High Antiparasitic and Antimicrobial Performance of Biosynthesized NiO Nanoparticles via Wasted Olive Leaf Extract.

Background: Nowadays, recycling agricultural waste is of the utmost importance in the world for the production of valuable bioactive compounds and environmental protection. Olive leaf bioactive compounds have a significant potential impact on the pharmaceutical industry. These compounds possess remarkable biological characteristics, including antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and antioxidant properties. Methods: The present study demonstrates a green synthetic approach for the fabrication of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-olive) using aqueous wasted olive leaf extract. Calcination of NiO-olive at 500°C led to the fabrication of pure NiO nanoparticles (NiO-pure). Different techniques, such as thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fitted with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were used to characterize both NiO-olive and NiO-pure. The extract and nanoparticles were assessed for antiparasitic activity against adult ticks (Hyalomma dromedarii) and antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. Results: From XRD, the crystal sizes of NiO-olive and NiO-pure were 32.94 nm and 13.85 nm, respectively. TGA, FTIR, and EDX showed the presence of olive organic residues in NiO-olive and their absence in NiO-pure. SEM and TEM showed an asymmetrical structure of NiO-olive and a regular, semi-spherical structure of NiO-pure. UV-Vis spectra showed surface plasmon resonance of NPs. Antiparasitic activity showed the highest mortality rate of 95% observed at a concentration of 0.06 mg/mL after four days of incubation. The antimicrobial activity showed the largest inhibition zone diameter of 33 ± 0.2 mm against the Candida albicans strain. Conclusion: Nanoparticles of NiO-olive outperformed nanoparticles of NiO-pure and olive leaf extract in both antiparasitic and antimicrobial tests. These findings imply that NiO-olive may be widely used as an eco-friendly and effective antiparasitic and disinfection of sewage.

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of Fe (III), Co (II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes with tetradentate Schiff base ligand derived from protocatechualdehyde with 2-aminophenol.

Schiff base ligand (H(3)L) was prepared from the condensation reaction of protochatechualdehyde (3,4-dihydroxybenzaldhyde)with 2-amino phenol. From the direct reaction of the ligand (H(3)L) with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) chlorides, and Fe(III)and Zn(II)nitrates in 2 M/1 L molar ratio, the five new neutral complexes were prepared. The characterization of the newly formed compounds was done by (1)H NMR, UV-Vis, and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the metal complexes was studied and compared with that of free ligand.

Nutritional and bacteriological properties of some game duck carcasses.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the body composition, bacteriological quality, proximate composition, amino acids content, total lipids fractionation, as well as fatty acids profile in breast and thigh meat (with skin) of males and females of two species of game ducks namely: Pintail (Anas acuta) and garganey (Anas querquedula). The obtained results are as follows. The live weight of pentail and garganey females constituted 59.0 and 86.0% of male's weight in pintail and garganey, respectively. The bacteriological quality revealed that the mean values of psychrotrophs, enterobacteriaceae, pseudomonas, coliforms, streptococci and Staph. aureus were 4.1, 2.8, 1.7, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.1 log 10 n/g of pintail breast muscle. The corresponding values in garganey breast muscle was 3.8, 3.2, 2.0, 3.0, 2.9 and 3.1, respectively. In the thigh of pintail and garganey, the results were more or less different. Neither salmonella nor Clostridium perfringens could be isolated from examined game duck carcasses. Protein content ranged from 19.0 to 23.8%, fat 4.8 to 23.2%, ash 1.0 to 1.4% and energy value 580 to 1191 kJ/100 g in pintail meat against 20.8 to 23.3% protein, 9.3 to 16.1% fat, 1.3 to 1.4% ash and 741 to 952 kJ/100 g in garganey meat. Breast meat of pintail recorded high content of iron (5.12 and 6.19 mg/100 g wet basis) in males and females, respectively, against 4.22 and 6.14 mg/100 g in garganey meat. The essential amino acids content ranged from 34.3 to 38.6 g/100 g protein in pintail meat against 36.3 to 38.1 g/100 g protein in garganey meat. The total lipids of pintail and garganey were fractionated to seven fractions. The major fatty acids in pintail and garganey lipids were oleic, palmitic and stearic. Besides, garganey lipids had more unsaturated fatty acids content compared with pintail.

Investigation on the nutritive value and microbiological quality of wild quail carcasses.

Quail meats have many advantages and superiority one the other species of poultry. This study was planned to throw plenty of light on gross chemical composition, lipid fractions, fatty acids composition, amino acids composition, of thigh and breast of male and female wild quail meat as well as the microbiological quality. The mean values of moisture, protein, fat, ash and energy contents ranged from 60.1 to 69.2%, 55.0 to 68.8%, 28.8 to 42.1%, 2.40 to 3.63% and 696 to 1000 kJ, respectively. Seven fractions of lipids (phospholipids, monoglycerides, cholesterol, diglycerides, free fatty acids, triglycerides and hydrocarbons) were estimated. The individual fatty acids were determined. The mean total unsaturated fatty acids represented 73.9, 66.8, 60.2 and 67.5% of the total fatty acids in thigh male, breast male, thigh female and breast female quail, while that of saturated fatty acids were 25.1, 30.1, 32.0 and 30.4%, respectively. The essential fatty acids in thigh and breast males were 34.8 and 29.0% against 25.7 and 28.1% in females. Amino acids composition were varied from 82.6 to 95.2 g/100 g protein in thigh, breast of male and female wild quails. The essential amino acids were illustrated. The mean values of psychotrophic, Pseudomonas, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, Streptococci and Staph. aureus were 4 x 10(4), 1 x 10(2), 4 x 10(3), 3 x 10(3), 6 x 10(2) and 1 x 10(3) cfu/g, respectively. E. coli, Enterobacter agglumerans, E. cloacae, Morganella morgani, Proteus mirabilis, and P. vulgaris could be isolated in varying percentages. Neither Salmonellae nor Clostridium perfringens could be isolated from the examined quails. The public health aspects for the estimated and isolated criteria were outlined.

Effect of alcohol and/or cocaine on blood glutathione and the ultrastructure of the liver of pregnant CF-1 mice.

Alcohol and cocaine are abused by the general population as well as by pregnant women. Since alcohol and cocaine are hepatotoxic, pregnant mice were used to study the effect of alcohol and/or cocaine on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and on liver ultrastructure. Also, blood glutathione (GSH) and GSH related enzymes such as glutathione reductase (GSH-Rx) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were studied. The mice were treated with 0.6 g/kg ethanol twice daily via gavage and/or 20 mg/kg of cocaine hydrochloride intravenously once daily. The treatment was from day 6 to 15 of gestation and these studies were performed at day 18. Our results indicated a significant increase in AST level after treatment with ethanol alone or in combination with cocaine. The blood GSH levels decreased significantly in all the treated groups compared to the control. The activity of GSH-Px was significantly decreased only in the ethanol and cocaine combination group compared to the control. Histopathological studies indicated that co-administration of ethanol and cocaine lead to a significant potentiation in liver toxicity as indicated by increased fatty infiltration.

Observations on the use of ELISA for detection of Babesia bigemina specific antibodies.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated to study the cause of the high level of background reactions which hinders the application of ELISA as a field diagnostic test for Babesia bigemina. Different blockers to improve the specificity of the ELISA were compared. THe use of soya milk (25%), gelatin (2.5%) and chicken serum (2%) did not significantly improve the specificity of the test. It was noted that the presence of fibrinogen contributed to the positive ELISA results more than the presence of B. bigemina specific antigen. This conclusion was confirmed by testing bovine fibrinogen as a host protein antigen in ELISA which strongly responded against B. bigemina positive control sera. It is suggested that application of ELISA for B. bigemina is still unreliable until a more purified Babesia-specific antigen or specific monoclonal antibodies are available.

Camel (Camelus dromedarius) and sheep (Ovis aries) meat as a source of dog infection with some coccidian parasites.

Experimental infection of dogs with camel (Camelus dromedarius) meat resulted in infection of the dogs with Isospora canis, Hammondia heydorni and Sarcocystis cameli. The dogs fed sheep (Ovis aries) meat passed oocysts of Isospora canis, Isospora ohioensis and sporocyts of Sarcocystis spp. Extraintestinal stages were detected in the intestinal lymph node of a rabbit killed 4 days following inoculation with Isospora ohioensis oocysts. Dogs fed the rabbit (killed 4 days after inoculation with I. ohioensis) passed I. ohioensis oocysts in their faeces 8 days post-infection.

Ultrastructural features of vocal fold nodules and polyps.

Earlier investigation did not show any clear distinctive pathological features that differentiate vocal polyps from vocal nodules. The light microscopic distinctive features between the two lesions point in the direction of a more pronounced epithelial reaction and a more fibrous stromal change in vocal nodules. In the present study, 19 vocal polyps and 11 vocal nodules were subjected to ultrastructural examination aiming at finding distinctive features that may be pathognomic for each of these clinically distinct entities. The study was carried out by EM Philips 400 T. The results demonstrate that nodules showed epithelial changes in the form of gaping of the intercellular junctions and absence of the basal lamina in parts. These changes are less apparent in polyps, whereas the stromal changes are more pronounced and varied. The significance of these results and their interpretation are discussed.

Ultrastructure of Sarcocystis spp. from donkeys (Equus asinus) in Egypt.

The fine structure of Sarcocystis spp. from donkeys (Equus asinus) in Egypt is described. Sarcocysts were found in the oesophagus, diaphragm and heart of 18 of 20 donkeys. Only one type of mature muscle cyst was found. Sarcocysts were 120-410.6 X 48.4-50.2 microns. The primary cyst wall had numerous 3.3-3.7 microns villi. Each villus contained 20-60 fibrillar elements which extended from the ends and sides of the villi throughout the ground substance, where they became tightly packed. The bundles of fibrillar elements formed junctions with the pellicles of the metrocytes. Ultrastructurally, Sarcocystis spp. of the donkey was similar to sarcocysts previously described from the horse.

Haematological and biochemical changes in buffalo calves inoculated with Sarcocystis fusiformis from cats.

Two groups of buffalo calves were infected with Sarcocystis fusiformis sporocysts. Animals of the first group received each 5 X 10(5) sporocysts, those of the second group 5 million sporocysts. All calves were clinically normal during 6 weeks after infection. Minor changes were observed in the blood cytology, serum alkaline phosphatase, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, total proteins, urea and glucose of infected buffalo calves.

Tattooing, a new hope for secondary leukoderma.

A 10-year material of 1,000 post-burn patients have been reviewed. Dyschromia was found to be one of the commonest post-burn sequelae in both partial thickness and superficial burn. Patches of leukoderma surrounded by a zone of hyperpigmentation was the main feature in partial thickness burn, while hyperpigmentation follows superficial burn. Tattooing was tried on 30 patients as a permanent camouflage for leukodermic patches in exposed areas. Histological studies on 7 volunteers were carried out, showing the histological pattern of dyschromia and tattooing. The trial proved to be a success, though it still needs further refinement and improvement.

Menstrual variations in thermal properties of the human breast.

Menstrual variations in breast skin temperature (Tbr), heat flow (HF), volume (Vol), surface area (A), and core temperature (Tre) have been measured in 13 women. Measurements were made twice weekly on resting subjects throughout one cycle. Twelve of thirteen subjects showed increased Vol and A during the second half of the menstrual cycle; six also showed a minor peak prior to the midcycle rise in Tre. Eight of thirteen subjects had significant peaks in Tbr which preceded the estimated day of ovulation. Breast HF was generally low during the first half of the cycle, rising following estimated ovulation. Analysis of core-to-breast conductance indicates that a decrease in resistance to heat transfer occurs both during the luteal phase and at the Tbr peak. It is hypothesized that the control mechanism underlying the Tbr peak is independent of that controlling the postovulatory increases in Vol, HF, and Tre.

Intrinsic innervation of the urinary bladder of kangaroo and albino rats.

A comparative study of the intrinsic innervation in desert rodents (kangaroo rats) and others (albino rats) was carried out in an attempt to understand the functional anatomy of the bladder in these animals which are known to sustain severe water restraint. The bladder of the albino rat was innervated by predominantly thin nerves, more numerous beaded endings and few ganglia. That of the kangaroo rat had more numerous thick nerves (pre-ganglionic), large verve trunks, and ganglia which were extensively distributed in the wall. These findings indicate that the bladder of the albino rat depends mainly on the intrinsic innervation and facilatory micturition reflexes, while that of the kangaroo rat is intrinsically regulated, depending on a short neuron system. It was concluded that all the structural differences found might be essential for constant urine retention.