Pre-harvest application of calcium chloride and chitosan on fruit quality and storability of 'Early Swelling' peach during cold storage / Efeito da aplicação pré-colheita de cloreto de cálcio e quitosano na qualidade e no armazenamento de frutos de pessegueiro da variedade 'Early Swelling' durante o armazenamento a frio

ABSTRACT Studies related with the storage of peach fruits have received great relevance in Egypt. In this study, the effect of pre-harvest sprays of calcium chloride and chitosan, separately and in combination, on quality attributes and storability of peach fruits stored at 0±1 °C was studied. 'Early Swelling' peach trees were sprayed twice with 1% or 2% calcium chloride. The first spraying was at pea stage, while the second one was performed at 10 days before harvesting. Chitosan sprays were performed at 0.5 or 1%, alone or in combination with 1 and 2% calcium chloride, at 10 days before harvesting. Untreated trees served as control. Fruits were harvested at maturity stage, then packaged and stored at 0±1 °C and 85-90% of relative humidity. Fruit physical and chemical properties were evaluated at 7-day intervals. Results showed that pre-harvest application with 2% CaCl2+1% chitosan was most effective in minimizing weight loss (%) and decay (%), as well as in maintaining maximum firmness and lengthening shelf life. Fruit color was not affected by any of the treatments, while untreated fruits and calcium chloride treatment alone, at both applied concentrations, maintained higher total soluble solids (TSS, %), total phenolic content, and lower titratable acidity percentage.

RESUMO Estudos relacionados ao armazenamento de pêssego tem sido considerado de grande relevância no Egito. Neste estudo, o efeito da pulverização pré-colheita com cloereto de calico e quitosano, isoladamente ou em conjunto, na qualidade e na capacidade de armazenamento de frutos de pessegueiro armazenados a 0±1 °C foi avaliada. Frutos da variedade 'Early Swelling' foram tratados com 1,0 ou 2,0% de cloreto de cálcio. O primeiro tratamento foi aplicado num estado precoce de formação do fruto enquanto o segundo foi aplicado 10 dias antes da colheita. Quitosano foi aplicado nas concentrações de 0,5 ou 1,0%, isoladamente ou em combinação com 1,0% ou 2,0% de cloreto de cálcio também 10 dias antes da colheita. Árvores não tratadas serviram como controle. Os frutos foram colhidos quando maduros, empacotados e mantidos a 0±1 °C e sob condições de humidade relativa de 85-90%. Propriedades físicas e químicas dos frutos foram avaliadas em intervalos de 7 dias. Os resultados mostraram que a aplicação de 2% CaCl2 + 1% quitosano foi a mais eficaz em minimizar a perda de peso (%) e a senescência (%), bem como na manutenção da rigidez e aumento do período de vida em prateleira. A cor dos frutos não foi afectada por nenhum dos tratamentos enquanto frutos não tratados e cloreto de cálcio isoladamente, em ambas as concentrações, mantiveram um elevado teor de sólidos solúveis totais (TSS, %), elevado teor de fenóis e reduzida percentagem de acidez de titulação.

Development of 116 kDa fraction for detecting experimental Toxoplasma gondii infections in mice

Serological diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection using crude antigens may not be more accurate. To increase the diagnostic potency of antigens, isolation of their immunogenic fractions could be useful. The current re-search adopted to obtain an affinity isolated fraction from RH strain using CNBr Sepharose 4B column coupled with infected mice sera helping in detection of IgM and IgG of toxoplasmosis due to RH strain and other strains. The isolated fraction was characterized by SDS-PAGE. Moreover, the diagnostic potency of the fraction was assessed by indirect ELISA in mice experimentally infected with RH strain and two other local strains; one of sheep origin and the other of human origin. The fraction was found to be consisted of a single band of 116 kDa compared with 17 bands ranged from 116 to 16 kDa associated with crude ex-tract. The fraction proved potent diagnostic potentials of acute and chronic mice toxoplasmosis. Where it was detected both IgM and IgG antibodies as early as two days and as late as 2 months post experimental infection with any of the three strains. The level of detected IgM and IgG by RH fraction was higher in mice infected with RH strain than with local strains except IgM due to sheep strain parasite. The 116 kDa fraction of T. gondii tachyzoites can be considered as a candidate in improving of serodiagnosisof Toxoplasma infections

Sensitivity and specificity of wet mount, culture and PCR in diagnosing trichomonas vaginalis infection in females attending the gynecology clinic of Minia University Hospital

Background and Objectives: trichomoniasis affects approximately 180 million women worldwide. It can have an atypical or even asymptomatic course. Therefore, to accurately diagnose this disease, microbiological investigation is necessary. The aim of this study was to compare wet mount, culture and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]based approaches to establish which method[s] was [were] more efficient in the laboratory diagnosis of trichomoniasis

Study design: one hundred fifty female patients attending the Gynecology Clinic of Minia University Hospital were examined clinically and by different diagnostic tools for detection of T. vaginalis in vaginal samples. For analysis of sensitivity and specificity of the methods used, the PCR technique was used as a gold standard diagnostic tool

Results: T. vaginalis infection was diagnosed in 11 [7.33%], 19 [12.7%], and 50 [33.3%] patients using wet mount, culture in Diamond's medium and PCR techniques, respectively. Although the wet mount for diagnosing T. vaginalis is specific, its sensitivity was poor [22%]. On the other hand, while the sensitivity and specificity of culture technique were 38% and 100%, those of PCR were 95% and 100%, respectively

Conclusion: comparison of different methods for diagnosis of T. vagina/is showed that at least two techniques, such as culture and PCR, have the potential for better diagnosis of infection. PCR detection of T. vaginalis was highly specific and sensitive, but its availability and cost effectiveness is questionable. However, PCR could provide a better alternative for laboratory diagnosis of trichomoniasis by culture

Scanning electron microscopical study of third instar of gasterophilus haemorrohidalis [diptera: gasterophilidae]

Third-stage larva of the bot-fly Gasterophilus haemorrohidalis obtained from the stomach of Egyptian equines were studied macroscopically and by light microscope; and for the first time by the scanning electron microscope with particular reference to the anterior cephalic region and the newly discovered sensory array of the mouth hooks. The design of that array was compared with that of larvae of Gasterophilus intestinalis and Gasterophilus nasalis and was found to be different mainly in the shape of the sensilla and the number of the angled plates and that these fine criteria may be used to differentiate other larvae. In addition, more detailed description was added to the cephalic and caudal regions which are of important taxonomic value. Gasterophiline larvae are of veterinary and medical importance, with some human creeping cutaneous myiasis, ophthalmomyiasis and one recent record of intestinal myiasis