Genetic analysis of Anisakis typica (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from cetaceans of the northeast coast of Brazil: new data on its definitive hosts

Prevalence and seasonal variations of helminth infections and their association with morbidity parameters were studied in traditionally reared Cambodian cattle. Four villages in two provinces of West Cambodia were visited on monthly intervals over a period of 11 months, during which 2391 animals were faecal and blood sampled for parasitological and haematological examinations. The body condition score (BCS), faecal consistency (diarrhoea score, DS), colour of the ocular conjunctivae (FAMACHA(?)) and packed cell volume were determined for each individual animal. The overall proportion of samples that was positive for gastrointestinal nematodes was 52%, 44% and 37% in calves (from 1 to 6 months), young animals (6 to 24 months) and adults (over 24 months), respectively, while geometric mean faecal egg counts (FECs) for each of these age categories were 125, 66 and 15 eggs per gram, respectively. Six genera of strongyles were found in the faecal cultures, i.e. in descending order of occurrence, Cooperia, Oesophagostomum, Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Mecistocirrus and Bunostomum. The prevalences of Fasciola and Paramphistomum, estimated by coprological examination, varied between 5-20% and 45-95%, respectively. Logistic mixed models were used to investigate associations of morbidity markers with the presence of parasite infection. A low BCS was associated with gastrointestinal nematode and liver fluke infections, and soft faecal consistency with Paramphistomum infections. However, other factors such as nutritional deficiencies and intercurrent diseases are likely to enhance the effects of parasites and should therefore be considered when using these morbidity parameters as indicators of parasitism.     

Correlation between carcass condemnations in slaughterhouses and official notifications of cattle testing positive for tuberculosis

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to analyze the correlation between condemnations in slaughterhouses situated in Minas Gerais State and notifications to the...     

Digit innervation of the thoracic limb of Criollo horses: Anatomical description and consequences to perineural blocks

Criollo horse breeding is an important economic activity in South America. Because of their athletic performance, these animals tend to show great incidence of musculoskeletal disorders, many of them diagnosed by means of perineural blocks. However, incorrect interpretation of these blocks may be due to anatomical differences in nerve distribution. The objective of this study was to describe the innervation of the digit region of thoracic limbs in Criollo horses, in order to improve the interpretation of tests for claudication diagnosis based on nerve block. Thirty thoracic limbs from Criollo horses were dissected. It could be observed that in 90% of the limbs, dorsal branches of the palmar nerve originated proximally to the proximal sesamoid bone. In 93% of the cases, the palmar digital nerve and the dorsal branches communicated; in 87% of the cases, communication between branches of the dorsal branch was observed; and in 27% (8/30) of the limbs, the palmar metacarpal nerve and the dorsal branch presented communications. None of the specimens showed complete symmetry in the distribution of nerves in contralateral limbs. The high frequency of communication between the nerves may be a particularity of the Criollo breed that may interfere with the interpretation of perineural blocks. Based on the anatomical position, it may be inferred that divergent results in Criollo horses may occur when abaxial sesamoid nerve block is used. Palmar digital nerve block may be less influenced by these variations, provided it is performed as distal as possible from the ungular cartilage.     

Responses of biomass and several photosynthetic indicators to manganese excess in triticale

Triticale (X Triticosecale, Wittmack) is generally accepted as a very rustic crop which can grow in difficult soils such as those with low pH, where aluminum (Al) and/or manganese (Mn) are frequently in excess. The first aim of the present work was to establish the parameters for the future evaluation of Mn excess tolerance. Plants were grown in pots with sand fed with a nutrient solution (pH 4.5) to which MnSO₄ .4H₂O was added. The biomass of plants (cv. Arabian) grown during one monm in a range of Mn concentrations (2,2.75,11, 16.5,22, 33, and 44 ppm) was determined in Experiment I. Subsequently a shorter range (10, 50, 100, and 200 ppm) was chosen and used with four cvs. (Arabian, Beagle, Borba, and TTE 9201) during the complete growth period (Experiment II). During this experiment the effects of Mn concentrations on the net photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic capacity, photochemical efficiency of PSII, quantum yield of photosynthetic non cyclic electron transport and leaf content of chlorophylls, and carotenoids in the several cvs. were studied. The final biomass and yield were taken as the ultimate criteria for ranking the cvs. It was concluded that 10 ppm Mn concentration was optimal for the growth and 50 ppm the lowest limit to produce toxicity which indicates that triticale was rather tolerant. All the physiological parameters determined after one month of growth and the performance of the photosystems were negatively affected by the Mn concentrations, but the changes were not sufficient to be used for an early (one month old plants) ranking of the cvs. consistent with the biomass and final grain yield. However, all the results agree that the cv. Arabian was the most sensitive because it suffered the strongest decreases and was affected by 50 ppm Mn concentration. The plants of the cv. TTE 9201 were the least affected as far as photosynthetic parameters are concerned.     

Antigenotoxicity and Antioxidant Activity of Acerola Fruit (Malpighia glabra L.) at Two Stages of Ripeness

Genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of acerola fruit at two stages of ripeness were investigated using mice blood cells. The results show that no ripeness stage of acerola extracts presented any genotoxic potential to damage DNA (Comet assay) or cytotoxicity (MTT assay). When antigenotoxic activity was analyzed, unripe fruit presented higher DNA protection than ripe fruit (red color) extract. The antioxidant capacity of substances also showed that unripe samples inhibit the free radical DPPH more significantly than the ripe ones. The results about determination of compounds made using HPLC showed that unripe acerola presents higher levels of vitamin C as compared to ripe acerola. Thus, vitamin C and the complex mixture of nutrients of Malpighia glabra L., and especially its ripeness stages, influenced the interaction of the fruit extract with the DNA. Acerola is usually consumed when ripe (red fruit), although it is the green fruit (unripe) that has higher potential as beneficial to DNA, protecting it against oxidative stress.     

Genomic variability and plasticity of Pseudomonas causing coffee leaf spots in Minas Gerais state,Brazil

Foliar spots caused by Pseudomonas coronafaciens pv. garcae (Pcg), Pseudomonas amygdali pv. tabaci (Pat) and Pseudomonas cichorii (Pch) are major bacterial diseases that can reduce coffee production. However, little is known about the genetic diversity and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity to coffee plants of these bacteria. In this study, genome sequences of Pcg, Pat and Pch strains isolated from coffee plants in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, were used to assess their variability and plasticity, and compare their type III secretion system (T3SS) and apoplastic effector repertoires as well as tabtoxin biosynthetic/detoxification genes. Genomic diversity was found for all three phytopathogens, among which Pch possesses the highest number of exclusive proteins. The Pcg genome is the most stable whereas that of Pch is the most plastic, which is related to their host ranges. When compared with those of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, hrp/hrc gene sequences are more conserved in Pcg and Pat than in Pch, which also possesses the smallest T3SS and the largest apoplastic effector repertoires. The only T3SS effector family common to all three pathogens is AvrE, suggesting that, as for other plant–Pseudomonas interactions, it may play a crucial role for pathogenicity towards coffee plants. Apoplastic proteins associated with maintaining the redox balance and degrading proteins/peptides not previously described as important in plant–bacteria interactions were found. Gain/loss of the tabtoxin biosynthetic cluster with retention of the antitoxin gene was observed, indicating that tabtoxin production is not a limiting factor for the occurrence of mixed infections.     

Genetic diversity via REML-BLUP of ex situ conserved macauba [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.] ecotypes

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Macauba [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.], a palm tree native to Brazil, has a high potential as an alternative source for vegetal oil production....     

Geno-phenotypic diversity in a natural population of Hancornia speciosa Gomes: implications for conservation and improvement

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Hancornia speciosa Gomes is native tree to South America, and its fruits are a source of income for communities and the food industry. The reduction of...     

Morphological and morphometric characterization of domestic cat epididymal sperm

Sperm morphometry is the tool that confers objectivity to the morphological evaluation by accurately measuring the dimensions of the gamete and its structures. Thus, the aim of the study was to perform a morphometric characterization of the domestic cat sperm. Therefore, sperm samples were collected from twenty pairs of epididymis in a TRIS extender at 37ºC. An aliquot of the sample was used to make a smear with Rose Bengal solution, and afterwards, the morphology and morphometry were analysed. In the morphology, were quantified the percentage of normal sperm cells, morphological changes of head, midpiece and tail. In morphometry, each normal sperm cell was measured for length, width, area and perimeter of head and midpiece, tail length and total length. The parameters ellipticity, elongation, regularity and rugosity were also determined. The percentage of normal sperm was 67.21%. Of the abnormalities, the curled/folded tail, followed by the curved midpiece, abnormal shaped head and detached head were the most quantified. The sperm head presented 5.56 ± 0.01 μm and 3.10 ± 0.01 μm of length and width, respectively. The head area was 16.94 ± 0.05 μm², while the perimeter was 16.16 ± 0.03 μm. In the derived parameters, the values were as follows: ellipticity of 1.81 ± 0.00; elongation of 21.39 ± 0.12; regularity of 0.81 ± 0.00; and rugosity of 0.14 ± 0.00. The midpiece presented length and width of 7.96 ± 0.01 μm and 0.76 ± 0.01 μm, respectively. The mean length of the sperm tail was 45.12 ± 0.06 μm, and the total cell size was 58.67 ± 0.06 μm. Thus, it was concluded that the cat sperm is an elongated cell, with high rugosity and regularity. The spermatic tail represents more than ¾ of the total length of the cell and the midpiece exceeds the length of the head.