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Abstract Marsupials are highly susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Here, we report T. gondii infection in four kangaroos from a zoo in China. Kangaroos were imported into China in 2000 and were since bred in zoo. In 2017–2018, four kangaroos died due to respiratory system disease or injury. The bodies were submitted to the laboratory to test for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 75% (3/4) of the kangaroos via the modified agglutination test with the cut-off 1:25. Cysts were observed in the histopathological sections of tongue and diaphragm or squashes of fresh myocardium in two kangaroos. These cysts were confirmed as T. gondii by immunohistochemical staining and molecular biological analysis. One viable T. gondii strain was isolated from one kangaroo and designated as TgRooCHn1. DNA from T. gondii tachyzoites obtained from cell culture was characterized by 10 PCR-RFLP markers and the virulence genes ROP5 and ROP18. The genotype of this isolate did not match with any known genotypes; it was designated as ToxoDB#292. The virulence of TgRooCHn1 (104 tachyzoites) was non-lethal to mice, and it formed tissue cysts. To our knowledge, the present study is the first isolation of ToxoDB#292 strain from kangaroo. Improvemets for captive settings were initiated, including greater attention being paied to birds and stray cats, fed frozen meat for carnivores. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • T. gondii infection in kangaroo was confirmed by serological and molecular analysis, histopathology, and bioassay in mice. • One viable T. gondii strain (ToxoDB#292) was isolated from one kangaroo. • The virulence of TgRooCHn1 in mice was low and it formed tissue cysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii has been found to infect almost all warm-blooded animals; however, some hosts lack direct evidence of T. gondii infection. The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an endangered species that mainly lives in temperate forests of South Asia. Here, T. gondii infection in red pandas from zoos in China were reported. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 14.3% (2/14) of red pandas via the modified agglutination test (MAT) with a cut-off titer of 1:25. One viable T. gondii strain was isolated from tissues of red panda and designated as TgRedpandaCHn1. DNA from tachyzoites obtained from cell culture was characterized by PCR-RFLP with 10 markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29–2, L358, PK1, and Apico) and virulence genes of ROP5 and ROP18. The results indicate that this isolate belonged to ToxoDB genotype #20. The ROP18/ROP5 genotype combination predicated that this strain is non-lethal to mice, which is supported by the infection in mice. T. gondii tissue cysts were readily formed and mice survived. Tissue cysts observed in the histopathological sections of the tongue and diaphragm of one red panda were speculated as sarcocysts, but not T. gondii base on morphological characteristics. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report on the isolation of T. gondii from red panda. Additionally, this report provides direct evidence of red panda as an intermediate host of T. gondii and Sarcocystis species. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • T. gondii infection in red pandas was confirmed by serological and bioassay in mice firstly. • One viable T. gondii strain was isolated from tissues of red panda and designated as ToxoDB genotype #20. • Tissue cysts in the tongue and diaphragm of red panda were speculated sarcocysts. • This report provides direct evidence of red panda as an intermediate host of T. gondii and Sarcocystis species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the rapid development of the electroplating industry, electroplating sludge has reached much attention. Electroplating sludge contains heavy metals such as nickel, copper, cadmium and chromium. To avoid releasing metal into the environment, removal of heavy metals from the electroplating industry is highly desired. In this study, effects of leaching metal from electroplating sludge under phosphate participation in hydrochloric acid medium were measured. The effects of the amount of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid concentration, temperature, and liquid to solid ratio along with leaching time were investigated and measured using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Using the optimized conditions of 1.5 mol/L hydrochloric and phosphoric acid concentration, liquid to solid ration 10:1 and temperature 40 ̊C, actual electroplating sludge was treated. The leaching rate of copper was measured as high as to 80.6% under optimal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Graphene oxide and cobalt oxide nanocomposites (Co3O4/GO) are fabricated in situ as heterogeneous catalysts by the decomposition of cobalt nitrate through heat and crystal growth of Co3O4 on the surface of GO sheets in 1-hexanol solvent. The Co3O4/GO catalyst is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Results show that the Co3O4/GO catalysts are large GO sheets decorated homogenously with well-dispersed Co3O4 nanoparticles. Although Co3O4 or GO alone exhibit little catalytic activity, their hybrid (Co3O4/GO) exhibits an unexpectedly high catalytic activity in the degradation of Orange II in water by advanced oxidation technology based on sulfate radicals, and 100% decomposition can be achieved in 6min. These phenomena suggest a synergistic catalytic activity of Co3O4 and GO in the hybrid. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets as functional material have a unique planar structure and intriguing mechanical that have attracted intensive interests recently. A method was developed for the immobilization protease on GO sheets using glutaraldehyde as cross-linking reagent. The results showed that the thermostability and reusability of immobilized protease have been obviously improved compared to the free enzyme. However, there was no significant change in optimum pH value between the free and immobilized protease. The immobilized protease exhibited good operational stability. The apparent K m and V max for free and immobilized alkaline protease were determined, and the bio-catalytic activity was not impaired by immobilization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common foodborne diseases in the world. The objective of this study was to determine Toxoplasma gondii infection in lambs from Henan province, China. A total of 166 lamb hearts were collected from 2017 to 2019. T. gondii infection was determined by the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) using heart juice of lambs. 11 isolates (TgSheepCHn3 - TgSheepCHn13) were obtained from samples with MAT titers ≥1:100. The rate of T. gondii isolation increased with antibody titer against T. gondii (P < 0.05). No isolate was obtained from samples with titer 1:25 and 1:50, suggesting the cut-off titer for MAT is better set at 1:100. With cut-off value of 1:100, IgG antibodies to T. gondii were found in 25.3% (42/166) of the lambs by MAT. T. gondii parasite was not found in IHC and HE-stained tissue sections of lamb hearts (0/166). Sixty-seven heart tissues with ≥1:25 MAT titers were subjected to acid pepsin digestion and detected T. gondii by PCR. Only 7.5% (5/67) of DNA amplified products were found in heart tissues by the primer TOX5/TOX8. Brain tissue cysts were observed in all mice infected with the 11 isolates at day 60 post infection, suggesting these isolates are non-lethal to mice. PCR-RFLP analysis revealed that 7 isolates belonged to ToxoDB#2, 4 isolates belonged to ToxoDB#4. This is the first isolation of ToxoDB#2 and ToxoDB#4 from lambs in China. Interestingly, none of these isolates belongs to the ToxoDB#9 that is common in China. Our results suggest that the genetic diversity and population structure of T. gondii from China maybe more abundant and magical than previous speculation. • A total of 25.3% (42/166) lambs showed sera conversion of T. gondii antibodies (cut-off titer for MAT: 1:100). • 11 viable T. gondii isolates were obtained from lambs, ToxoDB genotype #2 and #4 were identified. • The rate of isolation T. gondii increased with antibody titer against T. gondii in lamb (P < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]