Cold Dry Season Research Articles

Seasonal variation of home range size and habitat selection of elephants in the Kabompo landscape of Zambia

BackgroundMovements of large herbivores and habitat utilization provide critical information for ecological monitoring and conservation. However, such geospatial information rarely exists, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to provide insight on seasonal variation of home range size and habitat utilization by African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Zambia’s Kabompo Landscape.MethodsTwo male sub-adult elephants (estimated age 10–15 years) were collared and monitored between March 2018 and December 2021 using the Geographic Position System (GPS) tracking devices. We used Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP), which uses the outermost points, to arrive at the largest home range of a study subject and the Kernel Density Estimator (KDE), which captures the intensity use of various parts of the home range. Distance from the river, elevation, slope, land cover type, fire intensity and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were assessed against habitat selection by elephants using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsThe findings showed that the movements of the elephants were largely confined within the West Lunga National Park. The wet season had the largest home range (1720.8 km2) dominated by grassland, while the cold dry season had the smallest area of 931.8 km2. Elevation and land cover types had significant (p-value < 0.05) influence on home range across all the seasons. Other factors also had positive and negative impacts on the home range selection depending on the season.ConclusionsThe insights from this study can be exemplary relevant to conservation planning through monitoring seasonal movement of elephants.

Mosquito dynamics and their drivers in peri-urban Antananarivo, Madagascar: insights from a longitudinal multi-host single-site survey

BackgroundAntananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar, is experiencing a steady increase in population growth. Due to the abundance of mosquito vectors in this locality, the population exposed to mosquito-borne diseases is therefore also increasing, as is the risk of epidemic episodes. The aim of the present study was to assess, in a resource-limited setting, the information on mosquito population dynamics and disease transmission risk that can be provided through a longitudinal entomological study carried out in a multi-host single site.MethodsMosquitoes were collected every 15 days over 16 months (from January 2017 to April 2018) using six CDC-light traps in a peri-urban area of Antananarivo. Multivariable generalised linear models were developed using indoor and outdoor densities of the predominant mosquito species as response variables and moon illumination, environmental data and climatic data as the explanatory variables.ResultsOverall, 46,737 mosquitoes belonging to at least 20 species were collected, of which Culex antennatus (68.9%), Culex quinquefasciatus (19.8%), Culex poicilipes (3.7%) and Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (2.3%) were the most abundant species. Mosquito densities were observed to be driven by moon illumination and climatic factors interacting at different lag periods. The outdoor models demonstrated biweekly and seasonal patterns of mosquito densities, while the indoor models demonstrated only a seasonal pattern.ConclusionsAn important diversity of mosquitoes exists in the peri-urban area of Antananarivo. Some well-known vector species, such as Cx. antennatus, a major vector of West Nile virus (WNV) and Rift-Valley fever virus (RVFV), Cx. quinquefasciatus, a major vector of WNV, Cx. poicilipes, a candidate vector of RVFV and An. gambiae sensu lato, a major vector of Plasmodium spp., are abundant. Importantly, these four mosquito species are present all year round, even though their abundance declines during the cold dry season, with the exception of Cx. quinquefasciatus. The main drivers of their abundance were found to be temperature, relative humidity and precipitation, as well as—for outdoor abundance only—moon illumination. Identifying these drivers is a first step towards the development of pathogen transmission models (R0 models), which are key to inform public health stakeholders on the periods of most risk for vector-borne diseases.Graphical

Enteric methane emissions from zebu cattle are influenced by seasonal variations in rangeland fodder quality and intake

Rangeland fodder resources used to feed ruminants in the Sahel decline considerably in both quantity and quality from the wet to dry seasons. While it is widely assumed worldwide that this seasonality of fodder supply impacts intake levels and therefore enteric methane (eCH4) emissions, there are very few references based on in vivo measurements of eCH4 in this region. The purpose of this study was to test the assumption that the seasonality of fodder supply impacts intake levels and consequently eCH4 in ruminants. Thus, eCH4 was measured in vivo in Sudanese Fulani zebu cattle during three main seasons of the year (wet season: WS, cold dry season: CDS, and hot dry season: HDS). The experiment was carried out on 10 steers aged 32 months with an average (± SD) initial BW of 138 ± 5.8 kg (i.e. 0.55 Tropical Livestock Unit − TLU) and kept in individual pens. Animals were fed with natural rangeland fodder harvested each season following herders’ practices, i.e. green fodder in the WS and dry fodder hay in the CDS and HDS. Different levels of fodder were offered to the animals to reproduce the gradient of fodder availability on rangelands over the year (six trials): 3.3% BW during the CDS; 3.3, 2.3, and 1.4% BW successively during the HDS; and 2.3% in two sequential studies in the WS. Each trial lasted 3 weeks, split into 2 weeks of fodder adaptation and 1 week of data collection. The BW, quantity of voluntary DM intake, digestibility of DM digestibility and of OM digestibility, and eCH4 (GreenFeed® system) were measured for each animal. Fodder composition varied considerably between seasons (P < 0.05). The DM intake (g/kg BW per day) varied from 23.9 in CDS to 15.7 in HDS and 22.3 in WS (P < 0.001). The DM digestibility varied from 0.50 in CDS to 0.46 in HDS and 0.57 in WS. The eCH4 yields (g/kg DM intake per day) varied significantly from 25.2 in the CDS to 31.8 in the HDS and 20.5 in the WS. When extrapolated over a full year and irrespective of season, eCH4 emissions for steers amounted to 68.1 g/d (24.6 g/kg DM intake per day, 46.7 ± 3.34 kg of eCH4/TLU per year). Variations in the various parameters recorded in different areas and during the main seasons must therefore be accounted for in national inventories to refine eCH4 data for ruminants in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Toxicological effects of solvent-extracted organic matter associated with PM2.5 on human bronchial epithelial cell line NL-20

The heterogeneity and complexity of solvent-extracted organic matter associated with PM2.5 (SEOM-PM2.5) is well known; however, there is scarce information on its biological effects in human cells. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of SEOM-PM2.5 collected in northern Mexico City during the cold-dry season (November 2017) on NL-20 cells, a human bronchial epithelial cell line. The SEOM obtained accounted for 15.5% of the PM2.5 mass and contained 21 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The cell viability decreased following exposure to SEOM-PM2.5, and there were noticeable morphological changes such as increased cell size and the presence of cytoplasmic vesicles in cells treated with 5–40 μg/mL SEOM-PM2.5. Exposure to 5 μg/mL SEOM-PM2.5 led to several alterations compared with the control cells, including the induction of double-stranded DNA breaks based (p < 0.001); nuclear fragmentation and an increased mitotic index (p < 0.05); 53BP1 staining, a marker of DNA repair by non-homologous end-joining (p < 0.001); increased BiP protein expression; and reduced ATF6, IRE1α, and PERK gene expression. Conversely, when exposed to 40 μg/mL SEOM-PM2.5, the cells showed an increase in reactive oxygen species formation (p < 0.001), BiP protein expression (p < 0.05), and PERK gene expression (p < 0.05), indicating endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our data suggest concentration-dependent toxicological effects of SEOM-PM2.5 on NL-20 cells, including genotoxicity, genomic instability, and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Seasonal Effects on Performance of Three Dual-purpose Cowpeas Varieties Production in Sahelian Sandy Soil of Niger

In Niger, cowpea is primarily cultivated under rainfed conditions and therefore often suffers from water stress at the end of its cycle. However, cultivating dual-purpose varieties during the cold dry season can help minimize the effects of water stress and improve cowpea production. A field study was conducted to assess the seasonal effect (cold dry season and rainy season) on the yield of three dual-purpose cowpea varieties `over two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023. The analysis of the results shows that pod and seed yields during the cold dry season were on average higher than those of the rainy season. The varieties can produce an average of over 4000 kg/ha of seeds during the cold dry season compared to 1770.18 kg/ha during the rainy season. During the rainy season, the varieties produced more haulms than in the cold dry season, with 8217.38 kg/ha and 6163.19 kg/ha, respectively. During the cold dry season, cowpea benefited from low temperatures, which favored increased pod and seed yields. Due to its advantages, cowpea cultivation during the cold dry season should be developed and promoted in Niger.

Heterogeneity analysis of main driving factors affecting potential evapotranspiration changes across different climate regions

Exploring the influencing factors of potential evapotranspiration (PET) is of great significance for further understanding the causes of climate change and improving agricultural irrigation efficiency. In this study, modified Mann–Kendall analysis was used to elucidate the temporal variation characteristics of meteorological factors and PET based on a dataset from 710 meteorological stations in China. Furthermore, we revealed the main factors that influence the temporal and climate heterogeneity of PET by combining sensitivity analysis with the contribution analysis method. The results showed that 1) climate factors and PET exhibited trend changes on a yearly scale, with slope variation ranges of temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), net radiation (RN), wind speed (U) and PET of 0.03–0.04 °C/a, 0.03–0.08 %/a, 0.001–0.007[MJ/(m2/day)]/a, −0.005 to −0.012(m/s)/a and −0.30–0.38 mm/a, respectively. 2) The sensitivity coefficient fluctuated greatly inter-annually, but the trend was more pronounced inter-annually. Most sensitive factor for PET was RN in hyperarid (HAR), arid (AR) and semiarid regions (SAR), while it changed to RH in semihumid (SHR) and humid regions (HR). PET was more sensitive to RN in dry and relatively wet hot seasons, while it changed to RH during wet and relatively dry cold seasons. 3) PET changes were determined by the relative changes and the sensitivity coefficient, and significant temporal heterogeneity was observed. In HAR, AR, SAR and SHR, the relative changes in T and U result in higher contributions. In HR, PET changes were primarily caused by its higher sensitivity to RH and RN. 4) In dry region and humid-cold seasons, the bigger relative changes of climate factors were the main drivers affecting PET changes, but in humid region and arid-hot seasons, the they were determined by the strong nonlinear relationship between PET and factors. This finding holds great significance for the scientific understanding of the evolution mechanism of PET under changing environments.

Abundance, Distribution, and Diversity of Freshwater Snail and Prevalences of Their Infection by Cercaria of Fasciola gigantica and Schistosoma spp at Mayo-Vreck River, Far North Region of Cameroon.

Malacological and parasitological studies were conducted from April 2020 to March 2021 to determine the abundance and distribution of molluscs and cercariae of Schistosoma spp and Fasciola gigantica. Collected molluscs are exposed to strong light to induce cercarial release. Mollusc densities were higher at station 1 (Gamak) than in station 8 (Patakai), with Bellamya unicolor and Biomphalaria pfeifferi more abundant and Bulinus truncatus, B. tropicus, and B. globosus less abundant. The overall prevalence of cercariae (19.87%) is higher in station 3 (Yaye orchard), station 9 (Gougni), station 4 (Madiogo), station 5 (Madiogo pasture), and station 6 (Ziam 3). It varies significantly between 15.76% in station 8 and 25.77% in station 3, between 8.48% in B. truncatus and 25.53% in B. globosus, and between 19.27% for cercariae of Schistosoma spp and 21.60% for those of F. gigantica. Cercarial emissions in L. natalensis and B. pfeifferi were higher in hot and cold dry seasons; on the other hand, cercarial emissions in B. globosus were higher in hot dry seasons (31.48%) and rainy seasons (23.38%). Emissions of cercariae from S. haematobium are related to areas of human activity and defecation, while those of F. gigantica in L. natalensis, Schistosoma haematobium in B. tropicus, and S. mansoni in B. pfeifferi are related to grazing areas. Mayo-Vreck is a site that favors the endemicity of fascioliasis and human schistosomiasis.

Temporal Variation and Potential Sources of Water-Soluble Inorganic Ions in PM2.5 in Two Sites of Mexico City

This study presents the characterization and source apportionment of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII), contained in particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter equal to or less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), performed using the positive matrix factorization model (PMF). PM2.5 were collected in Mexico City from two sites: at Merced (MER), which is a residential location with commercial activities, and at Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), which is located in an industrial area. The monitoring campaign was carried out across three seasons named Hot Dry (HD) (March–June), Rain (RA) (July–October), and Cold Dry (CD) (November-February). PM2.5 concentration behavior in both sites was similar, following the order: CD &gt; HD &gt; RA. The UAM site exhibited higher concentrations of PM2.5, of the five cations (Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+ and NH4+), and of the four anions (Cl−, SO42−, NO3− and PO43−) than MER, since the UAM site is surrounded by several industrial zones. PM2.5 average concentrations for UAM and MER were 28.4 ± 11.2 and 20.7 ± 8.4 μg m−3, respectively. The ratio of cation equivalent to anion equivalent (CE/AC) showed that aerosol pH is acidic, which was confirmed by direct pH measurements. The sulfur oxidation rate (SOR) was 20 times larger than the nitrogen oxidation rate (NOR). Additionally, SO42− was the most abundant ion during the whole year, especially during the CD season with 5.13 ± 2.5 μg m−3 and 4.9 ± 3.6 μg m−3 for UAM and MER, respectively, when solar radiation displayed a high intensity. On the opposite side, the conversion of NO2 to NO3−, respectively, was low. The air mass backward trajectories were modeled using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA-HYSPLIT), which allowed us to know that differences in the mass trajectories during the days with higher concentrations were due to an effect of air recirculation, which favored PM2.5 accumulation and resuspension. On the other hand, on the days with less PM2.5, good air dispersion was observed. The main sources identified with the PMF model were secondary aerosol, vehicular, industrial crustal, and biomass burning for UAM, while for MER they were vehicular, secondary aerosol, and crustal.

Seasonal Patterns and Genetic Variability of Aedes Mosquitoes in Some Selected Communities of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes spread dengue and yellow fever in Africa and worldwide. Rural-urban drift creates Aedes mosquito breeding sites through uncontrolled urbanization, inadequate urban infrastructure, lack of basic public health delivery, indiscriminate waste disposal, varying socioeconomic activities, and climatic changes. The above have happened in Maiduguri Metropolis since Boko Haram insurgencies began. This study will examine Aedes aegypti's seasonal distribution, abundance, composition, and genetic variability in selected Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Council communities. From October 2016 to May 2017, CDC traps and vacuum aspirators collected adult mosquitoes from study sites and stored at – 80 C. These were identified morphologically with taxonomy keys and stereomicroscopes, then molecularly with markers. Aedes mosquito population structure and genetic variability were determined using statistical software and molecular methods on samples. Hot-dry season has the highest relative abundance of this mosquito species in these study sites, while cold-dry season has the lowest. The molecular identification found Aedes aegypti in nine of twelve study locations but not Aedes albopictus. Some mosquitoes from the study locations had mutations due to carrying dengue virus or host population genes, but those without mutations showed a good phylogenetic relationship with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from other countries, suggesting no genetic variability. The relative abundance of Aedes mosquitoes in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council increases the risk of dengue, zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya virus infections, and this mosquito species' seasonal distributions vary within and across seasons, but no genetic variability was found in the mosquitoes from the different locations used in this study.

Elemental composition of PM10 in indoor environments of a scientific research institution and risk assessment

ABSTRACT Synchronized indoor and outdoor sampling campaigns of PM10 were performed in two research laboratories and a mechanical workshop in Mexico City, during the dry cold season. The goals were to measure indoor and outdoor gravimetric mass and elemental concentrations, recognize the origin of particles, penetration toward the indoor environments, and assess inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption risks to human health. Concentrations of 18 elements were measured with X-ray Fluorescence; selected samples were studied with Scanning Electron Microscopy. Mass concentrations were higher outdoors than indoors and elemental concentrations were similar. Enrichment factors identified several geogenic elements. Cluster Analysis recognized common sources of elements and penetration of outdoor particles to indoor environments. Particles emitted indoors could be identified. Exposure to Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb particles produced low health risks; Cr may only cause an ingestion risk. Only outdoor Mn and Ni Hazard Quotients are higher outdoors than indoors.

Fencing affects movement patterns of two large carnivores in Southern Africa

The erection of peripheral fences around protected areas has been shown to adversely affect the movement behavior, genetic connectivity and long-term viability of animal populations. However, fencing is also used extensively to reduce human encroachment, limit poaching activities, and mitigate human–wildlife conflicts. Limited information on the movement behavior of carnivores is available along the periphery of protected areas, particularly in semi-arid environments. To quantify the potential effects of the 824 km perimeter fence surrounding the Etosha National Park (Etosha, Namibia) on the movement and space use of carnivores, we collected GPS movement data from 36 lions (Panthera leo) and seven spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) over a 14-year period. For these two apex carnivores, we measured the impact of the Etosha fence on their movements (step lengths and path straightness), calculated the likelihood of fence crossings, and evaluated the spatial–temporal characteristics of these crossings. Our results indicated that lions and hyenas moved faster (longer step lengths) when closer to the fence. Lions showed no variation in path straightness with respect to the fence but hyenas had straighter movement paths when closer to the fence. When moving within the vicinity of the fence, lions had a 9% likelihood of crossing the fence, while hyenas were much more likely (18%) to do so, which suggests that the Etosha fence was more permeable for hyenas than for lions. Fence crossings predominantly occurred at night for both species. Lions were more likely to cross the fence during the cold dry season (May–August) whereas hyenas crossed more often during the warm wet season (December–April). Female and adult lions had a higher probability of crossing the fence than males and subadults. These findings could be useful in the development of appropriate strategies to mitigate human–carnivore conflicts and thus promote the conservation of carnivores in multiple-use areas along the periphery of the park. Further research is needed to better elucidate the impact of perimeter fences on a broader suite of carnivores and other large mammals, including species-specific variation in the response to fences, as well as the economic benefits of fencing provided to local communities.

Seasonal and elevational changes of plant-pollinator interaction networks in East African mountains.

Across an elevation gradient, several biotic and abiotic factors influence community assemblages of interacting species leading to a shift in species distribution, functioning, and ultimately topologies of species interaction networks. However, empirical studies of climate-driven seasonal and elevational changes in plant-pollinator networks are rare, particularly in tropical ecosystems. Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspots in Kenya, East Africa. We recorded plant-bee interactions at 50 study sites between 515 and 2600 m asl for a full year, following all four major seasons in this region. We analysed elevational and seasonal network patterns using generalised additive models (GAMs) and quantified the influence of climate, floral resource availability, and bee diversity on network structures using a multimodel inference framework. We recorded 16,741 interactions among 186 bee and 314 plant species of which a majority involved interactions with honeybees. We found that nestedness and bee species specialisation of plant-bee interaction networks increased with elevation and that the relationships were consistent in the cold-dry and warm-wet seasons respectively. Link rewiring increased in the warm-wet season with elevation but remained indifferent in the cold-dry seasons. Conversely, network modularity and plant species were more specialised at lower elevations during both the cold-dry and warm-wet seasons, with higher values observed during the warm-wet seasons. We found flower and bee species diversity and abundance rather than direct effects of climate variables to best predict modularity, specialisation, and link rewiring in plant-bee-interaction networks. This study highlights changes in network architectures with elevation suggesting a potential sensitivity of plant-bee interactions with climate warming and changes in rainfall patterns along the elevation gradients of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot.

Relationship of Population Attributes of a Dominant Macrofaunal Species with Environmental Conditions in a Eutrophic Estuary (Guanabara Bay, Brazil)

Hydrobioid gastropods are abundant in coastal systems and ecologically important for ecosystem functioning. We aimed to unravel the relationship between usual and stress-related population attributes of the dominant macrofaunal species Heleobia australis with indicators of environmental quality and coastal pollution. Using Guanabara Bay (GB, Brazil) as a model of a multi-impacted coastal system, our hypothesis is that increased amounts of rainfall during the warm season reduce the bay’s environmental quality and induce shifts in snail population attributes. A suite of environmental variables, population attributes, and sediment quality descriptors was assessed by combining field and laboratory evaluations with literature compilation. Results indicate high organic pollution levels with environmental degradation and reinforce GB status as a severely contaminated system. Some environmental conditions can be applied as seasonal predictors of changes in warm-rainy (rainfall and salinity), intermediate (silicate), and cold-dry seasons (nitrite and nitrate). Three selected usual population attributes (snail density, fecundity, and recruitment) were not affected by changes in environmental conditions, but significant effects were detected on two stress-related attributes (relative penis length index and shell deformity). For the first time, shell deformity was recorded in H. australis snails. Low variation in usual population attributes highlight the high tolerance of H. australis to shifts in environmental conditions.

The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) reduces its body mass during winter in a tropical montane ecosystem of central Mexico

Abstract Most animals face changes in the availability of food and the environmental conditions in the places where they live. In response, they need to adjust their behavioral, physiological, and morphological traits. In temperate zones and high latitudes, bats increase their body mass (M b ) in autumn to store fat reserves and use them during hibernation. However, other small mammals decrease their M b prior to winter to reduce the energetic requirements of individuals. These changes are unknown for bats inhabiting other highly energetic demanding environments. We measured changes in M b of 84 non-reproductive males of Eptesicus fuscus inhabiting a tropical montane ecosystem in central Mexico over seasons. We also examined the relationship of bats’ M b with the minimum ambient temperature (T a , °C) and mean precipitation (mm). Bats presented an increase in M b from March to June, followed by a decrease from September to November and presented the lowest M b from November to March, in the dry-cold season. The results suggest that the pattern of changes in M b could be the result of two non-exclusive components related to the bats’ energy budget, the energetic demands experienced by the bats throughout the year and the morphological adaptations animals could display to reduce their energy requirements during the winter.

Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Atrazine and Diuron in Well and Surface Water of a Cornfield Rural Region

Herbicides have contributed to increased agricultural production. However, their residual amount can cause negative effects on environmental and public health. Therefore, this work aimed to determine the occurrence of both atrazine and diuron in surface and well water and investigate their link with drinking use. The samples were collected during dry and rainy seasons in three wells and surface water from a river and a pond located in the low plains of the Ixcatepec catchment, at the Amacuáhuitl community of the municipality of Arcelia, Guerrero State, in the center south of México, which is a rural community where farming is the main activity. The compounds were obtained by solid phase extraction and determined by HPLC-MS quadrupole with positive electrospray ionization mode. A geomorphic analysis was conducted inside the Ixcatepec catchment using the digital elevation model of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, SRTM-v4. The human risk for drinking water was calculated according to the Hazard Quotient. The concentrations of atrazine and diuron were between 5.77 and 402 ng L−1. Atrazine was the most abundant and frequent pesticide found with an average concentration of 105.18 ng L−1, while that of diuron was 86.56 ng L−1. The highest levels were found in pond Ushe, likely being the result of the lowest flow and stagnation of water, and during the cold-dry season a consequence of mobilization by irrigation runoff. The morphological analysis indicated that the compounds mainly reached body water located in the lower surfaces from cultivated areas. Therefore, the occurrence is mainly linked to agriculture activity within the rural community. However, chemical properties of compounds, crop irrigation, and environmental conditions could be contributing to the dispersion of residual amounts of herbicides within the hydrological system. The estimation of risk showed that atrazine can mainly generate health problems for children using the Azul well as a source of drinking water.

First report of gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia parasites from free-range chickens in Mafeteng district, Lesotho.

Free-range chickens are an integral part of poultry production in many developing countries. In the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, the majority of the population own free-range chickens, which serve a variety of purposes including being a source of meat, eggs and use for cultural rituals amongst others. However, there is lack of scientific studies on occurrence of parasitic infections on free-range chickens in Lesotho. The aim of this study was to document common gastrointestinal parasites infecting free-range chickens in four villages of Mafeteng District in Lesotho. A total number of 462 pooled faecal samples were collected from various households in HaKubutu (n=114), HaMatjeka (n=120), HaMpalipali (n=120) and Thabang Villages (n=108) which were subjected to microscopic examination using McMaster technique. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection was as follows: Eimeria tenella (12.8%), Ascaridia galli (10.4%) and Heterakis gallinarum (5%). The prevalence for H. gallinarum and Ascaridia galli were comparatively higher during the hot-wet season (7.1% and 2.8% respectively) than the cold-dry season (3.2% and 1.9% respectively) and varied significantly (P<0.05). For E. tenella, the oocysts per gram were slightly higher in the cold-dry season than the hot-wet season. Polymerase chain reaction only amplified DNA from six (29%) adult A. galli worms of which two amplicons were successfully sequenced. The obtained cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 partial gene sequences displayed 98-100% identity with South African A. galli isolates. This is the first scientific study on prevalence and molecular characterization of nematodes and coccidia species infecting free-range village chickens in Lesotho. The findings can be used to review management of gastrointestinal nematodes and protozoal parasites of free-range chickens in Lesotho.

A Retrospective Study on the Epidemiology of Anthrax Among Livestock from 2011 to 2020 in Awi Administrative Zone, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, anthrax is the second most important zoonotic disease, next to rabies. Data quantifying occurrence and distribution of animal anthrax in Awi administrative zone of Amhara region, Ethiopia, are limited. Thus, this study was conducted to describe the distribution of animal anthrax between 2011 and 2020 in Awi zone. This study used secondary data of animal anthrax that occurred in the Awi zone and reported to the Regional and National Veterinary Authority between 2011 and 2020. A total of 1262 cases of anthrax in animals and 324 animals that died due to anthrax were reported. The highest number of anthrax cases were reported in 2012 (n = 671), sharing 48.9% of the 10-year animal anthrax reported. However, the highest number of animal death due to anthrax (n = 104) was reported in 2014. The overall case fatality rate of anthrax was 25.67% (n = 324). The highest animal anthrax cases (n = 984; 77.97%) and deaths (n = 259; 79.94%) were recorded in Bovine. The highest cases of anthrax were registered in May (n = 313), while no anthrax case was reported during December. The highest and lowest number of animal death due to anthrax were reported during July (n = 64) and January (n = 6), respectively. The highest number of anthrax cases was reported in the hot-dry season (n = 479; 37.96%) whereas the lowest was reported during the cold-dry season (n = 30; 2.38%). The current study revealed a considerable number of animal anthrax cases and deaths in Awi zone every year. Hence, it is necessary for practicing prevention strategies including immunization programs before the peak season of anthrax outbreaks.

Seasonal and Spatial Variability of PM2.5 Concentration, and Associated Metal(loid) Content in the Toluca Valley, Mexico.

This study provides evidence of the seasonal and spatial variation of metal(lloid)s in particulate matter minor to 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the Toluca Valley Metropolitan Area (TVMA), the fifth largest urban center in Mexico. Four sites were sampled between 2013 and 2014, which included urban and industrial areas, in the dry-cold (November-February) and dry-hot (March-May) seasons; PM2.5 was collected using high- and medium-volume samplers. Metal(lloid) concentrations in PM2.5 were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry (ICP‒MS). The highest 24-hour PM2.5 concentration in the northern area was observed, and the PM2.5 concentrations were independent of the season. Five metal(lloid)s with a recovery percentage above 80% were considered to be reported (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Sb). The maximum concentrations of metal(lloid)s were observed during the dry-cold season, and concentrations were up to one hundred or thousand fold with respect to the dry-hot season. The 24-hour PM2.5 and metal(lloid) concentrations exceeded national and international guidelines to protect population health.

The γ-index: A spline-based tool to define features of wet and dry seasons

In this study, we have developed a new approach to define features of wet and dry seasons, using the linear splines (LSI) model. A set of formulas have been elaborated including our "γ-index". This last, oscillates sensibly between 0 and 1 depending on observational data of stations. The wettest stations have the highest indices while the arid lands have the lowest ones. Moreover, two distinct types of dry seasons are described in this work. The first one is the most conventional type induced by high temperature (HDS: Hot-dry season). However, the second one, is mainly linked with a sustained lack of liquid water because of low temperatures (CDS: Cold-dry season), inducing a physiological dryness of species. Using machine learning algorithms, the LSI model also was able to accurately (90%) predict the different climate classes defined by Köppen. The obtained results were very coherent to reality and to Köppen-Geiger climate classifications. Using this index, we were also able to map out the most arid areas in Algeria and those that are less. In cold regions, the calculated γ-indices reveal low values, very similar to those recorded in arid regions. The results have shown also a gradual decrease when approaching poles or tops of high mountains revealing, thus, increasing dryness.

Pycnogenol improves kinematic parameters of donkeys (Equus asinus) subjected to packing during the dry season

The administration of pycnogenol (PYC) prior to physical exertion had earlier shown to improve gait variables after work. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PYC on kinematic parameters of donkeys subjected to packing during the dry season. Ten male donkeys served as experimental subjects. Five donkeys were administered with PYC (10 mg/kg) in feed (test group) while another five donkeys were given feed only (control group) for one week pre-packing. Thermal environmental parameters of ambient temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH) and temperature humidity index (THI) were recorded. Kinematic parameters of speed (SP), stride length (SL), stride frequency (SF) and stride duration (SD) using videographic recordings 5 minutes post-packing with each animal walking at a self-selected speed were recorded. The THI values obtained pre- (95.4 ± 3.9) and during (85.3 ± 1.6) packing in the cold-dry season were significantly lower than the values of 148.8 ± 1.8 and 134.8 ± 1.1, respectively obtained during the hot-dry season. The speed recorded in test group (2.0 ± 0.3 m/s) was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher when compared to the value (1.3 ± 0.2 m/s) obtained in control group during the hot-dry season while, during the cold-dry season, the test group recorded a significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher speed (1.3 ± 0.3 m/s) when compared with 1.0 ± 0.2 m/s recorded in control group.The increased speed recorded in the test group indicated that the group performed better as they were less fatigued when compared with the control group. Thus, PYC could be used as a potential agent in the management of fatigue in donkeys used for packing purposes in the region.