Accuracy of genomic prediction of purebreds for cross bred performance in pigs

In pig breeding, as the final product is a cross bred (CB) animal, the goal is to increase the CB performance. This goal requires different strategies for the implementation of genomic selection from what is currently implemented in, for example dairy cattle breeding. A good strategy is to estimate marker effects on the basis of CB performance and subsequently use them to select pure bred (PB) breeding animals. The objective of our study was to assess empirically the predictive ability (accuracy) of direct genomic values of PB for CB performance across two traits using CB and PB genomic and phenotypic data. We studied three scenarios in which genetic merit was predicted within each population, and four scenarios where PB genetic merit for CB performance was predicted based on either CB or a PB training data. Accuracy of prediction of PB genetic merit for CB performance based on CB training data ranged from 0.23 to 0.27 for gestation length (GLE), whereas it ranged from 0.11 to 0.22 for total number of piglets born (TNB). When based on PB training data, it ranged from 0.35 to 0.55 for GLE and from 0.30 to 0.40 for TNB. Our results showed that it is possible to predict PB genetic merit for CB performance using CB training data, but predictive ability was lower than training using PB training data. This result is mainly due to the structure of our data, which had small‐to‐moderate size of the CB training data set, low relationship between the CB training and the PB validation populations, and a high genetic correlation (0.94 for GLE and 0.90 for TNB) between the studied traits in PB and CB individuals, thus favouring selection on the basis of PB data.     

Tissue-specific daily variation in the oxidative status of sturgeon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acipenser naccarii</Emphasis>) and rainbow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>): a comparative study

The oxidative status is associated with animal lifespan, metabolism, activity and circadian rhythms. The objective of this work is to study the time course of the oxidative status over a daily cycle in the plasma, liver and brain, and the changes in the plasma cortisol levels of sturgeon and trout. The knowledge of daily oxidative status will provide a better understanding of the trout and sturgeon physiology and adequate maintenance and food supply of farmed fish in relation to photoperiod. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione transferase, DT-diaphorase activities, lipid peroxidation and cortisol were measured. Our results showed that the antioxidative enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in the liver of trout and sturgeon changed through the day, with increased levels in lipid peroxidation of liver in the dark period for sturgeon. This could be related to the different activity time in both species, an issue to be taken into account when designing the guidelines of the maintenance of these species in fish farms. On the contrary, there was not clear influence of the daily rhythms on brain oxidative status. The higher efficiency of the antioxidant defences in the brain of sturgeon, which displays less lipid peroxidation and higher antioxidative activity, could be related to its longer life expectancy. The absence of any apparent daily rhythm in the plasma cortisol levels in sturgeon could indicate a lower susceptibility to stress, and that mechanisms involved in cortisol secretion in chondrosteans could be different from that described for teleosteans.     

Determination of epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine in fresh food products.

epsilon-N-Pyrrolylnorleucine was determined in different fresh food products to study its presence as a normal component of food proteins. Twenty-two different products were screened: cod, cuttlefish, salmon, sardine, trout, beef, chicken, pork, broad bean, broccoli, chickpea, garlic, green pea, lentil, mushroom, soybean, spinach, sunflower, almond, hazelnut, peanut, and walnut. Foods were homogenized, their proteins were precipitated with trichloroacetic acid and hydrolyzed with 2 N NaOH for 20 h, and the epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine content was determined by capillary electrophoresis. The epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine, which was identified by HPLC/MS in sardine muscle hydrolysate, ranged in the 22 foods analyzed from 0.24 to 6.36 micromol/g. This concentration was correlated with the protein content of the food (r = 0.687, p = 0.00041). In addition, the epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine/lysine ratio was found to be a function of the lipid, iron, and protein contents of the food (r = 0.881, p < 0.0001) and was directly correlated with lipid and iron contents and inversely correlated with the protein content. These results are in agreement with the oxidative stress origin proposed for epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine and suggest that the epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine/lysine ratio is a characteristic of each food. In addition, epsilon-N-pyrrolylnorleucine seemed to be a normal component of many fresh food products, in which it may be acting as a natural antioxidant.     

Phytotoxic effect of culture filtrate from Fusarium subglutinans the causal agent of fusariose of pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr

Two pineapple varieties differing in resistance to fusariose were examined for the phytotoxic effect of Fusarium subglutinans culture filtrate. The cultivars were Perolera (more resistant to pathovars of Fusarium subglutinans) and Smooth Cayenne (more susceptible). The phytotoxic effect of culture filtrate was assessed in tissue culture pineapple plantlets (by electrolyte leakage and placing the culture filtrate on wound leaf segments) and callus (inhibition of growth). Smooth Cayenne proved to be the most sensitive cultivar in each test, whereas Perolera showed resistance to the culture filtrate and its callus grew in the presence of high concentrations of culture filtrate that were completely toxic to Smooth Cayenne. These results show that plants can display cellular resistance to the culture filtrate. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sectional anatomic and magnetic resonance imaging features of the head of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

Objective-To compare anatomic features of cross-sectional specimens with those of MRI images of the heads of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Animals-5 cadavers of juvenile female loggerhead sea turtles. Procedures-Spin-echo T1-weighted and T2-weighted MRI scans were obtained in sagittal, transverse, and dorsal planes with a 0.2-T magnet and head coil. Head specimens were grossly dissected and photographed. Anatomic features of the MRI images were compared with those of gross anatomic sections of the heads from 4 of these turtles. Results-In the MRI images, anatomic details of the turtles' heads were identified by the characteristics of signal intensity of various tissues. Relevant anatomic structures were identified and labeled on the MRI images and corresponding anatomic sections. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The MRI images obtained through this study provided valid information on anatomic characteristics of the head in juvenile loggerhead sea turtles and should be useful for guiding clinical evaluation of this anatomic region in this species.     

Transient cold agglutinins associated with Mycoplasma cynos pneumonia in a dog

This report details a case of reversible cold agglutinins in a dog with Mycoplasma cynos pneumonia. An 11‐month‐old female spayed Rhodesian Ridgeback was presented for lethargy and cough. Thoracic radiographs revealed an alveolar pattern present bilaterally in the cranioventral lung lobes. Septic neutrophilic inflammation with suspected Mycoplasma sp. organisms was noted on cytologic examination of a trans‐tracheal wash, and the dog was treated empirically with IV ampicillin/sulbactam and enrofloxacin pending culture results. Red blood cell agglutination was noted unexpectedly on several blood film reviews during hospitalization; however, the dog never developed clinical or laboratory evidence of hemolysis. Cold agglutinins were demonstrated based on the results of a saline dilution and cold agglutinin test that showed agglutination at 4°C but not at room temperature (21°C) or 37°C. Based on a positive culture for M cynos, the dog was treated for 8 weeks with oral enrofloxacin. After clinical and radiographic resolution of the pneumonia, repeated saline dilution and cold agglutinin tests of peripheral blood were negative at all temperatures. Reversible, asymptomatic cold agglutinins are common in human patients with mycoplasma pneumonia, but this is the first reported case in a dog.     

Sensory and analytical study of rose sparkling wines manufactured by second fermentation in the bottle

The sensory and analytical characteristics of five rose sparkling wines manufactured by the traditional method have been determined. Moreover, the changes that take place in the nitrogen and volatile fraction of the wines during the second fermentation and the aging with the yeasts have been studied. Each of these wines was made from a single industrial rose base wine of the Garnacha Tinta variety, with five selected yeasts strains. The base wine had a low content in free amino acids, 16 mg/L, and the yeast consumed more peptides than free amino acids during second fermentation. From the application of the two-way analysis of variance, yeast strain, and aging time factors to the data of volatile compounds, it has been found that most of the differences between these sparkling wines are due to the aging time. It has been verified that these rose sparkling wines have foam of good quality and that the grape variety Garnacha Tinta is suitable for the production of rose sparkling wines.