• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.485-490
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• 2001

Farmers in the centre of Vietnam have a tradition of dosing young cattle with groundnut oil before fattening them on a diet of rice straw and road-side grass. These farmers claim the cattle grow faster. It was hypothesized that the effect of the oil could be to eliminate the protozoa from the rumen. This is known to increase the net microbial growth efficiency in the rumen and increase the protein supply to the animal. To test this hypothesis, two experiments were undertaken; one on-station with four cattle fitted with rumen cannulae and the second a growth trial with 25 young cattle in smallholder farms. When the cannulated animals were drenched with groundnut oil, the protozoa were eliminated from the rumen and animals could be kept free of protozoa by isolation. The ammonia concentration in the rumen fluid was decreased when the protozoa were eliminated and there was an indication of improved rumen dry matter degradability of the forage components of the diet. In the practical condition on the smallholder farms, the growth rates of cattle drenched with groundnut oil were increased considerably (65%) compared with untreated control animals. The laboratory results when taken together with the on-farm results indicate that these resource-poor farmers had been able to defaunate their cattle and to maintain the fauna-free state by isolation of their animals from extraneous stock. This traditional practice in Central Vietnam, whereby one family keeps only one or two animals that are hand fed and tethered, has quite a large potential for all of those countries where animals are fed agro-industrial by-products, as it is highly economic. The use of 1 litre of oil compared with 1 kg of rice polishing per day (300 kg over 300 days), would be highly profitable in all countries of South-East Asia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1738-1746
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of the experiment was to assess the effect of increasing amounts of Leucaena leucocephala forage on dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), enteric methane production, rumen fermentation pattern and protozoa population in cattle fed Pennisetum purpureum and housed in respiration chambers. Methods: Five crossbred heifers (Bos taurus${\times}$Bos indicus) (BW: $295{\pm}6kg$) were fed chopped P. purpureum grass and increasing levels of L. leucocephala (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of dry matter [DM]) in a $5{\times}5$ Latin square design. Results: The voluntary intake and methane production were measured for 23 h per day in respiration chambers; molar proportions of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were determined at 6 h postprandial period. Molar concentration of VFAs in rumen liquor were similar (p>0.05) between treatments. However, methane production decreased linearly (p<0.005), recording a maximum reduction of up to ~61% with 80% of DM incorporation of L. leucocephala in the ration and no changes (p>0.05) in rumen protozoa population were found. Conclusion: Inclusion of 80% of L. leucocephala in the diet of heifers fed low-quality tropical forages has the capacity to reduce up to 61.3% enteric methane emission without affecting DMI, OMI, and protozoa population in rumen liquor.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.91-99
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• 1992

Cell structure is based on proteins. Since the antibody is proteous substance, the continous low protein feeding decreases the resistance of host against pathogenic agents. The present study was designed to investigate the infectivity of protozoa to rats which were fed with variously prescribed diets. Experimental group was divided into 4 groups according to the level of casein in the diet, group I: casein 0%, group II: casein 5%, group III: casein 15%, group IV: casein 30%. Each animal was fed for 5 weeks followed by inoculation of protozoa in cecum and sacrified each 1 week later of the infection. Each diet group, non infected with protozoa was recognized as the control. Result are summerized as follows : 1. All the rats of group I died in 2∼4 weeks and 2 of 12 rats in group II were also died in the period. 2. The growth rate and FER were high in group III and IV compared with group II. Therefore low protein feeding decrease growth and feed efficaly ratio(FER). 3. The pH of caecal contents between the infected group and control showed no difference, but the values of group III and IV were higher than the group II. Low pH of the caecal contents provides a suitable condition for determining their susceptibility to Entameoeba histolytical trophozoite. 4. Amounts of serum total protein in group II, III and IV showed no significant difference with the control and infected group, but amounts in group III and IV were higher than the group II. Therefore, continuous low protein feeding decrease serum total protein. 5. Albumin, ${\alpha}$1, gloulin, ${\alpha}$2 globulin, ${\beta}$ globulin, ${\gamma}$ gloulin of group III and IV were all high to compare than the group II. Albumins of group III and IV of control was higher than infected group, but there was no difference in ${\gamma}$ globulin between the infected and control group.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.365-371
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• 1995

Filamentous bacteria and other large microorganisms, which are useful indicators of bulking and poeration, were identified by microscopic observation. Activated sludge samples were taken from the aeration basin of 5 municipal wasterwater plants and 6 industrial ones. Among the filamentous bacteria founds, Microthrix parvicella was most frequently present, followed by type 0041, type 1701 and Nocardia. This frequency of occurrence was similar to those reorted in USA and the Neterland. The morphology of filamentous bacteria observed were generally identical with those previously reported. except type 1701 which had slender filament diameter. Among protozoa, Vorticella was most frequently present, followed by Aspidisca, Opercularia and Difflugia. Philodina was the only metazoa observed. Both filamentous bacteria and protozoa would be useful indicator organisms. The potential for these organisms as indicators were discussed.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1146-1156
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of two plant additives, rich in polyphenolic compounds, supplemented to sheep diets on microorganisms and carbohydrate fermentation in rumen. Methods: In the experiment, 6 ewes of the Polish Mountain breed were fitted with ruminal cannulas. Sheep were divided into three feeding groups. The study was performed in a cross-over design of two animals in each group, with three experimental periods (n = 6 per each group). The animals were fed a control diet (CON) or additionally received 3 g of dry and milled lingonberry leaves (VVI) or oak bark (QUE). Additionally, plant material was analyzed for tannins concentration. Results: Regardless of sampling time, QUE diet increased the number of total protozoa, as well as Entodinium spp., Diplodinium spp. and Isotrichidae family, while decreased bacterial mass. In turn, a reduced number of Diplodinium spp. and increased Ophryoscolex spp. population were noted in VVI fed sheep. During whole sampling time (0, 2, 4, and 8 h), the number of protozoa in ruminal fluid of QUE sheep was gradually reduced as opposed to animals receiving CON and VVI diet, where rapid shifts in the protozoa number were observed. Moreover, supplementing sheep with QUE diet increased molar proportions of butyrate and isoacids in ruminal fluid. Unfortunately, none of the tested additives affected gas production. Conclusion: The addition of VVI or QUE in a small dose to sheep diets differently affected rumen microorganisms and fermentation parameters, probably because of various contribution of catechins in tested plant materials. However, it is stated that QUE diet seems to create more favorable conditions for growth and development of ciliates. Nonetheless, the results of the present study showed that VVI and QUE additives could serve as potential natural modulators of microorganism populations and, consequently, carbohydrate digestion in ruminants.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.387-400
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• 2023

Ruminal protozoa, especially entodiniomorphs, engulf other members of the rumen microbiome in large numbers; and they release oligopeptides and amino acids, which can be fermented to ammonia and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) by amino acid-fermenting bacteria (AAFB). Studies using defaunated (protozoa-free) sheep have demonstrated that ruminal protozoa considerably increase intraruminal nitrogen recycling but decrease nitrogen utilization efficiency in ruminants. However, direct interactions between ruminal protozoa and AAFB have not been demonstrated because of their inability to establish axenic cultures of any ruminal protozoan. Thus, this study was performed to evaluate the interaction between Entodinium caudatum, which is the most predominant rumen ciliate species, and an AAFB consortium in terms of feed degradation and ammonia production along with the microbial population shift of select bacterial species (Prevotella ruminicola, Clostridium aminophilum, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius). From an Ent. caudatum culture that had been maintained by daily feeding and transfers every 3 or 4 days, the bacteria and methanogens loosely associated with Ent. caudatum cells were removed by filtration and washing. An AAFB consortium was established by repeated transfers and enrichment with casamino acids as the sole substrate. The cultures of Ent. caudatum alone (Ec) and AAFB alone (AAFB) and the co-culture of Ent. caudatum and AAFB (Ec + AAFB) were set up in three replicates and incubated at 39℃ for 72 h. The digestibility of dry matter (DM) and fiber (NDF), VFA profiles, ammonia concentrations, pH, and microscopic counts of Ent. caudatum were compared among the three cultures. The co-culture of AAFB and Ent. caudatum enhanced DM degradation, VFA production, and Ent. caudatum cell counts; conversely, it decreased acetate: propionate ratio although the total bacterial abundance was similar between Ec and the Ec + AAFB co-culture after 24 h incubation. The ammonia production and relative abundance of C. aminophilum and P. anaerobius did not differ between AAFB alone and the Ec + AAFB co-culture. Our results indicate that Ent. caudatum and AAFB could have a mutualistic interaction that benefited each other, but their interactions were complex and might not increase ammoniagenesis. Further research should examine how such interactions affect the population dynamics of AAFB.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 2007

An in vitro study was carried out to investigate the differences in rumen microbes and fiber degradation capacity between sheep and goats. Three local male sheep and three Inner Mongolia male cashmere goats (aged 1.5 to 2 years; weight 25.0 to 32.0 kg) were each fitted with a permanent rumen cannula used to provide rumen fluid. Cycloheximide was used to eliminate rumen anaerobic fungi. The results showed that the quantities of fungal zoospores in the culture fluid of the control group were significantly greater in the sheep than in the goats; however, bacteria and protozoa counts were significantly higher in goats than in sheep. The digestibility of straw dry matter did not differ significantly between the two species before elimination of fungi, but tended to be higher for sheep (55.4%) than for goats (53.3%). The results also indicated that bacteria counts increased significantly after elimination of anaerobic fungi; however, the digestibility of straw dry matter significantly decreased by 12.1% and 8.6% for sheep and goats respectively. This indicated that the anaerobic fungi of the rumen played an important role in degradation of fiber.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2017

A total of 60 samples were collected from 35 swimming pools in Beijing, China, and the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were investigated. The results showed that 16.7% and 15.0% of samples were positive for Cryptosporidium oocyst and Giardia cysts, respectively, with a mean concentration of 0.30 oocysts/10 L and 0.27 cysts/10 L. The oocysts and cysts were found to have higher rates of occurrence in August than in May. Genotyping confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium hominis, C. parvum, and Giardia assemblages A and B, all of which were associated with human infections. The predominant species/assemblages were C. hominis and Giardia assemblage A. Analyses of the relationships between parasite oocysts/cysts, indicator bacteria, and physical-chemical parameters revealed that there was no correlation between 2 parasites and fecal bacterial indicators, whilst there was a significant correlation between protozoa and urea concentration, which indicates that urea concentration rather than fecal bacterial indicators might be an appropriate index for chlorine-resistant protozoa in swimming pools. This study provides useful information to improve the safety of swimming pool water and deduce the risk of protozoan infections.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.336-341
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• 2006

The biological wastewater treatment system is known to have an important role in reducing the quantify of enteric virus in water environments. To clarify the roles of activated sludge microbes in decreasing the virus infectivity, the behavior of the virus in bacteria, protozoa, and metazoa was examined by pure or mixed culture system using poliovirus type 1(Lsc, 2ab strain). In the bacterial culture systems, the virus infectivity in the liquid phase decreased by a reversible adsorption of the virus to the bacteria or bacterial flocs. On the other hand, in the protozoa and the metazoa culture systems using T. pyriformis and P. erythrophthalma, respectively, with a variety of bacterial strains as prey, the main virus decrease mechanism of reversible adsorption in early stage was changed to irreversible predation, which was not eluted in this study. The virus decrease was more effective in the P. erythrophthalma culture system, which had high predation and floc forming abilities. However, in the mixed culture system of Z. ramigera and P. erythrophthalma, the more rapid reversible adsorption of virus to Z. ramigera flocs preceded the irreversible predation of P. erythrophthalma.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.113-115
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• 2003

We carried out a small-scale survey to investigate the status of intestinal protozoa and helminthes infection of inhabitants in Roxas city, Mindoro, the Philippines. Total 301 stool samples were subjected to the formalin-ether concentration method for the detection of helminth ova and protozoan cysts. The overall positive rate was 64.5%, and that of male and female were 56.6% and 72.5%, respectively. The highest infected helminth was Ascaris lumbricoudes (51.2%), followed by Trichuris trichiura (27.6%), hookworm (8.0%) and Enterobius vermicularis (0.3%). The protozoa infection status revealed that Entamoeba coli was the most frequent (15.0%). lodoamoeba buetschlii and E. histolytica were found but few. The multiple infection more than two parasites was 29.6%, and double infection with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura was most common. The intestinal helminth infections were highly prevalent in this area, according to this result, and we concluded that anthelminthic drugs should be given to inhabiiants, especially to children of 1 to 15 years-old.