Discrimination of Wild and Hatchery-Reared Black Porgy <i>Acanthopagrus schlegelii</i>Using Otolith Elements Analysis of Magnesium and Manganese

Due to the decreasing resources of both inshore and offshore fisheries, many organizations have released fry to enhance their stock in recent years. The discrimination between wild and hatchery-reared individuals must be performed to assess the efficiency of the release. Fresh groundwater is generally used by hatchers in southwesternTaiwanto decrease salinity and to promote the growth of larvae prior to feeding;thus, the elemental composition of the otolith may be different in stocks, and this difference may be used for identification. This study used Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) to analyze the trace elements in the nuclei of otoliths from black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii, including six hatchery reared specimens from the Tainan County, three recaptured marked and ten captured unmarked specimens from the Miaoli County in Northwestern coast of Taiwan. Among the six hatchery and three recaptured marked specimens, which ranged from 4.9 to23.4 cmin body length, the nucleus zone (relative to within5 cmin size growth) of the otoliths showed higher magnesium concentrations than that observed on both edges. The distribution was similar to an inverse “V” shape. The otoliths also showed lower manganese concentrations near the nucleus and had higher values near the edges, resulting in a distribution similar to a “U” shape. According to the appeared shape of Mg2+/Ca2+ and Mn2+/Ca2+ ratio in the central area of the nucleus zone, this study determined six specimens which were from hatchery reared and three specimens were from wild among ten unmarked specimens captured from the Northwestern coast of Taiwan. Under the conditions used in this study, the absorption of calcium into the otolith was active and required energy in the seawater and freshwater, while the incorporation of magnesium and manganese was passive and was primarily affected by diffusion.

Anti- MSP-1_(19) antibody (IgG) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) response against malaria infection in pregnancy in South Western Nigeria

Objective:Although immunity to malaria is reduced in pregnancy,the maternal immune system still continues to respond to malaria infection by the production of antibodies.IgG has been reported to play significant role in immune response against P.falciparum.Anti-MSP-119 antibody and reactive oxygen species have been shown to be protective against malaria infection in children.This work assessed the response of anti-MSP-119 antibody（a promising blood stage vaccine candidate antigen） and oxidative stress in 250 pregnant women.Methods: Blood samples were collected in dry and wet seasons.Plasmodium falciparum infection was determined by microscopy, anti-MSP-119 IgG level was investigated using ELISA.Malondiadelhyde（MDA） and reduced glutathione （GSH） were used as indicators of oxidative stress and they were quantified spectrophotometrically.Results: Parasitaemia was significantly higher（P【0.05） in wet than dry season and its level decreased with gravidity.There was a significant increase（P【0.05） in anti-MSP-119 IgG and MDA levels in the dry than wet season.Anti-MSP-119 IgG and MDA levels were significantly higher in P.falciparum positive primigravidae than P.falciparum negative primigravidae in both wet and dry seasons.In wet season anti-MSP-119 IgG level was significantly increased（P【0.05） in P.falciparum positive multigravidae than P.falciparum negative. The anti-MSP-119 IgG and MDA were significant higher in P.falciparum positive multigravidae than primigravidae. Reduced glutathione（GSH） level was significantly reduced（P【0.05） among malaria positive than malaria negative patients in both seasons.Conclusion:This study suggests that IgG and MDA response were positively associated with the presence of malaria infection.

Role of malaria induced oxidative stress on anaemia in pregnancy

Objective:To assess the role of oxidative stress on anaemia in pregnancy.Methods:Blood samples were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women who came for antenatal clinic and medical check at Comprehensive Health Center,Akungba-Akoko and Iwaro General Hospital in Akoko Area of Ondo State,Nigeria.Thick and thin blood films were prepared and used for malaria parasite counts.Haemoglobin level was determined by colorimetric method using Drabkin’s solution.Oxidative status was determined using malondiadelhyde level as an indicator of lipid peroxidation,while ascorbic acid and reduced glutathione levels were measured by standard spectrophotometric methods.Results:Mean parasite density was significantly higher in pregnant women than non-pregnant women(P【0.05).Haemoglobin level was significantly reduced in malaria positive pregnant and non-pregnant women than malaria negative(8.3-10.0 g/dL)(P【0.05).The oxidative status indicated that malondialdehyde(MDA) was significantly increased in pregnant[(2.5±0.7) nmol/mL]than non-pregnant women[(1.8±0.1) nmol/mL] (P【0.05),while Vit C and superoxide dismutase(SOD) levels were significantly reduced in pregnant than non-pregnant women(P【0.05).There was an inverse correlation between Hb and MDA levels in pregnant women studied.Positive correlation was observed between the mean MDA level and parasite density(r = 0.53).The Hb level decreased as the parasite density and MDA level increased in pregnant women.Conclusions:This study shows that oxidative stress, caused by malaria infection could be part of the contributing factors responsible for anaemia in pregnancy.

Alstonia boonei De Wild oil extract in the management of mosquito(Anopheles gambiae),a vector of malaria disease

Objective:To evaluate the insecticidal potential of Alstonia boonei(A.boonei)oils and derivatives against different life stages of a malaria vector,Anopheles gambiae.Methods:The leaf,stem bark and root bark of A.boonei were collected from an open field and air dried before being blended to fine powder.Oils from this plant were extracted by cold extraction and were prepared at different concentrations.Contact toxicity of A.boonei was tested against the larvae and pupae of the insect while smoke toxicity of the plant materials in form of mosquito coil was tested against the adult insect.Results:Alstodine recorded the highest insect mortality rate and the order of susceptibility of the life stages of the insect to the plant was pupae<adult<larvae.Alstodine recorded the highest repellant activity(100%)after 4-5 h of application.However,all the treatments achieved high repellency(above 70%)after 6-7 h of application compared with the control.The formulated mosquito coil(smoke)of A.boonei oil extracts and derivatives showed high rate of protectability as they achieved above 55%protection.Moreover,alstodine(83.22%)showed the greatest smoke toxicity effect on the insect as it recorded almost the same percentage protection as the positive control(Raid synthetic insecticide)which recorded 83.56%protection.Conclusions:This present study has proven A.boonei oil extracts and derivatives as a potential botanical insecticide which could serve as a new thoroughfare of mosquito control.Moreover,the order of effectiveness of the plant can be arranged thus:alstodine>alstonine>stem bark extract>leaf extract>root bark extract.