Human ophthalmomyiasis externa caused by the sheep botfly Oestrus ovis:a case report from Karachi,Pakistan

Ocular myiasis due to Oestrus ovis larvae infestation is an eye infection in humans.A case of ophthalmomyiasis externa in a young male from Karachi,Pakistan in winter(December 2012),without history of close proximity to domestic animals or visit to any rural area was reported.The condition is self-limiting and the disease is confined to the conjunctiva.The eye was locally anesthetized and washed with 5%povidine iodine solution.A total number of 27 first instar larvae of Oestrus ovis were removed with fine forceps.The patient received 0.5%moxifloxacin and diclofenac eye drops for one week.His eye was examined after one day,one week and one month and the recovery status was favorable.The present case raise the awareness among ophthalmologists regarding larval conjunctivitis as one of the causes of conjunctivitis and it can occur throughout the year in any season including winter.Moreover,it can occurr in any area either rural or urban with or without close proximity to domestic animals especially in subtropical regions with high parasitic burden.

Effects of a glyphosate-based herbicide on the oestrous cycle of rats

Objective:To determine the effects of a glyphosate-based herbicide on the oestrous cycle of rats.Methods:Fifteen adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups.Group A served as the control group,while groups B and C received 250 and 500 mg/kg of glyphosate-based herbicide orally for five oestrous cycles,respectively.Stages of oestrous cycle,oestrous cycle index,length of cycle,oestrous cycle ratio,serum estradiol and progesterone levels were determined.Results:The proestrus and oestrus stages of the glyphosate-based herbicide groups increased significantly(P<0.05),although proestrus in group C was not significantly different from the control group.There was a significant decrease in the metestrus and diestrus of the glyphosate-based herbicide groups(P<0.05).The oestrous cycle index of the glyphosate-based herbicide treated groups was altered;this was characterized by an increase in the oestrous index and a decrease in the metestrus and diestrus indexes.The proestrus index of group B increased,while that of group C decreased.The length of the cycle of the glyphosate-based herbicide groups significantly decreased from the 1st and 3rd week till the end of the study in groups B and C,respectively(P<0.05).There was a significant increase in the oestrous cycle ratio of the glyphosate-based herbicide groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).Though the estradiol and progesterone levels of the glyphosate-based herbicide groups increased and decreased,respectively,they were not significantly different from the control group.Conclusions:Glyphosate-based herbicide at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg can alter the pattern of the oestrous cycle in rats.

同期发情及腹腔内窥镜输精技术在肉羊产业化中的推广应用

同期发情及腹腔内窥镜输精技术在肉羊产业中的广泛应用,对于改变肉羊产业的生产方式及经济结构,达到一年两产或两年三产的目的具有重要意义。在繁殖及非繁殖季节对内蒙古地区当地杂交羊进行了同期发情及腹腔内窥镜输精处理。结果表明,繁殖季节与非繁殖季节的发情率均在93%以上,差异不显著;对部分具有小尾寒羊血统的杂交羊同期发情处理后的第6天进行手术检查黄体,其排卵率分别为2.45个/只和1.68个/只。在受胎率方面,腹腔内窥镜输精的受胎率显著高于常规法人工授精的受胎率。

Effect of recombinant and native buffalo OVGP1 on sperm functions and in vitro embryo development: a comparative study

Background： An oviduct-specific glycoprotein, OVGP1, is synthesized and secreted by non-ciliated epithelial cells of the mammalian oviduct which provides an essential milieu for reproductive functions. The present study reports the effects of recombinant buffalo OVGP1 that lacks post-translational modifications, and native Buffalo OVGP1 isolated from oviductal tissue, on frozen-thawed sperm functions and in vitro embryo development.Results： The proportion of viable sperms was greater（P 〈 0.05） in the recombinant OVGP1-treated group compared to the native OVGP1-treated group at 2 h, 3 h, and 4 h of incubation. The proportion of motile sperms at3 h and 4 h of incubation; and membrane-intact sperms at 4 h was greater（P 〈 0.05） in the native OVGP1-treated group compared to the control and recombinant OVGP1-treated groups. The proportion of capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperms was greater（P 〈 0.05） in the native OVGP1-treated group compared to the recombinant OVGP1 group at 4 h. The rates of cleavage of embryos and their development to the blastocyst stage were greater（P 〈 0.05） in the presence of either native or recombinant OVGP1 in comparison to control at 10 μg/mL concentration as compared to 5 or 20 μg/mL.Conclusions： The study suggests that both native and recombinant OVGP1 impart a positive effect on various sperm features and in vitro embryo development. However, native OVGP1 was found to have a more pronounced effect in comparison to recombinant non-glycosylated OVGP1 on various sperm functions except viability. Hence,our current findings infer that glycosylation of OVGP1 might be essential in sustaining the sperm functions but not the in vitro embryo development.

Aqueous wood-ash extract of Parkia biglobosa causes reproductive toxicity in female mice

Background: The traditional culture of eating wood-ash extracts in some countries has led to many health problems.The study assessed the anti-fertility effects of the aqueous wood-ash extract of Parkia biglobosa on female Swissalbino mice. Methods: Healthy female albino mice were procured and randomly grouped into four groups (5/group)where control, 5, 50 and 100 mg/kg doses of the extract were orally administered for 20 days and microscopy ofvaginal smear carried out daily to determine anti-ovulatory activity. Oestrus cycle, including metestrus, diestrus andoestrus phases and histopathology of the uterus were examined daily and at the termination of the experiment.Results: At the end of the study, the highest number of circles (4.80 ± 0.20) was recorded in the control group,administered distilled water, while the lowest number of circles (3.00 ± 0.32) was in the 100 mg/kg dose group.Oestrus (5.80 ± 0.37) also is highest in the control group and lowest (1.20 ± 0.37) in the 100 mg/kg dose group. Thegroup administered 100 mg/kg dose of the aqueous wood-ash extract of Parkia biglobosa had the highest diestrusindex of 45, while the lowest of 17 was obtained in the control group. Histopathology of the uterus tissues shows afew degenerate epithelial cells in 50 mg/kg group and moderate dilatation of lumen and glandular epithelial cells in100 mg/kg group. Conclusion: The study revealed dose-dependent anti-fertility effects of the aqueous wood-ashextract of Parkia biglobosa on female albino mice, which implies its potential reproductive toxicity in humans.

Successful embryo transfer in Tianzhu white yak using standard protocol

The present study was carried out to investigate the efficiency of superovulation, oestrus synchroni-zation, and embryo recovery in Tianzhu white yaks and also to confirm the pregnancy rate of black yaks, to which embryos collected from white yaks were transplanted. Forty-seven yaks were selected from different experiment groups, including 10 Tianzhu white female yaks (donor, group A) and 37 black female yaks (recipient, groups B and C). Superovulation of the donor was induced by the application procedure of CIDR-B + FSH + PG. Oestrus synchronization of recipients was induced using two meth-ods: group B was given the same treatment as group A, except that the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) injection was not administered, whereas group C was injected with cloprostenol only once when corpus luteum (corpora lutea) was (were) palpated. The results showed that the oestrous rates in group A were higher (80%) than those in group B (60%) and group C (44.5%). As for the efficiency of su-perovulation, it was indicated that the mean numbers (±SD) of total corpora lutea, follicles, viable (transferable), and degenerated embryos were 4.75 ± 2.19, 1.13 ± 0.83, 2.50 ± 1.31, and 1.38 ± 0.92, re-spectively. The mean embryo recovery rates were 55.6%. All together, 18 viable embryos of Tianzhu white yak were obtained and 12 of them were transplanted to 10 recipients. The pregnancy rate was 50% and the delivery rate was 40%.

Applying bases for "double control" artificial breeding of giant panda in captivity

THE giant panda is a kind of endangered rare animal,the number of which is less than onethousand at present,specially distributed in China.According to the protective scheme issuedby The International Association of Nature Protection,stock population in captivity must