Wednesday, September 28, 2016

vaccine for צומת הגידים

vaccine for צומת הגידים



This vaccine should prevent inflammation of the tendon joint ( צומת הגידים)
It is currently in field trials.


Wide-range protection against avian reovirus conferred by vaccination with representatives of four defined genotypes 
Vaccine, Volume 29, Issue 47, 3 November 2011, Pages 8683-8688
Avishai Lublin, Dana Goldenberg, Ezra Rosenbluth, E. Dan Heller, Jacob Pitcovski

Many isolates of the contagious avian reovirus have been characterized, mainly based on the sequence of their sigma C protein. These isolates have been classified into four genotypes. Currently available vaccines are of limited effectiveness, likely due to the existence of many variants. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a vaccine consisting of a mixture of prototypes (representatives) of the four defined genotypic groups of avian reovirus. The prototypes were selected based on their distance from the isolates within each genotype. All prototypes were found to be virulent. Antibodies produced against each of the  prototypes neutralized all members of its genotype. Birds were then vaccinated with a mixture of the four prototypes. Results suggest that the 4-valent vaccine can prevent disease and confer broad protection against field isolates of avian reovirus.



Apparently Israel is not the only one with the idea.

Vaccines?
Viral arthritis/tenosynovitis caused by reovirus and Staphylococcus spp. infections can cause leg problems. Staphylococcus infection can be prevented with proper house sanitation between flocks, minimizing human manipulation of birds, and keeping healthy birds. Reovirus infection caused viral arthritis or tenosynovitis (Rosenberger, 2003). Reovirus infections are additionally prevented with vaccines applied directly to broiler breeders. However, it has become more common to observe vaccination in commercial broiler with reovirus strains that cause tendon problems. The following signs are characteristic of viral arthritis: 1) Swelling and inflammation of digital flexor and metatarsal extensor tendon sheaths; 2) Foot pad swelling; 3) Ulceration of articular cartilages; 4) Haemorrhage in tissues around the articulation (green leg disease) and 5) Fibrosis in chronic cases. If you do not observe these signs in your flocks and do not have confirmation or reovirus infection, you may not need to use these vaccines. Live virus vaccines, like the ones used to prevent viral arthritis, always cause an immunological reaction that reduces broiler growth and affect feed conversion.


Looks like Philbro is one the companies interested in the vaccine.

 בימים אלו מתקיים מחקר שמטרתו להגיע לייצור חיסון מהזנים המקומיים שיוכל לנטרל נגיפי REO החודרים ללהקות הרבייה. אחרי התפרצות במשק פיטום יש להקפיד לנקות ולחטא את חוות הגידול כדי למנוע הדבקה של הלהקה הבאה בשאריות של נגיף מהלהקה החולה מהמדגר הקודם. הניקוי צריך לכלול תכשיר דטרגנטי חזק (סבון סינטטי) ושטיפה. החיטוי צריך להתבסס על חומרים שנבדקו ונמצאו יעילים כנגד הנגיף כגון פורמלין, יוד או כלור. 

the search for the holy quail

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

the search for the holy quail

The Search for the Holy Quail

The green chicken

In the year 2001,  my laboratory under the direction of Prof. Mordechai Shemesh developed a method of inserting a gene sequence into sperm cells which could then be used in artificial insemination to create transgenic animals (see http://aryeh-shore.blogspot.co.il/2012/02/sperm-mediated-transfer-thesis.html for scientific description).  We put the gene from a jellyfish (in Hebrew medusa) into chicken sperm and obtained chickens having the green fluorescent protein expressed in various tissues. The green florescent protein (GFP) sequence is make in a laboratory and never saw a jellyfish.  (The discoverers of GFP received a Nobel Prize for it in 2008.).  At that time Prof. Mordechai Shemesh wrote an article in Haaretz describing the work.  About three weeks after this I received a phone call from Rav Yosef Ephrati   (בית מדרש גבוה להלכה בהתיישבות החקלאית) that a certain well known person in Bnei Brak was very ill and not eating any eggs or chicken as he read in the paper that someone had made a cross between and unkosher fish and a chicken (דג טמא עם עוף טהור)  His family was very upset. He wanted to know if it would be possible for me to come to Rav Wosner's (Rabbi Shmuel (HaLevi) Wosner ( הרב שמואל הלוי וואזנר)   court  for an examination of the topic.

How do you say DNA in Yiddish? 

So one night, Rav Rubin and Rav Kook
הרה"ג   שמחה הכהן קוק שליט"א והרה"ג אברהם ישראל רובין שליט"א  ראשי בד"ץ מהדרין באותו ימים 
bundled me into a cab and we drove from Rechovot to Bnei Barak.  It was necessary to translate my Hebrew into Yiddish for the persons sitting around the table.  I explained that 1. the chicken never saw a jellyfish.  Scientists learned from the jellyfish the sequence of DNA (a chemical) to put into the sperm.  It is not different from giving any other  chemical. 2.  The use of transgenic animals for research is severely restricted.  You are not allowed to sell them and all of the chickens are destroyed at the end of the experiment.  We also discussed how it is not possible to cross a chicken with an eagle or hawk or any other avian species.  This was a big concern at the time since people were concerned with chickens that have feet like raptors. 

The search for the holy quail

At the end of the meeting, I was approach by a group of individuals who were concerned with the purity of the hybrids like Rhode Island Red in use for growing meat.  They were concerned that Malay hen or Guinea fowl which they did not considered chicken had been used in created the cross-breeds. They wanted to find the true chicken.  I informed them that as obsessed as the Jews get with something, the non-Jews will always be more obsessed and there was something called the British Poultry Club which maintained pure breeds.

[The Poultry Club, founded 1877, is a registered charity existing to safeguard the interests of all pure and traditional breeds of poultry including chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.
Guardians of the 'British Poultry Standards', the Club has a crucial role in safeguarding stock bloodlines which have been maintained for generations. The 6th edition of this book was published in July 2008.


From their site:




Malay




At the first poultry show in England in 1845 the Malay had its classification, and in the first British Book of Standards of 1865 descriptions were included of both the black/red and the white Malay. One of the oldest breeds, the Malay reached this country as early as 1830 and our breeders developed it, particularly in Cornwall and Devon. At the turn of the twentieth century the Malay was the first breed to be bantamized, the bantams proving to be more popular than the large fowl. They were large in comparison to other bantams, and it is difficult to reduce size further without losing the typical large fowl characteristics. They should follow the large fowl standard in every respect except weight.








Rhode Island Red




No breed made such a world progress in so short a time as this American breed. It was developed from Asiatic black-red fowls of Shanghai, Malay and Java types, bred on the farms of Rhode Island Province. Red Javas were known there in 1860, and the original Rhode Island Red had a rose comb, although birds with single combs, probably from brown Leghorn crossings, were bred. They were first exhibited as Rhode Island Reds in 1880 in South Massachusetts. In December 1898, the Rhode Island Red Club of America held their first meeting. In 1904, the Single Comb variety was admitted to the American Poultry Association of Perfection, followed in 1906 by the Rose Combs. The formation of the British Rhode Island Red Club took place in August 1909 and the breed has been one of the most popular in this country for all purposes. Being a gold, males of the breed are utilized extensively in gold-silver sex linked matings.]





Do you know who Rembrandt was?

After a year or so, I was again contacted by the group.  They were very disappointed with the British Poultry Club.  They wanted something older.  I told them, I realize you may not know who Rembrandt was, but in Rembrandt's time there was a painter name Melchior who was absolutely bonkers about painting birds.  I inform them that as obsessed as the Jews are with something, the non-Jews are even more obsessed and there is a Dutch Group which still maintains the pure breed, the Brabanter shown in Melchior's painting. (Actually bird has been resurrected by cross breeding  with a Polish hen. As can been seen in Melchior's paintings the Babrant is very close to Polish.)
Off they went to seek the holy quail.....


[Melchior d'Hondecoeter (c. 1636 – April 3, 1695), Dutch animalier painter, was born in Utrecht and died in Amsterdam. After the start of his career, he painted virtually exclusively bird subjects, usually exotic or game, in park-like landscapes. Hondecoeter’s paintings featured geese (brent goose, Egyptian brent and red-breasted brent), fieldfares, partridges, pigeons, ducks, magpies and peacocks, but also African grey crowned cranes, Asian sarus cranes, Indonesian Yellow-crested Cockatoos, an Indonesian Purple-naped Lory and Grey-headed Lovebirds from Madagascar


.
Poultry yard c/ 1660-1665 Riksmuseum

Birds in a park Riksmuseum 1686




The Brabanter is a Dutch breed of chicken originating in the historic region of Brabant which straddles Belgium and the Netherlands. The original form of the Brabanter went extinct in the early 20th century, but was re-created by 1920. Today, it is a rare breed which is practically non-existent outside Continental Europe. The distinguishing characteristic of the Brabanter is its feather crest and beard (or muff). Its crest is unlike that of most other crested breeds, such as the Polish, in that it stands straight up. It has a V-shaped comb. Colors appear in many varieties, it is a layer and table bird. Hens lay a moderate number of white eggs and do not go broody, but are not good winter layers. The Brabanter is a calm breed that is intelligent. It will get along completely fine in a small pen. This breed can get fat. The Brabanter is suitable for cold areas because its small comb and wattle help protect it from frostbite.


http://breedsavers.blogspot.co.il/2011/04/brabanters-reinventing-history.html




Poultry - Irish Museum Early paintings by done by famous Dutch animal painter Melchior d’Hondecoeter (1636-1695) portrays the Brabanter in many of its original colours.




Hens and Ducks Photo Source: Dr. Maarten Th. Frankenhuis, Variaties in voortplanting. Paren en baren in Artis, [Oss]: Organon, [Amsterdam]: Artis

 

A cock,, hens and chicks Photo Source:
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, U.K.








Polish white hen





Popular at one time and appearing in many aristocratic animal holdings, the Brabanter was declared extinct by the early 20th century. It is one of the “re-created” historical breeds having disappeared for a period of time. The Brabanter received its second chance with its recreation by dedicated Dutch poultrymen by 1920. ]


The Polish (Also called the Poland) is a European breed of chicken known for its crest of feathers.  In addition to combs, their heads are adorned with large crests due to a cone (called a protuberance) on the top of their skull. The crests cover almost their entire heads. They are normally tame chickens, but can act out because the crests on their heads limits their vision. This limited vision can impact their temperament. Polish chickens are bred primarily as a show bird, but were originally egg layers. Accordingly, Polish do not go broody and are noted for their white eggs. They may be bearded or non-bearded. Hens weigh around 4.5 pounds, and roosters 6 pounds.




Polish hen having bad hair day (Frizzled)








Suddenly one Friday morning there appeared .....

About two years ago after praying the Maariv service in the synagogue courtyard, I was approach by a group of very upset Cheredim.   They had taken my advice and gone to Holland.  They then smuggled the eggs into Israel and started raising the birds.  They had just reach market size with a hundred thousand birds when last Friday morning the Pezach (Israel's agricultural police) came and destroyed the whole flock.  They ask me to find out what happened. I thought it obvious that you can't smuggle unregistered species into Israel and certainly not at the height of the Avian Flu epidemic.  Furthermore if you want to keep it secret, you shouldn't take out ads in the Cheredi press announcing that you have the only true chicken.   I wrote the veterinarian in charge of the operation and asked what happen.  He promptly set the Pezach on me to determine my role in this vast criminal conspiracy.  The officer showed me the pictures of the birds which were  Braekel  which meant I had nothing to do with it.  Apparently they asked some pre-WWII shochtim in Belgium which were the birds they slaughtered.]\

[History of the Braekel
Contributed by the Speciaalclub voor het Brakelhoen 
With pride we can say that the "Brakel Hen" is the oldest Flemish, largest layer that still exists today. The "Ardennes Hen" has the honour to be the oldest Belgian (Walloon) breed. 
One hundred years ago you could find the Brakel on every smallholding. This is why the breed was also known as the "Farmyard Hen." Other names for the breed were "The Everyday Layer," "The Grey White Neck" and "The Nuns Hen." They were admired by the people who kept them because they laid well and provided a good table bird, the meat having a slight game flavour. It is around the yard and fields, looking for worms, insects, seed and greens. In this way the breed became hardy and only the strongest, the quickest and the healthiest ones survived. A basic natural selection took place, creating a strong breed resistant to all climates. 
In 1898, in the village of Nederbrakel, the first Society for Brakels was formed. The name "Brakel" is without any doubt, derived of the name of the villages Op- and Nederbrakel. Within the triangle area of Ninove, Geraadsbergen and Oudenaarde, the Brakel was bred intensely and the birds and eggs were sold at the local markets. Because there were so many birds being bred, the looks of them varied greatly. Some had a horseshoe sign in the feathers while others had a straight band sign, which is still demanded in today's standard. Due to the breed having so many looks, the different areas which bred them, also gave different names to the breed. For example: "La Poule dױHernies," "Het Hoen van Ronse". . . . In the village of Chaam, in the Netherlands, another variety of the Brakel -- one with orange eyes -- was found. In other parts of the country people tried to change the typical layer, which the Brakel is, into a meat producing chicken. In the end there were so many varieties called "Brakel" that none of them met the Standard, which was created in 1899. 
The first World War caused the population of Brakels to reduce by a large amount, due to the breed ending up as Sunday Roast . . . 
The small rebirth of the breed after the war was swept away by The Second World War. A new fact was also the introduction of new varieties of layers coming from abroad. After the war the success of the breed was limited and infrequent. 
In 1968, the Brakel was scarce and time was running out for the breed. An old Flemish breed was at the point of extinction. 
In 1971, the club was formed to save the breed. 

Brakels

We will never give up our quest


So after I explain that the State of Israel takes a dim view of imported unauthorized animals into the country,  they got a inkling of what they did incorrectly.  They then told me that they intend to start again with a legal import licence.  This would be difficult as their poultryman could not import as he was disqualified as he was listed as a smuggler.  I advised them to get the advice of a poultry expert for which they would have to pay money.  As of 2012, I have not heard of what they have done since then. 

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Tuesday, August 30, 2016

dioxin testing in Israel not 2016

Here is an executive summary of the situation of dioxin testing in Haifa Bay Area


Request to prevent the expansion of the industrial area of Haifa bay and to increase monitoring of pollutants.



Nature of the problem:  With the release of the National Cancer Registry (after many years of litigation), it became apparent that the Haifa bay area population had a 15% higher rate than other cities in Israel.  Although 15% in a single year is not a clear indication of exposure to carcinogenic substances, this 15% increase was observed consistently over a 30-year period, which is a clear indication of exposure to carcinogenic compounds.  In addition, there have been reports of small for size infants over the last decades as well as a high level of respiratory disease and cryptorchism.

In response to the report, the Government increased compliance and is reported to have reduced pollution in the Haifa Bay area by 60%, although non-Governmental testing has disputed this.  In addition, long term plans have been initiated to reduce pollution.  In the year 2017, the Government increased the number of compounds to be measured (1,3, butadiene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, mercury) and reduced the permissible levels for benzene and cadmium.  It will not be known for some time if these measures will affect the cancer registry, respiratory disease or congenital malformations (These data are currently being collected by the Epidemiological Monitoring of the Haifa Bay Area which will be completed in 2020). 

Epidemiological Monitoring of the Haifa Bay Area –


Cryptorchism -

Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis of Congenital Malformations (CM) in Israel, 2000–2006

ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2013, 2, 237-255; doi:10.3390/ijgi2010237

Keren Agay-Shay , Yona Amitai, Chava Peretz, Shai Linn, Michael Friger, Ammatzia Peled

New standards for 2017 –




Plaintiff’s  objections:  1. The Government has approved a plan to increase the industrial activity in the Haifa Bay area.  Since the area is already severely affected by the pollution, adding addition pollutants to the area would seem absurd. No additional permits should be given until the Epidemiological Monitoring is completed in 2020. 2. It is not known what are the carcinogenic compounds which are causing the effects.  The compounds selected by the Government are known carcinogens.  However, the list does not include dioxin which is classified as a carcinogen by the IARC. However, dioxin’s main effect at environmental concentrations is causing birth defects and a variety of respiratory and hormone diseases. 




Some facilities required more monitoring than others. These are called specified facilities.
From the Japanese law for controlling of dioxin pollution
Law Concerning Special Measures against Dioxins (Law No. 105 of 1999.  Promulgated on July 16, 1999)
Chapter 1  General Provisions 
(Purpose) Article 1  In consideration of serious effects on human life and health which may be caused by dioxins, the purpose of this Law is to protect the health of citizens, by establishing standards necessary to form the basis of policies on dioxins, to establish the necessary regulations, and to establish measures, etc., relating to soil contamination, in order to carry out the prevention and removal, etc., of environmental pollution caused by dioxins. 
(Definitions) Article 2  For the purpose of this Law, "dioxins" shall mean chemical substances enumerated below: (1) polychlorinated dibenzofurans; (2) polychlorodibenzo-para-dioxins; and (3) co-planar polychlorinated biphenyls. 2. For the purpose of this Law, as designated by Cabinet Order, "specified facility" shall mean an electric furnace used for steelmaking, a waste incinerator, or other facility, installed in a factory or a business establishment, which generates and emits dioxins into the air or releases waste water or fluid discharge containing dioxins. 3. For the purpose of this Law, "emission gas" shall mean exhaust released into the air by a specified facility. 4. For the purpose of this Law, "effluent" shall mean water discharged into public water areas (meaning public water areas provided for in Paragraph 1 of Article 2 of the Water Pollution Control Law (Law No. 138 of 1970). The same shall apply hereinafter.) by a factory or a business establishment where a specified facility is installed (hereinafter referred to as "specified business establishment").





Oil Refineries Ltd. (ORL or BAZAN(


1.
Dor Chemicals
producing and marketing of intermediate products in the chemical, gasoline, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, plastics and wood industries; solvents recycling mainly in the pharmaceutical industry. http://www.bloomberg.com/Research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=6058909
2.
Paz Lubricants and Chemicals
produces, imports, and markets automotive lubricants
http://www.sviva.gov.il/English/env_topics/IndustryAndBusinessLicensing/Industry-in-the-Environment-Competition/2015-competition/Pages/Paz-Lubricants-and-Chemicals.aspx
3.
Elcon

Eco
treats aqueous industrial wastes
thermal oxidation technology http://elconrecycling.com/home-page/
http://eco-oil.co.il/english
4.
Oil refineries
Petrochemicals


5.
Gadiv Petrochemical Industries
Petrochemicals
http://www.gadiv.com/HTMLs/Home.aspx
6.
Carmel Olefins Ltd.
Petrochemicals manufactures standard and special grades of Polypropylene (PP) as well as a broad range of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) grades.
26.10.16  closed by Haifa city for repeated violations
7.
Haifa Basic Oils Ltd.
base oils, paraffin waxes, and specialty lubes for the automotive and industrial machinery, tires, rubber, candle, and other industries
http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=2862954
8.
Haifa Group
Fertilizers supplier of potassium nitrate for agriculture and industry, specialty plant nutrients and food phosphates


9.
Industrial oils
Food


10.
Taro Phamaceutical Industries
Pharmaceuticals http://www.taro.com/


11.
Power station Haifa
Electricity production


12.
Storage and distribution of chemicals (Delkim)



13.
Gadot north – storage and production of chemicals
Gadot Biochemical Industries Ltd. Delek


14.
Gadot south – storage and production of chemicals
http://www.delek-group.com/holdings/otherinvestments/gadotbiochemical.aspx

15.
Gadot chroshet east - storage and production of chemicals



16.
Tashan – storage and distribution of tankers for roads and boats
Petroleum & Energy Infrastructures (Tashan)



17.
Tashan Elroi storage and distribution of fuels
imports, stores and conveys crude oil and refined oil



18.
Tashan – port. Storage of distribution of fuels (20 acres)



19.
Delek storage and distribution of fuels



20
Pas petrochemicals storage and distribution of fuels



21
Sonol storage and distribution of fuels




Additional sources



22.
Matash Haifa sewage treatment plant



23.
Frutarom food and chemicals
http://www.frutarom.com/FrutaromNew/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=84&FID=523