Observations on helminth infections of free-living and captive rheas (Rhea americana) in Brazil

The present work describes helminth infection of eight free-living and 12 captive rheas (Rhea americana) from, respectively, Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul State, and Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Captive birds were young and had a high mortality rate, while free-living birds were adult and apparently healthy. Infections were evaluated by post-mortem examination of internal organs and recovery of helminths using standard parasitological procedures. Seven species of nematodes (Sicarius uncinipenis, Torquatoides crotophaga, Deletrocephalus dimidiatus, D. cesarpintoi, Paradeletrocephalus minor, Capillaria venteli and Dicheilonema rheae) and two species of cestodes (Houttuynia struthionis and Chapmania tauricolis) were identified. P. minor, which inhabits the large intestine, was the most common helminth in free-living birds (63.9%). In captive rheas, a mean parasitic load of 173 helminths per host was found. The gizzard of these birds was the most parasitized organ and S. uncinipenis was most common (92.5%). Parasitism of free-living and captive birds and associated pathology are discussed.     

Effects of probiotics and maternal vaccination on Salmonella enteritidis infection in broiler chicks

The effects of probiotics and maternal vaccination with an inactivated Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccine on day-old chicks challenged with SE were evaluated. A 2 X 3 factorial arrangement was used (with or without probiotics; breeders nonvaccinated, vaccinated intramuscularly, or vaccinated intraperitoneally). Three trials were conducted in isolation cabinets and SE challenge was different between trials. The number of SE organisms per chick and the time interval between housing and introduction of seeder birds (hereafter called challenge) were 1.6 X 10(8) and 1 hr (Trial I), 1.8 X 10(6) and 12 hr (Trial II), and 1.2 X 10(4) and 24 hr (Trial III). SE recovery was assessed in ceca and liver at 3, 5, and 7 days postchallenge, and the number of colony-forming units (CFU) in ceca was evaluated at 5 and 7 days postchallenge. The number of SE (log CFU) in the ceca reduced 0.56 log (from 7.59 to 7.03) and 1.45 log (7.62 to 6.17) because of the treatment with probiotics in Trials II and III, respectively. The greater reduction in Trial III indicates the importance of the early use of probiotics on the prevention of SE infection. Treatment with probiotics resulted in a smaller number of SE-positive livers after 5 days postchallenge on Trial III. Although there was no significant effect of maternal vaccination on the number of SE CFU in the ceca, a significant effect of maternal vaccination on the SE CFU was observed in the liver, but not in the ceca at 5 days after challenge.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) CD8alpha

In this work, the gene and cDNA of the sea bass CD8alpha have been isolated and characterized. The coding sequence has an ORF of 666 bp. It retains the Ig motif that interacts with MHC and the two cysteines responsible for an intra-chain disulfide bridge. The hinge region contains the two essential cysteines involved in dimerization. The transmembrane region is well conserved in all analysed sequences. Similar to other teleosts, the cytoplasmic region lacks the consensus p56(lck) motif common in higher vertebrates. Analysis of the expression pattern using RT-PCR shows the highest expression in the thymus. Like in the human gene, the sea bass CD8alpha genomic structure is organized into six exons, which roughly correspond to separate functional domains of the protein. Southern blotting shows that CD8alpha exists as a single copy gene. Together, these results support the concept that the basic structure of CD8alpha has been maintained through evolution.     

Downgrading of heavy broiler chicken carcasses due to myodegeneration of the anterior latissimus dorsi: pathologic and epidemiologic studies

Recently, in some Brazilian poultry companies, a dorsal cranial muscular lesion has been increasingly detected in broilers, causing heavy economic losses due to carcass downgrading. The observed gross lesions located in the anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle are characterized by yellowish discoloration of the skin and swelling on the dorsal cranial region of that muscle. When the ALD muscle is cut, subcutaneous edema, muscular superficial hemorrhage, pallor, adherence, and increased thickness and density are observed. Microscopically, findings indicate degenerative and polyphasic features, variation in fiber size and splitting, presence of hyaline, necrotic and regenerative myofibers, extensive fibrosis, and adipose tissue with lymphohistiocytic infiltration in all ALD muscles affected. The etiology of the lesion is unknown, and no detailed report was found in literature. The highest frequency of carcass downgrading due to this lesion was found in the heaviest and the oldest males of high-yield broiler strains (P < 0.01). This study is the first to describe the pathologic and some epidemiologic aspects of this new myopathy.     

The Relationship Between Post‐Thaw Sperm DNA Integrity and Non‐Return Rate Among Norwegian Cross‐Bred Rams

With the aim of investigating the relationship between sperm DNA integrity and non‐return rate (NRR) among Norwegian cross‐bred rams, semen from 15 individuals was examined by flow cytometry. Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) quantifies the proportion of spermatozoa with denatured DNA after in situ acid treatment, and the four parameters % DFI, % HDS, MEAN DFI and SD DFI are all different measures of DNA denaturation and maturation. Field fertility, reported as NRR 25 days after insemination was based on all inseminations from a large‐scale breeding programme and supplied by the Norwegian Association of Sheep and Goat Farmers. From each ram, four straws from four different weeks of the breeding season were analysed, and the associations between 25‐day NRR and the mean of the four SCSA parameters were tested using a logistic regression model. The results revealed no association between fertility and % DFI or % HDS, while SD DFI and MEAN DFI showed a significant negative association with NRR. Further, the SCSA values varied significantly between ejaculates within ram among some of the rams in the study. However, no significant association was seen between these intra‐individual differences in sperm DNA integrity and NRR. In conclusion, this study suggests an association between sperm DNA integrity and NRR for rams. However, further research must be conducted to confirm these findings and determine whether sperm DNA assessments can be applied to predict ram fertility.     

Triploid Induction in the Yellowtail Tetra,Astyanax altiparanae,Using Temperature Shock: Tools for Conservation and Aquaculture

Triploidization is an interesting tool to produce sterile fish. In the yellowtail tetra, Astyanax altiparanae, this can be applied for aquaculture and surrogate technologies. In this study, we compared the efficacy of cold (2 C) or heat shock (38 C, 40 C, and 42 C) on triploid induction in the yellowtail tetra. The eggs were treated with cold or heat shock, 2 min postfertilization (30 min in cold shock or 2 min in heat shock). Intact embryos served as the control group. Ploidy status was confirmed by karyotyping, flow cytometry, and nuclear diameter of erythrocytes. The hatching rate decreased after cold shock (12.69 ± 15.76%) and heat shock at 42 C (0.35 ± 0.69%) in comparison with the control group (63.19 ± 16.82%). At 38 C and 40 C, hatching rates (61.29 ± 17.73% and 61.75 ± 22.1%, respectively) were not decreased. Only one triploid arose at 38 C (1/80). At 40 C, a high number of triploids arose (72/78). At 42 C, very few embryos developed into the hatching stage. A large number of haploid individuals arose after cold shock (61/75), with only one triploid. Our results indicate that heat shocking of embryos at 40 C is optimum for triploid production in the yellowtail tetra.     

Assessment of the ideal ratios of digestible essential amino acids for pacu,Piaractus mesopotamicus,juveniles by the amino acid deletion method

The present study aimed to determine the ideal ratios of digestible essential amino acids (EAAs) for pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) juveniles by the amino acid (AA) deletion method. A completely randomized design which consisted of 11 treatments and three replicates each was used. The treatments included a control diet (CD) containing 55% of nonpurified natural ingredients and 45% of purified synthetic amino acids and ingredients, and other ten isonitrogenous and isoenergetic EAA limiting diets (LDs), each being deficient in 44.4 ± 0.02% of the respective EAA. Pacu juveniles with initial average body weight of 6.22 ± 0.09 g were distributed among 33 fiber glass tanks. Fish were fed with semipurified and extruded diets for 113 days two times a day until apparent satiation. The ideal ratio of each dietary EAA was calculated on the basis of the relationship between body N retention and amount of EAA deleted from the respective EAA LD. Based on the AA deletion method, the ideal ratios of digestible EAAs for pacu juveniles, relative to lysine requirement of 100% were estimated as: methionine 14.6%, threonine 35.0%, tryptophan 6.6%, arginine 62.8%, histidine 13.6%, isoleucine 26.3%, leucine 43.7%, phenylalanine 27.2%, and valine 35.8%.     

Evaluation of the humoral and cellular immune response to different antigens of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in Canindé goats and their potential protection against caseous lymphadenitis

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiologic agent of caseous lymphadenitis, a disease that affects goats and sheep, and can cause severe economic losses. In this study, four different antigenic extracts were obtained from the attenuated strain T1, which was isolated in the state of Bahia (Brazil). Forty-four Canindé breed goats were divided in five groups, each receiving a different antigen solution and saline buffer as a control. The humoral response was monitored through the identification of specific IgG by indirect ELISA and Western Blotting, and the production of IFN-gamma was followed in order to observe the activation of cellular response. After twelve weeks of antigen inoculation, the animals were challenged with 2 x 10(5)CFU of a wild strain, also isolated in Bahia, and necropsy was performed on all animals twelve weeks afterwards. It was observed that the attenuated bacteria gave a protection of 33.3%, in addition to the weak humoral response elicited. Animals inoculated with secreted antigen associated with Freund's incomplete adjuvant and oligodeoxynucleotide containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides (CpG ODN) showed a strong humoral response, but this inoculation could not prevent the spread of challenge bacteria in the majority of animals. These results demonstrate the immunogenic potential of the attenuated T1 strain in the development of a vaccine against caseous lymphadenitis in goats.