Urine Of Animals Research Articles

Biochemical markers of connective tissue in the pathogenesis of gastroenteritis in dogs and cats

The aim: to analyze and establish the pathogenetic role of biochemical markers of the state of connective tissue in diseases of the stomach and intestines in dogs and cats.
 Materials and methods. The research was carried out by the method of analysis of sources of scientific literature (PubMed, Elsevier, electronic resources of the V. I. Vernadskyi National Library), because of which a scheme of the pathogenesis of gastroenteritis in dogs and cats with the participation of connective tissue biopolymers was created.
 Results. In dogs and cats, the issue of the use of biochemical markers for the diagnosis of diseases of the stomach and intestines has not yet been fully clarified. It is known, that in dogs and cats, lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis is histologically determined by fibrosis of the intestinal wall, but biochemical tests for the diagnosis of this condition are not given. Among the biochemical markers of inflammatory bowel disease, tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein and microalbumin were identified. Although C-reactive protein was elevated in a greater number of diseased animals, this increase was insignificant. Other tests also did not show high diagnostic informativeness. Several stages can be identified in the pathogenesis of alimentary gastroenteritis in dogs and cats. First, the irritating components of food act on the mucous membrane of the stomach and disrupt its secretory and motor functions, which causes gastritis. Thus, the use of indicators of the state of connective tissue in the diagnosis of intestinal diseases in dogs can be used to assess the degree of the inflammatory process.
 Conclusions. According to the results of the analysis, it was established, that the development of the inflammatory process in the stomach and intestines causes an increase in the content of glycoproteins in the blood serum of cats and dogs, and a decrease in synthetic processes in the liver is accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in the blood serum of sick animals. It should be noted, that this decrease has peculiarities: in dogs, the content of total chondroitin sulfates remained at the level of clinically healthy animals, while the concentration of total GAG decreased. In cats, on the contrary, the content of total chondroitin sulfates decreased, and the fractional composition of GAG remained unchanged. The level of excretion of oxyproline and uronic acids in the urine of animals with gastroenteritis did not change, which indicates the absence of catabolism of collagen and proteoglycans with gastroenteritis

Nitrate enrichment does not affect enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in aquatic microcosms but may affect other strains present in aquatic habitats.

Eutrophication of the planet’s aquatic systems is increasing at an unprecedented rate. In freshwater systems, nitrate—one of the nutrients responsible for eutrophication—is linked to biodiversity losses and ecosystem degradation. One of the main sources of freshwater nitrate pollution in New Zealand is agriculture. New Zealand’s pastoral farming system relies heavily on the application of chemical fertilisers. These fertilisers in combination with animal urine, also high in nitrogen, result in high rates of nitrogen leaching into adjacent aquatic systems. In addition to nitrogen, livestock waste commonly carries human and animal enteropathogenic bacteria, many of which can survive in freshwater environments. Two strains of enteropathogenic bacteria found in New Zealand cattle, are K99 and Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). To better understand the effects of ambient nitrate concentrations in the water column on environmental enteropathogenic bacteria survival, a microcosm experiment with three nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (0, 1, and 3 mg NO3-N /L), two enteropathogenic bacterial strains (STEC O26—human, and K99—animal), and two water types (sterile and containing natural microbiota) was run. Both STEC O26 and K99 reached 500 CFU/10 ml in both water types at all three nitrate concentrations within 24 hours and remained at those levels for the full 91 days of the experiment. Although enteropathogenic strains showed no response to water column nitrate concentrations, the survival of background Escherichia coli, imported as part of the in-stream microbiota did, surviving longer in 1 and 3 mg NO3-N/Lconcentrations (P < 0.001). While further work is needed to fully understand how nitrate enrichment and in-stream microbiota may affect the viability of human and animal pathogens in freshwater systems, it is clear that these two New Zealand strains of STEC O26 and K99 can persist in river water for extended periods alongside some natural microbiota.

Ten bisphenol analogs were abundantly found in swine and bovine urines collected from two Chinese farms: concentration profiles and risk evaluation.

Bisphenol analogs (BPs) in livestock urine are important biomarkers to reflect the potential contaminants in food products derived from these animals. Nevertheless, little research has been done on their occurrence in farm animal urine. This work investigated ten BPs in swine and bovine urines collected from two Chinese farms. Results showed that all of these ten BPs were frequently detected in swine and bovine urines. The total mean concentration of the ten BPs (ΣBPs) in sow urines was 59.7ng/mL, which was significantly higher than that of the boar urine with a mean concentration of 37.0ng/mL (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the corresponding mean concentration of ΣBPs in dairy cattle urine was 59.6ng/mL, which was significantly higher than that of the beef cattle urine with 37.0ng/mL (p < 0.05). The respective mean concentration contribution ratios of BPA to ΣBPs in boar, sow, dairy, and beef cattle urines were only 14.9%, 21.4%, 9.0%, and 14.6%, which clearly indicated that BPA was no longer the dominant BP. The average daily urinary excretion rates of ΣBPs by boar, sow, dairy, and beef cattle were 37.0, 59.8, 167.0, and 36.8 times that of human, which suggested that swine and bovine likely encountered high dosage exposure of BPs in the two Chinese livestock farms. Our results showed that feeds and nutritional supplements as unintentionally added contaminants were the main sources of BPs to swine and bovine. As swine and bovine are important food sources for human being, part of BPs exposed to livestock eventually would enter human body via meat or milk. Therefore, quality controls of these feeds or nutritional supplements are quite important in order to guarantee welfare of livestock as well as protect health of our human beings.

Soil carbon stocks and nitrous oxide emissions of pasture systems in Orinoquía region of Colombia: Potential for developing land-based greenhouse gas removal projects

Improving grassland conditions under grazing has the potential not only to accumulate carbon in soils, but also to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from animal urine deposition. However, measurements in developing countries are still scarce. In the Orinoquia region, permanent grasslands (PG; this unimproved, native pasture is considered as at some state of degradation) based on unimproved grasses are found due to extensive, inefficient grazing combined with annual burning of pastures. We hypothesized that, compared to PG, improved grasslands (IG) managed through rotational grazing of introduced, productive and deep-rooted pasture grass species promote soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and reduce N2O emission from urine deposited by grazing cattle. We determined SOC and N2O emissions from urine deposited on soils in an area of PG and in a 6.5 year-old IG area of Urochloa (Syn. Brachiaria) humidicola grass pasture in a beef cattle ranch in Orinoquía region (Colombia). In both areas, we sampled soil for chemical/physical analysis, and measured N2O emissions by simulating urine deposition over 21 days. We applied two-way analysis of variance considering pasture type and soil depth as fixed factors. Estimated SOC stocks (0–100 cm) were in the range of 224.8 Mg C ha−1 for the PG and 259.0 Mg C ha−1 for the IG, with a significant (p &amp;lt; 0.05) average accumulation of 2.0 Mg C ha−1 y−1 (0–20 cm) in the IG area. N2O emissions were 10 times lower in the IG compared to the PG. The introduction of U. humidicola grass influenced SOC accumulation probably through its more abundant root system and greater turnover together with higher (14%) forage dry matter production compared to PG. The reduced N2O emissions observed from urine patches in IG were attributed to biological nitrification inhibition ability and greater nitrogen uptake of U. humidicola grass. Compared to the reference default value of IPCC for, the SOC stock found in PG was almost 40% higher, whereas the N2O emission factor (5%) was within the uncertainty range (0.7–6%). The Orinoquía region shows significant potential for SOC storage and reduced N2O emissions in improved pastures with deep root systems. Thus, scaling the implementation of land-based SOC storage practices/projects could significantly contribute to reducing net emissions from beef production from this region.

A highly salt-tolerant monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the rapid detection of phenylethanolamine A in urine

ABSTRACT Phenylethanolamine A (PEAA), as a typical β2-adrenoceptor agonist (β-AA), was widely illegally used in feed to improve the lean meat ratio. The detection performance of immunoassay, which is one of the effective methods to monitor PEAA residues in animal urine, has been hindered by high concentration of salt. Herein, we produced one highly salt-tolerant monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3E2 by hybridoma technology. Homologous modelling and molecular docking were used to analyse the antibody salt tolerance mechanism. Results show that the tight hydrophobic binding cavity is the key to high tolerance. Then the mAb 3E2 was used for specific detecting PEAA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the IC50 value of 0.36 ng mL−1and the LOD value of 0.065 µg L−1. Benefiting from the high salt tolerance of antibodies, swine urine and sheep urine spiked with PEAA can be detected directly by ELISA, and the acceptable recovery rates of 80.1–108.8% were obtained.

Effect of vegetarian Kunapajala on pigments and soluble protein content in rice

Ancient Indian study of plants, known as ‘Vrikshayurveda’, was meticulously organized into 325 Sanskrit slokas and published in a book of the same name by Surapala about 1000 years ago with number of recommendations for promoting plant development and warding off illness. “Kunapajala” is referred here as a plant nutrient solution. Kunapajala is a liquid ferment from animal wastes that contained animal flesh, dung, urine, bone marrow and skin. The fermented product contains essential components such as amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, keratins, macro and nearly all micronutrients in available form. Y.L. Nene formulated special Kunapajala of vegetable origin instead of raw meat as people showed reluctance towards using raw meat as 40% of the people do not eat meat. As organic farming and natural farming are the need of the hour with reduced usage of synthetic fertilizers, a study was formulated with vegetarian Kunapajala in rice to study its effect on pigments, soluble protein and plant height. Field experiment was conducted during summer 2021 at Wetland farm of TNAU Coimbatore in RBD with three replications and rice variety CO-51. The experiment had 10 treatments viz., T1 - Foliar spray of water, T2 - Foliar spray of water + cow urine (9:1), T3 - Foliar spray of Kunapajala 3%, T4 - Foliar spray of Kunapajala 3% in water + cow urine (9:1), T5 - Soil application of Kunapajala 10%, T6 - Foliar spray of water + Soil application of Kunapajala 10%, T7 - Foliar spray of Kunapajala 3% + Soil application of Kunapajala 10%, T8 - Foliar spray of water + cow urine (9:1) + Soil application of Kunapajala 10%, T9 - Foliar spray of Kunapajala 3% in water + cow urine (9:1) + Kunapajala 10% soil application, T10 - Control (no foliar spray and soil application). Observations were recorded for the parameters like chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, soluble protein and plant height at 25, 40 and 55 DAT (10 days after each spraying). Growth parameters of rice like plant height, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids and soluble protein were significantly influenced by foliar spray and soil application of Kunapajala along with foliar spray of cow urine. Among all the treatments, plots provided with foliar spray of Kunapajala 3 % in water + cow urine (9:1) + Kunapajala 10 % soil application (T9) produced plants with greater height (35.07, 55.07 and 81.25 cm), more content of chlorophyll a (2.25, 3.09 and 3.11 mg g⁻¹), chlorophyll b (2.04, 2.81 and 2.88 mg g⁻¹), total chlorophyll (4.28, 5.90 and 5.99 mg g⁻¹), carotenoids (3.61, 4.82 and 4.81 mg g⁻¹) and soluble protein (11.34, 15.09 and 18.75 mg g⁻¹) at 25,40 and 55 DAT i.e., ten days after every spray respectively and followed by Foliar spray (3 %) and soil application of Kunapajala (10 %) (T7) and Foliar spray of cow urine and soil application of Kunapajala (T8). Least amount of chlorophyll a (1.04, 1.16 and 1.76 mg g⁻¹), chlorophyll b (0.91, 1.18 and 1.27 mg g⁻¹), total chlorophyll (1.18, 2.82 and 3.03 mg g⁻¹), carotenoids (1.86, 2.76 and 3.11 mg g⁻¹) and soluble protein (10.6, 14.16 and 17.11 mg g⁻¹) with the smaller plant height (30.40, 50.17 and 74.53 cm) were seen in control plot (T10) no foliar spray and soil application.

Physical properties of farmyard manure at different depths of manure pit

Farmyard manure refers to the decomposed mixture of dung and urine of farm animals along with litter and left over material from roughages or fodder fed to the cattle. On an average well composted farmyard manure contains 0.5 per cent N, 0.2 per cent P2O5 and 0.5 per cent K2O (Reddy, 2005). Farmyard manure is the nutrient enriched organic manure used for agriculture in order to increase the fertility of soil. The manure consist of dung, urine, and fodder waste. The main purpose of this research was to examine the physical properties like viz.,bulk density, moisture content, angle of repose, angle of friction of farmyard manure at different depth of manure pit. Study was conducted along the five different depth of manure pit from 0 to 50 cm at 10 cm distance each. The bulk density value along the five depth of manure pit was 230, 248, 248, 286 and 300kg/m3, respectively. The moisture content value along the five depth of manure pit was 15.73, 16.8, 18.5, 19.3 and 21.2 %, respectively. The angle of repose along the five depth of manure pit was 41.9, 43.2, 47.13, 44.4 and 52.1o, respectively. The angle of friction along the five depth of manure pit was 30.7, 32.8, 33.7, 36.2 and 36.53o, respectively.

Demonstrating the potential of amberat middens for understanding late Quaternary palaeoenvironments in the Central Pilbara, western Australia

The Pilbara region in Western Australia (WA) is of high biological and archaeological significance, though our understanding of its environmental history is limited. Potentially valuable palaeoenvironmental archives exist throughout the Central Pilbara in caves and rockshelters in the form of amberat middens (crystallised animal urine), which are known from elsewhere to preserve botanical and faunal remains. Here we report a pilot study aimed at assessing how a multiproxy analysis of these middens could be used to infer past environmental change in response to climate change and therefore help to characterise the nature of past human-environmental relationships in the Pilbara region. Findings show that rockshelters of the inland Pilbara contain some of the oldest known amberat middens in Australia, extending fully back to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Well preserved pollen and macrofossils in the middens tentatively suggest that vegetation throughout the late Pleistocene was likely dominated by an open woodland with a shift after 6000 BP to a more heterogenous pattern of vegetation with the increasing dominance of grassland communities. Several hiatuses in midden accumulation are apparent, which are tentatively interpreted as indicating that the region was affected by prolonged dry periods in the past. This may help explain concomitant patterns of decreased human occupation in the corresponding archaeological record. This pilot study has demonstrated the value of amberat middens for providing much needed local paleoenvironmental data in arid and semi-arid regions of Australia.

The effect of the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride on the biotransformation of urea when exposed to soil nitrifying strains

Introduction. The consequences of uncontrolled use of antibiotics in agriculture are an urgent problem of environmental hygiene. Tetracycline can enter the soil with the urine of domestic animals, inhibit the vital activity of soil bacterial strains and inhibit the processes of enzymatic hydrolysis of urea (carbamide), disrupting the global nitrogen cycle in nature. The lack of both quantitative and qualitative criteria for assessing this influence determined the relevance of the research. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out using the “Stayer” chromatographic system with cationic and anionic separating columns and exclusive analysis methods developed by the authors. When modelling solutions of heavy metals, an atomic absorption spectrometer MGA - 915MD with ETA was used. The objects of research were model solutions of carbamide with different content of inhibiting substances. As a source of urease and strains of Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas, sod-podzolic soil from the Educational and Experimental Soil-Ecological Center “Chashnikovo” of Lomonosov Moscow State University was used. Results. An improved, more rapid chromatographic method for the analysis of urea in water is proposed compared to the method described by the authors earlier. The inhibitory effect of the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride on the process of biotransformation of nitrite into nitrate caused by Nitrobacter strains has been shown. No significant effect of the antibiotic on the biotransformation of urea into ammonium and ammonium into nitrite under the action of Nitrosomonas strains has been established. Limitations. The studies were carried out on the model of water systems, which included an aqueous phase containing different concentrations of the antibiotic, soil suspension, urea, heavy metal ions at a temperature of t = 30 ○C, pH ~ 6.5. The influence of salt background, pH, and temperature on biotransformation has not been studied, which could, without changing the overall picture, reveal nuances in the kinetics of the main processes. Conclusion. Studies have shown the absence of the effect of the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride on the kinetics of the decomposition of urea to ammonium and carbon dioxide due to urease enzymatic activity; there is no effect of the antibiotic on the oxidation of ammonium to nitrites by Nitrosomonas strains. It was found: selective inhibitory effect of an antibiotic during the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate, due to Nitrobacter strains; inhibition of biotransformation processes by chromium ions along the entire chain of transformations from urea to nitrate; and the inhibitory effect of excess oxygen on the totality of biotransformation processes during air bubbling through the aqueous phase.

TangShenWeiNing Formula Prevents Diabetic Nephropathy by Protecting Podocytes Through the SIRT1/HIF-1α Pathway.

BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy (DN) represents a major complication of diabetes, and podocyte injury has a critical function in DN development. TangShenWeiNing formula (TSWN) has been demonstrated to efficiently decrease proteinuria and protect podocytes in DN. This work aimed to explore the mechanism by which TSWN alleviates DN and protects podocytes.MethodsThe major bioactive components of TSWN were detected by mass spectrometry (MS) and pharmacological databases. Eight-week-old male C57BLKS/J db/m and db/db mice were provided pure water, valsartan, low dose TSWN, middle dose TSWN and high dose TSWN by gavage for 12 weeks, respectively.ResultsMS and network pharmacology analyses suggested that TSWN might prevent DN through the sirtuin (SIRT)1/hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α pathway. Diabetic mice showed elevated urinary albumin in comparison with non-diabetic mice, and TSWN decreased urinary albumin in diabetic mice. Histological injury increased in the kidney in diabetic mice, which could be improved by TSWN. Fibrosis and collagen I expression were induced in the diabetic mouse kidney in comparison with the non-diabetic mouse kidney; TSWN alleviated these effects. Apoptosis and cleaved caspase-3 were induced in the diabetic mouse kidney in comparison with the non-diabetic mouse kidney, and TSWN blunted these effects. Podocytes were damaged in the diabetic mouse kidney, which was improved by TSWN. Podocin and nephrin amounts were decreased in the diabetic mouse kidney in comparison with the non-diabetic mouse kidney, and podocalyxin was increased in urine of diabetic animals in comparison with non-diabetic counterparts. After TSWN treatment, podocin and nephrin were raised in the diabetic mouse kidney, and urinary podocalyxin was depressed in diabetic animals. Diabetic mice had lower SIRT1 and higher HIF-1α amounts in kidney specimens in comparison with non-diabetic mice, and TSWN promoted SIRT1 and inhibited HIF-1α in the diabetic mouse kidney. Moreover, co-staining of SIRT1 and podocin revealed that SIRT1 decreased in podocytes from diabetic mice in comparison with those from non-diabetic mice, and TSWN elevated SIRT1 in podocytes.ConclusionsThis study indicated that TSWN alleviates DN by improving podocyte injury through the SIRT1/HIF-1α pathway in diabetic mouse kidneys.

Analysis of Air Flow Rate in Bulkhead Reactors on Struvite Mineral

Struvite is a white crystalline chemical known as magnesium ammonium phosphorus hexahydrate (MgNH4PO4.6H2O). Struvite is soluble in acidic conditions and slightly soluble in neutral and alkaline conditions. In industry, struvite is known as scale in pipes. Urinary stones can be called struvite because struvite crystals can form easily in the urine of animals and humans infected with ammonia organisms produced in the urine. Struvite can potentially be formed by alkaline urine and high magnesium excretion due to a high magnesium plant- based diet. The formation of struvite minerals is carried out in an insulated reactor by mixing a solution of MgCl2, NH4OH, and H3PO4 in a ratio of 1:1:1. The treatment of struvite mineral formation was carried out with a feed inlet rate of 35 ml/minute, the temperature at the reactor was carried out at 30oC while the intake air rate was carried out in the range of 0.25-1.25 liters/min. The pH of the solution was kept at a value of 9. The process was carried out until a steady state was reached. The formation of struvite minerals using an insulated column reactor was obtained at conditions of pH 9, operating temperature of 30oC and air rate of 1.25L/min.

Twelve natural estrogens in urines of six threatened or endangered mammalian species in Zoo Park: implications and their potential risk.

This work was the first to report twelve natural estrogens (NEs) in the urines of six threatened or endangered mammalians in a Zoo Park of Guangzhou (i.e., panda, gorilla, elephant, African lion, jaguar, and leopard). Ten out of twelve NEs were detected at least in one urine sample of the six mammalians studied, including the four major NEs (i.e., estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-estradiol (αE2), estriol (E3)), and six other NEs (i.e., 4-hydroxyestrone (4OHE1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2OHE2), 4-hydroxyestradiol (4OHE2), 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1), 16ketoestradiol (16ketoE2), and 17epiestriol (17epiE3)). The six studied mammalians, ranked in the order of high to low urinary concentration of total NEs, were jaguar, African lion, gorilla, elephant, panda, and leopard, with respective urinary concentrations of 110.4, 86.4, 71.4, 66.0, 55.9, and 52.8ng/mL. According to the average urinary concentration of NE in the six mammalians ranked from high to low, the top five NEs detected were 16α-OHE1, 4OHE1, E1, E3, and 17epiE3, respectively. These clearly indicated the occurrence of NEs other than the four major types in urines of animals in a Zoo Park. Moreover, the daily excretion rates of the five detected NEs by one elephant ranged from 1162-2254μg/d with a total daily excretion rate of 8260μg/d, suggesting that the total urinary excretion of NEs by one adult elephant was equivalent to that by 170 premenopausal women or 506 adult men. Consequently, it appears from this study that NEs in the urines of zoo animals should be considered an emerging source of NEs.

Ammonia, nitrous oxide and methane emissions from excreta of cattle receiving rumen undegradable protein

AbstractWe hypothesized that supplementation with rumen undegradable protein (RUP) during the rearing phase mitigates nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ammonia (NH3) emissions from excreta of Nellore animals in Urochloa brizantha ‘Xaraés’ pasture. The treatments applied to soil were urine and dung of animals supplemented without RUP or with RUP in the middle and end of the rearing phase. We assessed N2O and CH4 emissions using a static closed chamber and NH3 emissions using the semi‐open static chamber method. No effects were observed for supplement, excreta type, period, or interaction on N2O emissions. The mean emission factor was 0.03% of N in the excreta lost as N2O. Higher NH3 losses were observed for the urine treatments in the end period, regardless of the supplement type. The mean NH3 emission factor for urine was 2.96 and 13.8% for the middle and end periods, respectively, while the mean value for dung was 3.9%. The type of supplement did not affect CH4 emissions, and the mean dung emission factor was 0.12 kg CH4 head–1 year–1. In summary, the supplementation of beef cattle in pastures with RUP did not mitigate NH3, N2O, and CH4 emissions from excreta. The excreta emission factors for the GHGs measured, regardless of differences in the type of excreta, type of supplement, and period, were lower than the default value of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change revised guidelines. Further studies will be needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying the effects of RUP on greenhouse gas emissions.

Indigenous organic resources utilization, application methods and sowing time replenish soil nitrogen and increase maize yield and total dry biomass

Wise management of indigenous resources replenishes soil nutrients and improves crop productivity and soil sustainability. Three year consecutive experiments were performed in the framework of Farmers Field School (FFS) during 2012–2014. Organic nitrogen sources [animal-urine (AU), animal-manures (AM), and animal manure-compost (AMC) with two application methods [interior-application method (IAM) and exterior-application method (EAM)] and three sowing timing [early sowing (ES), late-sowing (LS), and timely sowing (TS)] were studied. One control plot in each replication was placed as a check. The results showed that among different sowing time, TS has higher grains year−1, 1000 grains weight, dry biomass, grain yield and harvest index (HI) than LS and ES. AM delayed silking and physiological maturation. A higher grains year−1, 1000 grains weight, grain yield, total dry biomass, and HI were observed with AMC than control plots. In application methods, the IAM has delayed the silking and physiological maturity as compared to EAM. Similarly, higher grains year−1, 1000 grains weight, grain yield, dry biomass, and HI were observed with IAM than EAM. In sowing timing, higher grain nitrogen (GN) was observed in TS. Higher GN produced by AMC and AU treated plots. AMC produced 10% higher GN than manures treated plots. The IAM produced higher GN than EAM. The AMC produced significantly higher soil N and statistically at par with AU treated plots. IAM applied AMC, maize grain yield was higher than the AU and AM. In conclusion, AMC and AU embedded in soil with TS can sustainably increase maize yield and soil productivity.

Claudin-10a Deficiency Shifts Proximal Tubular Cl- Permeability to Cation Selectivity via Claudin-2 Redistribution.

The tight junction proteins claudin-2 and claudin-10a form paracellular cation and anion channels, respectively, and are expressed in the proximal tubule. However, the physiologic role of claudin-10a in the kidney has been unclear. To investigate the physiologic role of claudin-10a, we generated claudin-10a-deficient mice, confirmed successful knockout by Southern blot, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining, and analyzed urine and serum of knockout and wild-type animals. We also used electrophysiologic studies to investigate the functionality of isolated proximal tubules, and studied compensatory regulation by pharmacologic intervention, RNA sequencing analysis, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, and respirometry. Mice deficient in claudin-10a were fertile and without overt phenotypes. On knockout, claudin-10a was replaced by claudin-2 in all proximal tubule segments. Electrophysiology showed conversion from paracellular anion preference to cation preference and a loss of paracellular Cl- over HCO3- preference. As a result, there was tubular retention of calcium and magnesium, higher urine pH, and mild hypermagnesemia. A comparison with other urine and serum parameters under control conditions and sequential pharmacologic transport inhibition, and unchanged fractional lithium excretion, suggested compensative measures in proximal and distal tubular segments. Changes in proximal tubular oxygen handling and differential expression of genes regulating fatty acid metabolism indicated proximal tubular adaptation. Western blot and immunofluorescence revealed alterations in distal tubular transport. Claudin-10a is the major paracellular anion channel in the proximal tubule and its deletion causes calcium and magnesium hyper-reabsorption by claudin-2 redistribution. Transcellular transport in proximal and distal segments and proximal tubular metabolic adaptation compensate for loss of paracellular anion permeability.

As a different cause of kidney failure, liver failure, and fever: Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is the most common bacterial zoonosis globally, especially in tropical and temperate regions with heavy rainfall. Infection into humans occurs in direct contact with the urine of the sick animals’ contact with the environment contaminated with urine. The clinical spectrum of leptospirosis is quite broad. It is subclinical in 90% of cases. Multiple organ failure, especially kidney, liver, and lung, can be seen in 5-10% of cases [1-2]. Weil’s disease is the most severe form of leptospirosis. It progresses with liver dysfunction, acute renal failure, thrombocytopenia, and fever; If left untreated, it can be fatal at 1-5% [3]. In our case, a 60-year-old patient with fever, hyperbilirubinemia, acute renal failure, and thrombocytopenia will be discussed. Keywords: Liver dysfunction, acute renal failure, thrombocytopenia, fever

Leptospira interrogans Aer2: an Unusual Membrane-Bound PAS-Heme Oxygen Sensor.

In this study, we provide the first characterization of a chemoreceptor from Leptospira interrogans, the cause of leptospirosis. This receptor is related to the Aer2 receptors that have been studied in other bacteria. In those organisms, Aer2 is a soluble receptor with one or two PAS-heme domains and signals in response to O2 binding. In contrast, L. interrogans Aer2 (LiAer2) is an unusual membrane-bound Aer2 with a periplasmic domain and three cytoplasmic PAS-heme domains. Each of the three PAS domains bound b-type heme via conserved Eη-His residues. They also bound O2 and CO with similar affinities to each other and other PAS-heme domains. However, all three PAS domains were uniquely hexacoordinate in the deoxy-heme state, whereas other Aer2-PAS domains are pentacoordinate. Similar to other Aer2 receptors, LiAer2 could hijack the E. coli chemotaxis pathway but only when it was expressed with an E. coli high-abundance chemoreceptor. Unexpectedly, the response was inverted relative to classic Aer2 receptors. That is, LiAer2 caused E. coli to tumble (it was signal-on) in the absence of O2 and to stop tumbling in its presence. Thus, an endogenous ligand in the deoxy-heme state was correlated with signal-on LiAer2, and its displacement for gas-binding turned signaling off. This response also occurred in a soluble version of LiAer2 lacking the periplasmic domain, transmembrane (TM) region, and first two PAS domains, meaning that PAS3 alone was sufficient for O2-mediated control. Future studies are needed to understand the unique signaling mechanisms of this unusual Aer2 receptor. IMPORTANCE Leptospira interrogans, the cause of the zoonotic infection leptospirosis, is found in soil and water contaminated with animal urine. L. interrogans survives in complex environments with the aid of 12 chemoreceptors, none of which has been explicitly studied. In this study, we characterized the first L. interrogans chemoreceptor, LiAer2, and reported its unique characteristics. LiAer2 is membrane-bound, has three cytoplasmic PAS-heme domains that each bound hexacoordinate b-type heme and O2 turned LiAer2 signaling off. An endogenous ligand in the deoxy-heme state was correlated with signal-on LiAer2 and its displacement for O2-binding turned signaling off. Our study corroborated previous findings that Aer2 receptors are O2 sensors, but also demonstrated that they do not all function the same way.

Dissemination of Leptospira into the intestinal tract resulting in fecal excretion in a hamster model of subcutaneous infection with Leptospirainterrogans

Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic Leptospira, is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the world. It is transmitted to humans through the skin and mucous membranes by contact with water or soil contaminated with urine excreted from infected animals. In human infections, gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea have been frequently observed, but there have been no reports analyzing gastrointestinal lesions in leptospirosis, and the pathological mechanism of gastrointestinal symptoms in leptospirosis remains unclear.In this study, we investigated the pathological changes and the distribution of leptospires in the intestinal wall, and the presence of leptospires in the intestinal contents and feces, of hamsters subcutaneously infected with Leptospira interrogans. Results showed that infected hamsters had macroscopic redness in the jejunum and ileum. Submucosal hemorrhage was observed histologically, and there was no infiltration of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils. There were no obvious changes in the colon, either macroscopically or histologically, and the feces were normal (solid stools). Leptospira was isolated from all the intestinal walls from the small intestine to the colon, the intestinal contents, and the feces. These findings suggest that the invasion of leptospires into the intestinal wall and the associated submucosal hemorrhage may be the cause of the gastrointestinal symptoms observed in leptospirosis. Furthermore, not only the urine of infected animals but also the feces could be a source of infection.

Current Advances in Immunoassays for the Detection of β2-Agonists

β2-agonists are a group of synthetic phenylethanolamine compounds which are traditionally used for treating bronchospasm. These compounds can also increase skeletal muscle mass and decrease body fat. The illegal use of β2-agonists in food-producing animals results in residue of β2-agonists in edible tissues and causes adverse health effects in humans. Thus, the detection of β2-agonists at trace level in complex sample matrices is of great importance for monitoring the abuse of β2-agonists. Many methods have been developed to detect β2-agonists. Among them, a variety of antigen–antibody interaction-based techniques have been established to detect β2-agonists in various samples, including animal feed, urine, serum, milk, tissues and hair. In this review, we summarized current achievement in the extraction of β2-agonists from testing samples and detection of β2-agonists using immunological techniques. Future perspectives were briefly discussed.

Antibiotics in aquaculture ponds from Guilin, South of China: Occurrence, distribution, and health risk assessment

Antibiotics have been widely used to prevent or treat bacterial infections in aquaculture in the past decades. However, large proportions of these compounds are excreted unchanged in feces and urine of animals, given incomplete metabolism, leading to the residual of unmetabolized compounds, and posing a potential risk to the environment. This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of seven antibiotics in surface water, sediments, fish muscle, and fish feed by high-performance liquid chromatography from the aquaculture areas in Guilin, South of China. The highest concentrations of the target antibiotics in water, sediment, fish muscle, and fish feed were 2047.53ng/L, 13.32μg/kg, 35.90μg/kg, and 2203.97 μg/kg, respectively. In contrast, the most abundant antibiotic was enrofloxacin (ENR), followed by ofloxacin (OFL), sulfadimidine (SMZ), and ciprofloxacin (CIP). In this work, the concentrations of antibiotics were lower than those in other breeding areas. Correlation analyses showed significant relationships between sulfadiazine (SDZ) and TP, TN, and CODCr in water. In sediment, the release of SDZ was significantly related to TN, TP, and organic matter. The risk quotient (RQ) results revealed that sulfamethoxazole (SMX), CIP, and ENR were at high risk to microorganisms in water; while, SMX and NOR were at high risk in sediments. The result from the estimated daily intakes (health risk quotient, HQ<1) suggested that the antibiotics might not pose a risk to human health by dietary exposure assessment; however, sediments may become an accumulation reservoir of antibiotics and cause secondary pollution, of which the local management should raise awareness.