Risk factors associated with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica contamination of chicken carcases in Senegal

This study was to identify the risk factors for Salmonella spp. contamination of Senegalese chicken carcases during slaughtering. One hundred and twenty traditional slaughterhouses were studied from January 2000 to December 2002 in and around Dakar. A questionnaire was answered by the slaughterers, and samples of breast skin were taken to assess the Salmonella status of chicken carcases. Results showed that 43.3% of the batches were contaminated with Salmonella, indicating Salmonella Hadar and Salmonella Brancaster as the two main serovars. Salmonella contamination of the carcases after slaughtering was related to contamination of the live birds. Feed withdrawal before slaughtering and thorough cleaning and disinfection procedures decreased the risk of contamination. One individual worker for each slaughtering stage was also associated with a decreasing risk of contamination. Using scalding water for plucking the chicken carcases increased contamination risk. These results will help slaughters to produce safer products for local consumers.     

Effects of food deprivation and particle size of ground wheat on digestibility of food components in broilers fed on a pelleted diet

The first aim of the experiment was to study the effect of wheat (Triticum aestivum) particle size on the digestibility of starch in a pelleted diet given to broilers. The second aim was to study the consequences of food deprivation before the excreta collection period (from 21 to 24 d). Wheat from a strong hardness cultivar was incorporated at 546.1 g/kg in diets. The other main ingredients were soybean meal (353.5 g/kg) and rapeseed oil (55.0 g/kg). Diets were given as pellets. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 factorial design testing two particle sizes of wheat flour and two procedures of a balance experiment (with or without food deprivation). Birds given diet C (wheat coarse grinding before pelleting) had significantly greater gizzard weight than birds fed on diet F (wheat fine grinding before pelleting). Starch digestibility value was significantly increased when birds were fed on diet F. This effect was halved by food deprivation. No significant effect of grain particle size was observed for protein and lipid digestibility values. However, food deprivation decreased apparent protein digestibility, with an effect which was more pronounced for fine than for coarse grinding. AMEN of the diet was significantly improved by fine grinding of wheat and decreased by food deprivation. However, no significant differences in growth performance were induced by differences in wheat grinding. No significant effect of grinding was observed on the water excretion:feed intake ratio. No significant difference was observed for vent score between treatments. There was over-excretion of starch in the first hours of refeeding following food deprivation.     

Exclusion of the swine leukocyte antigens as candidate region and reduction of the position interval for the Sus scrofa chromosome 7 QTL affecting growth and fatness

Pig chromosome 7 (SSC 7) has been shown to be rich in QTL affecting performance and quality traits. Most studies mapped the QTL close to the swine leukocyte antigens (SLA), which has a large effect on adaptability and natural selection. Previous comparative mapping studies suggested that the 15-cM region limited by markers LRA1 (mapped at 55 cM) and S0102 (mapped at 70 cM) contains hundreds of genes. To decrease the number of candidate genes, we improved the mapping resolution with a genetic chromosome dissection through a backcross recombinant progeny test program between Meishan (MS) and European (EU; i.e., Large White or Landrace) breeds. Three first-generation backcross--(EU x MS) x EU--and two second-generation backcross--([EU x MS] x EU) x EU--sires carrying a recombination in the QTL mapping interval were progeny-tested (i.e., measured for a total of 44 growth, fatness, carcass and meat quality traits). Progeny family size varied from 29 to 119 pigs. Animals were genotyped for markers covering the region of interest. Progeny-test results allowed the QTL interval to be decreased from 15 to 20 cM down to 10 cM, and even less than 6 cM if we assumed that the EU pigs used in this study share only one QTL allele. Except for a putative QTL affecting some carcass composition traits, the SLA is excluded as a candidate region, suggesting that it might be possible to apply a marker-assisted selection strategy for this QTL, while controlling SLA allele diversity. The strong QTL effects remaining in animals with only 12.5% (issued from first-generation backcross boars) and 6.25% (issued from second-generation back-cross boars) Meishan genetic background shows that epistatic interactions are likely to be limited. Finally, the QTL does not have strong effects on meat quality traits.     

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin following intravenous administration to greater rheas: a preliminary study

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of enrofloxacin (ENR) and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin (CIP) were determined in six greater rheas following a single intravenous (i.v.) dose of 15 mg/kg bw. Plasma concentrations of ENR and CIP were simultaneously determined by a HPLC/u.v. method. Following i.v. administration, the plasma drug concentrations were best fitted by an open two-compartment model with a rapid distribution phase. The high volume of distribution (V(ss)=5.01 L/Kg) suggests good tissue penetration. ENR presents a high clearance (3.95 L/kg h) explaining the low AUC values (3.57 mg h/L) and a short permanence (t(1/2beta)=2.66 h and MRT=1.23 h). Ciprofloxacin comprised 14% of the total fluoroquinolone (ENR+CIP).     

Of all the nerve! A subcutaneous forelimb mass on a cat

A 16-year-old, male, neutered cat had a 2.5 X 1.5 cm mass on the medial aspect of the right carpus. Cytologic examination of a fine-needle aspirate of the mass indicated a markedly pleomorphic population of plasmacytoid to histiocytic-appearing cells. The cytologic diagnosis was malignant neoplasia of probable mesenchymal or round cell origin. The right forelimb was surgically removed and the scapular, axillary, and prescapular lymph nodes were excised. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma was tentatively diagnosed histologically; however, the tumor cells subsequently were found to be negative for histiocytic (MAC 387, antitrypsin), T-cell (CD3), and B-lymphocyte (immunoglobulin light chains, Ly 5/CD45R) markers, and positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, and S-100. Based on the immunohistochemical results, the diagnosis was modified to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST). Six months after surgery, the cat was reported to be well and had no evidence of metastasis. PNSTs are rare tumors in cats, and are considered as synonymous with schwannomas, neurofibrosarcomas, and hemangiopericytomas. In this cat, the plasmacytoid and pleomorphic appearance of the PNSTcells in cytologic and histologic specimens was unusual, and made it difficult to reach an accurate diagnosis without immunocytochemistry.     

Characterisation and histopathological observations of a selected Brazilian precocious line of Eimeria acervulina

Precocious lines of Eimeria acervulina "Cu" and "I" strains were obtained after 25 passages of oocysts in chickens that showed a shortening of the prepatent period for first oocyst output from 96 h to 81 and 82 h, respectively. Both precocious lines were evaluated for pathogenicity using as criteria weight gain, lesion score and total oocyst production. Infection of the "Cu" precocious line in chickens showed a high weight gain, low lesion score and low oocyst production, when compared to parent strain infected chickens. However, the results did not show a significant difference in relation to the criteria used above for the E. acervulina "I" precocious line when compared to its parent strain. This suggests a low degree of attenuation for the "I" strain but good attenuation for the precocious "Cu" line. The histopathological observations of chickens infected with the E. acervulina "Cu" parent strain and precocious line, comparing life cycle and intestinal lesions, showed: (1) parasite stages only in the border cells of infected chicken intestinal villi, for the precocious line; (2) parasite stages in the border cells of the intestinal villi and submucosa cells near the Lieberkühn glands of the intestine; and (3) high degree of inflammatory cells around the parasites in chickens infected with the parent strain. The "Cu" strain was also characterized for sensitivity against eight anticoccidial drugs. Sensitivity was observed for four anticoccidial drugs and partial resistance for four other drugs, although the strain had never had previous contact with anticoccidial drugs, suggesting the presence of a natural resistance factor. This Brazilian E. acervulina "Cu" precocious line showed attenuation for pathogenicity in chickens, suggesting that it could be a suitable strain for use as a live vaccine in Brazil.     

Sero-epidemiological survey for toxoplasmosis in wild New World monkeys (Cebus spp.; Alouatta caraya) at the Paraná river basin, Paraná State, Brazil

In this study, we captured 60 wild New World monkeys (Cebus spp.; Alouatta caraya) at the Paraná river basin, Paraná State, Brazil, and modified agglutination test (MAT) was performed to evaluate anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Prevalence was 30.2% (13/43) in Cebus spp. (capuchin monkeys) and 17.6% (3/17) for A. caraya (black and golden howler monkeys). MAT showed antibody titers of 16 (15/16) and 64 (1/16). Herein, we have observed an odds ratio (OR)=4.67 (1.060.05). The present work is the first report on serum occurrence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in wild capuchin monkeys and in wild black and golden howler monkeys.