Differential forage use between large native and domestic herbivores in Southern Patagonian Nothofagus forests

Plant—animal interactions at the landscape level become particularly relevant when land use is diversified. Nothofagus forests in southern Patagonia have been used for timber and cattle grazing purposes during the last century, causing livestock to increase (Bos taurus and Ovis aries) and large native herbivores, such as guanaco (Lama guanicoe), either maintained or decreased their populations. Within this scenario, feeding interactions between guanaco and domestic herbivores were analysed in a mosaic of open habitats and different Nothofagus forest types and management histories, whereby a total of six habitat types were identified through satellite image analysis. A total of 205 floristic surveys were conducted to characterize the plant species composition at the landscape level. Diet composition of herbivores was assessed once each season during a year, using microhistological analysis of feces. Results showed higher plant richness in open lands and lower in closed, unmanaged forests. Overall, 43 plant taxa were detected in herbivore feces, which represent 56% of plant richness detected in the field. Both guanacos and domestic herbivores included mainly grasses in their diet, which were found predominantly in open lands. Tree seedlings and saplings were consumed by all herbivores, as well, except during winter. Differential forage use between guanaco and domestic herbivores in southern Patagonian Nothofagus forests did exist. However, competition for available resources among theses herbivores resulted in an alternation of feeding sites, which varied throughout the year. Management plans in southern Southern Patagonia (livestock, silvopastoral plans and timber harvesting) do not consider the direct or indirect consequences on guanaco populations. The challenge, therefore, is to generate management decisions to avoid either guanacos or domestic herbivores from becoming detrimental to the sustainability of managed forested ecosystems.     

Effects of dietary inclusion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Moringa oleifera</Emphasis> leaves on growth and some systemic and mucosal immune parameters of seabream

The effect of the dietary incorporation of drumstick, Moringa oleifera, leaf meal (MOL; 0, 5, 10 and 15%) on the growth, feed utilization, some skin mucus and systemic immune parameters and intestinal immune-related gene expression in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) specimens. The experiment lasted 4 weeks. The results revealed that MOL can be incorporated in S. aurata diet up to 10% with no significant negative effect on growth and feed utilization. However, there was a significant decrease with MOL at a level of 15% after 2 weeks of feeding. The systemic immune status of fish fed with the different levels of MOL showed an improvement in head kidney leucocyte phagocytosis, respiratory burst and peroxidase activities. Also, serum humoral components, including protease, ACH₅₀ and lysozyme activities and IgM level, increased with MOL inclusion especially at the 5% level. MOL at 5% improved skin-mucosal immunity such as protease, antiprotease, peroxidase and lysozyme activities. Moreover, the feeding of MOL revealed an upregulation of the intestinal mucosal immunity genes (lyso and c3), tight junction proteins (occludin and zo-1) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (tgf-β) with a downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine (tnf-α). Therefore, it is recommended to incorporate MOL in S. aurata diets at a level of 5% for the best immune status or 10% for the high growth performance and acceptable immune surveillance.

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Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Dark/Light Refrigerated Storage in Green Leafy Vegetables Have an Impact on Nutritional Value

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The consumption of zeaxanthin (Z) through a vegetable-rich diet is recommended to reduce the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Due to Z’s...     

Natural cytotoxic activity of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) leucocytes. Assessment by flow cytometry and microscopy

This paper describes an easy and sensitive flow cytometric assay for assessing the non-specific cytotoxic activity of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) head-kidney leucocytes against tumor target cells. Concomitantly, the cytotoxic process and the cell types involved were microscopically studied. The assay was based on the consecutive use of two fluorochromes. The targets were preincubated with 3,3'-dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine perchlorate (DiO) and then mixed with effectors. At the end of incubation time propidium iodide (PI) was added. While live effectors were non-fluorescent, live and dead targets retained the DiO (green) fluorescence and non-viable targets and effectors showed PI (red) fluorescence staining. The kinetics of the cytotoxic activity was studied from 10 to 240 min. Lymphocytes, monocyte-macrophages and granulocytes showed non-specific cytotoxic activity, as demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. In conclusion, the technique presented validates the effectiveness of a dual-color flow cytometric assay for assessing the activity of non-specific cytotoxic cells in fish.     

Analysis of the 1998 outbreak of leptospirosis in Missouri in humans exposed to infected swine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of leptospirosis in persons exposed to infected swine, confirm the source of disease, define risk factors for infection, and identify means for preventing additional infections during an outbreak in Missouri in 1998. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 240 people and 1,700 pigs. PROCEDURE: An epidemiologic investigation was conducted of people exposed to infected pigs from the University of Missouri-Columbia swine herd. The investigation included review of health of the pigs, a cross-sectional study of the people handling the pigs, serologic testing of human and porcine sera, and risk-factor analysis for leptospirosis within the human population. RESULTS: Serologic testing of samples collected at the time of the investigation indicated that 59% of the pigs had titers to leptospires, denoting exposure. Of the 240 people in the exposed study population, 163 (68%) were interviewed, and of these, 110 (67%) submitted a blood sample. Nine (8%) cases of leptospirosis were confirmed by serologic testing. Risk factors associated with leptospirosis included smoking (odds ratio [OR], 14.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39 to 137.74) and drinking beverages (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.04 to 24.30) while working with infected pigs. Washing hands after work was protective (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.81). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Leptospirosis is a risk for swine producers and slaughterhouse workers, and may be prevented through appropriate hygiene, sanitation, and animal husbandry. It is essential to educate people working with animals or animal tissues about measures for reducing the risk of exposure to zoonotic pathogens.     

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of California Flavobacterium psychrophilum reveals novel genotypes and predominance of CC‐ST10 in California salmonid hatcheries

The Gram‐negative bacterium, Flavobacterium psychrophilum, is endemic to California, USA, where it is an important pathogen in salmonid aquaculture, especially in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Disease outbreaks caused by F. psychrophilum in rainbow trout fingerlings can approach 90% mortality, resulting in millions of dollars of economic losses annually. The focus of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of 49 F. psychrophilum isolates collected from disease outbreaks in 17 salmonid hatcheries in California, USA, from 2015 to 2018 using multilocus sequence typing. Results suggest California F. psychrophilum isolates are diverse, representing 11 distinct sequence types (STs), three of which were previously undescribed. Still, the majority of genotyped isolates (n = 41) belonged to a single clonal complex (CC), CC‐ST10, which is the largest CC worldwide and has been linked to disease outbreaks on several continents. Results of this study provide evidence of marked intraspecific genetic diversity of F. psychrophilum from California. The biological significance of this genetic variability is unclear but could have implications for future vaccine development and treatments. Further studies investigating the virulence, antigenic, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of F. psychrophilum are warranted to better understand the epizootiology of this pathogen in the Western United States.     

A kinetic study of p-cresol oxidation by quince fruit polyphenol oxidase

The monophenolase activity of quince pulp polyphenol oxidase was characterized by extracting samples using a combination of a two-phase partition step in Triton X-114, followed by a PEG 8000/phosphate partition step, and a final ammonium sulfate fractionation between 30 and 75%. The purification method avoids the loss of cresolase activity described in another quince pulp polyphenol oxidase. The activity was characterized by a lag period, whose duration depended on the substrate concentration, the pH, and the presence of catalytic amounts of o-diphenol. By increasing the concentration of o-diphenols, it was possible to evaluate the enzyme activation constant, K(act), which showed a value of 4.5 microM for 4-methylcatechol. A general kinetic mechanism for this enzyme is used to explain the loss of activity that normally occurs during quince pulp polyphenol oxidase purification.     

Influence of forest cover and herbaceous vegetation on the microbiological and biochemical properties of soil under Mediterranean humid climate

The effects of different Mediterranean vegetation cover on the biological and biochemical quality of soil is not well understood. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effects that different types of vegetation (forestry plots, mainly dominated by Spanish black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. ssp salzmannii) and herbaceous plots, where overstorey density is lower and natural herbaceous percentage is higher than in forestry plots) have in the biological properties of soil in Mediterranean humid climate. The impact of these plant communities on the biological soil quality was determined by several sensitive parameters related to the microbial activity of the soil such as soil respiration and some enzyme activities (urease, phosphatase and dehydrogenase). Development of vegetation (herbaceous and pines) was also determined and correlated with microbiological and biochemical indicators. Organic matter content in herbaceous sites was significantly higher than in forestry sites, ranging from 5.27 to 6.70 g 100 g^?1 in herbaceous sites to 1.64–2.81 g 100 g^?1 in forested areas. Herbaceous sites showed higher values of basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity than pine areas. However, the decrease of organic carbon content in pine areas led microbial activity enrichment per unit of carbon. These results conclude that vegetation cover significantly impacts soil microbial processes in Mediterranean humid climates, herbaceous vegetation having a more positive influence than forest vegetation on the biochemical and microbial activity of the soil, principally due to the higher accumulation of organic matter from plant remains.