Assessing Knowledge Production for Agrosilvopastoral Systems in South America

In recent decades agroforestry has undergone significant development in Latin America. South America generates the most scientific research on the topic in the region. We conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of knowledge production for South American agroforestry that includes livestock grazing, known as agrosilvopastoralism (AS), examining how different sociopolitical factors such as sources of funding, institutional priorities, and international cooperation can bias the direction and objectives of scientific research. We assessed the major attributes of scientific publications on the topic (25 articles per country; overall n = 210) and the potential factors underlying the processes of research and development in the region. The tree component was the most studied, while the livestock component received less attention. Studies were mainly focused on the production of goods and services (monetary or nonmonetary approaches), except in Brazil, where conservation was the major study objective. Stakeholders were involved in more than half of the studies (60%), and they were mostly ranchers and local producers. More than half (70%) of the studies offered recommendations based on their results, and such recommendations were mostly concerned with the management of agrosilvopastoral system components. In general, studies were led just as often by local as foreign first authors and coauthored by more than three people as part of interinstitutional working groups. Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile had more frequent cooperation among institutions and countries but mainly used their own funding. In contrast, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru had almost 100% of their studies supported by foreign countries (North America and Europe). Countries with greater internal funding of research generated more long-term studies. Besides this, two clear trends were detected: 1) conservation and social aspects were mainly supported by sources from external countries led by foreign principal investigators, and 2) production issues were supported from sources within countries and supported high levels of cooperation among institutions.     

Current knowledge about the processes of luteolysis and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids

Camelids have many unique reproductive features that considerably differ from those of other domestic species. Females are induced ovulators with subsequent development of a corpus luteum (CL) with a short lifespan. Plasma progesterone concentration starts to increase on day 4, peaks on day 8–9 and, in non-pregnant animals, basal concentration is reached around day 10–11 post-induction of ovulation. Luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) are firstly detected on day 7 or 8 (approximately on day 5–6 after ovulation), with maximal luteolytic peaks observed between days 9 and 11 post-mating, in coincidence with a high endometrial expression of cyclooxygenase 2, a limiting enzyme in prostaglandins synthesis. Unlike other species, oxytocin seems not to be involved in the luteolytic process in these species. The CL is the main source of progesterone secretion, and its function is required to support pregnancy. Despite constant research efforts, aspects of reproduction and maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids remain not fully understood. A transient decrease and subsequent recovery in plasma progesterone concentration are observed after day 9 post-mating in pregnant animals in association with a pulsatile release of PGF_2α and a transitory decrease in CL vascularization. Thus, embryo recognition should occur between days 8 and 12 post-mating. In camels, conceptus tissues exhibit aromatizing activity with the capacity to synthesize large amounts of oestradiol. Similarly, llama blastocysts secrete oestradiol-17β during the preimplantation stage, with a higher production during the elongation period. An increase in the endometrial expression of oestrogen receptor α is also observed on day 12 post-mating. All these evidences suggest that oestrogen could be the signal released by the embryo at the time of its recognition in camelids. Besides, nearly 98% of pregnancies are carried out in the left horn. A decrease in the endometrial expression of mucin 1 and 16 genes has been reported, suggesting that these changes are crucial for successful embryo implantation; however, no differences have been observed between horns. Thus, maternal recognition of pregnancy in camelids is a particularly complex process that must occur in a concise time to allow the rescue of the CL and embryo survival.     

Neotropical Bats from Costa Rica harbour Diverse Coronaviruses

Bats are hosts of diverse coronaviruses (CoVs) known to potentially cross the host–species barrier. For analysing coronavirus diversity in a bat species‐rich country, a total of 421 anal swabs/faecal samples from Costa Rican bats were screened for CoV RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene sequences by a pancoronavirus PCR. Six families, 24 genera and 41 species of bats were analysed. The detection rate for CoV was 1%. Individuals (n = 4) from four different species of frugivorous (Artibeus jamaicensis, Carollia perspicillata and Carollia castanea) and nectivorous (Glossophaga soricina) bats were positive for coronavirus‐derived nucleic acids. Analysis of 440 nt. RdRp sequences allocated all Costa Rican bat CoVs to the α‐CoV group. Several CoVs sequences clustered near previously described CoVs from the same species of bat, but were phylogenetically distant from the human CoV sequences identified to date, suggesting no recent spillover events. The Glossophaga soricina CoV sequence is sufficiently dissimilar (26% homology to the closest known bat CoVs) to represent a unique coronavirus not clustering near other CoVs found in the same bat species so far, implying an even higher CoV diversity than previously suspected.     

An overview of animal science research 1945–2011 through science mapping analysis

The conceptual structure of the field of Animal Science (AS) research is examined by means of a longitudinal science mapping analysis. The whole of the AS research field is analysed, revealing its conceptual evolution. To this end, an automatic approach to detecting and visualizing hidden themes or topics and their evolution across a consecutive span of years was applied to AS publications of the JCR category ‘Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science’ during the period 1945–2011. This automatic approach was based on a coword analysis and combines performance analysis and science mapping. To observe the conceptual evolution of AS, six consecutive periods were defined: 1945–1969, 1970–1979, 1980–1989, 1990–1999, 2000–2005 and 2006–2011. Research in AS was identified as having focused on ten main thematic areas: ANIMAL‐FEEDING, SMALL‐RUMINANTS, ANIMAL‐REPRODUCTION, DAIRY‐PRODUCTION, MEAT‐QUALITY, SWINE‐PRODUCTION, GENETICS‐AND‐ANIMAL‐BREEDING, POULTRY, ANIMAL‐WELFARE and GROWTH‐FACTORS‐AND‐FATTY‐ACIDS. The results show how genomic studies gain in weight and integrate with other thematic areas. The whole of AS research has become oriented towards an overall framework in which animal welfare, sustainable management and human health play a major role. All this would affect the future structure and management of livestock farming.     

Prophylactic use of decoquinate for infections with Cryptosporidium parvum in experimentally challenged neonatal calves

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of daily oral administration of decoquinate to neonatal calves experimentally challenged with various numbers of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. DESIGN: Clinical trial. ANIMALS: 75 calves. PROCEDURE: Calves were purchased from a commercial dairy during a 5-week period. Calves were housed in individual hutches and fed milk replacer with or without decoquinate (2 mg/kg [0.9 mg/lb per day]). Calves were randomly assigned to treatment and 1 of 5 challenge groups (0, 50, 100, 1000, or 10,000 C. parvum oocysts in 60 mL of saline [0.9% NaCl] solution administered p.o. on the day after arrival). Calves were maintained in the study for as long as 28 days. Calves were clinically assessed for diarrhea and dehydration. Fecal samples were submitted for oocyst enumeration 3 times each week. RESULTS: Treatment did not affect number of days to first watery feces (diarrhea), number of days to first oocyst shedding, or duration of diarrhea or oocyst shedding. Duration of oocyst shedding was significantly associated with challenge dose of oocysts administered to calves and number of days to first oocyst shedding. Duration of diarrhea and number of days to first oocyst shedding were significantly associated with week of arrival and number of days to first watery diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Daily treatment with decoquinate at the dosage used in this study did not affect oocyst shedding or clinical signs associated with cryptosporidiosis. However, there was an indication that if the number of oocysts calves received could be reduced, then the duration of oocyst shedding and, hence, environmental loading of C. parvum oocysts could be reduced.     

Uveodermatological syndrome (Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome) with generalized depigmentation in a Dachshund

A 3-year-old, female, black and tan Dachshund was referred with visual impairment, bilateral anterior and posterior uveitis, poliosis, and generalized dermal depigmentation. Complete blood counts and biochemical parameters, including T₃ and T₄, were normal. The skin biopsy showed lichenoid dermatoses with dermal infiltration of histiocytes and lymphocytes suggesting uveodermatological syndrome. Medical treatment was initiated with oral prednisone and azathioprine, and topical prednisolone and atropine. The clinical signs improved, vision was retained, and the skin began to repigment 2 months following the initiation of therapy.     

Evaluation of the Lime-Cooking and Tortilla Making Properties of Quality Protein Maize Hybrids Grown in Mexico

Eleven experimental and three commercial white quality protein maize (QPM) hybrids and two regular endosperm controls were planted at Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico with the aim of comparing grain physical characteristics, protein quality, lime-cooking and tortilla making properties. All genotypes were planted under irrigation using a density of 80,000 plants/ha and fertilized with 250 kg N-60 P-60 K per hectare. When compared with the controls these QPM genotypes had lower test (77.4 vs. 76.5 kg/hL) and 1,000 kernel weights (327 vs. 307 g), softer endosperm texture (2.5 vs. 1.8 where 1 = soft, 2 intermediate and 3 hard endosperm), lower protein (10.0 vs. 8.0%), higher nixtamal water uptake after 30 min lime-cooking (50.0 vs. 53.1% moisture) and lower pericarp removal scores. The lower thousand-kernel weight and softer endosperm texture observed in the QPM genotypes lowered the optimum lime-cooking time as estimated with regression equations. Most QPM genotypes had higher amounts of lysine, tryptophan and albumins/globulins when compared with the controls. QPMs HEC 424973, HEC 774986 and HEC 734286 had the best grain traits for nixtamalization and therefore the best potential for industrial utilization. The commercial use of these QPM hybrids should benefit Mexicans who depend on tortillas as the main staple.     

Alkaloids from Cyrtanthus elatus

The alcoholic extract of the fresh bulbs of Cyrtanthus elatus yielded zephyranthine (1) and 1,2-O-diacetylzephyranthine (2), together with three other known alkaloids. Complete assignment of 1H and 13C NMR spectra of compounds 1 and 2 was done by employment of two-dimensional NMR techniques.     

Response of in vitro obtained oil palm and interspecific OxG hybrids to inoculation with Phytophthora palmivora

Bud rot (BR) disease caused by Phytophthora palmivora is the most devastating disease in oil palm cultivation in America. Oil palms that survived BR epidemics were found in areas highly devastated by the disease; these palms were introduced into Cenipalma's in vitro micropropagation (cloning programme). A severity scale was developed for in vitro palms from five ortets inoculated with two different P. palmivora isolates. Then, eight ortets of Elaeis guineensis and two ortets of the OxG interspecific hybrid were evaluated in two inoculation trials under chamber growth conditions. The clone performance response was consistent with that reported in the field for the corresponding ortets, and two contrasting ortets, one susceptible (ortet 57) and one resistant (ortet 34) were identified. We monitored and compared defence responses to P. palmivora in the contrasting ortets. An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production after inoculation with the pathogen was observed, with higher accumulation of H₂O₂ in the resistant plants. Catalase (CAT) activity in resistant plants increased after inoculation with the pathogen from 24 hr post‐infection (hpi) and remained high during the observation time. In the susceptible ortets, there was a significant increase on catalase activity only at 48 hpi. Peroxidase (POS) activity increased in clones from both susceptible and resistant ortets, but the increase was much greater in the susceptible ones. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity increased in response to inoculation, and these increases were greater in clones of the susceptible ortet than in clones of the resistant ortet.