Kinematic characteristics of myositis ossificans of the semimembranosus muscle in a dog

A 6-year-old Doberman pinscher dog was presented with myositis ossificans of the semimembranosus muscle. Linear, temporal, and angular kinematic patterns were recorded and compared with those of sound dogs of the same breed. The results indicate that the specific gait compensations occurring with this disease may aid in the diagnosis of myositis ossificans of the caudal thigh muscles.     

Impacts of land use and cropland management on soil organic matter and greenhouse gas emissions in the Brazilian Cerrado

The Brazilian Cerrado is a large and expanding agricultural frontier, representing a hotspot of land-use change (LUC) from natural vegetation to farmland. It is known that this type of LUC impacts soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics, particularly labile carbon (C) pools (living and non-living), decreasing soil health and agricultural sustainability, as well as increasing soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and accelerating global climate change. In this study, we quantified the changes in the quantity and quality of SOM and GHG fluxes due to changes in land use and cropland management in the Brazilian Cerrado. The land uses studied were native vegetation (NV), pasture (PA) and four croplands, including the following management types: conventional tillage with a single soybean crop (CT), and three no-tillage systems with two crops cultivated in the same year (i.e., soybean/sorghum (NT_SSo), soybean/millet (NT_SMi) and maize/sorghum (NT_MSo)). Soil and gases were sampled in the rainy season (November, December and January) and dry season (May, July and September). The highest soil C and nitrogen (N) stocks (6.7 kg C m⁻² and 0.5 kg N m⁻², 0–0.3-m layer) were found under NV. LUC reduced C stocks by 25% in the CT and by 10% in the PA and NT. Soil N stocks were 30% lower in the PA and NT_MSo and 15% lower in the croplands with soybean compared to NV. δ¹³C values clearly distinguished between the C-origin from NV (−25‰) and that from other land uses (−16‰). Soil (0–0.1 m) under NV also presented higher labile-C (625 g C m⁻²), microbial-C (70 g C m⁻²) and microbial-N (5.5 g N m⁻²), whereas other land uses presented values three times lower. GHG emissions (expressed as C-equivalent) were highest in the NV (1.2 kg m⁻² year⁻¹), PA (1.3 kg m⁻² year⁻¹) and NT_MSo (0.9 kg m⁻² year⁻¹) and were positively related to the higher SOM turnover in these systems. Our results suggest that in order to maintain SOM, it is necessary to adopt “best” management practices, that provide large plant residue inputs (above- and belowground). This can be seen as a pathway to achieving high food production with low GHG emissions.     

A note on lamb's choice for different types of bedding materials

The aim of this study was to analyze the lamb's choice of bedding material when 4 different types of bedding materials and cement floor (CT) area were available during the fattening period. A total of 16 lambs were selected and distributed in 2 groups of 8 lambs each and fattened for 18 days. The animals were housed randomly in 1 of 2 pens that were subdivided into 5 areas. Four of these areas had 1 of the 4 types of flooring: sawdust (SU), waste of paper (WP), straw (ST), and rice husk (RH), whereas the fifth had a CT, opposite the feeding and drinking troughs. A video-recording device was set up in a room close to the pens to record maintenance behavior. Two kinds of recording were carried out: scan sampling every 10 minutes (7 am-9 pm) throughout the entire experiment, and continuous behavior sampling recorded continuously for 12 h/d (8 am-8 pm) on days 1, 7, and 14 (a total of 36 h/pen). The behavior patterns recorded during the experiment included lying down, standing, walking, feeding, and drinking. The occupancy rates for the different bedding areas were significantly different (P ≤ 0.001), and the lambs demonstrated a clear preference for SU bed, with a 47% occupancy rate, followed by WP (17%), ST, and RH, with occupancy rates of nearly 6% and 7%, respectively. The occupancy rate in the area with no bedding material (CT) was 21%. Significant differences were also found in behavior patterns between the bedding zones. When the lambs on the SU bedding were observed, 80% of the time they were lying down and 20% of the time standing. When they occupied the WP area, they spent 63% of the time lying down and 37% standing; for the ST bedding, the rates were 23% lying down and 77% standing; and when the lambs were observed in the area with RH flooring, they spent 40% of the time lying down and 60% standing. The clear preference shown by the lambs for SU may be associated to the SU's physical and thermal properties compared with ST. If all factors are taken into account (cost, animal preferences, and technical performance), WP bedding becomes a interesting material as an alternative to the ST bedding traditionally used by sheep farmers.     

The status of the world's land and marine mammals: diversity, threat, and knowledge

Knowledge of mammalian diversity is still surprisingly disparate, both regionally and taxonomically. Here, we present a comprehensive assessment of the conservation status and distribution of the world's mammals. Data, compiled by 1700+ experts, cover all 5487 species, including marine mammals. Global macroecological patterns are very different for land and marine species but suggest common mechanisms driving diversity and endemism across systems. Compared with land species, threat levels are higher among marine mammals, driven by different processes (accidental mortality and pollution, rather than habitat loss), and are spatially distinct (peaking in northern oceans, rather than in Southeast Asia). Marine mammals are also disproportionately poorly known. These data are made freely available to support further scientific developments and conservation action.     

Pregnancy loss due to amnionitis in anglo-arabian mare—Case report

The amnion is a layer of the foetal membrane that has mechanical protection function and allows expansion and growth. The diseases that affect amnion have rarely been reported in horses. Amnionitis and funiculitis have been implicated as components of abortions as observed in abortions caused by the mare reproductive loss syndrome. Here, we report an abortion at 240-day gestation of a 7-year-old Anglo-Arabian mare with a history of previous stillbirth. Blood samples from both mare and foetus were collected for serological testing. Fragments from the placenta were taken for macroscopic and histopathological examinations. The results of these tests ruled out leptospirosis and concluded that the cause of the abortion was non-infectious chronic amnionitis. Moreover, the decreased vascularization in the placenta was consistent with placental insufficiency. This case highlights the importance of monthly ultrasound monitoring in equine pregnancy in order to diagnose placental insufficiency. The study also confirmed the efficiency of the histopathological examination for the definitive diagnosis of placental inflammation and for the study of foetal vascularization to rule out placental insufficiency in equine reproduction.     

Effects of crude protein and lactose levels in diets on growth performance,intestinal morphology,and expression of genes related to intestinal integrity and immune system in weaned piglets

To evaluate the effects of crude protein (CP) and lactose (LAC) for weaned piglets on performance, intestinal morphology, and expression of genes related to intestinal integrity and immune system, 144 piglets with initial weight 7.17 ± 0.97 kg were allotted in a randomized design, in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (20.0% and 24.0% CP and 8.0%, 12.0%, and 16.0% LAC) with eight replicates. Piglets fed 20.0% CP had greater weight gain and feed intake. Including 12.0% LAC in the 20.0% CP diet provided higher villous height in the duodenum than 8.0% LAC, and 12.0% or 16.0% LAC in the 24.0% CP diet resulted in higher villous height in the jejunum and ileum, and higher villi/crypt ratio in the ileum than 8.0% LAC. No effects of CP and LAC on interleukin‐1β and tumor necrosis factor‐α mRNA were observed. The 16.0% LAC diet provided higher gene expression of transforming‐β1 growth factor. Feeding 20.0% CP resulted in better performance than 24.0% CP. The 12.0% LAC diet promoted greater genetic expression of occludin and zonula occludens. Including 12.0% LAC in the diet may improve intestinal epithelial morphology and integrity, and these improvements are more evident when piglets are fed diets with 24.0% CP.