Normal microbial Flora

The human body is home to different species of bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. The great majority of these are commensals, or "normal flora," defined as organisms on or within the human host symbiotic life but rarely cause disease.

Anatomical sites where bacteria are usually discovered include the skin (staphylococci and diphtheroids), Oropharynx (streptococci, anaerobic spore-forming bacteria), colon (intestinal enterococci, bacilli) and vagina (lactobacilli).

To determine when an isolate is part of the typical flora instead of an invasive pathogen can be difficult. For example, cultivation of staphylococci skin contamination from a blood sample at the time of phlebotomy may represent or may indicate a potentially life-threatening bloodstream infections.

Useful clues include symptoms and signs of virus (e.g., cough, fever) and the presence of inflammatory cells (e.g., polymorphonuclear cells in the sputum and an increased share of immature neutrophils in the blood).

Isolation of an obligate pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, for example, a website is diagnostic of virus. Fortunately, few of microorganisms are absolute pathogens. For example, Neisseria meningitidis, a leading bacterial cause of meningitis, can be grown from the oropharynx of so numerous as 10% of asymptomatic people, in which case the transient typical flora represents.

Even if asymptomatic, the host can serve as a carrier, transferring bacteria to sensitive people. Infections due to commensals which hardly lead to disease (e.g. Candida albicans) or organisms are ubiquitous in the environment that are generally not considered to be human pathogens (e.g., Mycobacterium avium complex; MAC) are referred to as opportunistic infections.

These infections occur almost exclusively in immune hosts such as HIV-infected patients or transplant recipients. The agents are opportunists in that they may be impaired host immunity trigger virus but rarely trigger disease in a healthy host advantage. The website from which an organism is grown is essential in differentiating colonization of virus.
Growth of a micro-organism of a mostly sterile customers such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid (joint) or deep tissues of the body is diagnostic of virus. Bacteroides, the predominant genus of bacteria in the colon, for example, can activate intra-abdominal abscess and sepsis when the integrity of the Colon mucosa is violated.

Staphylococcus epidermidis, a common skin Commensalism, may lead to bacteremia after intravascular catheter placement. Knowledge of the common endogenous flora can be helpful in determining the cause of an infection and in the choice of empirical antibiotic therapy may aid. When the delicate symbiosis between the Commensalism and interfere with the host, the typical flora become overgrown by endogenous or exogenous organisms.

This phenomenon, which can be transient or persistent, is called colonization. For example, broad spectrum antibiotics destroy normal vaginal flora, such as lactobacilli, and let overgrowth of Candida (yeast) species. As a replacement for the typical flora within the environment of the hospital occurs, the settlers said it acquired nosocomially.

The distinction between hospitals and community-acquired infections has blurred in recent years, simply because a improve in medical care inside the home or skilled nursing facility among patients who previously would have long term hospitalization necessary.

For this reason, the broader term "healthcare-associated infections" is used to include both hospital patients and patients with frequent medical interactions (for example, residence in nursing home, outpatient hemodialysis, home intravenous antibiotics). Healthcare-associated infections are important because the organisms often resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Symptomatic infection, not uncommon colonization will progress. For example, people's Hospital for prolonged periods of time often colonized with gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These people are then increased risk for life-threatening infections for example pseudomonas pneumonia.

Host defense mechanisms that serve to inhibit colonization by pathogenic bacteria consist of (1) mechanical cleanup, (2) and (3) Phagocytic killing, depriving it of organisms of necessary nutrients. Successful settlers have adapted to circumvent or overcome this defense. For example, Avoid gonococcal, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, excretion in the urine by adhering to the mucosal epithelium of the urogenital tract with pili.

Pneumococcal resist phagocytosis by Encapsulation within a layer of mucus that impairs absorption by Neutrophil granulocytes. Some staphylococci extensive enzymes known as hemolysins which host destroy red blood cells, allowing them access to a necessary source of iron. Colonization of sites that are usually sterile or have couple of microbes is usually easier because there is no competition for nutrients from endogenous flora. Host Defense on these websites are, however, often powerful.

For example, the stomach normally sterile because some microbes can survive on a typical stomach pH of 4.0. Nevertheless, if antacids are used to reduce stomach acid acidity, colonization of the stomach and the trachea with gram-negative bacteria occurs quickly. The typical flora prevents colonization through several mechanisms. These organisms often have a selective advantage over settlers in that they are already in an anatomical niche are established.

This means that they are bound to receptors on the host cell and are able local metabolize nutrients. Numerous species of flora are able to make the typical Bacteriocins, proteins that are toxic to other bacterial strains or species. Finally, the normal flora promotes the production of antibodies that can react with the organisms colonize cross-.

For example, cross-reacts an antibody produced against E coli, a gram-negative bacterium normally found in the large intestine, with the polysaccharide capsule of a tribe meningitis-production of N meningitidis. When the normal flora is changed (for example, by the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics), one bacterial species can dominate or exogenous bacteria can get a selective advantage, admits colonization and predisposing the host to infection.

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How an Imbalance in Vaginal Flora Can Cause Bacterial Vaginosis

Many women learn far too late how the imbalance in the vaginal flora can cause bacterial vaginosis. Most of you reading this probably need to become enlightened with how your immune system works and more specifically how it impacts your vaginal health.

What Is A Vaginal Flora

We live with both "good" and "bad" bacteria within our vagina. Many strains of these bacteria co-exist and live in harmony and balance the system.  Their presence does not mean the vagina is dirty or infected or any kind of poor hygiene. Your body normally plays hosts to thousands of good and bad organisms but trouble can begin when our immune system is compromised and the bacteria begins to abnormally grow out of control.

The vaginal flora consists of the Lactobacillus bacteria that keep the acidic value or ph levels balanced in our vagina. The vagina is normally healthy and balanced and it's our natural defense system against infections. Our vagina produces a disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide, which joins with chlorine, a chemical produced in the cervical mucus. These chemicals together form a defense to ensure the normal growing bacteria remains in control.

An imbalance in our vaginal flora disrupts our defense systems and lowers the gate for the bad bacteria to take over and replicate. Before you know it, we're suffering with bacterial vaginosis. A lot of focus has been centered on a primary organism by the name of Gardnerella. This organism is one of many that is found within the vaginal flora however something triggers it to grow out of control; it is always found to be present more than 100 times the normal rate in women with Bacterial Vaginosis.

The Causes of Vaginal Flora Imbalance

What causes a loss of Lactobacillus so that our bacteria begin this overgrowth? It hasn't been pinpointed just yet but scientists have clues of certain triggers.

If we lived in a perfect unspoiled world there would never be any toxins or chemicals that might impact our bodies but were exposed everyday to bleaching agents, synthetic chemicals, solvents and food additives that disturb our internal cycles. Just think of the assault we put our bodies under with the chemicals found in soaps, lotions, sprays and gels. And many times our vaginal flora can bear the burden of these toxins.

Concrete evidence shows that a healthy vaginal eco-system depends upon the vaginal flora being colonized by the good bacteria Lactobacillum. An imbalance in vaginal flora decreases the efficiency and can cause bacterial vaginosis. It's also been proven that by adding Lactobacillum to your diet a woman can decrease the chances of any disruption to the vaginal flora and avoid BV.

Is this guaranteed?

No, but any woman who has suffered the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis understands that any reduction to avoid recurrence is worth the effort.

Bernie Lo is the owner of FightAgainstBV.com, a website dedicated to educate every women about bacterial vaginosis and help them cure bacterial vaginosis with home and natural remedies.

Get all the latest, up-to-date and accurate information about bacterial vaginosis at : FightAgainstBV.com.

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Friendly Flora-digestion key to your health

Did you know that many experts say all disease begins in the intestines? Well, they do, and today we're going to talk about it because when most people first knock on my side door, a myriad of reasons have brought them there. Obviously, they wish to lose weight, but more and more people are coming not out of vanity or unhappiness with their appearance: they are coming in droves because their doctors have scared them. They are beginning to see that their weight is not only an external issue, but also a detriment to their present and future health. The breakdown of the body really is the inevitable result of bad eating habits. So, what are some of the signs of this breakdown? Is your weight the only clue? Well, of course not! It all started a long time ago, in the depths of your bowls!

But before I go "there" again, I want to speak about the precursor to intestinal issues, the precursor to many known illnesses: the lack of friendly intestinal flora. Flora is not necessary solely for a healthy gastrointestinal tract, but for a healthy immune system, as well! Many experts believe that the lack of friendly flora is the reason for most illnesses. Maintaining a balance of the friendly flora, or acidophilus, that live in your digestive tract is crucial to good health because for one, it trains your immune system to be competent, and not hyper-react.

Friendly flora has been known to improve skin conditions from adult acne to eczema. It alleviates allergies to all sorts of foods, reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, acid reflux syndrome, ulcers, problems with Candida Albicans and other problems related to inappropriate and inflammatory immune system problems. Also, a lack of friendly flora will impede the absorption of calcium, magnesium and dozens of trace minerals, possibly leading to endocrine and other imbalances. We need friendly flora for healthy metabolism, and children who lack them are much more likely to become obese!

So, how did we lose it and how do we get it back? To be honest, it's a miracle that any of us have healthy flora left; so, don't take it personally! It is just a result of the average American diet. Basically, any combination of the following when used over a long period of time will do it: antibiotics, steroids, salt, MSG, hard liquor, foods cooked at high temperatures or deep-fried, refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, candy, white sugar, corn syrup, etc.) food preservatives (found in all lunch meats - ham, salami, hot dogs, etc). It's there in cheese, diet drinks and soda and many other processed foods.

Also, when there's an absence of fiber in the diet; and that often happens because we take perfectly healthy fiber-rich foods like whole grains, sprouted seeds, raw nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and boil at high temperatures for long periods of time. And, if you simmer high quality proteins like fish, and legumes too long that will destroy or suppress the growth of friendly flora in the intestines when you consume them. In addition, if you're in the habit of eating foods with preservatives daily, your flora is affected just as it is when you ingest daily antibiotics.

We should all assume that we are probably all at risk in one way or another and plan to do something about it. But, what? Friendly flora is also known as acidophilus and bifidobacteria. You can find and purchase a good fiber and friendly flora supplement in a natural food store and possibly your local super market, but the better combination is a blend of fiber, pectin, and probiotic blends of Acidophilus, Bifidum, B longum, L Salivarius and L Plantarum. What? Not so hard! Just ask at a local natural food store, and they will hook you up.

Apart from the supplements, your diet should be free of hormones in meat or poultry antibiotics, food preservatives and all antimicrobials that kill off the good bacteria. If you were to just buy organic, you would be fine. In addition, you should eat a serving of raw fruits and vegetables with each meal to provide live, active plant enzymes to help the digestive process. Parsley and raw ripe pineapple are great choices. Honey is also a healthy food and a good infection fighter; however, remember to eat it raw so it doesn't lose it's effectiveness. In other words, don't cook or sweeten your tea with it. These foods are also great stress reducers!

Many people eat yogurt for the purpose of maintaining the balance of friendly flora, but to be honest, the yogurt isn't really sour enough. In fact, it is far too sweet. You would do better with kefir or buttermilk; they're much healthier for your colon. You might be wondering why I would suddenly change my mind and tell you all to eat dairy, and I would answer that this is the exception. Although yogurt and kefir both start out as milk, a live bacterial culture is added to induce fermentation, making it change into something that is actually good for us. The types of bacteria used to ferment each tend to affect the flavor and texture of the products, which we experience quite differently. Kefir is the better choice because it has a larger variety of bacteria in its culture. Yogurt often only contains only one or two acidophilus and or bifidus.

So how do you know when an improvement in the friendly flora in has been achieved? Well, unfortunately, one place it can be seen is in your stools. Sorry, but there is no real way to get around it, your stools are the window to your intestines and the proof of intestinal health or hardship.

Your stools should be large in diameter, indicating no inflammation of your GI tract. They should generally be about one inch or larger in diameter and be medium brown in color.
Stools should be well formed and in one piece, stools that are smaller in diameter could be an indication of an inflamed colon.

Your stools should float-well, most of the time! Floating indicates the presence of friendly flora in your colon. Please make sure that these are healthy stools that are floating. The loose ones that are hardly formed and light in color are not the perfect floater you are looking for. If your stools sink more often than they float, this might indicate a lack of good flora in your intestinal tract.
You should not see undigested food-usually vegetables-in your stools.

Skin that is healthy and smooth with very few eruptions is also indicative of a healthy GI tract.
Urine that is light yellow in color and does not have a strong odor tells you that friendly flora is producing B vitamins in the colon.

So, just to sum up, foods that produce poor quality stools are white rice, white bread, pasta made from white flour, any product made from white sugar or white flour and meats cooked at high temperatures.

Foods that produce healthy stools are squash, pumpkins, carrots, yams, dark green vegetables (especially when eaten raw), whole grains cooked at lower temperatures, whole grain breads, hot breakfast cereal (oat bran), pasta from spelt, and raw garlic.

At all costs, avoid foods with preservatives!

Well, that is about all I have to say today on this topic, but I assure you there is more to come! It might at first seem embarrassing to discuss our bowels, but it shouldn't: they are vital to our ability to live long and healthy lives and an important indicator of our overall health.

Berta Prevosti is a weight loss counselor known for transforming the lives of overweight women who have previously given up on losing weight. She has counseled hundreds of women losing thousands of pounds using emotional support and healthy common sense methods.

Berta's expertise has grown to such a point that she can articulate points in a way that she hears at least weekly "I never had it explained to me that way - it all makes sense now". At her clients requests, and as a result of her growing waiting list, she is shifting her practice to the Internet to share her transformations and help more women reclaim the lives and dreams they had given up on. Please go to [http://www.justloseit.com] and sign up for her FREE weekly e-zine packed full of great information and loving support.

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Deciding on Whether Or Not Dr Floras Colon Cleanse Works!

There are a number of different colon cleanse products that you can use in order to help you slim down and get rid of unwanted toxins in your body, improving how you look and how you feel. It is important that you choose the right product, and research is one way to help you do this. One well known product that can help to get rid of the accumulation of toxins that accrue each day in our bodies is Dr Floras colon cleanse. This colon cleansing product from DrFloras will help improve a person's digestion as well as their metabolism. Many people have posted Dr Floras reviews saying that using this cleanse helped them to be less bloated and helped them to resolve their issues with gas, with some people even noticing speedier weight loss as well.

Many of the people who buy Dr Floras have stated that they have much more energy and feel that they are healthier than before they took the product. There are a lot of different health problems that people have found this product to be helpful for, including such things as constipation, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), problems with skin, and problems sleeping. Professionals have reviewed Dr Floras colon cleanse as well as many customers who have written testimonials. Although Dr Floras colon cleanse is not the only product of its type, it is one of the best known colon cleanse products for sale today.

Dr Floras cleanse is best when used along with the other Dr Floras products [http://happinessandgoodhealth.com/productpage8drfloras%20colon%20cleanse.htm]. These products include a cleanse support product, a probiotics product, a parasite defense product, and a bowel regulator product. When you use all the products in the line at the same time, this colon cleansing home remedy will give you the best possible results. It is always best to read the reviews, testimonials, and product specifications yourself in order to help you to better decide on whether this product would be the right one for you. You should always look first at products that are widely known such as Dr Floras. Once you are sure you would like to use this product, you need to look into where to buy Dr Floras so you can start on the road to getting healthier and more energetic. You can get more information by clicking on any of the links that are located above.

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Contemporary Greek Flora

The majority of the tourists who visit Greece is drawn there by the crystalline waters of the seas and the splendid vestiges of its ancient culture, and probably know little about the variety and the abundance of the flora of this country, which counts an astonishing number of species-more than 6,000-plus subspecies and varieties. In proportion to its size, Greece has more species of flowers than does any other European country or the United States. The plenteousness of Hellenic flora is the result of a number of factors, first among which the particular geographical position of the country. Together with Greece's climatic conditions, it permitted the land to receive contributions from other nearby floras, above all those of central Europe and Anatolia.

Following the lowering of the level of the sea, relics of the flora of the Tertiary period that survived the glaciations of the Quaternary succeeded in gradually migrating from their areas of origin over the bridge that the glaciers had created and that united different lands. Before the last inundation of the Mediterranean Sea, species of eastern origin had reached Europe through Thrace and other areas of the central and southern Aegean regions. That the flora of Greece and of the Balkan area in general evolved from the ancient Paleozoic flora is confirmed by the presence of numerous endemic or paleo-endemic species now found only in small colonies. Examples include some species that came from the Balkans and Asia Minor, like Ebenus cretica, whose center of distribution is localized in Asia, or Jancaea heldreichii, a member of the family Gesneriaceae endemic to Mount Olympus and of a genus that groups almost exclusively tropical and subtropical plants.

Elements originating in Africa, the Caucasus region, and the northern Balkan peninsula but which did not spread to the western regions of Europe became established in Greece following the disappearance of the primigenial forests, which gave way to arid soils favorable to the growth of xerophytic Mediterranean plants.

These factors established Greece became a crossroads in the migrations of different floras, a sort of botanical refugee center in which many species native to central Europe (including many Alpine species) as wail as Mediterranean, Balkan. Near Eastern and Northern African species all settled and spread.

Another important aid peculiar fact about Greek flora is that it counts an extremely high number of endemic species about 800. Some of these are relics of ancient Tertiary flora which in other places was destroyed by the glaciations but found suitable conditions for survival in Greece; nevertheless, these archaic forms alone are not sufficient to explain the high endemism, since many of the species certainly belong to more recent geological eras and many of which originated in the places in which they were first identified.

The changes in the level and the surface area of the Mediterranean Sea resulted in the fragmentation of a great number of land masses, mountain chains, and islands, and many animal and plant species were consequently isolated at one time or another during geological history. These conditions created new habitats populated by species and subspecies typical of these environments and thus favored the evolution of extremely diversified local populations which, despite their common origin, progressively diverged the ones from the others, specialized, and gave rise to a many new endemic species. These species-which often create problems of classification, as do the many species and subspecies now evolving and not yet well defined genetically, with hybrids and local varieties that are sometimes difficult to distinguish - justify the conclusion that on Greece the factors that contributed to creating new species operated more actively than in any other European country.

We must also consider the fact that in the last 5, 000 years Hellenic flora has received a further evolutionary boost from anthropic impact. In the period of their maximum splendor, the ancient civilizations that arose on Crete and then in the rest of Greece in about the second millennium BC-of which today we admire the splendid remains of art and culture-counted more than a million inhabitants who lived off the natural environment, exploiting it and inevitably modifying its original characteristics. Extensive forested areas were razed to obtain the wood needed for use as fuel or construction material; once deforested, the land was burned to make it suitable for use for grazing or farming and was later abandoned when it was worked out.

Since very ancient times, therefore, the activities of man have modified the composition of the habitats, shifting the original state of equilibrium and organization -the so-called "climax state"- toward degraded forms. Over the course of history, as the human population grew the available natural resources progressively decreased and at the same time a new type of vegetation appeared. It is composed of resistant, frugal species with scarce nutritional requirements, which until becoming dominant had always been subordinate to other types of vegetation. The maquis, the garrigue, and the phrygana are examples of the new vegetation formations that took the place of the original forest mantle, as new are commensal species that cohabit with crops. Other species yet were imported and adapted perfectly to the local climate, like the Indian prickly pear and the American agave, so that over the centuries a great number of exotic plants began to grow alongside the autochthonous species, widening the variety of Greek flora but also reducing the number of original habitats.

The evolution of flora in Greece was thus greatly influenced by man, the unknowing cause of the survival and diffusion of many species that flower in uncultivated land and the cultivated fields, among which species introduced as ornamentals or crops that became acclimatized in loco and now are a stable and integral part of the contemporary flora of the region.

Nevertheless, if on the one hand deforestation caused irreparable damage to the original climax communities, on the other it contributed to creating local micro-climates in which graze-resistant herbaceous species, including many neo-endemics, became acclimatized. The work of man has undoubtedly catalyzed evolutionary changes, stimulating the rise of new species with characteristics of greater variability, but it remains difficult to establish the importance of these recent transformations in relation to the broad immensely broad scale of geological time.

This guide describes the most common and at the same time most important flowers that botany enthusiasts may observe during their holiday stays in Greece. To facilitate species recognition, the plants have been grouped by distribution areas: coastal habitats (sandy and rocky), phrygana and garrigue, maquis, woodlands, rupestrian habitats, wetlands, gorges, and anthropized environments (roadsides, old walls, cultivated land, abandoned fields); a separate chapter is dedicated to the naturalized exotic plants that are by now a common feature in the Greek landscape.

Obviously, many plants are common to more than one environment; this is especially true for the phrygana -in which many of the plants listed in the section on the garrigue are also found- and for the gorges, composite environments in which we find the plants that typically live on cliffs and along watercourses in many other areas. For easier identification of similar plants distributed in different areas, we suggest consulting the appendix for a complete list of all the plants illustrated and described and a glossary of the technical terms used in the text. Each species is listed by its scientific name, which is composed of the capitalized genus name, the species name, and the abbreviated name of the author who first described each. The family to which each species belongs is given in parentheses.

If you want to find out for yourselves more things about the Greek flora then it would probably be a good idea to visit the Greek Islands and Greek Villages. For your dashes in the Greek country you will need Maps of Greece.

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What do Haiti, Heifers, Hi-Tech" have in common?

The church will raise monies for reconstruction of Haiti after massive destruction by two recent natural disasters.  For the first time, this church’s 25 year plus fundraising ambitions will take on a “hi-tech” focus as the organization combines social media with a nationwide electronic fundraising campaign.

This small New England church near Newtown, Connecticut, with approximately 150 active members, has decided in 2013 to focus on Heifer International’s REACH project: Rural Entrepreneurs for Agricultural Cooperation in Haiti.

The project aims to work with farming families, aid organizations, producers, municipalities, public-private sector partnerships and others to rehabilitate and strengthen the crop- and livestock-based livelihoods in Haiti destroyed by natural disasters.  REACH will build up four livestock sub-sectors (goats, cattle, poultry and pigs) using integrated farming to improve production and strengthen linkages with buyers.

Heifer's REACH project will help more than 100,000 people overall – the largest animal project of its kind in Haiti's history.  BUMC has created a fundraising campaign using Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, combined with an online donation portal, to take its collections from the local level to a national level to raise as much money as possible to help reconstruct the agricultural infrastructure of Haiti.

During April and May 2013, BUMC seeks to raise at least $2,000 for REACH.  To make a donation (minimum $5), please visit the group’s donation page at http://www.gofundme.com/HeiferBUMC.  For more information on the REACH Project, please visit Heifer International at www.heifer.org.

View the original article here

WOW Flora's Fairy Garden - Fantasy (3 Piece Set)

Give your toddler a chance to discover the magical, secret Flora’s Fairy Garden from WOW. Flora and her fairy friends tip-toe across lily pads and stepping stones and say hello to Francis the Frog...kisses are optional. This colorful play set is suitable for kids ages 18 months and up.

Product Features:

• Waterfall pool with stepping stones


• Opening garden gate with functioning swing


• Rotate flower umbrella to grow flower lift


• Balcony tea party with figure seats


• Two removable playing figures


• Suitable for ages 1.5 to 5

Romantic Fairy Garden for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Flora’s Fairy Garden from WOW is a sturdy three-piece play set with lots of details and features that inspire your child’s imagination, creativity and curiosity. Open the garden gate and walk Flora up the stepping stones to the waterfall pool. Let her while away lazy afternoons on the garden swing and then it’s up the daisy lift to a special afternoon tea (and fairy cakes of course!) on the secret balcony with Florence the fairy.

Flora’s Fairy Garden play set is designed to follow your child through toddlerhood and into the preschool years. The fun of bright colors, a waterfall with stepping stones, opening garden gate and functioning swing, rotating flower umbrella to grow flower lift and a balcony tea party with figure seats encourage fine motor control practice and sensory stimulation for toddlers. The many ways to play with the removable girl, fairy and frog inspire imagination, role-play and social interaction.

Toys That Don't Break Their Promises

WOW toys are designed to last and support your child’s play patterns and developmental change in their toddler and preschool years. The sturdy play sets stimulate learning through long lasting, creative play with exciting features to discover which help develop and feed young imaginations. From basic motor skills to more advanced social, interactive role play, the toys provide children with a fun way to make sense of the world around them.

Bright colors, sounds, and chunky shapes provide visual, auditory and tactile stimulation and powerful friction motors and moving wheels support your toddler’s weight as they learn to move around and become more mobile. WOW toys have so much character, you can enjoy making up stories as you play with your child. The removable mix & match figures and animals are perfect for little hands to grip and for developing hand-eye coordination. WOW’s many features, details, secret compartments, moving parts and removable pieces inspire your child’s curiosity and encourage problem-solving skills.

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Pembenihan Ikan Patin

Pembenihan Ikan Patin

Pembenihan ikan di bedakan menjadi pembeniahan alami dan pembenihan buatan. Pembenihan alami biasanya dilakukan pada jenis ikan yang mudah dipijahkan sepanjang tahun seperti ikan mas, tawes, gurami dan lele. Pembenihan buatan umunya di lakukan terhadap ikan yang di pelihara dalam lingkungan yang tidak sesuai dengan faktor lingkunganya di alam.

Pembenihan buatan seringa kali di lakukan terhadap ikan patin. Namun pembenihan buatan sering juga di lakukan pada ikan yang mudah memijah dengan tujuan tertentu, misalnya untuk mempermudah pengontrolan, menekan mortalitas dan lain sebagainya.

Pembenihan Ikan Patin Secara Buatan

Ikan patin termasuk jenis ikan yang sulit untuk memijah maupung di pijah dengan buatan. ikan ini sulit memijah di kolam atau wadah pemeliharaan dan termasuk pula ikan yang kawin musiman. Oleh karena itu, pembenihan ikan patin umumnya dilakukan secara buatan karena selama ini belum ada yang berhasil untuk memanipulasi lingkungan untuk ikan patin memijah secara alami. meskipun demikian pembenihan alami ikan patin di alam tidak mengalami hambatan.

Penyiapan Induk

Induk patin yang hedak di pijahkan bisa berasal dari hasil pemeliharaan di kolam sejak kecil ataupun hasil dari penangkapan dari alam ketika musim pemiijahan tiba . Induk yang sudah di pelihara di kolam sejak kecil tentunya sudah beradaptasi dan tidak liar. Sementara yang di dapatkan dari alam umumnya masih liar dan harus melalui proses adaptasi terlebih dahulu oleh karena itu induk yang di peroleh dari alam umunya masih luka, karena perlakuan saat penangkapan maupun tingkah lakunya yang masih liar di kolam penampungan. Induk yang ideal adalah dari kawanan putih dewasa hasil pembesaran di kolam sehingga dapat di pilihkan induk yang benar-benar berkualitas baik.

Pemeliharaan Calon Induk

Induk yang akan di pijahkan sebaiknya di pelihara dulu secara khusus di dalam kolam atau sangkar terapung. Selama pemeliharaan, induk ikan di beri makanan khusus yang banyak mengandung protein. Upaya untuk memperoleh induk matang telur yang pernah dilakukan oleh  Balai Penelitian Perikanan air tawar adalah dengan memberikan makanan berbentuk gumpalan pasta dari bahan pembuat makanan ayam dengan komposisi tepung ikan 35% dedek halus 30% menir beras 25% tepung kedelai 10% serta vitamin 0,5% .

Makanan di berikan  lima hari dalam seminggu sebanyak 5%  setiap hari dengan pembagian pagi hari 2,5%  dan sore hari 2,5% selain tiu di berikan juga ikan runcah   dua kali dalam seminggu du kali sebanyak 10 % dari bobot ikan induk langkah ini di lakukan untuk mempercepat kematangan gonad. Tempat pemeliharaan induk berupa bebrapa sangkar kayu dan masing-masing berukuran 3 m X 1,5 m X 2 m Tempat pemeliharaan ini di lengkapi dengan rakit dan pelampung dari drum.

Calon induk yang di pelihara berukuran 2 kg - 3 kg dengan padat penebaran 5 ekor/m3 air. Pemeliharaan calon induk ini di maksudkan untuk mendapatkan patin yang matang kelamin. Setelah sekitar empat bulan pemeliharaan ikan induk matang kelamin, hanya sekitar 20-30 % dari jumlah calon induk yang matang kelamin. Untuk itu perlu di lakukan seleksi lagi untuk memilih induk yang siap di pijahkan.

Pemilihan Induk Matang Kelamin

Meskipun dipijahkan secara buatan dengan suntikan kelenjar hipofise, syarat utama dari keberhasilan pembenihan patin yang di pijahkan harus matang kelamin. Adapun ciri ikan patin indukan betina yang sudah matang gonad dan siap di pijahkan adalah berumur kurang lebih 3 tahun; ukuran 2 kg - 3 kg; perut membesar ke arah anus; perut terasa empuk dan lembut bila di raba; kloaka membengkak dan berwarna merah tua ; kulit pada bagian perut lembek dan tipis; kalau di sekitar kloaka di tekan akan keluar beberapa butir telur yang bentuknya bundar dan seragam.    

Indukn ikan patin jantan yang siap dipijahkan memiliki sarat umur ikan  lebih 3 tahun; ukuran 2 kg - 3 kg; kulit pada bagian perut lembek dan tipis; bila di urut akan keluar cairan sperma berwarna putih dan kelamin membengkak berwarna merah tua.

Musim Pembenihan

Ikan patin memiliki kebiasaan memijah sekali dalam setahun pembenihan biasanya terjadi pada musim hujan bulan November hinga  Maret. Musim pembenihan ini juga dipengaruhi oleh iklim di suatu daerah sehingga setiap daerah memiliki masa atau waktu yang beda. Pada ikan patin bangkok iklim terbukti cukup terpengaruh. Sehubungan dengan kebiasaan memijah tersebut maka di perlukan ketelitian dari seorang pembenih jika ingin berhasil.

Perhitungan Berat

Jika tersedia induk betina ikan patin seberat 3 kg dan jantan 2 kg maka donor ikan mas untuk indukan betina dalah 9 kg dan induk jantan 4 kg;  jumlah total donor untuk induk jantan dan betina adalah  9 kg + 4 kg = 13 kg.

Pengambilan Kelenjar Hipofise

Untuk ikan donor, yaitu ikan yang akan di korbankan untuk di ambil hipofisenya bisa di gunakan ikan mas yang lebih murah penyediaanya dan tidak perlu menggu lama untuk matang kelamin. Ikan mas di potong tegak lurus atau vertikal di belakang bagian tutup insang. Potong kepala diletakkan dengan posisi mulut menghadap ke atas

Ikan di potong atau di iris secara vertikal mulai dari permukaan sedikit di atas mulut sehingga tampak organ otak yang dilingkupi lendir atau lemak. Otak di angkat dan lendir di bersihkan dengan tisu atau kapas. Bila lendir sudah bersih maka akan tampak butiran putih mirip jerawat itulah kelenjar hormon hipofise yang di perlukan untuk pembenihan buatan ikan patin.

Pembutan Ekstrak

Cara pembuatan ekstrak adalah seperti berikut; Kelenjar hipofise di hancurkan dengan menggunakan gelas penggerus sampai halus benar sambil di campur atau di larutkan dengan akuabides, sebanyak 2,5 ml, agar larutan yang di peroleh lebih mantap maka untuk ini bisa di bantu dengan sentri fugal atau pemusing. Setelah di peroleh larutan putih susu larutan itu di sedot dengan alat suntik injection.

Penyuntikan

Selain menggunakan larutan kelenjar hipofise yang mengandung hormon Gonadotropin, perangsangan juga di lakukan dengan  Pregnant yang mengandung human chrorionic gonadotropin ( HGC ). Penyuntikan induk betina dilakukan dua kali. Penyuntikan pertama sebanyak satu dosis dan HCG 300 ID dilakukan pada siang hari sekitar pukul 11.00, maksudnya agar penyuntikan ke dua tidak terlalu malam.

Penyuntikan ke dua sebanyak tiga dosis dan HCG 50 IU di lakukan setelah selang waktu 10 jam sejak penyuntikan pertama. Penyuntikan dapat dilakukan secara intramuskular di belakang pangkal sirip punggung. Jarum suntik sebaiknya yang di gunakan berukuran 0,12 mm di usahakan agar induk ikan tidak terlalu berontak atau jajtuh karena dapat mengakibatkan telur gugur.

Untuk itu maka penyuntikan di lakukan oleh lebih dari satu orang dan pembagian tugasnya di tentukan sebelumnya. Ada yang bertugas memegang jarum suntuik dan ada yang menyuntiknya dan petugas lain memegan kuat ikan patin karena patin ini licin maka lebih baik di balut tubuhnya dengan kain hapa agar tidak berontak. bagian kepalanya tidak ikut di bungkus karena akan mengganggu pernapasanya.

Karena penyuntikan di lakukan dua kali maka lokasi penyuntikan di bedakan antara penyuntikan pertama dan kedua, yaitu di sisi kiri dan kanan sirip punggung. Supaya tidak salah biasanya penyuntikan dilakukan pada bagian sebelah kiri terlebih dahulu sementara yang kedua di lakukan pada bagian kanan sirip punggung.

Pembenihan

Pembenihan ikan patin tidak bisa di lakukan secara alami ikan patin yang sudah di suntik itu di lepaskan di kolam pembenihan untuk menuggu pasangan induk patin kawin dengan sendirinya, Pembenihan dengan suntikan ini harus di bantu lagi dengan lamgkah berikut yaitu pengurutan/stripping. Cara  pengurutan harus sesuai dengan prosedur  yang sudah di tentukan. yaitu perut di urut pelan-pelan dari bagian depan dada ke arah belakan dengan menggunakan jari tengah dan jempol. jika sudah waktunya yaitu dekat dengan tanda ovulasi atau sekitar 8 - 12 jam dari penyuntikan kedua, induk betina di tangkap dengan menggunakan kain hapa. Hal yang sama di lakukan juga untuk induk jatan. Siapkan baremail yang bersih.

Cara yang akan di lakukan ini dinamakan dengan metode dry stripping atau metode kering. Perut induk betina di urut pelan-pelan belakang dan telur yang keluar di tampung dalam piring beremail tersebut. setelah itu perut induk jantan juga diurut agar spermanya keluar. Kemudian  telur dan sperma di aduk sampai rata dengan menggunkan bulu ayam selama sekitar 0,5 menit selanjutnya kedalam campuran telur dan sperma itu di tuangkan air bersih sedikit demi sedikit sambil terus di aduk selama kurang lebih 2 menit. Kemudian air dibuang dan di ganti dengan air yang bersih baru atau di bilas. Pembilasan di lakukan dua atau sampai tiga kali hingga sisa sperma dan sebagian gelembung minyak pada telur berkurang.

Persiapan Bak Penetasan

Untuk mencapai tingkat keberhasilan yang tinggi maka penetasan telur ikan patin ini perlu di persiapkan alat-alat dan langkah berikut. Bak pembenihan di cuci bersih dan di keringkan;  Hapa di pasang untuk menetaskan telur; Kolam di isi dengan air bersih.

Untuk menghindari timbulnya jamur maka perlu di tambahkan larutan penghambat pertumbuhan jamur, antara lain dengan Emolin dan Blitz-ich dengan dosis 0,05 cc/1 setelah itu aerator di tempatkan pada bak penetasan agar keperluan oksigen untuk larva dapat tercukupi. Pada daerah yang suhu airnya relatif rendah di perlukan heater /pemanas dengan tujuan uuntuk mencapai suhu optimal yang relatif stabil.

Penetasan

Telur di sebarkan merata kedalam hapa yang telah di siapkan sebelumnya di dalam bak yang berisi air bersih yang telah di lengkapi dengan aerator telur ikan ini di jaga agar jangan sampai bertumpuk karena akan mengakinatkan telur menjadi busuk. Untuk itu telur-telur tersebut di sebarkan dengan menggunakan bulu ayam agar telur-telur tidak pecah di bak penetasan telur yang di buahi akan berkembang sedikit demi sedikit menjadi larva. Telur patin yang di buahi akan menetas dalam jangka waktu 28 jam.

Perawatan Larva

Benih yang berumur 1 hari di pindahkan kedalam akuarium berukuran 80 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm. Setiap akuarium di isi dengan air yang sudah di aerasi kepadatan penebaran benih adalah 500 ekor per akuarium sampai benih berumur satu hari belum tidak diberi makanan tambahan dari luar karena masih mempunyai cadangan makanan berupa kuning telur yang menepel di perutnya.

Pada hari kedua dan ketiga baru di beri makanan tambahan dari luar yang berupa kuning telur ayam yang di rebus secukupnya. Larva di pelihara di akuarium hingga berumur 15 hari, kemudian benih dideder di dalam kolam yang lebih luas  dan siap di budidaya atau dibesarkan.

Pembenihan Ikan Cupang

Pembenihan ikan cupang

Ikan cupang memiliki aneka ragam warna yang indah dan cerah. Ikan cupang merupakan ikan daerah tropis, penyebarannya meliputi wilayah Asia Tenggara, Pasific hingga ke Afrika. Di alam bebas ikan ini hidup berkelompok, banyak ditemukan di rawa, danau, dan sungai yang arusnya tenang. Ikan cupang menyukai perairan dangkal yang dinaungi tumbuhan air. Makanan ikan cupang adalah kutu air, jentik nyamuk, dan cacing serabut.

Ikan cupang sanggup hidup dalam lingkungan air yang kotor dan minim oksigen. Ikan cupang dapat dipelihara dalam wadah kecil sekalipun tanpa adanya aerator. Kekuatan hidup ikan cupang ini didapat karena memiliki rongga labirin seperti pada paru-paru manusia. Labirin tersebut bisa membuatnya sanggup bertahan pada lingkungan miskin oksigen.

Ciri khas yang dimiliki oleh ikan cupang jantan adalah selain warnanya indah, siripnya panjang dan menyerupai sisir serit, sehingga sering disebut cupang serit. Sedangkan ikan betina warnanya tidak menarik, kusam dan bentuk siripnya lebih pendek dari ikan jantan.

Ikan cupang jantan untuk dipijahkan memiliki sarat umur minimal 7 bulan, bentuk badan dan siripnya panjang dan berwarna indah, gerakannya agresif dan lincah, kondisi badan sehat dan tidak terjangkit penyakit. Sedang ikan cupang betina memiliki sarat umur telah mencapai bulan, bentuk badan membulat menandakan siap kawin, gerakannya lambat, sirip pendek dan warnanya tidak menarik dan kondisi badan sehat.

Persiapan Pemijahan

Setelah indukan jantan dan indukan betina siap untuk memijah, sediakan tempat berupa wadah dari baskom plastik atau akuarium kecil dengan ukuran 20x20x20 cm. Siapkan juga gelas plastik untuk tempat ikan cupang betina. Selain itu, sediakan juga tumbuhan air seperti kayambang.

Dalam satu kali perkawinan, ikan cupang bisa menghasilkan hingga 1000 butir telur. Telur biasanya menetas selama kurang lebih 24 jam setelah pembuahan. Berdasarkan pengalaman para peternak, tingkat kematian pembenihan ikan cupang cukup tinggi. Dan dalam satu kali kawin biasanya hanya dapat dipanen 30-50 ikan cupang hidup.

Indukan jantan bisa dikawinkan hingga 8 kali dengan interval waktu sekitar 2 hingga 3 minggu. Sedangkan indukan betina disarankan hanya dikawinkan satu kali saja. Karena pada perkawinan berikutnya akan terjadi penurunan keragaman jenis kelamin yang semakin didominasi anak cupang berkelamin betina.

Langkah lanjut pemijahan

Persiapkan wadah akuarium kecil dan bersih, isi wadah dengan air bersih dengan ketinggian 15 – 30 Cm, taruh ikan cupang jantan terlebih dahulu selama kurang lebih 1 hari, tutup wadah dengan penutup wadah apa saja. Sehari kemudian pada waktu sore hari induk betina telah matang telur dimasukan ke dalam wadah pemijahan. Biasanya pada pagi harinya ikan sudah bertelur dan menempel disarang berupa busa yang dipersiapkan oleh induk jantan. Induk betina segera dipindahkan dan jantannya dibiarkan untuk merawat telur sampai menetas.

Perawatan Larva

Ketika burayak ikan cupang sudah dapat brenang dan sudah habis kuning telurnya, sudah harus disiapkan media yang lebih besar untuk tempat pembesaran. Pindahkan anakan bersama induk jantannya. Kemudian benih ikan diberi makanan kutu air dan wadah ditutup. Sepuluh hari kemudian anak ikan dipindahkan ke tempat lain. Dan selanjutnya setiap satu minggu, ikan dipindahkan ke tempat lain untuk lebih cepat tumbuh.

Pakan Larva

Pakan bisa menggunakan  cacing sutra dan kuning telur yang telah direbus hingga matang, lalu ambil kuning telur itu dan bungkus dengan kain. Kain diikat rapat pada kedua ujungnya dan celupkan ke dalam bak ikan cupang. Kuning telur akan menembus pori-pori kain dan dimakan oleh si cantik anak cupang.

Frekuensi pemberian pakannya harus dikontrol ketat dan teliti. Sebab, kuning telur itu mudah membusuk dan beresiko meracuni air dan ikan. Beri pakan sekali dalam dua hari dengan lama pencelupan 3-5 menit.

Saat pemberian pakan, jangan Anda tinggalkan. Perhatikan dengan teliti, berikan secara sedikit demi sedikit. Bila anakan cupang tidak tertarik, hentikan pemberian untuk sementara. Berikan lagi di lain waktu, karena anakan cupang biasanya butuh waktu untuk beradaptasi dengan makanan perdananya.

Burung eksotis asli Indonesia

Burung eksotis asli Indonesia

 

Sebagai negara kepulauan terbesar didunia, Indonesia kaya akan sumber daya alam baik flora maupun fauna. Burung adalah bagian dari fauna beragam macam jenisnya. Diantara burung tersebut terdapat, beberapa jenis burung yang sangat eksotis dan mulai terancam punah oleh karena banyak diburu orang yang tidak bertanggung jawab. Berikut ini adalah beberapa jenis burung eksotis indonesia yang sangat indah dan langka.

Burung Cendrawasih Biru

Cendrawasih Biru atau nama ilmiahnya Paradisaea rudolphi adalah sejenis burung cendrawasih berukuran sedang, dengan panjang sekitar 30cm dari genus Paradisaea. Daerah sebaran Cendrawasih Biru terdapat di rimba pegunungan Papua pada ketinggian 1.400 meter sampai ketinggian 1.800 meter di atas permukaan laut.

Burung Cendrawasih Merah

Cendrawasih Merah, nama ilmiahnya Paradisaea rubra adalah sejenis burung pengicau berukuran sedang, dengan panjang sekitar 33cm, dari marga Paradisaea. Daerah sebaran Cendrawasih Merah hanya ditemukan di hutan dataran rendah pada pulau Waigeo dan Batanta di kabupaten Raja Ampat, provinsi Papua Barat.

Burung Merak Biru

Merak Biru, nama ilmiahnya Pavo cristatus adalah salah satu burung dari tiga spesies burung merak. Merak Biru mempunyai bulu berwarna biru gelap mengilap. Burung jantan dewasa berukuran besar, panjangnya dapat mencapai 230cm, dengan penutup ekor yang sangat panjang berwarna hijau metalik. Populasi Merak Biru tersebar di hutan terbuka dengan padang rumput di India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal dan Bhutan.

Burung Jalak Bali

Jalak Bali, nama ilmiahnya Leucopsar rothschildi adalah sejenis burung pengicau berukuran sedang, dengan panjang lebih kurang 25cm, dari suku Sturnidae. Jalak Bali hanya ditemukan di hutan bagian barat pulau Bali. Burung ini juga merupakan satu-satunya spesies endemik Bali, dimana pada tahun 1991 dinobatkan sebagai lambang fauna provinsi Bali. Keberadaan hewan endemik ini dilindungi undang- undang.

Burung Cekakak hutan Melayu

Cekakak-hutan memiliki suara yang unik dan khas. Pada umumnya, mereka bersuara keras. Siulannya meninggi dan berbunyi "kwii-kwii...". Uniknya, setiap siulan tersebut dihasilkan sekitar satu nada per detik. Burung jenis ini tinggal di dalam hutan dataran rendah. Tidak seperti suaranya yang keras, burung ini ternyata agak pemalu. Mereka hanya mencari mangsa dari atas tanah dengan membalik-balikkan dedaunan.

Burung Nuri Sayap Hitam

Nuri sayap hitam atau Nuri merah Biak, yang dalam nama ilmiahnya Eoscyanogenia adalah sejenis nuri berukuran sedang, dengan panjang sekitar 30cm, dari suku Psittacidae. Nuri Sayap hitam hanya ditemukan di habitat hutan di pesisir pulau Biak dan pulau di Teluk Cenderawasih, Papua. Spesies ini sering ditemukan dan bersarang di perkebunan kelapa.

Burung Kakak Tua Raja    

Spesies ini hidup pada ketinggian 0-1520 meter dari permukaan laut, biasanya berkelompok. Kakatua pada umumnya berusia panjang, hingga mencapai 60 tahun bahkan lebih. Kakatua menghuni hutan primer dan sekunder yang tinggi dan tepi hutan; juga hutan monsun (Nusa Tenggara), hutan yang tinggi bersemak yang pohonnya jarang dan lahan budidaya yang pohonnya jarang.