Diversity and potential impact of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> plantations in Portugal

Eucalyptus globulus, a non-native species, is currently the most abundant forest species in Portugal. This economically important forest tree is exploited mainly for the production of pulp for the paper industry. The community of Botryosphaeriaceae species occurring on diseased and healthy E. globulus trees was studied on plantations throughout the country. Nine species from three different genera were identified, namely Botryosphaeria (B. dothidea), Diplodia (D. corticola and D. seriata) and Neofusicoccum (N. australe, N. algeriense, N. eucalyptorum, N. kwambonambiense, N. parvum and Neofusicoccum sp.). Of these, N. algeriense, D. corticola and D. seriata are reported for the first time on E. globulus, while N. algeriense, N. eucalyptorum and N. kwambonambiense correspond to first reports in Portugal. The genus Neofusicoccum was clearly dominant with N. australe and N. eucalyptorum being the most abundant species on both diseased and healthy trees. In artificial inoculation trials representative isolates from all nine species were shown to be pathogenic to E. globulus but there were marked differences in aggressiveness between them. Thus, D. corticola and N. kwambonambiense were the most aggressive while B. dothidea and D. seriata were the least aggressive of the species studied.     

Oviposition preference assessment of Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for different soybean genotypes

This study assessed current research methods and applied them to tests of oviposition preference by Diabrotica speciosa (Germar) for different soybean genotypes; the correlation between the number of eggs per plant and leaf intake was evaluated. The experiments were divided into four parts: (i) assessing the preferred oviposition substrate; (ii) standardizing the number of D. speciosa pairs, (iii) evaluating the preferred soybean plant age, and (iv) testing the preference for oviposition on different soybean genotypes, and evaluating its correlation with leaf intake under laboratory conditions. Females of D. speciosa preferred to lay eggs in the soil, with the highest number of eggs laid in the presence of a growing soybean plant. The genotypes PI 227687, DM 339, and PI 274454 were the least preferred varieties for oviposition, while BRSGO 8360 was the most preferred genotype. Egg counts were not correlated with leaf intake, except for the variety IGRA RA 626 RR, which showed positive correlation. Our discoveries may be helpful for second-crop use of resistant genotypes in areas where different crops are cultivated, by reducing the pest density off-season.     

Can spleen aspirations be safely used for the parasitological diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniosis? A study on assymptomatic and polysymptomatic animals

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of spleen aspiration as a sampling technique for the parasitological detection by culture and microscopy of Leishmania (chagasi) infantum. Two hundred and nine domiciled dogs from an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis in Bahia State, Brazil, were studied. Most dogs (87%) were seropositive for anti-L. chagasi antibodies by ELISA. Clinical signs of disease were recorded and the animals monitored during and after spleen puncture in order to detect possible complications associated with the procedure. From a total of 257 splenic punctures in the 209 animals, only three minor events occurred, with no significant consequence for the animals and no association with risk factors. Leishmania was isolated from 149/180 (83%) seropositive dogs, and from 6/26 (23%) seronegative animals. The procedure did not cause adverse side effects or unnecessary suffering and confirmed the diagnosis in a large percentage of dogs. We conclude that spleen aspiration can be considered an effective and safe procedure for the definitive diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniosis.     

Biochemical composition and indigestible oligosaccharides in Phaseolus vulgaris L. seeds

Common beans have a high nutritional value, but contain galactooligosaccharides (GO), which cause flatulence and intestinal discomfort in humans. The biochemical composition of ten bean cultivars was determined to select those of high protein and low GO contents. The cultivars varied in carbohydrate (47.02-60.17%), GO (3.12-5.71%), protein (22.17-33.50%), lipid (1.13-1.81%), moisture (11.42-12.93%) and ash contents (4.08-5.61%). 'Mexico 222' presented the highest alpha-galactosidase activity. Protein and GO contents were positively correlated. 'Perry Marrow' combined high protein and low GO concentrations, indicating it can be used in improvement programs aiming at high-quality cultivars for human consumption.     

Meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri in cattle of northeast Brazil

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is an acute disease of the central nervous system of humans and animals caused by Naegleria fowleri. This report describes a case of meningoencephalitis caused by N. fowleri in a crossbred, one-year-old bovine with progressive neurological signs. At necropsy there was thickening of the meninges and multifocal areas of malacia in the thalamus, caudal and rostral colliculi, parietal and occipital cortex, and cerebellum. Histologically there was multifocal necrosupurative meningoencephalitis associated with areas of malacia containing amoebic trophozoites. Immunohistochemistry of the brain was positive for N. fowleri. The disease should be included among the differential diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system in cattle in areas where animals are exposed to hot, stagnant water.     

Conception rate,uterine infection and embryo quality after artificial insemination and natural breeding with a stallion carrier of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a case report

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa may cause venereal disease and infertility in horses. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa - carrier stallion, often unresponsive to artificial vagina collection, was used to naturally breed mares. Semen collected from the same stallion was also used to perform artificial inseminations. Pregnancy rates, embryo quality and incidence of uterine infection were compared between inseminated or naturally-bred mares.

Methods

P. aeruginosa was isolated from swabbing of the penis, prepuce and distal urethra of the stallion. Before being bred or inseminated, clitoral/vestibular samples were collected from all mares, and cultured for isolation of P. aeruginosa. At the first observed estrus, endometrial swabs were also collected. All mares subjected to natural mating (NS) were re-evaluated for P.aeruginosa by culture of clitoral and endometrial swabs. Artificial inseminations (AI) were performed either with fresh-extended semen (11 AI/7 mares) or frozen semen (10 AI/7 mares). The stallion was also used to breed 3 mares (4 services). For embryo collection, 2 mares were inseminated with fresh-extended semen (1 AI/mare), and 2 additional mares were inseminated with frozen semen (2 AI/mare). Two mares were naturally-bred with a total of 9 services, for embryo collection. All mares were examined after AI or natural service (NS), for uterine pathologies. Embryo recoveries were attempted passing a catheter with inflatable cuff connected to a sterile flexible 2-way flushing catheter, through the cervix. Flushed media was recovered into an Em-Con filter, and embryos searched using a stereoscope. Embryos were graded from 1 (excellent) to 4 (degenerated/dead).

Results

Pregnancy rates obtained after NS was 50% per cycle. However, more than half of the NS resulted in uterine disease, while uterine pathology was seen only in 22% of the time following AI. Half of the mares bred by NS got positive to P. aeruginosa. Percentage of embryo recovery rates was identical after AI or NS (66.7%). The 4 embryos recovered after AI were classified as Grade 1, while after NS only 2 out of the 6 recovered embryos were Grade 1.

Conclusion

a) there was no evidence of reduced fertilization after AI or NS, b) a numerically higher incidence of uterine disease was noticed after NS, c) venereal transmission of P. aeruginosa after NS was confirmed, d) a lower percentage of G1 embryos may be obtained after NS. Overall, the data supports the indication for P. aeruginosa-carrier stallions to be bred by AI rather than by NS, and raises the possibility that P. aeruginosa may affect embryo quality.     

Antioxidant Compounds Recovery from Juçara Residue by Thermal Assisted Extraction

This study aimed to recover bioactive compounds by solid-liquid extraction from the agro-industrial residue obtained during juçara fruits processing into pulp. A preliminary study using different solvents (methanol, ethanol and water) indicated ethanol in aqueous solution as the best solvent for antioxidants recovery. Then, a Box-Behnken design was applied considering as independent variables the solvent composition (30–70% ethanol in water), temperature (30–70 °C) and time (30–60 min), in order to evaluate the effects of these factors on antioxidant activity in juçara extract. Results showed that the extracts with higher antioxidant activity were obtained using 30% ethanol at 70 °C for 60 min; measurements included ABTS and DPPH assays, determination of total phenolic content and total monomeric anthocyanins. Furthermore, the effect of pH in antioxidants recovery was evaluated. For this purpose, the 30% ethanol solution was acidified to pH 1 and 2 with HCl. Principal component analysis showed the formation of three distinct groups: one characterized by high bioactive compounds content (pH 1.0), another with superior antioxidant activity (pH 5.75, non-acidified), and finally the group at pH 2 presenting the worst concentrations in the evaluated responses. HPLC analysis showed the presence of cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in the extracts. Therefore, the conventional solid-liquid extraction using renewable solvent can be successfully applied to recover bioactive compounds from juçara residue, which can be used by different food industries.     

Snapshots Analyses for Turbidity Measurements in Water

Turbidity has been used as an effective indicator of water quality and it is regulated by national control agencies as a water potability parameter. This work proposes a simple, low-cost, and easily reproducible method based on digitally processed snapshots of electromagnetic radiation beam through a scattering medium in order to measure turbidity. The formazin polymer was used as the standard reference in the experiments to prepare samples from 0.1 to 100 NTU for high turbidity range and from 0.02 to 10 FNU for low turbidity range. The device design is comprised of a webcam and an LED/laser as a light sensor and a radiation source, respectively. The captured scattered light snapshot can be decomposed digitally in color components values and correlated with the turbidity parameter. It is possible to obtain differently device performances changing the light sensor device configuration. The linear regression analyses have shown a distinct relationship among red, green, blue, and grayscale components and the turbidity. At high range, the green component present the best LOD and LOQ values 0.64 and 2.10, respectively, operating with an ordinary webcam and white LED. Nevertheless, the best device performances were obtained with dedicated Raspberry Pi camera modules and white LED for low range turbidity reaching LOD=0.027 and LOQ=0.087 FNU. The figures of merit show recovery between (97.50?101.95%), repeatability (2.11%), within-laboratory reproducibility (2.25%), and limits of quantification (0.087 FNU). The achieved performance device shows the effectiveness of digitally processed snapshots obtained with digital cameras for turbidity measurements.     

Ciprofloxacin Adsorption on ZnO Supported on SBA-15

Most drugs are synthesized by human medicine both for the treatment of men and animals and are also produced to maintain their physical and chemical properties for a time sufficient to serve a therapeutic purpose in treatments of some kind of illness. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic synthetically obtained in 1987 and belongs to the family of fluoroquinolones and is currently prescribed in certain treatments. This work was developed with the objective of evaluating the adsorption of the ciprofloxacin antibiotic in solution on zinc oxide (ZnO) supported on SBA-15-type mesoporous silica. The results showed that the post-synthesis method is effective in impregnating zinc oxide in SBA-15 and its structure has not been damaged and has not lost its organization in the hexagonal 2D planes. The ZnO-SBA-15 (10%) sample adsorbed 69.10% of ciprofloxacin (25 mg/L) in 180 min. Freundlich adsorption model was observed with the correlation factor of R²?=?0.9999, for the adsorbent ZnO-SBA-15 (10%), which showed the best sample. The kinetics was classified as pseudo-second order, as well as the thermodynamic parameters were determined, showing that the process has a spontaneous nature and a value of ΔH°?=?4.677 kJ/mol, evidencing that the process has the nature of physiosorption.