The First Case of Diarrhoea in Tibetan Sheep, Ovis aries, Caused by Balantidium coli in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China

This study was carried out to determine the pathogen-causing diarrhoea in sheep Ovis aries in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China. A trophozoite was identified as species of ciliate alveolates infecting the sheep based on morphological characteristics examined by microscope. It was mostly spherical, colourless and transparent, with many vesicles. Macronucleus and contractile vacuoles could not be distinguished. Size of the trophozoite was 80–180×70–150 μm and its surface was covered with cilia. Molecular analysis based on sequences of 18S rRNA and ITS genes confirmed the ciliate species as Balantidium coli. According to the literature, there have been many epidemiological investigations of B. coli infection in pigs, monkeys and humans. To our knowledge, this was the first report of B. coli infections in sheep in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area of China, or eleswhere around the world. Importantly, the sheep case was rare but raised our concern that B. coli may spread across species and expand its host range.

[ effect of microwave on micronucleus induction and nuclear division index changes on Balb/c mice lymphocytes

Biological effects of microwave radiation on living creatures have been the focus of many investigations over the last decade and the influence of different wave parameters such as frequency, power, exposure time, and modulation has been elucidated. The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of microwave radiation on alterations of micronucleus induction and nuclear divisions index under different conditions. A total of 48 Balb/c mice divided in eight groups [7 as cases and 1 as control] were exposed to microwave generator while restrained in specially designed Plexiglas chamber. Later, the frequency of micronucleus in binucleated lymphocytes and NDI was evaluated using micronucleus assay on mouse lymphocytes. Microwave radiation conditions [frequency, power, modulation and exposure time] showed no significant effect on frequency of micronucleus, however, the nuclear division index was significantly decreased under such conditions. Based on data found in our study, the microwave radiation as we used during the present work, caused significant effect on nuclear division index in mouse lymphocytes