Toward rapid silica analysis of CPDM samples: Deposition of recovered dust and analysis by FTIR.

The ongoing resurgence of severe Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in the US has been linked to overexposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS, which is predominantly present as quartz and regulated as such). Capabilities that enable more frequent RCS monitoring are highly sought. Recent developments include field-based quartz analysis of traditional filter samples-collected on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) filters-using portable Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

A novel ENU-induced ankyrin-1 mutation impairs parasite invasion and increases erythrocyte clearance during malaria infection in mice.

Genetic defects in various red blood cell (RBC) cytoskeletal proteins have been long associated with changes in susceptibility towards malaria infection. In particular, while ankyrin (Ank-1) mutations account for approximately 50% of hereditary spherocytosis (HS) cases, an association with malaria is not well-established, and conflicting evidence has been reported. We describe a novel N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced ankyrin mutation MRI61689 that gives rise to two different ankyrin transcripts: one with an introduced splice acceptor site resulting a frameshift, the other with a skipped exon.

A novel ENU-mutation in ankyrin-1 disrupts malaria parasite maturation in red blood cells of mice.

The blood stage of the plasmodium parasite life cycle is responsible for the clinical symptoms of malaria. Epidemiological studies have identified coincidental malarial endemicity and multiple red blood cell (RBC) disorders. Many RBC disorders result from mutations in genes encoding cytoskeletal proteins and these are associated with increased protection against malarial infections.

Temporal variations of LH and testosterone in arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from birth to adulthood.

To determine the onset of puberty in Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), a longitudinal study was conducted in 5 captive males at the National Wildlife Research Centre, Taif (Saudi Arabia). From birth to 20 months of age, twice weekly, animals were weighed and blood was assayed for LH and testosterone. Four periods were defined by analysis of the hormonal profile.

Length of estrous cycle and gestation in the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and the importance of the male presence for induction of postpartum estrus.

The reproduction of the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) has been studied in a breeding center in Taif (Saudi Arabia). In the first experiment, three groups of females were assigned to groups immediately after calving. In group 1, from the day of calving the females had visual and olfactory but not physical contact with a male.

Concurrent avian pox and Newcastle disease infection in a Houbara bustard (Chlamydotts undulatd).

A case of acute respiratory disease was observed on a 3-month-old Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulatd) at the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) breeding unit. Newcastle disease (ND) and avian pox viruses were isolated from the lungs, spleen and trachea of the affected bird. A heavy secondary bacterial infection was also noticed.

Genetic study of Gazella gazella: chromosomal and allozymic data.

Some subspecies of Gazella gazella are studied by means of protein electrophoresis (gazella, cora, and erlangeri) and cytogenetics (gazella, cora, erlangeri and farasani), and are compared to G. subgutturosa. Variability parameters and genetic distances are computed from allozyme data at 24 loci.

Serum chemistry values for Arabian sand gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica).

Values for urea, creatinine, glucose, total bilirubin, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphates, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate deshydrogenase, and creatine-kinase are reported for the first time for 32 sand gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica) in Saudi Arabia. Comparisons were made between two groups: one sampled before a trip and the other sampled after a 14 hr trip. Only aspartate aminotransferase was higher in the second group; magnesium and phosphates were lower in that group.

An outbreak of tuberculosis in a captive herd of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx): management.

An outbreak of tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis in a herd of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) was managed by sanitary and medical measures. The sanitary measures included the isolation of infected animals, the monitoring of animals with a range of diagnostic tests and the hand-rearing of the progeny of the infected herd. All the infected oryx were treated with a mixture of isoniazid at 10 mg/kg bodyweight, ethambutol hydrochloride at 15 mg/kg bodyweight and rifampicin at 10 mg/kg bodyweight administered daily in the drinking water.

An outbreak of tuberculosis in a captive herd of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx): diagnosis and monitoring.

An outbreak of tuberculosis induced a mortality of 25 per cent in a captive herd of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). The diagnostic screening tests used on live animals included the comparative skin test, indirect and comparative ELISA tests and lymphocyte transformation tests. Difficulties in the interpretation of these tests stemmed principally from the facts that false negatives and false positives were encountered and that the threshold of positivity was difficult to establish with the ELISA test.

Chromosomal polymorphism in sand gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica).

A total of 84 Gazella subgutturosa from three captive populations (two in Saudi Arabia, one in Qatar) were karyotyped. The number of chromosomes is 33, 32, or 31 for the males and 32, 31, or 30 for the females because of the X-autosome translocation that is common in the genus and a centric fusion between the two pairs of acrocentric chromosomes. The G- and R-banded karyotypes of gazelles translocated show that this fusion is the same as that previously reported for gazelles from Jordan.

Chlamydiosis in a captive group of Houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata).

A chlamydiosis outbreak occurred in a Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) captive breeding group in Saudi Arabia, inducing peracute deaths, highly variable clinical signs, and pathological and histological lesions. Typical inclusion bodies in stained impression smears of spleen and prevalence (80%) of antibodies against Chlamydia, detected by a competitive enzyme immunoassay test, provided the bases for the diagnosis. This is the first report on a chlamydiosis outbreak in birds of the family Otididae.

Pharmacokinetics of doxycycline after parenteral administration in the Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata).

Fourteen adult Houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata) infected with Chlamydia psittaci were administered doxycycline at 100 mg/kg body weight in seven intramuscular or subcutaneous injections at intervals of 7, 7, 7, 6, 6, and 5 days. Blood levels of doxycycline were measured after the first and seventh injections at the following intervals: 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, and 180 hours. During these two periods, most of the birds showed plasma doxycycline levels in excess of 1 micrograms/ml, demonstrating effective doxycycline levels for 45 days.

An unusual Gazella dama karyotype.

The chromosomes of a female gazelle (Gazella dama) were investigated using GTG, RBG and C banding techniques. Their banding patterns showed that autosomes are involved in a complex of four Robertsonian translocations.

Biochemical parameters following capture myopathy in one Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).

Twenty-three biochemistry parameters and hematocrit were followed during 10 days in a 13 months old Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) during capture myopathy. An increase was found in bilirubin, creatine-kinase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels, but not in potassium level. Most of the parameters analyzed were the first given for this species.

Serological survey for bovine bacterial and viral pathogens in captive Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx Pallas, 1776).

Tests for antibodies to bovine bacterial and viral pathogens were conducted on 239 sera from 128 Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from seven locations (Taif, Riyadh and Mahazat as Said, Saudi Arabia; San Diego, United States of America [USA]; Shaumari, Jordan; Qatar; and Bahrain). No antibodies to Pasteurella multocida type E or epizootic haemorrhagic disease 1 virus were found. Antibodies to Brucella abortus, P.

Capripoxvirus disease in an Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) from Saudi Arabia.

Lumpy skin disease caused by a capripoxvirus was observed in a captive-bred female Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) at the National Wildlife Research Center, Taif, Saudi Arabia. Clinical signs included severe general depression with fever, anorexia, greater than 1,000 nodular cutaneous lesions and gradual recovery over 2 mo. The virus was found by electron microscopy and paired sera showed an increasing virus neutralization antibody titer against capripoxvirus.

Hematological and serum chemistry values for Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).

Blood samples obtained from 73 captive Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were analyzed for hematology and serum chemistry values. Compared with other data from this animal RBC, WBC, bilirubin and ASAT values are lower, but glucose, urea and uric acid values are higher.

Robertsonian chromosome polymorphism in the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).

A Robertsonian translocation was found in a herd of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). The translocated chromosome, when analyzed by G-banding, seemed to involve the fusion of chromosomes 17 and 19. The results of C-banding suggested that the fused chromosome is dicentric.

The G- and C-banding karyotype of the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).

The chromosomes of the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were investigated using GTG and CBG banding technique. Their banding patterns were compared to those of goat and cattle.