Antifungal and insect antifeedant 2-phenylethanol esters from the liverwort Balantiopsis cancellata from Chile

A chemical study of a dichloromethane extract of Balantiopsis cancellata led to the isolation of four known 2-phenylethanol esters (1-4) and a phenylethanediol benzoate (5). Antifeedant activity toward Spodoptera littoralis (disk-choice bioassay) and growth inhibition of the phytopathogen Cladosporium herbarum in TLC-bioautography assays were determined. The results show that the antifeedant and antifungal activity of the extract is attributable mainly to the trans-beta-methylthioacrylate 4.     

Effect of chelating and antioxidant agents on morphology and DNA methylation in freeze-drying rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) spermatozoa

Freeze-drying (FD) has been exhaustively tried in several mammalian species as an alternative technique to sperm cryopreservation, but few studies have been done in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The main objective of this study was to compare the protective effect of various antioxidants added to EDTA medium on structural and functional components of FD rabbit spermatozoa and on their status of global DNA methylation. FD media used were composed of basic FD medium (10 mM Tris-HCl buffer and 50 mM NaCl) supplemented with either 50 mM EDTA alone (EDTA) or added with 105 µM of rosmarinic acid (RA, EDTA-RA) or 10 µM of melatonin (MLT, EDTA-MLT). The effect of each medium on the preservation of FD spermatozoon structure was evaluated with light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Global DNA methylation was quantified in all FD sperm samples as well as in fresh spermatozoa. Morphologically, fracture points were evidenced in the neck, mid and principal piece of the spermatozoon tail. No differences in spermatozoon fracture points were evidenced among FD treatments: intact spermatozoa were the largest (p < .01) category, whereas the most frequent (p < .01) injury was the neck fracture, resulting in tailless heads. At SEM, the head of spermatozoa showed a well-conserved shape and intact membrane in all treatments. DNA methylation status was the same in all FD treatments. In conclusion, supplementation of EDTA, EDTA-RA and EDTA-MLT during FD preserved rabbit sperm morphological integrity and methylation status as well. Therefore, the difficulty of getting viable offspring using FD semen is likely unrelated to the impact of the lyophilization process on DNA methylation and morphology of lyophilized spermatozoa.     

The effect of dietary protein level on pond water quality and feed utilization efficiency of pacúPiaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887)

The effect of supplemental feeds with different levels of crude protein on pond water quality and food utilization efficiency by pacú (Piaractus mesopotamicus) was evaluated in a semi‐intensive culture system. Fish were stocked at a density of one individual per m², raised for 299 days, and fed isocaloric diets containing soybean meal, blood and bone meal, and yellow maize. Dietary treatments consisted of diets containing 25%, 35%, and 45% crude protein. Ponds receiving the two highest protein levels showed significantly higher values of alkalinity, conductivity and nitrites. High dietary protein diets resulted in no significant improvements in final weight (336.4±77.2, 308.2±92.6 and 368.4±82.2 g, mean±standard deviation, for 25%, 35% and 45% protein levels respectively). Moreover, fish carcass composition was not significantly different among treatments. Instead, significant augmentations in feed conversion ratio (1.36, 1.54 and 1.73 respectively) and reductions in protein retention (35.7%, 33.5% and 29.0% respectively) occurred as protein levels increased. Results indicate that at the lowest protein level, pacú growth rates and carcass composition were similar to the other experimental treatments, with a significant improvement in pond water quality and feed utilization efficiency.     

Protective effect of structurally diverse grape procyanidin fractions against UV-induced cell damage and death

UV radiation leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These molecules exert a variety of harmful effects by altering key cellular functions and may result in cell death. Several studies have demonstrated that human skin can be protected against UV radiation by using plant-derived antioxidants. Here we evaluated the in vitro capacity of several antioxidant polyphenolic fractions from grape, which differ in their degree of polymerization and percentage of galloylation, to protect HaCaT human keratinocytes against UV-induced oxidative damage. These fractions inhibited both basal and UVB- or UVA-induced intracellular ROS generation in this cell line. Consequently, the same fractions inhibited p38 and JNK1/2 activation induced by UVB or UVA radiation. The highest protective effect was for fractions rich in procyanidin oligomers and gallate esters. These encouraging in vitro results support further research and should be taken into consideration into the clinical pharmacology of plant-derived polyphenolic extracts as novel agents for skin photoprotection.     

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in a German shepherd dog with ventricular arrhythmias

This report describes the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in a young German shepherd dog afflicted with inherited ventricular arrhythmias. Proper generator and lead placement was necessary for successful termination of ventricular fibrillation during device testing at the time of implantation. The risks of inappropriate therapy triggered by sinus tachycardia and oversensing of the T wave were controlled by extensive programming of the device. Following spontaneous resolution of the arrhythmia and due to the development of sepsis associated with the device, the ICD was successfully removed.     

Changes in the risk management of Salmonella enterica subspecies diarizonae serovar 61:(k):1, 5, (7) in Swedish sheep herds and sheep meat due to the results of a prevalence study 2012

Background

The prevalence of Salmonella in food producing animals is very low in Sweden due to rigorous control programmes. However, no active surveillance is in place in sheep. The authorities decided to perform a prevalence study in sheep herds because findings at slaughter indicated that sheep associated S. diarizonae (S. enterica subspecies diarizonae serovar 61:(k):1, 5, (7)) might be common in sheep. Sampling was stratified by herd size in two groups, small herds with ≤ 30 animals and large herds with > 30 animals. In each stratum, 237 herds were selected at random. Faecal samples received from 244 out of the 474 randomly selected herds were analysed.

Results

A total of 40 of 100 (40%) of large herds and 17 of 144 (12%) of small herds were positive. The overall adjusted prevalence was 17.6% (95% CI, 12.9-22.2). Sheep associated S. diarizonae was detected in all counties (n = 21). Scientific opinions and an evaluation of on-farm control measures performed concluded that the impact of sheep associated S. diarizonae on human health is very low, and that risk management measures applied in response to findings of sheep associated S. diarizonae in sheep or sheep meat can be expected to have very little impact on reducing risks to human health. As a result, Swedish authorities decided to make an exemption for sheep associated Salmonella diarizonae in sheep and sheep meat in the current Salmonella control measures.

Conclusions

Sheep associated S. diarizonae is endemic in Swedish sheep herds. It is more common in large herds and not limited to certain parts of the country. The responsible authorities concluded that current risk management actions regarding sheep associated S. diarizonae in sheep and sheep meat are not proportional to the risk. This is the first time in the history of the Swedish Salmonella control programme that an exemption from the legislation has been made for a specific serovar. If there is any future indication of an increasing risk, due to e.g. change in the pathogenicity or development of antimicrobial resistance, the risk assessment will be re-evaluated and control measures reinforced if needed.     

Endophytic bacteria from selenium-supplemented wheat plants could be useful for plant-growth promotion,biofortification and Gaeumannomyces graminis biocontrol in wheat production

In this study, we isolated putative plant-growth-promoting endophytic bacteria from selenium-supplemented wheat grown under field conditions. These bacterial strains belonged to Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Klebsiella, and Acinetobacter genera and showed genetic similarly with rhizospheric bacteria isolated in the same Andisol soil and with other endophytic strains previously reported. Strains isolated from selenium-supplemented wheat were highly tolerant to elevated selenium concentration (ranged from 60 to 180 mM), and showed potential plant-growth-promoting capabilities (auxin and siderophore production, phytate mineralization, and tricalcium phosphate solubilization). In addition, some strains like Acinetobacter sp. (strain E6.2), Bacillus sp. (strain E8.1), Bacillus sp., and Klebsiella sp. (strains E5 and E1) inhibited the growth of Gaeumannomyces graminis mycelia in vitro at 100, 50, and 30 %, respectively. These endophytic microorganisms would be useful for dual purposes: selenium biofortification of wheat plants and control of G. graminis, the principal soil-borne pathogen in volcanic soils from southern Chile.     

Unavailable carbohydrates in common bean cotyledon (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Canario group

Unavailable carbohydrates in cotyledon flour were quantified from four varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) belonging to the Canario group. The pectin content, as percentage of anhydrogalacturonic acid, ranged between 1.57% and 2.3%. Percentages of hemicellulose A and B were similar, with average values of 2.81% and 2.61%, respectively. The polysaccharide extracted with 10% trichloroacetic acid was determined; its yield was 3.17%. This value dropped to 2.35% when the cotyledon flour was previously hydrolyzed with polygalacturonase. The average value of cellulose was 1.36%.