Catheter-induced urethral trauma in cats with urethral obstruction

Fifteen cats were evaluated with urethral obstruction. Penile trauma by catheterization was the major indication for perineal urethrostomy. Ten cats had developed a urethral stricture and five had rupture of the urethra following medical management. All cats had abnormalities in penis and/or prepuce and/or scrotal sacs including hyperemia or swelling. Perineal urethrostomy was performed in all cases and they were evaluated for 6 months after surgery. Few complications were noted. Urinary tract infection was the most frequent complication observed. The clients considered their cats to have a good quality of life following surgery.     

Genetics of Melon Yellows Virus Resistance Derived from Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis

The Melon yellows virus (MYV), a whitefly-transmitted closterovirus, is one of the major pathogens causing crop losses in protected melons in southeastern Spain. An accession of the wild Asiatic Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis (Cma) shows resistance to MYV infection. Results indicate the participation of two resistance mechanisms in this source: firstly, an antixenotic reaction against Trialeurodes vaporariorum, the disease vector, and secondly, resistance to the virus. The combined effect of these two mechanisms confers Cma a higher level of resistance, expressed as a delayed and milder infection.The genetics of resistance to the Melon yellows closterovirus have been studied in two families derived from Cma. As under natural infection conditions, the effect of antixenosis and virus resistance cannot be distinguished, a biometrical model that permits separation of the two resistance mechanisms operating in the same resistant source, has been proposed to determine genetic control of MYV resistance.The genetic analysis has been conducted by fitting the disease progress curves of each generation to the biometrical model instead of fitting the final disease ratios. The scoring of disease incidence over time allows for the comparison of data from assays conducted in different conditions (2 years/4 transplanting dates), thus reinforcing the analysis.The results agree with a simple control of the resistance to MYV derived from Cma, with incomplete penetrance of the gene and partial dominance of resistance. The effect of antixenosis on the spread of this plant virus is highly significant in Cma, but not in segregant generations.Since there do not exist crossability barriers between this accession and the cultivated melon, Cma could be readily used in breeding programmes to obtain melon varieties resistant to MYV.     

Effect of the density on the growth and survival of the Caribbean scallops Argopecten nucleus and Nodipecten nodosus in suspended culture

Juveniles of the Caribbean scallops Argopecten nucleus and Nodipecten nodosus were suspended in pearl nets at densities of 25%, 30% and 50% coverage of the bottom of the net (BC) during days. Additionally, adults of A. nucleus (>35 mm) were placed in lantern nets at densities of 40%, 50% and 65% BC during days. Stocking density affected the growth of animals, with higher growth rates obtained at the lower densities. Although the survival of the two scallops was not influenced at the densities studied, the 15-day net changes, and culture in water of <28 °C produced better survival of A. nucleus and N. nodosus respectively. Predators of the families Cymatiidae, Grapsidae, Portunidae, Majidae and Xanthidae were found in the culture nets of juvenile A. nucleus , but during the adult phase they were absent. Predators exhibited a dense-independent behaviour in relation to scallops. There was not any association between predator frequency and survival of A. nucleus .     

Evaluation of the Microalgae Paste Viability Produced in a Mollusk Hatchery in Southern Brazil

The present study was conducted to define a methodology to produce and store small‐scale microalgae paste to be used in a mollusk hatchery. Microalgae were cultured in 500 L fiberglass tanks, under temperature of 20 ± 2 C, Guillard f/2 culture medium, and continuous light intensity of 203–226 μmol photons/m²/sec. Cultures were centrifuged at 2000 g at the exponential growth phase. Microalgae cell quality after centrifugation and during storage was determined by analyses with Evan’s blue stain and by counting the number of total marine bacteria. Treatments with and without additive were applied to the microalgae paste produced, which was distributed into 100 mL plastic containers, capped, and stored under refrigeration at 4 ± 1 C. Results indicated that in the Chaetoceros muelleri paste, centrifugation did not damage the cells and the number of total marine bacteria reduced significantly from 2.9 × 10⁶ to 8.3 × 10⁵ colony‐forming units per milliliter. Chaetoceros muelleri and Chaetoceros calcitrans pastes stored with addition of 0.1% ascorbic acid had a shelf life shorter than 2 wk. For the treatment without additive, results with Evan’s blue stain showed that cells (99%) remained viable until the sixth week of storage for C. muelleri and seventh week of storage for Skeletonema sp. and C. calcitrans. The number of bacteria did not increase during storage for C. calcitrans and Skeletonema (P > 0.05). For C. muelleri, an increase in bacteria (P < 0.05) was observed after the sixth week of storage. This study demonstrated the feasibility to produce and store microalgae paste for a period of 2–8 wk, which allows it to be used as food source and also optimizes the use of microalgae cultured in laboratory.     

Diversity of the calabash tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crescentia cujete</Emphasis> L.) in Colombia

Germplasm of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete L.) was collected in five major regions of Colombia, i.e. the Andes, Caribbean, Amazon, Orinoco, and Pacific regions. Collecting this multipurpose tree was guided by the indigenous knowledge of farmers and artisans in each region. Large variation in fruit shapes and sizes was found, of which some forms were typical for certain regions. Overall 56 accessions were collected and roughly classified into 22 types by eight fruit shapes and eight sizes. Molecular markers (Amplified fragment length polymorphisms) were applied to leaf tip tissue originating from vegetatively propagated plants in order to assess the diversity available in the germplasm collected as well as to detect patterns of geographical or morphological similarity. One accession each of C. alata H.B.&K. and C. amazonica Ducke were used as outgroups. Overall, genetic diversity was high (mean Nei and Li’s coefficient of 0.43). No relations could be established between either geographical provenance or fruit morphology and patterns of genetic diversity. Concerning the outgroups, the C. amazonica accession appeared to be a distinct species. The C. alata accession, however, did not seem to be sufficiently distinct from C. cujete to merit species status. The latter material may in fact be a hybrid or serve to challenge the validity of interspecific organization of the genus Crescentia.

Path analysis for selection of drought tolerant sugarcane genotypes through physiological components

Water deficit is among the main environmental factors limiting agricultural productivity of sugarcane in Northeast Brazil by affecting virtually every aspect of plant growth, with consequent reduction of the agro-industrial productivity of this crop. This study aimed to use path analysis to evaluate the physiological components of sugarcane under two water conditions, with photosynthesis as the basic variable, in order to obtain subsidies that can help the genetic breeding of this crop by selection of superior clones with drought tolerance. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with a completely randomized experimental design, 4 × 2 factorial arrangements (four sugarcane genotypes × two soil moisture regimes: control, with 80-100% available water and stressed, with 0-20% water available) and with four replications. Each plot consisted of one pot with 12 kg of substrate containing one plant. Treatments were maintained at a humidity close to field capacity with daily replacement of the evapotranspired water with a water supply for 66 days of cultivation for treatments under stress. Evaluations were conducted on the fourth day after severe water stress at 70 days of cultivation. Data from nine physiological variables were considered, with six of these being used in the model after exclusion of those that were contributing to multicollinearity. Variables used in path analysis were enough to explain the variation found in photosynthesis under both water conditions. Stomatal conductance, transpiration and the SPAD index should be considered as a priority in breeding programs for sugarcane aiming to get more productive and tolerant genotypes to water stress, and selection indexes should be used with due consideration of these variables to promote gains in photosynthesis.     

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Inhibitory,and Antioxidant Activities of a Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Meat Protein Extract and Its Hydrolysates

ABSTRACT

Protein extracted from mussel processing coproducts was hydrolyzed with four different food-grade enzyme preparations and assessed for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory and oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC) activities. All hydrolysates tested showed higher activity than the intact protein. ACE and DPP-IV IC₅₀ values in the range 1.13–3.34 and 0.33–2.43 mg mL^?1, respectively, and ORAC values in the range 66.26–121.56 µmol trolox equivalents g^–1 were obtained. These results suggest that some of the mussel meat protein hydrolysates may have potential as functional food ingredients for the management of diseases such as type II diabetes and hypertension.     

Nitrate Reductase,Micronutrients and Upland Rice Development as Influenced by Soil pH and Nitrogen Sources

The average yield of upland rice under no-tillage system (NTS), a sustainable soil management, is lower than in conventional tillage (one plowing and two disking). One of the reasons given for this drop in crop grain yield would be the low-nitrate assimilation capacity of rice seedlings, due to the low activity of the nitrate reductase (NR) enzyme in the early development phase. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the soil acidic and nitrogen source in the micronutrient concentrations, NR activity and grain yield of upland rice growing under NTS. The soil used in the experiment was an Oxisol. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 3 × 4. Treatments consisted of three levels of soil acidity (high, medium, and low) combined with four nitrogen sources (nitrate, ammonium, ammonium + nitrification inhibitor, and control – without N fertilization). The reduction of soil acidity reduced the concentration of zinc and manganese in rice plants. Generally, the activity of the NR enzyme was higher in plants grown in soils with low acidity and fertilized with calcium nitrate. There was a greater response in growth and yield in rice plants grown in soils with high acidity. Under medium acidity, rice plants grown with ammonium sulfate were more productive (no differences were detected with the addition of the nitrification inhibitor).