Sectional anatomic and magnetic resonance imaging features of coelomic structures of loggerhead sea turtles

OBJECTIVE: To compare cross-sectional anatomic specimens with images obtained via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the coelomic structures of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). ANIMALS: 5 clinically normal live turtles and 5 dead turtles. PROCEDURES: MRI was used to produce T1- and T2- weighted images of the turtles, which were compared with gross anatomic sections of 3 of the 5 dead turtles. The other 2 dead turtles received injection with latex and were dissected to provide additional cardiovascular anatomic data. RESULTS: The general view on the 3 oriented planes provided good understanding of cross-sectional anatomic features. Likewise, major anatomic structures such as the esophagus, stomach, lungs, intestine (duodenum and colon), liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder, heart, bronchi, and vessels could be clearly imaged. It was not possible to recognize the ureters or reproductive tract. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: By providing reference information for clinical use, MRI may be valuable for detailed assessment of the internal anatomic structures of loggerhead sea turtles. Drawbacks exist in association with anesthesia and the cost and availability of MRI, but the technique does provide excellent images of most internal organs. Information concerning structures such as the pancreas, ureters, intestinal segments (jejunum and ileum), and the reproductive tract is limited because of inconsistent visualization.     

Fatty acid profiles of processed chicken egg yolks

The fatty acid compositions of egg yolks subjected to industrial processing treatments, namely, homogenization, pasteurization, drying, and "omega-3-enrichment", were studied. In general, the total contents of C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 n-9, and C18:2 n-6 fatty acids accounted for close to 90% of the total fatty acids. Statistical analysis of the data revealed correlations among the fatty acids; significant differences existed depending on the egg source and type of processing. Yolk samples enriched with omega-3 fatty acids clustered together owing to their higher C16:0, C16:1 n-7, C18:3 n-6, and C24:0 contents. Nonpasteurized/non-heat-treated samples formed another cluster because of their higher C18:1 n-11 and C18:1 n-9 contents, and the remaining samples formed another group due to their higher proportions of C18:0, C18:2 n-6, and C20:4 n-6. The relative proportions of essential fatty acids were similar in the four types of samples examined.     

Effect of heat-inactivated fish and non-fish derived probiotics on the innate immune parameters of a teleost fish (Sparus aurata L.)

The in vitro effects of four heat-inactivated bacterial species on the cellular innate immune responses of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) were investigated. Head-kidney leucocytes were isolated and incubated for 30 min with two bacteria isolated from seabream skin (Pdp11 and 51M6; members of the Vibrionaceae and in the genus Shewanella) and two bacteria used as probiotics in humans and cattle (Lactobacillus delbrüeckii subsp. lactis and Bacillus subtilis) at 5 x 10(5), 5 x 10(6) or 5 x 10(7)CFU/ml. After incubation, different cellular innate immune parameters (leucocyte peroxidase content, phagocytosis, respiratory burst activity and cytotoxicity) were evaluated. The leucocyte peroxidase content was significantly higher after incubation with 51M6 at 5 x 10(7)CFU/ml. Head-kidney phagocytes were able to engulf the four bacterial species in all four cases, L. delbrüeckii subsp. lactis and B. subtilis being the most actively phagocytized. The incubation of seabream leucocytes with 51M6, L. delbrüeckii subsp. lactis and B. subtilis resulted in a great increase in respiratory burst activity. Cytotoxic activity was generally stimulated in a dose-dependent manner, the enhancement obtained with 5 x 10(7)CFU/ml being statistically significant. The usefulness of in vitro assays for screening and selecting candidate probiotic bacteria, as well as for optimising their effective dose, is discussed in relation with their immune-modulatory properties.     

Protection of human HepG2 cells against oxidative stress by cocoa phenolic extract

Cocoa is a rich source of flavanols and procyanidin oligomers with antioxidative properties, providing protection against oxidation and nitration. The present study investigated the potential protective effect of a polyphenolic extract from cocoa on cell viability and antioxidant defenses of cultured human HepG2 cells submitted to oxidative stress induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BOOH). Pretreatment of cells with 0.05-50 microg/mL of cocoa polyphenolic extract (CPE) for 2 or 20 h completely prevented cell damage and enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes induced by a treatment with t-BOOH. Moreover, lower levels of GSH caused by t-BOOH in HepG2 cells were partly recovered by a pretreatment with CPE. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by t-BOOH was dose-dependently prevented when cells were pretreated for 2 or 20 h with CPE. These results show that treatment of HepG2 in culture with CPE (within the physiological range of concentrations) confers a significant protection against oxidation to the cells.     

Multivariate statistical analysis of the color-anthocyanin relationships in different soilless-grown strawberry genotypes

Apart from the need to assess the color of foods due to its preponderant role in their acceptability, there is currently a new trend consisting in the study of the relationships between the color and the pigments accounting for it. The color of five strawberry varieties cultivated in two different soilless systems has been studied, and an array of multivariate statistical methods have been performed to single out the color parameters that best discriminate among the different samples surveyed and to correlate them with the pigment content. It is concluded that there is not a direct relationship between the external and flesh colorations of the berries. Additionally, after discriminant methods were applied, it was noticed that, taking into account the strawberry varieties, >90% of the cases could be correctly classified, a noticeably lower percentage of correct classification (around 60%) being obtained when the type of cultivation system was selected as the criterion for discrimination. The best correlations of pigment-color coordinates were found between pelargonidin-3-rutinoside and the external a* (r= -0.87) followed by pelargonidin-3-glucoside and the internal L* (r= -0.72).     

Effect of quality of colostrum on health,growth and immunoglobulin G concentration in Holstein calves in a hot environment

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ingestion of pasteurized and subsequently frozen–thawed pooled colostrum (≥50 mg Ig/mL) with different bacterial counts and immunoglobulin concentration (IgC) on the occurrence of diarrhea and pneumonia in 306 neonatal Holstein calves in a hot environment. Calves were assigned to be fed colostrum with total bacterial counts (TBC) lower or greater than 100 000 colony‐forming units (cfu)/mL, total coliform counts (TCC) greater or lower than 10 000 cfu/mL, and IgC lower or higher than 85 mg Ig/mL. Calves fed colostrum with TBC ≥100 000 cfu/mL were more likely (risk ratio 1.34, confidence interval 1.05–1.71; P < 0.05) to present pneumonia than calves receiving colostrum with lower TBC (incidence 53.2 vs. 39.8%). Calves fed colostrum with high TCC had increased chances of suffering pneumonia (51.4 vs. 42.1%; P < 0.05) than calves fed colostrum with lower TCC. Calves fed colostrum with ≥85 mg Ig/mL tended to present higher daily weight gain (505 ± 113 vs. 484 ± 126 g; P = 0.09). TBC and TCC in colostrum did not influence the incidence rate of diarrhea. It was concluded that under the conditions of the present study, heavy contamination of on‐farm pasteurized frozen–thawed colostrum is seemingly unavoidable and this contamination poses a threat for pneumonia, but not for diarrhea.     

Influence of sexually inactive bucks subjected to long photoperiod or testosterone on the induction of estrus in anovulatory goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of treating sexually inactive bucks with artificial long photoperiod or testosterone on the induction of estrus in anovulatory grazing goats. A total of 91 multiparous mixed-breed anestrous goats were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (1) joining with bucks subjected to 2.5 month of artificial long days (16 h of light/day; n = 31), (2) joining with testosterone-treated bucks (n = 30), and (3) joining with untreated bucks (control; n = 30). There were no differences between the light-treated (100%) and testosterone-treated (93%) bucks in their ability to induce estrus in anovulatory does. On the other hand, none of the goats in contact with control bucks exhibited estrus. The interval from start of mating to estrus was shorter in goats with the light-treated bucks (37.9 ± 4.8 h) compared with does in contact with testosterone-treated bucks (58.3 ± 8.7 h). The overall pregnancy rate in goats joined with light-treated, testosterone-treated and control bucks was 84%, 77% and 0%, respectively, with no difference (P > 0.05) between the first two groups. Anogenital sniffing, approaches, mounting attempts, and mounts were highest (P < 0.01) in light-treated bucks and lowest in control bucks. It was concluded that testosterone-treated bucks and long-day-treated bucks were equally effective in synchronizing estrus in anovulatory goats and resulted in similar levels of fertility. Given that light-treated bucks are unviable in communal production systems of goats raised by resource-poor farmers, the sexual arousal of bucks with testosterone is a practical and reliable method to induce ovulation in anovulatory goats in pastoral goat systems in hot environments.     

A Survey of Trunk Disease Pathogens within Rootstocks of Grapevines in Spain

Grapevine trunk disease pathogens, and specifically Petri disease pathogens, can be spread by planting infected plants. Due to the increasing incidence of Petri disease and other young grapevine declines reported lately in Spain, a sampling of plants used before for new vineyards were carried out in 2002 and 2004. A total number of 208 plants (grafted and non grafted) were collected, of which 94 plants (45.2%) were infected with at least one of the following pathogens: Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, and species of Phaeoacremonium, Botryosphaeria, Cylindrocarpon, and Phomopsis. Species of the genera Phaeoacremonium and Botryosphaeria isolated in 2004 were identified using morphological and molecular characters. Species of Phaeoacremonium identified were P. aleophilum and P. parasiticum; and those of Botryosphaeria were B. obtusa, B. dothidea and B. parva. This is the first report of P. parasiticum and B. parva occurring on grapevines in Spain. Distribution of pathogens within the plants was studied in 2004. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora was not detected in the graft union of any plant; however, species of Botryosphaeria and Phomopsis were detected along the plant, but mainly in the graft union; Phaeoacremonium aleophilum was detected along the grafted plants, but not in rooted rootstocks. The results suggest that infected plants used for new plantings in Spain are an important source of primary inoculum of the pathogens associated with grapevine trunk diseases in the field.     

Effects of phenoxyethanol on the innate immune system of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) exposed to crowding stress

Phenoxyethanol is routinely used in seabream aquaculture to minimise fish stress response despite the secondary negative effects which have been observed. In this study, two different doses (60 and 200 microl/l) of phenoxyethanol, sedative and narcotic, were tested for their ability to reduce the stress caused in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) by crowding. Blood glucose and serum cortisol concentrations were measured as stress indicators. In order to study the effects of the treatment on the innate immune system of crowded specimens, two parameters of the innate immune response, serum complement activity and phagocytosis, were assessed. The results show that anaesthesia itself produced a stress response in the fish and affected the immune system, although the effects were greater with the narcotic dose. When the effects of anaesthesia on crowded fish were analysed, the results pointed to a slight reduction in stress as a result of the sedative dose of phenoxyethanol (lower increase in cortisol and lower reduction in phagocytosis). However, additive negative effects were seen in crowded fish when the narcotic dose of phenoxyethanol was used. Since the use of phenoxyethanol is a common practice in aquaculture, the significance of the results should be considered.     

Effect of permeable cryoprotectant‐free vitrification on DNA fragmentation of equine oocyte–cumulus cells

DNA fragmentation of cumulus cells could be used as an indicator of oocyte vitrification success as an indirect indicator of the quality of the oocyte. This study was designed to compare the DNA fragmentation of post‐mortem equine cumulus cells before or after vitrification in the absence of permeable cryoprotectant agents. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs; n = 56) were recovered from slaughterhouse ovaries and subjected to in vitro maturation (42 hr/38.2°C/5%CO₂) before (control group) or after a permeable cryoprotectant‐free vitrification method using 1 M sucrose (vitrification group). After in vitro maturation, COCs were denuded, and cumulus cells were washed and stored at ?80°C until thawing. Cumulus cell samples were processed with the chromatin dispersion test (Ovoselect, Halotech DNA, Spain). Low, high and total DNA fragmentation percentages of cumulus cells were recorded and compared between the two groups by Student's t test. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. The vitrified group resulted in significantly higher (p < 0.05) percentages for low (16.81 ± 1.62 vs. 6.63 ± 0.77) and total (21.14 ± 1.84 vs. 12.76 ± 1.48) DNA fragmentation of cumulus cells. There were no significant differences between groups for high DNA fragmentation of cumulus cells. In conclusion, permeable cryoprotectant‐free vitrification of equine oocytes increased the total DNA fragmentation rate of cumulus cells but protected them against high DNA fragmentation rates. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between DNA fragmentation of cumulus cells and the developmental competence of equine oocytes.