Organic trace minerals on productive performance,egg quality and immune response in Bovans White laying hens

This study was performed in 360 laying Bovans White hens and aimed to evaluate the effect of Carbo‐Amino‐Phosphate‐Chelates (CAFQ) as a mineral premix and its 30% reduction by compared to inorganic trace minerals (ITM) concerning its performance, egg quality, tibia breaking strength and immunity. Sixty‐week‐old hens were assigned into three treatments with 10 replicates of 12 birds each. Treatments were as follows: (a) (100% ITM), (b) (100% CAFQ) and (c) (70% CAFQ). Based on the results obtained during 12 weeks, under the current test conditions, improved yolk colour (p < 0.05); shell breaking strength (p < 0.05); and storage time (p < 0.05) were observed in hens fed with a diet reduced by 70% in CAFQ inclusion showed similar performance behaviour and better egg breaking strength regarding with ITM, suggesting the possibility of minimizing the inclusion of trace minerals in laying hen diets improving environmental impact, in contrast to the use of inorganic sources of minerals.     

A novel strategy for resynchronization of ovulation in Nelore cows using injectable progesterone (P4) and P4 releasing devices to perform two timed inseminations within 22 days

We aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of Nelore lactating cows submitted to a resynchronization 12 days after timed artificial insemination (TAI) with or without a long‐acting progesterone (P4‐LA) treatment. Nelore cows were submitted to a P4/oestradiol‐based TAI protocol (D0 = insemination). On D12, cows in the control group (n = 184) received a new P4 intravaginal device (0.96 g), whereas cows in the P4‐LA group (n = 192) received the P4 device and 75 mg P4‐LA. Cows identified as non‐pregnant (n = 120) by regression of corpus luteum using colour Doppler ultrasonography on D20 had the P4 device removed and received 500ug of sodium cloprostenol, 1 mg of oestradiol cypionate and 300 IU of eCG and were re‐inseminated on D22. There was no difference (p > 0.10) in the pregnancy rate at D20, D30 and D60 after first TAI between the control (69%, 59.7% and 57%, respectively) and P4‐LA (67%, 55.7%, and 55.2%, respectively) groups. Pregnancy losses were similar between both groups (p > 0.1). For cows submitted to the second TAI, the pre‐ovulatory follicle size did not differ (p > 0.1), but the oestrous detection and pregnancy rates were greater (p < 0.05) in the P4‐LA group (92.2% [59/64] and 60.9% [39/64], respectively) than in controls (75% [42/56] and 44.6% [25/56]). The cumulative pregnancy rate after two TAIs did not differ (p > 0.1) between control (73.3% [135/184]) and P4‐LA (76% [146/192]) groups. The use of P4‐LA at 12 days after TAI potentially increases the pregnancy rates for a new early resynchronization strategy associated with the Doppler imaging for pregnancy diagnosis and results in an alternative to perform two TAIs in 22 days in beef cows.     

Intranasal Osteosarcoma in a Dog—A Case Report

Osteosarcoma is the most commonly reported bone tumor in dogs, typically affecting the axial and appendicular skeleton. Involvement of the paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity is extremely rare. This report describes a 6-year-old, female, cross-breed dog presented with signs of 90 days duration and diagnosed with a mass located in the right nasal cavity. Radiography, rhinoscopy, and computed tomography findings suggested the presence of an intranasal tumor. Osteosarcoma in the nasal cavity was diagnosed based on histopathological examination and clinical and imaging findings. Survival time was 12 months from diagnosis.     

Characterization of the LH peak after short and long fixed‐time artificial insemination protocols in sheep raised in the tropics

The aim of this study was to evaluate the peak in luteinizing hormone (LH) and the pregnancy rate of sheep (Texel × Santa Inês) in the tropics using short‐ (6 days) and long‐term (12 days) progesterone protocols followed by artificial insemination (AI) both in and out of the breeding season. Experiment 1 was conducted within (IN) the breeding season (autumn, n = 36), and experiment 2 was conducted outside (OUT) of the breeding season (spring, n = 43). In each experiment, the sheep were divided into two groups (6 or 12 days) according to the duration of treatment with a single‐use progesterone release vaginal device (CIDR^®, Pfizer, São Paulo, SP, Brazil), and blood samples were collected from 10 animals per group every 4 hr to measure the LH and progesterone concentrations. In the spring, the characteristics of the LH peak did not differ between groups; but in the autumn, there were differences between groups at the beginning (G‐6 IN: 36.44 ± 5.46 hr; G‐12 IN: 26.57 ± 4.99 hr) and end of the LH peak (G‐6 IN: 46.22 ± 7.51 hr; G‐12 IN: 34.86 ± 8.86 hr). The results showed alterations in the LH peak during the breeding season only in the sheep undergoing the short‐term protocol.     

Expression of proopiomelanocortin, proenkephalin and prodynorphin genes in porcine luteal cells

The objective of the study was to examine the expression of the genes coding for proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proenkephalin (PENK) and prodynorphin (PDYN) in porcine luteal cells isolated from corpora lutea (CL) collected on days 3-6, 8-10 and 13-16 of the oestrous cycle. Total RNA was purified from non-incubated cells and from cells incubated for 48 h in the absence or presence of luteinising hormone (LH). The semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique, involving coamplification of the target and control cDNA (beta-actin or 18S rRNA), was used to examine gene expression. It was found that the genes coding for opioid precursors are expressed in both non-incubated and incubated porcine luteal cells representing the early, mid- and late luteal phase. In non-incubated cells, only POMC mRNA content changed during CL development, whereas the expression of PENK and PDYN genes remained relatively constant. Additionally, the treatment of cells with LH markedly affected the expression of POMC and PENK, but no influence on PDYN expression was observed. The present study indicates that porcine luteal cells may produce opioid peptides and that gene expression of their precursors (except for PDYN) may be modulated in these cells by LH. Moreover, the present results support the involvement of opioid peptides in local regulation within the CL of the pig.     

Algal and Cyanobacterial Lectins and Their Antimicrobial Properties

Lectins are proteins with a remarkably high affinity and specificity for carbohydrates. Many organisms naturally produce them, including animals, plants, fungi, protists, bacteria, archaea, and viruses. The present report focuses on lectins produced by marine or freshwater organisms, in particular algae and cyanobacteria. We explore their structure, function, classification, and antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, we look at the expression of lectins in heterologous systems and the current research on the preclinical and clinical evaluation of these fascinating molecules. The further development of these molecules might positively impact human health, particularly the prevention or treatment of diseases caused by pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus, influenza, and severe acute respiratory coronaviruses, among others.     

Potential bioavailability of protein and lipids in feed ingredients for the three‐spot cichlid Amphilophus trimaculatus: An in vitro assessment

For the commercial culture of the three‐spot cichlid (Amphilophus trimaculatus), it is important to have available a set of protein and lipid ingredients suitable for feed manufacturing, which allow to optimize the culture at affordable costs. The in vitro digestibility was evaluated with pH‐stat technique, using stomach and intestine multi‐enzymatic extracts from A. trimaculatus juveniles. The digestion of protein ingredients was taken place both in acid and in alkaline conditions, quantifying the total of free amino acids at the end of the hydrolysis, whereas the digestion of lipid ingredients was taken place only in alkaline conditions. The digestive enzymes of this species showed a better affinity to raw materials of animal origin such as beef meal, fish meal and premium chicken meal, which presented better digestibility. The best lipid ingredient that could be used is the fish oil. However, it is possible to use ingredients from the plant sources, such as soy or cereals, and vegetable oils such as olive, corn or soy oil. It is necessary to complement this study in vitro with the digestibility analysis in vivo, in order to determine the inclusion percentages in feeds and costs and therefore to develop an efficient feed formulation for the aquaculture of A. trimaculatus.     

Enhancing rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus population growth with commercial probiotics

The effect of a commercial probiotic (NanoCrusta, Altacrusta, Mexico City, Mexico) on the growth performance of Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas, 1766, was evaluated. In a first approach, probiotics were supplied in four densities (2.0 × 10³, 1.1 × 10⁵, 2.1 × 10⁵ and 2.1 × 10⁶ cells/ml), alone and in combination with Chlorella vulgaris (1 × 10⁶ cells/ml). The test rotifer did not grow on the probiotic alone. However, when probiotics + C. vulgaris were added, the maximum densities (D_max; ind/ml) and population growth rates (r) observed were higher. In the second experiment, probiotics were supplied at five higher densities (2.1 × 10⁶, 4.2 × 10⁶, 8.5 × 10⁶, 1.7 × 10⁷ and 3.4 × 10⁷ cells/ml) with C. vulgaris and a control treatment with only C. vulgaris (probiotic‐free). Treatments supplied with probiotics between 2.1 × 10⁶ and 1.7 × 10⁷ cells/ml showed significantly higher D_max and r than the control treatment. The results showed a positive effect of probiotic bacteria when supplied with C. vulgaris. The best outcome showed a D_max 2.16 times and an r 1.63 times higher than the density of the control treatment. Growth rates were higher in the treatments with probiotics compared to the control. We conclude that application of NanoCrusta is feasible to improve B. calyciflorus production, but the effects need to be tested in larger scales.     

Leukocyte response and phagocytic activity in Nile tilapia experimentally infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus</Emphasis> sp.

This study evaluated the total and differential leukocyte counting and the phagocytic activity in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus experimentally injected with Enterococcus sp. in the swim bladder. Fish were distributed in four treatments in triplicates of non-injected fish, fish injected with 1 ml of sterile saline solution 0.65%, and fish injected with 1 × 10³ and 1 × 10⁶ colony-forming units (CFU) of Enterococcus diluted in 1 ml sterile saline. Twenty-four hours after injection, the fish were anesthetized and the blood collected for white blood cell (WBC) counts, differential counting of WBC, and phagocytic activity of blood leukocytes. The increased numbers of WBC and lymphocytes were followed by decreased number of monocyte after infection. The percentages of phagocytic activities in the blood were 55.3 and 55.9%, respectively, in tilapia injected with 1 × 10³ and 1 × 10⁶ CFU/ml.