<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Cloprostenol enhances estrus synchronization in tropical hair sheep

To compare the effects of PGF2α (dinoprost tromethamine) and d-cloprostenol in a two-dose protocol for estrus synchronization in hair sheep during breeding season in Yucatán, México, two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, 61 cyclic hair sheep were divided into two groups: G1 (control n?=?30), two doses of 50 μg of dinoprost tromethamine IM with 12 days between applications, and G2 (n?=?31), two doses of 50 μg of d-cloprostenol IM at the same time interval. For determination of progesterone levels, 16 ewes from each group were randomly selected. In experiment 2, 70 cyclic hair sheep were assigned at the same treatments (G1 and G2, n?=?35) and 48 h after the second application, the ewes in estrus were detected by two vasectomized rams. Sheep with detected estrus were inseminated, and 45 days after, pregnant animals were identified by ultrasonography. An exact Fisher’s test was performed for the analysis of ewes in estrus (experiments 1 and 2) and number of pregnant ewes (experiment 2); for the comparison of time between end of treatment-estrus presentation, a survival analysis was used. Duration of estrus in hours was analyzed using a generalized mixed model (GLM) ANOVA whereas plasma progesterone concentrations were analyzed by non-linear regression. There were significant differences (P?<?0.05) in the proportion of ewes in estrus upon treatments (G1, 57% vs G2, 87% and G1, 37.1% vs G2, 65.7% in experiments 1 and 2, respectively), and between the end of treatment-onset estrus interval (P?<?0.01), survival curves showed the highest number of sheep in estrus between 40 and 48 h (G1, 43.7?+?8.05 h vs G2, 42.9?+?6.7 h, experiment 1). There were no significant differences (P?>?0.05) in duration of estrus (G1, 42?+?6.1 h, vs G2, 41.1?+?11.2 h, experiment 1) and pregnancy in the ewes that presented estrus, and were inseminated (G1, 38.4% vs 52.1%, experiment 2). With regard to concentrations of progesterone, significant differences (P?<?0.01) were found between treatments, and progesterone levels before the second application of d-cloprostenol were higher. In consideration of the results, it can be concluded that in a two-dose protocol of a luteolytic agent, more ewes presented estrus in response to d-cloprostenol compared to dinoprost tromethamine with similar pregnancy rates.     

Cytoprotection by neutral fraction of tannat red wine against oxidative stress-induced cell death

Some of the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet on human pathologies have been attributed to red wine polyphenols. It has been postulated that the antioxidant activity of the latter would be also responsible for the cytoprotective capacity of red wine that has been reported in a few papers. Nevertheless, red wine shows a complex composition, and the active fraction is not known yet. In this context, the protective capacity of total lyophilized extracts of red wine and anthocyanin, neutral, or acidic fractions, was explored in PC12 cells in culture after a hydrogen peroxide insult. Although all fractions showed high antioxidant activity, only the neutral fraction was cytoprotective. The analysis of this active fraction showed that it was rich in the aglycons quercetin and myricetin as well as the glycosides of kaempferol, isorhamnetin, epicatechin, and catechin, some of which are known to be cytoprotective. This is the first paper to reveal the active fraction of total wine responsible of its cytoprotection.     

Two new species of Clestobothrium (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidea), parasites of Merluccius australis and m. hubbsi (Gadiformes: Merlucciidae) from the Patagonian shelf of Argentina, with comments on Clestobothrium crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819)

Abstract: Two new species of bothriocephalidean cestodes, Clestobothrium splendidum sp. n. from Merluccius australis (Hutton) and Clestobothrium cristinae sp. n. from Merluccius hubbsi Marini from the Patagonian shelf of Argentina, are described. Clestobothrium splendidum can be typified by the following characteristics: a medium-sized strobila composed of410-528 proglottides that are much wider than long; 49-90 testes per mature proglottis, partially surrounding the ovary posteriorly; a transversely elongated genital pore situated anterior to spurious articulations; presence of a genital atrium; a globular cirrus-sac occupying 4-6% of mature proglottis width; a vagina with sphincter and three pairs of osmoregulatory canals on each side of the proglottis. Clestobothrium cristinae is characterised by its small size; 71-219 proglottides; 39-64 testes per mature proglottis, usually surrounding completely the ovary posteriorly; a rounded genital pore situated at the same level of spurious articulations; an oval cirrus-sac occupying 8-16% of mature proglottis width; and three pairs of osmoregulatory canals on each side of the proglottis. Clestobothrium cristinae shares with C. splendidum the type and distribution of microtriches, except for the central surface delimited by two lips. Additionally, type and voucher materials of Clestobothrium crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819) from Merluccius merluccius were studied. A key to species is provided.     

A comparison of two combinations of xylazine-ketamine administered intramuscularly to alpacas and of reversal with tolazoline

ObjectiveTo evaluate the anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of two doses of intramuscular (IM) xylazine/ketamine in alpacas, and to determine if tolazoline would reduce the anesthetic recovery time.Study designProspective randomized crossover study.AnimalsSix castrated male alpacas.MethodsEach alpaca received a low dose (LD) (0.8 mg kg⁻¹ xylazine and 8 mg kg⁻¹ ketamine IM) and high dose (HD) (1.2 mg kg⁻¹ xylazine and 12 mg kg⁻¹ ketamine IM) with a minimum of one week between trials. Time to sedation, duration of lateral recumbency and analgesia, pulse rate, respiratory rate, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, arterial blood pressure, blood-gases, and the electrocardiogram were monitored and recorded during anesthesia. With each treatment three alpacas were randomly selected to receive tolazoline (2 mg kg⁻¹ IM) after 30 minutes of lateral recumbency.ResultsOnset of sedation, lateral recumbency and analgesia was rapid with both treatments. The HD was able to provide ≥30 minutes of anesthesia in five of six alpacas. The LD provided ≥30 minutes of anesthesia in three of six alpacas. Respiratory depression and hypoxemia occurred with the HD treatment during the first 10 minutes of lateral recumbency: two animals were severely hypoxemic and received nasal oxygen for 5 minutes. Heart rate decreased, but there were no significant changes in arterial blood pressure. Tolazoline significantly shortened the duration of recumbency with the HD.ConclusionsThe HD provided more consistent clinical effects in alpacas than the LD. Intramuscular tolazoline shortened the duration of lateral recumbency in alpacas anesthetized with the HD combination.Clinical relevanceBoth doses of the combination were effective in providing restraint in alpacas and the duration of restraint was dose dependent. Supplemental oxygen should be available if using the HD and IM administration of tolazoline will shorten the recovery time.     

Fine-Scale Spatial Genetic Structure in Perennial Grasses in Three Environments

Past research has shown that changes in grazing-resistance traits may be associated with genetic changes in plant populations. Little is known about spatial genetic relationships within plant populations (spatial genetic structure) and any grazing effects on these relationships. Here we present observations of the fine-scale spatial genetic structure in three grass species in semiarid environments (Arizona, Mexico, and Argentina). In each environment, populations of a dominant grass species were sampled from two sites with contrasting livestock grazing histories. Plant genotypes were described with the use of amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. In Arizona, populations of sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. caespitosa Gould and Kapadia) differed in that one has never experienced livestock grazing, whereas cattle have grazed the other. In the other two environments, populations exposed to long-term heavy grazing were examined, along with those that experienced either moderate grazing (Mexico, blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis {Willd. ex Kunt} Lag. ex Griffiths]) or extended exclusion of livestock (Argentina [Poa ligularis Nees ex Steud.]). Based on independent analysis of each population, we observed no differences in average gene diversity between populations of each species. With the use of analysis of molecular variance we found slight but significant genetic differentiation between populations with different grazing histories in Arizona and Argentina. Significant genetic structure was present in all populations and indicated an inverse relationship between spatial and genetic distance. Interestingly, this relationship was most pronounced in the cattle-free sideoats grama population, suggesting larger genetic neighborhood areas in the absence of livestock. Less distinct differences in spatial genetic structure associated with grazing history were evident in the other two species. We hypothesize that livestock grazing may lead to increased homogeneity in genetic structure at the landscape scale. Effectively examining this hypothesis presents many experimental challenges.     

Modified 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (abts) method to measure antioxidant capacity of Selected small fruits and comparison to ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods

The measurement of antioxidant capacity in fruits differs from that of other biological samples due to their low pH and very low lipophilic antioxidant capacity. In this report, we present a modified 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) method for fruits and compare its performance with the other commonly used antioxidant methods of 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The antioxidant capacity and reaction kinetics of four phenolic compounds, two antioxidant standards, and five fruits were also investigated. The modified ABTS method prepared at a pH of 4.5 with sodium acetate buffer is highly stable and easily applied to fruit samples as compared to the standard (pH 7.4) version. The measured antioxidant capacity of samples varied with the assay method used, pH, and time of reaction. Traditional antioxidant standards (trolox, ascorbic acid) displayed stable, simple reaction kinetics, which allowed end point analysis with all of assays. Of the phenolic compounds examined, chlorogenic and caffeic acids exhibited the most complex reaction kinetics and reaction rates that precluded end point analysis while gallic acid and quercetin reached stable end points. All fruit extracts exhibited complex and varied kinetics and required long reaction times to approach an end point. Because the antioxidant capacity of fruit extracts is a function of the array of individual antioxidants present, accurate comparisons among fruit samples require that reaction times be standardized and of sufficient length to reach steady state conditions and that more than one assay be used to describe the total antioxidant activity of fruit samples.     

Morphological study of Socorro Island Merino sheep and its crosses with hair breeds

Tropical Animal Health and Production - A study was conducted with the objective to characterize the morphology of Socorro Island Merino sheep. A total of 67 sheep, 62 females, 26 purebred and 36...     

Effect of adding crude glycerine to diets with feed additives on the feed intake,ruminal degradability,volatile fatty acid concentrations and in vitro gas production of feedlot Nellore cattle

The effects of adding crude glycerine with sodium monensin or essential oils to beef cattle diets on the intake, degradability of DM and nutrients, rumen concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and in vitro gas production were evaluated. Five ruminally cannulated Nellore steers were randomly assigned to a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The treatments were as follows: CONT, without crude glycerine and additives; EO, with essential oils and without crude glycerine; MON, with sodium monensin and without crude glycerine; EOG, with essential oils and crude glycerine; MONG, with sodium monensin and crude glycerine. Treatments with essential oil and sodium monensin increased the NDF and STC intake and the DM degradability. When crude glycerine was combined with either sodium monensin or essential oil, there was a reduction in DM, NDF and STC intake and an increase in DM and CP degradability of the diets. The adding crude glycerine to essential oil diets reduced the CH₄ production. Sodium monensin treatments reduced DM and NDF intake and the production of total gas, CH₄, total VFA and acetic acid concentration. In conclusion, the adding crude glycerine (200 g/kg DM) with either sodium monensin (0.03 g/kg DM) or essential oil (0.5 g/kg DM) can be utilized in diets for Nellore cattle without causing detrimental effects on feed intake and improving the DM degradability.     

Margaritaella gracilis gen. n. et sp. n. (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidea), a parasite of Callichthys callichthys (Pisces: Siluriformes) from the Paraná River basin, Argentina

Margaritaella gracilis gen. n. et sp. n. (Proteocephalidea: Proteocephalinae) found in the intestine of Callichthys callichthys (Linnaeus) from the Paraná River basin is described. The new genus is placed in the Proteocephalinae because of the medullary position of the genital organs. It differs from all known genera included in the Proteocephalinae by the following combination of characters: 1) scolex with a conspicuous cluster of drop-shaped gland cells posterior to suckers; 2) strobila with a low number of proglottides, all much longer than wide; 3) testes arranged in one field, composed of two parallel rows of testes separated by the uterus; 4) ovary delicate, H-shaped, with branches slender and deeply folliculate at the edges, located at 25-35% from the posterior end; 5) uterus largely extended posterior to the ovary but not reaching the end of proglottis; and 6) vitelline follicles in two narrow lateral bands, largely extended posterior to the ovary. Scanning electron microscopy revealed three types of microtriches on the tegument surface: acicular and capiliform filitriches and gladiate spinitriches. The relative size of the ovary, a character recently used in the systematics of the proteocephalidean cestodes, was calculated for the new species and compared with other species of the group. M. gracilis is the first record of a proteocephalidean cestode parasitizing a callichthyid catfish.