Biology subjects

Tilahun, Y.

Publications and source records attributed to Tilahun, Y..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Physiological Responses to Caprine Coccidiosis During a 100-year Rain Event in Oklahoma: An Opportunistic Case Study with a implications for climate change and clinical diagnosis.

The interaction between inclement weather and disease acquisition is a long-recognized relationship. In the case of coccidiosis, a parasitic infestation of the intestines, wet weather is known to promote incidences in livestock. Our opportunistic investigation tracks blood chemistries of goats that were exposed to coccidian in a 100 year rain event in Oklahoma. Our results suggest a potentially patterned response of blood chemistries that may be developed into a clinical tool in the future and provide warnings for producers of the risks associated with growing incidences of excessively wet weather related to climate change.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Functional genome and microbiome in blood of goats affected by the gastrointestinal pathogen Haemonchus contortus

The Alpine goat Capra aegagrus hircus is parasitized by the barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus). This relationship results in changes that affect the gene expression of the host, the pest, and the microbiome of both. Hematological parameters indicating genes that are expressed and/or the % Composition of abundant and diverse microbial flora are reflective of infestation. We explored the similarity/dissimilarity between and among blood samples of non-infected, infected, infected zoledronic acid-treated, and infected antibody (anti-{gamma}{sigma} T cells) treated wethers under controlled conditions. We identified responses to barber pole worms using blood-based analysis of transcripts and the microbiome. Seven (7) days post-inoculation (dpi) we identified 7,627 genes associated with different treatment types. Across all treatments we identified fewer raw read counts and a reduced diversity in microbial flora on 7 dpi than in 21 dpi wethers. We also identified that there were differences in % Composition of microbial flora known to be associated with inflammation. This study identifies treatment specific genes, and an increase in microflora abundance and diversity as wethers age post infestation. Further, Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes (F/B) ratio reflect metabolic health, based on depression or elevation above thresholds defined by the baseline of non-infected hosts depending on the type of intrusion exhibited by the pest.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Angular Substrate Preference and Molting Behavior of the Giant River Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii and its Implications for Cannibalism Management

The Giant River Prawn is an important commercial species from southeastern Asia and has a large global market. It has a complex life cycle in which it undergoes several molting sequences. Many arthropods require firm perches on which they can perform ecdysis. We investigated preference for substrate slope and its influence on ecdysis. We discovered that prawns occupy horizontal surfaces more frequently than others, but during pre-molt and molt stages, they shift their habitat use to non-horizontally sloped surfaces. Here, they will flex their shell and later molt. We recommend modification of cannibalism management in commercial facilities by providing sufficient vertical (strongly preferred) or high-sloped (greater than 30 degrees) surfaces to facilitate ecdysis, while providing much horizontal space for foraging and other activities. This should create habitat separation between foraging and highly susceptible freshly-molted prawns, thus leading to reduced cannibalism-related mortality.\n\nFundingThis work was supported by the USDA Evans Allen Program at Langston University, Project Number USDA-NIFA-OKLUMCCALLUM2017.\n\nDisclosure statementWe acknowledge that there is no financial interest or benefit that has arisen from the direct applications of our research.

animal behavior and cognition↗