 ng/ml in summer, and 267 +/- 113 ng/ml in winter. 3. The sheep had levels of 40.7 +/- 9.09 ng/ml in summer and 37.1 +/- 8.82 ng/ml in winter, i.e. roughly the same as man in that region. 4. The goats had lower levels: 23.9 +/- 5.67 ng/ml in summer.     

In vitro culture of the strobilar stage of Echinococcus granulosus from protoscoleces of human, camel, cattle, sheep and goat origin from Kenya and buffalo origin from India

Protoscoleces from human, camel, cattle, sheep, goat (all from Kenya) and buffalo (from India) hydatid cysts were cultured under identical conditions in vitro using the diphasic culture system of Smyth (1979b). Organisms from all sources grew and segmented in culture. Genital anlagen developed in all cultured worms but further genital differentiation occurred only in cultures of cattle (testes) and camel (testes and genital pore) material. The possible significance of these results is discussed in relation to the general epidemiology of hydatid disease and the potential infectivity of the different strains to man.     

Oxygen transfer properties and dimensions of red blood cells in high-altitude camelids,dromedary camel and goat

Summary To estimate the advantage of the small red blood cells (RBC) of high-altitude camelids for O₂ transfer, the kinetics of O₂ uptake into and release from the RBC obtained from llama, vicuña and alpaca were investigated at 37°C with a stopped-flow technique. O₂ transfer conductance of RBC (G) was estimated from the rate of O₂ saturation change and the corresponding O₂ pressure difference between medium and hemoglobin. For comparison, O₂ kinetics for the RBC of a lowaltitude camelid (dromedary camel) and the pygmy goat were determined and previously measured values for human RBC were used. O₂ transfer of RBC was found to be strongly influenced by extracellular diffusion, except with O₂ release into dithionite solutions of sufficiently high concentration (>30 mM). TheG values measured in these standard conditions,G _st (in mmol · min^–1 · Torr^–1 · (ml RBC)^–1) were: high-altitude camelids, 0.58 (averaged for llama, alpaca and vicuña since there were no significant interspecific differences); camel 0.42; goat, 0.42; man, 0.39. The differences can in part be attributed to expected effects of the size and shape of the RBC (volume, surface area, mean thickness), as well as to the intracellular O₂ diffusivity which depends on the concentration of cellular hemoglobin. The highG _st of RBC of highaltitude camelids may be considered to enhance O₂ transfer in lungs and tissues. But the O₂ transfer conductance of blood, , equal toG _st multiplied by hematocrit (in mmol · min^–1 · Torr^–1 · (ml blood)^–1), was only slightly higher as compared to other species: 0.20 (llama, alpaca, vicuña), 0.14 (camel), 0.18 (goat), 0.17 (man).Abbreviations DPG 2,3-diphosphoglycerate - G conductance - Hb hemoglobin - RBC red blood cells - percent saturation of hemoglobin     

Experimental infection of the baboon (Papio cynocephalus) with Echinococcus granulosus of camel, cattle, sheep and goat origin from Kenya

In different areas of the world, strains of Echinococcus granulosus have been described which appear to vary in their infectivity, and laboratory primates have been used as indicators of their infectivity to man. This phenomenon was evaluated in Kenya for hydatid material of human, camel, cattle, sheep and goat origin. Viable eggs, produced by experimental infections in dogs with larval material from all the above intermediate hosts, were fed separately to four baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in each case. Baboons were autopsied between 373 and 501 days following infection and the liver, lungs, heart, spleen and kidneys were thoroughly inspected. Hydatid cysts were recovered from two baboons in each of the camel, sheep and goat groups, three baboons in the cattle group and none of the baboons in the human group. Fertile cysts were found in the cattle and goat groups and it is suggested that the baboon could be used as an experimental model for this parasite.     

Fourteen morphotypes of Entodinium ovumrajae (Ophryoscolecidae, Entodiniomorphida) found in the Dromedary camel of Egypt

During a survey of the ciliate protozoal composition of the stomach contents of nine dromedary camels of Egypt, fourteen morphotypes of Entodinium ovumrajae, which has been considered as a species peculiar to camels, were found in six camels. Except for five morphotypes including one originally described as an independent species and its forms, these were newly detected. These morphotypes, divided into three groups, can be identified mainly by the morphology of their ectoplasmic processes. Each camel had on average, about five morphotypes of this species.     

Mycoflora and mycotoxins natural occurrence in corn from entre rios province, Argentina

Corn samples were collected in 1999 from three departments of Entre Réos province, Argentina, and were surveyed for mould contamination and natural occurrence ofFusarium mycotoxins, ochratoxin A and aflatoxins.Fusarium verticillioides was the most prevalent fungal species recorded at all departments. Zearalenone, deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A were not found in any samples. Only one of the 52 corn samples analysed was contaminated with aflatoxin B₁ (17 μg/kg). Fumonisin B₁ was found in 58 % of samples (range of positive samples: 47– 3,347 μg/kg), fumonisin B₂ in 33.0 % (range of positive samples: 23–537 μg/kg) and fumonisin B₃ in 25.0 % (range of positive samples: 24–287 μg/kg) of them. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of mycotoxins in corn from Entre Ríos province, Argentina. Levels of fumonisins were lower than detected in other Argentinian provinces.     

Genetic variability of myostatin and prolactin genes in popular goat breeds in Egypt

The genetic polymorphisms of two functional genes named: myostatin (MSTN) and prolactin (PRL) were investigated in three goat breeds (Barki, Damascus and Zaraibi) using Sanger nucleotide sequence and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods, in order to differentiate between these breeds. Nucleotide sequencing of 337 bp MSTN gene detected five SNPs in Barki breed, two SNPs in Damascus breed, while the Zaraibi breed did not show any SNPs. Moreover, MSTN-HaeIII/PCR-RFLP gave a single Genotype BB was found in all the studied breeds. Meanwhile, Nucleotide sequencing of 196 bp PRL gene showed two SNPs in Damascus breed, one SNPs in Zaraibi breed, while the Barki breed did not show any SNPs. Moreover, PRL-Eco24I/PCR-RFLP showed three genotypes (AA, AB and BB). The genotype AB showed the maximum frequency in all the studied breeds (0.75, 0.85, and 0.90 for Damascus, Barki and Zaraibi breeds, respectively). Observed heterozygosity (Ho) value was higher than expected heterozygosity (He) value all studied breeds. In addition, the values of both Ho and He were the highest in Zaraibi breed (0.90 and 0.51 respectively). Chi-square (χ²) value revealed a significant variation Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < .05) in the three studied breeds. It is the highest in Zaraibi goats and lowest in Damascus breed. The results demonstrated that the PRL-Eco24I/PCR-RFLP polymorphism may be utilized as effective marker for genetic differentiation between goat breeds, but MSTN-HaeIII/PCR-RFLP revealed no polymorphism or variation, thus it is not recommended in the selection program. Moreover, these results open up interesting prospects for future selection programs, especially marker assisted selection. In addition, the results established that PCR-RFLP method is a suitable tool for calculating genetic variability.     

Mycoflora and mycotoxins of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds in Egypt. III. Cellulose-decomposing and mycotoxin-producing fungi

From 40 peanut seed samples collected in Egypt, forty-three species and one variety of fungi, belonging to 16 genera, were collected. The most dominant genera were Aspergillus (11 species + one variety), Penicillium (11 species) and Fusarium (4 species). From the preceding genera A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, P. chrysogenum and F. oxysporum were the most frequent species.Forty-nine isolates belonging to 12 species and one variety were tested for production of mycotoxins, after growth on liquid medium containing two carbon sources (sucrose or cellulose). Thin layer chromatographic analysis revealed that the quality and quantity of mycotoxins was higher on sucrose than cellulose. Mycotoxins identified were aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ & G₂, citrinin; fumagillin; diacetoxyscirpenol T-2 toxin; satratoxin H; and zearalenone.     

Application of a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance producing Enterococcus durans E204 strain,isolated from camel milk,to control Listeria monocytogenes CECT 4032 in goat jben

Enterococcus durans E204 is a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS)-producing strain. It was isolated from camel’s milk in Morocco. Enterococcus durans shows interesting features such as the susceptibility to vancomycin and other clinically relevant antibiotics. In this study, we have shown that E. durans lacks haemolytic activity. Its performance as a protective culture was evaluated against Listeria monocytogenses CECT 4032 in goat jben, a Moroccan traditional fresh cheese. Ten liters of goats’ milk, originating from one farm in M’diq (northern Morocco), were pasteurised and used to make 12 small cheeses. Enterococcus durans E204 at approximately 10⁶ CFU/ml was added in the preparation of six jben samples and six others were made without E. durans. Before packaging, two groups of four jbens were contaminated with brine solutions at 10⁶ and 10⁴ CFU/ml of L. monocytogenes. During storage, E. durans E204 was given time to multiply in jben and produce BLIS. In jben batches prepared with E. durans, Listeria counts decreased progressively from the beginning of storage and were undetectable at 8 and 6 days post-contamination with 10⁶ and 10⁴ CFU/ml, respectively. On the other hand, a substantial amount of BLIS activity (240 AU/ml) was detected from the start of the experiment and was stable during the storage. These data suggest that E. durans E204 can be used as a protective culture to inhibit growth of L. monocytogenes in cheese.     

Elimination of goat haemoglobin and its complexes with goat haptoglobin from goat and rat circulation

The rate of elimination from rat and goat circulation of 125I-labelled goat haemoglobin and its complexes with human and goat haptoglobin in goat circulation, was studied. The half-life time t1/2 of haemoglobin in rat circulation was 1.5h, whereas in goat circulation -- 4 h, and was 10 times shorter than t1/2 for its complexes.     

Mycoflora and mycotoxins of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds in Egypt. 1-sugar fungi and natural occurrence of mycotoxins

Sixty-four species and 2 varieties which belong to nineteen genera of fungi were identified from 40 peanut seed samples collected from different places in Egypt by using a dilution-plate method on glucose-Czapek's medium. The most frequent genera were Aspergillus (21 species & 2 varieties), Penicillium (16 species) and Fusarium (6 species). A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, P. chrysogenum and F. oxysporum were the most common fungal species. Forty seven percent of the samples proved to be toxic to brine shrimp (Artemia salina) larvae. Thin-layer Chromatographic analysis revealed that peanuts were contaminated by aflatoxins (11 samples), thrichothecene-toxins (10 samples), zearalenone (one sample) and citrinin (one sample). We believe that this is the first report of the natural occurrence of zearalenone and trichothecene-toxins in peanuts.     

The radiosensitivities of lymphocytes from pig,sheep, goat and cow

Dose-effect curves for X-irradiation in vitro were determined on cultured blood lymphocytes of four mammalian speciec — cow, goat, sheep and pig — having approximately the same number of chromosome arms, the same nuclear volume and the same DNA content. The data from cow, but not those from the other species, exhibited significant inhomogeneity between the experiments. On inspection the numerical yields appear not to differ greatly in the lower dose range. Evaluation of the parameters according to the quadratic law and the power law, however, demonstrate significant differences. Pig differs from the other species regardless of which presentation is chosen. For the power law a significant difference is also found between goat and sheep.     

Mycoflora,and mycotoxins production in Nigerian corn and corn-based snacks

Thirty-one fungal species, mostly toxigenic and belonging to 11 genera were isolated from corn, corn cake and corn roll snack samples.Aspergillus, Penicillum andFusarium accounted for 10, 6 and 3 of the species and altogether, they constituted 90, 94 and 88 percent of the total fungi in corn, corn cake and corn roll snack respectively. Mycotoxins (aflatoxins and ochratoxin A) were detected in 45, 80 and 12 percent while the means and ranges of the total aflatoxins recorded were: 200(25–770 ppb); 233(15–1070 ppb) and 55(10–160 ppb) for corn, corn cake and corn roll snack samples respectively. Ochratoxin A was detected at toxicologically significant levels in only 15 percent of the corn cake samples analyzed. All the strains ofAspergillus flavus andA. ochraceus tested produced aflatoxin B and ochratoxin A, respectively, when they were cultured on each of the three substrates. In each case, substantial quantities of the toxins were produced from 25 to 35°C with the peak level recorded at 30°C. Toxin production was detected only in substrates with 15 percent moisture content and above; reaching the maximum at 25 or 30 percent moisture level. No substantial differences in the amount of toxins were elaborated with further increase in substrates' moisture content. Of the three substrates, corn cake was the most suitable for aflatoxin B production while they were all equally suitable for the elaboration of ochratoxin A.     

Amino acids content and electrophoretic profile of camel milk casein from different camel breeds in Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to evaluate amino acids content and the electrophoretic profile of camel milk casein from different camel breeds. Milk from three different camel breeds (Majaheim, Wadah and Safrah) as well as cow milk were used in this study.Results showed that ash and moisture contents were significantly higher in camel milk casein of all breeds compared to that of cow milk. On the other hand, casein protein of cow milk was significantly higher compared to that of all camel milk breeds. Molecular weights of casein patterns of camel milk breeds were higher compared to that of cow milk.Essential (Phe, Lys and His) and non-essential amino acids content was significantly higher in cow milk casein compared to the casein of all camel milk breeds. However, there was no significant difference for the other essential amino acids between cow casein and the casein of Safrah breed and their quantities in cow and Safrah casein were significantly higher compared to the other two breeds. Non-essential amino acids except Arg and the essential amino acids (Met, Ile, Lue and Phe) were also significantly higher in cow milk α-casein compared to α-casein from all camel breeds. Moreover, essential amino acids (Val, Phe and His) and the non-essential amino acids (Gly and Ser) content was significantly higher in cow milk β-casein compared to the β-casein of all camel milk breeds and the opposite was true for Lys, Thr, Met and Ile. However, Met, Ile, Phe and His were significantly higher for β-casein of Majaheim compared to the other two milk breeds. The non-essential amino acids (Gly, Tyr, Ala and Asp) and the essential amino acids (Thr, Val and Ile) were significantly higher in cow milk κ-casein compared to that for all camel milk breeds. There was no significant difference among all camel milk breeds in their κ-casein content of most essential amino acids.Relative migration of casein bands of camel milk casein was not identical. The relative migration of α_s-, β- and κ-casein of camel casein was slower than those of cow casein. The molecular weights of α_s-, β- and κ-casein of camel caseins were 27.6, 23.8 and 22.4 KDa, respectively. More studies are needed to elucidate the structure of camel milk.