Dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous buprenorphine in cats

The dose-related antinociceptive effects of intravenous (IV) buprenorphine were evaluated in cats. Thermal (TT) and mechanical threshold (MT) devices were used for nociceptive stimulation. After baseline threshold recordings, buprenorphine was administered IV (0.01, 0.02 or 0.04 mg/kg; B1, B2 and B4, respectively) in a randomised, blinded and cross-over study. Data were analysed by ANOVA (P < 0.05) using 95% confidence intervals (CI). TT increased 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.2 ± 2.7 °C), 2, 3 and 4 h after B1; 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.1 ± 3.9 °C) and 2 h after B2, and 15, 30, 45 min and 1 (5.4 ± 3.3 °C), 2, 3, 6 and 8 h after B4. MT increased 15 and 45 min after B2 (260 ± 171 mmHg), and 30 (209 ± 116 mmHg) and 45 min and 1 and 2 h after B4. At 45 min, MT values were significantly higher after B2 compared to B1 (P < 0.05). With MT, B2 and B4 produced more antinociception and longer duration of action than B1, respectively. No dose response to thermal stimulation was detected.     

Silica content in soil solution and its relation with phytolith weathering and silica biogeochemical cycle in Typical Argiudolls of the Pampean Plain,Argentina—a preliminary study

Purpose  

Little is known on the silica biogeochemical cycle in terrestrial environments. The aim of this work is to assess phytolith’s role on the biogeochemical cycle of Si in Typical Argiudolls under different vegetation of the Pampean Plain, Argentina.     

Geographical distribution and first molecular detection of an <Emphasis Type="Italic">Emaravirus,High Plains wheat mosaic virus</Emphasis>, in Argentina

High Plains wheat mosaic virus (HPWMoV) has recently been assigned to genus Emaravirus and is the causal agent of High Plains disease. In this work the geographical distribution and first molecular detection of HPWMoV in Argentina are reported. The virus was detected in six provinces and nine hosts, including wheat, corn, oat and barley, as well as weeds, which play an important role in the epidemiology of this disease. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses of a portion of RNA3 nucleoprotein gene sequence showed that five HPWMoV isolates from different wheat growing regions of Argentina were identical, and suggest a single introduction of HPWMoV to this country, possibly through corn seeds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular detection of HPWMoV in South America. These results highlight the importance of certification of viruses-free cereal seeds and strict controls for material transfer between different countries to prevent the entry not only of new pathogens but also of new variants or strain at sites where the pest has already been detected.     

Recovery efficiencies of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium of the garlic crop

Garlic plants demand high quantities of nutrients, and fertilizers recommendations are necessarily evaluated for the availability of attributes such as recovery efficiency. The objective of this study was to evaluate the recovery efficiencies of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) by micropopagated and conventionally propagated garlic plants. Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse containing a sample of a Red Yellow Latosol, arranged in randomized blocks with five replications. Treatments consisted of four combinations of nutrients (kg per hectare): complete NPK (240-1200-550), without N (0-1200-550), without P (240-0-550) and without K (240-1200-0). Micropopagated plants maintained adequate contents of N, P, and K, as well as good growth and development even without nutrients application; however, the depletion of N and K impaired the productivity of these plants. In both cultivations, recovery efficiencies of N, P and K were low and closely related to the garlic propagation.     

Performance of beef heifers supplemented with sodium lasalocid

This study was conducted on 78 13-month-old crossbred beef heifers that weighed 215 kg in Southern Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil. We evaluated the performance of beef heifers that were reared in a pasture system that received a mineral supplement energy-type protein with added sodium lasalocid (LAS). The heifers were randomly and uniformly divided into 2 groups, with 39 animals in each group. One group of animals received a mineral supplement energy-type protein without sodium lasalocid (CON), and the other group received a mineral supplement energy-type protein with added LAS. The mean feed intake, the body weight (BW), the average daily gain (ADG), the body condition score (BCS), and ovarian cyclicity were recorded, and economic parameters were calculated. No differences in supplement intake were observed between the groups, which ensures adequate intake of the other components of the mineral mixture, which are part of the nutritional requirements for the production process. Similarly, no difference in the ADG was observed between treatments. We observed that the heifers in the LAS group had a higher BW gain (51 kg) that the CON heifers (40 kg; P?<?0.05). In addition, LAS-supplemented heifers had a higher BCS (3.53) than CON heifers (3.38) at the end of the experiment (P?<?0.05). The heifers supplemented with LAS had a higher profitability than the CON heifers, even with the higher cost of the supplement containing LAS; this effect was due to the higher live BW at the end of the study. We concluded that the administration of a mineral supplement energy-type protein with added LAS has beneficial effects on beef heifers in terms of production and economic feasibility.     

Intensification of the Giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii hatchery production

We evaluated the effect of intensification on Macrobrachium rosenbergii hatchery in clear water recirculating system. Larvae were raised in 120‐L cylindrical tanks coupled with 30‐L biofilters. We performed two experiments in randomized blocks. In the first, we tested the stocking densities of 50, 70 and 90 newly hatched larvae L^?1. Survival did not differ by anova (P = 0.343), but productivity increased with the intensification (P = 0.038). In the second experiment, we tested the stocking densities of 80, 100, 120 and 140 newly hatched larvae L^?1. Survival decreased (P = 0.039) as density increased, but productivity did not differ (P = 0.317). The period of culture ranged from 22 to 23 days. The intensification did not influence water quality parameters or larval development. Survival decreased with the intensification and the space showed to be a limiting factor on tanks stocked with 90 larvae L^?1 or more. Productivity curve shows an increase from 50 to 100 larvae L^?1 and tended to reach plateau on stocking densities higher than 100 larvae L^?1. In addition, the intensification improved the use of Artemia cysts by decreasing the superfluous feeding. Thus, we recommend stocking of 80 to 100 newly hatched larvae L^?1 as the best option for M. rosenbergii hatchery in clear water recirculating system.     

Extreme resistance to infection by potato virus X in genotypes of wild tuber-bearingSolanum species

Summary Clones derived from thirty-one different accessions (nineteen of Argentine origin) belonging to eightSolanum species were screened for resistance to infection by potato virus X strain cp (PVX cp) by mechanical inoculation of plantlets that had been micropropagated in vitro. Estimates of PVX multiplication obtained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and slot blot nucleic acid hybridization allowed the identification of resistant clones derived from five accessions belonging toS. commersonii S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum andS. tuberosum andigena. Resistant genotypes supported PVX concentrations 5 to 15 times smaller than did the susceptible control cultivar Spunta. Graft inoculation test confirmed the presence of extreme resistance similar to that conferred by the ‘immunity’ gene X¹ (also called RX_act).     

The role of oocyte-secreted factors GDF9 and BMP15 in follicular development and oogenesis

Ovarian physiology is controlled by endocrine and paracrine signals, and the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily has a pivotal role in this control. The Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) genes are relevant members of the TGFβ superfamily that encode proteins secreted by the oocytes into the ovarian follicles. Through a paracrine signalling pathway, these factors induce the follicular somatic cells to undergo mitosis and differentiation during follicular development. These events are controlled by a mutually dependent and coordinated fashion during the formation of the granulosa cell layers. Many studies have contributed to our knowledge concerning the paracrine factors acting within the follicular environment, especially regarding GDF9 and BMP15. We aimed to review the relevant contributions of these two genes to animal reproductive physiology.     

Veterinary syndromic surveillance: Current initiatives and potential for development

This paper reviews recent progress in the development of syndromic surveillance systems for veterinary medicine. Peer-reviewed and grey literature were searched in order to identify surveillance systems that explicitly address outbreak detection based on systematic monitoring of animal population data, in any phase of implementation. The review found that developments in veterinary syndromic surveillance are focused not only on animal health, but also on the use of animals as sentinels for public health, representing a further step towards One Medicine. The main sources of information are clinical data from practitioners and laboratory data, but a number of other sources are being explored. Due to limitations inherent in the way data on animal health is collected, the development of veterinary syndromic surveillance initially focused on animal health data collection strategies, analyzing historical data for their potential to support systematic monitoring, or solving problems of data classification and integration. Systems based on passive notification or data transfers are now dealing with sustainability issues. Given the ongoing barriers in availability of data, diagnostic laboratories appear to provide the most readily available data sources for syndromic surveillance in animal health. As the bottlenecks around data source availability are overcome, the next challenge is consolidating data standards for data classification, promoting the integration of different animal health surveillance systems, and also the integration to public health surveillance. Moreover, the outputs of systems for systematic monitoring of animal health data must be directly connected to real-time decision support systems which are increasingly being used for disease management and control.