Oxidation of dietary polyphenolics by hydroperoxidase activity of lipoxygenase

Lipoxygenase, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, produces the oxidative decomposition of quercetin, naringenin, and resveratrol, known antioxidant molecules. Quercetin was the molecule more efficiently oxidized, followed by resveratrol and naringenin. When this molecule was incubated in the presence of GSH, a quinoid derivative was produced. This compound was not obtained in the presence of naringenin or resveratrol, suggesting that in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and lipoxygenase, quercetin may be oxidized to a prooxidant species. When hydrogen peroxide was substituted by hydroperoxy linoleic acid, the same oxidative process was observed. This means that in food products in which lipoxygenase and linoleic acid are presents, quercetin may be oxidized to prooxidant species; in contrast, naringenin and resveratrol may constitute a valid additive for the prevention of the oxidative degradation of foods.     

Distinct Species Exist Within the Cercospora apii Morphotype

ABSTRACT The genus Cercospora is one of the largest genera of hyphomycetes. Cercospora apii sensu lato is the oldest name for a large complex of morphologically indistinguishable Cercospora spp. occurring on a wide host range. There are currently 659 recognized Cercospora spp., and names of another 281 morphologically identical species are included in the synonymy of C. apii sensu lato. Two of the species that belong to the C. apii complex, C. apii and C. beticola, cause Cercospora leaf spot on Apium graveolens (celery) and Beta vulgaris (sugar beet), respectively. In the present study, multilocus sequence data, amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis, and cultural characteristics were used as additional features to characterize morphologically similar Cercospora strains occurring on celery and sugar beet. From the data obtained, it is shown that C. apii and C. beticola, although morphologically similar and able to cross-infect each others' hosts, are distinct functional species that should be retained as separate entities. Furthermore, a third, as yet undescribed species of Cercospora was detected in celery fields in Korea and Venezuela, suggesting that additional undescribed species also may be found to cause Cercospora leaf spot on celery. A polymerase chain reactionbased diagnostic protocol distinguishes all three Cercospora spp.     

Determination of the effective dose of an experimental fasciolicide in naturally and experimentally infected cattle

The aim of the present study was to determine the effective dose of an experimental fasciolicide called compound alpha or 5-chloro-2-methylthio-6-(1-napthyloxy)1H-benzimidazole in experimentally and naturally infected cattle. In the first experiment, 24 fluke-free heifers were each infected with 800 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica and re-infected on day 45 with other 600 cysts per animal. On day 75, when the animals had 4- and 10-week-old flukes respectively, they were divided into four groups (G) of six animals each according to fluke egg counts. Groups 1-3 received compound alpha at 10, 12 and 14 mg/kg/p.o., respectively. G4 remained as an untreated control. Twenty days after treatment, the animals were sacrificed for the recovery of flukes. Efficacy was assessed as a percentage of egg or fluke reduction relative to the untreated control. In the second experiment (naturally infected cattle), 24-year-old steers positive to F. hepatica eggs were blocked into four groups of five animals each. Groups 1-3 received compound alpha at 10, 12 and 14 mg/kg/p.o., respectively. Group 4 served as a non-treated control. All procedures to determine efficacy were carried out as mentioned in the first experiment. The results in the first study showed a percentage on egg reduction of 97.3, 100 and 100 and overall fluke reduction of 94.3, 100 and 100 for Groups 1-3, respectively. In the second study, the percentage of egg reduction was of 87.5, 99.1 and 100 and overall efficacy regarding fluke reduction was of 84.2, 99.6, and 100 for Groups 1-3, respectively. It is concluded that the effective dose selected for compound alpha was of 12 mg/kg/p.o. in cattle having an induced or natural F. hepatica infection.     

Detection of Citrus Leaf Blotch Virus Using Digoxigenin-Labeled cDNA Probes and RT–PCR

Citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV) was detected by dot-blot hybridization (DBH), and tissue print hybridization (TPH) and by one-step RT–PCR in citrus plants growing both in the greenhouse and in the field. DBH with digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probes allowed CLBV detection in dsRNA-rich and total RNA preparations equivalent to 5 and 0.1mg of infected tissue, respectively. DBH gave intense signals with RNA extracts from young bark, tender shoots and young leaves, whereas the best hybridization signals with TPH were obtained using tender shoots and young leaf petioles. One-step RT–PCR was 10-fold more sensitive than DBH and amplification was obtained with all infected tissues. CLBV was readily detected in young leaves of infected Eureka lemon, Marsh grapefruit, Nules clementine, Navelina orange and Nagami kumquat in the greenhouse, using either hybridization or RT–PCR, but not in leaves of Pineapple sweet orange. Detection in field trees was less consistent and was only achieved by RT–PCR and DBH. CLBV was detected by DBH and RT–PCR in different citrus varieties from several geographic areas showing bud union crease on trifoliate rootstocks, but not in neighbor trees with the same symptoms or in other varieties showing bud union crease on those rootstocks. Failure to detect CLBV in trees with bud union crease could be due to low virus titer or uneven distribution within the plant. Alternatively, a different agent could be involved in causing bud union crease.     

ELISA to determine anti-K99 pilus antibody in the sera of normal and diarrhoeic calves

An ELISA to detect circulating antibodies against K99 pili, a major attachment factor to intestinal epithelial cells of Escherichia coli in calves, was performed. Two methods of K99 pili purification were attempted. Best results in terms of purity of the K99 antigen were achieved following the method described by Karkhanis and Bhogal (1986). This procedure included a heat shock at 65°C during 25 min to release the pili and ultracentrifugation steps to purify the antigen. SDS-PAGE showed an 18 KDa major band, identified as the K99 pilus antigen after immunoblotting against reference antisera. The purified K99 antigen was then adsorbed to the ELISA microplates. High optical density was obtained in the ELISA using a pool of sera from immunized cows. No differences in antibody levels (P ≥ 0.05) could be detected between clinically healthy calves and those showing diarrhoea.     

Pharmacokinetics and milk penetration of ibafloxacin after intravenous administration to lactating goats

The pharmacokinetic behavior of ibafloxacin was studied after intravenous administration of a single dose of 15 mg/kg to 6 healthy lactating goats. Plasma concentrations of ibafloxacin were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The data for concentration versus time could best be described by a 2-compartment model. The mean plasma ibafloxacin clearance (and standard error) was 1.05 (0.10) L/h x kg. The mean steady-state volume of distribution was 1.65 (0.42) L/kg. The mean elimination half-life was 3.76 (0.30) h. Ibafloxacin penetration from the blood to the milk was poor. The ratio between the areas under the concentration-time curve of milk and plasma was 0.20 (0.01), indicating scant penetration of ibafloxacin into the milk.     

Full-term delivery of river buffalo calves (2n = 50) from in vitro-derived vitrified embryos by swamp buffalo recipients (2n = 48)

Field trials were carried out on the use of swamp buffaloes (2n = 48) as recipients of in vitro-derived vitrified river buffalo (2n = 50) embryos. River buffalo embryos were produced through a total in vitro production system using frozen semen from a top progeny-tested bull and slaughter-house-derived ovaries and cryopreserved by a vitrification technique. Recipient swamp buffaloes were Philippine carabaos selected on body condition, parity, and reproductive status and owned by village farmers. Eighty post-warmed riverine embryos were transferred non-surgically to 40 swamp buffalo recipients, of which three healthy riverine calves were born by normal delivery and one stillbirth, representing a 5.0% (4/80) full-term development and 10% (4/40) calving rate with 75% (3/4) normal and 25% (1/4) stillbirth. The results demonstrate that, under field conditions and despite the difference in chromosome number between the embryo and recipient, swamp buffaloes are potential surrogate mothers of imported, genetically superior river buffalo frozen embryos. Thus, embryo IVP-vitrification and transfer technology is a potential tool in the propagation of genetically superior buffaloes. Precautionary measures, however, are recommended to avoid dystocia and stillbirth.     

Anti-histone antibodies in dogs with leishmaniasis and glomerulonephritis

The association between serum anti-histone antibodies and glomerulonephritis was studied in 43 dogs with leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum). Dogs with increased serum creatinine levels and urine protein-creatinine ratio >1 were considered to have glomerulonephritis. Moderately elevated anti-histone antibodies were found in 38.89% (7/18) of infected dogs without glomerulonephritis, whereas 88% of dogs with glomerulonephritis (22/25) showed moderate or strongly elevated anti-histone antibodies. Prevalence of positive anti-histone antibodies reactions and mean serum concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.001; P < 0.0001) in infected dogs with glomerulonephritis. Correlation between anti-histone antibodies and urine protein-creatinine ratio was significant when groups were analysed together (P < 0.046). Positive predictive value for glomerulonephritis of positive anti-histone antibodies was 88%. In conclusion, high anti-histone antibodies are significantly associated with glomerulonephritis. Although other factors must be involved, dogs with moderate or strong positive anti-histone antibodies reactions may have a higher probability to develop glomerular lesions in canine leishmaniasis.