ABSTRACT
Body size and testicular measurements were found to be important parameters for the evaluation of the breeding quality. A study was therefore carried out on Arabia bucks (n = 180) to record normal testicular characteristics and to evaluate the effect of age on body (BCS, BW, WH, CG, AC, CS, and BL) and testicular (SC, TW, EW, TL, TD, and TL) measurements. Animals were classified into three age classes (less than or equal to 12 months, from 12 to 24 months, and over 24 months). The BW, BCS, testicular, and body measurements of the 3rd age group were significantly higher than those of age groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.01). Male age had a significant effect (p < 0.01) on BW, BCS, and body measurements. Indeed, the parameters of the 3rd age group were significantly higher than those of the 1st and 2nd age groups (p < 0.01). The same was true for testicular measurements (SC, TL, TW, EW, and EL) except for testicular diameter (TD) where the results of the first two age groups had no significant difference. The highest correlation coefficients were recorded between BW and all body (r = 0.7-0.9) and testicular traits (r = 0.72-0.85), BCS and body measurements (r = 0.73-0.89), and scrotal circumference and testicular measurements (r = 0.77-0.85). In conclusion, it was found that the use of BCS is readily measurable in live animals and is expected to be the best indicator of testicular and epididymal measurements. These results, particularly the predictive models developed, could be useful in the selection of males for reproduction.
Subject(s)
Body Size , Body Weight , Goats/physiology , Testis/physiology , Age Factors , Algeria , Animals , Male , Organ Size/physiologyABSTRACT
The influence that meteorological, climatological and environmental factors had on historical disease outbreaks is often speculated upon, but little investigated. Here, we explore potential associations between pandemic disease and climate over the last 2,500 years in Mediterranean history, focusing on ancient disease outbreaks and the Justinianic plague in particular. We underscore variation in the quality, quantity and interpretation of written evidence and proxy information from natural archives, the comlexity of identifying and disentangling past climatological and environmental drivers, and the need to integrate diverse methodologies to discern past climate-disease linkages and leverage historical experiences to prepare for the rapid expansion of novel pathogenic diseases. Although the difficulties entailed in establishing historical climate-pandemic linkages persist to the present, this is a research area as urgent as it is complex and historical perspectives are desperately needed.
ABSTRACT
and February 2009. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of infected livers with fascioliasis and to evaluate the economic loss due to the condemnation of livers infected with fascioliasis. A total of 3,457 cattle, 6,161 sheep and 5,764 goats were slaughtered and examined in El Tarf abattoir, north Algeria (humid climate), and 2,151 cattle, 5,724 sheep, 351 goats and 582 camels in Ouargla abattoir, south Algeria (saharan climate). In El Tarf region, the prevalence of fascioliasis infection was 26.7±2.5%, 6.5±0.4% and 2.5±0.2% in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively (P< 0.001). In Ouargla region, fascioliasis is reported for the first time in cattle (1.7±0.7%). Sheep, goats and camels were not infected. The overall economic loss due to hepatic condemnations as a result of fascioliasis was estimated at 60,000 euros in El Tarf region and 4,000 euros in Ouargla region. According to this study, it can be concluded that fascioliasis is endemic in the northern Algeria in ruminants and, the disease should be considered seriously as a great threat to ruminant health and profitability.
ABSTRACT
The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of nutritional education (applied during young diabetic camps) on the nutrition knowledge acquisition and the effective application of this knowledge by young diabetics in their dietary intake composition. This study included ten volunteers pupils, aged from 12 to 15 years. Each meal provided was quantified before and after consumption to determine during three consecutive days the exact amount of food consumed. Our results showed that the young diabetic could regulate his energetic intake in accordance with his needs. He didn't modify the proposed food when it was normocaloric (2615 +/- 390 Kcal), but he increased his food intake near the recommended needs when the proposed food was hypocaloric (1766 +/- 283 Kcal) and decreased his consumption when the proposed food was hypercaloric (4271 +/- 511 Kcal). Moreover, this study showed a significant negative correlation between the total energy intake and the amount of carbohydrates (r = -0.46, p < 0.01) and proteins (r = -0.70, p < 0.01), while it was positive between the first and lipid intake (r = 0.63, p < 0.01).
