Basrah Province Research Articles

MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOINFORMATICS STUDY FOR RADIX AURICULARIA SNAILS IN FRESHWATER IN BASRAH PROVINCE, IRAQ

Radix auricularia (Lymnaea auricularia) snails are the main intermediate host of Fasciola gigantica in the middle and South of Iraq. Recently, some studies suggest these snails are not present in Iraq, in particular Basrah province. Thus, the current study was aimed to use the bioinformatics analysis in the determination of Radix sp. in Basrah and also aimed to identify morphological characteristics of this species in the AL-Sewaib river, Basrah. Four hundred R. auricularia snails were collected from the AL-Sewaib river during May 2018 to March 2019. The results of the bioinformatics analysis showed according to the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, the presence of R. auricularia snails in Basrah province and these snails are more closely related to Iranian R. auricularia snails than those for European counties and Russia. This study also displayed the existence of the polymorphism phenomenon in R. auricularia snails collected from the AL-Sewaib river which there were six different forms (A, B, C, D, E and F). These forms had variations in the colour and form of shells along with a variation in the number of eggs (30-56) per an egg mass. In addition to this, these R. auricularia forms had variations in their distributions. Form E had the highest spread percentage (33%) followed by 17, 15, 14, 11 and 10% for forms B, D, C, A and F, respectively. These forms had also variations in their morphological characteristics. The largest form was the form D whereas the smallest form was the form B but other forms A, C, E and F were similar and had moderate sizes.Thus, the current study concludes the existence of R. auricularaia snails in Basrah as a representative city for the southern part of Iraq and also confirmed the presence of the polymorphism phenomenon in the members of R. auricularaia obtained from the AL-Sewaib river.

Evaluation of the Response of Sorghum to Tillage Systems and Nitrogen Fertilization

In the subtropical semi-arid zones, sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) productivity is limited by numerous constraints. Relatively few studies have been conducted to measure the response of grain sorghum varieties to tillage and nitrogen. For sustainable crop production, selected tillage practice and fertilizer application are important. Field experiments were conducted at Al Qurna (QL), 74 km northwest Basrah province and Shatt al-Arab (SHL) and 17 km east Basrah province. A randomized complete block design, arranged in a split-split plot, was used with three replications. The tillage system was no tillage (NT), reduced tillage (RT), and conventional tillage (CT), while sorghum varieties were Inqadh, Rabih, and Cavire 2, and four levels of N fertilizer, viz., 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg ha−1. The objective of research was to evaluate two sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) varieties to tillage system and nitrogen (N) fertilizer. The application of tillage was shown to enhance the growth of sorghum as observed in the plant height, leaf area, number of grains panicle−1, 1000-grain weight, yield, biomass yield, and root dry matter. CT surpassed the other treatments for all studied traits. The highest value of plant height, number of grains panicle−1, grain yield, biomass yield, and root dry matter in the QL and SHL locations, respectively, were produced by Cavire 2. The plots fertilized with 120 kg N ha−1 maximize the values of plant height (132.33 cm in the SHL location), leaf area (3040.53 and 2751.47 cm2 in the QL and SHL location respectively), number of grains panicle−1 (1431.37 in the SHL location), 1000-grain weight (31.77 g in the QL location), biomass yield (15752.00 kg ha−1 in the SHL location), and root dry matter (22.42 and 20.75 g root cm−3 in the QL and SHL locations, respectively). Cavire 2 variety under CT with 80 kg N ha−1 in the QL location was the best (observed as the most promising) in terms of grain yield. Whereas Cavire 2 under CT showed best performance with 120 kg N ha−1 in the QL location in terms of biomass yield character.

Isolation and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Buffalo’s Raw Milk in Basrah Province by Sequencing the 16S rRNA.

Milk is a nutrient substance that screted from mammary glands of mammals. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB)of raw milk are natural microflora and might be starter cultures for milk fermentation. This study aimed toisolate LABs from raw buffalo’s milk and identify them by 16S rRNA sequencing for possible uses in themanufacture of food product., A total of 30 buffalo’s raw milk samples were collected from different areasof Basrah province (Shut-Alarab,Al-Zubair,Al-Qurna, Basrah conter and Abi-Elkhasib through the periodextended from October to December 2019 to isolate the LABs using conventional bacteriology test andidentify them by 16S rRNA sequencing using Polymerase Chain Reaction assay (DNA-based method).DNA extraction was carried out in duplicate for all raw milk samples. The results showed buffalo’s milkraw showed positive result for bacteriological test (Gram positive-catalase negative)and for the presenceof the 16S rRNA gene. There was no significant difference among ages, months, and area of the currentstudy. Buffalo’s raw milk at >4-8 year of age showed a higher ratio of LABs (71.43%) compared with thatof buffalo at >1-4 year of age (47.83%). In addition, the highest ratio of LABs in buffalo’s raw milk was inOctober (66.6%) and the lowest one was in November (36.3%). Furthermore, the highest ratio of LABs inbuffalo’s raw milk was in Abi- Elkhasib (100 %) and the lowest one was in AL-Zubair (20%). In conclusionLactic acid bacteria were found in buffalo’s raw milk. Biochemical and genotypic tests are effectively usedto identify the LABs. All LABs isolates could be survived well in buffalo’s raw milk in any age per year,months, and area of study. These findings suggest the possibility that LABs isolates from buffalo’s raw milkmight use to inhibit pathogenic and spoilage bacteria in the food products and might improve flavour andquality of the food products.

The Role of Innate Immune Response And IL-6 IN Osteoarthritis Patients in Basrah Province

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) has been observed as degeneration disease of joint cartilage and the underlying bone affecting millions of people worldwide. OA has traditionally been classified as a non-inflammatory arthritis but with evidences accumulation indicates the role of immune response and inflammation in OA onset and progression. Aim of study: To shed the light on role of innate immune response, CRP and IL-6 level in the development of OA in Basra province. Patients and methods: 55 osteoarthritis patients (11 males and 44 females) and 70 healthy individuals as control (24 males and 46 females) were participate in this study. Total and differential WBCs count in whole blood in addition to the levels of all ESR, CRP and IL-6 were measured in serum for all participants. Results: The results were recorded a significant increasing in total WBCs count, neutrophils and monocyte in addition to the level of all inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP and IL-6) in osteoarthritis patients as compared with healthy control. While lymphocytes and platelets count record an increase in OA patients but insignificant . A significant positive correlation was found between IL-6 level in serum and each of CRP, ESR, WBCs and the platelet. In addition to a significant correlation was found between CRP and both of WBCs and ESR. Conclusion: The results indicates the active participation of inflammatory response in development of osteoarthritis in addition to the importance role for IL-6 as considered multifunctional cytokines effect different immunological parameters in the body and has adverse effect in development of OA.

Prevalence of Leishmaniasis (Cutaneous and Visceral) in Basrah Province between 2013 and 2018

Prevalence of Leishmaniasis (Cutaneous and Visceral) in Basrah Province between 2013 and 2018

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and hypertension as a risk factor in Basrah province Iraq

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and hypertension as a risk factor in Basrah province Iraq

PREVALENCE AND ECOLOGY OF THE BROWN DOG TICK RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS IN DOMESTIC MAMMALS IN BASRAH PROVINCE, IRAQ, WITH THE ACARICIDAL EFFECT OF QUERCUS BRANTTI ACORNS EXTRACT IN ADULTS.

This study was aimed to detect the infestation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus of some mammals in Basrah province from January to June 2019. A total 75 of 210 (35.71%) of studied mammals were been infested. This species was isolated from horses in Iraq for the first time. The highest prevalence was recorded in dogs while the lowest in buffaloes. Mean of intensity was recorded mostly in sheep, and the lowest in horses. Highest relative density was recorded in dogs, whereas the lowest was in horses. The highest occurrence was recorded in April, whereas the lowest was in January. The acaricidal effect of ethanolic extract of acorns Quercus brantti in adults was shown the rates of mortality increases with the rise of extract concentrations. Mortality percentages were increased according to the time of the exposure. Females were more sensitive than males in the treatment with extract.

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The Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790) is a devastating invasive pest of palm trees, invading the Iraqi date palm tree in 2015 for the first time in Safwan county, Basrah province. The Red Palm weevil has been categorized as a quarantine pest of date palm trees worldwide. In this study, a five years monitoring program has been achieved by scouting the invasive pest RPW population in Safwan county by using visual sampling and Pheromone baited traps. The results indicated that the number of infested palms, increased from 12 trees in 2015 to 111 in 16 orchards in 2016. The number of the infested palms was minimized to 3 trees in the county in 2019 due to the management protocol of the Ministry of Agriculture. Furthermore, the results of RPW adults appeared monthly in the county with two activity peaks during the moderate-temperature-months. In conclusion, the quarantine and management protocol of RPW decreased the population of the invasive pest which did not spread to other districts of Iraq.

Monitoring and Management of Date Palm Borers by Using Light Traps

Date palm borers become a serious threat to date palm plantations in Iraq, which required management program to suppress their population by using different methods; one of them is the light traps which disseminated in Basrah province. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of light traps as a part of pest management tool. In three years monitoring of coleopteran adults, rhinoceros beetles Oryctes spp. and longhorn date palm borer Jebusaea hammerschmidtii infesting the date palm Phoenix dactylifera were reported by using light traps in different regions of Basrah, Iraq. Due to the result of the abundance of the borers, Oryctes spp. were the most dominant and most important causing severe damage for the date palm. Four species of Oryctes (O. agamemnon, O. elegans, O. sahariensis and O. sinaicus) were recorded in Basrah date palm orchards; the seasonal activity of the species was between April and May, reaching the peaks during summer, and the populations decreased gradually till December. The overall sex ratios of all species of Oryctes spp. were male-biased except O. elegans, which had the sex ratio of 1.13 female: 1 male. Results revealed that the light traps exhibit an effective control method to suppress the adult borer’s population and as a physical control and monitoring tool of date palm stem borers.

Prevalence of Taeniid Eggs in the Faeces of Domesticated and Free-roaming Dogs in Basrah, Iraq, and the Knowledge of Dog Owners on Cystic Echinococcosis

The larval stages (metacestodes) of some taeniids of carnivores, particularly Echinococcus spp., can result in severe disease for humans and livestock. The prevalence of taeniid eggs by direct examination of faecal smears in 335 free-roaming dogs (FRD) and owned domesticated dogs in Basrah Province was 10.1% (95% CI 7.1, 13.9). A structured questionnaire was administered to 86 dog owners to investigate the influence of socio-demographic factors and management and husbandry practices on their knowledge of cystic echinococcosis (CE). The results of a multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that dog owners who fed offal had less knowledge of CE (OR=0.17, 95% CI 0.05, 0.53), while keeping a dog (s) tied up was associated with good knowledge (OR=7.0, 95% CI 2.1, 23.8). Dog owners who had a secondary or higher level of education also had better knowledge (OR=5.4, 95% CI 1.7, 17.3). It was concluded that an educational campaign should be developed for dog owners in Basrah to reduce the risk of disease in both humans and other animals.

Evaluation of the heavy metal content in the muscle tissue of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) reared in groundwater in Basrah province, Iraq

The concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Hg, Pb, and Cd) in the muscles of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) reared in groundwater in Khor Al-Zubair, Basrah province (in the south of Iraq) were assessed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. XRF is a powerful technique for element analysis in different environmental samples with many advantages compared with conventional laboratory methods. The mean concentration of the studied metals in the edible parts of the fish (Cr= 11.42, Ni= 2.75, Hg=1.53, Pb= 1.93, and Cd=4.42 mg/ kg dry weight) exceeded the recommended maximum acceptable levels proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO), The commission of the European Communities (EC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The results suggest that the tested fish muscle tissue was not safe for human consumption and that the groundwater in the Khor al-Zubair area is possibly contaminated with heavy metals, mainly owing to industrial activity.

The current status of inland fisheries in Basrah province, Iraq

The current status of species composition, total catch, fishing effort and their landing trends in six fish landing locations in the inland waters of Basrah province, Iraq from 2017 to 2019 were assessed. A total of 15 species in 5 families were recognized in the inland fisheries. The maximum total catch was 2061.5 t in 2019, whereas 1740.7 t in 2017 and 1804.2 t in 2018. The total catches show a clear increasing trend from 2017 to 2019. Cyprinus carpio dominated the overall catch (29.2%), followed by Planiliza abu (16.2%) and tilapias (15.4%). There are positive trends in the catches of all species, except P. abu and Luciobarbus xanthopterus. The highest trends were for Leuciscus vorax and Carasobarbus luteus. The overall values of biomass diversity of each species ranged from 2.10 in 2017 to 2.01 in 2018, whereas 2.11 in 2019. About 75% of the fishing boats (2140 boats) was without engine propelled by paddles in the lengths of 3.5 to 5.0 m. The study suggests some management measures must be put into place include the enforce fish regulations in the Basrah inland fisheries, in particular, preventing illegal fishing methods, and increasing fish production by releasing fingerlings of cyprinid species to preserve them and protect them from extinction and overfishing.

Prediction of Body Weight at Six Months of Age from Body Measurements at Birth in Iraqi Buffalo Calves

This study has been conducted in Basrah province during 2019 by using 90 buffalo calves, weight at birth(W0) and weight at six months of age (BW6) and their body measurements at the same age such as, body length (BL), wither height (WH), hip height (HH), chest grith (CG) and hip girth (HG) are recorded. The current study aims to predict (BW6) from the body measurements at birth, also to predict BW6 from their body measurements at the same age.The results obtained of the current study can be summarized as follow :The overall means of W0 and BW6 are 37.159 and 124.241 kg respectively, and the overall means for body measurements at birth and at six months of age are : 76.778 (BL0) 73.088 (WH0), 91.470 (HH0), 104.274 (CG0) and 112.780 (HG0) and 90.815 (BL6), 88.333 (WH6), 102.852 (HH6), 122.00 (CG6) and 129.852 cm for (HG0) respectively. The results in this study explain that the first equation which depending on BL0 is the best predictor to weigh at six months of age where inquires a high correlation coefficient as 0.577 with adjusted R2=0.320.It is observed that the twenty –fourth equation is the best equation among the equations to predict BW6 from body measurements at birth which is based on four measures (WH0, HH0, CG0, HG0),as it achieved adjusted R2=0.384 and with allow standard error estimate (4.20) . It is found that first equation is the the best that depended on (BL6) as achieved adjusted R2=0.447. Significantly simple correlation coefficients between BW6 with their body measurements are ranging from 0.209 to 0.676 at six months of age. Also it is observed that fourth equation to predict W6from body measurements at the same age is the best which is based on (BL6, HG6),where the values of correlation coefficient and adjusted R2 are 0.700 and 0.470 respectively and the standard error estimate for this eqation is low (3.90) comparison with other equations.Finally, previous equations could be used to predict weights from body measurements at birth and six months of age, easily, cheaply, rabidly and well accepted by the breeds when weighing scales are not available in the commercial herds.

Epidemiology and Seasonal Variation of Ixodid Ticks and Piroplasmida Detection in Cattle of Basrah Province, Iraq

Four hundred and twenty cattle belonging to different breed and age groups were investigated for infestation by ticks during the period from October 2018 to September 2019 in Basrah governorate, Iraq . Investigated cattle were found to be infested by four species of hard ticks namely (Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, Hyalomma marginatum turanicum Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, Rhipicephalu sturanicus) .No significant difference in infestation rate was observed according to the method of cattle raising (X²=0.455, p=0.500),however, seasonal variation in infestation with significant difference was found , higher infestation rate reported in June ( 63.3%) and the lowest was in January (20%) (X² =76.740 ,p = 0.05). In the meantime blood smears samples from the same cattle were also examined by microscopy for hemoprotozoan pathogens .The examination revealed that those cattle are infected by Babesia spp. (27.14%) and Theileria spp.(19.52%). No, significant difference in infection rate was found between male and females, but a significant variation was seen among age groups, however, age group 1-3 years revealed a high rate of infection .Seasonal variation in the infection rates were observed in infected cattle. Higher infection rates of Babesiosis and Theileriosis reported in June (50%) and (36.7%) respectively.

Evaluation of water treatment plants quality in Basrah Province, by factor and cluster analysis

Evaluation of water treatment plants quality in Basrah Province, by factor and cluster analysis

Water quality assessment along Tigris River (Iraq) using water quality index (WQI) and GIS software

Most of the third world countries having rivers passing through them suffer from the water contaminant problem. This problem is considered so difficult to get the water quality within the standard allowable limits for drinking, as well as for industrial and agricultural purposes. This research aims to assess the water quality of the Tigris River using the water quality index method and GIS software. Twelve parameters (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO4, HCO3, TH, TDS, BOD5, NO3, and EC) were taken from 14 stations along the river. The weighted arithmetic method was applied to compute the water quality index (WQI). The interpolation method (IDW) was applied in ArcGIS 10.5 to produce the prediction maps for 12 parameters at 11 stations along the Tigris River during the wet and dry seasons in 2016. The regression prediction was applied on three stations in the Tigris River between observed values and predicted values, from the prediction maps, in both seasons. The results showed that the regression prediction for all parameters was given the acceptable values of the determination coefficient (R2). Furthermore, the state of water quality for the Tigris River was degraded downstream of the Tigris River, especially at the station (8) in Aziziyah in the wet and dry seasons and increase degradation clearly at Qurnah (Basrah province) in the south of Iraq. This paper considers the whole length of the Tigris River for the study. This is important to give comprehensive knowledge about the contamination reality of the river. Such that it becomes easier to understand the problem of contamination, analyze it, and then find the suitable treatments and solutions.

English

This study was carried out to determine the heavy metal accumulation of Juncus rigidus Desfontaines, 1798 from three different regions of the Basrah Province in Southern of Iraq. Specifically, the concentrations of lead, nickel, and cadmium were determined in the roots, culms and leaves of the plant. The results indicated that the highest accumulation of the heavy metal was recorded in lead (Pb) 12.50± 3.58 mg kg-1and then in nickel ( 1 used to the ability of J. rigidus for both phytoextraction and phytostabilization. The anatomical analysis showed that heavy metal accumulation in plant tissues led to a reduction in root and culm thickness; in polluted area it has been found that cortex and intercellular spaces in aerenchyma layers were deceased in size, whereas high pollution levels were observed in vascular bundles, which were smaller, and had increased sclerenchyma, as well as appeared more black or dark color compared to the specimens grown in the control area

Risk Assessment of Drifting Sand in Agricultural Lands in Basrah Province with the aid of ‘3S’ Techniques

There is a growing need to systematically assessment of drifting sand risk using Geo-information and related technologies for speed and accuracy. The drifting sand map in the southern part of Iraq was established with objective of providing the risk areas of soil loss and the methodology for spatial modeling with Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ) and Geo-information techniques. This analysis was carried out using ‘3S’ technologies [Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Position System (GPS)], with the layers extracted and manipulated from available topographic, climatic and soil maps, as well as satellite image (Thematic Mapping (TM) in 2003 and Enhanced Thematic Mapping (ETM) in 2016) and field survey data analyses. Each of the WEQ factors was digitally encoded in a GIS database to establish each factor’s layers. Simultaneously, the overlay operation with the WEQ model on the factor’s layers was digitally performed to produce the sandy degradation class. The study indicated that the severe erosion class covering an area of about 61.9% of the total area is very high with the degraded vegetation and is located in the southwest part of Iraq. Iraq faces serious environmental degradation problems that must be addressed immediately; failure to do so will greatly compound the cost and complexity of later remedial efforts, with environmental degradation beginning even now to pose a major threat to human well-being, especially among the poor.

The dynamics of COVID-19 epidemic in Basrah province-Second report

Background: COVID-19 pandemic still expanding across the world and continuing at modest pattern In Basrah. Objective: To further elaborate on COVID-19 epidemic in Basrah province and document the changing dynamic of the disease. Methods: two sources were used for obtaining data in this study. The first is an excel sheet containing information on 736 cases covering age, gender, residence, travel history, comorbidity and fate, which is obtained from The Department of Public Health in Basrah. The second is the daily numbers of new cases (also 736) obtained from the daily communiqué of the Ministry of Health. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-version 20) and Excel programmes were used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age was 35.5±18.9 (for males=35.6+19.0 and for females=35.5±18.8), the median was 34 years (males =34 and females =33). The incidence rate was higher in older age groups, females and three districts (Basrah city, Al-Hartha and Al-Mdaina). The case fatality was within the international figures and significantly predicted by older age, travel history and presence of co-morbidity. The epidemic curve is moderate, fluctuant and does not help yet in predicting an exit from the epidemic. Conclusion: The epidemic of COVID-19 in Basrah is moderate, cluster in transmission and changing in time but is unpredictable. Key words: COVID-19, Case fatality ratio, incidence rate

Polioencephalomalacia Caused by Thiamine Deficiency in Sheep of Basrah Province, Iraq.

Polioencephalomalacia caused by thiamine deficiency in sheep of Barash province have been diagnosed. This current research was conducted on 44 local sheep breeds 1-3 years old and of both sexes reared in Basrah province. Ten clinically normal local sheep breeds were selected as controls. Diseased animals show various clinical manifestations, Such as Anorexia and head pressing, Muscular tremors. Moreover, diseased sheep show signs of opisthotonus and nystagmus, incoordination and ataxia, Furthermore, 41% of the diseased sheep show circling with lateral deviation of the head, recumbency and inability to stand. However, 18.1% of the diseased sheep exhibit blindness. Moreover, significant increase was detected in respiratory and heart rate of diseased animals in comparison with controls, but ruminal motility was decreased significantly in affected animals compared to controls. Additionally, considerable changes were detected in biochemical parameters of affected sheep in comparison with controls. The results of cross pathological features and histopathological examination of dying or slaughtered sheep show pale discoloration of the dorsal cerebral cortex, especially the occipital lobes, which might indicate a necrosis. However, gross lesions might also represent flattening of cerebral gyri, hemorrhages, necrosis to cavitations in the gray matter of the occipital and temporal regions. Further, histopathological examinations revealed gliosis as well to vacuolative changes of some neurons, Moreover, sections of the white matter of brain showed also gliosis with wallerian degeneration of some neuronal axons, Furthermore, sections were also indicated a severe vaculation of neuronal cell body and central chromatolysis of some neurons.