Appraisal of the sustainability of dairy goat systems in Southern Spain according to their degree of intensification

This investigation aims to classify, describe and evaluate the sustainability of dairy goat production systems (GPS) in South Spain Sierra de Cadiz. The research took place throughout 25 goat farms during the 2001–2002 campaigns, with the method posed by Masera et al. (1999) [Masera, O., Astier, M., S., López-Ridaura. 1999. Sustentabilidad y manejo de recursos naturales. El marco de evaluación MESMIS (Sustainability and natural resource management. The MESMIS evaluation framework). Mundi-Prensa, S.A., Gira, IE-UNAM, México. 109 pp.] and adapted to animal production systems, as the guideline and framework to evaluate sustainability.

The principal component, namely energy input from grazing (eigenvalue 1.329) which comprises the indicators total area per goat (factorial value 0.664) together with net energy obtained from grazing (factorial value 0.903) allowed to differentiate significantly between semi extensive (SES), semi intensive (SIS) and intensive (IS) goat production systems.

Intensification of the GPS tends to be inefficient, especially in terms of net margin per litre of milk produced (p < 0.05). A higher degree of adaptability of IS (64.8%) derives from a higher investment on new production strategies. Likewise, higher self-management capacity of SES (60.9%) fosters standards of productivity (76.0%) and stability (42.9%). The SIS presented the highest equity values (67.8%).

On the whole, sustainability of GPS tends to decrease as the degree of intensification increases: SES = 57.3%; SIS = 55.7% and IS = 53.1%. The reduction of the dependency on external input alongside with the optimization of natural resources management would surely improve the standard of sustainability.     

Renal effects of medetomidine in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs with special reference to its diuretic action

Renal effects of the selective alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, medetomidine, were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Animals were administered medetomidine 20 and 40 microg/kg intravenously (IV) and 80 mug/kg intramuscularly (IM) or 1 ml of saline IV. Urine and blood samples were collected before and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min following medetomidine injection. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine volume (U(v)), urine osmolality (U(osm)), free water clearance (C(H2O)), fractional clearance of sodium (F(Na)), plasma osmolality (P(osm)), plasma glucose levels and plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) concentrations were measured. The results showed that IV administration of medetomidine initially increased MABP 5-15 min followed by long-lasting decrease. The initial hypertension was not observed after IM administration, which was accompanied by a more profound hypotensive effects. RBF, GFR, U(v), C(H2O) increased after IV injection and decreased after IM. Medetomidine increased FNa and Posm and decreased U(osm). Plasma glucose levels initially increased and subsequently decreased. Plasma ADH concentration was decreased by IV injection but increased by IM administration. Our data imply that: 1) IV administration of medetomidine at dose rates of 20 and 40 microg/kg results in profound diuresis up to 2 hr; 2) Suppression of ADH release from the CNS is one of the mechanisms of medetomidine-induced diuresis although it may not be the principal one.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of canine chromogranin A by use of immunological cross-reactivity of rabbit anti-bovine chromogranin A antibody

Bovine and canine chromogranin A were extracted and purified from each specie's adrenal glands. Isolated bovine 70 kDa protein showed 100% identity to bovine CgA reported previously, whereas isolated canine 68 kDa protein showed 83.3% identity to bovine CgA by the NH(2)-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. Rabbit antibody to purified bovine protein (CgA) was found to immunologically cross-reacted with purified canine protein (CgA). In sandwich ELISA with anti-bovine CgA, concentration-dependent curves were obtained ranging from 0.3 to 20 mug/ml for canine CgA. From these findings, sandwich ELISA with anti-bovine CgA is found to be useful to determine the concentration of canine CgA.     

Elimination of tilmicosin in lactating ewes.

Tilmicosin was injected subcutaneously to lactating ewes once at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 b.wt. to determine its plasma, milk, urine and ruminal juice concentrations. Tilmicosin could be detected in all those fluids 30 minutes after injection. Milk and urine concentrations were higher than those of plasma and ruminal juice. The drug was detectable in milk, urine and plasma for 9, 4 and 3 days after injection, respectively. No amount of tilmicosin could be detected in ruminal juice 12 hours following administration. The mean peak concentration of tilmicosin in plasma and milk (Cmax) were 1.29 and 9.5 micrograms ml-1 and were obtained at (Tmax) 5.235 and 15.093 hours, respectively. The drug was slowly eliminated from plasma and milk as indicated by its long half-life (t1/2el) of 15.4 and 26.2 hours, respectively. The mean binding of tilmicosin to plasma and milk proteins in vitro was 16.8% and 26.8%, respectively. The drug was not bound to ruminal juice at any extent. The rate of tilmicosin renal clearance revealed that it was correspondingly increased with higher blood concentrations. While creatinine clearance showed no significant change after tilmicosin administration. The ratio (fractional clearance) between tilmicosin renal clearance to creatinine clearance was less than one indicating that the glomerular filtration is the main pathway of elimination through kidneys. The rate of ruminal gas fermentation in ewes was inhibited after subcutaneous injection of tilmicosin at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 b.wt. The tested samples taken at different time intervals from the rumen of ewes showed a subsequent reduction in the rate of fermentation as compared to control samples. The reduction was correspondingly increased with the increase of tilmicosin concentration in ruminal juice and returned to normal thereafter.     

Measurement of plasma chromogranin A concentrations for assessment of stress responses in dogs with insulin-induced hypoglycemia

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cross-reactivity exists between canine chromogranin A (CgA) and anti-human CgA antibody and investigate the usefulness of plasma CgA concentration measurements as an index of acute stress responses in dogs. ANIMALS: 12 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURE: Canine CgA was extracted and purified from canine adrenal glands of cadaver dogs for studying cross-reactivity with anti-human CgA antibody. Western blotting with anti-human CgA antibody was performed. Blood samples were collected from dogs at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after IV administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or insulin. Canine plasma CgA concentrations were determined by use of a CgA ELISA kit with rabbit antiserum against the carboxy-terminal fragment of human CgA. Plasma cortisol and catecholamine (ie, norepinephrine and epinephrine) concentrations were measured by use of an ELISA and a high-performance liquid chromatography method, respectively. RESULTS: Purified canine CgA was specifically detected by use of western blot analysis and an ELISA with anti-human CgA antibody. An increase in plasma CgA concentrations was observed in insulin-induced hypoglycemic dogs. Changes in plasma CgA concentration were correlated with changes in plasma cortisol or catecholamine concentrations of hypoglycemic dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of the CgA ELISA kit for determination of human plasma CgA concentrations is applicable to the measurement of canine plasma CgA concentrations. Canine plasma CgA concentrations, along with measurements of plasma cortisol and catecholamine concentrations, correctly reflect insulin-induced hypoglycemic stressed conditions in dogs. Measurement of canine plasma CgA concentrations may provide a useful index for evaluation of an acute stress response.     

Diagnosis and molecular analysis of Potato leafroll virus isolates in Tunisia

Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is a major constraint to potato production in North Africa. Serological (sandwich and cocktail ELISA) and molecular (RT-PCR) tests were used to detect PLRV in 131 potato samples collected in different areas of Tunisia. RT-PCR proved to be usable as a routine diagnostic test for epidemiological purposes, being more sensitive and reliable, and less time-consuming, than serological tests. One RT-PCR-amplified portion of ORF3 (336 nt) was cloned and sequenced, and used for molecular characterization of Tunisian PLRV isolates. These showed high sequence identity with PLRV retrieved from GenBank.     

Control of enzymatic browning in apple slices by using ascorbic acid under different conditions

Control of phenol oxidase activity in apple slices by the use of ascorbic acid at different pH values, temperature and time of incubation was investigated. The enzyme was almost inactivated at 1% and 1.5% ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid solution (1%) caused a remarkable inhibition with the increasing acidity up to pH=1. Heating treatments for apple slices dipped in 1% ascorbic acid caused a reduction of enzymatic browning, optimum temperature for inactivation of the enzyme was between 60–70°C for 15 minutes. Increasing the time of dipping apple slices in 1% ascorbic acid solutions and at different pH values reduce phenolase activity.