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Purpose: Avian coccidiosis is an important and widely distributed disease that affects global agricultural economies through losses. In Algeria, there is limited epidemiological and ecological knowledge about this disease and this hinders implementation of control strategies. A recent study, in Algeria, demonstrated a high prevalence and diversity of Eimeria species in broiler chickens. However, very little is known about the Eimeria species that exist on chicken farms raised on the floor and older than broiler chickens (for example, future laying hens and breeding hens) in Algeria. Methods: Samples were collected from 32 poultry farms located in 6 northeastern Algerian provinces (Algiers, Batna, Bejaia, Bordj Bou Arréridj, Jijel, Mila). These included 22 pre-laying pullet farms, with hens aged between 11 and 17 weeks, and 10 breeding hen farms with older hens (over 20 weeks). FTA cards were used to capture DNA and internal transcribed Spacer 1 PCR (ITS1-PCR) was used to determine the prevalence and composition of Eimeria species in the chickens. Results: This showed the presence of six species of Eimeria with a diverse prevalence range. Eimeria necatrix (63%) was the most common species, followed by E. maxima (53%), E. tenella (31%), E. brunetti (19%), E. acervulina and E. mitis (both 0.3%). Eimeria praecox was absent. Eimeria infection affected all farms studied where co-infections by different Eimeria species (63%) were more frequent than single infections (38%). The number of oocyts, per ml of enriched oocyst suspension was higher in breeding hen farms compared to pre-laying pullet farms. Conclusion: This study, taken alongside a previous study involving broiler farms, demonstrated that the infection with this parasite is a significant problem in Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we are assessing the geographical origin and cultivar‐related changes on olive oil quality and composition in East Algeria. Fruits from the main local olive varieties (Sigoise and Chemlal) were harvested in autumn 2019 growing season from three different geographic areas: semiarid (Setif), arid (Batna), and Saharan (Eloued). Obtained results showed that Chemlal and Sigoise olive oils from Eloued area were the most enriched in tocopherols and phenolic contents, respectively. Sigoise olive oil from Batna area showed the highest values of pigments (carotenoids, chlorophylls). Identified fatty acids using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) indicated that Chemlal cultivar olive oil from Batna was the most enriched in saturated fatty acid. However, higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acid were recorded for olive from Eloued and Setif areas. Sigoise cultivar oil displayed higher contents of unsaturated fatty acid in Batna, but higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid from Eloued location. These outcomes highlighted an actual impact of geographical location on each cultivar olive oil chemical proprieties. According to these data and relative to the International Olive Council (IOC) standards, all the analyzed olive oils could be categorized as extra virgin olive oils. Overall, statistical analysis showed that physicochemical parameters were influenced by the cultivar, the region of collection, as well as the interactions between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The family Plectanocotylidae includes parasites of the gills of marine fish; although nine genera and about 20 species have been described, almost no molecular information is available. Putting aside Plectanocotyle elliptica Diesing, 1850, supposedly a parasite of the white perch Morone americana, never found again since its original description, two species were valid within Plectanocotyle Diesing, 1850 before this work: Plectanocotyle gurnardi (Van Beneden & Hesse, 1863) Llewellyn, 1941 and Plectanocotyle major Boudaya, Neifar & Euzet, 2006. Methods: In this paper, we describe the third species of the genus Plectanocotyle and perform a comparative morphological and molecular analysis of the three species and of Triglicola obscura (Euzet & Suriano, 1974) Mamaev, 1976. Host fishes were also barcoded (COI) for confirmation of host identifications. Results: Plectanocotyle lastovizae n. sp. is described from the gills of the streaked gurnard Chelidonichthys lastoviza collected off Algeria. The species is compared with specimens of Plectanocotyle cf. gurnardi (from C. lastoviza) from the same locality and P. major and T. obscura (both from the longfin gurnard C. obscurus). Molecules from Plectanocotyle cf. gurnardi could not be compared with P. gurnardi from the type-host and type-locality and we kept the status of the Mediterranean specimens as pending. Algeria is a new geographic record for P. major and T. obscura. Plectanocotyle lastovizae n. sp. is distinguished from the other species found in the Mediterranean by the measurements of clamps, number of testes, and COI sequences, with notable divergence (7.8-11.8%) from the other two species of the genus. Discussion: We briefly present a list of currently known members of the family Plectanocotylidae, their biology and their hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of a local traditional olive mill wastewater, at Ennakhla-Chlef in northern Algeria, were evaluated. The olive mill wastewater samples had slight acidity of 0.65 % with a pH = 4.88, and electrical conductivity of 34 mS cm−1. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the biological oxygen demand (BOD5) reached up to 183 g l −1 and 7 g l −1, respectively. In addition, the samples showed 1.72 g l −1 of total phenolic compounds. Preliminary microbiological analysis of the wastewater showed the presence of various microorganisms represented especially by lactic acid bacteria and Enterococcus sp. to the aim of this work was to investigate the possibility of using yeast strains isolated from olive mill wastewater in the fermentation of the latter. The results shown that fermentation with yeast can produce ethanol at an extent of 1.4 % (v/v). This can constitute a strategy for treating mentioned wastewater and transforming it into valuable biomolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Sidi Kamber Zn/Pb mine located 60 km from Skikda is one of the abandoned mining areas of northeastern Algeria for more than 40 years. Currently, this mining area is considered as a real environmental problem. The purpose of this work is to identify and characterize different sources of polymetallic pollution and their impact on the Guénitra dam sediments quality by analyzing the metal content of the weathering products in mine wastes (tailings and waste rock), soil affected by acid mine drainage and Guenitra dam sediments. Moreover, this study aims to determine the mineralogical composition of new compounds occurring in the fine-grained sediments (less than 250 µm) of the mining area. The chemical analysis and the concentration of Fe, Cd, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Hg metals of the studied samples were performed using atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer, and X-fluorescence ray analysis. The mineralogical composition of all samples was characterized by several techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The obtained data were analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis, correlation matrix, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed very high content of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Hg toxic metals in all samples and suggest taking corrective measures should be taken to reduce the spread of these hazardous elements into the environment. A rehabilitation of the abandoned Sidi Kamber mine should be recommended, as well. The obtained results of HCA and PCA suggest two principal origins of metals pollution: Cu, Mn, Hg, and Pb are derived from anthropogenic sources of mine wastes from the tailings piles, while, Ni, Zn, Cr, and even Fe are derived from lithogenic and anthropogenic sources. Mineralogical characterization results of weathering products in mine wastes, soil, and sediment highlighted the presence of the following minerals: quartz, muscovite, kaolinite, goethite, hematite, lepidocrocite, ferrohexahydrite, and jarosite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy and capability of Differential interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) depends on the phase errors. In particular, errors associated with Atmospheric Wet Delay (AWD) should be reduced to ensure reliable results from the interferometric process. This paper addresses a new method for AWD estimation based on MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) water vapor image which is used as an auxiliary data to correct AWD effects on ENVIronment SATellite (ENVISAT) Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) interferogram. We also explore the possibility of using MERIS data under cloudy conditions and we propose a novel method for the interpolation of water vapor in the presence of clouds using a hybrid technique we name Three Dimensional Inverse Distance Weighted (3D-IDW). It is shown that the proposed method succeeds to provide a quite realistic prediction of MERIS water vapor distribution on cloudy area. Obtained results show that 3D-IDW method succeeds to estimate IWV for each cloudy pixel with RMSE not exceeding 0.094 g/cm2 over area masked by 90% of cloud. The proposed method was tested on Mitidja region (north central Algeria), using a couple of Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) and MERIS images on the 65 descending track. The results demonstrates an improvement of 15% in the standard deviation of interferogram after ADW correction. Finally, the obtained surface deformation reveals the presence of subsiding districts which may be linked to seasonal water level fluctuation and overdrafting groundwater confirming the results of previous study. Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR), Atmospheric Wet Delay (AWD), water vapor, interpolation, Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), MERIS, subsidence. • Linear correlation between IWV and DEM on MERIS data lead to evaluate ADW in worst weather conditions. • The 3D-IDW method estimates IWV over area covered by up to 90% of cloud with RMSE not exceeding 0.094 g/cm2. • Improvement of 15% in the standard deviation of interferogram after ADW correction. • The RMS calculated between interferogram before and after AWD correction is about 5.67 mm. • The AWD reaches up to 7 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axine belones Abildgaard, 1794 is a polyopisthocotylean monogenean, parasite of belonid fishes, and there are few accounts with morphological and morphometrical data. Here, we redescribe A. belones based on newly collected specimens from its type-host, the garfish Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1760) collected off Algeria, Western Mediterranean, a new locality for this species. Several anatomical and morphological features (genital apertures and clamps sclerites) are described and illustrated. We provide morpho-anatomical and morphometrical data, along with detailed illustrations of A. belones, and we discuss the host specificity of A. belones. Notes on hosts and localities of this species and other congeners are presented, and host specificity patterns of A. belones revealed stenoxenic specificity to Belonidae Bonaparte, 1835, whilst the genus Axine Abildgaard, 1794 seems to be restricted to fishes of the order Beloniformes. Our attempt to investigate morphometric variations between Mediterranean and oceanic specimens revealed that the two populations differed by the number of testes, body length, and clamp dimensions. However, the limited number of measured organs in the various accounts precluded any distinction between the populations. Molecular data for both Mediterranean and oceanic specimens are needed to determine the existence of cryptic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors studied the impact of tropical theileriosis onset on milk yield decrease in 10 local bred cows in Skikda (Northern Algeria) during 2015 summer season. The milk yield decrease estimated weekly during two months was 2.76 L/day/cow corresponding to 31.92% of the total milk yield. This decrease corresponds to 110.5 Algerian Dinars (1.02 US$)/day/diseased cow. The relative variation of milk yield showed a dramatic decrease from 82.72% to 0.76% at Day 21 then became constant. Further studies are needed to improve these estimations of financial losses due to bovine tropical theileriosis in Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damage on Archaeological structures have been reported to be probably related to seismic activity on various sites in the Tell Atlas of Algeria. According to different types of disorder we can detect pathologies that have direct or indirect relation to earthquakes, as it seems to be the case in the site of Gerbes-Azzaba (Skikda) which is located approximately 65 km west of Annaba in the eastern part of Algeria, near the ancient harbor of Gaveto. This archaeological site is considered as a former protective fortress used as shelter for travelers passing along the southern part of the Mediterranean sea.A total collapse of the city is widely apparent with significant offsets and openings in the walls of the structures. We could link these disorders, to the coastal uplift, characterized by notches observed in the lower part of the cliff, and to the existence of important breccia zones located in the quaternary levels. In this work an approach has been adopted that involves assessing and examining the potential of sites that have the ability to record earthquakes traces and highlight damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strong offshore earthquake (M w 6.0) struck Béjaia city (eastern Algeria) on March 18th, 2021. This earthquake was followed by several aftershocks among the M w 5.2 that occurred 13 min after the main shock. Moreover, another earthquake (M w 5.0) occurred in the same zone one year later on March 19th, 2022. Near-field digital accelerograph records were used to study the earthquake and its related aftershocks. First, the March 2021 (M w 6.0) main shock, six of its main aftershocks, and the March 19th, 2022 (M w 5.0) earthquake were located. These epicentres are distributed in a 10 km-long and 2 to 3 km-wide NE–SW-trending area, with depths ranging between 8 km and 14 km. Second, using waveform inversion, the seismic moment and the focal mechanism of the three events (the March 18th, 2021, main shock and its strongest aftershock (M w 5.2) that occurred 13 min after the main shock and the March 19th, 2022 (M w 5.0) earthquake) were determined. These focal mechanisms exhibit reverse faulting with a short lateral component. Third, the source rupture process of the March 18th, 2021 (M w 6.0), earthquake was calculated from waveform inversion to obtain the moment–release distribution on a finite fault. The nodal plane oriented N74E seems to be associated with the activated fault plane. Considering the seismotectonic framework of the region, the fault that activated during the 2021 earthquake sequence is offshore. This fault, called the Western Segment, which is situated in the western part of the reverse fault system, is also at the origin of the Djidjelli historical earthquakes of August 21st, and 22nd, 1856 (Io = VIII-IX, M ≥ 6.6). [Display omitted] • Locations of the 18 March 2021 (Mw6.0) and 19 March 2022 (Mw5.2) earthquakes (Bejaia, Algeria). • Source modelling from strong-motion waveforms of the first main shock (18 March 2021, Mw6.0, Béjaia, Algeria). • Source parameters estimated for the 3 main seismic events (18/03/2021, Mw6.0, Mw5.2; 19/03/2022, Mw5.0). • The Djijeli–Bejaia active fault system and the western fault originated by the 22 August 1856 Djidjelli earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]